2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Campaigns start Nov. 16

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PAGE 2 — SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

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Last week in brief Boko Haram terror ends April, says CDS THE military has assured that there will be an end to Boko Haram insurgency before April.

Disclosing this at the handing over ceremonies of the immediate past service chiefs in Abuja, the new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, promised to destroy the insurgents, and thereby return the North-east to its good old days ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He added that there won’t be any hiding place for terrorists in the country, while expressing confidence in his colleagues to achieve the mission in the next three months.

L -R: PDP BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the Perm. Secretary, Mrs Ibukun Odusote at the launching of Dry Season Farm Support Programme held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo: Godwin Omoigui.

Transmission company promises to strengthen power

TRANSMISSION Company of Nigeria, TCN, as well as Federal Government are

By Mariam Eko

currently on the update system to ensure steady power supply across the country.

TCN General Manager for Public Affairs, Mrs Seun Olagunju, said the transmission sub-sector was working hard to stay ahead of generation capacity to meet customers demand.

She, however, stressed that Nigerians should exercise patience as all hands were on desk to revive the power sector, adding that government had also provide huge investments needed to provide adequate wheeling capacity.

Ejigbo sexually molested women: Suspects arrested

THE suspects allegedly involved in the torture of two women in Ejigbo area of Lagos State were arrested by the Ejigbo vigilantes, and thereafter handed over to the police.

It was gathered that the women, a Togolesse mother and her step daughters, were caught stealing pepper in Ejigbo market, while the suspects who were members of the Oodua People’s Congress, took the law into their hands.

They allegedly tortured the women by thrusting a bottle of ground pepper and sticks into their genitals. One of the women died in the process while another was taken care of in hospital.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that details of investigations will soon be made public.

Suspected killer of Funsho Williams slumps in court THERE was uproar at the Lagos High Court, as one of the suspected killers of 2003 PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Funsho Williams, slumped.

The suspect, Musa Maina, is the second defendant, and an asthmatic patient. He has been in custody since 2006 and is standing trial among other five suspects, namely, Bulama Kolo, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariable.....

He slumped in the dock following arguments on whether or not the prosecution should be allowed to collect fresh blood samples from the defendants for forensic observation.

Muazu appeals to Lamido on defectors

THE new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, has appealed to Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, to help bring the G5 governors of the party who had defected to the All Progressive Congress back to its fold. He made this statement during a solidarity visit by Lamido in Abuja, adding that whatever injustice that occurred would be corrected.

He stated that whoever had defeated is welcomed back as the party is of the objective to deepen internal democracy and anyone with his ticket is sure of victory.

Lamido, while responding, said that adherence to the PDP constitution will rescue the party from crisis.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014 — PAGE 5

From left: Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, Bode George and wife, Roli, during the thanksgiving service for George held at Christ Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, the governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Chief Bode George, his daughter, Oyinkan, and wife during the thanksgiving service.

Kudos, knocks trail INEC time-table Continued from page 1

to INEC, on Friday night, said the presidential and National Assembly polls hold on February 14, 2015 while gubernatorial and state assembly elections are fixed for February 28, 2015. According to the statement, Ekiti and Osun State gubernatorial elections hold on June 21 and August 9, 2014 respectively.

offices must begin 90 days to election day.

Counting from the date set by INEC for the election on February 14, 2015 means that the campaigns must start not later than November 15, 2014 and end on February 12, 2015, which is 24 hours before the end of the 90 days stipulated in the Act. Section 99 of the Act states: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and shall end 24 hours prior to that day.”

The violation of the Act could lead to a fine of N500, 000.

A statement by Secretary G

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Mixed reactions Meanwhile, politicians, yesterday, differed in their reactions to the time-table.

The PDP said it would participate fully in the elections but taunted the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) to boycott the 2015 elections as it is wont to do. Senator Leader, Sen-

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ator Victor Ndoma-Egba, lauded the time-table as meeting the Electoral Act provisions.

While a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Roland Owie, described it as fantastic, Senator Francis Okpozo faulted it on the grounds that the gubernatorial poll ought to come before presidential.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume said he was only concerned about free and fair polls just as Senator Odion Ugbesia (Edo) was optimistic the order of election as shown in the time-table would reduce costs and enhance voters convenience.

Intensive sensitisation Reacting to the time-table, the PDP said that, as a law abiding party, it will be guided by the procedure for electoral processes.

It urged the APC to, in the same manner it instructed its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 Budget, and screening of the newly nominated ministerial candidates, do same in the forthcoming e l e c t i o n s .

The PDP also boasted that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria with or without the APC. Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, noted that it became imperative for the PDP to ask the APC to order its members to boycott the elections because it has become what

he termed the stock in trade on the part of the opposition to call for the boycott of elections.

Metuh said the job at hand for the PDP was intensive sentization of the various organs of the party at all levels to prepare for the forthcoming elections as stipulated by INEC. ”The INEC time-table is part of democratic process.

PDP is a law- abiding party; we are guided by the procedure for electoral processes. We will participate fully in the entire process.

Our job is to sensitise the various organs of our party to mobilize themselves and rallies for the election,” the PDP spokesperson stated. ”We are not unmindful of the machinations of the opposition who have become undemocratic in their actions and activities to boycot elections; we hold that they will instruct their members in the National Assembly not to participate in the electoral process. ”Let me put it unequivocally that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, with or without the APC. “ ‘Right decision’ Ndoma-Egba said the commission had taken the right decision by adhering strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that it should be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the end of the lifespan of the present administration.

Ndume said that though there was nothing wrong with the time-table, he was concerned about INEC’s ability to conduct free and fair elections, judging by previous elections.

According to him, Nigerians would not want a repeat of what happened in 2011 when INEC had to postpone and repeat several elections as a result of its inability to put the necessary materials and logistics in place.

“There is nothing wrong with the time-table as long as it follows the Electoral Act but we want the conduct of the elections to be better and that is what the commission has been doing so far,” Ndume said.

“It is a matter of getting everything right so as to deliver elections that the world can adjudge as credible, fair and free.”

Ugbesia described the order of the election as a good one, capable of reducing cost and enhancing the convenience of voters.

He, however, called on INEC to put its house in order, as there was more work to be done before the elections could be free and fair and meet the expectations of Nigerians and the International community.

Describing the time-table as an improvement over the past ones, Owie said: “As a matter of fact, INEC is an independent body. Those of us who are players will pander to their dictates. It is a good programme and it has alerted all political parties to get ready for the elections. There is nothing wrong with that order.

INEC is an independent body; what they have done is perfect and we must commend them. Apart from the

Continues on page 7

BRIEFS

Oghara community gets exco

BY FLORENCE NWOSE

N

OBLE Eshemitan, Orefe111, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, has inaugurated executive officers for Ovade community in Oghara, Ethiope west local government area of Delta State to run the community for the next four years.

While swearing in the 19- man committee, the monarch charged it to unite the community adding that it should bring members wealth of

experience to bear on their assignment.

The public relations officer [PRO] of the committee, Chief Stanley Sagboje, thanked Eshemitan for his fatherly advice. He assured that the committee will bring lasting peace to Ovade, the host community of Pan Ocean Plc. He appealed to all aggrieved persons to sheath their sword and join hands with the committee to bring development to the community.

Man, 21, faces rape charge

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

T

HE police docked David Martins, 21, in an Apapa magisterial court for allegedly raping an 18- year- old w o m a n .

Martins is accused of sexual intercourse with one Emilia without her consent.

The prosecution said the accused violated Section 258 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos

State 2011, making it punishable.

Prosecutor Uche Simeon told the court that the alleged rape took place around Ebun-Oti Street, Olodi area of Apapa Magisterial District.

Mr M.K.O Fadeyi, the magistrate, adjourned the case to February 21 and granted the defendant bail in the sum of #100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Freight forwarders mobilise support for Jonathan

BY MARIAM EKO

T

HE National Coor dinator of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition, Chief Patrick Osita, has called on stakeholders in the maritime sector to support President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015 election.

Osita stated that there has been tremendous change in the country especially in the maritime sector following the Jonathan regime’s transformation agenda, add-

ing that the off dock terminal as well as other terminals now work effectively.

He stated that Nigerians should give Jonathan the opportunity for its transformation agenda to mature.

The National Coordinator described Jonathan as the best President ever as he has been able to manage the affairs of the country, especially in the oil and gas industry whereby the issue of fuel scarcity has been a thing of the past.

Lagos announces measures to combat floods

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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OLLOWING the downpour of Friday night in Lagos, the state government yesterday disclosed strategies it has adopted to ensure the state is free from flooding this year.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this during the January edition of the monthly sanitation exercise monitored in Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, LCDA, with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and infrastructure, Engr.

Ganiyu Johnson, in attendance.

Bello said that the strategies were already ongoing would be intensified in few weeks, as the rainy season gets

closer.

We will do more of what we did last year in 2014.

The strategies include pre-rainy season cleaning, mid-rainy season cleaning and post-rainy season cleaning”, he said. ”We will sustain this.

Our plans are already on ground. And we are ready to work towards it this year to ensure that Lagosians enjoy a flood free 2014". ”We are ready to start rolling. We have started the cleaning and we have deployed all the relevant agencies especially officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Department, EFAD. You will begin to see some of them on the road. In the next few weeks, we will commence major de-silting of the drainage and canals in the state.”

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

UNEP REPORT

Amaechi asks Ogonis to fast for FG to release N170bn

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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OVERNOR Chi buike Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, called on the Ogoni people to declare one-day fasting for God to make the Federal Government to release one billion dollars (N170 billion) from the 49.8 billion dollars allegedly missing for the implementation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Report on Ogoni.

The governor, who spoke in Bori, Khana local government area during the inauguration of the local government executive of Save Rivers Movement, a pro-All Progressive Congress (APC) group, flayed the delay on the part of the Federal Government to release the money for the clean up of oil pollution in Ogoni land. ”UNEP finished all they did. They said ‘spend one billion dollars to clean up Ogoni’. Have you seen the one billion dollars? Without the UNEP Report, you cannot fish, you cannot farm.

49.8 billion dollars is missing. If they say it is not true, let them tell us where it is. They should bring one billion dollars from the 49.8 billion dollars to do UNEP” , he said.

Amaechi thanked the Inspector General of Police for providing tight security for the rally which could not hold, last week, because some hoodlums came shooting sporadically to scare the organisers. But the governor lashed out at the state police commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu, over alleged abuse of federal might, describing his political foes in the state as hungry politicians.

According to him, their target was to plunder the state’s resources. “They are thieves, corrupt people who say they want to serve you. They have a problem, stomach infrastructure problem”, he s a i d .

While urging his supporters not to take the law into their hands, Amaechi urged them to ensure they got their vot-

er ’s cards, adding that they should also be part of the APC membership registration exercise billed to commence in February. “I don’t want you to take the law into your hands. But make sure nobody shoots at you. If a man slaps you and gets away with it, he will come back tomorrow.

Go to INEC for your voter’s card. It is the weapon you have to vote out bad government”, he said.

The governor also said

he was apologising to the gathering on behalf of the police for the rally which was aborted, last Sunday, by suspected hoodlums in Bori even as he spoke on some of the successes his administration had recorded in Ogoni land.

Some members of the National Assembly, commissioners in the state and local government Chairmen were present.

Some of them who spoke drummed up support for the APC.

There was heavy presence of security men in the community. Vehicles were not allowed about hundred meters to the venue of the event. The anti-bomb disposal unit of the police was on ground.

Community sources told Sunday Vanguard that some hoodlums still shot sporadically in the early hours of the day, a situation that forced some residents to flee the community.” Some people ran to Port Har-

court after they heard gun shots early morning.

They feared that there might be a clash between them (bad boys) and the organisers”, one of the sources said.

Most stores on Hospital Road that leads to the venue of the program were locked up. It could not be confirmed if it was in compliance with a directive from security men or if the owners were among those who ran to Port Harcourt fearing there could be crisis.

STUDENTS PROTEST: Damage to LASU properties unquantifiable —VC *We will end crisis – Speaker

BY EBUN SESSON AND IKENNA ASOMBA

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HE crisis rocking Lagos State Uni versity (LASU) over the blocking of 1,292 students from the institution’s portal that would have enabled them to register their 2012/2013 second se-

mester courses took a twist, on Friday, as the university management insisted that the school remained shut down, noting that the damage of the students Thursday protest was unq u a n t i f i a b l e .

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa, who spoke to Sunday

Vanguard, after a meeting with members of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), on Friday, disclosed that the management was uncertain when the school will re-open as an assessment of the damages caused by the students’ protest needed to be carried out and measures taken to clean up the university.

Under a matter of urgency in its plenary session, on Thursday, the House had summoned the VC and his management team, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Gover ning Council, Mr. Bode Agusto, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, and members of the Students’ Union Government to appear before it in order to ascertain the root causes of the chaos, while proffering solutions.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the Ojo main campus and other external campuses of the university, yesterday, they remained under lock and key, with fierce looking policemen manning the g a t e s .

At the Ojo main campus, the police stationed no fewer than 10 vans and two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) at the gates.

Re o p e n i n g uncertain

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hile speaking to Sunday Van g u a r d , Obafunwa said: “We have photos of the extent of the damage to the school properties. The damage is unquantifiable. I cannot say, for now, when the school

will be re-opened for examinations to continue.

I must say that this protest goes behond the issues of not registering for courses, some unscrupulous elements hijacked it to perpetrate mayhem against the school. However, our primary concern now is to get the school ready for students to write exams and for the final year students to be mobilised for their National Youth Service Corps ( N Y S C ) . ”But, I can’t say for now when the school will be re-opened. We have to do a full assessment of the damages and see how to clean up the university.

The administrative offices, including mine, the library and other school properties were vandalized by the protesting students. Before now, we were optimistic that the university will end the 2012/2013 academic session by February, and then, by March, the 2013/2014 session commences, but with this sordid situation which was not precipitated by us, the students have drawn us back.”

Asked if the school would punish any student found culpable, he said: “We are not concerned about that. Our major concern is to clean up the school, and call students back for their exams, so that the final year students can be mobilized for service.”

Meanwhile, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, says there will be an end to the LASU crisis.

Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of damages to school properties during the protest, Ikuforiji said the incident would not repeat itself.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014 — PAGE 7

Obasanjo’s loyalists divided over Jonathan’s re-election

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

C

RACKS have ap peared in the political camp of former President Olusegun

Obasanjo as his loyalists are divided. Some of the loyalists want to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while others are in favour of defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Sunday Vanguard gathered that some of the expresident’s loyalists, who ruled out the idea of defecting into APC, are behind President Goodluck Jonathan in his second term ambition.

It was gathered that at a meeting of the PDP caucus in Ogun State, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Friday night, a motion was moved to decamp to APC. According to a source at the meeting, the motion to join APC was moved by the Ogun East senatorial chairman, Chief Tayo Ajayi, and was seconded by another elder from Ogun West, Chief Shina Adejobi.

A counter motion was moved by a former lawmaker who represented Ifo

I constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Johnson Fatoki, before the motion was put to vote.

14 PDP chairmen out of the 20 across Ogun and two serving members of the state House of Assembly, Job Akintan and Abiodun Akovoyon, also allegedly countered the motion to join the APC. After the move to join APC hit a brickwall, the two groups were advised to continue negotiating with the parties of their choice and report back to the house.

At the meeting, Chief Sunday Alawode was elected interim Chairman of the caucus. Alawode later said the Obasanjo group was not in support of the move to negotiate with the APC. He told Sunday Vanguard that members of the group were solidly behind the reconciliatory moves by the new Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

“Yes, a meeting was held and someone moved a motion to join the APC and the motion was countered. 14 local government Chairmen and all political functionaries were not in support of the move and since Chief Obasanjo has made it clear he is staying in PDP,

Ogun backs ‘I Support Child’s Education’ initiative

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

T

HE Nigeria-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) Foundation, marking this year’s education of its education support initiative tagged, “I Support Child’s Education”, has continued its distribution of stationery packs containing books and other writing materials in Ogun State.

The books distribution kicked off on Friday 17th

January, 2014 with the Government Primary School, Gbessan, along Airport Road, Abuja.

Collaborating with Ogun State Ministry of Education, the NTIC Foundation, basically a charitable organization, converged on Isheri Primary School, Isheri Olofin, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Friday 24th January, 2014 to do the replicate of the Abuja event.

Presidential campaigns start Nov 16 Continues on page 42 PDP in Nigeria, no government has conducted a free and fair election and I know that the PDP has no influence on the time-table and President Jonathan should be commended”.

On his part, Okpozo said, “The presidential and the National Assembly elections would have come last. Releasing the time-table for the election is just part of the job, what is important to Nigeria today is the prevention of electoral fraud and the problem that the parties are encountering.

That means there is no strong political base in Nigeria as of now due the crisis we are witnessing in all the parties “.

According to the second republic senator, all elections should have been scheduled to hold one day as staggering of elections is not good because it encourages fraud.

His words: “One day is enough for all the elections, no staggered elections. So INEC should go back and have a rethink on how to correct the anomalies. One would have preferred electronic voting system, let it be

done in the urban areas throughout the country and INEC should stop the use of policemen at polling booths because they are being used to rig elections all over. With all these INEC has a lot of work to do before the forthcoming elections could be regarded as free and fair”.

A former deputy governor of Edo state, Rev. Peter Obadan, said the time-table is well programmed, although it is one month later than expected. “It is not a timetable that is always the issue; it is ensuring that things are properly put in place to realize the primary objectives. So I expect Jega and his team to not only plan out a time-table but to plan how the elections will be properly conducted.

This time around there should be no excuses because INEC has learnt from previous elections. But I want to commend Jega for releasing the time table on time”, he added.

Chief Odigie Oyegun, a former Edo State governor and leader of the APC, in his own reaction, said: ”I have not studied the timetable properly, so I cannot comment on it now.”

BRIEFS

Book on Pitfalls to Destiny Fulfilment

K

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umanah, (sitting) handing over the condolence message from Governor Godswill Akpabio to the widow of the late Dr Aruna Morton in Accra, Ghana, yesterday, while Ambassador Ashim Morton (1st right standing) and Dr Titus Morton Jnr (1st left standing) watch. we stand by him on that decision,” he said.

“We congratulate the new National Chairman of our party and believe in his ability to reconcile the party in the South-west and Ogun State in particular. “ We also support President Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambition and we are ready to work for its success.”

It was reliably gathered

that some of the close associates of Obasanjo have been holding meetings with the two factions of the APC in Ogun State in recent times.

Among those who were at the meeting were the deposed National Auditor of the PDP, Chief Bode Mustapha, one-time Chairman of the party in the state, Senator Dipo Odujinrin and Femi Majekodunmi.

OLA Oyeyemi, high flying corporate mandarin and pastor, has released another book, Pitfalls to Destiny Fulfilment.

“Chock full of Christian exemplars and quotes this book, his fourth, published

by Trendy Publishing LLC, is not one of your regular Christian book,” A statement said.

“This slim volume stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best of motivational tomes on our book shelves from the likes of

Cadbury elevates Bala Yesufu

F

OOD beverage and confectionery powerhouse, Cadbury West Africa, has announced the appointment of Mr Bala Yesufu, Head Corporate and Government Affairs West Africa, to the membership of the West Africa Leadership Team (WALT), effective January 1st, 2014.This team is responsible for operational issues and over-

2015: Battle for VP E begins in Katsina S

TRONG indications have emerged that the battle for the slot of the vice presidential candidate ahead of the 2015 presidential election may have begun from the North-west geo- political zone of the country that presently occupies the position.

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, a former governor of Kaduna State, presently occupies the position as the number two citizen, but events of yesterday in Katsina and before his very eyes when the shouting of Sai Shema rented the air were signals to the political permutations that may happen ahead of February 14, 2015 presidential election.

Meanwhile, Sambo urged governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to emulate Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State who assisted the state chairman of the party in putting up a state secretariat.

Commissioning over N400 million projects in Katsina, the vice president, who hailed the Katsina State chapter of the PDP for erecting the edifice, however, expressed confidence that the party secretariat would provide a conducive environment for the running of party affairs.

There were uncontrollable shouts of ‘Nigeria sai Shema’, which rented the air when Sambo climbed the rostrum before he began his speech prior to his commissioning of the secretariat, which many interpreted to be a tacit call on Shema to take a shot at the presidency or vice presidency.

As soon as the vice president

held the microphone to speak and with the shout of ‘Nigeria’, it was immediately greeted with “Sai Shema”.

Sambo appeared taken aback with the response instead of the usual ‘Sai Jonathan or Sai Sambo’.

In his remarks, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who also hailed the Katsina chapter of the party for the office complex, however, assured the members that his leadership will embrace everyone, saying he would engage in moves that will reconcile aggrieved party members and bring back to PDP the governors who defected as well as the lawmakers and stakeholders who left the PDP. Present at the commissioning of the secretariat were 10 PDP governors, led by the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akp a b i o .

Also, yesterday, Shema was turbaned the Sarkin Fulanin Katsina 1 by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman.

Speaking at the ceremony, the emir, who harped on the need for politicians, especially elected officials, to be fair to the people, stressed that the best way to solve the people’s problems was to relate with them.

On why the title was bestowed on the Katsina governor, Usman, who explained that he was most deserving against the backdrop of what he has done to transform Katsina, said, “There is free education in Katsina. Agricultural transformations are in progress, like the Songhai project.

sees the affairs of Cadbury business in West Africa on a day-to-day basis.

•Mr Bala Yesufu

HEALTH WORKERS STRIKE No deaths in Ebonyi — NMA

BY PETER OKUTU

BY HENRY UMORU

Zig Ziglar to Myles Munroe, Mike Murdoch and Taiwo Odukoya.

“In Pitfalls to Destiny Fulfilment, Oyeyemi address reasons many lives never rise above average and why high flyers can suddenly nose-dive at their prime. His thesis is simple: There are pitfalls that truncate fulfilment of our destiny and they usually have nothing to do with the devil”.

The book will be taken on a road show of universities.

BONYI State Chapter of the Nige-

rian Medical Association, NMA, says there was no death recorded in hospitals in the state during the three days warning strike by the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU last week.

In a statement by the state Chairman and Secretary of NMA, Dr.Chidi Esike and Dr. Idika Mba Idika respectively, the association

noted that the situation was so because of the show of patriotism of its members who were in their duty posts throughout the period of the strike.

The NMA, which thanked her members for their commitment to duty while the strike lasted, added that the association would remain focused and dedicated towards ensuring that patients were always attended to no matter the circumstances.

Group lauds Uduaghan, Funkekeme over empowerment

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HE Ijaw youths, under the aegis of Delta State Ijaw Youths for Good G o v e r n a n c e , DSIYGG,have commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Solomon Funkekeme, for the empowerment of I jaw youths.

The group, in a statement

by its chairman, Comrade Timi Suoye, secretary, Mr. Olsen Okubama, public relations officer, Mr. Denco Moni and publicity secretary, Mr. Posky Oporoza, respectively, expressed gratitude to Hon. Funkekeme for his exemplary leadership that has impacted positively on the lives of many Ijaw youths across the state.

2015: Group backs Jonathan

BY FLORENCE NWOSE

A

socio-economic and political advocacy group, GreenWhiteGreen Vanguard (GWGV), has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election in 2015. Rising from its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lagos, the group hinged its endorsement on Jonathan’s performance since coming to power.

In a statement by its president, Dr. Fred Latimore, the group said the achievements of the president in his almost three years in office had been remarkable and heartwarming. Latimore said the achievements of the administration in national network routes in railway transportation, national crisis

and security management, drive for national economic and political re-birth, sustained economic growth, giant strides in agricultural sector, massive transformation in the aviation sector, visibility in infrastructural development, reconstruction and modernization of airports and navigation facilities, monumental achievements in the power sector which produced 10 new power plants, transparent privatization of the power sector, youth empowerment programmes through SURE-P, commitments towards transparent free and fair elections like never before in the history of our nation’s electioneering processes, informed the decision for endorsing President Jonathan for re-election.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 9

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

Warri roads and corporate social responsibility Dear Sir,

T

HE Late Satyagraha and Social Crusader, Tai Solarin, in one of his anecdotal portrayals posited that, “the hand of an elderly man cannot enter the gourd and the child cannot carry it. It therefore behooves both of them to get out the content of the gourd and to carry it forward through co-operation”.

The lack of co-operation between governments and most corporations in the execution of corporate social responsibilities have precipitated structural and developmental anarchical entropy in Delta State and nay Nigeria. Although, Section 14 subsection 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Fundamental Objectives and the Directive Principles of State Policy states that, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government”.

But the blatant lackadaisicality of most Corporate and or Companies in the discharge of their Corporate social responsibilities remains grotesquely recondite. Glaringly shameful cases are the gullies, static flood water and sandy dunes opposite Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank by Odibo Estate, Donasulu Company, Stanbic Bank, Heritage/Agape Church along the Warri/Effurun Sapele Road, PTI Road opposite PHCN’s Office, Giwa-Amu by Okere Ugborikoko Road, Giwa-Amu by Apala Junction, Giwa-Amu by Eta Junction, Ginuwa Road opposite

Johnson & Jones Chemist, Old Walfare Road, Radio Road by Igbudu Market.

These are horrendously deadly scenarios are reenacted along the Airport Road by Union Bank, Pegofor, Isoko Plant Hire Company, Opposite Awenayeri Filling Station, Amju Bank, Ogborikoko Market, Fortune Bank, Greener Line Filling Station, opposite Cambridge School, Kosini Junction, Ogunu by Angle Park, Roundabout/ Junction opposite Angle Park, opposite Federal Government College, opposite Rewane Villa/ Mobile Police Quarters Okere/Urhobo Junction, the express road through Ugbuwangue to the NPA gate and all its adjoining roads. Most companies in delta state are not alive to their corporate social responsibilities.

The main Express bye pass is an eyesore as the express road is dotted by portholes and the murderously reckless parking of Petrol Tankers after the Army Barrack along the major thoroughfare has been the cause of needless loss of lives and avoidable accidents. The airport road junction roundabout is a veritable hitler ’s gulag.

This porthole drama is virtually epitomized in ¾’s of Effurun and Warri areas. The absence of culverts and central drainage systems in Effurun/ Warri roads has further compounded the state of the roads and the bitumen surfacing are easily washed away during torrential rains.

We call on all Corporate/Companies/ Bodies, individuals to work in unison with the Uduaghan road construction

drive to ensure a broad spectral outreach to the citizenry. Uduaghan can do better by constructing culverts/ drainage facilities in most of the roads he has done. A simple move to macadamize and fill them will go along way.

Finally, organizing Neanderthal thanksgiving services in Churches for Flood short circuiting for 2013 is antediluvian, pristine and escapist.

Uduaghan must focus on massive construction of roads, drainages and bridges working in unison with corporate bodies to forestall floods and untold hardship for motorist and pedestrians. He must be palpably pragmatic and Hanibalistic. Labore re et erare (TO WORK IS TO PRAY).

CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE writes in from Warri.

SOS to Governor Fashola on Iyana Ejigbo road Dear Sir,

T

HE mediocrity exhibited in the Iyana Ejigbo road project calls to question the credibility and competence of the firm handling the project.

The pain and lost of man-hour by road users from that axis is better experienced than imagined. One wonders if the governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,SAN, is aware of the anguish people go through on that road.

It is shameful that such a road with gullies and craters is in Lagos State.

In a sane society, one would have expected the name of the company handling the work foisted somewhere for people to see, know the nature of work and duration of the project. But there is nothing like that.

After spending about one hour at a spot few weeks ago, I decided to jokingly ask one of the boys working there the name of the company handling the job,but he declined.In fact, it like hell travelling through that road.

Based on what we are seeing from their handwork it seems that the

project will take more than necessary before the people’s suffering will be reduced.

We plead with our amiable Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to Iyana Ejigbo to see things for himself because people using the road are suffering.

He should re-award the contract to a reputable construction company that can handle the project because of the complex nature of the road.

Mr Ifechukwudeni Oji is residnt in Lagos

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

PDP, APC: Two wrecked boats on rescue mission —1

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we are, at last, on the verge of having a strong opposition capable of offering real competition to the ruling party and giving hope that all the wrongs of the past would be righted. That the “new brooms” would sweep the Augean stable clean once it starts work. Unfortunately, those brooms are now looking suspiciously like something the witches left behind after a night party. It is already giving thoughtful people nightmares – never mind what their mouth organs in the print media tell you.

To start with, the APC, to me does not even begin to approximate a political party in the right sense of the word. At best, it is a collection of desperadoes hellbent on seizing power at the centre at all costs and not because they have placed before the people of Nigeria their blueprint for governance at the federal level. The puerile point being made that Fashola, Oshiomhole, Fayemi etc have performed well and won accolades leaves out the fact the Akpabio, Babangida, Uduaghan and Amaechi (when he was PDP governor) also won awards as “BEST GOVERNORS”.

However, the most important reason why APC cannot now be regarded as a political party rests in the fact that it has not yet met the acid test which late President Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, established, namely, that, “a political

In the best interest of Nigerians "When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and vanity." -- Dale Carnegie INCE President Goodluck Jonath an signed into law a ban on same-sex marriage in Africa's most populous nation, there have been rumblings in some quarters. It is not whether Nigeria did pass ban on same sex marriage into law, it seems it is about the acceptance from certain international quarters.

Depending on whose protest of displeasure you have read or heard, it will seem that now the world and its cousins want to descend and dictate how Nigerians should behave. It cannot be so, after all, as a sovereign nation, Nigeria reserves the right to enable it to act in the benefit of its citizens as it deems fit.

That seems to be the beef.

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It bad manners that some part of the West has reacted to the announcement that has got the nation riled. For me, I wish that they could have reacted with such speed and conviction on salient issues that adversely affect majority of Nigerians deeply, such as corruption, grinding poverty, the huge gulf between the haves and the majority have nots, gender inequality, misappropriation of the country's commonwealth.

Now that will be so very apt. Unsurprisingly, various Western nations have jumped at the opportunity to respond to Nigeria's ruling. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke about the United States' "deep concern" by asserting that it is wrong to ban same sex marriage.

And those gays could face violence or discrimination for who they love".

I am sure that this same concerns can be said of the states in America that

party deserves the approbation of [the people] only as it represents the ideals, the aspirations and hopes of [the people]. If it is anything else, it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”

Two examples will illustrate the point regarding the hopes and aspirations of people. In the entire Southern part of Nigeria, as well as most parts of the

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“You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain honest.” L.Howe, 18711936.

HIL Graham, late Publisher of the Washington Post, who committed suicide by shooting himself, once described journalism as “the first draft of history”. I am neither a journalist nor historian but it is my hope that some time in the future, historians, if history which Obasanjo banished from our schools is restored, will read this. It will reveal to them how miraculous it was that after the 2014-2015 political upheavals there was a country called Nigeria left for them to call their own. It was all well and good for General Buhari in 1983, as the military Head of State to state that: “This is the only country we have”. Most Nigerians, in 2014, are apprehensive, more than at any other time that good old Chinua Achebe might have left a curse with the title of his last and extremely controversial book – THERE WAS A COUNTRY. In 2014, everything which could lead a fragile federation to disintegrate is happening without any countervailing forces to reassure the citizenry that all will be well.

Elsewhere, the near emergence of two large political parties would have provided relief that after years of operating with one very dominant political party, operating with impunity,

But, the coercion was there; it was not an act of free will.

In Imo State, the Governor would never contemplate it; his action will be resisted by everybody including members of his own APC. Again, which of these represents the “ideals, etc” of the party?

Anyone asking the leaders of APC or their spokesman or their media fellow travelers to tell the truth on this issue might as well ask someone from my village to speak Chinese – it is alien to them. But, the truth is; what is being offered, for subscription, as APC, is not a finished product; like some buildings, under construction, based on faulty foundations, is already threatening to collapse.

Look at Ogun State and tremble !!

PDP is rapidly chugging

The PDP apparently can never exhaust the pool of unarmed gladiators willing to be sent into the arena against the everpresent political lions ready to consume them

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North, alcohol is openly sold and consumed – as a part of the freedom Nigerians are entitled to enjoy. In Kano Stae a state police had been in operation for years empowered to arrest transporters, distributors and to destroy the consignments they seize and courts have been established to jail “offenders”. Kano State Governor as well as the Lagos State Governor belong to APC. Which of these two governments represents the “ideals, aspirations and hopes” which the APC is out to promote if voted into power?

Similarly, in Zamfara State, unmarried young women were recently forced to marry, albeit, with the government footing the bill.

along like a ship of fools in search of an iceberg on which its wreckage would be blamed. Since 1999, it had gone through about nine National Chairmen; the last one left last week.

Another “sufferhead” will follow, gladly. The PDP apparently can never exhaust the pool of unarmed gladiators willing to be sent into the arena against the everpresent political lions ready to consume them. If the new “Suicide-Chairman” is lucky, he will be there by Christmas. A party, which in the last fifteen years had demonstrated that it cannot govern itself, wants to continue to rule Nigerians. As one of my American friends asked me

has not approved same sex marriage. It is a fact that, in some states in the US, they have not approved same sex marriage for the very same reason that Nigerian has not due to strong religious and cultural reasons.

Russia has done the very same thing and many of these countries have not registered the same level of indignation and disapproval.

You don't see them writing and strongly disapproving their democratic rights.

Catherine Ashton, the

passed in other Western countries, like France's marriage equality ruling.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has confirmed the US would not cut funding for HIV/AIDS in the country even though he admitted that Nigeria's anti-gay law was a 'worrisome precedent.'

Alas, those protests are from the very same countries not in the distance past had enshrined its constitution the very same laws, that they are wagging their fingers at Nigeria.

It is a case of pot calling

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The truth of the matter is; it is what it is, the culture and the religion of majority of Nigerians is very much conservative and very traditional

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High Representative of the European Union, commented in a release said, "I am, particularly concerned that some provisions of the (Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition) Act appear to be in contradiction with Fundamental (human) rights."

Some media outlets even go as far as to compare Nigeria's new law to legislation

kettle black. I use this term intentionally and read onto it what you may. I really do not think they expected the level of outcry from the majority of Nigerians to be such as to say" hands off our business" The truth of the matter is; it is what it is, the culture and the religion of majority of Nigerians is

on the phone last week, “Are you Nigerians stupid, or something?” Yet, if you ask any of those on both sides, you will come away with the impression that they are on a rescue mission – to save Nigeria. Totally hilarious; if not tragic.

JONATHAN MEN’S CONFESSION OF FAILURE 1 “The media as we know it in Nigeria is heavily in the hands of the opposition.

Whatever the President says, they twist it.” Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity. PUUNCH, January 6, 2014, p. 5.

Abati also said a lot of things in an interview on Sahara TV, which will be left untouched for now.

A few weeks before that, the Minister of Information had announced, as if it was a victory, that “we are used to media criticisms”.

He said nothing about trying to correct them or to help the President cultivate a better image by actually working to change the perception of government prevalent in the media. Yet, in my own view, that is the primary responsibility of those appointed by any president to work in his government.

Because my longest experience was in brand marketing, let me draw from my own personal experience.

I was in the pharmaceutical industry from my first sales job in Boston in 1968 till 1980 in Nigeria. Then, I was appointed Marketing Manager for North Brewery, Kano. For someone who had sold the best multinational brands, widely accepted and respected, DOUBLE CROWN lager beer was shock. In Lagos, I had been drinking GULDER or STAR, both excellent brands. Suddenly, on my first day on the job, I was given my new brand which tasted awful. Later, I went to meet some distributors

who advised we should improve on the beer. So, next day, I went to see the Managing Director on appointment. I told him that STAR and GULDER dominated the Kano market because they had a better beer. He looked up and said: “Mr Sobowale, that was why we hired you and are paying you the highest salary for a Marketing Manager in the industry. Go and turn the market around for us or go home”. I did not go home. I went to distribution channels “war” with the competitors and I finally left the brewery in 1988.

President Jonathan’s people have abandoned the media to their opponents and the President is getting pushed around everywhere.

It is not fair. Whether Jonathan is re-elected in 2015 or not, the country still needs a fair contest. To me that means that Jonathan should receive fair hearing in the media on every issue.

But, that equitable treatment will not be achieved automatically.

Let me return to my brand experience. STAR, GULDER and HARP did me no favours; they did not relinquish their market shares to us without a fight – a brutal war, as a matter of fact. But, by 1983, an independent research had established that DOUBLE CROWN was the largest selling lager in the Northern states. By then, the production had increased from 230,000 crates per day to one million per day. The market, which in 1980 was not absorbing 230,000 was requesting for more when four times was offered.

Let the President, his men/ women and friends know today; the problem is not the media. They constitute the problem for the brand called “Mr President”.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

very much conservative and very traditional.

And paternalistic wagging of the finger to make Nigeria a whipping boy does not cut mustard. This is not sound diplomacy, actually it is culturally insensitive to accept that every country will behave similar to other peoples' expectations or yardstick.

There seems to be a level of selective amnesia, as in to so distance future , there was a don't ask, don't tell in operation across the US forces and it did not disappear overnight.

So there has been backtracking in terms of those threaten to withdraw funding in light of the new law.

When the US ambassador to Nigeria was asked he responded: "Absolutely not.

But we have to look at it very carefully and make sure that everything we do is in compliance with the new law.

He went on to say, "As you know, we put millions of dollars in the fight against HIV/AID. And again, I am not a lawyer; I read the law and it seems to me that it may put some restrictions on what we can do to help fight HIV/AIDS in this country. And a consummate diplomat he added that;"These are the issues we are looking at as we look at the law." The ambassador also spoke on his own country's anti-gay laws, saying: "The issue of same-sex marriage is very

controversial all over the world, including my country where 17 states out of 50 have considered it. Some are saying it is not legal.'

The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton waded in to condemn Nigeria's ban on same-sex unions as discriminatory and in contravention of fundamental human rights. She stated that, "I am concerned about the signing into law in Nigeria of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act," And that "I am therefore particularly concerned that some provisions of the Act appear to be in contradiction with those fundamental rights, which are themselves guaranteed by Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, and to be inconsistent with the legal obligations enshrined in a number of international agreements to which Nigeria is a member".

At the UN, Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the law as a "big setback for human rights for all Nigerians."

Selective amnesia, is at play here as not long ago many of those countries that are protesting were very much on the same constitutional page and then, no one shows concerns for fundermental human rights While the debate rages on, the Nigeria's presidency has dismissed concerns about the law, that it reflects public opinion.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 11

Adamu Mu’azu: Not as we hear et, I needed help from wellmeaning Nigerians as I annually received zero allocation for capital projects in my organization. From a distance, I imagined Mu’azu as one of the state governors that could help.

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HE selection of Al haji Adamu Mu’azu former Governor of Bauchi State as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) no doubt opens a new chapter in the affairs of the party. Mu’azu means different things to many people. To this writer, he is a large-hearted philanthropist and consummate development activist. No one should blame me for being so charitable to him because my impression is the product of an unforgettable personal encounter with the man some years back. It happened early in 2006 when my goal of achieving 2 projects for my organization - the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) - ran into a critical cash-flow challenge. The projects were the establishment of NTA International and the conversion of the NTA TV College Jos into a degree awarding institution.

Being a Chief Executive who deprecated what was in vogue then - "lobbying” to attract favourable budg-

people do, it was not for the self but for the growth of a national institution”. He thereafter personally supervised the construction of an edifice in the college - the Bauchi Block, which he handed over to me in May 2007. It became our administrative office.

Since then I have learnt to be wary about any negative assessment of Adamu

We feel that the current challenges in the PDP are in essence good for Nigeria especially if the growing opposition to the party would checkmate the tendency for its leaders to play God

Those who claimed to know him more thought otherwise and warned me not to waste my time travelling to Bauchi. It was thus with much reluctance that I approached Mu’azu for assistance. Surprisingly, his response was that my request “ was admirable because unlike what most

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Mu’azu. Hence I regarded as fairy tales, stories after he left office of how he allegedly embezzled millions of naira; how he was on the run and later stayed in exile and how a judicial commission of enquiry convicted him and how a government white paper consequently banned him from holding

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

08116759758

Yuletide experiences and acknowledgments (2) Nwangele, Isu and Njaba federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

From what I saw, it appears that incompetent contractors are executing the few projects he allegedly attracted to my village. For example, the short link road connecting Ukwu Egbu and Umudi-Dikenafa road is still in a terrible state, although there is some semblance of attempt to fix it, just as the solar streetlight project under construction along that same road is far below standard.

In most parts of Nkwerre local government, people are still buying water from water vendors; those who cannot pay the exorbitant prices charged by vendors send their children and wards with wheelbarrows and rubber containers to fetch water from the few boreholes available. In my humble opinion, representatives of my constituency at both the federal and state levels are underperforming and should be recalled immediately.

While in the village, I observed one of the most despicable methods politicians use to deceive and despoil people at the grassroots level. They pretend to empower their constituents by buying and distributing money, tens of tricycles

(keke Marwa), bags of rice and salt, textile materials, etc. Now, the volume of traffic in most villages, except during festivities, is very low, meaning that most times operators of the tricycles hardly get reasonable returns for their efforts.

On several occasions, people are injured, and some

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HAT is the stu dent-teacher ra tio in state schools? Can the meal subsidy buy a decent meal for the children? We have already noted that the roads constructed by the state government are substandard, which means that, ultimately, the money spent in constructing them is wasted. To worsen matters, the poor quality of governance at the executive level is replicated in the Imo state House of Assembly.

The function of the legislature, aside from law making, is to ensure that the executive branch executes projects that will uplift the lives of the people. My investigation reveals that the quality of debate in the floor of the House is low, and that majority of its members lack the gravitas, knowledge and moral fibre to ensure that Okorocha and his team deliver dividends of democracy to Imo people.

The member representing my area, Nkwerre, in the House of Assembly has not justified the confidence reposed in him by the electorate. His scorecard is below average; he has not attracted any developmental project to my hometown, Owerri Nkworji. Largely, the same goes for the legislator representing Nkwerre,

any public office for 10 years. Perhaps because of my bias, I suspected his trial as contrived more so as I had no way of knowing that allegations against him were not as usual, cookedup charges by his opponents. My thoughts were rational because within the so-called period of ban, Mu’azu was appointed by President Jonathan as the chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA before he was nominated again by the President and cleared by the Senate as Chairman of the Pension Commission. Here, it was hard for me to see his clearance as fixed as none of the ‘bow and go’ occurrences of clearance by our Senators ever depicted any logic to me.

I have since gathered that in April 2013, a Bauchi High Court discharged the indictment stopping Muazu from holding political office; a judgment which the Bauchi State government did not appeal. What this suggests is that either the disagreement which enabled his conviction previously had been resolved or that the allegation against him was framed ab initio. Both are possible and with both options, Muazu is not alone because among Nigerian politicians, the definition of corruption is malleable. Here, the case of Patricia Etteh, former speaker of the House of Representatives remains instructive. She was accused and indicted of

corruption by her colleagues and then forced out of office. While the indictment subsisted, she was given national honours. At the tail end of the life-span of the House, those who openly championed her indictment eloquently alerted the nation that she really did nothing wrong earlier!

There are at least 2 other cases. The first is that of Jude Agbaso, former Deputy Governor of Imo State.

He was accused and convicted of corruption and subsequently impeached by the State House of Assembly. EFFC’s investigation was to later establish that the charge was false and unsustainable. Then, there is the mother of all the related cases, that of Chief Bode George who was not only convicted and imprisoned by a court of competent jurisdiction but actually served his prison term in full. It was only after, that the nation’s Supreme Court declared that George was convicted of an offence not known to law. Who then is a corrupt politician and who is not in Nigeria? This is a research project that may never end as Nigerian politicians can create, compile and orchestrate ample ‘evidence’ to convict an Angel and when it is convenient return his white garment and tell the rest of us that all former documents remain valid.

This probably explains why many analysts like this writer find it hard to be active in the Nigerian party system. It also explains why

we are neither concerned about the dwindling fortunes of the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa nor excited by the emergence of what looks like a viable opposition.

Rather, we feel that the current challenges in the PDP are in essence good for Nigeria especially if the growing opposition to the party would checkmate the tendency for its leaders to play God. It is also true that the so called main opposition party - the All Progressive Congress(APC) - is not a better option; hence it has laboured for long to convince Nigerians that every PDP member is evil yet each of them that decamps to APC is roundly celebrated.

It is however good that there is now an alternative.

Back to Adamu Mu’azu; while wishing him the best of luck, we urge him to bring his goodwill and charisma to bear on his new assignment. His plan to reconcile all warring factions and caucuses within the party so as to end the wrangling that has long bedevilled the party makes sense. Similarly wise, is his solemn pledge to correct any injustice done to any party member as well as to apologize to those the party offended. We will however lose no sleep if our benefactor does not succeed in the end because it is a notorious fact that his new position is jinxed. All we care for now is the heartwarming news that Mu’azu has bounced back

keke Marwa or essential commodities, because these things do not last.

Genuine empowerment comes about when those in positions of authority use public funds to provide good and affordable schools and hospitals, build industries, expand avenues for self-employment and wealth creation, as well as create well structured welfare programmes that can meet people's needs on a sustainable basis. Judged

by Kantian moral principle, which stipulates that human beings should always be treated as ends in themselves and never as means, Nigerian politicians are complete failures. For them, the well being of ordinary Nigerians do not matter: what is of paramount importance is max-

All my colleagues in the Department of Philosophy, especially Profs. Jim Unah, F.N. Ndubuisi, Muyiwa Falaiye, Dr. Modestus Onyeaghalaji, Peter Osimiri, Debo Gbadebo and Surajudeen Owosho - you were good to me and I am grateful for that. Dr. Adeyemi Daramola of English Department, you were the first person to give me your widow's might for my father's burial; for that and for your friendly disposition towards me, thanks. Dee Tony, Dr. Isaac Nwogwugwu, Ngozi Chinwa, Kalu Onuma, Chief Martin Agbaso, Oscar Onwudiwe, Dr. Adebayo, Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, J.A. Aliu, Deputy Registrar Academic Unit, and Profs. Igwilo (Director, Foundation Programmes), Osarenren, Mojekwu, Longe, Nwokoma - my sincere gratitude to all of you for being nice to me. My good friends who are better than brothers - Chief Innocent Egwim, Chief Ralph Obiduba, Fred Udueme AGM (Brand) Vanguard Group, what you contributed to my life in 2013 is unquantifiable. I hereby express my gratitude. Some wonderful friends at the University of Ibadan made my sabbatical leave there a sort of homecoming. They are Drs. Isaac Ukpokolo, Francis Offor, Amechi C. Udefi (HOD), Chris Agulanna, the Departmental Secretary, all my colleagues in the Department of Philosophy and Madam Bisi of the Alumni Guest House, University of Ibadan - I thank you all. My PhD student, Fatai Asodun, Rotimi Omosulu, Dennis Otto, Stanley Nkemole, and Jude Nwankwo - all budding scholars in the Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos; I cherish your friendship. Engineer Kunle,

Gbola Oba, Manager, Rotimi and the Automedics crew; you ensured that my Land Rover (LR3) jeep remained roadworthy all year round - thanks a lot. Matthew and Lugard, thank you for your help. I also wish to acknowledge Babatee, Debostic, MS, Big Worm, Segun, Lawflora and his wife, and all those who helped fix some of my automobile problems. Uncle Sam Amuka, Jide Ajani and the people at Sunday Vanguard, I salute all of you. I cannot but express my appreciation to Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who saved me from unnecessary embarrassment by uniformed touts purportedly working for Lagos Mainland Local Government. All the residents of Block C, Highrise, University of Lagos, I cherish the community life we share. Police officers Abe, Chinedu and Yemi, you are my friends indeed. Mikolo, Frank and Mr. Edo, CEOs of MEI Group, Papa's Place Lekki and Cave Night Ikeja respectively, thanks for the hospitality. Nduka, Mercy, Eddy, Mrs. P. Abugu, Mrs. Anyaokwu, and especially my enigmatic Queeneth, in different ways all of you were good to me and I appreciate.

My dear sister Ihuoma, Emeka, and Chinwendu: you tried your best in looking after Alagbo in the last few years of his life; I cannot thank you enough. My darling wife, Ijeoma, and my two hyperactive but sweet daughters, Nwanyioma and Nwadiuto, you mean much more than I can express in words. As I always say, without you, and those whose names I failed to mention here, I cannot be what I am right now! CONCLUDED.

Genuine empowerment comes about when those in positions of authority use public funds to provide good and affordable schools and hospitals, build industries, expand avenues for selfemployment and wealth creation

die in the fierce struggle to get a share of the rice, salt and other commodities distributed by politicians, as was the case last Christmas in my village when a woman died while trying to collect her share of the handout from a local politician.

Because Nigerian politicians are egocentric and wicked, they do not understand the real meaning of empowering the masses, of service to the people. Real empowerment of people cannot be achieved by giving them handouts, whether in the form of money,

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imum exploitation of the intellectual and material poverty of the masses to achieve their narrow selfish ends. That said, I want to use this opportunity to express my warm gratitude to numerous individuals who in various ways enriched my life with care, kindness and love. Beginning from the University of Lagos where I earn my living, I wish to thank the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello, a calm and unassuming administrator. Sir, your kindness to me is gratefully acknowledged.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014 not merely symbolic either. The governor is actually not merely a wallflower. In the clash of authority between the two levels of power, there is bound to be a mighty chasm, and the bridge to that chasm is fundamentally the law of the land, and the courts.

APC seeks as a party. Secondly, and this question is as exploratory as it is directed: who is really to blame over the Rivers State crisis? As I understand it, Rotimi Amaechi is the governor of Rivers state, and Nigeria is still, even weak as it is, a federal system.

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N Friday, Vanguard reported that the National Executive Commit tee of the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) directed its members in the National Assembly to block the passing of the appropriation bill and the confirmation hearings of the president’s new cabinet nominees and service appointments to the Nigerian High Command “until the federal government halts the escalating violence in Rivers State.” Basically, the opposition party wants to use what the Americans call the “filibuster” to shut down government. It is the job of the opposition to give the governing party a run for its money, and so what the APC has called its members to do is all part of democracy. But Nigerians need to ask the APC national leadership, the following questions: who benefits from the shut-down of government? Because certainly if the budget is not passed, the Federal government will by law be unable to spend money and meet with its various domestic and international financial obligations.

Civil Servants will not be paid. Agencies of government engaged with various strategic services will be unable to function.

Circulation of money will thin-out and will affect various facets of Nigeria’s social and economic life. The public will suffer. Is that what the APC wants? Is the aim to make the Jonathan administration unable to govern and in effect force its bitter end?

Well, if that is APC’s goal, this choice of action will only be a political blunder because its sum effect is bound to be counterproductive and deleterious to the overall interest and material condition of Nigerians whose votes and considerations the

Nigerians deserve to know that the story is certainly more complicated. What is happening in Rivers State is political theater of the farcical kind. The remote origin of the drama is also a bit complicated: according to informed sources, the faceoff in Rivers has more to do with oil than with ideology

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Under the federalism principle, the governor and the president are equals, even though under the principle of “primus inter pares” the president as head of the Federal government takes precedence. I also realize that the office of the Nigerian president has enormous powers, such in fact as might make its occupant something of a demi-god. Yet, the governor’s powers are

Second chances M

Y aunt regularly raises a par ticular point in prayer and the first time I heard it, I was intrigued. She prays to God in a dialogue form and during one of such prayers she asked for blessings and gave thanks that God is not man; if He was she didn't believe her prayers would be heard, after all man does little else than judge his fellow man.

Blessings would undoubtedly pass most of us over if men were God. We would be judged and weighed and mercy may not count for much at all. I totally agreed; it takes a highly elevated mind to get off the seat of judgement and let mercy prevail. Judgement is the bane of humanity and it is often based on emotions that are irrational and illogical; where it is sound; it still fails to deliver any satisfaction, since no man is perfect. When we judge one, we judge all.

The love of my life has been Christ, motherhood and marriage count for much but Christ is it for me ( always has been). Its a love that I have come to rely on, trust and it is unrepentant and unchangeable. There is nothing like having the love that just wont quit; I cant disgust God, He just is always going to love me; He will only ever see the perfection he created; not the mess I sometimes feel like, or the failure my fellow men sometimes see. Undoubt-

edly some will judge my musings as those of a lily livered individual who cant cope with reality and instead clings to a God she cannot see and I am absolutely cool with that. I am Lilly livered without Christ; with Him however, I have courage and His love strengthens and beautifies me. That love has offered me many chances at redemption and it is what makes me so passionate about second chances. I absolutely believe everyone deserves an opportunity at redemption and even a second or as many chances as they need to start again, to try again.

The process of growth is not without its hazards and you would be surprised at how quickly a life can unravel. I spend a bit of time with prisoners in the prison ministry and I once had a conversation with a warder that was very enlightening to say the least. She told me about her temper when she was younger. She couldn't even recall the number of times she had beaten up people. She remembered beating one girl into an unconscious state and being totally unrepentant; she had threatened to kill the girl and was expelled for that misadventure. She believes being expelled was God giving her a second chance as she would undoubtedly have been in the prison as a prisoner. She said more than 30% of all inmates were there for crimes of pas-

victims of the president’s tyrannical power. In this case, the president is alleged to be misusing his oversight control of the Nigerian Police Force and the office of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to suppress and victimize his opponents. Nigerians deserve to know that the story is certainly more complicated. What is happening in Rivers State is political theater of the farcical kind. The remote origin of the drama is also a bit complicated: according to informed sources, the face-off in Rivers has more to do with oil than with ideology. It all began when the courts awarded oil producing acreages once claimed by Rivers state to Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa-Ibom states, and the president signed-off on these court-instructed adjustments. Governor Rotimi Amaechi felt the president used his powers to enforce this schlepping – the slow and arduous shaving off of Rivers inheritance – and so, staged his own coup de grace as chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Things went downhill from there. Amaechi is also quite an ambitious and savvy politician, and there is talk that the office of the Vice-President has been dangled before him by Jonathan’s opponents who have made the political defeat of the president by all means necessary the endgame of the 2015 elections. By their calculation, engineering and stoking the crisis in Rivers state is taking the battle straight to President Jonathan’s doorstep and backyard.

If the president cannot control his own region, his opponents may have concluded, his political legitimacy would be significantly whittled and his campaign for reelection will seem significantly hollow. And it does indeed seem that the opposition is making a lot of hay in Rivers State. Recently, in an event almost like a scene straight out of a Harold Pinter play, Senator Magnus Abe was allegedly shot at a campaign rally allegedly by the Nigerian police and allegedly on the orders from

sion; rage, jealousy, envy and sheer pig headedness!! Being in prison for some of the inmates is a second chance; its a chance for them to be separated from their prevailing reality and get a perspective on the consequences of their actions.

I find judgement depressing and isolating; it puts people in a box and whats more, it makes me a hypocrite.

It took divine intervention and many years of counselling to contain my volcanic temper. I may not have beaten anyone to a stupor like my warder

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APC and the escalating violence in Rivers State

PC has constantly retailed the fiction A that Governor Amaechi and his supporters in Rivers State are just innocent

I do believe that there must be consequences for actions that do damage to others and break the law but there must always be an opportunity for redemption and a second chance.

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friend, but I had in the past felt murderous rage and I can only thank God I didn't actually do anything that would have changed the course of life as I know it. I hold the opinion that no one was actually born bad or evil, I believe that time and chance happen to us all.

What and who we are exposed to early on in life will shape what and who we eventually become, save for divine intervention and what some call genetic

above. To add to the absurdity, neither blood nor visible wound was evident in the pictures of a Magnus Abe released to the press, lying in mock-stupor at the hospital before he was flown to London. Police have claimed its men shot rubber bullets to disperse an unruly crowd at an unruly political campaign and not at senator Abe. Political violence in Rivers State is becoming a matter that the police cannot ignore, from the violence in the Rivers State Assembly in which a state legislator, Chidi Lloyd smashed the mace on the head of a rival. The same Chidi Lloyd allegedly ran over another political opponent and a policeman, and killed them both, and was allegedly arrested trying to flee the country in a private jet from Port-Harcourt. he political crisis and the escalating violence in Rivers State demands that T politicians on both aisles take a chill pill,

and above all, the police must hold each person, including the president accountable for his deed. Finally, did the president issue direct orders to the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu to go after his political opponents? Has the president thus misused his office by illegally targeting his political opponents? If the APC has hard facts, they should present it to Nigerians, and go beyond hollow propaganda to impeachment. Now, the party has asked its members to block the president’s appropriation bill and the confirmation of his nominations until “the federal government halts the escalating violence in Rivers State.” Perhaps we should remind the APC that without the backing of parliament the president cannot intervene. The president has one choice now it seems: approach the National Assembly to request granting him the power to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, appoint an interim administrator, stem the violence, and restore order. Perhaps that is the kind of intervention APC demands of the president, because without these extraordinary interim powers, the president has neither the rights nor the capacity to intervene in Rivers State and stem the escalating violence.

Until such a power is granted the president, the governing authority in Rivers State is Rotimi Amaechi. It is he who must bear the responsibility for de-escalating the violence in Rivers State.

lottery anyone can be an inmate. The first thing you learn in prison ministry is never to ask about people's crimes, not knowing eliminates fear and judgement. Convincing people to come on board is a hard sell and it's understandable, prison is not a country club and most people think prisoners are a menace to society and deserve the punishment they are serving. I do believe that there must be consequences for actions that do damage to others and break the law but there must always be an opportunity for redemption and a second chance.

Last week I mentioned that I was passionate about prisoners and quite a lot of people didn't understand or share my passion. Thats fine, as we all have different callings. What I want to encourage is open-mindedness, mercy, forgiveness. We all should get a second chance, no matter how far we fall from grace. In my personal life, I have fallen severally, getting up has been a blessing of mercy. As a matter of fact I still fall, just like everyone else.

The truth is most of us judge ourselves; we our own worst critics and since we don't extend mercy to our selves how could we possible extend it to others? I believe that men judge, they even judge God; thats why they would deny their fellow men mercy, even when God makes it readily available. I have learnt to love myself, flaws and all over the years; I show myself mercy so its easy to extend it others. We all should do same. If you remember the story of the Good Samaritan, we would do well to note that help came from a stranger, who didn't judge his situation but simply extended mercy. The ironic thing about mercy is that those who don't extend it always expect it. Second chances are necessary, we all need it; its not just for prisoners, its for everyone. We all need to believe that we are better than our mistakes; that we can learn from them and be better for it.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 13

Era of ‘garrison democracy’ is over — Gulak

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

Faced with mounting criticism of being incompetent and weak as the president with enormous powers to bulldoze his way through several challenges facing the administration , the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak, in this interview, says it is unfair to describe the Presidency as weak.

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OW do you describe the management of informa tion by the Federal Government and the ruling People’s Democratic Party in a situation whereby the opposition seems to have taken over the media space?

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We recognise that the media has an important role to play as an intermediary in the public communication process, especially in shaping ideas, opinions and viewpoints. We recognise the place of information in advancement of democracy and good governance, hence, President Goodluck Jonathan did not waste time in signing into law the Freedom of Information Act, to strengthen the practice of democracy and media profession in Nigeria.

The president believes that the mass media is a veritable intermediary between the government and the people, between the candidates and the electorate, whose choice is critical in determining who carries the day.

The media plays a critical role in the battle for the minds of the public, because it shapes and influences public opinion. It provides politicians the platform to enunciate their vision and mission, and for those of us in government, it gives us the platform to present our record of stewardship to the people, for scrutiny and endorsement or rejection of our performance. The Constitution rightly recognises the role that you play in the process of social engineering and transformation.

From the history of the evolution of the mass media in Nigeria, we know that it has a tradition of being anti establishment, whether it is colonial, military or civilian.

But Nigerians expect some measure of fair and objective presentation of facts to the citizens. The question therefore is whether the media has been fair and objective in its

Those who were the architects of politics of brigandage are very uncomfortable with what Jonathan is doing assessment of this administration.

This is the president that signed into law the Freedom of Information Bill after 11 years in the cooler. The Act is to strengthen public accountability and equip the media to fight corruption and expose evil practices in the country. There were those who felt that the media should be clobbered, I hope you are following the experience of the media in Kenya but this president went ahead to open up the media space, but look at what the media is doing, it has turned round to become the willing tool of the very forces that opposed the basic law that strengthened their profession.

We have been watching the media as it has become a willing tool in the hands of the opposition party. It has been orchestrating a campaign of calumny and mudslinging against our party and its leadership, but we are equal to the task. As we approach election time, we know that the role of the mass media cannot be taken for granted as it will set the tone and

*Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak mode of the political process which will ultimately influence the political landscape.

The PDP, which has been the dominant force in the past 14 years, is going into the 2015 polls faced with a stiff challenge from new political groupings. Mr President looks vulnerable as some Nigerians think he is weak, What is your view?

I agree that Nigeria’s political land scape is witnessing a robust competition with the realignment of political groups; that is because Jonathan believes in liberal democracy and allows opposition parties to operate without let or hindrance.

Opposition parties have grown under his leadership unlike in the era of garrison democracy.

Some people who have the mindset of militocracry have been saying that the president is weak because he has allowed elections to be conducted properly to allow the will of the people to prevail. People are saying that the president did the wrong thing by allowing opposition parties to win state elections when the ruling party should have used the power of incumbency to swing victory in its favour.

In a liberal democracy, there should be healthy competition between the ruling party and the opposition parties, it is good for the credibility of our democracy. There should be alternatives for the electorate;, what

matters is that every party must do its home work in order to win elections.

This president is simply assuring Nigerians that the era of garrison democracy is over, the era of the rule of impunity is over.

Those who were the architects of politics of brigandage are very uncomfortable with what Jonathan is doing. He has allowed free and fair elections to be conducted in Ondo and Anambra, as well as the Delta Central because he believes in it.

This is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign of a man who has confidence in the people’s ability to rationally express their will and, when it does not favour you, accept it in good faith. The opposition party sees the value of democracy only when victory goes its way, that is political desperation.

People are saying the president is weak, that he lacks courage and that he is clueless, sometimes I wonder and ask them what they want. Do we want democracy or dictatorship? Some Nigerians believe that the signs of a strong president is to go to town with a horsewhip thrashing every body like a village head aster.

I always wonder what this weakness is all about? I have said it before that our Constitution gives enormous powers to the president, but it requires a level headed man to appreciate that power comes from God and that the

*Continues on Page 14

PAGE 14 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

Continued from page 13

Is it not taking too long for things to be fixed?

We seem to have forgotten also that, at the inception this administration, we had to contend with insurgency. The bombing of public buildings and diplomatic missions, places of worship, markets parks, schools and security personnel and installations was a major distraction and challenge. At some point, the Federal Government had to painfully impose state of emergency in three states in the North- east, where I come from, to stem the tide of the insurgency.

We also had problems of kidnapping and hostage taking. In the South-east and South-south, security of lives and property became a major priority of the government at the centre. We have substantially reduced the theater of operations of the insurgents and other criminal entities. But security of lives is not the responsibility of the Federal Government alone.

Over the years, state C M Y K

*Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak

Era of ‘garrison democracy’... governors have been taking security votes which they have failed to use to provide security in their states. The same governors would turn round to criticise the Federal Government on security matters as if they are insulated from the process. Beyond our own internal security challenges, we had to participate in regional military operations because we found that there were international linkages and dimensions to the security crisis in the country, We have to collaborate with our regional neighbours to deal with the external threats.

The North-east remains problematic because Cameroon has not fully cooperated with Nigeria just as Chad, Benin and Niger republic have done.

In the coastal region, we are working with other members of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to deal with the security situations arsing from acts of piracy and oil theft. There are several joint naval and maritime security operations in the region. So you can see that there are internal and external dynamics to the security situations that we are facing.

Talk is cheap especially for the opposition and for people outside government. Those who say President Jonathan is weak should know that we elected a president and not a superman hero who is on a one-man rescue mission.

As a people, we must ask

ourselves, what do we want from the Presidency? It appears that the long years of military dictatorship has left a mark on our psyche that we have become so used to dictatorships and we would not recognise a democratic leader or tolerate the values and

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exercise of power must be with wisdom and control.

Power without control is dangerous. When I read some of things that are written about the president in the media, I shudder, I think that if we want this country to move forward, we must stop judging our leaders harshly.

When we say that the president inherited multifarious problems, it is not to make excuses, but to crave for patience and understanding among Nigerians. We cannot be running down our leaders and institutions because we are not there, that is bad politics.

President Jonathan is not a miracle worker who would fix things by the words of mouth.

In a democracy, even presidential declarations require legal and administrative actions to actualise.

The legal components must be given flesh; it is not like when the military was in power, they governed without the legislature. This time, the people must be carried along and it takes deliberate and determined effort to consult and get consensus.

Even when government wants to site a project that would be of social-economic value to a community, it has to discuss with them, work out the modality and pay compensation.

As we saw in Delta State recently, the siting of a gas project that was to be one of the biggest in Africa sparked conflict in a community dominated by the same ethnic stock.

this cancer, we will stop the spread. The young ones will have to question their parents on their value system, the parents will have to shun corruption for the collective good of the society and those in government will have to create opportunities for all to realise their dreams and potentials, those in the business world will have to play by the rule.

Corruption is not a black man disease.

In some countries in Asia, the penalty ranges from death sentence to life imprisonment.

Presidents and prominent people have been jailed when they have proven cases. We

If all of us decide to deal with this cancer, we will stop the spread. The young ones will have to question their parents on their value system, the parents will have to shun corruption for the collective good of the society and those in government will have to create opportunities for all

virtues of democratic governance.

You mentioned the issue of accountability. Looking at the anti-corruption crusade of government, would you say the administration has done its best to combat corruption?

In fighting corruption, law enforcement is only one aspect.

There are other components which may range from moral to social values. When people talk of corruption, their search light is on the Federal Government and its agencies.

If all of us decide to deal with

equally have social and political corruption. We cannot treat economic or financial corruption in isolation of political corruption. We also have to retool our conscience to reject evil rather than finding justification for it.

We have to get the leaders of faith and religious groups to become part of the crusade.

Fighting corruption cannot be done by legislation alone because the short term benefit of corruption is enticing, but the long term impact has wider ramifications.

I see those who want to hide

behind the global aversion for corruption to persecute persons they dislike. The EFCC has many cases in court, but prosecuting corruption cases takes time, we want to avoid miscarriage of justice and acts of political witch hunting. Nobody is above the law but justice must be served fairly and without ulterior motives.

We saw the case of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo when some people were bought over to remove him as Senate President, he went to court and the court cleare him.

We saw the case of Chief Olabode George who was accused and punished only for the Supreme Court to vindicate him at the end of the day. We saw the case of Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, who was wrongly accused and removed from office, she went to court and was vindicated. So when we are fighting corruption, it should not be a yard stick to pursue personal or ethnic vendetta because the injury done to an innocent person may never heal.

But where we have proven cases of corruption, this administration is ever prepared to take action. We respect the press and the social media community, we need their activities to fight corruption but we must go beyond the theatrics. We also must beam our search light on the councilors, the state legislators, members of Exco at the state level and the governors, they are not angels.

I am saying that state governors must not treat anticorruption as the headache of the Federal Government.

What is your position on the spate of defections rocking the PDP? It opens up the political space, we have always seen these defections during election periods, people leave the party in search of platforms to contest for election but when the get to those other parties they discover that they are hollow and they come back. We do not shut the doors against them, but the defection helps us to know those who are in the party but their spirit is elsewhere; it helps us to know those who are sitting on the fence, but, above all, those who are defecting have been the source of the internal crisis within the party. Their exit will give us the opportunity to focus our attention and energy on the main activities of the party and I can assure you that the PDP will emerge stronger.

We are still in the process of reconciling our members and we will make sure that only popular candidates are fielded for elections

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 15

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

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bubakar Muhammed Gege is Executive Di rector, Katsina State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. In this interview, he speaks on the efforts by the Shema administration to put in place a regime of sanitation in the state while also providing potable water.

To what extent have you supplied all parts of the state with potable water?

The agency was established in 2003 during the tenure of the president as the governor of the state, Alhaji Musa Yar’ Adua.

The agency was given the mandate to coordinate the activities of rural water supply and sanitation in the state. It collaborates with the agencies in the sector to accelerate the coverage in terms of rural water supply and sanitation in the state.

When the agency was established in 2003, we took an inventory of existing facilities and what we found out at that time was that only about 30% of the rural populace in the state had access to potable water and adequate sanitation. The state itself has a population of 60% rural and that is communities with the population of 5,000 and below. After the inventory, we went into action to procure some facilities so that not only to get water to these communities but also ensured that they took ownership of the project.

When I came in as Executive Director in 2007, we took another inventory and found out that about 45% of the rural population have access to water but when we took another inventory in 2009 the percentage had risen to 65% of the rural populace that had access to safe water supply. And soon we are likely to take another inventory to see how far we have gone in acceleration coverage.

Strategy to ensure compliance One of the strategies that has worked particularly in the urban centres is compulsory sanitation which incidentally is also replicated here in the state by the state environmental agency. In the rural areas, we also have a strategy to ensure cleaner environment. This is the community- led total sanitation. It is the communities themselves responsible for ensuring the improvement of sanitation and hygiene in their environment and we do this through facilitation. We go to the communities, sensitise them, facilitate their understanding on issues relating to hygiene, sanitation and defecating in the open which can be injurious to their health, we make them to understand that defecation in the open is responsible for most of the health problems they are having especially diarrhoea. Once that is done, we supply them potable water. We are not alone in this

Katsina’s rules on potable water, open defecation! action plan, there is the DFD, there is UNICEF. They are supporting us in the implementation of this strategy. We are presently declaring three of the LGAs in the state open defecation free, ODF. You can no longer go to these communities to defecate openly. And things have started improving because some of them are no longer waiting for government as they now construct their own latrines but we still support them with cleaning materials.

This has greatly improved the health conditions of the people in these areas.

Apart from the strategy adopted, have you made any arrest of deviants?

This why I said it is a community-led approach. The communities have their own communal courts. They assign some people especially the young ones within the community who keep their eyes open and once they see anyone defecating in the open, they arrest the person; there are steps, depending on the communities on how to discipline any deviant. We don’t impose the rules on them.

They enforced it on themselves.

In some of the communities

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communities form their own associations, we support them to get the associations registered with the ministry of youth and social development so that they can open an account. We train them on the operational methods of these facilities and how they can raise funds, usually a token to be able to repair the facilities whenever they break down. However we are not relenting. When we go round and find things like this, because we do get feed backs from the local government water supply and sanitation agency, we still provide back up by mobilising them to take action in ensuring that the facilities are brought back to life.

*Abubakar Muhammed Gege drilling rigs providing borehole water to the communities, but between 2007to date, we have additional four brand new rigs, three of where were procured by the state government and went to each of the three senatorial zones while the agency,

The First Lady of the state. She and her NGO go from house to house to inspect the latrines.

She goes to the communities to sensitise them on the need to stop defecating in the open, to be health conscious

they call the vigilante Shit Police. Sometimes, they fine the culprit, or show him or her round the community; of course you know that can be disgraceful. So people are really complying with the rules. Another strategy that has really assisted us in getting the people to be conscious of their health is the one by the First Lady of the state. She and her NGO go from house to house to inspect the latrines. She goes to the communities to sensitise them on the need to stop defecating in the open, to be health conscious.

You said over 65%of the populace have access to water.

What happens to the remaining 45%?

I told you 65% as at 2009 and between 2009 and to date we have been doing a lot of work to ensure that water gets to everybody in the state. Very soon, we are going to take another inventory to know where we are now. Between 2003 and 2007, this agency had just two

with collaboration with the Japanese International Corporation Agency, has been able to secure another bore water drilling equipment. The initial two rigs broke down but the state government brought them back to life. So, as we speak, we have six serviceable rigs which obviously have accelerated the pace of our work in the rural areas.

How long does it take to successfully complete a borehole?

Each of the rigs can drill a complete borehole to about 70 metres within one day. Once we are able to do the geo- physical survey which has three crews, they go round to take survey, results interpreted, within a day we are through with drilling. The following day, we do the hill test and by the next day we can under take the installation if it is hand pump but if it is motorised we need about two weeks after that to carry out construction of the site.

For hand pumps, within maximum of five days, from survey to installations, you can have

your water. For the motorised system, you need nothing less than three weeks to have water.

But even in the state capital, there are still water vendors all around. Why? Katsina is an urban settlement. It is beyond the mandate of the agency. That is for the state water board to handle.

There are areas we call the semi-urban where the population is between 5,000 and 20,000, they are not also part of the rural, they are being handled by the ministry of water resources. What this agency is really taking care of is purely the rural communities that are below 5,000 population. But there are occasions we do come in as interventionist to help the situation albeit temporarily. True if you go round, there are some areas that have been experiencing water shortage, so in the interim, we sank hand pump or motorised bore holes in the affected areas.

There are still communities even with potable water where people still go long to distances to fetch water because their borehole with them is no longer functioning.

That is what we are saying that people should take ownership of the projects. This is a national policy and also the state policy. You see some of these people in the communities still do not understand that it is their responsibility to maintain these facilities. While some have taken ownership of their facilities, others have not. So where you find people with the facilities and still going to fetch water from other sources, it is because their facilities may have broken down and they have not been able to come together to repair it. Even when we repair or provide brand new facilities, we first of all ensure that these

What are your targets this year?

We have our investment plan which we have developed, our target is to achieve 85% by next year. That is the Millennium Development Goal, MDG, year. Why the increment had been good prior to the establishment of the agency is because until that time there were several agencies providing the same facilities. So it was more like duplication of duties. And all of these agencies were working parallel to each other.

They were not working together, because there was no agency mandated to coordinate their works. Now any agency that is doing something in the rural area must liaise with the rural water supply and sanitation agency and that is why we have succeeded in stopping the duplication of mandates that was synonymous with the past.

But I must add that without the assistance of the governor who understands the importance and the enormity that comes with providing water to the people, we would not have come this far. In 2003, we started with a paltry budget of N500m and there was no year we were able to draw beyond N400m but, from 2007, the agency’s budget has continue to rise far and above that. It was initially raised to N800m, by the following year, our budget was more than N1billion the initial stage only the government was funding rural water supply activities in the state, we were not able to attract investment from outside, probably government thought it could do it all alone but the clear understanding of Shema is to collaborate with others from outside, get investments from outside, we have developed partnership with UNICEF, we have developed partnership with the DFID of the U.K , China government, Japanese International Corporation Agency and all the NGOs both local and international; all of these are additional investments.

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

The Senate defection anti-climax E

motions were high, there was the antici pation that at least the era of the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, sitting at the driver’s seat and dishing out instructions at the National Assembly was about to come to an end at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, following the gale of defections especially that rocked the House of Representatives.

Indeed it was gathered that the leadership of the Senate had postponed the resumption date after the Christmas and New Year break for another one week to see whether the tension generated by the anticipated defection of about 22 aggrieved members of the PDP in the upper chamber to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, would go down.

The PDP-controlled leadership of the upper legislative chamber had flown a kite through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, to feel the pulse of the senators that had threatened to dump the PDP for the APC. Enang, in a media briefing in his office, threatened that any senator that defects to the opposition party would automatically lose his seat.

His argument was that it was the political party that was elected and not the individual and that whoever is leaving the political party that gave him the seat would automatically leave without the seat. He also debunked the claim that precedents had been set in the past where parliamentarians elected on the platform of a political party jumped the ship by pitching their tents with another party, saying that such existed because nobody challenged such an action following constitutional provisions.

*Evil day postponed?

*Senate President David Mark There was the feeling in some quarters that Enang’s position was like the Biblical hands of Esau and voice of Jacob as he was presenting the position of the Senate leadership.

But being aware of the bashing that followed Enang’s briefing from other senators, the leadership of the Senate, through its Committee Chairman on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, disowned the Akwa Ibom State born lawmaker, saying the sentiment he expressed was his personal opinion and did not reflect the position of the red chamber.

With that, the stage was set that the resumption date would witness a tsunami coupled with the assurance by Senator Bindowo Jibrilla, PDP, Adamawa North, who, on a BBC Hausa Service programme, last week, said 17 PDP senators would, at the resumption of plenary, defect to the APC, even as he claimed that the senators made their intentions known via separate letters to Senate President David Mark.

The 17 senators were among the 22 others who had reportedly indicated their interest to join the APC before Christmas and New Year break.

the cooler

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE House leadership :The planned matrimony between PDP and APC

n a bid to sustain the 2011 I House project that produced the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, innermost members of the House, during the Yuletide break, in a meeting, resolved to retain Ihedioha as Deputy Speaker in case Tambuwal decamps from the PDP to APC. Based on this arrangement, Ihedioha remains in PDP, but holds unto his position as DS. Some members had threatened to C M Y K

dislodge Ihedioha but Tambuwal was said to have threatened to also vacate his position as Speaker if Ihedioha is dropped as his deputy.

His threat so far has made the aggrieved members to remain silent.

Those who wanted Ihedioha retained argued that former Senate President, Senator Joseph Wayas, was in the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN , while his deputy Senator Wash Pam, was in Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, and both operated like that in the second republic.

Reps keep 2014Appropriation Act in

The 2014 Appropriation Bill,submitted, last month to the National Assembly, may suffer further setbacks as Reps keep it in the cooler. The 2014 budget could not be presented by President Goodluck Jonathan largely due to the fear that members of the House may hurl insults at him.

On December 19, the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala presented, it on his behalf. The 2013 budget was laid on October 10 and was passed in record time by the green chamber.

The 2014 budget may remain in the cooler as nothing has been mentioned about it since the House resumed last Tuesday.

Defection crisis in the House: DPP Chairman denies member for defecting to APC instead of PDP.

on. Sulayman Kwande, who defected to APC, last H Tuesday, has been denied by his

party Chairman, Maj. Gen Jerry Useni. In a communication sent to

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

Jibrilla said he had already led the way by joining APC, saying he would announce his defection immediately after Senate resumption and others will follow.

“To be candid, we are 17 senators that will dump PDP to APC in the Senate very soon.

This is a serious matter and not a joke, making me to lead the way by joining the APC already”.

The PDP presently has 72 senators, while APC has 33, Labour Party (LP) has three while APGA has the remaining one seat.

But the doomsday prophesy against the PDP refused to come to pass. As the senators sauntered into the chambers with the usual comradeship and back slapping on Tuesday, and most of them clad in their ‘agbada’ attire, there was no sign that anything untoward was going to happen, although, William Shakespeare, in one of his books, had posited that there was no act see man’s construction on the face.

Legislative business resumed as the Senate president and principal officers of the chamber took their seats. He read letters from Mr. President on the appointment of new Service Chiefs and ministers. It was expected that like what happened in the House of Representatives where defecting members submitted a letter notifying the chamber of their decision to dump the PDP for APC and was read on the floor by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, the senators wanting to decamp would also follow, but there was neither such letter nor point of order raised to that effect by the defecting members.

In his welcome remarks, Mark advised the senators not to allow to themselves be beclouded by selfish interest as they carry out their legislative business, stressing that the

nation was watching to see what would be the position of the Senate in the midst of the frightening political tension.

“But here in the Senate, how we ride the challenge, and not let it deflect our focus from our constitutional responsibilities and our duty to our nation, will be a measure of our maturity as elder statesmen and women, democrats and patriots”, he said.

“Our nation is watching to see whether distinguished senators will uphold the dignity of this institution and their oath of office, or whether we will allow ourselves to become mere tools in factional political disputes and intra-party rows.

On the second legislative business, Wednesday, the expected emotions bottled in the minds of senators according to their political linen was made manifest as there was a near exchange of blows among those sympathetic to the ruling PDP and those on the side of the APC immediately Senator Wilson Ake presented a motion on the political crisis in Rivers State.

The senators threw decorum to the wind and almost engaged in what would have been a free-for-all, following a disagreement between Senator James Manager, PDP, Delta South and Senator Ahmed Lawan, APC, Yobe North, after the latter walked to where the former was sitting to engage him over an alleged derogatory remark against him.

Both senators refused to disclose the statement that generated the heat when asked by newsmen.

Mark regretted the development, saying the conduct of the senators did not promote the spirit of dialogue which they had been preaching for.

“At this stage, we would dialogue, dialogue, dialogue and then we want to fight.

the House by Useni and read to the House by the presiding officer, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Useni noted that Kwande was instructed to defect to PDP not APC. This led to shouts of PDP! PDP!! PDP!!! The Speaker used the opportunity to warn members planning to defect to other parties to consult their leaders.

is only in Borno that both APC and PDP lawmakers work together”.

This is unlike their counterparts from Rivers State where Hon Kingsley Chinda at all times will want to puncture whatever his APC counterparts bring to the floor of the House.

Borno bomb blast: APC/ PDP Reps unite to fight common cause

orno lawmakers are known for one thing in the House: B Ever united once Boko Haram is

mentioned on the floor.

Last Wednesday, Hon Kyari Gujbawu, PDP, Borno, had brought a motion under matters of national importance to the floor of the House on the Maiduguri January 14 bomb blasts. Gujbawu had barely finished his presentation when all the Borno lawmakers raised their hands to second the motion.

The presiding officer, Aminu Tambuwal, looked up and saw all the hands up and chipped, “Ah, it

Ogor vs Gbajabiamila

on Leo Ogor and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila are H unarguably the most visible

legislators in the 7th Assembly.

They are generals with very vibrant foot soldiers in the House ready to exchange fire for fire once their commanders give the necessary order.

Last Tuesday, the animosity came to bear when Gbajabiamila referred to Ogor as a Deputy Minority Leader, and before you could say ‘Jack Robinson’, Ogor’s field commanders led by Chairman, South- south Parliamentary Caucus, Hon Warman Ogoriba and Hon Toby Okechukwu had advanced towards Gbajabiamila but thank God for APC members who quickly shielded him.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 17

THE JUNE 12 STORY

How Abiola, NADECO played into Gen. Abacha’s hands – Prof. Yadudu

•‘My problem with the late head of state’s self-succession bid’ •On Boko Haram: Jonathan, military don’t understand the phenomenon In this concluding part of the interview with the former legal adviser to the late head of state, General Sani Abacha, Prof. Awwal Yadudu, he says the late Chief MKO Abiola won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election but defends his incarceration by Abacha on the grounds of his self-declaration as president.

Yadudu also speaks on other issues in the polity.

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter generated controversy. What is your take on the letter, President Jonathan’s reply and the one from Iyabo Obasanjo to her father?

I don’t know what propelled Obasanjo’s letter. Clearly he was addressing the fact of what the president was doing to the PDP, the fact that the president signed an undertaking to do one term, the fact that some money was not remitted to the Federation Account. But my worry is that a former president felt so worried to state such allegation that an incumbent president is part of a conspiracy to train snipers to be used as political agents. A former president has total understanding of the security of this country, he would not likely make such an allegation for nothing. So my understanding of it is therefore is that it is in Obasanjo’s character. He has not done this to Jonathan alone, he did it to Babangida, he did it to Shagari, he did it to the late Abacha also. He is someone you can call basket mouth. If he feels strongly about something, he says it. Even in the letter, he clearly stated that he had been compelled to choose the medium of public broadcast because the other attempts to reach out to Jonathan had been completely ignored or disrespected or spurned.

So Obasanjo’s letter levelled serious allegations that anybody in authority ought to address. And my understanding of Jonathan’s response is that he was neither addressing the facts nor attempting to dispel the allegations and therefore it is very worrisome. It portends great danger for the polity, for the Presidency and for the nation. We are not talking about a military regime, we are talking about a person elected under the law, the constitution being abused and all

he does is to play the ostrich. God help us.

On Iyabo’s letter, I don’t know what to make of it.

There is no way you can deny that what she said are personal issues. Though some people said some of the allegations Obasanjo is making against Jonathan were allegations made during his tenure. So it was either he was able to address those problems or it may be that the people were not courageous enough to come in the open and make the allegations as he has done now.

There were open letters also like the kind Obasanjo has written that were written against him, may be he was a bit more clever as president that he knew how he could handle it. Remember the late Sunday Awoniyi’s letter was very scaring. He was addressing the same issues Obasanjo is now addressing. In Obasanjo’s case, he didn’t reply Awoniyi in an open letter but he probably took decisions which ameliorated some of the allegations that were made . May be I can link this issue now to the previous ones discussed.

If a president signed an undertaking that he was going to do one term and he now reneges and suddenly there are allegations, accusations clearly being hurled at him by his predecessor in office, then he ignores it, it further compounds the views and perception and analysis of his personality that the rest of the world is making. It is no longer a local issue.

Internationally, he is completely diminished.

This letter and his response have not enhanced his standing but has further diminished his standing and his respectability. As a gentleman, as someone who will command respect, not only in

Continues on page 18 C M Y K

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

YADUDU: The strength and weaknesses of PDP, APC ahead of 2015 Continued from page 17 Nigeria but when he meets with comity of others, you can not tell other heads of state with a straight face what kind of things you are doing here.

What does the emergence of the APC portend for the PDP? Having a true and vibrant opposition to any ruling party, not necessarily the PDP, can only be helpful in shaping policies and also assisting government to have direction. This is regardless of electoral fortunes. If you have an opposition, the dictatorial tendency of the majority will be checked and you and I the common people will benefit from it in that we will have policies that are better shaped, we will have less intrusion from the dictatorial tendencies such that the issue of somebody going to the National Assembly to throw something at them and get away with it will not happen. In a way also, it has called the PDP to order that you will rule this country for 100 years is hollow. In terms of electoral fortunes, there is no doubt about it that if elections are conducted fairly and squarely, if votes count, it is not rocket science to imagine what would happen to the fortunes of the PDP. Already they have lost potentially the control of the National Assembly. f you look at the profile of the states controlled by the APC, demographically, they are the most important electorally. You are talking of Lagos, and the whole of Southwest, Kano in the North-west, Rivers , you have almost the whole of North-east, where does the PDP get its votes and that is why I said looking at the profile and composition of realignment of forces, it does not require rocket science to predict the electoral fortunes of the PDP. They are very very dim in future. Jonathan must be the most embarrassed president who failed to show his face at the National Assembly to present his budget. It is the most embarrassing statement to make. Even in Nigeria, that action didn’t ring any bell and the presidency too didn’t make any issue of it but, internationally, our partners, they understand what is happening. The fact that he was unable to appear before the National Assembly is indicative of his grave apprehension of the fact that he has no control of the assembly. Forget the issue that they have not reached a consensus on the bench mark, the fact is that he has no control of the C M Y K

,,

I

Yadudu...I could not verify Abacha’s promise to Abiola

Whether you like it or not, at the time General Abacha came into office, there was no way he could actualise legally the election that had been inconclusive

assembly. Having said that, the APC too would have its own internal problems because it is bringing all sorts of people together, not necessarily based on ideology or manifestoes except that some people are aggrieved, they left and joined you. I think that can be a problem for the APC and it can also be a good challenge if they are able to address it, then we can truly have genuine democratic parties emerging that are based on a platform and that can now canvass for votes from the people. If the APC behaves like the PDP in terms of democratic culture,

they will not go far. At the moment, on the face of it, officially they are what are.

W

ith benefit of hindsight, what kind of person was Abacha beyond the demonic picture the public has made of him?

First of all, and this is the point I always underline, I served the government in a professional capacity as special adviser on legal matters. As a professional, what advice I gave or did not give were not matters known to the public and so therefore are not matters as I do

tell people that I will now come to broadcast. This is something that those with whom I worked can vouch or not vouch. I was not politically active other than just being professional in what I was doing. So regarding my assessment of the late General Abacha. he was a leader who had come to the stage under very difficult circumstances and circumstances I unfortunately was unable to verify because there are many claims as to how he came about. There are those who claimed there was an understanding that he would hand over after some time. I cannot verify that claim because I came into office some four, five months after he assumed office. It is not within my province to begin to do that but, whatever it was, it was very difficult circumstances that he came to govern the nation. There was a man who had contested an election and, from all indications, won the election and someone had annulled the election for whatever reason and then you now found yourself, whether through your own scheming or by happenstance, you happen to find your self in power. It was a situation, domestically it had a lot of social conflicts and there were those who felt that, even if you won’t install the winner, you didn’t have to incarcerate him. Here was a head of state finding himself in an inconclusive election that was trying to be actualised outside constitutional means under which the election was conducted but, whether you like it or not, at the time General Abacha came into office, there was no way he could actualise legally the election that had been inconclusive.

Chief MKO Abiola had not been declared the winner although there were result sheets that would lead inexcusably to him being declared as the winner.

Those who agitated for his reinstatement did not stop at that but also now generated to a situation where there was self-declaration and there could not be two sovereignties, two leadership, two authorities claiming the leadership of the country; so, therefore, the legal decision the head of state, the president took in dealing with the problems posed by NADECO to seek for the actualisation of the mandate of Chief Abiola were justifiable in law. It was difficult for me to understand what had come to be selfsuccession bid for the president at that time because there were very serious constitutional problems with that but because providence intervened we didn’t have to start dealing with that constitutional and

Continues on page 19

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 19

Continued from page 18 legal problems. I will concede that the military regime is different civilian because of military law which you can call draconian, it was not Abacha administration that brought about those laws he operated. In terms of character, he was intensely nationalistic in that there were certain decisions he took that reinforced this view of mine about him. During his days, he was fighting more of external war than domestic. The way he dealt with external threat especially in terms of how the nation could be brought down to its knees was impressive like, when you sell oil which is dollar denominated, payments are made in U K or the U S but he clearly saw that it was gravely harmful because of what had happened to Iran. The economy of Iran suffered gravely when they allowed their situation to continue as before. I remember it was Abacha’s policy that a significant part of our account for oil receipt be shifted to France and in a way that provided a balance, not that France could not also harm us but also in a way it took some business to France and got some protection for the nation and that way nobody could freeze the Federal Government account in England at will. And the British Airways saga. Nigeria Airways was comatose but still operating skeletal services when the British authorities grounded Nigeria Airways, seized its plane in the UK on behalf of a private contractor and Abacha said ‘ you take this action against our interest, we take action too by suspending British Airways flights to Nigeria and you know how we Nigerians patronise them.’ That action gravely affected their economy. I can tell you that the first thing the British High Commissioner who came to congratulate General Abdulsalami was to beg him to return those British Airways flights, he was not even agitating for Chief MKO Abiola. The Cameroonian problem, that is, the Bakassi issue, all former heads of state had been treating the issue with kid gloves. Sometimes Cameroonian soldiers would come and harass Nigerians in Bakassi, even invade territories that were not in dispute. I recall that it was his decision that the military had to flush them out of Nigeria territory and you could say that triggered the legal dispute which in the end gave the disputed land to Cameroun but his dealing with them was quite in contrast to the way General Gowon for example dealt with them.

Tell us the memories you have of him Abacha was very courageous and he was very good listerner. We have had this interview for an hour or so; if you had audience with him, he would listen to you for that one hour, take whatever you bring to the table and then take his decision unlike President Obasanjo who knows everything, the all-knowing. Abacha would listen. This is one thing that is memorable in my mind. In economic

Yadudu...Abacha dealth with the British, Camerounians

‘Abacha fought external war’

,,

The way he dealt with external threat especially in terms of how the nation could be brought down to its knees was impressive terms, the late Professor Aluko would vouch on this statement because I know the interacted very much with Abacha as the chair of the Economic Intelligence Committee.

M

any people think the problems we are having as a nation is mainly because we have a weak Presidency. Do you share that opinion?

I don’t want to be unfair in assessing the personality of the president because I have not studied him up close. But from the sort of actions that the president takes on a number of issues, one can from a distance make assessment of the kind of personality he has. I think there is no doubt about it that he does not have a clear understanding of the magnitude of the office he

occupies. He does not in my view have a clear understanding of the demands of the office he occupies.

Two: it seems to me that suffering from this, the total misunderstanding or lack of understanding of the office he occupies, is coupled with the tendency to be reckless in what you say. He does not measure the words he says and then, because you are reckless, you say things that confirm the view one has of you. There are so many instances of his recklessness in what he says.

Like t the initial stage of the insurgency of Boko Haram, not once but many times, he said it would end in three months. What sort of police commissioner would make such such statement about a phenomenon that at that time they didn’t quite understand and even today they do not quite understand?

The phenomenon you still don’t understand, the intelligence community does not understand and you make such statement. When you lack an understanding of the magnitude of this office and you are reckless in what you say, then there is propensity to take decisions that can be disruptive to the equilibrium because, if you don’t understand the magnitude of the office you occupy and you don’t weigh or choose the words you say, then you take actions that are precipitate and that can disrupt the equilibrium that maintains the society. And what that does is that it can lead to disorder that explodes in your face. Let me

A

give you an example. We don’t know the fact but this was a precipitate illthought action to me. The first one I found very troubling was the way, for whatever reason, he dealt with politics at his own backyard. His problem with Sylva, the former governor of Bayelsa State. There is no way the Presidency can wash off its hands off what was happening at that time. There is no way the Presidency could wash off its hand on how this gentleman who is now governor of the state emerged. Even within his own locality, he has disrupted the equilibrium. He is not having the heat because he is in Abuja and he is the president and he thinks everything is okay at home.

It is not. And of course you can replicate many of such kind precipitate ill thought, totally unconsidered actions undertaken by somebody who does not understand fully the magnitude of the office he occupies. He jumps before he leaps.

The worrying thing about this assessment that I have is that it does not urgur well for the nation because what holds this nation is the skilfull way of handling competing interests and maintaining some form of equilibrium and it seems he does not have advisers who can tell him that these are some of the weak qualities that he has. No president who understands the magnitude of the office would allow the kind of press statements that are being issued in his name to go public. The problem with this kind of attitude, disrespectful, totally ill-thought way of responding also tells about the personality of the president.

If I were him, there is no way I would have allowed Obasanjo to resort to publishing that letter. All that would have silenced him would have been if he had said Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a liability to the PDP, he would have been removed.

You think so? t least Obasanjo believed so. I don’t know the workings of the PDP, he does. What was the big deal about Tukur? After all Jonathan sacked Ogbulafor. He sacked Bello Muhammed, Baraje. Sacking Tukur would have taken the discussion between him and Obasanjo to another level, there would have been no basis for Obasanjo to write that letter. So what I am saying is that the action you take and the advice you get could only go so far it meets with the kind of person you are. I don’t want to be uncharitable to the president. I am not too sure I will flaunt my Ph.D degree if I were him.

The kind of assessment one has of him about not understanding his circumstance, being reckless with what he says, taking decisions that are ill-advised, are not the sort of decisions someone who prides himself of holding a P.hD would take. Even if he is a vice chancellor, not to talk of a governor or a president, these are not decisions I would expect from him. Of course he has PhD but it does not bear him well from a distant observer of what he does.

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PAGE 20 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA AND SONI DANIEL

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overnor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State is among the aggrieved governors of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP. At the height of his frustration with the party, he disappointed pundits who had expected him to join his five colleagues who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, last year. In this interview, Lamido gives reasons why he cannot join the opposition but warns that the exit of Bamanga Tukur from the PDP leadership does not in any way solve the problem that is generating tension in the party.

Excerpts: What is really your anger with the PDP? Are you now ready to return to the party now that the Bamanga Tukur has resigned as the National Chairman?

Is Tukur’s resignation the solution to the party’s crisis? I don’t think so.

They say a stitch in time saves nine but the party did not act in time; therefore nine is not being saved.

The party we formed with a very clear vision was gradually being destroyed by Tukur. It was to make the Nigerian people see the difference between dictatorship and democracy and showcase Nigeria before the international community as a leader in democratic dispensation.

So, as the ruling party in Nigeria, its character and conduct must capture the Nigerian hope so that whatever we’ve been able to achieve in the last 14 years is not destroyed.

But unfortunately, Tukur embarked on destroying the various organs of the party. For instance, for a whole year he never held a NEC meeting.

People are aware of this and he took several profound decisions all by himself. So the party was being run as Tukur’s personal estate, as he systematically estranged other stakeholders. So there was impunity on the part of Tukur. He was creating divisions and a serious sense of disunity among the party members. So what we did was to embark on a campaign to our leaders to call Tukur to order and to draw their attention to the fact that the party which got the support of Nigerians to win election in 2011 also needed to behave well and connect with the majority of members so as to win their support in subsequent elections. We also drew attention of the leaders that if we don’t change the way things are going on the party, we might not be able to get there in 2015. We even warned that even if we get to 2015 as a divided house, the precipitations might endanger the future government. We met all the leaders and because they are all statesmen, we pleaded with them to call Tukur to order and arrest the high level of impunity that was going on in the party. We recalled the unjustified suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the stripping of Governor Murtala Nyako of the Adamawa State structures of the PDP, the sacking of

Tukur’s exit may not end PDP crisis – Gov Sule Lamido

•Threat ens the par ty’s virus of impunity •Threatens party’s and lawlessness must be cleared or …

Ababakar Baraje and Olagunsoye Oyinlola. The worst case scenario was in the case of Oyinlola. After being reinstated by the court, Tukur announced his expulsion that same evening. But we all know that the dismissal of party officer normally follows a series of processes. And we began to wonder if the ruling party in Nigeria becomes reckless and irresponsible by way of doing things then Nigeria is in trouble. So the damage has been done already and easing Tukur out under pressure is a little bit late. Look at the consequences. How can the

So, as the ruling party in Nigeria, its character and conduct must capture the Nigerian hope so that whatever we’ve been able to achieve in the last 14 years is not destroyed American president lose five governors of his own party to the opposition in one swoop?

And how do we feel as leaders in Africa where democracy is the main

philosophy of running government?

When our president goes for a meeting with other African leaders

Continues on page 21

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 21

‘Tukur’s exit may not end PDP crisis’ Continued from page 20 they are likely to ask him what happened to the governors who left his party for the opposition. The consequences and the collateral damage are that our country’s image is becoming diminished because the issue goes beyond PDP. What has happened is an embarrassment to the entire country because our democracy is being destroyed. People stood under very difficult conditions to vote for the president and his party and at the end of the day you are destroying the party and the hope of the electorate by your despotic actions.

How can the Nigerian people trust you again? The truth is that by these despotic actions of a few in the party, we are not only harming PDP but democracy and therefore harming Nigeria’s image as the leader of the black race. The danger is that if we don’t do things right in PDP, we will never be respected within and outside the shores of Nigeria. It is a little bit late for the party because when I say that Tukur is a virus you can see how it is affecting the entire political landscape in Nigeria because the very thing we are accusing the PDP of doing is happening in APC. Why should a person who fought for a process to be transparent go to benefit from that kind of abuse? My colleagues who left PDP felt very pained and had to go. But when the anger subsides, they are likely to reason and may begin to ask certain questions. Some of the questions may include: were we fighting for our personal or national cause? Were we fighting for election or a process that would bring about a better electoral process in Nigeria? Were we fighting for a short term benefit or something that would bring long term effect for Nigerians? Are we building a strong foundation for the future of Nigeria or what? So for me, our agitation and complaint were simply because the process in the party was wrong and if something urgent is not done it could truncate democracy. Our struggle is all about democracy. I really feel sad that I lost my friends to the other party. They still remain my friends. But you see, on account of principle it is necessary to ask what we were fighting for. We want the right thing to be done in PDP and if the same thing is being orchestrated in APC, then there is a virus. They are people who formed the APC but I don’t believe in the party.

I don’t think I would want to benefit from the misfortune of the people in APC for being denied their rights. I don’t think it is proper for me to go there and benefit from the same thing I’m fighting against in PDP. We have to look at the mistakes of Tukur and then set up truth and reconciliation process to reconcile the aggrieved persons and groups. The party needs to find out the level of

embark on impunity to weaken our struggle.

There is suspicion that your grandstanding with the PDP is that you want to run as a presidential candidate in 2015. Is that true?

I believe that you know very well that in Nigeria people will always try to deflate you by first blackmailing you. In this country, everything has been reduced to aspiration. Is that all we can do for the country? I don’t care about the blackmail because there is no name I have not been called because I always stand for what is right. But I remain who I have always been. Although they impute that I’m proud but I listen to superior arguments. Where is the environment for me to run as a presidential candidate? People care about contest and platform, but not the atmosphere. The atmosphere is not just right.

Under what conditions would you be fully involved in PDP activities since you say you have not left the party?

No, no no! I am in PDP and I am in PDP. I have been very involved with my friends and colleagues in fighting for justice and I am still involved. I have never withdrawn and I never took any sabbatical leave from the party. I’m fighting now in my own small way as a Lone Ranger.

It’s a lone voice.

*Lamido...We should do the right thing for Nigeria impunity committed by Tukur, who did he offend, what atrocities did he commit and finally; they must admit that the party was wrong. They should restore the rights that were denied the governors and make amends. The suspension and sacking of Baraje, Oyinlola and so on must be addressed and the filth in the party cleared as a means of soothing frayed nerves and moving it forward.

We should swallow our personal pride and do what is right for the sake of Nigeria. The ill feeling and anger of those who left must be assuaged You were conspicuously absent from the various meetings of PDP governors and the NEC of the party culminating in the choice of a new National Chairman. Are you still angry?

At that time Tukur was still the chairman. I have made the point that crisis. Wherever we are, we should I will remain in PDP but certainly not stand by the principles that can under Tukur as my National sustain our democracy. The chairman. And therefore, at any foundation of our democracy must be function he appears, I would not right in order to take the load of attend. It is so personal because nationhood. We should put aside our every time I see him, I see the virus personal interest and work for the that is about to destroy Nigeria’s well being of this country. And democracy. democracy must be made to prevail in all the parties. It is the foundation But at what forum will you table that first defines our success or these demands or conditions for failure. Having fought from 1999 till peace to the PDP leadership for today, we should be consolidating consideration? our democracy and not continue to The PDP crisis is now a Nigerian

I have made the point that I will remain in PDP but certainly not under Tukur as my National chairman

What are you looking for?

What I’m looking for is what I have been fighting for all my life. I need a country which is united, peaceful and prosperous to be able to provide the people with hope and confidence given the enormous resources that God has bestowed on the nation. I need a country where people can seek and get help and a country where Nigerians can get hope and prosperity and attend their own potentials and aspirations. I want a country where all Nigerians can get all the good things that the country gave me. I can say I have been given everything by Nigeria. They made me a party chairman and a member of the House of Representatives, a minister and a governor and so on.

But the road is now open for you to return to the party now that Tukur has left.

That is true. I will attend the meeting of my ward in my village in Bamaina coming up shortly. My action was not a personal thing because the PDP did something wrong to us and despite our complaints and consultations nobody took us serious or did anything about what we were complaining about.

Look at even what happened on the day of the last National Convention of the party at Eagle Square. On that very day, governors Aliyu, Wamakko, Kwankwaso and myself went to the President and told him that a convention of a party is like a jamboree and that every member would like to identify with and share ideas and that he should not allow any major stakeholder to be shut out of the venue. We told Mr. President that Governor Nyako of Adamawa and some National Assembly members from Rivers State should

Continues on page 22

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

Continued from page 21 not be blocked from joining other party members at the venue. We pleaded with him that as the father of the party he should allow the governor of Adamawa and the other delegates from Rivers State to join the convention so that by the time they finish there could be peace. We told him sir there’s looming danger please avert it.

What was Mr. President’s response?

He said he was going to tell Tukur but we suspect that the hangers-on around the president said let them go. They even asked what can they do?. All these waiters who were not there when we were working for the president did not allow the president to listen to us. It is a very painful thing because most of these people cannot even win election in their wards. They got into office as appointees after our sweat to win election for the president. Now, because they are near the power base, they compete in sycophancy to impress the president. But in my own case, I tell him the truth when I see the president. How can you illtreat the people who brought fortune to your own party? How can you humiliate those who assisted you?

People like Goje, Wamakko and Saraki? Their states were all under ANPP. Kwara was under ANPP and it took the intervention of the Sarakis to bring the state to PDP. Gombe was in ANPP and it took the political sagacity of Goje to move it over to the PDP. Sokoto was under ANPP for eight years and Wamakko brought it to PDP. How can you humiliate people who brought fortune to your own party? How can you say let them go and you don’t care? And we are depleting in number and even in honour. And we don’t care? Most of these people have got a character that is very nomadic in style. They compete in sycophancy at all times in order to tell Mr. President anything he wants to hear. It is a very painful experience. For God’s sake how can a party lose governors at once? Who will vote for the party? It is like someone who has money but throws it out and then begins to beg from others.

Is the PDP as it is today, the party of your dream?

The party has seriously deviated from the dreams of our founding fathers. There has not been transparency, accountability and discipline. We came together as G9 to establish the PDP to give the nation a new lease of life and a common platform for all Nigerians.

The first 13 years was to restore human confidence but those who are championing the noise now either in PDP or in APC lack political history of Nigeria. They could not have spoken or played a role in 1998. PDP may not be able to address the issue of even development in the country unless it becomes a party that is rulebased and rooted in transparency and accountability in the process of selecting political leaders. I’m saying so because if the process is defective, there would be acrimony, pain and division and we would be forced to go back to the era of ethnicity, rigging and manipulation,

something that we had been out of some years ago. For us to be able to meet the myriads of needs of the Nigerian people, then Nigerians need a party that is disciplined, focused, transparent and believes in the rule of law. I think that PDP needs to find out where we are coming from, what was our history in 1999 formation and what hurdles were we able to cross and ask ourselves if can we face the Nigeria people and address their needs with her current attitude. No, we cannot.

That is my worry but let us hope that things are changing and we will be able to solve the problems of the people. We need to think about it. I have been saying that it is either we have a good PDP that will give us a good country or a bad PDP that cannot help the country.

All the political parties now laying claim to Nigeria lack the political history to be able to address Nigeria’s crisis. They lack the political cohesion to move the nation forward because they all came about after the nation had been stabilised by the PDP. Even the PDP is a part of the problem. PDP is the main culprit because the level of its impunity is just too much. *Lamido...Party deviated from founding fathers dream

Eagle square walkout:’We warned Jonathan about looming danger’ There seems to be more attention to road construction by your administration than other sectors of the economy. Is this deliberate or accidental?

When I was campaigning, I told them to give me their support and when I won I had to take a holistic look at the development needs of the state and a number of things came to my mind. Jigawa is an agrarian state and if there is no access to the farmers to evacuate their goods and services to where they are most needed, they would be left at the mercy of middlemen and would not derive much from their labour. That explains why I had to build roads across the states so as to open it up for the rapid transformation of the state. It makes life easy because today in the whole country, it is only in Jigawa that you can drive to anywhere you want on first class highways like anywhere in Europe. And you can see the joy and happiness of our people on their faces. I think that road construction is very important to me because you can easily feel the effect on the faces of the people.

Having been on the saddle for over six years now, would you say you have achieved the Jigawa of your dream?

Human beings are insatiable.

Given our level today, tomorrow will be a higher level because yesterday is gone. There is no way I can say that I have achieved the Jigawa of my dream because the better the people are the more they ask for more . In my own case, whatever I do today, there is bound to be improvement upon the level.

But in terms of connectivity with my people and because I know their

the project. However, there was a commitment by Mr. President to build an airport and I wrote him recently for a refund. And I think he is looking at it.

All these waiters who were not there when we were working for the president did not allow the president to listen to us. It is a very painful thing because most of these people cannot even win election in their wards taste and desires, I have to continue to improve on what I give to them.

How far has the Federal Government assisted Jigawa to achieve its development aspirations? I have not seen a single project worth a billion Naira that has been specially given to us by the Federal Government.

There are some roads passing through Jigawa, which is part of a national highway common to all the states. The roads are there because they are given to all the states.

What about the Jigawa International Airport?

The airport is built by the Jigawa State Government from the foundation to where it is today. We only got N900 million from the Federal Government last year but we have spent N11.5 billion so far on

You must be making a lot of money from internally generated revenue to be able to do as much as you have done in terms of development?

We are not getting much from IGR but we make effective use of all that we get from the Federation Account. I’m a Fulani man and for you to milk your cow you must feed the cow very well. We are therefore very focused and we inject every kobo we have into development. We make very little from IGR and if you deny us funds from the federation account I cannot run the government for three days. But we are working hard to put in the best facilities to be able to stand on our own. We should be able to also have compassion for others. In the African society, we should not see others as liabilities. You cannot build a nation where you malign each other. We can save ourselves from this humiliation.

How much have you borrowed so far to execute projects in the state?

I have not taken a dime from any bank to do any project in the state since I became governor. I don’t want to leave any debt for my successor. If I incur debt, it means that I would be eating into the future of our people. My fear is that I may make it impossible for my successor to succeed if I leave a huge debt behind for him. I don’t want to mortgage the future of my state and its successor.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 23

08112662589

“I’ve now got your husband. Get used to it !”

C

AN you really be lucky the second time around? After a bad marriage, Mobola didn’t think she’d find happiness again - not with a teenage daughter to look after and a demanding job.

But luck was on her side the day she met Julius at her office’s end-of-year

party. “He was a friend of my boss and Julius enlisted his support when he made a play for me and I played hard to get.

He visited the office a couple of times before I agreed to go out with him. A couple of years later, we got married.

“He was a divorced father of two but his ex wife wanted nothing to do with him and didn’t encourage the children to visit. My daughter didn’t like Julius either. She kept on telling me. ‘He’s not good enough for you mum. There’s something shifty about him.’ She even refused to come to the wedding and I couldn’t make her - she was now in her 20s and lived with her dad. I was disappointed but by this time, I worshipped the ground Julius walked on, so I ignored my daughter’s resentment.

“A few years later, I was returning from work when a voice greeted: ‘Good;evening, aunty!~ I

looked around and Laide was waving from the next bungalow to ours.

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked, pleased to see her. ‘I’m your new neighbour,’ she replied.

I was pleased for her. I’d known her for years because she went to the same school with my daughter and was her school mother. She’d visited the house a couple of times to see my daughter and I had liked her a lot. From then on, at any opportunity she had, she was at my place with bowls of food or she’d simply help herself to whatever food she found in the kitchen. She was like another daughter to me. As a single mother, she’d confided in me and say: ‘I don’t ever want another relationship. Me and men don’t work. I’m staying well away from them’ “At first she irritated Pious a great deal. ‘She’s always here’ he’d moan.

But I assured him she was good company for me. As a marketing man, Pious often worked away from home and Laide was always around to liven things up. Only, as time went on, on the days Pious was off work, I’d arrive home and find him and Laide standing either side of the fence,

deep in conversation or outside our small garden, having drinks. ‘This looks cosy,’ I often joked.

Sometimes when,1 got home, he would appear from next door, saying: “went round to introduce her to the plumber. She’s on her own and’ just want to help.’

Things continued like that for months and Pious spent more and more time next door. When next we went to our social club, Laide came with us. I was chatting with some friends when I turned around and saw

something that made me suck in my breath. My husband was on a chair and on his lap was Laide.

I marched up to the two of them and they sprang apart. What the heck was going on? They didn’t • even look guilty and I didn’t want to create a scene.

“I really ripped into him when we got home.

‘What are you talking about?’ he yelled. ‘Nothing’s going on.’ ‘No?’ I said. ‘Then why are you always with her? Is there something funny happening?’ ‘You’re obviously paranoid,’ he spat.

‘You’re imagining things.’ I was so hurt but with no real proof, what could I do? Not long after, I returned home late and Pious was not in.

Was he next door? I went to look for him at Laide’s house next door and I noticed her front door was partially opened. It was dark as I stepped inside and felt an impulse to go to her bedroom. I opened the door and flicked on the light. ‘Oh my God!’ I cried. In bed were two figures.

Their hands were under the cover so I couldn’t see who was doing what. But one thing I was certain about was they were both naked. ‘Pious’ I exclaimed. ‘Laide!

What the heck is going on?’ I yanked off the bed cover and Pious tried to cover his modesty. ‘We were just sleeping,’ he blustered. ‘Sleeping? Do you think I was ‘ born yesterday?’ I shouted at him as he jumped out of bed.

“Laide looked really angry. ‘Get out of my house,’ she yelled at me.

‘Your house? With my husband? You’re nothing but a shameless slut!’ She was ready: to create a good show for the neighbours, so I called her a few more choice names

and left. I was too angry to stay in the same room with the two of them. I was now crystal clear that Pious was playing away with my daughter’s friend! I didn’t see him the next day when he crawled back home to get ready for work. Promising to talk later. I left for the office.

“Only, Pious wasn’t repentant. He said he cared about me but had feelings for Laide. ‘I don’t know what I really want,’ he said. I’d asked my daughter to show up later and when she did, she told Pious she warned me not to have anything to do with him.

In the end I told him that since he found it difficult to make up his mind, I would make it up for him. Our marriage was over. The bungalow was mine and I asked him to leave.

“Since Linda rented the bungalow next door, I learnt they both moved into another rented apartment. Some weeks back, as I left my house, Laide was around her old one to take some things she left behind.

‘What are you staring at?

She yelled. ‘I’ve now got your husband. Get used to it! If only the hatred I have for them both, could kill!”

08052201867(Text Only)

Cure for back and knees' ache

D

EAR Son. I called you so because I am 80 years old I read about your write up concerning health & fitness in Sunday Vanguard newspaper of 5th of January I am suffering from back & knees ache.

The use of pain killer does not help much.

Physiotherapy of heat applications brings temporary relief. Please can you suggest some Therapeutic exercise that can be of help to me.

Thanks. From Mrs A., a retired nursing sister Dear Reader, At 66 you are just 14 years my senior. Any way, I think the Chair pose will help your knees and the locust will do for you.

C M Y K

THE CHAIR TECHNIQUE: Standing with the feet about a foot and half apart. Keep the hands stretched out at shoulder level. Gradually

lower the body as you bend the knees, first, in a flat-footed manner. As you descend some more it will be impossible to remain flat-footed. At this juncture get onto the balls of your feet and get the buttocks in contact with the heels. Stay down on the heels for a slow count to ten and then start getting up rather slowly and on tiptoe till the knees are straight. Remain standing up on your toes with the hands still at shoulder level for another slow count to ten. Then drop the heels down. And start again on the way down and then up slowly again on your toes till you are upright for ten counts. Drop the heels and relax.

BENEFITS: The chair tones up the muscles of the legs. It knocks off stiffness in the knees and ankles. It also aids in maintaining a more

upright posture.

THE LOCUST

Technique: Lie flat on your belly and with the hands formed into fists tuck them underneath you as shown in the illustration.

Breathe in and with the

knees locked, raise both legs as high up as you can.

Benefits: This pose strengthens the muscles of the back, the buttocks, legs and hands.

In the initial stages, it’s enough if you can raise just one leg up and then the next.

* Lion Chair

The Locust

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

P AGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

“Hubby’s mistress made me happier than I could ever imagine!”

W

HILE some wives hang on to a marriage despite abuse bothering on ‘intimate terrorism’, quite a few who value their pride draw the line on how much they can take from a marriage before packing their bags - children and all. “One rainy day seven years ago,” recalled Freida, a hugely successful business woman, “an amateur detective mission I’d set myself came to fruition.

I had amassed the clues and every shred of evidence. I was closing in on the slut who was sleeping with my husband.

“My heart was virtually in my throat as the moment approached when I would finally confront her. The other woman.

The mistress. My husband’s bit on the side.

Whatever name I chose to call her, she amounted to the same thing. She was the woman with whom my husband, Deji, was conducting an affair. The woman for whom he was willing to sacrifice our almost ten years of marriage and a happy home we’d built for our three children. And there she was, walking the length and breath of this fairly posh hotel as a supervisor. A staff member had discreetly pointed her to me and I walked up to her. ‘Are you Linda?’ I asked this slim tall woman with badly done hair extensions. I was really surprised at what I saw. She was slim, tall and at least nine years younger than me. Her look of blank perplexing turned to shock when I told her, “I’m Freida, your lover’s wife.’ She looked really lost for words as she scanned

the faces of other hotel guests.

“Until I came face to face with Linda, I’d envisaged Deji’s mistress as a younger and more successful version of me.

Yet here she was in benddown jeans, a fake designer handbag and a cheap vest top. I felt relieved but also perplexed, that she wasn’t what I call his type. She was several inches taller than him for a start. I simply couldn’t picture them together. She was dumbstruck. She meekly followed me to a cheaper eatry near the hotel after her manager agreed she could come with me for half an hour.

“I knew it was a matter of time before you found out”, she spluttered as soon as we found a discreet corner to sit. ‘He was very careless with how we conducted the affair.’ She then proceeded to tell me everything.

She’d met Deji in the restaurant of the hotel where she worked.

They ’d been sleeping together for more than nine months and she was almost 20 years his junior. I bled her for every detail, bar intimate sexual ones, which, for the sake of my already shredded confidence, I didn’t want to know. She told me Deji had fed her all the usual cliches: his wife didn’t understand in him and we were more like brother and sister. I shuddered with indignation when she revealed how he had told her the insulting lie that I wore leggings to bed to avoid sex! , “She looked at me with some sort of awe as she admitted. ‘You:re really pretty!’ Deji had clearly enjoyed embroidering the fiction that I had long since stopped bothering

Y

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

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

IF YOU FALL IN LOVE

If you fall in love because someone makes you laugh, what happens when you no longer find

about my appearance.

“So, how did I find myself in this fast-food spot talking to the woman who was sleeping with my husband? To understand why I was suspicious of my husband, you need to understand the background. I met Deji when I was in my mid 20s and already a proud owner of a big retail outlet. Then in his late 30s, he had attended all the good schools at home and abroad. He was suave, attentive and selfassured: a typical product of his elite education and privileged background. He was in the foreign office and we travelled extensively after we got married. Five years after we got married, he resigned to set up his own consultancy in Abuja where we had our own house. Then he got a couple of big clients in Lagos and after spending a fortune on hotels, he bought a service flat.

“He quickly established two separate lives. During the week, he was the sleek, jovial businessman in Lagos. At home, however, he became erratic and unpredictable. He’d be vile to me and short with the children. Then, each Monday evening and back in Lagos, he would call me to apolo-

gise, promising: ‘We’ll have a lovely time next weekend: But the story cycle would repeat itself. I made a huge effort to ensure that when he got home, the house was sparkling, the children in bed and a sumptuous meal was waiting for him.

I tried to keep our sex life going, which was difficult when your partner is repeatedly unkind to you.

“In the end, I accused him of having an affair after yet another row when he’d been particularly obnoxious. He snorted and told me if I was so convinced that he was, I should provide the proof. Luck was on my side soon after. While sorting out his laundry, I found a receipt and booking confirmation in his trouser pocket for an hotel room for the following Wednesday. He wasn’t due in Lagos that day as he’d had to attend another two-day meeting in another state. ‘ “Leaving the nanny in charge, I decided to go to the flat and left by the morning flight. There, in the master bedroom was all the evidence I needed: make-up and women’s skin-care products. On the bedside table was a hand-written card saying: ‘Deji Dear, I always

them funny?

If you fall in love because someone is beautiful, what happens when that beauty fades?

If you fall in love because someone can provide for you, what happens when they lose wealth? Real love defies all reasons. When you truly love someone, you do not look for reasons, you see beyond reasons,because true love has all reasons.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

My love

This year, I'm a totally different person: I've made so many changes in my life. I've changed my wardrobe, I've changed my cars, I've changed my style of talking, I changed my hairstyle. I've changed my way of thinking, I

love our intimate moments, love, Linda”.I was shocked. I had to meet this woman who’d even had the audacity to write the note on the hotel note-let. Talking to her now, it dawned on me we’d met before. A year ago, I’d joined Deji at the restaurant of the hotel where she worked and she’d served us drinks.

She even asked if I was Deji’s wife. I had joked with her that she probably saw more of him than I did. How ironic those words seemed now.

“As we talked, both our mobile phones had rung.

Deji was on his way to the flat believing Linda was on her way to meet him. He had also tried to call me. His messages became frantic when neither of us answered. Finally, I picked up my phone, our conversation took place in full earshot of Linda. When he asked where I was, I hit him where it hurts: ‘You’ll never guess who I’m having a drink with …

Linda!’. Listening to his blusterings on the phone sent me into a rage. ‘For Christ’s. sake, it’s not even as if she’s classy!’ I spat. ‘I could have understood that. But she’s got really bad taste. I would have thought that if you were going to have an affair, you would

have at least chosen someone appealing.’

Cutting him off, I told Linda she was welcome to him and left holding back the tears.

“Deji was unrepentant when he showed up the following day. Astonishingly, despite the incontrovertible evidence, he still maintained it was just a fling and scuff at my heart-broken reaction. Men all over the world do what he’d done, he told me and their wives looked the other way. Why couldn’t I do the same thing? For a start, I wasn’t that type of wife and I opted out of the marriage. Deji tried everything in the book to turn everyone against me - friends, family, colleagues - by attempting to persuade anyone who would listen that I had driven him to adultery. Sadly, there were some who believed him.

If We were divorced two years later, but by the time the divorce came through, I’d completely gone off him. From these doldrums though, came unexpected happiness. A mutual friend put me in touch with Tony, an old friend who used to work with me before I got married. Instantly, my life changed for the better. A widower, we got married almost immediately and now have a child together. Deji still lives in the Lagos flat with Linda.

She and I have formed an unlikely alliance, as she acts as an intermediary when my children visit their father.

“I don’t think there’s anything she’s done that requires forgiveness. The confrontation I had with her set the course for the rest of my life. In,a way, my husband’s mistress has made me happier than I ever imagined possible ... “

changed my household amenities... but, do you know that the only thing I have not changed and can not change and will never change is YOU... I love you with my life and will continue to love YOU, only You baby, just you..

Kelechi Ndubisi Kconeofafrica@gmail.com, 08032900530

Lasting love

Our love is an inward thing that inhabits the very depth of our being.

It has an undercurrent of passion which is filled with an undivided love and affection that would stretch beyond eternity. It carried a happy promise of things to come and a lifetime of sharing.

Akachukwu Ferdinand. 08063819314

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 25

08116759757

MAN LEFT HEART-BROKEN BY LOVERS CONFESSES

‘I recklessly went after kids, sexually assaulting them’

W

hile kidnapping and armed robbery seem to have reduced in Edo State suspected child defilers are on the increase in the state. As a matter of fact, out of 60 suspected criminals paraded on Tuesday by the state police commissioner, Folunso Adebanjo, 16 were suspected child defilers.

There was the case of a 33year-old man, Justice Olise, who claimed because he was rejected by his female lovers , he resorted to sexually assaulting small boys. At the last count, on January 1, 2014 when nemesis caught up with Olise, he had allegedly sexually assaulted no less than five boys aged between 11 and 14.

The self- confessed child defiler told Sunday Vanguard that the young men usually come into his room to visit him before he sexually abused them. Revealing how he started sleeping with the boys, Olise narrated: “I started this kind of life when my girlfriend broke my heart. After that, I entered into another relationship with a girl. I suffered the same heart break.

Because of that, I decided to stay on my own. So I started masturbating since I no longer had a girl friend. I was doing that before the children came and I started sleeping with them in my house. One of them is 11, one is 12, the other one 14. They are the children of my neighbours.

I used them each time they come to greet me. I usually apply cream on their lap before sleeping with them. But on the 1st of January, the community people gathered in my house and started beating me.

They took me to Eyaen Police Station before they transferred me to the State CID. I am a

zRapists on the prowl in Edo Christian but I don’t know what came over me, I was doing it with the children for a year and a half now”.

The suspect continued: “I attend a new generation church.I know the Bible does not allow this and I have been praying and asking God for forgiveness since I was arrested. I don’t really know why I got involved in this. God

,,

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

I attend a new generation church. I know the Bible does not allow this and I have been praying and asking God for forgiveness since I was arrested

should forgive me”. Police commissioner Adebanjo gave details of other suspected defilers. According to him, “one Roland Osagie, 28 years old, who lives in Upper Mission Extension, was reported to have had unlawful canal knowledge of an 11 year-old girl. The grandmother, who discovered that the girl had pain in her private part while bathing her, reported the case to the police. Also, Ibrahim Akpobore, a 19-year-old boy, forcefully had canal knowledge of an 11-year-old girl at her mother ’s farm in Igueleba, where she was sent by her mother to go with him and show him where cassava tubers are to be uprooted. When

they got to the farm, he abandoned the job he was supposed do and had canal knowledge of the little girl.

Peter Omoregbe, a 42 year-old man, had canal knowledge of his nine year-old step daughter.

The girl’s mother discovered blood stains on her daughter ’s clothes while washing them and it was when she threatened her that she confessed that her step father had been sleeping with her and that he warned her not to tell any body. In Irrua, Sunny David had unlawful sex with a 3year-old girl. Her mother discovered that blood was coming out of her vagina when the girl woke up and could not ease herself.

She eventually told the mother the suspect and he was arrested. One Benjamin Amadin, a 60-year-old man, also defiled a 9-year-old girl here in Benin City. I am actually surprised that people can be so callous to sleep with small girls, this is madness.

And it is shocking that the number of those committing these atrocities are increasing each day in Edo but I think we will deal with that. We are only appealing to parents to be vigilant because these bad people are always around us”.

Adebanjo, who also explained the cache of arms and ammunition and some the persons arrested in connection with them, said between last December and January this year, vowing 2014 will be hot for criminals in Edo State. His words: “I want to thank God for all the successes we have achieved. I want to also thank the IG for his support. Today, we have 60 suspects made up of kidnappers, armed robbers, rapists, child defilers and a man who slept with five male

Olise, the suspected child molester (m) children. I want to say that Edo will be tough for criminals in 2014.

This is a warning to them because we are going to be very hard on criminals especially those involved in interstate crimes; those that move from their state to come to Edo to commit crime, we are going to go after them and get them down. And for the local criminals, I warn that they should not collude with outsiders to come and disturb the peace of the state. I advise them to repent this new year or they will be in trouble. If they don’t want to repent they should leave Edo. Fighting crime in Edo is very challenging but we are not going to relent in our efforts in going after these criminals. We will go wherever they are and fish them out.

Cultism

“The same for cultists, whether you are a student or whatever. Because of a fight you go and kill, you are stupid and your action will not be tolerated. This madness must stop because if we get you, you will not like yourself. The killing of innocent people must stop in this state. As you can also see, some hoodlums have been causing crisis in Akoko Edo Local Government, killing and shooting every day. Six of them were arrested while we are searching for others. I have told anyone who cares to listen that violence is not the best way to solve crisis. If you have any communal issue, meet the elders or report to the appropriate quarters rather than taking the law into your hands. These people who were arrested in Akoko Edo will face the music at least to teach others a lesson.

Suspect ed rrobber obber Suspected obberss ssttoned ttoo death in Lagos

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

T

wo suspects were stoned to death in Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos State after being beaten by youths for allegedly robbing a resident. The suspects allegedly attacked a 79-year-old man, Pa Thomas Emmanuel, in his McNeil Road apartment around 3.30am on Monday.

According to the elderly man, the suspected robbers beat up his guest and demanded that he should give them money.

He narrated: “Ï was in my room and my guest was in my sitting room but, because there was no electricity, I opened the

main doors for cross ventilation. About 3.30 a.m., two guys entered my apartment.

“One of them slapped my guest and took her phone and charger. The other guy told me to give him money and I told him all I had was N30 which I kept inside my Bible. He took my telephone and wristwatch”.

Nemesis caught up with the suspected robbers when some youths in the area, who had noticed their suspicious movement, trailed them to the apartment.

One of the youths in the area told Sunday Vanguard how the men were

caught. He stated: “Around 3.20 am, I was returning from a club when I noticed two strange faces on Little Road. When the guys saw me, they pretended to be fixing an abandoned bus. They were both talking as if they were a bus driver and conductor waiting for day break.

“Later, they continued to roam the street, so I informed my friends and together we trailed them.

They entered Pa – Thomas’s house and then we heard the elderly man screaming for help.

“We surrounded the compound waiting for the thiefs to come out. When

they saw that they were trapped, one of them jumped the fence into the next compound on Little Road but we were able to catch one while the other escaped.”

“I was about to sleep about an hour later when I heard that the second robber who hid inside another compound was exposed by a resident and was handed over to some youths.”

The men were stoned to death after being stripped naked and their bodies dumped at a spot along Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

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SAD AND PATHETIC! Girl, 16, caged for 30 months by own parents W

here she was kept would stir emotion even in a stone hearted being. What came to the mind of many was why any parent would banish their own child to such a despicable solitary confinement.

The grubby dungeon, located in front of her family apartment, was built with carton board and roofing sheets ostensibly to ward off the elements and gave it the semblance of a dwelling place.

The less than four feet high structure could be mistaken for cage for dog.

Sadly, this had been the abode of 16-year-old Blessing Olokumo in the last two and a half years.

Blessing, a twin, whose little frame betrays her age, cuts the picture of neglect and abandonment. Her parents might have locked her up in the cage which had no window to keep her away from the public out of shame or wanted her dead.

Blessing’s condition is pathetic. Unlike her twin sister in senior secondary school class 2, Blessing never had the opportunity of seeing the four walls of a school due to her health challenge with the result that she could only communicate in Isoko, her mother ’s native dialect.

Though the father is an indigene of Ayibabiri community in Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State, the mother, Binaese, is from Igbide in Isoko South local government area of Delta.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that though Blessing’s was born normal, her problem started about 13 years ago when she was aged three in Delta State.

She was said to have to have suffered from convulsion, which was not properly taken care of by her parents probably due to ignorance. The father was then said to

zBlessing in hospital

have acted against doctor ’s advice by forcefully taking her away from the hospital where she receiving treatment because he could not afford the N15,000 medical bill.

The convulsion was said to have worsened over time due to poor medical attention leading to her abnormal behaviour.

The ailment is also believed to be responsible for her retarded growth when compared to her twin sister, a beautifully grown girl.

Although physically challenged kids like her deserve decent life, love and adequate medical attention, in her case she was treated cruelly; locked up in a cage lacking window for proper ventilation and light.

The place where she was confined for almost three years by her father shares fence with a medical facility where she is now receiving treatment.

Co-tenants, who could have notified the authorities on the girl’s plight, looked the way ostensibly for fear of incurring the wrath of her father whose relation, Sunday Vanguard learnt, owned the house they are living in.

Succour however came her way last weekend when a concerned native of Okolobiri alerted the group, the Mary Slessor Twin Foundation, which rescued her and took her to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri where she is receiving treatment.

When this reporter, on Thursday, visited what once served as her home, it was discovered that a rubber carpet had been laid on the bare floor with a view to making it look a little decent due to the public interest generated after her predicament was reported.

A resident berated the girl’s parents. “This is the height of man’s inhumanity to man, especially coming from one own father. The girl though is retarded doesn’t deserve the treatment

zThe cage that housed the victim meted to her. Before now, she used to walk freely around from her parents apartment to her mother ’s kiosk by the roadside without disturbing anybody,” the resident said.

The girl, on admission at the teaching hospital courtesy of Mary Slessor Twins Foundation, cut the picture of a six-year-old.

Her confinement and lack of care apparently left her malnourished, as according to the doctor handling her case, “she is 16 year old but her weight is like that of a five year old.”

Acting President of the Foundation, Mr. Tonyon Ebitei Robert, said she was locked up because she was defecating around the family house.

According to him, Blessing’s father, who is also a twin and a security official with the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, allegedly built the cage and locked up his daughter to keep her away from the main house.

“She was kept like a rabbit. She was given food when it was available and was allowed to sleep in her vomit, faeces, urine. She lost weight and could have died,” Robert said.

He explained that the group, known for its campaign against maltreatment of twins, was contacted by concerned indigenes of Okolobiri community where the Olokumo family resides.

Blessing, he said, was rushed to the teaching hospital where is being given medical treatment.

Though the father was not around when Sunday Vanguard visited as he was said to have gone to Yenagoa for a verification exercise, the mother of the girl was sighted at the hospital keeping

,,

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

“Three are signs of obvious neglect over time. It is the case of a child having seizure disorder which some people might call epilepsy, and was not treated appropriately. She was not given adequate medical attention and kept out of the house in a restricted environment and barely fed which resulted in malnutrition.

“She is responding gradually to treatment and is a bit more interested in her environment. When I first saw her, she refused my coming close to her but she now obeys

She was said to have suffered from convulsion, which was not properly taken care of by her parents probably due to ignorance

her company. The woman, who identified herself as Binaese, said the girl was locked up because she was roaming about and disturbing other neighbours, a claim that was dismissed by a resident who said the girl though has health challenges hardly disturbed anybody.

One Dr. Deji, who was attending to the girl when Sunday Vanguard visited her, said: “We gathered that when she was three years, she started having convulsion and the convulsion worsened over time and due to the poor control of the convulsion she started having abnormal behaviour.

“About three years ago, the father decided to keep her in an enclosure outside the house and, over time, she degenerated. She wasn’t well kept and her weight wasted. She is 16 years but her weight is like that of a five-yearold child.”

According to him, the girl is a bit reserved most likely as a result of the trauma she may have undergone. The doctor went on:

instructions.” President of the Mary Slessor Twins Foundation, Robert, gave kudos to the medical personnel handling her case saying she has improved tremendously. According to him, the group would lodge formal complaint with the police and the welfare department of Bayelsa State Ministry of Women Affairs.

“Criminal charges of child abduction, inhuman treatment, child molestation and failure to enroll the child for proper education will be brought against the parents,” he said.

Also, the Chief Nengi James Foundation, on Thursday, visited the girl in hospital and made a cash donation to assist the Mary Slessor Twins Foundation pay Blessing’s medical bills.

Represented by the immediate past Secretary of the state chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Alagoa Morris, the Chief Nengi James Foundation urged parents to cater for their kids no matter the circumstances.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 27

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BY EMMA UNA

U

n dercover police op eratives with Cross River State Police Command nipped in the bud the plan by heavily armed militants to strike in Calabar, the state capital, during the annual Carnival Festival. The state police commissioner, Mr Kola Sodipo, said two of the suspected militants, Daniel Sunday, 25, and Prophet Friday, 19, were arrested on December 24, 2013 at Ikang, Bakassi with 800 live ammunition, 7.62mm and 634v rounds of general purpose machine gun , GPMG, 56 mm and 632 live assault rifle ammunition.

“Their arrest aborted their plans to unleash havoc in the city during the annual Calabar Festival”.

Sodipo said explosive devices, mounted by another set of suspected militants, Eyo Okokon Nsa and-Peter Ibe, during the period at Atan , at Odukpani in the outskirts of Calabar, could have caused havoc had the police not uncovered the plan and carried out immediate detonation of the devices. “110 pieces of dynamite fuses, nine bags of ammonium nitrate used to prepare the explosive devices were recovered and the suspects arrested and they confessed to the crime”, he said.

During the period, according to the police commissioner, a total of eleven armed robbery suspects were arrested in various parts of the state. The suspects include David Nse Abasi, Colins Okoh and Aka Jerome who blocked Mkpani / Ekori road in the Central Senatorial District and robbed several persons including one David Onovo of N79,000,00. Other suspects include Simon Michael Agba,

Calabar terrorists

SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

A

The suspects Samson Kalu, Abosi who allegedly robbed Iheme Tochukwu, the manager of Tolik Filling Station in Ikom of N57,000.

Sodipo said N278,000 was recovered from one robbery suspect, Godwin Samuel, who allegedly robbed Chijoke Samuel of 2 Oti Ansa Street while the police also recovered N350,000 from three other robbery suspects: Edem Basey Effiong, Emmanuel Nkalu and Aliyu Umaru.

“They robbed Imeh Stephen of Basin Authority at gun point of recharge cards valued at N250,000, and cash of N350,000; in their possession was also seven live ammunition, army uniform, recharge cards and handsets”.The police boss

said a total of 48 locally made pistols were recovered from criminals while 3,893 arrests were made with 955 prosecutions made in 2013. “With increased visibility, intensive foot and vehicular patrols, sustained raiding of black spots, and collaboration with residents of the state, the police would not relent in bringing crime to its barest minimum”, he added.He reiterated that training and retraining was being intensified by the Command to sharpen the ability of his men to adopt proactive community measures in carrying out surveillance and community initiatives inoder to comply with directives from the “Police High Command to win the war against crime and terrorism”.

APGA AWARDS 2013:

The hunt for godly talents in Lagos

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE AND OLAYINKA LATONA

T

he senior pastor of Appealing Grace Assembly (APGA) International, Pastor Akinola A. Damilare, has advised youths in the country to channel their energy towards peaceful and positive development of the society, through their respective talents, which form the basis of their strength and energy, lest the devil continues to find them as willing tools.

The cleric, who gave the advice at the annual Praise Up Chop Up Gospel Talent Show, organized by the ministry under the theme : Youth Empowerment Through Their Talent, noted that the church is a centre for generational leadership build up and transformation.

“We are a young Ministry of four years, commissioned to preach grace to a dying world with a mandate to rescue man from all struggles, spiritual and physical. Jesus Christ through His invitation to man promised grace and rest,” he stated.

“As part of our objectives, youth ministry is prime, since

Edo NDDC and the search for a new commissioner

the church is a veritable centre for generational leadership build up and transformation.

“If we raise a younger generation who values and courts grace through Christ, then a platform of favour will be laid for the future generation of leadership spiritually and the polity.”

According to him part of the ministry’s goal was to seek ways of arresting youth-related vices vices which arise from frustrations and sense of abandonment.

The senior pastor explained that the project was aimed at presenting genuine opportunity for the youths and adults to come together in a peaceful atmosphere to reflect on a whole year activity, praise the Lord for life, reflect positively and project for better and productive living in the coming year(s).

“It has annually been a thousands’ praises carnival,” Akinola said.

“Our goal for the year is to develop character as an excellent mix with talent, for leadership discovery. To this extent, we are evolving an inhouse (camping) dimension

for the finalists for three days during which a close study of the contestants character and attitude, will engender counsels and prayers in the realm of unleashing their potentials for an excellent future.”

The winners at the Praise Up Chop Up Youth Talent Awards were decorated with medals at the Cathedral of Grace Discovery of APGA International, Onikanga, Ayobo Lagos.

The Blazing Rockers emerged the star prize winners with N100,000 cash prize while Bunmi Ogundare emerged the group winner in music with N50,000.00 cash.

The Empires were the runners up in dance competition and rewarded with N25,000 cash while Wisdom Odeije who was a runners up in music also got N25,000 cash for his performance. Consolatory prizes in comedy went to Emeka aka Babami who won a DSTV decoder while Lekan Areole also went home with a DSTV decoder in the music category.

The event witnessed attendance by ministers from other churches and well wishers of the winners.

15-man civil society group recently em barked on an evaluation of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects in Edo State with a view to assessing their veracity and quality of delivery and it was quite revealing. Prior to the tour, led by Comrade Austin Osakwe, the group expressed concern over the abandonment of key projects in the nine Niger Delta states, observing that the sad situation was as a result of failure by the NDDC to consult community leaders before siting projects. The 17 projects evaluated by the civil society group include Okaegben Bridge in Ewohimi, Esan South East local government council, the 176bed-space hostel facility and Erosion control projects at the University of Benin, electrification of 13 communities in Orhionmwon local government and the Country Home Road in Benin-City among others met the project evaluation template.

Other members of the team were Sea Omoragbon, Timothy Osagie Evelyn Okoawo, Osayamen Cyril Okungbowa, Kaduna Eboigbodin Omobude, Agho Phillip UgbodagaKola Edokpayi, Osazee Edigin Aigbokhan Prest and Iyamu Culture.

They also inspected the 22 .2 km Ewohimi Road, classrooms borehole and toilet facilities in Obozogbe Secondary School in Orhionmwon local government council. While assessing the projects, the civil society group considered the followings, need assessment, community ownership and participation, value for money, transparency of the procurement process, funding commitment, monitoring and evaluation/ supervision effectiveness, quality delivery, timeliness, evenness of spread and civil input /sustainabil-

ity. The group declared that the NDDC performed above average in all the projects and commended the immediate past Edo State representative in the Board, Henry Okhuarobo, for the completion of several NDDC projects in the state.

Osakwe, who briefed newsmen on their findings, expressed satisfaction with the achievements of NDDC but lamented what he described as lack of commitment on the part of contractors.

The group also lamented that the political differences between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the leadership of the PDP in Edo over the appointment of a new state representative in the Board of the NDDC had the capacity to threaten the completion of some of the projects. Edo is the only state in the NDDC that President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to appoint a nominee. Osakwe, speaking on the situation: “For us, it is worrisome and that is one of the challenges we have mentioned. In states which are not controlled by the party at the centre whose responsibility is to appoint a commissioner, the commission usually suffers because there is always a conflict whether it is the state government that should recommend or the party leadership at the state or the party in power. As it is today, Edo State is the only state that doesn’t have a commissioner on the Board of the NDDC. That agency is too important to be politicised. What the Federal Government should do is to focus on the urgent need to put a square peg in a square hole to ensure that it is devoid of politics, with a capable person at the helm of affairs. This will also ensure that when contracts are awarded, there is no tendency to please politicians who will submit the names of contractors whether they have the capacity to deliver or not”.

Ukwuani widows lament

BY FLORENCE NWOSE

W

idows from Ukwuani Lo cal Government Area of Delta State have accused the

leadership of the People Democratic Party, PDP, in the state of breaching a social contract between them and the party before the general elections of 2011.

Speaking at Obiaruku, on hehalf of the widows, after witnessing Ukwuani Local Government Area PDP reconciliation meeting, Madam Margaret Onyolu, accused the party of operating a system that was based on injustice, negligence and oppression.

The meeting was convened by the party LG Chairman, Mr. Monday Ogbeisi, who was rewarded with a board appointment after losing at the last elections. Onyolu lamented that the meeting could not achieve much as key persons who delivered PDP during the elections were not in attendance, therefore the issues for reconciliation could not be addressed. She said: ‘The minds of most of us have been brutalized due to oppressive tendencies and ingratitude being operated by the party. They believe since they have successfully deceived us

to vote them into power, they can do whatever they like to us forgetting that they would still need our votes in future either for themselves or for their party. Prior to the 2011 general elections, it was very clear that PDP would hardly get any reasonable number of votes from this Local Government due to the clamour for change”.

Continuing, she said: “Our people are tired of a system that promotes unemployment, hunger, interference and imposition of political stooges by external forces, coupled with the fact that the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the main opposition party DPP have parental roots from here”, she said, adding, “Generality of the people saw the election as a window for change, but suddenly, before the elections, we heard that they had appointed someone of integrity in the person of Mr. Leonard Esegbue from Obeti as a Commissioner.

That singular appointment divided the rank and file of the very strong opposition against PDP as Obeti had demonstrated uncommon benevolence and compassion for the poor masses especially the widows”, she said.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

Bisi Akande marks 75th with colloquium

I

t was a gathering of top progressive politicians, mostly members of the All Progressives Congress, penultimate Thursday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, th Lagos for the 75 birthday celebration of Chief Bisi Akande, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress which started with a colloquium.

The theme of the colloquium was ‘Developing A New Leadership ; An Imperative for National Development in Nigeria’. Here are the faces present in pictures by Biodun Ogunleye

Sen. Solomon partners Godwin Green to secure future of the youths

R

ecently, Godwin Essien, a designer with the label Godwin Green Couture (GG), in collaboration with Polish Stone Events and ably assisted by distinguished Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, GOS, held the finale of the Nigerian Secondary Schools Fashion Show and GG 2014 Collection. The four schools in the finals were Christhill College, Kabe College, Jongate Private School and Amuwu Odofin Community Senior Secondary School, Mile 2, Lagos.

Senator Solomon and Godwin Essien with students of Kabe College, winners of the competition.

L-R: Chief and Chief (Mrs) Bisi Akande, the celebrant, General Muhammad Buhari (Rtd), Chairman of the occasion and Aremo Olusegun Osoba

L-R: Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Gov Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

L-R:Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with Mrs Funsho Amosun and husband, Gov Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State

L-R: Senator Chris Ngige, Chief John Oyegun and Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo State

R-L:Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson and Gov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State

Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Godwin Essien (left) with others, at the event

In the middle is Sen. Solomon, to his right is Godwin Essien and other guests at the event.

Police officer's wives visit Inspector General of Police Police Officer's Wives Association (POWA) National President, Mrs Zahra Bunu-Abubakar led POWA National Executive on a courtesy visit to the IGP at FHQ Abuja.

L-R; IGP, POWA President making her remarks while DIG Emmanuel Udeoji, fwc (DIG Department of Logistics and Supply) watches on.

IGP and members of the Police Management Team in a group photograph with POWA National President and members of POWA National Executives.

L-R: DIG Atiku Kafur, mni (DIG Department of Research and Planning); DIG Suleiman Fakai, NPM, mni (DIG Department of Finance and Administration); IGP all listening as the POWA National President makes her remarks.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 29

A Nigerian Nuptials In Pennsylvania Ebenezer Oludotun Weds Daughter of Late Air Vice Marshall Frank Mokonogho

Two young and accomplished Nigerians, Ebenezer Oluwakorede Oludotun and Josephine Oritsebemigho Mokonogho, took their marriage vows in a colourful ceremony on Saturday, November 23, 2013, at St. Miriam’s, town of Blue Bell, some 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The bride is a psychiatrist and the groom is a telecoms specialist.

In attendance, in addition to the mother of the bride, were siblings, close relatives, friends and colleagues of both bride and bridegroom, including an impressive contingent from Nigeria. Dr. Joseph Okpaku, Sr., the publisher, represented the father of the bride, the late Air Vice Marshall Frank Mokonogho, who once served at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC as Nigeria’s Defense Adviser to the United States and Canada. Mr. Akinfolarin Tajudeen represented the late father of the groom, Mr. Gabriel Oludotun. A dance-filled reception was enjoyed by all.

The couple with the bride's family. From L-R : Mrs. Bridget Anumonwo, Mr. Reginald Uwandi, Mr. Francis Uwandi, Miss Kemi Afadapa, Miss Nini Kunu, Mrs. Justina Kaine, Mrs. Okafor, Mr. Peter Uwandi, Mr. Elias Uwandi, Ms. Jackie Kaine, Mr. Daniel Mokonogho, Mr. Ebenezer Oludotun Mr. Samuel Kunu, Mrs. Josephine Oludotun, Mrs. Judy Kunu, Dr. Ibipo Anumonwo, Mrs. Margaret Okoli, Dr. Kofi Okoli, Chinedu Okafor, Mr. Chiazor, Mr. Emmanuel Anumonwo, Miss Francesca Anumonwo, Miss Barbara Anumonwo

Couple with Parents of the day. L-R. Bride's mother, Mrs. Elfrida Mokonogho, the newly-weds, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Oludotun, Dr. Joseph Okpaku, Sr., and Mr. Akinfolarin Tajudeen (father of the day)

The bride being given away at the altar by Dr. Okpaku and her mother.

The couple in traditional Urhobo attire

Before the ceremony. From left: Mrs. Elfrida Mokonogho (bride's mother), Dr. Joseph Okpaku Sr., who represented the father of the bride, and Ms. Angela Williams (bride’s aunt and Mother of the day).

When Y usha’u Mohammed w edded sw ee thear Yusha’u wedded swee eethear theartt

Y

usha’u Ahmed Mohammed, son of Alhaji Ahmed Mohhamed, Turaki Nupe recently wedded former Miss Amina Abdullahi Hassan, daughter of Late Alhaji and Alhaja Abdullahi Nma Hassan in Nupe, Niger State . Here are more pictures from the event. Photos by Shola Oyelese

L-R:Mr Yusha'u Ahmed Mohammed, groom, Sulaiman Ahmed Mohammed and Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar,former Minister for Finance

R-L:Mr Yusha’u Ahmed Mohammed, groom with his brother, Mr Daniyalu Ahmed.

The couple: Mr and Mrs Yusha’u Ahmed Mohammed.

Mr Yusha'u Ahmed Mohammed, groom, flanked by family members.

PAGE 30 —SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

I married a complete — Zik Zulu woman ‘My wife was busy attending to boy, paralysed at birth and abandoned by mother, while her friends went about night clubbing’

What marriage means Marriage means two people coming together, becoming one, sharing the same ideas, working together, sharing their victories and challenges together; praying and crying together and working with Jesus every moment.

How I met my wife I met my wife while I was doing my youth service. At that time, she was in University of Lagos. When she graduated, we got closer, our relationship became stronger. She graduated in 1994, and we got married in 1998.

The attraction She’s a complete woman, brilliant and understands what relationship means. Above all, she is a Christian in the real sense of the word; someone who listens to God. That’s the greatest quality she has and her entire life is devoted to charity.

Why I fell in love After I met her at the University of Lagos, I came to see her so many times. She was never around. When I finally met her, she told me there was a boy abandoned by his parents because he was paralysed from the waist after birth at LUTH. So, she was attending to the unfortunate child, washing his clothes because the nurses weren’t doing it comfortably. She bought C M Y K

a wheelchair for the boy and saw to it that he enrolled in a primary school when he was nine years.

When I heard her story, some of the things she was doing at the time when some of her classmates were busy clubbing and going to parties, I thought she was a great woman, a different breed and I thought I should push further. I prayed to God to help me understand her, to know if she was the person I was to get married to.

After praying, it was very clear to me that God was asking me to go this way.

Accepting my proposal Because she’s a Christian, she prayed about it and, even before I proposed to her, she knew I was going to be her husband. That’s how strong her relationship is with God. It was very easy when I proposed to her to accept it happily, knowing that indeed she heard from God and it was a fulfillment of the answer she got from Him. The journey It has been fantastic because for the first 10 years of our marriage, we didn’t have any memory of disagreement. We were young people, just enjoying ourselves. We had only one car but it served us well because we could go to any where we wanted to go without conflict. I was working as a journalist, a media consultant and film maker. We always managed to get on well, we always managed to save money to spend a particular weekend in an hotel and it was fun. We weren’t rich, but we were able to go to some of the best hotels to spend our weekends, sometimes outside Lagos. We were able to

,,

Z

ik Zulu Okafor is a journalist, movie producer and president of the Association of Movie Producers, AMP. He got married to his wife, Adaora, about 16 years ago, and their marriage is blessed with three kids. The couple share the story of what has kept them going in marriage.

When I finally met her, she told me there was a boy abandoned by his parents because he was paralysed from the waist after birth at LUTH. So, she was attending to the unfortunate child save for holiday and spend it wherever we wanted. It’s been amazing. It’s even surprising that it was when we started growing more mature that we began disagreeing and sometimes struggling too like every other marriage.

But, the greatest thing about our relationship is that even when we quarrel, there’s never a time when one person has come to the other and said, “ I think it’s alright, let’s forget about this” and the person frowns.

Sometimes we quarrel and she would be in the kitchen cooking, I’ll just come and put my arms around her waist and give her a peck. And what looked like a big quarrel would be settled.

Some other times, she would come to me in bed and say, ”Let me talk to you this man, you shouldn’t be getting me angry, you were wrong on this one, you made me angry”; and I’ll say “How”? And in the next two minutes, we are laughing. I think it’s because we are Christians, we believe that no matter the disagreement, we must forgive each other for happiness to reign in our home. Our lives have

been incredible though in the last five years, we have had cause to disagree. It is now that we are even more comfortable than we were in those days.

I keep saying that our marriage is built on strong love and fear of God. When we disagree, in a few minutes it ends with laugh and kiss.

How often I get angry I can’t even remember some of the things. Maybe because we understand English language very well.“I think you should have coined this statement this way, I think you should have used this word not that”.

Sometimes, issues like the way African( Nigerian) men treat African (Nigerian) women.

Frankly speaking, when we disagree, we see that culture is very unfair to women. Our quarrels are not really serious.

Courtship before marriage We courted for about five years because she was still in the university when we met. What people say that you can never know a woman is not true. When you have courtship, you’re

friends.

It helps you understand her temperaments, know your likes and dislikes. Personally, I couldn’t have married someone I can’t discuss with on the same level. I’m inspired by intellectual discourses.

There are certain things you find out to know whether this is the kind of person you actually want to get married to.

You have to know your families. I like everything about my wife from the crown of her head to the sole of her feet. But her greatest asset is her relationship with God, that sold her much more to me. The way I felt about her the first time we met, till today my excitement has not changed. I can kiss my wife twenty times in a day.

Causes of break-up I think one thing is unforgiveness. What will my wife do that I can’t forgive. I like to make my life very simple and I think we should ap-

proach marriage that way. Don’t feel that you are superior to your wife, that you must always command her to do things. The Bible asks the wife to be submissive, but not to be subservient . Don’t treat your wife like a slave. Fine, you spend all the money, but you can’t quantify the things she does. She cooks, takes care of the home and the children.

She shops for grocery, sometimes we shop together. Sometimes if you quantify the things she does, you’ll see that everything you buy is not everything.

They do so much and that’s why there has to be mutual respect. And that’s what I have for wife. We both have strong personalities, but as strong as I am, I am able to understand that I am incapable of doing without this woman.

Marriages will succeed if we forgive and drop pride and ego. Treat life with a little bit of simplicity and things will work.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 31

Nothing limits the woman —Joy Isi Bewaji,Media entrepreneur/author

J

BY KEHINDE AJOSE

OY Isi Bewaji joyfully wears the hat of a publicist, media entrepreneur and author. She is an all round media personality with incredible presence on TV, radio, online and print. Driven by the desire to make a mark in whatever she does, Joy presently engages in celebrity PR with the sought after showbiz personalities like Joseph Benjamin, and Tonto Dike in her portfolio. In this interview with Kehinde Ajose, she opens up on how women can make their mark, the projects she is currently working on, and many more.

Can you tell us about your audio series?

I’ve found myself in situations where I’d like to read a book or watch TV or follow a particular series on air but I couldn’t dedicate the time because of crazy work schedules. It was that frustration that got me thinking about alternative ways

to create that genre of enlightenment and entertainment that can accommodate busy people.

So I started working on an audio series- something that people can listen to, especially in busy cosmopolitan cities, whilst they are busy doing the laundry, cooking, ironing or when they are stuck in traffic. The first series is called: “Tina’s Shoes & Love Issues” it’s a chick flick series. Part one will be out on Valentines’ Day; just for the love theme. And every month a new series will be out- like a collection of books or music CDs, I want to kick off the culture of building your own audio series CD library. There’ll be darker series to follow as time goes by with a lot of suspense.

How can women make their mark in their fields of endeavour?

By being original,

effective, creative, and knowing that nothing stands in the way of success.

Nothing limits the woman. Patriarchy in itself is limiting,even to men! If you are in a society that does not allow a woman to achieve her very best then it affects everything and everyone Apart from “Tina’s Shoes & Love Issues” what other projects are you currently working on this year?

My book is coming out second quarter of the year

under Thymbleweed, a publishing firm owned by award-winning author, Jude Dibia. I am excited about it.

When Jude approached me as one of his writers under his new outfit, I was ecstatic. I take my writing seriously because of people like Jude.

He is an incredible writer and the best in his genre; it is an honour to be an author with Thymbleweed, and I can’t wait for it to be out!

What are the challenges of being a female entrepreneur in Nigeria?

Same as it is for men. I don’t think we should pay too much attention to gender; things are closing up fast. Maybe not for every sector, but as a writer and a publicist and media entrepreneur, I fight similar battles like anyone else- male or female; and so far, I haven’t had to deal with unnecessary discrimination.

In your own opinion,does the Nigerian society limit the potentials of women?

The “ woman question” again. No, nothing limits the woman. Patriarchy in itself is limiting,even to men! If you are in a society that does not allow a woman to achieve her very best then it affects everything and everyone. I am aware of gender bias in certain sectors and industry…personally, I have worked more with women than men, and now that I run my own businesses I interact with everyone. There are no limits big enough, created by society, that should be able to stop you; except the one created in our head or out of fear.

What would you consider as your greatest achievement?

Too soon for that. There’s still so much work to be done. It has to be phenomenal, so there’s no point counting your successes yet. But for personal achievements, I would say being a single parent, taking care of two beautiful girls and enjoying it all.

PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

THE STATE POLICE QUESTION

Senator Ali Ndume represents Borno South on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and is Chairman, Senate Committee on MDG. He was a victim of aerial attack by a fighter jet in Pulka, Borno State but he escaped unhurt.

In this interview, he tells his survival story. Ndume also speaks on why federal lawmakers are rushing out of the PDP and it’s political implication as well as the state of the nation under President Goodluck Jonathan.

Excerpts:

CONTROVERSIAL AIR STRIKE IN BORNO

My close shave with death – Senator Ndume zHis pathetic tales of Boko Haram widows, orphans

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

T

here was an aerial attack on your convoy in Pulka town, Borno State. What really happened?

I was on constituency visit to my local government. That Saturday, l had two assignments. I was going to sympathise with my people in the Gwosa East council area who were recently attacked by Boko Haram insurgents. Most of them were so scared that they had started to relocate. Secondly, there was an incident again as a result of insurgency that ignited a problem between the Christian and the Moslem community in a town called Ugoshe. I was there to reconcile them. I told their leadership earlier that l will like to mediate in the dispute and they agreed. So I fixed a meeting for that day. Again, l was to deliver a letter to the Emir of Gwosa in my local government who was upgraded from a second class king to a first class traditional ruler. And so, when l went that Saturday to do the first two assignments, l asked the other contingent in my team, consisting of local government representatives at the Government House, members of the state House of Assembly, some special advisers and special assistants to the governor and some of our elders in Maiduguri including the Secretary to Local Government, that they should join me in Pulka. On arriving Pulka, I stopped over to ask whether the convoy that was supposed to join me from Maiduguri had arrived.

They said they were just ten or twenty kilometers away. I then decided to kind of relieve myself from the crowd that came to greet discuss with me. As l was about to join the federal highway from Pulka to Gwosa, I heard a big explosion behind me. When l turned back, l saw the whole place covered by a thick smoke. Initially, l thought it was from Boko Haram. I even suspected some youths sitting

by the side, thinking they were the ones that detonated a bomb probably planted on the highway. But I was told by the military detachment ahead of me that the bomb was thrown by airforce jet hovering over us. And there was, indeed, an airforce jet hovering over us around ten minutes after 2pm that day. Infact, l have the leftover shells of that bomb, about four of them. Even the villagers there took three of those bomb shells and kept with them and l took one as evidence. So l am surprised to hear different stories from the airforce spokesman after the authorities initially admitted that the bombing was a mistake on their part. Now they turned back to say nothing like that happened. My worry is that if that bomb had hit me, l will not be talking to you now. And that means there will be nobody that will be telling my side of the story. And it is unfortunate that the security agency, didn’t contact me or anybody in Pulka to cross check my claims. Any resident of Pulka and even the army base there, will tell you there was an explosion from the airforce jet that was hovering and we tried to establish communication with them. It is unfortunate that somebody will sit down in Abuja and, without doing his work or investigating what happened, will come out to say that something like that didn’t happen.

Does it mean that the Nigerian Air Force lied that there was no such attack?

I am not that kind of person that will be apportioning blames. But l am a senator, a representative of the people. I am a stakeholder in this country. I should be able to contribute my quota. The NAF authorities cannot say they are perfect. And let me say here, that this is not the first blunder they committed. This is the second one in that area. After the incident, the police told me that they had a similar case in a town near Kano Road. It is a different highway entirely. But the police have not been

lucky like me because one of them lost his arm. Now they are coming out to say that their officers are well trained and perfect. If they say it didn’t happen in my own case, will they also say the same thing about the police case?

That police officer now had his arm amputated. The Nigerian Air Force should have simply admitted their shortcoming and say the mistake happened and that they would make sure that it will not happen again. Now assuming l didn’t inform them, if you just see a convoy moving like that because there is insurgency in Borno, is that enough reason to throw bomb on them on a federal highway. Initially l thought it was a mistake, but now that they have started denying, l am suspicious. If they had admitted that the bombing was a mistake, then my suspicion wouldn’t have been raised. I did not know that l have to contact the airforce to get clearance to go to my constituency. But l am a politician for God’s sake and l have to visit my senatorial district where people are dying to sympathise with them.

What was the reaction of Pulka people when the bomb landed?

The people almost rioted, but l had to calm them down.

I told them that this must be a mistake from the airforce.

We thank God nobody was hurt. But some people are now thinking that since there was a report earlier that there were some politicians on watch list or hit list, may be Senator Ali Ndume was one of them. No, l don’t want to think like that. I can be on the watch or target list, but l believe that nobody can take my life except God. So l don’t want to shift my faith and trust in God to think that anybody can take my life if God doesn’t approve. If l do that, God will now give that person the chance to do so.

We understand there have been similar unreported threats to your life. Who are behind these threats and why were they not reported?

Continues on page 33

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 33

‘The tales of Boko Haram widows, orphans’ Continued from page 32

The period you were attacked, incidentally, was the time Senator Magnus Abe was allegedly shot at by the police in Rivers state. Are these incidents coincidental?

When l came back to Abuja from Borno, l was told that Magnus was shot and l exclaimed.

The police said before anybody can hold a rally, that person must obtain a permit. They said Senator Abe had no such approval to organize a rally and that was why they intervened to stop the gathering. Is that the position of the law?

You don’t need police permission to do that. But let me take it on the other logic.

Security agents really have to know that Nigerians are not mad people. They can do analysis. My own analysis when that incident happened was, number one: the police said they shot Abe with a rubber bullet. But when the Senate Committee on Police Affairs went to investigate the matter, the same police said they don’t have rubber bullet. Senator Abe is lucky because he could have been killed with a live bullet since the police said they have no rubber bullet. It also means that any time they have to quell a riot situation, they use live ammunition. That is the implication of what the police has said.

And it is dangerous for the police in Rivers State where there is this heightened political situation to say they don’t have rubber bullet. So it means they only have live ammunitions that, if need be, they will use. Second, if a senator, unless he is armed and probably pointing a gun at you, is leading a rally, you should be able to confront him and demobilize him if necessary and not necessarily shoot at him or throw teargas at him. It is unfortunate for the police to have shot at Magnus Abe. But we thank God that he is alive.

Many people were shocked when government security linked you with

Ndume...I have Christians and Muslim relatives

,,

This is a security matter. But l reported some to the appropriate authorities. I even reported some to the President. I wrote to Mr President. I was evacuated from Maiduguri in March 2013 when the President was visiting. Security agents said Boko Haram operatives were to kill me and that l had to leave immediately.

They provided me with security and evacuated me to Abuja. There were two other instances. When the March incident happened, security officeers told me that the Boko Haram commander that had been enlisted to eliminate me was killed somewhere in Sokoto by government agencies. But l didn’t make noise. You don’t need to heighten the situation when you have escaped.

Your state, Borno, is among the Northeast states under emergency rule. What is the security situation currently in that area?

Honestly there is improvement. I went round the state. I was in Shani, in Biu, in Gambua and in Gwosa. I went round Gwosa East and Bama. The news that l got that made me excited and hopeful of return to peace is the way the current GOC (General Officer Commanding) commanding the 7th Division, Major General Bindawa is handling the issue of security there. And in Dambua, the battalion commander there, one lieutenant colonel, is also on ground. When Boko Haram wanted to attack Dambua, he was able to take them on and killed almost over seventy of the insurgents. He lost only one soldier and two civilians. That was very precise and professionally executed operation. I really want to commend the officers on ground. Even that day that l went to Gwosa, there was an insurgent attack from the Mandara mountains, but Captain Habib, who is the acting CO (Commanding Officer) there, was able to repel them.

Boko Haram terrorist activities. Why would any one associate Senator Ali Ndume with such violent action. Frankly, to what extent were you involved in the sponsorship of terrorism?

Well, Senator Ali Ndume has nothing whatsoever to do with Boko Haram. Right now, the insurgents are dealing with my people. I have refugees in my town. I have lost so many lives on both sides because l am both from Muslim and Christian background. My mother is a Christian and some of my blood sisters are Christians, while some of my blood brothers are Moslems. In my family, that is how it is.

My junior sister’s name is Diana, followed

by David, Naomi and Martina in that order. The husband of Martina, our last born on the side of my mother, who was a secretary to a church in my village, was killed by Boko Haram insurgents. He was closest to me. My mother, too, was a church woman leader until her death.

Throughout my election campaign, Martina and her husband were in charge of my feeding. Right now, Martina is under my care. I relocated her to Jos because of the activities of the insurgents.

She was left behind with three children and l had to send them to school right now in Jos. On the other hand,, my junior wife Mariam has a brother who is a Moslem, an immigration officer in a border town in Maiduguri , who was killed in his sleep

by Boko Haram. And he left behind three children and a wife. I am the one taking care of them now. So you can see where l am coming from. Now for government to drag me into the issue of Boko Haram in 2010 when the issue escalated and they formed a Presidential Committee and l started honestly to see how we can resolve this problem, they turned around later on to say that l am a sponsor of Boko Haram because one political thug talked to me on phone. Many people talk to me as senator.

By the way, the case currently is in court and it will be sub-judicial to go into further details of that matter. I just gave you my background for you to use your common sense to see whether somebody like me is Boko Haram or it’s sponsor like government has said.

Let me even add here, that l happen to be a Moslem just as you happen to be a Christian. When l was a little boy in 1960, l was with my mother and, l was a Christian. I grew up in a Christian community up to the time my father who was a Muslim, took me over and I became a Muslim. After I matured, l decided to be a Moslem. Even now, l can not read the Holy Quran. I am trying to learn how to read the Quran. So how can

The husband of Martina, our last born on the side of my mother, who was a secretary to a church in my village, was killed by Boko Haram insurgents.

He was closest to me

somebody like that be a fanatic to the extent of supporting terrorism. But in this country, instead of looking for solution, government was initially looking for a scapegoat or they were really trying to politicize this issue of insurgency to take political credit for it. I guess that was why this thing got out of hand until when government realized that this is a cancerous thing that can destroy all of us.

Initially, people were saying it is a war against Christians but they have seen that Moslems are being massacred by Boko Haram and so, nobody is talking again.

As senators resume plenary for the year, there have threats in some quarters to declare the seats of some PDP senators like you who defect to the APC vacant. Is it within the law to do so?

This is not the first time members of the National Assembly or even governors are defecting from one party to another. What happened? Nothing! Why should there be any threat now? Is it because for the first time people are massively defecting from the PDP? Many governors from ANPP and from other political parties, at different times, defected to the PDP and nothing happened. Is it now that seats will be declared vacant simply because some people are moving from PDP to APC? So many members of the House of Representatives have defected to another party. I Senator Ali Ndume defected from ANPP to PDP and what happened? Was my seat declared vacant then? No. So many senators defected from ACN then to the PDP, was any of their seat declared vacant?

Some of my members in the ANPP defected to PDP when l was the

minority leader in the House of Representatives. What happened? Nothing. So this issue of declaring anybody’s seat vacant does not arise because it has happened before and it will continue to happen. A member of a political party, you know that if there is crisis in a party, you have the right to defect. Except those who do not want to say the truth, nobody can say that there is no faction in PDP. In fact in my state, they have almost forgotten PDP because we don’t have a governor. We only have two senators. Do we continue like that? No. So nobody has the right to declare seats vacant because it is the mandate of the people. If you change your political party especially now that the election is coming, if your people don’t like you you will know, from the votes you will But if they like you, you will still maintain your seat.

Are you one of those senators that will defect to the APC from the PDP? Well, the time has not come yet. Senator Ali Ndume is nobody if it just about my personality. I am the son of a poor man.

My father did not go to school. I am not a rich man neither do l have a political godfather. Only the Almighty God is my godfather. I am here at the National Assembly as a senator by the grace of God and the wish of my people. I am consulting with my people on that matter. They were the one that asked me to go to the Senate from the House of Reps.

The leaders in my constituency came together to decide that l should leave the House of Reps and move to the Senate when former governor Ali Modu Sherriff wanted one of his female commissioner to go to the Senate. I have no choice than to bow to the wish of my people because the voice of the people is the voice of God. Secondly, the people give you leadership. If you don’t take it, it means you are not responsible. Otherwise l would have loved to be in House of Representatives because the place is more vibrant and, besides, l was more effective there. Local governments under the constituency of a Reps member are few.

Looking at the situation in our country, it is easier to manage three local governments but now, as a senator, l am representing about nine local governments. I strongly believe that irrespective of where you are, if God wants you to shine, you will surely shine. There are many House of Reps members like the Speaker Hon. Waziri Aminu Tambuwal who are doing well on their job.

Tambuwal is, today, one of the respected eminent citizens of this country. So l really wanted to go back to the House of Reps but my people said in 2011 that I should go to the Senate instead. I want to say here that really l wanted to contest that election on the platform of CPC (Congress for Progressive Change). Why I was shifting grounds that time was because of the injustice I perceived in my party because the then governor (Ali Modu Sherriff) didn’t want me to contest. Like I said earlier, he preferred a female commissioner of his then from my local government.

The elders in my place in their wisdom sat down and said l should go to PDP and contest. That was how l came into the PDP. The PDP gave me waiver, they gave me their form and l contested and won. It was my coming to the PDP along with our gubernatorial candidate with one other that contested, that made it possible for us to get about four members of the National Assembly and six or seven members of the state House of Assembly.

So if my people say l should continue in PDP, so be it. But l don’t see it happening because the fortunes of PDP have dwindled in Borno and our members have deserted the party.

Even me and my other colleague that are supposed to be flying the flag of PDP are being persecuted for obvious reasons.

So with this kind of development, one would really have to think not just twice, but so many times, to continue to remain in PDP. But the bottom line for now, l am still consulting on what to do next.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

RIVERS CRISIS

Counting the losses, the pains

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

I

Governor Chibuike Amaechi Lawisa; Movement for the Survival of Ogoni, MOSOP, and other groups have, meantime, enjoined warring politicians in the state not turn Ogoni into a theatre of war.

They also appealed to Amaechi and the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, not to bring their programmes to the area for now. They condemned the shooting in Bori, an Ogoni community. “I hereby humbly advise our governor, as well as Mr. Wike and their supporters to PLEASE launch their Movements elsewhere for the now, in the name of peace and humanity. As none of you are a friend of Ogoni and will not be. I and my colleagues believe that this battle is for the soul of Rivers State (and Ogoni); it is for your individual and selfish gains, and not for the interest of all, as you would like us to believe, hence you have continued to use human lives to further this cause. For Ogoni people, it will be a mistake of a lifetime to be deceived or coerced into bearing arms for any of these fellows, in the name of politics and/or whatever. OGEPA as a body, is concerned about the lives the environment our people inhabit and is appalled with the degenerating standard of our body”, Lawisa said.

Lawyers and staff of Rivers State Road Traffic Management Agency, TIMARIV, in a related development, protested, on Thursday, in Port Harcourt.

While staff of TIMARIV protested non-payment of

Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu their four months salaries, the lawyers protested nonappointment of a Chief Judge for the state, a situation they said was affecting smooth operations of the judicial arm.

The lawyers marched on the pedestrian lane of the Azikiwe Road to the Federal High Court.

Some of the placards they carried read, “Worgu Boms (Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice), resign or follow the law“, Even in military there was Chief Judge”, “NBA suffering and smiling”, “Attorney General

,

T is a challenging time for the government and residents of Rivers State because of the impact of political developments on the economy of the state.

Last Sunday, a rally by the Save Rivers Movement, SRM, a pro-Governor Chibuike Amaechi body, was aborted in Bori, headquarters of Khana local government area, by hoodlums. They started shooting as early as 2am that day to create an atmosphere of fear and tension in the community. Despite the shooting, which reportedly lasted till about 5am, some top government functionaries still dared to go to the All Saints Cathedral Church, Diocese of the Anglican Communion, venue of the rally, to see the extent of preparations.

They were there when the hoodlums stormed the venue and continued their shooting.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr Tony Okocha; Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii; and the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwanee, were among those who fled for their lives.

The shooting caused those at the market on Monsi Road to scamper for safety. They abandoned their wares as ran for dear lives. Worshipers in churches that morning were also in tense mood. Some state government vehicles at the venue of the rally were riddled with bullets. The OBS van of Channels Television was vandalised.

Peace only returned to the area after police men moved in, took over Hospital Road in the town. The road leads to the venue of the rally. The police also sealed the venue. Nobody was allowed into the place.

Some traders, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard in the Bori community, said the ugly incident caused them huge economic losses as they misplaced money while running. Many others said they were in the middle of a transaction when they started hearing gun shots and fled. “I cannot recall who I sold some things to. I was at the verge of collecting money when we heard gun shots and everybody ran. Now I can’t find the person.”

Some said they later ran back to hurriedly lock up their stores because they were not sure of what would happen next.

Leader of Ogoni Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Mr John

appoint the most senior judge as Chief Judge of the state. “ Having regard to the doctrine of necessity, the independence and functions of the judiciary as an arm of government, we hereby use this media to urge the National Judicial Council, NJC in collaboration with our respective judges of the Rivers State High Court, to urgently facilitate the appointment and swearing into office of whosoever is the most senior judge in the state in order to assume functions and responsibilities of the Chief

The shooting caused those at the market on Monsi Road to scamper for safety. They abandoned their wares as ran for dear lives. Worshipers in churches that morning were also in tense mood

stop misleading.”

The lawyers carried out their action under the aegis of Forum of Concerned Lawyers of the Nigeria Bar Association, Port Harcourt branch. They urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to collaborate with judges of the Rivers state High court to act in line with the doctrine of necessity to

,

Judge of Rivers State”, the group said.

When contacted for comments on call for his removal or resignation, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Worgu Boms, in a text message said the lawyers had the constitutional rights to express themselves.

A blind lawyer in the state, Gordon Bryson Pepple, said he was going to court to compel the governor to appoint a CJ. “I will file a writ of mandamus compelling the governor to appoint a CJ”, he said.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, led by Godspower Ake, said the protest was sponsored by the Grassroots Democratic Initiative, GDI, a pro-Nyesom Wike group.

Publicity secretary of the group, Mr George Nwogba, described the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as a gift to the state’s judiciary “Wogu Boms is a gift to the Rivers State judiciary whose actions and advice to the Rivers State Government in respect to the matter of the appointment of state Chief Judge has been purely professional and apolitical.

What the protesting lawyers only achieved was denigrating the wig and gown by joining street urchins and often rented miscreants to march on the streets for peanuts. We had assumed that lawyers were learned enough to know civility and decorum,” he said On Tuesday some youths from Ikwerre also blocked a portion of Aba Road protesting against the governor. The protesters said they would not hesitate to shut down Port Harcourt International Airport and oil operations in their various local government if the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, was transferred on account of the call by Amaechi and his aides.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 35

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

DUTY WAIVER SCANDAL REVEALED(1)

The gap between theory and practice —1

BY DELE SOBOWALE “A sector-wide waiver policy was introduced to provide specific incentives for some strategic and job creating sectors. Under this regime, all businesses in a sector have access to the same incentives -” Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in response to one of the questions by the House of Representatives Committee.

T

HE Honourable Minister of Finance, understandably, is becoming increasingly tense these days. Understandably, because even she must now be aware that the ovation, which greeted her re-appointment in 2011, has been drowned out by boos and cat-calls. However, it must be quickly added that she was the author of her own problems. She was warned not to make her re-entry by championing the call for fuel subsidy removal, but instead to lead with an economic blue-print for more inclusive economic growth. But, her employer, President Jonathan, wanted her in the role of the sacrificial lamb; perhaps, thinking that if anybody could pull off that coup, Ngozi could. She has not recovered from that blunder.

Now she has another mess on her hands called DUTY WAIVERS. This government had given away N170.7 billion in three years or average of N56.6 billion

per annum—more than the budget for university education each year.

To begin with, for the Minister to talk persuasively about the need for Duty Waivers, while raising her voice stridently against subsidy amounts to intellectual dishonesty of the worst kind.

Unless, they taught a different kind of economics at Harvard and M.I.T when she was a student in those two universities, then she must admit that WAIVER is synonymous with SUBSIDY. The difference is that whereas fuel subsidy (if at all it exists) benefits millions of Nigerians, Duty Waiver directly benefits a few individuals and their businesses.

So Duty Waiver represents subsidy for an elite group.

In her submission quoted above, which was nothing more than a theoretical reply to a specific question, she claims that “all businesses in a sector have access to the same incentives.” That is a load of baloney as will soon be demonstrated. What the House of Representatives wanted was a list of the recipients of this subsidy and how much each of them received.

Even a freshman at Harvard knows that a conceptual reply cannot satisfy a request for examples; nor is it a proof that the theory is being faithfully applied. The honest reply to that question, apart from providing all the names of recipients and how much each got away with, would demonstrate that they fell

The House of Representatives needs to be commended for subjecting the Minister of Finance to answering those questions, especially, on Duty Waivers, which had always been used to favour political associates instead of promoting the objectives which she has enunciated in her reply – which was largely evasive within the “strategic and jobcreating sectors”, as she claimed.

One cannot escape the feeling that the Minister is reluctant to provide the specifics because she knows that there has been a wide gap between theory and practice which can only be called CREDIBILITY G AP. Since Duty Waiver is not a new idea, it might be helpful if we take a trip down memory lane to find out how the theory had been applied in the past. In the book, PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED, I had included a report taken from the PUNCH of March 9, 2009, entitled, “FG Loses N165.5bn to Obasanjo’s Waivers”. The paper named Dangote alone among the recipients of the waiver and no other company in a particular business sector. It also named the Redeemed Christian Church of God alone, among churches. No mosque received a kobo. We shall

soon read some of the items for which the waiver was granted, in order to appreciate how much hot air the Minister was spewing when she claimed equal access by all those in the sector.

We know from historical data that N18.394bn was granted in 2003; N33.970bn in 2004, making a total of N52.364bn granted in the first two years of i Okonjo-Iweala as Federal Finance Minister. Part of the N41.650bn given away in 2005 should also be added to her credit because many of the waivers, granted by the Obasanjo administration, were still being enjoyed until 2009.

A partial list of beneficiaries includes Dangote Industries Limited, Redeemed Church, Messrs Western Metal Products Company Limited [surely a household name], International Hotels, Mandarin Hotels, Le Meridian, Grand Ikoyi Towers

and Resort and Federal Palace Hotels. Among other revelations in my investigations, at the time, was the fact that “Dangote Industries received two years concession from payment of duties on import of tomato paste”. It is doubtful if any other competitor of Dangote Industries operating in the same sector received a kobo in Duty Waiver for import of tomato paste.

At the same time, the Redeemed Church was granted two years of exemption, effective from 11 July 2006, on import of iron rods, scaffolding, stadium chairs, transformers, fitting tiles, bulk cement, escalator/vibrating roller, musical instruments, jeeps, cars and buses, among others. To the best of my knowledge, no other church, mosque or traditional religious group received a kobo in Duty Waiver to bring in jeeps, cars and buses.

Incidentally, one might ask, under which business sector is Redeemed Church operating?

The House of Representatives needs to be commended for subjecting the Minister of Finance to answering those questions, especially, on Duty Waivers, which had always been used to favour political associates instead of promoting the objectives which she has enunciated in her reply – which was largely evasive. The members should not relent, because, if there is any aspect of our economic lives which is mostly corruption-ridden, it is the operation of the Duty Waiver system.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala, as the author and promoter of two illegal accounts, namely, the Excess Crude Account, ECA, and the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, had demonstrated that she is unwilling to operate within the constraints of our Constitution and our laws. She would not have lasted one year as Treasury Secretary in the US if she had colluded with the President to open and operate an illegal account; and she knows it; because God’s own country is not a banana republic.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

‘Our airports as our gateway to prosperity’

By EMMA UJAH

N

OT a few fellow Ni gerians will agree that indeed, the country ’s airports have received very serious facelift in the last two years.

Beside the annual ritual of painting and repainting our airports by previous administrations, there have never been such positive developments in the critical aviation sector as we currently witness.

According to media reports, when the current minister in charge of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah assumed duty July 2011, she met the sector and its several agencies in need of reorganisation, restructuring and rehabilitation. From one agency to the other across the land, the minister recorded cases of dilapidated infrastructures, demoralised staff and situations that made flying a big risk.

For instance, Oduah announced that at the end of her tour around aviation facilities and agencies, the following among several others, aptly summarised her findings: • Safety and security-critical equipment and installations were either obsolete, unserviceable or unavailable • Completely decayed infrastructure all round- airport terminals were dilapidated and derelict • Airport facilities and services such as air conditioning, toilets, trolleys, elevators, directional signage, power generators, etc were either unserviceable, unreliable, unavailable or not user friendly • Security screening equipment at airports was obsolete and mostly unreliable.

• Airport fire stations and fire-fighting equipment in poor condition, with fire hydrants unserviceable and firemen and women had gone without proper kits for years • Terrible and unsafe working condition of staff in airport offices (i.e. asbestos roofs, leaking roofs, broken floors, no power supply, etc.)

• Poor working conditions for air traffic controllers in the control towers with serious safety risks for the industry • Several abandoned control tower upgrade projects spread across the country- in total, 154 abandoned projects in the industry • Several runways without runway lighting • The Aviation Training College in Zaria had lost its ability to train students and lacked adequate equipment and facilities, and • Massive leakage of Agencies’ revenue due to manipulation of manual revenue collection processes

Road mapping

Economically, the Honourable minister deduced that the aviation industry had become a net liability to government and the national economy with

Stella Oduah the attendant negative image and poor symbol of our national identity.

Put succinctly, the Nigerian Aviation industry she inherited was moving fast in the opposite direction of the rest of the progressive world and was the perfect example of how NOT to run a national industry.

She was to underscore her worries for the sector when she declared late last year that: “We also invited an International Consultancy to do a study on the Financial Affairs of all the Parastatals and Agencies under the Ministry to clarify the state of their financial affairs.

“A Human Resources Consultancy was also invited to do a study on the Human Resources status and practices in all the Parastatals and Agencies under the Ministry.

Armed with what we found on the ground, the reports from the 3 studies commissioned coupled with my years of business experience, I appointed a competent team of CEOs and DGs for all the Parastatals and Agencies under the Ministry.

Together we spent 2 months brainstorming and developing an Aviation Master Plan and Road Map to turn around Nigeria’s Aviation Industry.”

That the Aviation Master Plan and Road Map were finally approved by Mr President in January 2012 was therefore a welcome development that made sure that since then all our actions must follow the Road Map. But as is typical with any effort aimed at cleaning an obviously dirty Aegean stable like the Aviation sector she inherited, especially in this clime, the ministry required some form of iron-fisted approach.

And like Oduah was to say, “the Transformation of the Nigerian Aviation Industry could not begin without making very fundamental changes. This meant that a number of tough

decisions had to be taken, including exiting from various lopsided ‘concessions’ entered into previously.

“These decisions adversely affected several powerful interests benefitting from the arrangements to the detriment of the industry and the national interest, who have continued to fight and distort public perceptions of the actions which my team and I continue to take to transform the Aviation Industry.” More so, the Aviation Master Plan included a Road Map for institutional changes, infrastructure development, human capacity development, the strengthening of domestic

like Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, AIPB, Nigerian College of Civil Aviation Technology, NCAT, Nigerian Airspace Management Authority, NAMA to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, there have been a lot of turning around by the current Transformation government. And the recognitions for the great strides in the sector have kept pouring in. For instance, in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO and World Maritime Organisation, WMO requirement, NIMET underwent a

The Nigerian Aviation industry she inherited was moving fast in the opposite direction of the rest of the progressive world and was the perfect example of how NOT to run a national industry. carriers, the establishment of a national carrier, the development of Regional Hubs and Perishable Cargo handling facilities, Free Trade Zones and Aerotropolis.

The paradigm shift required a review of the existing Civil Aviation Policy, resulting in a new and robust National Civil Aviation Policy as emphasis of the Master Plan and Road Map is to reposition Nigeria’s Aviation Industry as pivotal to the economic growth of Nigeria, in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration.

Working the Road Map

Thus from an agency like Nigeria Meteorological Services, NIMET, through others

Quality Management System audit process from October 2011. The Agency was finally certified in March 2013. The certification which was a confirmation of Nigeria's compliance with international aviation standards and best practices in the provision of weather services for airline operations. The certification boosts the confidence of Airline Operators and other users of meteorological data and products makes NIMET the first meteorological agency in West Africa to meet the rigorous requirements and receive the ISO certification. This therefore re-enforces Nigeria’s position to become the aviation hub for the entire sub-region.

“This achievement is unprecedented in the history of meteorological service in Ni-

geria. It was made possible by the on-going Transformation of the aviation sector to guarantee quality of service and safety in the Nigerian airspace,” many stakeholders in the sector were to say last year.

The same feat that caused the foregoing recognition are being replicated across the agencies in the sector that today, the Jonathan Transformation Agenda is peaking in the sector. Today, the nation can boast of modern airport buildings with state-of-the-art facilities that compare with the best elsewhere alongside the effective security network whose personnel have been so trained to be central to the transformation process.

Challenges ahead

Just as the nation is happy with the progress so far made in the sector, not a few Nigerians believe that beside the rising cost of flying in the country as well cases of missing luggage, touting, cases of cancelled flights, menace of over-zealous security personnel at the airport and operators of the taxi parks within the airports are areas that the minister and her officials must address as they affect intending or arriving passengers; and potentially, members of the public.

As for the personnel of the several agencies of the ministry, the Oduah revolution must catch up with them; especially, in their inter-personal relations with each other within same agency as well as with sister-agencies. Above all, the transformation going on may make no meaning if individual staff of the agencies does not relate well with members of the public today, a potential client tomorrow. No doubt, a lot has been done to take our airports and related operations to the next level in line with Jonathan’s agenda for that sector. But there is still more to do to get things there up to the zenith.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014—PAGE 37

What Nigerians will gain on refineries' privatisation

BY OGHENEKEVWE LABA

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he pronouncement of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, over the plan by the Federal Government to sell the four oil refineries in the country attracted criticisms from labour unions and nongovernment organizations among others.

According to the minister, the planned sale was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s effort to transform the petroleum sector through privatization. The Minister noted that all four state-owned refineries are to be sold to private investors in the first quarter of 2014 to end years of under-performance and financial burden on the country.

Those against the proposed sale of the refineries located in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt argued that the sale is against national interest and is only in the interest of few Nigerians who are lurking around the corridor of power to milk the country dry.

They alleged that government advertently underfunded the refineries and refused to carry out routine turn around maintenance (TAM) and failed to supply adequate crude oil to the refineries to have reasons for selling them to their cronies.

Critics of the sale of the refineries have the right be afraid of the unknown once the refineries are run by private hands. But the question we need to ask ourselves is, do we have to borrow money to run the refineries when experience from other parts of the world shows that it would be more beneficiary if the refineries are privatized? Nigeria is

Refinary blessed with vast quantities of oil and is the sixth largest oil exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This has generated billions of dollars in revenues over the last 40 years. As in most developing countries, this has not translated into improved economy.

Instead, through inefficiency, corruption, abuse of natural monopoly powers, mismanagement, smuggling, bureaucratic bottlenecks and excessive subsidizing, the supply of refined crude oil (gas) in the country has virtually collapsed.

For instance, the Federal Government budgeted about N971billion for subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol in 2013, while over N635billion has been spent on subsidising kerosene for the past three years. This money would have been spent on other areas of the economy if the refineries were working well.

The refineries are capable of

producing these products if they are working and the excess can be exported to the benefit of the country. To achieve this objective, the refineries need to be handed over to private hands who can manage them since experience has shown that government is running a loss by managing the refineries.

Government is aware that it cannot face the problems of the downstream sector in isolation and is well aware of the potential effects on the labor market. It is possible that in the short term unemployment may arise due to price increases and the attendant problem of job losses in the refineries. This will be done by investors who aim to maximize efficiency, once they acquire control.

However, it is in this regard that the agency charged with privatization, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), undertook a study of such effects and came up with possible solutions such as

rather than divest 100% to a core investor, 49% will be sold on the Nigerian Stock Exchange for ordinary citizens and part of that amount will be kept for current employees to acquire. Employees are also given the option of severance packages if they agree to resign before the actual sale takes place.

The problem of unemployment would be for a short term as studies from other countries revealed that privatising the refineries would attract investments, create job opportunities, enhance efficiency, free the downstream of all sorts of distortions and put an end to payment of subsidies on some petroleum products and corruption in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Giving credence to the sale of the refineries, Emi Membere-Otaji, the Managing Director of Elshcon Nigeria Limited, postulated that government has no business being in business.

This, according to him, is more apt in Nigeria because the outcome is not just inefficiency and non-profitability but actual drain pipes.

He said further, “Our refineries have failed us as a country; but privatisation and following due process, leading to the emergence of the right winner is the way forward.

It is worth noting that the biggest gain will be the savings generated from divesting in the sector,. as this will free government funds for other activities.

The approach government has chosen about the privatization is quite interesting because it is novel in the third world.

Government has created a policy that affects the upstream sector. It has sent a bill to the Senate for approval. This bill, receiving accelerated hearing, makes it mandatory for major oil companies operating in Nigeria, i.e.

Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Elf, to refine at least 50% of their crude oil locally. What this means is that there will be many suppliers in the Nigerian market, thereby encouraging competition and attendant lower costs.

Although the oil majors are not thrilled about this, it is a price they have to pay if they want to remain in the market.

All said and done, Nigeria is on track and is potentially going to be better off in the long run with the plans on privatization. Already the benefits of maintaining a good fiscal policy is coming to bear, government has moved away from over dependence on oil revenues and is diversifying into other areas.

Oghenekevwe Laba is a Lagos based journalist

Legal validity of the 2014 budget session of Rivers House

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BY Itse Sagay

n Monday 6th January 2014, the Rivers State House of Assembly met and sat at the Rivers State Government House Auditorium, to receive the 2014 budget of the State from the Governor and there after approved the budget. The Appropriation Bill has since been signed into law by the Governor.

The fact that the House met outside its designated Chambers, has resulted in a strident condemnation by the State’s branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P.), that the Assembly session was null and void. The P.D.P. has even gone so far as to call on Banks not to honour the cheques of the State Government.

In determining the legal nature and effect of the 6th January sitting of the House,

certain issues must be taken into consideration.

1.

Sections 90 to 129 of the Constitution which provide for the composition, powers and operation of a State House of Assembly make absolutely no reference to the building or Chambers in which the Houses will function. The Constitution is concerned with the House as a body of Legislators, and not a House as a building made of brick and cement.

2.Although there is a designated House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Police Command has made it physically impossible for the House to meet there. This is inspite of a Court Ruling that the House was free and entitled to resume its legislative duties.

Every attempt by the Law Makers to resume their work in the State House of Assembly Building has been

violently repelled by the State Police Command under Paul Mbu. 3.For there to be governance and economic activity in the State, the Legislators must carry out their legislative duties.

4.Before resorting to the use of the State Government Auditorium for legislative activity, the Government first officially declared that auditorium as a temporary legislative venue and this declaration was formally gazetted.

In the light of the above factors, no one, can in good faith, challenge the legitimacy of the House sitting in the temporary venue. It is clear that the strategy of economic strangulation of Rivers State is the objective of those challenging the validity of the House 2014 Budget Session.

It will be most futile for those who are hostile to the normal

functioning of government in Rivers State to rely on the case of Adeleke v. Oyo State House of Assembly [2006] 52 WRN 22 to justify their stand. In that case, the Court of Appeal at Ibadan did not just declare the purported sitting of a rump of the Oyo State House of Assembly, invalid, null and void merely because their sitting took place outside their designated Chambers. That sitting was declared null and void for far more than that, namely: (i)It was held in a private hotel room. (ii)No principal officer (Speaker or Deputy Speaker) was present. (iii)The Clerk of the House was absent. (iv)The meeting was not plenary and open to all members, but was exclusive and held in an atmosphere of intimidation and violence. (v)The 18 members who

participated in that ‘session’ were less than two-thirds of the 32 member House, and therefore did not meet the mandatory requirements of Section 188 of the Constitution.

The above five factors were responsible for the invalidity of the Oyo State House of Assembly Session in De Rovans Hotel. In the present case of Rivers State, the session took place in a Government facility, duly gazetted for that purpose; the Speaker presided at the sitting; the Clerk of the House was present; the meeting was plenary, open to all members and free from intimidation and violence. Finally, 23 out of the 31 members of the House were present at that session.

In the light of above, no one can question the validity and legitimacy of the Rivers State 2014 Budget Session. *Sagay is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

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ba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Iku Baba Yeye, on Wednesday, January 14, 2014, clocked 43 years on the throne of the Alaafin of Oyo. How time flies! Time has moved at such a fast pace that one of the Yoruba most revered traditional rulers, during an interaction with Sunday Vanguard, could not understand how the feat of two scores and three that he has been on the throne was achieved. He, however, was certain that, “It is God Almighty; not by my power or effort. I give glory to Him.” Forty-three years of living with Yoruba’s richest cultures and traditions isn’t a joke. According to the monarch, being on the throne for this long has come with its challenges and achievements; regrets and consolations. All the same, to him, the achievements, consolations and satisfactions are more quantitatively speaking than the challenges, regrets and dis-satisfactions.

Strength resides in boldness and truthfulness- the Alaafin example: Where others, despite their statuses as traditional rulers, are, wittingly or unwittingly, shying away from playing the guiding role to politicians in government or speaking against the wrongs by the high and mighty in the society, the sitting Alaafin, in 43 years as the custodian of cultures and traditions of the Yoruba race, has no only been heard loudly against those wrongs but ,also, he has won virtually all the cases he instituted in the course of getting those battles to a logical conclusion.

The titan of Oyo Empire believes in equity and social justice. Invariably, he said the feat was for the good of the leaders and the people. During the Sunday Vanguard’s visit to the Aafin Oyo, the monarch took a retrospective look at his 43 years on the stool and said, “I have spent the last 43 years on the throne as the Alaafin, to contribute my quota to the development of the traditional institution in Nigeria.

“In doing this, I have approached the courts with over 100 cases and all the decided cases, with due respect to members of the Bench, the Inner Silk and the Bar, I, as the Alaafin of Oyo, have never lost a case on traditional institution matters.” Though he admitted it was not an easy feat, doing all that amounted to his contribution to the traditional institution development both in Yoruba race and Nigeria as a whole.

“I am a stickler to the rule of law and this is informed by my conviction that if the rule of law is removed from our society, we shall be living in animal kingdom”. n celebration day in Oyo, Sunday Vanguard had kept a date with the Alaafin on a 24-Hour Report mission. Pinning Oba Adeyemi down to an interview, however, is not an easy task. Not even during an exceptionally crowded event like that of his 43rd anniversary in the palace premises. But given the nature

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C M Y K

was without prior notice, yet the Africa’s fourth most influential monarch and Nigeria’s topmost traditional and religious leader gave his unexpected visitor the audience he required. And as soon as he left the ultan palace, the Sunday Vanguard journalist left Sokoto by road at 4.30pm on Friday, January 17 to arrive Oyo 11am the following day, the day set aside for the celebration of Adeyemi’s celebration of the 43rd anniversary on the throne.

Once informed of the journalist’s arrival amidst the very crowded but well organized morning session of the anniversary event, the Alaafin said, “Let him come, let him come.”

Homages were paid to the king from some distance to the throne. People would greet, “Kaabiyesi ooo!” And Oba Adeyemi would raise his rightfisted arm in acknowledgment. Soon it was turn of the reporter to greet the monarch. On getting to the carpet laid in front of him, “Kaabiyesi sir,” I greeted like others. The Alaafin said, “Maa bo, maa bo” (meaning, come on, come on) and on moving near touching his knees on the high, goldplated elegantly built royal seat, Oba Adeyemi started by jokingly, and loudly too, challenging me, “You don’t come to me all the times. Sugbon sa mio binu. I see your hand all the times and I thank Vanguard and I appreciate you, too, my son.” Who would have expected that such a highly placed monarch would have the time, despite the tight nature of the event, to have an informal chat with the reporter?

That, an aide of his, said is a show of the charismatic leadership that he represents.

On the event attended by more than one thousand people, though he wanted it a low-key affair, the Alaafin, clad in white attire with his usual eletiaja cap of same colour to match, was flanked on the right by his Oloris, princesses, grandchildren and, to his left, by his princes, other Yoruba Obas, Oyo chiefs and dignitaries including palace assistants and security agents who formed a crescent behind him.

Despite the busy look of things, he told me, “We are here this morning for the prayer session. After this, we will go inside and I will have the time to sit down with you and we talk. And then we will return to this place at 3pm for the afternoon session which is the main event.”

Such treatment, by the Alaafin, of this reporter, as it has always been, again threw him (Sunday Vanguard) up to the recognition and reverence of many. The next thing was for even some of the security agents around to accord him the smoothness required to do his job within the palace without hitches.

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A PEEP INTO OYO EMPIRE

The Alaafin and his 100 court cases • ‘The first 25 of 43 years on the throne was hectic’ of the Sunday Vanguard assignment, the 24-Hour Report, there was no cause for the Alaafin to shelve the meeting. Although the reporter needed not engage him in talking most of the time the assignment would last, the Alaafin spoke at intervals while the programmes of event went on. And for a busy leader like him, no other day was better for an assignment of this nature than that historic day put together by the four local government areas under the jurisdiction of the revered king. In order not to fail the Oba, who, like former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja, is an unrepentant lover of Vanguard, this reporter, knowing there would not be flight from Sokoto to Lagos on Saturday, had told the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who he had just interviewed, he would not sleep in town due to other pressing assignments. The visit to the Sultan

In doing this, I have approached the courts with over 100 cases and all the decided cases, with due respect to members of the Bench, the Inner Silk and the Bar, I, as the Alaafin of Oyo, have never lost a case on traditional institution matters

The Alaafin dance After the prayer session, it was drumming all through. The Oyo traditional songs were sung as the lead drummer stood in front of the king, looking straight into his eyes, drumming and singing to draw his interest, which he successfully did and

Continues on page 39

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014 — PAGE 39

The Alaafin and his 100 court cases

*Oba Adeyemi, flanked by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III (left) and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Arisekola Alao, during a visit ahead of the anniversary anniversary.

Continued from page 38 the Alaafin danced like an under-30. The staggering dance of the monarch was one performance that everybody fell on top of another to catch a glimpse of.

Monarch donates

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n appreciation of God’s mercy on him for the 43 years he has spent on throne and the unfettered support and loyalty displayed to him by his people, the Alaafin gave out cars. Seizing the Opportunity afforded him by the occasion, Oba Adeyemi, who had always expressed that he would spend his times building and not destroying the society, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to consolidate synergy on new ideas, perspectives and international best practices in confronting the diverse challenges posed by perceived and actual threats to national security in communities.

He gave the advice during the afternoon session of the anniversar y. Describing traditional rulers as formidable barricades which reinforce peace and security of the nation, the paramount ruler noted with concern the insecurity in the country which he blamed on lack of confidence and synergy between security agencies and other stakeholders in the society, in areas of information generation and management.

He called for seamless synergy between traditional C M Y K

The Alaafin’s advocacy for proper placement of the traditional institution dates back to Thursday, August 9, 1984 rulers, security agencies and government at all levels, to fashion a framework for collaboration on security, grassroots mobilization, advocacy and development, with the objective of ensuring stability at all times.

His words: “As custodians of traditions and values, we are the ones who keep peace in our rural areas and in the various local governments that constitute our various states. As Nigerians, we must respect our various religious and ethnic backgrounds, because it is God that brought us together under one countr y. Thus, when we understand one another, the security challenges bedevilling the country will be a thing of the past.”

To political office holders, the Alaafin seized the occasion to urge them to redouble efforts, with the fear of God, towards discharging their responsibilities to the people.

He decried “intolerance, distrust, deteriorating state of trust among the political elite and parties. It is creating political

tension in the country.” On the role of traditional rulers and a peep into the history of Oyo Empire, Oba Adeyemi called for the traditional institution to be included in the constitution, pointing out the historical disposition and status of traditional rulers, as custodians and sustainers of the cultural and traditional values of our peoples.

“Traditional rulers are also in dire need of first line charge in the allocation of funds to enhance operations and actualization of their natural mandates. As a way of checking some of the social problems in the country, they called for the establishment of vocational schools to teach youths basic ways of earning a living that are devoid of so much emphasis on paper qualification without corresponding quality for selfreliance, as is the case presently ”, the Alaafin asserted, recalling that the first 25 years of his reign was tough and full of challenges, adding that he inherited an empty ,bushy palace but was able to turn it to Mecca and Vatican

of all Yoruba through divine intervention.

The Alaafin’s advocacy for proper placement of the traditional institution dates back to Thursday August 9, 1984 when he delivered a paper at a forum in Ibadan, where he highlighted issues regarding the role of traditional rulers in Nigeria.

The fresh call that the monarch made in this regard on the occasion has necessitated extracts from that paper he delivered to the meeting well attended by rulers from the North, the South-west and South-east at that time.

“Having spent inevitably this much time on a preamble which is very fundamental for clear presentation, I will now proceed to treat the relevant topic of the lecture titled, Role of Traditional Ruler in the Governance of Nigeria. “We really cannot understand the present without knowing a little of the past. Therefore we need to look into a bit of history. The reason for this is that well organized communities which either by cohesion or persuasion developed into autonomous states must have passed through the historical process already explained above. They operated their own system of Government, had their separate social structures and evolved particular traditions and customs. Significant among them were the Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, Borno Empire and what could be rightly called Fulani Empire. Also

existing simultaneously were small kingdoms operating alone or as a Federation. The British came, took over, and grouped the various Empires and Kingdoms into Northern and Southern protectorates and Colony of Lagos.

“In January, 1914, the two protectorates known as group of Provinces and the Colony of Lagos were amalgamated into one country known today as Nigeria. When the British assumed the control of Administration, they simply adopted the existing system of government and this they styled as Indirect Rule. This step became necessary because they met an excellent system of Administration.

Further more, they had no knowledge of the country; had no personnel and resources to establish an alternative system. Therefore, they decided to use the available local resources in manpower to govern. The system of Indirect Rule was just like the utilization of the traditional rulers – their agelong and well-tested apparatus of Administration to govern the country – in a system which had been tried in India. The system remained in operation until we took over progressively the control of the administration in the country from early 1950s and finally in 1960, when we achieved our Independence. We can now see the need to examine the subject matter a bit beyond its scope. I will treat the subject briefly on regional basis taking first, with your indulgence, the Yoruba states.

Oyo Empire:

“This paper is not concerned with the establishment of the Empire, its growth, dwindling, and reconstruction. Suffice to state that Oyo Empire was founded

by Oranmiyan, the direct descendant of Oduduwa. He assumed the title of Alaafin.

The first capital of the Empire was sited at Old Oyo. The Empire was threatened by internal strives and external aggressions. Subsequently, the capital moved to the present Oyo, the seat of my reign today by Alaafin Atiba, the first ruler in the new capital.

The roles of governing were performed by the traditional title holders in the capital and yet others in the provincial towns and villages within the Empire.

“The structural opposition, central to Oyo politics, lay in a division of roles. On the one side, the Alaafin was head of the administrative and the executive arms of

Continues on page 40

PAGE 40 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

`The Oyomesi are very important’ Continued from page 39 government, entrusted with the implementation of external policy by diplomacy or war, the management of markets, trade, the investigation and punishment of crimes, and the celebration of the principal annual rites in the State

Cults of the Yoruba gods and ancestors.

“On the other side, the Oyomesi, on the order of the Alaafin, raised the citizens army of Oyo, and the Bashorun commanded it. The cults were in the hands of free Oyo, and their titled priests ranked among subordinate officials of the Oyomesi who were themselves civil lords of the non-royal wards and who severally had some judicial control in them, adjudicating disputes between the component lineages and generally in matter where arbitration rather than punishment was the aim. The Oyomesi could dissuade the Alaafin from embarking upon rash adventures.

“These title holders and palace officials are divided into two major groups, each group consisting of various classes and order of importance.

They are the royal title

*Dancing time for Adeyemi

holders and the nobility. The most important in the royal group are the “Fathers of the King” - Onashokun, Ona-Aka, and Omo-Nla. These are heads of the three Principal Branches of the royal lineages barred from putting forward successors to the throne. They are heads of town wards and have the responsibility to nominate the candidates to fill vacancy of Alaafin when it becomes necessary. Next to them, in that group are those referred to as the “brothers of the King”; namely: the Baba Iyaji, Olusami, Arole Oba, Atingisi, Agunpopo and Arole Iya-Oba. Others are the palace officials consisting of (a) titled officers, (b) the Eunuchs and (c) the Ilaris. Significant among this group are the Eunuchs also called Iwefa. The three leading members - Ona-

*The Alaafin and his visitors

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in a message on Adeyemi’s 43 years on the throne, described the Alaafin as a charismatic and visionary monarch Efa (eunuch of the middle), Otunefa (eunuch of the right), Osiefa (eunuch of the left), head the judicial, religion and executive divisions of the royal government respectively. “The Oyomesi are the most important among the nobility.

They are Bashorun, Agbaakin, Shamu, Alapinni, Lagunna, Akinniku, Ashipa and the Onamodeke. They are followed by the Eso (Military Officers) whose superior was the Aare-Ona-Kakanfo, the generallisimo of Yoruba Armed Forces. He resided outside the capital.

There were seventy (70) captains - ten each under a member of the Oyomesi superintending a unit of guards.

However, none was attached to the Onamo deke. “Other notable class in the Nobility are the Ogbonis -Cult of the earth - whose members are drawn

from the titled priests of other lineages. All members of Oyomesi are ex-officio members of the Cult though they cannot be Ogboni priests. The head of Ogboni Cult and Chief diviner had access to the Alaafin through a woman official and the Osiefa. In particular, their unanimous sanction was necessary in the case of Oyomesi rejecting the rule of the Alaafin who would be consequently be expected to go to sleep. This was the process of checks and balances which made the rule of Alaafin a pure democracy, at the time before the British occupation between 1894-1898.

“Like in the capital, the Provincial administration followed the same in pattern with the Provincial Kings or Baale at the head of affairs and held themselves responsible to the Alaafin of Oyo and carrying out his orders. They had advisers as well.”

Adeyemi in the eyes of the people Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in a message on Adeyemi’s 43 years on the throne, described the

Alaafin as a charismatic and visionary monarch.

“I felicitate with His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, on the 43rd anniversary of his ascending the throne of his forefathers. During this period Kabiyesi, you have distinguished yourself as a charismatic and visionary monarch, while your reign has brought immense peace, not only to Oyo Kingdom but the entire Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

“You have also been a pillar of support to our administration and this has helped tremendously in the successes we have recorded so far since our assumption of office.

“It is our prayer, therefore, that God imbues you with more wisdom, knowledge and understanding to continue to be a source of blessing to your subjects and humanity in general,” Ajimobi said.

In her remarks during the event, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Asembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, described the Alaafin as a pathfinder, whose reign had brought prosperity and tremendous progress to Oyo metropolis in particular and the state in general.

Also, speaking, Alaafin’s eldest son, Prince Tunde Adeyemi, a lawyer, acknowledged his father as a monarch with unequalled intellectual sagacity, who is fearless, courageous, a staunch advocate of social justice and an uncompromising ruler, whose contributions to the well -being of the downtrodden remain indelible.

The highlight of the low-keyed occasion was the donation of cars by the Alaafin to his wives, children, aides, age-long friend and retired Archbishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Most

Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu.

The Alaafin, a former university chancellor, was born on October 15, 1938. He ascended the throne on January 15, 1970 to succeed Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo now retired major general.

That was after the civil war. His 75th birthday was shelved for the Eidul-Kabir celebration October 15, 2013. Since he emerged the Alaafin, the Iku Baba Yeye, as he is traditionally called, has held many notable positions and played major roles in the efforts at moving Nigeria forward.

He was, in1975, included by the then Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed in his entourage to Hajj. He was Chancellor, Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto between 1980 – 1992 and, in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria, President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, in 1990, appointed Adeyemi as Amir-ul-Hajj by the virtue of which he led the multitude of Nigerian pilgrims to Mecca. The Alaafin has also been committed to several moves towards ensuring Nigeria’s unity, harmony and development.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 41

And a governor’s penchant for delivery Last year, Sunday Vanguard spent 11 hours observing the Exco meeting of the Lagos State government where Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola presided. It was revealing and instructive. We promised to bring you a second part, this time, observing Fashola at close range on the field and not in the cool comfort of his office.

Last Wednesday, the state governor was at it again. In this report, you will discover a governor in a hurry in his engagement of a development paradigm. He should be in a hurry because his tenure ends next year. This report captures Fashola on tour of projects in Lagos.

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ince he took the mantle of leadership to pilot the af fairs of the people of Lagos as governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the seemingly untiring servant leader of the Centre of Excellence, has acquired the enviable reputation of “the Man in a Hurry” to develop Lagos into Africa’s model mega city. That sobriquet was acknowledged early in this administration by even the opposition, undoubtedly, astounded and overwhelmed by his pragmatic and meticulous approach to the transformation of this city. It was a name that captured the essence and vibrancy of the first few years of his administration when this City of Aquatic Splendour, then faced with serious infrastructural challenges, was turned into one huge construction site.

Ever since, his pace has neither changed nor his style altered.

Each passing day has been like the one before, loaded, busy and sometimes choking.

It was Abraham Lincoln who once said that “if you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend”. That, perhaps, is what has kept Lagos State together under the governorship of Fashola. At first, it was like a very difficult pill to swallow for Lagosians – his style, the need to change Lagos State and make it a mega city, the demolitions, the new rules he created on how to operate and govern; the apolitical posturing, sometimes bordering on the stiffnecked – because the old style, the affable, politically induced aura of inclusiveness and tolerance that his predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had created, was seen by many as a template for success in governance.

But here was a man, a gangling lawyer, thrust upon a polity of clashing socio-economic-religious and political interests, in a manner most shocking; and pushing an agenda that was considered alien and finicky! It was so

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BY JIDE AJANI

Ever since, his pace has neither changed nor his style altered. Each passing day has been like the one before, loaded, busy and sometimes choking bad that even between Fashola and Tinubu, there was a disagreement on matters of style. However, today, because Fashola took Lincoln’s admonition to heart, that there was need to first convince Tinubu and Lagosians that he is indeed a sincere friend, he has been able to win many, very many, to his cause. Decisions thought to have been rash and anti-people appear to be yielding results. The catch-phrase in Lagos is, Ekoonibaje (conditions in Lagos will not be allowed to degenerate) Therefore, Tuesday, January 21, 2014, for example, was not particularly different from most other days for him. But for the uninitiated, it was a maddening pace. Arriving Lagos in the morning from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where he had gone the previous day to attend a high level meeting, one would have thought that he would retire straight to his residence for a welldeserved rest. But, as has been his tradition from day-one, the Governor of Lagos State headed straight for parts of the Metropo-

lis where he inspected on-going projects as well as handed over completed ones to the beneficiary communities. His first port of call was Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area where he handed over a four-storey 110-bed Maternal and Childcare Centre (MCC) located at the FESTAC Town First Gate.

It is the sixth in the series of ten Maternal Childcare Centres which he promised the people of Lagos during his electioneering campaigns. Touched by the plight of pregnant women who had to travel long distances for both antenatal attention and delivery with the associated risks and oftentimes deaths, this administration had formulated a policy to establish the MCCs in strategic locations across the State to reduce the distance the expectant and nursing mothers have to travel to receive attention.

The other completed and fully operational Centres are located in Ajegunle, Gbaja in Surulere, Ifako-Ijaiye, Isolo and Ikorodu.

The seventh one being built in Alimosho has been completed and will be handed over in a matter of

weeks while the eighth one in Lekki has also been completed and is being equipped and fenced in readiness for testing prior to commissioning. The ninth and tenth ones are in Badagry and in Epe. They are still under construction and, according to the Governor, they should be fully ready for deployment either later in the year or at the latest next year.

During the ceremony which lasted some two hours, Fashola threw more light on why his administration is building special hospitals for mothers and children.

He told the large audience of excited residents: “It is because we take our responsibility to protect life and property very seriously and this responsibility will not be discharged only by deploying security apparatus like the cameras we unveiled yesterday (Monday), 1,000 cameras with another 1,000 coming to ensure that we keep an eye on all those who do not mean well for us and also to protect those who are going about their lawful duties. That is the way we will ensure that people live the fullest of the value of the tenure of life God has intended for us. By this kind of investment and by you embracing them, we can make sure that when a child is on the way, that child arrives safely and its mother delivers safely and that both mother and child can live a minimum of three scores and ten all things being equal. Our personnel have been trained to improve upon their capacity to care

Continues on page 42

PAGE 42— SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

RAJI FASHOLA UNSCRIPTED (2)

The fast pace of a development paradigm Continued from page 41

Sometime last year

O

ne thing that was unmistak ably commonplace during the tour was Fashola’s untiring attitude.

Just as was the case during last year ’s Exco meeting, Fashola’s commitment and passion for the delivery of democracy dividend was paramount.

Last year, for instance, Fashola’s concern for the original shop owners of Tejuosho market, was a grand example in leadership sensitivity.

A sampler from last year’s Exco meeting where Fashola acted like a virtual governor with a quasi sense of omnipresence: Fashola had disclosed that he needed to make some points which he “had picked up in the course of the previous week”.

Mind you, these points he “had picked up” are products of the emails, the letters, telephone texts, postings on facebook and tweets from you and I, as well as personal on the spot informal assessment of some assignments.

He had pointed out that in the Abraham Adesanya Estate in Lekki, some of the roads therein were going bad. He ordered immediate remedy. He also said he noticed some abandoned ambulances at the entrance of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. He wanted to know why the situation existed. He had one issue or the other to discuss and seek remedy for.

Next was the exchange over the Central Business District, CBD. The governor said while he was driving through Nnamdi Azikiwe (last Sunday), he discovered that the refuse points were overflowing. He charged the Adviser in charge of CDB to be more functional. She, in-turn, made it clear that the solution was already in a memo she’d recently sent to the governor. The exchange was both revealing and instructive. The adviser would not succumb to the

The Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCC) at Amuwo-Odofin, First Avenue by First Gate, Festac Town built by the Lagos State Government and commissioned by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (r) on Tuesday, January 21, 2014.

INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (3rd left), cutting the ribbon to commission the Centre. With him are: Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris (left), his Works and Infrastructure counterpart, Dr Obafemi Hamzat (right), Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo (2nd right), Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Suru Avoseh (2nd left) and the Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Hon. Ayodele Adewale(3rd right). suggestion that she was taking a back seat; just as the governor stuck to his gun that whatever needed to be done should be done to clear the mess.

At a point, the Adviser requested for privacy to which the governor retorted that there could be no other private forum that the one they both already were in.

She then told Fashola pointblank what needed to be done.

At that point, a pall of silence fell on the chambers. But because here was a governor who had set tasks and deliverables, he did not push to argue against the Adviser’s suggestion which is going to be very drastic. This exchange lasted for almost 10minutes.

A stickler for details, Fashola took on the Commissioner for Physical Planning. He said a building appeared to have suddenly sprouted in-between two others somewhere on the same street. He found it curious that people could build on the space.

He said he could vouch that his dependable commissioner could not have approved such; worse, he said he “noticed that the building contractor was just stacking blocks on the road, thereby obstructing traffic”. He needed the ministry officials to go there and check; and he believed the building would have to give way.

Still on things he picked up, he said he’d observed that Molue and other commercial buses were already filing on the Carter Bridge again and causing congestion.

He touched on almost all sectors from health to social welfare, the aged and underprivileged, et al. In the health sector, Fashola said “Rwanda is stealing medical tourism from Nigeria”. Though he admitted that “war throws up opportunities for fresh breakthroughs” and “I also think our own challenge with terrorism can also help build our own doctors without borders”.

Demonstrating that if “you do not constantly evolve for the bet-

ter, other people would catch up with you:, he said the world had caught up with Spain and their ticki-tacki of football style and that was why the two teams from Spain were roundly defeated during the Champions League competition (of last year); the same happened to the national team of Spain.

“My people”, he continued, “the lesson for all of us is that we cannot rest. We need to keep striving to break new grounds. That people are saying we are doing well is not enough. Other states are also striving”.

Back to last Wednesday

H

is next port of call was Ijo ra Badia, a suburb of Lagos where he inspected an illegal dumpsite being regenerated for the 1008 units of flats at Ijora Badia. That dumpsite used to be

proved over N250 Million to do just that. The Governor who spoke in an interactive session with some of the former occupants and later in an interview with newsmen said provisions have been made for each of the former occupants to bring their names and account details so that issues of mix ups do not arise about the original occupiers. He also said all those involved should contact the office of the Attorney General of the State who is in charge of the disbursement of the funds.

The Governor also assured the people that construction of housing units on the estate would soon commence explaining that although there is not a lot of work going on site at that moment, there is a lot of work going on offsite. According to him, there is a local technology which some architects and professors have de-

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not just to treat”.

From this point, the indefatigable governor moved to another site and this time Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area where he handed over the 2.68 km Alaba/ Cemetery Road urging residents of the area not to convert the walkways to stalls in order to ensure the safety of school children. Addressing the usually large cheering and excited crowd that always gather to welcome him wherever he goes in the State including local leaders, party officials and residents, Governor Fashola appealed to the residents not to convert the walkways to stalls and trading posts pointing out that when their children are going to and returning from school, the walkways should be their natural route.

Calling for a more caring attitude to the usage of such public infrastructure, the Governor declared: “This road was built with your taxes and I hope that you will not turn it into a refuse dump again. We have provided all the road signs and it is your responsibility now to look after it. You have asked for your rights that we provide infrastructure for you and we have delivered as your government. You now have the bigger responsibility to look after this bigger asset as a common asset built by our commonwealth”.

The packed programme of Tuesday is reflective of the typical tight dayto-day schedule of this indefatigable governor who has been variously described by both admirers and antagonists as passionate, committed and unyielding in his commitment to the service of his people

a habitation for some hundreds of squatters who carried out numerous illegalities in the place and its environs. When they were ejected in the early 2000, the place was turned into an illegal dumpsite where commercial cart pushers dumped the wastes they collected from residents and from business premises. But notwithstanding that the area was illegally acquired, the Governor said his administration was committed to resettling the former occupants of the site and that Government has already ap-

veloped that makes four blocks in one vibration sequence instead of one block with the conduit already laid inside the blocks so that the electrical fittings and the conduit pipes can be installed at the time that the blocks are being laid adding that all these are being prepared off-site at the moment.

The packed programme of Tuesday is reflective of the typical tight day-to-day schedule of this indefatigable governor who has been variously described by both admirers and antagonists as passionate, committed and unyield-

ing in his commitment to the service of his people. Since the beginning of this year, for example, the Governor has been all over the City inspecting, commissioning and handing over various projects. On Tuesday, January 7, he was in Oshodi to hand over the 571-shop capacity Isopakodowo Market to the traders who were previously displaced when the area was cleared of traders blocking the Agege Motor Road.

The same day, he handed over the Alao Aka-Bashorun Park to the Gbagada Phase 2 residents.

Two days later, on the 9th of January, he was again in Kosofe and Ikorodu Axis to inspect ongoing projects. He assessed the level of work at Akanimodo and Igbogbo Housing Estates and the 1.8 kilometre Agiliti Road in Mile 12. On Sunday, January 19, the Governor was in the LekkiAjah axis to inspect the Eko Akete and Fairmont Garden Housing Estates. There is no better way to notice this commitment and passion to serve the people than a look at him and members of his Cabinet whom he would rather call “members of my team”.

Some of them who were naturally on the plump side when they joined him have gone slim while those naturally slim like him are even slimmer.

They are serious and won’t be found engaging in frivolities as they undertake the business of public service. But it is all for the good of the people and they have not failed to show their appreciation of Fashola and his team’s exceptional service and readiness to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Apart from meeting their part of the social contract by becoming more tax compliant and voluntarily too, they readily acknowledge his performance in and outside this state even as the State is being celebrated all over the world because of his achievements.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 43

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES BENIN KINGDOM 100 YEARS AFTER

The Binis, the British and the deposed Oba Ovonranmwen •‘Former colonialists must pay for stolen artefacts

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

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HE ancient city of Benin

Kingdom has been agog with the celebration of the centenary of Ovonranwen N’Ogbaisi, who was the Oba of Benin between 1888-1897. The Oba was a resilient fighter who fought the British when they invaded the kingdom. In 1914, he was exiled to Calabar with his two wives where he died.

Ovonranwen’s kingship is adored

by Binis. It is not surprising therefore that the people of the kingdom decided to celebrate his centenary. The Solomon Edebiri Foundation with the authority of the Oba of Erediauwa organized a week-long celebration to celebrate the centenary. Royal fathers from Benin Kingdom, Cross River and Delta States were in Benin City to witness the celebration. The Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, who kicked off the celebration, harped on the need for the British to pay reparation for stolen artifacts in Benin Kingdom. He reiterated the determination of the people of the kingdom to use all legal means to get the British to atone for the theft. Organizer of the programme, Chief Solomon Edebiri, who also is the Ikuobasenweye of Benin Kingdom, said the celebration was aimed at renewing certain aspects of the historical and cultural heritage of the kingdom, adding that the event

would also place “ the Benin Kingdom on the world map again because this is one of the greatest kingdoms and we must always remind the world of our contributions”. Edebiri went on: “Oba Ovonranwen centenary is all about celebration. Celebrating sacrifice, celebrating patriotism, celebrating a man who gave it all for the kingdom he believed in. Celebrating a man who sacrificed to protect the institution he believed in. Celebrating a man who did everything to protect the institution he believed in. Celebrating a man

who did not care about himself but the future of the institution he believed in.I am sure that you know that until Ovonranwen’s exit from the Benin Kingdom, he was the authority in Benin land. The invasion of the British with the resistance of Oba Ovonranwen led to the British invasion in a volatile manner, over powered Ovonranwe, took him to Calabar and jailed him and later sent him on exile where he lived for 17 years before he joined his ancestors.

His patriotic disposition to the Benin nation is touching. I have discovered that the Benis have relationships all over the world. I decided to celebrate his centenary not just as a patriotic Benin son, but because of the love for the tradition and culture of the great Benin Kingdom. I took it upon myself to the admiration of the world and I am glad the programme went on perfectly well”.

He further explained: “We have collaborative arrangement with the Benin Traditional Council with the authority of the Oba of Benin. We don’t have financial support from government. I did what I did in honour of his Majesty and my commitment to the Benin nation. So whatever I spent, whatever I give, I give glory to God for it. We are building a monument which will be turned into a tourist center with the Oba Ovonranwen statue. We intend to make it a tourist center so that people can go there and read about Oba Ovonranwen”. On how they intend to recover the stolen artifacts, Edebiri

said” “We are identifying the agencies and once we identify them we will write to them and start extensive search for the artefacts and that project will be Operation Return Our Looted Artefacts. One thing that is sure is that we will write the British government, we will demand apology for the inhumanity they meted on the Benin nation. They must apologise to the Benis and, until we get that apology, we will not stop asking for it. They must also pay compensation to the kingdom on what they did to us.

“The Oba is extremely happy that his great grandfather is being recognized. You will remember that Oba Ovonranwen is the father of Aiguobasinmi, Aiguobasinmi gave birth to Oba Akenzua and Akenzua gave birth to Erediauwa. So Ovonranwen is the great grandfather of Oba Erediauwa”.

Also speaking at the occasion, Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, called on various ethnic groups in Nigeria to use the centenary celebration of Oba Ovonramwen to unite the nation.

Oshodin expressed joy that Nigeria’s centenary coincided with that of Oba Ovonramwen, and stressed the need to end bloodshed and actions capable of destabilizing the nation. The VC, who was represented by Prof. Edosa Omozuwa, noted that there will surely be disagreement among ethnic groups but that Nigerians should reflect on the events that led to the amalgamation and how people like Oba Ovonramwen exhibited bravery while battling the British. Also speaking at the colloquium, Prof. Muhktar Burka, a professor of history in Usman Danfodio University, commended the Binis for sticking to their culture and tradition, expressing regret that most Nigerians have abandoned their cultures and traditions for foreign ones.He advised that the Oba Ovonramwen centenary celebration should not just be seen as a mere celebration, saying “if we look at it as a mere celebration, then we are falling in the pit of history”.

Without Oba Ovonramwen’s death, Nigeria’s amalgamation may not have been possible – Prince Akenzua of Benin

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

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he Enogie of Obazuwa and younger brother to the Oba of Benin, Prince Edun Akenzua, in this interview, gives an insight into the greatness of Oba Ovonramwen and how the centenary celebration coincided with that of Nigeria. Excerpts: Centenary celebration I believe people see it from different points of view. I believe government officials who proposed the celebration of this event are thinking of corporate Nigeria. As a country, we are 100 years old, therefore it is worth celebrating, but when you look at the so-called amalgamation, I don’t think it is anything to celebrate because it wasn’t done in the interest of Nigerians, it was done in the interest of the colonial masters. The British did the amalgamation to give themselves an easy way of administering their new acquisition. During the Berlin conference and, 14 European powers

converged and shared out the continent of Africa, the areas that became known as Nigeria fell under the British sphere of influence. When they said they are celebrating the centenary of our amalgamation, one thinks the amalgamation was our own achievement, something that we did; it wasn’t our achievement, it wasn’t done by us. If anybody is to celebrate that, to my mind, I think it is Lord Lugard and his descendants who should be celebrating because this is the country they named which is now 100 years.

Oba Ovonramwen’s death gave room for amalgamation Lord Lugard, who was the governor, arrived and settled in the North where already there was a system established

by Uthman Dan Fodio, the Sokoto Caliphate, and the Sultan was in charge of the emirs all over the North. The Uthman Dan Fodio regime had ceased to be but the machinery they set up was still there and it was quite suitable for what Lugard wanted because he wanted indirect rule; so he continued using that

•Prince Edun Akenzua machinery. That was one of the things that actually provoked the invasion of Benin in 1897. A number of people might think they wanted ivory, they wanted bronze, that was secondary because when Philip, who led the British exhibition to Benin, got to Benin area, before he came, he had sent an intelligence

report between 1895 and 1896 to the British Home Office saying that they had to come to Benin and depose the Oba of Benin if what they were going to do will be successful. What people thought he meant was the Oba did not want trade between his people and British agents but, strictly speaking, you don’t mount a war to depose the king of a foreign country just because of trade. Unknown to most people, the indirect rule which Lugard had in mind was what he wanted to extend to everywhere in the area they just acquired. Captain Philip had seen that there was no way this could be done without coming to provoke a situation that will lead to war between Benin and the British.

Philip wrote to the British Colonial Office saying they must invade Benin.

He assured that there was plenty of reasons to believe that the value of the bronze and ivory they will find in the Benin palace will be enough to offset the cost of the war; it was another way of telling them that they were not going to loose anything in the war. So they came

Continues on page 45

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

The coup of 1914

BY AMBROSE OSAWE

T

he Pope, by the Papal Bull of Demarcation, divided the medieval world between Spain and Portugal. The old Benin Empire was in the sphere that belonged to Portugal. In 1485, during the reign of Oba Esigie, the Portuguese visited Benin and marveled at her ancient political organization, native technology, arts and the sophistication of her ancient economic and social enterprise. This visit developed into mutual exchange of diplomatic deals between the old Benin Empire and Portugal in almost all aspects of human interactions.

The English explorers never really visited Benin until 1892, 31 years after they colonized Lagos in 1861. The Portuguese and Dutch sources on Benin highlighted a great empire of great kings whose traditional administration and military organization were as sophisticated as those of European states of Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and England of medieval Europe.

However, when the English explorers got to Lagos at the middle of the 19thc, they still met relics of Benin arts and culture in its naval camp (Eko), Benin word for Lagos founded during the reign of Oba Orhogbua in early part of the 17thc. They heard about (Idumwonta or Idumota) evening settlement for itinerant sailors and Bini words like (Ighayarruoba) meaning ‘I am again to pay homage to the sailing Oba of Benin’. The word ‘Ighayarruoba’ was later corrupted into Yoruba, today’s regional epithet for the dominant Yoruba speaking nation.

Thus, when the English explorers created Lagos colony, their first political act was to destroy any other external influence including that of Benin, Spanish/Brazilian relics prevalent in Lagos. The British later, deliberately, generated crisis in the Lagos ruling houses by her policy of divide and rule and it became easy to colonize Lagos.

At the inauguration of the Niger coast protectorate after the dislodgement of the Royal Niger Company from their various trading posts, attention was now focused on the activities of the coastal kings whose monopoly over trading rights posed a threat to the economic survival of the colonizers and a big challenge to their political interest in the West African sub-region. Since the Berlin conference of 1884, there had been stiff competition

between the participants especially the British and the French over the acquisition of African territories.

With the coming of the explorers, missionaries and the growth of legitimate trade, penetration into the hinterland was intensified.

Ill-advised trip

Through the prosecution of wars, proclamation of treaties and executions of commercial and mercantile agreements, the colonizers held African nations by the jugular.

Vice – Consul Gallway, after strenuous entreaties in a treaty of 1892 in which Oba Ovonranmwen’s chief signed when the Oba declined, Ovonranmwen was accused by the British Consuls and traders of violating the terms of that treaty and obstracting trade. It was this situation that gave rise to the bold attempt of the Acting Commissioner and ConsulGeneral Phillips in his illadvised trip into Benin in January of 1897 against the Oba’s wish and advice for him to delay or postpone his trip to Benin especially during the time of Igue festivals.

Eventually, there was a clash of interest. This resulted in the so called Benin massacre of 1897. Professor Igbafe in his book, Nemesis of Power, puts it thus: “… The claims of this foolhardiness was that the Phillips party was fired upon by Benin soldiers in ambush who had been sent to intercept Europeans attempting to reach Benin City by force”.

Preparation for the First World War of 1914 was in the offing.

In Africa the war was for the European to consolidate the gains of Berlin conference of 1884. France had exchanged with Germany, Cameroons for Morocco. The West African Regiment Forces quartered in Calabar now the headquarters of the Niger Delta Protectorate was placed on alert as Germany then had mandatory control over the affairs of the Cameroon once controlled by France.

Ovonranmwen, who seemed to have lived a normal life in Calabar, suddenly took ill in January of 1914, reported of an undisclosed and undiagnosed ailment.

Non-royal burial

U

nlike in other cases there was no medical report of such a high profile political prisoner. He was, against tradition of his people, hurriedly given a non-royal burial in Calabar.

Thus, when the story of the

amalgamation of 1914 is to be told as we celebrate the centenary, we should not forget that the 1914 amalgamation of the North and South was possible because of the expected death of Oba Ovonranmwen in 1914. To ensure that there should be a smooth installation of the amalgamation, Ovonranmwen was hurriedly buried in Calabar without releasing his body for burial in Benin. His son Aiguobasinmwin was quickly recalled from hiding to succeed his father in order to have an equivalent paramount king commensurate with what was obtainable in the North.

However, this led to the deportation of Oba Ovonranmwen to Calabar where he died. The deposition of the Benin Oba and his deportation to Calabar created a big and unusual vacuum never experienced in the history tradition and culture of the Binis. A situation where an Oba after his demise (joining his ancestors) was succeeded beyond his son the heir apparent (Edaiken) who right

• Oba Erediauwa Uku Akpolokpolo of Benin of 1914 which of course was a coup against the various ethnic nationalities.

Political prisoner

A strange situation where a reigning Oba was held in captivity and the heir apparent Aiguobasinmwin in hiding was traumatic for a people whose cultural and traditional values hardly envisaged an alternative from birth is prepared to succeed his father at the appropriate time was the culture and practice for over a 1,000 years before the coming of the British.

Interregnum

A

strange situation where a reigning Oba was held in captivity and the heir apparent Aiguobasinmwin in hiding was traumatic for a people whose cultural and traditional values hardly envisaged an alternative.

The Oba and the heir apparent therefore cannot be separated from the traditional government of a people whose cultural values revolve round the Oba and the established traditional institutions.

Even though the British colonial regime attempted to run the affairs of Benin without the Oba by setting up the Benin

Native Council of Benin Chiefs during the 17 years interregnum, the end result was like scratching the surface of the iceberg or merely papering over cracks.

Long before the massacre had provided a justification for punitive action, commercial interests in the Delta had been urging the British colonial government to opening the hinterland by taking over Benin.

The colonial government was increasingly inclined to heed such representations. However, the fall of Benin even though it was the last major action in the British occupation of Southern Nigeria and marked the end according to Michael Crowther in his book: The Story of Nigeria as one of the greatest and most colorful of West African Kingdoms, its fall nevertheless concretized the amalgamation

W

hat emerged was a c o n c o c t e d amalgamation of existing ethnic nationalities conceptualized in the imagination of the colonizers, even the name Nigeria was casual. Margaret Perham, Lord Lugard’s mistress, had, over a cup of tea; lest I forget sort of, named the territory ‘Nigeria’.

The name Nigeria was derived from the River Niger, a river that flows through the length and breadth of Lugard’s administered territory inhabited by a concentration of Africans and a multitude of diverse ethnic nationalities. The word Niger is a latin word for black. The River Niger and Nigeria are fortuitous of a race of black people.

The partition, scramble and quest for the wealth and territories of African nations which started at Berlin conference of 1884 was even until the First World War of 1914 still a burning issue. It was an era of ‘what I have I keep’ and a way of preparing for the imminent war.

Calabar was at the flank of the disputed territory of Cameroon occupied by the Germans and a threat to the government of the Niger Delta protectorate now under the imperial rule of the British monarch.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK Osawe, a historian, is a former member, House of Representatives.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 45

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

My agenda to move Itsekiri forward, by Tidi

BY CHARLES KUMOLU COMRADE Michael Tidi, an activist, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State and Itsekiri National Youth Council,INYC, presidential aspirant, says he will ensure that the Itsekiri youthS are repositioned for the development of Iwereland and Nigeria. Tidi is hopeful to emerge the President of the INYC, . He also speaks on other issues.

You are aspiring to be the President of Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, but you will agree that the association was barely heard of before you made your aspiration public.

Does it mean that INYC is new?

Not by any means. The INYC is not a new organization as its origin can be historically traced back to the unfortunate Warri crisis, during which Itsekiris, Urhobos and Ijaws who had hitherto lived harmoniously together, were set against one another as a result, dirty political games.

This unfortunate situation almost led to the extermination of the Itsekiri race and it is a testament of the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ that we are well and alive today. It is also a testimony to both the resilience and cultural disposition of the Itsekiri nation that we have fully keyed into the process of fostering inter-ethnic harmony and cooperation in Warri. As for the fact that the body was barely heard of before now, it is the unfortunate result of structural and philosophical challenges besetting the body.

How do you mean?

INYC is a child of necessity occasioned by the Warri crisis.

Unfortunately it has failed to adapt to the realities dictated by

Comrade Michael Tidi present day challenges. As such it has not evolved into an organically functional body for the formulation, articulation and protection of Itsekiri interests. Be that as it may, progress is better late than never and consensus has already emerged to the effect that the INYC must now be overhauled into a formal, legally operated organ for the projection of Itsekiri youth goals.

Can we know what the INYC sets to achieve as a socio-cultural organization of the Itsekiri nation?

Perhaps due to the present state of the body, it is rather difficult to apprehend a coherent vision and mission for the INYC. Nevertheless, its aims and objectives can be encapsulated within the context of the propagation of the welfare of Itsekiri youths for the purpose of contributing their quota to the progress and development of Itsekiri land.

Some communities in Itsekiri land have always been in crisis at various times and the youths are usually major actors in the crisis; how do you intend to address this challenge that has

become a challenge to youth development?

Crisis is by no means peculiar to Itsekiri communities. What people must understand is that poverty, greed, insincerity and an unwillingness to share the blessings from the bounty of God will inevitably lead to crisis. You might add to this, the concept of inordinate ambition whereby unqualified persons unreasonably insist on occupying roles they are not suited for or enjoying privileges they have not earned. Furthermore, the sit-tight syndrome which induces people to insist on remaining in a particular post forever, thereby converting their position into a quasi-monarchical post is equally responsible for much of the crisis we are presently witnessing. Be that as it may, we the Itsekiris are more known for our peaceful, progressive, accomodating and scholarly disposition than for pointless conflict or endless conflagration. At any rate, His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame, Atuwatse II, together with his eminent chiefs, have been working tirelessly to address the various issues and it is now up to all Itsekiris to come to their senses, sheath their swords and listen to their king.

Can we know the major challenges confronting the average Itsekiri youth and how you intend to address it?

Our challenges are legion.

Apart from the fact that we are generally beset by the seemingly intractable problems confronting the average Nigerian youth, we equally suffer from the aftereffects of the Warri crisis and a political culture that elevates raw power above merit and potential.

The youth of today require reorientation, inspiration and direction. They require a new template for social engagement in a fast

evolving and critically challenging world. We must all come back to our senses, show undiluted love for one another, uncompromising respect for elders and an unwavering commitment to progress and peaceful co-existence.

Contemporary precedents have shown that organizations such as this end up being hijacked by politicians. How do you prevent the INYC from becoming a tool in the hands of politicians?

This is precisely the problem.

Youth activities must never be bastardised on the altar of politics. While youths are qualified to vote and be voted for as long as they are 18 and above, their participation in politics must be guided by a commitment to social progress as leaders of tomorrow. Is it not shocking that the INYC lacks a secretariat which any Itsekiri youth can approach and its exco is only convened on a haphazard basis?

What makes you think you are the best man for the job?

It is low mentality, crass ignorance and empty pride that makes any man insist that he is the best man for any job. It is morally reprehensible to come to the conclusion that you are the only man qualified for a particular post. Such unfortunate sentiments can only lead to a superiority complex whereby you downgrade the very people you are leading or are aspiring to lead.

At most, you can say you are qualified for the job but to go further to insist that you are the only one Itsekiri land has to offer is simply going too far. Apart from the fact that a cross-section of youths, elders and stakeholders are urging me on, I am hungry for the welfare, progress and development of Itsekiri land and that is

fundamentally what is driving me to vie for the Presidency of the INYC. The Itsekiri nation is desperate for the induction of a new generation of leaders to be mentored by the present leadership crop.

I am glad that there are significant players in leadership positions among the Itsekiri who are desirous of opening opportunities for aspiring youths. We need a fresh vision and require a new lease of life for our ethnic nationality. It has always surprised me that most people I encounter come to the conclusion that I am a solid, responsible, dependable and intelligent young man. That is what people say and I thank them for having such an opinion of me. What I can however say for myself is that my love for the youths and my respect for my elders are non-negotiable. These are the values I have imbibed in my upbringing as an Itsekiri and I’m proud to say that if I die and return to this world I would be pleased to be an Itsekiri man once again. We are all Itsekiris and are all in the struggle together. I wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that the fact that I have wisely decided on my part to tow the part of peace, democratic norms, caution and decorum should not by any means be misconstrued as cowardice. Having been well tutored by my elders, I am only applying a common African precept to the effect that the wisdom of the sage is stronger than the strength of a lion. No one has a monopoly of violence nor is anyone entitled to appropriate the collective patrimony of the Itsekiri race as personal property. The current leadership has played its part and should now quit the stage for the younger generation.

Without Oba Ovonramwen’s death, Nigeria’s amalgamation may not have been possible – Prince Akenzua of Benin Continued from page 37 to provoke the Benin people. At the end of the war, they tried everybody including Oba Ovonramwen and could not find anything against him because the chiefs who were physically present at Ogbenewen where they killed Captain Philips and his six men were interviewed and they denied that the king sent them to kill the white men.

Some even said the Oba told them to go and clear the road and make it passable for the British people. What they told him was that they had set up a new administrative system in Calabar and he should go there and be exposed to it so as to know how to administer his people in future. They were cajoling him, they knew they will never allow him to come back, they controlled the means of movement at the time. So they took him away. They kept him in Calabar for 17 years. Thereafter, they made efforts two or three times to install another Oba in Benin; the Benin people of course resisted.

Lugard needed a powerful king through whom the British

could introduce indirect rule in the South. They got to Lagos and precipitated problem between Dosunmu and Kosoko.

The one they met that the people actually put there, they instigated another set of people against him and consequently removed him and put another one but he didn’t have authority over many areas in the South like the Sultan had in the North through the emirs.

They heard of another one, King Jaja of Opobo, they thought he could be it, they got to the place, they were not satisfied with him, they removed him, now they had Nana of Itsekiri. Nana was not the traditional ruler, he was only an influential businessman and they thought they might be able to use him, they didn’t succeed.

To remove Nana, they had to build a military cantonment in Sapele and it was from that cantonment that they invaded Ovonramwen in Benin. They knew he was the man who fitted the role like that of Sultan they wanted but he was also the man they hated because he had some high degree of independence, he

was not subservient as they would have liked.

Two events They were no longer comfortable, they needed to act fast to introduce indirect rule down South so they needed to do something about him and I have reasons to believe that they gave him the kind of treatment they gave to Abiola. My belief is reinforced by two events. During the centenary here which we did few years ago, I tried in Nigeria, UK, America to find the death certificate of Oba Ovonramwen. The Public Office in London is very rich, there is nothing that happens in that country that you will not find evidence, marriage, death, birth and whatever; William Shakespeare’s birth certificate is there but the one of Ovonramwne was not there. You ask them, they say go to Nigeria, go to Ibadan in the archives, it is not there, go to Calabar, go everywhere, it is not there. That one, they have kept it quite close to their chest, they didn’t want to show it to anybody.

But then, there is a place called Etinam, Akwa Ibom

State. In 1982 when the present Oba made his goodwill tour of the country, I was privileged to be one of those in his entourage.

When we left Calabar, we visited Etinam and the Obong and they told us a story. They said they were the friends of Ovonramwen. They said years before, one of their princes came trading in Benin-City, took ill and died. So, they came from home to look for that prince. This led them to Oba Ovonramwen who gave them chiefs to assist them to exhume their prince and they took the body home. Shortly after they got home, they heard that the Europeans had brought a big chief to Calabar. They knew what had happened to Jaja, to Nana and all of that; so they were wondering who was the big chief they had brought again.

So, they decided to go to Calabar. When they got to the place, to their great surprise, they discovered it was the same king who gave them all that help when they came to Benin to look for their dead son. From that moment, they became his friends and they were visiting him regularly. These people

just visited him when they heard the story that the man was dead.

During the visit, he was in good health, he was jovial, everything was fine with him but they just got back home only to hear that the man was dead. This is the second thing that convinced me that what they did to him in Calabar was similar to what they did to Abiola.

Elimination The British planned to invade Benin, depose the king and, after doing what they did, they couldn’t press forward with their indirect rule and then they had to eliminate him and having eliminated him, they went ahead to do the amalgamation which Lugard had wanted more than 20 years before.

If Ovonramwen didn’t die, it would not have been possible for the British to amalgamate the Northern and Southern protectorates, and if that was not done, Lugard’s fiancée or girlfriend as they described her could not have named the area Niger area which, in turn, became Nigeria. Therefore, it was the death of Ovonramwen that created the country called Nigeria.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

Jonathan, Nda-Isaiah and Enemies of Nigeria

BY KAYODE OJO VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

How not oppose the President Aware that $10.8b “IisS theStillPresident Missing?” by Sam Nda-

Isaiah, published in the back-page column he writes in his newspaper, Leadership, on Monday January 13, 2014, was typical of him. The piece was laced with the usual half-truths, hate and foul language and, of course, anti-Jonathan sentiments that have so easily become the predilections of NdaIsaiah and his Leadership Newspaper of late. On these scores, the piece was not saying anything new that the author has not said about President Goodluck Jonathan. Only this time round, NdaIsaiah went too far to insult other Nigerians who hold their own opinions about the Federal Government under Jonathan.

Nda-Isaiah sure has the right to his opinions within the ambits of the law to criticize the government and the President as a person and even more so as a journalist or, more appropriately, a publisher. He has been exercising those rights in his writings, albeit, wrongly by throwing personal insults at Jonathan using his Leadership platform and yet he is not willing to concede to other Nigerians their own rights to hold contrary views on politics and governance. Or how else can anybody explain the conclusion of the Leadership publisher when he stated that “it is quite befuddling how anyone will want Jonathan to continue as President beyond 2015, as a few jesters are currently doing”. More horrendous was NdaIsaiah’s verdict that anyone, who wants

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VIEWPOINT

The testimonies coming from rural farmers in the field are so heart-warming that, sometimes, you wonder which country Nda-Isaiah and other naysayers are writing about in their columns

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President Jonathan to be re-elected again in 2015, is an enemy of Nigeria.

Journalists are known all over the world for their ability in seeking out the other side of every story because, indeed, there is another side to every story. I t i s inappropriate that somebody who claims to be not just a journalist, but is in fact an employer of journalists, is promoting unethical methods in his column and in, indeed, the overall editorial policy of his newspaper. There is nothing wrong in Nda-Isaiah believing that Jonathan has not performed well, but there is everything wrong with his foul-mouthed language and verbal abuse of those (and there are many of them) who, in their own view, believe that Jonathan has done well enough to deserve a second term in 2015. That NdaIsaiah publishes a newspaper in which he writes a weekly column does not confer on him the epistemic authority on politics, society and governance in the land. That singular fact does not also give him the

right to abuse other Nigerians whose only offence may be buying his newspaper by referring to them as “jesters and enemies of the Nigerian state.” Omniscience, which Nda-Isaiah professes, is never the way of journalists!

The truth, however, is that those Nigerians (and they are in their millions) who are rooting for Jonathan in 2015 are doing so based on their own reasoned assessment of his performance in office.

These people are seeing all the improvement in the power sector with the game-changing privatization. Where was Nda-Isaiah when all that the past regimes could muster against the regime of darkness that NEPA and later PHCN imposed on the entire nation was the wriggling of the hand? Not even the past military regimes that were accountable to nobody had the courage to face squarely the problems in the power sector the way and manner that Jonathan has done.

Even in agriculture, Jonathan has transformed the sector from its well known drudgery to business venture ensuring food security and farmer prosperity. The testimonies coming from rural farmers in the field are so heart-warming that, sometimes, you wonder which country Nda-Isaiah and other naysayers are writing about in their columns. Only a few days ago, the efforts of the administration of Jonathan in eradicating hunger and poverty was roundly applauded by Nigerians from all geographical backgrounds and political divides.

At the launch of the 2014 dry season farming, the Federal Government announced a N14b grant (an increase of N5b from the previous year) to enhance dry season farming especially in the northern part of the country. It won’t be surprising if Nda-Isaiah does not believe

Ladoja: Deconstructing politics of untruth

BY FESTUS ADEDAYO

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

False claims against the Oyo governor

T

HERE is this Greek mythology about Sisyphus, King of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). This myth is very apposite in the discussion of the politics of former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja and leader of the Accord Party.

Punished for what was considered a chronic act of treachery by Corinthians, Sisyphus was compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill and to suffer the humiliation of watching the bolder roll back downwards and to repeat this action forever.

A mid-level officer in the oil industry, Ladoja’s entrance into Oyo politics was at a time when the petrel of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu, had gained hyper ascendancy and notoriety. Broth of lies, halftruth and outright illogicalities are administered on political victims like hemlock. A number of such victims have died from the unpleasant aftermath of this scary political tactic. The tragedy of it is that Ladoja passes on this irredeemable liepeddling bouder-rolling of Sisyphus and churns out generation of political minions.

Mr. Dotun Oyelade is a new recruit of this weird political methodology. “To Oyo Workers, A Grift Gift” (Sunday Tribune, January 19, 2014) is its manifestation. The traditional prayer session of handing over a new year to God by the Oyo State

government was his tool.

At that event, Governor Abiola Ajimobi had taken a cue from the corporate world where he worked for 35 years. The practice is to identify high premium performers called Quality Champions, who bent over backwards in the preceding year in contributing to the lot of the company.

Oyelade’s first port of call was the woman who knelt down at the prayer ground. Why a man and his party would advertise open disdain for God and the art of reverence for Him as this is baffling. Oyelade was not done with his binge of assault on truth.

“Expensive Mohemian suit” – whatever that meant – was what Ajimobi adorned at that event, he wrote. Televised live on the state broadcasting service, those who watched that programme would be alarmed at that bare-faced lie. Ajimobi wore a flowing white agbada! In symbolic logic, once your premise is faulty, every other thing built on it would be compromised. If Oyelade had eye challenge and couldn’t decipher his beloved Mohemian suit from agbada, I innocently presume he doesn’t have an audibility challenge as well, or else, he would have heard Ajimobi say the money given to the Quality Champions was from his personal purse. But Oyo State people are used to Ladoja and his henchmen’s assault on and disregard for truth and all things bright and beautiful.

For a start, old civil servants who attended such interdenominational service over the years confessed that never in the history of the state had the service witnessed such an unprecedented attendance by workers. Now, Oyelade quarreled with the governor for identifying Quality Champions at the Water Corporation of Oyo State who did the

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VIEWPOINT

By the time Ajimobi came on board, that complex, built by Obafemi Awolowo, without being hyperbolical, was comparable only to a pig-sty. When Ajimobi took a maiden tour of the personal office of the governor, he was alarmed

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unthinkable of restoring water supply to the state, 17 years after. This is either naivety of modern art of motivation of workers or complete mischief wrapped in a silk of lie.

Within that period, Oyelade’s master who inflicted an almost four years of naivety and governmental ignorance on the state, held sway.

The Accord Party publicist now went on a roller-coaster of lies. Having worked with a boss who did not demarcate between state and personal money, Oyelade’s idea of reward to workers is the traditional AlaoAkala ATM image, so Ajimobi’s reward for the Quality Champions may be “insulting”, but in about three years, Ajimobi has rewritten this mis-governmental cue and personifies that imperishable adage that between the fish-giver and fish-bait giver, the latter is more desirable.

Oyelade thereafter made an amateurish job of analyzing the mood of the mammoth crowd and coming to incredibly fraudulent position that is determined by the queer methodology of Accord Party. His

the testimonies of the success in the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in the agriculture sector from a rural farmer from Zamfara, Hajia Bahia Ladi; Alhaji Umza Abubakar, the Chairman of Rice Producers Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) and Faith Tuedor-Mathews representing the banks, who disclosed that in the past two years lending to agriculture has increased to the tune of N355b.

But will he also doubt the confession of his party (All Progressives Congress) member, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, who stated: “Mr. President, at the risk of being cited for anti-party activities because I am of the APC stock, I must say that the agricultural transformation agenda being pursued by your administration is unparalleled and unprecedented. We must learn to give credit where credit is due and I am exactly doing that.” Or is Nda-Isaiah saying that his party member is a jester and an enemy of the country by simply being objective?

As a columnist and publisher, Nda-Isaiah must practise his trade without undermining the security of the Nigerian state which he claims to care so much about. Resort to half-truths, incendiary remarks and inflammable language which he is now so accustomed to in his writings cannot be the hallmark of a true patriot.

By painting the inaccurate picture of the performance of Jonathan, Leadership and its publisher are struggling to make the President unpopular; but, beyond that, they are surreptitiously planting the seed of violence in the land should Jonathan win as expected in 2015. The good news, though, is that the security agencies already understand this strategy by the opposition masquerading as journalists.

•Ojo, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos.

conclusion was that the workers were just tolerating the same government that had done for them what in geography Nikolaj Copernicus did for the rest of mankind: a revolutionary shift of paradigm.

Let us go to the fundament. A few yards from the venue of the service is the Governor ’s Office complex, home to hundreds of offices of civil servants. By the time Ajimobi came on board, that complex, built by Obafemi Awolowo, without being hyperbolical, was comparable only to a pigsty. When Ajimobi took a maiden tour of the personal office of the governor, he was alarmed. Inside the governor’s personal toilet stood a big black pot filled with water.

The complex was rat-infested and littered with rodents’ excreta. General Adeyinka Adebayo and PDP’s Isa Yuguda, on a recent visit to the Governor’s Office, could not hide their fascination with the office’s recent incredibly aesthetic face-lift. Ladoja and Akala couldn’t care less.

The Ajimobi administration has trained over 14,000 civil and public servants, including teachers, both within and outside the country.

During Ladoja and Akala’s time, payment of pension arrears to senior civil servants was war. Not only has Ajimobi paid the 142% pension arrears but, today, they see him as their friend. This mindset also informs the recent approval of enhanced pension allowance for retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries.

Till date, Ajimobi has promoted 12,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and has, for the third time running, paid the 13th month salary arrears of all public servants.

He provided 100 43-seater buses to the people of Oyo State, ten of which were deployed to free shuttle of workers to and fro work. *Adedayo is Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Oyo State.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 47

BY KEHINDE OLAOSEBIKAN

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The unique selling points of the new ruling party boss

F

OR every loyal member of the Peoples Demo cratic Party, PDP, nothing smells good like the recent change of guards at the Wadata House where two term governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, took over the reins of leadership from Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman. Tukur had led the party for slightly over a year. But for some inexplicable reasons, his leadership style could not just go down well with some leaders of the party.

Although it was glaring that it was not just Tukur’s style of leadership but a subtle way to get at President Goodluck Jonathan and scuttle his second term ambition, Tukur, himself, as many party men and women have reasoned, lacked tact in handling the crises. His use of archaic tactics in a complete civil and modern terrain could be said to have caused the party much damage through the various decamping.

First, it was the seven governors, some senators and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who staged a walk-out at the party’s delegates’ convention last year. A parallel body emerged but the judiciary saved the day. As if that was not

For PDP, Muazu comes with a breather enough, five governors elected on the platform of the PDP decamped to the opposition APC. Then the opposition APC took the majority in the House of Reps. It was the biggest blow to our political fortunes. As the former National Chairman was embroiled in battles across the country, so was the party itself.

Yet, Tukur could not proffer solution.

The PDP was getting sick and needed a Turn Around Maintenance strategist. The president and his political strategists measured their action when they moved to check the excesses. And they have made no mistake by bringing in the former Bauchi State Governor Adamu Muazu: The exact man for the job.

Muazu is an embodiment of tact and humility. He is detribalized and urbane. With his emergence as the National Chairman of our great party, he has the ability to change the current heat in the PDP into a soothing balm for victories in 2015. There is hope that a new breath has come to the party and chances of a brighter outing in 2015 looks more real now.

Of note is an encounter I had with Muazu when I was the Chief Press Secretary to the late Lam Adesina, former governor of Oyo State. Muazu, then governor of Bauchi State, had come to Ibadan to visit his son who was a student at the Airforce

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VIEWPOINT

The PDP was getting sick and needed a Turn Around Maintenance strategist. The president and his political strategists measured their action when they moved to check the excesses

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•Alhaji Adamu Muazu

ence of journalists(local and foreign) that we used to have daily at the Governor ’s Office Ibadan then to talk about his achievements, but the governor only exchanged pleasantries with the journalists. He declined to answer questions except on why he was in Ibadan.

When he told the journalists that he was in the city to attend a programme at Air-force Comprehensive School where his child was attending, all the journalists volunteered to accompany him there. The second day, all the newspapers were awashed with the pictures of Muazu and the top management staff of the school on their front pages.

Depicting sound characters of a great leader, Muazu left a lasting impression on all of us including the late governor, as a highly detribalized, humble, focused, amiable, thoroughbred personality with good sense of

Comprehensive High School.

When he got to Ibadan, he considered it necessary to pay a visit to my former boss even though of different political leanings. Lam was of the Alliance for Democracy, AD. When he met Lam, he showed tremendous respect in the presence of both his entourage and that of Oyo State Executive Council members by prostrating before Lam. It was an uncommon display of strength and humility in leadership.

And as a lover of the press, after paying homage to the governor, he asked Lam to take him to the office of his Chief Press Secretary. In my office, radiating ebullience, he asked, “Where are my people?” I got the message instantly and took him to the Press Centre. I had thought the Bauchi governor wanted to utilize the large pres-

Who is afraid of Rt. Hon Jim Adun?

BY JULIUS OTANIYEN VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Holes in claims on the forthcoming polls in Edo State

A

S the 2015 general elections are fast approaching, some faceless and questionable characters, like Joy Akpede, a self-styled public commentator, who claims to work at UNIJOS, have embarked on a campaign of calumny, sponsored by their desperate principals and targeted at their perceived or real political opponents.

In an article published in Sunday Vanguard of January 19, 2014 at page 46 (View point), headlined, "2015 & 2016: What Oshiomhole Must Do!" , Akpede made some spurious and unfounded allegations against the person and office of Rt. Hon. Jim Adun, the member representing Egor/IkpobaOkha Constituency at the House of Representatives.

As misleading the allusions against Adun appear to be, it is instructive to place on record that it is not in our character to

join issues with persons or institutions in the press/media, but the gravity of these baseless and malicious allegations makes it compelling to set the records straight.

Therefore, the objective of this rejoinder is to put the issues in proper perspectives, as they have become subjects of discussion in the public.

Arising from the above, we make bold to say that politics is a practical game which centres around the welfare of the people and should not be seen to be played on the pages of newspapers. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the contents of the publication as it concerns Adun is a figment of the imagination of the author and her sponsors.

It is a pity to hear from Akpede that the target of her favoured principal ? Hon. Samson Osagie ? is to run for the Edo South senatorial seat in 2015 and take a shot at the governorship race in 2016.

Without mincing words, it is clear to discerning Edo people that the ambition of her master, as confusing and distractive as it seems, amounts to selfdelusion, political aggrandisement and gross misdemeanour. It is even laughable to think that a

person, whose tenure as a member of the House of Representative is still counting, will be pre-occupied with the infantile ambition of becoming a "political emperor" in the politics and governance of our dear state. In one swoop, he is angling for the senatorial position of Edo South in 2015 and governorship seat in 2016.

Let it be sounded loud and clear that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not a political party that can be hijacked by self-seeking political charlatans. Indeed, the APC is an all-inclusive progressive party of the people, by the people and for the people and members will make their choice of seriousminded persons for political positions when the time comes.

As for Adun, he needs not to blow in his own trumpet as his pedigree in the political turf and governance of Edo State in particular and Nigeria as a whole speaks so much volume.

He is one people-oriented legislator and loyal party man who cannot deceive the people by taking credit for the execution of projects undertaken by the executive arm of government in his constituency. Rather, he takes pride and satisfaction in contributing to issues that

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VIEWPOINT

Adun is one gentleman who served in the air force and retired meritoriously as a group captain. It is on record that he once served as acting military administrator of the defunct Bendel State and discharged the duties of his office creditably

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affect his constituents at the floor of the House of Representatives as well as influencing and facilitating the siting of projects that would improve the quality of lives of the people he represents.

As a matter of fact, Adun is one gentleman who served in the air force and retired meritoriously as a group captain. It is on record that he once served as acting military administrator of the defunct Bendel State and discharged the duties of his office creditably.

The incursion of this worthy son of Benin Kingdom into partisan politics is borne-out of a genuine passion to render

direction. The publicity he got for the airforce school, gratis, through his character, I am sure still remains a record in the school till date.

These are the qualities required now to take the PDP out of the doldrums; qualities that would make people do the right thing in one’s favor without any coercion: the qualities of a great leader: the unique selling points of Muazu.

Of a truth, Muazu will make more friends. Of a truth, he will reconstruct old and somewhat difficult alliances to re-invent our party’s winning ways in the 2015 polls. Given the support from the president, governors, critical stakeholders and all of us at the grassroots he will turn the fortunes of the party around for the better.

And as already pledged in his acceptance speech, it is expected that the new leadership will carry out its functions in such a way that participation in intraparty elections will be transparent, rancor free and reliable.

Faithfull party members loyal to the dictates of the party desire that policies and programmes are also executed to meet the needs and aspirations of all Nigerians. This way, the PDP under Muazu will be re-inventing its winning ways to establish itself as the largest political party on continent Africa. *Olaosebikan is resident in Ibadan

selfless service to the people.

No wonder, there was a resounding clamour for his reelection by the people in 2011 to the House of Representatives (Egor/IkpobaOkha Federal Constituency) due to his robust and quality representation during his first tenure from 2003 ? 2007. The overwhelming victory he recorded at the polls in 2011 was a practical demonstration of one good term deserves another. He is an epitome of a grassroots politician with very humble disposition to all and sundry.

As the countdown to the 2015 general elections continues, the pertinent questions begging for answers are: Who is afraid of Rt. Hon. Jim Adun? Why is he afraid? The simple answer is that if and when Adun decides to run for the Edo South senatorial seat, the leadership of the APC and the vast majority of the people will certainly find in him the traits and qualities of a tested, trusted and credible candidate who will swing the votes in favour of the APC. It is this fact coupled with his robust profile that is already sending shivers to the spine of the sponsors of Joy Akpede's nefarious writeup.

*OTANIYEN is Secretary, Edo South Youth Movement for Sustainable Development.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

black.

“No”, she said.

“Are you aware of the coming law against same sex relationships?”, I asked Before she could respond, my colleague, Sunday Odita, from The Guardian, appeared to demand that we should leave. I was torn between leaving Rosebud and joining my colleague for my primary purpose of being at the event.

Before I left Rosebud, I told her I was a journalist. She smiled and said, “If you write about me, they will jail you too.” I knew I had missed an opportunity to have a full blown interview with a lesbian.

Propagation of gay culture

WHAT NOBODY WILL TELL YOU ABOUT LESBIANISM, SODOMY!

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

W

C M Y K

estern hysteria about President Goodluck Jonathan’s signing of the Same Sex Prohibition Act 2013 could not have come as a surprise to watchers of the strong advocacy for recognition of the rights of homosexuals euphemistically called the gay community.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights have been on the front burner of public domain in the Caucasian world.

The idea of men and women having carnal knowledge of each other is generally regarded as an aberration and deviant behaviour which society abhorred for centuries.

In Biblical times, the story of the punishment God meted to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah comes to mind.

That experience is a reminder that man should not

violate the natural order. But over the years, Western nations have worked to force the human race to accept open display of homosexual culture and tendencies across all cultures and societies.

They have promoted it among youths and deviants social groups.

Expectedly, the signing of the Same Sex Prohibition Act has provoked bitter reactions from the United States, Canada and members of the European Union peeved that the new law will violate the rights of the gay community in Nigeria.

The reactions brought to mind some encounters with members of the gay community in Nigeria. It is strange to think that there is this uproar to a practice that has been thriving in Nigeria’s urban cities, the academic community and northern part of the country.

The new law criminalises same sex culture and practice

in the country, but the fact remains that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic recognises marriage “as a union between a man and a woman”. This means that marriage of people of the same gender is unconstitutional.

Sharia law, operating in 12 states in northern Nigeria, also criminalises same sex relations. The National Assembly passed the bill banning same sex in 2012 thus making it an offence attracting 14 years jail term for persons practising same sex, promoting it or exhibiting tendencies and attitudes that suggest and promote homosexuality.

Lesbian

Back in July 2013, I came in contact with a lady, 23, who claimed to be a part three student at University of Benin, UNIBEN. She came in company of about 18 other girls, within the same age bracket. They had been invited to a night party in Delta North, Delta State.

The girls, all dressed in black attires, were a curious sight. I approached the selfconfessed lesbian and introduced myself, ready for a friendly evening chat. Her introductory statements

,,

zEncounters with lesbians zThe laws, the punishment zWhat Sharia law says zThe dangers within

We did not exchange telephone numbers but, as I left, I was reflecting on an a media lunch organised by the US Consul General in Lagos aimed at mobilising public opinion against the bill which President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law.

Mr Jeffery Hawkins had invited journalists to his house to meet with gay rights advocacy groups mainly from northern Nigeria where the practice is prevalent. The groups needed the media to denounce the Same Sex Prohibition Bill, signed into law on January 7, 2014, and the series of discrimination and dangers that the gay community would be exposed to when the bill is signed into law.

The argument of the groups

Expectedly, the signing of the Same Sex Prohibition Act has provoked bitter reactions from the United States, Canada and members of the European Union peeved that the new law will violate the rights of the gay community in Nigeria shocked me as she said: “My name is Rose bud, but I am a lesbian.” I tried to conceal my shock knowing that there was an impending law that criminalises gay practices in Nigeria.

“My pleasure”, I responded.

“Glad to meet you,” I said.

“Are you with your partner?”, I asked.

She gestured to another young girl seated not far away, smoking. I looked in the girl’s direction. What I saw on her face showed that she was not comfortable with my presence.

“Same school”?, I asked the lesbian.

“No”, she said, “UNIBEN. ” That is University of Benin.”

I got more curious. I asked, “Is this a club”?, referring to the other girls dressed in

was that some of them are born gay and that they have a fundamental human right which is part of the universal human rights Nigeria is a signatory to and should respect especially in favour of the gay community.

The Americans were surprised that all the Nigerian men and women that they invited to the lunch were proudly Africans. The media men and women sympathised with the gay groups ,but could not see themselves advancing their cause which they consider to be an aberration to their culture and religion.

I have seen gay peoples march in New York. I have seen transsexual and transvestites that have become part of the modern Caucasian

Continues on page 49

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 49

culture and sexual classification, but, in these encounters, the question has been: What is the psychological make-up of men who go after men and women who go after women.

They have always been in the minority in Nigeria and going about their businesses in their closets. The trouble now is how to keep the gay community within the confines of the law and socially acceptable behaviour.

This means that clubs, music videos, films, dress codes, symbols and totem that promote same sex will attract punishment. It is an offence for radio houses, television stations to embark on campaigns or canvass opinion favourable to homosexual conduct in the country.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that some Western countries have been encouraging young people with as much as $150,000 to form gay clubs and engage in activities that will bring them in conflict with the law, in order to remain in the media. The West wants to portray Nigeria as violating the fundamental human rights of its gay community.

Africa’s revolt

South Africa, which has a liberal constitution that recognises same sex relations, the white population, which has a sub set of gay community, is small, but there are also black people who are gay. Other African countries are patently against gay practices and some of them have harsh sentences. The Gambia, Mauritania and Sudan, for instance, have death sentences.

Many other African countries have sentences ranging from life imprisonment to death sentence. Notable among them are Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

Clash of civilisation

U

niversity of Lagos professor of international law and jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, said the Western threat against Nigeria is inconsequential which we can ignore. “It is another instance of the clash of civilisation.

Western countries’ civilisation is on a downward spiral and it intends to take people along to its doom,” Oyebode said.

According to him, it is good that Nigeria is insisting to go to heaven on its own way, moreso, in a situation where propriety or morality is culture specific-and geography bound.

Nigeria has a population of over160 million who are almost equally divided between the mainly Muslim North and mainly Christian

Encounters with lesbians

*President Jonathan South. There has been widespread condemnation of homosexuality throughout the country and President Jonathan has been hailed for taking a proactive step to protect Nigerian youths from Western aberrations.

The law makes intra-gender anal sex by males a crime, regardless of consent. It prohibits “acts of gross indecency and exhibition of sexual behaviour between and among men in private or in public.”

Challenge

But the big challenge is the

,,

Continued from page 48

*President Obama of United States be enlightenment of the law enforcement officers to prevent blackmail, extortion and other dangers where accusations of being gay could get anyone arrested.. There is public intolerance against homosexuality which is evidenced by the willingness of the press and the citizens to support the passage of the Act.” Our society obviously frowns at LGBT issues especially open expression of homosexuality. A gay right activist, who pleaded incognito, told Sunday Vanguard: “The intolerance

Sunday Vanguard learnt that some Western countries have been encouraging young people with as much as $150,000 to form gay clubs and engage in activities that will bring them in conflict with the law, in order to remain in the media

enticement of these impressionable young minds with entry visas, offer of admission and scholarships by the West on the grounds that they want to escape from being jailed, lynched on the streets, beaten to death, or legally executed by stoning for the offense under the Islamic Sharia law that prevails in 12 of the 36 states.

Ned Nwoko, a lawyer, said: “Sodomy was already illegal, but the bill signed into law January 7 bans all gay associations and gay marriage, with penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment for marriage.”

Nwoko, a former member of the House of Representatives, said, “This law is not a symbolic act. Law enforcement agencies should ensure its enforcement but there should

could lead to murder and acts of violence. We have to remember this is a bill that doesn’t just affect gay Nigerians. Anybody perceived to be gay, boys and girls in the university or higher institutions of learning could be seen to be gay and prosecuted.”

Arrests With the passage of the law, there has been increase in the number of arrests in Bauchi State. 12 people were held and put on trial in the state where they were almost lynched by angry mobs. There have been arrests in Abuja, Anambra, Imo, Oyo since the signing of the law. One Mubarak Ibrahim was the first to be found guilty of sodomy in Bauchi and got 20 lashes.

Special Adviser to the

President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said the US, member-states of the European Union and their allies should respect the cultural sensibilities and sovereignty of Nigerians and other African countries.

Gulak told Sunday Vanguard: “The hostile reactions of Europeans and the United States to the signing into law, was a disrespect to the people of Nigeria especially the majority of the population that is against same sex relations.

“What the anti-gay law has tried to achieve is to protect and promote family values as we know it from the start. We accept that the Europeans have reached the height of their civilization; we are yet to see how marriages between persons of the same sex will accelerate our own socioeconomic and technological advancement of our people”.

His defence of the anti-gay law continued: “We value the bilateral and multilateral relationships between Nigeria and its international partners and we believe that no unnecessary pressure will be brought to bear on us to accept what our people consider to be abhorrent.

“We are yet to see how same sex practice will reduce inequality, reduce the grinding poverty facing our people. Same sex rights and privileges will not generate employment, enhance health care, improved education and technological growth. We know that those who are into this practice are in the minority. The US and EU should respect the sensibilities of those in the majority who abhor the practice of same sex relations.

“Our lawmakers deliberated carefully on the bill before

passing it and sending it to the president for his assent.

We cannot dictate to Europeans on what bills they choose to make. They have been passing legislations to regulate migration of Africans into their countries without complaints from any other country. Some states in America have legalised the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Ordinarily, we should see that as a welcome development since we have people who grow the weed here, but for the sake of the health of our people, we cannot say what is good for America or Europeans must be good for us”.

What the law says Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Nigeria face unique legal and social challenges not experienced by non-gay population. The law in Nigeria forbids them from being open about their sexual orientation, and violence against LGBT people is frequent. The maximum punishment in the 12 northern states that have adopted Sharia law is death by stoning. That law applies to all Muslims and to those who have voluntarily consented to application of the Sharia courts. In southern Nigeria and under the secular criminal laws of northern Nigeria, the maximum punishment for same-sex sexual activity is 14 years’ imprisonment. Anti-same sex legislation criminalises same sex practices throughout the country.

Criminal law: Federal Criminal Code in all southern states Sex acts between men are illegal under the Criminal Code that applies to southern Nigeria and carry a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. Sex acts between women are not mentioned specifically in the code, although it is arguable that the gender-neutral term “person” in Section 214 of the code includes women.

Chapter 21 of that code provides in pertinent part as follows: •Section 214 states that: Any person who (a) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for 14 years.

•Section 215 states that: .

Any person who attempts to commit any of the offences defined in the last preceding section is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years. The offender cannot be arrested without a warrant.

Continues on page 50

PAGE 50 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

Continued from page 49 •Section 217states that : Any male person who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person, or procures another male person to commit any act of gross indecency with him, or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any male person with himself or with another male person, whether in public or private, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years. The offender cannot be arrested without a warrant.

in order to corrupt public morals”.

In Gombe State, a person commits an act of gross indecency by committing “any sexual offence against the normal or usual standards of behaviour”.

Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states do not define gross indecency. Their law instead says: “Whoever commits an act of gross indecency upon the person of another without his consent or by the use of force or threat compels a person to join with him in the commission of such act shall be punished”.

Federal Penal Code in all northern states

Punishment for offence of gross indecency

S

Sharia law enacted by certain northern states

12 northern states have adopted some form of Sharia into their criminal statutes are:: Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. Sharia criminal law applies to those who voluntarily consent to the jurisdiction of the Shari’a courts and to all Muslims.

Meaning of sodomy

In Kaduna and Yobe states, “sodomy” is committed by “[w]hoever has anal coitus with any man”.

In Kano and Katsina states, “sodomy” is committed by “[w]hoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man or woman through his or her rectum”.

In Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, “sodomy” is committed by

*House of Reps Speaker Tambuwal

*Senate President David Mark

The laws, the punishment

,,

ection 284 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in northern Nigeria, provides that: Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine Section 405 provides that a male person who dresses or is attired in the fashion of a woman in a public place or who practises sodomy as a means of livelihood or as a profession is a “vagabond”.

Under Section 407, the punishment is a maximum of one year’s imprisonment or a fine, or both Section 405 also provides that an “incorrigible vagabond” is “any person who after being convicted as a vagabond commits any of the offences which will render him liable to be convicted as such again”.The punishment under Section 408 is a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both.

excitement.”

The argument of the groups Punishment for was that some of them are born offence of lesbianism gay and that they have a In Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, fundamental human right which Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara a person who commits is part of the universal human rights Nigeria states, the offence of lesbianism “shall be punished with is a signatory to and should respect caning which may extend to especially in favour of the gay community fifty lashes.”

“[w]hoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man or woman”.

Punishment for offense of sodomy

In Gombe, Jigawa, and Zamfara states, a person who commits the offence of sodomy shall be punished: (a) with caning of one hundred lashes if unmarried, and shall also be liable to imprisonment for the term of one year; or (b) if married with stoning to death (rajm) In Kano State, a person who commits the offence of sodomy shall be punished: (a) with caning of one hundred lashes if unmarried, and shall also be liable to imprisonment for the term of one year; or (b) if married or has been previously married with stoning to death (rajm).

In Bauchi State, a person who commits the offence of sodomy “shall be punished with stoning to death (rajm) or by any other means decided by the state”.

In Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Yobe states, a person who commits the offence of sodomy “shall be punished with stoning to death (rajm)”.

In Sokoto State, a person who commits the offence of sodomy shall be punished: (a) with stoning to death; (b) if the act is committed by a minor on an adult person the adult person shall be punished by way of ta’azir which may extend to 100 lashes and minor with correctional punishment.

In Sokoto, “ta’azir” means “a discretionary punishment for offence whose punishment is not specified.”

Meaning of lesbianism

I

n northern states of Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, lesbianism is believed and defined as committed by a woman who engages another woman in carnal intercourse through her sexual organ or by means of stimulation or sexual excitement of one another.

Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states include the following official explanation: “The offence is committed by the unnatural fusion of the female sexual organs and/or by the use of natural or artificial means to stimulate or attain sexual satisfaction or

In Bauchi, a person who commits the offence of lesbianism “shall be punished with caning which may extend to fifty lashes and in addition be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may extend to up to five years” In Kaduna, the punishment for committing the offence of lesbianism is ta’azir, which means “any punishment not provided for by way of hadd or qisas”.

“Hadd” means “punishment that is fixed by Islamic law”.

“Qisas” includes “punishments inflicted upon offenders by way of retaliation for causing death/injuries to a person”. In Kano and Katsina, the punishment for committing the offence of lesbianism is stoning to death.

Meaning of gross indecency

I

n Kaduna State, a person commits an act of gross indecency “in public, exposure of nakedness in public and other related acts of similar nature capable of corrupting public morals”.

In Kano and Katsina states, a person commits an act of gross indency “by way of kissing in public, exposure of nakedness in public and other related acts of similar nature

A person who commits the offence of gross indecency “shall be punished with caning which may extend to 40 lashes and may be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and may also be liable to fine”.

In Bauchi, a person who commits the offence of gross indecency “shall be punished with caning which may extend to forty lashes and may be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and may also be liable to fine”. In Kaduna, the punishment for committing the offence of gross indecency is ta’azir, which means “any punishment not provided for by way of hadd or qisas”.

“Hadd” means “punishment that is fixed by Islamic law”.”Qisas” includes “punishments inflicted upon offenders by way of retaliation for causing death/injuries to a person” In Sokoto, a person who commits the offence of gross indecency “shall be punished with caning which may extend to 40 lashes or may be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both, and may also be liable to fine”.Secular criminal law enacted by certain northern states

Same-sex sexual activities

In Borno state, a person who “engages in ... lesbianism, homosexual act in the State commits an offence”. A person who “engages in sexual intercourse with another person of the same gender shall upon conviction be punished with death”.

Males imitating the behavioural attitudes of women

In Kano State, a person who “being a male gender who acts, behaves or dresses in a manner which imitate the behavioural attitude of women shall be guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, be sentenced to one year imprisonment or a fine of N10,000 or both”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 51

Stopping Jonathan in 2015 will have grave consequences – Ezeife market a united Nigeria offers. In the North, the Hausa-Fulani are the greatest beneficiaries of one Nigeria.

In the beginning, the amalgamation was motivated by the need to cover the economic deficiency of the North with the surplus from the South. There was a resource gap. Today, the resource gap is wider than it was in 1914.

The biggest resource for development today is education; and the gap between the North and South in education today is so wide. When you talk about agriculture, the North has a huge mass of land.

National resources have been used to build a lot dams in the North and this has facilitated the development of agriculture in the region. Today, the North is feeding the whole country. Would they want to be exporting their food stuff to America? Apart from the big groups, the minorities are also benefitting from Nigeria which is a big country. This is because if they are on their own, they would be irrelevant but since they belong to Nigeria, they benefit from its status as a big country. No group in

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

A

former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is angry over the current political developments in the country. In this interview, he says the panacea for a united Nigeria is the re-election of President Jonathan next year.

WHAT is your view about unfolding political events in the country?

I want to use this opportunity to emphasize something central to the problems we are presently facing. The explanation I am about to give provides insight into the defection of the G-5 governors, the activities of the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, or even the present status of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which is the leading opposition party in the country. All the attacks by these groups on President Goodluck Jonathan stem from one thing: Some people believe they are born to rule while others are born to be ruled. They therefore see the present situation where a person who was born to be ruled is now ruling as a reversal of the natural order of things. How have they reacted?

After Jonathan’s victory in 2011, mayhem was unleashed on parts of Nigeria. Blood flowed; the Igbo have not recovered from the losses they suffered due to the massacre of their people that year. A prominent APC member is already setting the stage for another carnage after the 2015 elections.

Should such candidate win?

These people ruled the country for 38 and a half years. In the course of ruling the country, they ruined Nigeria. However, they ruined the North more than they ruined other parts of Nigeria.

Every attack from these groups against President Jonathan is designed to prevent him from running for the 2015 election.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo ignited the problem. The G-7 or G-5 governors also played their part. They toured almost the entire country and visited all past military heads of state. Obasanjo also consulted other former military rulers before writing his letter. All these activities are geared towards proving only one thing: the person who is ruling was not born to rule.

Can you comment on the view held by some Nigerians that President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed National Dialogue was designed to actualise his political ambition of being re-elected in 2015?

At this juncture in Nigerian history, President Jonathan’s interest and Nigerians interest in the continued existence of the country have become coterminous. If you say because you oppose President Jonathan’s bid for a second term in office, you are also opposed to a National Dialogue, you are saying no to one Nigeria.

The truth of the matter is that opposing President Jonathan’s second term is like opposing the continued existence of Nigeria as one united country. What do you think would happen if as a result of the handiwork of the opposition, President Jonathan is disallowed from

Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife running for second term? Can you control what would happen?

Whether you are from the North, South or West, you can’t stop President Jonathan from going for second term and winning. Everybody can make noise but if those who are making noise should think deeply, they would realize that the continued existence of Nigeria as one country is anchored on Jonathan’s continuation in office come 2015.

What happens if President Jonathan contests the 2015 election and loses?

We would be faced with the same problem. Niger Delta boys would blow up all the oil pipelines and then a part of the country could say they are no longer interested in Nigeria; they could say Nigeria legally expired when the nation marked its centenary and that they are now on their own. This is not what I want, but I am afraid it could happen if we foolishly think of only our short term interest instead of thinking of the long term implications. However, if he contests and loses in a free and fair atmosphere where Nigerians truly vote against him, it would be less bloody than if he is not allowed to contest.

But there have been those who have also threatened that blood would flow if President Jonathan insists on contesting the e l e c t i o n . . . . .

Junaid Mohammed and his fellow travelers must know that we don’t want the blood of ordinary Nigerians to flow again. This time around, it is the blood of those who are threatening to spill blood that would flow. It is just like somebody who is claiming he is born to rule. He should rule himself only. People should stop making intimidating statements. I am making a plea to all Nigerians, be they from the North, South, East or West to consider that it is in the nation’s long term interest to give the continued existence of Nigeria a chance. From we the Igbo, we are not issuing any threats. We have been absorbing all kinds of

In the beginning, the amalgamation was motivated by the need to cover the economic deficiency of the North with the surplus from the South.

There was a resource gap. Today, the resource gap is wider than it was in 1914 punishment. We in the East are for one Nigeria. The people of the West and North should also be interested in one Nigeria.

What do you have to say about President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed National Dialogue especially against the background of the criticisms by the opposition?

For a long time, those who understand and love Nigeria have been demanding for a Constitutional Conference. This month marks 100 years of the amalgamation of Nigeria. Some see it as an opportunity to quit Nigeria; others see it as a period for a review of our basic laws. For me, whatever I say I am saying it based on my commitment to the continued existence of one Nigeria. Both small and big ethnic groups in this country today would find that their long term interest is anchored on the persistence and sustainability of one N i g e r i a .

For instance, if you consider the Igbo, we have voted with our feet for one Nigeria; by our action of developing and commercializing whereever we are as if we are at home, we have demonstrated our commitment to one Nigeria in action. We have invested more outside Igbo land than within Igbo land. So, I don’t see the Igbo wanting to leave Nigeria tomorrow.

For the Yoruba, even though it is rumored that they are ready for any eventuality and already have their constitution, flag and anthem, they remain the dominant group in finance and industry in Nigeria.

Therefore, they still like the big

this country would triumphantly walk away from a Nigeria that is properly structured, well organized and works.

President Jonathan would become the greatest leader Nigeria ever had if he organizes a successful National Conference. He would then be the reason for the continued existence of one Nigeria. In addition, there is need for the Federal Government to take urgent action over the constant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in different parts of the country.

These incessant killings must stop.

Nobody is prepared to drive herdsmen away but if these killings persist, then some people may begin to avoid cow meat and eat only chicken meat so that peace can reign in the country.

Can you comment on the recent brickbat between Prof Ben Nwabueze and the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee PAC on the proposed National Dialogue, Senator Femi Okorounmu?

This is a matter of monumental confusion. What I read concerning Okorounmu’s statement was that Igbo Leaders of Thought led by Prof. Nwabueze are complaining about something that may not be in the report submitted by the committee. This is what is implied in Okorounmu’s statement. Some of the recommendations we made for the confab were on equality of zones for representation. We also reached an agreement on the process of selecting members to the confab and on the issue of referendum. There was an agreement

on these issues by the entire southern Nigeria and some parts of the N o r t h .

However, Okorounmu said he didn’t know what the Igbo Leaders of Thought were talking about. He insisted that what they were talking about was not in the report. This is where the monumental confusion comes in. How would Prof. Nwabueze not know what he is talking about? How would he be referring to a non-existent recommendation.

We are waiting to see what happens next; but we sent competent people to the committee. Prof.

Nwabueze himself was nominated into the committee but he turned down the nomination for personal reasons. We then had to replace him with Prof. Anya O. Anya who is also very competent; a holder of the National Merit Award and a solid academic. We also had Dr. George Obiozor. If the recommendations of delegates from southern Nigeria who were in that committee were omitted, then there must be compelling reasons for that to happen. We cannot throw away the baby with the bath water; we can find a way of cont i n u i n g .

What do you think would be the fate of the 2014 Budget now that it appears that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has become the majority party in the National Assembly?

Whether the APC has 100 percent membership in the National Assembly or not, Nigeria must continue. I appeal to the National Assembly not to indulge in too much politics. Do they want to demonstrate that nothing has been achieved by President Jonathan?

If an institution becomes the obstacle to Nigeria’s development, would members of that same body turn around to accuse the President of not developing the country?

The performance of President Jonathan is already far ahead of that of his predecessors. If the National Assembly uses its power to approve or not to approve the budget to make Nigerians suffer and you come back to tell us that the President has not performed and that we should vote for you, we are not fools.

Therefore, the National Assembly should ensure that excessive politicking is not disruptive of the system and the welfare of the people.

We have heard of the 50 questions that were presented to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. We have also heard that the answering of those 50 questions must come before the consideration of the budget. Yes, it is easy to criticize a person or group that has been in power for long. It is easy to find fault with the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. If the Federal Government is starved of funds to provide for the welfare of Nigerians in 2014, we know who to hold responsible. We must not allow people to gain from any negative outcome.

The President must also make the effort to reach an understanding with the National Assembly. The problem the Presidency has with the National Assembly reared its ugly head right from the beginning of President Jonathan’s current tenure in office.

PAGE 52— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

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OME months ago, Jimi Sonuga introduced me to two of his female neighbours. “Do you write a column in a newspaper?” enquired one of them. “Yes,” I replied. “Oh,” she smiled, “you are the man who hates Paul.” “I would not put it that way,” I protested, “I don’t hate anybody.” Then the lady did something interesting.

She came nearer and whispered to me in mocking confidentiality: “Don’t worry about that.

We can’t stand Paul too.”

Why should a Christian lady’s aversion for Paul be confidential? I would never presume to speak for Christian women. Nevertheless, I have discovered that most of them cannot stand Paul. However, their distaste for him is not expressed publicly in Christian circles because the bible is used to browbeat women, and the official Christian doctrine, even against overwhelming evidence to the contrary, is that everything in the bible, including the epistles of Paul, is the word of God. Never mind that Paul’s “word of God” about women is often ignored in churches.

Misogynistic Paul Nowhere did Paul do as much havoc to Christianity as he did on the issue of women. Paul belonged to the mainstream male Jewish cultural tradition that despised women. The apocryphal book of Sirach says: “Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good; it is woman who brings shame and disgrace.”

The Talmud says: “a hundred women are no bet-

PAUL’S MALE-CHAUVINISM AGAINST WOMEN (1) ter than two men.”

Josephus echoes this: “The woman is inferior to the man in every way.”

Without a doubt, Paul is a misogynist who contributes in the bible to this contempt for women.

Speaking with characteristic double-mindedness, Paul says: “there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28). Then he contradicts himself by saying: “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (I Timothy 2: 11-14).

Can this be the word of God? Certainly not!

Only the words of Jesus are the words of God. Indeed, Paul does not even pretend here, as he sometimes does, that he received this bizarre injunction from Jesus. He is simply laying down his own law to be enforced by the authority he confers on himself. Note his words: “I do no permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.” Who does not permit this? It is male-chauvinistic Paul.

God-given authority

The word of Paul about women being silent in the churches has passed away precisely because it is not the word of God What about God? Does he permit a woman to be in authority over a man?

Yes he does. God appointed a woman, Deborah, as judge in Israel.

(Judges 4:4-5). In that capacity, she exercised God-given authority over all Israel; male and female. That authority was not given to Lapidoth, her husband. It was given to Deborah, his wife. Today, some women exercise authority over men in all walks of life. There is absolutely nothing ungodly or unrighteous about this.

God says: “I am the LORD, I do not change.”

(Malachi 3:6). Therefore, we know the same God who gave Deborah authority over men in the Old Testament gives it to women in the New Testament. If the case of Deborah had been a mistake, Jesus would have corrected it. He did not.

Paul’s was expressing his personal prejudices.

This might be of importance to men like Timothy, after all, he claims to be their father. But Paul is not our father, so we don’t have to listen to him. Jesus says: “Do

not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9). Neither is Paul our teacher. Jesus says furthermore: “One is your teacher, the Christ.”

(Matthew 23:10).

Paul’s chauvinism Paul continues his diatribe against women in another scripture, using new arguments to buttress his position. He says: “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.”

(I Corinthians 14:34-38).

You know this is balderdash almost immediately because the same Paul who insists Christians are no longer under the law, now finds it necessary to seek refuge in the law as the authority for this invective. But here, Paul is hoping his Gentile audience is not well-versed in the law, because his statement is an outright lie. Nowhere in the law are women required to keep silent in the synagogue. Paul just

fabricates this out of thin air.

This kind of male chauvinism should not be confused with the word of God. Why would God give women voices and then insist they cannot speak? Paul’s maliciously-phrased injunction means women cannot even sing aloud in church, or read scripture aloud, or pray aloud, for that would violate the commandment of “Emperor Paul” who insists they must be silent.

Paul’s witchcraft When you read between the lines, you realise that Paul anticipates that some would take great exception to his outrageous injunction that women must not speak in church. Therefore, he found it necessary to fabricate additional justifications, the better to ram his jaundiced point of view down the throat of Christians.

He declares: “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. (I Corinthians 14:37-38).

This is nothing short of manipulative witchcraft.

Jesus says we should beware of false prophets.

(Matthew 7:15). But nowhere did he say the

yardstick by which we would determine a true prophet is by his conformity to the capricious words of Paul. Paul is not Jesus, and Jesus does not speak like Paul.

When a woman interrupted Jesus while he was preaching by shouting: “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you,” Jesus did not tell her to keep silent. He merely replied: “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

(Luke 11:27-28).

But Paul adds insult to injury. He says furthermore: “If (women) want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. (I Corinthians 14:35). This is preposterous. Can Paul speak for women?

Who tells him it is shameful for a woman to speak in church? Is it shameful for Paul or is it shameful for women?

This position is even asinine. What about widows and single women who don’t have husbands? Who should they ask at home?

Many Christians insist Paul’s word is the word of God. If so, why is it that no church abides by this word of Paul today?

The word of God is timeless. It is so in the beginning and ever more shall be. Jesus says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.” (Matthew 24:35).

But the word of Paul about women being silent in the churches has passed away precisely because it is not the word of God.

(To Be Continued).

Many Nigerian churches are dying, says Akin-John

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IGERIANBORN re nown church growth consultant, Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John, has dissociated himself from popular belief that there are too many churches in Nigeria, arguing that the country actually needs more vibrant churches that can reach the remotest parts of the nation.

Akin-John also faulted the notion that churches in Nigeria are growing, saying that many of them are in fact on their way to extinction.

Said he: “Everyone believes we have churches in every nook and cranny of the country, but if you do your checks, you will realise that we

*Dr. Francis AkinJohn don’t even have enough churches at all.

“We are being deceived by the few mega churches in town. For every mega church we see, there are at least another 10 closing down,” he contended.

Addressing newsmen

ahead of the international church renewal conference scheduled for February 17-21 with the theme; “Church/ministry turnaround” at Decross Gospel Mission, Agege, Lagos, Akin-John said churches in the country are considered many because they are concentrated in urban centres.

Many of the mega churches, he argued, are dying from within, a situation which he feared is following similar pattern obtainable in Europe.

According to him; “In Europe, there are big churches with no congregation and we are sadly moving there now.

Most of our churches have big structures but many people are turning their backs against the church. They are disgruntled, having been

abused and battered by pastors and church leaders.’’

The church growth expert added: "If we are not careful, our churches

will soon become empty."

He said church leaders must stem the tide by living above board and working at regaining the confidence of the public.

TWOREM holds Prayer Summit

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HE Way of R e c o n c i l i a tion Evangelical Ministries (TWOREM), Lagos, holds its first-in2014 inter-denominational quarterly prayer summit of prophetic and impartation declarations and revelation prayer gathering, preaching of the undiluted word of

God and praises to God…while experiencing the revival of apostolic fireworks and securing spiritual insecticides to overcome the Kingdom of darkness.

Chief host, Rev. Oladipupo FunmiladeJoel said the prayer summit with a theme; “Breaking the hard

yoke”, holds on February 3, at Sekunderin Miracle Prayer Mountain, Iyana Agbala Tuntun, New-Ife Road, Ibadan, Oyo State from 7.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. with Rev. FunmiladeJoel, Prophet Macauley Folorunso among other speakers ministering.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014, PAGE 53

CAF Awards: Between the English betrayal and the French conspiracy

BY MARCELLINUS OFFOR IGIRIGI

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HE above caption of this little piece is an afterthought. I had to change it, even as I still maintained the structure and content of the initial article after reading Patrick Omorodion (Sunday, January 12, 2014) and Paul Bassey (Monday, January 13, 2014) about the same issues bothering on the just concluded Glo-CAF Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. I think Nigeria and Nigerians have a strong case.

However, let me put it in musical perspectives. Coming from the Cameroons, the CAF President is not a novice to popular Francophone music genres which sprout from the famous Makossa and metamorphosed into Soukous, Zengue, Ndombolo and their niece Mapouka. No matter how insane and unacceptable these manners of music may appear before the eyes of other minds, they express other cultures. Thus, the initial heading of my writing had read; “Issa Hayatou: dancing another Ndombolo on Nigeria”.

And, like I said above in-between the lines, though the title got rebaptized, the ideas remain the same. The so-called CAF Awards for the African player that really impacted on the African Football in the year 2013 ran with a lot of Ndombolo. It’s a ‘twerking’ dance style that’s jarring to our sensibilities and must be put to a stop.

Before the deceit got into a start that night, a friend called me from the freezing Dublin, Ireland, and I expressed my fears. CAF had already hatched the eggs, let the swan swim. Nigeria had all kinds of awards dangled like paradisiac apple before her. Best coach (congrats to Keshi), best team, best junior, best this, and best that. Bla! Bla! Bla! In fact, it remained best stadium, best goalpost, and, of course, ‘best open letter’. At the last count, our country went home, beaten again by the dancing Hayatou and his dançarinas. We snouted home with a heavy basket, not just full of awards, but fooled of the award.

Make no mistake about it, the in-thing that night was the best African Footballer of the year 2013. Pure and simple. Just like the best footballer of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Zurich, got the Fifa Ballon d’Or and stole the show penultimate Monday, January 13, 2014 and as Franck Ribéry did with the UEFA later last year. Other awards are simply blood pressure-elevating preliminaries. Make a deep probe, where Nigeria and Nigerians won, were there really any slight competition? No. But enough of this Ndombolo thing! New thieveries ignite memory bank. More than any time in history, the horrible robbery of the 2004 African Player of the year award from Nigeria’s Austin Jay-Jay Okocha was the most painful and a case of barefaced debauchery. I remember vividly. Okocha was

•Mikel

•Yaya Toure

•Issa Hayatou

•Austin Okocha

the Captain of Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers and the name of African football that era. I recall he left for the African Cup of Nations held in Tunisia with a farewell curling rocket of a free kick against Aston Villa.

Subsequently, he was presented with the BBC African Player of the year award. No description is more apropos than the statement of the BBC Press Office of January 7, 2005. Inter alia, it read: Jay-Jay, “The gifted midfielder shone on the African stage during 2004 when he led his country to third place at the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

In a turbulent campaign for Nigeria, during which three prominent players were sent home and the side lost its opening game, Okocha steered his nation towards victory scoring four goals on the way and being voted player of the competition.”

In that Tournament, the talisman scored the 1000th goal of AFCON history and was pivotal in sending perennial foes, the Lions of Cameroons back to the jungle. Hayatou, however,

had other plans. Without qualms of conscience, he singlehandedly took the hosting of the Awards from Cairo in Egypt to the Cameroun Mountains in Yaoundé and handed it over to his junior brother Samuel Eto’o Fils. Eto’o, a polished player and revered in Nigerian more than his native home, knew, in all ramifications, that he took another player’s CAF/MTN award, Okocha’s.

Without iota of doubt, that year belonged to the talisman, the magician Jay-Jay. Since then, like the proverbial disenchanted Jews, I longed for the messianic era when sane-minded, respectful and respectable former players like Kalusha Bwalya would take over CAF and purify it.

I think we in Africa are mixingup things and, thus, a bit confused about the differences between the most famous player, the richest, the most televised, the most fashionable with the African Player of the current year. Often, the results leave the entire population of soccer enthusiasts terribly flummoxed. It is high time for soccer technocrats in Africa to

define, or redefine, the context, content, meaning and relevance of the so-called African Footballer of the Year.

In the year under scrutiny, of all the established stars South American offers the world of soccer, Ronaldinho Gaucho, was crowned the “Rei da América” (King of America) 2013 in a pool conducted among 345 professional journalists of CONMEBOL. That was, because, he ‘impacted’ directly on competitions organized by the Confederation of South American Football in 2013. At his age, he was so brilliant throughout the games and, no doubt, was one of the architects that retained the Cup for Brasil for consecutive years. Against all odds, but spurred-on by sheer determination to succeed and propelled by the deafening supporters’ chants: “Eu acredito!”

(I believe!), Clube Atlético Mineiro was crowned Champion of South America’s apex Club competition, the ‘Copa Libertadores’.

Permit me to stretch this thought

longer. Let the reader, in his passion for soccer idols come along with some critical reasons. In all fairness and clarity, what was Didier Drogba’s name doing in a list of the best African three in 2013? I mean, if we place the wisdom and soccer savoir-faire of CAF and their magus coaches on the balance of justice, the scale of uprightness and equilibrium, what did the famous ‘Deadly Drog’ do for both clubs and country in the past year more than Ahmed Musa, Asamoah Gyan, Vincent Enyeama etc? What parameters were employed to get our beloved Drogba into the last three players that impacted, in all veracity, on the African football in 2013? I said ‘our beloved Drogba’ because I can bet with the angelic hosts that the Nigerian fan base of Chelsea’s Drogba, or Drogba’s Chelsea, is only second to that at the Stanford Bridge in London. So, what happened with CAF’s nomination was pure bias. It’s a personality disorder which blurs barest vision for right judgment. If not bias, then it’s a culpable ignorance. And Africa continues to be lampooned.

Shameful!

Thus, if there be any competition for the best player in Africa, it should have been between Obi Mikel and the Egyptian Mohamed Aboutrika. Mikel stands above Toure in all ramifications, Africanly speaking, even with Chelsea in Europe.

Aboutrika stands tall by his everpresence and consistent dominance of the African Club football via Al-Ahly Sporting Club.

Following from this premise, we can mention Sunday Mba. These are logical facts and not just sentiments. Yaya Toure has admirers in Nigeria more than anywhere else in Africa. I spend time watching Manchester City because he’s on the pitch doing the ‘pukuse’. And I can make boast to say that it’s only Nigerian fans that wear the shirts of, brag, fight and are ready to die for nonNigerian African players scattered all over Europe, especially, the EPL. But as light-weighted as Sunday Mba’s soccer portfolio may seem to African coaches, he scored the goal that drove Toure and his coElephants out of the 2013 AFCON in South Africa and, of course, the winning goal of the Cup; had a strong presence in Rangers’ quest for African club glory and, undoubtedly, the central operating machine of the CHAN Eagles as they qualified Nigeria for the first time in the Championship taking place presently in South Africa.

So, I think we need some catechesis about the meaning of the award – African Best Football Player of the Year. In fact, that CAF even sliced the award into two: the superior one for an “international player” (Europe) and the inferior for a “local player” (Africa), is an indicator to brute stupor. According to our own Fela Anikulapo Kuti, it’s pure “colomentality” - an interminable slavery to Europe.

•Marcellinus Offor Igirigi wrote in from Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil C M Y K

PAGE 54 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2014

NUGA Games: OAU set to dazzle with modern facilities

BY BEN EFE

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THLETES and officials participating in the 24th edition of the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) will be pampered with the stateof-art of the facilities in the event that will run from February 12-22 in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Games the flagship of sports competition amongst the nation’s universities suffered a series of set backs last year due to industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities.

However, according to Obafemi Awolowo University spokesman, Abiodun Olarewaju, the NUGA games are good to go. He added that the OAU invested heavily in its sports complex with the aim of hosting a modern NUGA games and also offer athletes the chance to excel in their events.

“We have a culture of excellence which reflects in everything about Obafemi Awolowo University. We are ready to host the best games ever.

The Myrtha Olympic-size swimming pool is the latest technology and has been duly certified by the International Swimming body (FINA).

The athletics tracks are also a pride to sports in Nigeria. We are looking forward to having the contingents and the athletes to come and have a feel of what we have.

The beauty of the whole thing is that all the facilities for the games are within the complex. We also have accommodation for the expected athletes and officials within the university community,” said Mr. Olarewaju.

He added that OAU with

Theater of Dreams... OAU track arena waiting for the NUGA games gladiators to come and show their prowess. a track record in excellence was very proud that the facilities installed by Vast International Company, met the standards of international sports bodies,

including IAAF and FINA. Vast International Company boss, Mr. Obiora Okoye, said the facilities will put OAU on the map of universities with the best

sports facilities not only in Nigeria, but also in West African sub-region.

“The Myrtha swimming pool is the most advanced technology in pools con-

Victories over Mozambique, South Africa saved our careers — Uzoenyi

BY JACOB AJOM, Cape Town

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AILURE, they say is an orphan.

Clearly, it is not the same with victory; which, rhetorically put, has many parents. And so, the fear of failure, more than anything else, spurred the Super Eagles team B, presently campaigning at the 3rd African Nations Championship to record resounding victories over Mozambique and hosts South Africa after falling 1-2 to eventual group leaders, Mali in their opening game.

The man who masterminded the sudden twist in the fortunes of the team that was already written

off, Uzoenyi Ejike has said those two victories have saved the careers of a whole generation of players, particularly, those of them in the CHAN campaign. ’’If we had crashed out in the group stage, it would have been a big

blow to all of us,’’ Ejike began. ‘’You know our people, when a team fails, they don’t single out any individual player in the event a team fails.

The only thing they remember is that this player or that player was in the team.

NNPC/SHELL CUP... Former Green Eagles captain and Consultant to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on the NNPC/ Shell Cup, Chief Segun Odegbami (left) making a point at the briefing to usher in the 16th edition of the competition in Lagos during the week. With him are Mr Peter Ademu-Eteh (m) and Mrs Yomi Adeleye, both of the SPDC.

’’But after our loss to Mali, I said to myself that this won’t be the end of my international career.

We all must salvage it together and that was the general feeling in camp,’’ adding that there are very good players in the Eagles squad who only lack the required experience.

Nobody can stop us now – Agbim

A

FTER leading the Super Eagles to a dramatic victory over their Moroccan counterparts, Super Eagles Team B captain and first choice goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim has said that the team will now focus on how to win the trophy.

‘’We have beaten one of the best teams in the competition. We will now work hard to ensure we lift the trophy and nobody can stop us at this stage,’’ Agbim said.

Against Morocco, the goal tender said, ‘’they played better in the first

Anambra Sports community charges Governor-elect on continuity

C M Y K

struction. Myrtha in partnership with FINA installed the swimming pools for all the major world championships, including the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2013 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona Spain. It is the same quality and FINA specification that we have in OAU. “The track is the first IAAF to be certified in the whole of the South-west and one of the only four of such in the country. The others are the Abuja National Stadium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the U.J.Esuene Stadium in Calabar. Except the Abuja stadium, the rest were constructed by Vast International Company. I think the facilities will be veritable reference for sports in the country,” Obiora stated.

Anambra State Sports fraternity have charged the newly elected governor of the State Chief Willie Obiano not to deviate from the sports developmental policies of Governor Peter Obi as he prepares to take over the mantle of leadership in March 2014, reports Ojieva Ehiosun The leader of a group know as Sports for All in 2014 in Anambra state in Onitsha North Local Government Area, M a z i , C h i z o b a Odinamba, made this charge at the NEROS Stadium Nanka at the

just concluded youth tournament.

According to him: “ I want to use this medium to thank Governor Peter Obi for his sports d e v e l o p m e n t programme in the state and for the construction of many stadia in the state. We also want to appeal to the newly elected governor Chief Willie Obiano to let continuity be his slogan of development in the state especially in sports.

For the past six years, we have experienced rapid growth in sports in Anambra state.

half while we played in the second half. That is football.’’

Moses fires up Liverpool

S

UPER Eagles strik er, Victor Moses made the most of a rare Liverpool start to help fire the Merseyside club to the last 16 of the FA Cup in England.

The Nigeria international winger opened scoring for Liverpool at AFC Bournemouth after 26 minutes, when he controlled a Luis Suarez cross from the right to fire home from the edge of the box.

It is Moses’ second goal for Liverpool since his loan transfer from Chelsea in the summer.

He was later replaced in the 84th minute, but it was a much better outing all round for the former Wigan Athletic star. Daniel Sturridge doubled Liverpool lead on 61 minutes.

LMC salutes Eagles’ fighting spirit Continued from B/P Morocco couldn’t have come at a better time than now that the foundations for a truly professional league is being consolidated with the on-going reforms to make the clubs to meet global training and administrative standards. ”Thank you for making this bold statement about our League, Thank you for affirming that our league is good and thank you for responding to our charge to be good ambassadors of the league”, Irabor enthused. ”The competitive spirit exhibited by the Eagles in South Africa last night is consistent with the competition in our league which ended in a photo finish in the last season and it is a reflection of the potentials in our league which has been hardly tapped and which some persons have so far not come to terms with”, added Irabor. ”It has never been in doubt that we have the talents and the commitment of players to compete at the highest level and staying focused to come back from a three goals deficit is confirmation that the potentials to be the best in the world is in this league”, Irabor affirmed.

Li Na wins Australian Open

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HINA’s Li Na ban ished the ghosts of two Australian Open final defeats by overpowering Dominika Cibulkova on Saturday to win her second major title and give the grand slam of the Asia-Pacific its first Asian singles champion.

The 31-year-old needed a tiebreak to clinch an error-strewn first set but romped away with the second for a 7-6(3) 6-0 victory to become the oldest woman to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Li was the first Asian player to win a grand slam singles title at the French Open in 2011 and ended her 31-month membership of the “oneslam wonder” club when her Slovakian opponent sent a forehand long after 97 minutes.

Losing the final to Kim Clijsters in 2011 and Victoria Azarenka last year, both times after winning the first set, had only added to Li’s reputation as a formidable player with a major flaw in her temperament.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014 — PAGE 55

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SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 26, 2014

Victory over Morocco is unique — Keshi S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has described the team’s victory over hard fighting Atlas Lions of Morocco as ‘’something unique.’’

Speaking at the post match

CHAN: Nigeria in another great comeback * As Eagles demolish Morocco 4-3 T

HE god of soccer is a Nigerian. This was evident here at Cape Town stadium where the Super Eagles of Nigeria staged the biggest come back from three goals down to defeat the Atlas Lions of Morocco 4-3 in the first quarterfinal match of the 2014 Orange African Nations Championship yesterday.

Three first half goals by the Atlas Lions of Morocco set the tone for an emphatic 3-0 first half humiliation of the Super Eagles.

The coach Stephen Keshi tutored team were a sorry sight as they ran from pillar to post chasing the sleek Moroccans in their stride. From the start, it was evident that the Moroccans meant serious business as they orchestrated several attacks in the Nigerian half. But for the heroics of defence stalwart Azubuike Egwuekwe, the Atlas Lions would have taken the lead earlier than it came.

After a cagy start, the Moroccans stamped their authority in the 27th minute when goalkeeper and captain, Chigozie Agbim stretched to parry a goal bound shot near the post. But it was not for long when Mohsine Moutaoali spotting jersey number 10 struck with a curling volley that beat flat footed Agbim in the 32nd minute.

Gbolahan Salami lost a golden chance to have put Nigeria at par but his effort went off mark. At the Nigerian end, the Moroccans struck again in the

LMC salutes Eagles’ fighting spirit

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•Nwanu

SPEAR HEAD... Super Eagles magic man Ejike Uzoenyi (l) in a hot challenge for the ball with Moroccan Abdelkbir El Ouadi during yesterday’s CAF African Nations Championships quarterfinal match at the Cape Town Stadium in South Africa. Uzoenyi spear-headed a revival for the Eagles from 0-3 down in the first half to win the game 4-3. The Rangers of Enugu player was voted man of the match 36th minute through Iajour Mouhssine who converted a wonderful free kick from just outside the 18 yard box. The Atlas Lions roared again in the 39th minute with a clinical finish from their number 10 man.

The Eagles were more businesslike in the second half as

FA CUP RESULTS Bournemouth Birmingham Bolton Man City S’hampton Southend Sunderland Wigan Steveange

0 1 0 4 2 0 1 2 0

briefing after the Eagles recorded their biggest come back under his tutelage, coach Keshi recalled a similar scenario when as coach of Mali, his wards came back from a four goal deficit to draw level with Angola in a 2010 Nations Cup match.

Said Keshi ‘’it was our first game and we were four goals down and we came back in the second half and drew level 4-4 within 12 minutes. But this one, is something unique. ‘I salute the fighting spirit of my boys and their courage. It is a special game and a special result.’’

The gaffer who was all smiles after the match said at half time he told the players that they were giving the Moroccans too much respect . ‘’I told them to play their game and take the game to the Moroccans. And that they did in the second half as they took the game to their opponents who were also very good.’’

Liverpool Swansea Cardiff Watford Yeovil Hull City Kidderminster Crystal Everton

2 2 1 2 0 2 0 1 4

two quick goals from Ogonna Uzochukwu and Rabiu Ali in the 49th and 55th minutes restored Nigeria’s hope in this encounter.

The Eagles proved that football is played in two halves.

Just as the clock was winding down, a stoppage time harmless volley by Uzoenyi Ejike drew level for the Nigerians who had fought all through the second half to restore their pride.

HE League Management Company (LMC) has commended the resilient spirit of the Super Eagles in overcoming a 3-0 lead to oust Morocco in the quarter finals of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa and said the victory is consistent with the vision to achieve a responsive and sustainable professional league in the country.

Chairman of the LMC, Nduka Irabor who has been in Abuja for the Glo Premier League Pre-season tournament said the performance against the Atlas Lions of •Continues on page 54

CHAN FIXTURES Gabon v Libya 4 pm Ghana v DR Congo 7.30 pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Nigerian state (5) 3. Snarled (7) 7. Of the dark race (5) 8. Respond (5) 9. Consumed (5) 10. Wit (3) 11. Church part (5) 13. Entrance (4) 15. Stitch (3) 17. Deed (4) 19. Hope (6) 21. However (3) 23. Thanks (2) 25. Curve (3) 26. Class (5) 29. Important (5) 30. Before (3) 31. Revise (4) 34. Mate (4) 36. Italian City (4) 39. Push back (5) 40. Heed (4) 42. End of day (5) 43. Exposed (8) 44. Halt (5)

DOWN 1. Rubbish (7) 2. Go in (5) 3. Proceeding (5) 4. Eye-socket (5) 5. Fortune (4) 6. Faculty head (4) 14. Newt (3) 15. Heavenly body (4) 16. Damp (3) 18. Keen (4) 20. Treaty (4) 22. Goad (4) 24. Always (4) 25. Beer (3) 27. Grow old (3) 28. Stray (3) 32. Lucifer (5) 33. Fashion (5) 34. Schemes (5) 37. Leer (4) 38. Otherwise (4) 41. Pup’s cry (3)

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