APC leaders playing games - Kwankwaso

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Funmi Tejuoso joins Lagos speakership race •Says ‘I’m the most qualified’

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FORMER Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and fourth term member of the House, Hon (Mrs) Funmilayo Tejuoso, has formally joined the race for the speakership of the 8th Assembly with a declaration that she is the most qualified for the job.

Addressing a gathering of her colleagues in Lagos, yesterday, Tejuoso said in terms of ranking, experience in legal practice and as a legislator, she is far ahead of others in the race.

“I have been the Deputy Chief Whip and the Deputy Speaker in the hallowed chambers of this House. I am a fourth term legislator in the 8th Assembly scheduled to commence in June 2015 and the only legislator that has served as a principal officer in two capacities particularly as Deputy Speaker among all of us aspiring to be the Speaker,”she said.

“As Deputy Speaker then, I acted as the Speaker at various times. I have equally served in several committees as Chairman, particularly, Finance, Women Affairs, and held memberships in Education, Budget, Judiciary and Works among others.

“At present, I am the most senior legislator in the forthcoming Assembly, having served in those principal positions.”

Tejuoso said as part of her commitment and loyalty to her party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which also qualified her for the Assembly ’s number one seat, she had “served the party in several capacities such as member, Gubernatorial Advisory Committee (GAC), convener of the APC Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates’ Town Hall meeting with Nigerian women, SouthWest, which took place at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Raji

Fashola and several other dignitaries present.”

Beyond this, she added that the seat should naturally be conceded to her by others in the race as the only woman vying for the seat in the spirit of change that APC stands for.

Her words: “I am the only female aspirant and believe that in the spirit of change that our party canvasses, it is only logical and fair that Lagos too enjoys the benefit of a female speaker for the first time in the history of the state, similar feat having been achieved in states like Ogun, Oyo and Ondo.”

From left: Dr Rotimi Agbolagorite, Deputy Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Hon Babajide Bello, Executive Secretary, Mushin Local Government Council; Alhaji Jimoh Olowoidiobi, Baba Oja, Amu Plank Market, Mushin; Mr Qaiser Rashid, Category Manager, Pestcar, Healthcare, Aicare R.B West Africa; and Dr Abimbola Osinowo, State Malaria Elimination Programme Officer, during an enlightenment programme to commemorate the 2015 World Malaria Day. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Jonathan prays for Buhari’s govt •Says leaders must be prepared to make sacrifices Ben Agande, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathanyesterdayprayed for the in-coming administration ofGeneralMuhammaduBuhari.

ThePresidenthasalsoadmonished Nigerian leaders at various levels ofgovernmenttobereadytomake sacrifices for the growth of the nation, stressing that Nigerians

shouldnotallowthechallengesof todaytoweighthemdown Inthesamevein,hechallenged Nigerian past leaders to emulate the sterling qualities of former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; and the former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, both of whom he said have demonstrated unequal

patriotism to their fatherland.

The President spoke at the fifth presidentialprayerbreakfastheld inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

We pray for in-coming administration “We continue to pray for the countryandofcourse,weprayfor the incoming government and alsopray for uswhoareleaving

Two feared killed as suspected drug peddlers, NDLEA clash in Ilorin

By Demola Akinyemi

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HERE was pandemonium in Ilorin, Kwara

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

CONTENTMENT

By Richard Eromonsele

CONTENTMENT is that feeling of satisfaction inherent in a normal humanbeing.To be contented does not mean you will no longer strive for higher goals.It only means while you are aiming higher,you are grateful for the little you have achieved.Contented people realised they brought nothing into this world and they will take nothing out of it.Therefore,they do not kill themselves over anything.Discontented people want to acquire everything.This is why they end up falling into temptation and destroying themselves.The reality is that no matter how much effort you put in,you can never realise all your goals in this world.So,if you want the peace of God,be contented with what you have and where you are in life.

State capital, yesterday, when some officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement A gency (NDLEA) and suspected drug peddlers engaged in gun duel.

Two persons were feared killed and several houses burnt while the crisis lasted.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that trouble started when the NDLEA officers went to an area in Oja-Oba, Ilorin to arrest some suspected drug peddlers. The suspects were said to have resisted arrest, conseq-uent upon which the NDLEA officers

were overpowered.

In the ensued melee, the suspected drug peddlers went on the rampage destroying properties in sight,while the NDLEA officers were said to have run to a nearby police station for safety.

The police post in OjaOba was said to have reinforced security for the NDLEA officers to overpower the miscreants.

In the process, some arrests were made.

Contacted, the spokesman for Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident.

6 held for stealing 500 cows

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

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HE police in KatsinaAla, Benue State have arrested six persons in connection with the alleged stealing of over 500 cows at Tacha village, Yoyo Council ward of the state.

The suspects are said to be in detention and undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, at the Command Headquaters in Makurdi.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the suspects were part of a larger gang that specialised in cow

rustling and kidnapping of persons in that axis of the state.

“They are a gang that is known for cow rustling and kidnapping in Katsina-Ala and environs,”a source said.

“Their last notorious assignment was the rustling of over 500 cattle, early this month at Tacha village, Yoyo Council ward of the state.

“The police are diligently investigating the matter which has led to the recovery of about 21 of the cow at the cattle market and Hausa quarters, all within Katsina-Ala local government area.”

to have the opportunity to serve humanityindifferentphases.

“I remember in 2009 when I visited the Nordic countries, they toldmetheywerecelebrating200 years of peace that has enabled themtodevelop. Nigeriawas49 yearsasanindependentnationin 2009.

“If the Nordic countries, well developed technologically and otherwise, it means crisis really retardsdevelopment.

“So we have challenges, today wearetalkingabout bokoharam in the north, kidnapping in south south, south east. Atimes you are forced to think that the nation is ending,definitelythiscountry will overcome this challenge. That is the reason for these prayers. Just like prayers helped Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, our constant prayers will help us rebuild this nation.

“For me, I have to thank God andNigeriansfortheprivilegeand opportunity given to me this past 16 years. I served my state as a deputygovernorandgovernorfor eight years. From government houseinYenegoaandthenIcame heretothestatehouse,Abujaserved thecountryasvicepresidentanda president. That is a reasonable length of time and so I have to thank God, first because if God did not will it, it won’t have happened.

Emulate Gowon and Shonekan According to the President, despite their tight schedules and theirages, thetwoformerleaders hadalwaysattendedprogrammes intheVillaanytimetheyareinvited.

The support for me within this period, I will continue to do my best as I’m gradually joining

GowonandShonekantoserveour countryindifferentcapacities.“And I must commend Gen. Gowon andChief Shonekan andsome of our other leaders, for the eight yearsIhavebeenasvicepresident andpresident,wheneverwecalled upon them wherever they are in this world, they will try to come. I haveseenthat theyareextremely patriotic and they believe in this country.Ifallourleadersshowthat level of commitment, that level of patriotism, that believe and sincerity of purpose to our nation, then surely we will go where we want to go.

Leadersmustbereadytomake sacrifices “I always say leadership is not all about giving directives, a successfulleadermustbereadyto make sacrifice. Everything about humanlifeasanindividual,achild, if you don’t make the required sacrificeyoucan’tgotowhereyou want to go.

“If you don’t sacrifice your pleasure of course you will know where you’ll end. As parents we knowthekindofsacrificewemake for our children to go to school, to feed.

“To build a family you need sacrifice. So for those who have the privileges of leading at local, state and national levels, at all timesweshouldbereadytomake sacrifice for our nation to grow.

“So as we call for prayers we alsocallonourleadersnotjustlocal governmentchairmen,governors and president’s alone , I’m also calling on leaders at other levels, Ministersmustmaketherequired sacrifice, our lawmakers because theylookatallourlaws,they can create crisis in country if they are notreadytodothingstherightway.

“So all of us in leadership position must be ready to make the sacrifice and with our prayers and with our commitment Nigeria will surely get to where it wantstogo”hesaid.

APC leaders playing games—Kwankwaso continued from Page 1

said signposted the beginning of the end of the party. Therefore, in his view, the continued delay in agreeing on the zoning arrangement for the speakership and Senate presidency is not tidy. The APC leadership, last week, agreed on the zoning of principal offices of the National Assembly, among other political offices at the federal

level, following its emergence as the ruling party ahead of May 29 when the presidentelect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, assumes office, but ran into a stalemate on which zone between the South -West and North -East should produce the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Read full interview on pages pages 36 and 37

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015

•PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER: President Goodluck Jonathan, flanked by a former Head of State and Convener, Nigeria Prays, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (2l); Chairman of the Defunct Interim National Government,Chief Ernest Shonekan (l); the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (3r); his wife, Mrs. Helen Oritsejafor and PastorPaul Enenche of Dunamis International Churches, at the 5th Presidential Breakfast Prayer Meeting, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday.

•Some Christian leaders at the Presidential Breakfast Prayer Meeting at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida

Hiccups, low voter turnout mar polls in Abia, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Taraba

By Our Reporters

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MID hiccups and voter apathy, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, held supplementary governorship poll in Abia, Imo and Taraba states; re-run election in Delta Central Senatorial District as well as supplementary House of Assembly election in Ilejemeje Constituency of Ekiti State.

Cases of malfunctioning Smart Card Readers (SCR) as well as late arrival of election officers and materials characterised the polls in many locations across the five states.

Ishaku wins polling unit in Taraba However, Taraba recorded a huge turn out of voters in some of the 218 voting points across 10 local councils as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Arch. Darius Ishaku, won his polling booth and led in early results.

At Kofan Serki I in Tarakum Local Council, he scored 219 votes while Senator Aisha Jumai Arhasan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got three votes.

At Kofan Serki II, the PDP candidate polled 369 votes while Arhasan got four.

Commissioners’ presence raises dust in Jalingo However, there was near-commotion at Mohammed Primary School polling unit in Jalingo, the state capital, when two commissioners were sighted at a polling unit.

Trouble started when a chieftain of the APC asked the commissioners to leave because they were not registered voters at the polling unit.

This led to verbal exchange between PDP and APC supporters. The intervention of security personnel on ground prevented the matter from escalating.

The APC supporters alleged that the commissioners were trying to induce voters with money.

But one of the commissioners challenged those accusing him of going to the polling unit with money to induce voters to come clean with evidence to back their claim.

He explained that as a commissioner from Jalingo I constituency where the run-off was taking place, he only went there to ensure that everything went on well.

In Yelwa II Polling Unit in Chanchanji Ward of Takum local government, a party chieftain, suspected to be a member of the APC, accompanied by some thugs, invaded the polling unit insisting that his supporters from other polling units must cast their votes.

This development forced INEC officials to postpone accreditation until police restored normalcy.

...Poor turnout in Ekiti In Ekiti, the Ilejemeje C o n s t i t u e n c y supplementary election to elect a House of Assembly member witnessed a low turn of voters and heavy presence of security personnel.

The election was generally peaceful contrary to the scenario that played out on April 11, when the poll was cancelled in 22

units due to violence.

The leading contender in the election is PDP’s Mrs. Cecelia Dada, who is challenging the incumbent, Hon Segun Erinle, of the APC. To ensure adequate security, Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr Joshua Ibine, deployed a large number of policemen to the 22 units in Eda Oniyo, Iludun and Iye Ekiti, headquarters of the council, where the election took place.

The police mounted checkpoints at Ewu Ekiti, Ijesa Modu, Iludun and Ipere Ekiti, to prevent commuters and road users from entering the local council from Oye, Ido/Osi and Moba local governments as well as those travelling to Kwara State from entering the constituency.

There were also large contingents of soldiers and men and officers of the Department of State Service (DSS), who patrolled the council to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The result of the election was being expected at press time.

Voter apathy in Delta

…Travellers trapped on East/West Road There was also voter apathy in Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State. Those travelling on the ever busy East/West Road were trapped in traffic gridlock for several hours on account of the nomovement order enforced by men of the Military Joint Task Force.

The election was generally peaceful at polling units in Ughelli North, Sapele, Udu, Okpe, Ethiope East and parts of Ughelli South Local Government.

Accreditation began at the polling units at about

9 am. However, the movement restriction order was not fully enforced in some communities.

At the Ughelli main market, traders were seen displaying their wares.

Though voting was peaceful in many areas visited, some voters at Abraka Unit 7 Ward 2 could not cast their votes after they were told that voting had closed with result collation in progress at about 1:15pm.

At Units 1 and 2 of Oviore Ward 5, the Labour Party agent, Mr Philip Ogodo, alleged that voters were induced by a political party with money.

There were also reported cases of multiple thumb printing at some units in the ward.

Speaking with newsmen after he was accredited at his Eku Ward 9, Unit 16, House of Assembly candidate of the PDP in the Ethiope East Constituency, Chief Authur Akpowowo, noted that the turnout was not as high as he expected, saying “there is voter apathy.’’

Chief Fred Majemite, Political Adviser (Delta Central) to Delta State Governor, applauded the peaceful conduct of the election and expressed optimism that the PDP will win.

Former Transition Committee Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area, Chief Sunday Onoriode, blamed the low turnout on the cancellation of the last senatorial election result which he said did not go down well with voters.

Speaking in the same vein, a PDP chieftain in the area, Chief Anthony Onoharigho, said the exercise was peaceful, adding that the PDP would win the election.

The President General of Ugono-Orogun Community, Mr Emoemu Oriog-

be, described the exercise as peaceful and expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters.

Low turn out in Abia Reports from Abia claimed voter apathy in the 75 polling units in Aba North and Aba South local councils.

The announcement made by the Transition Committee Chairman, Chief Chimaobi Ebesike, that markets in the city would open for business while residents who had nothing to do with the election were free to go about their normal businesses, obviously, affected voter turnout.

At 11:30a.m., turnout at most of the polling units visited at Constitution Crescent Primary School, Aba South local government was poor. At Ward 12, Unit 9, only 73 voters were accredited out of the 702 registered at the unit. Voters were later seen waiting for voting to commence.

The situation was the same at Industrial Ward 2, Onyeador Close Polling Unit where 107 voters had been accredited as at 1pm.

At Industrial Ward 2, Unit 20, located at Bata Junction, the Presiding Officer, Victoria Umoh, said 46 voters were accredited while 40 voted.

She declared the result as follows; PDP 6, APGA 34.

Umoh said her unit didn’t encounter any problem with the SCR and commended parties agents for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

At Igwebuike Ward 7, the Presiding Officer for Unit 11 announced that PDP scored 54 votes to APGA’s 46. It was the same situation in Unit 10 where PDP defeated APGA by 73 to 72 votes.

A PDP agent, Joshua

Mbagwu, commended the INEC for the early distribution of electoral materials to the two polling units located at Ohabiam Health Centre along Port Harcourt Road. The tranquility in the area was almost breached when PDP agents protested the action of a suspected party agent who allegedly stormed the polling unit with recharge cards to woo voters but he was quickly whisked away by policemen.

INEC ad-hoc staff, man arrested in Imo In spite of early morning rain in parts of Imo State, especially in Owerri municipality, the supplementary poll was held as scheduled.

At Umuduru, Isiala Mbano, voters came out in large numbers. There was also adequate security while SCRs functioned properly and voting started on schedule.

One INEC ad-hoc staff was reportedly arrested at Oru East by the REC for alleged electoral irregularity. It was also gathered that a man, who posed as an INEC ad-hoc staff but could not properly explain himself to security personnel, was whisked away for questioning.

At Umucheke Hall, Amaifeke, Orlu local government area, the country home of former Governor Achike Udenwa, experienced hiccups. The SCRs malfunctioned, forcing the exercise to be put on hold, while voters waited for INEC to replace the malfunctioning machines. The story was the same at Power Line Primary School, Omuma, Oru East local council area. At the time Sunday Vanguard left the area, accreditation was yet to begin, especially as INEC said there would be no manual accreditation.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015 — PAGE 7

BIRTHDAY: L-R: Erelu Ojuolape Ojora; Mrs Ebun Kehinde, mother of the celebrant, Mr Seye Kehinde; and his wife, cutting the birthday cake while the gov. of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle, presides during Seye Kehinde’s 50th birthday in Lagos. Photo by Diran Oshe

GE CUSTOMER FORUM: L-r: Chude Jideonwo, panelist; Patricia Obozuwa, Director, Communications, General Electric (GE), sub-Saharan Africa; Toni Kan, moderator; and Tolu Ogunlesi, panelist, at the GE Customer Forum on ‘Tweetdreams to online nightmares: Crisis management in the age of social media’, which took place at Southern Sun Ikoyi, Lagos.

2 soldiers dead as explosion rocks barrack in Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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WO soldiers, yesterday, lost their lives while one was injured in an explosion at the armoury section of the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, 3rd Armored Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba in Bassa local government area of Plateau State.

The barrack was thrown into confusion as the incident occurred around 11:21am when some

expired ammunition were being separated from the functional ones by the soldiers. The explosion fuelled rumour in the state that terrorists had attacked the barrack.

The exercise was said to have been carried out based on the directive from the Army headquarters that all expired ammunition be destroyed by Monday, April 27.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Texas Chukwu, in statement

confirmed the explosion and the deaths but debunked the insinuation that insurgents exploded bombs in the canton-ment.

“The cantonment was not under attack nor attacked

by insurgents; the explosion heard in the cantonment was from an accident that occurred while troops authorized to destroy unserviceable ammunition were

transporting them.

“Some of the unserviceable ammunition exploded in the process of being moved to the demolition site. The explosion did not affect the

cantonment or neighboringcommunities, unfortunately two soldiers lost their lives and one sustained injuries.

Normalcy has since returned to the area.”

Don’t merge NDDC with ministry, N/Delta youths warn Buhari region have warned the in- parastatal under the Ministry intimidation of the electorate in

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau

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OUTHS of the oil producing Niger Delta

coming administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari against reducing the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to a

of Niger Delta Affairs.

The warning came against the backdrop of the alleged plan by the next government to implement the recommendations of the Steve Oransaye Committee Report on the rationalization and merger of some Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. Rising from a meeting in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend, a coalition, comprising 26 youth and exmilitant groups under the aegis South- South Mandate, vowed to resist any move that could impede the rapid transformation of the region currently being undertaken by the NNDC. According to the youths, in a communiqué signed by the Chief Convener, Mr. Victor Akpe, making the NDDC a parastatal under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs would mean bogging the commission’s projects down with civil service bureaucracy.

“In as much as we grudgingly decided to allow peace to reign after we were dubiously and maliciously rigged out of the presidency, ourreluctantacceptanceofthat faulty March 28, 2015 electoral abracadabra over a sitting President from Niger Delta, a charade never recorded in the history of electoral contest in Nigeria, should not be misconstrued as capitulation by the youth of Niger Delta, now galvanized under the South-south Mandate, SSM,”the youths said.

“Whilewearestillevaluating the import of March 28, 2015 presidential poll robbery through a well-orchestrated regional gang-up, procedural compromise and massive

some parts of the country, we shall vehemently resist further humiliation and annihilation of our people”. The youths noted in the communiqué which was made available to newsmen in Abuja, that as the closest government interventionist agency to the poor and neglected people of the Niger Delta region, they would not tolerate any attempt to further suffocate the NDDC since it remained the only government agency that has direct impact on the oil bearing communities.

“NigerDeltansshallnolonger allow their interest to be subjugated and trampled upon by the Federal Government of Nigeria under whatever guise”, they added.

They contended that if part of the reasons for the planned merger was based on some frivolous complaints of nonperformance against the agency by some disgruntled individuals, the Federal Government should be held responsible for its refusal to release over N700billion statutory funds owed the agency which would have gone a long way in executing its projects and programmes.

While emphasizing that the NDDC must be allowed to function independently under the presidency as presently constituted and be allowed to continuetodrawitsfundingfrom thecurrentFirst-Linecharge,the youths warned that they neither issue threats without a cause, nor strike without exhausting all possiblechannelsofconsultation and seeking redress. Rather than merge the commission with the ministry, the youths urged the incoming Buhari adminis-tration to release the entire N700 billion being owed it and ensure prompt release of its funds, subsequently.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015

VIEWPOINT

8th Senate Presidency: A spade caller’s view

By Jimmy T. Ajim VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Who the cap fits to lead the upper chamber

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he 8th National As sembly will be inaugurated in June. The election of the Senate President in the upper chamber will take the centre stage, ditto for the House of Representatives’ speakership.

The Senate President has now been zoned to the North Central by the new majority party, APC. The zoning has merit given that General Buhari is from the North, while Professor Oshinbajo is from the West.

The South East and South-South are presumably out of the power game since they did not ‘deliver’ APC in their regions and their parties are already in the minority.

Zoning the Senate President to the North Central has brought to the fore the names of

George Akume (Benue State), Bukola Saraki (Kwara State) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa State).

There is also the clamour from the North East for Senator Danjuma Goje to vie for the position on the premise that that zone has never produced the Senate President from inception. Senator Lawan Ahmad from Yobe State is equally rumoured to be interested.

Let us x-ray the candidates for the job and see who appears to be best suited.

Saraki is a two-term governor of Kwara State and a ranking senator.

He has accumulated experience in politics having been sufficiently nurtured by his late father, Dr Olusola Saraki. He is eminently qualified to assume the Senate presidency. However, his undoing is the allegation that he has unresolved issues with the EFCC on Societe Generale Bank. Again, on

Akume’s academic qualifications with eight years of distilled experience as governor, and now Minority Leader, is capable of bringing this creative wealth of experience to bear in steering the ship of the senate as President religious grounds, one may posit that as a Muslim like GMB, it may be out of place to have him occupy the seat just like what happened when Senator Ahmed Tinubu was touted as GMB’s running mate in the just concluded elections. The anti-corruption mantra of the in-coming regime may not tolerate leaders with EFCC issues spangled on their necks.

Adamu is also a twoterm governor of Nasarawa State, and a ranking senator like Saraki.

He is equally qualified to

head the Senate given his vast experience in politics. His let-down is also the alleged issues he has with the EFCC similar to Saraki. Additionally, he is a Muslim like GMB which the combination may not strike federal character equilibrium on the religious pedestal. Similarly, GMB and his party may frown at the EFCC smeared toga on Adamu until he is cleared.

Akume, just like the two senators discussed above, served two terms as governor of Benue State, and is a ranking senator as well as the Minority Leader in the current senate.

Akume contributed positively to the merger of CPC and ACN culminating in the birth of APC. He almost singlehandedly delivered Benue to APC in the last presidential and gubernatorial elections.

Akume, for short, is clearly a step ahead of

Saraki and Adamu from the North Central in selecting who becomes the next Senate President.

As the Minority Leader, he established the 7th Senate with quality and ideological opposition to the chagrin but admiration of his party, APC. His colleagues see him as a unifying fulcrum for therevival of progressive politics in the Senate, thus snowballing into the unprecedented victory in the March 28 and April 11 polls for his party.

Akume’s academic qualifications with eight years of distilled experience as governor, and now Minority Leader, is capable of bringing this creative wealth of experience to bear in steering the ship of the senate as President, as well as tackling the hydraheaded monster called ‘corruption’ in tandem with the philosophy of the GMB government.

Akume has neither

EFCC nor ICPC issues established against him to date.

He is a Christian and should therefore be accepted to lead the senate as against Saraki and Adamu if we are to bring in, yet again the issue of religion. A good balance would place President Buhari-Muslim and Akume-Christian.

Some critics opine that since the Senate President, David Mark, is from Benue State like Akume, it will be unfair to put the latter’s name forward to succeed Mark.

But Mark and Akume are from different political parties.

As a self-opinionated spade-caller and an incurable patriot of my country,Nigeria, it is my considered view that Akume, by God’s grace, be given the mandate to lead the 8th Senate as President. *Ajim is resident in London.

GE hosts social media forum for customers T

he role of social media in influencing corporate brand and reputation management took the centre stage recently during a Customer Engagement Forum organised by General Electric at the Southern Sun hotel, Ikoyi Lagos.

The event had lawyer, author and internet entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo alongside award winning Journalist, poet and social media influencer, Tolu Ogunlesi as panelists with award winning writer and PR informal but intellectually stimulating environment.

Present at the occasion were clients and partners drawn from the power,

health, hospitality and financial services sectors like Heirs Holdings, Clarke Energy, Reddington Hospital, Transcorp, Discovery Energy, Century Power, Dangote, Phillips, Zenith and Fidelity. The media was also well represented.

Chude Jideonwo who is founder and publisher of ynaija.com called on communications practitioners to develop a social media strategy that aligns with their business needs. “There is no onesize–fits-all strategy for respective organisations as every organisation has got peculiarities with respect to

how to engage in social media”. Chude however advised against completely ignoring social media even when it appears that the organisation can do without social media.

On his part Tolu Ogunlesi, who is a two time winner of the CNN African journalist prize, said while social media aids and simplifies the work of the communicator and public Relations practitioner, it also demands humility because the rules have changed with the balance of power now tilted in favour of bloggers and online publishers.

Delta cannot be excluded from wind of change – Emetitiri

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chieftain of All Pro g r e s s i v e s Congress,APC, Chief Isaac Emetitiri, has declared that Delta State cannot be excluded from the general wind of change sweeping across the country as epitomized by the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

The APC chieftain who addressed journalists in Warri, reaffirmed that the election in Delta State was marred by irregularities, stuffing of ballot boxes and

thumb printing, especially in the riverine areas of Warri North, Warri South West, Bomadi, Burutu and the entire Delta North senatorial district where the card readers were generally not used.

While describing the governorship and House of Assembly elections as fraudulent, he stressed that money were allegedly given to eligible voters who have no choice but voted against their wish which made the exercise not to be

credible.

He accused INECof being biased by working for the PDP since the body refused to publish the names and numbers of those who have collected their PVCs which was one of the ways the election was allegedly rigged.

He called on the chairman of INEC cancel both the Delta State governorship and state House of Assembly elections since they were marred by irregularities..

*CRUSHED BY ELECTRIC POLES, TRANSFORMER: A car after the havoc wreaked by a stormy rain on Jakande Estate, Isolo-Ijegun Road, Lagos, on Friday night. No life was lost in the incident.

A M B O D E ENDORSEMENT: The National CoOrdinator, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Fans Club, Ven. (Major) FolaKaiyewu, with members at Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode endorsement by the Christian Welfare Initiative at the Lagos State Television Blue Roof Events Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 9

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PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

Probe of NNPC from 1999 inevitable

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he report by E v e r e s t Amaefule, went on to state that “The World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Mr Francisco Ferreira, said looking into financial records of the country, especially allegations of corruption at the NNPC, would check impunity and build public institutions in the future”. While thanking Ferreira for his observations, it must be stated that Buhari does not really need the World Bank or any external organization before probing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and others. He has our mandate to do so.

However, before becoming overwhelmed with hunting down too many crooks, let me kindly suggest that the in-coming President should beam the search

light on two organizations first – the NNPC and the Nigerian Ports Authority. The others can wait. Let me quickly provide the reasons for this focus of attention – starting with NNPC. “$2 billion [oil] block sold at $5 million.”

PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED p 290".

The North trusted Obasanjo in 1998, that was why the Gang of Four – Generals IBB, Danjuma, Gusau and Abubakar – decided to release Obasanjo from prison, rehabilitate him and sponsor him for President under the PDP in 1998. Read Chapter 2.

The Fourth Republic was corrupted from the first day. But, characteristic of OBJ, he betrayed all the rest once he got into office.

Instead of ensuring even distribution of the dividends of democracy, Obasanjo brought in the Garrison concept; under which a few benefited. It has remained the same till today.

In Chapter 10, which

Cock crows at dawn, roll on May 29 The strongest of all warriors are these two - Time and Patience." —Leo Tolstoy T is good to talk and also, talk can often be cheap. So what can we do to ensure that words are transmuted into action?

I mentioned in the last couple of weeks that Nigerians have to have a conversation about tribalism in particular, the hostilities between tribes and long held views that affects the way we see each other and how it stops us from moving forward as one people. In all together forward on April 12, 2015, I made mention of the South South, East and North divide and in particular, what the Oba of Lagos said, as well as Rochas Okorocha to the gathering of Igbo heads in Owerri.

I do believe as Nigerians, we need to have that conversation about why we don't get along and why we continue to rehash old grounds. I was expecting some reactions and that is exactly what I got. Permit me to share one of

I

numerous reactions with you. This is from Erwin: "It seems you agree with all the rubbish Rochas Okorocha said. What he should tell you is what he has done to improve Imo State. It is because of useless governors like him that Igbo people migrate out of the East to other unfriendly parts of Nigeria.

His rule has been about one controversy or another. And his fight against Peter Obi for political influence even saw him fighting over seating positions at an event. His rascality has done much to damage South East and South South regional and economic cooperation. He made a public show over giving a toy computer to students instead of real computers.

The South East doesn't need people like Okorocha and certainly doesn't need the APC. We don't need to produce the President of the country or the Senate to advance. People who still think like that don't belong to a modern society".

I replied:

was titled “How the NNPC was captured”, there are sufficient revelations (but only a small part of the available evidence) that the Ministry of Petroleum, which was

,

“World Bank backs Buhari to probe NNPC, others”.

PUNCH, Tuesday, April 14, 2015, p 32.

must support the call for a full scale probe. The infinitely self-righteous Obasanjo, unknown to most members of his own party, ran a most d i s r e p u t a b l e organization called NNPC. Allied to the scam at the NNPC was the Petroleum Development Trust Fund, PDTF, scam detailed in Chapter 6 of the same book.

According to my estimates, close to N8 trillion was already unaccounted for by the time Obasanjo was forced to go home in 2007. The desperation for Third term was, in my opinion, based on the need to cover the tracks.

The nation’s current debt stock and the accountability gap are inextricably linked. Various individuals in top government positions have “misappropriated” or “mismanaged” more funds than our total debt

,

under the Presidency from 1999 to 2006, was the hub of PDP’s corruption racket. The example cited above from page 290 of that book, merely underlines the impunity with which our funds were recklessly “mismanaged” under the former President.

Anybody reading pages 272 to 295 (and there is more where that came from in my archives) and who wants justice done to the people of Nigeria,

Plan B was to install puppets as successors and hope none would probe the atrocities.

OBJ’s latest theatrics (tearing up party card, blasting Jonathan, supporting Buhari etc) are, to me, nothing more that the clever tricks of somebody who is still hoping that nobody will probe our finances from 1999 to 2007. Buhari must ensure that these tricks fail. Nigerians want full accountability

Dear Erwin, Thank you for your email.

Your open gambit is very much combative, never the less, I take it that you are passionate about the subject matter but you cannot better an argument this way. I did not say that I agree with Okorocha, but what I said is that there is need for a conversation.

That is the conversation we are having now. Actually, I wrote about the melee he had with Obi, on who is the senior and who sits where

emigrate in a country where you are a citizen.

Nigeria is for all Nigerians and the last time I looked, Igbo are all over. We have got to stop this mind-set; that we belong to a place and then make ourselves foreigners in another place.

You have your opinion and I have mine and you do not have to agree with me.

Thank you for writing to me.

Kind Regards, Denrele Animasaun Erwin's response:

The country suddenly went quiet immediately after the results of the elections, the spin doctors were nowhere to be found and we sought them here and everywhere and all went aground at an event and who should sit where. What I also said, that people should not follow their leaders slavishly and people have the right to vote for whoever they want.

It is a shame you cherrypick on one aspect you disagreed with, albeit inaccurately, so you can better your conviction. This is not a fight, this is about having a dialogue so that we can bury the hatchet and our children's generation do not get drawn into this push and pull debacle. I disagree with you when you say that Igbo have to migrate out of the East to other unfriendly parts of the country. You cannot

"Well, you started off your article doffing your hat to Mr. Okorocha. And several parts of that article sounds like you agree with his statements. I did not cherrypick. If I sounded combative towards you, I apologize. You are well within your rights to support APC. But I contend that not supporting or voting for APC doesn't make anyone "tribally partisan". Buhari is better than Jonathan in terms of his attitude towards corruption, but I don't think he is a suitable democratic president of a religiously plural country. He has made divisive statements before.

for 1999 to 2007; then 2007 to 2010 (under Yar ’Adua) and finally from 2010 to 2015.The probe must start from the beginning not from Jonathan.

Each and every time Obasanjo was called to account for his misdeeds, he bluffed his way out by intimidating the PDPcontrolled National Assembly, NASS. Even, after his departure and when an inquiry was conducted into the funds mismanaged on the Power Project, he still continued to intimidate the NASS. Till today Nigerians have no idea what happened to the $13-16 billion reportedly spent on the power project under Obasanjo.

All we know that there has not been any significant progress commensurate with the expenditure.

Thank God, a new NASS, controlled by another political party is in place. Nigerians demand and deserve answers regarding how so many trillions of naira vanished with so little to show for them in sixteen years of PDP rule – half of it from 1999 to 2007. If a list should ever be released of those who under-developed Nigeria in the 21 st centur y, and the new Millennium, our leaders names in that period should top the list.

If approximately N8 trillion was the accountability gap by 2007, and it is now closer to the N30 trillion which Professor Soludo recently And while the conversation should be continued, Okorocha is the wrong person to lead it. He had corruption cases to answer. And migration also applies within country. We hear of Chinese migrants within China, migrating from the rural parts of China to the urban parts.

You misinterpreted my statement. Many other parts that Igbo people migrate to in Nigeria ARE unfriendly. That is a fact.

Thanks for your reply. And I do enjoy your articles.

Like I said, it is good to talk.

Spin doctors and the organ grinders

The country suddenly went quiet immediately after the results of the elections, the spin doctors were nowhere to be found and we sought them here and everywhere and all went aground. Well, until now. The dust have settled and the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, Abati is out to defend the allegations that the big honcho and his office spent 2 trillion Naira on the 2015 general elections.

Holding court with journalists, he described the alleged two trillion Naira spent running the last election and that a Committee of Five had been set up by the President to conduct an audit of how the funds were disbursed by party members and state officials as "mischievous, false and embarrassing".

He would say that, won't

proposed before he was silenced, part of the increase, of approximately N22 trillion, represents a hang-over from the misrule. How much is difficult to estimate without a proper investigation into major aspects of government from 1999 to 2015. A good deal of the desperation to hang unto power, at all costs, is associated with the fear of revelations which might be made after office holders leave the scene.

The nation’s current debt stock and the accountability gap are inextricably linked.

Various individuals in top government positions have “misappropriated” or “mismanaged” more funds than our total debt.

It would make no sense to go looking for money to pay our debts when our own citizens are sitting on funds stolen from our national purse.

A probe is inevitable.

There are more revelations to follow…

A TALE OF TWO DEFECTORS Back in August last year when Femi FaniKayode and Ribadu announced their defection from APC to PDP, I wrote a two part series likening them to two political comedians.

The APC gained by their departure; the PDP made a ruinous bargain by accepting them.

Ok, even my severest critics must agree that I was right this time. he? He is paid to do exactly that. But the fact is, do the nation believe him? Try as he may deny that the President had not set up any committee, nor that the Presidency (true be told, who exactly is the presidency?) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) used state funds, or spent two trillion Naira during the campaigns. So what is he really saying that the president and his wise men used the said amount or they did not? As far as the court crier is concerned, it is spurious to suggest that the annual federal budget of four Trillion Naira, was spent on electioneering alone.

Methinks the man protests too much.

So he argued that: "With FAAC having to do everything possible every month to ensure disbursements and with the Federal Government heavily committed to the war against terror in the North East, where is the alleged two trillion Naira from the Federal purse? So has the war on terror been a success?

And he said further: "President Jonathan and the People's Democratic Party conducted the 2015 elections in strict accordance with the rule of law. The suggestion of any unlawful conduct cannot be sustained under any circumstances" somehow, this Pinocchio's nose is getting longer by the spin and it is difficult to believe what this man drivel and eventually the truth will out.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 11

Enter, Solomon Arase: The Real Police sniff the best news of the day, the public couldn’t bother who gathered the news; what mattered was how it was presented.

Our premise is that except IGPs are vicariously liable for the contributory negligence of the police, the spate of violence in public events like elections will not abate

Viewers are usually attracted to watching only good looking broadcasters.

Anything else would put off a viewer making it obvious that the most important attribute of an ‘on-air ’ broadcaster is his appearance; it is the first element a viewer sees in a telecast because first impressions matter. Many other businesses followed the same pattern.

I used to wonder why the Nigeria police as an institution does not believe in the efficacy of the slogan

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, , 08116759758

The fallacies of delusional negative triumphalism (3)

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ut expediency is not always right or else any anti-corruption measure, no matter how dehumanising and inhumane, would be justified.

In the case we are discussing, Umaru Dikko could have died at some point in the perilous journey if his kidnappers had succeeded in their mission.

Remember, there is no guarantee that brutal military methods, including lengthy prison terms, will eliminate corruption. The fact that corruption in China is worsening is a clear warning that extremely harsh punishments without imaginative preventive measures may actually lead to more creative methods of graft. As I have always argued, corruption is so sophisticated now because of innovations in information and telecommunication technologies. Consequently, what is needed most are smart institutions manned by competent people who can disrupt the processes of corruption before they mature, with the capability of tracing the labyrinthine movement of stolen public funds and assets whenever corruption is detected.

In the euphoria following Gen. Buhari's victory, Buharimaniacs tend to ignore serious flaws in INEC's conduct of the election. First, the pattern of distributing the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) was pre-arranged in

following the many policemen in our country that do not seem to have police presence with some of them getting to the very

favour of the North, as usual based on manipulated census figures which creates the misleading impression that the arid and semi-arid parts of Northern Nigeria are more populous than Southern Nigeria. Second, the same favouritism for the North was evident in media reports that conflict areas of the Northeast had a higher percentage of PVC collection than most states in the South. And what about the "fact" that Gen. Buhari got 1,903,999 votes in Kano state alone, whereas the total votes cast in the entire Southeast were 2,663,154? In my opinion, both the pattern of PVC distribution and collection and results declared

by Prof. Jega were programmed to favour Gen. Buhari ab initio. Some states, particularly in the South, witnessed significant suppression in the number of voters inspite of high level of interest, whereas Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna recorded incredible number of voters. Buharimaniacs would point to Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states where a sizeable number of the electorate voted for President Jonathan. But the facts of geography undermine the demographic anomaly of a more populous North, including segmentation into different age categories. At any rate, it is well known that the phenomenon of under-age voting is more prevalent in the North than in the South.

Therefore, when in his first

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top. Why does our country have so many pot-bellied, short and stumpy policemen? Can such operatives radiate confidence in anyone let alone scare robbers and deviants? A few days back I saw at a check-point, in police uniform, Alex my former house-help who had to leave us because he was too lazy for any assignment. Alex, a policeman? I wondered aloud. When I asked him why he joined such a demanding and risky job, speech after being declared winner, Gen. Buhari claimed "Nigerians have spoken," he should realise that his victory is not without blemish, and that there are legitimate grounds for contesting it in court if President Jonathan had wanted to do so.

With respect to Gen. Buhari's pledge to deliver on his election promises, the rational response is to keep one's fingers crossed, although there are some pledges which he cannot fulfill even in four years. For example, a 100 level student of economics knows that given the state of Nigeria's economy, the incoming administration cannot achieve dollar-naira parity, increase the price of oil unilaterally and pay N5000 each to 20 million poor Nigerians. Thus, Gen. Buhari would soon realise, after being sworn in as President, that the highfalutin and flowery rhetoric of election campaigns is quite different from the difficult task of providing good governance for Nigerians.

Buharimaniacs who romanticise his purported leadership qualities ignore the fact that Gen. Buhari would need time to adapt and adjust to the slow and cumbersome processes of democratic governance. Unfortunately, no one can say for sure how fast or how well he would be able to do that. His antecedents both as military dictator and chairman of PTF do not inspire confidence in some Nigerians who believe, correctly, that his ideas about economic management, socio-political engineering and nation building are antiquated.

are never arrested and punished just as the police are never made to account for their collusion and or failure to prevent such ugly incidents. Whether or not Arase can make a difference is not as important as the bar he has set for the nation to assess the leadership of the police from now on. Our premise is that except IGPs are vicariously liable for the contributory negligence of the police, the spate of violence in public events like elections will not abate.

The immediate past IGP Suleiman Abba, was so patently partisan in favour of the ruling party for whatever consideration that it would have been immoral of him to chastise any materially-oriented policemen. How else can anyone explain the role he played in the famous siege on the House of Representatives, when Speaker Tambuwal defected from one party to the other? It was IGP Abba who decided that the man’s tenure as Speaker was over; he could neither wait for legislators who appointed the Speaker to remove him nor would he allow the judiciary to make any pronouncement before enforcing his police-made law. Again, as if Abba wanted to take the nation back to the days of the ‘NPN Police’ he sought to drive away voters from the voting centres after voting by holding that such persons could be guilty of loitering! In earnest, the goal of Abba’s political

disposition was inexplicable. Whatever made him to so act and for whatever reason he was sacked cannot interest any analyst considering that more than anything else, brazen impunity accounts for failed elections in Nigeria. Even Alex who is in the police only for love of uniform ought to be ashamed that notorious flash points like Rivers and Akwa Ibom repeated their unending gory tales at both the federal elections of March 28 and those of the states on April 11. Where was the police?

Thus, Arase has an obligation to act differently more so as every IGP in the last decade has always attracted his strategic thinking expertise serving as Principal Staff Officer to three former IGP’s - Tafa Balogun, Mike Okiro and Sunday Ehindero. He is therefore the real police coming into office with a rich background of intelligence gathering experience; the best term in policing best practices in this age of technology. As Assistant IGP he was integrated into the police management team; as Deputy IGP, Arase was again left to head the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

With a Bachelor’s degree in political science and law as well as a Masters in law and strategic studies, the nation could not have picked a better material than Arase for the job of IGP. But will he be allowed to work?

Buhari, advised Nigerians to forget the past and move on!

The respected playwright and literally icon may have reasons for swallowing his own vomit at this time, but if it is based merely on Buhari's claim that he is now a democrat, then Soyinka can be legitimately accused of being too optimistic. Anyway, the deliberate amnesia he recommended is not in Buhari's interest. Gen.

believe that it is unwise for the citizens to forget the antecedents of those aspiring to rule them, because it is only through a thorough and objective assessment of the past conduct and activities of prospective public office holders that rational choices can be made during elections.

In other words, since the past is organically connected to the present and the present to the future, it is of crucial importance that detailed information about those contesting for elective positions must be made public to reduce the possibility of kakistocracy.

establishment that depend too much on federal government's patronage, the Igbo have proved beyond reasonable doubt that they can survive and thrive anywhere as long as there is enabling environment for them to engage in legitimate transactions. So, even if the Igbo are excluded from the topmost political power equation because they voted for Jonathan, the more critical issue is whether the governors and members of the legislature in South-eastern states can rise to the occasion and provide world class governance for the people. Of course, Ndigbo must continuously demand what is due to them from the federal government. Moreover, they must join with other Nigerians to work for restructuring of the skewed federation so that more fiscal and political powers would devolve to the six geopolitical zones. Gen. Buhari and APC will be the ultimate losers if they run a government that discriminates against a particular group based merely on the results of the presidential election - or on any other discriminatory criterion for that matter.

Despite my pessimism about Gen. Buhari's capacity to lead the country successfully at this time, it is in the best interest of Nigerians that everyone should support him, especially if he implements policies and programmes that can alleviate the sufferings of the people.

Meanwhile, Buharimaniacs should realise that the time for delusional negative triumphalism, propaganda and vicious attacks of opponents, is over. From May 29, 2015, Gen. Buhari and his team must hit the ground running. We are waiting and watching!

Concluded.

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HILE briefing me on my role as class prefect in my primary school several years ago, my class teacher left in my subconsciousness, an unforgettable slogan-“First impressions matter ”. On another occasion, it was my lot to recommend to my colleagues the career that would suit each of them.

When it came to the turn of John, the tallest member of the class, I didn’t hesitate to ask him to join the police force because most policemen seen around in those days were usually similarly “lanky and hefty ”.

The teacher supported my position by confirming to John that first impressions matter. In later years, the slogan helped me in other areas. In broadcasting, an occupation I spent the better part of my career doing, it helped me to select great newscasters and programme presenters. I realized that whereas the TV manager relied more on prolific reporters who can

his reply was: “Oga I just like their uniform”! The colleague that stood beside him looked so malnourished that I made up my mind to send a petition on what I saw to the police authorities. I was yet to do so, when Solomon Arase was named the new acting Inspector General of Police (IGP). I received the news with joy because the overwhelming charisma conveyed by his ‘policeappearance’ at the handing over ceremony of the force to him convinced me that we might after all have a real police soon bearing in mind that first impressions matter. Arise would project his types, I imagined My confidence that all will be well was significantly raised by Arase’s assumption of duty speech in which he promised to “identify, isolate and deal decisively with deviants”. When related to his first major assignment, re-run elections in some states, the speech makes a lot of sense.

First, it admits the poor performance by the police in the recently conducted general elections in Nigeria in which political thugs had a free day as if ours was an unpoliced nation. Each time we are approaching an election in this country, the police would with fanfare announce how battle ready they are; yet ballot boxes are snatched with ease by hoodlums amidst other plethora of electoral malpractices in the presence of the police.

Somehow, the hoodlums

It is amusingly ironic that a few weeks to the presidential election, Prof. Wole Soyinka, a relentless critic of Gen.

Gen. Buhari would soon realise, after being sworn in as President, that the highfalutin and flowery rhetoric of election campaigns is quite different from the difficult task of providing good governance for Nigerians

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Buhari's past includes brutal suppression of freedom, abuses of human rights, executions with retroactive laws, inappropriate economic policies, and the war against indiscipline.

Therefore, if Nigerians had acted on Prof. Soyinka's advice, Gen. Buhari would have lost again because his biggest selling point is his perception nationwide, rightly or wrongly, as a disciplined strong leader with the capacity to fight corruption effectively, which his campaign organisation continuously drilled into the consciousness of Nigerians. I

Let us now address the issue raised by my friend, Femi Adesina, that the Igbo committed political suicide by giving overwhelming support to President Jonathan in the last election.

Superficially, it would appear that Adesina is right, judging by the vengeful mentality and winner-takes-all attitude that dominate the mindset of Nigerian politicians.

However, at a deeper level, my friend is wrong. What the Igbo people demand and deserve, just like members of other ethnic nationalities in the country, is justice, equity, fairness and guarantee of security to pursue their legitimate activities. And it was the throbbing desire to defend their inalienable rights that made them fight bravely alongside Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu during the civil war.

Any human group that survived a civil war cannot be subdued by the kind of political exclusion Adesina envisaged for the Igbo in the coming dispensation - the Igbos are a resilient people.

Unlike the talakawas and almajiris who eke out a miserable living as factotums to members of the Northern

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015

A world of agreements (1)

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IFE as we know it is based on agreements. We commit ourselves to others, to tasks, to careers, partners and the list goes on. We have to agree to communicate and interact. Business requires agreements. Love, marriage, even divorce requires agreements that states the expectations and responsibilities of participants. Agreements come in variants and they cover absolutely everything. A language is based on a societal acceptance of symbols and meanings; its an agreement. In the English speaking world, a mountain is a large natural elevation of the earth's surface, rising abruptly from the surrounding level; a large steep hill. In China, there is no such acceptance or agreement, so a mountain means nothing, its just a sound without value.

Religion is an agreement, some agree some don't and there in lies the dichotomy of beliefs. Most of the agreements that keep the world going are historical, we are taught them and we accept them till we grow enough in our consciousness to ask why?

The journey of self

discovery has caused me to disagree with many fundamental agreements; I just don't agree with them.

I find some norms of culture and religion suffocating and consider them a subtle means of human domestication.

A few years ago, I discovered a book by Katie Byron "Loving what is", it remains a beautiful resource but in that period I also bought another audio book. It is also available in print. That work of genius is what inspires this column. Its a gift from Don Miguel Ruiz to the human race and it is "The four Agreements". In his native Mexico he is referenced as a national heirloom and reading him confirms him as a universal gem. I had that book in my audio library for 5 years but just never got round to listening to it till 2 years ago and since I did I find myself going back to it again and again. I discover something new every single time; it is that good. The book is a strong advocate for personal freedom from the beliefs and agreements we have inherited, made or entered into with others and

ourselves.

These agreements and beliefs are the ceilings that limit us, because they domesticate us, just like the animals we tame; the dogs, the horses, we become tame, limited and dissatisfied. The four agreements have become a way of life for a lot of people who seek to know and be more and I consider myself blessed to be in that group.

Bullying is an act I totally despise, I have always resisted being bullied and consciously work hard at not being a bully (with a personality as strong as mine, its easy to bully even unconsciously).

The domestication of man by man is bullying no matter how it is done. Bullying is done by a repeated conditioning of the mind till it starts to take a point of view that is not necessarily true or right for the individual in question.

I should state quite clearly here that Don Miguel does not use the term bullying; that is all me. It comes from years of resentment against beliefs that are forced down my throat by general perception of others disguised as political, cultural religious truth. It

seems the world has been taken over by religious sales men selling their own brand of beliefs, some more forcefully than others. The trade is quite successful as religious figures the world over sit atop vast affluence and influence. I am not an atheist so I am not anti God, what I am is anti anyone getting in the way of seeking God for myself.

Lately I have become an onion and I am hoping to totally peel off layers of agreements and hopefully undomesticate myself before my journey on this side of eternity ends.The Four agreements are not

The need to manipulate situations and people prevent us from being impeccable so we bend the truth, we lie, we gossip and even withhold love by mismanaging the power that is to be found in the words we speak new, we all know them, somewhere in our psyche, these truths already exist, we just start to live them and thats where it all gets a tad interesting.

The first agreement is simple; Be Impeccable with your word. Speak the truth,

DIASPORA MATTERS

For the Tories, Labour, the future is a few days away

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he United Kingdom 2 0 1 5 General Election takes place in just a few days from now. The political campaigns by the major parties have been stepped up, as they jostle for votes from one corner of the country to the other. They have been making use of all opportunities to woo the electorate who may still be undecided or they think can easily be swayed.

The May 7th election has been tagged the most indecisive in the history of the country. None of the major political parties can lay claim to winning majority seats in the parliament to form the next government. This pattern of voting by the electorates took shape in the 2010 General Election, when the David Cameron-led Conservative Party went into a coalition with Liberal Democrats to form a government.

While it is obvious the next government is going to be another coalition, the question that the the forthcoming elections will answer is who the players in the partnership would be.

Would it be a continuation of the political marriage

between the Tories and LibDems? Or would the bell toll for Labour and Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP)? Is the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) going to be the new bride? For what party?

The fact that is sticking out like a sore thumb in this election is that only two of the candidates can realistically occupy the Prime Ministerial seat. They are the incumbent David Cameron and Labour's Ed Miliband. The various opinion polls have been swinging between these two with no clear forecast on any leading the other.

The British political system is very fascinating. It is not like what we have in Nigeria, where the winner takes all at the detriment of the country.

Every political party, no matter how small, has a role to play. So to be "heard" every political party wants its members in the parliament.

This year is no different.

While Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, has realised lately that immigration issue would not be the decisive action in this elections, he has "upped" his appearances in many corner pubs in towns and villages. He comes across as contesting against the

comedian, The Pub Landlord Al Murray who is always seen downing a pint of lager.

Sensing that British voters have seen through his antiimmigration strategy, Farage is now talking through both sides of his mouth on many policy issues, including the European Union. He is also silenced by the huge humanitarian support among Britons, for migrants who lost their lives in attempts to flee from war torn countries to Europe.

The other candidates are not faring better though. The one that cuts the posture of a man soon to be irrelevant is the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, as he tries to find his lost "mojo". Clegg, clearly not amused by the popularity of the other smaller parties, knows his place in a new coalition government is very shaky. He has been the biggest critic of Farage, whom he sees as the main stumbling block to his forming another coalition with the Tories.

Clegg is unpopular with a section of the voters for not keeping to his words, especially his failed promise to resist students fee increase if elected to government in 2010.

The Labour Party's Ed

The British political system is very fascinating.

It is not like what we have in Nigeria, where the winner takes all at the detriment of the country. Every political party, no matter how small, has a role to play.

Miliband too has always been the subject of political joke on how not to aspire to the post of a prime minister.

He is described as a candidate without the charisma of a leader who can steer the affairs of one of the oldest democracies in the world.

Milliband is believed by many voters to be the weakest of the candidates. Not for lack of evidence, he is not helping Labour's case as well by his pronouncements on the party's plans for government without adequate supporting facts and figures.

Apart from this, Miliband is tagged as desperate, with the way he prosecuted his campaign for the leadership of the party in 2010. While it is history how Ed turned against his brother, David, many Britons have refused to forget and had said this to his

speak with integrity, speak without causing harm to others and yourself. Use your word in the direction of truth and love always. It seems like a no brainer but how many people can claim to speak with integrity and truth always?

The need to manipulate situations and people prevent us from being impeccable so we bend the truth, we lie, we gossip and even withhold love by mismanaging the power that is to be found in the words we speak. Ultimately all of the wars the world has seen began when a word was spoken that spread hate and not love; think Adolf Hitler.

The second Agreement; Don't make assumptions.

This was a problem that plagued me a lot when I was younger. I blame this on my inability to always handle rejection; so I just assumed versions of a fantasy that I hoped would become true eventually. I lacked the courage to ask questions, to ask for clarity and demand what I wanted from people and situations and the result was a lot of hurt. I have since learnt that clear communication completely avoids misunderstanding, heartbreak and despair.

This second agreement is most important in the affairs of the heart, we all must learn to ask people who want to be in our lives what they want and state our expectations, so we can walk away where and when we are not validated by the liaisons. We cant just assume that lust will

face many times. Probably realising his candidacy may become a long shot, Miliband was reported to have hired an image consultancy firm to help shore up his "dwindling fortunes."

This may explain the new charm that is oozing from Miliband and perhaps why Nicola Sturgeon-led SNP is desperately trying to woo him into a coalition government.

With the growing popularity of the party, it is not in doubt the party will play a role in the next UK government. The SNP has made a "sudden" foray into national politics after spearheading the failed Scottish independence in 2014. The party lost the referendum, but gained a lot of grounds politically at the expense of the Scottish Labour.

This is the first test of the SNP in national politics in recent times, and what a leader the party has got in the fiery Nicola Sturgeon who took over from Alex Salmond after stepping in following the Scottish independence defeat.

While she has not disappointed her followers, she has also gained new "lovers" with her charm and outspokenness on policy issues. However, majority, at the same time, are keeping an eye on her as she leads the Scottish independence agenda, which, no doubt, is making so many people hot under the collar.

Of all the candidates, David Cameron seems to be the most hard-pressed to impress the public on why he should be allowed to form the next government with nothing but cuts to show for his first outing. While the citizens are groaning under his cuts in every area, including but not limited to benefits, defence,

eventually turn to love.

The third agreement is famous, we say it all the time; Don't take anything personal. Unfortunately we do, we all have huge egos that need constant massaging, so we take everything personal , when it really isn't! Nothing others do is because of you.

People are busy living their own realities. Their actions are a projection of their own dreams, it could be heaven or hell but its not personal. Giving up our power by taking the actions personal just makes us victims of needless angst and suffering. When I eventually developed enough courage to stop people projecting their own negativity into my life, I got happier, I just did not invest any energy in caring what people thought of me and my choices.

The fourth agreement in my view is priceless, I live by it; Always do your best; .

Doing ones best is all one can do after all. My best may not always be good enough but its the best I have to offer and there is a major satisfaction I get from trying my very best regardless of the results. I remember telling my significant other that if we didn't work I would be sad but not despondent. I had explained that I did everything passionately, giving my all and my very best, so if things did not work out after that, it was okay; just not meant to be.

Doing our best in all things help us live our authentic best and that I always agree with.

the NHS, the Non- EU immigrants are bemoaning their fate ever since the Tories came into power in 2010.

The Tories are accused of running a government for the rich while the masses are getting worse off under austerity measures. However, give it to the Tories, they did their best in the worst economic circumstances they inherited in 2010 from the Labour government.

In 2010 Cameron promised cutting net immigration to UK by a considerable percentage. Despite his anti non-EU policy, he is definitely struggling in this wise. Never in the history of the country has unfavourable immigration decisions been made against non-EU nationals as the Tories have done in the past five years.

The other "fringe" parties such as the Green Party's Natalie Louise Bennett and the Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood are hoping to "increase their relevance" by winning a few more seats than what they have right now. Will they make any or much impact on who becomes the next Prime Minister? Will they control the deciding votes on what party or parties form the coalition government?

The wait is not for long.

In a matter of days, United Kingdom shall present to the world a man that will be called upon to form the next government. Will there be significant change from the direction the country is going now, especially in immigration, economic etc? Like many thousands of undecided voters like me, not much is expected to change.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 13

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PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015

20 15 BIENNIAL CONVENTION OF THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDIT ORS 201 EDITORS

The 2015 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) was held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, yesterday.PHOTOS BY AKEEM SALAU

L-R: Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi,Registrar APCON/Chief Executive;Prince Tony Momoh, Special Guest/Former Minister of Information;Prof Yomi Osibanjo,Vice President-Elect;Barrister Dupe Ajayi-Gbadegbo,Chairperson of the Occasion; Alh Lateef Ibirogba,Hon Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State; and Mr Femi Adesina,President, Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE)

L-R::Mrs Elizabeth Salami,Editor, the Light Bearer Newspaper, Jos; Prof Dayo Alao,CEO Babcock Centre for Executive Development, Babcock University, Ilisan, Remo, Ogun State; and Sola Atere,Executive Director, News, NTA

L-R,: Sir Odafe Othihiwa, a former General, Manager, AIT;Tunde Thompson; and Oloye Lekan Alabi,Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadanland

Î

L-R: Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor -in-Chief/GM Vanguard Newspaper and a former President of NGE, with Mr Bonnie Iwuoha, a former NUJ National President and current SA Media to Abia State Governor, and Mrs Comfort Obi, Publisher,TheSource.

L-R;Al-Amin Ciroma,Editor, Leadership Hausa, with Suleiman Uba Gaya,Managing Editor, New Telegraph, Abuja and Ashafa Murnai, Editor, Rariya

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 15

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PAGE 16— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015

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SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 17

bb pin:2BD74DOB

He was scared I would become wild – Chiamaka Nwokeukwu

Tale of 3 Nollywood damsels who dumped their boyfriends for acting

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B

eautiful, chic, talented and sexy, are the words to describe these three Nollywood damsels, Lizzy Gold Onuwaje, Chiamaka Nwokeukwu and Peggy Onah.

They have absolutely nothing in common except for their passion to make names for themselves in the make-believe world. So strong is their passion they would not allow anything to stand in their ways – including love! Hear their stories:

He said girls in Nollywood don ’t stay don’t in marriages — Lizzy Gold Onuwaje

Chiamaka

L

izzy Gold Onuwaje isn’t new to the world of show business.

Her foray into the makebelieve world started in 2006, when she won the Delta State Pageant as Miss Delta State. Then she tried her hands at the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant (MDGN) where she emerged as the second runner-up.

Like most of her peers who had the Lizzy undying passion to get into acting, Lizzy had hers too, but it didn’t go well with her boyfriend at the time.

“Initially, he was very skeptical about it. He said girls in Nollywood don’t stay in marriages. To me, it depends on individuals. I don’t think it’s true, because so far, some people like Omotola have kept their marriages. But he saw that I was very passionate about it when I went as far as attending an acting school in Lagos, so he let me be. I told him, it’s either he allowed me do my acting or he let me be. So he allowed me do my acting” she said.

But Lizzy was quick to add that it wasn’t really her acting that made her drop the guy, rather because he was not measuring up to her standard as a man.

“The affair didn’t crash because I went into acting;.

The basic truth is he doesn’t have money; so I decided to end the relationship. I dumped him in 2013 because he didn’t have much in terms of money and he didn’t have any push for my kind of man”.

ulnerably beautiful and sexy, Chiamaka Nwokeukwu, isn’t a household name in Nollywood. But the fair-complexioned actress is very much on her way as she is having the best run of good streak in her career. Her top draw performance in the film, Chinelo, The Shy Virgin, opened not only another vista in her career but also earned her an AFRIFIMO awards in the United States of America.

She is, as they say, on the easy street, but this would probably not have come her way if she had listened to her boyfriend who tried all means to dissuade her from going into acting.

Chiamaka once told me in an interview, “Yes I dumped him for Nollywood because he doesn’t want me to be a star. He doesn’t want me to follow up my career and he has not proposed to me. The guy can leave me tomorrow and now that I have the opportunity, I need to follow up. God blessed everybody with talent. It’s not easy to have talent, most people cannot act and when you have the zeal and you can do something, you have to use it well. It’s normal for a boy and girl to meet and if you really love your girl, you would let her go into what she wants. When I get married, automatically, if my husband says he doesn’t want me to act again, I will not act again, as long as he’s taking care of me” she said.

Continuing, “He was telling me that he doesn’t want me to act, that I’m a very nice person, I’m humble, that when I go into the industry, I’ll meet big people and I’ll become wild and be doing different things. He didn’t even want me to start. Immediately I went for my first shoot, he said, `I think you don’t like me’. I said, I like you but let me try it first.

This might be where God wants me to be”

He believed I would be snatched from him — Peggy Onah

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Onah

retty, sexy and busty Peggy Onah, has come to find her place in the competitive movie industry by sheer hard work and talent. Unlike most ‘wannabes’ in the industry, who would pull off their clothes to flaunt what mother nature has endowed them with at the drop of a hat, Peggy would rather want to keep them on. Though she’s heavily endowed in the chest region, the Enugu State University graduate of Mass Communications believes her boobs shouldn’t be her calling cards.

Though not yet what you would call a popular item but Peggy has got it going and hardly stays out of jobs. She opened up to Potpourri recently that her boyfriend almost chequered her ambition but she resolved to follow her heart and what her heart told her was “ run, run, run”. “ I don’t know how most men perceive the world of acting. It isn’t the way they see it.

They believe anybody going into acting would be soiled by greed and wantonness. My boy friend believed I would be snatched away from him. He asked me to quit and I was just beginning to pursue my acting career. I couldn’t quit, besides, if he really loved me, he would have stayed. I can sacrifice my career when I’ve achieved my dream in the industry. But now that I’m still striving to hit the top, I can’t sacrifice it,” she said.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

PAGE 18, SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Chocolate Chocolate City boss, Maikori Maikori, announces announces resignation

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t was an emotional moment for many at the Nigerian Enter tainment Conference 2015, which held at Eko Hotels and Suites, when Audu Maikori, CEO of Chocolate City Music, announced his plans to retire come June 2015.

According to him, his decision was based on the need to further strengthen the company and allow for the injection of new ideas into the system. He, however, did not reveal who will replace him.

‘I have headed Chocolate City for the past 10 years and its been the most amazing period of my life despite the many challenges that came with it. There were times, I would get home and wished I wouldn’t have to go to work the next day. Some other times, artistes will need money and even though unavailable, we still have to find a way.

At this point, I have decided to step down as CEO of Chocolate City to allow for the younger generation to steer the ship. My resignation takes effect from June, but I wont disclose who will take over from me until then’, he said.

Why Nollywood is not recognized at the Oscars — Afriff Boss

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EO of AFRIFF, Chioma Ude, has revealed the reason Nigerian movies are yet to get much recognition from global film awards and festivals.

She revealed this while speaking as a panelist at the Nigerian Entertainment Conference alongside Wunmi Obe, Femi Falodun and Theo Lawson.

According to her, the major reason is because most of the movies do not have as much local language content as required to enter the Foreign Film categories at most of the world’s biggest award shows.

“We need to understand what this category is about and the criteria for entry. Movies in this category are expected to have rich cultural elements which must reflect in the language, story, music and all other elements present in the film. Although, things are getting better now, as Nollywood got an invitation from the Oscars last year, and hopefully will get a slot soon. The right film must have at least 51% local language content to be accepted into the Foreign Language Film category.’

Speaking for the music industry, recording artiste, Wunmi Obe, explained that the same reason was why only the likes of Sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Angelique Kidjo are the ones who usually get nominated for the Grammys.

“These people are very African in their sounds and lyrics, and that is what is required for that category.” she said.

Debbie Rise returns to the Nigerian Idol More than seven hundred days after Oluwarise Deborah Ebun, otherwise known as Debie Rise, a professional guitarist, computer science graduate and super dynamic dancer, was proclaimed First Runner Up of the Nigerian Idol Season 4, she returns to the same stage only this time, not as a contestant but as a guest performer for the Nigerian Idol Season 5.

Since she became a winner under the auspices of the Etisalat-sponsored competition, Debie Rise has been rising and shining. She has been idolized by a teaming fan base for her excitingly melodious music and especially, for her idol eyes. She is a sum of wit, wisdom and wonder. She dances, raps, sings and plays the guitar so well that one cannot tell which one she does best.

The Nigerian Idol is a competition organized and proudly sponsored by one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, Etisalat, aimed at scouting for, discovering and empowering Nigerian youths who are gifted with potentials in music making. It debuted in 2010 and it’s run annually with over a thousand people making entries in primary stage, and aired both nationwide and the world over on various media platforms

Mercy Johnson, Ramsey Noah, Mary Njoku dazzle in ‘Thy Will Be Done’

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ilmOne Distribution and Rok Studios have announced that the highly anticipated film “Thy Will be Done”, by multiple award-winning director, Obi Emelonye, will be released in cinemas across Nigeria from May 15th 2015.

Obi Emelonye, renowned for directing Box Office hits such as The Mirror Boy, Last Flight To Abuja, will have moviegoers swarming in great numbers to watch his latest work.

Ramsey Noah and Mercy Johnson – Okojie, who were ex-lovers in 30 days in Atlanta, teamed up to render an unforgettable, heart rending film as a married couple and are joined by Mary Njoku, to set off a thrilling chain reaction in this romantic drama. The movie has been consensually dubbed by movie pundits and critics to fly the ‘Box Office hit flag’ at full mast in cinemas.

Jason Njoku of Rok Studios says: ‘This is a huge cinema event for Nigeria and we think that moviegoers will be totally enthralled by the incredible story, the quality of production and the incredible performances from Nollywood’s finest. Rock Studios has huge ambitions in terms of re-energising Nollywood and producing internationalstandard cinema from Nigeria.

Thy Will Be Done, for us, is the blueprint, the gold standard, if you will, in terms of quality and awesome storytelling that we hope will now define Nollywood.’

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

My late father’s greatest wish was for me to get married — Harrysong

By Tofarati Ige

F

ive Star Music signee and songwriter, Harrysong, recently said he has no immediate plans to get married, as his music career is his major focus for now. However, with the demise of his father, the bald-headed singer might have to make a u-turn pretty soon.

This is because his late father’s greatest wish was for him to get married on time and give him a grandchild.

While speaking with Potpourri about the greatest lesson his father ever taught him, he said, “Since I became an established artiste, his punch line to me has always been marriage, marriage, marriage. He wanted me to give him a grand child.”

On whether he would now have to fast-

track his marriage plans to make his father happy in the grave, Harrysong said, “Of course I will get married, I’m just looking for the right person to fulfill that wish. However, I want you to know that it’s going to be soon.”

He also refuted the insinuations that he was looking for a trophy-wife to get married to, but stated that his emphasis was on finding a woman he can trust and have a viable connection with. In his words, “I’m not that kind of person that is looking for a ‘high class’ babe; I didn’t come from that type of background and I’m not thinking in that direction. I have to be with someone that I love, and who loves me in return.”

Funmi Awelewa shoots first movie

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eautiful upcoming Yoruba actress, Funmi Awelewa, has joined the league of movie makers as the fair skin actress and her crew hits location to shoot her first movie “ Amidu Amida”, a film that tells the story of a set of twins who terrorise their community with their practical jokes.

The sexy actress hit their location on Friday, April 25, in Ibadan, alongside Fuji musician Alhaji Taye Currency, Wale Akorede, Ibrahim Chatta, Akin Olaiya, Sunkanmi Omobolanle, Ojopagogo, Temitope Solaja, Bukola Adeeyo, Toyosi Adesanya, amonst others

Tope Osoba ups the hype for her movie premiere I

t has been a while since beautiful Temitope Osoba concluded work on her movie, ‘Single Ladies’, which features her and Damola Olatunji in principal roles.

The premiere comes up May 17, at the Time Square Event Centre, Ikeja, with a lot of exciting activities lined up to spice the day.

Unlike any other movie premieres, musical artistes are expected to light up moods before the movie comes on screen. Pasunma, Jahbless, Dammy Krane, Lace, BUK, Oyinkansola, Allwell, DD, Brain and many more are expected to perform while Ronke Ojo and K Show takes charge of the red carpet. Invitation to the event is guaranteed by procurement of the Ankara of the day.

Maureen Cyrill on mission with Most Beautiful Model project

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aptivating Nollywood actress, Maureen Cyril who is the vice president of Most Beautiful Model In Nigeria Project, has revealed the objective behind the contest. As the preparation for the event commences, she stated that the need to promote upcoming models and also African fashion gave rise to the event.

“It is purely models’ talent contest, designers exhibition and a platform that will see the convergence of Africa’s best Couture”.The fast rising Anambra state born screen diva, who has featured in several movies like Clap Of Thunder, Lady Gaga,others further added that the show will be well attended and highly packaged.”Though I’m in Asaba now for a movie,but my team in Abuja are working round the clock to ensure we stage a world class event.

Biodun Okeowo set to open beauty store

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oruba actresses have sure hit on another idea outside of acting. Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, Bisi Ibidapo Obe and now Biodun Okeowo are diversifying into other businesses to keep the wolves off their doors. Iyabo Ojo has a beauty parlour, Mercy Aigbe, a boutique, Bisi Ibidapo-obe, sex shop and now Biodun Okeowo is set to open her own beauty place called Victoria’s Beauty Store, set for commissioning on May 3, at Ojodu in Lagos.

The opening ceremony promises to be a carnival of sorts as actresses, actors, comedians and musicians are expected to light up the day.

Every invited guest is expected to have a N3,000 T-shirt designated as he official wear of the day.

According to Biodun, there will be ten percent discount on all items procured that day plus a special package for the first five people to arrive the event venue.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

P AGE 20 — SUND AY Vanguard , APRIL 26 , 2015 SUNDA

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SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 21

Get the love you deserve

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

friend of mine once told me that for many years, her love life was a complete disaster.

She kept falling for the wrong men.

The more difficult the man was, the more she loved him.

In fact, her last relationship was a total disaster.

She thought that if she loved him enough, then he would turn into the kind of partner she needed.

She thought her happily ever after was just around the corner so she just needed to keep trying harder.

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The reason she felt this way was because the man did not start out to be difficult from the beginning, instead, he seemed an absolute dream come true.

He called her “precious” and told her that with her, he finally understood what the meaning of “precious” was!

Until, slowly but surely, he started becoming controlling and critical.

He would make fun of her in front of other people and because she was so confused and wanting it so much to work, she would laugh it off.

As he became more cruel and distant, she then stepped things up even though she

was in total despair. She kept trying to change herself so he could love her more. She kept blaming herself, thinking “I simply didn’t know how to handle a relationship”.

She kept at the relationship even though she was feeling increasingly unworthy and unloved. She allowed it to go on for too long, thinking that if she just tried harder, she would be happy. If she could make him happy But the more she tried, the worse things got.

He kept turning things around on her and saying it was impossible to make her happy.

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Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

And she started believing him, it was awful that she didn’t like the woman she had become anxious, miserable, obsessed.

Yet she kept saying she loved him and wanted him forever!

She kept thinking of his good qualities while pushing down what she knew in her heart to be true.

No matter how bad things got, she would cling to those few good things in the relationship, even though she was getting crumbs.

She was terrified to leave him. She started thinking that she might not get a better man than him, so she stuck it out.

All the while she kept losing herself. She couldn’t relax.

She felt lost and weak and she lost faith in love, relationships and in herself.

Something had to change.

“Either I had to fix things for

good or get out. But one thing was certain: I had to find myself again”. After much soul searching, she finally decided to leave him.

But what she did after that was even more important.

Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for herself, she started focusing 100% on herself.

She made her passions, her commitment and well being her number one priority.

She started having fun. And when she started doing that, something magical happened and that was how she found her husband Why? Because a woman who puts herself first and enjoys life is very attractive to men. She will attract the kind of man who also takes care of himself.

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07083015513 •Moses, fair in complexion and resides in Benin, needs a caring, sexy and educated sugar mummy.08160825913 •Paul, 28 and resides in Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 30-40, for a relationship.

08189577356, 08066748394

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

DRUG ABUSE: I'm not giving up on young people — Judith Eyegho

D

ESPITE efforts by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, towards fighting the menace of illicit drug production, circulation and consumption, young people are increasingly becoming drawn to drug abuse. Addressing this ill has, in the last 10 years, been the passion of Judith Eyegho, Chairperson, Shalom Vineyard Initiative and Publisher, ECOWAS Delight International Magazine and Timeout National Magazine. She tells more in this encounter.

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE Inspiration

Actually, Shalom Vineyard Initiative was inspired by the steady decline in moral values in the society and its multiplier effects on children. I would say Shalom is a burden the Lord placed on me when I also found some of my close relatives engaging in illicit drug use. I kept talking them into desisting from such lifestyles because I very well understood the effects of hard drugs.

Gradually, that got me involved in anti-drug campaigns and even with the NDLEA; we(Shalom) eventually became a registered non-profit organization with the NDLEA.

Patnering NDLEA, NAFDAC I was really worried because when a children fail, everybody in the society suffers for it. I however want to thank God because those boys are today drug-free.

Like I was saying, thereafter, I took the campaign to schools.

Thank God Mr.Ben Murray Bruce gave us the needed platform. For seven years, we were stationed at the Silverbird Galleria where we educated students, alongside officials of the NDLEA and state governments, talking to students about the dangers of illicit drugs.

The late Professor Dora Akunyili also endorsed the programme, giving us the platform to collaborate with NAFDAC. We were doing all that for seven years before we diversified to what we’re presently doing.

Engaging youths across West Africa Right now, we’re focused on organizing seminars in West African countries under a platform called the ECOWAS Youth Ambassadors Forum. You know, in the past, we were holding our seminars in Nigeria only. We have

a commitment to go across borders and reach out to other West African countries. This puts so much demand on us now, and of course, getting sponsors is not an easy task. But we are determined to carry on; to reach out to as many students as we can.

Influencing young minds In the last ten years, we’ve been able to rehabilitate drug addicts, improve lifestyles and empower young people with vocational skills, to mention but few. Frankly, we may not have a building of our own or millions of naira in the bank, but my joy is the fact that we have indeed been able to impact lives.

Channeling energy positively

•Judith

Frankly, we may not have a building of our own or millions of naira in the bank, but my joy is the fact that we have indeed been able to impact lives.

Why we introduced skill acquisition programmes alongside mentoring students is because of our faith in skills. We believe people should have something to fall back to after secondary school education, particularly if they have no ready means of furthering their education. This is a sure means of earning a descent, legitimate livelihood.

Youths and self-centredness

Over the years, one major evil I’ve identified in young people is selfcentredness. This accounts for why a lot of them engage in crime, prostitution, fraud and all sorts of vices without evaluating the impacts on their parents, close relatives and larger society.

Having identified this, I was again inspired to introduce a forum which allows Shalom to take young people away from their environments, to places where their peers are more disadvantaged.

This, we usually do during our seminars organized in different West African countries. We take them to visit poor communities in those countries. Really, they get there and are amazed to find these

other young people more focused despite their circumstances.

That way, they begin to appreciate their parents more, as well as the society where they come from.

Showcasing Africa Having added publishing to our list through the annual publication of our ECOWAS Delight International Magazine and Timeout National Magazine, by the next five years, we hope to be able to reach out to the world, showcase the beauty of Africa and let the world begin to see Africa as indeed the champion of the world.

Young people across Africa, not just in West Africa, will be able to see that God has indeed blessed Africa with so much. At the same time, they will be determined to harness those blessings.

In the coming years also, we will be organizing debates on Africa between African youths across the continent. This will also help broaden their knowledge about the region.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 23

08112662589

We are in the age of Throw-away Marriages

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OUR television has been giving you a lot of troubles for a while. Finally, half-way through the family ’s favourite programme, it packs up altogether. It was an old model and your local repairman can no longer work any magic. The best thing to do is give it a rest and buy a brand new one or could it still be salvaged?

“These days, we are quick to acquire things and even quicker to throw them away when they are not working”, observed an elderly woman who’s been married for decades.

“But, what happens if our relationshi0ps don’t live up to expectations? Do we try to fix them or do we simply cast them aside too? We are in the age of the throwaway marriage. Almost half of today’s marriages end in divorce, many after a short period of time...”.\ “Once upon a time, marriage made women an offer they couldn’t refuse”, she continued: “It provided an acceptable way to have and rear children. But that is no longer the case.

Women can support themselves. And there is no stigma in being a single mother. Now, women expect a husband to be more than a provider. They have a romantic notion of finding a friend, an equal, a soul mate and a lover all rolled into one. And, if one man doesn’t match up to requirements, then, maybe the next one will”.

Unfortunately, most wives to be are not only highly suspicious of their husband’s commitment to their marriage, they (the wives are holding on their buffers; what they refer to as “shock absorbers”.

Lovers they have known long before they got married and who they believe will be there for them when they need a shoulder to cry on. Some wives simply carried on from where they left off with their lovers, the existence of their husbands notwithstanding. It is the stuff that keep rag sheets permanently on the news stands.

“Society has a lot to answer for in the decline of the girl’s impatience in marriage”, continues the lady. “It tells us we shouldn’t put up with what we used to put up with. But what couples don’t often realise is that there is a third way; which is trying to understand what is happening and finding ways to resolve their conflict. You might find that those problems you thought were lodged in your partner and actually in you.

“Even when you eventually pack up your marriage, it is important, to find out why the relationship broke down, otherwise, you risk repeating the same potentially destructive behaviour with subsequent partners. Divorce rates for

second marriage are even higher than first marriages ...”.

Mariam was a couple of years into her second marriage when she realised she was making more efforts in her second attempt than with her first husband.

“The shame of admitting failure made me hang on longer than necessary. My happy go-lucky second husband turned out to be highly irresponsible, a liar and a cheat who brought girlfriends to the house when I was away on official trips. I discovered I was forever comparing him with my first husband and the lover I still see from-timeto time when I become frustrated.

“As soon as my lover got a plum government appointment in Abuja, I simply relocated. I am doing very well for myself, thanks to my lover. My socalled second marriage was nothing short of a sham anyway, since he was still legally married to his first

wife.

“Last year, my lover and I cemented our relationship when I had his child. No regrets, believe me. Even, if he were to up and go, I will have my child and I have enough money stashed away to look after myself and my child. I’m not thinking of a third marriage right now. I don’t think I need it ...”.

According to a marriage counsellor, some people walk out of their marriage without having a clue why they are doing it. All they know is that they are unhappy. When you are under such stress, it’s hard to gauge what the real problem is, but leaving the marriage may be like throwing away the baby with the bath water. When someone walks away from something quickly, they don’t allow themselves to take stock of the situation.

They leave without knowing what the core of the problem is.

“Usually, a demand for

divorce may be a wellcamouflaged cry for help from one partner. Very often, it is that person’s only way of saying: `Listen to me, I’m not happy’. Saying they want to leave may seem the only way of getting their partner to take their point of view seriously, with help, it is relatively easy to work-out what’s going wrong in a marriage – but putting it right takes commitment and a lot of effort. May be, that’s what a lot of people run away from. Some couples expect their relationship to improve overnight once they have identified their problems. But that simply doesn’t happen”.

She then likens the process to learning how to drive. You may know exactly what you are supposed to do – when to look in the mirror, when to push the brake, when to turn the wheel. But for a long time, none of this comes naturally. You have to concentrate, and it is hard work.

Yet, you could avoid hastily throwing away your marriage, she says, by observing these rules; accept that arguments are part of the course. Anyone who tells you their parents were blissfully happy and never argue, is kidding themselves.

Acknowledge differences – don’t be frightened of them. We’re often readier to accept the viewpoint of a stranger than that of our partners. Show each other

respect.

Appreciate what you’ve got. Make an effort to notice your partners strengths. We are very good at complaining and very bad at praising.

Remember what attracted you to them in the first place.

What if you hit a rocky patch?

Remember, if your partner has a problem with your relationship, no matter how happy you think you are, you’ve got a problem too.

Let your partner know if you’re very unhappy. We like to think they will sense it automatically, but, this isn’t the case.

Be open about problems.

Let each other know how you feel, but don’t apportion blame. Start with: “In this relationship, I feel ...”.

Ask yourself: What am I doing that stops me getting what I want out of this relationship?” Also, ask yourself what compromises you will need to make to stay in the relationship. Are they ones you could live with comfortably?

Decide what needs to be done to help the situation.

Are there things you can do as a couple or do you need help?

Lastly, you are to talk to a third party,or any professional you believe might be helpful before you take any serious action.

08052201867(Text Only)

Forever in fighting form

O

VERWEIGHT may not be your problem, but, then, that’s not the only reason for exercising.

On account, life can rather be hectic, we all need to have a little bit more energy than we already possess. Practising relaxation techniques help us relieve stress brought on by everyday living. That way, we get quick results from exercise characterised by great energy and wonderful well-being.

Of course, it won't do to do all the right exercises and ignore to eat properly. Quality aside, we must be modest in the quantity of food we eat.

Eating great quantities of food means almost all of our energies go into digesting the food leaving us feeling lethargic. One of the good things about exercise is the fact that we tend to eat less. The less active we become, the C M Y K

more food we tend to put away. Now, this is why: With exercise or increased physical load, you call forth reserves of sugars from your liver and muscles for a dip in blood sugar levels. When you don’t exercise, you tend only to experience a high in blood sugar with meals. And, as soon as the energy from the food is stored by the help of the hormone insulin produced by the pancreases, yawning and malaise take over - there’s a false alarm of hunger.

In such a case, all you need do is whip up a bit of sweat,’ a bit of a work out and presto, your fallen blood sugar levels stabilise, doing away with your false hunger and all.

It’s now an established fact that flexibility exercise which can be practised daily are best suited for relieving physical stress.

Let’s consider flexibil-

ity postures and a relaxation technique.

YOGA MUDRA Technique: Sit on your heels and interlace your fingers at your back.

Bend forward the trunk and rest the forehead on the floor and turn the arms forward and then downward.

Benefits: The Yoga Mudra limbers the whole trunk and the thighs get toned. The stiffness is

got rid of in the knee and ankle joints. Like other forward bending postures, it has a calming effect.

THE SPREAD EAGLE Technique: Sit down and spread out the legs as wide apart as possible. Bend down the trunk and with the left hand hold the left foot from the inside with the left elbow touching the floor. Bring the right hand over the

side of the head and hold the left foot from the outside. Keep your breathing normal. Retain the position for 10-15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The Spread Eagle stretches both hamstrings and inner thigh muscles.

The flanks get a good workout leading to fat reduction about the waistline.

THE TWIST Technique: Sit with both legs extended in front of you. Bend the right knee placing the foot flat down with heel touching the left buttock. Then, bend the left knee, placing the

left foot on the outside of the right knee. Bring the right hand across the right thigh and

The Dead Pose

clutch the right knee. Turn the head and trunk leftwards raising up the left hand with the elbow locked. Breathe deeply, retain the pose for 10 seconds and changing hands and legs,

repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The Twist massages the abdominal organs improving digestion and elimination. It expands and strengthens the chest.

It also increases flexibility in the hip and knee joints.

THE DEAD POSE Lie flat on your back.

Keep the hands a bit away from the body. Let the feet ‘fall’ sideways.

Relax every strand of muscle in the body. Fix the attention on the breathing or some soothing music.

Lie completely still for 10-20 minutes before getting up. Practised properly, it gives a most calming effect-my favourite de-stresser technique.

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , APRIL 26 , 2015 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

When does fidelity stop being important for an older woman?

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HAT some women would do to be in a relationship! Some months back, during a heated discussion on the rising numbers of cougars flaunting their wealth and trapping gold-digging gigolos, Tope, a ‘sinfully’ rich industrialist in her latefifties told the discussants smugly that: “At my age, all you have to bring into a relationship is loyalty and trust – these are more important than monogamy. While women are fertile, I think sexual loyalty is crucial. But as time goes on, you just shrug it off That’s why you look the other way when a younger lover wants to play away …"

A few of the ‘girls’ were visibly ruffled. “I don’t see many of my friends shrugging when they ’re unfortunate to find incriminating evidence of ‘playing away ’ in their partner ’s phones or pockets”, fumed Hilda after Tope had glided out.

“I say this as a single woman in her 60s, who has been single since I lost Tobby, my partner 12 years ago. I admit I’ve no idea if I shall have a relationship again, but one thing is certain – I most certainly wouldn’t settle for a relationship which was deceitful and uncommitted. For event hough Tobby and I never got as far as living together, we were partners on and off for about 12 years. We split up twice and I loathed seeing him with other women, even when I was dating someone else.

“Happily, in the last few years it became a monogamous relationship and we finally reached a plateau of understanding and trust. The brutal fact is that infidelity and open relationships never work if you’re emotionally attached to someone, no mater how old you are. The laid back attitude to fidelity shown by Tope – and

another friend who boasted of a few wild years spent sleeping around with 15 much younger men -shows a strange lack of selfesteem and principle. It is not a sign of emancipation to accept your partner having other girlfriends, but a reckless lust of the flesh.

“I admit when you hear tope put it the way she did, it sounds like a clever and thoroughly pragmatic way of keeping a man interested. And also a way of keeping the tap flowing for lots of enthusiastic sex at an age when many women are happily resigned to celibacy. All I know is that there must be an immense price to pay for these cougars. Open relationships are emotionally draining and painful. Any woman with children would surely find such an arrangement too painful as she and their father have so much shared experience invested in their partnership. And even with no children, the experience of an `open relationship’ would be utterly brutal. It takes a supremely confident women not to have her esteem battered by the inevitable imaginings of where you fall in your lover’s pecking order and your body being compared to other younger bodies. It can only end in tears!

“As we age, intimacy and companionship become even more vital than in our youths. I can see why many women – and men – of a certain age would consider tolerating countless humiliations just in order to have someone in their lives.

The final leg of our journey still needs to be travelled.

But who with? The young man from the gym, or the contemporary who shares the same jokes, the same language and who will pick you up when you fall?”

Why does a husband fall out of love with his wife?

In continuation of last week’s advice on how to

against me’. Yes, he might stay because you’ve held a gun to his head or maybe he’ss just say,”what else have I got to lose?” and leave, setting you up for a bitter and protracted divorce.

win back a cheating husband, Andrew Marshall, author of: My Husband doesn’t love me … And he’s texting someone else, proffers reasons why a husband might have fallen out of love with his wife.

You put your children first: I know this is controversial. Of course, you put your children first!

What’s the problem? Well, the problem is that babies grow up, but some mothers still drop everything for their children. One client set off on a three-hour round trip to her daughter’s college room to find her lost passport (because her daughter was too busy to look): another had a copy of her daughter’s reading list so she could help with her course work.

These are extraordinary examples, but I have many of them. If your husband believes he’s just the father of your children, he will not feel loved by you and will begin to detach in order to protect himself from this depressing scenario.

Your sex life has lost its spark: There has been some massive strides since the sexual revolution of the sixties. Everyone is more relaxed about talking about sex and women have

been given more permission to enjoy sex, rather than simply doing it for men.

Though there is much to celebrate, relationship counsellors and society in general have been so busy stressing that no one should be forced to have sex they don’t want that we’ve forgotten the other half of the equation: no one should have to do without the sex they do want.

Some couples I counsel are having sex as little as three or four times a year.

Men have very black and white attitudes to sex. They think if you don’t want sex with them, you don’t love them (and discount other reasons – such as being tired, stressed or not feeling close enough). If your husband feels that you don’t love him, he can start to feel entitled to look elsewhere.

Poor communication: On of the surface, everything seems fine. Yes, there might be a few squabbles and sarcastic comments, but nothing to worry about. And that;s the real danger. One partner – probably your husband – is feeling ignored, a second -class citizen in his own home.

Meanwhile, the other partner, probably you – remains in blissful ignorance. Or if you’re aware of issues, you don’t

shivers with every thought of you,for your undiluted love have devoured my heart. My Jewel,I miss you dearly.

Akachukwu Ferdinand. 08063819314 akachukwuferdinandc@yahoo.com

DEAR SINGLE WOMEN

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"

I miss you

I miss your captivating countenance, I miss your smiles that dazzle the sun and warm every corner of my soul,I miss your endearing kiss, I miss your ever caring heart, I miss your angelic voice. My heart

What kind of sign do you have on your store?

Is it telling men that you are easy, trashy and down for a fun time? Or is it telling men that you are a woman of class, morals, and standards? You can't keep advertising the wrong signs and wonder why you keep attracting the wrong customers! If you want to be valued, do things that will make you valuable. If you want respect, do things that bring respect. It's not the men; it's just that your advertising is all wrong.

Be Extraordinary!

CHRIS ONUNAKU 08032988826/08184844015

think they’re that serious.

With poor communication, what would have been a difficult but flexible problem becomes impossible to resolve.

Five tactics you think will work – But won’t Being especially nice: You’ve cooked his favourite meals, kept the children off his back, told him how much you appreciate him and offered sex whenever he wants it. But he still doesn’t love you. For some men, your gestures will be too little, too late. In addition, your moods are probably all over the place: super-nice one minute, withdrawn the next, then biting his head off and quickly apologising. He won’t know what to expect when he comes home, and who wants to live like that!

Using the children as blackmail: He’s going to hear your concern for the children as prof you’re interested in him only as a father. Let’s face it, if he suggested you act as a housekeeper and nursemaid and nothing else, would you jump at the offer. You also risk becoming the wife of every man’s nightmares - ‘she’s turning my children

Having longer talks: Good communication is at the heart of a good marriage, but going round and round in circles isn’t good communication.

Constantly cross-examining him about his feeling is like digging up a seed to see if it has germinated. Worse still, these long talks suck any remaining fun and spontaneity out of your marriage. No wonder he wants to leave. Anything for a quiet life.

Guessing what he’s really feeling: Hours of over-thinking will just result in a range of assumptions, often cobbled together from all the different things he says and does throughout his day, which may well be unrelated. As ultimately, it is better to ask, and take his answers at face value, than to over-analyse and then tell him what he’s feeling – that really puts men’s backs up.

Suppressing your own issues: Walking on eggshells just makes your husband irritated. When you back down, he loses all respect.

However, it’s not all gloom and doom when your husband strays – there’s always hope. According to Andrew Marshal, “it is possible to turn around your marriage, even if he’s telling you he’s met his soulmate. I’ve learnt there’s always hope for the future if you meet at least two of the following criteria – you’ve been together three years or more, you have children together and you truly love him and want him back. Finally, you mustn’t panic. This is the worst thing you can do. More marriages end because of a wife’s panic than a husband’s determination to leave”.

The way I feel about you!

No words could ever tell you, No action could express The way I feel about you, With you, my life is blessed.

You're the light in my tunnel.

You are my pot of gold.

You are the strength that gets me through When despair has taken hold.

You're my once in a lifetime.

You make my life complete.

You are my blue ribbon In the shadow of defeat.

There's nothing I could ever say, And nothing I could do To let you know just how much Love is in my heart for you.

CENT OBAMA +2348061379003

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 25

CONFESSION OF A PRINCE

We love robbing Okada riders!

•Narrates how he went back to crime after leaving jail

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

A

prince of Ishawo in Ikorodu, Lagos, Oladimeji Orisan, and three others are cooling off in the cells of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos State, for allegedly terrorising and robbing residents, commuters and commercial cyclists, popularly known as Okada riders.

Orisan, a.k.a Deji Baale, 24; Emmanuel Olutoye, aka Ja-rule, 20; Lukmon Tiamyu, 27; and Wasiu Sikiru, 21; were alleged to have specialised in robbing commercial motorcyclists at gun point, using two methods.

One of the methods, it was learnt, was that two of the suspects would board a bike at a bus stop to a destination carrying loafs of bread and sachets of water, pretending to be going to a construction site. The moment they enter the bush, they would attack the motorcyclist and snatch his bike and other valuables.

The second method was to ambush unsuspecting commercial bike operators at the bus stop and snatch their motorcycles.

Sunday Vanguard learned that Olutaye was arrested during an operation while the three other suspects escaped, abandoning their gun. The operation was reportedly carried out in Ijede, along Sagamu Road, Ikorodu.

A security source familiar with the story alleged that the suspects, in the course of robbing a commercial motorcyclist, the prince, who is also the suspected leader of the gang, Orisan, shot into the air to scare the victim who was resisting. The sound of the gun shot reportedly caught the attention of people around who rescued the victim. In the ensuing melee, Olutoye was caught and handed over to the police.

During preliminary investigations, the suspect allegedly confessed that he had participated in several robbery operations. His arrest led to the arrest of the three suspected gang members.

Another gun was alleged to C M Y K

•The suspects

have been recovered from Orisan, said to have been on the wanted list of the police.

Olutoye, in his purported confession to the police, said: “I am from Ogun State; my father is late while my mother, who lives at Ikorodu, is very old. ‘’I dropped out of school in JSS2. I became a member of

Eiye Confraternity while in JSS1 in Community Comprehensive College, Ishawo, Ikorodu. I was a barber apprentice before I met Wasiu who introduced me to Deji Baale, the leader of the gang, in February last year. ‘’Meanwhile I was already stealing phones before they

introduced me into robbery. I have participated in about three successful operations. ‘’From the three operations, we snatched three bikes and sold them for N50, 000, N70, 000 and N70, 000 respectively. ‘’We sold the stolen bikes to one Alhaji Garuba in Ogoloto, who was buying and reselling them. I

was arrested at Gberegbe bus stop at about 10pm during a failed operation.’’

Orisan, the prince, also told his story to the police as follows: “I am the second son of Baale of Ishawo community in Ikorodu. I was arrested because of armed robbery. I dropped out of school in JSS2.

Later my parents enrolled me in a technical college in IlaraAkara,Ogun State. I became a cultist while I was a student at the technical college. I learnt how to snatch motorbikes from co-cultists. I went into robbery deliberately and not because my parents weren’t providing for me. I bought a locally made gun N25, 000 from a fellow cultist. I have snatched over 30 motorbikes. We use the gun to scare the victims into submission.

“I have a joint where I sell India hemp. I served a twoyear-jail term at Kirikiri medium prison for robbery in 2011-2013. I have stolen quite a number of bikes. I was the one who introduced the receiver, Alhaji Garuba, who was buying the stolen motorbikes, to the gang” .

Sikiru also confessed to being a member of the gang.

“I also have sub gang whose members are currently at large. I am a generator repairer. I went to Deji Baale for financial help when he asked me to join the group”, he said.

Osun House member-elect, Oyintiloye, makes case for volunt ar er vention voluntar aryy medical int inter ervention

T

he House of Assembly member-elect for Obokun Constituency, Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on well-meaning indigenes of his constituency and Osun in general to plough back to the society through intervention in the area of health among others to assist the government.

He made the call during

attending to do some other areas.Oyintiloye said: “There

is no way government can do everything, but intervention like this from well-meaning Nigerians would go a long way to assist the people.“The

present administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is doing so much in the area of health to make our people live healthy, even in-spite of limited resource, but medical intervention like is a plus to

his visit to the operation center of the free medical treatment and surgical operations for over 200 beneficiaries, organized

by Cedio Rural Medical Outreach Ministry, Lagos at Ibokun Comprehensive Health Center, Ibokun.

According to him, the intervention has gone a long way to ameliorate the health challenges faced by the people as well as

liftingburden on him as the representative of the people and government in general.

He said such ntervention would assist government to actualize its dream by

Oyintiloye (right); Chairman, Cedio Rural Medical Outreach Ministry, Captain Yakubu Okatahi (2nd right); Obaloro of Ibokunland, Israel Olaseinde (2nd left) and others, during the visit to the operation centre of the Medical Outreach at Ibokun Comprehensive Health Centre, Ibokun .

what the government is doing. “The believe of the government is that all the efforts of the administration to develop economy through empowerment of people, education and other area will be meaningless if

people are not healthy.

“We call on the people not to leave everything to government, as their supports in all areas of governance, no matter how small would go a long way to make the society better”.

Commending the sponsor of the Medical Outreach for their commitment to the healthy living of the people, he said he would continue to support and embrace such similar supports from whoever offers it.

He also appealed to the outreach to replicate similar intervention in no distant time in his constituency to relieve other people suffering from various diseases.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

Privatization of water will worsen life in Lagos, environmentalists warn

BY EDIRI EJOH

Before the attack

...After acid bath

Don’t let me die, lady bathed with acid by ex-lover cries

•SOS to Kogi govt failed — Brother

BY BOLU OBAHOPO, Lokoja

A

LADI Sule lies critically ill at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State. Her body is wrapped in bandage, from the head to the chest. Part of her back and her right leg are socked in foil. One of her eyes has been “eaten” by acid and her right ear is rolled into a small ball. Aladi’s critical situation is no thanks to an alleged angry ex-lover who was said to have promised to destroy her beauty and fulfilled his promise. Two months ago, Aladi was a pretty lady in her community, Idah, the headquarters of Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.

At 25, Aladi’s beauty was like a springing bud of flower whose nectar was attractive to men. But that beauty was destroyed few weeks ago when the alleged exlover bathed her with acid and left her in agony. A visit to the hospital showed that Aladi knew her body had been ‘recreated’ by the acid.

However, she did not know the degree of the attack. She was yet to come to terms with the fact that her right ear and right eye had been damaged by the acid. Aladi, who struggle in pains to narrate the ugly incident, said was suffering because she failed to take serious the threat of her exlover, Kazeem Abdullahi, who, she alleged, had come to her fruits shop, to deal with her if she failed to pack out of the house he rented for her. Sunday Vanguard gathered that Aladi and the suspect were secondary school lovers in Idah. Shortly after their secondary school education, Aladi became pregnant for him in 2011, a development that caused Aladi to moved into Kazeem’s house.

The pregnancy produced a baby girl. Unfortunately, the baby died shortly after her first birthday.

Kazeem was said to have married another wife in 2011 who also moved into the house with them that was the beginning of Aladi’s travail.

The new wife was said to have raised the alarm shortly after that Aladi was the reason she was unable to conceive. She alleged that Aladi had been visiting a

neighboring community to affect her spiritually.

The second wife was also said to have alleged that the sudden disappearance of her clothes and other house hold items was a product of Aladi’s spiritual attack; a development that made Kazeem to send Aladi’s away to her family house. Few months after, Kazeem was said to have approached Aladi to return to the house. This time around, Aladi’s family kicked against it. The paternal uncle was said to have frowned against it. He was said to have told Kazeem to prepare for marriage rites before he could get her back to his house. His position was hinged on the fact that Aladi was subjected to such maltreatment because there was no proper marriage between them. Kazeem promised to perform the marriage rite. In the interim, he rented a house, for her.

However, few months after, Kazeem was said to have recanted and said he was no longer interested in continuing with the marriage. The family was said to have raised money for Aladi which she used to start the business of selling provision in the market in day time and, in the evening, retired to her street corner ( Bishop Junction) selling fruits. Bishop Junction is a popular area of Idah with taxi and Okada riders using the place as their park. In few months, she was

He told me to pack out, threatening to deal with me.

He said he was going to recreate me and make me ugly saying it was because men were still looking at me that made me think I was pretty

able to raise fund and was already planning to seek admission to the university. It was at this Bishop Junction that Kazeem approached her and demanded that she pack out of the house he rented for her.

“He told me to pack out, threatening to deal with me.

He said he was going to recreate me and make me ugly saying it was because men were still looking at me that made me think I was pretty. He also said if I failed to pack out, he will deal with me and destroy the beauty that I was using to ‘pose’ around town. I thought he was just jealous that I was looking good and making progress with my business after he said he was no longer interested in me. I told him it was mere anger and I decided to ignore his warning.”Aladi also said she did not bother to inform any of her family members about the threat until the sad event happened. Not done, Kazeem was said to have approached the land lady he rented the house from, urging her to send Aladi’s packing.

The landlady was said to have informed him that she could not send her away on the grounds that she had been able to renew the house rent on her own. Kazeem was said to have stormed out of the building but not before telling the land lady to expect him back in a manner she will never forget.

Two weeks later, it happened.

Aladi said it was around midnight when she was sleeping at home with her niece staying with her.

Because of the heat, she decided to open her door; afterall, some occupants of the building were also sleeping outside. She said she was woken up by the sound of her niece struggling with a man beside her on the bed.”I saw my niece struggling with him.

Kazeem was holding a container in his hand. Immediately I saw him, I began to scream his name but, before my shout could attract people, he had already poured the content on me. Immediately, it felt as if my body was set up on fire. I didn’t know what happened next until I found myself at the village cottage clinic”. The niece was also affected at the head as the acid poured on her. It was from the

hospital that she was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja where she spent one month at the emergency ward before being transferred to the theater for her first surgery and now lies in critical condition at the female surgical ward. Her sister, Fatima Sule, who is looking after her, said the family received a distress call from a neighbor, who heard her shouting and rushed to her room.

The neighbor was said to have seen a familiar figure bolting out of the room, and, on getting inside, saw her with the acid sprayed on her body. They immediately rushed her to the village clinic.

“When we got to the hospital I could not identify my sister again.

Part of her body had been burnt beyond recognition”. The elder brother, Isiaka Sule, a VIO officer, who has been responsible for the medical payment, said it was around 2 o’clock in the night when her sister, Fatima, called him to say their sister had been bathed with acid. Isiaka said the next day he and some family member went to the police station in the community to lodge a complaint.

But to their surprise, Kazeem was said to have been there to lodge a similar complaint.

But Kazeem, in his statement, told the police that he heard that a lady in her street (even though he allegedly lives far away from the place) had been bathed with acid.

He was quoted as saying he only came to the station to report as a good citizen and because some people may say he was the one who did it. Aladi from the sick bed, insisted the estranged lover was the person she saw on the day she was attacked. The police arrested Kazeem but three days later set him free as his(Kazeem) parents promised to take care of Aladi’s medical bill. The Sule family decided against pursuing the case in court, opting instead to focus on saving the life of their sister.

“How can I have the time, energy or money to go to court or continue visiting the police station when our sister is still lying critically ill in hospital? As I speak with you we have spent over N300,000 on her treatment. I have even taken a soft loan of N100, 000 from Sharp – Sharp. That along with the money from sympathizers has all been expended. We have exceeded our financial limit,”Isiaka said. Aladi still has a long way to go. The doctors treating her said there are two other surgeries to be carried out aside the fact that her right eye had been lost and the right ear eaten by the acid. Since the doctors could not get vein in her hands; they had to lacerate one of her legs in order to pass drips.

Aladi fears she may not be able to walk again. “All I’m after is to be able to walk again. Presently I cannot put my leg on the ground .

I know I am already disfigured. I also know that he (Kazeem) has succeeded in his plan. I don’t care about my body or look again; I just hope I can walk,” she stated.

The doctors however give a glimpse of hope. The laceration of Aladi’s leg will not make her paralyzed. They said she will still be able to use the leg to walk again. The families are however in the dilemma on how to raise money for the other surgeries and pay medical bills that will arise.

The efforts of the family to approach Kogi State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs have not yielded positive result. The family is appealing to individuals and organizations to come to their aid to give their sister ‘life’ again. The family can be assisted through the following account: ISIAKA SULE, U.B.A, LOKOJA, Account Number: 2032301751.

THE Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), has requested Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to live up to his electoral promises by not privatizing public water supply as it will worsen life for millions of residents in the state.

In a statement, ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability & Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “It is pertinent at this point to remind the governor-elect of his electoral promise while hosting critical stakeholders including workers in the water unions that he will not add to the burden of residents in the state through water privatisation.

“While we trust the governor-elect to push through in halting privatisation under the failed Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, we are deeply worried that the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), with the support of the World Bank, is still pushing very hard for privatization of water which will disenfranchise millions of Lagos residents.”

Onipede for burial

Late Pa Henry Onipede

P

A Henry Abayomi Onipede is dead, aged 84. A farewell service holds Wednesday, April 29, at Methodist Church, City Mission, Surulere, Lagos, while the wake keep and interment, holds Thursday and Friday, April 30 and May 1, 2015, at Baptist Church, Akinale Village, Ewekoro, LGA after Wasimi on Sango Abeokuta Express Road, Ogun State.

He is survived by many children and grandchildren.

Oyo nurses hail Ajimobi on re-election The Association of General Private Nursing Practitioners (AGPNP), Oyo State Chapter has congratulated Governor Abiola Ajimobi on his reelection.

A statement by the association's Chairperson, Secretary and PRO, Mrs. Bolanle Oluwatoyin Fagbadegun, Adeniyi Amusa and Comfort Ayoola respectively, asked the governor to count on AGPNP support to take the state's health sector to greater heights.

“While we felicitate with Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi on his re-election as governor of Oyo State, we pray God to continually help him to deliver the state to the promised land”, the statement added.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 27

Urhobo leaders quarrel over loss of unit during poll

What N-Delta wants from President Buhari

T

•Doris MacDaniels

– McDaniels, Mothers Union leader

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

D

oris MacDaniels is the Chairperson of Ijaw Mothers Union, a group at the forefront of the campaign for a better Niger Delta. She is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State and the Deputy Publicity Secretary, South South Peoples Assembly, SSPA. In this interview, she speaks on the just concluded governorship elections in Rivers and the fate of the Niger Delta following the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect.

What is your assessment of the just concluded governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State?

You will agree with me that this is the first time we are involving social media in monitoring and expressing our views in an election in Nigeria. I have been a grassroots politician for about 25years. The elections held in the 1990s were conducted in an orderly manner. We never had ammunition in my community, Okrika. In the late 90s, we had communal clashes with a neighboring town and some boys were frantically looking for a gun to ward off some intruders, they were unable to access gun easily. A boy later brought his father’s dane gun. Violence associated with elections in the state started in 2003 and there after we have been having Carry Go elections, meaning endorsement for candidates.

The March 28 and April 11 elections are the only ones that have been competitive and I disagree that they were marred by killings. The killings we had in the state were more from cult rivalry.

Certainly there were pockets of violence here and there but it was a similar thing during the elections in other parts of the country.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi described the elections as a sham, saying it was rigged.

If the April 11 elections did not hold, how come he voted?

How would anyone doubt Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winning Rivers State ? If Buhari won Sokoto Kano, Borno, etc, then there is no way PDP will lose its stronghold states like Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom.

I was not supporting Nyesom Wike initially. I had wanted the power rotation arrangement between the upland and riverine to be effected but we did our best but our best was not good enough.

When Wike won the primaries and I knew anybody that got the PDP flag will win the election, I gave him 100% winning chance.

I never thought the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, will ever win the election because he was Governor Amaechi’s candidate.

Besides, he was forced on his party by the governor. So a lot of

people were not happy.

Some people also have issues with the governor over his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan. Don’t forget that Mr President is an Ijaw man and their are Ijaw in Rivers.

Apart from the Supreme court judgement that brought Amaechi to power in his first term, he never won the House of Assembly election. It was when Dr Peter Odili won his governorship election that they went to court to get victory for Amaechi so he could go the House of Assembly.

In essence Amaechi does not have the strategy to win election.

Buhari’s victory cannot be attributed to Amaechi because it was obvious the people with Jonathan were working to fail.

Even Amaechi re-election was difficult for him. The First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan pleaded on his behalf and campaigned for him.

She came to Okrika, specifically, to plead with her people to give him a CARRY-GO. The April 11 elections were well managed. Elections held but there were pockets of violence here and there. But nobody can say elections did not hold.

Some people have called for the cancellation of the election.

What do you think?

The situation in Rivers on April 11 was like the moment of truth.

A lot of lies had been told about Rivers being an APC state but that is a lie . Jonathan is an Ijaw man from Bayelsa , the riverine people in Rivers are Ijaw, the First Lady is from Rivers .The loss of Jonathan at the centre was like mourning for Rivers people. And then the guber election came up. They were angry that Amaechi was part of the PDP problem. This was a governor that had neglected his state in pursuit of national politics; so how was he expecting to project Dakuku for victory? As a matter of fact, Amaechi presence in APC ruined Dakuku’s chances and APC getting a better grip in the state. if Amaechi was not involved,a lot of people may have decamped to APC but nobody wants to be associated with a governor that was talking the way he was doing. Riverine people don’t act like that. We have typical Rivers men in the calibre of Mr Odein

Ajumogobia, SAN,l, Atedo Peterside, Fafaa Princewill and so on. We are very respectful.

What are your expectations from the governor elect, Wike The much I know about Wike is that he is a man of great courage and determination. He has succeeded in being Obio Akpor local government Chairman,Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi and he supported Amaechi to interpret Amaechi dreams.

The truth is if we have to have a re-run, Wike will beat Dakuku.

You are contending against Wike who is a master of the game, he has his strategy, his schemings, his boldness.

Now we have Buhari as president. What is the future for the Niger Delta?

We opposed Buhari obviously but now he is president-elect. I believe it is an act of God and no God-fearing person will oppose God’s verdict. Based on this, I call on my sisters and brothers to render their support .I think the Niger Deltans want to see how the things will unfold. They want to see whether they would be respected or disrespected.

Niger Deltans are not troublesome people but they fight injustice. Our brother did a lot for the North regardless, if Buhari comes with such gestures of non-tribalistic rulership like Jonathan, then we may witness peace .

The oil producing states must not be treated with disdain like it happened in the past. There is so much awareness in these

communities and it will not be business as usual, the PIB provisions on oil producing communities should be adhered to.and these communities must be treated with utmost care .

Do you see boys going back to the creeks I don’t think it is in their program for now but let us not rule that out. It all depends on how tactful the president handles it. If he listens to the likes of Amaechi on how to handle Niger Delta, then a lot could go wrong.

Some ex militants have been voted into the state House of Assembly People have wrong perception about these former militants.

Niger Delta ex-militants are not like Area Boys. Some of them are educated, intelligent, some are engineers, master degree holders who had no job,then got affiliated to MEND. These are forgiven militants for whatever role they may have played in the past.

Some of them are people from good homes.

Those that made it to the House of assembly are levelheaded young men I personally respect and they are qualified. We did not vote in miscreants, we know these boys are responsible.

The nation watched with horror seeing some so-called honorable members in their true colour, fighting, breaking heads. These ex militants will never act that way.

These are boys I am ever proud of because they have distinguished themselves as respected sons.

These are freedom fighters. They are very organized.

HE Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya, allegedly quarrelled with the Chief of Staff to the governor, Chief Paulinus Akpeki on the grounds that the latter did not support him (Igbuya) in his election. The quarrel allegedly broke out during a meeting of political stakeholders in Delta Central held in the office of the state deputy governor, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN. Sunday Vanguard gathered that Igbuya was irked that Akpeki accused him (Igbuya) of not being able to win his unit and ward in the House of Assembly election for the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. The meeting was to review the just concluded gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the state.“According to a dependable source at the meeting, it took the intervention of Utuama and others present to bring the situation under control. The source said the Urhobo in the PDP, led by the deputy governor, appealed to Akpeki to reconcile with Igbuya. The source said Utuama promised that the issue between the two Urhobo sons would be addressed at the end of all elections, affirming that Akpeki won both his unit and ward for the governorship and House of Assembly elections for the PDP while Igbuya lost his unit and ward to the opposition party.

Contacted, the Chief of Staff said: “Politicians should learn to speak the truth at all times and stop cheap blackmail”. Efforts to reach Igbuya for comments on the matter proved abortive at press time.“

Group lauds Onuesoke

F

ORMER governorship as pirant of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in Delta State and Country Director, Networking for Good Governance, N4GG, Chief Sunny Onusoke, has been commended over his contribution to the electoral victory of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State governor-elect .

The Urhobo Youths Empowerment Front UYEF, gave the commendation in Warri, Delta State.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Comrade Peter Akpotu, the group expressed appreciation to Onuesoke for being consistent in his support to Okowa before, during and after the governorship election.

He said " I know very well that Onuesoke would contribute greatly to the success of Okowa’s governmeng and we urge him not to relent in the task of transforming Delta"

DESOPADEC chief empowers the physically challenged with tricycles

BY ABEL KOLAWOLE

Democratic Party (PDP). We also sensitise them on the importance of DESOPADEC as a body and as a elta State Oil Producing Area Development nation,” he reiterated. Okolugbo told the physically Commission (DESOPADEC) Commissioner challenged that if the tricycles were put into effective representing Ndokwa, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has use, they would generate funds for the Ndokwa empowered the physically challenged. The Commissioner Disabled Association and expand the business presented 16 tricycles and N2.5m cash to them while also resulting in the purchase of more tricycles from the assuring that N10m had been budgeted in the proceeds generated.

DESOPADEC 2015 budget for the welfare of physically According to him, “You could imagine 16 tricycles challenged persons in Ndokwa. Speaking after the working at the same time. That is an average of presentation at Obiaruku, Delta State, Okolugbo, who also N160, 000 in a week. You will agree with me that, commissioned street lights from Umukwata town to the that is over N600, 000 in a month, which is about Okpala-uku palace, said his aspiration to better the lives of N7.2m in a year. This is Delta Beyond Oil we are his people was part of the continuation of the finishing talking about. These are the things Uduaghan is strong programme of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. “If doing that many do not know. So we are bringing it you notice, we have been mobilizing the people to vote for to the forefront so that people can see the beauty of the continuity of the good governance of Peoples what Emmanuel Uduaghan has done. “

D

PAGE 28 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

Biometric registration: Bank customers rush as deadline nears

By Emeka Aginam

A

S the June, 2015 deadline for bank customers to get their Bank Verification Number (BVN) draws closer, customers are in the last minutes rush to enrol on the exercise.

The BVN was launched last year February by the apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria as part of its cashless policy to capture customers’ data and check fraud in the banking system.

The BVN launched by the former CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is targeted at creating a stronger Know Your Customer (KYC) for banks, to strengthen the various security platforms and also facilitate increased lending to customers.

It would be recalled that the BVN enrolment was commissioned by the Bankers Committee as part of its financial inclusion strategies.

Accordingly, the BVN gives each bank customer unique identity across the Nigerian banking industry that can be used for easy identification and verification at point of banking operation.

The exercise includes getting bank customers biometrics, with the use of fingerprints, and facial image, after which each customer will be given a bank verification number.‘ The BVN enrolment which is a continuation of the $50 million biometric project involving

the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee, NIBSS, Dermalog and Charms Plc, was meant to assign a unique number to every bank customer for enhanced security of transactions.

The scheme, according to the promoters was further aimed at helping to prevent identity theft and fraud in the industry. It is also expected to enhance credit advancement to customers.

However, the BVN issued at the point of enrolment will be linked to all customer’s bank account in Nigeria.

The exercise became imperative following the continuous cases of security issues arising from passwords and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of customers.

Although there was initial low turnout of customers with respect to registration in the ongoing BVN exercise as a result of poor awareness and lack of interest , bank customers, according to Vanguard Sun Tech findings are now compelled to comply with the CBN mandate otherwise they will not be allowed to do any transaction with any of the commercial banks across the country.

Meanwhile, a close monitoring of banking activities in Lagos State at the weekend showed that customers were fully complying as they were not allowed to do any transaction without completing the exercise.

At most banking halls visited

by Vanguard Sun Tech News on Friday last week in Lagos, bank customers were seen queuing in

the line to complete the exercise.

“I have no choice now. I have to do the enrolment now as the bank official here said that I will not do any banking transaction unless I do the BVN enrolment.

BVN is part of cashless policy to capture customers’ data and check fraud in the banking system

I wanted to transfer money to my brother in school through electronic transfer method but cannot do that unless the BVN is completed”, a customer who pleaded anonymous told Vanguard Sun Tech News at the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Berger Yard branch , Kikiri, Apapa, Lagos.

According to him, the exercise is good but lamented that the challenge is ability of customers to make out time to complete the process.

At the Zenith bank, Allen avenue, Ikeja Lagos, the situation is the same thing as customers were seen in the banking hall completing their application form to enable them do their transaction.

“Before now, I did not make

MTN BetterMe app, a game changer in digital economy

BY OLOLADE BAMIGBOLA

M

OBILE phones have become an integral part of the daily routine of many Nigerians. However, in the beginning of the mobile telephony era, it was not like that ’t so.

These now ever-present devices were once seen as the exclusive preserve of the rich and affluent; but today, they have become ubiquitous and are changing how we experience the world around us.

The BetterMe App is a productivity app that can be likened to Wikipedia, where average Nigerians can populate, drop and gain ideas.

The app is designed to provide customers with information on sports, health, food, 2015 prophecies/predictions and news, daily e-commerce deals,gossips, New Year resolutions and must-dos among many other contents.

Seeing that apps make life more organized and productive for individual sand with the New Year in full swing, it’s always important to keep track of one’s New Year ’s resolutions for 2015, what better way to achieve this than to use the BetterMe app with its ability to monitor your performance in meeting set targets.

Another dominant theme at the beginning of the year is the quest for selfimprovement. It doesn’t come as a surprise that with the BetterMe app, a driver in

Lagos can use Googlemap and traffic apps to make more savings on fuel and time, thus making transportation easier and hence, becoming a better driver.

A farmer can become even better by using the app to keep himself abreast of the latest information on weather and advances in seed engineering.

A trader can even be better at his trade by using the BetterMe App to access by the second information on currency fluctuations, hence keeping up with business growth.

Using the BetterMe App, you can stay confident and in shape with fitness and health tips from the internet. As a parent, you can get up to date parenting tips from the internet using the app.

A mechanic can upgrade his trade by acquiring new skills and method with the power of the internet from MTN among many other opportunities.

The MTN’s General Manager Corporate Affairs, Ms. Funmi Onajide while highlighting features of the BetterMe app said that , “As you know, Nigerians are very innovative and millions of people, especially our youth are already very familiar with the internet. The BetterMe app will build on that and we will expose Nigerians from all walks of life to how they can use the internet to do all sorts of things that are relevant to their peculiar circumstances

and show them how various digital and data products and services can make their lives better.”

Recalling MTN’s trail blazing initiatives like the callertunez and and Music + apps, it is envisioned that theapp would allow bloggers and internet users get more value for their time, talent and energy spent as they engage the internet for life enriching purposes, said Bayo Adekambi, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria during the launch of the app.?

Also as e-commerce gains more ground in the country, this app would provide the necessary condiments to make consumer retailing a memorable one.

With the BetterMeApp helping tounleash the creativity among many Nigerians while offering the ultimate communication experience for mobile users, the future of apps in a country of 160 million people has never looked brighter.

Not wanting to rest on its oars, MTN, in its avowed commitment to lead the delivery of the bold new digital world, has continued to come up with innovative products and services to empower customers and positively impact their lives .The recent launch of its BetterMe Appis a glowing testimonial of this resolve.

Ololade Bamigbola, works with XLR8, a Lagos based PR agency

out time in my busy schedule to complete the exercise. But because it now compulsory, I do not have choice other than do it.

This is like last minute rush anyway”, Peter Obi, a trader at Computer Village Ikeja told Vanguard Sun Tech News.

He admitted that the BVN is in the interest of bank customers because of security issues in password and identity theft.

Further monitoring of banking activities also showed that the last minute rush is more work for bank official as it was not really under compulsion to enrol when the exercise kicked off last year. But now, bank officials are strongly advising customers to enrol in the exercise in their best interest.

Normally, customers get their ticket identification number after enrolment as their their BVN will be sent to them via text message after some days.

“Pressure is more now as customers are strongly advised to do it otherwise they cannot engage in any transaction in bank.

By end of June this year, every bank customer should have registered”, an Operation Manager working in one the commercial banks in Lagos told Vanguard Sun Tech in confidence.

According to her, there will be a time when customers will spend more time in the banking hall to enrol as there will be many people waiting to be enrolled at the same time.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc, Mr. Ade Shonubi, had earlier said that customers who have completed the mandatory biometric registration at any bank branch will start collecting their Bank Verification Number cards very soon.

He assured that no bank customer would be charged for the cards and that lenders would soon begin the distribution of the BVN cards.

SUND AY SUNDA

C M Y K

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 29

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C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015 , PAGE 31

PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

C M Y K

SUND AY SUNDA

BY JIDE AJANI President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), demonstrated he did not want the past to haunt him, according to veteran politician, Mr. Kenny Martins. In the run up to the just concluded elections, some actions of Buhari as head of state between 1983 and 1985 were cited as reason he cannot be a democrat. But to drive home the point that Buhari does not dwell on the past, Martins, in this interview, narrates the story of the president-elect’s reconciliation with the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar ’Adua during the Abacha regime after they had both been estranged following Buhari’s claim that Yar’Adua played a role in ousting him as head of state in 1985. Martins’ words: “He (Buhari) did not want the past to haunt him”. You will read this part of the interview next week. But the politician, who is an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also speaks on how Buhari saved him from a plot to assassinate him during the Abacha era and how the president-elect ran the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). he Tlhas e

presidential c t i o n been won by Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Peoples Congress, APC. At a point during the collation of results when you saw it coming, what were your first thoughts about Buhari the man and the Nigerian nation?

My first thoughts were very deep. First to thank God for making this day possible and in my heart I congratulated Nigerians because I believed that this would be the beginning of a new dawn based on the fact that a couple of things had happened before in this country. That Nigerians could voluntarily elect this man without coercion and that, for the first time, Nigerians elected a man by their own will and their will has been allowed to prevail is very unusual.

e

How do you mean?

Nigerians had always had leaders chosen for them and it stuck.

Before the elections, there were many issues viz: The type of people who were presenting Buhari; the character of some of those who were sponsoring Buhari; the way the alliance to bring about the APC was coupled; and, most critically critically,, t h e t y p e o f dirty campaigns that we saw saw.. These four points, from your view view,, how do you think the average C M Y K

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 33

ASSASSINATION PLOT

How Buhari saved Obasanjo’s in-law

•‘President-elect and the PTF contracts’ Nigerian situated himself within all these to independently make a choice?

I’m a bit philosophical about certain things. There are certain inevitabilities in life that, no matter how serious the odds are stacked against those inevitabilities, they may thrive for a while but, after some time, they will become evident without questions.

I do not believe really that those who presented Buhari or those who sponsored Buhari, if you ask them, I do not think Buhari was really their candidate. But they were faced with a choice that they needed to win an election.

Nigerians were said to have been confronted with a choice between the deep blue sea and the devil?

Yes! Nigerians ended up with a situation whereby they believed that they were confronted with a choice between two devils – Buhari, seen as a totalitarian and dictator; and then Jonathan, after six years of inaction; that was what most people thought.

But what I saw was different.

I told some people very close to this government that they were going to be voted out democratically some two years ago. Look, God bless Bukola Saraki.

Before things got out of hand, Bukola and I, we were able to convince those rebel governors that they needed to meet with President Jonathan They said they would not go

now about Buhari, democracy and politics are chapters in the book. The man Buhari! This is a man that is perceived to be all of the things that they have said. And if you look at the campaigns, never in the history of Nigeria have campaigns been that dirty because the system was faced with a candidate that the system has fought against for a long time. And the system itself via cronies fought to shoot the candidate down.

I have believed that the best man to take us out of the mess we are in since he started contesting for the presidency was General Buhari.

Before p e o p l e think this thing is a joke. Is it because he has won the election n o w or…….?

(Cuts in)

Why did you see something different?

I ’ m writing a book that would be released soon: The Nigerian Project: My Testimony. And what we are discussing here

•Kenny Martins

What do you mean? This is a man I know very well.

I must first thank God for the position he has put me, the privilege to know many things about Nigerian leaders. I’ve seen them breath, I’ve seen them laugh, I’ve seen them cry, I’ve seen them scheme and I’ve seen them victorious.

Which of them have you seen cry and why?

Is there any man born of woman who doesn’t cry when the situation calls for it? When my book comes out, you will read about these things and I’m saying this with all sense of responsibility.

Look, name them, Babangida, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and I can keep mentioning names, Buhari stands head and shoulders above them all.

But because of the reason of the system fighting and shooting this man down, I have always had a quarrel with God, that how come he has not allowed good people to govern this nation and take us out of this mess? How come the best people are destroyed before they get to power? Nigeria is the only country I know that destroys its leaders. When you see them hailing somebody or something, look closely, there is more to it.

Ok ay e we come Okay ay,, befor before back to Buhari that you claim to know so well, you also know Jonathan. Can you deconstruct the man Jonathan?

There is nothing about Jonathan that needs to be said that I have not said. In 2011, I voted for General Buhari while I remained a member of the PDP. This election I voted for Buhari.

My closest friends, some of whom are here with us, used to laugh at me, saying I was wasting my vote.

You have to go back to the emergence of Jonathan, I spoke up. I said you cannot tell a man to give what he doesn’t have. I say this with all sense of

Continues on page 34

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

‘President-elect and the PTF contracts’

Kenny Martins Continued from Page 33 after about 10minutes, he came up with this idea of Doctrine of Necessity. I want anyone who wants to controvert this to come out and speak. And he gave examples of where the doctrine had been used when it appeared the constitution had become paralyzed. He explained that to make it work, the headship of the Senate, House of Representatives and someone from the executive should make pronouncements on the issue and it would make up for the lacuna in the constitution.

I went back to the old man and, there and then, General Babangida was called and briefed, but we had a challenge of who in the executive that could make such a pronouncement and I proposed the Attorney General, Chief Aondoaka. I met Aondoaka and briefed him, took him to the big man, he consented and, within 48 hours of my meeting with that big man, the Senate played its part through the Senate President, David Mark, the House of Representatives, through General Babangida and the executive through Aondoaka, who – on CNN – pronounced the doctrine and Jonathan became the Acting President. The heroes of democracy are sometimes unsung and General Buhari is also one of them.

I suggested that Jonathan should just finish what was left of Yar ’Adua’s term, continue as Vice President while allowing the North to finish the second term of their own eight years but I was overruled.

I based my suggestion on the fact that Jonathan was never really allowed to serve as a proper deputy governor under Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, before he became acting governor.

He just barely served as governor when he became vice president and, even while in that office, the cabal did not allow him to serve well as vice president. And I asked if it would not be too much for this man to jump straight to become president, fearing that he would end up where we have ended up now.

You asked me about Jonathan and that is my impression of him – he was unprepared and he C M Y K

refused to engage capable hands to help him.

Between Obasanjo and Buhari, what is the connection?

What is the bond?

Good. Let me reveal this to you. Sometime in 1995, just before Obasanjo was put away

by Abacha, he sent me to General Buhari and he said I could buy oranges for him. I said I would buy a carton but Obasanjo said ‘no, don’t waste money, just buy six pieces and give him’. So, when I got to General Buhari, I gave him. He called for a knife, and after it had been washed, he cut and started sucking and I became confounded; so I had to ask this question, ‘General, what is it about Obasanjo that you people treat him like a demigod? Look at how you feel so pleased with just six oranges as if your father sent them to you’.

He said, ‘Let me tell you why I respect the man. I was his Minister of Petroleum for three years and, during that time I was in charge of selling crude oil, I built three refineries – I can’t remember how many he said; but this man never asked me how and who was lifting crude. I just report to him regularly as was the practice at that time for the purposes of planning’.

He said ‘the only day he ever called me was one morning. I got to work very early and the Cin-C sent for me. And when I got to Dodan barracks he asked, what has Ghana done to you? I told him Ghana was owing us some money on oil-lifting contract and I canceled it. The man asked me if it was my contract or Nigeria’s contract.

Obasanjo asked me ‘What is your problem.’

He then told me that he knew from Obasanjo’s Afrocentric policy of that time that he did not want Ghana to suffer fuel shortage and I restored the contract. We then staggered the payment and he said that was the only time Obasanjo looked into what he was doing then as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources.

Which profound moment would you want to talk about in the relationship between you and General Buhari that you claim to know so well?

Incidentally, both General Buhari and President Jonathan had saved my life before from a flying bullet. In the case of Buhari, that was why I decided not to speak until he won. At least for the first time, Nigerians have chosen a leader by themselves and not one imposed or forced down their throat.

Jonathan was not a bad man in his own case. He was just a man that was too good and, when you’re too good, you get hijacked by many forces, no mind of his own; if you give an advice, by the time someone else comes to give another advice, he takes and then gets confused in the process.

For Buhari, it was during Abacha’s government.

Obasanjo had just been arrested and I was around him. Some friends approached me and revealed that I was to be assassinated. And I have this attitude about death because I’d had two close shaves with death and so I believe when my time is up my time is up. But they were

At about 1am, Saturday through Sunday, General Buhari called me from the Villa and said ‘I’ve seen the head of state and he has instructed the NSA, Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, to call you and he would be in Lagos on Monday. I have given him your number and nothing would happen to you

forceful and they said what if the bullet doesn’t hit you and it hits us.

So, I went straight to Justice Maman Nasir in Malumfaci, just after Kano. I told him I’d heard that the government was after me. The justice said I should be at peace but that I should drive straight to Daura and meet with General Buhari and talk to him.

I told General Buhari that I was being targeted and he asked why. I told him they said I was an Obasanjo man, ‘the man has been arrested and I don’t know why they are after me’.

He said he would ‘try and see the head of state this weekend

and by Sunday I would call you’. We had land lines that time. At about 1am, Saturday through Sunday, General Buhari called me from the Villa and said ‘I’ve seen the head of state and he has instructed the NSA, Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, to call you and he would be in Lagos on Monday. I have given him your number and nothing would happen to you’.

On Monday morning, Alhaji Gwarzo called me and I’d not met him before. He introduced himself and told me not to worry and that he would be in Lagos on Friday but I insisted on my paying him a visit, but he insisted that if I wanted to come, I should let the former head of state know that I chose to come to Abuja because he was instructed to come and see me.

So on Wednesday I was in the Villa, I went to Gwarzo’s office and introduced myself a Obasanjo’s in-law and that I heard they wanted to kill me.

He said ‘but our government is not a killer’. There and then he called the head of the SSS then, explaining to him my allegation and that one said he knew me.

Gwrazo assured me that I should go and that nothing would happen to me and nothing happened to me.

But just two weeks later, my closest political associate, Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, was killed by government goons.

If I had known her name was also on their list, I would have mentioned her; that day still remains the saddest day of my life when I realized that I missed an opportunity to save her.

Let’s move forward a bit to the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF? Would you believe that when the job was first offered Buhari, he rejected it. Many people brought tremendous pressure to bear on him but he was resolute in rejecting the job. My question to him at that time was simple. ‘Knowing you as a principled man, some of us have been taught by you to be nationalistic in thinking’ and that what he was being offered was the biggest budget outside any national budget at that time and that ‘ you are turning it down because you are Mr. Clean. If you turn down the job, some people will suffer in the health sector, education sector and in the area of infrastructure’ and that he could manage it without being stained.

This man explained to me once and said, ‘Kenny, I would allow 30% profit for my PTF contracts’.

I asked why? That appears too much but the man said he knew what he was doing. He said the 15% or 20% is fake because government officials still go ahead to pad the project cost and share 70% of the money and use only 30% for the job. He insisted and charged that no contractor or government official would share his remaining 70%; that it would be used for the job. There must be a bank guarantee, so between the bank and the contractor, there must be a performance bond; so when people come and talk of

(1)

corruption in PTF, some of us laugh. Go and ask those involved. His approach made the thing work.

When you look at those who worked for his emergence and victory, you see strange elements who…?

(Cuts in) Look, there was a day we were talking and he said, ‘these boys want money from PTF’. I asked which boys and he said the military.

As largesse or what?

I hope the general won’t be angry about this but it is already part of my coming book. It was part of the money for defence, rehabilitation of the barracks and stuff like that. So he said the boys would not allow the contractors to enter the barracks and that they wanted to handle it because the military have their own contractors. It became a major issue for which Buhari and the military dragged one another to Abacha. But it was resolved that the percentage for defence and military should be given to them.

So, to understand this man, even the pressure from the military did not make him succumb. So if he could not bow then, which pressure would make him bow now?

In fact, those around Abacha at that time told me that the one of the few persons Abacha stood up to receive was General Buhari.

Don’t you think some Nigerians would be of the view that you were unfair to this man, that had you come out earlier with these disclosures during the campaigns you would have assisted in deepening the understanding of Nigerians regarding Buhari?

(Cuts in) No. I do not believe in grandstanding. One of the best things I have learnt from some elders is that there are some national service you provide best by not going public. Once you go public sometimes, you do not achieve what you would have originally set out to do. I told some people very close to this government that they were going to be voted out democratically some two years ago.

Look, God bless Bukola Saraki. Before things got out of hand, Bukola and I, we were able to convince those rebel governors that they needed to meet with President Jonathan. They said they would not go.

In part two next week, read about the following: *The 1985 coup, cause of the war between General Buhari and late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and how they were reconciled *Why the five PDP governors finally left PDP for APC *The solution Buhari once proffered for traffic congestion along Oshodi/Apapa Expressway *How the President-elect chaired a pan-Yoruba meeting in Kaduna *The untold story of the Police Housing Scheme scam

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 35

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

G

radually, things changed for General Muhammadu Buhari for good. He is no more the ordinary Nigerian of yesterday. He is now the president-elect.

But that is no more news.

The news now is that everything about the man has suddenly turned presidential: food, house, clothings, vehicles, name it. Have you seen him of late? Buhari has got swag. In fact, the usual Buhari’s two or three cars convoy has grown serpentine with fortified security presence.

But then, the man has lost his privacy. Ditto for his running-mate. The vicepresident-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has transformed from the ordinary preacher to wearing the executive stuff.

When Buhari threw his hat into the political ring in 2003, seeking the presidency, he was seen as the biggest joker of the century. Of course, the people rejected him. In 2007, he gave it another shot but was humiliated by his kinsman, the late President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua. In 2011, he reappeared for the presidential contest, the same fate of the previous times befell him. By this time, he was already being dubbed a serial loser.

But as 2015 approached, signs of his coronation became clear. And on March 28, destiny crowned him the president-elect even at 72.

Now, the serial loser has become the lucky winner.

Once again, the general has been catapulted into a life of affluence and influence.

Nostalgically, the only time Buhari’s life assumed this dimension was during his military days when he was Head of State. But that was 30 years ago. Even at that, there is a difference between being a President and Head of State. It is not just because one is elected by the people but the fact that one would not be afraid of colleagues planning a coup and removing one. The military steals political power irrespective of the public odium it attracts but a President receives the mandate of the people.

Buhari suffered such military fate on August 27, 1985 when his colleagues ent him packing from office. Since then, he had led a private life.

But the man is back at the corridors of power. This time, through the front door. And, gradually, attention is fast shifting from the incumbent president to him.

Before March 28, 2015, he was General Muhammadu Buhari, “General” (rtd), being a professional title he acquired from the Nigerian Army. But, today, that has changed to “president-elect”. And from May 29, the name would also change to President Muhammadu Buhari. Below is the story of a man who has again been accorded a presidential treatment 30 years after he exited office as Nigeria’s 7th Head of State, showing just how a stage the world is.

First official bilateral engagement as president-elect

that day.

Watching Buhari receive the President of Ivory Coast, Allassane Quattara, at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja in the evening of Monday, April 20, upon his return from his home country, Daura, Katsina State, put in me the feeling of presidential reality. As a former Head of State, Buhari may be entitled to use the facility but definitely not with an air of presidential aura he exuded C M Y K

General Muhammadu Buhari

AHEAD OF INAUGURATION

President-elect takes charge

*Ambassadors rush to meet him

Quattara may have also met with President Goodluck Jonathan earlier that Monday, but not with the observable euphoria on his face, jolting him to some immediate memorial expeditions where he recalled his own election.

Like Buhari, Quattara’s presidency was also tough, an eventual art of providence and destiny.

Said the Ivory Coast leader: “I have come to Nigeria to

But the man is back at the corridors ofpower. This time, through the front door.

And, gradually, attention is fast shifting from the incumbent president to him

congratulate my brother the president-elect for his brilliant election and to let him know that the process of this election is a great pride to all of us and the rest of African countries.

“The peaceful process is a lesson for all African countries. You will recall that in my own country in 2010 when we had the presidential election, the former president did not want to leave office and this led to civil war with 3000 people died. So, we are very proud of the Nigerian

people.

“I came to congratulate my brother President Buhari and tell him that my country and Nigeria will work hand in hand for stronger integration of the West African region.

Nigeria is very important to all of us for its leadership and I think I met President Buhari few years back. We will continue to work together to make sure that the west

Continues on page 38

PAGE 36—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

ZONING OF SPEAKERSHIP

APC leaders’ stalemate dangerous — Kwankwaso

‘What we did to return highest votes for Buhari in Kano’ Outgoing Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, now senator-elect, is, perhaps, one of the few governors who have built a solid political structure to outlast him. In a rare display of political sagacity, he has handed over the reins of power to his deputy in election that saw Kano deliver the highest votes to the APC thereby helping to change the political configuration in Nigeria.

In this interview, Kwankwaso justifies his decision to stand by Muhammadu Buhari to defeat incumbent President Jonathan and his party, the PDP in the March 28 presidential poll. He also says that the allegation of under-aged voters in Kano during the election is mere conjecture. Excerpts:

By Soni Daniel,

Regional Editor, North

H

ow do you see the outcome of the presidential and governorship elections across the country?

The success of the All Progressives Congress in the elections is the success of this country and the success of our brothers and sisters across the world. We have to say that the elections, especially the ones of March 28 have gone a long way to bring quality change in this country even before the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, is sworn-in. I am sure you have seen how the Naira has appreciated, you must have seen how the stock market has improved in the past few weeks because of the victory of Buhari; I think that is a good sign for this country. I am sure that when the president in inaugurated, he will do whatever it takes to get the politics right and, by doing that, many other things-like security, economy and corruption-to name but a few, will be taken care of in order to give Nigerians a new lease of life and move the country forward.

So we feel very happy that things are happening positively and I am also happy that the election came and went peacefully and were generally accepted as credible by the international and local observers except in some states.

To many Nigerians, the outcome of the election is a big surprise that the opposition party the ruling party?

What do you think happened?

Well, it didn’t come to us as a surprise. It would have been a surprise if APC lost the election. Look, don’t forget that the outgoing PDP administration made very costly C M Y K

mistakes which they never stoop to reflect on and make amends despite complaints from many members and leaders. So, Nigerians would have been surprised if PDP had been reelected.

Besides, President Jonathan should thank God that he spent six years and, during that period, so many mistakes were made and he made no effort to correct them. The issue of corruption remained very high; he didn’t get the politics right to the extent that many important leaders and members of the party left them, yet they had no idea on what to do in order to protect the party from collapsing in the middle of his presidency. All these things combined to work against the PDP and its candidate.

The government also toyed with the security of the nation and it became very expensive at the end of the day for the administration. When the insurgency challenge started, it did not appear as it could rock the boat, but it was allowed to grow to the extent that the insurgents developed the capacity and even took a large chuck of the country as well as some forces. At the end of the day, we really don’t know what happened, but government decided to improve on its political will and you have seen what has happened in just six weeks of the government putting down its feet to confront the insurgents. I want to say that if they had used that political will right from the beginning, most of the lives and property lost would not have fallen to the insurgents.

There are so many losses like our children in the North-East who have been prevented from going to school for some time now, you can see the complete disruption of economic activities in the region and the general gloom that has been visited on the people through no fault of

theirs. My hope is that this new administration will come in with a policy to help the North-East because the area has been through a terrible war. It is my hope the government will assist them to rebuild their homes and means of livelihood and have the opportunity to return to their normal lives.

How do you defend the fact that your state returned the highest number of votes during the presidential election and you also scored the highest number of votes as a senator-elect?

I joined the contest to become a senator firstly to ensure that Buhari got the maximum number of votes. It wasn’t a matter of just winning in Kano but to get the maximum number

Buhari is a popular man in Kano and many parts of the North, but my candidature and his candidature on the same day was needed to boost that figure. In other words, I actually contested the polls in order to enhance Buhari’s chances of winning the election

and to make sure PDP didn’t get 25 percent in my state.

Let me also say that Buhari is a popular man in Kano and many parts of the North, but my candidature and his candidature on the same day was needed to boost that figure. In other words, I actually contested the polls in order to enhance Buhari’s chances of winning the election.

That was why I decided and accepted the offer by my people to contest for the senatorial seat. Don’t forget that during the APC presidential primary, I came second at a time many people thought it would be otherwise. But that is election for you because sometimes the underrated person may become the front liner at the end of the day.

There are calls from certain persons that you should forgo your senatorial seat and take up the FCT minister post in order to replicate what you have done in Kano in Abuja. Which of these are you disposed to?

In this game, if you look at it very critically what you need to do is just to be a politician first. In 1991 when I left my job as a civil servant, I contested as a member of House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of that House. In 1994, I was an elected delegate to the Constitutional Conference. I was governor between 1999 and 2003. I was Minister of Defence for about four years, I was adviser to the president on Somali, I was a member of NDDC representing North West l Zone. Now, you can see that from legislation to political conference to executive at state level to executive at national level and so on and so forth, you don’t go there with a fixed mind; you have to be this or you have to be that. I contested as you rightly pointed out to be an APC

Continues on page 37

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015 , PAGE 37 north-eastern states to help the people. I will like to see the Buhari administration working deliberately to support the north eastern part of the country so that the people can live their lives and join other parts of the country. I am not from the North-East, but as poor as we are in the NorthWest, I know that we are much better than the North-East. They really need urgent development to take out of their present socio-economic woes.

‘What we did to return highest votes for Buhari in Kano’ Continued from Page 36 candidate for the presidency where I came second but when I reviewed the situation, I realised I could be an asset at the National Assembly and that was what made me to contest and now I am a senator-elect. I have seen some people resident in Abuja asking the President to appoint me the Minister of FCT. I see them as people that want to benefit from similar projects that have been done in Kano.

My position has always been that whatever I am doing, I do it with open heart and mind. I am here to support the party in any position.

Those talking about Kano, Kano is only the recent development and, if you like, go and ask those who were in the House of Representatives with me, I was one of the most popular people even amongst the principal officers. I know that most of those who were with me in the House at the time also contributed immensely to my success at the primary election in Lagos.

What do you think about the plan by the APC to zone key positions in the National Assembly?

My advice is that they should quickly do it so that we don’t have the kind of problems that we witnessed in 2011. I believe the party shouldn’t waste anymore time because the implication of delay is that some people will go around the country to mobilise support for themselves and, if the zoning comes late, they will be very strong in their campaign to the extent that they can disobey the party just as we saw during the Tambuwai thing in 2011. Tambuwal went round the country, we gave him our word as a person that we will support him and, when the zoning came late, we had already committed ourselves to that project and the party, at the end of the day, was humiliated because we didn’t want to change our position because we promised to support him and, with some members of the opposition at that time, he won the election against the government’s candidate and things have never been the same again with the PDP. I believe that the man who got the ticket had more support from the opposition than from those in the party who rarely supported him. I don’t want us to repeat that mistake again. I think it is high time we finish the zoning but anybody can aspire for whatever was zoned to his or her own part of the country.

There is a debate over where certain positions should go to and one of the issues is where should the Speaker of the House come from and there are many aspirants already struggling for the positions.

I don’t want to be particular about Senate President or Speaker or Majority Leader or anything. I think what is important is to have a fair distribution of the posts to ensure that all zones are represented and I think it is one of the mistakes of the PDP which decided to lump in certain preferred places while others had little or nothing at the end of the day.

I think that has gone a long way in really killing the party. My belief is that this country is for all of us, this country is not for Muslims or Christians, this country is not only for the North or the South, it is not only for the Yoruba or the Igbo or the Hausa or any other tribe. That is why the leadership must be fair and it is only on fairness that we can ensure

Gov. Musa Kwankwaso...delay in concluding zoning of political offices is dangerous the success of the party and the government. Therefore, at any given position, leaders must come out because if you decide to do otherwise, certainly you will run into crisis like the PDP. What is important is to work with what is on the ground and see how it would be fair. Of course performance is an issue but even those that didn’t perform as much as others, they need to be encouraged.

We have those in the South-East and even South-South that have not done as well as others, but you know we have been in this game for some time now. We know that many people,

I don’t want us to repeat that mistake again. I think it is high time we finish the zoning but anybody can aspire for whatever was zoned to his or her own part of the country

especially those who take business seriously, only want the best for the government and it is only a matter of time these people will certainly join APC either because of APC ideas or ideology or even because of business.

Whatever it is, this game is about interest. So I look forward to seeing people from the South-East and the South-South joining the APC so that by 2019, our task in terms of campaign will be minimal. This will make it possible for our party to win elections easily because elections are not won on election day.

We know how strong you feel about the offshore and onshore issue. As it is now that you are going to in the senate is this one of the areas you will want to see worked on?

I was in the conference when we decided to allocate or recommend 13 percent for derivation. I was part of it because I believed there was need to give certain money to that part of the country for many obvious reasons.

Now many things follow like NDDC, the Niger Delta Ministry and many other things in the budget; of course, these are the issues we are going to handle critically. I am sure you remember when I raised the issue of onshore, offshore at a time the issue of constitutional amendment came in and many people were talking of 25 percent and so on. Of course, it is for us to look at issues critically. One of the failures of the PDP government then was that they neglected issues that were on ground. I remember when the Yar’Adua administration introduced the issue of supporting the ex-militants, a lot of resources was pumped into that area. Now the issue of losses came in the budget, I think 5 billion or so was allocated to the

People are calling the President a hero for accepting defeat. Do you agree with them?

I believe the President failed for inexplicable reasons. I don’t blame him. He failed to play national politics that would have launched him out as a statesman. He didn’t know who was who in this country, he was just looking at faces and those who dressed well and carried many cell phones and they met at the airport and they smiled and he must have assumed that these were the good people he needed to do business with on behalf of other Nigerians.

Unfortunately, he made a big mistake by picking the wrong people and surrounding himself with such treacherous elements. Let me tell you, our leaders who have been in this game before us, especially those who were in the First Republic, told so much about our friends in this country and he happens to come from SouthSouth, our very close and dependable ally. The people of the South South were very close to our leaders and we always work and vote together. But we have done everything possible to work with him but, of course, he squandered the opportunity. He didn’t handle it very well up to the extent that most of us saw that we don’t have future as PDP members and as individuals and, that is why we had to come together to organise ourselves to defeat him. Look at what the wife of the President said about us-northerners. She was just castigating the North almost at every opportunity. You cannot insult us and think that you can get away with it.

This democracy is a game of numbers and that is why we went back and put almajiris together to get about two million votes.

But many Nigerians suspect that the two million votes from Kano was possible because of under-aged voters and almajiris?

I think it is only in Kano and other states that we have real elections in this country. We had about four million registered voters and just two million voted and you are saying under aged and all rubbish. The issue of almajiris have been open to abuse in this country and turned into insults for us. Almajiri here is a positive word but the way they see it is that we are beggars, that we produce so many children that we cannot take care of, and that is what the First Lady was saying and we kept quiet because we had our own way of answering her and we did exactly that on the 28th of March.

So we are happy that things went this way and what happened is a lesson that we won’t allow anybody to go to the Presidential Villa and reduce the whole place to religion by saying I want this religion and I don’t want this one. If we vote you, go there and do your job, we don’t want you to be dancing around and jumping from one church to the other, going from one mosque to the next, and kneeling down before this and that or going to any country and be disgracing and embarrassing us in the name of speaking for Nigeria.

You are the President of the country and you should stand by that; if you are the First Lady, everybody is your child and if they are bad, try to reform them and not castigate any of them. We don’t want anybody to come and abuse Yoruba, Igbo or Ijaw; you are the father of all and we have to move this country forward.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

Ambassadors rush to meet Buhari Continued from Page 35 African region and the people the region can seek more prosperity and better lives.”

While the Ivorian leader shared his ugly experience in the hands of his predecessor, Buhari recalled Jonathan’s benign stance which has saved Nigeria of a conceivable overt crisis.

“I think more specifically (Quattara’s visit is ) to congratulate president Jonathan for his statesmanship because when president Quattara referred to his own experience where he was under siege for more than four months because his predecessor refused to acknowledge his winning. In Nigeria opposite happened, hence we are enjoying the peace, so specifically congratulate president Jonathan for his statesmanship”, the presidentelect said.

Buhari relocates Defence House

to

Buhari’s presidential treatment did not just begin and end at the airport. It continued to Abuja metropolis and would continue over the next four years. Upon his return that Monday from Daura where he had been since the April 11 gubernatorial election, Buhari checked in at the luxurious Defence House in Maitama axis of town.

Understandably, the facility, which may also be called a safe house, was designed by the regime of a military Head of State and has since served as the temporary abode for an incoming president. In fact, only persons of presidential status use the place for official engagements and so, Buhari, being the presidentialelect, is entitled to use the facility which was recently renovated to receive his visitors. And you can bet the horde of security personnel that now surrounds the place.

ECOWAS Chairman’s visit The first person to visit Buhari at the place was the Chairperson of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Ghanaian President, Mr. John Mahama, on Tuesday, April 21.

He brought two things to Buhari: Congratulations and pledges to work with him on ECOWAS platform. But the contemporary xenophobic madness in South Africa, a sister country, stole the show. And you could trust that Mahama descended heavily on the country especially on its attack on Nigerians.

“I think it is an issue that we are all worried about because of the specific circumstances of South Africa and its most regrettable and most unfortunate. I think that the young people of South Africa do not know what happened before they gained their freedom. The whole of this continent stood behind South Africa. The whole of Africa stood behind South Africa to fight against apartheid. I remember all of us who growing up as secondary school children went on marches and where part of the African Youth command boycotted classes and all that all in the fight against apartheid”, Mahama said.

“Indeed for several of the countries where their citizens were brutalised in South Africa, these are countries called front line states and harboured the freedom fighters of South Africa and gave them safe haven, gave them passports to be able to avoid the clutches of the apartheid regime and even Nigeria. Nigeria even though not

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

a neighbour of South Africa was considered a frontline state because of their economic contribution that Nigeria did to be able to liberate South Africa from apartheid and so, it is regrettable that the same people who fought against apartheid are being attacked.

“The pictures we have seen are horrible. As ECOWAS, we have issued a statement condemning what is happening, the unfortunate thing is this is not first time, it keeps flaring up and so while we are condemning this incidence we must work with South African government to ensure that it won’t happen a g a i n . We are trying to create an integrated continent where our people can move freely amongst our countries, this has not set a very good example for integration and especially for South Africa that has investments all over countries”.

On Nigeria’s elections, the ECOWAS leader said: “Earlier this morning I called on President Jonathan and also commended him for his maturity and statesmanship that he has shown in terms of conceding before the tally was done and calling President elect Buhari to congratulate him. I think that Nigeria has shown a good example for self regime that democracy and good governance have found a firm root in the ECOWAS. The ECOWAS has a protocol on democracy, good governance and elections and I believe that has been properly followed here in Nigeria.

“We have five elections this year and Nigeria has set the pace and we still have Togo that is coming on Saturday 25th and in October we have Burkina Faso. We have cote d ivoire. We have Guinea, so I think that with what has happened in Nigeria, it is an example for other countries in terms of the standard electioneering. In my second heart as the president of Ghana as you know Ghana and Nigeria have very close relationship and we will continue to work closely with Nigeria, we

share the same values our cultures are similar.

“Nigeria is the biggest economy in West Africa and is the most populous and also the biggest economy in Africa. So, it is a very valued member of ECOWAS and we will continue to expect that Nigeria would show a certain leadership and carry her responsibility in terms of the work of west African states”.

Ambassadorial visits One of the campaign promises of Buhari was to restore

For sure, there is a season for everything.

Like President Goodluck Jonathan, who had no shoes at a time, Buhari, in the last 30 years when he exited office, may not have played host to officials of other countries in the manner last Tuesday and Wednesday afforded him

Nigeria’s self respect in the international community and signs of that glowed on Wednesday, April 22 when, in one fell swoop, China, Israel, Equatorial Guinea, Iran and Morocco promised their cooperation with the incoming administration.

The assurances of those countries were conveyed through their ambassadors in Nigeria who visited to Buhari at the Defence House.

For China, Buhari’s regime would mark a new dawn of investments in agriculture and infrastructure.

“China and Nigeria are going to further our cooperation. As part of our desire for collaboration with Nigeria I discussed with the President- elect on some of the potential areas of investment. We plan to invest in such areas like Agriculture, infrastructure and other projects that is tailored to impact positively on the lives of the people of Nigeria. We came to present the best wishes and regards from our President and people of China to the president- elect”, the Chinese envoy, Mr. Gu Viaojie, said..

In the case of Morocco, the diplomatic row between it and Nigeria that resulted to the recalling of its ambassador to Nigeria was now a thing of the past.

“The new relations is for the good of both Morocco and Nigeria. I am here to give the President- elect a message from the King of Morocco. The message is for greetings and best wishes from Moroccan people. I believe that ( the ugly incident that led to the withdrawal of Moroccan Head of Mission) is in the past now. We are looking forward to the future now”, the Morrocoan ambassador, M r. Mostafa Bouh, said.

Similarly, the Equatorial Guinea ambassador said Nigeria has shown exemplary leadership in Africa with the conduct of the peaceful elections just as the Israeli ambassador, Uriel Palti, expressed the readiness of his country to continue with the good relationship with Nigeria.

Last line For sure, there is a season for everything. Like President Goodluck Jonathan, who had no shoes at a time, Buhari, in the last 30 years when he exited office, may not have played host to officials of other countries in the manner last Tuesday and Wednesday afforded him. Osibanjo also may have occupied the office of Commissioner for Justice somewhere but not as noticeably as the office of the number two citizen of a country.

These new titles with their inherent euphorias intoxicate.

But no matter, the mistake both men cannot afford to do is to let the excitement get into their heads.

There is enormous task ahead. The job of fixing Nigeria and get it back onto the path of glory with a happy citizenry is paramount and non-negotiable. A repeat of the past mistakes of successive leaders who got carried away by office exuberance and paraphernalia must not happen. 30 years out of military or civilian power should have taught someone a big lesson. The world is watching.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 39

Austerity measures inevitable for Nigeria

BY DELE SOBOWALE

“Unsold Nigerian crude grows as buyer interest fails”.

PUNCH, Thursday, April 9, 2015.

The Problem Confronting Nigeria.

“If people are going to buy your solution, first of all they have to buy the problem you present.”

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 229).

G

IVING advice is a risky and often thankless undertaking, even when people or governments ask for it.

The call to place “all hands on deck”, in Nigeria, had proved to be more deceptive than meant. Invariably, a cabal pursuing its personal interests soon takes over the directions of economic policy and the greatest good for the greatest number soon become a distant mirage.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last sixteen years had operated an economy based on the exclusion of the vast majority of Nigerians. That explains why as the economy grew at more than 7% annually, the benefits have eluded the vast majority. The last election, in many respects, reflected the frustrations and angers of the silent majority who only read of the economic gains on the pages of newspapers or watched on television as one documentary after another proclaimed achievements which they never experienced.

President-elect Buhari will however inherit an economy now heading for a recession. The reasons are not hard to discover.

The crude oil, which had oiled the wheels of our economic progress, is now failing us badly – without an alternative readily available. The report mentioned above disclosed that “only 25 per cent of the May programme had so far been placed”. This is novel experience for a country which in the past sold its allocation fully three or four months in advance.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Demand drop represents only a small part of the calamity. This time last year, crude sold, on the average, for over $100 per barrel. In May, as we have seen for most of the first four months, the price will most likely hover around $55 per barrel. Gas sales and prices have moved in tandem with crude oil – both have headed downwards; and will most probably remain down for 2015 if not for years to come.

Meanwhile, the forces driving down the revenue from oil and gas threaten to remain for several years. First, the United States of America, USA, which had, for decades, been the world’s largest importer of petroleum products, had suddenly emerged as the largest global producer in 2014; it is also challenging traditional exporters for market share. That situation promises to remain for the long term forcing Nigeria and other countries depending on the US market to come up with new ideas about the use of their crude.

Second, China, the

Alison Deziani Madueke

The debt load Buhari will inherit started when the price of crude again started going up. It will have to be repaid when the price of crude had tumbled as it did in the 1980s world’s second largest economy and India, as well as Brazil in South America, are experiencing economic slow down.

The Chinese Central Bank recently lowered interest rates in a bid to stimulate the sluggish economy.

Whether it will work or not remains to be seen.

This is not the first cut.

Previous attempts at stimulating the exportoriented economy had failed to yield desired results.

Third, decades of paying lip service to diversification of the

economy had produced little by way of exportable products and services. One obvious reason is lack of competitive advantage resulting from high production costs to poor quality products. The other is the absence of any demonstrable surplus of any products designed for export.

The feeble attempt to turn cassava export into “agro-dollars” proved to be short-lived.

There is still a great global demand for cassava, but, our annual output, coupled with

increasing domestic consumption, ensure that the export revenue remains flat. Obviously, there will be little income from non-oil exports to make up for the drastic shortfall.

C l e a r l y, we have a revenue problem. But, unfortunately, it is not the only problem we are confronted with. Simultaneously, we have a growing debt problem and the threat of debt default cannot be lightly dismissed. The second time Finance Minister left Nigeria relatively debt-free when she departed in 2006. OkonjoIweala returned to find the nation’s external debt close to $5 billion.

Today, it is almost $10 billion. The disturbing aspect of the new debt trap rests in the fact that we had blundered into this problem precisely in the same way we did in the late 1970s to 2004. Let us quickly recap and close this segment.

Back in 1978, encouraged by the rising price of crude oil and Nigeria’s low debt, “technocrats” advised the military government headed by Obasanjo that Nigeria was “under-borrowed” and the economy would

PAGE 40— SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

After June 12, this was the best election Nigeria ever had—General Shagaya • ‘I will take Useni to tribunal’ all of us from different backgrounds who love this country will say that we have someone we respect and will be respected by the continental bodies. Since Nigeria cannot operate in a vacuum, we need someone that the world can accept for us to develop and progress together. There is no doubt that our leaders have done the best from the beginning in 1960 and even the struggle for independence through the civil war until the last few years. All I believe that the friends of Buhari are saying today is that we are declining instead of climbing to the top of the ladder.

This is where the entire world did not expect us to be.

We got the change we required and I congratulate Nigeria. APC doesn’t have the money the current ruling party has, yet we won.

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

G

eneral John Nanzip Shagaya, the Plateau Southern Senatorial Zone candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC, in the March 28 National Assembly election, has vowed to contest the result in tribunal to reclaim the mandate he believes he rightly won.

Shagaya contested alongside Gen. Jeremiah T. Useni (rtd),who was returned as the winner of the election. Shagaya believes the election was full of irregularities which affected over 15,000 votes that was destroyed by angry mobs in Namu town .

The general praised Nigerians for coming out en-masse for the election and expressed excitement over the victory of the candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for being a statesman by conceding victory in the keenly contested presidential election.

Meanwhile, he said the election generally is the best in the history of Nigeria after the one of June 12, 1993, a position opposed by Bishop Charles Igbele of Holy Spirit Mission Church, Lagos in a separate interview.

What’s your take on the justconducted elections?

I want to honestly commend Nigerians from all sectors of the economy especially all those who have the time to come out en-masse to vote. I also commend Nigerians across the country for coming out to contribute in the expected change the country required and

making that change a reality. I also admire the media houses for their fair reports throughout the period of the campaigns and the elections and of course the politicians. I will appeal to those who have lost that they should go through the due process of law to reclaim their mandate. The whole world has commended Nigeria for the conduct of the elections. We have also learnt a big lesson from the 2015 general elections and hoping that 2019 will be much better.

Would you say the elections were free and fair?

They can only be compared to the 1993 election which would have been the best election but for the annulment. I think so because, Abiola was from the South-west and he won many regions, likewise Buhari in this year’s elections. And I think, Nigerians really went for change because this man (Buhari) is incorruptible and fearless. He is one man who, in 1984, when the World Bank decided that we must swallow hook, line and sinker heavy conditionality in Nigeria, stood up and said he must consult his country as Nigeria must not be judged on western values because we are a developing nation. As time went on, you know what happened when we began to bite the conditionality of the World Bank. When he made this speech in 1984, the Naira was equivalent to 2.2 dollars. Today, you need a basket of naira to buy one dollar. Those are the qualities he has. He is a man that most Nigerians would want to rule this country. Of course, democracy is a game of numbers and I know that

What can you make of the belief in some quarters that the INEC Chair, Prof.

Jega, rigged the election to favour Buhari?

I cannot hold brief for any individual.

Nigeria required change and voted for it. I have already congratulated Nigerians who have come out to vote and all those who have contributed to the success of the election including INEC and the media houses. I also said that besides the June 12, 1993 election, this was the best and I made my reasons very clear. What I want to also say is that those who are aggrieved should go to court. In my area, there were irregularities that led to the destruction of some votes and I believe that affected me.

So,I am aggrieved . I contested the senatorial election and the result is not acceptable to me. My lawyers are already filing papers challenging the result of the election. There was an issue in my area which affected over 15,000 votes to be destroyed by amob in Namu town. I observed that some PDP voters were encouraged to vote without their PVCs, introducing kangaroo result for a poll that didn’t take place. My happiness here is that when these issues will be presented to the tribunal, INEC should be able to

I cannot hold brief for any individual. Nigeria required change and voted for it. I have already congratulated Nigerians who have come out to vote and all those who have contributed to the success of the election including INEC and the media houses

sieve the number of registered voters from fake ones as well as those with the PVCs .

Secondly, the number of PVCs released to every local government and captured in every polling units as against votes cast can be determined. In my own case, I believe government also assisted in manipulating the process to favour General Useni.

Some of the sitting local government chairmen in the south manned by the PDP suddenly became returning officers of the election thereby bypassing the APC agents and taking the result straight to the headquarters in Jos. This led to a lot of manipulation because in the local governments where the misbehaviour took place, they ought to realize that result must be submitted in EC8 forms which must be signed by agents of all political parties and the returning officers.

Voting in about four local governments in the southern senatorial district was not done.

In any case, I believe that INEC should be able to sieve that result and throw the chaff in it away. The sitting election tribunal should decisively take a decision based on the overwhelming evidence at our disposal.

There are very serious issues the Resident Electoral Commission has to address as a matter of fact; for instance, the result of South Plateau should have been announced at a particular location but I was in Shendam when the result was yet to be announced; all we were told was that the returning officer had disappeared, then, we heard on radio that they had announced the result. But I am happy that most of the National Assembly election result should be separated and treated separately. INEC headquarters in Abuja under Professor Jega will compare the result they received through the websites they placed throughout the country that collected and connected through the card readers. That will confirm some of the fears that we have raised. We are already armed with the facts to separate the chaff from the grain of the number of registered people and those with PVCs as recorded by INEC through the REC of Plateau to the southern senatorial district.

The release of the record by card readers as against the ballot count cast, in the southern senatorial district, is a very temporal mandate, a stolen mandate and if INEC doesn’t return the mandate, the constituted election tribunal will certainly do so to APC. What do you have to say about Jonathan conceding defeat?

I have commended him for that, it was very magnanimous of him. This is the first time such a thing is happening not just in our country, but also in Africa as a whole. A sitting leader conceding victory to the opposition. We pray for long life and good health for Jonathan for him to continue serving humanity the way he has demonstrated. President Goodluck Jonathan is a statesman by conceding victory in the keenly contested election. He has by that single act demonstrated the spirit of statesmanship.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 41

2015 elections the worst in Nigeria’s history —Bishop Ighele • Says Buhari must address religious, ethnic voting pattern

•Bishop Charles Ighele

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI & IKENNA ASOMBA

B

ishop Charles Ighele is the General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission Church, the Happy Family Chapel, with over 60 branches, outreaches and neighbourhood assemblies. He took over the headship of the church from the founder, the late Bishop Michael Marioghae, on January 19, 1997.

Ighele, who just clocked 60, in this interview, speaks on the 2015 general elections, describing them as the worst elections ever in the nation’s history, because of the voting pattern in some parts of the country, largely driven by ethnic and religious sentiments.

You just clocked 60 years and have spent over 35 years in the ministry.

How has the journey been like?

Besides being the General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission Church, the Happy Family Chapel, I’m also the President, Happy Family African Foundation; President Marriage Promise Keepers; I head the International Conference for Ministers, Marriage and Family. I and my wife also run an institute for marriage and intimacy studies. We publish a magazine, “The Love Arena.” We organize the minister’s child conference, even as my wife organizes “When Mama Prays.” We do so many things relating to the family outside the pulpit.

How did the journey start?

After I graduated from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1980, I came across the founder of Holy Spirit Mission Church, Benin-City, Bishop Michael Marioghae. I have been in several churches, read a lot and have come across preachers who preach from books and won’t give credit.

That is plagiarism. I have heard preachers preaching and quoting books without giving credit and people are jumping. I used to be disgusted. But when I met Bishop Marioghae, I saw a man who was preaching and giving credit to where he got the information from. That really got me interested in him, and, sometime later, I became a member of his church. This was actually what got me excited because I love honesty.

I saw dishonest people on the pulpit and I was disgusted. Then, I found this man, Bishop Marioghae, and I had to

cling to him and I became a member of his ministry, the Holy Spirit Mission, Benin-City. I was handling evangelism and I became the Secretary of the Elders Council, the supreme ruling body of the ministry. At a time, I was the Sunday school teacher of the ministry. I held several positions before I became a pastor in the ministry.

In December 1996, Bishop Marioghae called some of us who were the senior ministers to a meeting, informing us that God had told him that his time was up, that God would soon call him home. He was 70 years then. He said his job was over and that God told him to hand-over to another person and that person was me. So, on January 19, 1997, a public handingover service was conducted at the church headquarter, then, in Benin-City.

Five years after he handed-over to me, he passed on. Something unique about him was that from the day he handedover to me, he never stepped his feet into his office. He never interfered with anything. Bishop Marioghae was indeed a man of integrity, even when his burial ceremony was held at Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, it was massive that Coca Cola printed banners. So, that is the kind of background I am coming from.

Journey to Lagos Ten years ago, we had to relocate the ministry to Lagos and starting all over again. We started worshiping under canopies before we bought our land in Shasha area of Lagos. Even some people who used to read about us in the papers, when they visit our ministry, they think I have collapsed. Also, people who used to be very close to me all turned their back on me. That reminds of the story that success has many relations, but failure has none. Here was I lacking nothing in Benin-City, but, on coming to Lagos, things were really tough for us.

But, today, by the special grace of God, we have gotten somewhere. We were very visible in Benin-City, but when we came to Lagos, it seemed we were nobody. But we had a sense of mission, that was why we persevered and stayed calm. We knew what God called us to do, and ‘by the special grace of God, we are doing great today.

The 2015 general elections have come and gone, but one visible fall-out was the alleged partisanship and endorsement of candidates by clergymen. What’s your take on this development?

There are different levels in which the

clergy can be involved. If a pastor has a personal calling to be in politics, to be a journalist, to be a medical doctor, there is nothing wrong. Although, I have not been to Taribo West’s church, I know he was a footballer that played for AC Milan, and, right there in Italy, he had a church. If you have a personal calling, there is no problem. Look at someone like Makarios III (Mouskos) of Cyprus, who was the Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus from 1950 to 1977, he was the first president of the Republic of Cyprus. Perhaps, that was his calling. But in Nigeria, that is rare.

You don’t expect people like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Bishop David Oyedepo, or myself to say we want to contest for any office. That is going to be a demotion.

However, clergymen have the right to choose the candidate they want to vote for. Every clergyman has a right. Let me clarify an unfortunate development which was a fall-out of this year’s elections. Look, the Muslim clergy can influence Muslims on who to vote for during elections. This last election, they played key roles. As far as I’m concerned, the 2015 elections were among the worst in Nigeria’s history. When I say worst, I don’t mean in the area of being free and fair. The politics we left in the 1960s is what we have gone back to.

One of the unfortunate fall-outs of the polls was that the Muslim clergy played serious religious politics up North and nobody talked about it, but when the clergy in the South played theirs, heaven was let loose. I don’t think that is fair on the Christian clergy to be more on the searchlight. I am saying this for the sake of educating our people. For me as a clergy, several people who work for me are Muslims, I have sent several Muslims to school. I love this nation, I stand for this nation. I am deeply concerned because what made these elections the worst was because they were a combination of tribal and religious politics. This combination is too dangerous to sustain a nation. When you combine ethnocentrism and religion, the future is bleak, because these are very powerful forces of centrifugalism. If Nigeria should stand on this, we are in big trouble.

Greatest fear?

My greatest fear for this nation is that what played out in the last elections was what we witnessed during the days of the Action Group (AG), National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons/National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) among others in the First Republic.

Voting pattern was largely driven by ethnicity during the days of Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Ibrahim Waziri, among others. During this period, you could see high level tribal politics. We had the NPC led by Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa as the deputy who now formed the government at the centre. We had AG with the West as its base, and in the East, we had the NCNC. These parties were tribal parties. It was due to tribal political alignment that Balewa was able to form a government, and this did not pay the nation. This apparently led to the coup of January 1966, and you could see the ethnic slants of the coup plotters. Even, if they didn’t have any ethnic slant, there was no way you could convince the North about that, because the coupists were from a particular part of the country. So, six months later, precisely on July 29, 1966, there was a counter coup, organised by the Hausa/Fulani. When this happened, they were advised never to bring up a northern Muslim as the new Head of State, that was why they brought Yakubu Gowon, a Middle-Belt man and a Christian,

who was not even part of the coup to be the Head of State.

That singular act seemed to remove a lot of the religious sentiments and anger that would have been visited on the government that took-over from July 29, 1966. If a Muslim had been picked then, the religious anger would have been terrible. Picking Gowon calmed things down, it made the coup and the counter coup to be hinged upon tribalism. The Igbo later declared Biafra.

Aside the Second Republic also, which witnessed ethnic and religious politics, the abortive Third Republic, which saw Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda’s two parties, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC), didn’t see that ethnic and religious card-playing really visible.

In the June 12, 1993 election, the voting pattern of the SDP and NRC cut across ethnic lines and religious divides. Moshood Abiola was a Muslim from the South and Bashir Othman Tofa was also a Muslim from the North. They both contested on the platforms of the two parties then, but Nigerians didn’t care. That 1993 election really calmed things down, until the military annulled it.

Blame PDP, APC Now, coming down to the 1999 election, Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae were the major contenders. The religious element of the voting pattern in that election was a little down.

But, some years ago, the religious and ethnic sentiments started gaining foot-hold in our politics. This is of concern to me. The two major parties in this last election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), whether we like it or not, they played a dangerous religious and ethnic card.

When the president-elect was quoted some years ago as saying Muslims in the North should align with Muslims in the South to seize power at the centre, I think he was too nationalistic to have said such a thing. So, I don’t want to believe that he said so.

In this last election, in the North, messages were going round the mosques on who to vote for, then in the south, the President was going round visiting churches. It has never been this bad.

While the PDP was playing its religious cards in the South and parts of the North, the APC was playing their own in the core North. I’m not exonerating any party, because both parties played high level religious and ethnic cards which is dangerous to our nationhood.

So, what do you suggest as the way out of this dangerous trend?

The incoming Federal Government can change this unfortunate trend. On assuming office, they must immediately begin to educate and play down the religious and ethnic factors. If they do that, they can douse the religious tensions that can come up. By the time they douse it, then the religious factors can be washed away. It may not be easy, but we must realize that if a dress is dirty, it can still be washed.

Do you have any hero or villain from the last election?

I really have to doff my hat for the Ijaw.

Looking at the fall-out of the election, the Ijaw really won my heart. I know the Ijaw people, they are among the fearless ethnic groups in Nigeria..

The Ijaw people are fearless by nature.

They stand for a cause if they want to fight it, that was why Isaac Boro was the one who really started this kind of battle, before others took up.

The Ijaw man fights for his rights, and this is where the bulk of the oil used in sustaining this country is produced, as well as from Isoko. Now, their man became the President and wanted to go for a second-time and they said he can’t go.

PAGE 42— SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

BY ABEL DANIEL, LAFIA The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Alliance APGA, Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, who is also a former Minister of Information, describes the election in the state, which took place on April 11, as the worst election ever in Nasarawa, going by the level of fraud that was perpetrated by the ruling APC. In this interview, h says the poll is worse than xenophobia that recently swept through South Africa.

How do you describe the governorship election in which you lost?

I want to use this forum to challenge journalists to focus their searchlight on Nasarawa to investigate from voters across board to know what happened. I believe journalism owes the society a duty to unearth the crime committed in Nasarawa in the name of an election on April 11.

The fraud that took place during the governorship election is worse than the Watergate Scandal in the United States of America. Here is a situation where the state government entered into a tacit alliance with INEC and security officers to manipulate the election. I’m surprised that up till this moment, there is no report apart from the APGA reaction and the general feelings you can see on the street, no report by the media about the crime that was committed in Nasarawa.

I challenge the media to go out and find out what was the TA’AL Center doing in the Government House, where the election was coordinated. The media should find out the relationship between the REC and the state government in the election? What was the role of the police, the State Security Service as well as the military in the election in the state?

What is clear today is that what occurred in Nasarawa was a civil coup executed in the name of election in which INEC handed over its responsibilities to the TA’AL Center where everything was done including calculating where materials will go, which places should have materials and which places should not have, who becomes ad hoc staff. These were all done by the state government.

The returning officers, who were all from the Nasarawa State University, were selected by the state government with tacit instruction to go and rig the election in favor of Governor Tanko Almakura. Even the NYSC members, who conducted the election, were summoned by the state government and instructed on what to do on election day.

There was an election in the state but the result was cooked up and announced. I am challenging the media and calling for a security audit in Nasarawa that day and this nation will be shocked about how some people sat down and cooked up an election result and upturned the popular mandate of the people.

If I lost the election I would have driven myself to Almakura’s office and congratulated him. I would not need to do that by phone call; I would have done that personally.

But that was not the case. Clearly Almakura knows that he did not win the election.

You were once an ally of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu. Why did he work against you?

Everybody knows the role Abdullahi Adamu played in the election. A time will come when we shall talk in detail but clearly what happened in the state is a sad situation for our democracy. We don’t expect to descend that low in our democracy, especially going by the kind of reform President Jonathan put in place at the national level.

Unfortunately people are abusing the reform. Look at the people posted to Nasarawa, from the REC to the police commissioner, the director of the SSS, they were all Muslims. Was it an accident? How were they able to collaborate with the governor and others in the state to upturn the mandate of the people of the state? It could not have been an accident. Nasarawa is a mixed state. How come all the principal officers and actors in the election were all Muslims?

Are you saying your Muslim brothers don’t want a Christian to governor the state?

It is a shame. What happened in the state is a continuation of the theory which says a Christian must not rule Nasarawa. It is clear that I won the election. People voted for me massively across religious line.

Why do you think Almakura cannot win election as incumbent governor?

How can Almakura ever win an election in Lafia-East when the people have not recovered from their losses because, under his administration, their communities have been destroyed. No magic or miracle could have made him win election in these areas where the people are bitterly lamenting over the havoc this administration

•Labaran Maku

Nasarawa governorship poll worse than xenophobia in S/Africa — Maku wreaked on them. Apart from Kwandere village where he hails from and some areas around the emir’s palace that he may possibly win election, there is no other place he can defeat me in an election in Lafia. The people have been so frustrated in the last three years. These are people who massively voted for him in 2011, but between then and now, all they have got in return is destruction, violence and death and are driven away from their ancestral communities.

Look at the result of the presidential election, even with the cancellation of 79,000 votes orchestrated by the APC, being the highest number of votes cancelled in the country, we still defeated APC by a wide margin. Now, what is the miracle of recovery within two weeks that he could just claim that he won with over 300,000 votes, notwithstanding the low turnout of voters particularly in places that he claimed to have won?

We are aware that a significant number of votes so called scored by him were thumb printed in Government House. The reality of the matter is that Almakura did not win and that is the reason they can’t celebrate. Nobody has raised a flag in Nasarawa since after the election that he had won. That is why there is pin silence in the state since after the election.

The people were jubilating all over the state that APGA won the

governorship election and it’s clear.

I am challenging Nigerians to investigate what happened in Nasarawa during the governorship election and prove whether what I’m saying is true or not. Even the result of the election was cooked before the actual voting took place.

How do you then hope to recover this mandate from a sitting governor with all his powers?

I will not declare now what I want to do. But it is rather unfortunate that our electoral process allows people who steal election mandate to stay in power for months or even for years because the process of investigation and trial of election fraud takes long time. The 1979 Constitution did not allow people to be sworn in until it was confirmed they won election, so the process was very quick between the election and the swearing in. But now people are being given certificate of election even where they did not win, and, in the end, the sad thing might be that they will be sworn in when they know they did not win the election to go. We are hoping that,

by God’s grace, we will use every legitimate means available to pursue until we recover this stolen mandate.

What has been the reaction of

your supporters?

Every day I receive phone calls from women who break into crying when they talk to me all over the state. Sometime I hardly could respond to calls. Both adult, women, youths call me on daily basis crying asking me, ‘What is going on, we did not vote this man; why is he being given certificate?’

But why don’t you follow the step of Jonathan by simply conceding the loss and let go?

I am not complaining today just because I lost an election. People should look at my records from my student days till now, I have always stood against what is wrong. I’m doing this because of my commitment to the rights of man where ever they may be. We fought apartheid from the university, we also fought against military rule. My position in Nasarawa is not about the fact that I was the one who stood for the election. But I see a deeper rot in the state including the evolution of some people who are insensitive to the freedom of the people. The continuation of this government has led to the division of the state already. These men must be exposed.

What is your take on xenophobic attacks which swept through South Africa?

When I see the kind of violence against my people in Nasarawa, it

is worse than what South Africans are doing to their fellow African brothers living in South Africa. It is best described as promotion of hate just like what is happening in Nasarawa. You encourage your children to hate others because they are different. People just begin to feel and act as if other people are not humans.

In South Africa, though apartheid is gone legally, in the social strata of the society, the practice is in them as they believe in superiority. Nigerians all over have defied the theory of racial inferiority because Nigerians are free people. Nigeria has the highest concentration of educated people in Africa and has been able to rise to stardom in prominent places in the world. The blacks in South Africa see Nigerians as superior competitors in all fields and feel threatened. I think this must have been the reason for the hatred and violence against Nigerians by South Africans.

My message is this, South Africa, as part of the global community of law abiding nations, must respect the rights of other people within their territory.

Most times, South Africa sees Nigeria as a rival. If it happens in football, I would say it is normal but in diplomacy, economic matters, South Africa is seen to be a rival to Nigeria and we have seen that in places like Ivory Coast and Libya where they felt as if Nigeria is an enemy.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 43

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

I was the black sheep of the family — Pastor Ogunfowokan *’The Obama angle to my emergence as Gener al Over seer’ General Overseer’ *Says many Christians misconstrue prosperity to be riches The emergence of Pastor S.B. Ogunfowokan as General Overseer of Christ Healing Evangelical Church (Worldwide) (CHEC) came about through dint of hardwork and providence. Ogunfowokan told his story ahead of the 2015 International Convention of the CHEC held under the theme: When He Comes at the camp ground, kilometer 45, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The programme was attended

by L/Evangelist B.A. Bamidele, CHEC Mother-in-Israel; Pastor A.A. Talabi, pastor in charge, CHEC, Chapel of Praise, USA, and Bishop E.D. Peecher, Chicago Embassy Church, USA, among many other anointed ministers of God.

BY LEKAN BILESANMI If you were to tell the story of your life as a Christian in a nutshell, how will it read?

I got converted in this church 35 years ago,1980 to be precise. I grew within the leadership of the church, from Sunday school teacher, children teacher, assistant pastor to pastor till I was sent out as missionary to the U.K where I established our U.K branch and other branches in Europe . The General Over seer of the church died in 2007. In 2009, I emerged as the second General Overseer.

Then I returned home to take charge of the entire church world wide.

Were you called by God, or what is the story behind your conversion?

When you talk about conversion, it simply means giving one’s life to Christ. I was born into a Christian family, a nominal Christian family which attended Methodist Church. But I was only going to church but did not know God. So, you may actually be going to church but do not know God. So when you talk of conversion, it simply means having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When I got here, I heard the word of God and it flushed me. And this was where I became born again.

What is the difference between the made worship in the U.K and that of Nigeria?

The message is the same. The message of the Bible, home or abroad, is the same. It does not change because the Bible cuts across. It is the unchanging word in a changing world. Having said that, the mode of worshipping abroad is different from the way we worship in Nigeria. Looking at it, especially indigenous churches in Nigeria, most of them emphasise money. Yes, it has its good side but, more than it all, Jesus Christ asked us to go and raise disciples so that they will

know about Christ. That is why I said many people are born again but do not know Christ. They need to be tutored on how to grow because spiritual birth is a growth.

Just like you have your natural child and you expect he or she to grow, like wise when one gives his life to Christ, it is expected that one grows spiritually until he becomes like Christ.

These days, churches specialise in different areas. Some focus on helping the barren to have children, many others on prosperity. What is the focus of this church?

Our focus is what Jesus focused upon, that is, evangelization of the world. Evangelism is our drive.

That is what our pioneer leader lived for and that is what we are standing upon.

Is anything wrong having prosperity as focus for church?

I don’t think any church would like to focus on prosperity. The mentality of the average Nigerian when you talk about prosperity is that it means riches. In God’s view, that is not prosperity.

Prosperity is when your spirit is connected back to God. You enjoy good health and there is peace in your marriage and everything around you. So it is all encompassing: The spirit, soul and body. That is prosperity. You may not even have money but when you enjoy all the above, that is prosperity. Before I became born again, I was a drop out from college. I was a failure. I was not academically okay to the extent that I had to go learn furniture. It was while I was learning furniture that I came to this church and heard the gospel being preached and I gave my life to Christ. I was going home on this street around 4pm when I heard a voice that called me. I looked behind but saw nobody and ahead, none still.

I continued going and heard the voice again saying: ‘ I have saved you, not only your heart, but I have touched your brain. Go back to

Pastor S.B. Ogunfowokan

school’. I told my parents that God asked me to return to school. I then gained admission into Baptist Academy. I was formerly at Eko Boys High School. I used to beg people with money whenever we were set for examinations, but this time around, I sat for examinations and I came out tops. From 1981 to 1985 when I finished, I was always coming out tops. That is what Christ will do in your life.

Irrespective of whether we say it or not, if a sinner comes to Jesus, Jesus will forgive him of his sin, save him, if truly he gets saved and He would prosper him. And the essence of that is to use him or her as advertising object of the possibilities abound in him. So, I ,who was a drop out, now holding a master’s degree in the U.K. I used to be the black sheep of the family but not any more.

How do you reconcile this contradiction, the more churches we have, the more the crime. It appears the church has failed the society.

I will not want to subscribe to that conclusion. There might be some people who are not called into this work of God. Jesus never called failures but those who are working and busy. Peter was working when Jesus met him. So, we need more churches. As a matter of fact, it is not enough. Now where we are seated here(in his office, there is light. You can see the difference between having the ray of light from the sun and electricity, you can still see some darkness around. They go together. You cannot separate light from darkness. The light will only be to some extent. When the light stops, you will still some traces of darkness all around. As it is physically, so it is spiritually. It is unfortunate that we have some fake ministers who just want to milk and exploit people.

You just emerged as the General Over seer. Are you in any way related to the founder of the church?

Not at all.

How did you emerge. Was it through election or by appointment?

The founder was my spiritual father. He taught me the word of God. Mama(wife of the founder) taught me how to fast and pray, she is a prophetess by calling. If you cannot fast and pray, then, you

cannot be close to her. In 1989, I was at Yaba College of Technology, studying accountancy when God called me. I abandoned my studies, with the permission of my dad, to follow God. I was about rounding off my Ordinary National Diploma, OND, when I heard the instruction from God that I should follow him. I was sent to the Redeemed Church Bible College, before I proceeded to Life Theological College, owned by the Foursquare Church.

I then started pastoring. How did I emerge as General Overseer? I will say by divine providence and election. Before baba died in 2007, we used to have a programme called ‘Jacob’s Night, which I initiated before I left Nigeria for the UK. So, I was around here in Nigeria when we were about to hold the programme that year. I and one of our pastors, who is presently in Texas, U.S.A, pastoring our branch, went to pray, purposely for the programme. While we were on the mountain, as we were praying, he just stopped the praying and said God was saying something. I asked him what was it. And he told me: ‘God says very soon, I will call your founder home and you will be the next General Overseer. But this is a secret, keep it to your self.

Now, the two of us are pastors in the same ministry. He was in Nigeria, I came from London. So, I kept the secret to myself. And baba was going around our branches, both here and abroad.

I don’t think any church would like to focus on prosperity.

The mentality of the average Nigerian when you talk about prosperity is that it means riches

In 2007, he returned from the U.S.A and he now held a national convention with the branches in Nigeria and, at the end of that convention which held on a Sunday, he came out and started dancing and even asked them to dance along with him. We were not here but that is what happen according to those here. By Monday, baba took ill. This was the first time you would hear of baba being sick. By Tuesday, he passed on, in hospital. This was September 27,2007. So the office of G.O. was vacant from 2007 to 2009, yet the church was running.

Mama was at the helm of affairs.

The Supreme Council of the church was working with mama to run the church. In the two years, the church was fasting and praying, seeking the face of God while consultation with all arms of the church was going on. And a lot of names of possible successor to baba emerged. My name featured in all the arms wish-list. They eventually voted and four names were shortlisted. A meeting of the Supreme Council, in January,2009,was called. I was a member of the supreme council, this pastor that gave me the revelation was also in the council.

Meanwhile, a week before the meeting was convened, I had a dream in London. I saw that a plane landed, the current president of the United States of America, Mr Barack Obama, and myself, we put on the same suit and we came down from the plane and went down to the tarmac. On getting down, people were standing on both sides, and the two of us were in the middle, waving to the crowd, till we passed through. At a point, I told Obama he should wait for me so I could fetch my General Over seer. I went to call baba where he was seated with mama that Obama was around for handing over. Then I woke up. This was a week to coming to Nigeria for the meeting. We voted and I had the highest votes. And that was how I emerged and later got appointed on January 10,2009. Now, to my surprise, that date was the day Obama was being sworn-in as America president. While I was being congratulated here in Nigeria, Obama was also being congratulated in America at the same time and day. That was the meaning of the dream I had.

The practice, as seen in many churches is, when the founder dies, a family member takes over the running of the church.

Your case is obviously different.

That would tell you the background of this church. The founder, Apostle Michael Bamidele, was from Ekiti State. I am from Ijebu, Ogun State. We are not related at all.

Is it that the founder had no children or what?

Of course he has. He has only a child who is one of our pastors.

What is this your annual convention all about?

This is our 5th edition of the international convention. The aim is to gather our members both here and abroad and teach the word of God, sell the vision of the church and for the renewal of souls. The theme of this year is, ‘When He comes’. Who is the He? This was a statement made by Jesus Christ in John, chapter 16,verse 8. He was talking to his disciples that when He comes, that is the Holy Spirit, these and these are what He would do.

PAGE 44—SUNDAY VANGUARD,

APRIL 26, 2015

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

My warnings to the nation have come to pass — Primate Ayodele

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

F

OUNDER and Head of Inri Evangelical Spiritu al Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has dismissed a report that listed his name as one of prophets whose prophecies about the 2015 elections particularly the presidential segment that pitted President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, did not come through.

The Ikere, Ekiti State-born prophet, said there was nothing he said in his book, ‘Warnings to the Nation’ about the elections and the two major contenders that did not come to pass. Quoting from the warnings, Ayodele said he was seeing his negative prophecies come through as a result of nonchalance on the part of the people concerned.

During a press briefing in his church office, in Lagos, he repeated some of the warnings especially as published and asked which among them did not come through. He started by quoting what he said the Lord said through him as published in Saturday Vanguard of December 28, 2013: “President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term is dicey.

He will start some political abracadabra in order to gain his second term which will be characterised by so much of negotiations. He will have to cajole and

•President Jonathan beg a lot of people; he will also beg Obasanjo. What Nigerians see now is only a tip of an iceberg of the clash that will come between Obasanjo and Jonathan. Jonathan might be the last president of PDP to rule this country, anyway.”

The prophet said he however had a message for the APC in that same publication in 2013 that, “If they (APC) really want to rule, they have to struggle and pray very well to get the right candidate. They must be careful so that their party is not used for negotiation.

In another interview published on November 2, 2014, the Inri Church leader gave reasons the APC was asked to fast on October 27, 28, 29 of same year, which he said was not really taken serious.

He stated, “About the state of

•Primate

Ayodele

The primate wondered if those that listed him in a newspaper report as one of prophets whose prophecies did not come through had actually followed his prophecies at all the nation, if a prophet speaks, he finds solution. We said APC, All Progressives Congress, should fast 27, 28, 29 (of October). The question should be, for what? There are three reasons: One, if they really want to con-

•Gen. Buhari trol the central government as a ruling party (in 2015), then they must fast. Then two is for them not to lose any of their leaders and, three, for the avoidance of wrangling among themselves.”

He said he had in the November 2, 2014 interview said that Jonathan’s visit to Jerusalem was a waste of time but that if he really desired to win the 2015 election, he should fast for 14 days, a call he said he did not heed.

In The Guardian of Saturday, July 13, 2013, Ayodele specifically referred to what he said about 2015 as laying the foundation for the disintegration of Nigeria “except we pray and Jonathan listens to the words of God.” The publication revealed the primate as prophesying that “Jonathan will not win in 2015,” citing many other warnings of the past

that he did including the one published by Daily Champion of Wednesday February 29, 2012 at page 43 where he said, “I am not against President Jonathan or his government but let him not contest in 2015. He should relax else he will break the country. In Weekend Champion of June 16 – 17, 2012 at page 12, I said, ‘The governors will gang up against Jonathan and the PDP will lose the central government in 2015.

In Global Excellence of Tuesday, September 25 – Monday October 1, 2012 at page 5, I said ‘President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition will break the governors into factions’ and that Governor Mimiko should not leave the Labour Party for the PDP”. Ayodele then asked what it was that was his prophetic role in helping the people in charge of the country operate successfully that he had not done.

The primate wondered if those that listed him in a newspaper report as one of prophets whose prophecies did not come through had actually followed his prophecies at all. The man of God however urged President-elect Buhari and other stakeholders in the administration of the country (outgoing and incoming) to be God-fearing, God-conscious, heeding warnings by truthful and sincere religious leaders with a view to seeking solutions.

“This is the way to run a successful nation,” he counselled.

Great Dad Adesuyi, 79, made it first to polling booth

BY BUKKY OSUNYIKANMI

I

thought of writing this piece as part

of measures to honour and celebrate my loving dad; Pa Oluyemi Adesuyi, when he is 80 next year.; to let the world know, you do not need to be a product of the IVY LEAGUE before your children can acquire quality education that will put them at par with their mates all over the world.

You do not need to have your name listed in FORBES as one of the richest people in the world to be the best husband and father that your family will be proud of and cherish forever. It has to be now!

On March 30, after morning prayer, I called to know how my darling parents were doing and to wish my dad happy birthday. No razzmatazz of clinging glasses or fanfare as it was not a landmark birthday. At 80, we would roll out the drums if the Lord tarries. My mum, Grace Adesuyi, picked the call. The two of them were in the bathroom having their morning bath. At 79 and 73 years respectively, this is marriage.

This is love. This is oneness. I asked myself why not now and pray you keep celebrating God’s blessing in the lives of

•Pa Oluyemi Adesuyi these rare gems-dad and mum. Not millionaires by any standard. Simply selfless and

loving. Matchless in caring for all; including their biological children and others.

Deprived of western education due to the sudden death of his father when he was barely six years old, he could only finish Standard 6. His mother could not cope. Education then was never free.

Growing up into adulthood, his level of education never affected his social life and reasoning. God bestowed on him a self carriage that makes even the well educated feel comfortable relating with him. The charisma he exudes never betrayed him despite being a

Even at a time of our family’s economic recession, he showed his fatherly love that made us realize money is good, but love can be freely given junior staff in the civil service until he retired. His highly educated bosses are his friends till date.

Dad knew the importance of education and good life and God arranged for him a virtuous woman, whose price is far above rubies. Mum came from a lineage where hardwork , good virtues and excelling in whatever you do are their watchwords. For circumstances beyond human control, she never went beyond Standard 5. A paragon of beauty,

her love for education will always make her give her all.

What a unique couple! A divine blessing to have come from the loins of these loving God’s children.

Our home; before I married was a haven of oneness and love and it is, even now that we the chldren are adults and literally on our own. Growing up, I always wondered if it was possible for my mum to give birth to my dad too. She is our mummy. But to dad, our mummy is mummy and he meant it in words and actions.

Like most African men, brought up with the patriarchy idealism; dad retains power and the honour of a father. A disciplinarian to the core. He never joked with the issues of discipline, academic excellence and moral uprightness; albeit with love.

Many childhood memories of his love for us keep coming to mind- ensuring we read after school hours, doing laundry for us even as teenagers, especially when any of us was down with malaria.

The one that stands out was his boarding an early commercial bus to University of Ibadan, from our hometown, Ile-Oluji, to submit my master’s degree admission form.

Even at a time of our family’s economic recession, he showed his fatherly love that made us realize money is good, but love can be freely given. It has no purchasing price.

Now as a political scientist in the academia, I always look forward to having political discourse with him. He refreshes my memory with his oral history. From the colonial period to the agitation for independence, regionalism, through Nigerian civil war and creation of states, he always presents vivid account with great analytical mind. I was not surprised when I heard he was one of the early arrivals at the polling booth for the March 28 presidential election in company of my mum. He exercised his franchise as a patriotic Nigerian and monitored the results on television. Simply amazing!

They are simply the best couple, best dad and mum. No human being could decide who would give birth to him or her. I always thank God, the first blessing God gave me is being their daughter, my siblings equally admit.

I celebrate you dad and wish you peace and divine health in the years ahead.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 45

ABBA:

The fall of the IGP with the shortest tenure

BY EVELYN USMAN

N

igerians woke up on August 1, 2014 , with the news of the appointment of Suleiman Abba , as the 17th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, by President Goodluck Jonathan. He took over from Mr. Mohammed Abubakar , with the pledge to do whatever was necessary to halt violent crimes in the country.

On whether he lived up to expectation, that is a question for Nigerians to judge. His sack has been interpreted by many people as a move to disgrace him out of the exalted position in the Nigeria Police, at the twilight of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

News of his sack was disclosed in a statement issued by Jonathan’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, on Tuesday. The statement read: “”President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, of his appointment and duties with immediate effect. President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.

“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement, Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.”

A report said that hours after the statement was released, Abba was still carrying on with his duties at the Force Headquarters, FHG without correspondence from the authorities, informing him of his removal. He was even quoted as stating that he was unaware of his sack or removal as at about 11pm that Tuesday.

Even though Abba later swallowed the humiliation like a bitter pill and, without ruffing feathers, those close to him revealed that he kept wondering what offence he committed to warrant such ill treatment.

While a some school of thought asserted that his removal would not have been unconnected with his non-partisan stand during the just concluded general elections which turned the table upside down for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), others categorically stated that he incurred the wrath of The Presidency for allegedly arguing with government officials over the directive to recall an Assistant Inspector -General of Police from one of the states, thus becoming the first casualty of an administration which curtains were to be drawn soon.

Many had expected that the commendation from the American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, to Abba, over the police conduct during the general elections, just 24 hours before the action, would earn him further accolades rather than a sack.

With his unprecedented ousting, Abba’s tenure is the shortest among other 16 Inspectors General of Police in the history of Nigeria since independence, having spent just eight months in office.

C M Y K

Next to Ringim

Also, Abba is the second IGP to be ousted unceremoniously by Jonathan. The first person to get the president’s butt was former InspectorGeneral of Police Hafiz Ringim.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that Ringim was equally the second police officer to be promoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police to IGP. But his 16 months in office as the IGP was described as the stormiest of his 35-year career as a police officer, owing to the controversy bordering on the activities of terrorists in the country.

On November 4, 2010, Ringim was confirmed by the National Council of State as the 15th substantive Inspector-General of Police, having served in acting capacity for two months. Same day, he announced the disbanding of multiple crime squads nationwide, arguing that the squads had become inefficient, with his focus majorly on conducting crime free elections (2011) Ringim, in his five-point agenda, highlighted the curbing of violent crimes as a major assignment and announced putting necessary machinery in place, including the collaboration of other security agencies as measures aimed at meeting with the challenges of the moment.

Challenges

But his appointment came with some major security challenges in the nation. First, he was confronted with the Boko Haram insurgency in the North which had policemen and innocent citizens as its targets. Regrettably, many policemen were killed by members of the sect agitating for the establishment of Sharia in the country.

The situation, within his 16 months in office, reached the peak, with the serial bombing of the FHQ in Abuja he barely escaped as well as the attacks on the United Nations House, St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madala, Niger State and the coordinated attacks on the police and other security formations in Kano State in which over 200 persons were massacred.

His end in office, however, started following the public outcry that trailed the alleged escape of Kabiru Sokoto, a suspected leader of Boko Haram, from police custody in Abuja, an incident that reportedly earned him query from The Presidency and a 24 –hour ultimatum to produce the suspect.

An investigative panel was set up by the National Security Adviser, NSA, to investigate Ringim’s culpability in Sokoto’s escape.

Another major challenge for Ringim was the police/army clash in Badagry, Lagos, where the Badagry Divisional Police Officer, the Divisional Crime Officer, the Operation Officer and other policemen were murdered in cold blood by suspected soldiers from the Ibereko Army Barracks.

A twist in the murder was introduced following the silence by the police and the army in fishing out the perpetrators of the dastardly act. Ringim’s utterance that there was no clue that his men

Continues on page 46

PAGE 46—SUND AY 46—SUNDA

•Hafiz-Ringim

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

•Ogbonna Onovo

•Mustapha Balogun

•Sunday Ehindero

•Muhammad-Abubakar

•Mike Okiro

Abba: The ffall all of the IGP with the shor enure shorttes estt ttenure Continued from page 45 were murdered by soldiers heightened the already tensed mood of policemen who accused their boss of being insensitive to their plight and also failed to watch their back. Although both security agencies claimed to have begun investigation into the cause of the trouble, till date, nothing has been heard.

Civil rights organistations called for Ringim’s resignation over what they described as his inability to come out with a definite response to the murder of his men.

While still smarting from the negative public opinion on the police officers murder, a bomb blast occurred right at the car park of the FHQ, killing two persons and destroying hundreds of vehicles.

The explosion sent fears down the spines of many Nigerians who wondered how safe the country was, considering the seeming inability of the police to check bomb explosions in the country.

IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo ( July 28, 2009 to September 8, 2010)

While Ringim spent 16 months in office, his predecessor, Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo, the first Ibo man to assume the exalted position in the police, spent 13 months. His emergence as the 14th IGP, during the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adu’a, received accolades from his Ibo brothers. But he was ushered into office while the Boko Haram sect was ravaging the North. One of the unforgettable incidents that dogged his tenure was the attack by Boko Haram fighters on prisons where 721 inmates, among them 190 of their members, were freed.

Onovo was reportedly sacked as a result of rising insecurity in the country occasioned by a sharp increase in militant activities by the Niger Delta fighters and these of Boko Haram in the North. There was also the kidnapping for ransom in the South-East.

As if relieving him of his job was not enough, his successor, Hafiz Ringim, set up a machinery to unmask those behind an alleged fraudulent disbursement of the N2billion loan meant for 100,000 police housing units scheme. The action reportedly followed the petitions from a lawyer on behalf of 31 sub-contractors handling the construction of the housing units against a developer. The petition claimed that the developer had been paid N304 million “through Aso

C M Y K

Savings and Loans by an arm of the Nigeria Police Force Housing Scheme and yet the sub-contractors were not paid.”

However, during investigation by detectives of the Special Investigation Unit, SIU, an arm of the office of the IG, some former IGPs ,estate developers and a serving Commissioner of Police then, who involved his company, were allegedly fingered in the scam.

For instance, investigation showed that the loan was obtained during the administration of the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mr Mike Okiro, while he was the IGP, in order to provide shelter for thousands of police men nationwide, with the Police Service Commission giving approval for the loan, owing to its favourable terms.

The beneficiaries were expected to make 10 per cent down payment for a unit of 2 – 3 bedroom flat which cost between N3million and N5million, while the National Housing Fund, NHS, was expected to pay 90 per cent from contributions from beneficiaries salaries.

In a move to ensure that there was no default in payment of the loan, Okiro reportedly opened an Escrow Account with a bank and appointed three senior police officers as signatories, where money deducted from salaries of beneficiaries would be paid into, directly from the pay office.

Aside that, Okiro reportedly instructed the former officer in charge of the housing scheme to furnish the bank with the list of officers of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above. This, he explained then, was to forestall any form of fraud, as the loan was to be paid within 24 months. The list was also to enable the bank screen officers whose tenure was within or below two years , as their exit from the force could pose difficulty in repaying the loan.

About N130 million was reportedly disbursed to about 272 officers by the bank to cover their 10 per cent while NHF was said to have paid the 90 per cent through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

However when Onovo took over from Okiro in July 2009, he was reported to have ordered the bank to stop the disbursement on the suspicion that the N2billion may have been embezzled by some ‘officers’. He reportedly ordered an enquiry headed by a DIG which,

however, found that the money was intact.

However, along the line, a list of additional 4,000 policemen was reportedly sent to the bank which was refused by one of its managers, on the suspicion that they were ghost workers.

A then serving House of Representatives member, appointed as a consultant on the police housing scheme by Onovo, was arrested, interrogated and later released on bail by SIU. Directors of the property development company were reportedly also arrested and their statements obtained and then released on bail.

In the course of investigation, directors of other companies involved in the alleged scam were arrested, interrogated and their statements obtained.

Mustapha Balogun (2000-2005)

While Onovo’s exit from the police was not on the account of his alleged involvement in the N2billion housing scheme that of Mustapha Balogun could not be said to be same. In fact, Balogun’s tenure heralded the ousting out of IGPs in a disgraceful manner.

Nigerians will never forget in a hurry that the top police officer was humiliated on the instruction of the powers- that-be at that time.

Balogun, popularly known by his abridged name of Tafa Balogun, was the 11th Inspector General of Police. On assumption of office, he reeled out an eight-point crime control strategy among which was an anti-corruption crusade both within and outside the force.

Ironically, he became a victim of his much clamored campaign, a situation that saw Balogun being shown the way out of office in handcuffs for allegedly misappropriating N17 billion belonging to the police.

This, however, did not deny the fact that he was one of the most cherished IGPs by policemen following their prompt promotion.

During his tenure, policemen, who had been denied promotion for over 12 years, were said to have been adequately compensated with their desired ranks and their welfare boosted.

Sadly for him, it came to an end in January 2005 when he was forced to retire due to allegations of corruption. This followed his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, under the administration of Nuhu Ribadu , before a Federal

High Court sitting in Abuja on April 5, 2005 over allegations of stealing of N12,861,570,098.00.

In his submission, Balogun was quoted as saying: “Life is full of challenges, it has its ups and downs. I was up yesterday, I am down today but I will bounce back.”

Sunday Ehindero (2005-2007)

With his unprecedented ousting, Abba’s tenure is the shortest among other 16 Inspectors General of Police in the history of Nigeria since independence, having spent just eight months in office

Any discerning IGP was expected to take a cue from Balogun’s horrible experience .

But that was not the case of his predecessor, Sunday Ehindero, who had a calm disposition suggestive of a saint , as he was also ridiculed. Ehindero allegedly got entangled in an N23 million scandal. The amount, said to have been found in the trunk of a car, was allegedly smuggled out of the FHQ and allegedly being taken to Ehindero.

After his retirement in 2007, Ehindero faced a probe over the N2.5 billion Police Cooperative money, N300 million police funds and for allegedly building about eight magnificent houses.

His passport was seized.

In April 2008, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, interrogated him on how money meant to buy arms and ammunition for the police was spent.

Ehindero, alongside the then Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget, was arraigned before an Abuja High Court for alleged complicity in the misappropriation of N557 million belonging to the Nigeria Police for the procurement of arms and riot control equipment.

They pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge preferred against them by the ICPC and were admitted to bail.

The suspects were reported to have filed notices of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court as well as the leave granted the ICPC to file charges against them. They also prayed the court to quash the charge.

The trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, dismissed the application and asked the accused to face trial.

Not satisfied, they approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the lower court

Continues on page 56

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 47

ACTING IGP SOLOMON E. ARASE

An officer and a gentleman Ag. IGP Solomon E. Arase, fdc., NPM was born on 21 June, 1956. A 1980 Political Science graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he holds an LL.B degree from University of Benin and LL.M from Lagos State University, specialising in Corporate Management and Finance Law. He is also a holder of Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from University of Ibadan, Fellow of Nigeria Defence College, (fdc), and recipient of the National Police Medal (NPM). He enlisted into the Nigeria Police in 1981 and has served in various departments of the Force including Operations, Investigation, Administration and Intelligence. He was part of the Nigeria Police contingent to the United Nations Mission in Namibia and he is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He is the current National Legal Adviser, Alumni Association of the National Defence College - Nigeria (AANDEC) A police officer with vast experience in intelligence, operation, investigation and administration, Ag. IGP Arase was a member of the Failed Bank Inquiry set up by the Federal Government to investigate the massive fraud in the Nigerian Banking Sector in the early ‘90s as well as member of the Special Homicide Investigation Team into the murder of Late Bola Ige, the then Minister of Justice. He was also a onetime Head the Lagos State Criminal Investigations Department

where he worked closely with Lagos State’s Ministry of Justice and the Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (Criminal Justice Programme) to introduce landmark reforms and evaluation mechanisms.

He also served as the Secretary to the Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police Reform in 2006 and was a member of Nigeria Police Committee on Review of the Nigerian Constitution/Police Act. Ag. IGP Arase is passionate about research and intellectualism. He co-edited ‘Policing Nigeria in the 21st Century’ and was the editor of ‘Monograph on Criminal Investigation’ and National Security : Intelligence and Community Partnership Approach. He was also on the Editorial Board of ‘Nigeria Police: The Journey so Far’. Ag. IGP Arase’s Course Essay at the Nigeria Defence College won an Award for the Best Essay on Internal Security.

He has contributed several scholarly essays to various local and international publications and has participated in several workshops and other professional engagements in USA, UK, Canada, Spain, and under the auspices of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS. He served as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to a record three different Inspectors-General of Police between 2002 -2008 and was the Commissioner of Police, AkwaIbom State Police Command where he developed an anti-robbery and anti-kidnapping operational

•Ag. IGP Solomon E. Arase protocols that proved highly effective in addressing these set of high-level crimes in the State.

As an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) he served as the Head of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) where he undertook landmark reform and restructuring initiatives including the establishment of the Gender Unit and the successful sourcing of a three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) grant from the Ford Foundation to enhance the operations of the Gender Unit.

He also succeeded in establishing a state-of-the-art technical intelligence platform which has today restored the primacy of the Bureau as the most strategic intelligence agency in the internal security architecture of the country. Until his appointment as Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Arase was the Head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) of the Force. During

Abba: The ffall all of the IGP with the shor shorttes estt Continues on page 56

on three grounds: (a) whether the Abuja High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the charge against them wherein the allegation is bordering on the revenue of the Federation vis-a-vis the provision of Section 251 (1) (a) – (f) of the 1999 Constitution; (2) whether there is a prima facie case linking them to the charge preferred against them by the prosecution and (3) whether in view of the constitutional powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF enshrined under Section 174 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) , Mr. Paul Bassi, or any other officers of the ICPC, could validly prosecute him without a fiat of the AGF.

Musliu Smith (1999-2002)

But among IGPs who served without any charge of corruption against them is Alhaji Musliu Smith. He was elevated above some of his seniors in May 1999, which necessitated the retirement of those affected .

But for the shake up, he would have remained in office as Inspector-General of Police till April 1, 2006 , when he would have completed his 35 years in service.

Although no official reason was given for his sack during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, it might not have been unconnected with the purported planned strike action by men and officers of the force, as well as the perceived growing insecurity across the nation . But the sack was simply attributed C M Y K

to the decision to make the Nigeria Police better and to give it a new direction.

IGP Mohammed Abubakar (January 25, 2012 to July 31, 2014)

The IGP that could best be described as one who escaped the humiliated sack of any government and without indictment even after leaving office was Mohammed Abubakar. He took over from Hafiz Ringim on January 25, 2012.

The Zamfara State-born officer, who served in different capacities in the police before assuming the number position, honourably bowed out of office, having put in 35 years of service. The emergence of M.D, as he was fondly called, as the IGP, became the downfall of several Deputy Inspectors General of Police among whom were Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja; Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept); Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.) and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.)

This was because Abubakar was elevated from the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, a rank lower than that of DIG, hence the need for the forceful retirement of the DIGs.

IGP Mike Mbama Okiro (2007 to 2009)

Another IGP, who retired without being humiliated, was Mike Mbama Okiro. He retired from police on July 24, 2009, when he clocked 60 years.

his tenure, he worked in close collaboration with United Nations Office on Drug and Crime to establish a Case Tracking and Analysis Unit while also introducing and enforcing a Pre-Trial Detention Policy which ensured that cases of arbitrary detentions were discouraged in the Department.

Ag. IGP Arase is a police reformist whose policing vision is premised on the engagement of intelligence-led policing strategies, community partnership, application of cutting-edge technology to policing functions at all levels, prevention of abuse of pre-trial detention powers and tailor-made capacity building initiatives towards the enhancement of the intelligence and operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force. He is married with children.

EX-IGPS A T AT A GLANCE •IGP Louis Edet (1964 to 1966) •IGP Kam Salem (1966 to 1975) •IGP Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (1975 to 1979) •IGP Adamu Suleiman (1979 to 1981) •IGP Sunday Adewusi (1981 to 1983) •IGP Etim Inyang (1985 to 1986) •IGP Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta (1986 to 1990) •IGP Aliyu Atta (1990 to 1993) •IGP Ibrahim Coomassie (1993 to 1999) •IGP Musiliu Smith (1999 to 2002) •Mustafa Adebayo Balogun (2002 to 2005) •IGP Sunday Ehindero (2005 to 2007) •IGP Mike Mbama Okiro (2007 to 2009) •IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo ( July 28, 2009 to September 8 2010) Yara dua( 14th •IGP Hafiz Ringim (2010 to 2012) •IGP Mohammed D Abubakar ( January 25 2012 to July 31, 2014) ) IGP Suleiman Abba (August 1, 2014April 21, 2015)

P AGE 48 — SUND AY Vanguard , APRIL 26 , 2015 SUNDA

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 51

Bode Akindele’s daught er w eds daughter weds

I

t was a conference of sorts for the power brokers in the country, last Sunday, when foremost industrialist, Chief Bode Akindele, gave out the hand of his daughter, Iyabo, in a traditional marriage to Simi Shonibare, son of Ounba Alaba Shonibare.

The event took place at Landmark Village Victoria Island, Lagos, and it was a spectacle of splendour, as the parents spared no expense to make the guests comfortable. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

Glorious farewell for Panama Unuakpor IT was the celebration of a life well spent as the immediate family, the people of Okpe-Isoko, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, inlaws and friends of the family, came out en-masse to pay their last respects to the late Elder Panama Oghenekome Unuakpor who many described as a legend. Elder Unuakpor, who passed on at 75, was born September 9,1940, at Afiankwo, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, and is survived by 8 children, 18 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

The couple, Mr & Mrs Simi Shonibare flanked by bride's parents, Chief & Mrs Bode Akindele

The newly-wedded couple, Mr & Mrs Simi Shonibare flanked by groom’s parents, Otunba & Mrs Alaba Shonibare L-R: Chief Chris Okunowo,Ebisan Rewane Children of the late Elder Panama Unuakpor and Mr Bambo Adesanya, SAN. acknowledging guests.

L-R:Archbishop Kehinde Stephen, Chief Olu Falomo, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Sir Edet Amana

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Chief (Mrs.) Abba Folawiyo (l) and Ms Molara First son-in-law, Mr. Godwin Etakibuebu (in purple) Oriyelu . flanked by his wife and associates during in-law's greeting session.

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande with Chief & Mrs Ajibola Ogunshola.

L-R: Mrs Evelyn Rewane-Fabyan, Chief Elemi Rewane and Mrs Atema Akindele, mother of the bride

L-R: Mrs Bose Clarke, Mrs Rose ErewaDanmole and Dr Omawumi Urhobo.

L-R: Aare Dr Bolu Akin-Olugbade, Sen Kola Bajomo and Chief (Mrs) Ladunni Akin-Olugbade

Gen. & Mrs. Dominic Oneya.

Mr. & Mrs. Godwin Etakibuebu

PAGE 52— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015

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SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 53

Mimiko, Olanusi and the ‘failed coup’ I

BY DAYO JOHNSON, AKURE

T was a coup that failed. At least that is what analysts of the polit ical situation in Ondo State believe.

And following the failed coup, the state’s 73-year-old deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, is about to lose his position.

Members of the Ondo House of Assembly have issued him an impeachment notice and about 24 hours later directed the Chief of Judge of the state, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, to raise a panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him.

20 of the 26 members of the Assembly signed the impeachment notice.

The gladiators had a robust relationship all through the first term of the administration.

Their frosty relationship started just before the second term ticket was handed to Governor Olusegun Mimiko as pressure mounted on him to do away with the ‘old school deputy governor’ and settle for a new generation lieutenant. Olanusi accused the governor of sponsoring against him those who do not want him to “enjoy the fruit of his labour during the second term.”

In a bid not to offend some traditional rulers from the four Akoko areas of the state where the deputy hails from, the governor glossed over the case against him despite strong opposition even from Olanusi’s constituency.

Many saw Mimiko’s action as deliberate as they believed the governor would prefer to settle for an old man who will not undercut him politically.

But he was dead wrong as his deputy allegedly kept complaining of marginalization in the affairs of the state.

The frosty relationship between Mimiko and Olanusi was said to have lingered until the deputy governor found an ally in the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, and was connected by a former close aide to the governor with the party’s warlords who also wanted to use the deputy governor to score some political goal.

Mimiko was becoming a torn in the flesh of the warlords who wanted to capture the state at all costs.

An opportunity came knocking when a dummy was allegedly sold to Olanusi that he could become the governor if he defected to the APC before the just concluded general elections.

Olanusi allegedly bought into the plan that the APC will win majority seats in the state House of Assembly election following which the lawmakers will be used to remove Mimiko and he will replace him.

The coup was said to have been hacked in Osogbo and Lagos and, when the general elections were only 48 hours, the deputy governor jumped ship and PDP leaders in the state, led

by Mimiko, were caught pants down.

It was said that the action of Olanusi shocked the governor and, when it became clear what was being cooked for him, he was humbled and went back to the drawing table to re-startegise.

The results of the presidential and the National Assembly elections complicated the matter for Mimiko who had boasted that he will deliver one million votes from Ondo for President Goodluck Jonathan.

•Olusegun Mimiko

•Alhaji Ali Olanusi

The coup was said to have been hacked in Osogbo and Lagos and, when the general elections were only 48 hours, the deputy governor jumped ship and PDP leaders in the state, led

by Mimiko, were caught pants down The boast evaporated when the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, trashed the president in the election while the PDP equally performed abysmally poor in the National Assembly election.

To the deputy governor’s new found camp, their plans were said to have been going on as planned and, with time, the bubble will burst and Mimiko will fall.

After the March 28 elections, the APC, basking in the euphoria of its performance nationwide, thought the April 11 state Assemb ly poll in Ondo would lead to the impeachment of Mimiko but he wriggled out of the web and he is now hunting all the alleged coup planners.

The PDP secured 21 seats in the state House of Assembly election, leaving five seats for the APC. A former governorship candidate of the PDP in the state and a business mogul allegedly joined forces with the embattled deputy governor to send his boss packing from Akure Government House.

The former PDP gubernatorial candidate, according to the script, was to follow the deputy governor by also defecting 24hours before the April 11 House of Assembly election while the business mogul allegedly directed members of his faction within the PDP in the state to vote for APC candidates so as to deprive the PDP the majority seats in the assembly as a prelude to the fall of Mimiko.

The plan, it was learnt, was that after the governor would have been impeached and the deputy who defected but did not resign as the deputy governor becomes the governor, the former gubernatorial candidate will be made Olanusi’s deputy to finish Mimiko’s less than two years remaining tenure.

The former gubernatorial candidate, according to a reliable source, was equally promised that he will be handed over the APC governorship ticket in 2016.

All these promises have evaporated and the hunter is now being hunted.

Olanusi has been left in the lurch after the coup to kick out Mimiko fell like a pack of cards .

He is said to be taking refuge in Osogbo and Lagos where some APC leaders are allegedly strategising on how to save him from the hang men.

All appears set for the impeachment of the deputy governor as the state lawmakers served him impeachment notice and, about 24 hours after, directed the Chief Judge of the state, Kumuyi, to set up a seven member panel to probe the seven allegations of gross misconduct against him.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Jumoke Akindele, has assured that Olanusi would be given the opportunity to defend the allegations against him.

The members of the State Executive Council also disowned the deputy governor, saying they will not dabble into a matter they described as “ a constitutional matter”.

Allegations of gross misconduct against him include financial misappropriation, absenteeism from official duties and causing political disaffection in the cabinet of the state government.

The motion for impeachment was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, from Ondo West Constituency II, and seconded by one of Olanusi’s kinsmen, Hon Yinka Banso, from Akoko North West Constituency I .

Akindele said the deputy governor should be served the notice personal-

ly, through the office of the deputy governor or through his official residential quarters.

The allegations, as catalogued in the impeachment notice against Olanusi, read: “That Alhaji Alli Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor, permitted and condoned the perpetuation of fraudulent activities in the office of deputy governor in that one Alhaji Bola Idris Olanusi, the younger brother and Special Assistant in the office of the deputy governor, procured false LPO, with the knowledge of Alhaji Alli Olanusi and obtained from ESHO Resources International Limited, two trucks of AGO with forged documents and for personal benefits, thereby putting the office of the deputy governor into disrepute.

“That Alhaji Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor of Ondo State and having full knowledge that his younger brother, Alhaji Bola Idris Olanusi, who, at all material time was his personal staff, engaged in activities unbecoming of official of government, refused to sanction, query or discipline the said staff, thus bringing the office of the deputy governor into disrepute.

“That Alhaji Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor of Ondo State, engaged in absenteeism and truancy by regularly assenting himself from office, place of work and all other official engagements specifically between April 13 to 17 April and Monday 20th April, 2015 without lawful excuse or authorisation but generally acting in a manner inconsistent with the dictates and expectations of the high office of the deputy governor of a state, thus undermining the governance process, in act which amounts to gross misconduct under the constitution. “ That Alhaji Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor at various dates, collected various sums of money N39. 9million between 2009 and 2014 for the purpose of travelling and medical bill when, in actual fact, the said Alhaji Olanusi did not travel on the said specified dates or did not travel at all and or did not expend the approved medical bills as appropriate, thereby unlawfully enriching himself and or causing loss to the state government “ Reacting to the impeachment notice, the Ondo APC described it as laughable.

A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, in Akure, said: “We are aware of the purported impeachment notice served on the deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, by the Ondo State House of Assembly.

“So it is laughable for the rubberstamp House of Assembly to have claimed it has served the deputy governor an impeachment notice knowing fully well that the law does not permitt to serve impeachment notice in absentia. The notice is a nullity.”

Olanusi also said “ I am yet to be officially informed about this development”.

He added: “You will get my full reaction if and whenever I’m officially and lawfully informed.”

In a related development, some aides of the embattled deputy governor assured that he would not be disgraced out of office.

PAGE 54—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

Jonathan’s defeat, Okunbor’s rejig jolt Edo PDP

By Simon Ebegbulem, BeninCity

T

he defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan has changed the politics of Edo State and the question in the minds of many is how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will be able to muster that formidable opposition to the Governor Adams Oshiomhol- led APC now that the PDP has been kicked out of power at the center.

Sadly for the PDP, shortly after the defeat of Jonathan by Gen.Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in the March 28 election, some leaders of the PDP in the state such as former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor; Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, who ran against Oshiomhole in 2012; and many others dumped the PDP for the APC. Meanwhile, the PDP did well in the National Assembly election picking two of the three Senate and five House of Reps seats. Chief Tony Anenih held his ground in his Edo Central, picking the Senate seat there as well as the three House of Reps and three state Assembly seats for the PDP. Of all the PDP leaders in the state, only Anenih won House of Assembly seats for his party. However, the PDP was able to capture majority of the National Assembly seats in Edo South due to the efforts of the Benin-born billionaire, Captain Hosa Okunbor, who invested so much in the area to deliver Jonathan, his bosom

friend. But there was another big blow for the PDP following his rejig after the defeat of the President when he switched support for the APC. Though Capee, as he is fondly called, is not a politician, it was observed that he dabbled into politics to assist his Benin people to key into the power at the center after he lamented the marginalization of the Binis by the Federal Government. Okunbor once said: “We cannot always remain in opposition because our people in Benin land are suffering. Our youths need jobs because the state government cannot provide all the jobs we need but if we are in tandem with the Federal Government more things will come to our people. And that was my major reason for going close to Jonathan and went out of my way to sponsor PDP so that we can key into the system. I don’t have all the money to help every Bini man so we must find a away to help our people”.

After the defeat of Jonathan, his backing of the APC in Edo for the House of Assembly election paid off for the party. In a statement by a Bini group while reacting to Okunbor ’s decision to support the APC in the state assembly polls, it said, “We appreciate the great sacrifice and invaluable contributions that Captain Hosa Okunbo has made in his determination to liberate the Binis in Edo South from the shackles of predetermined underdevelopment, occasioned by years of systematic

Captain Hosa Okunbor and systemic political marginalization, which has denied the Bini ethnic nation prominent positions in the Federal Government.

“This is why he had explained to those who cared to listen, he decided to expose himself as a businessman to the vagaries of politics so as to be able to stand in the gap, politically-speaking, for the Binis. It was gratifying that leveraging on his friendship with President Jonathan, Captain Hosa Okunbo, has been able to stand in the gap in Abuja, the centre of power, for the Binis, providing us with dependable leadership and dignified representation both in business and politics. He has performed this self-imposed responsibility with dignity, deploying his hardearned resources to sponsor po-

litical and elective office holders who hitherto had to run capin-hand to some overlords outside Benin Kingdom for sponsorship. In addition, he has positively impacted the lives of many Benins through his philanthropy”.

The group stated that Okunbor changed the Benin narrative by, single-handedly, sponsoring the PDP in Edo South as well as candidates for elective positions. ”He brought dignity to our people. He proved his solid loyalty to friendship when in the March 28 presidential election, he galvanized the Binis to vote massively for President Jonathan. He committed his resources and staked his reputation. And, because we the Binis love and appreciate his committed leadership, we followed the direction he showed to us. But we sincerely knew that the game was bound to change after President Jonathan lost the election and conceded defeat to General Muhammadu Buhari. Captain Okunbor, whose sole objective for dabbling into politics, is not to seek election into any public office, but to promote an agenda for the liberation and transformation of the Benin ethnic nation within the larger politics of the Nigerian nation, had to respond to the changing political dynamics.

“With the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the national chairmanship of a Bini son, Chief John Odigie-

Oyegun, in the presidential election, it would appear that providence has now thrust the Binis, through Chief Oyegun, to the centre of national politics and prominence, which has all the while been the lofty desire of Okunbor; and with an APC government in place in Edo, the synergy becomes easy and complete.

For us, we believe that there was no need to continue to fight a political battle of attrition that would fracture the real essence of his (Captain Hosa Okunbor ’s) politics of standing in the gap in Abuja for, and seeking to empower the Binis. His deliberative and well-considered action of supporting Chief Odigie-Oyegun and the state government to win all the state House of Assembly seats for the Binis on the APC platform aligns with his objective to give the Benin ethnic nation a cosmopolitan outlook in national politics. Therefore, his role in the April 11 state House of Assembly election does not detract from the fact of his being a true and loyal friend of President Jonathan, neither does it diminish his position as a true leader of the Binis, who is understandably torn between love for his people and party politics”.

Though the Edo PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, has declared that the party will continue to remain a formidable opposition to the ruling APC, the people are anxious to see how they can make it happen.

Why Udom Emmanuel won a landslide victory in Akwa Ibom

BY EKERETE UDOH

S

ince 2006, I have been ac tively involved with American politics and can safely without sounding immodest state that I understand deeply the dynamics, issues and currents that illuminate the political/electoral process in the United States. In November of that year, 2006, I had exercised my first civic responsibility as a newly minted American citizen when I voted in the governorship/ Congressional elections that took place that year.

As a registered Democrat, I had volunteered to work on the campaign of the then Democratic governorship candidate for the state of New York, then AttorneyGeneral, Eliot Spitzer. Armed with degrees in political science and journalism, and a masters in International Relations and comparative politics, and as the Overall Best Graduating Student in my department, the campaign organization had concluded that my skills would be better utilized in the media and communications arm of the campaign. And so, I found myself writing press releases, interfacing with the media, and acting as a link between the large African Diaspora community and its numerous ethnic publications and the campaign. My joy knew no bounds when our Principal, Eliot Spitzer won a landslide victory over his Republican counterpart, John Faso and went ahead to provide solid stewardship to the people of New York state, until, unfortunately a personal failing caused him to resign his office in March 2008.

In 2008, as the publisher and editor –in-chief of The Diasporan Star newspaper, arguably the most popular newspaper for African and Caribbean Diaspora communities in New York, I had aligned myself with the Obama/ Biden campaign, and worked tirelessly as a media partner to the campaign to persuade the large African Diaspora community to support the Obama/Biden ticket, which they did, enthusiastically. The same fervor was displayed in 2012 when we again galvanized the African Diaspora community to return Obama to the White House with a landslide victory through the Electoral College. I remember brimming with excitement that Obama, was going to be one of the few modern Democratic presidents to win a second term in office.

Since the advent of the current political dispensation in Nigeria, except in 2011, when I visited Nigeria almost on a monthly basis, and had attended almost all the political rallies of the gubernatorial campaign that had returned Governor Godswill Akpabio for a second term, due to my status as a Diasporan, I did not have a chance to be a soldier in the trenches of electioneering campaigns, which I so fervently desired, until the recently concluded elections.

In July 2013, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, then an Executive Director at Zenith Bank was tapped

by Governor Godswill Akpabio to become the Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State, and my joy and happiness were unquantifiable. I was excited that my brother and primary school

Ekerete Udoh classmate (Udom and I are from the same community of Awa, in Onna Local Government Area.

ONNA is an acronym for :Oniong Nnung Andem Awa) was being thrust into public service and knowing what an over-achiver he was at Zenith Bank, I knew he would bring the same energy and fervor to bear in the discharge of his responsibilities as the SSG, and he did not disappoint.

Shortly after assuming the position of SSG, there began a chatter within certain circles that given the fact that the governorship slot was being zoned to Eket Senatorial district, where Udom comes from, that he was likely going to throw his hat in the political ring as a candidate for the Governor of the state, and I remember praying fervently that he would see the need to do so.

When the chatter became conventional wisdom as it appeared all but certain that Udom was going to run for the governorship of the state, I fast-tracked my plans, which had been in the offing for a while, to relocate to Nigeria, and be a part of what I knew

would shape up as an exciting campaign to deepen the rate of development that the Governor Akpabio-led administration had engendered and then move the state towards the path of sustainable development.

In December 2013, I finally relocated to Nigeria and things moved pretty fast culminating in the resignation of Udom from the office of the Secretary to the State Government in October last year, and his formal declaration to seek the office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. I was appointed the Director of Media and Publicity for the campaign. After a grueling campaign, the good people of Akwa Ibom State rewarded the ticket with victory and our Principal, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was elected massively as the Governor –Elect of Akwa Ibom State at the April 11, gubernatorial election.

Since his election, I have read some propaganda-induced and other sponsored stories both in the conventional and social media where the APC have made some wild and unfounded allegations as to the conduct and integrity of the gubernatorial election.

Let me state here for the record that elections in Akwa Ibom State were exceptionally peaceful and orderly except a few skirmishes here and there, which, even in mature democracies like the United States, are common place occurrences.

The APC it must be stated was the main culprit in whatever may have passed as electoral malfeasance. One of the party’s chieftains was arrested and is being currently prosecuted having being caught with tons of electoral

materials that he had thumpprinted for the APC. In all of this orchestrated campaign of intimidation by the APC, the people of Akwa ibom state refused to be cowed, as they trooped out in thousands, and in an orderly manner cast their votes overwhelmingly for the Udom/Moses ticket.

Now, you may wish to ask: why did PDP win in Akwa Ibom in spite of the satanic propaganda and vile rhetoric and machinations of the APC? The answers are simple: Udom Emmanuel ran a campaign that was based on ideas and not on propaganda. At rallies and on media outings and avails, he carefully articulated a persuasive and convincing campaign blueprint and platform that was hopeful, people-centric and practical. The main plank was encapsulated in the 5-Point agenda of job growth, industrialization, wealth creation, deepening of the infrastructural renaissance and affordable health care.

He was passionate in his articulation of these core areas, and the people saw the sincerity in his voice, his body language and they in turn, believed him.

Deacon Udom Emmanuel, the Governor- Elect whose acronym stands for : Unity, Development, Onward Movement (UDOM) has already extended an olivebranch to his co-contestants and enjoined them to come join hands with him to build the state and launch it on a path of sustainable development Ekerete Udoh was the Director of Media and Publicity for the victorious Udom/Moses ticket in Akwa Ibom State

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 55

We need accurate data to tackle unemployment — Adediji, member, Vision 20:20-20 cannot joke with youth unemployment.

As an expert in a sector like housing, which has potentials to create jobs, what do you think is the solution to rising unemployment, especially among the youths?

I have not seen any credible and sustainable plat form by way of policies and programmes that either the current or past regimes had successfully rolled out to combat the scourge of youth unemployment in Nigeria. You can recall the tragic incident where many youths were killed during the recruitment exercise coordinated by the ministry of internal affairs. That was a single testimony to the tragedy

BY UDEME CLEMENT

Mr. Bode Adediji, a member, Federal Government Vision 20:2020 is also the immediate past President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, and the Group Executive Chairman, Bode Adediji Partnership/ Kontiental Developers Nigeria Limited. In this interview, he, speaks on the challenges facing the housing sub-sector in Nigeria and what the in-coming government should do to restructure the sector for optimum growth

W

HAT is your assessment of the housing sub-sector in the last six years?

From one regime to another, the housing sector in Nigeria has never made any appreciable progress. Indeed, under the outgoing regime, the sector ’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has never surpassed the usual 3.5 per cent and 3.7 per cent, but that is not the way our housing sector ought to be. As our efforts continue to increase at an infinitesimal level, the problems of housing, infrastructure and construction generally continue to escalate at exponential rate.

So, we need a government that is visionary, purposeful or to an extent radical to confront the monumental housing problems frontally. Until that is done, some research institutions would just continue to release data to portray what is not correct and verifiable. Therefore, I challenge the in-coming government to look at the housing, infrastructure and construction sectors not from a conventional perspective but from a revolutionary dimension.

Emphatically, unless this is done, the problems would continue to escalate.

In that case, what pragmatic approach should the in-coming government adopt in restructuring this sector to achieve astronomical increase?

The first thing is for the new government to acknowledge genuinely that problems exist in the sector. The second thing is, to understand that past governments did not summon the political will to proffer solutions to these problems in a sustainable manner. The third thing is that, concrete steps in the area of the much awaited amendment of the Land Use Act, which poses a problem to easy access to land must be addressed. Certain percentage of our national revenue should be devoted to the real sector of the economy. All institutions that have critical roles to play in the sector should be manned by qualified, transparent and competent professionals, not political jobbers. l want to be quoted, that under Buhari’s government, I would be grossly disappointed if credible professionals are not put into such strategic ministries like

Mr. Bode Adediji

The landscape of Nigeria’s political leadership has been dominated by idle talkative, pretenders and people who parade paper qualification without deep mental endowment, experience and patriotism works and housing, agriculture, petroleum, industry and other important departments of government.

Some people are of the opinion that the housing sector is growing at 10 per cent annually.

As an expert in the sector, do you agree with this assertion?

I do not know the source of their data, but frankly, any sector of the economy that grows at 10 percent would be felt by all and sundry. For instance, if sectors like manufacturing, petroleum, agriculture and housing, which is very crucial, grows by 10 percent, the impact would be felt in the country. I doubt even in a place like Lagos, which appears to be leading in economic activities and growth whether housing is recording such high growth rate. However, I must say that one of the major problems confronting planning and sectorial analysis in Nigeria is lack of accurate data.

The prevalent unemployment problem in the country is put at a statistical estimate of 28 percent. If well repositioned, can the housing sector solve the unemployment crisis facing Nigeria?

I make bold to say that youth unemployment in Nigeria has gone far beyond 28 percent.

From what ordinary Nigerians see daily, youth unemployment has become a national crisis and should be of serious concern to all well-meaning Nigerians, because the devil finds work for idle hands. A country that is determined to pursue development, self sufficiency and positive international image

that youth unemployment embodies at all times.

Let me proffer some solutions to the challenge of escalating youth unemployment. To start with, Nigeria needs to mobilise both human and material resources to revamp all crucial sectors of the economy that traditionally represent intensive man-power deployment areas.

Our manufacturing sector has been in comatose over the past 10 years, as a result of inadequate power supply and problem of uncontrolled importation of cheap and inferior goods from all over the world to Nigeria.

Government should set up a task force that can look into these problems, to roll out more credible policy documents, which the government must be able to muster sufficient political will to implement, even if at the risk of being branded by international community as a radical country.

It must be emphasised to the incoming government that unless the issue of corruption is seriously tackled through a combination of efforts, youth unemployment in Nigeria would escalate to a level that may eventually provoke mass revolution.

What do you mean by mass revolution in unemployment situation?

Mass revolution in this context implies that those who want to go to work, shall be prevented from going to work by those who have no work to do. Or those who are rich and want to sleep, cannot sleep, because those who are hungry are angry, and they would not sleep or allow any other

person to sleep.

In that case, how much in naira and kobo do you think can be invested in housing to turn around the sector for greater outputs optimisation?

We had many projections on how much should be devoted to fix our housing sub-sector in the country. As a professional, my own recommendation to the new government is that a more credible inter-disciplinary professionals must be assembled to look into the problems holistically, to come up with not only a realistic budget, but to identify the possible sources of generating the revenue to implement massive housing projects nation-wide. Of course, we must bear in mind the current new challenges facing Nigeria in solving the housing problem, such as the depreciating value of the Naira against international currencies, the sharp decline in crude oil prices, which remains the dominant source of our foreign exchange. Now the prices of cement and all imported building materials would rise following the high exchange rate, whereas, our household income across board is being reduced by inflation.

Poverty rate now stands at about 70 percent, the real sector is going under, power supply is epileptic, unemployment is at the level of national crisis, the education and health sectors are not in good shape, even as infrastructure is lacking. Do you think Buhari can solve all the problems facing Nigeria?

Yes, Buhari can tackle all the problems facing Nigeria. This answer pointedly may shock many Nigerians but that is the truth and I would still say so anywhere. I would like to emphasis that Buhari has what it takes to solve at the problems in this country.

What gives you such confidence?

All the problems facing Nigeria emanate from the fact that the foundation of progress, fear of God, hard work, sacrifices, vision, commitment and other values that normally serve as the spring-board to confront the fundamental problems, which give rise to all other forms of problems crippling Nigeria have always been absent in majority of Nigerian leaders. In the real sense of those attributes, what is common today is frugality. For example, a man who is reputed to be modest in his life style, to have inborn hatred for corruption cannot run a country as endowed as Nigeria aground.

Is there anything fundamentally wrong with our system that makes people who appear energetic, articulate and skilful simple become inactive the moment they get into government?

One of the arguments used to discredit Buhari through out his struggle to become Nigeria’s president, was apparent lack of charisma in public speeches. For me, I have always said it pointedly that the landscape of Nigeria’s

political leadership for a long time has been dominated by idle talkative, pretenders and people who parade paper qualification without deep mental endowment, experience and patriotism. This observation explains why so many eloquent politicians get into position of power and become practically incompetent and impotent. However, I must recognise that in the service of this nation, we have few individuals who are not only eloquent and charismatic, but have given their best to the service of their father land. The shocking reality is that this calibre of men and women though abound in Nigeria, the type of political leadership culture we have embraced normally frightens them away, only to be replaced by paper qualification loaded shenanigans and jobbers.

Insecurity has been one of factors militating against tangible economic growth in Nigeria, what steps do you think the in-coming government can take to ensure stability in the economic environment?

Nigeria has faced an unprecedented insecurity atmosphere in the last few years.

Buhari’s administration should therefore make the solution to insecurity a priority. This is because unless there is stability in the country, economic development would be an illusion.

As a non security expert however, I observed that the solution to insecurity may not be in the amount of huge budget set aside to tackle it, but more would be achieved if the entire country can be mobilised to confront the challenge in its totality. For example, unless the issue of corruption is resolved, many facets of contemporary insecurity in Nigeria would be difficult to combat.

The out-going government has a good record of women empowerment. Do you see Buhari’s administration taking the same step?

I am always a believer in the advancement of women in Nigeria and indeed an apostle of gender equality. However, I have serious reservation about the way people in government pursued women empowerment and gender equality. For example, as they aspire to empower women where the foundation of merit, capacity and cultural peculiarities are not put into proper perspective and aligned in the system, the result would always be worse than the era when much emphasis was not placed on women in national service. But let me remark that the in-coming government to the best of my knowledge has all it takes to drive all our crucial national agenda and aspiration to the satisfaction of all Nigerians, regardless of tribe, religion or gender. I hope when the cabinet is formed, the leaders would be able to do the needful, to justify the mandate given to them by the good people of Nigeria, from virtually all the regions of the country. Buhari would give all Nigerians a great sense of belonging in all ramifications.

PAGE 56—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015 sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

08023145567 (sms only)

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!! SURPRISE!!!

Rev. Iloh remarries at 85

By CALEB AYANSINA

By BOSE ADELAJA

A

R

EVEREND Moses Iloh, a fiery social critic and founder of Soul Winning Chapel in Yaba, Lagos did the unusual last Sunday when he took his wife, Pastor Edith Iloh to the altar for a second wedding after 50 years of solemn matrimony.

The usual wedding ceremony was witnessed by a huge crowd of relations, eminent clerics, admirers and other members of the society including the presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, founder of Nigerian Advance Party, NAP, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, his wife and other prominent Nigerians.

Dr. Iloh, who hails from Imo State is 85 years old while his Anambra State-born wife is 11 years younger. The two lovebirds could pass for a young couple, especially with their youthful gesticulations and juvenile mannerisms during the wedding ceremony conducted by their children.

Although the couple actually tied their nuptial knots 50 years ago, last Sunday's ceremony was unique for two reasons; their age coupled with the fact that the former ceremony was observed by their parents who gave their consent but the April 20 event was officiated by their children.

Last Sunday's ceremony, according to the couple, was to celebrate God's faithfulness and show appreciation to their children who have contributed immensely to the survival of their ministries. Like most marriages, the 50year marital voyage cannot be described as an all round rosy one, but by the grace of God, the couple had been able to weather the storm.

At last weekend's ceremony which took place at the Soul Winning Chapel, Ebute Metta, Bishop Okonkwo who preached the only sermon of the day, acknowledged that no marriage is free from challenges but God is always out to make things work out if only couples can depend on Him. Quoting from Psalms 34:1, the cleric said there are broken marriages because many couples are often unaware that the Devil is against many homes and are unwilling to pay the needed price to keep the union work.

Okonkwo said the Ilohs were pointers to the fact that marriages still work in Nigeria. ''The Devil may tell you your marriage will not work but the fact remains that if it works for the Ilohs, then it will work for you. Let me tell you, every marriage has its challenges but God makes the difference. This couple had occasions to quit their marriage but they didn't because they have a direction.

The Devil likes to intimidate people by telling them about the impossibilities in marriages but that does not mean you should quit. Fear will stop you from attempting what naturally you could have attained,'' he noted.

The bride, a former teacher with Ijero Baptist School, Apapa, Lagos, said her marriage to the cleric was an answer to prayers; ''I had prayed to God to give me a man who will love, cherish and pamper me and God gave me somebody who is 11 years older.'' She was in the junior team of the Red Cross Society while her husband was in the senior team where they met. ''I was not a strong Christian at that time but there were some attributes I wanted

Don’t dash Nigerians’ hope, Cleric tells Buhari, others

*THE LOVEBIRDS: Rev. Moses Iloh and wife after the wedding.

*The couple with Bishop Mike Okonkwo. in a man; a man who I will help to fulfil his destiny and I thank God he was caring although he was very busy but God gave me the grace to cope. He is a man of the people and he likes taking risks. Our first baby was delivered shortly after the war but God saw us through," she explained.

The 74-year old bride used the occasion to urge younger women to be patient at home, saying ''marriage is not a bed of roses. Couples should realise this so that they don’t truncate God's purpose for their families.''

Going down memory lane, Dr. Iloh said it took him four years to get her parents' consent because they did not know his background while the tradition did not permit a chief's daughter to marry outside her kindred. ''As a young man, I was so occupied to the extent that I had no time for women.

Her father was a chief and the tradition did not permit her to marry outside her kinsmen but we were able to surmount the obstacle and the union has been a smooth one till date. I married her to love and cherish her. All my concern was to blend her to my vision which I achieved," he maintained.

In a chat, a lawyer, activist and founder of Nigerian Advance Party (NAP), Dr. Braithwaite, who spoke about the state of the nation, said the incoming administration has a great task ahead.

"They have inherited a lot of mess because corruption has greatly destroyed this country. Among the members of the incoming administration are chieftains of corruption. They must endeavour to take the country to a greater cause in order to enjoy credibility of the election which is needed to rule this nation," he stated.

BUJA - SENIOR Pastor, Trinity Living Church, Pastor Emmanuel Adefowora has called on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and other elected leaders across the country to stick to their election promises.

He said Nigerians expect so much from them, therefore, the hope of the so much anticipated positive change must not be dashed.

Adefowora, in a statement made available to Sunday Worship, in Abuja, felicitated with all elected leaders but reminded them to remember the sacrifices people made to elect them, saying the mandate given to them is not to amass wealth to the detriment of the masses.

“My last word goes to all the newly elected leaders, I congratulate them and rejoice with them. First, the Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and all the newly elected governors and legislators. They must not forget that people voted them in because they needed leaders who will truly care for them and serve them better.

“They must make sure that they keep and fulfill all their promises before their four years in office expire. Nigerians are expecting so much from them and I pray that God will help and strengthen them to fulfill their promises.

“I will support this government both spiritually and physically and together we shall take Nigeria to the next level,” he said and admonished Nigerians to give thanks to Almighty God for successful elections, adding that God had turned the fear of our general elections to national testimony.

He maintained that people must not take God’s mercy for granted.

Consequently, the cleric called for thanksgiving service to be held “before handling over day, preferably on Sunday, May 17, 2015 to appreciate and celebrate God of heaven who had done us well.

“I thank all our religious leaders for their tireless prayers and messages of peace that they have been preaching to make sure that peace reign nationwide.

“I also salute the courage of our beloved President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for allowing God to use him to establish peace and unity nationwide by accepting the result of the election without causing any crisis,” Adefowora said.

*General Oversser of The Redeemed Christian Churcg of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye (m) praying for the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron (r) while SATGO, Pastor Agu Irukwu looks on during the just concluded Festival of Life programme in RCCG, London.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 57

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WHILE Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 19:1-2).

I grew up in a Christian, church-going family. Nevertheless, I never heard of the Holy Spirit until I was 41 years old. The Anglican Church today is different from the Anglican Church of old; at least I hope it is.

In my youth, I never heard anyone preach about the Holy Spirit. But then, glory be to God, at the age of 41, I finally received the Holy Spirit, and he changed my life completely. Therefore, I find it necessary to talk to others about this wonderful gift of God. The move of the Holy Spirit is so glorious; it is constantly subject to attack and forgery. With the Christian Church today full of con-men, many have chosen not to believe in miracles, or in the wonderful works of God. And yet, God is forever the same. He says: “I am the LORD, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6). The same God of biblical yesteryears is the same God of today. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

Yoke-destroying anointing Jesus says: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

(Acts 1:8). When those called into ministry have spent time in the presence of the Lord, we receive the

THE MOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (I) requisite anointing. This manifests in a number of ways and to different degrees. Its primary purpose is to heal the sick and to set at liberty those demonically bound and oppressed.

The Lord himself explains this at the beginning of his ministry. Quoting from the book of Isaiah, he says: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.”

(Luke 4:18-19). “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21).

Imagine a situation where a preacher is invited to your church and he declares that he has been anointed to declare that Christmas is now every day of the year.

That is what it means to proclaim “the year of the Lord’s favour.” It means by the special grace of God, the blind will now see and the lame will walk; the lepers will be cleansed and the deaf will hear; the dead will be raised up and the poor will have the gospel preached to them. (Matthew 11:5).

Motherhood, one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity — Fr Nworuh

Rev Fr Anthony Nworuh HE Parish Priest of St Monica Catholic Church, Igbogbo Ikorodu Lagos State, Rev Fr Anthony Nworuh has declared that motherhood is one of the greatest gifts God has given to mankind.

The priest who made the statement in his homily during the Mothers’ Day celebration and award giving ceremony by the church, said the Mothers’ Day is a day remarkably set aside by the Catholic Church to celebrate the dignity of womanhood, adding that, a committed and loving mother is an indispensable person, and a world without mother would be a sterile place.

He said women should be honored because often times we forget that it was through mothers that we are brought into this world, pointing out that the physical, emotional and psychological trauma that mothers go through during pregnancy and birthing is enough for special tribute to be given to mothers, because there is nothing we can do to pay our mothers for what they passed through bringing us to this world.

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“Mothers take the role of a teacher, nurse, counsellor, driver, cook and friend, and it is from mothers that children learn the virtues of sacrifice, sharing with others, compassion and interpersonal values and skills that enable human being to live together in peace” he enthused Advising mothers, he said “do not be discouraged with some undeniable family squabbles and challenges, see it as your own cross, and I believe God that created you will never forsake you.” He however, lambasted the menfolk for not showing enough care and love towards their wives, warning them to desist from dating and caring for women outside their marriage to the detriment of the wives' happiness, because of its spiritual implications.

St Monica Catholic Church which celebrated with its four outstations gave different categories of awards to members who have distinguished themselves in their contributions to the development of the church. Rev Fr Nworuh and Engr Ogbu Emmanuel received Appreciation Awards. Mr Vincent Omovusu and Chief Godwin Ebitea got Grand Patron Awards, while Mrs Joy Omovusu received Mother of Honour award and Mr & Mrs Silas Okuh got Couple of Honour awards. Five men received Patron Awards while five women also got Patroness Awards.

The awardees were gleefully decorated with their awards to the admiration of the congregation.

I first observed the manifestations of the power of God in the ministries of J.T. Kalejaiye and Uma Ukpai Today, there are so many counterfeiters of the power of God. However, for every counterfeit, there is the original and genuine article. When I first observed the manifestations of the power of God in the ministries of J.T. Kalejaiye and Uma Ukpai, I ran to the Lord to inquire about this.

He confirmed to me that he was the author and then showed me their scriptural underpinnings in the bible.

I have since seen all of them manifest in my own ministry.

Pillar of Cloud I am sure you may have seen this before: an evangelist decrees healing or deliverance in the name of the Lord, and some people fall to the ground. That is the clean way of doing this because he does not touch anybody or, as some pretenders do, push them to the ground. The move of God comes at the instance of his voice, and some people are visibly and dra-

By Anthony Onuchukwu

matically affected.

There is no artifice here, except on those bogus occasions when charlatans plan with others beforehand to put on an act in order to deceive. The power of God fills the place as an invisible but discernible thick cloud: “As the priests came out of the inner sanctuary, a cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.” (I Kings 8:10-11).

This sometimes causes some congregants to fall down suddenly on their faces in a worship mode.

Ezekiel says: “I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.” (Ezekiel 3:23).

Paul also has a similar experience: “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

Then he fell to the ground.”

(Acts 9:3-4).

Slain in the spirit The power of God also causes some men to be so overcome that they fall back. When Jesus identified himself to those who came with Judas to arrest him: “they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:6). In Christian charismatic circles, this is referred to as being “slain” under the anointing because the person appears momentarily to be dead.

Again, there is scriptural backing for this. John says: “When I saw (Jesus), I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.’” (Revelation 1: 17). As a matter of fact, the power of God sometimes puts people to sleep and they might not wake up for the entire duration of the service or fellowship. This again is scriptural. It indicates that the Lord is doing some operation or surgery on them.

The same thing happened to Adam: “The LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.” (Genesis 2:21).

* Where one goes hereafter depends on what he goes after here (Mk 8:30) * While some books inform and others reform, only the Bible can transform (Rom 1:16) * God is the only third party in a marriage that can make it work (Matt 19:16) * As you become less spiritual, the honey of the word becomes less tasteful (Ps 119:103) * The difficulties of life are intended to make us better not bitter (II Cor 12:10) * Never fear criticism when you are right, never ignore it when are wrong (Prov 15:5) * Be humble or you stumble (Prov 27:1) * Don’t brag about your plans for tomorrow, wait and see what happens * When you pray for rain, carry an umbrella (Mark 11:24) * A happy marriage is a union of two good forgivers (II Cor 3:13) * Repay no man evil for evil (Rom 12:17, Prov 17:9, 10:12) * Running away from trouble is a race you never win * Confession is the key that opens the door to forgiveness (Ps 103:12) * When a person’s temper gets the best of him, it often reveals the worst of him * Store Bible in your heart not on the shelf (Deut 6:6) * Marriage thrives in a climate of love and respect (Eph 5:25) * Wise people don’t just admit wrongs, they strive to avoid a repeat performance (Eph 5:16-17) * Life started one day and will end one day in Heaven or Hell * He who spends more than he should will not have to spend when he should * Elder Onuchukwu (07034437000), Pastor, Holiness Evangelistic Church, wrote from Imo.

Anglican Society marks 43rd anniversary Olayinka Latona STABLISHED about 40 years ago with a vision of giving succour to the less privileged in the society and propagating the gospel, Good Shepherd Society of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, recently rolled out drums to celebrate God's faithfulness and love towards the group for the past

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Vomiting It is not always that glamorous. Sometimes the person overcome by the power of God goes into convulsions, and he might even start vomiting. When I first noticed this in the ministry of Uma Ukpai, I ran to the Lord to inquire about it. “Is this of God?” I demanded.

“Yes,” the Lord replied, “it happens when people are undergoing deliverance from demonic oppression.”

Then he showed me an example from his ministry in the scriptures. A father describes the condition of his deaf and dumb son to Jesus: “Whenever the demon is in control of him it dashes him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth and become rigid.” (Mark 9:18). When they brought him to Jesus: “The demon convulsed the child horribly, and he fell to the ground writhing and foaming at the mouth.” (Mark 9:20).

Words of wisdom

*TODAY a reader, tomorrow a leader * To be right with God may cause us to be in trouble with men * Instead of giving up on a person, give the person to God * He who throws mud gets dirty hands * The Bible is bread for daily food, not a cake for a special occasion * Faith sees what eyes cannot see * Only seers are qualified to be overseers * You may serve God without loving him but you cannot love him without serving him * Our trouble seems smaller when we remember the greatness of the Lord (Ps 118:6) * Where no wood is, the fire goeth out, where there is no tale bearer, the strife ceaseth * To master this life spend time with the master * Only those who have a second birth will escape the second death (Rev 21:8) * We learn lessons in the school of suffering that we can learn in no other way * Confession is soil in which forgiveness flourish (1Jn 1:19) * Salvation is not turning over a new leaf; it is receiving a new life * When a person’s temper gets the best of him, it often reveals the worst of him * Our highest good may come from our deepest suffering * Fear God and you will have nothing else to fear (Ps 14:26) * The character of our children tomorrow depends on what is put into their heart today (Prov 22:6) * Don’t confuse your children by mixing good counsel with bad conduct. * The church rooted by God can never be uprooted by man (Matt 18:16) * You cannot walk with God and run with the devil (II Pt 2:8)

By

Ditto for Abram: “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.” (Genesis 15:12).

Once in my ministry, I quoted the scripture which says: “You have led captivity captive; you have received gifts among men.”

(Psalm 68:18). Out of the blue, Bimpe Akindele was slain under the anointing.

She remained motionless for the rest of the fellowship. When she recovered, she revealed that the Lord carried her to heaven and gave her an astounding revelation of his glory.

years.

The anniversary thanksgiving which took place at the AVMCC witnessed a large turnout of members and well wishers, all clad in of combination of white and blue attire.

The dean of the cathedral, Ven. Abel Olu Ajibodu, in a sermon tagged: "The Good Shepherd" explained that

God is the true shepherd who never leaves nor forsakes His sheep.

Ajibodu further described a good shepherd as a visionary leader whose major concern should be to serve than to be served and that such leaders should be ready to either be praised or condemned by the people.

His words: "President,

governors, senators and so on are shepherds, because God has placed them in the office they occupy, to provide leadership for the people.

What it means is to be a good shepherd is for a leader to be a good shepherd who takes appropriate care of his flock.

The cleric, however, urged members of the Good Shepherd Society to imbibe the qualities of Christ whom he described as the Great Shepherd.

Page 58 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Ben Ndi Obi

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF

A statesman snatched away by death

A

LAS, it is with a compassionate and great sense of loss that I write this piece to my great compatriot, friend and brother, COMRADE SENATOR UCHE CHUKWUMERIJE, CON, who has just passed on at the age of 75.There is no way I can write enough about this great man widely admired and accepted by all who were opportuned to come in contact with him. He was a great warrior who always chose the path of peace because of its inherent benefits. He was however never afraid of battles.

His real last battle was when he chaired the movement against the 3rd term project. That movement was founded on the 2 nd of February, 2005, the day I was sworn into the Senate after a two year legal battle to recover my stolen mandate. His visit to me

The fall of Chukwumerije, the Igbo intellectual political iroko that night of 2nd February, 2005 gave birth to the agreement to set up a pressure group in the Senate which later metamorphosed into the movement against the 3rd term project.

His courage, commitment and dedication to the Igbo cause was legendary. A stickler for truth, he truly was among the best of his peers–he was imbued with a rare wisdom that set him head and shoulder high above his peers.

He served this Nation in different capacities notably as a Minister of Information before joining the Senate where his last major assignment was the Chairman of the Education Committee.His Associates in the Red Chamber will remember him as a businesslike Statesmanwho became a master of the political mathematics of the Chamber and

•Late Comrade Chukwumerije also the Nation at large. Whenever he stood up to lead or contribute in any discussions on the floor of the Senate, it was certain that he would sway the majority of the Senators in his direction because he was regarded as an encyclopedia.

He was an icon of goodness in

his community and would deny himself a lot of good things to ensure that his community was well established. A great sportsman, he mentored a lot of younger menincluding his own children who have excelled in international sports winning gold and other medals at the Olympics and Commonwealth Taekwondo thus ensuring that his personal legacy of love, strength of purpose and progress is maintained even after his demise. It is important at this stage to state that all his seven children including Azuka the daughter are all Black Belts in Taekwando sports. That was the nature of the man Comrade UcheChukwumerije, committed and dedicated to any cause he believes in.

What more can I say? We have truly lost a great pillar of strength

in Nigeria whichever way you look at it and he will always have a special place in our hearts. Let us however not grieve too much for his passing on but take solace in the fact that in the Lord’s bosom where he is now, he is happy and contented especially with us.

It is also my candid opinion that nobody stands in a better position to tell the actual story of Biafra than this great statesman who has been snatched away from mankind by death. He was a living chronicle of Biafra from the very beginning to the end.

In condoling with his immediate family,the entire Igbo nation and Nigeria as a whole, let us all ultimately be thankful to God that we were privileged to walk with this great Leader, Friend and Father.

Adieu!!! Distinguished Senator Comrade Uche Chukwumerije.

May your caring soul rest in peace.

•NdiObi, CON, FNIPR, is Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs.

Nwanneka Ekweremadu: A Paragon of Beauty, Brain and Character VIEWPOINT

By Uche Anichukwu

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF

Rare acts of kindness and humility

D

R. (Lady) Nwanneka Ekw eremadu, wife of the Deputy President of the Senate and Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Ike Ekweremadu, indeed, belongs to the clan of women who use and influence power positively. Without prejudice to his personal pedigrees, even the senator himself publicly admits that Lady Ekweremadu is God’s uncommon jewel and the virtuous woman behind the Ikeoha phenomenon.

Born on September 10, 1966, the graceful woman holds Bachelor of Education (Accountancy/Economics), MBA in Accountancy, plus another MSc. She can best be described as the Senator Ekweremadu’s version of Ulysses’ Telemachus in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, “Ulysses”. About Telema-

VIEWPOINT

By Michael Tidi

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF

Celebrating the Olu of Warri HE Itsekiri nation of Delta State has kick-started the 28th coronation anniversary of their revered monarch, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri. There is no gainsaying the fact that there are many reasons for His Royal Majesty, the 19th Olu of Warri to celebrate his 28th years on the throne of his forefathers. But one that may unarguably stand out which all and sundry will readily extol is his steadfastness in upholding the dignity of his highly respected throne in this epoch, where such quality and uprightness have become a rarity. His resoluteness in this regard spanned through the years right from when he ascended the throne on May 2, 1987. In the Olu, is the quintessential King, desirous by any lover or stickler of the traditional institution. To any Itsekiri indigene, there is every cause to proudly identify with the

chus, Ulysses says: “This is my son Telemachus/ To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle… /Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere/ Of common duties, decent not to fail/ In offices of tenderness….”

Thus, while the Deputy President of the Senate is busy with the affairs of state, Lady Ekweremadu ensures that she keeps the home front running well. I recall her meeting with the Wives of African Ambassadors in Japan on the sideline of our official visit. The wife of the Nigerian Ambassador, Lady Georgina Agbo, wanted her to share her experience on how to manage the life of a political office holder as a wife. Mrs. Ekwermadu does not believe that abandoning the kitchen to the cooks is how to announce that you have arrived. She not only cooks, but also directs the kitchen affairs, cooks pots of soup by phone even when she is away.

She has also distinguished herself in ensuring that their constituency outreach arm, the Ikeoha Foundation where she is a trustee,

delivers on their vision of unusual transformation.

Under her close watch, therefore, the Foundation has literally given a new lease of life to countless women, widows and youths through scholarships, vocational training, ICT trainings, Adult Literacy programmes, etc.

However, this piece was prompted by academic accomplishment at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki where she bagged a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accountancy. As though in a healthy academic competition, Ikeoha himself has also bagged a PhD in Law at the University of Abuja.

I cannot claim to have known her for ages, but the much I have seen and the testimonies of those who knew her way back in her early life bear witness to the fact that she is an epitome of brain, beauty, and character. Definitely not the type that throws her weight about, her words are healing. She, like her husband, believes that every human being is entitled to some respect inherent in his/her human-

•Dr. Nwanneka Ekweremadu ity.

I can’t possibly recount all her acts of kindness and humility. She is a boss’ wife who would often call you aside to appreciate your little efforts and to encourage you. She cares down to you family.

This is a woman that throws her inner dinning table open to her husband’s members of staff and ensures everyone is well taken care of.

Itsekiri: One Nation, One King

T

•Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri

great Monarch.

Any treatise on the Warri Monarch on this occasion of his 28th coronation anniversary can only be sufficiently explored by a fully homegrown indigene, considering his naturally quiet nature. Alternatively, an ardent historian or follower of the Warri monarchy may go a long way in doing justice to such discourse. The need for this is quite important in order to have facts well presented.

A correct presentation besides

serving as a well-deserved tribute to one of the greatest royal fathers of our time also will provide a good reference point in the future. In as much as I have resisted the temptations of penning this treatise, bearing in mind the fact that I am not really equipped enough but I could not but cave in to the urge of joining in the euphoria of the moments, if only as a mark of respect to my beloved monarch.

Looking critically at the composition of the present Delta State, it might not be out of place to posit that it falls into the category of one of the most complex states in the federation. As a matter of fact, it could be succinctly referred to as a miniature “United Tribes of Nigeria”. This is simply because of the diverse ethnic nationalities that constitute the state. That the complexities of the state occasionally bring about bickering among the varied tribes, particularly within Warri metropolis is a statement of fact that

cannot be in doubt. However, it is somewhat to the credit of the Warri Monarch that despite this compound attribute, the Itsekiri people have remained a united tribe under one King. The foregoing readily showcases nothing but the administrative expertise and fatherly capabilities of the Olu, as the traditional head in fostering unity amongst these numerous tribes.

Curiously, what becomes of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality post2015 remains in many respects an issue that continues to bother the minds of many of my fellow Itsekiris. Since the incumbent Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan is an Itsekiri, it is felt in certain quarters that the fortunes of the Itsekiri will plummet come May 29 when he eventually hands over the state’s baton to our Governor-elect.

Before Nigeria was created, the Itsekiri nation was already on the world map, to the extent of

It is not about the food. No one starves in his/her house. It is about humility and the extra mile the duo of Dr. and Dr. (Mrs.) Ekweremadu go to care. It is about a couple that see their staff and their families as equally a member of their family.

They are definitely generous.

The other essence of some of these details is that beyond and above her intellectual prowess, which has been capped up with the successful completion of her doctoral studies, she holds a greater PhD in the hearts of people as one of the kindest products of Creation. She had a humble beginning, no doubt. But, how many people remember humility, service, and sacrifice when they ‘arrive’?.

Congratulations on your academic millage, Your Excellency.

Keep being you. Power is transient, but the many positive marks you have made with power will last beyond your lifetime.

•Anichukwu is Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate. exchanging ambassadors with Portugal, then a world power. After Nigeria was created the Itsekiris remained a force to be reckoned with in the colonial era. The Itsekiris were such a factor in Nigerian history that the defeat of Nana Olomu, a Niger Deltan potentate, became one of the high points of the British conquest of Nigeria. When independence dawned in 1960, one of the iconic faces of the new nation and probably Nigeria’s most colorful politician till date was an Itsekiri man in the person of the unforgettable Chief Festus OkotieEboh. Today, we can all be proud of the fact that we have an Olu in the person of Ogiame, Atuwatse II, one of the most illustrious monarchs in Nigeria.

To my Royal Father who has demonstrated a religious devotion to the dignity of the traditional institution, I say long may you live.

HAPPY 28TH CORONATION ANNIVERSARY SIR!!!

•Tidi, an offspring of the Royal Ejo family, writes from Warri.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015,

PDP must not die!

VIEWPOINT

By Habib Aruna

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The need for a virile opposition in the post-May 29 era

L

AST week’s visit of the former National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, to the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was expectedly well reported by the media. Not less by its symbolism, the visit of the prince, who is also a ‘Prophet’, came to many as a surprise just days after his party was soundly beaten by the APC in historic presidential election.

More than casual observers of the Nigerian political space would easily recollect that it was this same Ogbulafor, apparently savouring the spirit of the moment, who told a bemused nation that his party would rule the country for 60 years before it can be upstaged from power. It was a Sunday evening at the Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, during the government of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, when Ogbulafor led his party members to a dinner with the media. This

reporter wrote the story for Daily Independent.

Ogbulafor never minced words when he said the PDP is the biggest party in Africa and would rule Nigeria for 60 years. Even though the audience was not elated with what he said, members of the party gave the remarks a standing ovation. Most of us saw it as not only uncharitable, but that the ruling party was hell-bent on making sure that the country remained a one-party state. We were, indeed, further disturbed that there was nothing on ground to show that Ogbulafor ‘prophecy’ would not come to pass.

So, rather than being annoyed with what the Chairman said, we were afraid that the nation’s democratic space would be dominated by one party, PDP, for a very long time. That was why the visit of Ogbulafor to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun received much space in the media. It was implicit that Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that his ‘prophecy’ did not come to pass. The prince even gave an indication of not fore-closing the possibility of joining the APC in the near future.

That is the reality of Nigerian politics. In what would be a case

study to political scientists for a long time, the opposition party, for the first time in our not too enviable political history, defeated the ruling party, in an election that attracted a global audience. Working under the mantra of change, the APC picked a former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, a man who is known for his strong stance against corruption, to enter the ring with the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan.

It was clear that most Nigerians were tired of the ruling party and its president who, to many of them, has failed in the past four years; it was evident that voters wanted a change from the status quo to a new beginning; it was clear that they were fed up with Jonathan, who they massively voted for in 2011. Of course, the ruling party was over confident of its victory that defeat was never envisaged.

Predictably, since Jonathan conceded defeat, PDP members have been defecting to the APC in droves, forcing observers to question their commitment to the democratic project. What was expected at this time was that since losing the election, the PDP leadership should brace up to the reality of providing an effective opposition. The party should redefine its focus from being a ruling party to that of providing alternatives to the government in

power.

What I was expecting to hear from the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, after the loss, was for him to announce his resignation and put in place the machinery to pave the way for new leadership that would chart the way forward.

It cannot be done by the Muazuled executive. The PDP would have to come to the realization that it’s no longer a dominant body in the political space; it would have to reorganize itself and be more pragmatic to be able to win future elections.

It is in the best interest of the country and democracy for the PDP to come out stronger after this process of electioneering. And thank goodness that some of its leaders like the Senate President, David Mark; Governor Babangida Aliyu; Senator Ekweremadu, amongst others, have vowed to remain in the party and salvage it from going under. More importantly, the arrow head of this rejuvenation may as well be Jonathan, who got his grooves back with the way he conceded defeat. The party can come together, put its house in order and act as checks on the likely excesses of the government in power.

For a country that is increasingly becoming a two-party state, an effective opposition party is what would guarantee that the citizens

Lagos celebrates Jimi Agbaje after election results VIEWPOINT

By Babatope Adewale

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Raising the bar in the politics of the former federal capital

I

T was the late political icon Chief Obafemi Awolowo who said , on being found guilty of treasonable felony years back in Nigeria’s dark political history, that it is not life that matters but the courage you put into it. That surely must be one of the reasons some Lagosians have decided to make a folk hero of Jimi Agbaje, the PDP candidate in the governorship election of April 11, who lost to the declared winner Akin Ambode of the APC. The talk of the town is that the PDP candidate has carved a niche for himself as the

VIEWPOINT

By Lucky Okparanyote (Ranyo)

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The passage of mama they called ‘Auntie’ The burial of my mother, the late Madam Mary Obareki-Anidi, could well be described as a fitting departure from the world after a glorious and eventful 82years sojourn. She died on August 20, 2014, and was buried on December 5, 2014, amidst accolades from people from all walks of life at her residence in Kokori after a funeral service at the First Baptist Church, Mission Road, Warri.

Her life story, as attested to by his children and other people, could be described as a typical case of grass to grace as she virtually struggled to build herself and her children.

Besides, her honesty and integrity, even in the face of obvious want, was never in doubt. The twin vir-

hero of the guber election in Lagos. The talk is that even though he lost the election despite controversial returns from INEC in some areas, the facts on the ground showed clearly that he gave the APC, the established party in the state for the past 16 years, a run for its money and gargantuan financial arsenal.

Indeed, Agbaje’s performance and credibility with the electorate in Lagos has set tongues wagging that heads may roll in government circles and the higher echelon of the APC on how an outsider to government, which campaigned for Akin Ambode, can perform so woefully while the PDP stole the thunder of campaign for so long and so effortlessly.

Some notable politicians

and elders in the state have attributed Agbaje’s winning attitude and soft sell to his upbringing and family orientation which is that of a man with a family that is well to do and has a name to protect . With such background, it was difficult to see him in politics at all , not to talk of formidably taking on established politicians in Lagos and almost defeating them.

Undoubtedly the PDP guber candidate gave APC leaders the jitters such that Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu was said to be forced to persuade party faithful to let bygones be bygones so that Lagos will not be lost to an outsider so soon after realizing the unbelievable dream of calling the shots for the Buhari government from Abu-

ja. Some people are even speculating that the APC national leader may soon reach out to Agbaje in the new dispensation in the state or at federal level as he was amazed about how the PDP candidate performed so well at the campaigns that he almost overturned the stakes in the state for the APC in the guber election.

In Lagos politics, it can no longer be business as usual especially in the area of handpicking candidates for public offices which was the bane of the APC primaries and overall selection strategy. The incredible performance of Agbaje at the polls has surely seen to that. In addition, Agbaje’s suave and dignified political challenge has changed the polit-

Page 59

are not shortchanged; an effective opposition is what would put the government in power on its toes; an effective opposition would serve as a reminder that the people’s wishes and aspirations cannot be taken for granted; yet an effective opposition would always come up with alternatives to government policies and programmes.

Even so, history has shown that it’s not always easy for a ruling party, in this case one that has been in power for 16 years, to transform to a virile opposition party. It’s much difficult for a party without ideology, what brought them together was the spoils of office and perquisites of power. They, however, have to find solace in the new discovery among Nigerians that power resides in the ballot box. The PDP has to cash in on the insatiable appetite of voters, because, soonest, the honeymoon would be over, to be relevant and get back to power.

It is in the national interest and the future of the country for the PDP to be reanimated to perform the constitutional role of a virile and vibrant opposition party. Hence, rather than being despondent and recriminating, the party leadership should wake up and get back to the drawing board.

•Aruna, a journalist, is based in Ikorodu, Lagos.

ical landscape in Lagos in terms of recruitment of real and potential politicians or office seekers in the state.

He has shown that decent men and women can participate in politics and make a difference by raising the bar in terms of respect for the rule of law and respect for the integrity of political competition and participation.

The PDP candidate may not have won the election even though his party is going to court to contest the result but he has won the hearts of Lagosians with his fine outing and formidable performance against the APC. He remains the poster boy and darling of Lagosians as we ponder ruefully at what could have been the light at the end of a dark tunnel for Lagosians had the election result been different.

•Adewale, a public commentator, lives in Lagos.

Mary Aruanwanmedo Obareki-Anidi (1932-2014) tues of honesty and integrity endeared her to a lot of people within and outside Delta State. The large turnout of dignitaries at the funeral was a testimony of the life she lived.

Maternally, our mother was born

by Titi Idjagun, a descendant of Okejekio of Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State and Ejuruemuravwo, shortened to Ivwawo, of Igun in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State.

She is the eldest of six. Madam Mary Aruanwanmedo ObarekiAnidi did not have formal education in early childhood. She, however, later enrolled herself in an adult education class and thereafter was able to read and write and able to sign her r documents. She grew up as a very beautiful woman, nicknamed ‘Black and Shine’ because of her beauty and was

•Late Madam Mary Obareki-Anidi

the toast of many suitors. Mama was a great entrepreneur who was able to organize and manage many enterprises. She was a business woman with considerable initiative and hard work. Her business drive took her to Okitipupa in Ondo State in the early sixties. She left Okitipupa at the beginning of the civil war to settle in Warri where she continued with her business.

She continued In business till the

very last day when she passed on peacefully in her sleep on August 20, 2014. Our mother worshipped at First Baptist Church, Mission Road, Warri and participated in almost all church activities and attended almost all church conventions, This earned her the title “MAMA CONVENTION” She belonged to many church groups such as WMS and Sunday School-Yoruba group. She also belonged to many market associations and was the leader of the Igbudu Market “Egusi Market Association.”

She was a kind hearted, compassionate and generous woman who exemplified love, forgiveness and contentment. She lived a consistent prayerful life and loved children and family. She had her younger ones and relatives living with her before she started having children

of her own. These relatives called her “AUNTIE”. She had about six children living with her at the time of her passing on to eternal glory.

She was fearless, an unbiased umpire and a great judge. She was a peace maker and brought many of her relations to Warri as apprentice under her. She protected and guarded her children enormously and jealously too, and single handedly trained them. I can say without fear of equivocation that I grew up under my mother not knowing poverty at any point in my life. I had all the basic needs of life and went through the university smoothly and without the pain of insufficiency that many of my colleagues from similar economic background faced regularly.

•Lucky Okparanyote (Ranyo) is mama’s eldest son.

PAGE 60—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

2015 LBHF beckons on all to bring back our culture

By JAPHET ALAKAM & ADELAKUN OGOOLUWA CULTURE

I

n the spirit of change and the euphoria of a successful victorious election, the city of Lagos, the nations commercial capital witnessed another celebration and display of cultural heritage last week as the 2015 Lagos Black Heritage Festival kicked off in grand style.

It was indeed a celebration of African creativity within a carnivalesque of traditional and contemporary dance, music, painting, drama, and other artistic local and international cultural expressions as people from all walks of life especially culture enthusiasts converged at the Freedom Park, Lagos for the festival.

Wearing a very colourful look, courtesy of the preparations put in place, the old colonial prison compound at Broad Street Lagos, which was turned to a celebration ground and renamed Freedom park witnessed an upsurge of people. As early as 8. 30 am, some of the finalist of the Vision of the Child competition with their teachers were already there with other guest, while the music kept on blazing from the band. Then came the arrival of the different masquerades from the ancient city of Badagry with superlative dance and cultural displays.

In a frenzy mood, the Zamgbetan, Egugun Ajido, Elemede, Akaka, and Aziza masquerades all from the ancient city of Badagry took over the stage and danced out in style to the dulcet tunes of the Eko brass band. It was such a wonderful performance as the masquerades colourfully dressed in different costumes went round the place entertaining while many tourists both locals and foreigners alike who came to quench their thirst for traditional and cultural delight who were on ground joined in the dance. It was celebration of African culture at its best.

After that, the entourage moved to the band stand where the Footprints of David took out time to entertain the audience with scintillating songs and dance. From there, they moved to the gallery where the commissioner and Prof. Soyinka declared open the exhibition hall where the works of the finalists for the Vision of the Child competition were displayed.

“The vision of the child” an initiative of Prof Soyinka is part of the festival meant for the development of mental and creative talents of the children in Arts especially visual , poetry, drama. This year’s theme “ Road to Sambisa” afforded the children to express their feelings and views about the abduction of the Chibok girls by the Boko Haram. To the astonishment of many, the children expressed their views in paintings and literally expressions which border on the feelings of parents of the Chibok girls and the need to intensify the search for their •The beauty of the festival, masquerades display at the event release.

The Commissioner expressed his astonishment at the students who portrayed the theme in their works and presentation about the Chibok girls and the trauma of the parents over a year ago, he urged the incoming Nigerian government to keep all hands on deck to tackle the issue of terrorism and insecurity in the country, he also reminded the new government about the mandate given to them and that they must find all possible ways to find the missing girls.

Declaring the one week festival open, Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola who was represented by the Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mr. Disun Holloway, said “on behalf of Governor Fashola, Prof. Soyinka , the festival consultant, and others, we are happy to be here again.” He explained that the change •Prof. Soyinka with one of the children during the opening of from the traditional Easter Monday was consequent upon the shift in the date of the the exhibition nation’s General Elections. our identity as a people who have the stage and entertained the He further noted that despite the change, rich cultural roots “ we are very masses with old and all the programmes will hold accordingly, happy to showcase our culture. contemporary tunes. with the exception of Lagos carnival which In Yoruba race we maintain our On the second day, Sunday, the will come up on 2nd of May as a result of the culture. There is need to remind Lagos Boat Regatta, which entrance examinations taking place on April us of who we are, where we come traditionally precedes the 25. from and others.”

Carnival, was held with pump According to him,the festival is to showcase Daddy Sax and the royal band and pageantry at the usual the culture of Lagos. He enjoined all to of Badagry” were not left out of Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, participate in cultural events like LBHF the celebrations as they took over venue of the festival.

(Lagos Black Heritage festival) to promote

To mak e global impact, w omen must embrace reading, ttec ec hnology make women echnology

By PRISCA SAM-DURU CONFERENCE

I

n a world where life seems better lived around science and technology, with ordinary buying and selling now more lucrative, people selling their capabilities internationally, and more surprisingly, life partners being acquired these days through the social media, there is need for Nigerians most especially, women to get on board and make the most of this trend.

The need to address some of the issues undermining the women, while ensuring they are empowered so as to make meaningful impact in the evolution the world is experiencing, formed the back bone of the 2015 women conference tagged “Empowering Women For Global Impact”.

The conference which was organised by the Daughters Of Destiny(DOD) International, ended last Saturday at the SEE Event Centre, Lekki Epe Expressway, Lagos.

All the speakers at the conference were unanimous in their belief that education and reading are key factors to women empowerment and when empowered, all their weaknesses disappear.

DOD founder, Apostle Busola Jegede who charged women to read wide and embrace technology, noted that to imbibe attitude of reading, one can begin by reading one chapter of a book every day and see oneself progressing. She declared that only meaningful materials have the capability of developing any

woman’s capacity.

“Do not limit your thinking, do not be timid be bold. Embrace ideas that will break the bone of poverty in your families and at the same time, change negative mind sets.” She noted.

Also, to excel in any chosen field, she advised that women should inject motivation into their brands stressing that it is a must that women embrace technology because that’s the dimension the world is going.

“Make your brand globally accessible, make positive inquiries as regards the business or services you wish to go into and above all, be a planner and avoid distractions.” She advised.

To utilise their full potentials, one of the speakers at the conference, Rev. Mrs Adeyinka Badejo advised women to get education, brush up themselves and make reading a part of their

The festival was packaged to promote ballet dance, and develop the intellectual capability of the students

SUNDAY POEM

Accountable leadership

By ELIZABETH UWANDU POEM

•A performance by the women at the conference life.

According to her, “Some women who married as illiterate, even after 3 or 4 children, never gave up but went back to school to acquire formal education because they know the essence of being educated in a technology based age.”

She enjoined women to avail themselves of any opportunity provided through trainings, workshops, seminars, and programmes that will take them beyond their present level.

For both mental and intellectual development, Rev. Badejo said that every woman needs a mentor who must be a shinning example to be looked up to, someone who has gone through a lot but still standing.

She added that becoming literate must be taken beyond mere reading and writing stressing that women’s mental and intellectual faculty must be developed through reading.

“Interact with intellectuals so as to tap from their wealth of

knowledge. Read sound and sane books which will give you good perspective about life and to understand others perspective or opinion or better still, how they got to the enviable position they occupy.” She echoed.

Another speaker, Rev. Gbemi Olaleye also harped on the need for women to imbibe the culture of reading any material that will add value to their life.

Considering the evolution of social media, Olaleye advised that women should take advantage of the platforms available on the internet and impact positively on themselves before thinking of mobilising others to excel.

According to her, “Every woman has a huge role in all facets of life be it education, culture, fashion, media, judiciary, entertainment, politics etc.” And to be successful in any or all these areas, she posited that education be it formal or informal is the key.

W

e bask in the euphoria of your rule Confidence in the rod you raise Happy for the arms you stretch You, the masterpiece of imperfection Yet, perfect in administration Who can question your sentence?

Compromise and deceit you despise Justice and equity are you amulets You who pardon without trial Favour without partiality But by no means acquit the stray dog that eats his vomit I call on all mortal rulers Look upon His Majesty Whose beauty is truth: Apparel is mercy and goodness And his countenance hospitality and kindness.

Then peace would be our lot.

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S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL 26, 2015,

Falcons Continues from Back Page

the team going, there is still much to be done, if the Falcons are to go far in the tournament where they will play against USA, Sweden and Australia in a pairing that has been dubbed the group of death. USA during the week named its squad for the competition.

“For a competition like the World Cup, we need to play better friendly

AYAC Continues from Back Page

Cool Finish... Cesc Fabregas making things happen for Chelsea. He will be up playing against Arsenal on a familiar turf today.

Fàbregas at Chelsea to win titles— Mourinho JOSÉ Mourinho has claimed Cesc Fàbregas’s principal motivation when opting to join Chelsea last summer in preference to a potential return to Arsenal was a desire to win titles, as the Spain midfielder is set to play against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for the first time.

Fàbregas joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Barcelona in 2003, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most accomplished players and winning the 2005 FA Cup, before returning to the Catalan club in 2011. When it became clear that his three-year spell back in Spain was to be curtailed last summer, Arsenal effectively waived first refusal to resign the player, leading to the 27-year-old moving to Stamford Bridge.

Asked before Sunday’s clash between the current top two how he had convinced Fàbregas to move to Chelsea, Mourinho said: “I just promised him we’d build a team very adapted to his style of play. That he was going to be an important player in our project.

And that, normally, good projects end with titles.

He was looking for that.

That’s all I can say.”

The former Arsenal captain will be braced for a hostile reception at the Emirates though Mourinho, whose side can move 13 points clear of their rivals with victory, has no qualms about the player’s ability to cope in

that atmosphere. “I’m not worried with that,” he said. “Frank Lampard played at Stamford Bridge without any kind of problem and with a good reception. I don’t see a reason for Fàbregas not to have the same

at the Emirates.

“But, if he has some bad reactions, I think he’s one of the players who is more than ready. He played in Barcelona with an Arsenal shirt. Why can’t he play at the Emirates with a Chelsea shirt? No problem.”

The athletes will be competing in the boys and girls 200m and also the boys medley relay this afternoon. There is a possibility that they might get two more gold medals, but that will not be enough to over turn South Africa and Kenya that occupy the first and second positions on the medals table.

Meanwhile at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia USA, the Nigerian

Star Superfans game show: Famous FC overwhelm Victory FC time.

THE second episode of the Star Football SuperFans gameshow was characterised by a bold attacking display from both teams. Famous FC made up of Chelsea fans, squared up against Victory FC made up of Arsenal fans as host/referee Mozez Praiz struggled to keep up with the frantic pace of the game.

After a cautious start, the game opened up as Victory FC’s Lawal Omo-

tolani went for a twentypointer, which he answered correctly, moving his team to the edge of the opposition’s penalty box. Famous FC’s David Nnachi came up next and coolly executed a defensive block with a 20pointer. Ojelabi Tosin attempted a 20-pointer and missed it, presenting Famous FC with a golden opportunity to make it 10, which is how it stayed until the kick off of Extra

6th Private University Games hold December where directors of sports THE 6th Nigerian Private University Games (NPUGA) has been scheduled to hold on December 10th through 20th, 2015 at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.

This was announced after the Npuga council meeting held recently at Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State

from over twenty private universities across the country were present.

Speaking with sports writers after the event, President of the Nigerian Private Universities Games Association, Akintunde Akinola noted that the games will feature events such as football, volleyball, basketball, chess, athletics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis.

After a frenetic extra time and penalty shootout period, Mozez Praiz took the centre stage and announced the result after the audience voted.

2-1 to Famous FC and the title of Superfan of Superfans!

*Gabriel Adesanya of Golden United FC

matches.

“The anticipation and expectation we have is to do well in Canada but we need to play better and bigger friendlies to whip us into shape.

“Of course we do appreciate the efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation because they have done a lot in ensuring we prepare well for this competition.

“But if we can get games against some of these big countries, that will help us a lot.”

4x100m quartet managed a third place in the race that was decided yesterday. The team featuring Gloria Asumnu, Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Ngozi Onwumere finished 44.22 seconds behind the USA with 43.79 and first placed Jamaica with 43.70seconds. The women 4x400m finished 5th.

The Penn Relays are a prelude to the IAAF World Relays next month in Bahamas.

Keshi

Continues from Back Page

bu Amodu refused to comment on former Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi.

“Keshi alone can speak on that. He wears the shoe and knows where it pinches,” Erico said, rhetorically.

He warned the Nigeria Football Federation not to dictate to the coach what he should do.

“If they do that, it will backfire and the result won’t be pleasant for anybody.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 26, 2015, PAGE 63

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SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 26, 2015

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IGERIAN coaches have declared their support for Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi who recently signed a fresh 2year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation.

Nigerian coaches back Keshi Speaking from his base in Calabar, national Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian

Football Coaches Association, Etta Egbe said, “Nigerian coaches will give Keshi our total sup-

How Keshi can succeed —Ugbe, Erico

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE renewal of Coach Stephen Keshi’s contract as Super Eagles handler by the Nigeria Football Federation last Tuesday has been greeted with relief by the Nigerian football confraternity. Even as some stake-holders have been cautious in their reactions, some have pointed the way forward for the embattled coach.

In his reaction, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Cross River State, Patrick Ugbe advised Keshi to learn from his past mistakes

and allow performance, objectivity and patriotism guide his team selection. “Keshi must be objective, he must put sentiments aside and use performance as yardstick for team selection.

Above all, the interest of the nation must be uppermost.”

The commissioner added that the Big Boss “must also be humble.

He is dealing with human beings and if he is humble, he will succeed.”

On his part, veteran coach, Joe Erico advised Keshi to tread gently as he goes about his job.

“He must expect the good and the bad. I must equally congratulate him for his resilience because he has been patient and has remained steadfast. He should look for capable players who can get him results.

He can’t afford to bring in mediocres because there is no time for experimentation. Nigerians want instant results.”

Erico who once worked with Keshi under Shai Continues on Page 62

*Keshi

Fabregas at Chelsea to win titles —Mourinho Pg. 62

AYAC: Nigerian athletes scramble for medals ...Women 4x100 clinch bronze at Penn Relays

BY BEN EFE

N

West Brom striker Victor Anichebe stretches out his right leg to poke the ball away from Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel. The match ended 0-0

FIFA WWC: Falcons’ preparations worry Okon

S

UPER Falcons coach Edwin Okon said his team’s readiness for the FIFA Women World Cup starting in June in Canada will receive a boost, if only they can play quality friendlies against

world class teams.

For now the Falcons are consigned to training in Abuja and playing against retired male football players and youth teams. Okon reckoned that

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

port to succeed. We want to congratulate both Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation in particular for re-signing Keshi because the pressure was too much.

“We know that if it were based on public opinion, Keshi would not have been given the job. So, we thank the NFF for believing in the Nigerian coach,” Egbe said.

Egbe said Keshi must encourage younger players into the Super Eagles squad.

“He is lucky because he won’t have any problems getting the right players.

Manu Garba and Samson Siasia have enormous talents in the U-20 and U-23 squads. Keshi can benefit a lot from these teams. But he has to complement the skills of the youthful players with experience.”

though the Nigeria Football Federation has done its best to keep Continues on Page 62

TODAY’S MATCHES NPFL Enyimba v Bayelsa Utd v Lobi Stars v Akwa Utd v Rangers v Sunshine v Warri Wolvesv Abia Warriors Kwara Utd v Pillars v EPL Everton v Arsenal v

Sharks 4 pm Ifeanyi Uba 4pm Giwa 4 pm Dolphins 4pm El Kanemi 4pm Wikki 4 pm Heartland 4pm v Shooting 4pm Nasarawa 4 pm Taraba 4 pm

IGERIAN youth athletes are in a last minute efforts to rescue some medals at the final day of the African youth athletics championships in Mauritius.

The team arrived the Indian Ocean island country late on Thursday thus missing the morning events of the opening day. However the Nigeria team won a girl’s relay medley gold and silver in both categories of the long jump.

Continues on Page 62

Man U 1.30pm Chelsea 4pm

RESULTS

See solution on page 5

Southampton 2 Burnley 0 Crystal P 0 Newcastle 2 QPR 0 Stoke City 1 West Brom 0 Man City 3

Tottenham Leicester Hull City Swansea West Ham Sunderlkand Liverpool Aston Villa

2 1 2 3 0 1 0 2

*Asumu

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