JTF, Navy rescue 27 oil workers from militants, one missing

PAGE 2 —

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 3

L-R: Author, Adewale Ajadi; wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and her husband, Dr Kayode Fayemi, at the launch of the book “Omoluwabi 2.0” in Lagos... on Friday.

Bread, biscuit prices soar!

•Nigerians lament import duty on flour •Small scale bakers may close shop

BY MOSES ANOSIKE

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MPORTERS and dealers had their expectations dashed with the hike in the import duties on wheat grains to 20% and flour to 35% as contained in the 2012 Appropriation Act. Consequently, consumable foods such as bread, spaghetti, noodles, pastries, biscuits and allied products made from wheat flour had their prices jerked up.

Bread price is up by about N20. The family-seize loaf, which sold for N220, now sells for N240 while the UTC bread, which sold for N200, presently sells for N220.

Similarly, some biscuits, which sold for N5 per pack, now go for three for N20.

Other assorted biscuits go for N15 to N20 per pack.

Spaghetti, the delicacy cherished by school children, formerly sold for N100, now goes for N120 and beyond depending on the product brand.

Expressing dismay over the sudden jerk in the prices of these flour-based products, Mr. Adelabi Johnson, said he could not imagine how parents would cope with the situation, especially given the harsh realities of the dwindling fortunes of the Nigerian economy.

But Nneji Okafor queried the Federal Government decision to hike the import duty on flour, knowing too well that the poor man largely depends on bread and biscuits for survival.

“Already, most Nigerians are jobless, I wonder how they can cope under such arrangement. I just believe that the Federal Govern-

ment should start having a rethink in making or formulating policies that concern the poor Nigerians.

However to say the least, this policy of increased in import duty of flour does not have a human face and it is anti-people,” Nnaji said.

A baker, who did not want his name in print, lamented that even at the official price of N5,400 for 50kg bag of flour, the profit margin at the end was nothing to write home about.

He lamented that bakers seldom have access to most of the flour mills to make direct purchase of flour.

He stated that with the hike in import duty, middlemen are bound to feast on the little profit margin they make in at the end of

business.

Another baker, Nwankwo Ogochukwu, noted that aside from flour, the rising cost of ingredients used for baking bread and confectioneries has impacted negatively on the industry.

According to him, the development has forced many bakery to close shops.

Another baker, Soji Babajide, expressed the fear that the new import duty regime may stiffle the industry and listed loss of jobs as one of its attendant consequences.

It will also be recalled that the Federal Government has perfected plans for bakers to use local cassava flour to bake bread, but how soon this may be has remained another issue.

L-R: Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju,President,South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSP) (m) presenting a book,'Why Nations Fail', to Governor Liyel Imoke, of Cross River State. With them is Arc. Denzil Kentebe,President, Ijaw Professionals Association during a courtesy visit of the SESSP delegates to the governor.

Excavation threatens Abia community

BY ANAYO OKOLI Umuahia

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SIALA-ISUAMAWU people in Amaba community of Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State have sent a save our soul [SOS] message to the state government over massive sand and stone excavation going on in the community.

According to the residents, no less than 15 houses are presently under severe threat and could cave in into the gully created by the excavation in the commu-

nity unless urgent action is taken by the government.

Ironically, the excavation was being engineered by some indigenes of the community who hire people allegedly from Ebonyi State to do the excavation while they sold the sand and stones to end users, which include contractors and house builders.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that past efforts by the leadership of the community to stop the excavation had not worked as those behind

Gunmen kidnap Bayelsa chief BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenogoa

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HE Ibenanowei (par amount) ruler of Okordia clan in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, HRM, Chief Richard Seiba, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the monarch’s Ikarama-Okordia country home residence was violated at about 2 a.m. by the unknown gunmen who whisked him away.

At press time, the whereabouts of the monarch were unknown while his kidnappers were yet to establish contact with his family.

Though the motive for the abduction of the mon-

arch, aged 70, viewed by many as sacrilegious, could not be ascertained sources told our correspondent that the kidnappers may have carried out the action for monetary reason. It was learnt that

the kidnappers launched the attack through the river (Taylor creek) and escaped with their victim through same with a view to avoiding the security check at the Zarama and Biseni exit. The source

said the gunmen broke into the victim’s apartment through a window by destroying the burglary.

The natives, it was further learnt, could not sleep again when the news of the abduction of the monarch broke.

the business had always threatened to deal with any person who stood on the way of their illegal but lucrative business.

Meanwhile, no kobo from the exacavation goes to the state or local government.

The Federal Government owned OkigweUturu-IsiukwuatoBende-Arochukwu road passing through the community is also under threat. Already, some portion of the road in the area where the excavation is going on is about to be cut off.

When contacted, the Transition Committee Chairman of Isiukwuato Council, Chief Enyinnaya Nwosu, confirmed the fear of the community and condemned the activities of the excavators. According to Nwosu, the deputy governor of the state, Chief Emeka Ananaba, visited the area last week and directed that the excavation be halted.

Agric Ministry: Why we re-inaugurated Servicom

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N an effort to drastical ly address issues of inefficiency and delay in service delivery, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has re-inaugurated its Servicom Unit with a call on officials to checkmate unruly behaviour of staff.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ezekiel

O.Oyemomi, gave the charge while re-inaugurating the Servicom Unit in his office.

The Permanent Secretary observed that eight years into the introduction of SERVICOM by the Federal Government, not much was achieved owing to cases of lack of expenditure retirement, delay and poor handling of mails by public officers.

He pointed out that for the current Agricultural Transformation Agenda to be effective, the staff of the Ministry need to be reminded on their responsibilities so that every worker executes his/her expected role in every place by rendering quality service to the people.

Oyemomi explained that in as much as Mr. President and Ministers

entered into Service Compact with Nigerians, he sew no reason civil servants.

He told the Servicom officials that the Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and Directors in the Ministry had, based on the agreed annual targets, entered into performance agreements with the Federal Government.

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

Social Upheavals: The way out —Sultan Counsels Islamic clerics BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI, Ilorin

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HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, canvassed the entrenchment of the right Islamic teaching framework by Muslims with a view to solving the growing social upheavals in the country.

He also charged Muslims to preserve the work of intellectual Muslims in order to spread knowledge which will assist in solving problems that could emerge in their domains.

Abubakar made the call in his address at the international conference on the life and work of Shaykh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory (1917-1992) organised by the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ilorin, at the university auditorium.

The Sultan urged Muslims to always ensure that the work of muslim scholars are consciously preserved for use of the younger generation.

He admonished Muslims to learn from the work of eminent Islamic scholars so that they will use their wisdom in solving their contemporary problems.

Abubakar asked Muslims to remain united irrespective of ethnic groups to achieve excellence and development among the Ummah.

According to him, it is only by coming together that they will be able to overcome their challenges and move to greater heights.

The monarch explained that Islam is predicated

on knowledge in an Islamic society, adding that Muslims should always try to put in place a society that thrives on education for development.

He said the programme being organised on Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory was a welcome development in the Islamic community.

Abubakar noted that Sheikh Adam had been able to demonstrate his support to the development of Islamic education through the establishment of his Arabic school “Markaz” in Abeokuta and Lagos.

Mr. Remi Ibirogba, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy (middle), addressing the people of Ajegunle, Apapa, during yesterday’s environmental sanitation. To his right are Dr. Taofeeq Folami, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Environment and Lagos State government wokers.

Dana crash: Victim’s family threatens court action •over non-release of corpse

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

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HE family of the late George Moses, one of the victims of the June 3 Dana Air plane crash has threatened to go to court if, after a second mandatory DNA test, the deceased’s body is not released for burial by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. Controversy had trailed the release of the body of Moses, a former Assistant Comptroller of the Federal Fire Service, since the first DNA test result failed to establish a family relationship between him (Moses) and Hannah, the candidate presented as the closest family member and next-ofkin.

Spokesperson for the victim’s relatives, Mr. Achief Olajide, said the family was fed up with the reluctance by the authorities to release the body to them for burial.

But to resolve the controversy, the LASUTH authorities had demanded new samples for a second forensic analysis to determine the next-of –kin and pedigree of the victim.

According to Olajide, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard in Lagos, yesterday, the fresh set of samples for the test were collected last week from all those who participated in the first test including Hannah and the late Moses’ maternal and paternal cousins.

In addition, samples were taken from Olajide’s mother, who is the maternal sister to Moses. The result, to be ready in two weeks, is expected to resolve onceand –for-all the lingering controversy.

“Our next plan of action, if we are told there is no match and the body is not released to us, would be to consult our lawyers. We have all the relevant items to use as evidence,” the

family spokesperson remarked.

Arguing that the family may have no option than to go to court, Olajide noted that the reasons adduced by the LASUTH that results of first DNA samples did not match were unacceptable.

“I know that my uncle is still in the mortuary. His body had been identified earlier. I confirmed that it was the body the first time, but now I am not even being allowed to verify that claim. Now, it is only our own relative’s body including bodies of two Chinese that have issues, but most especially, it is only ours that is the controversy”, he stated. ”I said to them, let me ener the mortuary and check the body again to make sure, and that if after I check I see it is not the body of Moses, we will be satisfied, but they said no.”

Olajide, who affirmed that Moses was his uncle, lamented that the entire

CAN asks FG to empower youths

BY CALEB AYANSINA & AMINAT AMUDA

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HE National Presi dent of Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN, Patriot Dolly Simon, has appealed to the Federal Government to provide a conducive environment that will make youths excel in

their choosing careers.

Simon, who made the appeal while playing host to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student and Youth Affairs, Comrade Jude Imagwe, in Abuja, also called on youths to unite in prayer and strive to leave behind a good legacy.

“Federal Government should give the youth a platform to ex-

cel, we have so many potential youths but lack the needed environment to strive”, he said.

Simon admonished youths to refuse to be used to perpetrate illegality or cause mayhem that could jeopardize the country’s unity, noting that, even if government wanted to perform, the insecurity in the country is giving the government an oppor-

tunity to give excuses for non-performance.

Responding, Imagwe assured Nigerian youths that he would champion all issues pertaining to their empowerment and not to allow the paraphernalia of the office to derail him from fighting the odds against them, while challenging the media to project the country positively.

family was disturbed over the fact that the deceased was yet to be buried. “He should have been buried, but because of this DNA thing, we cannot do that.

We come in everyday but are told there is nothing. ”This time they gave us now, we will come back, and then if it is still the same, we will take the next step.”

Corroborating Olajide’s view, a sister to the deceased, Mrs Atinuke Okere, a police officer, dis-

missed the DNA result.

“We the family members don’t have any problem with Hannah. I knew her late mother well before she died.”

Expressing sadness over the delay in the process of release of the late brother’s body, she said LASUTH was only compounding the family pains over the loss.

She said the family was more worried by the fact that the deceased’s spirit was not at rest and was begging to be laid to rest.

BRIEFS

MOU on tele-mecine in Africa

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FRO-INDIAN

Medical Services Ltd, a Nigerian-based medical advocacy company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with Indian based Apolo Telehealth Services.

The agreement is to promote and develop telemedicine in Africa with a view to providing teleconsultation to patients in Nigeria and the entire African continent.

A statement by the president and CEO of Afro-

Indian Medical Services Ltd, Mr. Alexander Okunbor, said, “This programme will save a lot of foreign exchange for Nigerians as fewer people will need to travel abroad for medical treatment and check-ups. Nigerians could now receive better treatment and will help to provide benchmark clinical advice and care to a wide cross section of the populace by bridging the gap between doctors and patients using reliable technology”.

Mrs Ajayi, nee Eriye, is dead

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RS. Edjorverenu Augustina Ajayi is dead, according to a statem ent by the Eriye

family of Emu Obedeti, Ndokwa LGA of Delta State.

A retired banker and former player with the Bendel State female hockey team, she was aged 60.

She is survived by children, grand children and siblings.

Wake-keeping will hold on September 7 at Plot

1722 (by 72 nd Avenue), Festac Town, Lagos.

Interment holds at family compound in Kwale, Delta State on September 14.

Late Augustina Ajayi

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012 — PAGE 5

JTF, Navy rescue 27 oil workers Continued from page 1 week.One of the abducted workers was, however,said to be missing.

The workers, reportedly in the employ of an oil servicing company, Sinopec, had been kidnapped on Thursday in Ikang, Bakassi Local Government Area by the militant group identified as Lactop Marine Force.

The motive of the militant group in abducting the workers could not be ascertained although the authorities described it as criminal.

Other claims against the group were that its members killed a naval officer, three ratings and carried out nefarious activities that gave bad names to Nigeria at Ikang and eastern water ways.

The Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, in collaboration with the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Cross River State, stormed the militant group’s hideout, on Friday, and freed the workers.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogunjimi, who briefed journalists in Calabar, yesterday, disclosed that the security forces stormed the militants hideout to rescue the kidnapped oil workers after it was found that the abduction was carried out purely on criminality grounds.

Ogunjimi described the militant group as made up of criminals who had nothing to do with the agitation for the reclaiming of Bakassi which was ceded to Cameroon by the International Court of Justice.

PIRACY, KILLINGS “This confirms why I called them (Lactop Marine Force) as a criminal gang. They are the type of people that give the country a bad image. That is how far we have gone and the operation continues and, in no distant time, we will get through with them,” the FOC said.

He described the leader of the gang as a criminal that runs a criminal gang, kidnaps for ransom, engages in piracy, sea robbery and killing of innocent people including uniformed

personnel.

The Commander of JTF, Major General Johnson Ochoga, also at the briefing, said the security forces had been on the operation to flush out the gang for days and that members of the militant group were given the opportunity to come out and denounce their criminal activities before they closedin on the hideout.

Ochoga said there was no casualty during the raid, saying 28 oil workers were abducted but one, out of panic when the troops approached the hideout, ran away. He stated that the whereabouts of the escaped captive were unknown, adding that two of the kidnapped workers had disappeared from the hideout on Friday and gave useful information to the JTF, preparatory to the assault.

Also speaking, the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Calabar, Brigadier General Shehu Yusuf, whose men were in charge of the land operation, said no life was lost during the rescue operation, saying the military had given the leader of the group the opportunity to come out and that if he should surrender himself willingly, nothing would happen to him.

Yusuf said the JTF used minimum force, stressing that the militants ran away while troops approached. According to him, efforts were being intensified to fish the leader of the militant group and his gang out.

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BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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RESIDENTIAL adviser on inter party relations, Senator Ben Obi, want the Igbo to wait for President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision on whether to run or not before taking their own decision on the 2015 presidential race.

The senator, who spoke in Awka yesterday, observed

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Bloodbath averted in Benue as police impound weapons laden car *15 suspects arrested

BY PETER DURU

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ENUE State Police Command averted bloodbath in Okpokwu local government area of the state when it arrested 15 persons and impounded a car laden with weapons allegedly belonging to one of the local government chairmanship aspirants at the rescheduled ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Toyota Corolla car

(number withheld), which has been impounded and parked at the Okpokwu Divisional Headquarters, was said to be conveying some of the suspects to the venue of the congresses at about 9 a.m.when policemen, acting on a tip off, swooped on them.

Okpokwu local government area, the hometown of the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abbas Moro, has, in the last few months, witnessed political tension, leading to the postponement of the PDP ward congresses in the area several

t i m e s .

The crisis is a fallout of the alleged insistence of a top shot of the party from the area to allow only 600 members from each of the 13 wards in the area to participate in the congresses contrary to the PDP guideline which provides that all card carrying members should exercise their franchise in the process.

When contacted, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, ASP Ejike Alaribe, confirmed that 15 hoodlums

2015: Igbo should wait for Jonathan – Ben Obi

SOLUTION C

From left; Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman ; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoki ; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Kachalla, during the National Council on Privatization meeting at the State House, Abuja.

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that although the leadership of the apex Igbo socio – cultural organization, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, had insisted that the Igbo were already working towards taking over from Jonathan in 2015, there is need for them to allow the president to make his intention known first.

He said: “Ohaneze Ndigbo, which I am a caucus member of, has said it loud and clear that it is the turn of Ndigbo to produce the president in 2015.

Indeed, we are highly interested in the 2015 presidency, but that is if President Jonathan decides not to run.

“If, eventually he decides to run, then Ndigbo will have to consider the situation and weigh the options. I do not have any right to question the decision of Ohaneze to insist on presenting a candidate because the group has a leadership which we all follow.”

According to him, it is the duty of the leadership of Ndigbo to champion the cause of the people, while other people he described as foot soldiers would join, adding that when the leaders do not make the much needed move, others would have nothing to do.

Obi also spoke on the much talked about additional state for the South East geo-political zone to bring it at par with most other zones, saying that the issue had not been given the

due attention it deserved because of the lackadaisical approach towards realizing it.

He said further: “One additional state in the South East is realizable. Even people from other states who are not part of it have seen it as injustice to Ndigbo, but our

people have not displayed enough commitment to it.

“It is not the presidency that should champion the cause of an additional state for us. It is our duty as Ndigbo to seriously demand for the additional state to bring us at par with others.”

Kidnappers cause panic in Delta *Police raid hideouts

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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EAR has gripped residents of Delta State following rampant kidnapping in the state.

The police, however, responded to the growing fear, weekend, by raiding suspected kidnappers’ hideouts at Warri, Asaba and other parts of the state in search of moneymaking kidnappers.

Sources also said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has given fresh directives to security agencies in the state to arrest the trend.

Investigation by Sunday Vanguard showed that some of the citizens have abandoned their SUVs for cheaper cars following information that kidnappers were targeting owners of high profile cars because they believed that the owners could afford to meet their ransom demands.

The fear of kidnappers has also made some residents to imbibe extra-security measures to protect themselves, as some persons no longer keep late

nights.

The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in the state, recently, protested publicly the worrying spate of kidnapping in the state.

Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed to Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, that several suspected hideouts of kidnappers were raided by the police.

He did not provide details of the raids, but assured that the state command was not sleeping over the menace of kidnappers.

On the president of Isoko Development Union, IDU, Gregory Akpjene, abducted, few days ago, he said the kidnappers were yet to make contact with the family and manhunt was on for them.

Akpojene, a farmer, was seized by gun totting men who invaded his Otor-Igho country home in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, as he was about to enter his car.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Osunbor; Sir Kenny Okolugbo; and the Speaker, Rt Hon Victor Ochei; at the Anioma Congress held in Asaba.

Niger State Commissioner of Police, Diseye Desire Nsrim; the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; and Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu; during the launching of security vehicles and communication gadgets by Aliyu at the Idris Legbo Conference Center Minna.

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

FG raises alarm over pilots non-compliance with weather briefing N condition since initial weather report from the AIS would have been HE Federal govern adequate to indicate the ment, at the weekend, futility of an initial takedecried the failure of pi- off under such harsh lots in getting weather briefing from Aeronautical Information Service (AIS).

This was stated in a BY VINCENT UJUstatement by the Ministry MADU, Awka of Aviation and signed by Abuja Special Adviser (Media) WO pressure group to the Minister, Mr. Joe championing the realO b i . ization of the Biafra ReHe said pilots are sup- public, the Movement for posed to go to the AIS to the Actualization of the obtain meteorological Sovereign State of Biafra, folders, saying only flight MASSOB, and Biafra Zidispatchers go to the AIS onist Movement, BZM, to receive weather brief- are trading words over ing. This accounts for which is truly fighting the why air craft take off and cause of Biafra. get to their destinations While BZM said that it but are unable to land. had planned a re-declaThe statement said: ration of Biafra Republic “Henceforth, all airline on November, MASSOB operators and pilots are dismissed the move, sayrequired to obtain and ing the declaration was confirm their destination done by its leader, Chief weather reports from the Ralph Uwazurike on May AIS before start-up and 22, 2000 when he hoisted take-off according to in- the Biafran flag at Fauks ternational standard and Road, Aba, Abia State. best practices in order to MASSOB director of prevent incidents of avoidable air returns due to unfavourable weather condition. This information, which is provided by BY ALAINE NIMET and readily ELIZABETH & available at the AIS, is HAMZAT OUWASAYO meant to guide pilots on destination weather and S part of the search for to assist them make ina critical solution to the formed decisions on challenge of food and livewhether or not to take off lihood, the six states of the from one airport to South-west are bringing another. farmers and operators in “There is therefore ab- the agro-allied industry tosolutely no reason and gether for a food security justification for an aircraft exhibition/fair. to make an air return on The present administrathe basis of poor weather

BY LAIDE AKINBODE Abuja

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weather conditions.”

The statement continued, “This recklessness on the part of airline operators and pilots will no longer be tolerated and

infractions would be met with serious sanctions as this has the potential of compromising the safety of the nation’s airspace.”

Pro-Biafra groups trade claims

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information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, had said that the stage of declaration in the Biafra struggle had passed, describing as suicidal any move to trade with the name of Biafra.

He said: “MASSOB under Uwazurike, sent Biafran bill of right to the United Nations before hoisting the flag at Aba and observer status had already been granted which prompted many nations to allow Biafra have mission houses in their countries, while Biafra Radio had been established.

“Because of Biafra, Uwazurike sacrificed his houses in Lagos and Imo states and saw and conquered death. He is still faithful and unrelenting to the struggle and millions of

MASSOB members adore h i m . ” But leader of BZM, Mr. Ben Onwuka dismissed MASSOB’s claim, asking it to produce and publish to the world the application it made to the UN for the observer status for Biafra as it had done and the response of the UN when the said application was made.

He also faulted the claim that Biafra Bill of Right was submitted at the UN, saying the group only wanted to deceive the people.

His words: “This is a disgrace to this group and it shows that Biafrans are being deceived all these years. No country on earth has ever made that kind of application to the UN.

IGERIANS of var ious stripes: religious, regional and sundry persuasions; especially from the North, turned up in large numbers for the three-day ground breaking grief and trauma counseling training.

The training was organized, as part of a unique collaborative initiative, by the Aart of Life and Murtala Mohammed Foundation, who were responding proactively to the most critical socio-political issue of contemporary Nigeria.

The response from the North was not surprising given the spate of bombings and terror attacks which have occurred mostly across the region, but what made the sessions more insightful were the personal experiences of participants who had been affected by or have witnessed these traumatic and tragic occurrences.

The training attended by representatives from the UN, the Federal Fire Service, National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Red

S/West unfolds plan to boost food production

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tions in the South-west states, according to the managing director of Chubbies and Fields, Dr. Akin Ajiboye, whose organisation and Oodua Chambers of Commerce are partnering with the state governments on the initiative, have moved to consolidate their gains in agriculture. “The exhibition will enable the governments achieve their objec-

tives in mass food production, food security and to efficiently harness the agricultural resources of the South-west states and to contribute significantly to their GDP”, Ajibola, flanked by Mrs. Jumoke Adeyemi, the Director of Finance, Chubbies and Fields, and Mr. Victor Fatula, said at a press briefing in Lagos.

Ekiti State will host the

maiden edition of the food security exhibition/fair in Ado Ekiti Trade Fair Complex between September 10 and 14. Ajiboye explained: “Chubbies and Fields will be working with Ekiti State Government to host the 2012 Farmers and Food Security Fair to commemorate our bid to reclaim food and sustainable development in the Southwest states”.

UN, Red Cross, Aart Foundation join forces on emergency response Cross, Mental Health Foundation, Live Well Initiative and many other intervention and relief organizations, focused on would-becounselors, first responders to crises and other people who may find themselves in the proximity of grief and trauma in the course of their work, and may thus need to counsel others.

Counseling a traumatized or grieving person, the facilitators pointed out, is too unique to be left to those not trained in its intricacies.

In his opening remarks, Dr Femi Olugbile, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Ministry, commended the efforts of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation and the Aart of Life Foundation and advised: “We must begin to see grief not just as an individual experience, but also as a collateral loss which necessitates a generalized attention.”

Chief Taiwo Taiwo, founder of the Aart of Life Foundation, gave an enlightening presentation which chronicled how the sudden loss of her only daughter led her to set up the Aart of Life foundation which is promoting grief counseling in Nigeria in concert with partners like the Murtala Mohammed Foundation, MTN and Emzor amongst others.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 7

How to end fuel crisis – Group

BY EBELE ONUORAH

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HE Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights supports (CDWR) NUPENG’s demands for refineries to be turned around, and roads to be fixed while pipelines should be constructed to link different areas of the country and railway revitalized.

According to a statement signed by the group’s public secretary, Chinedu Bosah, NUPENG should end the ongoing the privatization and deregulation in the oil industry. Alternatively, the group asked NUPENG to demand the nationalization of the oil industry under democratic management and control of workers and communities.

CDWR believed the ongoing crisis in the oil industry may continue

despite government grandstanding and pretences, maintaining that it is the policy of government to deliberately keep refineries and other basic infrastructure in a

Ijaw in Edo laud Jonathan over road contract

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AIZHOU, a China based association in Nigeria, is partnering Denca Services Limited in a bid to attract businesses into the country.

Areas of cooperation between the two parties are manufacturing, maritime, logistics, oil and gas.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Lagos, the Hon. China Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr. Lu, accompanied to the event by some top officials of the Chinese Embassy, said that though he had been only five months in the country, he was aware of the high quality of Nigeria’s oil and gas.

Also at the event, chairman, CEO, Denca Services Limited, Mr. Dennis Okafor, expressed appreciation that Mr. Lu could come to join in the celebration at the inauguration of the

Taizhou Association in Nigeria.

He poured encomiums on the President of Taizhou Association, Madam Daizy, whom he said was a friend of Denca Services Limited.

He pledged to provide professional advice whenever needed, advising the Chinese community in Nigeria to obey Nigerian laws, as no country would prosper in lawlessness.

Also speaking, managing director, Middle Point Limited, Chief Joe Obijiaku, said the association was expected to form a formidable force to protect the Chinese community in their legitimate business dealings in the country.

China Consul-General, Lu, also said he was convinced that Nigeria is a virgin land of opportunities and appealed to the parties concerned to support one another so that their businesses could blossom.

Ikeja Music Institute

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

T

ENSTRINGS Music Institute/ /Foundation is taking unemployed youths off the streets.

Speaking on the motive behind the outfit, at the weekend, its Group Managing Director, Mr Emmanuel Akapo, said: “I realized that a lot of people who could have been on the street roaming about, getting involved in one crime of the other, come to my school and get engaged, in playing different musical instruments, developing the creative side of their lives. Eeven

the up town areas.

It expressed confidence that the road projects which is being handled by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), will be completed as scheduled, just is the appealed to Governor Oshiomhole to provide more employment for the Ijaws.

JAW youths in Edo State have c o m m e n d e d President Goodluck Jonathan for the award of the abandoned UdoInikorogha-Ofunama road contract.

A statement signed by Andrew Igiri, which also commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole for his transformational agenda in the state, said if the road contracts are completed, it will assist the Ijaws in the riverine communities in transporting their agricultural products to

‘More China businesses for Nigeria’

BY TONY NWANKWO

state of disrepair thereby allowing for importation of refined petroleum products as a means to enriching a section of the ruling elite at the expense of the people.

if you didn’t have the dream of being a musician, one way or the other, it becomes part of you and can help to shape your future. Mvac has a strong impact in the community , because it makes you live in a more responsible way”.

He further stated that “ his passion for music is the reason behind Tenstrings instititute”.

“Tenstring has about six different schools in the country including Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Our goal is to make sure that we get to every community in Nigeria; every community deserves a music school to get the youths off the street.”

General Manager, Home Entertainment, Media Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Jae Sang Lee (right) presenting a 32 inch LG Cinema screen 3D TV to Miss Rukayat Ogun, winner of the just concluded LG Future Reporter Online Competition.

Fashola blasts critics over Kuramo ocean surge C M Y K

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI AND MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state has condemned criticisms on the role of Eko Atlantic City in the Kuramo ocean surge, saying “such statements show their poor knowledge of history and geography.”

The Kuramo ocean surge, which occurred , penultimate Saturday, claimed 16 lives while five bodies were still missing.

Fashola, who spoke yesterday during an inspection tour of the ongoing works at the Kuramo Beach, Victoria Island, said such comments showed the limitation of critics’ thinking.

According to him, “The only thing that has surprised me is that they showed very poor knowledge of geography and history that ordinary student in climate change clubs in our schools now know. It is a shame that their history and geography knowledge is not only poor but they have also gone ahead to demonstrated it publicly.”

The governor went on: “This is because the issue here is an environmental challenge. And, as a state government, we have to be innovative and courageous about it in order to deal with it.

“Our world in changing and it is only those who want to be cut off by the change that would be pretending. Residents of Lagos State must try to understand that it is a

world challenge and Lagos State is not left out”.

The governor recalled that before the commencement of the Eko Atlantic City project, many roads and property were already damaged by the consistent ocean surge from the Bar Beach.

“Before the Eko Atlantic city project started, the Modupe Oshikoya Road was

already damaged by the consistent cases of ocean surge from the Bar Beach.”

He noted that since the commencement of the project, the story has changed in the axis of the state, adding: “Now we can drive through the roads on the Island which is the financial heart of the country today. That is what the Eko Atlantic City project has done.”

The governor continued “The Eko Atlantic city has solve the problem of ocean surge in the Bar beach area. And it has now manifested itself in this area (Kuramo). So what is left for us now is that we have to extend our work down to this axis up to the Alpha Beach, so that we can protect the entire property within this a x i s ” .

Lagos Road Traffic Law: Okada riders want six months sensitization * As Lions Club donates reflective jackets

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

C

OMMERCIAl motorcyclists, popularly called “Okada” riders say the Lagos new Road Traffic Law is “ambiguous’ just as they called on the state government to give six months grace of intensive sensitization for road users before the e n f o r c e m e n t commences.

The enforcement of the bill, recently signed into law by Governor Babatunde Fashola, has been put on hold pending when it would be gazzeted.

The Okada riders, under the umbrella of Motorcycles Association of Lagos State (MOALS), IsheriIgando branch made the submission at a sensitization event on new road traffic law and presentation of reflective jackets to them. The jackets were donated by Isheri Platinum, Lions Club International, District 404,B region in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC,

Lagos State Command.

The event was led by President of the club, Lion Ladi Fagbenja, along with Deputy Route C o m m a n d e r , representing FRSC, Ikotun area, Mr. Abayomi Dada and chairman, Okada riders, Igando division, Comrade Lawrence P e t e r .

One of the Okada riders, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwale, a graduate, during an interactive session at the event, held at IgandoNew Town Estate Park, chided the state government for not embarking on public enlightenment on the new law, particularly to motorists and Okada r i d e r s .

Ogulagha monarch gets commendation

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HE people of O g u l a g h a community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, have commended the paramount ruler of the kingdom, His Royal Majesty Joseph Timiyan, for his quality leadership and peaceful reign as the traditional ruler of the community.

In a statement by Mr. Tony Temewei, Chair man, and Mr. Victor Isereke, general secretary of Ogulagha community, they noted that the reign of HRM Timiyan has brought lasting peace and unity among the people of the

kingdom.

The duo also appreciated the quality leadership of their traditional ruler, HRM Timiyan, who they maintained has made immense contribution to the prevailing peace in the community and towards the development of various communities in the kingdom.

They also charged all sons and daughters of Ogulagha community to be grateful to God for giving them such a good king, assuring the people of Ogulagha community of effective and people oriented representation.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

THIS SEGMENT PRESENTS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, IN A MANNER NEVER BEFORE EXPLORED, ON CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS. THIS IS DEPARTMENT 'C'

Shattering the peace in Abuja on the last Friday in a month of peace that Ramadan is, Boko Haram this day last year brought its fight to the door step of the international peace body, the United Nations House in Abuja. Leaving in its wake 20 dead and several scores injured, that dastardly act marked the second time a suicide bomber would be used in Nigeria by the dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect – the first was the bombing in June, of the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. The group has since perfected this strategy, using it to carry out several attacks in the country.

I

t marked the very second time in the history of ter ror in Nigeria that a suicide bomber would be used – the first being the attack on the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

But the attack on the UN House presented the dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect as being very co-ordinated in its terror activities.

Before that attack, the general belief was that the group was a rag-tag conglomeration of riffraff with no clear mandate; or a group of criminals being used by some politicians to destabilize the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Even the Americans have since decided on how to handle the group. It recently designated three of its members as terrorists but fell short of designating the group as a Foreign Terror Organisation, FTO. Ambassador Jonnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, during a congressional sub-committee C M Y K

hearing in the US, explains the position of America on Boko Haram.

According to him while making his presentation, he said, “We have indeed designated three individuals, who we think are in top leadership positions inside of Boko Haram. But we have not designated the entire organization because we do not believe that Boko Haram is a homogenous organization. We believe that it is an organisation of several parts. We believe that the individuals that we have designated (as terrorists) represent a core group who lead a part of Boko Haram which is desirous of attacking not only Nigerian targets and interest, but also Western and international targets and interests.

“We believe that the larger element of Boko Haram is (only interested in and doing everything) to discredit, disgrace the Nigerian government; discredit, disgrace and embarrass the Nigerian government by carrying out attacks against Nigerian government, security and the civil institutions, attacking politicians, attacking government officials and judges. But the

both of the organisations, we believe to be mainly aimed at going after Nigerians equally.”

The day of the attack on the UN House was like any other day in Abuja.

The intelligence community

,

By Jide Ajani

Before that attack, the general belief was that the group was a rag-tag conglomeration of riffraff with no clear mandate; or a group of criminals being used by some politicians to destabilize the Goodluck Jonathan administration

,

had gathered pieces of information which suggested that an attack was being planned for the capital city and, therefore, secured most public buildings.

That Friday morning, the

tranquility of the United Nations’ House environment was shattered by the twin bomb blasts which brought down parts of the two-winged, four story building.

Perhaps, had the building been a perpendicular structure, the number of casualties may have been much more.

Had the building also not had its in-built fire-extinguishing devices in place, the casualties may have been much more hurtful.

Indeed, the 20 dead may not have met the expectations of the perpetrators of the dastardly act – See Horror List of UN House.

The suicide bomber knew how best to gain access into the building and he went for it: Through the back door.

He rammed through the two gates.

Even the security men who tried to stop him from driving through ended up becoming the first casualties.

But they still tried, three of them, because they slowed the suicide bomber down.

The suicide bomber drove through the gates at about 10:20 am.

He ended up where he wanted, at the ground floor of the massive building. But the structure of the building created a safety net.

It was the last Friday of Ramadan, before the Eid-Elfitri celebrations already slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, August 30 and 31, respectively.

Majority of Muslim faithful in the nation’s capital had no

doubt planned last minute shopping and travel plans for the anticipated Sallah. And, of course, for Abuja residents, the prospects of a long holiday were in the air.

Findings indicated that as at the time the blast occurred, at least 275 officials working in the UN House system had clocked in for the day’s work.

Apparently well coordinated emergency rescue efforts, as well as practiced fire drill contributed in no small measure to the seeming small number of casualties, taking into consideration, the high impact of the explosion.

Sources informed Sunday Vanguard that, the bomber, apparently focused on recording maximum effect, crashed through the two gates and rammed his vehicle right through the glass doors, stopping at the front of the reception to detonate the second bomb, having detonated the first bomb after crashing through the first gate.

It was gathered from eye witness accounts that at about 10.23 am, the suicide bomber crashed into the building in a metallic colour Toyota Camry with registration number Kano A Y 38 NSR. The car became mangled after the explosion.

The car blew to pieces along with all those in the reception at the time of the incident.

Security officers at the entrance and the reception who tried in vain to stop the bomber were the first wave of casualties from the blast.

Parts of the car went up in flames immediately after the blast which also destroyed virtually all the glass windows of the building. The entire ground floor adjoining the reception was a complete mass of blood, water, sand and dust.

The impact was so strong that even buildings some 400 meters away got their windows also shattered.

Most of the expatriate staff, Sunday Vanguard gathered, reacted fastest to the blast, as most of them scampered out of the building to the fire muster point, before finally relocating to the nearby Turkish Embassy building site to take shelter.

Investigations further revealed that, all the expatriate staff was taken in American Embassy and Defence Headquarters ambulances to the State House clinic.

By that Friday night, the body count had risen to 18 deaths and hundreds of injured personnel, mostly work-

Continues on page 9

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 9

THIS SEGMENT PRESENTS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, IN A MANNER NEVER BEFORE EXPLORED, ON CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS. THIS IS DEPARTMENT 'C'

ONE YEAR AFTER UN HOUSE BOMBING

UK for life saving treatment and I was treated by a Nigerian doctor. Similarly, in the recently concluded Olympics, Nigerians won medals but only for foreign nations. What this tells us is that Nigeria has the human capacity to deliver services, she only needs the right political will and leadership with strong institutions.

I suffered brain injury, my lungs collapsed; it is a miracle I am alive

T

—Member Fesse, survivor • I suffered stroke on my right side leaving me with an arm and a leg that were severely impaired. I still cannot use my right hand. Nigeria has suffered from corruption that has left her nearly paralyzed such that she can hardly deliver any meaningful service.

• I broke my left hand which limits what I can do given that my right hand is slowly recovering from a stroke. Nigeria has broken systems and institutions that can hardly deliver service and given that corruption has diverted resources from their intended pur-

,

I

t is exactly one year, to day, 26 August, 2012, since the bombing of the United Nations (UN) building in Abuja which claimed several lives and shattered the peace of our country. As I reflect on the last one year I cannot but thank God for many things that happened to me during the period. I woke up to find myself in a London hospital surrounded by love with friends around my bed and their pictures and lovely posters on the walls in the intensive care unit. One of the posters had two puppies squashed in a saucepan and it read “WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER”. My friends and many Nigerians have been with me ever since and they form the core of T e a m M e m b e r .

TeamMember is a group of young, educated, talented and determined Nigerians who want to contribute to a new Nigeria where things work. We bring to the table our motivation, zeal, energy and tenacity, hoping to benefit from the skills and experience of some identified committed professionals within our country to guide us in our quest to serve Nigeria as advocates for quality service delivery. But then my story.

Doctors have told me that it is a miracle that I survived the bombing but I find it difficult to understand given that I slept through the worst part.

But when I think about what I have been through, and still going through, I see a lot of similarities between my experience and that of Nigeria. I survived and I believe Nigeria will survive as one united strong country. Like Nigeria also, I have a lot of reasons to despair and give up on life but I will not and I believe Nigeria cannot afford to. Here is what I mean: • I was involved in a bomb blast which turned my life upside down. Nigeria has suffered from years of mismanagement which has left her upside down to put it mildly.

Member Fesse

poverty that has left its people unemployed, without food and shelter thus building an army of frustrated young people. Nigeria needs to protect her citizens against poverty, hunger and disease.

• My lungs collapsed making it difficult for me to take in oxygen so I had to be incubated. The insecurity in Nigeria today has left citizens running for dear life. Nigeria needs to protect lives and

I was unconscious for a long time and due to inactivity my muscles disintegrated and I could not do anything for myself, a very frustrating experience

pose it is difficult to see how Nigeria can function.

• I was unconscious for a long time and due to inactivity my muscles disintegrated and I could not do anything for myself, a very frustrating experience. I needed to rebuild my strength and muscles. Nigeria is suffering from

,

property of its citizens.

• I had injuries on my back, arm and legs such that doctors had to cut skin from other parts to graft. Nigeria has so many supply side issues that it cuts funding from one sector to fund another sector.

• I had brain injury which

left me unconscious and without speech for weeks after I came out of coma. Nigeria has lost her values through many years of mismanagement, no wonder the current lawlessness in the land. * I lost my leg and now I struggle to maintain my balance and very often fall over.

Mummy frets when I fall but I have told her several times not to worry because when I fall I will always get up. Nigeria has lost her morals and ethics and now has no value for human life, barely surviving as a nation. But Nigeria can survive if she adheres to the principles of respect for the fundamental human rights of its citizen, equity and fairness.

I have survived albeit on one leg but with everyone’s help, my inner motivation and with the help of technology I believe that I will regain my balance and live a productive life. With political will and determination and with every Nigerian playing their part our nation will regain her balance and take her rightful place in the world. It is fascinating how I was flown to the

The horror in the month of peace Continued from page 8 ing in the 26 agencies of the United Nations housed by the five story complex. The last confirmed figure by NEMA was 20 dead.

The rescue operations that day appeared swift. Within a short period, Ambulances from various organizations like the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC; National Hospital, which is situated opposite the building, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Police, Civil Defence, and Nigeria Air Force, were everywhere rushing the dead and the injured to the National Hospital. At

eamMember has been in volved in a few activities since its launch in April 2012 in order to begin to engage with the political leadership.

As we grow our membership, we have decided it is time to agree on common goals and objectives. We held a retreat in July 2012 in Abuja to draft initial framework to guide our work. It is expected that this will evolve as our activities begin to be clearer.

While I invite Nigerians, especially those in my generation, to join us in the call for change on , www.iamteammember.org if there is any lesson I have learnt in the last one year, it is that our people are incredibly good and kind. So my resolve and that of my colleagues on TeamMember is to do whatever little we can to make a difference in our nation.

But I had to return to the UK for my therapy. I have also been struggling to finalize my dissertation given that the manuscript was lost and I had to rewrite all over with my left (broken) hand. I will hand in my paper by the end of August, return to Nigeria in midSeptember and then resume work in October. While I owe my survival to God, I remain indebted to so many Nigerians who have shown me love and kindness in the last one year.

—Ms Feese studied Poverty and Development at the University of Sussex, UK

attacks by Boko Haram across states in Northern Nigeria.

It is hoped that the group would not attempt to make an anniversary statement by co-ordinating any form of attacks on this day. (See a survivor’s story)

about 1.00 pm, the facilities at the National Hospital had been over stretched and some of the victims had to be evacuated to other hospitals such as the Garki Hospital, Julius Berger Clinic and Abuja Clinic.

By 2.35 pm, a total of 14 deaths had Horror List of UN House been recorded, with eight corpses deposited at the National Hospital Mortuary Those Affected – 275 and another 6 at the Garki Hospital Injured – 68 (46 males, 22 females) Morgue. The number of injured ran into Dead – 20 (17 males, three females) Kids affected 20 hundreds.

There was an outpouring of condolenc- Properties damaged – Cost yet to be determined es from all over the world that day.

Today, it is one year and many suicide Rescuers – FRSC, NEMA, Police, Civil Defence, Fire Service, UN Staff, Nabombings after.

Nigeria continues to grapple with the tional Hospital Staff

PAGE 10 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

Diezani Allison-Madueke

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

BY JIDE AJANI Emblematising the essence of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s struggle to keep pace with the speed of service delivery to Nigerians, the scatter-head arrangement in managing the subsidy funds, an arrangement that has suffered so much abuse in recent times, the aborted strike action of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, is no more than a stockpiling of wood for tomorrow’s bonfire. This is because the reality on ground does not support a continued sustenance of subsidy payments in an economy that is already crumbling. Yet, there are debts to be paid to importers of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS; not withstanding the alleged sharp practices allegedly committed by them.

All these with a president that is not ready to bite the bullet by doing what is just and right regarding how best to handle the mounting economic woes of Nigerians.

Between penultimate Wednesday and Thursday, the simmering power tussle between Madams Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, and Diezani Allison-Madueke of the Petroleum Resources Ministry, blew into the open. It was urgent and the latter had to have a session with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Ijaw son who occupies Aso Rock Presidential Villa as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief.

The meeting was about the impending industrial action by members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG. Sunday Vanguard was informed by a Presidency source that the “situation is so C M Y K

SUBSIDY PAYMENT TRAP

A messy arrangement gets messier •Why FG can’t sustain subsidy on PMS •The power show between Diezani and Okonjo-Iweala

,

The Petroleum Resources Minister who was said to be involved in high level consultations at the weekend “was practically begging operators in the industry to save the nation from the crisis created by the Finance Ministry’s handling of the matter

critical that the Petroleum Resources Minister met with President Jonathan mid-last week to give him a clearer picture of the situation, as against the assurances being given by the Finance Minister.

“The President was told that whereas he should not be seen to be negotiating with those that have been indicted and would be facing prosecution, the fact remains that people are being owed huge sums of money and they would need to be paid.

“The pressure on government was brought to laid bare last week when the seat of power, Abuja, witnessed serious scarcity”, the source said.

This development is already creating a frosty relationship between the Finance Minister and her Petroleum Resources counterpart.

Indeed, the Petroleum Resources Minister who was said to be involved, in high level consultations at the weekend, “ was practically

,

begging operators in the industry to save the nation from the crisis created by the Finance Ministry’s handling of the matter”.

Sunday Vanguard discovered that the leadership of the tanker drivers group mounted surveillance in major entry points of the federal capital last week and ensured that no products were delivered into Abuja.

On the conflicting claims about the payments and debts owed, as well as the claims and counter claims of blackmail and intimidation, information suggests that the quartet of the Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners, JEPTFON, Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, and the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, have decided to cease further importation and distribution once

the stock they have is depleted.

Curiously, whereas the Finance Ministry claims to be settling subsidy payments, the figures being thrown around by marketers and importers as well as depot owners are not the same.

Whereas the Finance Ministry claims to have facilitated the issuance of N42.666 Sovereign Debt Notes between April and August this year, “this is just a paltry amount when placed side by side the hundreds of billions being owed MOMAN”, a source said.

In addition, a DAPPMAN source claimed that members of the group are being owed claims in excess of one hundred billion naira.

Part of the issues raised by the threatening NUPENG workers is the non-payment of the money owed importers who have in turn threatened to lay off staff.

The shambling approach of government in the matter remains that an agreement was entered into that importers should bring in fuel; some alleged corrupt practices have been uncovered; government is attempting to prosecute; no competent court of law has pronounced importers guilty; yet, government says it will not pay.

In other more civilized climes, some ministers would have been forced to resign or

resign in honour.

At the crux of the matter, Sunday Vanguard has been made to understand, is “that the nation’s purse can not sustain the payment of subsidy in any form”.

But lack of service delivery can not make government come out to add to the burden of Nigerians via fuel price hike.

THE ISSUES The power play, the ruse, the cover-ups, the complicity; every where in the world, cash-based subsidy is fraught with corruption.

In Nigeria, it should be clear by now that the outcome of the endless probes in the industry has shown that the whole essence of the probes is either for interest protection or an attempt to benefit from the decadence that subsidy implementation in Nigeria has represented. At the moment, the Federal Ministry of Finance, FMF, appears to have won the battle for control of the implementation of the fuel subsidy regime over the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, MPR. In effect, this signifies a substitution of old beneficiaries for new ones.

This fact is brought closer home by the shambling work of the Aigboje Aigimoukhuede Presidential Committee which had to re-

Continues on page 12

N SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012 , PAGE 11

CALLING OFF INDUSTRIAL ACTION WITH ANOTHER THREAT

We’ll call another strike if government reneges after two weeks — NUPENG

Emeka Wogu

By JIDE AJANI AND JOSEPH ERUNKE

T

HE Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, last week groaned under the multiplier effects of the threat of a strike action by members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG. As workers struggled to get to their offices, even the effect of the power outage was made worse by the non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, known as petrol, to power generating sets.

The development came at the instance of NUPENG which accused Federal Government of failure to honour agreement it had earlier entered with it.

These, according to the union, were: payment of 2012 petroleum subsidy arrears, non-payment of salaries and threat to job loss; state of the nation’s refineries and roads, labour issues in Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Chevron as well as restructuring of loans of Depot Owners and Oil Marketers.

But unlike its previous strikes which people were aware of, NUPENG did not prepare the minds of residents of the city by publicly announcing its intended action.

Sunday Vanguard discovered that the leadership of the tanker drivers group

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Pius Anyim

After extensively discussing the above points in dispute, it was resolved that Federal Government and the Unions should work together towards finding a lasting solution to all the issues in dispute

mounted surveillance in major entry points of the federal capital last and ensured that no products was delivered into Abuja.

This, the drivers have vowed, was meant to have been replicated across the country last week had the crisis continued.

So it was a big relief to Abuja residents when they heard the action had been suspended temporarily.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, who read the communiqué said: “In view of the above understanding, the ongoing strike by NUPENG is hereby called-off ”.

“After extensively discussing the above points in dispute, it was resolved that Federal Government and the Unions should work together towards finding a lasting solution to all

,

the issues in dispute”.

Other resolutions of the meeting according to the communiqué, were that both the Federal Government and the Unions agreed that all those accused in the fuel subsidy scam should endeavor to submit to the ongoing verification exercise, the confirmation that the Federal Government has been paying all verified claims, setting up of two subcommittees to respectively look into issues concerning unfair labour practices in SPDC and of Penalty Clauses in the PPPRA Rules, agreement between Federal Government and unions to provide a platform for Federal Government, Labour and all critical stakeholders to meet and discuss efforts being made in the provision of infrastructures and rehabilitation of the

refineries with view to finding a way forward, agreement that depot owners and oil marketers should keep their facilities open and pay the salaries of their workers as well as agreement to meet in two weeks to review the status of implementation of all issues in disputes.

At the meeting which lasted for two days were the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, who led Federal Government’s delegation, Chief Wogu, Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu, and Executive Secretary of Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA. Labour was led by Acting President of NLC, Comrade Promise Adewusi, with the Acting General Secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot. Others were President, Acting General Secretary and Treasurer of NUPENG, Comrades Igwe Achese, Isaac Aberare and Williams Akporegha, respectively.

Representatives of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN; Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria, JEPTFON; Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA and Major Oil

Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, also attended the meeting.

This development did not only bring temporary relief to the residents of Abuja but those in government, especially Chief Anyim who stood in for the Federal Government.

Those who saw him that Thursday night after the eighthour meeting with the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the striking National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, would not but agree that Pius Anyim’s countenance was more of a man who had conquered after intense battle at the war front.

This was contrary to his looks the previous day which had pictured him as someone who was so restless over the development in the country.

When he returned to take his position after newsmen had been ushered into the SGF Conference Hall to be briefed on the outcome of the meeting Anyim did not hesitate to show through his body language that all the issues that led to the industrial action had been laid to rest.

The President of the NUPENG, Mr. Igwe Achese, who spoke with newsmen after Chief Wogu read the communiqué, expressed satisfaction with the resolutions reached even as he threatened that his union would not hesitate to start another strike if at the end of the two weeks agreed upon, government reneges on the terms reached.

Chief Benneth Korie, National Chairman of the Oil and Gas branch of NUPENG, also told newsmen that he was satisfied with the resolution reached. He expressed hope that government would keep to its promise of honouring the agreements.

The main reason for the union’s action, according to him, was due to their employers’ Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON), which had issued out notices of intention to sack workers due to alleged inability to keep afloat.

When we received notice, “we went on air to plead with government to intervene and government called for a meeting. We went for the meeting at the Ministry of Labour where we met with Minister of State for Finance, Minister of Labour, the PPPRA Executive Secretary, GMD of NNPC, and other stakeholders. A communiqué was read by the NUPENG President where we agreed to suspend our planned strike.

In that meeting, we agreed that, within two weeks, they will pay the subsidy money to JEFPTON members and, at the same time, restructure the loan and fix the roads, particularly the road to the Port Harcourt refinery where the Minister of Works promised that by next Monday they would commence repairs. Till now, no action has been taken

Continues on page 12

PAGE 12 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

Continued from page 10 conduct its investigation a second time on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

In any case, in a country not short of industry experts,the technical competence required not to muddle figures or carry out a clear-headed audit of the subsidy regime, how did President Jonathan arrive at his choice? That Mr. President could order another audit with a seven-day ultimatum exposes the underbelly of the first committee to untidiness. One of the marketers who has been handed the armour of sainthood had earlier been frowned at by the Senator Magnus Abe Committee over subsidy funds collected. Yet, some interests are meant to be protected and are being protected.

In truth, government is at cross roads with fuel subsidy implementation because it is one scheme that can easily cripple the national economy given the huge funds being disbursed from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, and the lack of capacity to enthrone transparency under the scheme. While nothing has changed drastically with all the hype about plugging the abuses in the industry except the ministerial rivalries and power show created by the Federal Ministry of Finance’s hijacking the scheme from Ministr y of Petroleum Resources, the beneficiaries have merely improved on the act of cheating under the scheme.

The role of the industry unions is also noteworthy. The unions have for long been beneficiaries; been used to work against removal of subsidy by some vested interests; and also being used to resist due verification of the subsidies, they are now crying wolf.

In the final analysis, the masses are the losers. Those referred to as constituting the cabal have been so empowered that they control more than 50% of the effective logistics for supply and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria today. At the moment, the NNPC with the unparalleled corruption pervading the corporation, with its SWAP arrangement on crude, can not boast of handling up to 55% of the cargos consumed in Nigeria at an average of one cargo per day. Hence, the cabal, working effectively together, can bring the economy down on its knees if it chooses to.

Perhaps it is in realisation of this development that, oddly enough, it was the government of Olusegun Obasanjo, working with more sober individuals like Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, began early in 2003 to pursue a policy of phased industry liberalisation with the ultimate vision to deregulate the industr y.

Unfortunately, Obasanjo left without achieving the dream. His successor, Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua, died while perfecting strategies for deregulation. Unfortunately; presently, the looting in the name of subsidy has contin-

,

SUBSIDY PAYMENT TRAP

ued.

At the moment, it would appear the government has no

Government is at cross roads with fuel subsidy implementation because it is one scheme that can easily cripple the national economy

an interventionist mechanism and not an institutionalised programme of government. At the inception of subsidy regime, there were very few depots. Government literarily cajoled marketers to participate in the scheme.

They entered the scheme and took advantage of it with government demonstrating lack of capacity to curb their criminal antics on the sea and at the jetties. They seized the subsidy opportunity to empower themselves and expand

,

choice than to deregulate. The braggadocio to sanitize the industry of corruption is a sing-song that portrays naivety of the enormity of the issues and challenges in the downstream sub-sector.

When fuel subsidy was introduced, it was meant to be

President Goodluck Jonathan

the scope of their business.

To demonstrate the veracity of this, a call for the balance sheet and business strength of most of the big players, pre and post 2006 would reveal the quantum, mega lift in volume and profit.

Similarly, the benefiting banks used the opportunity to post huge, stupendous profits into corporate and personal accounts. The balance sheet of most of the sponsoring banks and the massive capital inflow attest to the juicy nature of PMS importation per subsidy.

The fact remains that government needs to handle the issue tactically to ameliorate the suffering of the people. The implications of the cabal being at loggerheads with government could have serious multiplier effects such as reversing the gains of industry liberalisation, job and capacity collapse in the oil and banking industry.

The ultimate solution is deregulation because the rot in subsidy implementation is as sad as the fake and fraudulent claims that had been a tradition in the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF, a scheme that had remained without a legally constituted board – might it be added, deliberately, for years.

CALLING OFF A STRIKE ACTION WITH ANOTHER THREAT Continued from page 11 concerning the issues we raised but with this development, we hope all these issues will be quickly addressed especially as we agreed to meet here in two weeks time to review the situation”, he said.

But for a government that is very adept at reaching agreements and breaking them with impunity, two weeks are not too long.

The new roll of PPPRA The Executive secretary of PPPRA, Reginald Stanley, who took over late November, 2011, has been demonstrating that the noose can be tightened.

The angst in the land over the subsidy saga was caused by the fact that whereas N240 billion was appropriated for fuel subsidy in 2011, over N1.7 trillion was spent.

By the time he took over about 128 firms had been licensed to import petroleum products.

Things are different now. It has been reduced to 42.

This figure has been pruned down to 39 for the third quarter, 2012 importation. That the PPPRA’s measures are achieving results would be garnered from the progressive manner that the volume of import has been declining since the beginning of the year. In the first quarter, the Agency approved for 42 importers, a total of 3.755 million metric tones of PMS,an equivalent of 5.036 billion litres.

In the second quarter the volume approved dropped to 3.575 million metric tones or equivalent of 4.797 billion litres, a drop of 180,000 metric tones or 241.38 million litres.

For the third quarter, the Agency has slashed fuel import by 450,000 metric tones, approving for importation by 39 marketers, 3.125 million metric tones of fuel, an equivalent of 4.20 billion litres as against the 4.794 litres imported in quarter Two. Not done yet with the battle to entrench transparency in the importation of petroleum products, in June PPPRA introduced additional documents to be submitted by would be

,

The angst in the land over the subsidy saga was caused by the fact that whereas N240 billion was appropriated for fuel subsidy in 2011, over N1.7

,

importers and suppliers. They include: Certificate of origin of the cargo Bill of lading of the Mother Vessel (original non negotiable copy) Certificate of quantity of Mother Vessel.

Certificate of quality of Mother Vessel.

On board approval quantity Cumulative STS report.

ROB after each STS Fuel ROB or empty tank certificate of Mother Vessel.

This regulation is targeted at confirming product and quantity

supplied by traders under prescribed guidelines of the PSF scheme and check abuses/sharp practices by marketers.

While the fury of January was spreading, the new leadership at PPPRA was at work, drawing up strategies on how to proceed with the reforms. This month it came up with another policy initiative that shocked many fuel importers.

Henceforth submission and verification of vessel import financing documents is prelude to approval to discharge imported PMS. The dual purpose of this are to monitor the ETB of vessels for planning and import; and to confirm funding and forex provision for each import transaction.

The measure has since been helping the Agency in planning for seamless products supply across the country; in verifying other documents (like PFI, Letter of Credit and Form M) as a prerequisite for vessel inspection and also ensure that discharges are done within approved Laycans and not in 3rd party facilities.

In this battle to bring total sanity into the fuel import trade, the current leadership at the Agency appears to be leaving no stone unturned. Last month, it stepped forward by another regulation when it demanded of fuel importers the submission of contractual agreement documents between the marketers/importers and their traders/suppliers. This measure will enable PPPRA to confirm such transaction between the two parties. The two objectives here are to ensure transparency in the importation process and to confirm the contractual

agreement between marketers and their suppliers with a view to authenticating such supplies.

Also in May, in order to monitor product volume and to check abuse associated with the products discharge process, the Agency introduced restrictions on third party discharges. The regulation will ensure even and fair distribution of products across the country and will also ensure that products are effectively monitored and sharp practices associated with discharges are curbed.

A major one from PPPRA in the month of May, according to industry watchers, was the introduction of the Submission of DPR calibration certificates and charts of all nominated shore tanks for products receipts.

These documents will enable the Agency to ascertain the current status of reception tanks nationwide and check abuses with products measurement.

With this additional criterion, the Agency will be able to determine storage tank capabilities and to check abuses associated with products volume measurement.

Given the reform initiatives thus far, PPPRA may have succeeded in debunking the generally held notion that public Agencies never deliver. What the nation is witnessing today at PPPRA is an agency’s resolve to turn around an otherwise corruptridden, all –comers, and anything-goes downstream

sector into a sane, transparent, result driven one. Six months down the line, it is fast becoming obvious that a most profound solution to the problem of fuel importation and subsidy issue is very imminent.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 13

PAGE 14 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

BOKO HARAM

Their grouse, the solution, by Amb. Carson

'What the Jonathan administration can do better' This is the concluding part of the abridged version of a recorded exchange during a Sub-committee on Foreign Affairs congressional hearing in America, with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in attendance. In this concluding part, House members sought to know why Boko Haram leaders were designated terrorists and the group, not designated as a FOREIGN TERROR ORGANISATION, FTO. It is revealing.

zAmbassador Carson Haram have reportedly been trained

Ms Bass One is about Boko Haram, the other is about corruption.

What is the real objective of Boko Haram?

z President Goodluck Jonathan

zPastor Ayo Oritsejafor

Ms Bass I appreciate your pointing out that individuals were identified as terrorists as opposed to the overall organisation and you feel that the reason for that is that labeling the organization as an FTO would embolden its members, that it will boost their status.

Ambassador Carson I think it will serve to enhance their status, probably give them greater international notoriety amongst radical Islamic groups; probably lead to more recruiting and probably more assistance. One of the concerns (also, is that) we elevate them to a higher level and higher status than they deserve. But these three particular individuals have showed the desire not just to go after the Nigerian government and Nigerian interests but also go after larger western interests including

American interest.

But there is, in fact, a big distinction there; these individuals are prepared to go after larger interests beyond those that are Nigerian to discredit and embarrass the Nigerian government.

Ms Bass And how will you asses the Jonathan administration’s strategy towards countering terrorism? I also wanted to know what, in general, extent are Nigerian intelligence and security forces cooperating with those of neighboring countries where AQAM is operating and where some members of Boko

,

Ambassador Carson I think it is an attempt to both discredit and bring attention to concerns and grievances legitimate or illegitimate, of the people who are carrying out the activities and this is, in deed, by pointing out e n o r m o u s economic deprivation that exists in northern Nigeria. It is not to suggest that poor people are terrorists but it is to suggest that that kind of environment helps to generate and feed the notion that the government is not providing adequate service delivery in all segments to the people of the country. And I think it is largely in an effort to embarrass and discredit (the administration) by bringing attention to these sets of grievances.

And I think the core elements of Boko Haram are also ideological in their orientation. I do not think they represent the views of the larger Muslim population that exists across Nigeria. But it is the notion that they have a set of grievances. One of the things that have happened is that Boko Haram leaders do not, in fact, put down on a piece of paper what they are actually striving for and one of the things the government has frequently said is ‘come forward and tell us what it is that you want us to do

Ambassador Carson Let me say that the government could be doing better both in trying to combat the Boko Haram threat and it could certainly be doing better in trying to increase service delivery across the North.

I know that government in neighboring states, particularly Niger and Cameron, to a certain extent, Chad, are concerned about the Boko Haram threat because many of the people now live in southern Niger and southern Chad, north western part of Cameroon, as well as going across to Benin and upper parts of Togo – these are ethnically linked (with) the same linguistics communities, so there is this concern about the spread of this kind of violence into their own countries Ms Bass You know one of the topics that we have not talked about today is the drug issue drug trafficking.

So I wanted to know if you could comment about that especially if there is a relationship, what the Jonathan administration is doing to address drug trafficking; and is there a relationship between Boko Haram and the drug industry?

Ambassador Carson

I think it is largely in an effort to embarrass and discredit (the administration) by bringing attention to these sets of grievances

,

I am not aware of any major link or connectivity between drug trafficking and the financing of Boko Haram! We do know that drug trafficking is a major problem all along the west African coast; it continues to be a serious problem in Nigeria because of the use of human traffickers moving drugs and because of the use of ports, airports for movement of narcotics in West Africa and from there into Western Europe. So it is an issue.

Ms Jackson Lee (Why do we have these conflicts in Northern Nigeria, especially the attacks against the churches; why are we at this point of conflict?)

Ambassador Carson Let me make quick global points: We here in Washington recognize Nigeria to be one of the two most important nations in sub-Saharan Africa. We look at it as Africa’s largest democracy and our largest trading partner; our 5th largest supplier of crude oil and a country we seek to strengthen and broaden our relationship with. So Nigeria is legitimately of great significance to us and we don’t want to ignore it.

Secondly, Nigeria faces the kinds of dilemma that many African states have because of the large number of different ethnic and linguistic, religious groups that exist there. But the country’s people have decided over time that the best way to manage the country is through democratic means and democratic ways.

I think what we are seeing, the kind of problems in northern Nigeria with respect to Boko Haram do not represent the vast majority of people in the North, which does not represent the views of the overwhelming number of Muslims.

The Boko Haram group is made up of a small group of individuals that are indeed trying to play on the effort to discredit, embarrass and to under mine the credibility of the central government and it is not just the central government led currently by a Christian leader. I want to point out again that Boko Haram was active under President Yar ’Adua but the sense of hopelessness built upon a lack of service delivery, lack of opportunity, a lack of hope helps to contribute to this.

ABRIDGED CONGRESSIONAL HEARING CONCLUDED Transcription by Onwuka Anthonia & Ephraim Oseji

N SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012 , PAGE 15

The case against FTO designation for Boko Haram —Scholars Below is the academic proposition by some scholars in the United States of America to Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The letter was copied to Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Their argument, put forward in strong terms, is that the Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, should not be slammed with the designation of a FOREIGN TERROR ORGANISATION, FTO. Dated Monday, May 21, 2012, the position of the scholars is frowned at by the leaders of Nigeria’s Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. Yet, their forceful case against the designation appears to have cut ice with the State Department. Now, whether the present State Department’s position on Boko Haram is dictated by the prevailing political circumstances in America – the presidential election holds in November and no right-thinking American President would want to create a needless baggage for himself by offending any ethno-religious or social group (the same reason why Syrian opposition elements should not expect the Americans to fully jump into and demonstrate support for them – or not would be seen in the coming months after the election. Curiously, the scholars throw in the bait of ‘persuasion’ as opposed to the long-held American position of –non-negotiation’ with terrorists: “Should Boko Haram be designated an FTO through this regime, it would be illegal for non-governmental organizations to interact with members of Boko Haram – even if the purpose of such contact was to persuade them to renounce violence”, the letter said. The letter inter alia:

By Jide Ajani

"A

zHillary Clinton lateral relations, and increase the risk that the US becomes linked – whether in reality or perception – to abuses by the security services. An FTO designation would effectively endorse excessive use of force at a time when the rule of law in Nigeria hangs in the balance.

There is already evidence that abuses by Nigeria’s security

,

s scholars with a special interest in Nigeria and broad expertise on African politics, we are writing to urge that you do not designate Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). We are acutely aware of the horrific violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, including attacks on both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, whether government officials or civilian targets. We share your concerns about the impact of extremist violence on Nigeria’s democratic progress and security in general.

However an FTO designation would internationalize Boko Haram, legitimize abuses by Nigeria’s security services, limit the State Department’s latitude in shaping a long term strategy, and undermine the U.S. Government’s ability to receive effective independent analysis from the region.

An FTO designation would internationalize Boko Haram’s standing and enhance its status among radical organizations elsewhere. Boko Haram’s recent tactics, including the use of suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices, raise questions about their foreign links.

The network’s focus has been overwhelmingly domestic, despite an August 2011 attack on the United Nations office in Abuja. Rhetorically, some of Boko Haram’s critique of northern underdevelopment and elite corruption is within the realm of mainstream political discourse. But there are clear indications that their tactics and targets have turned most Nigerians against them, including local populations in the North.

An FTO designation would potentially shift the organization’s posture towards the US and validate the more radical factions’ analysis of outsider influence in Nigeria. It would also undermine the Nigerian government’s ability to address the problem through law enforcement and thereby improve rule of law.

An FTO designation would give disproportionate attention to counter-terrorism in our bi-

Should Boko Haram be designated an FTO through this regime, it would be illegal for nongovernmental organizations to interact with members of Boko Haram – even if the purpose of such contact was to persuade them to renounce violence.

,

services have facilitated radical recruitment.

This was made unequivocally clear in 2009 following the extrajudicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf, which was broadcast across the internet.

That incident was immediately followed by Boko Haram’s radicalization, splintering, and increased propensity for large scale violence. Moreover, the routine use of the military for

domestic law enforcement is a cause for alarm in a country with a deep history of military rule, and where formal declarations of states of emergency have historically led to broader political instability.

In publicizing this letter, it is also our hope that the Department of Defense and other concerned agencies will reaffirm the limitations of their roles: informing or implementing policy rather than making it.

Accurately understanding and properly addressing the issue of Boko Haram will require a diplomatic, developmental, and demilitarized

framework. The State Department and its civilian developmental partners must be in the lead.

The FTO list system has its origins in Executive Order 12947 in 1995, which was designed to prohibit transactions with organizations that interfere in the Middle East peace process.

Congressional legislation the following year codified a process for making such decisions under the Effective Death Penalty and Anti-Terrorism Act. Once the State Department makes an FTO designation and that entity is added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list managed by the Treasury Department, it is illegal for U.S. citizens to have any interactions with that entity unless they apply for a license.

At least 1.1 million individuals and entities are also on secret lists, according to an audit by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Inspector General.

Lack of information about the criteria for being listed makes it impossible to be removed and encourages selective enforcement.

This cumbersome and arbitrary process has made it impossible for some humanitarian organizations to operate in the neediest areas of Africa. If economic development is to play a role in alleviating tensions in northern Nigeria, we should not hamper access by USAID or private NGOs in pro-

viding aid and assistance in the region.

Should Boko Haram be designated an FTO through this regime, it would be illegal for non-governmental organizations to interact with members of Boko Haram – even if the purpose of such contact was to persuade them to renounce violence. The US Supreme Court upheld these restrictions in 2010, declaring that such contact would constitute providing “material support” to terrorist groups. Commenting on the threat this poses to the Carter Center, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said this legal restriction “threatens our work and the work of many other peacemaking organizations that must interact directly with groups that have engaged in violence.” It would therefore be illegal for third party intermediaries to play a role in some future peace process or in the confidence building measures required to get there.

Less attention has been brought to the damage that this system does to academic inquiry more generally. An FTO designation would prevent independent scholarly inquiry about Boko Haram, and increase suspicion in the future about researchers with no governmental ties. Public policy benefits from dialogue with public scholars, and an FTO designation would effectively criminalize broad categories of research".

Authors of letter to Clinton * A. Carl LeVan Peter M. Lewis, (American University) Johns Hopkins University * Jean Herskovits Daniel J. Smith – Purchase Brown University * Adrienne LeBas, R. Kiki Edozie (American University) Michigan State University * Brandon Kendhammer Susan Shepler (American University) Ohio University* John Campbell, David Dwyer, Council on Foreign Relations, Michigan State University * Paul Lubeck, Pearl Robinson University of California – Santa Cruz Tufts University * Darren Kew, Clarence Lusane (American University)University of Massachusetts – Boston * Laura Thaut, Nicolas van de Walle, University of Minnesota – Minneapolis Cornell Uni versity * Judith Byfield Susan, M. O’Brien Cornell University, University of Florida * John Paden Deborah, Brautigam George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University *Michael Watts, University of California – Berkeley Additional names added since May 21: *David Laitin, David Wiley Stanford University, Michigan State University *Shobana Shankar, Sandra T. Barnes Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania C M Y K

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

NEWS: State of the Nation

Remember, no refund if the dead refused to rest in peace!......ok?

M A I L B A G

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

News

Relevance of Public Relations in Nigeria’s crisis management Dear Sir,

P

UBLIC Relations (PR) is a term that is widely misunderstood and misused to describe anything from selling to hosting, when in fact it is a very specific communications process. Every company, organization, association and government body deals with groups of people affected by what that organization does or says. They might be employees, customers, stockholders, competitors, suppliers or just the general population of consumers. Each of these groups may be referred to as one of the organizations publics. The process of public relations manages the organization’s relationships with these publics.

Importantly, governments, companies and organizations know they must consider the public impact for their actions and decisions because of the powerful effect of public opinion. This is especially true in times of crisis, emergency, or disaster.

However, it is just as true for major policy decisions concerning changes in business management, pricing policies, labour negotiations, introduction of new products, or changes in distribution methods. Each of these decisions affects different groups in different ways. In other words, efficient and effective administrators can use the power of these groups opinions to bring about positive changes.

It is crystal clear that the purpose of everything labeled public relations is to influence public opinion towards building goodwill and a positive reputation for the organization and or nation.

Whatever the case may be, the essential point in crisis management is good management which means being prepared. Crisis public

relations, as is sometimes called by professionals has become a specialist area. It seems to me that organizations, particularly those in the specific areas like health, food and drug manufacturing, transportation (air, land and sea), power, leisure and sports as well as governments should have well-prepared policy of emergency action.

It is appropriate to say that crises are either violent or non-violent. That is to say, a crisis can be an act of nature, an intentional event or an unintentional accident. Truly speaking, a crisis is an unexpected development which very often embarrasses a nation, an organization, frightens the relevant publics and puts company’s credibility and decency under intense scrutiny.

In some worst situations, a crisis creates the threat of death and loss of property. Crisis therefore is a period of heightened uncertainty that increases the need to plan, and a point in time in which external or internal pressures change objectives and operational practices of an organization.

Crisis threatens the high priority values of a nation or organization, presents a restricted amount of time in which a response can be made and is unexpected or unanticipated by the organization or nation. A crisis need not be a disaster such as crashed aero plane or an explosion in a factory. The fact is that most threats to company stability are rarely so dramatic. To this end therefore, these threats can have disastrous effects on a company but the effects may be minimized.

For quite sometime, Nigeria has been entangled in different shades of violence crisis like bombings, maimings, killings, kidnapping, corruption, etc. These are of course threatening the national stability and security of our nation. With the

establishment of several militant groups, such as Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Arewa’s People Congress (APC), Ijaw youth congress (IYC), Egbesu Boys (EB) among many others including the deadly and faceless Boko Haram in the north.

One of the greatest problem in Nigeria is that there is no longer ‘trust’ among the people and ethnic groups.

The situation has become so bad because since the inception of the

democratic structure on May 29, 1999, all efforts failed to yield a fruitful result.

Rather the rate of violent crises continue to increase at a very alarming rate.

Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, Assistant Director (Administration)/Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.

(08036724193). charlessoeze@yahoo.ca

The Urhobo and 2015 Dear Sir,

T

HERE is no gainsaying that 2015 could be a defining moment in Nigeria's political history going by prevailing political events in the country. While to the politically naive, 2015 looks a long while away, but to the politically discerning minds, 2015 is just around the corner. Already different ethnic nationalities and regional powers are plotting and strategizing to make the most of the 2015 general elections to their advantage, particularly the presidential elections.

No one needs to be told that the Urhobo until now have been relegated at the national level for reasons best known to the powers that be at the centre, and this is in spite of the fact that they are the fifth largest ethnic group in the country and are home to vast amount of the nation's crude oil and gas reserve.

Politically, the Urhobo with their numerical strength are suppose to have a high bargaining power in Nigeria's political equation, but unfortunately they have failed to take advantage of this leverage as a result of disunity in their ranks.

However, as the nation looks forward to the 2015 general election, they need not be told told that they must do everything possible to put their house in order lest they remain politically irrelevant at the national and state level.

At the federal level, they must ensure that they lend their support and line behind any political party or candidate that would uphold and protect their collective interests not withstanding where the candidate hails from. The idea of supporting a candidate because of regional sentiments and emotions must be put behind them as it has not helped the Urhobo cause in any form as can be observed in the present administration.

The Urhobo's interest should be paramount and above regional or party interests which has not brought them any good, but rather backwardness and dire neglect. The Urhobo have no other time than 2015 to assert and stamp their political influence and power.

They must make hay when the sun shines. A word is enough for the wise!!

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene, 0 8 1 2 7 0 2 9 1 2 2 , ohwevwoufuoma@ymail.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 17

Awoism: ACN versus Afenifere(1) Nature, climate change and man

ADVENTURES IN PROPHECY (CONT’D).

“In times of victory, prophets are unnecessary distractions”. Trevor Roper. (VANGUARD BOOK OF UOTATIONS p 204).

Back in January 2009, when late President Yar ’Adua was admitted to hospital abroad, I wrote a column published on these pages titled, OPEN LETTER TO MRS YAR’ADUA urging Mrs. Yar ’Adua to take her husband home after his discharge from the hospital. The reasons were quite simple; a man who was rushed from the campaign ground, in 2007, to Germany, did not possess the requisite stamina to be president – a job known to ruin the health of strong men and women. Thus, as far back as January 2009, less than two years into Yar’Adua’s fouryear mandate, I was calling on the late President to resign and hand over to VicePresident Jonathan – because it was inevitable that he would.

This reminder is vital to this series on prophecies for two reasons. First, at a time when nobody in Nigeria wanted to discuss the possibility of Yar’Adua not lasting the distance, I had already asked him to hand over to GEJ. Second, many of those who later decided that I hate Jonathan and those who now pretend to love him more than others were too scared to take the courageous stand of asking

,

T

lawyers (you know the learned people) lugged in 50 trailers of stuff. I can’t finish reading all of these until my old age.

Please reduce it”. The economists went and came back with 2,000 pages of script.

Still, the king asked for further reduction. Finally, it occurred to the economists that they were wasting their own time and the king’s. So, they agreed to reduce all of Economics to one sentence. “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH”. For that matter, there is no such thing as “free education”. What Awolowo introduced was “government sponsored education”. It might cost the students and their parents nothing; but the bill is being paid by the tax payers.

In I955, virtually all kids attended public schools, mostly mission schools.

The number of private schools could not have been more than 30 in the entire country. Our relative poverty and the zeal of the missionaries (Christian and Muslim) made, virtually, all of us dependent on governments for education. Today in the area constituting the old Western region, only a tiny minority of kids attend public schools. Anyone still campaigning on “free education” is, at best a jester; or at worst a liar…

Many of those who later decided that I hate Jonathan and those who now pretend to love him more than others were too scared to take the courageous stand of asking Yar’Adua to go

,

Yar’Adua to go - until the bogus Doctrine of Necessity was invoked by the Senate fifteen months after. I repeated the call in December 2009 when Yar’Adua made his terminal journey to Saudi. Then, I made a prediction about Nigeria’s future after Yar’Adua….

DR OKUPE: THE NEW MESSENGER “The medium is the message”. American communication expert in the I970s.

A crucial, if not the most important component of the medium, is the messenger. His reputation or credibility could strengthen the message or detract from it. Jonathan’s new choice of messenger - Dr Doyin Okupe – is akin to a man who, sweating and stinking, deciding to take a bath with muddy water.

A word is usually sufficient for the wise.

But, we already know that, “It requires wisdom to understand wisdom; the music is nothing if the audience is deaf ”.

Walter Lippmann c I970. (VANGUARD BOOK OF UOTATIONS p 275).

"I am pessimistic about the human race because it is too ingenious for its own good. Our approach to nature is to beat it into submission. We would stand a better chance of survival if we accommodated ourselves to this planet and viewed it appreciatively instead of sceptically and dictatorially." -- E.B. White On the 18th of August, what should have been a day out with families and friends for some people celebrating the Eid el-Fitri at Kuramo Beach in Lagos, according to eye witnesses, turned out to be a sorrowful experience as ocean waves rose to engulf those within its reach.

It swept away some people, including 11 passengers in a boat and day trippers near the shores.

As the toll of the dead and the missing totes up , it slowly became more of recovery of bodies than search and rescue mission. At some point,it should dawn on all, that nature in all its magnificence, will act according to its cycle, not ours. There has to be some reverence that the environment is given priority, maintenance and sustainability. Only then, can fatalities be reduced as safety become a necessity and not an option.

This may sound conten-

,

“Two bald men fighting over a comb”. Spanish writer, HE Spanish author of that hilarious piece, whose name escapes my mem ory at the moment, was commenting on the Falklands/Malvilands war involving Britain and Argentina in I982. The remote and virtually useless cluster of islands, captured by Britain from Spain, in an earlier era of colonial expansion, became the reason for carnage in that year. The people speak Spanish; not English; and it is only about 200 nautical miles from Argentina as opposed to seventeen thousand miles by sea from Britain.

Yet, thousands of people died on both sides; all victims of the vainglory to which leaders sometimes succumb. Britain and Argentina are two former empires, whose suns have certainly gone down. But, they still pretend to have a national vigour that is lacking.

In Nigeria, two entities, former allies, like the “bald men” of the I980s, are currently engaged in verbal conflict over a toothless comb. ACN and Afenifere have centred their conflict over who are the “true Awoists”. A greater waste of useful time, by people who one greatly admires, would be difficult to imagine. To start with, none of the two warring camps had bothered to define what “true Awoism” means, let alone proving conclusively that its own practice of governance approximates the ideal and that it is even still relevant in Nigeria today; or whether it is still useful now without major revisions. Collectively and individually, they are too lazy or uninspired to undertake the revisions needed to modernize Awoism.

At any rate, the conflict is odd in one way.

ACN runs five states; Afenifere is not in government anywhere. So, there can be no comparison of the different styles of governance.

However, let me help the combatants out of their self-imposed difficulties by suggesting that we focus on the best known component of “Awoism” which is “free education” – either at only primary or at all levels.

The concept of “free education”, introduced by the Action Group party, to the Western Region (including Edo and Delta at the time) in the 1950s was not even Chief Awolowo’s own idea. The originator of the concept was Dr. S.O. Awosika, a Minister (regions also had Ministers in those days) under Awolowo. Awosika also had the distinction of starting the first private primary school, in the region, in Ondo. The school exists till today. Awosika convinced Awolowo that “free primary education” could be financed by imposing a small levy on all adults, under 70, in the region. It is to Awolowo’s everlasting credit that he readily accepted the idea and organised his government to implement it.

The other hero of the “free primary education” programme was Chief Simeon Adebo; a lynx-eyed administrator and Head of Service, who ensured that every taxable adult was captured and every kobo was judiciously spent on the “free primary education” programme. If there was one programme that was totally corruption-free, it was the “free primary education” project – which succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of its founding fathers - that means Awolowo, Awosika and Adebo. There will be more on Adebo later.

Nobody questioned the use of the word “free” at the time – perhaps because there were few Nigerian economists at the time.

But, in strictly economic terms, the use of the word “free” was, at best, misleading. And, at worst, it was a political gimmick. Let me hasten to explain myself before hearts start to race, like Bolt at the Olympics.

My lecturer in my freshman (one hundred level) year in 1964, at the university in the US, always introduced new students to economics by telling them the same story. A young king, newly crowned, wanted to acquire knowledge and wisdom (they are not synonymous) very fast. So, he gathered together all the leading practitioners of every profession and all the best thinkers. His assignment to all of them was to summarise for the king the principles underlying their trade and profession. They were given six months to report back. Let us forget the rest and focus on the economists. They returned with ten truck loads of written materials from import and export, principle of comparative advantage, diminishing returns etc. The king was crestfallen. “Gentlemen”, he told them, “the medical doctors came with twenty five truck loads; engineers with 30 truck loads;

than usual.

I witnessed the power of nature and its devastating effects, first hand, about thirty five years ago, in Ibadan, when the river Ogunpa broke its banks.

The morning after,we returned (my grandmother had a business in the area) and saw bloated bodies, properties strewn all over the place. One image that remained permanently etched in my memory was the body of a mother with her baby on her back. Everywhere you looked, building snapped to bits like matchsticks,vehicles washed up and in strange places. As usual, the diviner is called out and he proclaimed that indeed the River god, Ogunpa, was angry and needed appeasement. The divinities were a way of explaining natural disasters. This happens a lot and the reality simply is that nature does what nature does.

The NIMET recently predicted that several cities in Nigeria would be affected by flooding if 'proper measures' were not taken. But who gets the warning and does it permeate to the appropriate areas and nearby services. Do we have early warnings in place, is there an educational programme in schools, faith groups where such education can be filtered

We have become morally vacuous, would do anything for money, prestige and adulation is misplaced

tious but time, and time again the number of victims of flooding has become sadly, a common place. Already, about one hundred people have died in Jos, and six local government areas in Plateau State were affected. Also, parts of Bauchi, Benue and Nasiriya are facing loss of lives and property from flooding.

Where were the sea rescue boats, helicopters, or the paramedics, no one to pick up those in shock or have lost their loved ones.

If the last series of disaster is anything to go by, the Jos flooding,the deluge that extended to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Cross Rivers, Gombe, Kano and Jigawa, it was as predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NIMET). And the latest must have construction for the rich that they can do whatever they like; construction of high end luxurious home in Eko Atlantic city. I mean, Atlantic is the name! that's an ocean and we know what happened to the city of Atlantics, don't we? This development by the sea may have exacerbated the level of discharge and the ferocity of the tidal wave

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through the society? Do we have visual aids like flags to warn people of choppy seas, leaflets handed out to beach users warning of dangers and precautions. Where were the life guards, and is there a way information of weather forecast used to inform those in the know so that affected areas can be evacuated early? How do we evacuate in such crisis?

Or should the National Emergency Management Agency be a stand-alone in time of such disasters and loss of human lives? Should the public be left to their devises to fight for their lives? What are the roles of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources? Nigeria must value its people, there should be some joint up thinking and multi-agency working and it be given equal priority as part of the National security protection plan.The Lagos State government did deploy Policemen to cordon off the Kuramo beach, executing the Lagos State Government's order to forcefully eject people from the area. Lagos officials capitalised on the incidents to demolish several homes and small businesses owned by poor peo-

ple by blaming them for the tragic ocean storm. That's too little, too late to close the stable door long after the horse has bolted.

The Golden Age of enlightenment.

"The people who live in a golden age usually go around complaining how yellow everything looks"Randall Jarrell When things go wrong as they usually do, in our case, we have a way of blaming some malevolent forces. So it is no surprise that one traditional chief in Badagry Local Government Area in Lagos State, Possu Awarawuru, has identified the advent of foreign religions as the bane of the country's social problems.

Mr Awarawuru made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday before the last in Badagry during this year's anniversary of the ancient town.

"Before the coming of Christianity and Islam, our fore-fathers worshipped in their traditions and the society was peaceful and crime-free,'' he said at the festival with the theme "Reconnecting with the Root. '' He explained that before the coming of the two religions, Nigerians had their traditional religions and were guided by the values, morals and various injunctions, laid down by the divinities.

According to him, without the two religions, the society will be crime-free, since traditional religious worshipers don't chase materialism.

No surprise there then, we have failed to act in a way that will help our society, exported religions have nothing to with it.

When we were growing up, it was instilled from an early age how to distinguish right from wrong, to act in a way not to tarnish your image and our families.

To tell the truth, help our communities, we were told that we had to work very hard and to reap rewards.

Education, training and trade had a purpose and pride of place in our culture. We have become morally vacuous, would do anything for money, prestige and adulation is misplaced, the undeserving can buy titles, officials, posts and academic achievements. Corruption and living life on the fast lanes seem to be de riguer and we blame our departure from our traditional religions on our social ills.

Some reality checks please. We have failed to live up to our moral codes and values that was instilled in our cultures. We, the people are responsible and it's about time we admitted that we all are collectively culpable, responsible for the state that our country is in . Let's stop acting the victim here, this decline is self inflicted. It has nothing to do with traditional or foreign religions .

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

It is time to stand up for Ribadu challenge. Indeed, a serving Inspector General of Police (IGP) was honoured when he was unable to measure up to the fire power of insurgents who took the battle to his house and bombed everywhere including the Police Headquarters If the nation had waited for such a political office holder to conclude his tenure before determining whether he deserved to be honoured or not, no one would have considered him or many others whose names were on the list. No one would have supported the dishing out of the sec-

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T the beginning of a venture, certain persons who show ample brightness sometimes end up badly thereby losing the accolades they had received. Indeed, when the indictment of any person is done or endorsed by the Judiciary, withdrawing the honours does not call for controversy. Thus, the report in the media last week, that some Nigerian citizens with national honours may lose them following their indictment by the courts is not a big deal.

What should bother the nation is the way the honours are given in the first instance. We urgently need to have a re-think of the trend where a serving political appointee is honoured simply because of his post rather than his performance- a trend which stands logic on its head. A political office holder should not get honoured because he “ won” our type of election; how an elected person performs in an office is more important.

This was what informed the earlier attack in this column on last year’s national honours where serving political office holders were honoured on the basis of nothing spectacular. The most offensive was that security chiefs got honoured at a time when the nation had its greatest security

med Lawal Uwais who served without blemish as Chief Justice. Many would similarly applaud yearly honours to Justices Chukwudifu Oputa, Kayode Esho, Andrews Obaseki, George Oguntade etc. who were not fortunate to head the Judiciary but who gave of their best to our apex court. Therefore, for someone to get automatically honored because he holds an office irrespective of his performance and conduct is absurd.

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f our history has shown that any honour to a

A political office holder should not get honoured because he “won” our type of election; how an elected person performs in an office is more important

ond highest honour in the land- the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to a Chief Justice whose meddling in the affairs of the Court of Appeal brought the Nigerian Judiciary to its Kneels.

At the same time, no one would question several honours to Justice Moham-

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high ranking Judge who passed through the ranks to his exalted office should be based on the achievements of his tenure, it is reprehensible to bestow national honours on persons who have never held any office or achieved anything worth remembering. In earnest, it is because we attach hon-

State Police, no State Police abduct you and dump you in a police cell. You may be forgotten there. Soon, you may be charged with a false crime. And soon, if nobody comes for you, and you’re unable to send out a message for bail, a police bail that does not go into any records, you may end up in the cyclic labyrinth of the police cell system that is wicked, lawless, and inhumane. That is how an inability to pay a bribe might simply make you disappear or perhaps lead you to execution if you’re unlucky.

This is but one example of what has happened to the Nigerian police system.

Nigerians stopped trusting the police. This lack of trust led to disillusion. But above all is that it made it clear that the police are not accountable. It is not accountable because it lacked local oversight grounding.

It lacked local oversight grounding because the police Act makes it a federal undertaking.

Governors and Local Administrators have been frustrated by their inability to control crimes because the police officers themselves are involved in these crimes, and the local authorities have no authority over them. There is also the question of the federation.

At the constitutional conferences in 1957, an important aspect of the agree-

ment was that the federal government will control the police services as a way of protecting the minority citizens and interests who might be overwhelmed by the control of the majority ethnic groups in the old regions.

Proponents of the state police argue today that the structure of the federation now makes that fear untenable, and therefore necessitates a review of the police Act and the single national police system. Opponents of the proposition have actually argued to the contrary: the current constitution puts too much

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MAGINE yourself on a Nigerian highway, say the interstate stretch between Enugu and Onitsha. The hazards are many, including uneven corrugations and potholes or craters formed from the culture of neglect of public utilities.

The neglect has been linked to many things including corruption in the Public Works Directorate of the Ministries of Work, or even the sheer incompetence of its engineering and technical personnel. And so you’re driving in the night in the unlit highway, and you feel yourself in trepidation, as you maneuver through the highway, avoiding the deathly craters.

All the while, your mind is in another danger: the danger of the police stops.

At every ten-mile of what ought to be a free highway, there is a police roadstop.

They stop vehicles, ask for something as ordinary as your driver ’s license, or conduct searches on your car or your person, and in the most extreme of occasions, bark at you with insolence, “park ya car!” and ignore you until you beg. Of course, you do not beg with empty hands. You name a price. If the price is agreeable, the police let you go. If it is not they ignore you, and in worse case scenarios,

ours to positions that we are now facing questionable honours bestowed on some former Speakers of the House of Representatives.

Perhaps the best way to make the point is to reiterate our argument elsewhere, that whereas the present Speaker is likely to turn out to be the very best considering his quality performance so far, an award is expedient only at the end of the race. Since a serving Governor who has immunity cannot be questioned, petitioned against and even indicted while in office the way a legislator can be harassed, there is greater sense in waiting to see how such an untouchable Governor will be handled when he leaves office before considering him for honours.

Indeed, the number of former Governors with cases hanging on their necks should make the nation appreciate that those who hold such a lucrative office can as mere mortals have a propensity to do wrong. Oh yes, those who jeer at former Governor Ibori daily, do not know that the difference between him and many of his colleagues is luck!

Thus, if the tireless Governor Fashola of Lagos was for whatever reason, not among those that the Nigerian Union of Governors coerced the Federal government to put on the list of awardees last year, every Governor ought to wait till after his tenure and have a few interactions with the anti-corruption bodies before being honoured

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t is well that President Jonathan did not reserve the award of GCON for Vice Presidents and tionally review the laws governing police authority in the case between the late Sam Mbakwe and Mr. Fidelis Oyakhilome who was then Police Commissioner in Owerri. From whom should the Imo state commissioner of police take orders? The President or the Governor of the state? Of course, the wily old Sam, put Fidelis in his place by all means necessary. The argument nonetheless raged because the then Inspector-General, Oyewusi and the presidency were bent on the use of the police for extreme political action, and this was not in the interest of all the governors in opposition parties.

There again, is the dilemma of the police: the destruction of a professional police service that has mostly been politicized and criminalized. But the question remains valid: would the formation of state police boards not give the governors more power espe-

The right of the states to establish their Police Departments must be guaranteed by the Federal constitution. Police service ultimately is a local matter

power in the hands of the executive governors, and it makes the creation of the state police a dangerous addition to their power which is liable to be misused and deployed to extreme tyrannical ends. Both arguments are quite valid on their face value. We do certainly need to think back to the first debates about the need to constitu-

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cially to squelch opposition? Well, of course, they do it currently without the state police. But it is true that control of independent police platforms may exacerbate the use of tyrannical power, unless properly framed.

The Governors, mostly from the Nigerian South are campaigning for more state control of their police

Chief Justices and President of the Senate. Instead, he brought in, Aliko Dangote whose contributions to the development of Nigeria’s economy is self explicit. We have more people who can join Dangote on the list. One of them is Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In his days in that office, Nuhu put his whole heart in the tedious assignment. In the process he got a bribe of a whopping $15m. Without taking the nation through the drama of Otedola type of cameras, he went straight to the Central Bank and deposited the money. Unfortunately, such uncommon conduct was not appreciated by the nation. Instead Ribadu was persecuted for doing a good job and sent on compulsory training as if he needed to learn how to accept bribes. Thereafter, he was demoted and finally dismissed from service. In 2009, he was reported to have escaped two assassination attempts. But there were no street protests in solidarity with such a hero.

Instead, Nigerians accepted the argument that the young man’s progress in the Police was too fast – an argument that was championed by Police Officers who themselves had been no less favored. The Inspector General of Police at the time, Mike Okiro, was catapulted from Commissioner of Police to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) thereby displacing some Assistant Inspectors General (AIG). From there, he became the Inspector General before those he

met at the DIG level. Okiro probably deserved his elevation but he and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Parry Osayande, another superb police officer, who had also been favoured were in the Glass house from where stones were being thrown at Ribadu

services as a way of controlling local crimes. Northern governors have argued against it. I think there is a middle ground. The right of the states to establish their police Departments must be guaranteed by the Federal constitution. Police service ultimately is a local matter. In fact, the state governments must not only be given that right, Town Council Authorities and Local government Areas, particularly metropolitan cities must be allowed to organize and charter their police departments under certain given regulations.

Among those regulations must be that these police services must be under a civilian oversight board made up largely by the public interest.

The board of the state Police must be under an executive mandate to provide leadership as mandated by the Parliament of each state, and must answer to the Attorney-s General and the Commissioner for Justice, not the Governor. I think we must learn something from the structure of the American federal Police system. The FBI is basically the American Federal Police service and its criminal jurisdiction is clearly marked out in the Congressional requirements that established it.

There are clear areas of federal crimes, including murder, hate crimes, and other violations of federal laws. In such instances where the Federal police moves in, according to their constitutional mandates, state and local police step aside and provide only necessary investigative assistance. For instance, it

might become the duty of the Federal Police, in the long run, should we adopt the same proviso, to investigate infringements on the rights of citizens protected under the federal laws and enforce prosecution.

It might also include the investigation of the activities of state and local polices. The question then becomes who investigates the investigator? Here’s where I think it becomes necessary to establish an independent department of Internal Affairs under a police Inspection Directorate to provide ombudsman services for the police. Like parry Osanyande, I agree that we must dispense with the ministry of police Affairs. It is pointless. But unlike Osayande, I think we must place oversight of the police under the Office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice. I think Nigeria must establish the offices of the Zonal Federal Prosecutors under the federal Ministry of Justice, in all the senatorial districts of the nation, who would liaise with the Federal Police Services in these Field Offices.

I think it is time to establish the State police, and reform the Federal Police, and make it lean, more efficient, highly professional, tough, technologically savvy, and an investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Federal Government. I think that in the various acts establishing the state police departments, there must be a condition that makes it impossible for the governors to appropriate and misuse them. I think it is an idea whose time has come.

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ome cynics and critics thought Ribadu deserved his humiliation.

They said he operated selective prosecution and was publicity conscious. They may be right because Ribadu is also mortal but not much has been said about his ordeals. Believing rather naively that Nigerians would show love for his efforts, he sought to contest the Presidential election of 2011, where even his party voted against him. Now that the Delta State and the Federal Government are claiming the controversial $15m bribe, no one is telling us who put it there. For me, this is the time for Nigeria to formally celebrate Nuhu Ribadu as the rest of the world did a few years back. Apart from the fellowship accorded him by the Center for Global Development, he received the World Bank’s 2008 Jit Gill Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service as Nigeria’s most courageous anti-corruption crusader.

There is wisdom in paying tribute to Ribadu, because if as we hear, the present EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Larmode is entitled to a fair share of Ribadu’s successes, then how Ribadu is handled would matter to Larmode and the successive drivers of the anti-corruption crusade.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 19

Isn’t she inviting trouble?

Dear Rebecca

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Y girl and I are eighteen.

We are in the same class. Her parents know me and sometimes invite me to spend weekends with them but I don’t . Whenever I visit and her parents are out, she would dress up in seductive outfits in order to impress me. Interestingly, she likes fondling me in class, as we share adjoining seats. When she does this before her younger ones I usually ignore her. I promised to have sex with her once and she agreed.

She set a date when both her parents would be out. On that day, I didn’t turn up because I was scared of getting myself into trouble since I’m still a student.

When I visited her again, she said an undergraduate has proposed marriage to her.

Tobi, Agege, Lagos

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OU were wise to reject this girl’s in vitation to have sex with her, not only because you are both still teenage students, but because it is wise to understand fully the implication of having sex before embarking on it.

It is important to know about contraceptives and sex-related diseases. A man should always use the condom when making love to a woman other than his wife or constant companion, to help avoid unwanted pregnancy and venereal diseases.

Diseases got through sex can happen to any one- rich or poor, educated or illiterate, civilized or uncivilized . So it is necessary to avoid,

if possible, having a sex partner who sleeps around.

I doubt if your girl would really have had sex with you if you had turned up for it. Many girls like to lead boys on that way , and then become scared or frightened of possible consequences themselves and then back out.

Some teenagers are naturally curious about the other sex’s body and they would like to have a look to satisfy their curiosity. Others like the idea of people begging them for sex. It makes them feel important and wanted, even even though they may eventually not agree to the request. Your girl may be one of these. To hurt you for turning up, she had to give you a rival:real or fake.

I suggest you tell her that it is not in the interest of both of you to have sex now and, it is wrong of her to indulge in love play in in front of her younger brothers and sisters.

She was subtly initiating them into adult love world and this may make them want to experiment on their own, and they could become promiscuous, apart from getting into trouble. Not everyone can controll sexual urge once he/she has been initiated into love making .

I’m sure your girl will be ashamed of herself after your little sermon. She will suddenly see that she is being silly and had been throwing away her self-respect.

At your ages, both of you should have several boys and girls as friends, so don't worry if she says there are boys queuing up to propose marriageto her. Just concentrate more on your own life and future career.

I suggest you tell her that it is not in the interest of both of you to have sex now and, it is wrong of her to indulge in love play in in front of her younger brothers and sisters

Am I incapable of being in love?

Dear Rebecca

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AM a girl of sev enteen. I have just left secondary school and I intend to further my education. I have problems now which are weighing me down. My problem is that at my age , so many boys have requested that I be in a relationship with them, but I always turn them down. The excuse I usually give is that I only want a platonic relationship.

Recently , a nineteen year old boy approached me too, but when I told him that we should just be friends he got annoyed and said it was either a romantic relationship or nothing. He said he wouldn’t consider being only a friend to me. I know he loves me but I don’t just like him.

What do you think I can do about this situation?

The other question is do you think I’m frigid or incapable of loving someone or having a love affair, though I’m kind and caring to people.

Franca, Warri.

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t 17, and with no romantic or sexual experience with boys , I don’t think you should be talking about frigidity and inability to love men.

I know we are getting more and more sophisticated in our society but you are still growing up physically and emotionally. At present you should be mixing freely

with responsible boys and girls and there should be no special boyfriend yet. Just have boys as friends until you have studied them well enough to know which type you would like a romantic relationship with.

When the one you fancy shows a romantic interest in you, then you can respond and agree to be his girlfriend. This does not mean that the boy has automatic right to have sex with you or even hug, kiss and hold hands with you. It means that you spend more time with him than with other boys ,and your parents, especially your mother,

are aware that he is your friend. No meeting in secret places and no promise of marriage or taking oath of undying love. Simply enjoy each others company and both of you can have other boys and girls as friends.

You should not be in any haste to have a particular boyfriend. It is no disgrace if you have no special boy even when you are an undergraduate. It is better to wait to have a responsible boy you like and who likes and respects you, as boyfriend, than to go from boy to boy (SOME OF WHOM YOU may not like at all), simply be-

cause you feel you are not attractive enough to have boyfriend You have many years ahead of you to fall in and out of love and eventually get married. Having assorted lovers gives a girl a bad name on the long run and worthwhile men would not want to marry her when she is ready for marriage .

Inspite of the jet-age we live in, many men still prefer to marry girls who have not gone through many men.

Meanwhile, concentrate more on your studies than on boys so that you can have a career and a bright future.

I want her in my life!

Dear Rebecca I am a 15 year old boy in SS2 . I am in love with a girl in my class. She is between 16-17 year old .

My problem is I don’t know how to approach her for a relationship. I get jealous each time I see other guys talking with her.

How can I win her love?

I can’t afford to lose her.

Tochu, Lagos REPL Y REPLY

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IRLS mature emo tionally much ear lier than boys, so, this girl may not want a romantic relationship with a classmate who is younger than she is. So, don’t expect her to jump at the idea of being your girlfriend.

At your age, the ideal thing is to have responsible boys and girls as friends to interact with. This will afford you the opportunity to get to know girls and study

their ways with a view to knowing the type you would want a romantic relationship with, later in life when you are more mature emotionally to handle that.

You can have this girl as a friend so, start off with polite greetings when you meet and then go on to casual chats about your studies, etc. Later, you can exchange books and magazines. If you becom e friends, it does not mean she is your girlfriend.

She’s just a friend, and you’re not in a relationship with her.

Therefore don’t feel jealous when you see her with other boys, or if you get to know that she has a boyfriend. If she’s with a group of friends, join in their chat, provided they’re discussing responsibly.

When you have several girls as ordinary friends, the need to concentrate on her would be less.

Actually, your studies should be your priority right now, so that you can pass WAEC examinations well, pass those of JAMB, and get to do course of your choice in a higher institution.

You have many years ahead of you to fall in and out of love until you’re ready for marriage, so, don’t waste your time and emotion, over this class mate who’s probably going to be ready for marriage much earlier than you, in a few years’ time.

Just enjoy a brother/ sister relationship with her for the time being.

Later in life when you’re more mature, you will laugh at the way you’re feeling now about this girl, and wonder what the fuss was all about, as you would be no longer attracted to an older version of her.

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

PAGE 20—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

debbiemoments@gmail.com

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life goes through many phases, we grow from the time we are born and pass through many things. Through the course of our life's journey we evolve with the passage of time becoming different things to different people. Our personalities change from time to time and we adapt as a direct result of our experiences to whatever reality confronts us.

Around this time every year; its customary for me to take stock of my life and my experiences and surmise my existence; ponder my journey, take a look back and move forward. In a couple of days I turn 43, when I was young that seemed so old. I am at that age where nothing is a big deal; its the time of life where one settles into reality and accept what cant be changed with peace rather than rage.

At a graduation lunch abroad a few weeks ago, I had been fascinated by the beautiful young ladies at my table. I was

amused at their shock when they discovered I was a few decades older than them and while I give thanks to God for aesthetics, good genes and a life time of healthy habits; I was quick to impress upon them that life gets better when we get older. In my opinion, at least based on my four decades of existence; we go through life in ages determined by the decade. The first 10 years of life I would call the age of innocence. It is that time when our lives are run by limited information and very little wisdom. Most of us are innocent in our first decade because we don't have a first hand experience of the real issues, the changes that occur are gentle and fun. We don't remember pain, we barely keep malice and our fun is determined by our intake of food and play.

I look at my children's simplistic attitude to life and marvel at their naĂŻvetĂŠ; in an adult their attitude would be classed as stupidity but children

get away with it because we know they are true, they have not perfected guile, their lies and mishaps are based on nothing but innocence.

The age of ignorance begins at puberty. I don't think anyone is ever fully prepared for the onslaught of changes that come with this age. For girls, the changes are invasive and pervasive and from what I am see-

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Through the ages

sense very uncommon.

Its also the age of awareness; its that period when we speak just to be heard, we rebel just to feel powerful and we defy just to assert authority we don't have. I remember my teenage years very well and I would even go further to class it as the age of resentment. Resentment as a result of the tight controls parents and authority figures have to enforce to keep us safe. The funny thing is that most teenagers think they know it all; their parents are old fashioned and not current; that mind set is what makes them ignorant. Would I do it

Most teenagers think they know it all; their parents are old fashioned and not current; that mind set is what makes them ignorant

ing with the children, boys don't fare much better. The changes to one's body alone is directly responsible for the precociousness that scare parents silly. The body primes itself for recreation and reproduction and it doesn't help that hormones are running riot making common

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again, live life as a teenager? Oh no, not for all the tea in china.

The next decade I would call the age of expectation. It is a decade laden with expectation and obligation. For some reason people in their twenties are in much of a hurry than anyone else and who can blame

them? If things work according to plan, education is done in this decade and it becomes a matter of urgency to settle down; its a lot worse for the women. For the men, the right job and steady progress in their chosen profession can influence their choice of life partners but they are also not immune from the expectation to settle down. I felt like I was being judged for my choices in my twenties and I almost crumbled under the weight of expectations. Being passionate about my career meant I was always criticised for being over independent. Apparently success drives away suitors and while that may not be politically correct; it was a view held by the older members of my family.

I would say the third decade would be the age of desperation. The thirties for most people is almost as bad as the teenage years. There are so many changes and adaptations in store that the personality of all but a very few is split. Some of us get married and start a family and become acquainted with a new world of responsibility.

There are demands from spouses, children, friends family and work and it seems everyone is jostling for our time.

Money is never enough and for most marriages; it's the time emotional or

full blown affairs happen.

Those who are single are desperate because they feel left behind; they don't fit in with friends anymore because they don't have the same interests; it can be a very emotionally turbulent and even lonely time. this is when most people settle for bad partners just so they can marry and have children. It takes a special grace to navigate the thirties, to settle into responsibility and embrace its changes but its worth all the trouble as the foundations laid often turn out well eventually.

I wont claim to know all about the fourth decade as I am only 3 years into it. From where I stand i would call it the age of acceptance. Its an easier decade as the mind set of a forty year old is more forgiving, more accepting. Its the time to accept that you cant be everything to everybody, not everyone will like me and thats fine. Its the time to embrace all I am and forgive all I am not. I told the young ladies one truth about this age and it is this. After forty you and accept who you are; your mind is not running riot trying to conform to expectation. Its the time to walk away from arguments and enjoy peace, its the time to choose to be happy rather than prove a point and be right. Its the age to start living, to accept that life just began...

SUNDAY Vanguard , AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 21 bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

School holidays and step-mother's woes

D

ID you dread the holidays because your step-children were coming to stay with their father, to whom you are now married? As to be expected, this is one of the times in the year when many families suddenly find themselves frustratingly extended as step-children descend for the holidays.

The fact remains that the number of remarriages are on the increase, not to talk of the number of women happily settling into the slot of second wife. This, simply put, means that more children than ever before are acquiring one or two step parents and, in many cases, step-brothers and sisters.

Step-mothers are instantly tagged with the ‘ wicked’ adjective, even where they go out of their way to be nice. “I was briefly a step-mother,” recalled Rolly, who was married for three years, “but the marriage was doomed to fail. I was only 26 and, naturally, wanted my husband to myself, divorced entirely from the past. He was in his early thirties and his two children meant that link with his first family would always be there.

“Two girls aged four and two; they accepted a new woman in their father ’s life and didn’t give any trouble. But try looking after two active toddlers and see how fine you can cope. At,that time, I was not a natural child-lover, especially when such children

weren’t mine. I found their lpresence veryirritating, especially since they looked so much like their mother!

Their mother had badmouthed me all the time I was courting their father and I couldn’t forgive her for that.” Unfortunately, Rolly ’s marriage lasted just five years with only her son to show for it.

According to a legal adviser who’s dealt a lot with divorce cases since she qualified over two decades ago: ‘Even with all the lessons accrued from stepparenting friends and clients; and mellowed by middle aged understanding, I’m glad I’m not a step-parent. I have seen the suffering of so many people, including those equipped with the very best intention, as they encounter unforeseen disasters.

One friend of mine inherited an exceptionally dead battery of a step son. She tried hard. She cleared up the vomit on the stair without complaint after a drunken night. She suggested all manner of things to entertain him and fed his rude and greedy friends.

But she could not win him over.

The poor step-son finally confessed that he found the mother-hen attitude of his stepmother quite revolting.

She would never let him have a moment alone with his father. She was always hovering around, guarding her rights. ‘She even came to my grand-

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"

Smiles of love

Our hearts smile when we share our love with the right people, though this people are easy to come by, but I tell you the truth, they exist. When your

mother’s funeral’, the boy said bitterly. ‘My mother’s mother had nothing to do with her. I thought that, at least, at the graveside, I could have had dad to myself. Even my mum’s relatives were appalled when they saw her. They blamed dad for losing contact with her’.

According to a psychologist, “children who live in the old marital house cause problems that are almost unavoidable.

Children hate changes and the new step-parent is, not unnaturally, keen to put her own stamp on a place that was fashioned by her predecessor, hence combustible impasses.

Even when a child is happy that one of their parents marries again (children suffer more than is realized from a feeling of responsibility for single parents), these feelings are clouded by hostility. To the step-mother, a stepchild is a living reflection

of the first wife’s failings. She can now understand why, sometimes, her beloved would willingly abandon their children too but that is against the rules.

Children must be accommodated into the whole messy business of second marriages.

They become step children, whether they like it or not. And they are to be pitied. With a few exceptions, the experience of being a stepchild is almost always deeply unsatisfactory.

To add to this hardship, step children know that even when their behaviour is perfect, they are still resented, for step-parents are creatures with hackles automatically raised as they enter one of the uneasiest roles cast by society. And to make such a role even more harrowing, the first wife

heart finds the right one, no matter what you've been through or how long it lasts, when the memory flashes through your mind, it will always bring out the smiles of love. I love you all.

Obazee Victor, d4greatness@yahoo.com 07031338939

Undivided love

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

Iwuorie Chidi.

Geochi171@yahoo.com

My sweet heart

The day you will decide to make a clean break with

and the step mother seldom see eye-to-eye as to how the children should be brought up. “It would make remarriages easier” said Joko, a divorcee, “if step mums and first wives could be friends.

Children sense your handicap whenever you deal with them and use it to their advantage.

What most children fail to realise is that there are moments of frustration too for the mother who has to, unwillingly, abandon her children to the fate of a wicked-stepmother due to circumstances well beyond her control.

In the line of duty?

(Humourl

A man is delivering coal to a lady’s house. In order to reach the coal shed,. he had to carry the sacks right through the garden, where the lady has a lot of washing hanging out to dry on the

line. While carrying the sacks through, he brushes against the clothes and gets them smudged and dirty. The lady of the house notices this and forbids him from delivering any more of the coal. Not knowing what to do, he rings his boss.

‘The lady has got her clothes up and I’ve soiled her drawers with my dirty bags,’ he explains. ‘I’ve got half of it in, but she won’t let me put in the rest because her drawers are in the way. And the half I’ve got in, she won’t let me take out. What should I do?”

‘You’ll just have to persuade her to let you put it all in so you can finish it off. And “ in future, make sure you ask her to remove her clothes first!’

Nasty dog bites?

(Humour}

A married man decides to spend the evening with his secretary, so he calls his wife to make an excuse. He and his secretary goes out to dinner, then back to her flat for sex. Later, he looks in the mirror and sees a huge lovebite on his neck. He panics, wondering what he’s going to tell his wife.

Back home, as he opens the front door, the dog bounds up to greet him.

The man falls to the floor, pretending to fight off the animal. Then, holding his neck with one hand, he calls out to his wife: “look what the dog did to my neck!”m “That’s nothing!” she says, pulling up her top”. “Look at what he did to my boobs!”

me, that day, I will cry the ocean because of you. just like an unstoppable rain I will cry until I run out of blood. sweetheart, you are the only one I have now. Don't ever think or dream of leaving me. You will unknowingly sentence me to untimely grave. I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Kiss!

Omorville Umoru, omorville@gmail.com, 08062486549

I love you

The day I found you I found love, the day you will leave me I will lost love. Personally, I will never let you out of my life, please don't ever let go of me. I love you with all my heart.

Kelechi Ndubisi kconeofafrica@yahoo.com, 08032900530

PAGE 22 —

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

0808 066 0660 (Texts only!)

He took her money and ran!

F

OR most people over thirty the abdominal region gets to be the least toned set of muscles of the body. We work with our hands and walk with our feet, therefore, somehow, those parts are almost always in better shape than the abdominal wall.

A trim waistline doesn’t only look impressive aesthetically, it also speaks volumes of the state of health of the individual.

Reduce the girth and presto! You instantly look youthful. You will begin to digest your food and absorb it more efficiently.

Once the belly is shrunk appreciably, we can then learn to perform certain exercises which can help the system achieve better bowel action - a veritable way f eliminating toxins.

As regards exercise, there are countless ways to deal with the bulge of the belly. Some get results from practising dit-ups, others from legraises and so on.

But there are some less familiar practices that deal with flabby stomach

sual love match?

“His new office is quite close to mine and he often called round to say hello,” she continued. “Once in a while, we went for lunch in a near-by restaurant and I often paid because he was always skint. But he had a good sense of humour and lived alone in a two-bed flat; To compensate me for all the free lunches he’d had off me, he offered to cook a meal in his flat for us. It must have been obvious that I fancied him as we had his fairly well prepared meal and a cheap bottle of wine. He kissed me on his way to the kitchen after the meal and I kis sed him back. We ended up in his bedroom and was I blown over! I’d most forgotten what a good shag was and what I was experiencing beat the most sophisticated of all vibrators!

“I really wanted the relationship to continue, so we started meeting from time to time at his flat.

He confided his new job wasn’t as good as he’d hoped. ‘I thought the salary would be better,’ he explained. ‘But so much of my pay depends on commission and I’m struggling to pay the rent. The next one becomes due next month.’ I offered to help and took him to an ATM machine to withdraw some money and

handed it to him, stressing it was to be a loan.

He was pathetically grateful and promised to pay me back. Only, he was now sharing all his worries with me. If his mobile wasn’t running out of credit, he’d be skint to afford food for the flat ...

“At first, lust-fueled - I was glad to help him. But as the months went by, it became obvious I was being taken for granted.

We still met for sex in his flat but he wasn’t as attentive as he used to be and was always asking me outright for loans.

When next I went to my ATM and saw the balance I had left, I was alarmed. Pay-day was more than a week away and I had household bills to pay. Panicked, I rang

Rufus, left a voice mail message asking if he could meet me to return some of the money I’d lent him. He didn’t reply, I had to call a few times before he picked up the phone. ‘Can’t do it now I’m afraid,’ he said breezily, ‘my rent’s due.’

I felt sick to my stomach.

Was money all he wanted me for?

And what chance do I have of recouping my money? I dared not let on whatwas going on!

I must have been a love sick idiot. I mean, why else would a strappling bachelor become involved with a frustrated wife like me? I was so humiliated I stopped calling him - and he never contacted me again - stopped coming to my office. I had to ask my

husband for cash to get me through. I lied and said I’d overspent on clothes recently. He never takes any notice of what I’m wearing anyway. So he just shrugged and agreed. Rufus had taken a lot more than cash from me. He’d stollen my pride and self-respect and left me feeling such a fool.”

Women Need To Be Pampered (Reader’s Reaction) “I am 46 years old”, writes Jubril, “happily married with a family and an avid reader of your column. I wish to disagree with the fact that infidelity is bad for marriage.

For 20 years, I have strayed from the straight and narrow quite a few times, and had some wonderful experience. I worship the ground my

wife walks on and she’s given me smashing children, but her sexual appetite doesn’t match mine. The point of my letter is not to relate my extra-marital affairs, but to put forward my opinions of life. I’m not a super-stud, but I’ve discovered that most women like their men to start by just being considerate and gentle, perhaps a compliment, a kiss or a loving cuddle, a stroke of the hand on the back of her neck or very light stroking of her boobs through the clothes will evoke a better response than jumping on her in the ‘ whambam’ manner.

“From what a lot of my associates tell me, some of us men could be crude, never complementing a girl on the way she looks and dresses. They sometimes don’t even bother to kiss their women with restrained passion or murmuring endearment in their ears. Instead they grab at their prey’s tits like a thief with his band through the Cashier ’s till!

“Please, let your readers be aware that whether you’re a hunk or a whimp all you need to be a winner with your woman is to let her know that, for the period she’s with you, she is centre of your life”. - Gbolade.

Tightening the abdominals a lot more thoroughly.

Besides strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, some of these practices can be used for purification purposes along with drinking large quantities of salt water. The following exercise will help trim the waist and keep it so, forever. I have had the same waistline since the past thirty years and I am fifty two now. If yours truly can do it, so can you! All it takes is diligence. Lets consider the Rocking.

Technique: Sit with the knees drawn and the hands placed at the back of the knees. Now, lunge both legs forwards and quickly draw them back and thrust them forth again. Keep this to and fro movement of the feet going continually.

If you break the rhythm by hesitating you rill immediately fail to keep going. You may do as few as 5 thrusts and withdrawals of the feet

initially and then increase the number of times as you improve.

Benefits: The Rocking toughens the upper thigh

,

D

OESN’T it bother you that most of our young men are turning into shameless golddiggers?” I was a bit taken aback when Stella asked this question outright when she called at my place.

She’s CTB’s niece and a few of the members of his family that I’m close to.

She’s in her early 40s, married with lovely children and a fairly comfortable husband. She heads the public relations department of a parastatal and has money of her own. Once in a while, she’d throw some work at us at the training centre and I make sure she’s well looked after. So what brought on her question?

“You know I just replaced my assistant? The new one who left for a supposed greener pasture?”. She asked. I vaguely remembered Rufus, Stella’s assistant. Single and full of himself, he’d always struck me as the ruthlessly ambitious type. So when Stella told me he’d left to head a PR firm of a young company, I wasn’t surprised. Only: “Rufus and I started an affair when he left,’ confessed Stella, not quite meeting my eyes. An affair? Stella was at least 12 years older. I knew she didn’t get on well with her husband - they’d become like brother and sister. But Rufus? How did he feature in this gold-digger saga in spite of this unu-

The Rocking toughens the upper thigh and abdominal muscles. The exercise is reputed to also improve the soundness of sleep

,

and abdominal muscles.

The exercise is reputed to also improve the soundness of sleep.

The Abdominal Lift Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot apart, breathe in deeply and exhale forcefully. Now, with the breath out, draw

in the muscles of the abdomen until you have a hollow forming beneath the ribs. The hands should be placed on the thighs and the knees bent a little.

Keep the trunk a bit tipped forward but don’t lower it. Maintain the retraction of the diaphragm by keeping both hands firmly pressed against the thighs as you lean on them.

Keep the position for as long as can be without breathing.

Then, ease up, stand erect and begin to breathe normally.

Repeat only once more if you’re just stating this exercise. As regards this very exercise, Indra Devi advises gradually bringing it up to seven times adding one time each week.

Warning: People with a weak heart or serious abdominal or circulatory problems should refrain from this exercise.

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

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 23

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD,AUGUST 26, 2012

Re: Violence & helplines View-Point T

HERE’S nothing as frightening and distressing as being helpless in the face of violence, most especially when your life is at risk. Most of the confidence that keeps the majority of the people going comes from knowing that when you’re in trouble, or have a problem, you have a reliable source of help at hand. In our country this kind of help can only come from relations, friends, and neighbours who are nearby, and who would restrain the attacker. This is only temporary relief because that help is restricted to when those people are around.

Even then, when the attacks are too frequent, these ones get tired of intervening, and they no longer go to the rescue.

It’s common to read in the papers, stories of victims of violence who died because they no-one went to their rescue.

This is a pity, but then you cannot expect neighbours to suspend their own affairs, and be at the beck and call of those who regularly suffer violence. If there are helplines established by the government for reporting cases, much damage would be averted because witnesses can phone the police in the early stages and the situation would be contained. In the western world that we’re trying desperately to copy, you’re not allowed to get away with violence of any sort – be it domestic or public. What’s more, there are help lines at the local government headquarters, in directories, magazines and in newspapers that you can use to report a case, whether you’re directly the victim or not. People are encouraged to record and report cases. Thus, you find people taking pictures of fights/attacks with their mobile phones. Sometimes, these are used as evidence, which could help prosecute the offender. We’re not that bold here. Apart from there being no helplines, we’re afraid of what the attackers or his people can do to us. Also, many citizens don’t have that much confidence in our law-enforcement officers, that we would want to contact them .

From the reactions we got on the subject, it’s quite clear that Nigeria doesn’t take domestic violence or violence against women seriously.

“Mrs. Helen, women and children will always be victims of violence in this country, because there are really no binding laws to stop their being attacked, so their attackers have the courage to strike again. The woman becomes a punching bag and the children can’t wait to flee the nest. The sad thing in violence in the home is that most children who experience it, imbibe it unconsciously, and then go out to unleash violence on their school mates, teachers and other people. When the court imposes heavy penalties on violence, cases would reduce drastically. Thank you. Dotun, Lagos.”

“Those two girls you mentioned in your article had no business living with men they’re not married to, and be a liability to them. I’m sure their parents are not aware that they’re living with men. They probably told their parents in their home towns that they had gained admission into higher institutions, whereas those young men had lured them to come to the city, and play wife to them without pay. Parents can’t keep their daughters under watch all the time, especially those who are young adults, but if your child tells you that she’s moving to another town, you should accompany her there, and find out what exactly she would be doing. One won’t be surprised to hear at a later date that the men have had their fill of those girls and had pushed them unto the streets where they would be helped to become drug-pushers/users or

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

on the streets would be less as well.

Thanks - Anthony, Awka.”

“Madam, violence will continue to escalate in this country, because all the leaders we’ve had so far, don’t really care about the welfare/ safety of our women, and as such, haven’t made strong laws to protect them. If you’re courageous enough to go and report an attack, you would be humiliated at the police station, as you’re made to feel that you invited that attack through your stubbornness and pride, if it’s a domestic one. You would be ‘advised’ to go beg the man for forgiveness, and make a promise that you would behave well thereafter. If it’s a young lady who’s been assaulted on the street, she would be told that it’s her sexy outfits that provoked the young men to taunt and attack her. Even where a teacher is assaulted by her

pupils, it wouldn’t be taken seriously and the offenders punished, because there are parents who would resist their wards being disciplined in any way, and the school wouldn’t want bad publicity. We’re in a no-win situation. ” “Helplines shouldn’t only be for reporting domestic violence, but it should be for all emergencies of life.

That’s the way things are run in enlightened people-friendly countries.

There are special lines for special incidents, and even children are conversant with them and can get in touch with the police, the fire department, the welfare department, the family doctor, the hospital, etc. at once, when necessary. Lives have been saved this way. Helplines are necessary tools the government should give us urgently, to ensure safety of lives and property. - Josh, Kaduna. ” We thank all those who wrote in.

Violence will continue to escalate in this country, because all the leaders we’ve had so far, don’t really care about the welfare/ safety of our women, and as such, haven’t made strong laws to protect them

prostitutes. Of what use would helplines be then? Is there a government rehabilitation centre for these? To reduce violence/ill-treatment against naïve girls, parents should be more alert, and government should punish attackers heavily. Mrs. Funsho, Agege.”

“Madam, there’s more violence everywhere in the country than you can imagine, and I’m not talking about burning/ bombing of religious premises and killing people. I mean violence unleashed on women, in particular. For those of us who run NGOs close to the grassroots, we know that more and more women are being battered and they’re suffering in silence. Gone are the days when women who suffer violence could go report to the traditional rulers,or heads of their families. These days, their attackers do so with impunity and would not listen to any intervention from any quarter. Some victims die and there’s nothing their families can do to the attacker, because it is considered a private affair. Whatever made the girl in your article go live with the man, he had no right to do anything to her against her will. But like you pointed out, where can one report? The idea of helplines at local government level would be a big help, especially at ward level. The authorities should be aware of volatile families, and threaten to pull in attackers. If the law officers can do this without fear, I’m sure attacks

New-Trend-of-Indian-saree-2012 newfashionmod.com

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 25

T

he people of Afuda, Ebhoiyi Uromi, in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State were thrown into mourning on Sunday, August 5 after unknown gunmen, suspected to be assassins, killed the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the council, Daniel Ehinon Akhidi.

The deceased, who was also the Secretary of Esan North East LGA Public Primary School Worker/Farmers MultiPurpose Corporative Society Limited, Uromi, was a calm and peaceful community leader and that was why his sudden death came as a rude shock to not only his family members but also to the entire NUT family and Uromi as a whole. Sunday Vanguard was informed that the incident occurred at about 8p.m. on the fateful day when some unknown gunmen followed the 51-year-old teacher to his residence.

It was said that when the victim got to his residence, the suspects accosted him at his gate, pushed him out of his car and started beating him.

Daniel’s plea to the suspected assassins to save his life attracted the attention of his wife, Cordelia, and children who rushed out know what was happening. But when the came out, the suspects, about five in number, threatened to shoot and ordered the family members to go back. Fearing that they might be shot, they obeyed the gunmen.

The next thing they heard were gunshots and a loud cry from the victim. After shooting him, they went away with his sports utility vehicle (SUV). He was rushed to the Otibokhai Specialist Hospital Irrua, where he gave up the ghost before he could receive any treatment.

While friends and family members were wondering what could have led to his untimely death, some thing mysterious happened the next day, Monday, August 6. An alert came into the deceased’s phone which was with the younger brother, Kenneth.

Some body withdrew N20,000 from the Unity Bank account of the deceased. This was at a time the body of Daniel had been deposited at the mortuary. The question now on the lips of family members and friends is, who withdrew the money from the deceased’s savings account?

Sunday Vanguard spoke with the younger brother of the deceased, Kenneth.

Mystery as ‘murdered teacher withdraws money from bank account’

zDaniel Akhidi...

Puzzle over assassination

Family tasks Edo police, seeks justice z

He narrated: “On that Sunday morning, we went to church together. When the service was over, I came back home and met my brother at his sitting room. He said we should go to a meeting together but I said I won’t go but later I changed my mind. After the meeting, he asked me to follow him to Ekpoma where he went to drop his daughter.

I did not want to go because I wanted to go and see a friend, but later I escorted him and we came back to Uromi at about 6:30p.m”.

The brother continued: “He told me he would still go back to town as he needed to do something. But I saw my friend about seven poles away from our house and I joined him.

My brother went back to town while I went to another friend’s place. But I found out that my friend whom I went to see was not at home, I called him and he said I should meet

,

Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City

I saw a lot of people in our house and before I got home they said they had rushed him to the hospital. I headed to hospital but before I got there they said my brother was dead. I was told the assailants followed him and dragged him out of his car.

“While my brother was shouting, the wife rushed out but the assailants said they should go in or they will shoot. They took his SUV and shot him. While they were rushing him to hospital, the children picked his hand set, but I later collected it from them.

“The phone was with me.

When the IPO came to the house, he wanted to take statement. He asked if I knew the last call he made, so I

So I told the IPO, ‘look at the alert, my brother that is already dead at the mortuary is withdrawing money’

him at one of our friends place who was ill. But I was reluctant to go because I was not carrying my car; besides it was already too late.

“However, I had to go back home to pick my car since the person was ill and we needed to go and visit him. After I took my car, I went to meet my friend. While I was there, my phone rang and it was my brother’s wife. She was shouting and crying; so I rushed back home. I told my friends I needed to go home because the way my brother ’s wife called was very unusual. I tried to make calls and I was told that my brother was shot.

,

brought the phone and immediately an alert came in from Unity Bank. Twenty thousand Naira was debited from his account on the 6th of August 2012 at 11:09a.m. And we found out that the withdrawer was my brother. “So I told the IPO, ‘look at the alert, my brother that is already dead at the mortuary is withdrawing money. “So we rushed to the bank and met the Manager of the bank.

They brought his profile and the Manager asked for the cashier who did the transaction. We found out that the signature was forged because the signature they signed was dif-

ferent from the one in the computer. The cashier is from our community and we asked him how come he saw the name he did not confirm because he knows our family. “People started blaming him for not confirming the signature. So the IPO said he should come and see the DPO. But the Manager said the cashier could not come to the police until he balanced his account.

T

he next day, the cashier was arrested. The police assured us that they will investigate the matter but up till now we don’t know what is happening. We learnt they arrested one person at Ubiaja but we also heard he has been released. The cashier they arrested was taken to the State CID but up till now they have not told us what is happening.

“All we want to know is who killed my brother and why was he killed? The police should look into the matter so that the people who killed my brother will be brought to book. I am particularly worried because my brother did not have problem with any body. We lived in the same house, we were together through out that

day, just about an hour that I left him, that was when they killed him. We were always communicating so there was nothing he willnot tell me.”

Also speaking to Sunday Vanguard on the issue, one of the leaders of the NUT in the council, Mrs Ibadin, lamented that the police were yet to come up with a clue on the killers and appealed that ‘this must not be another murder that will be swept under the carpet”. He appealed to the Edo State Commissioner of Police to find the killers because “our chairman was a very peaceful man. We don’t know the wicked people who have done this but we want them exposed”.

Meanwhile, the police concluded autopsy on the deceased on Thursday and gave clearance for burial.

Daniel was buried on Friday but the family called for investigation. Efforts to get the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Anthony Airhioworo, to comment on the murder proved abortive as he informed Sunday Vanguard that he was in a meeting.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

Country News

Lucky escape from ‘one chance’ horror! *But for providence, a mother of two, kidnapped in Abuja, may have been killed.

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

Traffic chaos to end soon? Inset: Ipaye

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

U

nlike his previous brief ings on his stewardship in Lagos State, where he reeled out his programmes and achievements, Governor Raji Fashola, SAN, took another step when he gave account of his activities in the last 1, 900 days.

Penultimate Friday, the Lagos State chief helmsman delegated members of the state executive to meet with Lagosians across the three senatorial districts of the state to inform them of the government’s activities as well as get feedback on government’s actions.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who led a team of the state exco and stakeholders to Lagos Central Senatorial District’s town hall meeting held at City Hall, dwelt on the Lagos Traffic Law 2012, which he said was to bring back the old glory of road traffic which “had eluded the state due to bad driving habits of some road users”.

Ipaye, who enumerated the achievements recorded by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the Fashola administration, noted that Lagos State Traffic Law 2012 is to regulate and bring back decency into traffic operations in the state.

According to the commissioner, who was one of the brains behind the new law which amended the old traffic laws, the law was conceptu-

How not to be a victim of Lagos Traffic Law, by Ipaye, Attorney General *’If you are pregnant or you are a nursing mother, stay away from Okada’ alized to ensure safety and security of road users as well as inculcate in the people a better traffic culture.

Though tongues had wagged on the criminalization of certain sections of the law which put some measures in place to standardize transportation in the state, he explained that it was not meant to punish but engender cooperation from road users for an enabling road traffic culture.

The Attorney-General, while responding to questions on what constituted offence under the new traffic law, gave conditions under which drivers caught eating behind the steering could be liable under the new Lagos State Traffic Law. Ipaye explained that a driver would not be arrested ordinarily for drinking and eating snacks while driving. He said,”If a driver is caught eating with the pack of food on his or her lap while driving, he is liable and will be arrested.”

The Attorney General added: “Smoking while driving, using phones are dangerous, particularly if you are caught doing things that can cause danger to other road users, you will be liable and arrested”.

He warned that Okada riders caught carrying pregnant women or a woman backing a child are liable under the new traffic law and will be arrested.

The commissioner enunciated that the new traffic law was put in place for the safety of the people on the high ways, adding that, very soon, government will put road signs

in appropriate places along the highways in the state “so that people would know where to follow and what they should not do”.

Ipaye disclosed that projects numbering 22 had been executed by the Fashola administration in the state judiciary including renovation, construction of new Magistrate Courts and High Courts, judges quarters, provision of court room furniture among others to create a conducive atmosphere for dispensation of justice.

He said that the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, inaugurated by the governor, was mandated to keep under review all existing laws of the state and make recommendations for the review or amendment of any of them appropriately and in conformity with present day realities.

The Attorney General noted that Lagos, being a mega city, is exposed to criminality and the state has therefore put in place laws to protect lives and properties.

He disclosed that the administration has been able to sustain the “greening programme” which received widespread condemnation at inception; which he said “has improved the aesthetic of our environment and has equally contributed to the global war against climate change”.

The commissioner stated that the state government yielded to early warnings about high prospects of flooding and embarked on maintenance of primary channels, secondary and tertiary drains on Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Eti-Osa, Surulere and Apapa.

he Society Against Pros titution and Child Labour in Nigeria, SAP-CLN, rescued a petty trader, Bukky Afolabi, from a group of suspected kidnappers in Abuja in a taxi when three men in the vehicle attempted to abduct her.

Bukky, unknowing to her, boarded a ‘one chance’ taxi at Jabi District, Abuja but luck ran out on the men who were sighted by a SAP-CLN team who chased the taxi to a halt and rushed Afolabi to hospital, unconscious.

It took doctors at the hospital eight hours to revive the victim, a mother of two trading in herbs popularly called agbo at the Utako Park, Abuja.

The taxi had no registration number plate but carried the side code of the Federal Capital Territory Administration issued by the Road Traffic Service Department of the Administration.

Mrs Grace Adoge, coordinator of SAP-CLN, said that, while her men were on a routine patrol around Jabi, they noticed a woman being held by the neck in the back of a taxi while another pointed a pistol at her.

“The patrol team called the office to alert us of their position and situation but trailed the taxi to a point where it was intercepted by an SAP-CLN bus. On sighting the mobile police man attached to the team, the taxi driver sped off,” Adoge said.

The SAP-CLN team chased the taxi through Mike Akhigbe Way. During the chase, the taxi driver lost control and crashed into the fence of the Jabi police barrack on Emmanuel Adiele Street.

According to Grace, her team reported to her that all three occupants of the taxi ran out except the woman who was unconscious. She was rescued and taken to the Gwarimpa General Hospital for treatment.

When she regained consciousness, the victim said she boarded a taxi from Utako to Karimo on her way back home after the day’s business when suddenly she was asked by the other occupants of the taxi to submit all valuables in her possession.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 27

Country News

By Bilesanmi Olalekan

M

rs Omotunde Lawson is the new president of Rotary Lagos West. In this interview, she dismisses the notion that Rotary Club is only for the rich.She also speaks on the Rotary incubator project at a Lagos hospital How valid is the notion that if you are not rich you cannot be a Rotarian.

That is not true. The club is for people who are gainfully employed, you must be a professional and have a means of livelihood because you must be able to afford your annual dues; after your dues, whatever you then put down is voluntary. The older you became in the club to club. The more you are in a club, the less the dues. There are some paying N25,000 annually, while some pay as much as between N50,000 and N100,000.

How did you become a Rotarian?

It all started where I used to work. I was the principal of a senior school which compound also housed a junior school. I discovered that many good things were happening in the junior school like refurbishment of the library, the sick bay and when I go to other schools, it is also the same. So I began to wonder that Rotary could also

‘Rotary and the baby incubator at Lagos hospital’

Mrs Omotunde Lawson help to do something in my school and, at the same time, I too could join them in rendering the kind of services they are rendering to the society. That was how I joined five years ago.

So I would say I was motivated to join them because of the services they render to the society.

So within five you rose to become its president?

Everything depends on what you put into your club. As soon I joined the club, because I happen to be somebody that where ever I find myself, I make sure I do whatever I am giving satisfactorily. Within one year, I became the director of one of the most sensitive departments – administration. I did it effectively. After that, every year, I had one particular department that I was heading. By the time I was four years in the club, I was elected as president-nominee, because in Rotary, there are procedures, so I became president-nominee first before becoming the president now.

What programmes are you

executing during this period of your tenure?

There is actually six main areas of focus of the Rotary International. The areas of focus address humanity in general: Peace, conflict prevention and resolution, maternal and child health education and economic empowerment, water sanitation, disease prevention and treatment. Under the disease prevention and treatment, there is going to be vision advocacy and intervention in children.We have requests about having water boreholes in schools. And as far as sanitation is concerned, we intend to put two big branded waste bins at strategic places within our locality so that people can dump their refuse instead of dumping it on the road. We intend to put bill boards in four selected schools. We want to demonstrate the importance of hand washing.

In basic education and literacy , we are in the process of awarding scholarship to iden-

tified indegent students in primary schools in Amuwo Odofin Education District. We are providing an incubator to Ajeromi-Ifelodun General Hospital to surmount the challenges faced on premature babies.

How do you fund the projects?

Before the commencement of any Rotary year, the club membership comes together and prepares a budget to set goals.

Again it is not about how much you spent or raised, so it is not the sum of money you need for the project that matters but addressing it. In education literacy for example,we are not going to buy the books, all we need do is write the publishers to donate books to us. Like the incubator, we were able to get one through the district, though we paid some money.

An incubator presently costs about N2 million but the district in partnership with another district got new incubators and we quickly acquired one for N100,000.

‘For four years, I got stuck with a drunkard, quarrelsome and adulterous wife’

By Adeola Adenuga and Oluwatobiloba Adeyemi

Pastor laments:

Rich church members ‘snatched’ my wife

biloba Adeyemi

By Adeola Adenuga and Oluwato

n men in his church, and that whe pas tor, Sam uel Oy edo tun , he confronted her, she threatened stu nne d an Ake Cu sto ma ry to dea l wit h him ruth less ly. The n he Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State whe efforts to stop to plaintiff said that all ried mar got e hav ‘t ldn wou he said in the habit - her from continuing his wife, Lydia, if he knew the wom proved abortive. He therefore urged an was not responsible. the marriage him the court to dissolve Oyedotun said his wife made y of the chiltod cus him nt they and gra n whe us gio reli was ‘ she eve beli 37-year-old womdren dren. Though the met, until after she bore two chil gations levelled in- an denied the alle for him and he discovered she band, she told hus the also against her by to accept the dulged in drinking beer and was dy rea was she rt the cou . ous lter adu band was ada- divorce since her hus This, according to him, gives seri mant. Lyndia said it was not the end dly ous concern to the extent that he har y of road for her. the ore bef do to d use d he as prayed The respondent however pleade wif e. and d ban hus of y e tod am cus bec her an that the court grant The pastor said he met Lydia in lbad e she knew that aus bec n dre chil the le the and they got married legally whi would be maksed the money Samuel bles is , him to ing ord union, acc would not be rch chu the ing from n. dre chil five with eep of the childe- enough for the upk He added that what informed his case was adthe t he dren. Meanwhile, ring. cision to sue for divorce was tha hea her furt rich journed for found that she was dating some

A

M

r. Simpa Okomayi, passion ately, urged an Agege Grade A Customary Court to dissolve his marriage to his wife, Margaret, over allegation of flirting around with young lovers.

Simpa, who claimed to have met his wife in 2009, and got married according to customs and tradition, however, said he began to lose interest in the relationship when he discovered that Margaret always patronised a beer parlour in the neighbourhood where she smoked and drank beer like water.

He added that efforts to discourage his wife from indulging in the habits prove abortive.

According to him, they lived in harmony after they got married, but their relationship suddenly went sour when his wife started keeping late nights.

“Since Margaret indulged in the bad habits, my children have been at the receiving end, because I always met them sleeping on bare floor whenever I returned from office,” he lamented. Simpa said that he, on several occasions, counted money to the tune of N50,000, and gave his wife to start a trade, but Margaret always ran the business down.

The petitioner said he was baffled that Margaret and his mother lived like cat and mouse, adding that his

wife always abused the mother to the extent that she almost slapped the old woman during an argument.

He, therefore, pleaded that the court should dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of the children for proper care. In her defence, Margaret denied the allegations and told the court that, after she got married, Simpa did not do the necessary things expected of him, adding that barely three days after she moved in, the mother-in-law picked quarrel with her, and told her that she had warned her son against getting married to a Calabar girl.

The respondent added that the mother-in-law was a thorn in her flesh and vowed to send her packing. “ I don`t know why she hates me with passion despite the fact that I always respect her, and as well hold her in high esteem”, she said.

Margaret pleaded that the court should not dissolve the marriage, because she had been making efforts to reconcile with her husband.

Meanwhile, the court president, Mr. Emmaunel Shokunle, adjourned the case till September 4.

28 —SUNDAY, Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

With Ayo Onikoyi

08033286159

Bisi A woniyi glo ws @ 50 Aw glows

I

t was meant to be a night to celebrate Bisi Awoniyi, daughter of the late chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Sunday Awoniyi, at 50 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos penultimate Friday, but it turned out to be a high-profile night of fun.

Family members, friends and associates who came had a night of good music, good food and assorted drinks. Here are some of the dignitaries at the event. Photo: Sola Oyelese.

Mr Richard Abebe-Awoniyi, dancing with his mum, Bisi Awoniyi.

Madam Florence Awoniyi, celebrant’s mother (2nd left), Mr Richard Abebe-Awoniyi, Bisi Awoniyi,celebrant, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, Deputy Governor, Kogi State and wife, Tokunbo, Kehinde Awoniyi and some guests

L-R:Mrs G. O. Adeoye, Mrs F. E. Awoniyi and Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd)

L-R: Big Chi Ngonad,i Mr and Mrs Peter Arigbe with Bisi Awoniyi

L-R:Tokunbo Onagoruwa and Mrs Ibilola Adekola

L-R:Titilola Joseph and Dr Mrs B. Onayega

L-R:Modele Sharafa-Yusuf and Amina Sheidu

L-R:Dr Wale Babalakin with Mr Yomi Awoniyi.

L-R:Senator Tola Animashaun, Mr Leke Akinsanya and Mr Patrick Nwani

L-R:Chinyere Okonkwo, Mrs P. Arigbe, Bisi Awoniyi and Big Chi Ngonadi

L-R:Mrs Tokunbo Awoniyi, wife of Dep. Gov of Kogi state, Bisi Awoniyi and Rev. Mrs Sileola Awoniyi

L-R:Mr Eniola Bello, MD, Thisday, Bisi Awoniyi, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha and Mr Jide Ekundayo

SUNDAY, Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012 —29

With Ayo Onikoyi

08033286159

Bisi A woniyi glo ws @ 50 Aw glows

L-R: Mr Andrew Oru, Hon. Lanre Ope and Dr Wale Babalakin Reverend David Awoniyi and Rev (Mrs) Sileola Awoniyi

Dr Biodun Lawonu, SAN, with Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN

I

The celebrant, Bisi Awoniyi with her brother, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, Deputy Governor of Kogi State, cutting the birthday cake together

L-R:Mrs Laitan Awokoya, D Awoniyi, Bisi Awoniyi and Arc. M. Awokoya

L-R:Miss Taiye Awoniyi, Kehinde Awoniyi and Sola Awoniyi

Style as Winifred Ik ediashi w eds Oladele Oy esola Ikediashi weds Oyesola

t was a gathering of who’s who when former Miss Winifred Odimbu Ikediashi, daughter of Mr and Mrs Martin Ikediashi, said “I do” to Mr. Oladele Adetokunbo Oyesola, son of Chief and Mrs Tunde Oyesola, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church , Victoria Island. Reception was later held at KFA Event Centre, Lekki Expressway, Lagos. Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

L-R: Mr Martin Ikediashi, bride's dad; Amb. (Mrs) Yobo Oyesola, groom's mum; Mr and Mrs Oladele Oyesola, couple; Mrs Shade Ikediashi, bride's mum and Chief Tunde Oyesola, groom's dad

The couple, Mr and Mrs Oladele Adetokunbo Oyesola

L-R:Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Mr Frank Okonta and Chief (Dr) E I Onwudaby

L-R:Chief Ernest Shonekan, Amb. Gbenga Ashiru, Foreign Affairs Minister and his wife

The groom’s men with bridal train

PAGE 30—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 31

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

Life Is A Tragedy For Those Who Feel, And A Comedy For Those Who Think —JEAN DE LA

Ali Baba:

I had so many scattered dreams before comedy fell into place zMy uncle ejected me from home

because of late night life’

R

enowned comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Ak porobomerere, popularly known as Ali Baba, has come a long way. At a time when everyone thought it scornful to be addressed as a ‘comedian’ but would prefer the tag, ‘Master of Ceremony’, Ali Baba came up courageously and creatively, subsequently changing history by pioneering stand-up comedy.

22 years on, Ali Baba has continued to set the pace in comedy. He brought another dimension to the business when, at a recent event, he performed non-stop for six hours without repeating a joke. Interestingly, the Warri-born comedian possessed no remarkable comic trait as a child but only discovered his talent half way into obtaining his degree in religious studies & philosophy at the then Bendel State University. He is our guest today.

Do you really see yourself as the god-father of Nigerian comedy?

I don’t know what the criterion for qualifying somebody to be a god-father is, but I do know that I was one of the people who started comedy in Nigeria, alongside Mohammed Danjuma, Ibokoko, Basoj, Agoma, Alarm Blow, and a few others. We were the frontliners, and quite a number of people believe we set the pace. So, I would say being a god-father is relative.

But it is often said that you started stand-up comedy in Nigeria?

Yes. I started stand-up comedy in Ekpoma in 1987. As I did it, a few other people began to emulate me. Some were practising it on the side, and they felt we could go into it fully by forming a formidable

force. We gradually broke into corporate, religious, political, military and so many other institutions.

We gradually became acceptable as people saw our different varieties. Actually, what existed hitherto were simply slightly funny people who served as Master of Ceremonies- MCs. Though I started comedy in school, I had to relocate to Lagos in 1990 in search of greener pasture like many would say. I chose Lagos because I noted that all the schools in Edo State then, even in the University of Port Harcourt, would at most pay N500 per show.

Meanwhile, Therapy students of LUTH could pay N1000; the clubs in the University of Lagos paid N1,200 and YABATECH students paid up to N1,000 per show. I therefore figured that Lagos was a better place for me. At the time I came to Lagos, I was already charging N1,000, N2,000 per show.

Was your first pay quite impressive?

My first performance was by accident, and I got paid about N50. That was around 1987, and my allowance from home was around N100, N120.

From earning N50 to N100 per show, for making people laugh, I reasoned that comedy could fetch me serious money if well packaged. I did a show in the University of Benin that gave me N600. So, I figured that, if I could earn that kind of money within a month, and I do up to five events, it meant that if I could do it more professionally, I would earn more money.

After you graduated, did you have to work in any paidemployment?

Yes I did. I worked in various corporate organisations, including an advertising

agency. I was as well doing comedy at this time.

H o w e v e r, comedy was so strong. What I was earning in the company was like 10% of what I could earn from a major gig. So, I needed to begin to develop and market myself so I could increase what I earned from comedy, instead of waiting for 30 days for my monthly salary from my employer. Along the line, I did some shows with the Charley Boy Show. I also did Friday Night Life, and Night Train with Bisi Olatilo on the NTA network. I later had to resign my employment to be able to concentrate on comedy. I used every platform that I performed at as a promotion for myself, and my network soon began to expand through referrals and appreciations. I also promoted myself by doing adverts in papers, billboards, car stickers, and ra-

,

By Gift Gabriel

tion in the comedy business in Nigeria.

While growing up, were you known for comic prowess?

Not at all! I didn’t even plan to become a comedian; it happened by accident. As a child, I had scattered dreams. I wanted to be a military man because my dad was a military man, I wanted to be a formular one driver because I used to see a lot of drivers in Volkswagen at that time, I wanted to be a pilot, I wanted to be an athlete and because of Festac’77, I wanted to be an actor. I had so many scat-

My first performance was by accident, and I got paid about N50. That was around 1987, and my allowance from home was around N100, N120

dio jingles. Actually, by 1998, I had registered my company, Ali Baba Hiccupurathird.

It was in the same year that I erected three billboards in strategic locations in LagosOzumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island; Osborne Road, Ikoyi; and Marina. I actually paid for two years for each of the billboards, and they carried a simple message, ‘Ali Baba — Being Funny is Serious Business.’

That triggered the transforma-

,

tered dreams, but comedy just fell into place.

So, how did your family react to your chosen “career”?

My family, especially my dad, didn’t like it at all. He had wanted me to switch to law in my second year so I would become a lawyer. Even my uncle whom I lived with at 1004 Flats when I relocated to Lagos threw me out of his apartment because of com-

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see. - Arthur Schopenhauer

edy, simply because he felt I would be a bad influence on the children in the house because of my late night life.

Eventually, I took shelter at the Lagos Bar Beach with a friend who was living on the beach. Then, we had huts where we slept at nights.

How prosperous would you say comedy has made you?

To me, a job is supposed to be able to put food on your table, provide shelter, fame and recognition(if possible), take care of your future, give you job satisfaction and then enable you to empower some other people. Comedy has done all of that for me! As a matter of fact, coming from nowhere to where I am today is one of the sweetest things in my life; my dad is a retired soldier man and my mum is a farmer.

But do you know people now see comedy as a line for never-do-wells?

That’s not true. Okey Bakassi is an engineer, Teju Babyface is a graduate of insurance, Julius Agwu is a graduate of theatre arts, Tee A is a graduate, I’m a graduate, Lepacious Bose is a lawyer, Princess is a graduate, including several others. In every profession, there are always different categories of people.

The truth however is that educational qualification is not a hindrance to anyone in the line of comedy. Some of us are also from very good homes.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 33

Several aspects of the 1999 Constitution are injurious to women — Mma Odi Ms.Mma Odi is the Executive Director for Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation in the vanguard of promoting the rights of women in Nigeria and Africa. Baobab is the Secretariat for the Nigerian NGO-CEDAW Coalition, a coalition established in 1997 to give a voice to the issues of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW) in Nigeria. Here, Mma Odi who is a veteran in gender activism, bares her mind on gender concerns in the 1999 Constitution proposed for review by the National Assembly. Hear her:

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

A

CTUALLY, the Nigerian NGOCEDAW Coalition also responded to the call for memoranda from the Senate Committee on the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

Being the voice of women in Nigeria, the coalition is recommending that the Constitution be re-drafted to be more gender-sensitive because that’s the only way it can be called ‘the peoples’ Constitution’.

Language of the Constitution First and foremost, it should be re-drafted to have a more gender-neutral language.

We recommend that in any provisions relating to men and women, the masculine and feminine pronoun should be used.

This will make room for a peoples’ constitution wherein everyone is involved.

This will also remove the ambiguity in understanding and interpreting the constitution as it relates to gender. “He”, “him” and “his” should be substituted to read “He or She”, “Him or Her” and “His or Hers” where appropriate.

Chapter 1(Section 1(3)) shows that the provision preserves equal status for men and women only in relation to law but does not extend the protection to practice.

Although the section mentions “laws” and “provisions” inconsistent with the Constitution it omits “practices”. There still exists in Nigeria practices that are unjust to women. Examples include but not limited to – obnoxious widowhood practices, harmful traditional practices, etc.

We therefore recommend that the amendment should read: “If any other law, practice or provision is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other laws, practice or provision shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void”.

Gross gender imbalance Chapter II captures the essence of a state and basic concerns of Nigerian women.

Most gender based social-economic rights are encompassed in this chapter. This will make for the full actualisation of women’s rights and make life more meaningful to the average Nigerian woman. We recommend that the provisions of this chapter be made justiciable.

Chapter 14(3) shows that though the federal character gives room for quota systems in our institutions and agencies, there is a gross gender imbalance tilting in favour of men. We recommend that the section be amended to include gender balance.

Section 14(4) should also be amended to read: “The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to

recognise the political, religious and gender diversity of the people within its area of authority…”

Section 15(2) should be amended to include the prohibition of discrimination on the basis on gender, disability, age, health, status and marital status.

Section 26(2) (a) violates the preamble of the Constitution which provides equality for all persons and should be amended to grant equal eligibility for citizenship to the foreign spouses of Nigerian women.

We therefore request the amendment to read: “the provisions of this section shall apply to –(a) any man or woman who is or has been married to a citizen of

We therefore recommend that the amendment should read: “If any other law, practice or provision is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other laws, practice or provision shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void”.

Nigeria”.

Also, Section 42 which talks about the right to freedom from discrimination should be amended to widen the categories of persons to be free from discrimination. Also, the context in which discrimination can occur should be extended to include the private as well as the public sphere.

Provision of affirmative action in the Constitution HERE is also an urgent need for the provision of affirmative action in the constitution. A section to read“Notwithstanding the provision of Section 42, Affirmative Action of not less than 40% shall be reserved for women in spheres of societal life for a period not less than

T

Mma Odi 15 years. This shall be subject to review and assessment by the Equal Opportunity Commission as provided by the relevant section of this constitution”.

Women should have the right to affirmative action for the purpose of redressing the imbalances created by history, tradition or custom. This is currently practiced in countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, SouthAfrica, etc. Nigeria as the giant of Africa ought to set the pace while others follow.

Section 38 requires an additional subsection to make reference to freedom for married women to choose their own religion and the freedom from the obligation or force to convert to their husband’s religion.

Section on family life Also, the section on family life should be added to include the right of men and women aged eighteen and above, to marry, have a family, and also are entitled to equal rights during, marriage and at its dissolution.

This section should also state that the legislature shall make appropriate laws for the protection of the rights or widows and widowers to inherit the property of their deceased spouses and to enjoy parental rights over their children.

It should also state that marriage shall be entered into with the consent of the man and the woman intending to marry. Importantly, it should read that it is the right of parents to bringup their children irrespective of marital status.

Section on women’s rights and equality of sexes There is need for a section on women’s rights and equality of sexes which would include that special care must be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period before and after child-birth. It should also state that working mothers be accorded paid leave. It should include the provision of facilities in work and public places for the care of children below school-going age to enable women, who have the traditional care of children, to realise their full potentials.

Among other things which are already stated in our memorandum sent to the senate committee, this section should state that a spouse shall not be deprived of a reasonable provision out of the estate of a spouse whether or not the spouse died having made a will.

The National Assembly shall, as soon as practicable after the coming into force of this Constitution, enact legislation regulating the property rights of spouses.

With a view to achieving full realisation of the rights referred to in Subsection (2) of this section on women’s rights and equality of sexes, it should be stated that spouses shall have equal access to property jointly acquired during marriage, and assets which are jointly acquired during marriage shall be distributed equitably between the spouses upon dissolution of the marriage.

Items to be removed from the Constitution A number of items need to be removed from the constitution, and these include Section 29(4)(b) which grants an underage girl who has been married the ability to revoke her citizen even though she has not attained the legal age of maturity which is 18 years.

Section 28 of the constitution should be expunged from the constitution to allow Nigerians who wish to acquire dual citizenship to do so. Among other things which we actually included in our memorandum, the Federal Character Commission contained in S153(1)(C) should be substituted with an Equal Opportunity Commission with an expanded mandate to accommodate the interest of all Nigerians including women, youths, the aged, the disabled, ethnic minorities and other special interest groups. It should be entrenched as an independent commission in the Constitution with certain functions which are also contained in the Nigerian NGO-CEDAW Coalition’s memorandum sent to the senate committee.

Lastly, the subsection endorsing the Land Use Act in Section 315 should be removed unless the act is amended.

This is because the Act is injurious to women’s rights and equal status.

C M Y K

PAGE 34 — SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

Umar A. Manko

EXCLUSIVE

Cynthia’s killers for trial very soon —by Manko, Lagos CP zSays model strengthens

case against them

z How we have been policing Lagos’ z’Explains inspiration officers

draw from IG Abubakar

W

hen you meet a good man, you know. Like his Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, the man at the helm of affairs at the Lagos State Police Command, Umar A. Manko, radiates goodness.

He was on his way out for a meeting when Emma Nnadozie, Vanguard’s Group Crime Editor, breezed into his office with this writer.

“CP, today is your meeting?, Nnadozie asked.

“Yes Emma”, the CP replied.

“Oga, you have to meet my Sunday Editor who has been on my neck since the arrest of those two suspects in Cynthia’s case”, Nnadozie pointed out.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Manko moved out of his seat, gave a hand shake and said, “My dear editor, I hope this would be brief ”, to which he got an affirmative response.

And so, this interview had to be hurriedly done.

In a country where morale can easily be drowned in a cacophony of angst from negative perception of the image of the police, it should be a public service engagement to celebrate tokens of success.

Manko spoke of how his men were able to trace the identity of Cynthia Osokogu and how the suspects were arrested – there were some strategies revealed and not meant for print.

But believe it, the Nigeria Police has engaged a paradigm shift for the better. Excerpts:

Until recently, Nigerians had lost faith in the police.

But the efforts of your men during the week in the Cynthia Osokogu case represent a re-birth of sorts. How were you able to trace an individual without any visible identification element?

For every crime committed there must be a trace and that is where you have the difference between detectives and crack detectives. For every crime, there is always an avenue to trace, so we capitalized on that number that they used and so many other things which I would not want to reveal and we were able to get result.

They called back with a number. They said there was a body in the hotel room and that the hotelier should go and throw the body away.

cessfully, then you are satisfied.

The other lady said she’s a model and that she saw the name and the face of the man on television and so decided to come out to speak. She has identified the man and that is going to help our case the more, though the two suspects confessed to have killed that lady.

This is another person coming out to say they did that same thing to her. That would add to the facts for us in prosecuting the case.

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By Jide Ajani

I do not allow cases to be swept under the carpet.

When I came in, some people asked me what would happen to the policeman who killed somebody at Pen Cinema area during the protests in January and some people were already saying because it involved an ASP nothing would happen.

As far as I am concerned, I do not know how to connive with any criminal.

And I will not learn it at old age now.

Once I’m satisfied that a case has been thoroughly investigated, I will go to court.

This one in question, very soon, very very soon, we are going to present them in court and let the court do its own part of the process.

We are not going to keep quiet and let people who commit crimes, how much more people who kill others, go free. We will charge them to court very very soon

We are not going to keep quiet and let people who commit crimes, how much more people who kill others, go free. We will charge them to court very very soon

I n t e r e s t i n g l y, some other persons have come out to disclose that they had been victims of these same men?

What sense does it give you that your effort is already having multiplier effects?

The satisfaction of every policeman is that he is able to contain crime and stop it from happening. If it happens, the next thing is for you to unravel, investigate and get a successful outcome. When you detect a crime and you have the facts to prosecute it suc-

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When are these two guys likely to go to court because there have been cases that people just see the men paraded and we never hear of what became of the suspects or the case?

Well, since I came here, in fact, you can find out from those who know me from other places where I have served,

What specific things would you tell the citizens…?

I have always maintained that crime does not have boundaries and does not know any tribe. The people should know that the police they are seeing today are different from the one they used to know.

Apart from the new leadership, the police are changing everyday with time. A time there was when you had a police force that was made up of people regarded as uneducated (in quotes). Today, there is hardly any discipline that you do not have policemen.

Challenges are there but I think the police are doing a lot to meet these challenges.

There is this new spirit of enthusiasm in the force….

Yes, the new Inspector General, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, that you all know, is full of ideas and he is the type that is determined to change the face of the police and that is also why those of us in the force have keyed into that paradigm.

I was coming to the issue of the new IGP. When you interface his persona against the new paradigm, what inspirations do you draw?

Some of us have known him for some time and I’ve always believed, even before now, that if there is anything new and progressive that would happen in the police, it may have to wait until his tenure as IG – and this is not about eye service or anything; it is there for all to see. His is leadership that is progressive.

Many of us have been following his foot steps and I

Continues on page 35

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012— PAGE 35

Manko...If I am not going to sleep in my house by 2am, I do not see why a DPO should sleep in his house by 2am. Pix By Kehinde Gbadamosi

‘How we have been policing Lagos’ Continued from page 34

How have you been coping with the challenges of policing a state like Lagos?

The challenges are there. But some of us are not very new here.

I came in at a different level but, even then, most of these things have to stop at my table but one good thing about human nature is the ability to adapt, look at where there are deficiencies and see how you can meet up, design your strategies right and you would surmount some of those challenges.

One thing that must be said is that you can never employ conventional means of policing and expect it to work in a place like Lagos. How would you go about it? Where would you start that from?

When new challenges come, you device a means of tackling those new challenges or issues on a daily basis.

ing to do an unscheduled inspection and if he’s not there he would have to explain to me why he has gone to sleep while I am still moving about to secure the state.

As a CP, you would have experienced a lot of things in the course of your duty.

Which single most important thing would you want to remember, that still gives you goose pimple whenever you remember?

Well, there are many of them

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think, and I want to say it boldly, that there is no police officer in Nigeria today that I know that can point to that man and say he has compromised or has compelled him to compromise or that he had this adverse issue. You can see it clearly for the short period that he has stayed, the tremendous improvements in the police force, such that even those who don’t like the police can attest to the fact that the force is changing.

But you would agree with me that you cannot be every where at the same time in a state like Lagos or any other state for that matter. That brings us to the issue of your men. How do you now ensure that they stay within acceptable conduct?

No individual can be every where at the same time as you pointed out.

That is why you have Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, and Area Commanders and they have officers attached to them.

What is expected from me here and other principal officers at the headquarters is to ensure that if we design policies or strategies, we must supervise those strategies as they are being implemented and that is what we have been doing.

In an organization, the leadership matters and I am ready and prepared to lead by example as the IG is leading by example – that is what we are doing.

If I am not going to sleep in my house by 2 a.m., I do not see why a DPO should sleep in his house by 2 a.m..

It is not possible because he might not know that when I leave my house, his office might be the place I am com-

a few of us stood our ground that we would not be compromised.

The general impression that time was that once you are posted to GID, it was an avenue for you to go and make your own money because of what was in vogue at that time. I was not prepared to do that and in fact I ran into many troubles because of that.

today from the premises of the military to internal security.

And the agency trained to fight crime and criminality internally is the police and so we are more vulnerable to death in the course of our duty.

For someone who has worked for 28 years as a policeman, I can tell you clearly that I have overcome some of these hazards by the grace of God.

Troubles, how?

You know when you are trying to do things rightly any where, you would find some people who would not want it to move in that direction.

Looking back and looking ahead, what would you say has been your major achievement and what plans do you have for the future?

By the time I leave, I want to be judged by you people if I’ve done well.

However, my greatest desire is to ensure that by the time I leave, I want to leave behind a team that must be corruption free.

I will insist on that.

I will insist that the police eschew all forms of brutality against the people of Lagos State that they are meant to serve.

I will insist that we have inter-agency cooperation and try as much as we can to see that policemen and other agencies do not get into unnecessary conflicts.

I will also want to leave behind a better police command because that is the aspiration of the IG. I will do that to the best of my knowledge and ability.

In an organization, the leadership matters and I am ready and prepared to lead by example as the IG is leading by example – that is what we are doing.

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and, as I said, I worked in Lagos before. Before I left in 1998, I was OC General Investigation Department, GID. And of course you people knew what GID was at that time.

That was the era of 419. But some of us felt that we would never belong. There were many cases of 419 at that time and these boys were carrying money up and down looking for people to compromise but

You talked about compromise. Compromise from who?

(Laughter) That is a general statement any way (laughter again) But after all said and done, I am here now as a CP. That is reward for hard and diligent work as blessed by the Almighty God. This job is full of hazards, there would have been times you narrowly escaped death?

Yes, I have always said that hazards are part of every profession and that is why some of our colleagues are killed in the line of duty.

The theatre of war has moved

PAGE 36—SUNDAY

VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

‘Apapa port to reach full capacity in 12months’ BY

Efforts by APM Terminals Apapa Limited, the concessionaire managing Apapa ports, Nigeria ’s largest container terminal to make Apapa one of the most productive container terminals in the world, are fast becoming a reality. The concession of Apapa Container Terminal (ACT) in 2006 has saved the country an estimated N32.2 billion annually, previously collected by shipping lines as congestion surcharge. The terminal now has state-of-theart crane simulator, which is the first of its kind in West and Central Africa. The terminal handles over 50 per cent of all imports to Nigeria , thereby making the facility important to trade in Nigeria and through Africa.

Massive infrastructure development, modern technology and measures put in place to transform the ports have attracted commendations from major stakeholders in the maritime sector. Recently, the co-ordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, and the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar visited the ports. The Managing Director of APMT, Mr. Dallas Hampton, speaks on the strategies mapped out by his company to make Apapa terminal the largest in West Africa within the next 12 months and one of the most productive in the world in the near future.

D

economy about $200 million annually in congestion fees alone. In the first two phases of the terminal development we invested in infrastructure, handling equipment, modernisation of the teminal’s IT hardware and the software systems. We installed state-ofthe-art crane simulator, which is the first of its kind in West and Central Africa . Investment

UDEME

URING the tour of the ports, we discovered that the terminal has been rapidly transformed. What measures did you put in place to modernise Nigeria ’s largest container terminal?

It was so difficult when we commenced operations, because we took over the ports six years ago from a very low state. The challenges facing the terminal were enormous.

The buildings and equipment were run down with trees growing up through the equipment in some areas.

There was significant vessel congestion, even as the dysfunctional stacking system posed a serious challenge.

The ports complex was characterised by numerous commercials activities and large human traffic within the complex, which hindered core ports operations and efficiency in the system. We started by restricting the movement of people from having access to the ports without any tangible business to do in the ports. All over the world, commercial activities are not allowed within the ports. So, we stopped buying and selling within the ports to ensure operational efficiency.

We embarked on acquisition

Mr. Dallas Hampton of new and modern equipment to increase capacity utilisation in the ports operations to enhance outputs maximisation. In that capacity, we have invested over $210million in automated processes and equipment in the last six years to ensure that the ports functions optimally.

The investment included

purchase of modern equipment as well as upgrading of the terminal to meet internationally acceptable standard, like what obtains in developed countries.

Can you give us the break down of investments in the ports with statistics in naira and kobo?

The capital investment in the project was carried out in a two-phased expansion programmes, which fast tracked operations and resulted in faster cargo clearance, cost effectiveness and corruption reduction at the ports. At present, vessel waiting time is down from over 28 days to less than 24 hours, thereby saving Nigeria ’s

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STORIES CLEMENT

building to ensure man-power development?

We make provision for regular training and retraining programmes to ensure increased productivity in the daily ports operations. For instance, we installed state-ofthe-art crane simulator in the terminal, which is the first of its kind in West and Central Africa , where we train our

We installed state-of-the-art crane simulator, which is the first of its kind in West and Central Africa

in the terminal is designed to improve efficiency with particular focus on berthing conditions, container pick-up trucks, yard performance, Customs, automated gate system, inland haulage and logistics.

The biggest contribution of APMT in Apapa has been health in the areas security of port users, security of cargo and safety, which is paramount in our operations. We ensure high level of professionalism in the business by maintaining effective safety culture, responsible for the substantial reduction in occupational hazards at the ports.

What is your company doing in the area of capacity

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employees to operate sophisticated Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Rubber-tired Gantry (RTG) cranes, without exposing them to risks of training on real equipment.

The staff are trained to handle ports tasks efficiently. Apapa terminal has the best simulators in the entire West Africa and people even send their staff here for training. The simulators and standard processes are put in place to ensure man-power development. Also, many of the investments are made to enhance transfer of technology and skills to Nigerians. For example, the RTG cranes acquired between 2007 and 2008 required intensive

training of operators. To ensure safety, we trace every movement as well as activity in the terminal. We have equipped every machinery with Vehicle-Mounted Terminal (VMT) and most of our employees now carry handheld devices and have received training on how to use them.

What is the capacity of your work-force?

Talking about our workforce, it would interest you to know that at APMT, we are keying fully into the local content policy of the Federal Government by engaging about 98 per cent Nigerians in the day to day operations in the terminal. For instance, the company has a work force of over 850 people and only 10 are expatriates.

The expatriates are important in the business to enhance technology transfer and technical-know-how. This has significantly increased efficiency in the system, as productivity in the ports has tripled in the last six years. As a result, the terminal now handles approximately about 50 per cent of all containers imported into the country.

What is APMT doing in the area of corporate social responsibility?

AMPT is involved in community development, donations to orphanages and equipment to numerous schools in Lagos . Our company offered scholars to over 50 students in Nigeria .

Others include rehabilitation of schools within Apapa area and donation of computers to schools among many others.

About 72 per cent of our total turnover at Apapa is recirculated back into the society, with 45 per cent directly going to the local community in form of procurement, salaries and taxes. We have created thousands of jobs in Lagos and other places in the country as a result of our operations in the terminal. More than 165 truckers also benefit from the termial’s operations.

‘CBN needs new techniques for monetary policy transmission’

P

OLICY makers in Nigeria and the entire West African subregion have been advised to use appropriate econometric modelling and forecasting techniques for policy analysis to understand how the economy works, in order to make short and long-term projections for policy options needed for sustainable development.

The Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Prof. Akpan Ekpo, gave this advice, during the ‘Regional course on econometric modelling and forecasting for policy analysis’, stressing that in terms of monetary policy, modelling and forecasting are key instruments in formulation/ implementation of policy actions.

He pointed out, “These techniques enable the central banks to have clear understanding of monetary transmission mechanisms in order to steer monetary policy to achieve set objectives. The central banks must therefore be

able to assess trends and developments in the domestic economy and external environment as well as the simulation and evaluation of the impact of monetary policy over the medium term.

Econometric modelling also plays a significant role in other areas of socio-economic policy analysis and helps to understand how policy measures modify the behaviour and relations among different economic agents within an economic system. If, for example, we want to assess the impact of agricultural market reforms at the farm level, we have to estimate farm level production functions in order to derive the impact of price changes on budget, using the appropriate parameters estimated.”

He continued, “The degree of uncertainty is probably greater in our countries than many other parts of the world, because our economies have been the subject of much less rigorous empirical research than economies elsewhere.

Clearly, this is not a satisfactory basis for making decisions, which affect the lives of

millions of our people. It is a problem, which affects policy making in many different areas of macro and micro economies, from monetary policy to public finance, to agricultural policy.

Econometric analysis can make valuable contribution to the understanding of policy

challenges in our economies, because it is the key research tool available for testing of hypotheses against the data, for establishing causal relationships and for the measurement of relationships posited by economic theory

From left: Mr Akinola Urewunmi Olapade, Managing Director, Afromedia Plc, Dr Onaolapo Soleye, Chairman, Afromedia and Mrs Ifetola Fadebiyi, Company’s Secretary, during the 46th Annual General Meeting of Afromedia Plc, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos . Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 37

By Emma Ujah,

Abuja Bureau Chief

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he Federal Ministry of Finance issued a statement clarifying the situation about the last payments made to marketers. The statement, signed by the Minister ’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicy, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, read: “The claim by some marketers that they have embarked on strike because the Federal Government has failed to pay

Abuja grounded! z7 days of anguish triggered by oil workers strike zNUPENG is unpatriotic —FG

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ESIDENTS of the Federal Capital City, Abuja, have, in the last one week, groaned under fuel scarcity, occasioned by the strike action embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, over alleged failure of the Federal Government to pay subsidy to oil marketers.

Although the issue of verification of subsidy payments between government and the fuel marketers has been in the public domain for several months, no one could have imagined that NUPENG or any other union, for that matter, would make subsidy payments a condition for moving fuel from depots to fuel station.

Abuja residents were therefore practically caught unawares by the strike which started penultimate week and continued last week in the city.

Tanker drivers did not only refuse to lift products from the Suleja Depot to Abuja, they also frustrated the sale of products at the fuel stations.

Consequently, in the first few days of the strike, some of the fuel stations that had stock closed shop in the day only to open at night for “black market” where they sold to their agents who in turn sold to motorists in containers at exorbitant prices.

At the end of the three days, a litre of petrol rose to between N250 and N 400, with the attendant risk of buying adulterated fuel. Those who could cough out such money had to abandon their vehicles.

The alternative was to travel to Nassarawa or Kaduna to fill one’s tank.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government refuted NUPENG’s claim that it was owing marketers for as much as seven months’ delivery.

Rather, it accused the union of working for oil marketers indicted by the Aig Imoukhuede Presidential Committee on the Review of Subsidy.

Abuja residents were therefore practically caught unawares by the strike which started penultimate week and continued last week in the city

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them for fuel imports is not accurate.

“The true position is that the Federal Government has been meeting its obligations to oil marketers in respect of all legitimate claims.

“For instance, between April and May 2012, Batches D/12 and E/12 involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17 billion were fully settled through the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes and other relevant

documentation.

“In addition, since the directive by the Coordinating Minister to the DMO to continue payments of all verified claims, N25.6 billion worth of claims have been fully settled with the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes.

I

n all, between April and August this year, in respect of 2012 PMS claims, Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.666 billion have been issued to 31 oil marketers.

“However, the claims by marketers who have been recommended for further investigation by the Aig-Imoukhuede Presidential Committee have not been paid.

“Payments or sanctions to this category of marketers will be determined by the outcome of investigations.

“Against this background, it is clear that the strike was instigated mainly by marketers who were indicted by the AigImoukhuede Committee which investigated fuel subsidy payments.

“Their obvious intention is to blackmail the Federal Government in order to escape sanctions for the crimes they have committed.

“Nigerians should not be deceived by their antics.

“Such tactics will not succeed because the Federal Government is determined to ensure that persons and organisations which did the wrong things do not get away with wrong actions and wrong behaviour.

“As we have communicated severally in the last few months, payment of marketers whose claims have been verified will continue to go on in a consistent and structured way which protects the best interests of the country.

A

ll marketers who have genuine issues to raise regarding their claims are encouraged to come forward for discussions or clarifications”.

As a follow up, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

herself, accused NUPENG of being anti-Nigerians by taking sides with oil marketing companies who had been indicted by the Imoukhuede committee.

Her words, “”NUPENG is anti-Nigerians. NUPENG is siding with the wrong people.

There is no reason for NUPENG to hold Nigerians to ransom on behalf of people who have taking public money for fuel they did not supply.”

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konjo-Iweala, who has been meeting several stakeholders in the oil industry, said that NUPENG was working for the interests of corrupt people.

She said that if NUPENG was interested in the welfare of Nigerians and the nation’s economy, it would join forces with the government in stopping the impunity that has come to be associated with subsidy corruption.

She said that a lot of progress has been made from the dis

Continues on page 39

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

We revived 10 stations in three months- NTA D-G, Mayaki

By Emma Ujah,

Abuja Bureau Chief

W

hen he assumed office about three months ago, the Ag Director-General of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Alhaji Musa Mayaki, was confronted with a plethora of challenges. In this interview with journalists in Abuja, he said that in just about three months, 10 stations have returned to air.

Excerpts:

Alhaji Musa Mayaki, Ag DG,Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, station in Ijebu Ode that was making all the money for us.

It was also down, but we have been able to bring it up. It was down for more than one year, but now they are happy. Takum was also down but the station is up now. Takum is also very strategic because of Nigerians living near the borders with Cameroon. We don’t want them to be receiving signals from Cameroon and not from Nigeria. We don’t want them to loose their identity as Nigerians. Again NTA Sapele was down too. Now it is up. Also Iruekpe in Edo state was down. The House of Representatives member from there kept calling me. During our budget defence at the National Assembly, he asked me to tell them when the Iruekpe station would come up. We are happy now that the station is up.

There were so many stations that we had to battle with.

That is what we have been doing in the past three months.

It is not enough that the stations are up, what about content?

That is the next stage we are now going to. This is because we said if we have clear signals, the screen is clean and we don’t have anything good to put on, we have nothing.

This is because nobody is going to watch us and we would

lose revenue.

We need to invest on content; that is where we are going now. It’s a very expensive venture, but we have to do it.

If we are to remain relevant in the industry, we have to tackle the issue of content.

The challenge is becoming more and more complex because we have gone to Startimes, apart from our regular

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You became acting DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, few months ago. What did you meet on ground and what have you been doing differently?

Well, what I met on ground on assuming office was a network that was actually not there. We had a number of stations that were down within the network such that it was impacting negatively even on our revenue.

This is because when advertisers say they want their adverts on network, they monitor and they tell you that this station or the other station did not join or were not on, and that they were not going to pay for it. Really when you come to think of it, they are actually paying for the network. So there were so many stations that were not on board.

We were just calling ourselves ‘Africa’s largest network’ when in actual fact the network was collapsing gradually. So that was the first thing I tried to address. To date, we have brought up about 10 stations. One, Oshogbo was down, Oshogbo is now on. NTA Lafia was down, it is now up. The only thing we need to do at NTA Lafia is to connect it to the national grid because they are still using generators. Then, NTA Ife that was down for more than three years or so is up now. We are getting full signals. In fact, you can get NTA Ife in any part of Osun State. Ijebu Ode is also up now. Ijebu Ode used to be a very key station in Ogun State because Abeokuta had a problem of visibility, so to say, because of the hills blocking the signals.

So we had a complimentary

So, how are you tackling the challenge of content and programming?

You know that television is a quarterly affair. Programmes are designed on quarterly basis. So in the next quarter, which begins from the first Monday of October you will notice gradual changes in our programming content. We cannot do anything right now because all the programmes we have now have already been done. We are looking to whatever changes in programming from October to December.

I have just deployed one of our seasoned producers from Lagos on account of this. He was the General Manager NTA Plus then. He turned NTA Plus from a revenue guzzling station to an outfit contributing large sums of money to the Authority. So I have brought him in now to come and help me bring up these channels.

When you speak of Ibo Hausa and Yoruba languages in your language channel, one wonders how useful it would be for other ethnic groups in the country?

The good thing here is that we have state stations nationwide. In fact, we have about 100 stations in the network.

We have community stations.

We need to invest on content; that is where we are going now. It’s a very expensive venture, but we have to do it.

stations of NTA News 24, NTA International and NTA Abuja. And many more stations have set up channels on the Startimes cable platform.

Channels like NTA Entertainment and NTA Knowledge need content.

In a short while we are opening up NTA Language Channel that would broadcast in Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba. All these demand content, because you cannot just open them up without showing anything or keep on repeating the same programme over and over.

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Community stations are supposed to broadcast purely in the local language because we cannot bring over 250 languages on board at the network here.

That is why the community stations were set up - to do programming and read news in local languages. We also have state stations that devote certain percentage of their airtime to the local language.

Even our network news, they are supposed to be translated and then re-broadcast.

These ones we are doing now would actually be commercialised because we want them

to make money and not operate on a kind of public system.

Many Nigerians now prefer to tune to other private television stations, instead of the NTA. What are you doing to regain their confidence?

Well, you know that we are a public broadcast station. We cannot shy away from that really. What other private media can just say publicly, if we do that we would be causing a lot of confusion in the country. So we are very mindful of that, which is what the public does not want. The public wants us to start attacking leaders by calling them names. That is when they would say ‘ yes, this station has changed.’ But we cannot descend to that level. NTA is still the most quoted television by any network that is not domiciled in the country.

We have that credibility in the international community. We cannot do it differently from what we are doing right now.

We are very mindful of the political situation in the country. We will not exacerbate any problem. Rather, we try to douse the tension.

A specific incident here is how NTA covered the DANA air crash incident recently.

Yes! As a matter of fact, that particular incident of Dana plane crash was my saddest moment, especially in terms of my duties. The reason is that we have equipment that we can use to report live from anywhere. We call it TVU pack. When the crash occurred, I called Lagos station to use the TVU pack to report it live because we wanted to get live pictures of the incident. However, the station gave an excuse that the TVU battery had not been charged.

They had locked up the pack in the store and so the battery was down. They said also that they did not buy credits to recharge the pack. I asked them how much was the credit, and they said it was N15,000.

They told me that the major thing was that the battery had packed up and that it would take almost the whole day to charge it. So what they did was to go and take still photographs. This should have made our station different because we would be reporting every second, and our viewers would be able know what was happening. Nigerians would have been able to know how the emergency rescue services were coping with the situation and even how the hospitals were responding to the situation.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 39

Court fails to halt demolition of Mpape

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja

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fter much entreaties to the authorities to stop the planned demolition of Mpape, a suburb, near high brow Maitama District, Abuja could not yield the desired result, the residents resorted to to the law court hoping to stop the demolition through the judiciary.

But, last week, that attempt also failed as Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of an Abuja High Court refused to issue an order restraining the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, from going ahead with its planned demolition of earmarked shanty-towns in Abuja.

The judge, who however slated August 23 to commence hearing on a suit that was instituted against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, by Abuja residents under the aegis of Non-Indigenous Landlords of Gbagyi Villages in Mpape, said he would not make an order capable of fuelling crisis within the FCT. Stressing that the suit was not ripe for hearing, Yusuf said: “I think it is wise at this point to refrain from making

Senator Bala Mohammed any order that could be interpreted to mean that the reliefs sought by the applicants have been granted. On the basis of this I make no order of restraint.”

However, he admonished the parties to respect the sanctity of the judiciary by refraining from engaging in any action capable of jeopardizing the “Res” of the case before the court, adding, “it is clearly the law that once parties have submitted their grievances to the court, it will be wrong to resort to self-help.”

It would be recalled that the FCT Minister, recently,

okayed the demolition of 19 suburb cities in Abuja, saying the action was aimed at curbing the pervasive distortion of the original Abuja masterplan.

Though the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, promptly cautioned the FCT Administration against embarking on any action capable of breaching the constitutional and fundamental right of any Nigerian resident within the FCT, following the renewed bid by the authorities to demolish marked houses of non-indigenes in the 19 suburbs, eleven landlords in Mpape , led by one Mr Friday Chiemeka, approached the court with an application seeking to stop the planned demolition exercise.

The demolition plan, if executed, will render over 4, 000 Abuja residents homeless.

In an affidavit attached to the suit, the deponent, Chiemeka, averred that, despite an advice by another FCT High Court that status quo should be maintained on the matter, recent utterances by the FCT Minister, Mohammed, indicated that unless the court issued the order, the “Res” of the case may be truncated before the end of this month.

2015: PDP will capture South-west —Akinjide

By Favour Nnabugwu

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inister of State for Fed eral Capital Territory FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, says the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would capture the South-west come 2015.

Akinjide said this while receiving members of the Osun State chapter of the party who visited her in Abuja.

She also called on political parties in the country to democratize their internal structures as a way of consolidating democracy in the country, adding that the PDP in the South-west was aligning itself with people centered candidates.

“Our goal as PDP in the South-west is that we must win back all our states because it is not in the interest of the zone to be outside the government at the federal level and it is not also in the interest of Nigeria because if you are not inside, you cannot be part of the decision-making process.

You will always view every decision of government with suspicion. So, it is important that the Yoruba people take

Olajumoke Akinjide their pride of place in national politics”, she said.

Leader of the delegation and Chairman, Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency FERMA, Engr.

Jide Adeniji, commended the minister for spearheading the process of reconciliation among feuding members of the party in Oyo State.

Adeniji, who disclosed that the party in Osun was already galvanizing forces ahead of the next general elections, however decried the present situation where the “state is treated like an annex of Lagos State.”

71 staff of VON become Abuja landlords

By Laide Akinboade

M

y name is Chinyere Asare. I am one of the 71 winners of Voice of Nigeria (VON), housing raffle draw. “I won in the senior category. I have never believed in the issue of try your luck thing, I have always believed in either you get it or you don’t but I said let me go ahead all the same and somehow I decided to go ahead.

“It is a dream come true because everybody wants to become a landlord. And since Voice of Nigeria (VON) is making it easy for us, we hope we can really have the requirements to possess our possession. “I thank the management for going out of their way to organise the raffle. At a point I felt they were overdoing it by going to get transparent ballot box. And I said, ‘ is it not to pick the raffle draws?’ but they did all these because they know what human beings can be like. But I thank God they went to this extent because nobody can complain”.

These were the words of one C M Y K

of the winners of VON Staff Housing Estate draw at the venue, Lugbe along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Road, Abuja.

Those that won were full of appreciation and thanks to God for a dream come true.

They equally expressed their profound appreciation to the management of VON for the initiative to assist the staff own their houses in the federal capital.

The process started about four months ago when the Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo, did the ground breaking ceremony.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Aliyu Salihu Gusau, who picked all the draws and was present throughout the raffle draw, congratulated those who were successful, as he said that the initiative will alleviate the problem of housing among the staff of the organisation.”It shows the commitment of the Director General (DG), Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, and board towards the welfare of their staff ”, Gusau said.

“It ensures the moral of staff is taken care of because in any organisation the moral of the staff is very important once the staffs are happy, they are motivated to work harder and this what has happened.” ”The process that the ballot took place was open and transparent and even those who didn’t win the houses are going home satisfied because the process was transparent.

And they are sure that, in accordance with the promise of the DG, this is going to be a continuous process,” he said.

Malam Abubakar Jijiwa

Abuja grounded!

Continued from page 37 cussions between the government team and the oil marketers who have agreed to work with the government towards an efficient and transparent fuel distribution system.

She said that the current administration will always insist on transparency in the interest of Nigerians and therefore urged the public to stand with the government on this matter.

The Group Managing Director, GMD, of the NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, who also spoke with Sunday Vanguard, corroborated the posi-

tion of Okonjo-Iweala, saying the corporation’s branch of NUPENG did not join the strike that cripple fuel distribution in Abuja and that the union’s claim that it was also striking on behalf of NNPC did not hold water.

However, NUPENG’s leadership claimed that their strike was in the members interests as they were being owed by the oil marketers who claimed they had no money to pay because government has been owing them.

Its National President , Mr. Igwe Achese, said the union is not compromised and would not support fraudulent oil marketers in their demands.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

The many choices of MultiChoice/DStv

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and technological sophistication 30%. The balance is captured in the obvious resources of physical structure and personnel. In other words, broadcast or entertainment is nothing without contents. And from the marketing point of view, that is the value touch-point for every single DStv subscriber – and they know it! Yet, they do not care what they broadcast into the subscribers' homes – because the choice they have made from among the many options open to them is disrespect the critical mass of their market (because they do not have a choice –anyway).

I remember the experience with the Universal Trust Bank of old, when I started this long journey of brands management and marketing communication, way back in 1990. The task of engaging traders in Nkpor, Onitsha in Anambra State, then challenged all concerned from the client and Agency's sides, like it was the entire brand needed to succeed. The

,

think it rather deliberate, though, but not much is contained in the website of MultiChoice/DStv. One would have expected much more on a brand person of a status as big as this somewhat icon in pay television.

However, it contains some interesting information.

One of such interesting information is that to date, MultiChoice/DStv has about 1,649,000 subscribers (!) By the way, MultiChoices's multichannel satellite TV service in Africa, was launched in 1995.

We got this information from the web page of MultiChoice.

To date, MC&A Digest has written about three articles on this brand. Perhaps we should mention at this point that we do not have any personal issues with this brand, and that the only concern is the relevance of some of its activities that help in our quest towards professionalism for purposes of enlightening and educating our readers, across the various groups of readership that spare the time to read our articles every Sunday.

Add to add the above is our commitment to contribute our little quota towards protecting the consumer, by drawing attention to those issues at the market place, that will help our otherwise not too informed consumers, towards discernment. Perhaps, some day, we shall assume the role of ombudsman for the consumers in Nigeria, or go the full hog to operate as a nongovernmental consumer protection agency (in the true sense of it). For now, we shall keep with our commitment to generating contents based on our core professional calling and competence, for purposes of enlightenment, teaching, informing and reminding some of us, of the grand rules – that should not be changed!

Let us work with the figures posted as the subscribers to this brand, for sake of analysis; I am sure any brand that can post such figure representative of steady patronage will be too glad to say so in so many ways. One of such ways would expectedly be in terms of customer service or customer relationship management.

Further to that, would be trade practice that should adopt a strategy focused on loyalty reward.

remember the enthusiasm demonstrated right from the office of the then Managing Director (Mr. Philippi); every effort was put to task.

T

he reason one could doubt the figures thrown up by MultiChoice is that Lagos alone is likely to post 2,000,000 homes subscribing to the DStv channels, by reason of its cosmopolitan, in

The insult is even more manifest with these so-called Nollywood movies. MultiChoice got us very cheap there. It is a case of “celebrate your rubbish” – they pay peanuts for these comparatively cheap productions and fill the Africa Magic channels with them

marketing objective, then, was to consolidate the brand's hold on the traders in that defined market, for reason of increased deposit base, and to recruit them into our then newly introduced Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). The total size of that market (our targeted customers) was not up to 600 prospective depositors. For that strategic reason, however, we dined and drank with the trader at the open market. I

,

fact, mega city status. Apart from the high profile families residing in Lagos, Nigerians are given to uncommon aspiration when it comes to consumption of luxury and entertainment. Ostentation sells fast and cheaply, with Nigerians. So, even among the not-too affluent, many families will strive to subscribe to the premium bouquet at the expense of other more pressing necessity.

However, if you add the figures attracted to the brand's new line extension called GOtv, which is targeted at the lower segment of the pay-tv market, the figure should rise much more. For the purpose of this consideration, let us say Lagos alone will post a subscriber figure of well over 2,500,000 (we are open to correction). From endSeptember we hear the subscription fee will rise by about 15%, but let us work with the present Premium bouquet (not the dual view O!) of N10,000 per subscription, for about 40% of the projection of subscribers …. One then begin to see the choices open to this lucky brand. Brand success brings about one of two things: diligence or recklessness.

That, again, captures the characteristic feature common with humans and a brand; success can lead to one of the two character traits mentioned above, as a matter of course.

As in humans, also it takes a deliberate effort to stay on the right course.

H ow

else would one describe the attitude of MultiChoice/DStv towards its subscribers in the market?

This brand is at South African, but we know it will not dare try the things it does in this market, in South Africa. For television, the most critical issues are (1) content development and broadcast- 65% (2) equipment

I mean, how dare DStv go on repeating programs with such a degree of recklessness, that I, for instance, can now relay so many of the films/movies I have gotten so familiar with on some MultiChoice channels, just by hearing their titles.

Even on the news channels, a bulletin is repeated round 24hrs. The insult is even more manifest with these so-called Nollywood movies.

MultiChoice got us very cheap there. It is a case of “celebrate your rubbish” – they pay peanuts for these comparatively cheap productions and fill the Africa Magic channels with them, repeating same movies in quick succession. So each day you expose yourself to these assault, you keep watching Pete Edochie, Usofia… ahhh!

They have assumed the status of a monopoly brand for reasons of under development of this environment and they are turning it into insult and rubbing it in. The funny one is that they now throw some of their female staff at their customer service desk to call up select-subscribers, asking those annoying questions bordering on the obvious. The last time one called me and I told her the meaning of what she was doing to me, she pleaded for my understanding, to the effect that she was only doing her job, and that the establishment is not willing to improve on their content quality.

We shall keep talking, until something happens one day.

MultiChoice/DStv has so many choices open to her, for good judgment to prevail.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 41

Federal Government College, Idoani, Akure had just received two sets of computers and Gbenga Sesan, who was in his third year, was too excited to try his hands on the devices. “Sorry, you can’t understand how to use them because they not for people like you”, a teacher rebuked him. There and then, the seed of interest was sown in Gbenga who therefore decided to not only learn to use computers, but also teach the skill to others. That dream came to reality ten years later when, in 2001, he was appointed Nigeria’s first ever Information Technology Youth Ambassador. Today, Gbenga’s work is built around the use of ICTs in socio-economic transformation such as job creation- focusing on underserved groups, through his organisation known as Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN). He is our Inspirational Icon for today!

By Gift Gabriel

Curiosity established

What he considered most embarrassing about his rebuke was that two other students whose father was a professor in one of the federal universities were allowed to use the school’s newly acquired computer sets because they already knew how to use them. No one seemed in anyway ready to show young Gbenga Sesan how to explore the computers.

With the curiosity already established, immediately after secondary school in 1994, he got enrolled in a computer training school before going to study electronic & electrical engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University . To perfect his computer skills, in his third year when he was to undergo his indus-

trial attachment, he chose to work with Neural Technology Limited, a Lagos-based firm where he was also able to acquire skills in website designing, amongst other advanced skills.

Reaping begins

“When I returned to campus, I was really excited about teaching others, and I started teaching website designing to students for two thousand naira. For the first 12 students I taught, I was able to pay for my accommodation and a few other needs. After that, I got involved in departmental politics, and became the Chairman of our Electronic Club because of my agenda which they knew was to teach computer skills”, he says.

By the time he was graduating from the Obafemi Awolowo University with his degree in electronic & electri-

cal engineering, Gbenga had become a computer veteran!

Just after graduation in 2001, he participated in a competition, emerged the winner, and was, therefore, appointed the first Information Technology Youth Ambassador for Nigeria. The idea behind the competition was to discover young Nigerians who grew up in Nigeria, understood technology, and could compete with anyone from anywhere in the world.

What a feat for Gbenga who was once told that computers were not for people like him!

As fate would also have it, one of the tasks given him was to travel around Nigeria, teaching people how to use the computer.

“In fact, when I was invited to the Federal Government College, Idoani, after my presentation, the same teacher who had told me I didn’t

know how to use computers was actually the one who gave the vote of thanks!”, he satisfactorily says.

Aiming higher

With such glory, many would have become complacent, but not Gbenga! He saw it all as the beginning of greater things, and has, since then, continued to strive towards excellence. Over the years, he has been trained at the Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford, Harvard, Stanford and Santa Clara Universities. He also holds a diploma in software application, certificate in venture management and certificate in project management from the Lagos Business School.

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria

After his National Youth Service, which he did at the Junior Achievements of Nigeria, he continued working with the body which was spearheading a project called Lagos Digital Village(a project which corresponded with his dream) with young people until 2007 when he resigned to focus on something he had started online- Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, PIN. “PIN works in the space between youth, technology and improved livelihood. We ba-

sically train young people for an improved livelihood. For example, we currently have a project in Ajegunle, Lagos, in which we train people in technology and entrepreneurship, connect them with internship opportunities, and, as much as possible, get them to begin work with their skills”, Gbenga explains.

“The point is that we can’t keep waiting on government to create jobs because government itself is very busy trying to sort itself out! In ideal societies however, governments don’t create jobs; the private sectors, especially the small and medium enterprises, do!

Governments help with enabling environment for business growth.

ICT and national development

“If you look at the ICT readiness index of countries around the world, and you compare it to their GDPs and growth, you will find a 100% correlation. It makes things faster, and increases attention on intellectual capital more than on below-the-ground mineral resources. Nations, particularly in the gulf region, have used their mineral resources to improve their human capital development, such that they are now benefitting from human capital. Nigeria can take a cue from that!”.

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

PAGE 42,

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 43

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

Pastors are the worst set of parents — Akin-John

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OCTOR Francis Bola Akin-John started International Church Growth Ministry in 1994 in obedience to God's instruction to "go and strengthen pastors and support churches to grow and be healthy.” Initially, there were lots of persecution, misrepresentation and misunderstanding both from within and outside the Church. However, he was able to whether the storm of opposition and has held hundreds of conferences across Nigeria, Africa and Europe with combined attendance of over 30,000 church leaders. Another of such conferences titled; 'Healthy Home Healthy Ministry Conference', is billed for September 3-7 at Decross Gospel Mission, Lagos. In this interview with SAM EYOBOKA, Akin-John felt led by the Lord to focus on Christian homes, especially because these days, there are lots of issues that are begging for answers in ministers' homes, in pastors' homes. Most of us just keep silent and pretend about those issues and yet the problems are not going away. They keep aggravating; they keep increasing everyday. Excerpts…

What are those issues you want to address?

Number one, we want to address the issue of marriage of ministers and Christians. In churches today, we don’t teach it. Anybody can just marry. So we want to address that. We want to address the imbalance between the home of a pastor and his ministry.

What do you mean by imbalance?

What I mean is that, ministers focus on their ministry to the detriment of their homes; they have no time for their family and their children grow up to become wayward. There have been cases of wives of pastors that were impregnated by members because the pastors travel a lot.

Similarly, if the pastor happens to be a woman and her husband is a businessman; she would focus more on the ministry, spend time in the church, fasting and praying and no time for the husband. We've heard of such husbands sleeping with the maid. I’ve even heard of extreme cases where the husband impregnated their daughter, because those are the people available to cook for him while the wife is holding vigils or going from one ministration to another. So we want to strike a balance there. Then we want to address the issue of separation, divorce and re-marriage amongst ministers and Christians *Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John generally because that has gotten to an alarming proportion and nobody is forthcoming there. ped on toes. Somebody children, marriage, diThen we want to also ad- must speak up. When vorce, conflict managedress the issue of parent- some pastors divorced ment, and traditional ing. According to the little and remarried, a lot of homes. Stepping on toes research we did, pastors people didn’t want to is not my intention, but are the worst set of par- comment. When I com- if that is the bye product, ents, because we don’t mented, somebody I’m ready to live with it. have time for our children came here and said I because of the pressure of should have kept quiet.

What will be the other ministry. I have also We all can’t be quiet, focus of the conference? noticed that there are because there are The number two focus pastors who are single young people follow- is that we want God to parents---a lot of pastors ing us. What direction use the conference in who are separated from do we give to them? I’m such a way that it will their spouses. There are not afraid to speak up. restore a good marriage a lot of pastors that are I said let him stop being to the Church and to looking for the fruit of the a bad example to the Christendom, beginning womb. They are married rest of young preachers with the lives of pastors. for 10-20 years. So we coming. I’m going to That is why we are want to throw a scriptural stand by the scripture. providing resource matlight on those issues. And I want to start from tra- erial that will cover all so many conflicts among ditional homes, I want these wide range of couples, like the issue of to serve conservative subjects, both for the sexuality, how do you ba- gospel. I want to pre- conference and after the lance sexuality in the ach real gospel, espe- conference that each Church, in the home. cially regarding our participant can take These are some of the homes. If some peo- home. Our aim is that major issues that we will ple’s toes are matched God will use the event to be addressing at the con- on in the process, I reduce this endemic ference. have no apology since problems in pastors' I’m going to speak from homes. It’s not just a Are you aware that you the scripture and pre- talkshow that will throw are stepping into a very ach experientially and up controversies, we delicate terrain where balance things with designed it in such a way you might step on toes? what the Word of God to address spiritual I’m aware! Jesus step- says about homes---- issues also. We’ll be

be dealing with that spiritual implication; because it’s not normal:--somebody you have been married to for 5-10 years, suddenly you start fighting and beating each other, you pack out of each other’s houses.

And you know in African context, you are not respected if you are not responsibly married.

Same thing in the Church. So that’s one of the bye products. We are believing God to help us address those issues so that it’ll bring positive results to homes, not only of pastors, of Christians and the Church at large.

praying about people that have marital challenges, people that have wayward children, late marriage, and single parents. We’ll be talking about a lot of spiritual issues, demonic influence, satanic attacks on homes because we mustn’t take that from it. Billy Graham was said to be flying in an aircraft, with a fellow sitting besides him, when he noticed that the guy was not taking his food. So, Graham asked him, 'why are you not eating? You must be a Christian, you are fasting.' The guy said no I’m not a Christian. Graham asked him, 'but you are fasting?' He said, 'yes, he belongs to church of Satan, and that they are fasting, focusing on Christian leaders' marriages, with intent to break them so that it will have negative effect on the youths, the Church and Christianity.' When Christian leaders divorce, it has certain spiritual implication. So we will

What is the biblical stand on marriage and divorce?

The biblical stand on marriage is monogamy, a man and a woman.

And I believe scripturally, marriage is not a contract, rather marriage is a covenant. And it's not a covenant between two people but three people: the man, the woman and God. If that is the case, there’s no divorce. The scripture hates divorce.

Marriage is for life. No conditions. You sink and swim together. Married people cannot commit fornication because Jesus gave condition of divorce to be fornication.

A good example of that should be Joseph. Joseph was to marry Mary.

The bible says before they came together, she was pregnant. In other words, she has committed fornication and ordinarily, Joseph should divorce her. And he wanted to put her away but God appeared to him saying that I was the one that slept with your wife.

Once one is married you can no longer fornicate, what you can do is adultery.

I am a minister who is married, but my wife opted out and got married to someone else.

What will the scripture advise me to do?

This is what I’ll tell you: It takes maturity to

handle this kind of issue.

It’s not a pulpit matter, it’s a pure counseling matter. In fact there was a pastor that had a similar experience. He had five kids with his wife but one day, the wife packed out and rented an apartment in a nearby street. The man begged her to return, she refused. Her family members begged her, she refused. What she said is unprintable. She said 'I can’t endure him again.

He only goes one round, and I need five rounds.

He’s a pastor. So I’m going to men that will give me 5-10 rounds.'

The pastor ran to me and I told him to call the family. It’s not a church matter. It is family matter, because like I said, marriage starts from the parents giving their consent. When your wife now decides to pack out, and you did everything humanly possible to bring her back, she refused to come back, for God’s sake, family should be able to settle it. But if not, the man has to remarry. If the man doesn’t re-marry, he’ll be sleeping around.

What’s wrong with adoption?

There’s nothing wrong with adoption. Our people have this myth that an adopted child is not your child. But I want to tell leaders that if you have a problem having an issue, your best option is adoption. When I first started preaching it, people said no, you are a man of faith, you shouldn’t teach that. I’m not saying they shouldn’t wait on the Lord, but why wait 15 years when there are a lot of children out there looking for good parents. Moses was adopted, even Joseph adopted Jesus. So those are the issues we want to address. One of the main reason for divorce in African context is this childlessness issue. So why can't a couple do it in a wise way, prayerfully, legally, wisely.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012--- PAGE 45

Assemblies of God pray for peace

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THE EXTRAORDINARY MINISTRY OF PASTOR J.T. KALEJAIYE

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ASTOR J.T. Kale jaiye of the Re deemed Christian Church of God might not remember me. But God used him to confirm my healing ministry at its inception. In the late 1990’s, while I was still a member of Victory Parish of Redeemed, Victoria Island, Lagos, Pastor Kalejaiye came to minister on two consecutive days.

The pastor revolutionised my understanding of Christian ministry. I have never seen a man so totally anointed with the raw power of God.

Amazing service

I

had never heard of Pastor Kalejaiye before that visit. He started the service by taking off his jacket; asking an usherette to keep it for him. But instead of handing it over, he flapped it at her. The lady practically somersaulted and fell to the ground. Kalejaiye then declared that everybody who witnessed that incident was a candidate for a miracle.

He preached a solid message on Abraham and Lot, and I hung on every word. Then, he ministered to the sick. As the power of God identified them dramatically, he would ask them to look into his eyes, or touch the hem of his garment. Immediately they did, they would be slain under the anointing. Some were put to sleep for the entire service. Kalejaiye told us the Holy Spirit was busy conducting surgeries on them.

Sometime during the service, a lady caught his attention. Kalejaiye suddenly took out his handkerchief and threw it at her. Before it reached her, the power of God picked her up and then cushioned her to the floor. Kalejaiye said the Holy Spirit had identified her for healing.

Later, he asked us to hold up our right hands while he asked the Lord to identify those he would anoint with special healing power. Suddenly, my right hand became electrically-charged. Before I knew it, the power of God literally picked me up and flung me unto the empty set of chairs behind me. The ushers quickly carried

I have never seen a man so totally anointed with the raw power of God me to the pastor. I was surprised to discover I was the only person in the entire church who had that particular experience. Kalejaiye asked me what happened. He then confirmed that God had called me to a healing ministry. He said the Lord would use my right hand for mighty signs and wonders. Then he prayed for me.

At the end of the service, I went back home in bewilderment. I asked the Lord: “Is this man your son? Was he using your power or something else?” The Lord replied: “Did he do anything without scriptural foundation?” I could not but agree that nothing he did contradicted what Jesus did in the scriptures. But they were nevertheless astonishing.

Deliverance service

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he Sunday serv ice next morning was no less eventful. Pastor Kalejaiye began by asking that anybody suffering from demonic oppression should come out for deliverance. Of course, nobody responded, not wanting to be stigmatised. He then told us to keep quiet while he spoke to God about it. He asked the Lord to identify those concerned by his power.

Suddenly, there was pandemonium in the church. In particular, “big men” in flowing agbadas started screaming at the top of their lungs and spinning like tops. The ushers then carried them to the pastor and he prayed for them. I am unreliably informed that some of those “big men” were so mortified, they insisted Kalejaiye should not be invited back to Victory Parish.

Kalejaiye preached another insightful message. Nevertheless, the highlight of the service was again the manifestation of the power of God. He observed that churches need money in order to operate effec-

tively. Therefore, he asked the ushers for a carton of envelopes. He laid his hands on them and asked for three volunteers to confirm they were now anointed. All they had to do was to pick one of the envelopes.

None succeeded in doing so. As each one of them touched the envelopes, they were instantaneously slain under the anointing. This demonstration certainly made believers out of us. Then, he asked for 12 people who were prepared to give our parish N500,000 each. I did not know there were so many rich people in the church. Twice that number made a beeline for the pastor to make the pledges.

Superlative service

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told a friend of mine, Pastor Peter Akalamudo of RCCG, about Pastor Kalejaiye’s outstanding ministry. He too then insisted on inviting him to their Resurrection Parish (Big Tent), in Lekki, Lagos. We went together to see Pastor Kalejaiye at his parish in Idimu, Lagos. When Kalejaiye saw me, he asked me if the signs had started manifesting with my right hand. I told him I had seen nothing yet. He told me not to worry; they would soon commence. He then drew our attention to a curious problem he was dealing with.

People were dumping dead bodies in his church at night, expecting him to raise them from the dead. As a result, he had to bring the matter to the attention of the local police, and was sometimes saddled with the burden of having to bury the dead.

Pastor Kalejaiye accepted Pastor Peter’s invitation, and that service was again exemplary.

He preached another sound message, backed by yet another superlative display of the healing power of God. After

he had finished his ministration and gone to sit down, Pastor Kalejaiye returned to the podium with one specific request. He asked an usherette to beckon to me. I was in the front row; so I quickly climbed the stage. He asked me to raise my right hand while he prayed for me again. I only heard the beginning of the prayer.

There was a loud whoosh and I went down under the anointing.

The denouement

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did not see Pastor Kalejaiye again until 10 years later. It was at a “Power-Link Anointing Service” at a Victoria Island, Lagos parish of Redeemed. I wanted to tell him how God had since confirmed his word to me. But I was so disappointed in the service, I decided against it.

The anointing was virtually non-existent. There was now no tangible manifestation of the spirit and power of God. The message was pathetic. It was all about Kalejaiye and not about Jesus.

Essentially, he told us how rich he had become.

He said he never has anything less than a N200 note in his wallet. He said he spends at least 70 days abroad every year. He said if anyone wants to buy a Toyota in his parish, he would personally upgrade it to a Mercedes Benz.

I

ndeed, a colleague who attended an other service said Kalejaiye claimed he drove past a car-dealership and a car on display called out to him: “Kale, Kale, Kale." He responded by turning around and driving to the showroom. He then bought the vehicle that allegedly called him, which just happened to be a Hummer; a very expensive American Jeep.

Pastor Kalejaiye ended the service I attended by decreeing we were all going to buy brand-new cars miraculously. H e directed we should stretch out our legs and hold the steering-wheels of our imaginary cars. We then turned on the ignitions simultaneously, started the engines and “drove around” in our brand-new cars.

HE Lagos District Superintendent of Assem blies of Church Church, Rev. Joseph Okafor has called for prayers to avert the terrible happenings in the country including terrorism, kidnapping, assassination, human trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery and bombing, reports SAM EYOBOKA. Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Rev. Okafor said: "It is no exaggeration to say that Nigeria is in turmoil, devastation as well as destruction of lives and property are the order of the day. Bloodletting of both innocent and non-innocent citizens is unbearable."

According to him, there is no doubt that God is not happy with the happenings in Nigeria; "and we might not deny the fact that God might have allowed these happenings as a sign of punishment because of the wickedness in this nation."

Continuing, he opined "like the biblical Abel, the blood of so many murdered innocent citizens of this nation is crying out for revenge. So many things have gone wrong in this nation.

"The wickedness of this nation as a whole has steered the anger of God," he added, noting that recent events make it imperative to call for prayers for God’s intervention and restoration.

Because of these wicked and barbaric acts, he said, the church has come up with a timely theme “Divine Restoration,” where the church will call upon God in order that peace, love, unity, and godliness might be restored to our nation.

According to him, the district is mobilizing 20,000 members for the Assemblies of God Bethel Camp, Kilometre 48, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway between Wednesday and Saturday.

Men of God including Bishop Humphrey Erumaka of WordBase Assembly, Rev. Ugwu Friday, Evang.

Elisha Anyanwu, Rev. Isaac Mpamugo and the host, Rev. Joseph Okafor will be ministering at the event.

Pastor out with Endless Honeymoon

L-R: Pastor & Mrs Andy Ogbonma, Dr. Cyril Okpara (book reviewer) Pastor & Pastor (Mrs.) Felix Amaefule (chairman) and Mr. & Mrs. Henry Onyenze (vice chairman) at the book presentation.

WITH a burning desire to arrest increasing rate of marital challenges in the society, and dwindling interest in the institution of marriage, a minister of God, Pastor Martins Paul has released into the Nigerian market, a book titled Endless Honeymoon, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. The book explains how couples and intending couples can prolong their marital honeymoon despite challenges or obstacles.

Describing marital crisis as bitter moon, the author said that disagreements that lead to marital crisis are as a result of ignorance and passivity which can be overcome.

Dr. Cyril Okpara, who reviewed the book, said the author is loaded with gift that will catapult his generation to a greater height, adding that the book is a timely cure for marriage delay and a corporate guide to marriage choice making.

He noted that the author portray God as the architect of marriage. According to the reviewer, the book shed light on how not to confuse lust for love, adding that physical attraction should not be the basis for marriage. The book dwelt on the importance of marriage, preparation for marriage, precautionary measures, causes of marital crisis and marriage spices. The author who is also the senior pastor of Christ-in-Me Pentecostal Church, Pastor Paul described the book as a product of mercy and grace after numerous challenges. Pastor Paul said the guiding principles of marriage have sadly been misconstrued and seriously perverted hence the need for the book. The man of God explained that honeymoon has no substitute and its duration depends on the level of knowledge available to couples and intending couples.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26

VIEWPOINT

BY GBENGA ADEWALE

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

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UR political journey is strewn with thorns and thistles leaving little hope that the vehicle of state would

get us to the Promised Land anytime soon, according to Prince of Nigeria, Rev. Chris Okotie, in reaction to the present state of the nation. The sickening revelation of monumental corruption involving the governing elites and their cronies continue to assault the national psyche. “We seem to be stranded in the hands of a cabal that is irredeemably committed to feathering their own nests even as the misery circle expands at an alarming rate”, the pastorpolitician lamented.

The vexed question is where do we go from here?

What can we say about this show of shame going on in the fuel subsidy probe where children of our ruling elites are facing prosecution for the monumental fraud in the oil sector in the middle of the present economic alienation of the poor in our society?

The First Lady, on her part, goes about public functions as if she is in a popularity and power contest with her husband, our dear President Goodluck Jonathan. Never in want of controversy, Dame Jonath-

The epiphany of prince of Nigeria an has just been sworn-in as a permanent secretary in the Bayelsa State civil service. The dust this bizarre appointment raised hasn’t settled when she grabbed the headlines again on the luxury Sedans, although we are relieved that the government’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, has clarified issues of propriety by saying that the cars were actually loaned out by Coscharis Motors to the First Ladies’ Summit hosted by the Dame.

Although her husband is confronting daunting challenges in a fragmented polity, the least one expects the wife of an embattled president to do is to aggravate his public relations problems. Mrs. Jonathan only seems to be enjoying herself. She craves the limelight like a power hungry politician and doesn’t care a hoot about the bad press that trails some of her actions or utterances. Always in the headlines for the wrong reasons, this First Lady is the vintage media attraction. Why are we having a First Ladies’ Summit at this time of national emergencies?

But this affront can only happen in a polity like ours

that is an intellectual wasteland where the leadership is impervious to reason. Our representatives in the legislative houses across the nation are a bunch of misfits who know next to nothing about the serious business of jurisprudence. This shows in the daily cock fights they call debates that we see on television during legislative sessions.

We have lawmakers that

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The need for the dismantling of the subsisting political order.

making.

A very active National Assembly is usually adversarial in posture. The combative legislative house is the hallmark of a representative democratic process that’s alive to its responsibilities; never to be taken for granted by any chief executive. The United States Congress is the nightmare of any American president even when his party controls the par-

Our representatives in the legislative houses across the nation are a bunch of misfits who know next to nothing about the serious business of jurisprudence

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condone executive misbehaviour; because governors and even the president often get away with impeachable offenses almost unnoticed. This says a lot about the low intellectual quality of the lawmakers.

Perhaps, it is apt to take a cue from the post-JAMB exams and subject our legislators to pre-election IQ tests to determine their intellectual capacity for the challenging task of law-

liament. Any British Prime Minister is always in awe of the House of Commons which keeps him regularly on his toes.

The shameful revelation of corruption involving som members of the House of Representatives is symptomatic of their greed for filthy lucre, which makes some of them abandon their oversight function in pursuit of contracts and kickbacks from govern-

ment functionaries. However, this can only happen under an equally corrupt and weak presidency as we now have.

Rev Okotie’s epiphany is the call for wholesale dismantling of the subsisting political structure by giving a new face to Nigerian politics. His insistence that this can be achieved through the ballot box contrasts sharply with the opinion of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the outspoken Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. During the fuel subsidy debate, the CBN governor held the view that the kind of radical changes that Nigeria needs now could only have been possible under a military regime. We missed that opportunity.

Yet there’s always a chance to make a change where there’s a will on the part of the change agents.

The call for a Sovereign National Conference, SNC is a rare window of opportunity to change the entire governing structures of the Nigerian polity. But there appears not to be a general, acceptable consensus for it at the moment because the elected politicians, fearing loss of their hard-won power, reject it

out of hand.

The civil society groups and the opposition politicians, who are at the vanguard of SNC, lack the capacity to really mobilize for it or compel the elected politicians to accept it. No one can, however, wish it away. It will remain on the front burner of public discourse until all the contradictions in our federation are fully resolved. SNC could have created a new rule of engagement that would have made money politics an illegal vehicle for attainment of elective office. This is where the shoe pinches; one of the real causes of corruption in Nigeria at the moment.

Rev. Okotie’s campaign for generational change in the power setup is having a different result. Rather than allow the electorate to freely make a choice, the ruling elites, using their position and influence, are transferring economic power to their children as the arrests of the top players in the fuel subsidy probe has shown. The generational change in the governance structure that the Prince of Nigeria is talking about is not a systematic transfer of power from fathers to children as is happening now. It is rather the emergence of a new breed of Nigerian leaders as against professional politicians, who would govern with the fear of God and with the love of the people at heart.

Maybe the Reverend’s dream will come to pass in our generation. It would be a welcome change. * Adewale lives in Lagos.

Onshore/offshore dichotomy: An injustice better forgotten

BY ANIETIE JOHN VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The need to maintain the status quo in revenue allocation

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HE recent calls by a few people in the northern part of our country for the reintroduction of onshore/ offshore oil dichotomy in revenue sharing should be worrisome to most Nigerians. This call is particularly distressing (even unpatriotic) given the fact that it is coming on the heels of a wave of terrorism and insecurity, which claimed the lives of several innocent Nigerians in the North, and has threatened our corperate existence as a nation. Finding a solution to this bloodletting should preoccupy the minds of all patriotic Nigerians – not delving into other areas, which could exacerbate the already tense situation.

One believes that such talk could further stoke the fire of insecurity and endanger the virtues of “freedom, peace and unity” canvassed in our national anthem. The di-

chotomy law was not only so detrimental to our nationhood that it was given the appellation “obnoxious”; it was also one of the evil vestiges of military dictatorship. The military itself tried lamely to excuse it, given its unjust nature, on the exigencies of the civil war, and the reconstructive efforts after the war.

In abrogating the obnoxious onshore/offshore dichotomy law in 2004, the National Assembly took patriotic interest and met the demands of democracy and justice.

They also took this action in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, and consigned to the dustbin of history, one of the most painful relics of a bitter civil war and a constant nagging reminder of the evils of military dictatorship.

However, the National Assembly struck a compromise in abrogating this law by maintaining that states should only recieve thirteen per cent revenue on resources located within 200 metres isobars of their continental shelves. This meant that resources located beyond this distance belonged to the Federal Government. Though

this was not apparently fair to the littoral states, given the fact that the effects of gas flaring in the high seas lead to air pollution on land and the intermittent oil spillages (as it occurred recently off the coast of Akwa Ibom), destroy aquatic life and endanger the health of the people; it was accepted by

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VIEWPOINT

speaking, if the onshore/ offshore dichotomy were to be reintroduced, the Federal Government would still take a lion’s share and the rest shared to 36 states. Kano would not have more than N100 million added to its kitty. Is Kano impoverished because N100 million has not been added to what it currently re-

The Niger Delta militancy caused oil production in Nigeria to drop to a worrisome 30 per cent. Abrogating the obnoxious law was, therefore, a call to redress this injustice and fully integrate the Niger Delta into the Nigerian equation

the states concerned in the interest of peace and unity.

The claim by the antagonists that the North has been impoverished because of the abrogation of this unjust law is utterly strange. For example, in July, 2012, one of the states in the Niger Delta had an allocation of N12 billion, whereas Kano State had an allocation of N10 billion – not much of a difference! Hypothetically

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ceives? What a fallacy!

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t should also be stat ed that a state governor in one of the northern States, upon leaving office, gleefully announced that he was leaving behind the sum of N64 billion in the state’s coffers. In spite of the sea of needs in the state, he could not think of what to do with so much money! He announced his failings as if it were a major success.

Truly, some persons can turn a desert into a palace, and some can turn a palace into a desert! It is a matter of visionary and purposeful leadership.

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egrettably, the Ni ger Delta is impoverished by the activities of oil companies on the high seas. It should be noted that health concerns have forced several advanced countries to stop oil drilling on the high seas. But in Nigeria wherever oil is found, it is drilled irrespective of health hazards to coastal dwellers. It would, therefore, amount to “treason” to deprive those whose lives we put at risk and who die everyday of just 13 per cent revenue.

This ill-treatment of the littoral states was what fanned the Niger Delta anger from the days of Isaac Borro, through the days of Ken Saro-Wiwa (who paid the supreme sacrifice for this cause) and to the days of militancy during the reign of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Niger Delta militancy caused oil production in Nigeria to drop to a worrisome 30 per cent. Abrogating

the obnoxious law was, therefore, a call to redress this injustice and fully integrate the Niger Delta into the Nigerian equation. The militants fought because the Niger Delta people were not only impoverished but were dying (their creeks and waterways were gone, the fishes dead and sickness prevalent), while the nation shared “blood money,” made at their expense. Justice was done and peace reigned again in our beloved country. Those who were behind these abrogation were true patriots, and those who were against it have no interest in justice.

All states have acquired their rightful status in revenue sharing, and our political development, after the dark days of military rule, has been at the wisest pace. It has been thorough (it took two years for the National Assembly to abrogate this evil law) and we now stand built on firm foundations. Anyone who seeks to shake or destroy those foundations seek to destroy Nigeria. *John, a public policy analyst, works with the Institute of Communication and Leadership Studies, Uyo.

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 47

VIEWPOINT

BY REUBEN ABATI

The Jonathan they don’t know ident has lost the support of Nigerians represent only themselves and their selfish interests.

President Jonathan is a clever, methodical and intelligent man, who is very adept at wrong footing all the persons who make an effort to second-guess or underestimate him. He understands the complexity of Nigeria. He is acutely conscious of the historicity of his emergence as Nigeria’s No. 1. He knows that he is here as the leader of all Nigerians. He knows that he is a representative of all common persons, particularly the children of all blue collar workers who never wore shoes or got a chance to eat threesquare meals, and whose mothers and aunties could never be part of policy-making processes.

When he spoke about not wearing shoes as a child, he meant that as a metaphor for the disparities in the Nigerian system, and the urgent need to redress inequalities. But I have heard some persons responding literally that Nigerians should never vote for a man who never wore shoes. How simplistic. Attention needs to be drawn to the fact that a rooted, people-sourced President who seeks to transform Nigeria, and who campaigns on a platform of transformation, will necessarily be opposed by those who consider themselves the children of Empire builders, those who think that their ancestors built Nigeria. Wrong.

The Ijaws, the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria, have as much right to have their son as President as every other Nigerian group. But Jonathan doesn’t even dwell on this. I have never heard him utter an ethnic statement. He sees himself as the President of all Nigerians. He is at home with every group. He is focused on the challenges of nation-building. He wants to transform Nigeria. He wants to unite the country. He is determined to promote the country. And he is doing so already. He knows Nigerians want regular power supply. He is working at it. That is why we have crossed 4, 400 MW. He knows Nigerians want infrastructure. That is why he is telling Bi-Courtney to fix Lagos-

Ibadan Expressway or get out.

That is why he is telling a particular Minister to fix the East-West road and get it fixed quickly. That is why he has directed the relevant agencies to get corrupt persons to answer for their misdeeds.

That is why he is strengthening Nigeria’s foreign relations. That is why he is transforming the agriculture sector, from a contractawarding, fertilizer distribution enterprise into big business. And more… The reason President

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HEY” in this piece refers to all the cynics, the pes tle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to pull down President Goodluck Jonathan.

This army of sponsored and selfappointed anarchists is so diverse; many of them don’t even know why or how they should attack the President.

The clear danger to public affairs commentary is that we have a lot of unintelligent people repeating stupid clichés and too many intelligent persons wasting their talents lending relevance to thoughtless conclusions. Hold on. I don’t want to be misunderstood. I am not saying nobody should criticize the Nigerian President. I spent some time learning that legal maxim: “volenti non fit injuria”. Public position comes with its own share of risks and exposure. But the twittering, pinging, Facebook crowd of the new age must be guided by facts.

Hold your stone. Don’t haul it yet. Shhh. Wait, Mr. Alaseju! I have spent the last fourteen months working with President Jonathan. I have followed him everywhere. I can write a whole book on his Presidency so far, but you won’t get to read that until much later. I have heard that some people are protesting that they will not buy the book if it gets written. Well, your choice.

What I can report, for now is, that he is a grossly misunderstood President. Too many people are unfair to him. They criticize him out of ignorance. They abuse him out of mischief. And the opposition doesn’t make things easy at all. Can we look at a number of issues?

You say he is a clueless President. You are wrong. He is not clueless. Nobody is more committed to the Nigerian Project than President Jonathan. In spite of unforeseen challenges which his administration has had to contend with, President Jonathan is doing his utmost best to positively transform Nigeria.

Ordinary Nigerians know and appreciate this. Those parading themselves as leaders of the opposition who claim that the Pres-

President Jonathan was the first Nigerian leader to appoint a woman as his Chief Economic Adviser as well as the Nigerian leader who opened up the Nigerian Defence Academy to women

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Jonathan does not go into a song and dance routine is because he knows that true rebranding of a nation is a projection of positive things that are already happening.

They say he is “tribalistic”. Not true. How many Ijaws are in President Jonathan’s inner circle?

Very few, I can tell you. There are of course, all kinds of persons who go about telling people that they have the President’s ears and eyes. They would even tell you that they think for the President!

I used to have nightmares whenever I heard that, but it no longer bothers me. I have since learnt that some Nigerians consider it fashionable to wear false garments.

The Presidency qua Presidency is staffed by key officials from all

parts of the country. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is from Ebonyi State.

The Chief of Staff and the Head of the President’s Secretariat are both from Edo, the Protocol Liaison Officer and Principal Private Secretary are from Adamawa, the Chief Detail is from Borno, the Aide De Camp (ADC) is from Kogi, the Perm Sec, State House is from Benue, the State Chief of Protocol is from Kwara, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity is from Ogun, the Chief Physician to the President is from Rivers. Only the Chief Security Officer, the Special Assistant, Domestic and the Special Adviser, Research and Strategy are from Bayelsa.

When he is in the office, and he gets there early every day, and works till very late, he is exposed to all categories of Nigerians. He runs a modern and open Presidency. He is on Facebook, Twitter, email, SMS, BB, and he reads.

And he writes. This is not a provincial President. The intelligentsia, his immediate community, should support him to do his work.

President Jonathan was the first Nigerian leader to appoint a woman as his Chief Economic Adviser as well as the Nigerian leader who opened up the Nigerian Defence Academy to women. And he took affirmative action in political appointments to a higher level by reserving 35% of all appointive positions in government for our women folk.

The facts in this regard are incontrovertible. Under President Jonathan, women occupy very strategic positions (Petroleum Resources, Education, Co-ordinating Minister/Minister of Finance, Water Resources, Minister of State, FCT, Minister of State, Defence, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs 1, Minister of State, Niger Delta) and the headship of many of the MDAs. The President’s commitment to Nigeria is total. All his children school in Nigeria. Even his dress code promotes Nigeria.

They say Mr. President drinks.

My friend and colleague, Etim Etim, called the other day to say

that whatever may be the challenges on this job, he could affirm that I am at least enjoying.

“What with all the choice drinks on every trip,” he said. I told him, “No, we don’t drink.” He protested. He thought I was lying. He had heard that kain-kain is a staple fare on presidential flights. I told him No. We are not allowed to touch alcohol. Alcohol is not served during official duties. Yes, when there is an international function, wine is served, but nobody gets drunk around here.

That will amount to an act of indiscipline. The President himself does not allow alcohol to be served at his table. But when you go to social media they tell you something else. Lies. Lies. Lies.

I have even heard that the President spends billions on feeding.

Well, I have enjoyed the privilege of eating at the President’s table.

What does he eat? Fish pepper soup. Cassava Bread. Slices of yam. Rice. Boiled plantain. Fruits and vegetables. He fasts when he chooses, and fasts all month during Ramadan and Lent. And because he takes his exercises and keep fit regime seriously, he eats very little. Okay, he drinks coffee. And yet there are people out there who keep claiming that there is a feast in the Villa every day. They say at every meal, the table is decorated with roasted turkey, and every delicacy under the sun. Lies. Lies. This President is not a glutton. We have a disciplined, hardworking president who enjoys his privacy, and the company of intelligent people.

Here is a man who is an epitome of loyalty and simplicity. The thing about the President’s critics is that they just cannot accept that someone with his simplicity can be their President. This is the Saul Complex. Saul could not accept the fact that somebody as simple as David could be favoured by God. And just like Saul threw the spear at David out of uncontrollable jealousy, these critics are out to throw any kind of spear to see which hits the target, hence all their lies about the President.

Let me end by saying that the President is a simple man but simplicity is not naivety. If simplicity were to be naivety then the world would not be where it is today because it is simple men like Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Kwame Nkrumah, who have shaped the world that we live in by simplifying what others have complicated.

•Abati is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to President Jonathan

Senator Ita Enang’s Golden Jubilee: A celebration of service to humanity TRIBUTE TRIBUTE IN BRIEF The life of a senator at 50

Senator Ita Enang

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ENATOR Ita Enang’s golden jubilee celebra tion on Wednesday, 23 August, 2012, was intended to be a low-key affair but family members, well-wishers and admirers

joined him to add glamour to the occasion. It was indeed a celebration of excellence, given Enang’s towering height and accomplishments in personal life and career.

A lawyer and lawmaker, Enang has contributed immensely to national development through his practice in the legal profession and legislative services at the state and federal levels. As a senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, he always puts the people, especially his constituents first.

He is a lawmaker who live above reproach. He is also reputed for his disposition to helping the less-privileged through his several youth empowerment programmes. As a Federal Representative for Itu/Ibiono, Enang worked tirelessly towards the abolition of the on shore/off shore dichotomy to position Akwa Ibom as the highest earner of oil revenue in the country.

Born in August 23, 1962, he attended the P.C.N Primary School, Ididep, Ibiono Ibom and was

thereafter got admitted into the Presbyterian Teachers Training College, Ididep, Akwa-Ibom State between 1974 and 1979.

He gained admission into the University of Calabar, Unical, in 1980 where he read Law, and graduated in 1984. He proceeded to the Nigeria Law School, Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. He has been in private legal practice and, intermittently, contested and won elections into various elective positions.

Enang started his journey to political lime light in his university days as Assistant Secretary, Students Union Government, and Scribe of Parliament, Students’ Representative Council, University of Calabar, between 1982 and 1983. He was also elected Councilor, Itu Local Government in 1987 and served 1988-1989.

His integrity and humility earned him fame and name that won him the membership of Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly from 1992-1993. There, he was Chairman, Standing Order Commit-

tee, and Committee on Procedure, Committee on Rules and Business and Committee on Justice, Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions of the house.

He was also Deputy Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly.

Enang’s rich legislative experience and exploits have won him commendations as the people’s advocate, thus he is always supported by his constituents to represent them at any level. He won election into the House of Representatives in 1999-2003 and was the Deputy Chairman, Rules and Business Committee. He was reelected into the House of Representatives in 2003-2007 for a second term and a third term in 2007 – 2011 and held sway as the Chairman of Rules and Business Committee during the period.

Of a fact, one cannot but be in awe of his legislative achievements because he has overcome the odds and several encumbrances to impact on the represented through well-meaning and life-changing projects that

have availed the beneficiaries the opportunities to excel and have a taste of the dividend of democracy.

In the 7th National Assembly where this articulate lawmaker chairs the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, he has again written his name in gold through his integrity-driven actions in and out of the chambers. His constructive arguments and contributions to debates and issues on the floor of the Senate have further projected him as a true legislator who is keen about the development of the country.

A Presbyterian, married to Dr. (Mrs.) Rosemary Ita Enang, a lovely and supportive woman, Enang, a father of four, has several publications to his credit and numerous awards. He has also endeared himself to traditional leaders through various community development initiatives and won many chieftaincy titles of note. Indeed his past fifty years on earth have been helpful to man and mankind.

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY VANGUARD,AUGUST 26, 2012

chimeena@yahoo.com

Wings of the Night redefines literature in Nigeria Azuka Onwuka, a graduate of English from University of Nigeria, Nuskka is versatile writer, who feels at ease writing on literature, language, business or politics. His flair for writing started during his University days. Onwuka, who has authored two books recently published his first novel titled Wings of the Night. In this interview with Sunday Art, the young author talks about why it took him many years to publish the novel and other sundry issues.

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Wthe Night

hat is the theme of Wings of and how is it relevant to our society?

Wings of the Night has many themes, but the chief among them is that we should not give up in the face of challenges, no matter how weighty or insurmountable they may seem. Challenges are meant to bring out the best in us, not defeat us. There is also the theme of the need for us to know our genealogy or ancestry and not be ashamed of it. I was thrilled when President Barack Obama came to Kenya while he was still a senator and was able to trace his ancestors to the seventh generation. How many of us know our ancestry beyond our grandfather or great-grandfather? That is one

Lagbaja for Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature Awards Night Azuka Onwuka aspect of our life I am using this novel to challenge us to get interested in and pass on to our children. A people without a past are a people without a future. I also want to use this novel to challenge this queer belief among our people of all religions that when tragedies befall a person, it is a sign of divine punishment. I really think it is a petty and myopic way of looking at life.

So you are not an apostle of art for art’s sake?

Definitely not. I believe that art should teach and edify. But I also believe in realistic literature - literature that mirrors society rather than literature that tries to recreate society the way it is not.

For example, anyone that writes about colonialism in Nigeria and creates a situation where Nigerians defeated the British will be guilty of historical and literary falsehood, because the British actually conquered us and colonized us. That is why our religion, dressing and language have changed to those of the Whites. But I believe that art should either directly or subtly teach society a lesson. That is why I like the realism in Achebe’s novels. In Things Fall Apart, even though the Whites defeated Okonkwo and the people of Umuofia, we are made to see that what

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hy did it take you 22 years to publish your first novel Wings of the Night?

I believe in the maxim that anything worth doing is worth doing well. After writing the story in 1989 just before my 19th birthday, I felt that I was not endowed with the necessary literary capabilities to produce a novel that would be reckoned with. I was honest to realize that my vocabulary was limited and inadequate. My control of the English language was tenuous.

Note that at that time, I knew the rules of English language and could write well, but the point was that having read literary works like Things Fall Apart, The Gods Are Not to Blame, The Concubine, Petals of Blood, Macbeth, and many other thrillers of James Hadley Chase and Agatha Christie, I knew without being told that my ability to weave words like these masters and hold the reader captive was still rudimentary.

So I waited till1992, when I felt that I had acquired some measure of writing knowledge and skills in the university when I decided to rewrite the story. After that I found out that the difference in the flow of the two variants of the story was crystal clear.

But in spite of this marked improvement in the quality of the writing, I was still convinced that it was not time to publish the novel. Upon graduation, I began working. I continued to read and edit the 1992 script. I went ahead to publish two books, English Incorporated in 2001 and 20 Success Secrets of Great Achievers in 2008. I read more books, did more writing as a journalist, an advertising practitioner and a public relations and branding consultant. In 2006, I typed the manuscript and began the serious work of rewriting it on the computer until in 2011 when I decided that it was ripe to be published.

I have noticed that there are two main reasons people shy away from reading literary fiction in Nigeria: first, most novels are unnecessarily long; second, most novels are not unputdownable.

Someone would read a John Grisham that is about 500 pages but would not want to read our novel that is about 300 pages, because Grisham presents the exciting periods in the story and links up the events so well that you don’t want to drop the novel until the last page. It is true that crime novels and thrillers cannot be compared to literature books, yet we literature writers need to borrow a leaf from them by ensuring that our stories concentrate on the most important events in the story.

But what I have done in Wings of the Night is to intentionally cut off all the fat and bones in the story, leaving the reader with only the flesh. Wings of the Night starts in the middle of things or in medias res, as the classical Greeks would say, and ends shortly after in just about 140 pages.

I believe that it is not the size of a novel that determines its quality. The most read African novel Things Fall Apart is among the smallest. So my view is that if a writer has the capacity to hold his readers captive in 300 pages, no problem. But if he can’t, there is no need punishing his readers by making a novel drag on forever.

Our ambition as novelists should be to compete with crime and thriller writers in the ability to hold the reader's attention till the last page.

they achieved was a sort of pyrrhic victory, a hollow victory that even the victor should be ashamed of.

In trying to pass on some messages in Wings of the Night, I was also careful to ensure that it is a book teenagers can read without being sexually charged. At the risk of being accused of sounding prudish or holierthan-thou, I must say that I am shocked at the amount of eroticism or, rather, sheer pornography, present in some of our literary works, that after reading some of these books, I find it hard to give such books to my teenage relations to read. I like writers who employ double entendre or sexual innuendoes that are witty and funny.

But more importantly, I also have noticed the degeneration in our spoken and written English.

Once these wrong expressions are introduced into our lexicon, they remain as immovable as the Rock of Gibraltar. And regrettably, many of our novelists and journalists are sucked into this trap. I ensured that, to the best of my ability, these expressions were written correctly in Wings of the Night.

But why is Wings of the Night not big?

There is also the theme of the need for us to know our genealogy or ancestry and not be ashamed of it

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he Grand Awards Night of the fourth edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa sponsored by telecommunication giant, Globacom comes up on 8thSeptember at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos starting at 4.00pm prompt.

Organisers of the event, The Lumina Foundation confirmed that former President of Ghana, Mr.John Agyekum Kufour will grace the occasion as the Chairman . Also in attendance is the Executive Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola who will be the host, while Mr. Ibikunle Amosun, the Executive Governor of Ogun State is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour.

As part of plans to spice up the event, top artists have been lined up to entertain at the Grand Awards Night .

Leading the pack is the masked artiste, Lagbaja who is expected to thrill the audience with his AoCgenre of , a product of various influences ranging from traditional Yoruba music to Jazz.Also expected to add colour to the night are Crown Troupe with their energetic steps and Nerfetiti a new sensation group with their unique style.

The first edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa was held in 2006. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 as a Biennial Award for the best literary work produced by an African. It honours Africa’s great writers and causes their works to be appreciated. It also celebrates excellent writing, promotes scholarship and makes books available and affordable by subsidizing the publication of books in the top list of the judges.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 49 chimeena@yahoo.com

BY JAPHET ALAKAM VISUAL

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menike Ogwo is one of the great painters of Nigeria’s traditional contemporary art, and ever since he graduated from the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, in 1994, he has shown his love for his immediate environment, and most times, draws attention to it through most of his works.

And after his last solo exhibition in 2009 titled Fourth Edition at the National Museum, Lagos, the painter who prefers to use his art as a way to express his cultural pride and his belief in freedom of speech and positive living, is set for another solo show titled Impastro.

The one week visual exhibition of paintings which is a collection of works from his recent past to the present is scheduled to open at the Lagos culture house, Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos on the 8th of September and run to 13th of September, 2012.

With his unique style which is often thought provoking and good combination of colours, the artist who believes in using whatever he has to change the system while showing the situation through paintings speaks to Nigerians with his new works. Displaying his creative ability, Ogwo through most of the works stresses his love for colours while still making his statement about the state of things in his environment. Impastro according to him is “a textual

Ogwo, refreshing the memory with Impastro

paintings in large, miniature and extra large sizes, visitors and art lovers who has been craving to see the works of the instinctive painter will not be disappointed with the quality of works. Some of the works include, Tokunbu car park(Marina), CMS Bus stop, The Good Shepherd, Breast Feeding, what future etc. For example in the work titled Breast Feeding, what future which depicts a young cow following the mother, Ogwo uses the work to draw attention to the clamour by health experts on the need for mothers to breast feed their babies.

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Tokunbo car pack (Marina), one of the works to be exhibited technique of expressing yourself using colours. In the works you could see a level of colours and that was what informed the title.” He said.

Combining the five characteristics of a superior painting, the artist who dwells on nature and his environment to draw attention

to his art once again uses his medium to critically highlight the ills of the society and at same time advocate for social change. With about 40

n his artistic statement, the artist said, “In judging our progress as individuals, we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one’s social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education. But internal factors may be even more crucial in accessing one’s development as a human being – Honesty, Sincerity, Simplicity, Humility, Purity, Generosity, Absence of vanity, readiness to serve your fellow men to mention but a few. This exhibition “Impasto” deals with qualities within the reach of every soul which is the foundation of one’s spiritual life.”

A look at the works displayed showed a deeper reflection of some of the ills in the society, but the way the artist paints it makes the viewer to love the work to the extent that even if he/she is depressed, a look at it probably put him/her in a kinder frame of mind.

Hassan Adamu’s diplomatic exploits

BY AKIN THOMAS

REVIEW

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he diplomatic excellence and the strategies adopted in reversing the strained relationship occasioned by Nigeria’s military dictatorship and getting America to smile to Nigeria once more, thereby quickening the march to democratization, will remain in Africa’s book of diplomacy for the benefits of present and future generations Ambassador Hassan Adamu’s strategies and his diplomatic approach to the re-establishment of friendly relations and political cordiality between Nigeria and America in the close of 1900s is now the subject of a new book just published by a Nigerian Journalist who monitored the political scenario surrounding the ambassadorial appointment of Dr. Hassan Adamu. Being a noncareer diplomat, his acceptance to take up the challenge of wooing America for Nigeria’s eventual democratization process took some of his friends and close business associates by surprise.

A new book titled Hassan Adamu: The Diplomatic Exploits of a Nigerian Ambassador in America: ... is the newest African book on International Relations and Diplomacy written from the perspective of a Nigerian journalist, Dayo Duyile.

The author of the book, Dayo Duyile, a university lecturer and journalist of many years of professional media experience, has chronicled the events which led to the breakdown of diplomatic trust between Nigeria and America in the 1990s: the roles played by the military governments of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha, and Gen. Abubakar; the real diplomatic exploits, political strategies, and the Washington manoeuvres of Ambassador Hassan Adamu; the roles of nationalist Nigerian communities in America are all put together in a sort of political and historical perpespective in the 168-page book. The book is richly illustrated, pictorially, exhibiting the social and political aspects of Nigerian diplomacy and some elements of social relations as exhibited by Ambassador

Adamu.

The 20 chapters of the book deal with various aspects of the political and diplomatic assignments of Dr. Hassan Adamu during his three years sojourn in Washington D.C. The book begins with an updated profile of the subject, and deals exhaustively on the diplomat’s journey to an unfamiliar terrain. It crowns this

,

The book deal with various aspects of the political and diplomatic assignments of Dr. Hassan Adamu during his three years sojourn in Washington D.C.

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aspect of him with a brief narration :”From Entrepreneurship To Ambassadorial ... “ The book deals intensely into other aspects relevant to the envoy ’s diplomatic engagements, the difficulties he encountered, the NADECO issue in America, the Hard drug dilemma, the position of the White House in Nigerian af-

fairs, the role of Gen. Abubakar, then Nigeria’s Head of State: the march towards democratic dispensation up to the return of President Olusegun Obasanjo to political power in 1999.

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ll these and more are fea tured in Dayo Duyile’s book on Ambassador Hassan Adamu’s diplomatic exploits in America. It is a book for all lovers of Nigeria to read and digest. It is a good reading material for journalists, diplomats, politicians and scholars of international politics and diplomacy.

The captains of industry should not be left out of the reading pleasure deriveable from a book of this nature.

Reading through the chapters of the new book presents the reader with first hand information about the intricacies, difficulties and challenges which Ambassador Hassan Adamu encountered while doing the Neoman’s job and how he conquered them all.

One will also have the impression, a wonderful one for that matter, that

Ambassador Adamu was a genius in diplomacy as he has always demonstrated in his business administration, and as President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), a position he held for many years during which he improved the country’s manufacturing sector.

A Journey into DiplomacyThe Diplomatic Exploits of a Nigerian Ambassador in America; Dayo Duyile; Gong Communications Ltd, Lagos; 2011;PP 168.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012

Akwa Ibom: ‘We want to groom future leaders’ Ordinarily, one should have contended promoting Akpabioism as an ideology is a bye-product of the accolades and honours garnered by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State from corporate Nigeria in recent times. But that the ideology being entrenched in Nigeria’s political lexicon preceded these numerous honours is a pointer to the determination of its main promoter. As a matter of fact, a gigantic centre, Akpabioist Centre, is being built by the main force behind the ideology at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Pastor James Bassey, the brain behind Akpabioism and its entrenchment, speaks on his pet project. Excerpts: Why are you building the centre?

E hope to built the centre as a rallying point for our brothers in the South-south and those of us who are in the diaspora, because we want them to come back to sit, study, learn and activate their mindset towards the development of the state.

Akpabioism has become the order of the day; everybody is talking about the concept and ideology of Akpabioism. For you to have success in developing the mindset of the people you must have a place of study. We also look at Akpabio as a man that must be studied. The idea about the Akpabioist Centre is also

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to groom the up-coming leaders so that they can have a rallying point. One of the things people should not forget is that when you establish structures; when you are developing yourself to the things that are happening within your environment and your spirit is settled for a study you can develop

,

BYADEOLAADENUGA

Akpabiosm is a legacy we are trying to build around the governor so that even when he is no longer in power people can come around to have a story on him yourself more.

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You are so deep in your belief in Governor Akpabio; are there any other reasons for this?

This kind of people don’t just come, they come once in a lifetime. We talked about Awoism as a concept to Yoruba. The late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was God-sent to the Igbo. God also sent a leader with a spirit of government transformation. That is why this man must be studied. We are building Akpabism library and in it we will stock and

Governor Godswill Akpabio store all the works of great leaders. We are going out of our way to bring in books of all the renowned worlds leaders, not just in politics, but in business etcetera. It will be so good for people to know what makes the founder of Microsoft the richest man in the world. People want to know how he started and where he is today.

Is it a way of entrenching his legacy after he might have left office?

This is one of the things we want to do. When people talk about Awoism, Zikism, Ghandism, Nkrumanism and the likes, some of these people are no more alive, but people still talk about them because of their legacy. Akpabiosm is a legacy we are trying to build

around the governor so that even when he is no longer in power people can come around to have a story on him.

In recent days, many of the people in the opposition to the governor will not agree with this. What makes you want to institutionalise his achievements?

The opposition you are talking about are not from Akwa-Ibom. I think they are from the outside, they are not happy because this is AkwaIbom. They never believed something good like this can come from Akwa-Ibom because it used to be like one of those states.

Today, Akwa-Ibom is not like one of those states, we have our identity, which the

governor has given us. The opposition have nothing to say. Are they going to talk about infrastructural development or what? Are they going to talk about the airport, which is one of the best in the country or the independent power plant project?

Many people will not agree with you that the project is being financed by some banks through you?

In Akpabioist Centre we discuss ideas. We hardly discuss the issue of money or finance because if you discuss money you lose focus. Ideas bring money. Akpabioist Centre is being built by us you can go out and do your own investigation. We have not gotten a kobo from anybody. I think this is our contribution to the good work the governor is doing. We cannot contribute something and go on to say give us money. Governor Akpabio doesn’t need to do that; he has given us free education and infrastructural development. Today an average indigene of AkwaIbom is proud to be from the state.

What is the structure of Akpabioism movement?

We have even entered into an agreement with one of the best film producers in Africa today. We want to produce a world-class film on Akpabioism. By the grace of God, between now and December, the film will be out and shall be launched in Akpabioism Centre.

We have professors, doctors and people from all walks of life who support the idea. We have had powerful conferences in the last two years. The first conference was in 2010 when we brought in a vice-chancellor and professors to give lectures. We have had Professor Jerry Gana too. This year we are going to bring in a governor from the South-West. We are reaching out to some African leaders to come and lecture on the concept of Akpabioism.

Mimiko’s 3i’s Initiative

BY FEMI ADEPOJU

T

HE Minister for National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, did not mince words when, after a visit to Ondo State, he adjudged it a pace-setter in community development.

Toeing the same line, the European Union envoy in Nigeria, Ambassador David MacRae, said Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s success story in community development will be adopted by his home country. Usman and MacRae spoke at the flagoff of Micro Projects Programme (MPP9 )held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Mimiko had used the occasion to disclose that his administration had spent over N3billion on 425 projects in

the various communities of the state in the last three years with over 300 of the projects completed.

The MPP9 is an EU-FG intervention programme covering the nine Niger Delta States of Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa,Cross River, Delta , Edo, Imo Ondo and Rivers States. It is aimed at reducing poverty in the rural and sub – urban communities in the region.

Usman said, at the occasion, that steps taken by Mimiko in community development is commendable, describing his approach as standard.

“As the National Authorizing officer of EU programmes in the country, i feel honoured and privileged to be associated with this success story”, the minister said.

MacRae said the success

*The Caring Heart Market initiated as part of Mimiko's community development programme

story of Mimiko in community development and health will be taken back to his home country to emulate as he said the main purpose of MPP9 is to reduce poverty of rural and semi-urban communities in Ondo and other eight Niger Delta states through the promotion of participatory and gender equitable local development governance.

Flagging off the programme, Mimiko said apart from spending over N3billion on the execution of community projects, N129m will be disbursed to those communities that have embarked on self help projects, saying more communities will benefit as soon as they are qualified.

Advancing reasons for the

Continues on page 51

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012, PAGE 51

Mimiko’s 3i’s Initiative Continued from page 50 success so far recorded by the Mimiko administration in the area of community development ,the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said his principal’s determination to develop and impact on the people positively through implementation of different development programmes, commercial innovations and creating an enabling environment for partnerships and investors is the rationale behind the developmental programmes for these local communities.

He disclosed that as early as the government’s two year anniversary, community projects worth over N350m were commissioned by the governor, adding that, so far, the government has erected projects in over 400 communities in the state.

These projects, Akinmade said, are

,

Before the latest approach, rural dwellers had lost confidence in the government as promises made to them in the area of infrastructure provision by successive governments were never fulfilled

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part of the Quick Win Confidence building projects of the administration using its 3i’s initiative.The 3i’s initiative is designed by the state with a special focus on rural and community development, using the participatory , community –driven “bottom –up with top down support” approach.

The 3i’s is an acronym for Infrastructure, Institution and Industry. The first “I” which stands for “Infrastructure” is aimed at building confidence and trust while the second “I” which stands for “Institution” is aimed at empowering communities for sustainable development and the third “I” which stands for “Industry ” is aimed at enriching the people of Ondo State.

The initiative was designed to rebuild the confidence of the people in government through the provision of basic infrastructure, implementation of community projects such as electricity, water, access to primary health care and education within rural communities.Through the initiative, the government identifies existing

institutions and encourages the setting up of new ones and supports such institutions by building their capacities and providing financial support for development. In the area of Industry, the government identifies potential and viable industries within the communities that are now being expanded to encourage commerce and generate income for the people.

To achieve the aim of the government under this initiative, teams are usually raised from time to time to visit identified communities to determine projects desired by them. It is whatever projects the natives demanded that are committed to native contractors who are resident within the community and well known to the residents while details of the contract are made open to the community members.

Before the latest approach, rural dwellers had lost confidence in the government as promises made to them in the area of infrastructure provision by successive governments were never fulfilled. This was the initial challenge the Mimiko government was confronted with.

An instance of such apathy against the government was the scenario that played out in Oyin village of former police chief, SundayEhindero . When the government initiated its community development idea and a team was raised to visit the village, they were chased away.

According to the people, all developmental projects that have taken place in Oyin had been through self effort because successive governments that promised one thing or the other never redeemed those promises, hence they were not ready to be taken for a ride by yet another government.

News of the occurrence did not go down well with Mimiko who insisted that officials of the relevant ministry should go back to the village and convince them that his is really a sincere government that should be given the opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity. This approach worked wonders as the natives welcomed back the visiting team and demanded for a Town Hall. And, about two months later, the Town Hall was delivered.

Within the space of just two years, the Mimiko-led government had demonstrated so much passion and commitment to the rural development in the state such that about 400 confidence building projects, gulping N2, 594,795.00 were executed in 305 communities across the state. Some of the projects erected in these communities include cottage, basic health centres, classrooms blocks, culvert, open market stalls, and solarpowered boreholes and staff quarters, among others.

Monarch, IYC task Minister on N-Delta devt

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IGER Delta Affairs minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has been urged to hasten up in implementing President Goodluck Jonathan’s development plan for the region through sustainable people empowerment and completion of projects.

The monarch of Beinmogbene, an Odimodi community in Burutu local government area, Delta State, HRH Brawaide Ogokeme, appealed to Orubebe to go beyond his repeated religious ritual of distributing Bibles, cloths and bags of rice to aged people

and sign-post development projects in the territory.

In a related call, the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, Comrade Oweikeye Endoro, said Orubebe can help his and President Jonathan’s future political ambitions better by empowering youths to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of their aged parents.

He lamented a situation where the Skills Acquisition Centre project in Tuomo, for instance, is now abandoned.

Teenage dating game

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OR many teenag ers, the need to be appreciated tends to increase from the age of 13. That is the average age when puberty begins and the teenager starts showing physical signs of bodily development around his sensuous areas; while the emotional needs of being appreciated by someone outside mummy and daddy subsequently reaches an all-time high by the age 15.

It is simply inexplicable how good and elated I felt at14 when an older boy tried to get my attention for the very first time during an afternoon errand just around my then neighborhood. Although I didn’t give my admirer a second thought after the brief encounter on the street, I recall vividly how disturbed I was prior to that day on the possibility of how so ugly and unnoticeable I may have become compared to some other girls who had started dating. Each time I turned to the mirror, I wondered why no one was noticing me and the depressing thought continued until the moment I got chased. My inferiority complex vanished.

So why does the average parent frown at the 15-year-old when seen with the opposite sex? This is because of the misconception that is ascribed to the dating game. Dating is quite different from sex even though the former could lead to the latter. Dating is when both sexes love themselves and are naturally attracted to each other due to the same interest they share like school, library, choir, dance class and so on. When teenagers share and interact with each other on common grounds, this inadvertently breeds a level of appreciation between the two. With time, they will hardly get tired or bored when they are together. At this point, both boy and girl become inseparable because of the interests they share. This time of inseparable appreciation is known as dating which many misconstrue as sex. Dating is not sex. As a teenage girl, you can date a boy without sleeping with him, you can keep yourself chaste and get into marriage the old fashioned way; a virgin, although not easy but could be possible. Boys tend to respect girls who value themselves. Your boyfriend tends to place higher value on you if you do not come cheap by allowing him sleep with you as a teenage girl. Sex outside marriage always comes with high risks of teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, abortions, discontinued education, as well as unnecessary heartbreaks which have made some young girls become deranged or even suicidal. These are

some of the menaces which parents tend to shield their children from while frowning at teenage dating.

When is the right time for teenage dating? Although there is no spelt out age as to when a teenager can start dating, by age 16, some children may have been in tune with their emotions and that age could be considered to be old enough for dating.

Before that age, a young man may not have fully understood himself and his emotions much less managing that of a girl who is still learning to understand her own emotion? Dating is an emotional game and has left many teenagers heart-broken and disillusioned about becoming involved with the opposite sex later on.

As a parent, if for religion or tradition you can not teach your teenager how to use a contraceptive as it is advised, alternatively you can teach him/ her abstinence in dating. Teenage dating is a serious enterprise and parents need to be more involved with their children and what they are passing through in their emotional lives instead of leaving them to themselves or choosing not to be aware until the unintended occurs.

To avoid the pitfalls of sex during teenage dating 1. You can take part in activities you enjoy together 2. Be more involved with outdoor activities, to avoid being alone 3. Avoid spending hours alone behind closed doors.

4. Learn to say no and then walk away when a date is going beyond your set boundaries.

5. Do other activities that you enjoy together.

6. Be sure to take a chaperon along on private dates.

7. Keep to your curfew time set for you by your parents, so you do not get into trouble of late hours.

PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 26, 2012 take good care of her, for marriage. 07036476528

Searching Male

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Spirit of love

hat is love? Love is the light from the moon, the ray from the sun, the mystery of the abyss.

Where is love? Deep in our souls, in the chambers of our heart, inside the hemispheres of our brain, within every shed of light to the strangers in the dark, Love exists beyond time and measurement, for love is uncanny, the extraordinary element, without love, we are astoundingly weak, and the world is bleak, for love is the foundation and the peak, love is necessary for internal and external peace. cheers !

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DISCLAIMER!

Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

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

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SUNDAY Vanguard, August 26, 2012 — 53

Bolt, Blake shift rematch to 2013

S

Chukwuemeka reveals ‘dope-related’ pain

S

HOT putter, Vivian Chukwuemeka revealed that her morale is permanently trampled, as she eagerly wants to clear her name, after she became entangled in a fresh dope mess on her return, from a 2-year suspension.

Chukwuemeka stole the

that she had tested positive to banned substances from the All Nigeria/ Cross River Championships in Calabar.

“I’m still in shock. I cannot believe this is happening again,” said the Delta-born athlete.

She submitted that she has written to the AFN for

Why you must play golf •Golf cured my 8-year blood pressure – Mayuku Honourable Daniel Makuyu last Saturday was honoured with a one-day golf tournament, held at Ibori golf and Country club in Asaba. The event was also held to mark his 45th birthday. The tournament was organised by friends and associates, whose lives Mayuya had touched positively. In this interview with Vanguard, Mayuku speaks on his humble beginning as a golfer and why Nigerians should takes to golf among others. Enjoy it.

Starting off golf got into golf through a friend. Then, we were together in United States of America; he went shopping to buy golf kit for himself and his wife too. While they were there I was moved to buy some for myself. Having bought it for about a year, a friend of my came to the house and saw the golf kits, he was surprised that with the kits I was not playing the game. So he encouraged me into playing the game and that

I

was how I started.

Tough beginning Before I took to golf, I was a footballer and also an athlete. At first, I assumed that it was easier than any other sport because of the way people swing the club and hit the ball so easily. But when I started playing it I saw a different sport entirely. It was really challenging.

One thing about the game is by the time you overcome one challenge another challenge comes up. In a nutshell, It is a

over a month with the hope of getting to the bottom of the matter, based on her hunch that there must have been a mistake somewhere down the line.

“How is it that I tested positive in Calabar and not Port Novo, is it possible? The system is bad.

“I feel that someone or some people did not want me in London. They need to look at the doping committee.

I’m waiting for my B sample then I will open up,” said the athlete.

Commenting on the issue, AFN technical director, Omtasheye Nesiama stated that the AFN was equally shocked at the turn of events for the athlete.

“It is very sad how things have turned out for her. This is because the president and I encouraged her a lot to come back to the sport,” said Nesiama a Navy Captain. game of life, just like life, it provides one with different challenges.

Is golf an elite sport?

No, it is not an elite sport as people perceive it. It is a game of life like I said earlier on. If you go to the golf course today, I assure you that you won’t see more than two millionaires or billionaires’ playing golf.

At the same time, you

,

•Vivian

show at the African Championships in Port Novo, Benin Republic with a best throw of 18. 86m to set a new African record. She was looking forward to participating at the London 2012 Olympics Games, but Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials pulled the plug on her with the news

I have a serious problem in terms of my blood pressure; for eight years now, I have been treating high blood pressure. But since I discovered golf, I have not been admitted to the hospital.

,

would see more than 100 low class people, who cannot afford three square meal or house. So, with such people around it, why should it be called an elite sport? Of course people say only governors, senators and other top government functionaries play the game. If

IX-TIME Olympic champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica and his young compatriot Yohan Blake will not race each other again this season, Blake’s manager, Cubee Seegobin, indicated on Wednesday.

Bolt, who defended his 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in London, is due to contest the 200m in Thursday ’s Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, while Blake, who won silver in both individual sprints, will run in the 100m. The training partners — gold medallists in Jamaica’s world recordbreaking 4x100m relay squad — will race over those same distances in the next meeting in Zurich on August 30, before swapping for the Brussels event on September 7.

Asked about the possibilities for a rematch between the pair and his desire to test himself against his elder rival, Blake said: “Yes, I always love running against him. But ask my manager, who really knows the business.”

Seegobin said: “Coach (Glenn) Mills gives Yohan a programme and it’s tailored according to people’s wishes. It’s something for the managers, the meeting director and sponsors.

“And I don’t think of it in terms of confrontation but you asked me, among the 36 states that we have in Nigeria, how many governors or senators play golf? Only one, even he is no longer a governor. And in the whole country, how many honourable members play golf? From the national level they are two and the Senate President, David Mark. And in the country, how many commissioners play? Not more than five. So why is it an elite sport?

Sincerely speaking, it is not an elite sport. It is a sport for everybody. It is just that people are ignorant of the game. It is a game that should be encouraged by the government and Nigerians.

Toughest moments Since I started playing golf, I have never experienced any difficult moment. Golf is a stress-free game that solves problems.

It wards off stress.

I have a serious problem in

in terms of what the organiser offers.” Even if Zurich attempted a rematch, Seegobin said he did not see much point after the Olympics, which was the high point of the season, while the two sprinters had already faced off in the Jamaica national trials in June.

As such, a race between the pair looks more likely next season. “My objectives at the end of this season are to continue to run well, im-

prove technically, and not get injured,” said Blake.

“In 2013, I will have titles to defend (including the 100m) at the World Championships (in Moscow).”

In the meantime, there has been talk of both men playing cricket in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League after Bolt expressed an interest in turning out for Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Sixers said they hoped to lure Blake.

Izonritei calls for boxing revival

A

S the blame game continues after Nigeria’s poor outing at the recently concluded London Olympics, one of the country’s flagbearers at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Emmanuel Izorintei, who competed in the heavyweight class has called for a return to grassroots sports development, if the country must improve in sports.

Izonritei who won a gold medal at the Edo 2000 National Sport festival,said that he had concluded plans to visit Nigeria and stage a boxing tournament in the country before the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival.

Izonritei who is the coach of the British Army boxing team, said it was high time Nigerians came together to rescue Nigerian sports and best time to do so was now.

“I feel very bad when I see Nigerian boxers lose to opponents they were surposed to beat. And the reason behind this is lack of exposure, coupled with lack of sponsorship.

“This is why I have taken it upon myself to come and sponsor a tournament which I believe will serve as a wake up call for Nigerian boxers as well as a challenge to corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians to come and invest in sports especially at the grassroot level”. terms of my blood pressure; for eight years now, I have been treating high blood pressure. But since I discovered golf, I have not been admitted to the hospital. It takes your mind off stress. And by the time you are through with 18 holes you would be tired. And when you bath the next thing is to go to sleep. I know of somebody that had partial stroke and that was treated by playing golf. Today, he doesn’t really remember that he had stroke.

As a person, I have had a tough moment in my life- as a child, a boy and also as a man.But I think the toughest moment of my life was after the death of my father. It was one period in life I got confused and my life was in complete shambles. Then, there was no body to help me. After his death, I was rejected by my cousins but among all the challenges I faced as a school boy, education was my priority. As I was not carried away with youthful exuberance and social vices.

Overcoming my trials I would say that God was always there for me alongside my desire to become a responsible person in the society.

Lesson Learned To be always focussed no matter the circumstances that you find yourself.

Advice Education is the key, no matter the situation you are confronting in life. And there is no excuse if you don’t get education.

PAGE 54 —

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012 — 55

Yes, Nigeria can win Olympic medals in 2020

BY IAIN NELSON Continued from yesterday ONETHELESS we succeeded in delivering at least two major initiatives towards the sports development of youth.

As Chairman of the Organising Committee for the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Shell Cup, along with Segun Odegbami we successfully initiated and ran this major competition.

Also, as Deputy Chairman of the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Competition we successfully persuaded Nestle to invest in this initiative.

Reflecting on the concept behind the National Collegiate Sports Foundation....I do believe it to have some real positives. For instance, to potential sports development sponsors, their normal concerns surrounding ‘sponsorship’ could be allayed. The foundation included key people from both the private and public sectors.

In the event of any such future initiative towards assisting in youth sports development, it must be remembered that everyone involved has to possess CCI. As the sponsor, on behalf of the Seven Up Bottling Company and Pepsi, of the Pepsi Pro League for six years and as a member of the NFA’s Committee on the Nigerian Professional League:I can say that it is both possible to obtain a committed sponsor and to simply just file away the efforts and suggestions of a committee!

Certainly Pepsi was a most committed sponsor....introducing many initiatives and awards towards motivating and recognising all the many stakeholders in the sport. Pepsi Player of the month, Pepsi Club of the month, Pepsi Supporters club of the month, Pepsi TV, Radio, Press, Photographer of the month and so on.

Obtaining sponsorship funding is fine....obtaining such support from a committed partner who seeks to develop and grow the sport is the ultimate objective.

With regard to my experience as a most committed member of the committee on the Nigerian Professional League....we did seriously address the challenges and presented significant recommendations for the way ahead.

Okagbare and failure of Team Nigeria

T

N

Okagbare I wonder if anyone actually read these recommendations!!

And, I challenge anybody to find a copy!!

This, I guess, is somewhat symptomatic of far too many instances.

“We have set up a committee to investigate and provide a report on their recommendations” Committees that have been set up over the years towards developing proposals for youth/sports development have been viewed as the only necessary ‘action’ required!

As a participant in the Vision 2010 for sports, under the chairmanship of the late minister Tony Ikazabo:I recall all those years ago discussing the ‘vertical’ versus the ‘horizontal’ approach to sports development in Nigeria.

Essentially, where a nation has not got the available funds to significantly invest behind the development of every sport....horizontal funding ... [eg: China, USA]....then, like some countries [Kenya, in long distance]....they concentrate their funding, vertically, behind the development and encouragement of sports where they know they can excel.

Nigerian athletes can excel in specific and known sports, we all know what they are.

Nigeria are not, for instance, going to produce a skiing medallist at the winter Olympics!

Indeed, there are quite a few Olympic sports where Nigeria should not expect a medal over the years ahead and certainly not by the 2020 Olympics.

It was said all those years ago.....if Nigeria wants to achieve Olympic medals, the painful choice of ‘vertical’ developmental programming and financing is the only way.

On this occasion, maybe there might be a policy decision in this regard?

Member of the National Sports Hall of Fame, Board of Trustees:This was the Sports ministers initiative and was intended to achieve recognition of Nigerian sports personalities from across the full

spectrum....not just football!

This goes back to the point I have made concerning how we tried to grow the interest in female football....through recognising and featuring the stars as stars.

As Trustee of The Kanu Heart Foundation and Marketing Director of the Kanu – Children in Need Project:We undertook many initiatives towards raising funds for the Kanu – Children in Need project.

All the fund raising, and the activities themselves, were concentrated within the private sector.

We had Football matches [Arsenal Ladies FC and the Turkey U18 national team participated], we had Basketball matches, Fashion shows, Street cleaning, Sports quizzes etc. We raised a lot of money which we spent on bringing a team of heart surgeons and equipment to Nigeria.

The lesson?

If the cause is credible and the potential benefits to the sponsors are clear and that they are assured that they are dealing with people with CCI.....there is no limit as to what can be achieved.

Finally: If Nigeria seek to progress a realistic plan towards achieving Olympic medals in 2020:· We need rolling, 10 year, developmental plans for each determined sport....recognising that it normally takes 10 years to develop successful athletes.

We can evidence the experience of the Pepsi Football Academy that has been involved for 20 years in youth development. · We need to be able to identify potential talents at a young age and assist in their development [the ‘vertical’ approach.

We can evidence the experience of the Pepsi Football Academy where we have run ‘talent hunts’ to offer the opportunity of many youngsters to showcase their skills, and be invited to join the academy.

•Nelson is consultant to Pepsi Football Academy

HAT Team Nigeria put up a dismal performance at the just concluded London Olympics is no longer news but what should be asked now is why it happened and how it could be corrected in future. Days after the Federal Government announced it would overhaul the entire sports sector, no word has been heard about how it is going about it.

That has always been the problem with Nigeria, so much talk but no action. We have passed through this same part several times in the past but seem not to have learnt anything from it, hence we keep making the same mistakes but expecting a different result.

Even the House of Representatives Committee on Sports whose function is supposed to end at making laws that would help in moving sports forward, always want to join in executing projects or supervising athletes themselves.

Otherwise what is the business of the committee members at training tours of the athletes or even the competition proper if it is not to accumulate foreign exchange which could have been ploughed into preparing the athletes for the challenges ahead.

Talking about overhauling the sports sector, at the Federal level, it should start from the Sports Federations. Competent secretariat staff should be employed not the present case where we have some secretaries who could hardly interpret technical reports of coaches how much more write one themselves.

Members of federations should be men of means and intellect who can go to the private sector and source for funds and not those whose only ambition is to sit and await government subvention which are unaccounted for most of the times.

Very few of them existed in the past but for space I will mention three here. Cosmos Maduka of Table Tennis, Eddie Aderinokun of Volleyball and Dan Ngerem of Athletics.

Maduka got frustrated after his efforts were not complemented or appreciated while Aderinokun was schemed out to make way for a civil servant whose only ambition was to climb to the world body of the sport and perpe-

trate himself in power.

Ngerem’s sins were that he was too frugal and didn’t allow wastage while some of the civil servants felt he drove them to the limits to achieve results. And some ex athletes wanted a piece of the action, not necessarily to make an impact but to share from the national cake.

It was during Ngerem’s tenure at the AFN that Blessing Okagbare was discovered from a junior championship, the Nkoyo Ibori Championships.

The AFN also had other competitions from which other athletes were picked but those who didn’t like him ensured he never came back after his first term. Shockingly though, after one of their own, a former athlete who succeeded Ngerem failed, they shamefully asked him to come back but of course, he turned them down.

Whatever Okagbare later became was as a result of the emergence of Solomon Ogba, a former Delta State Sports Commissioner, who became president of the AFN. Chief Ogba almost threw in the towel when he discovered that leading the federation was not as easy as he thought.

As an indigene of Delta State, Okagbare got the support of the government which ensured she got into school in the United States and therefore was exposed to good facilities. Even though she and other athletes got federal government grants late, they were camped in the US for awhile, but it was not enough to compete against others who had been preparing two or three years earlier.

Okagbare’s major undoing at the London Olympics was not that she burnt herself out, running in some meets close to the Games, after all those who beat her to the medals equally took part in those meets and Okagbare beat them there.

Those athletes may have taken the pre Olympics meets as part of their training but for Okagbare it was real business and the result boosted her morale for the London Games and Nigerians began to dream of a medal from her. She became the eye of Team Nigeria in London and the pressure began to mount.

Seasoned coach and an

IAAF instructor, Rotimi Obajimi said during a discussion recently that Okagbare could have been able to win a medal if she had technical tips from the coaching crew.

According to him, Okagbare ran the semi final as if it was the final.

“You don’t win a medal in the semi final so she should have just run to qualify knowing that the final was coming up in a couple of hours. She burnt her energy in the semi final and there was no way she could have recouped enough energy for the final,” Obajimi told this reporter.

After the 100m failure, Obajimi said Okagbare was psychologically down and needed a psychologists to work on her for the long jump event but doubted if they had one in their camp.

Apart from adequate and proper coaching tips as well as psychological motivation, I doubt if Nigerian athletes have dieticians attached to them.

No wonder they feed voraciously like this reporter noticed during the training tour of Cuba before the All Africa Games in 2003. Their unfitness was noticed by Cuban doctors who advised they should be dewormed.

They started feeding properly thereafter and the training they had reflected in their performance at the Abuja Games that year.

Our Group Sports Editor, Onochie Anibeze also reported from London during the Olympics how our athletes were eating as if they won’t have another. That is the true story of the Nigerian athlete.

It is not only the athletes’ performance, coaching, psychology and nutrition also play major roles in winning of medals.

So as the restructuring begins, square pegs should be put in square holes at all levels while the federal government should behave like its counterparts around the world by voting money which should be released on time and not tied to the regular delayed annual budget. For President Jonathan’s information, Brazil has earmarked $700 million (about N112 billion) to prepare her athletes for the 2016 Olympic Games which the country will be hosting.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 26, 2012

EPL RESULTS Swansea Aston Villa Man Utd Norwich Southampton Tottenham Chelsea

3 1 3 1 0 1 2

West Ham Everton Fulham QPR Wigan West Brom Newcastle U.

RVP scores in Man U win

0 3 2 1 2 1 0

R

Federation Cup: Lobi, Heartland set Lagos aglow L

OBI Stars said they hope to dethrone Heartland in Sunday’s Federation Cup final to keep alive their quest for the double this season. The winner of the Cup will represent Nigeria in next year ’s CAF Confederation Cup. Lobi captain Ikpeen Terna said Heartland will fall to the youthful Makurdi team, who have really taken Nigeria by storm this year.

“We are ready for the Federation Cup final against Heartland. This is a great opportunity for us to win the double, we are in good form and spirit to win the trophy. I see nothing special about them. If we could beat Kano Pillars and others, Heartland will go down too,” said Terna.

Victory for Lobi would put them in the right frame for their final match of the NPL away to Kaduna United.

Lobi impressive showing in the league has been attributed to their invincibility at the substandard Katsina-Ala Stadium, but top official Dominic Iorfa has brushed aside such talk. ”Why is it that it is now that they are lamenting about our stadium? Before we went to Katsina Ala, we played all our home matches away from home,” said vice-chairman Iorfa, who also doubles as the club’s technical adviser. ”Everybody knows that Lobi are the best team this season in the league. We are now second on the table and we are in the final of the FA Cup and nobody is saying anything.

“Our players are not being looked at for national team assignments and nobody is saying anything.”

The last time a team won a league and cup was in 2006 when Dolphin defeated Bendel Insurance to add the FA Cup to the league title won that year.

However, Lobi, cup winners in 2003, will have their hands full against cup holders Heartland, who upstaged regional rivals Enyimba in last year ’s final to put an end to their long wait for a major trophy.

Heartland, then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, won their last piece of silverware in 1988 and had to wait for 13 years before their victory over ‘Oriental’ rivals Enyimba last year.

OBIN VAN PERSIE’S classy leveller put United on the way to their first points of the season.

Damien Duff had stunned the hosts United when he found space in the area from Bryan Ruiz’s square free-kick to slot the visitors ahead on three minutes.

But seven minutes later Van Persie showed why, even aged 29, he is worth £24million.

The Dutchman created room for a controlled volley into the top corner from Patrice Evra’s cross.

That sparked a sustained chorus of his name from the Old Trafford fans.

Fellow newcomer Kagawa finally put United in front, bundling in after Mark Schwarzer spilled Tom Cleverley’s 20-yarder.

Rafael nodded home Antonio Valencia’s cross just prior to the break.

But, although United seemed set for a procession, they faced a few nervous moments after Nemanja Vidic’s own goal gave Fulham hope on 64 minutes.

Heartland players celebrate with the Fed Cup last year. Will they have the last laugh against Lobi Starts today?

Falconets eye q/final ticket Today: Nigeria Vs Italy 8.20 am

A

victory against the Italy will earn Nigeria the maximum three points and top spot of group B at the on-going FIFA U20 Women National Team in Japan. Today at the Univer Stadium in Kobe, Falconets of Nigeria battle Italy in one of the last group

matches that will determine the teams to move into the quarter final. Out of two matches played, Nigeria have four points and are closely followed by Korea Republic with three points with Brazil and Italy have two points and a point respectively. Interestingly, history is repeating itself today

as both teams were at the 2004 edition of the age grade competition in Thailand, were drawn in group B and played the last match which ended 1-1. ”We know what is at stake and we are not ready to bungle it. It is a win and nothing else so that others can know that we are in Japan for the trophy,” Team Captain, Gloria Ofoegbu said.

ACROSS 1. Nigeria’s neighbour (8) 4. Nigerian tribe (4) 6. Bird of prey (5) 7. Geometrical shape (8) 8. Shaft (4) 9. Tidy (4) 10. Turncoat (8) 11. One (4) 12. Within (2) 13. Boxes in training (5) 15. Tub (4) 18. Looked at (4) 21. Nigerian state (4) 23. Notion (4) 25. Sports field (5) 27. Above (2) 28. Image (4) 29. Lowers (8) 30. Emblem (4) 31. Hausa boy’s name (4) 32. Dared (8) 34. Barrier (5) 35. Friend (4) 36. Gently (8)

•Ordega

•Van Persie DOWN 1.Bed (3) 2. Enugu soccer team (7) 3. Maiden name (3) 4. Planet (7) 5. Chosen by vote (7) 9. After this (4) 10. Knock (3) 14. Nigerian Grammy Laureate (3) 16. Hatchet (3) 17. Hello (2) 19. Still (3) 20. Mathematical constant (2) 21. Anambra city (7) 22. Cancel (7) 24. Extinct flightless bird (4) 25. Sowed (7) 26. Lettuce (3) 32. Animal doctor (3) 33. Twelve hours (3)

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE

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