TERROR:95 dead as Army invades Boko Haram Camp.....24hrs curfew imposed in Yobe

2 —SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013 — 3

4 —SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 5

N32bn Police Pension Scam: How N14bn vanished without my knowledge, witness tells court

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

T

HE Head of Internal Audit at the Police Pension Office, Mr. Adeyemo Julius Adebolu, yesterday, narrated before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, how about N14billion meant for pensioners across the federation, vanished overnight.

Adebolu who mounted the witness box yesterday, said he never received any voucher for audit payment of the funds which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said was stolen by seven civil servants.

Those fingered in the fraud were Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, and Christian Madubuike.

In total, the anti-graft agency told the court that the accused persons succeeded in pilfering about N32billion meant for retired police officers.

At the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Adebolu who was led in evidence by EFCC lawyer Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told trial Justice Husseini Baba when he was shown First Bank statement of account of the police pension office on withdrawals to the tune of N14 billion that the withdrawals un-

der his watch were a big embarrassment done without his knowledge.

“I didn’t know anything about the cheques before that day,” he lamented.

When asked if there was any voucher backing the payments, the witness said: “Honestly sir, there is no voucher I received for audit payment, that’s the truth.”

The witness had earlier told the court that there was a federal government circular mandating all payments to be made via E-payments from January 1, 2009 and that the police pension office had flouted that orders up till September 2009.

Meanwhile, the court yesterday admitted the circular as Exhibit P5, even as the prosecution tendered as Exhibits, bundles of certified Cheques from the First bank as Exhibit P4 raised in the names of two accused persons Veronica U Onyegbula / Director, Police Pension Office (DPPO).

Adebolu also told the court that it was when he was invited to EFCC that he was shown the bank statement and cheques with regards to the payment.

He told the court that verification exercise/tours were conducted up to four times in a year in the police pension office and that he made payments on an average of N400million for the Duty

Tour Allowance (DTA) for officers involved in the verification exercises.

Besides, the witness, cited an instance where he got an alert of N2million and N5million respectively and when he sought clarification from the Head of Account, Mr John Yakubu Yusuf, he was told that the money is meant for payment of the senate and house committee members on police pension.

He said when he asked why the money was raised in his name, he was told that management had agreed that the money will be paid in cash rather than electronically and the voucher duly approved by the Director, Police Pension Office was then raised before he cashed and handed over the N7million from his account to the Head of the central pay Office.

The witness also told the court that during festivity periods like Sallah, Christmas and Easter, Mr Yusuf, had on about five occasions, called him and gave him money for his

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE, Abuja

T

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has marked

•As aggrieved passengers threaten to sue Aero Contractors

T

HERE was a minor accident yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos involving a Turkish Airline aircraft and a Max Air plane. The Turkish Airline plane wings collided with that of Max Air plane which had brought in Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

Airport sources said the Turkish Airplane had landed safely but was taxing to stop at the apron, when its wing collided with that of Max Air. The collision resulted in minor damages to both airplanes and they have been taken away for repairs. When contacted ,

Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, spokesman for Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident. He however said damages to the aircraft belonging to both airlines are minor and that both planes have been taken away for repairs.

It will be recalled that there was a similar incident last year in Jos, Plateau State when an Arik plane’s wings brushed an Airforce jet parked at the apron when the plane was taxing to stop . There was no casualty in the incident but only damages to both planes.

Meanwhile, over 100 passengers of Aero Contractors aircraft that flew from Lagos to Enugu on Thursday without their luggage have threatened to drag the airline to court for alleged breach of contract. Some of the pas-

section, totalling N3.5million. “The instruction will always be that I should take 60% and share the balance to others, so because we are many, I take 30% and shared according to our rank”. Meantime, coun-

sel to the first accused person, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, asked the witness if the EFCC invited him in writing or on phone, Adebolu replied and said he was invited on phone through his director. The defence then

asked for an adjournment to enable him to cross examine the witness effectively, saying he is very important in the trial.

Consequently, Justice Baba adjourned the case to December 5 and 6 for continuation of trial.

FCTA marks nPDP Senator’s multi-billion property for demolition •It’s act of witch-hunt, persecution —Senator

Turkish Air, Max Air planes collide at Lagos Airport

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu and LAWANI MIKAIRU

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) and The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adebayo (right) during a visit at Government House in Yenagoa.

sengers who were to travel to other South Eastern states after arriving the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Thursday afternoon said they were stranded in the coal city for about 24 hours with some of them wearing the same dress for almost two days.

The passengers said they were highly disappointed by the attitude of the airline’s staff in Enugu for failing to give any explanation regarding their inability to convey the luggage along with the passengers, stressing that the act was against standard practices by airline operators.

Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and former gubernatorial aspirant in Anambra State, Dr. George Okpagu and Justice D. T. Okunobi were among the passengers on board.

the multi-billion naira property, A-Class Park, belonging to Senator Aisha Alhassan, a member of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for demolition.

But Senator Alhassan, PDP, Taraba North has described the 48 hours given to her on Thursday which expires today to vacate the event centre at Kashim Ibrahim Way, Maitama, Abuja, as an act of witch-hunt and persecution.

The Department of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, of the FCT, in a demolition notice, on September 26, this year, had ordered AClass Park to “remove all structures on the Transit Way within two weeks.”

The Senator who is the Chairman of A-Class Events Management Services Ltd, said even the park opposite her three hectares park on the transit way corridor Maitama A06 District was not affected in the demolition.

According to her, AClass Events Management had written to the Parks and Recreation Department of FCTA expressing the interest to

develop and manage the designated park which was allocated to it via a letter AMMC/P&R/S.500 dated 8th February, 2010 but FCTA latter discovered that the Park N0. 102 A00 located opposite the NAOWA Shopping Complex near Command Guest House Asokoro was found to be encumbered.

Al-Hassan, who took journalists round the sprawling site yesterday, said she signed the documents but that the letter of temporary allocation given to her indicated that she would be given an alternative site when government was ready to commence construction of the Maitama Transit Way. She also maintained that all structures in the modern park were temporary which could be removed by her within 24 hours, whenever the government was ready with the construction of the transit way project, without seeking compensation.

Al - Hassan said that the fact that the government had allocated sites on the Transit Way Corridor to similar firms near her own park and were not given notices of demolition, clearly showed that she was being punished over

her role in the current crisis rocking the PDP. She noted that hundreds of her staff, most of whom are bread-winners, would remain jobless while the site, after demolition would grow weeds and become hideouts for criminals because findings by her, had shown that the FG was not prepared to start the Transit Way project for now.

The Senator noted that the fund for the development of the marked areas was not captured in the budget of the country.

Al - Hassan said, “If because of grievances that I have against the leadership of my party, which made me to join the Kawu Baraje’s group, I am now being witch-hunted and persecuted alongside innocent workers, God is watching”

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Court gives EFCC one week to produce documents related to Atuche’s trial

BY ONOZURE DANIA

J

USTICE Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja yesterday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce some documents for the trial of a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.

Justice Okunnu who had on October 2 issued a subpoena on the EFCC, gave the anti- graft agency one week to produce the documents before the court on November1.

The documents are the board resolutions of three companies:Integrated Services Ltd, Futureview Financial Services Ltd, Tradjeck Ltd. and Extra Oil Ltd. Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, were brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside a former Chief Financial

Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

The defendants are standing trial over alleged stealing of N25.7 billion belonging to Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank).

At the resumed trial yesterday, Atuche’s counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), asked the court to order the EFCC to produce the original documents.

Idigbe said they were relevant to the charge as they relate to a N10.9 billion credit facility Atuche had allegedly granted to the companies, without their knowledge.

He claimed that the

original copies of the said documents were in the custody of the EFCC. An EFCC official, Mr Boniface Uzoechi, said the documents were at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. Uzoechi said:” I got to know about today’s adjournment last night on my way from Osun State. ”I was unable to get through to the Abuja office to produce the documents.”

The court admitted as exhibits, Bank PHB Annual Reports for the years 2006,2007 and 2008.

Also admitted as exhibits were minutes of Bank PHB Board of Directors meetings between May 2007 and September 2009.

ASUU, DELSU Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Mordi, leading the protest on Wednesday in Abraka, Delta State

ASUU strike: DELSU lecturers dare Uduaghan on ‘no work, no pay’

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Abraka

S

TRIKING lecturers at the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Delta State, during the week, took to the streets, challenging the state gov-

ernor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to implement his threat of ‘no work, no pay’, Monday in Abuja.

Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, DELSU, Abraka branch, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi, who led the protest march round the

community noted that the Federal Government had stopped the payment of salaries of lecturers in federal universities because of the nearly four months strike, following which the state government had threatened to also stop salaries of lecturers in the state-owned university.

His words, “The Delta state government has also announced its intention to follow suit. We need to remind them that the policy of ‘no work, no pay’ will give rise at the

end of the day to the policy of ‘no pay, no work’ because every actions begets an equal reaction.”

Dr. Mordi said ASUU has passed the point of no retreat, no surrender in the strike action, adding, “The struggle continues until government fully implements the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MoU and the the 2013 Technical Report on Needs Assessment of Nigerian public universities.

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, had

at the fund raising ceremony of N25 billion by the Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Foundation in Abuja, said that the policy of ‘no work no pay’ would be applied for the on-going strike action by the academic staff of the State university (DELSU), Abraka. He said the ‘no work, no pay’ policy became necessary after several appeals to the lecturers to call off the strike yielded no result, adding that the policy was adopted because the demands of ASUU had no bearing with lecturers in the state university.

Isreal: Obi, Orji urge prayers for Nigeria

G

OVERNORS Peter Obi of Anambra and Theodore Orji of Abia have called on Nigerians to pray for the country at all times. They made the call yesterday as part of the delegation of Mr. Presi-

dent, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is currently on pilgrimage to Israel.

Both commended the President for the decision to go on pilgrimage, submitting that it was spiritually rewarding and also a

Chime expresses satisfaction with performance of LG chairmen

G

OVERNOR Sulli van Chime of Enugu State has expresssed satisfaction with the performance of local government council Chairmen in the state saying that they had delivered on the promises of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the people of their respective areas.

The Governor who stated this during his campaign tour of Igbo Eze North and Igbo Eze South Local government councils ahead of the November 2 local government elections, said the chairmen

had helped him bring tremendous improvements to the socio-economic lives of the people through their various developmental projects.

This, he said was mainly responsible for the absence of the opposition in the state as evidenced by the fact that all the PDP chairmanship candidates for the November elections are all running unopposed. The Governor however urged the people to turn out in their numbers on the day of the election to vote in affirmation of the candiadates in accordance with the law.

sign that Mr. President desired spiritual strength as he studiously tackled the challenges facing our country. They both prayed to God to grant the President the needed wisdom, discernment and understanding and for Nigerians, the grace to accept God’s will at all times.

In his own remarks, Gov. Obi who described the pilgrimage as “rewarding spiritual journey, exploring the history of salvation” said it afforded him the time and opportunity to commune with God. “It was a journey of faith that reminded us that we are all pilgrims on this earth. For me, it was an opportunity to pray for myself, my family, the President, on whose invitation I made the trip and above all, for our dear country Nigeria, which God has entrusted on the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 7

Senate justifies N150 billion annual budget for NASS •Absolves self of national waste

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE, Abuja

T

HE Senate has de fended the N150 billion annual budget of the National Assembly which represents three percent of the nation’s annual budget of N4.8 trillion, saying the amount for the nation’s apex legislative body was not out of place.

It explained that the said amount was for all staff of the National Assembly, the Legislative Institute, National Assembly Service Commission as well as capital projects, contrary to public insinuation that the amount was only for the national legislators.

This explanation came against the public outcry that the ‘jumbo pay’ to the legislature alone was affecting the resources of the country.

Meantime, the National Assembly has unveiled the logo for the 1st African Legislative Summit, 2013 which is expected to bring together participants from many countries around the world, particularly Africa includ-

ing officials at the executive branch of government within the continent.

The National Assembly through the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, would be hosting the Summit from November 10-13, 2013.

The summit is expected to provide an avenue for legislators and stakeholders across the continent to deliberate on current issues and developments relating to the effective functioning of African parliaments, national economies and democratic governance.

President of the Summit and Nigeria Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba at the ceremony of the unveiling of the logo exonerated the National Assembly from alleged national waste.

Ndoma-Egba while answering questions from journalists that the nation’s federal legislature had become expensive, said NASS annual budget of N150 billion cannot be held responsible for the wastage.

According to him, the N150 billion, which represents three per cent of the annual national budget, was infinitesimal to

the remaining 97 per cent of the total budget of the country.

He said, contrary to the general impression, the N150 budget was not meant for the salary and allowances of the legislators alone but included that of other institutions within the National Assembly.

The institutions, he disclosed, included the staff of the National Assembly Service Commission, the staff and management of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) and legislative aides of the lawmakers as well as that of the medical staff attached to the National Assembly.

Senate President David Mark who unveiled the logo corroborated the Senate Leader as he said

By ANOZIE EGOLE

A

FTER due examina tionation of the various social contracts of the 23 gubernatorial candidates of Anambra state, the youths of the state under the aegis of Youth for Greater Anambra State, (YGAS), has endorsed Willie Obiano, the candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) because of his 10point agenda which he pledged through his 4-Cs action plan of continued, complete commision and commencement of new projects. The group which declared their interest in depening, strengthning and consolidating democracy, good governance and rule of law in the state also reaffirmed their determination to take their destiny in their hands by ensuring that a credible, patrotic and purposeful candidtate wins the November polls.

In a statement made available to SATURDAY

under-staffing was one of the problems hampering effective and efficient legislative business in the National Assembly.

In his speech at the event, he said emerging legislatures were under significant stresses which

• As Aka Ikenga warns critics

BY EMMA AMAIZE and ANOZIE EGOLE, Warri

F

ORUM for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Delta State,

formed Anambra State and attracted several foreign development partners to our once pariah state, subdued by monstrous godfathers and political jobbers on mission to loot our common patrimony. Our youths will no longer fold our hands in to political hawks who will mobilize unwary youths to cause confusion during elections and dump them after. That era has gone. It is a new dawn of political activism, economic empowerment, universal education, technological advancement, social integration and religious harmony,”.

Friday, said the spirited defence by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, that the controversial purchase of two armoured BMW cars at a whopping sum of N225 million passed through due process was morally wrong and an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians.

National coordinator of FJHD, Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a statement said, “From available information, the said purchase was hurriedly done at a time when our local and international airports across the country are in a state of disrepair and at a time when middle class and downtrodden Nigeri-

G

UNMEN invaded Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State

underdevelopment, executive interference in some cases and also staff and resources deficit as managers and staff of parliaments struggle to meet the growing demands placed on them.”

lius Inyevwe, Moto Onyo, Arire Ajinome and Lucky.

Friday’s attack came six days after the same armed gang stormed Uwheru and destroyed about 12 houses, causing villagers to flee the community.

ans are daily contending with issues of poverty, public infrastructural decay, massive unemployment and insecurity.”

“Against the back drop of her oath of office as a public office holder, Oduah had allowed her selfish interest to influence her official conduct and official decision as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If we may ask, does Oduah also live in an armoured house in Abuja? If the answer is in the negative, then her action and that of her Ministry in the above regard was fraudulent and immoral,” Ikimi asserted.

His words, “Therefore, we call on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to immediately relieve Mrs.

Stella Oduah of her position as the Honourable Minister for Aviation owing to her above dishonourable action and conduct as a public officeholder.”

“We also call for the immediate sack of any civil servant found culpable in the above act of conspiracy against the good people of Nigeria,” he added.

Meantime, a non- political Igbo social group under the aegis of Aka Ikenga, has accused a group, led by the former Minister of Aviation, of canvassing for the sack of the incumbent Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. The Igbo group told attention seekers that they cannot get to the president by peddling falsehood.

Pilgrim dies in transit to Israel

M

INNA: One of the Pilgrims from Niger State to this year’s Holy Pilgrimage to Israel, Mr.

Gunmen invade Uwheru again, injure 4 again, Friday afternoon, The injured persons persons maiming four persons, Ju- were said to have been

BY EMMA AMAIZE and FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

were becoming hindrances to efforts to exercise greater influence over government policies and hampering an effective performance of their oversight responsibilities.

He said these included “contextual issues such as

Oduah’s defence of N225m armoured cars purchase is immoral — FJHD

Anambra governorship: Youths endorse development Willie Obiano VANGUARD by the organ- integrated programme that transisation which was signed by their director of publicity, Kingsley Elvis, praised the Gov Peter Obi’s led Anambra administration for his superlative sterling achievements in the state.

“Willie Obiano is a symbol, epitome and quintessence of patriotism, integrity and nobility whose passion for excellence and compassion for the masses especially the youths reinforce our confidence in him, and endorse him for governor in the 16th November election. We are impressed by Governor Peter Obi’s superlative, sterling achievements through his famous

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (left ) addressing pupils at the inauguration of one of the 7-New Mega Schools - St Michael’s Anglican Caring Heart Mega Primary School, in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore Local Government Area, on Thursday.

rushed to the Central Hospital, Ughelli, yesterday, for treatment.

In the past two months, Uwheru community has been locked in a power tussle between two powerful sons of the communities.

Amos Peter has been reported dead in transit few hours to the Holy land. It was reliably gathered that first aid treatment was administered on him and later rushed to a Hospital in Turkey but was confirmed dead on arrival at the Hospital.

Head of Medical team leading the pilgrimage to the Holy land, Dr. Joseph Kolo confirmed that late Peter like other pilgrims from the state had undergone thorough medical

examinations and were all certified and declared medically fit for the trip and wondered the cause of the sudden death.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased is been expected back in the country and would be handed over to the family for interment.Late Peter was part of the 286 Christian pilgrims who left the state through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Israel for this year’s Holy pilgrimage.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Police bar ASUU from holding rally

BY ANAYO OKOLI, Umuahia

I

N support of continued strike of the university teachers,

ASUU chapter of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state yesterday held a peaceful rally to

Pregnant woman, her second husband docked over forgery, threat to life alleged forgery and

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), with CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (middle); and Peter Obi (left), praying in St Anne’s Basilica, built on the site where Anne, the Mother of Mary, the mother of Jesus was born yesterday as part of the on-going pilgrimage to Israel.

heavily pregnant woman Adedoyin Ogunmefun and her husband Babatunde Ogunmefun 38, were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court over

Ace Photographer Peter Obe buried amidst eulogies in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

T

HE remains of ace photographer/ journalist Peter Oyeyemi Obe known in Press circles as “Mr. Exclusive” was yesterday committed to mother earth in his Country home Igbara-Oke, Ondo state amid eulogizes.

Late Peter Obe who was aged 83 was born on December 28, 1932 and died on September 1st this year.

Hundreds of people from his Country home and outside the state trooped to the St Paul’s Anglican Church yesterday venue of the funeral service to bid him farewell.

His wife Janet Mopelola and children Olufemi, Oyedolapo, Folake, olugboyega and Afolabi were present during the funeral service.

In his sermon, the Vicar of the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Venerable Sunday Adetiba said “Mr Exclusive will always be remebered for his professionalism and unparalleled love for photography”.

Ven. Adetiba who preached from 11 Samuel 1-27 likened Peter Obe to a Mighty man who has fallen and his weapon (camera) fallen as well.

The Clergyman appealed to the children of

the deceased to always identify with their father’s home town Igbara-Oke and should make it a duty to help in the development of the town.

He decried a situation where children of active personalities in the town would bid the town bye-bye after the demise of their parents.

The traditional ruler of the town Oba J A Adepoju who was the deceased School mate in his condolence message said the Children should build on the good legacies left by their late father.

The Deji of Akureland Oba Adebiyi Adesida was also represented at the service.

The late Peter Obe start-

ed his photographic journey when he joined the then Daily Times in 1953 as a Press Photographer and at the same time a freelance Photographer for the Agence France Press AFP and Reuters.

He earned the nickname Mr Exclusive for his various dramatic pictures. His collections of Photographs during the civil war were compilled in a book titled “ Nigeria, Decade of crises in pictures in 1971.

In 1986, he published another book titled “ Nigeria, 2nd Civil Rule and the Military Rescue in Pictures.

Former President Obasanjo had in the forwrd of the second book descibed the late Peter Obe as “ a great and distinguished Nigerian Photographer.”

In their tributes, the wife

of the late ace photographer Janet Mopelola said he laboured “ so much in your work to excel in Photography and you will forever be remembered.”

His first son - Olufemi said with discipline, consistency and determination “ you not only attained the peak of your career but more importantly you raised five wonderful graduate children with exemplary characters.”

Others Dolapo, Gboyega, Afolabi and Folake said their late father “ came to this world, you saw, you fought hard to succeed, you excelled and reached the height of your chosen profession and you were at the crescendo of photography above your professional colleagues for many decades.”

Urhobo youths leader hails Aguariavwodo over by-election victory

BY SIMON ADEWALE

T

HE National Presi dent of Urhobo National Youth Movement, Comrade Alex Iduh hailed the winner of the recent concluded Delta Central Senatorial byelection, Mr. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo of the People Democratics Party( PDP) over his landslide victory at the poll, saying that he is committed to the well being of Urboho peo-

ple and best in position to represent the Urohobo people at the national level.

Addressing newsmen, Comrade Alex Iduh congratulated the Urhobo youths over their contributions and non violence during the senatorial byelections that held in eight local government areas in the Senatorial district. He lauded Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan for the role he played in the election, saying; that truly Gov. Emmanuel Udua-

ghan is an Urhobo man and commended the state governor on his effort to move the state to greater height by his developmental strides and people oriented policies which effectively manifested to the benefit of the people in Delta State.

Comrade Alex Iduh quickly called on opposition parties and aggrieved persons to come together and support Emmanuel Aguariavwodo to move the Urhobo nation forward.

threat to life.

The defendants who reside at Block 31, Plot 1, Abudu Odusanya Street, Isheri Magodo area of Lagos, were docked before Magistrate Mrs Abimbola Komolafe.

The suspects who are beautician and engineer respectively, are facing a three count charge of conspiracy, forgery and threat to life preferred against them by the police.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Benson Emurih, told the court that the defendants in December 14, 2011, at about 12pm at National Population C o m m i s s i o n Registration Centre, Oregun PHC at Ikeja, forged birth certificates A08 No 0268922 and A08 NO 0268923.

He said that the defendants knowing full well that the certificates were forged and presented same to Parthcare Laboratory in Oduduwa Crescent, GRA Ikeja.

The prosecutor also alleged that the second defendant Babatunde Ogunmefun between 10 and 12 of May 2013 at midnight sent text messages through a telephone number 0 8 1 4 2 8 8 0 2 3 4 , threatening to kill one Abraham Okoro.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under section 409, 363 (3) (0)and 230 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The defendants were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The magistrate further adjourned the matter till December 4, 2013, for hearing.

enlighten the public on the ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreement and MOU of January 24th 2012.

However, scores of policemen stormed the university campus, venue of the rally and stopped the lecturers from carrying the rally outside the campus.

They barricaded the main gate of the university with a number of their vans and prevented anybody from moving into and out of the university.

Reacting to the action of the police, ASUU Co-ordinator for Calabar Zone, Dr. Charles Ononuju described it as “unfortunate”.

“Unfortunately and sad the security agents prevented the lecturers from expressing their views to the public.

Thousands of police men and women with their vehicles and guns barricaded the university gate. It is very ridiculous that in a democratic dispensation lecturers were denied their freedom for peaceful rally.

“The union is asking the government to implement the agreement it entered freely with the union in 2009. It must be stated again that our struggle has nothing to do with politics or religion as has been canvassed by government agents.

“When the agreement was signed there was no politics and also when the MOU of 2012 was signed, there was no politics but now the union is asking for implementation, politics has come in but those who are saying that our struggle has been politicized, are enemies of this country.

“Threat, blackmail and intimidation will not and cannot resolve this problem. We call on the country to jettison this idea and resolve the issues. The union cannot be blackmailed to suspend the action until the ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement and MOU of January 24 th 2012, which is the road map to revitalize the public university system, is implemented”, Ononuju said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 9

Delta state government loses bid to reclaim $15m Ibori’s bribe money ...As court orders its forfeiture to FG

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

T

HE Delta State Govern ment, yesterday, failed to persuade the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to grant it ownership of the $15million that was allegedly offered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2007, by convicted former Governor of the state, Chief James Ibori.

In a judgment he delivered yesterday, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, ordered that the money which has been in custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, since April 26, 2007, be forfeited to the Federal Government, saying the Delta State Government failed to produce satisfactory evidence establishing that Ibori looted the controversial money from its treasury while in office as Governor between May 1999 to May 2007.

Origin of the money Erstwhile chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, alleged that Ibori had through a proxy, offered the agency $15 million bribe in a bid to compromise investigations into his alleged complicity in acts of corruption.

The matter came to public knowledge after Ibori was charged to court by the anti-graft agency in 2007 for various offences. One of the 170 counts corruption charge that was preferred against former Governor, pertained to the offering of bribe to the prosecuting agency.

However, in an affidavit in support of his application for bail, Ibori, denied any knowledge of the money which was allegedly picked up from the residence of a former aide to ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo by the then Director of Operations of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, insisting that he never asked or sent anyone to offer such money on his behalf.

Declining to grant ownership of the money to Delta state yesterday, the court, said the state did not by preponderance of evidence and balance of probability, show that the money was removed from its tilt, “not necessarily by Chief James

Ibori, but during his administration.”

The court further noted that the state had during the trial of the former governor, sued the EFCC, contending that it never complained that its money was missing, adding that the state should by concrete evidence, in view of Ibori’s denial of the money, show that the $15m belonged to it.

Burden of proof The court said the state could not in line with sections 131 and 132 of the Evidence Act, discharge the burden of proof, adding, “No court f law or tribunal can resort to conjectures to declare that the money ipso-facto must be appropriated or repatriated to Delta state.

“The claimant has woefully failed, by facts and evidence, to establish its legitimate entitlement to the money. In the final analysis, the said sum of $15m is hereby forfeited to the 1st respondent.”

The court ordered FG to ensure that the money is retrieved from the CBN and paid into the coffers or federation account, saying it should be used for the betterment of the citizenry.

The court further instructed that the money should be captured in the earnings of the federal government for the 2012/ 2013 fiscal year.

It will be recalled that Justice Kolawole had on July 24, 2012, directed that anyone interested in ownership of the money should approach the court with an application under section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

False claimants Sequel to that directive, one Chibuike Achigbu went before the court and claimed that he personally gave the money to Ubah for the purpose of financing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2007 general elections.Nevertheless, Achigbu, who identified himself as an oil magnate, quickly withdrew his application after he uncovered moves by the EFCC to arrest and prosecute him.Likewise, a Lagos based Refrigerator repairer, Mr. Olalekan Kayode, on November 23, 2012, narrowly escaped prison after

the court threw out his request that the money be handed over to him for “proper management”.Meantime, owing to the directive of the court visà-vis an application FG alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and the EFCC filed before it on July 24, 2012, praying for an order of forfeiture, Delta State government, on August 10, filed its own application where it maintained that FG was bereft of the right of ownership to the $15m.

In its 35-paragraphed affidavit, Delta State, argued that the release of the money would facilitate the current developmental projects in the state.

Besides, the state, in its affidavit deposed to by one Nikiru Bridget Emakpor a legal officer in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, maintained that the $15 was the exclusive property of the state and it is therefore entitled to collect same, being the bona fide owner.

Entitlement According to the state, “any money, asset or property recovered from Ibori rightly belonged to Delta State and same should be returned to it as it has always maintained its entitlement to any asset recovered from Ibori.”

The state which approached the court through its own Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, argued that the jettisoned bribe money legitimately belongs to it, noting that, “any denial by Ibori in respect of the money cannot affect entitlement of the state to the amount.”

The state said the reason why it did not formally apply for payment of the money was in view of pending appeals before both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, saying it did not want to prejudice the outcome of the appeal cases.

Moreover, the State claimed that all monies, assets and properties recovered from Mr. Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State were returned to the Plateau State, just like those recovered from Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha of Bayelsa were returned to Bayelsa State.

It argued that there

The final burial of Late Peter Oyeyemi Obe was held with a Church service at St Paul’s Anglican Church Obada Igbara-Oke in Ondo state yesterday. Pix LR shows Mr Dolapo Obe, son; Mrs Folake Olawuyi Daughter; Mrs Janet Mopelola Obe, wife and Mr Olufemi Obe son.Pix by Dare Fasube should be no legal basis to treat the case of Delta State any different from others, saying it is in the interest of justice that the money should be released to the state.

How mony was picked However, in a 14 paragraphed affidavit deposed by one Bello Yahaya who was one of the investigators assigned by the EFCC to investigate the criminal case against Ibori, he told the court that: “while the investigation was going on, on 25thApril, 2007, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC called the investigation team headed by Mr Ibrahim Lamorde the then Director of Operations, to pick up cash in the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) given to him and the Commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori.

“That upon picking up the said USD 15, 000, 000.

00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) we deposited same on 26th April, 2007 with the Central Bank of Nigeria which was duly acknowledged and signed for by one M.M El-Yallud, a staff working in strong room 1 of the CBN. “That from the said 26th April, 2007, the money remained in the custody of the CBN till date. The issue of giving bribe was raised by me in my affidavit sworn to on 9th January 2008 in opposition to James Ibori’s bail application when he was eventually charged to court for Money Laundering Offences.

“James Ibori denied through his reply to counter affidavit dated 10thJanuary, 2008, of giving the sum of USD 15, 000,

000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars), to EFCC or its officials. That ever since April, 2007, no one has claimed ownership of the said sum and it has since remained unclaimed money in the strong room of the CBN. “That the said sum if left untouched and unspent in the state it was kept in the strong room since April, 2007, may eventually be destroyed, defaced, mutilated and become useless.

Order of forfeiture “That it is in the interest of justice to, in the interim, make an order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria and allow publication to be made in the National Newspaper to alert any interested member of the public to come out within 14 days to show their interest, failure to which this honourable court will make an order of final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“That the EFCC is ready to abide by the order that this honourable court will eventually make. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” he added.

Adducing further reasons why the money should not be given to the state, counsel to the federal government, Mr Rotimi Jacob, SAN, alleged that Delta State government under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had on two occasions, wired money totaling N100million to a foreign account operated by the convicted former governor.

He told the court that the EFCC unearthed evidence showing that whereas the first transfer of N50million was made to the Governor in 2008, the state, in 2010,

made another transfer of the same amount through Access Bank, fund he said was sent to Ibori in a bid to help him wriggle out of the money laundering trial he was facing in London.

“My Lord, we are saying that if this particular money is released to Delta State, it will be sent to Ibori also.

Our position is that it should be paid into the consolidated revenue for the benefit of Nigerians. That is what the law says.

“It is on record that when EFCC was investigating Ibori, the AG of Delta State, instituted a case against the EFCC stating that the Delta State account should not be investigated and that how they spent their money under Ibori should not be our concern.

Ibori harassed “The AG even deposed an affidavit insisting that no money was lost by Delta State government. They even got a court order against EFCC saying the former governor was merely being harassed.

“My Lord, if it was true that Ibori actually stole that kind of money from the state treasury, how come that the AG of that state has not deemed it fit to institute a criminal charge against him in line with his powers under section 211 of the 1999 constitution, for siphoning such amount from the state?” Rotimi queried.

In his reply, the Delta State AG, Ajuyah, argued that the federal government had not proved that the money did not emanate from the Delta State treasury, adding “My Lord, there is no judgment of any court today saying that the $15million in question was the proceed of any crime.”

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

BAD ROADS

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

W

hat is the price of Nige rians’ love for automo biles, even apart from multitude of buses used for commercial public transportation and taxi cabs in all the 36 states, FCT Abuja and 774 local government areas which make up this federation?

It could add up to several billions of naira yearly if petrol prices are included in wasted time and fuel.

Most drivers would add an emotional cost in frayed nerves due to frequent traffic jams and hold-ups that may take four hours and above for a journey of 30 minutes.

Most people affected have no choice as towns sprawl into cities and then into suburbs. According to investigation, most goods and travelling people are transported across the country by road.

As of today, about 10 million vehicles are moving on Nigerian roads.

Less than 40,000 kilometres of federal roads constructed over a period spanning three decades, for vehicular transportation, there had been no significant, modern autoways to meet demands of national development and transformation as the new millennium beckoned.

Paucity of funds had been the bane of road development and modernisation in the country even as acknowledged by Architect Mike Onolemenmen, Minister of Works who had often reiterated that government alone can not provide the needed fund. Hence the public private sector partnership was being considered ideal investment strategy after which completed road projects can be concessioned and tolls collected from motorists until the funds are recovered. It was estimated that the country has a total road network of 200,000 kilometres shared by federal, state and local governments while a major chunk of this road network purportedly belong to the federal government saddled with the responsibility for its development.

Presently, there is confusion over who owns what as some state governments often passed the cost of reconstruction and rehabilitation of several

Abandoned projects, snail-speed repairs, erosion create death traps on highways •Lagos—Badagry Expressway getting worse amidst reconstruction of these roads to the federal government for settlement, claiming they are “federal roads”.

However, it was reported recently by Vanguard Newspaper, that contractors awarded major highways and bridges jobs in the country are being owed N500 billion as at 2013 by the federal government which claimed amount owed the contractors was only N30 billion.

In the current year, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State claimed that 70 new roads had been approved and awarded for construction and rehabilitation, bringing to 230, the number of awarded road contracts since his re-election for second term in 2011.

His target in the second term is to complete about 450 roads, pointing out that roads that carry the most traffic will be handled first.

There is the ongoing reconstruction of Lagos-Badagry Express Carriageway to have 10 lanes and Rail Mass Transit system awarded to CCECC, a Chinese Construction and Engineering Corporation. This is a multi-billion naira contract believed to be financed by the Lagos State Government with World Bank assistance which is of great socio-economic importance not

only to Nigeria but to the West African sub-region at large. When completed in few years time, the road and rail complex would be a major artery that connects Lagos with the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, particularly Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, etc.

To make way for this project, several houses, buildings, parks, petrol stations shops, business premises have been demolished even including schools.

The existing dual carriageway built several years ago by the military regime has become grossly inadequate, and been pulled down for reconstruction.

The massive traffic jam and chaos created can better be imagined than experienced as most sufferers have no choice but to remain in hold-ups for several hours trapped between Mile 2 and Okokomaiko. The slow pace of work, poor equipment, impoverished Chinese technical personnel and unfavourable weather conditions with rains falling seemed to be worsening the situation. No alternative route for vehicular movement of goods and passengers travelling from Mile 2 to

Agbara and then to Badagry throguh several towns and villages along including Otto-Awori, Ijanikin, Mowo, Oko-Afo, Ajara to Seme, the border town between Nigeria and Republic of Benin. Work has not progressed beyond the Mile 2 axis with two magnificent terminals with the rail line from Ijora/Orile already reaching there.

Mr. Eddie Ayobami is a computer technologist who lives in Ijanikin and works in Apapa talked with Saturday Vanguard on his harrowing experience daily on the road.

“I leave my house 4.30 am trying to beat traffic but most times to no avail.

The road is horrible with several pot holes and deep gullies. Almost all the asphalt on the road has become bare.

It could take 3 hours to reach Volks and Barracks before getting to Trade Fair Complex where traffic may be free. It’s like animal jungle.

“On bad days, I will reach Apapa at 11a.m or even 12 mid-day. The same also while returning. I may get to Ijanikin 11 pm. In some cases passengers will be compelled to come down from their buses and trek down to Iyana-Iba enroute home,” he lamented. Car owners often abandon their vehicles and trek to their destination.

An education officer, in one of the ministries, recalled that part of the Command school building was demolished by the Lagos State Government for construction of the road. But at the end, the road did not affect the school, although part of it had been pulled down. The government promised to rebuild it but work is yet to be completed as the government and Army are trading blames.

Commuters have become frustrated, disillusioned and disappointed by the pain, anguish and trauma experienced on the Lagos-Badagry highway caused by the reconstruction work, extensive, hampered by the difficult terrain – swampy and disjointed.

At the last inspection of the project

by Governor Fashola, he said his administration is determined to complete the rail aspect, saying progress had made in the tracking.

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013—11

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN, SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa, BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, JOHN MKOM, Jalingo, BALA AJIYA, DAU D OLATUNJI, Abeokuta, CHIDI NKWOPARA, EMMA UNA, ANOZIE EGOLE, JULIET EBIRIM & ADERONKE ADEYERI

Bad roads cause deaths daily

Ikorodu-Sagamu remained impassable

I

t is believed that Road transporta tion has become a policy of the Nigerian state, either by omission or commission, it has assumed the stereotyped means of transportation in this country. With little or no attention given to the rail system and with the recent incessant plane crashes, the pressure on the road increases. Since the rail is somewhat dysfunctional and the air space replete with crashes, even the classy people have chosen to go by the road. The LagosIbadan road as an important economic artery that connects the nation’s economic nerve centres has suffered undue neglect and turning it into crate ridden and death traps sending several people into their early graves on a daily basis.

The volume of cars, buses and articulated vehicles using this road on a daily basis is quite alarming just as it remains the only road that links Lagos to other parts of the country.

About 40 years after the road was built, there has not been any major rehabilitation on the road, even after it had caused the untimely deaths of several thousands of people. The countless potholes and irritating detours that decorate the LagosIbadan road are the architects of a myriad of accidents often registered on the road. The volume of traffic gridlock on this road testifies to the deplorable condition of the road as motorists face a lot of hurdles while transiting through this road while other travelers spend nights on the road for a journey less than a day.

Several precious hours that could have been ploughed into productive service of humanity and the nation are frequently being wasted on our roads.

Even what appeared to be alternative from the Ijebu-Ode axis which is Sagamu-Ikorodu road has been almost impassable for over two decades.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently estimated that over1.3million people are killed in road accidents and 50million suffer serious injuries annually. It also revealed that 80 percent of reported cases which occur in developing countries had African countries recording the highest number of deaths and Nigeria alongside other countries have the highest number of road accidents.

This road, built over 35years ago is said to account for about 50percent of the economic transactions being conducted in the country and it is believed to be the busiest road in West Africa and possibly Africa, with a volume of traffic estimated at 250,000 average daily traffic. The engineer also reveals that the road can be fixed with 450 million dollars or maximum of 520million dollars, instead of the over 1billion dollars it was fixed for.

Speaking to motorists on the state of the roads, a truck driver and traveler, Mr Elijah Awe said good roads contribute to the economic growth of a nation and the bad condition of this particular road has to be addressed

especially during this “ember” months as many Nigerians will ply the road. “That good road plays a vital role in the development of any country is not novel. Without exaggeration, high growth in agricultural and industrial production requires well developed road network to cater for the intrastate and regional traffic.

There is the urgent need for improvement of the country’s existing road infrastructure especially during these “ember” months as many people will be traveling”.

Awe also lamented that the LagosIbadan expressway harbors three major religious institutions and this also adds to the congestion often encountered on this road. “I will implore the federal government to do something about this road fast. As it is,this road harbors two of the biggest churches in Nigeria and any time one of these churches holds a program, there is always traffic congestion on this road not to talk of when the churches hold any program at the same time.”

He also expressed doubts about the present administration achieving the transformation agenda of vision 2020 especially as it concerns road development. “In the transformation agenda of the president, Nigerians were made to belief that the Goodluck led administration will increase the road network to 3million kilometers but to the present moment, nothing has been achieved. I am if the opinion that this present administration has little or nothing to offer the masses of Nigeria. The vision 2020 is just another means to exploit the country’s pocket.”

A motorist who simply identified himself as Chinda said many roads in Nigeria are already in a state of emergency and have become danger zones and death traps to many people in Nigeria. “It is a shame that a major road that links the Western and Eastern parts of the country is in this

condition. This is a road where the President visited with a lot of fanfare.

The President, also made promises of rehabilitation, yet the road is getting worse by the day. I think there is need to declare state of emergency on Nigerian roads”. He also narrated his ordeals in the hands of armed robbers on this road. I was on an official assignment when my car broke down on the road due to over heating after spending twelve hours in the traffic. I approached some guys to help me get a road side mechanic to fix my car and in the process, these boys attacked me and robbed me of items worth thousands of Naira and giving me the best beating of my life. I only thank God I was not killed but I can hardly forget the incident”.

However, it is only paramount for the government to do the needful and ensure the safety of its citizens.

The situation is even worse on Ikorodu-Sagamu Road which could have passed as alternative diversion for motorist coming from Ijebu-Ode or Sagamu and decided to avoid the

way to take the large chunk of the money, nobody talks about how the people feel.”

He maintained that corruption which has become a full-blown cancer over the years with billions of Naira budgeted every now and then ending in the pockets of corrupt officials they remained impervious to the attendant consequence of daily deaths on the road.

“People die on our roads, daily, vehicles get damaged and we battle with armed robbers who always have the freedom to operate. Tell me, do all these bother them?

Another residents along one of the bad spots, Abass Ilori said: “we have resigned to fate. We have had government and successive governments including our own Obasanjo who refused to do this road. In fact, there was a time we heard that the Portland Cement which had its factory at the end of the road leading to Sagamu offered to do the road, but government refused and threatened to sue it. Can you see the folly of that stance knowing fully well that the

People die on our roads daily, vehicles get damaged and we battle with armed robbers who always have the freedom to operate. Tell me, do all these bother them? regular gridlock on the Mowe-Ibafo axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway as the road remained impassable.

A motorist along the IkoroduSagamu road blamed the neglect of the road on corruption saying government is not interested in how the people feel but how to fill their pockets. “If they decided to award contract for this road, then is because some people have taken large chunk of the money. But where there is no

roads are causing untold hardship to people. They are not interested in the welfare of the people.”

Other motorist who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the deplorable condition of the road lamented that with a drop of rain, the area will become impassable, urging government to set aside politics and respond to the pains of the people.

Continues next week

12—SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26,, 2013

F

OR speakers and partici pants who converged on the Women Development Centre, Awka, the Anambra State Capital on Wednesday for a sensitisation workshop for political parties and stakeholders for the November 16 governorship election, the polls must be free, fair, credible and violence-free.

Reason: That is the only way Anambra will shed the toga of a state notorious for election rigging, unending electoral litigation and do-or-die politics.

A peaceful and credible election in the state, christened the Light of the Nation, they said, will rub off positively on other elections ahead of the 2015 general polls.

Among those, who shared these views are candidates and leaders of the 23 political parties taking part in the election, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Professor George Obiozor, Monsignor Obiora Ike, Governor Peter Obi (represented by Deputy Governor Emeka Sibeudu), Dr Udenta O Udenta, Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, Dr Yunusa Tanko, Princess Stella Oduah (represented

by Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe), Professor Attahiru Jega (INEC Chairman, represented by Hajia Amina Zakari), Aremo Taiwo Alimi, Engr Wole Adesina, who represented Chief Olu Falae and Chief Victor Umeh among others.

Organised by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party, Senator Ben Obi, the parley drew the best out of the participants, who passionately canvassed ideas they believed would lead to rancour-free elections in the state, if implemented.

It must not be a do-ordie affair – Ben Obi

C

onvener of the workshop, Senator Ben obi, said the event was a follow-up to those organised in Benin in June 2012 and Akure in September 2012 for the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections, which were generally free and fair. He said it was the aim of making the November 16 Anambra governorship elections free, fair and violence-free that he organised the sensitisation parley. He enjoined all stakeholders particularly party executives, candidates and their supporters to abide by the resolutions of the workshop.

Noting that 23 of the 25 registered political parties in the country are participating in the election, he said it was a welcome development as voters are provided a much wider choice. “There is no doubt that the political environment in the state is presently passionate and emotional.

However, only one candidate can become the governor at a point in time. Election should not be a do-ordie affair, hence, there is need to eschew the policy of ‘I and me’, and ‘if I do not win, then nobody else should.’”

For an election to be fair, Senator Obi said honest balloting and counting must be administered without fraud, and there must be prompt and just resolution of election related disputes and grievances, before and after Election Day. Fairness therefore, also requires a ‘level playing field.’ It is now common knowledge that President Goodluck Jonathan, had at different fora dissuaded people from electoral malpractices while

A cross section of participants at the workshop

ANAMBRA 2013:

How to make polls credible, peaceful —INEC, parties, candidates

Gov Obi, Jega, Ben Obi, Nwachukwu, Obiozor, Udenta, Ike, Alimi, Tanko, others speak z

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE Deputy Political Editor

advocating for one-man-one-vote to ensure the actualisation of peoples’ mandate. We also recall Mr. President’s unprecedented request that no one should rig election for him, nor spill any blood for his sake in the name of electoral victory.”

Commending Governor Peter Obi for the stability, tranquility and civility that he had brought into governance in the state, he urged Anambra people to make the election a huge success. “Anambra State is known for great feats and expectations; we must not fail this time.”

Anambra must turn a new page – Nwachukwu

C

hairman of the workshop, Major General Nwachukwu (rtd), in his opening remarks, said the workshop was another opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss what could make or mar the elections and collectively agree on modalities of prevention and abide strictly by the agreement reached.

Urging the stakeholders to make Anambra people proud and shed the cloak of election manipulators, he said: “In this small hall today, are men and women who will make Anambra people proud. Make them proud because your collective will to put behind us all the cliché that this state encourages electioneering thuggery and malpractices; does not accept the outcome of elections, even where it is glaring that a loser truly and squarely lost; and, support

We have no choice but to get it right. If we get it right, others will fall in place. Let’s compete in the absence of thuggery and violence. Let those who lose join the winner, who must be magnanimous in victory attitudes uncomplimentary to representational democracy.

“I believe we can turn a new page in the history of Anambra politics and set the standard for the rest of the country to emulate.”

We can’t afford to fail – Gov Obi

O

n his part, Governor Peter Obi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Sibeudu, enjoined all contestants to abide by electoral regulations, eschew politics of bitterness and not to overheat the polity. He assured all contestants and stakeholders that his government would ensure and provide a level playing ground before, during and after the election.

Specifically, the governor urged all Anambrarians and stakeholders to ensure the success of the polls because “this state and the entire country belong to all of us. If we

make any mistake, history will hold it against us and our children.”

It’s a dress rehearsal for 2015 – Oduah

T

he Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, who was the guest of honour and was represented by

Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, said the Anambra election would be a test case for the 2014 and 2015 elections and begged all contestants to make it a success by shunning politics of violence.

Commending Governor Obi for governing the state well, the minister said: “What happens in the Anambra governorship election will set a standard and tone for other sates (Osun and Ekiti) elections and the 2015 election. Anambra is significant for 2015. We have no choice but to get it right. If we get it right, others will fall in place. Let’s compete in the absence of thuggery and violence. Let those who lose join the winner, who must be magnanimous in victory.”

Political competition is not war – Jega Continues on page 13

SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26,, 2013—13

How to make polls credible, peaceful –INEC, parties, candidates

From left: Chief Taiwo Alimi, George Obiozor (3rd) Hajia Amina Zakari, Senator Ben Obi, Major General Ike Nwachukwu, Anambra Deputy Governor, Emeka Sibeudu and amb Jerry Ugokwe at the workshop Continued from page 12

T

he electoral umpire, Profession al Attahiru Jega, in a speech, which was read by Hajia Amina Zakari (Federal commissioner on Political Matters), said the INEC has issued the template and timetable for the election and is ready to conduct a credible exercise.

He went on to outline the relevant provisions of the law guiding the electoral process but warned that the environment for the processes to succeed would be determined by the collective attitude of all stakeholders.

His words: “It is in this context that the relevance of this workshop becomes apparent. Accordingly, I urge participants to use this platform to renew their respective commitments to maintain a culture of tolerance, respect for rule of law, eschew violence, admonish supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, and to remember that political competition is not a war, but an avenue for people to peacefully express their choices in globally recognised democratic channels as enshrined in our laws. These, I believe, are the indispensable minimum conduct we require for the conduct and success of the Anambra State governorship election on 16th November, 2013. It is our collective duty and obligation, as voters, contestants, party agents, security officials as well as the commission staff to ensure that the process goes on smoothly without rancour and violence.”

Parties must comply with code of conduct –Tanko

A

lso, the National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yunusa Tanko, stressed the need for internal party democracy and supremacy because “the political parties are the anchor of the process of democracy and so must be protected.”

“We must be aware of the serious harm, failed or controversial elections can do to the national spirit, to the concept of democracy, and to national integrity, honour or international prestige or image To ensure violence-free and credible polls, he urged the parties to comply with the code of conduct midwifed by INEC and IPAC and embark on issues-based campaigns instead of back-stabbing, blackmail and name-calling.

Why our elections are flawed –Obiozor

Ambassador George Obiozor, one of the guest speakers, decried the prevalence of flawed elections in Nigeria and urged concerted efforts to redress the malaise in the interest of the country.

He said: “Never before have we had more elections decided by the courts than by the ballot boxes as we have today. Actually, some judgments came when the supposed winner has nearly completed his/her term of office. Hence, today we have forced staggered elections and off season elections all over the country including Anambra State. In Nigeria, the electoral process has become a judicial exercise at its best and worst... The question is, have the courts taken over the role of the electoral commission? In fact, sometimes, it seems disturbing as judges also take over the role of the electorates, or the voters and announce the winners. Some of these take place under very suspicious environments.

“All these rigmarole and electoral manoeuvrings occur because elections in Nigeria have not been based

on strong institutionalised structures.

Consequently, elections become vulnerable to manipulations and other machinations or suspicious mechanisms. We must strengthen the national electoral institutions in order to ensure and guarantee a successful electoral process...

“We must be aware of the serious harm, failed or controversial elections can do to the national spirit, to the concept of democracy, and to national integrity, honour or international prestige or image. But above all, the greatest damage remains that bad elections produce leadership whose legitimacy and authority are questionable and whose power is often looked upon with suspicion and anger.

“We must therefore improve the legitimacy of the leadership through free and fair elections or risk leadership with power without authority or authority without legitimacy.”

Udenta, Igariwey, Umeh, Ike marshal the way forward

Sharing his thoughts, Udenta urged Anambra people to recognise the special importance and sensitivity of the state to the Igbo nation. “It is not just a frontier to the West but also a frontier to the North,” he said, arguing that external forces that do not want Anambra and Ndigbo to survive were behind the instability in Anambra State.

“They are those, who do not believe that the civil war has ended.

The challenge is for Anambra people to rise and prevent the external aggressors from destroying their homestead.”

In like manner, Igariwey, who enjoined the INEC and the security agencies to do the needful, challenged Anambra people, whom he described as the flagship of the Igbo nation to make Igbo people proud by having a flawless election.

Also speaking, Professor Ike stressed the need for a new beginning and enthronement of violencefree electoral process so that more credible and decent people would join politics and deliver dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

APGA Chairman, Chief Umeh, on his part, said irrespective of the capacity of some politicians for mischief during election, the polls will be free and fair if INEC and the security agencies do their jobs efficiently.

He promised that APGA will mobilise its supporters in line with the code of conduct, adding that “our people are determined to prove that Anambra people are wise.”

After Umeh, leaders of the various parties and candidates pledged to abide by the code of conduct and ensure a credible and peaceful election on November 16.

Based on these agreements, the stakeholders came up with a 12point resolution, which they signed and promised to uphold. Whether or not they will keep their words is to be seen.

The 12-point resolution

• The will of the electorate as expressed in the November 16, 2013 gubernatorial election of Anambra State must be respected by all political parties and stakeholders •The electoral umpire, INEC must provide a level playing field for all contestants •All gubernatorial candidates and their political parties should play a leading role in providing a rancour and violence-free, smooth, fair and credible election •The police and all other security agencies involved in the election should be neutral and non-partisan •The presidency should avoid manipulating and generally interfering with the electoral process •The use of inciting and violent language before, during and after the election must be eschewed •The Judiciary should play its expected role as an unbiased arbiter and ensure timely delivery of judgment should the need arise •The media must play its role as watchdog by accurately and fairly covering and reporting the gubernatorial election, eschewing use of provocative language •The victor should be magnanimous in victory and losers gallant in defeat, realising that one and only one can be a winner in the election •No acts of intimidation of the electorate by political parties, candidates and/or supporters should be tolerated •Peace and tranquility in Anambra State will be maintained before, during and after the November 16, 2013 election •To abide the revised code of conduct signed by all political parties and INEC

14—SATURDAY Vanguard , OCTOBER 26, 2013

I

t is very clear that President Goodluck Jonathan is determined and almost desperate to seek another term of office. His refusal to put it in so many words can be described as his stock in trade. He did precisely that, the last time around, before ferociously pursuing his ambition. Not many people were fooled then. Hardly anyone is fooled now. He obviously believes that there is some credit in such gimmicks or else he would have desisted from such moonlight escapades. It really tends to remove from his sincerity, as a matter of fact. He seems to keep what is an open fact as a secret from people he should trust because he does not trust them, whereas he should actually invite their trust by putting them in confidence about his aspirations.

But nothing is concealed about this matter.

While talking softly, he keeps wielding a big stick. No one is deceived about the source of the political issues in Rivers State, for instance, and their purpose. It all began with the suggestion that the State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, could seek to seek the VicePresidency slot in the 2015 election with a Northern State Governor. That would run counter to the chances of President Jonathan since they are all in the same party. It was important therefore to diminish Amaechi’s profile within the party. But rather than lose credit, the Rivers State governor broke through well-prepared schemes to shred the mantle of his influence when he retained his position as the Chairman of the National Governor’s forum, an organization which was growing to be a thorn in the flesh of the Goodluck administration already. President Goodluck refused to recognize the legitimate executive of the body, not “giving a damn” about what people would think about his *President Jonathan patent wrong-doing. That was desperate. with the ploy of distraction which had served them in good stead in ut Amaechi stood firm. Now let us go testy situations. They threw a impersonal. The Presidency —not the hollow bone of “”National President, mark you — would be hard put to Conference/Dialogue” into the deny any connection with the rumpus that field which, unfortunately, seemed neutralized the normal law-making process of to have captivated the unwary. the Rivers State House of Assembly. It is The good news today is that merely coincidental then that Amaechi’s state several of those who hailed the was thrown into that unfortunate whirlpool of proposal initially, have now seen legislative chaos which the police, as the the light. The bad news is that the State’s direct agency of security, seemed awakening will change nothing. The incapable to handle. The Inspector-General of Presidency will still forge ahead, Police, who must pander to the wishes of the wasting human and material “Oga at the Top” was hard of hearing when resources without “giving a damn”. pleas were raised for the transfer of the Commissioner who would do nothing as the ut all this is bound to tell on Governor’s direct route to his residence was the welfare of this country — barred - by the police. which one hesitates to call a nation, Still Amaechi stood firm whilst the whip of these days. A lot of bitterness and discipline was turned on his kindred spirit who discontent stalks the streets today. had refused to be coerced, until no less than The barons of mega-robbery and seven of them chose to go their own way — corruption flaunt their ill-gotten but that in a bizarre manner. The party, the wealth in the face of throbbing Peoples Democratic Party, as we prophesied want in the land. The institutions right from the outset would never be the same that should stand between helpless again. The keynote of the protest was formerly frustration and the people, in the shape of good governance and assured security, are crumbling. A massive build-up of a possibly devastating magnitude is daily emerging in the contending forces within our body politic and ethnic affiliations, and the powers-that-be that the PDP Chairman should be removed, do not seem to “give a damn”, as but it has since distended to the President not long as the “2015 “craft” is on seeking another term of office. It was clear course. Some action must be taken that a “roforofo fight” was in the offing. In before the darkness falls. the midst of the imbroglio, several cabinet members have been removed without he contending forces are replacement for weeks. Their common fault easily identified. There are the was their connection, or seeming connection, usual ranks of the establishment with the errant State Governors, or and their supporters who are in insufficient demonstration of cloying loyalty government and would do almost to “The Chief. anything to retain the structures All this development is taking place against that be. That is from where they the backdrop of a government that is tardy obtain their sustenance, and that about paying its bills, despite a loud noise is where their loyalty naturally is. about the buoyancy of its economy, a claim On the other side are those who further unsupported by myriads of industrial wish to displace those who are in action, and rumours of industrial action, the saddle. They highlight the faults across the nation. But the focus of President of those who are in power and Jonathan is not distorted in any way. His proffer what they claim to be better action hounds are not in anyway silenced. programmes. The two groups They turned the hallowed interior of the normally range themselves into presidency into a fort from which they fired different camps with different salvos of vilifications unknown in our identifications but with an identical experience of governance at political desire - to win the populace over opponents - who, of course, replied in kind. and take over the power to rule. In But undeterred, they then doggedly came up ideal circumstances, the two

*not giving a damn groups provide a balance and offer a choice of alternatives. The abnormal sets in, however, when one of the groups breaks up and begins to contend with the original group. Then things really get messy.

That is the situation in the country today. It seems to be of advantage to the other group, or groups, which are looked upon as the opposition, but it is not as clear as that. The splinter group, which cannot really claim to possess the numerical strength, which is critical in what is widely acknowledged to be a “game of numbers”, i.e. politics, still desires to be the superior group without a clear change of identity. It goes ahead bearing the name of the

B

B

A lot of bitterness and discontent stalks the streets today

,

T

*Gov. Amaechi former party, while attempting to set up a rival secretariat in defiance of the rule of law. That is what one sees as bizarre, especially since there is no law barring the acquisition of a proper new identity either by itself or in a merger with another organization.

We are speaking of course about the PDF and its splinter group, the nPDP, as it chooses to call itself, The stands of both groups are irreconcilable centering, as they do, on President Jonathan’s returning to power in 2015. The nPDP and the opposition parties led by the All Progressive Congress are, of course, at one on that issue. However, their reasons are different. The nPDP, composed mainly of Northern elements, believe that Jonathan is spending his second term and the North should therefore be free to now step in to complete the second term of which the death of Alhaji Yar’Adua robbed them. About this they are adamant. The main PDP is for President Jonathan continuing in office into 2015, if he is elected, because they insist that he is in his first full term of office. The law seems to favour this view and so also do most of the people in the South-south area from where he hails.

In the North, we have the menace of the Boko Haram which is apparently not near being subdued.

A return of power to the North might dowse the flaring terror of the socalled Islamic insurgents. On the other hand, the raw wealth of the nation, in the form of petroleum products, is patently in the hands of the denizens of the creeks in the Niger Delta, and they are currently demonstrating how vicious they can

be if they are out to create havoc to our oil industry.

Neither choice is palatable. It rests on the result of the 2015 election as well as how we get there. If the nPDP would stop its indecision as to where he it is and where it is going, it might saee a way in toppling Jonathan by teaming up with the APC, In that case, one of the concessions that would have to be made by the APC is to run a Northern candidate for the presidency. They do not have a hang-up about the ethnic origin of their presidential candidate at this time, but may wish to present their own man.

It could work, but then the menace of the creeks would not only continue, but would be intensified.

A

n unlikely scenario would raise President Jonathan to the highest pinnacle statesmanship by pitching him to stand down voluntarily to avoid a possible disintegration of the country. He would have to explain, on his own, to his followers that the action was taken to preserve the integrity of the nation, but it would have to be backed by a firm undertaking that he could return for his second term immediately after 2015, at least to appease his people and put Nigeria back on an even keel. He could do it if he gave “a damn”.

What does it feel like to be eighty? It was my wife who first asked me that question three days ago. I confessed I hadn’t really thought about it. Then I gave a rambling answer, trying to be wise and impress her. I can’t even remember what I said. But then, at least three other people later asked me the same question during the day.

By then I had got an answer.

“Humble”, I replied each of them. “Grateful to God that He kept me alive till today, undeserving as I totally am.”

At least, that is being truthful.

There is really no way to describe the feeling because you are almost numb with amazement, especially if you can still stand on your feet.

And when the presents and cards and cakes begin to arrive with delegations from The Redeemed Christian Church of God (New Covenant Parish) and pals from the Vanguard with whom you had worked for years, and the telephone calls and text messages from Saudi Arabia, and the UK, and the USA, from old friends and children and grandchildren, ... a great granddaughter even sang “Happy Birthday To You,,....

How does it feel to be eighty?

It’s too much!

,

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, OCTOBER 26, 2013 —15

Time to let go,Chief Oyebola

A

couple of weeks ago, Chief Ar like the Daily Times on Presbyterian eoye Oyebola, a former Edi democracy’. (I remember so vividly tor of Daily Times, gave yet because I had to look up that word). again, his account of the event that led Alhaji Jose couldn’t but be bitter to what some veteran journalists because some of the people that got him described as the day of the long knives out of the Times were among his in Daily Times. The knives that came favourites. Many of them were out that day made many people to intelligent, articulate and smart. They become severely wounded, and the were the pride of Daily Times. And they organisation itself eventually crippled. were mainly his boys. The power they It was the day one coup toppled the had, the extensive network they government of Nigeria and another enjoyed, were cultivated largely ‘coup’ changed the editorial through his watch. He gave them management of Daily Times. latitude. He nurtured their flair. Yet in It was one account too many. I have a moment of pique, they started a chain read, not for the first time, his version of actions that led to his ouster and of the event. I have read Chief Segun death of a very virile organisation.

Osoba’s version. I have read Alhaji he loss of Daily Times was not Babatunde Jose’s version. After Jose’s loss alone. It was the almost 40 years, I think its time for Chief Areoye Oyebola to finally let go nation’s loss as well. Daily Times of the and forgive the wrong… if indeed, he 60s and 70s was a breeding ground for the best and brightest of Nigerian was wronged.

I say this because we have all been journalism. It was a robust but wronged, deeply wronged at times, in responsible organisation with tittles relationships- both professionally and touching every aspect of our national lives. The Daily Times was feared— and personally.

At the height of the They say time respected.

How does Chief Oyebola Punch crisis which heals wounds feel about the fact that the almost brought the ‘protest’ which he started, newspaper to its knees, because time and which he glossed some of my colleagues allows over in his Punch felt the ousted Managing Director had over introspection. interview, probably led to eventual death of the favoured me and now, I have enjoyed the Daily Times as a credible without a god father, it the voice of the people? Even was time to put me in my place. I felt some stab intervention of as an organisation? A place that directly and wounds then. One or time indirectly provided jobs two of them lived with

T

,

me at the Punch quarters and I almost screamed ‘e tu Brute’ to them. *Some back stabs were also inflicted at the Vanguard by a colleague and friend.

But the unkindest cuts were from friends and business associates at the Prime People where I was dispossessed of a company I promoted. Today, there is not one person alive among the actors that I am not on talking terms with. When people ask me about Prime People, I tell them the truth which is that mistakes were made and lessons were learnt.

I

n other words, in the instances I mentioned, I was not all saintly, and they all devilish because events are never that black and white.They say time heals wounds because time allows introspection. I have enjoyed the intervention of time. Chief Oyebola should do the same.

A little introspection on his part should show that he could not have been the only wronged person in that unfortunate development.

I interviewed Alhaji Jose shortly after he was removed from the Daily Times. I had interviewed him before when he was at the zenith of his power as the Chairman/CEO of Daily Times.

The booming voice was still there, but this time, it was tinged with bitterness as he gave his account of what happened on the day Gowon was toppled. I still remember his answer as if it was yesterday, when I asked about the dictatorial charges against him. His voice rose an octave as he said, ‘You can’t run an organisation

,

for thousands of people at the time.

Fortunately, Alhaji Jose was cleared of most of the allegations against him and no stain or blemish clung to him.

He ran one of the most successful businesses in Nigeria at the time yet he never cultivated an opulent life style.

He did not, as events proved, corruptly enrich himself. In fact, many of the subsequent managing directors of Daily Times made more money from the organisation than Jose did. When he was removed and Daily Times acquired by the military government of the day, the process that led to the demise of the most powerful voice in Africa had begun.

Years later, Ahaji jose sent for me on something private. It turned out to be a lazy afternoon for both us. So I tarried a bit to learn through his reminisces.

His comments on management, trouble shooting within establishments and decision making were insightful. It was on that day he told me the reason behind moving Daily Times to Agidingbi. I could not but salute his foresight. I then asked him the inevitable question. How did he feel that the once proud, virile organisation he helped to build had been made prostrate through years of mismanagement, ineptitude and theft?

His answer was calm and philosophical.

And yes….devoid of bitterness. That was when I knew Alhaji Babatunde Jose had let go. It is time Chief Areoye Oyebola, a self confessed Christian of many years, did the same. He is a man I respect.

Terror: Army kills over 95 insurgents in Borno •Destroys Boko Haram camp ...24hr curfew imposed in Yobe

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

I

N continuation of its fight against Boko Haram Insurgents in the North-East, the troops of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army have destroyed Boko Haram camp, killing over 95 insurgents in Galangi and Limanti villages of Kaga local government area of Borno state.

The invasion came barely some hours after attack on military and police locations in Damaturu the capital of Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members yesterday. The gunmen had access and launched coordinated attacks using Rocket Propelled Launchers and Improvised Explosive Devices (EIDs) on different military checkpoints within the metropolis killing several people.

Mallam Abdulwasiu Akinsanya, a staff of Media Trust, publishers of Daily Trust, Weekly Trust and Sunday Trust was among several civilians that were killed in Damaturu when the gunmen launched multiple attacks on military and police locations as well as public and private buildings on Thursday. His Wife, Bilkisu A. Akinsanya confirmed that her husband was killed around 5.30pm when their vehicle broke down in Damaturu shortly before the Boko Haram insurgents launched the attacks.

Explaining the military invasion, the insurgents, the Army in a Press release signed by its spokesman LT Col Muhammad Dole stated that the operations which involved ground and aerial assault supported by the Nigerian Airforce led to the destruction of the terrorist camp, killing of over 95 insurgents, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Items recovered from the terrorist’s camp, according to the release includes two Isuzu Tiger Pick-up Vans and five Hilux belonging to the terrorists were destroyed, while two soldiers were wounded during the operation.

General Ethan also reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army 7 Division to ensuring safety of lives and property of all citizens within its area of operations.

Witnesses of the Damaturu onslaught said the gunmen first launched attack around the NNPC Mega station, a suburb of Damaturu which had been a GSM Call centre for Maiduguri residents who on daily basis travel from Maiduguri due to lack of telecommunication

network to make calls.

The NNPC Mega Station is about 2 kilometres away to the City of Damaturu where military operatives have one of their checkpoints, a few metres away from the station, and because of the presence of the security checkpoint, many phone callers from Maiduguri turned the place to a call centre with adequate security cover; but the gunmen launched their deadly attack on the area before moving to other places in the city.

The attack which signaled their presence before penetrating the town after a while started around 5:30pm and lasted till midnight as security operatives responded promptly.

Although, the number of casualties was sketchy at press time, sources said, several terrorists were killed including security operatives.

Residents said sound of gun shots and Improvise Explosive Devices (IED) were heard across all the nook and crannies of the town, but could not give further details as to how many people were affected in the attacks.

A source said, “I saw dead bodies on the streets near my house, but could not ascertain whether the dead bodies are that of Boko Haram members, innocent civilians or security

operatives”.

The spokesman of the Special Operation Battalion in Yobe state, captain Eli Lazarus who confirmed the attack said ”security forces in the state capital are in a gun battle with the insurgents.”

Shortly after the confirmation of the attack, Captain Eli Lazarus in a statement said “the Special operation Battalion Damaturu hereby imposed a 24 hours curfew across Yobe state with immediate effect, as the battalion steps up its operation to rid the state of insurgents”.

The statement urged law abiding citizens to remain calm and to accord the security operatives the usual cooperation.

Security forces are yet to confirm the level of casualties or destruction caused by the attack which lasted for over eight hours.

The Special Operation Battalion Damaturu had early yesterday reviewed the curfew time in Potiskum town between the hours of 10PM - 6:00 AM to 9: PM – 6: 00 AM. Yesterday’s attack was a serious setback to the relative peace being enjoyed across the state and Damaturu the state capital in particular.

APGA Crisis: Court fixes Oct 31 to hear suit seeking sack of Umeh as national chairman

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

J

USTICE Abdul Kafarati of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has adjourned to October 31 hearing on a suit challenging the continued stay of Chief Victor Umeh as the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. The suit was filed before the court by members of the National Working Committee of the party elected at the national convention of APGA held at the Women Development Centre, Awka on April 8, 2013.

Whereas the suit was endorsed by factional chairman of the party, Chief Maxi Okwu, Ibrahim Carefor, Chief Gbenga Afeni and Alhaji Abubakar Adamu, other defendants in the suit aside Umeh are Alhaji

Sani A. Shinkafi, for themselves and on behalf of members of NWC of the party elected by a motion on February, 2011, as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In their originating summons, the applicants, are praying the court to among other things, “determine whether the 1st and 2nd defendants who are in court in suit number FCT/HC/CV/ 4278/2012, APGA, Chief Umeh, Shinkafi, Alhaji Sadiq Masala, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, Barrister Morgan Anyalechi, Barr Bala Bako, seeking to set aside their suspension from the party, APGA, can still validly occupy the positions of national chairman and national secretary of the party when the suit they brought challenging their said suspension has not been decided in their favour.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

O

ne hopes Anambra State still remains one indivisible entity after the November 16 gubernatorial election. The bickering and the poli-tricking is becoming maddening by the day. As the Igwe Achebe’s Ofala saga that almost rubbished the APC candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige simmered, a new campaign of calumny is beginning and this time, is targetted at APGA and it’s candidate for the Anambra election, Willy Obiano.

Or is it possible that the gentle-looking Willy Obiano with his retinue of academic degrees would easily be hoodwinked into signing a secret document with Victor Umeh, the national Chairman of APGA to pay him N5.76 billion if he wins the guber election as alleged? Is Umeh capable of striking such a deal? Only a fool would believe this. I think there should be a limit to every blackmail!

We know, in politics, the pathway is littered with broken friendships and marriage of strange bed-fellows but throwing mud on the face of one another is getting more dangerous by the day !

Obiano’s blackmailers claimed that the agreement the APGA candidate signed with Victor Umeh is a replica of what happened during the Okija shrine saga that involved the then governor Ngige who is now the APC gubernatorial candidate . The scandal then was that his political godfather dragged him to the Okija shrine to swear an oath on how to share Anambra money and he allegedly complied at the expense of good governance and the common people.

Anambra: Politics of blackmail and mudslinging

Chris Ngige But the current scandal is an allegation that the APGA candidate Willie Obiano and the APGA National Chairman, Victor Umeh signed an agreement that in the event that Obiano gets elected as the governor of the state, he would pay huge sums of money amounting to millions monthly to the national chairman but Umeh had since debunked the claim . This allegation made by one Mr Fejiro which many

Willy Obiano think sounds fake said Umeh and Obiano agreed that upon Obiano’s election as the successor to Peter Obi, he will pay the sum of One hundred and twenty million naira monthly to Umeh while he will pay another whooping Thirty million naira monthly to Umeh’s National Adviser, Chief Austine Ndigwe, who was the witness in the alleged agreement published online.

Imagine! But I think only an

idiot would subscribe to that kind of arrangement and I don’t believe it is true.

It was further alleged that Chukwuma Soludo’s disqualification was just to pave way for Obiano, who allegedly accepted that his emergence as the party candidate and ‘governor’ was solely the handiwork of Umeh.

But before this time, on the Soludo matter, there was an allegation that Soludo was disqualifed because he denied being arrested for anything during interview with the panel set up to screen the candidates until a member allegedly reminded him that EFCC invited him sometime after his tenure as CBN governor and Soludo grudgingly acknowledged and so they disqualified him!

Now, between Obiano and Umeh,the alleged agreement further claimed that all political offices, both executive and appointed, which shall be carried out by Obiano shall be determined by Umeh and Ndigwe throughout the duration of his tenure.

Another part of the agree-

Re: Oduah, the need ffor or ssttellar qualities

U

nfolding developments in the Nigerian media on the

purchase of armoured cars for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, has made an interesting reading and served as strong warning to accomplished leaders who are not politicians to steer clear of the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Stella became a scapegoat and fell on the banana peels planted by professional politicians with expertise in exaggeration and agenda setting. The purchase of armoured-cars for an agency under her ministry became a burden her motherly shoulders would bear for a long time except the public view the issues very critically and are able to separate the sentiments ballooned to envelope her transformational efforts at the decaying ministry that controls our nation’s airports from the crux of the matter.

The sequence of events are indicative of the intentions of mischief makers behind the travails of the minister whose fragile heart as a woman could not bear the pains and agonies that came with the crash of the Associated Airlines on Thursday, October 3, 2013 in which the country yet again lost some of her noble citizens. Unfortunately, the dust raised by the sad incident had not died down when Oduah slipped on the banana peels planted by anti-change agents and her political detractors.

In a proper sense, where politics and self-interest are not the motivating factors for the attack on the person of Ms. Stella Oduah, the case of purchase of the two armoured cars at an overprice and attribution of recent plane crashes to her ineffectiveness as Minister of Aviation would have compelled the

attention of the reasonable public but the gait and mannerism of the lead campaigners call for a total dismissal of the said infractions. If Stella purchased the cars at a padded price, it is unfortunate; but that an employee in the ministry, a civil servant who swore to an oath of secrecy volunteered documents revealing the details of the transactions told me that the campaign is for calumny, and not in the interest of the nation. I am certain that the facts masked in this charade will become public knowledge soon.

Also, to vilify Stella Oduah, dates of occurrences and events were altered to hold her accountable for all the plane crashes that have happened in Nigeria. However, this debauchery did not work as Nigerians still remember the dates of every mishap with undeviating effect on our psyche as a nation.

Stella Oduah is an angel who unfortunately has sauntered into the coven; unfamiliar with the evil ways of the night marauders whose intention is to cripple the Nigerian Aviation sector.

Expectedly, they cleverly orchestrated a process that will shift focus from the rot and

inefficiency that have incapacitated the Aviation industry and attributed the causes of plane crashes to a human being as if she does not have her own children. How? I find these unintelligent arguments bandied around by certain failed past Aviation Minister and one selfprofessing anti-corruption champion exceedingly ridiculous. The problem with the Nigerian Aviation sector is not Stella Oduah but its resistance to change. Stella is forcing a change that will transform the sector but not to the benefit of the stooges planted in the various agencies for political espionage.

For lending herself to political attack and unnecessary distraction, Ms. Stella Oduah owes the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria an unreserved apology. She is a servant of the people, paid with taxpayers money and must create the long-sought value in the sector. It is high time she blocked her ears to noise emanating from the ring side. Indeed, if the noise makers were busy, they would not have had the time to start pointing at women they have dated in the past amongst the numerous on the streets, or impregnated a woman and refused to accept the pregnancy? But really, these men are funny. They seem to hate successful women or afraid of successful women.

Don’t they have mothers, sisters or daughters? Or are they assuming that Nigerians have forgotten their misdeeds when they were public servants whose preoccupation was to serve themselves!

Anyway, the focus of this piece is nation building and transformational leadership which Stella Oduah characterizes. Not until recently, shortly after her appointment, passengers arriving Nigeria from other countries were always met with disappointment because little items such as air-conditioners never worked! The hundreds of passengers disembarking from aircraft were usually packed like dozens of sardine with sweat running down their bodies like boxers

ment alleged that all members of APGA Board of Trustees shall be appointed by Umeh in consultation with Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, without any interference from Obiano.

Haba, governance na beans?

With this action, the allegation continued, Anambra State has already been sold to Umeh and his cohorts with ample support from Peter Obi, who is also expected to get kickbacks from various contracts executed in the state.

But only an idiot would sign such an agreement if it exists at all just as only a fool would believe such insinuations!

Is Anambra state anybody’s private property or a town union where cowheads or goat-heads are shared over palmwine ?

We are talking about governance and this is not a matter where the likes of Bianca Ojukwu should hold sway or a matter where a party Chairman alone would call the shots!

There are enough educated people in Anambra and many stakeholders and anybody who thinks the Okija shrine incident would re-occur must be a comedian! What happened after the Okija shrine saga?

Justice took it’s course and definitely, if this is not a political blackmail, justice would again take it’s course. The truth remains that anybody who believes that this scandal is a reality will believe anything!

Politics of blackmail and mudsling is getting out of hand and could swallow the entire polity because it is coming from all fronts!

in the ring.

Today, the story has changed. Stella started from the easiest to the toughest, demonstrating an uncommon sense of organization that resulted in the evident transformation the Nigerian Aviation sector is undergoing.

Except for non-travellers, the level of infrastructural development at our international airports and technical advancement that have visited the existing obsolete equipment are clear testaments to the commitment of the Minister as an appointee of the Federal Government to transform the sector.

These efforts have also received international acknowledgments with consequent impact being the award of category one status to the Nigerian Aviation sector. Interactions with Stella Oduah revealed a woman so passionate about the development of Nigeria and an individual committed to the safety of the Aviation sector for which she has direct oversight function. Testimonies of her efficient performance abound, and her focus on consistent adherence to the international best practice set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is evident.

Ours is a country where performance poses a major threat to mediocrity and sets evil men after the righteous. It is the only country where party members fight themselves over appointments and positions rather than focusing on achieving the party objectives as would have been expected of people bound by a common purpose. Nigerians are aware that her job is what is coveted hence the drama by the artistes from within and outside her party. However, her seeming understanding and evident transformation of the Nigerian Aviation sector within this short

period are reasons that would keep her in office. Any change at this time will take the sector back by another 25years. Stella Oduah is a victim of circumstance, an Amazon torn by politics, vindicated by her good works. *Bello Mohammed, Public Commentator writes from Lagos

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 17

C M Y K

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013

I've disappointed critics of my musical career — Ego inger Ego Ihenacho Ogbaro believes music has made her a deeper person.

The petite lady was the only female vocalist with Lagbaja’s band until she left to pursue a solo career in 2007. She has backed-up for the masked musician on several tracks including ‘Konko Below’ and ‘Nothing For You’ but her soulful wailing in ‘Never far Away’, a track in Lagbaja’s ‘Africano’ album, remains indelible in the minds of fans.

Ego spoke with Saturday Vanguard recently about her life after split from Lagbaja .

Enjoy .

BY IYABO AINA Who was Ego as child?

I was a very stubborn child and I am still very stubborn(chuckles) because I always wanted my way. It was my way or no way. Although I was a lively child, I didn’t let things get to me or weigh me down. I easily get angry and I think I am just myself.

How has it been since you left Lagbaja ?

I always knew that I wanted to sing and it was just a matter of time before the dream manifested.

What I wanted to do was totally different from what I was doing with Lagbaja.

It was the same music thing but in a different way.

Yes, people would have their doubts and not even know what direction I was going. It was a step that I had to take, something I had to

prove and had to show the world that I knew what I wanted and I was moving in the right direction. So, it’s natural for people to feel that way and have doubts. So far, it’s been good.

How long did you work with him ?

I worked with him as a solo artiste for 12years and I learnt a lot from him, like hard work and not compromising.

At what point did you realise that you were going make a career out of music?

I have always been

surrounded by music from my childhood. I’ve always loved music but I took it for granted. When I left secondary school, it was more of a hobby for me. I joined Colours Band which later became Lagbaja's band. It wasn’t until then that I began to take it serious. I started going for shows and I was making money from it, so I was like okay, this is something I enjoy doing and I am making money from it; it’s not a bad thing. It was at that point that I began to take it serious and I said to myself, 'let me give this a shot’.

Do you have your own band as well ?

Yes , it is called Indigo.

What inspired you to form a band ?

I am a live performer, so there was the need to get

my own band. This is one of

the problems that most artistes face today. They find it very difficult to perform with a live band. It is very important to play with a live band. I first look for those that can form the band with me.

Though, I am not taking anything away from those that use live band; but I just feel that when you use a live band, it’s fun. You can improvise and express yourself. You are not much of a musician if you cannot sing with a live band. I always knew that I was going to use a band. As much as I like singing my own songs, I like singing o t h e r people’s song and this was

,

S

What I wanted to do was totally different from what I was doing with Lagbaja; it was the same music thing but in a different way.

how I even started. Let me state that this is totally different from miming. We do this at events such as weddings, corporate events and other events. It is the same band, that is,

Sta ying In taying W

hether you tend to be introverted or just want to relax in the comfort of your own abode, there are a few good ways to spend time indoors .

Movie Night: A night indoors with your best friends is an easy and affordable way to reconnect. Rent one of your favourite movies, grab some take-out, and sit back for a night of catching up and laughter.

Housework: Dusting furniture and mopping floors can scarcely be considered fun and appealing on it’s own , but you can roll with housekeeping by cranking up your favourite music and dancing your chores to completion. You will feel both productive and cheerful when accompanied by your companion. If necessary, bribe them with baked goods in return for their help with your janitorial tasks.

For Ego , "it all depends on my mood and people that are around me.

For example, when I have friends around, we will talk, crack jokes and all that but if they are not there, I will just sit down quietly. Also at times, I may just want to be left alone, not want to talk to anybody; be alone with my thoughts or read a book or watch television. It all depends on my mood. Also sometimes, I sleep and I sleep a lot too ".

Indigo that also back me up whenever I want to sing

as Ego .

What are your likes and dislikes?

Basically, I like real

people, down to earth people, intelligent people and the ones that can push

me to get a better result. I cannot stand people who are fake but people with fantastic sense of humour.

Since you parted ways with Lagbaja, have you released any album on your own?

Yes , I released an album this year titled First Step but before that, I have released three singles and two videos and I am very encouraged from the feed-back .

Going Out G

oing out with your best friend could be as basic as grabbing a coffee together or as formal as seeing a symphony. Here are some excellent ideas for exploring the world with your friends.

Plan a friend date together: Stop by your favourite restaurant for a few hours of catching up. If you are in the mood for something a bit more special, try dressing up and making reservations one evening at a fancy restaurant.

Also try to educate yourself by visiting a local art museum or take an informal class. Spending time educating yourselves in a new area or unknown field is both beneficial and enjoyable.

For Ego, "I'm not an outing type , though sometimes I used to go out with my husband to have fun but we don’t have a particular place and I don’t club anymore unlike when I was single".

sights lower.

Desmond, Lagos

I can’t talk to girls Dear Julie, I am a University graduate who has always had trouble finding a girl to have a romantic relationship with. I have had only one real relationship during my early years in the university and it ended before the point in which we would have had sex. I am still a virgin! The other day, my elder brother and I were talking about this and he advised me to be more aggressive. I am somewhat shy. However, I fear that it may be something more

basic than that. I used to not think that my brother was that much better looking than me but seeing girls walk across a crowded room to talk to him on more than one occasion while I stood right beside and watched has changed my mind and affected the confidence I have in myself. I’m starting to realize that all the girls I am interested in don’t see me as attractive. Without even asking, I can see it in their eyes. If my problem is lack of physical charms, maybe I should set my

Dear Desmond, There are no generic standards for attractiveness. Different people are attracted to different features in other people. Physical looks, charm, quietness or outgoing–ness, sense of humour, long hair or short hair, it’s impossible to determine which qualities might attract a potential mate.

The women who are attracted to your brother are not necessarily the same women who would be attracted to you. This is not a bad thing. You and your brother are different; you’ve already acknowledged that. In spending all your time watching the women who are attracted to your brother, you may be missing the women who might be attracted to you.

It seems as though you may be struggling with your self esteem. This is the thing that has perhaps been diminished somewhat by comparing

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 26, 2013—19

yourself or your experiences to your brother’s. Stop for a moment and take a look at yourself. Think about and recognize all that you have to offer a potential partner.

Write these qualities down. If you are having a hard time coming up with this list, ask someone you trust. When you start to notice that you’re dwelling on your shortcomings or otherwise feeling down on yourself, take a gander at that list. Read and study it, and add to it, until you believe it with every fabric of your being.

Then think about the qualities you would enjoy in someone else. Next time you go out dancing or are in another public place, as you’re looking around, remember that you’re a good catch for the right person, and be discriminating about who you choose to socialize with. Talk to lots of

women, knowing that you will not have a relationship with all

My need for sexual attention is getting out of hand I am afraid my need for sexual attention is getting out of hand. The past several weekends, I have ended up kissing several guys, and I find myself less interested in flirting or having interesting conversations with them than I am in getting that rush of meeting someone new. Recently, I had sex with a guy I had just met and I have no idea why. Making matters worse is that he was much younger than I am and I don’t think we had anything in common whatsoever. I feel like I am devaluing myself and I don’t want to lose my self-respect.

How can I find the cause of my behaviour and how can I stop?

Claire, Port-Harcourt

Dear Claire While some people consider casual kissing or an occasional one-night stand no big deal or fun, others aren’t interested in that at all. Many people may feel differently about casual encounters at different points in their life as well. It may help to consider why you get such a rush from meeting new people right now. Are you bored with your current social circle? Does it make you feel good to know others are interested in meeting or kissing you? These and other feelings are valid to have.

Exploring them may actually help you discover some new things about yourself and what you want from your life.

However, it sounds as if you’re concerned about your recent flings. Maybe exploring your intuition would bring up some behaviours or feelings that you would like to change. Is it possible you have been using alcohol these past few weeks and feel that this is contributing to your actions? Or are you using this string of striking strangers to soothe a broken or lonely heart? It’s true that encounters such as these can serve as a harmless, and even valuable, boost to one’s self-esteem, particularly post-heartbreak. However, as you

mention, if the reasons behind the actions don’t mesh with your personal values, your self-esteem and self-respect could suffer.

A healthy self-esteem and self-respect are essential to our well-being, physically and psychologically. Self-esteem is, simply, how good we feel about who we are and can come from many places, most importantly from inside yourself. However, the impact of self-esteem, or the lack of it, is complicated and far-reaching. Self-esteem and respect affect the choices we make in our lives, whom we choose to be involved with, and our ability to take action to change things we feel need changing. If you feel as if your behaviours are atypical, and you are worried about harming your self-esteem, being aware of your feelings and looking for potential solutions are positive next steps.

The need for sexual attention is normal, but if or when you feel as though your choices or behaviours are getting out of hand, it might be helpful to look at what else is going on in your life at the moment. Your actions may be your way of dealing with recent changes or stresses. Maybe you’ve moved, are looking for work, are dealing with a difficult family circumstance, or are going through some other kind of transition. Or, perhaps there are unresolved problems that are now resurfacing.

As for the age issue, what does matter is that you are comfortable with yourself, that your actions make you feel good about yourself and those around you, and that you are protecting yourself and partners from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unwanted pregnancy.The process of self-realization may help you figure what is behind your actions.

of them, but that you’re open to exploring the possibility with a select few — your selection!

Try not to fear rejection though it happens to everyone at some point. That’s part of the process of finding someone compatible.

It may also be helpful to explore why a relationship is so important to you. Of course, having intimate human connection is an experience that many people seek and value, but what else about it appeals to you? What meaning do

you attach to being attached? What meaning does being single have for you? Society sends a lot of messages that single–dom is undesirable and these messages can make single people themselves feel undesirable, which may in turn make it harder to trust that there is someone out there for you. But your minimal dating in the past is not evidence for your future.

It’s hard to break up with him Dear Aunty Julie, I have been going out with a guy for over a month and it’s just not working, but the problem is, I don’t know how to dump him.

Tracy, Port-Harcourt Dear Tracy, It’s best to recognize and deal with your relationship problems now, rather than letting them linger for too long when they can become harder to handle. Of interest, however, is your choice of words.

Do you want to: “Dump” your boyfriend like yesterday’s rubbish, with no explanation; trash him with a phony blackmail plot or end the relationship cordially with minimal reasoning?

In a situation such as this, it is important to remember that kindness and respect are what count.

Of course, you have options. You can let him know over the phone, through an e-mail, or you can see him one last time. If you choose to meet, a quiet place (rather than a restaurant or party) shows caring, and allows for fewer interruptions or opportunities for humiliation or even a dramatic scene. In the end, you simply have to tell him what you mentioned in your question: “It’s just not working.” You don’t have to blame him, and you don’t have to justify yourself. Keep your message short and clear.

You may be doing him a favour by breaking up, that is, saving him from wasting any more time or energy in an unsatisfying relationship that just cannot work. Thinking on the bright side, you are even giving him the possibility of meeting someone new.

And as you give him this option, you also give it to yourself. After the break up, it might be helpful to spend some time with friends, whether old or new.

C O C K - T A L E S * A couple whose marriage was going on the rocks sought the advice of a marriage counsellor. The counsellor pleaded with them to patch up their quarrel, but they were adamant. ”So,” said the counsellor, “ you know the consequences and you want to part. Remember this. You must divide your property equally.”

The wife flared up. “You mean the $4,000 I have saved up? I must give him half? My money?”

“Yes,” said the counsellor. “He gets $2,000. You get $2,000.” ”What about my furniture? I paid for that.”

“Same thing,” answered the counsellor. “Your husband gets the bedroom and the living room; you get the dining room and the kitchen.”

There was a challenging gleam in the wife’s eye. “What about our three children?” That stumped him. Shrewdly he assayed the situation, then he came up with a Solomonic answer. “Go back and live together until your fourth child is born. Then you take two children and your husband takes two.” The wife shook her head. “No, I’m sure that wouldn’t work out. If I depended on him, I wouldn’t have the three I got.” *On their way to a justice of the peace to get married, a couple has a fatal car accident. The couple is sitting outside heavens gate waiting on St. Peter to do the paperwork so they can enter. While waiting, they wonder if they could possibly get married in Heaven. St. Peter finally shows up and they ask him.

St. Peter says, “I don’t know, this is the first time anyone has ever asked. Let me go find out,” and he leaves. The couple sit for a couple of months and begin to wonder if they really should get married in Heaven. St. Peter returns after yet another month, looking somewhat bedraggled.

“Yes,” he informs the couple, “ you can get married in Heaven.” “Great,” says the couple, “but what if things don’t work out? Could we also get a divorce in Heaven?” St. Peter, red-faced, slams his clipboard onto the ground. “What’s wrong?” exclaims the frightened couple. “Geez!” St. Peter exclaims, “It took me three months to find a priest up here!

Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take for me to find a lawyer?”

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013

still fewer women in the labour force, and women lost jobs, too. It’s been discovered that unemployed men weren’t defensive about financially depending on

Honey, I’m home!

,

AFTER their July 2012 wedding in Abuja followed by two weeks honeymoon in the United Kingdom, Joyce and Mike returned home to Abuja, where they happily settled into newlywed life. But that was for only 12 months. Then Mike was laid off from his job.

“I thought, oh, God, what have I gotten myself into?”

Joyce says, “Now he’s unemployed and I’m stuck. I thought marriage meant not having to stress about money. I never thought I would marry a banker, but I did want an equal partner.”

When your guy loses his job, what it means to be the man of the house changes.

That sense of dread is familiar to many women who’ve gotten the same news during the punishing economy of the past several years. An expanding series of joblessness try to encapsulate the nation’s financial situation. The recession that hit the predominantly maledominated employees and

such a degree that interviewees shared only their first names and none would comment on their sex lives.

Shame and guilt accompany job loss. The best way to avoid the stress it brings to a relationship is getting in front of the money issue. The longer you spend money as if nothing has happened, the deeper the chasm becomes. The aim, of course, is to have that six-month cushion that financial planners always suggest. But beware of thinking

The best way to avoid the stress it brings to a relationship is getting in front of the money issue

the “she-conomy” ,with more middle-class women as breadwinners, and the “Hecovery” ,which has more men rejoining the workforce hardly tell the full story or describe what it’s like at home when a couple deals with unemployment.

These terms can be misleading because there are

women , but it did uncover all this emotional stuff.

Indeed, male unemployment is a mélange of money matters, sexual politics, and romantic dynamics . As such, for many women, talking about it feels like a betrayal of their guy to

that minor cuts will enable you to maintain your expensive habits .

When Mike first lost his job, Joyce says, “I fired our cleaning person, I gave up certain personal treats and other luxuries. And immediately we noticed the boost in our finances. We have been managing life ever since but things are never as they were".

Tessy, a fashion designer, hasn’t been financially walloped by her husband’s job loss yet because according to her, “we didn’t have

Can we make it together?

F

EW years ago, I knew I met my soulmate. He was a wonderful person to be around and we loved spending time together. He soon went away to serve in the military and was stationed across the country and we kept a long distance relationship. He came home a little over a year ago. I love him so much, he is the greatest guy I have ever known and at times, I feel like I cannot live without him and I know he feels the same about me.

Our problem is that when he gets stressed , I get put on the back burner and he tells me he just needs time to himself. He later explains it by saying that he can’t take the stress of a relationship at the same time with the other stresses he is dealing with. I understand that he is stressed and I know I make the situation worse because I put

pressure on him to decide whether he wants to be together or not.

We ended up breaking up, not talking for awhile. But eventually, when things calmed down a month or so later, we talked and tried to work things out. This has happened three times and this time, we really don’t know what to do.

Even through all this, each time we fight, we still say we feel like we really do want to be together and I know we do.

But this has taken a major toll on our relationship. We know we love each other so much but we realize love is not enough and don’t know how to fix things.

We try to talk but talking doesn’t fix our differences. When we get back together, we do try really hard to communicate and work things out and we do a great job for a while. Things are wonderful for about a month or so but before you know it, we are back to our old ways, fighting all the

,

time. We love each other too much to waste a lifetime without each other.

We want it to work forever, but we have not gotten married yet although we’ve talked about it a lot. We don’t know how or if we can make it. Can you help us please?

Peace, Benin Ans: Did you really meet your soulmate, or just a good candidate?

When a relationship begins with a bang, it’s tempting to think you’ve met your soulmate. But a breath-taking start must be followed by genuine staying power, or soulmates soon turn into cell mates, then ex-mates.

Meeting someone with major “wow” is only step one. Call such a person a soulmate candidate. But will they get elected? Will they become your lasting soulmate? This takes more

debt. We owned our cars. Our rent was minimal. My fatherin-law died, and we got some money after selling his house.

That’s the kind of windfall you save, and we pissed it away on living expenses.”

When her husband’s family business dissolved three years ago, he had two months’ severance, so he took a trip . "I figured his life was changing, he needed a break. But three years later, he’s still going unemployed. It’s not really easy but we are managing.”

Looking back to his wife’s loss of job three years ago, Nath, a budding businessman said his family was badly affected. “ My wife was earning so much and she sustained the family most of the time but nowadays, the cash is no more flowing and our lifestyle has changed.

When my wife was working, we built the house we are now living in and with her retirement benefits, I started a business that is now blossoming but life is no more as rosy. We used to spend holidays abroad but now, things have changed. For the three years she has been jobless, we have not made any trip abroad except my wife who has been trying to use her contacts abroad to re-establish herself in a new business line. Our kids are feeling it but there is nothing we can do. We are facing the realities of time.”

than magic or fireworks.

No matter how great a honeymoon, all relationships encounter challenges. The road to happily ever after includes an occasional rock to trip over.

The difference between couples who enjoy lasting love and those who fall by the wayside is not the absence of problems. All couples meet obstacles on the path. The difference is in how they work with such challenges. Some couples face issues, embrace fears or discomfort, and operate from the best in themselves. They learn, grow personally, and are open to change.

These couples prosper and become real-world soulmates with solid staying power. A longterm relationship requires learning and growth, or it will stagnate and die.

Specifically, both people need to do the learning, and both people need to grow as individuals.

two female children, hotel manager, resident *Wale, 44, single, Yoruba, Christian, lives and works in in Lagos, is looking for a serious -minded lady Lagos, needs a Yoruba lady, a Christian believer of RCCG of from Benue, Osun, or Kwara States for a 28-33 , who is employed and based in Lagos for marriage relationship that can lead to marriage on on 08122196089 •Tunde, employed, based in Lagos, needs a tall lady 0 8 0 6 6 3 3 3 0 9 7 *Joe, 30, wants a wealthy lady for a marriage-bound who is also based in Lagos on 08168379901 •Charles, from Rivers state, resident at Eleme, relationship on 08057557562 •Obotu, male, Christian, 42, graduate,divorcee with needs a Godfearing lady for •Vincent, 24, from Delta State, needs a lady a serious relationship on of 22-30 for a relationship on 08088317218 Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want 07039319965 •Eniola, 29, living at Karu, Abuja, wants a •Tasha, 23, fat, robust, good looking woman of 35-40 for beautiful, busty, from relationship on 07037684112 Do you want to be linked?

•Alex, 36, from Delta, needs a Godfearing , Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting Delta State, needs a to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa- relationship that can neat, humble and attractive lady of 28-35 for a relationship that will lead to marriage on tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for lead to marriage on 07058641454 08053332498

C M Y K

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26,, 2013—21

Should you keep quiet when your friend’s husband is having an affair?

W

C M Y K

even told me she’d successfully had an operation to enable her get pregnant again. Their only child is seven years old.

“The next day, I’d gone out early in the evening to get a few of the things I needed for the house before I joined Gbade at the club. As I left the car park I saw Jide and this other woman. I just looked up and there they were. They didn’t see me but I couldn’t keep my eyes off them. I didn’t want it to be true; I kept thinking I’d made a mistake.

But it was Jide all right, with his arm around the waist of a woman with well-groomed extensions. She looked quite attractive and about the same age as Ada and I. The way they looked at one another left me in no doubt that they were more than just good friends.

“I was really shocked. You know that it happens all the time, but it’s still a shock when it’s someone you think you know well. As soon as I got to the club, I told my husband. It was then I had my second shock. He already knew, and so did most of our other friends. I was furious.

My first instinct had been to discuss it with Gbade, not knowing he had been hiding it. I really felt for my friend.

Imagine everyone knowing that your husband was having an affair except you.

And laughing at you! They probably weren’t, but I’m sure that’s how you would feel.

“When I asked my husband what we were going to do, he looked at me as if I were nuts.

‘What do you mean? he

asked. ‘There ‘s nothing we can do. It’s none of our business. I couldn’t believe he could be so callous. His view was that either the affair would burn itself out, so she need never know, or that Jide would tell her himself when the time was right. I didn’t sleep well for a few nights. How could I let this go on without telling my best friend? There she was happily hoping for a second baby, living in a dream-world where husbands were loyal and didn’t lie to you. Was it really so cruel to shatter her fantasies by

,

ould you tell your best friend that her husband was having an affair? Would you keep a promise even if it meant lying to someone you loved? At some point, everyone has to face impossible situations — moral dilemmas where there is no clear right or wrong. And, even worse, you have to live with your decision for ever.

Like Feyi did, she’d lived a sheltered life and got married to her childhood sweetheart.

Then she found out that her best friend’s husband was having an affair.

She agonised on whether or not to tell her. “I keep thinking that if only I hadn’t seen them together, I would never have been forced to make the decision I made — and things wouldn’t have ended up in such a terrible mess,” she said sadly. “Not that I think Adaeze’s marriage would have lasted — she would have found out eventually. But at least I wouldn’t have ended up in such a terrible mess and made to feel that the whole thing — the affair that almost shook their marriage’s foundation and the hurt — was all my fault. Ada and I have been friends since we were five years old. We went to the same primary and secondary schools, we practically lived in one another’s houses in our teens. I would never have believed that anything could destroy our friendship. Just thinking about it still really upsets me. What worries me most is that it has made me feel bad about myself. There have been moments when I have even doubted my own motives in telling her what everyone else had known for ages — that her husband Jide, was a chronic womaniser.

“As things are now, no one else seems to understand why I did it either. My husband, Gbade is also a friend of Jide and Ada and he thinks I was crazy. Jide and Ada had been married for over nine years and always seemed to get on well together. I could tell — that my friend was happy— she never would have looked at anyone else. They’d both spent some time with us the night before I found out.

There was no hint of any tension between them. Ada

me for it. He also hinted that he thought there was a bit of female rivalry involved, since once, many years ago, I’d had a fling with Jide. I felt that was totally unfair. I tried to be honest with myself and examine my motives for feeling that I ought to tell Ada what was happening.

Then I became convinced I had to do it. The bottom line was that I knew I would want to be told if it were Gbade. So, I rang her and arranged to meet for a meal. How do you

,

I just took a deep breath and told her what I’d seen and that I had reason to believe that her husband was having an affair

telling her? She might hate me for a while, but I know she’d do the same thing in my place — after all, we were best friends.

“But each time I mentioned it to my husband, he said I was mad to even consider telling her. He said I was poking my nose in where it didn’t belong, and that neither Jide nor Ada would thank

put something like that tactfully? I just took a deep breath and told her what I’d seen and that I had reason to believe that her husband was having an affair.

“For a moment, she looked at me disbelievingly, and then tried desperately to

reassure herself, saying she was sure — that there was an innocent explanation, that her husband wasn’t the type— all the usual things people say to kid themselves their partners are faithful.

When I told her there could be no doubt, and that my husband knew too, her attitude changed completely. She became very angry and shouted. ‘So what are you then?’ Some kind of a detective? Just f*** off and mind your own business from now on. * “She phoned and apologised a few days later.

Said she’d gone home that day and confronted Jide. He had admitted to the affair, and they were trying to decide where to go from there. She sounded utterly depressed, but refused we should meet to talk about it.

There was a kind of guardedness in her voice, as though I was an enemy she’d only just discovered.

“Later, I began to hear from mutual friend, that she was talking about what happened— but she was not telling me. Her husband was apparently furious that I’d interfered and my husband took his side. I knew how Judas must have felt all those centuries ago. Three years on, Jide and Ada are still struggling to make the most of their marriage. As luck would have it, last year, they had their longed-for child—another girl. I rarely see my friend; when I do, it’s always me that makes the first move to meet. We have polite, stilted conversations. It’s really pointless. I may as well give up because it certainly doesn’t make me feel any less guilty about her”.

Could yyour our man be ha ving an af fair? having affair?

H

ere, a marriage counsel who has spent 16 years sifting through the ruins of other people’s relationships, gives his analysis of how a partnership can lose its way, and a few suggestions for not letting it happen. (a) Signs she is having an affair: Look for a sudden short-term drop-off sex.

Everyone has appetites — exactly where is she satisfying hers? Radically different sexual behaviour: if she suddenly starts suggesting things he hasn’t done before, or doing things very differently even if it’s better, where is she getting the ideas from? Sudden increase in working hours: ‘This can easily be innocent, but where’s the extra cash? (You might never know if lover boy is giving her over-time pay!)

Sexually transmitted infections: Towels and

toilet seat explanations simply aren’t good enough. (b) Things she is getting from an affair that she is not getting at home: Excitement that is the main thing. Having a secret life. If you are clever enough, your marriage should be her secret life!

Full time attention: He is trying harder than you. Usually a step up, someone better than the husband in at least one respect — looks, money, youth. (c)Mistakes husbands make: Not adjusting to the fact that you are married. Like it or not, you are now part of a double act, and you can’t carry on as if nothing’s happened.

Women like to see visible signs of commitment, so cut down on after work drinks with the boys.

I

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

n line with the fantasies I still harbour that the next generation of Usain Bolts will be unearthed from this country, I recently got involved with a group of upcoming local athletic talent which trains every weekend. Last Saturday I impulsively decided to conduct a series of impromptu interviews amongst the youths — primarily to record their hopes and aspirations for posterity, but also to imbue in them a sense of importance and purpose.

After a tentative start, my first interviewee (a gazelle-like 100m/200m hopeful) rallied to express herself with eloquence, poise and refreshing ambition. Fantastic.

O

n to the next — a lithe long jumper whose bends and stretches in the earlier conditioning routine had looked truly impressive. A real prospect, I thought.

So with the lens of my camcorder trained on her intrigued face, I extracted her name and state of origin, then proceeded: “How old are you?”

For a brief moment, she regarded me with a conspiratorial twinkle in her eye which was slightly discomforting to see, then replied:“16.”

The problem was —she didn’t look 16. And unbeknownst to her, my earlier curiosity as to her talents had prompted me to make inquiries from her coach who had divulged a different age. So I lowered the camera and mustered a no-nonsense expression to jolt her out of her insincerity.

The age of deception “Look —I don’t want to hear your football age ...” (a deliberate reference to the sports administrative maladies of times past which I knew she would recognize).

“What’s your real age?”

Her gaze shifted apprehensively from my stern features to the recording camera lens I had raised again, knowing fully well that her response would be indisputable proof that

,

22—SATURDAY

meal ticket into age-restricted local competitions she would normally not be eligible for; platforms for her to showcase her talent and hopefully get selected to represent the country at international events where who knew which further doors could open?

But the problem with such success is that it is achieved at the expense of age-compliant fellow competitors whose youthful hopes for glory are

,

What on earth is going on with the next generation?

could be used against her in the future. Finally: “18.”

I nodded approvingly, delivered a brief admonition for her to continue in the path of truth age-wise, then concluded the interview. But after she left, I reflected on the somewhat pitiable look in her eyes just before she declared her real age. It was akin to someone whose most prized possession was being wrenched forcibly out of her hands against her will.

I felt sorry for her. Because I understood that the ‘professional age’ she ventured initially was her

dashed by the callous deceit of their older ‘peers’. And justice delayed is not justice denied. You reap what you sow. So a few years down the line when those disappointed youths have grown into their bodies and are at the physical peak of their powers with their stars in the ascendancy, the cheats who reigned over them at the juniors are already in various stages of performance decline.

I honestly didn’t see why this talented athlete should construct her fledgling career on such a treacherous foundation, so I quelled a compassionate impulse to delete the recording and moved on with some relief

to my last interviewee — the youngest member of the group by several years whose admirably solemn dedication to his training drills made some of his more frivolous older colleagues appear immature in comparison.

Upon request he introduced himself soberly to the camera, and I followed up with the routine age inquiry.

“Nine... I mean, ten years old.”

Okaaay. Perhaps an excusable verbal stutter after an intensive training session. But the young lad’s work ethic had always impressed me and I wanted him to have a clean interview.

“Sorry ... let’s take that again. How old are you?”

“Eleven years old.”

Aha! I was momentarily speechless. Marvelling at how this straight-faced and dedicated young lad could go from 9 to 11 years old in the space of 15 seconds.

Genuinely forgetting his actual age would naturally be of some concern in one so young. But of even greater concern would be a deliberate attempt to provide a misleading response to what (at his age) should be a relatively simple question.

S

… and the monk ey w on monke won

,

ome things no just make sense… not after all this time and not after everything mankind has been through. Like we don’t have enough problems as it is … natural disasters of global proportions, monumental global fraud, all kinds of sickness and disease, the constant threat of nuclear warfare to mention just a few. On top of all of this and some, having to deal with the petty mindedness of man just seems too much to bear.

I was thoroughly embarrassed and saddened to see that racism is alive and well. What am I talking about! half of the problems the world faces today is as a result of man’s intolerance to his fellow man.

I was thoroughly embarrassed and saddened to see that racism is alive and well

and backgrounds together; the sour taste it leaves behind is extra sharp.

It was with bemusement that I watched, during a football match between Manchester City and CSK ut to see it displayed Moscow fully grown men, so blatantly, espepossibly fathers of many (I cially in the sporting shudder to think) behaving arena mostly know for like utter asses. There were a binding men of all races

B

C M Y K

,

bunch of them, standing in the bleachers shirts off, grunting like apes and shouting racial slurs at YayaTourre, an international football player of no mean repute. That the match was being played on Russian soil and captured live on global TV just made it look worse. The hosting country came across as churlish, disrespectful and uncouth. If

na me be the President of that place I would have all those tout arrested for giving the country a bad PR job. Nothing is an effective poster child for an intolerant nation than people behaving abhorrently at a sporting event.

I

ronically and without realising it though, it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Though their skin was white, they were the ones looking and sounding like baboons. It was in such poor taste. I can’t imagine what kind of sons they’re

What made him do it? Why should one so young, with the world at his feet, display the wariness of a Hollywood actress about his age? Is it normal?

Obviously not. Clearly a corruptive influence, somewhere, had drilled into his vulnerable young mind that the formula for success in his chosen pursuit also involved mathematical agility in responding to any inquiries about his years.

Not wanting to embarrass the otherwise earnest fellow, I released him shortly after.

M

y mood was not improved by my sudden recollection of a conversation the previous day with a professional associate whose biography I was trying to compile.

“Actually, I was born in 1988, but I use 1990.”

“I use 1990.” This was delivered without a trace of remorse or shame. He might as well have been referring to the brand of engine oil he patronizes for car servicing.

Haba! What on earth is going on with the next generation? Are these really the future leaders of the country into whose hands we will necessarily entrust our wellbeing?

Where is the integrity?

Have they learnt nothing from the past?

Unfortunately, it seems they have. And like the farmer in the biblical parable, it appears we were all asleep when the enemy was busy sowing weeds furiously in our field of wheat.

If we are to save our harvest, clearly there is much work to be done.

Or else, we better get used to the taste of boiled weeds. raising, heck what am I saying; their sons were probably standing there shoulder to shoulder, howling together like banshees… behold! the next generation of degenerate hooligans.

And you know, ugliness just begets further ugliness… watching the incident play out on TV my mind just dey boil. Ehn??!!

So, if oyinbodey talk dis ones go follow put mouth too??!! O ga o!! Shakinse bi ora! Mongrels!

They got their just deserve when the ref allowed the game to play on.

Apparently there’s a FIFA law in place which allows the referee the right to stop a match, if it begins to take on racial colourations.

Perhaps that was their intent. Constitute such a nuisance that the ref will be forced to call of the match so they wouldn’t have to witness the humiliating (emphasis mine) thrashing of their team on home soil.

Hehe…2 -0!! And the monkey won… Yeye!

SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013—23

(Text Only)

Rest assured, health assured

Leg-Pulls

Deep Knee Squeeze

Technique: Get on your knees making sure the feet are wide apart and then lower the body till you can sit down between both heels.

Place the hands on the thighs and keep the trunk very straight. Breathe deeply and sit very still.

Benefits: The Deep Knee bend stretches the front thigh muscles. It renders the ankles and knee joint supple by increasing the synovial fluid.

Warning: Refrain from

Deep Knee Squeeze

the Deep Knee bend if you have varicose veins.

Leg-Pulls

Techniques: Sitting with both legs outstreched infront of you, draw the right knee and place the right foot on the inside of the left thigh.

Now grasp the inner left foot with left hand and the outer left leg with the right hand.

Stay in this position between say 10 seconds.

Rest a bit and repeat.

Benefits: This posture ensures a great workout of the leg muscles.

The abdominal organs are favourable affected.

The Dead Pose

your back with eyes lightly closed and the lips parted without opening the mouth.

Just be very still and relax every muscle in your body. Be sure not to fall asleep. Focus the attention on say your breathing or the ticking of a clock in the room. This kind of attention calms the mind. Stay in the relaxation pose between 10 and 30 minutes.

Benefits: The dead pose gives proper repose to mind and body.

People with high blood pressure will gain tremendously from the practise of this posture as well as those afflicted with insomnia.

Technique: Lie flat on

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

The Dead Pose

24—SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Intimacy is one of the major and most important ways through which a man gets his needs of connection/love met.

Men aren’t just asking for intimacy because it feels good

Why women shouldn’t deprive their man of intimacy

T

he only difference between a friend ship and a relation ship is intimacy. If you have a sexless marriage or a sexless relationship, what are you? Companions? Best friends? If a couple doesn’t have much intimacy, then this generally means they lack passion, and they could be more in love. There’s no such thing as losing the feeling of being in love. You just lose the ‘state’ of being in love, and you lose polarity/passion with your spouse. You can be in love and have passionate intimacy way in to your old age.

Yes, sex is not the only way to achieve intimacy, but it is one of the main and most important ways to achieve intimacy between a man and a woman. Not making intimacy a priority can cause your relationship to deteriorate. The

passion dies out.

Women can go to their girlfriends, a counselor, a guy friend, a mother, father, relative, aunt, to connect and talk to people. Men don’t generally do this.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t men who call their guy friends up for a long chat about their feelings, problems and sex life, but this is not common.

Intimacy is one of the major and most important ways through which a man gets his needs of connection/love met.

Men aren’t just asking for sex because it feels good .

If a man loves his woman, he wants to have intimacy with her because he loves her and wants her to be open to him.

This is one of the main ways in which a man expresses his love, and it is one of the major ways in which a woman can show and prove her love for

PERT X E S E H T ASKa 25-year-old male. I have intimacy

I am my tw ice a we ek bu t a wi th m y gi rlf rie nd in th d I cli m ax wi to sta m in a is lo w an n tio lu so Is th er e a co up le of mi nu te s. ? xth is pr ob le m m pr em at ur e cli ma An s: Yo u su ffe r fro rt sta w, l sta mi na is lo in g. If yo ur ph ys ica ve a good nutritious d ha a exercising daily an m or e ab ou t ha vi ng n ar le di et . Tr y to go od in tim ac y. r I ie d ma n. W he ne ve I am a ne wl y- ma rr mco e sh , fe wi th my ha ve in te rc ou rs e wi su lt, I ha ve to pe na re pl ai ns of pa in . As ow : Al so , I wa nt to kn e . ly nt ge ry ve et ra te us ca it ill di se as es ? W do es or al se x ca us e my es um ns co y wi fe ? an y di se as e if m m r e p as s fe wi Li ste n to yo ur x W ha t is th e hu rry ? ex pe rie nc e. Or al se ed ar sin tim ac y is a sh di no es us ca pe rs on s be tw ee n he al th y ea se .

her man. For a lot of men, his woman is the only place he can go to for connection and love.

His woman is often the only source he has. Men have many challenges in the world and it’s important that he has a woman who understands his needs.

Of course, understanding a man’s needs is not about just giving him intimacy. Men have many other needs, too. But the issue of intimacy is one that many women struggle with.

And the modern western world has been affected by the feminist movement which has given women the idea that they shouldn’t prioritize a man’s needs, and that includes not wanting to meet his sexual needs regularly. However, the man is still expected to meet her needs!

Your man’s needs are just as important as the needs of your children or the needs of your friends! At the end of it all, your

man is the one you’re going to be left with. Children will grow up and leave. Friends will have their own lives. A sexless marriage or a sexless relationship can cause a man to become dejected and resentful, as with every rejection the negative association becomes stronger.

Let’s talk about masculine and feminine energy, which relates very, very closely to intimacy. The masculine energy is about releasing. The feminine energy is about filling up.

The masculine energy wants to release and the feminine energy wants to fill up. Filling up is also very much about the emotional aspect of things.

The feminine energy has many ways to fill up - shopping, having intimacy, talking to girlfriends, connecting with pets, talking, listening, and much more. The masculine energy has many ways in which they can release, too

. I had My girlfriend is 20 I am 21 years old. t her go o her. She had als unprotected sex with a ch an ce of pr eg na nc y? e pe rio ds th en . Is th er rse has ble door after the ho sta the g You’re closin emist ch egnancy kit from the bolted! Get a urine pr ncy. and check for pregna I talk ars old and I am 21. If and My girlfriend is 28 ye ic quickly changes the top like to her about sex, she n’t thing else, which I do begins discussing some al? How can I make her unrm at all. Is she really no se help. sing it is fun? Plea us sc di derstand that e is not al. But obviously, sh Of course, she is norm nd s. ma yo ur am or ou s de ye t re ad y to me et d pr ian sts ea wi fe ’s br I wa nt to su ck m y ou ld I sh t ha W it. n’ t al lo w va te s, bu t sh e do es is to o do? rs ua siv e m an ne r Un Ob vi ou sly , yo ur pe d. ar kw aw ke s he r fe el ma d an e at er sp n de u ca al ec t he r wi sh es . Yo de rs ta nd an d re sp r. in g to co nv in ce he wa ys co nt in ue try

but men don’t generally think the way women do.

It feeds a man’s needs for love from his woman. A lot of women will want to lash out at me for saying this but if two people are in a relationship, and the woman denies her man of intimacy, puts the children/career/girlfriends/ other family first, then over time, this starts to build up negative associations within the man in relation to the woman, and makes him feel less like a man, less loved, less accepted and this can lead to cheating.

Intimacy with a woman whom he loves fulfills a very deep need for love and acceptance within a man. If you’re not attracted to him enough in order to want to have intimacy with him, over time, he may start to feel less of a man more like you don’t accept him as a man and that you’re not attracted to him. This is a painful thing to feel. This is also one reason why men cheat. A lot of their emotional needs are met through intimacy.

An expert’s results show clearly that the main reason why men did cheat on their women was for emotional reasons. When asked what led to their cheating, the answers given by the men showed up as follows: 48% – primarily emotional dissatisfaction 32% – emotional and sexual dissatisfaction 8% – primarily sexual dissatisfaction This doesn’t mean women should be pressured into having intimacy. Women and men need to work on creating passion, love and excitement with their spouse so that lack of intimacy will not be a problem.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 25

NATIONAL CONFAB Entertainers verdict!

By ANOZIE EGOLE & EBIRIM JULIET

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan in his independence day broadcast to the nation, on Oc tober 1, announced his administration’s readiness to organise a National Dialogue to chart a new direction for the country. But since the announcement was made, controversy has continued to trail the novel idea. While some Nigerians have described the idea as “diversionary and deceptive”, many others say, it’s a welcome development. Our team went to town to sought the opinions of the entertainers on the issue.

Mr. President needs to put measures in place —Biodun Okeowo

I *Okeowo

don’t have much to say on this topic. All I want to add is that, if the idea is properly executed, it will yield a positive result. To me, I don’t think national conference is what the country needs at this point in time. We have many problems facing the country like the issue of insecurity, unemployment and the on-going ASUU strike which has kept our undergraduates at home for months now.

Unless Mr. President will put measures in place to ensure that positive results are realized from the confab, one is bound to entertain fear of the unknown.

It’s

meaningless

— Halima Abubakar, Actress

I

n a country where edu cation, foods, social amenities among other things are major challenges facing its citizenry, organising a national conference is meaningless. Our leaders should try as much as possible to erase all the negative values that the politicians are handing down to the present day youths. Mr. President might not be corrupt but mojority of the people who are working with him are corrupt. So, in my own opinion, I don’t think organising a national conference is necessary at this point in time.

The idea is good — Biola Ige, Actress

I ‘ ll support it if...

I as know our problem a country and we think it’s a good idea.

We

—Bob Manuel Udokwu, Actor

I

f the national conference will move the coun try forward, bring solution to the many problems militating against the development of this country and reduce the tension, misunderstanding, bickering and acrimony that pervade the system, then I’m ready for it.

But, if it is going to be another exercise in futility, a waste of funds, resources, manpower and time of everybody, then I am not in support. *Bob

*Biola Manuel

Confab, the way forward for Nigeria

It’s very necessary

— Femi Adebayo

—Baba Suwe, Actor

T

I

don’t have much to say, but I think it’s a necessary thing to do at this point in time for Nigerians to speak their minds collectively.

*Baba Suwe C M Y K

*Halima

he confab is an avenue to get the views of everybody. So, that everyone’s opinion will be adequately represented. It will a long way to chart a new direction for the country. Personally, I support the idea of the National Dialogue.

can do better even without the confab. We should pray that the idea works out. Mr. President should take drastic measures to ensure that the problem of the country is solved once and for all.

*Femi

26 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

It takes more than a pretty face to be a broadcaster — Becky Madojemu

B

ecky Madojemu is a seasoned broadcaster with Nigerian Television Authority(NTA). She has been a broadcaster for over a decade and still counting. She anchors the network news-line on Sunday from 9-10:30pm. Her story is that broadcasting discovered her rather than the other way round. In this interview, she talks about how she landed the job as a broadcaster without actually preparing for it; her style and other things that make her tick

language or Mass Communications. I was the only person that read Economics. But today, I cannot see myself doing something else other than what I am doing presently. I feel fulfilled.

What was it like learning the art of broadcasting and blending it with what you already knew?

You know in our kind of work; you learn on the job. We were all so young in the newsroom.

So, we learnt on the job.

They don’t teach you everything in school. Ironically, I observed that those of us who didn’t major in English language or Mass Communications were far better than those who studied these courses. There’s nothing wrong in studying these courses. though they were better than us literally.

In practical terms, we were doing better. We learnt the ropes while on the job and that helped us.

*Becky Madojemu

By AYO ONIKOYI & FLORENCE AMAGIYA

H

ow would you describe yourself?

I am a nice person, but I am nobody’s fool. I am the girl next door. I can be complicated just as I can be down-to-earth. I can be an introvert or an extrovert. It depends on my mood, time and place.

How did you get into broadcasting?

It can be said that broadcasting discovered me because I read Economics in the university. And most times, it’s out of place to come across someone who read Economics and ends up pursuing a career in broadcasting. I walked into a television house in Benin, Edo State after my Youth Service in 1997, to attend an interview for a position of a marketing officer but I found myself being shortlisted for a broadcasting job. While I was waiting to be summoned for the marketing interview it turned out that it was the broadcasting interview I was called for. I was just instructed to read a script and that was all. That was how I ended up with a broadcasting job.

But how did that happen?

I do not know what happened.

So, you got the job on a platter of gold?

I got the job two months after I graduated from the university and after my Youth Service. I was very young and I was in dire need of a job. Perhaps, that was what made me to hold on to the job instead of sticking to what I have always wanted to do, which was marketing or working in the banking sector.

I always felt like a fraudster among my colleagues because majority of them read either English

At what point, did you resolve not to

little about everything because the viewers are informed.

The television is all about glamour and you are not missing in action. Don’t you think that was part of the reason you were considered for the job in the first place?

I don’t think so; as there were many beautiful ladies that came for the interview on that day. I do not think looking glamorous was part of the reason I got the job. I think what played a major role for me on that day was fate and destiny, not glamour at all. Perhaps, my interviewers liked the way I sounded.

Do you think your looks played a role too?

I don’t know, perhaps in some other stations, but not in Nigerian Television Authority. They have seasoned professionals behind the cameras. So, if you sound somehow; no matter how pretty you are,

I do not think looking glamorous was part of the reason I got the job. I think what played a major role for me on that day was fate and destiny, not glamour at all.

Perhaps, my interviewers liked the way I sounded dump broadcasting anymore?

I think that point was when I was doing CNN Live reports. I was seeing myself in CNN promotions and all that. I knew right then that l didn’t belong anywhere else.

What does it take to become a broadcaster?

First and foremost; you have to be very intelligent. You cannot afford to make any mistake because if you do then it’s already on air. It is easier to make a mistake when you are behind the pen. But if you are broadcasting, you may be done with your job for the slightest of mistakes. Secondly, you must have the flair, you must have that charisma to captivate your audience. There are many Television stations out there and

they send you out permanently.

Have you ever goofed on air?

Wow! Several times. The worst one was when I was in Benin. Usually, when I am about going on air, I asked the camera man to connect the camera to the monitor; so I can see myself and fix myself up. So this fateful day; I saw myself on the monitor as usual, about five minutes before going on air, and I whispered ‘thank you’ to him, but he was staring at me. So, I started adjusting myself; my hair, my face and did all that. I did my make-up, coughed, but all the while, I didn’t know that people were watching me at home, right on air! Later, my mum told me she saw me on air adjusting my hair. In fact, the whole town went mad and my mum screamed. It was horri-

*Becky

ble, I do not wish it on my enemy. There are awkward moments as a broadcaster, but if you are smart and good, you would smile your way through.

What has been your most fascinating moment as a broadcaster?

There are many,but I do not want to discuss any here.

You are a very beautiful woman. Are you married?

I am not married. Is that shocking?

Why aren’t you married?

I am waiting for him to find me.

If there is a man wanting to find you.

What would you be looking for?

I want a credible man, an ambitious person. Not one who builds castles in the air. I need godliness; we have enough godliness around us.

Can you share any romantic experience with us?

Someone came to my house on St. Valentine’s day and brought a present for me. I thought that was romantic. It was romantic because I wasn’t expecting anything from anyone that Valentine’s day and it came so early.

Are you a stylish person?

I dress for comfort; not style. Something could be beautiful, but if I am not going to be comfortable in it; then I won’t wear it. As for perfumes, I love designers’ perfumes. I know my clothes when I see them; my friends also know my clothes when they see it.

You are mentoring younger people now, what else do you wish to do after this?

I have a lot of younger colleagues looking up to me like I looked up to my mentors. But I haven’t gotten to that stage of doing something different from what I am doing today. At the moment, I am climbing the Civil Service’s ladder, but if I am ever chanced I wish to go into politics. I may not go into the campaign and stuff like that, but if I am voted for, I will gladly grab the opportunity.

SARTURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 27

What do you do for a living?

I am a broadcaster. I have been a broadcaster since 1997, after my Youth Service. I started with ITV, Benin, where I worked for five years before I relocated to Lagos in 2002. I am an Assistant Manager, News, with Lagos Network centre of Nigerian Television Authority.

Perhaps, I must have impressed them. Of course, I used to mimic newscasters while I was growing up as a child.

Maybe, I subconsciously worked on myself without even knowing it. I also used to read things to my mother and siblings while we were growing up.

Were there moments you regretted why you didn’t study Mass Communications or any other related course?

I never had moments like that. I learnt on the job. I guess, it was like that because I had good mentors on the job. I learnt very fast. I had a boss, Abidjan Ejayekre of blessed memory and other tested hands. I am sure that helped me.

the viewers have three seconds with a remote control; so if there’s nothing catchy about you they tune to the next channel within the twinkling of an eye. It takes more than a pretty face to be a broadcaster. You must know what you are doing; you must be intelligent, you must know a

26 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

It takes more than a pretty face to be a broadcaster — Becky Madojemu

B

ecky Madojemu is a seasoned broadcaster with Nigerian Television Authority(NTA). She has been a broadcaster for over a decade and still counting. She anchors the network news-line on Sunday from 9-10:30pm. Her story is that broadcasting discovered her rather than the other way round. In this interview, she talks about how she landed the job as a broadcaster without actually preparing for it; her style and other things that make her tick

language or Mass Communications. I was the only person that read Economics. But today, I cannot see myself doing something else other than what I am doing presently. I feel fulfilled.

What was it like learning the art of broadcasting and blending it with what you already knew?

You know in our kind of work; you learn on the job. We were all so young in the newsroom.

So, we learnt on the job.

They don’t teach you everything in school. Ironically, I observed that those of us who didn’t major in English language or Mass Communications were far better than those who studied these courses. There’s nothing wrong in studying these courses. though they were better than us literally.

In practical terms, we were doing better. We learnt the ropes while on the job and that helped us.

*Becky Madojemu

By AYO ONIKOYI & FLORENCE AMAGIYA

H

ow would you describe yourself?

I am a nice person, but I am nobody’s fool. I am the girl next door. I can be complicated just as I can be down-to-earth. I can be an introvert or an extrovert. It depends on my mood, time and place.

How did you get into broadcasting?

It can be said that broadcasting discovered me because I read Economics in the university. And most times, it’s out of place to come across someone who read Economics and ends up pursuing a career in broadcasting. I walked into a television house in Benin, Edo State after my Youth Service in 1997, to attend an interview for a position of a marketing officer but I found myself being shortlisted for a broadcasting job. While I was waiting to be summoned for the marketing interview it turned out that it was the broadcasting interview I was called for. I was just instructed to read a script and that was all. That was how I ended up with a broadcasting job.

But how did that happen?

I do not know what happened.

So, you got the job on a platter of gold?

I got the job two months after I graduated from the university and after my Youth Service. I was very young and I was in dire need of a job. Perhaps, that was what made me to hold on to the job instead of sticking to what I have always wanted to do, which was marketing or working in the banking sector.

I always felt like a fraudster among my colleagues because majority of them read either English

At what point, did you resolve not to

little about everything because the viewers are informed.

The television is all about glamour and you are not missing in action. Don’t you think that was part of the reason you were considered for the job in the first place?

I don’t think so; as there were many beautiful ladies that came for the interview on that day. I do not think looking glamorous was part of the reason I got the job. I think what played a major role for me on that day was fate and destiny, not glamour at all. Perhaps, my interviewers liked the way I sounded.

Do you think your looks played a role too?

I don’t know, perhaps in some other stations, but not in Nigerian Television Authority. They have seasoned professionals behind the cameras. So, if you sound somehow; no matter how pretty you are,

I do not think looking glamorous was part of the reason I got the job. I think what played a major role for me on that day was fate and destiny, not glamour at all.

Perhaps, my interviewers liked the way I sounded dump broadcasting anymore?

I think that point was when I was doing CNN Live reports. I was seeing myself in CNN promotions and all that. I knew right then that l didn’t belong anywhere else.

What does it take to become a broadcaster?

First and foremost; you have to be very intelligent. You cannot afford to make any mistake because if you do then it’s already on air. It is easier to make a mistake when you are behind the pen. But if you are broadcasting, you may be done with your job for the slightest of mistakes. Secondly, you must have the flair, you must have that charisma to captivate your audience. There are many Television stations out there and

they send you out permanently.

Have you ever goofed on air?

Wow! Several times. The worst one was when I was in Benin. Usually, when I am about going on air, I asked the camera man to connect the camera to the monitor; so I can see myself and fix myself up. So this fateful day; I saw myself on the monitor as usual, about five minutes before going on air, and I whispered ‘thank you’ to him, but he was staring at me. So, I started adjusting myself; my hair, my face and did all that. I did my make-up, coughed, but all the while, I didn’t know that people were watching me at home, right on air! Later, my mum told me she saw me on air adjusting my hair. In fact, the whole town went mad and my mum screamed. It was horri-

*Becky

ble, I do not wish it on my enemy. There are awkward moments as a broadcaster, but if you are smart and good, you would smile your way through.

What has been your most fascinating moment as a broadcaster?

There are many,but I do not want to discuss any here.

You are a very beautiful woman. Are you married?

I am not married. Is that shocking?

Why aren’t you married?

I am waiting for him to find me.

If there is a man wanting to find you.

What would you be looking for?

I want a credible man, an ambitious person. Not one who builds castles in the air. I need godliness; we have enough godliness around us.

Can you share any romantic experience with us?

Someone came to my house on St. Valentine’s day and brought a present for me. I thought that was romantic. It was romantic because I wasn’t expecting anything from anyone that Valentine’s day and it came so early.

Are you a stylish person?

I dress for comfort; not style. Something could be beautiful, but if I am not going to be comfortable in it; then I won’t wear it. As for perfumes, I love designers’ perfumes. I know my clothes when I see them; my friends also know my clothes when they see it.

You are mentoring younger people now, what else do you wish to do after this?

I have a lot of younger colleagues looking up to me like I looked up to my mentors. But I haven’t gotten to that stage of doing something different from what I am doing today. At the moment, I am climbing the Civil Service’s ladder, but if I am ever chanced I wish to go into politics. I may not go into the campaign and stuff like that, but if I am voted for, I will gladly grab the opportunity.

SARTURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 27

What do you do for a living?

I am a broadcaster. I have been a broadcaster since 1997, after my Youth Service. I started with ITV, Benin, where I worked for five years before I relocated to Lagos in 2002. I am an Assistant Manager, News, with Lagos Network centre of Nigerian Television Authority.

Perhaps, I must have impressed them. Of course, I used to mimic newscasters while I was growing up as a child.

Maybe, I subconsciously worked on myself without even knowing it. I also used to read things to my mother and siblings while we were growing up.

Were there moments you regretted why you didn’t study Mass Communications or any other related course?

I never had moments like that. I learnt on the job. I guess, it was like that because I had good mentors on the job. I learnt very fast. I had a boss, Abidjan Ejayekre of blessed memory and other tested hands. I am sure that helped me.

the viewers have three seconds with a remote control; so if there’s nothing catchy about you they tune to the next channel within the twinkling of an eye. It takes more than a pretty face to be a broadcaster. You must know what you are doing; you must be intelligent, you must know a

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013—29

30— SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

08023542350

The ref who

failed tto o send of offf

Lewandowski at Arsenal is

Torres

•Mourinho

a millionaire

J

ONAS Eriksson is not your typical referee. The 39-yearold Swede, who failed to send off Robert Lewandowski on Tuesday evening after an elbow on Laurent Koscielny in the second half of Dortmund’s 2-1 win at Arsenal, wasn’t subject of the harshest of criticism from Arsene Wenger at full-time.

‘It looked like Lewandowski could have been sent off,’ claimed Arsenal’s manager. ‘The referee was in a better situation.’

Lewandowski, to Arsenal’s misfortune, went on to score the winner late on at the Emirates, and he was more than lucky to still be on the pitch to slide in front of the visiting German fans as they closed in on three points. But Eriksson’s story involves rich fortunes and rich criticism. He is a former journalist and became a multi-millionaire after selling his 15 per cent stake in Swedish sports media rights business IEC over six years ago, thought to be around £6million.

Based primarily in Stockholm, IEC in Sports is a sports media agency with offices in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Oceania, distributing television rights worldwide to TV stations and media companies.

IEC’s current programme list consists of 250 events with a total annual volume of more than 3,500 hours.

However, his love for refereeing has not wavered.

‘All the money hasn’t changed anything, the best thing I do in my life is still refereeing...’ he said before refereeing in Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland.

If Wenger had let loose on Eriksson, the UEFA official would have been immune to it.

He bore the brunt of Rangers’ wrath in 2009 after waving away penalty claims in a Champions League clash with Sevilla, with Gordon Strachan saying after the game that the Swede ‘shouldn’t get another game in the Champions League... he is not good enough.’

He sparked more trouble in the 2011-12 season when he dismissed two penalty claims from Barcelona in their goalless draw with AC Milan at San Siro in the Champions League quarter-final. To add, he officiated this season’s Europa League final, with Chelsea losing on penalties to Bayern Munich in Prague after a 2-2 draw.

And, unsurprisingly, Chelsea

under him. Those who don’t will be cast aside over time. But will Torres respond to the Jose treatment?

The early signs are promising. ‘He talks with me like he talks with everyone else,’ said Torres after two goals against Schalke on Tuesday. ‘I know he likes people who work and it’s all about work.

‘When you’re working hard, everything comes. It sometimes takes lots of time but at the end it will come. I was happy with this game and hopefully it’s the start of many games in a row scoring goals.’ It is too soon to be certain.

There have been encouraging times before. Torres scored seven in six games last December, soon after the arrival of his former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. There are also sterner tests ahead, starting with Manchester City on tomorow, but few will doubt Mourinho’s ability to squeeze the best from those who commit to his methods. Diego Milito was a willing subject when he

How

Mourinho go gott

gott Torres go firing again

W

manager Jose Mourinho accused Eriksson of killing Chelsea’s hopes of winning the UEFA Super cup.

Eriksson sent off Ramires for two bookable offences, forcing Chelsea to play the last five minutes of normal time and all of extra time with 10 men.

‘I’m disappointed because the best team lost. The team that most deserved to win, lost. But that happens in football. ‘People who earn their living in football always feel there’s a very important rule: the passion for football.

If you are in love with football, you don’t kill a final with a second yellow like this. ‘If you ask me in pure terms, rule by rule, yes, it was a second yellow card. But you don’t do every action in that way. ‘A good English referee stops the game and tells Ramires, “Look, you’ve not hurt anyone, but you mustn’t do that again”.’

HEN Sir Alex Ferguson refers to Fernando Torres in his new book as a striker of ‘great cunning’ with a ‘touch of evil’, it is meant as a compliment. It is also a view that Jose Mourinho is likely to share.

Like Ferguson, Mourinho is a manager with a healthy sense of mischief, and both enjoy a trace of the devil in their players.

Take that moment at Tottenham last month when a brilliant display by Torres ended prematurely as he was sent off for a foul on Jan Vertonghen. He was trudging off when the Chelsea boss grabbed him to whisper in his ear.

Torres fought a smile from his lips.

Mourinho explained later he had wanted to point out that Vertonghen was the one squirming on the floor after a perfectly fair aerial challenge.

It was a simple act of support; a message to assure Torres that he was the victor in this duel in the eyes of the man who picks the team.

A few days later came another, when Mourinho made it clear he was unhappy that a gouge by Torres on Vertonghen was commanding great scrutiny in the media and withdrew his media charm for one game in Bucharest.

You fight for me and I’ll fight for you, he was telling Torres. It is a dressing room loyalty spell which has worked before and is still at work inside Stamford Bridge.

John Terry said this week that he owes his career to Mourinho. Frank Lampard will say the same, as will Michael Essien. When Mourinho returned to the club, Ashley Cole said he still owes the man who went out on a limb to sign him from Arsenal more than seven years ago.

Many players like to perform for Mourinho and enjoy their best form

joined Inter Milan at the age of 30 to be transformed from a journeyman with a steady goal-flow at Genoa and Real Zaragoza into one of the world’s most feared strikers.

As Inter won the Treble, Milito scored against Roma in the Italian Cup final, scored the goal against Siena to clinch the Serie A title and scored twice in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, then said he was ‘eternally grateful’ to Mourinho.

Confidence is never far from a goal-scoring debate and Torres looks at ease, aware of his duties. His touch is surer than before and he appears a fraction sharper. He is talking, too; another good sign.

He has been fabulous on his last two appearances of substance: against Spurs (until the red card) and Schalke and may find himself the preferred option against teams who dare to attack and take chances.

In July, when first asked about inheriting a £50million misfit, Mourinho did not gush. Rather, he recognised the player’s limitations.

T

orres, he explained, was not at his best in a congested game, with opponents dug in and protecting the edge of their penalty box as many do against Chelsea.

But he was dangerous with space to attack behind the back-line. It could be the reason why, in 2013, Torres started only 11 of 27 games in the Premier League (scoring only once) while starting 12 of 13 in Europe (scoring nine). ‘We’re basing our football in the last few games on being strong in defence and exploring the spaces we have on the counter-attack,’ said Torres.

Mourinho has always had a fondness for the fast and direct and the manager is now settling on a system which is solid in defence, industrious and quick on the break.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 —31

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

08023542350

Villas Boas praises Defoe after Euro goal

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas heaped praise on Jermain Defoe after his goalscoring performance against Europa League opponents FC Sherriff. Villas-Boas heaped praise on Defoe after the striker equalled Martin Chivers’ club record of 22 European goals. The 31-year-old’s deflected effort helped to secure a hard-fought 2-0 win at Sheriff Tiraspol, putting Spurs on the cusp of qualification to the Europa League knockout stages.

Chelsea prepared to meet Diego Costa £32m buyout clause

Chelsea are prepared to meet the buyout clause for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa. Report says Chelsea are ready to buy out Diego Costa’s £32m release clause.

Liverpool lined up Costa - who can choose to play international football for either Brazil or Spain over the summer when they feared they could lose Luis Suarez.

But now Chelsea are in pole position to sign him.

Valencia to revive interest in Chicharito

Spanish side Valencia could be set to revive their interest in Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez this January. The Mexican international reportedly turned down a move to the Mestalla during the summer as he aimed to fight for his place at Old Trafford.

Newcastle fan jailed for 12 months, banned for 6 yrs from football The Newcastle fan who punched a police horse in the face has been jailed for 12 months and banned from football for six years.

Barry Rogerson attacked the animal, a Shire-cross, named Bud, outside St James’ Park after the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland on April 14.

Benitez eyes move for Mascherano

Bayern challenge Spurs for Halilovic

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez could make a move for one his former Liverpool players this January, with Forza Italian Football reporting that the Serie A side could bid for Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano.

The 29-year-old was a key player for Benitez during the pair ’s time at Anfield, though he left the club shortly after the Spanish manager’s departure to move to Barcelona.

B

ayern Munich are closing in on Dinamo Zagreb starlet Alen Ha lilovic. The 17-year-old, who is already a full Croatia international, has long ago caught the eye of top European clubs and he was rumoured to be on the verge of joining Tottenham. However, Mediaset understands that Bayern Munich are looking to snatch the talented midfielder from under the Spurs’ noses. The Bavarians are convinced Halilovic has what it takes to become a world-class player and they are keen to lure him to Alianz Arena. Bayern clearly face a stiff competition for the player ’s signature, but that is unlikely to prove too big of a problem. Alen Halilovic is a classy midfielder who has so far made 26 league appearances for Dinamo

Inter Milan owner eyes Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone as new Manager New Inter Milan owner Erick Thohir may be considering replacing the club’s current manager Walter Mazzarri with Atletico

Dalglish linked with India move

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish is being linked with a move to India.

Dalglish is set to return to management in the Indian Super League, according to reports in India.

Briefs •Former Manchester United star Roy Keane has launched a furious attack on Sir Alex Ferguson’s integrity after comments in the former Old Trafford manager’s explosive book.

•Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, 28, is keen on a January move to Arsenal to save his World Cup hopes with Spain.

•Roy Keane has launched his own hairdryer-

Madrid’s highly-rated boss Diego Simeone.

The Indonesian businessman bought out the majority of the club’s shares earlier this month and this has seen the

Inter Milan plot raid for V ermaelen San Siro club linked with some big-name purchases in recent weeks.

Players such as Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos could be on Inter’s agenda when the transfer window re-opens in January, but Thohir may also be looking into replacing the club’s manager in the near future.

Real Madrid target Andrea Pirlo

R

eal Madrid are hop ing to pounce for the free transfer of Juventus and Italy star Andrea Pirlo next summer. The 34-yearold is still widely regarded as one of the best midfield playmakers in the game, and

has been a top performer for club and country in a glittering career. However, the veteran maestro is currently stalling on a new contract with the Serie A champions, and this has alerted a number of top teams to his potential availability on the cheap this January.

style attack on Alex Ferguson for lacking loyalty.

•Former Aston Villa boss Ron Atkinson, 74, is being lined up as Birmingham City’s director of football.

•Juventus are eyeing a January move for Fulham’s Switzerland international midfielder Pajtim Kasami.

•Spurs are giving trials to young Danish strikers Soren Andreasen, 17, and Kasper Nis-

Serie A sleeping giants Inter Milan are lining up a January sweep for unhappy Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen. The 27-year-old has featured just once in the side’s excellent start to the season having lost his place in the team last season through injury.

Arsenal ponder Llorente loan bid Premier League leaders Arsenal are pondering signing out-of-favour Juventus front man Fernando Llorente on loan when the transfer window reopens for business at the turn of the year. The highly rated Spain international only joined the Serie A champions in July after arriving in Turin from Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao on a lucrative free transfer.

sen, 16, who play for Esberg.

•Sir Alex Ferguson has warned England they have fat chance of winning the World Cup if Wayne Rooney gets out of shape again.

•Tottenham are planning to offer Aston Villa £28m for 22-year-old striker Christian Benteke.

•Juventus striker Fernando Llorente is keen on a January move to Arsenal, while Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa tops Chelsea’s wishlist.

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

BY IYABO AINA

Celebrities out and proud to be

gay !

A

fter making strides in the fight for marriage equality, with over a dozen states having legalized same-sex marriage, Hollywood has been confirmed to have a long list of out and proud gay celebrities with same sex oriented stars . As these seven celebrities are showing that being proud of your sexuality isn’t something you should be afraid to do!

Neil Patrick Harris

*Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres

N

eil Patrick Harris may play a ladies man on “How I Met Your Mother”, but the L-O-L actor has been with his fiancé David Burtka for 7 years. They are also parents to twins Harper and Gideon. Confirming his gay status, the actor in 2006 said, “Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships. So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.”

*Patrick

O

ur favorite talk-show host made history when she came out on her sitcom Ellen in 1997. She was the first openly gay television personal , who married Portia de Rossi in 2008.

Chris Colfer

Raven Symone

B

orn on May 27, 1990 in California, United States , Christopher Paul who is known as Colfer is an American actor, singer, author and producer known for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the television series Glee where that star sing his heart out on *Colfer the awesome show . Colfer plays a fashion-loving high school student who is constantly bullied for his sexuality.

But through it all, he continues to be proud of who he chooses to love just like he is in real life.

R

aven-Symoné Pearman was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but at a young age moved to New York. While there, Raven signed with the Ford Modeling Agency. They sent her out on an audition for a movie called Ghost Dad (1990), which also starred the legendary Bill Cosby. She was deemed too young for the role since she was only 3 years old, but Cosby could see she had talent .

Raven’s singing career was doing well and she landed a role in Doctor Dolittle (1998) alongside Eddie Murphy and a madefor-TV movie called Zenon .

*Raven

Anderson Cooper

A

nderson Cooper’s job is to report the news for CNN, but in July of 2012 he became the news. “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself and proud,” he told The Daily Beast.

*Cooper

Kanye proposes to Kim on her birthday

K

im Kardashian is over the moon following Kanye West’s surprise proposal. The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star gushes over her engagement to the “Black Skinhead” rapper, calling herself a lucky girl.As she twitted “Last night was truly magical ! I am the luckiest girl in the world! I get to marry my best friend!” Kanye proposed to Kim with a 15-carat diamond ring in front of friends and family at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Monday, October 21, as the rapper went to Kim’s mother Kris Jenner to ask for her blessing. He later surprised Kim as he was on his knee, proposing to her with a Lorraine Schwartz ring, which has a giant screen on the field flashed sign, “Please marry me.”

Kim’s close friend Jonathan Cheban shared a photo of Kim showing off her beautiful ring on his Instagram.

“Saved the Best one for the Last one! .”Also Kim on the other side took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share a photo of her ring. “Yes!” she simply wrote.

C M Y K

Elton John

E

nglish singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor, Sir Elton John, 66, has long been a poster-boy for gay rights. He is in a British civil partnership with his partner David Furnish, and the men have a three-year old son, Zachary, born in California in 2010 via a surrogate mother.

He stated that he would defend gay rights during his Russian tour – a stance that puts him at risk of getting a sentence of 15 days in prison and a 5,000 roubles ($150) fine under newly adopted laws preventing the promotion of homosexuality to children. *John

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013—33

Empowering yourself with the necessary trainings and discipline ensures success

BY MOSES NOSIKE

Johny Esike was not born with a silver spoon, yet he made a difference in his generation, driving away poverty in his family. The early death of his father was another challenge to his education but in all, he was determined to succeed and prove that the black man is not a dummy. He became a Mechanical Engineer through self struggle.

One thing unique about him is that he is very articulate and always committed whenever he wants to achieve anything. Esike has a burning passion to create jobs for the unemployed Nigerian youths.

Humble background I’m a son of a common civil servant. I went to a boarding school but a very good one in the 70s. I attended the prestigious Government College Ughelli, from 1976 to 1981. I also attended Federal Government College, Warri. At that time, they were among the best schools in the land. After that, I went to the University of Benin where I studied Mechanical Engineering. But there were no jobs the time we left schools.

Most of us were unemployed graduates roaming around the streets. After that, I had an opportunity working in the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line as a Marine Engineering Officer. It was there I had my working experience as a youth corps member. That actually positioned me to become an employer and by the grace of God, I have been running this company for 23 years now.

Challenges of growing up Basically, in the boarding school, I wouldn’t say there were challenges because there was already a programmed way of training future leaders which is jettisoned today. Our today’s schools don’t have such commitment we had in the 60s and 70s. Those who grew up in the 60s would say theirs were the best. We grew up in the 70s and we also had it good, not like today that all manner of people come out of schools with certificates they bought with money. Those days when you get grade A, you’d know it’s A; if you get grade B, it’s B, and not like what we have today. So, I would not say there were challenges in terms of growing up because there was a standard norm that when you were in the boarding house, you must pass through a boarding school.

Boarding schools like Government College, Ughelli give you complete all round training; not just academics. You wake up at 6a.m and every time of the day is programmed to make you busy. But few years after we went to school, you now have a situation where students, even secondary school students now began to form cults groups. It was unheard of during our time. The discipline and the need for you to do it the best way was alC M Y K

there, a company called Europe Sports Province gave me an appointment for installation of boiler textile equipment. They later left Nigeria because of epileptic power supply in the country. That job, I can say was the first major job that gave us assurance that we can be able to run a construction and maintenance company. After that, we started what you are seeing today.

How I relax In the past, I didn’t observe holidays. But in recent times, I have been creating time for relaxation with my family.

Now, I work for a while, then shut down and take a trip to Delta and have a good time for myself. Ofcourse, I have trained engineers who will take over the work we are doing and personally, we are looking at long term sustainable business. We are in construction and we are also looking at manufacturing with the view of creating jobs because employment is a

I can say that I had a solid training in my secondary school days; a training that made me to be a man that can face challenges of life

Esike: Let’s create enabling environment that can empower youths in Nigeria

ready programmed. You had to do it the best way to succeed.

You were already cultured for that. That was the culture and the kind of training we had at Government College, Ughelli and Federal Government College,Warri where you have teachers who were committed in teaching values to students.

My success habit I can say that I had a solid training in my secondary school days; a training that made me become a man and face the challenges of life. And after graduation, as a young man looking for job, I got an opportunity to work in a small technical company that specialised in construction and maintenance. That was around 1990. Before then, I had a rigorous training as a Marine Engineer for two years and that

gave me an edge, that if I could work at sea for a year, it’s like working on ground for five years. What I’m saying is that marine engineers generally are one of the most hard working engineers you can find anywhere because at every point in time in your life, you are busy, your life is at stake, everything must work because everything about you must work. So, when you leave that environment to work in a regular office or regular construction company, it’s like you are playing. So with that training in marine company, you must do it right and perfectly. It helped me a lot when I started this company you are seeing today. And when you are always doing it right and perfect, even though we are not Jesus Christ that can do all things

perfect, people will always call us. However, when people see a little good work you did somewhere; they will call you to repeat what you have done somewhere, and that is the guiding force.

Propelling factor when setting up my company The propelling factor is that we were in maintenance company even though it was not like I wanted to set up my

own. I would say it was by providence. I went for Christmas, came back after the season but discovered that I was neither moving forward nor backward. I was not satisfied with the work I was doing. I actually wanted to start trading and in the course of that, those people I worked for earlier called me and advised me not to go into trading. So, they

called me to help them service an equipment. That was how I dropped the idea of trading and went to service some laundry equipment at Airport Hotel. After that, the engineer in charge told me that my service was good and suggested that I do another one. I went and serviced another one and from

major challenge of the country. My concern for the future is, how do we create jobs for our youths who graduate from the Universities without jobs?

My mentors My father was my first mentor even

though he died early. And having grown up to be a man, when I look back, I remember one of my primary school teachers who was also my mentor. Then as an adult, one other mentor I have who stimulated my reason was late George Enemoh, the founder of ASCON Oil Ltd. He believed in the ability of the black man.

He believed a black man can do things and do it well.

My dress code I’m not a fashion freak. I wear simple things that give me free movement; shirts and trousers. Most times, the way you are seeing me now is the way I appear but on weekends or when I’m going to party, you can see me in native attires. I don’t use perfumes and necklace, chains, etc. I don’t like anything that is an addition. I prefer being natural. Even some women that dress in flashy attires, fixing attachment to their heads put me off. Anything you put on your body to look good puts me off. I want to see it natural.

My philosophy of life

My basic philosophy of life is to do unto others what I would want them to do unto me. Do good and good will be done unto you. Give and others will

give unto you. Above that, the challenge for me as a person is to prove that a black man is not a dummy.

34— SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Wizkid causes

stampede at Felabration F

•Wizkid

Nae a Naetto C, Ak Aka to host CHO AMV A CHOAMV AMVA 20 13 201 N

igerian superstar Naeto C and South African airwaves hotshot, AKA have been announced as the co-hosts of the upcoming 10th annual Channel O Africa Music Video Awards.

The two superstars will bring a one-two star punch to the star-studded live show, taking place on Saturday, November 30, at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown Soweto, which is expected to be attended by who’s who in the African entertainment scene.

Naeto C and AKA’s star wattage will also be on full display to music fans throughout Africa as the two keep the action rolling during the broadcast, which goes out live on Channel O at 20:00 CAT. ”I’m really excited to host this year ’s Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, especially on its 10th anniversary,” said Naeto C. Naeto C has enjoyed a lengthy association with the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards.

BY KEHINDE AJOSE or those who attended Felabration last Thursday, October 17, they won’t forget in a hurry the stampede masterminded by the self-proclaimed Starboy, Wizkid.

The “Pakurumo” crooner concluded his splendid performance at about 3.26 am when he beckoned on his manager to hand him two bale of N500 notes said to be close to a N100,000. He threw the money into the crowd before disappearing from the stage.

Then the fight began. The crowd were jostling for a share of the Wizkid money and even the security guards amazingly joined in the struggle for the money. This resulted into a stampede that lasted for about 30 minutes. It was the event compere, Omobaba and the intervention of more security guards that brought back calmness to the new African shrine venue of the week-long event. Whizkid was nowhere to be found.

He left immediately after he threw the money at the crowd.

•Sabina

Gospel singer singer,, Sabina Umoren re-emerges !

G

BY SAM ANOKAM ospel singer and On Air Personality (OAP), Sabina Umoren who recently celebrated her nine years on stage is set to celebrate the amalgamation of Nigeria with a show entitled, “The Re-emergence”, which will feature music, arts and craft presentations among other genres.

Shielding more light on the event, Sabina said, “ The Re-emergence hopes to convey the message of national conscientiousness, honour, and pride to the people. For decades, the pre-colonial, colonial and post- colonial era, we have seen Nigeria in variety of colours. Nigerians have drawn diverse conclusions owing to the different forms of government, leadership.”

H O T F L A SH E S !

Double honour for Sasha, Alex Ekubo

BY KEHINDE AJOSE clectic female rapper and fashion designer, Yetunde Alabi a.k.a Sasha was all smiles last Sunday when she was made the Ekiti State cultural ambassador. The event was the opening of Ikogosi Resort in the State. She took to her Twitter timeline amidst excitement to •Sasha share the good news with her fans. In a related development, fast rising actor cum model Alex Ekubo was recently honoured by the Cross River State Government. The honour was in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth of entertainment in the state. He was decorated with a medal by the government. The handsome role interpreter took to the photo sharing platform, Instagram to share a picture of himself wearing the medal.

E

Lagos Deputy Gov. blasts Iyanya’s dancers

I

•Naeto C

•Iyanya

yanya, the Kukere singer performed at the finals of the MTN Lagos Street Soccer held penultimate Sunday at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos.

Unfortunately, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Orelope Adefulire who was the special guest at the event was shocked at the way Iyanya’s dancers were dressed in revealing leggings, dancing without caution in the presence of the bewildered crowd during his performance.

Furious at their action, the Deputy Governor scolded the female dancers them after the performance. She rebuked them for their behavior, telling them their acts were degrading to womanhood.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013—35

Jessica’s sad tale began the moment she turned down her boy friend’s offer to attend the Friday night party on campus with the excuse of having serious headache due to bad eye sight

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU Hey...hey, don’t tell me you’re gonna let that go away just like that” Dora said. “So, what exactly do you expect she does at this point?” Daniella replied with anger. “Take it easy girl, that statement wasn’t meant for you... and hey, this is the last time I’m gonna ask you not to interrupt whenever I am speaking to you or to someone else” Dora shot back at Daniella. “And what will you do if...

“Hello?...Jessica came to the rescue.

Girls, please control yourselves. Must we be at each others throat each time we are together? This hostel is usually noisy and thanks to only three of us...Please I beg of you girls, allow me time to nurse my pains in peace, okay?”.

“Now you are talking”, Dora replied rather sarcastically. “ And if I may ask, how exactly do you plan nursing this pain, peacefully you said? Just look at your body, I’m surprised that you of all people will sit here and mourn after the old fool designed your body like this. I hope you’ve already drawn the battle line between you...no, no, between that old hag that calls herself a staff nurse and the three of us” In as much as Jessica would have derived joy seeing that bloody staff nurse adequately punished, she managed to convince Dora who loved vendetta more than anything else in the world, that her robust relationship with Engineer Stanley was as good as over and thus, wanted everything about his family completely erased from her memory.

“So girls, if we are not going out for war tonight, then a little something sweet won’t be bad at all”, Dora said dramatically. She however, got seriously pissed off when Jessica and Daniella refused to say a word.

“And what exactly does the silence mean? Conspiracy?...look...I don’t give a damn what you girls have on your dirty minds, Eddy contacted me earlier and it is 20k from dusk to dawn. If you guys are not ready, I’m on”.

That didn’t go down well with Daniella who thought Dora’s selfishness made her insensitive to the plight of their friend who was just recovering from an unexpected battering. “You just go ahead, you lack manner...” And just before Daniella could speak further, Dora landed her a hot slap that caught her mouth, forcing her red lips open as she held her chin with the right hand. At the end, the very battle that was meant to be fought against Engineer Stanley’s wife, Carol, took place between Dora and Daniella.

When they got tired of tearing each other with long and well manicured finger nails, the duo stormed out of the room with their bags one after the other, leaving Jessica to tend to her swollen face and bruised skin, all by herself.

Sleep eluded Jessica that night. And

Encounter to remember

she felt worse, knowing she had nothing or anyone to blame for her woes because she murdered sleep herself when she agreed to spend that night at Stanley’s flat. “But that was not the first time, so how I’m I supposed to know that danger lurked around?...Oh my God! My head aches” she cried.

Jessica’s sad tale began the moment she turned down her boy friend’s offer to attend the Friday night party on campus with the excuse of having serious headache due to bad eye sight, so she could secretly, be with Stanley. She felt greatly relieved however,

not with flowery gown anyway, took a taxi to Engineer’s street where she hung around an eatery, waiting for his wife to leave for night duty at the hospital where she worked.

Initially, Carol refused to believe the rumours about her husband’s infidelity and of course, some additional information she got from her friends but rather, labelled them cheap gossips who wouldn’t mind their businesses.

In fact, she ended up with heated arguments with most of them and warned them never in their lives, pry into her family affairs again. She however confronted her husband on the issue but he denied it all and advised Carol to stay away from her informants otherwise, their family would be torn apart.

Although Stanley and Carol had been married for close to 13 years without a child, Stanley never gave her any reason to doubt his love for her as well as his total commitment towards sustaining their union. On a second thought, Carol decided to investigate into the matter so as to prove the gossips wrong. She later went to the market and bought a bunch of broom made from coconut fronds and kept it safe. Subsequently, she made several futile attempts to catch the husband snatcher but failed.

Luck however ran out of her husband and Jessica, when she told him of a sudden change in the rooster at the hospital which meant she was to be on night duty for three consecutive days. She monitored her husband’s moves and finally, eavesdropped into his conversation and concluded he was up to something bad.

Initially, Carol refused to believe the rumours about her husband’s infidelity and of course, some additional information she got from her friends but rather, labelled them cheap gossips who wouldn’t mind their businesses when the guy sympathised with her and left. For her, it was a good decision not to go to the party because each time she passed the night at this Aristo’s place, she had not less than 30k paid into her account by one of his staff. But with the latest incidence, that decision only brought evil upon her.

At noon that faithful day, oblivious that Staff Carol, had plans of revenge mapped out, after neigbours convinced her that her husband had been bringing assorted girls to their matrimonial homes, Jessica adorned herself like a fairy tale princess, though

Carol got ready and left the house at 7pm, pretending to be off to the hospital. She went to a friend’s apartment which was close by and pretended to be visiting. Seeing Jessica stroll into her flat, she gave them time to settle down, and minutes later, she went in through her kitchen door which she made sure wasn’t bolted and opened it with her spare key.

Right there on their matrimonial bed were her husband and his night nurse, killing each other with adultery.

Jessica on her part, knew the moment Carol stormed into the bedroom that she was in for a nightmare. She jerked off from the bed, managed to pick up her blouse and under wear but was caught half way into the living room as she tried to escape. She was left with no time at all to think of a possible way of escape from Carol who ran towards her like Goliath. Seconds later, Carol’s broom began descending on her fragile body like bee stings, leaving bumps on her skin.

Funny enough, Stanley who knew his wife’s terrible temper, locked himself up in the bedroom while the drama lasted, shouting for help so as to prevent serous calamity from taking place in his flat. The beating became so unbearable that as a strategy to free herself from the giant attacker, Jessica slumped on the floor and pretended to have passed out. Quickly, the raging lioness, ran to her Freezer and came back with a container filled with chilled water and emptied the whole content on Jessica. With the last strength left, Jessica screamed and got on her feet once again and resumed searching for a way out of the flat.

Stanley felt the agony in Jessica’s voice and came out of hiding. At long last, Jessica regained her freedom and swore not to ever venture near Stanley’s place again.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Weekend Treat

08111813025

I'm good at cooking beans and plantain —Funso

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

P

rince Funso Adeolu Adegeye, an artist cum film director is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. The Ondo born artist says, his native food is poporo, another name for fufu in Ondo State. He speaks on his healthy lifestyle and how he relaxes with his family. Enjoy What kind of food did you indulge in while growing up?

It was beans and plantain. I ate beans and plantain at least twice a week.

Is that your native food too?

My native food is poporo, which is like fufu. And it is a special food celebrated by Ondo indigenes.

C an you prepare this?

No,I cannot cook poporo but I can eat it perfectly. I am good at cooking beans and plantain.

Did you play any prank at as a child?

No, we ate according to our family time table and we were allowed to eat to our satisfaction.

Do you still cook now?

It depends, maybe when I am free.

Your kind of fruits?

Banana.

How do you relax I stay with my family whenever I am not on set or outside the country. That is the best form of relaxation for m e.

Dinning Out Foods that help prevent heart diseases Heart diseases is a growing concern in Nigeria today. Here are some foods that can help in preventing heart diseases .

Oatmeal Oatmeal is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It is a whole grain and the fiber will help lower cholesterol. Oatmeal keeps your digestive tract in prime shape. Eat it for breakfast and you will be happy you did.

Skim Milk Milk is an excellent source of calcium, which is crucial for the body. In addition to building s t r o n g bones, it also helps lower blood pressure. It will keep the walls of your arteries working properly so that your heart will not have to work as hard to get blood pumped throughout your body. Drink at least a glass a day, and add some other sources of calcium to meet your daily calcium quota.

Vegetables We have heard all of our lives that vegetables are good for us, but they are very powerful. Dark vegetables are full of carotenoids and flavonoids that will help you achieve optimum vascular health.

Take vegetables for dinner or add them as a side dish.

Dark chocolate Dark chocolate contains antioxidants to help protect your body from free radicals. It also helps lower your risk of having a heart attack. One small square is an adequate amount to reap the benefits of dark chocolate. Anymore is considered excessive because of the fat, calories, and caffeine that it contains. Eat a small square for a snack, or munch on a square for a delicious end to your lunch.

Keeping your heart healthy is essential to overall good health.

Along with a proper diet and exercise, these foods will help to keep your heart in great shape.

Beans and fried plantain Recipe Brownbeans Vegetable oil Fresh tomatoes Onions Bell Peppers Salt and other mixed spices to taste Ripe plantain Preparations Pour the beans in a large pressure cooker, pour in enough water to cover the beans .

Cook the beans until it is very soft over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and allow to depressurize. Add your blended onions,pepper, tomatoes and oil, then leave to simmer for fifteen minutes.

Lastly,add salt and other mixed spices to taste. Stir completely, taste and lower heat to prevent burning.

Frying of plantain is very easy. Pour enough quantity of groundnut oil into a frying pan. Leave the oil for some minutes, then pour your plantain. Turn the plantain at every interval to prevent it from burning. Your food is ready.

• Funso

Tummyzone 4 Kid & Teen

Healthy steps for your kids Continues from last week Step 4: Food should be eaten at the table, as a family.

Studies have shown that children who sit at the table and eat family meals regularly are significantly less likely to have weight issues.

Step 5: Carbohydrates should be the best quality possible.

Children should be eating low GI carbohydrates where possible such as grain bread and wholegrain breakfast cereals such as oats.

Step 6: Children are never going to like vegetables.

Compared to sweet, starchy foods, vegetables have a relatively bland taste which means it is unlikely they will ever be a child’s first food of choice. All that matters is that you offer different varieties and if there are one or two varieties,they are happy to eat, raw or cooked each and eve-

ry day, continue on. If they don’t eat them, it is ok - just keep offering and don’t replace them with other foods such as bread and fruit.

Step 7: Water is the only drink for children.

Soft drinks, juice and cordial are all high in sugar with little other nutrition and are not appropriate for children.

Continues next week

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 37

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

How 20 artistes set Glo Laffta Fest aglow G

LOBACOM, last Saturday dazzled Lagosians with entertainment unlimited as it paraded 20 top Nigerian and international artistes in the opening show of the 2013 Glo Laffta Fest aptly tagged Invasion LOL. The comedy show held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, featured four American comedians, Donnivin Jordan, Robert Powell, Deray Davis and Tony Roberts, two South African humour merchants, Ndumiso Lindi and David Kau, Uganda’s best comedian, Salvador, and 13 Nigerian artistes consisting of two musicians and 11 comedians.

Anchored by the Nigerian born epitome of humour,

R

ITA Dominic is one actress who knows her onions when it comes to acting. Not only that she’s a role interpreter, the actress is also a producer who has what it takes to make the difference in Nollywood.

Her movie,The Meeting has won her many awards. Recently she emerged the Best Actress for her role in “The Meeting” at the Nollywood Movie award which held in Lagos.

Elated Rita, while receiving the award promised step up her game, saying “I’m grateful that I won this award. People appreciated the effort I put in the character. I promise to step up in my game,” Rita echoed.

She beats the likes of Uche Jombo, Nse Ikpe -Etim among others to win the coveted award.

•Rita

Basketmouth, the Lagos edition of the show had Jimmy Jatt as the Dee Jay and the likes of the doyen of Nigerian comedy, Alli Baba, Julius Agwu, Okey Bakassi, Bovi, Buchi, Gandoki, Akpororo, Funny Bone, Senator and Osama among others.

The show was spiced with music as Wande Coal and the legendary saxophonist, Lagbaja, thrilled the audience with their songs. It was indeed, an evening of fun, laughter and entertainment as the comedians, both from Nigeria and abroad, gave the audience value for their time as they reeled out jokes on contemporary political, social and economic matters and issues of day-to-day life.

Dillish goes Braless!

S

•Dilish

Ebenz’s ‘’One of a Kind ‘’

T

HIS young scintillating singer, Ebenezer Johnson, a.k.a Ebenz, is on the verge of introducing himself fully into the mainstream music world as his maiden album, “One of a kind”, is due to hit the market soon.

Though this is his first album, but his hit singles which he dropped earlier this year, has been enjoying massive airplay all around the country. The Kaduna based singer started his music career back as a

secondary school student in Kaduna.

The singer who has performed couple of shows in Ghana has promised his teaming fans an energetic album that intends to show his fans what he has in stock for them. “I don’t have any other information to give now. What I want to say is that, I promise to give an album that will go beyond what people can imagine. I urge my fans to wait for some days for the album to be officially unveiled,”. He said.

INCE Namibia born Dilish emerged the winner in the just concluded Big Brother Africa-The Chase, her profile has been on the rise. She recently stormed the country to grace the birthday bash of the hardworking governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole.

Interestingly, the buzz is not that she graced the party, but she stormed the venue braless, revealing her wellshaped boobs in a whit singlet. Despite dressing suggestively, BBA winner got a queen’s reception as she was hosted by His Excellency, Governor Oshiomole.

But tongues are wagging, as Nigerians are condemning the governor ’s hosting the Namibian queen.

Some people have gone to social media to vent their anger. And Dillish can beat her chest and , storming the country without the knowledge of the media is a big plus.

•Davies

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

TOP 1 0 YOR UBA A CTRESSES 10 YORUBA ACTRESSES

BY KEHINDE AJOSE Mercy Aigbe he is one of the most rec ognizable female beauties in the Yoruba movie industry. The Niger Delta actress who thrilled fans with her movie, OSAS has continued to stay true to her skin type and beauty regime. Her fashion appeal and unblemished skin makes her a potential run away model if height were not an issue.

Why they are 'super sexy'

S

Doris Simeon Blessed with an enviable stature, the mother of one can be considered as a sexy amazon in the Yoruba movie industry. Doris hasn’t changed much in terms of her looks, light- skinned body and slim fit with a flat tummy. In the July 2013 edition of Reel E magazine , she flaunted her sexy body for the cameras.

Doris clad in a blue risqué lace lingerie, a sheer black polka dot shirt and dark shades that makes her raidate like the fragrance from a flower.

Fathia Balogun With a flawless dress sense and style, Fathia always gets heads turning whenever she graces the red carpets.

With an angelic look and unblemished skin, she still makes our list of the sexiest women in her industry. Her subtle kissable lips and ageless smile makes her desirable.

Bimbo Thomas Bimbo is like a marvel comic female super-hero with the perfect body. Her fans will never forget in a hurry the street urchin role she played in Omo Ghetto. Armed with her firm twin towers, this talented actress has her game on when it comes to a curvy body

W

e don’t just adore them because of their excellent acting skills. We stay glued to our TV sets because of their sensuality, killer looks, and captivating charms that ooze around them. In no particular order, HVP presents to you the women it considers the hottest in Yoruba movie sector. goodies. Recently she was said to have undergone boobs enlargement which she denied vehemently. Funke is nothing less than an attention getter anyday. Little wonder men are intimidated by her height.

BUKKY WRIGHT

*MERCY AIGBE

In her 40’s the light skinned actress cum entrepreneur still possesses a banging body. It is undeniable that she still has a glow that makes her attractive and breathtaking whenever she is on our screens.

LIZ ANJORIN She is a strong representa-

tive of team light skinned. The pretty actress who recently converted to Islam and said in an interview that she cannot date a poor man surely has the looks of a star. The talented actress has a cute face and smoldering looks that captivates many of her male admirers.

GLORIA IWEUNO Fast rising Gloria Iweuno whose movie Monica brought her to prominence is brown sugar personified. Her sexiness came to the fore in her movie titled ‘Monica’ and she isn’t ashamed to admit she is hot. She has a calm and soothing beauty that makes you want to know her better.. I mean the ‘Limpopo’ factor.

*DORIS SIMEON

•GLORIA IWEUNO

• FATHIA BALOGUN

• LIZ ANJORIN

Tope Osoba Three words describe Tope; Beautiful, endowned, and hot.

She is not one to go conservative with her dress sense as she flaunts what she has. Her innocent looks and voice may portray her as a girl next door, but when she gets into her sensual roles you don’t want to miss the action.

Folake Odusanya Beautiful and busty actress, referred to as ‘Flakky Idi Dowo’ and known as ‘Becky’ for her role in Funke Akindele’s popular flick "Jenifa is surely as sexy as she knows it. The actress who has been romantically linked with Pasuma possesses the charm and sex appeal that gets the opposite sex's attention effortlessly.

Funke Adesiyan This pretty tall actress with an infectious smile isn’t afraid to flaunt any of her C M Y K

• TOPE OSOBA

• BIMBO THOMAS

•FUNKE ADESIYAN

•BUKKY WRIGHT

•FOLAKE ODUSANYA

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 39

Okorocha’s romance with Actresses!

G

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State again has shown that he has a strong tie with Actresses. Months after sacking Actress, Nkiru Sylvanus as his Special Assistant on Lagos Affairs, he has appointed another Nollywood actress into his cabinet.

The lucky actress is 25 year-old ex-Delta Soap model, Shirley Igwe. She’s now Okorocha’s Principal Protocol Officer. Her new appointment would entail her coordinating the governor’s daily itinerary, ensuring his comfort and that of his visitors.Shirley has since resumed duties.

With this appointment, tongues are already wagging about His Excellency’s penchant for actresses especially fair-complexioned ones.

Recall that actress, Nkiru Sylvanus was the first to be appointed into Okorocha’s cabinet as the state’s Liaison officer in Lagos before she was later redeployed to Owerri, after which she was relieved of her job. One hopes that Shirley will make the difference.

GOtv rewards ne rrss p a rrttn

C M Y K

OPULAR Nolly wood Actress, Jennifer Eliogu who recently ventured into music like her colleagues including Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Tonto Dike, Anita Joseph and Cossy Orjiakor will take the centre stage come next Saturday, when she performs her ”Ifunanya” song at the “Celebrity Glam Night” holding at the prestigious Intercontinental

Ne xt mo vie star Next movie season 9 gear gearss up

D

IGITAL pay-TV operator, GOtv has rewarded its vendors with bumper prizes for their outstanding performance in its monthly loyalty scheme.

Seventeen vendors were rewarded for the months of June to September 2013 at a ceremony held on Wednesday, 23 October 2013 2013 at the Rodizzio Lounge,Ikeja in Lagos. Among the prizes received werebranded GOtv tricycles, generators, and refrigerators.

The GOtv value chain is in three levels - Super Dealers, Retailers and Vendors. The Vendor Loyalty Scheme was designed to empower entrepreneurs and reward the lowest level of the GOtv value chain. It is a monthly points-based scheme in which vendors acquire points of 100, 200, 350 or 500 based on the number of decoders sold within one month, in order to win generators, flat screen television sets or refrigerators. The initiative was launched on 28 May 2013 in five cities but has now been extended to 12 cities.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, General Manager, GOtv Nigeria, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa, said GOtv is built on local partnerships and committed to delivering family entertainment. Explaining that the loyalty scheme was developed to empower entrepreneurs and reward outstanding sales performance among GOtv ven-

P

r e f i Jenn u’s g o i l E t a g n i t u d o o o w y l l No glam 0 2 @ nite

I

•B ol aj iO gu nm ol a

•Amah Eze

T’s another season of the Next Movie Star reality TV show and the organizers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that this year’s edition records a resounding success.

With the theme, “A Call to stardom” the show is already gathering momentum. It’s expected to run for 30 days on all major television stations across the country.

This year’s 12 finalists include, 21 year-old Eze Ama Judith, Ola Adebolu, Bolaji Ogunmola,Feyisekemi Ayomiposi, Uwanma Odefa,DaCosta Olasubomi, Nwobodo Zika, Idiakhoa Ehichoya Gamel, Imoh Emmanuel Ehimezie, Moses Gideon, Tonia Bassey Henshaw and Ifeayin James.

It would recalled that the Next Movie Star has provided platform for some of our celebrated stars like Tonto Dikeh, Annie MacaulayIdibia, Porttia Yamahan, Moyo Lawal. The show has also produced three consecutive Big Brother winners: Kevin Chuwang Pam, Uti Nwachukwu and Karen Igho.

Hotel, Lagos.

The event is part of activities marking the celebration of Nollywood at 20. It is powered by all the guilds and associations in Nollywood.

Zik Zulu Okafor, the president of the Association of Movie Producers, AMP and initiator of the project disclosed at a press parley during the week that Jennifer Eliogu will take the centre stage at the glamorous event.

In her debut soul/jazz piece, Jennifer sings about how love(Ifunanya) should be and feel. The video which featured cameo appearances by Fred Leonard, Jane Odigbo, was directed by Henry Karlmani of Krystal Sabre Production.

According to Zulu Okafor, the Celebrity Glam Night/Grand Awards Night are reserved exclusively for the recognition and celebration of Icons of Nigeria across various fields including the business and economy, the diplomatic community, public administration, the academia, elite professionals and of course, Nollywood.

Nnanke Harry Willie, CEO of HQSC, the marketing consultants to the Nollywood at 20 Celebrations project, stressed the importance of the attendance of VIPs from corporate Nigeria, government and the diplomatic community to the Celebrity Glam Night.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

yemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com

Pearls of beauty

P

EARLS have always been cherished by royalty from the Queens in Europe, to American icons such as Audrey Hepburn. It was not until recently that pearls became a common piece of jewelry. Pearls are now frequently seen everywhere, they are as a classy and elegant addition to any outfit. They are worn in the form of necklaces, pendants, earrings and bracelets. A pearl can be worn with fancy and casual outfits and can be worn at any time of day. Pearls are a great addition to anybody’s jewelry collection. So whether you are the Queen of England, a famous celebrity or just an ordinary woman, the natural beauty of a pearl will suite you just fine.

•Natural Pearl Necklace

•Natural Pearl Necklace

•Pearls Baby

•Pearl Necklace

•Pearls Bracelette

•Pearl beauty

•Strands of pearl

Uche Pedro wins the International Young Media Entrepreneur

By Esther Onyegbula

U

che Pedro has emerged the winner of The International Young Media Entrepreneur of the Year’ award, this is coming, prior to the official announcement of the date and venue for The Future Awards Africa. Uche Pedro was announced winner by the project’s Central Working Committee (CWC) and the British Council, as the winner of The International Young Media Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

The award, presented in C M Y K

conjunction with the British Council, aims to celebrate young people working in the media, with entrepreneurial and leadership abilities, potential to change their sector, market awareness and understanding.“It’s been an exciting four months we are very pleased to announce Uche Pedro as the winner of this new category – which was evolved from our prize in entertainment and media enterprise,” said Chude Jideonwo, Executive Director of The Future Project.Pedro, a new media

entrepreneur, founded popular Nigerian blog Bella Naija. She will participate in a UK tour with finalists from up to 10 other countries and participate in activities including - a visit to the UK this month in October where she gets the chance to meet the winners from other countries, make UK contacts, and attend the leading UK industry event– The Cross Media Forum.

The award also affords her the opportunity to have a week’s free membership to the exclusive private member’s club – The Hospital Club

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 26, 2013—41

42— SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

PDP’s vict or victor oryy thanksgiving at Okpara’s home When Clark gave stepdaughter in Marriage

S

ome top members of People’s Democratic Party in Delta State recently gathered at the Eku country home of Olorogun Kenneth Okpara, Delta State Commissioner of Finance to mark their party’s victory at the just concluded central senatorial by-election. Photos by Nath Onojake

From right: Chief Bernard Edewor,Chief Kenneth Okpara, host, Chief Kings Okpako PDP Chairman, Ethiope-East and Chief Adiotomre.

From left: Venerable Oyovwe Okpara,Chief Kings Okpako,Chief Bernard Edewor,Chief Kenneth Okpara, host, Chief Sunday Onoriode, Bishop and Rev. (Mrs) David Onuoha,Chief Adiotomre,Chief [Capt.]

Anthony

From left: Venerable Oyovwe Okpara,Chief Kenneth Okpara, host, with Bishop and Rev. (Mrs) David Onuoha.

L-R:Chief Ighoyota Amori And Chief Julius Ogboru

th SATURDAY 27 September will ever be remembered by the people of Ijaw Nation, Urhobo Nation, particularly Ughelli North LG in Delta state, the former Minister of Information of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief (Dr) E.K. Clark gives his beloved step daughter in marriage to Mr. Ebioke Victor Akposhiben.

Chief E.K. Clark, having a dance with the bride, his step-daughter

The couple; Mr and Mrs Eboike.

Star st orms K aduna with ‘Win and Shine’ par ty storms Kaduna party

S

Gbenga Adeyinka, presenting cheque to cash prize winners

Another cash prize winner, displaying her cheque winners

tar lager beer, one of Nigeria’s premium beer, manufactured by Nigerian Breweries Plc, took its ‘Star Win and Shine’ party to Kaduna, where fun seekers were thrilled with top of the draw entertainment and varieties of gifts, including cash prizes.

The party held at the Viviana Bar, in Narayi Road, Kaduna with Gbenga Adeyinka, as usual, the anchor, who treated guests to ribcracking jokes.

Jersey winners flaunting their prizes

winners of other prizes, showing off their wins

More cash prizes winners with the anchor person, Gbenga Adeyinka

SATURDAY, Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2012 — 43

All V anguard’s af fair as Go ks bir thda Vanguard’s affair Gottevbe mar marks birthda thdayy The Chibors mark 25 years of marriage

I

L- R:Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, GM/ Editor-in-Chief Vanguard, Mr Victor Gotevbe,Vanguard's Admin Manager with his wife, Franca, Mr Sola Ojo, Vanguard's Ag. Internal Auditor, Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager, Mrs Helen Arowolo, P. A. to Fin. Controller and Mrs Omasan Dudu, AGM, Admin/ Legal, Vanguard.

t was like another big family reunion as top brass of Vanguard Media Limited, publisher of Vanguard newspaper came together to celebrate one of their own, Victor Gotevbe, the Administration Manager of Vanguard Media who added a year penultimate Monday.

The celebration took place in the celebrant’s office and yet the spectacle was not without the usual glee and merriment that accompanies jolly good birthday bashes.

Photos by Diran Oshe

CHIEF (Sir) Joe and Lady Mary Ann Chibor rolled out drums to celebrate their 25 th wedding anniversary which has been fruitful with 10 children. Family and friends joined them at Ovak Event Centre to mark the landmark occasion.

L-R: Chief (Sir) Joe and Lady Mary Ann Chibor with children.

Chief (Sir) Joe and Lady Mary Ann Chibor at the Church L-R: Mr Akunna Sampson, Mr Eze Anaba, Ms Titi Jolaoso, Mr. Fred Udueme, Mr. Gbenga, celebrant, Mr Victor Gotevbe and wife, Franca.

L- R:Mr Victor Gotevbe, his wife, Franca Gotevbe, Mr Sola Ojo, Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Mrs Helen Arowolo and Mrs Omasan Dudu

Yeye Akin George mar ks 70 in style marks YEYE Otunba B.O. Akin George, wife of the Olori Apena of Reformed Ogbonni Fraternity, ROF, Otunba Edward Akinwunmi George hosted friends and well wishers at the Recreational Ground, Akowonjo, Lagos on Saturday, September 21, 2013 to celebrate her 70th birthday.

Chief (Sir) Joe and Lady Mary Ann Chibor with children.

Fed. Medical Centre OPENING of pre-qualification of bids/ tender for the execution of additional 2013 capital project at Conference Hall, Federal Medical Centre,Asaba,Delta State

Celebrant, Yeye Otunba (Mrs) B.O. Akin George, with husband, Otunba Edward Akinwunmi George, Olori Apena, ROF, with by children and grand children.

L-R: Otunba Wahab Jimoh, Chief (Dr) Igho Osagie and Chief Ola Oshilaja, all of ROF

Celebrant, Yeye Otunba (Mrs) B.O. Akin George, with her friends.

L-R:Dr. Gabriel Obu, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, Dep. Chairman, Advisory Committee, Mr.Victor Okungbowa, Unit Head Planning And Procurement and Mr. Richard Erinmwingbovo, Dep. Director, Account and Finance

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

08 116759 759 081 6759759 UPDATES

‘Baby factories’

The moment a mother meets her baby and surrogate for the first time 9,000 miles away from her Californian home in Indian

surrogacy center dubbed the ‘baby factory’. Steve and Jennifer Kowalski paid $25,000 for an Indian surrogate to have their child.

The

J

oman studying to be a nun gave birth in conW vent in secret and smothered the baby boy so no one would hear him cry. A 26-year-old woman

apanese women paid to put adverts on their THIGHS to catch the attention of men. Agency says unusual idea is perfect for ad-saturated Tokyo. The women earn up to £65 a day to show products on their body. They are encouraged to wear short skirts and high socks. Consumers in the Japanese megalopolis are notoriously hard to reach because of the sheer abundance of billboards, neon signs and huge TV screens pumping out commercials, so the WIT agency decided to put ads on a place men are happy to pay attention to. ‘It’s an absolutely perfect place to put an advertisement as it’s what guys are eager to look at and girls are OK to expose,’ said Hidenori Atsumi, the CEO of WIT.

nspiring new book reveals how a fashionista from Santa Barbara swapped Gucci for goat’s blood to become the first female

Maasai fighter. Mindy Budgor, 32, from California, left her comfortable life behind to live with a Kenyan tribe for three months.

support her husband and two children. More Western couples are seeking surrogates in countries like India and Thailand where laws are more lenient. These surrogacy clinics have been dubbed ‘baby factories’

Prospective nun kills baby bo th in convent boyy af aftter bir birth

Selling their skin

Warrior Princess!

I

Californian couple spent over $30,000 on unsuccessful IVF treatments before turning to the Akanksha Infertility Clinic in India.

Surrogate mother Manisha Parmar’s cut was about $7500 and she needed the money to

studying to becoming a Catholic nun smothered her newborn son to death because she didn’t want anyone to find out she had sex, police said.

DC Police say Sosefina Amoa gave birth to the boy on October 10, in her room at the Little Sisters of the Poor elderly care facility. Afraid the nuns would hear the newborn’s cries and discover she lied about sexual activity, police say Amoa told investigators she smothered him. The hospital called police. A day later she and a nun took his body to a hospital in a small, black luggage bag. She allegedly told detectives she ‘heard the child cry for two to three minutes’ and then, worried that someone would hear, she covered the baby’s mouth with a wool garment.

When she removed it, the child wasn’t breathing.

She then ‘wrapped the child in Samoan garb, placed the child on her bed...remained in her room’ until the next morning, ABC7 reports. Amoa was charged on Wednesday with first-degree murder after the death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. She told police she did not know she was pregnant.

Her book tells how she had to ‘learn the ways of the lion’ including drinking goat blood and throwing a spear.

M i n d y ’ s determination paid off and she was the first

woman accepted to be a ‘moran’— a Maasai warrior —opening the door for other females.

But she never went without her Chanel Red Dragon lipstick to carry her through the hard times.

Why Iran won't execute drug trafficker certified dead

Lcomes first child in the UK to receive a Little boy who lost his leg to cancer robot leg. A five-year-old cancer patient who

ittle boy who lost his leg to cancer be

had to have his leg amputated is thought to have become the first child in the UK to receive a power-assisted ‘robot’ leg. Eddy Parry, from Derby, was forced to have his leg amputated in May this year after he develop a large cancerous tumour. Instead of having a straight-forward amputation, his parents asked the surgeon to design a specialist procedure which would allow him to use his stump to control a prosthetic.

Rather than completely amputating Eddy’s left leg, the muscles and tendons in his thigh were preserved and a metal implant was inserted to replace the bone. Eddy’s artificial leg can now be attached to the metal implant.

T

he 37-year-old was put to death in the Islamic regime’s Bojnourd prison. After 12 minutes, he was certified dead and taken to a morgue. The next day staff at the morgue discovered that he was still breathing. The reports follow calls from within Iran and appeals from international rights groups against the man found alive in a morgue facing execution for a second time. ‘The convict who survived (the death penalty) will not be executed again,’ PourMohammadi said late Tuesday in remarks reported by the official IRNA news agency.

‘After putting much effort to prevent the second execution of this convict, we have received a positive response,’ he said w i t h o u t elaborating.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013—45

I am born to make a difference

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Sustainable Development is my passion — ABIODUN D. ODUNUGA

A

biodun Dominic Odunuga is a development consultant, a public speaker and an International Youth Ambassador for Peace.

His interest spans across Youth and Sustainable Development. His involvement in developmental issues has made tremendous impacts beyond the shores of Africa. He is the project manager for iBreathe, an organization based in Lagos with a branch in the United States set out to empower youths with platforms for development beyond academic degrees. He also serves as the project manager of Youth Vision Alliance. He is a member and a representative of some leading world organizations such as 350, Earth Charter Institute etc. Recently, he told Youthful Vibes about his expertise and motivation. Excerpts:

E

arly life and Career I must remain grateful to God for being born into a wonderful family. Growing up for me was challenging and fun. I attended Rita Titi Lakanu Memorial School (RITOL),Lagos for my nursery and primary school education where I was the Head Boy of my set. (1997).

I moved on from there to Government College Ibadan (GCI) for my secondary school education. I was Library Prefect of my set (2003).I emerged best student in Industrial Physics, and overall best student in the Department of Physics (2010)at Covenant University . I am a member of Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Associate Member of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN)and Alumnus of Daystar Leadership Academy.

Motivation for Developmental issues I am passionate about Sustainable Development (Economic, Social and Environmental). However, I am bothered that critical mass (youths) with the largest percentage of our population is marginalized. I have empathy for the millions of young people who grope on the streets in a nation full of so much potentials and resources. I can’t really place my finger on what exactly aroused my interest in Youth Development especially.

Perhaps, the report of the British Council that predicts “doom” for Nigeria if the government does not maximize the 60% youthful population by the year 2020.

Or could it be the tears of fellow corps members who were terrified about “a bleak

future” in a country like ours during my National Youth Service Corps?

In June 2012, I was privileged to participate as a Nigeria Representative and delegate in what has been said to be the biggest United Nations Conference in history (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where I engaged with world leaders, stakeholders and youth delegates around the world to defend and chart the future of the world regarding Sustainable Development across sectors such as education, health, environment and renewable energy. That exposure has also strengthen my motivation to do some more work. I would still say there are a couple of other motivating factors which I am sure will settle what the real

We have youths who have moved from being jobseekers to jobcreators

Commonwealth Conference on “Education and Training of Youth Workers’ held in Pretoria, South Africa, I believe demand is placed on me to go beyond paper presentation by also joining in to commemorate this laudable initiative of The Commonwealth. The aim of the conference will be to highlight the role of youth work in national development with emphasis on job creation, entrepreneurship, employability and productivity to be held in Lagos, Nigeria. The event will

With Sir Richard Branson

Edo State

V

weta Ariemugbovbe is a Disability, Girls and Women Rights Advocate. She graduated with a distinction from the diploma in social work programme from the University of Benin in 2009. She is currently in my 300Level , studying Peace and Conflict resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria.

Upon graduating from secondary school in 2003, she became very ill, making it impossible for her to pursue her university education until 2007. Subsequent surgeries in Nigeria left her unable to speak audibly for four years. The challenges she had as a young girl unable to speak in an environment that was very hostile redefined her purpose and life's direction.

She has been volunteering for social change projects for several years. Since 2004 till date, she has worked voluntarily with women living with protracted illnesses and who have had life altering surgeries. Also, with women living with HIV, orphans and vulnerable children.

Vweta is a Peer Educator for the Illegal Migration Awareness Project (IMAP) and Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), an ongoing project of an NGO called Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA).

(2012-Date). She also leads a Psychological Group, which explores the psychological effect of violence and being an illegal immigrant.

In 2012, She initiated the Empowering Women of the Future Project, a women value re-orientation program designed to help teenage women living in underserved communities harness and hone their abilities and capabilities, thereby reducing gender-inequality, gender based violence and abuse, financial and economic dependence, illiteracy and teenage pregnancy, while promoting girl-child education and her sexual reproductive health and right. This project is ongoing in Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

In February 2013, she was accepted into the prestigious Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative. Her team is working on the promotion of the rights and civil liberties for marginalized populations using social media.

Last June, she was accepted as a correspondent for the Voices of Our Future Program. Nearly 600 women from 96 countries applied, only 30 of them were selected for this year's programme.

have a press briefing integrated within it to reiterate the role of Youth Workers and amplify the great effort they play as far as development is concerned and it has been slated for November 9, 2013.

My Role Models I have lots of role models from different fields. They all inspire me differently. In no particular order, some of them are: Jeffery Sachs, Koffi Anan, Frank Nweke Jnr. , Pat Utomi, Hakeem Ogunniran, Sola Oladele, Victor Adeyemi, Oby Ezekwesili, David Oyedepo, Richard Branson, Bill Clinton, Leke Alder, Fela Durotoye and Tayo Olosunde.

motivation in no distant time.

My present work.

Currently, I am working on an event to commemorate the Commonwealth Youth Week coming up on November 4 to November 10, 2013. It is a conference that would bring youths together from different background with consultants, human development professionals and variety of youth workers. The theme of the event is:“Building Skills for Employability”.

As a speaker at the last

Vwe vbe Vwetta Ariemugbo Ariemugbovbe

Odunuga and Irina Bokova(Dirctor General UNESCO)

Impact of my work I am also involved with series of platforms that develop youth. Aside

Advocacy and training in the area of environmental sustainability and capacity development, one major one is in the area of Social Entrepreneurship. My team and I have been creating pedestal for youths to ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship within them and also helping them in areas of funding and mentorship to ensure sustainability in their ventures. This is our own practical way to reduce unemployment in Nigeria.

We have youths who have moved from being jobseekers to job-creators.

Advice to other youths Focus on the goals you want to achieve. You will succeed. We are born to make a difference. See you at the top!

46— SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

S-H-I-P W-R-E-C-K

Parents of missing marine workers allege foul play

T

HIS is not the best of times for the families of Mr Odega and Abiodun, who have been visiting various shipping companies and the mortuary in search of their sons.

This is as a result of the mysterious disapearance of their sons in the high sea aboard a tanker vessel sailing from Port-Harcourt to Lagos.

Narrating his ordeal to Crime Guard, Mr Israeli Odega, said his son Godwin Odega, 32 , was employed on June 18, 2012 as Marine worker (AB) at Multi Trade shipping Company Limited situated at No 2, Ogalade Close, off Ologun Agbaje Street , Victoria Island, Lagos.

Based on accounts he got from some of the survivors of the illfated vessel and the Captain, Mr. Odega gave a blow- byblow account of what transpired that evening.

According to him, on September 15, 2013, MT Victory 1, a tanker vessel belonging to Multi Trade Nigeria owned by one Mrs Angela Egwagwu dropped anchor at midnight from Bonny Island, Port Harcourt, off shore to Lagos at breakwaters. The MT Victory ship had a crew of 16 which sailed to Port Harcourt but some of the crew members including the Captain, Rotimi Smart-Ali, reportedly disembarked between 18 and 19 of September 2013. Those that disembarked from the journey were given two days holiday to stay with their families. On September 21, his son Godwin Odega boarded back to the vessel after the two days holiday because he got a phone call from his boss to return back to the vessel immediately.

How it happened “While on board, my son specifically told his other crew members that he didn’t know why he boarded back since they were not going to sail at about 1800hrs. The third officer who was on board the vessel made a call to the captain that the vessel was drifting and the Captain also got a phone call from the captin of another vessel, MT Obuno, that the vessel was drifting towards his vessel.The Captain of MT Victory then pleaded with that of MT Obuno to start his engine, heave up and clear, which he did.

“By 11pm that evening, another call came again from the third officer to the Captain of MT Victory saying that ‘ drifting has started again’. The Captain in turn sent an SMS to

•Vincent Abiodun, father to Abiodun,one of the victims

•Odega -Victim

•Abiodun -Victim •Wrecked vessel

*Point accusing fingers at shipping company *They are liers — Shipping company

By ONOZURE DANIA & UJU MBANUSI the Chairman/ Managing Director of Muti Trade group, Collins Chijoke Egwagwu, his wife, who is also the director,Angela Egwagwu, the Accountant, General Manager Robert, the Operations Manager, Frank; •Mr Odega, father to all this messages were sent to them simultaneously without Odega,one of the victims getting any reply even when location, as the said MT Victory 1, it indicated that the messages was not in sight. The Captain tried were delivered to them. The getting back to the crew but to no message that was sent read: avail as their lines were either “MT Victory 1 is drifting and engaged or ringing without there is no means to heave response’. It’s of note that my son, anchor and reposition due to Gowin Odega was online all lack of bunker (diesel), our through their travail with the prayer is 4 us not 2 have any director till about 11pm, hoping rough weather.” and wishing that help would come “The weather became very through her, but she never unfriendly and overtook the attempted any nor did she reach crew aboard the ship at about out to any of the inland water ways 1am of September 22, they regulations.” were totally helpless. Sensing that they were about to be ship e continued his story “At wrecked, the third officer Ikota area, we heard two made an emergency call to men discussing on the phone his Captain and other crew about the ordeal of the crew members that the anchor had members, one of them claimed he parted ways. Immediately, called the owner of the ship at the Captain made a call to the 7:30am that they wanted to come owner of the vessel that her to her residence but she directed ship had parted ways from them to come to Kuramo area. On anchorage and her reply was getting there, they met four of her “what can be done to salvage staff who went about their business the situation?” At about 2am, without any sign of remorse about the Captain made a call to a the incident that happened. boatman known as Sunny at After some time, she stopped Takwa- Bay to help locate the picking our calls. In fact, all the top MT Victory 1 and see if he managers in the company did not could rescue his crew. Sunny show any interest in the mishap. got back to the Captain at A man later showed up at the office about 3am that he was ready and introduced himself as the to go for the rescue and asked Captain of the ill-fated ship and for destination which Captain addressed us. told him was Kuramo. At about “On September 24, about eight 3: 30am, Sunny called the of us went to visit one of the Captain for confirmation of survivours, Ariyo Olaolu, who is

H

the third engineer at the site of the ship wreck at Eko Atlantic Mega City project adjacent to Bar Beach Towers. He gave a vivid account of what happened, adding that the NPA were a little close to where they were drifting but declined to assist, because according to them, ‘they have not gotten clearance from Abuja to salvage the ship from the off shore.’

“As I speak, the Management of Muti Trade group has not deemed it fit to call or send us an SMS to tell us what happened to our sons despite the numerous calls we made to them which they ignored,”he lamented.

The 75-year-old father of the other missing staff identified as Olatunde Abiodun, Mr Vincent Abiodun, also confirmed the incident on phone to Crime Guard and expressed disappointment over the manner the case is being handled by the Management of the company. “I believe my son is still life, I suspect that something fishy must be going on. Why is the management of

the company finding it difficult to call us and explain what happened to our sons... . It is rather unfortunate that this kind of treatment is meted out to families of men who put down their lives for his company,” he cried.

Abiodun, said that from what he gathered about the MT Victory 1, is that the MT Victory 1 was originally named Baltic Swan built in Sweden in 1986 and its classified as an oil tanker without insurance and no certificate of compliance, adding that it last had special survey in 2002 and the last dry docking date was 2003.The same vessel had DPK and AGO as its last three cargoes.

When Crime Guard contacted the Chief Executive Officer of Muti Trade group, Collins Chijioke Egwagwu over the allegations leveled against him and his wife, he said that the allegation were all false stating that they tried their best to help the victims, that some of the survivours were taken to the hospital and were treated.

He also said that NIMASA is aware of the incident, because they reported it to NIMASA and the Bar Beach police.

PHOTO SPEAK

•Participants from the National Defence College Course 2 Geo-Strategic study in a group photograph with some key officers of Enugu Police Command during their visit to Enugu.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 26, 2013—47

BY WALE AKINOLA

K

atsina State has set up export processing centres for the products in which it has comparative advantage, according to the state commissioner for commerce and industry, Honorable Abdulmumini Abdulahi. He fielded questions from journalists in Katsina. Excerpts of interview: The impression the ordinary man out there has is that commerce and industry is not a priority of the Shema administration, and that that is the reason not much has been achieved in this key sector.

Nothing can be farther from the truth. This is a sector into which billions has gone to underscore the fact that it is a major priority of the administration.

The government also established 52 cottage industries, utilizing the vast mineral deposits in the state.

These are made up of 28 paint cottage industries and 20 chalk cottage industries set up at the total cost of N135, 790, 700.65.

A total of 555 youths were trained to work in the industries; 332 youths are engaged at the paint cottage industries while 223 youths work in the chalk cottage industries.

On commerce, four fertilizer blending plants have been constructed at Batsari, Maiadua Safana and Bakori at the cost of N117, 961, 681 (including equipment, laboratory facility, logistic and the training of 100 staff).

Government also disbursed N100 million interest- free loan to about 6,000 traders and artisans under the Small Trades

‘K atsina Can No w Pr ocess FFor or ‘Katsina Now Process Expor t’ Export’ Special Credit Scheme. It is distributing N106 million under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Schemes. A total of 3,218 artisans and SMEs are to benefit. A census of SMEs in 28 trades was conducted in selected areas of the three senatorial districts and a total of 11,229 of such enterprises were registered under the first phase: 2,835 in Daura, 4,377 in Katsina and 4,017 in Funtua senatorial zones. The census was meant to guide the government in planning intervention portfolios for the SMEs. The state government has spoken so much about giant strides in the area of human capital development but which critics say is a fluke. What is the situation really?

It is unfair to say the Shema administration’s achievements in human capital development are a fluke. The facts speak for themselves. N96.05 million was spent by government to train 50 youths on high tech welding at the Nigeria Naval Engineering Training College, Sapele. More than N301 million was spent on the construction and equipping of Youth Craft Village in

Abdulahi Katsina. The center offers training in 16 different trades and train 2,000 youths annually.

The Katsina State Crafts Village is located within the vicinity of the state National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp located in Barhim, one of the suburbs of Katsina metropolis.

Established in 2009 by the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema, the centre is a one stop-shop for youth skills

acquisition in a broad variety of areas including computer and GSM phone repairs, pottery, woodwork, tie and dye, wrought iron, welding, auto repair, blacksmithing, photography and film production.

It is against this background that the Youth Crafts Village enrols 48 youth from each of the 34 local governments in Katsina to train in their respective fields

of interest. The youth are resident, feed and given allowances for the duration of their respective programs (6 months1 year). 2,374 indigenes of the state were assisted to secure employment in federal establishment. Solar powered mobile barbing kits were issued to 500 youths at subsidized rate. The kits were procured by the government at the cost of N21.5 million. Over 2,000 people, including women, benefited from the Local Quarry Operations Support Program (compressors, drilling accessories and explosives were distributed) in nine LGAs (Bakori, Faskari, Matazu, Safana, Batagarawa, Jibia, Mashi, Dutsi, Sandamu). The program cost the state government more than N5.58 million. Over 4, 397 youths were trained on various skills at the upgraded 10 Basic Apprentice Training Centers in the state.

The government has spent N197.150 million to construct and equip the three new Basic Apprentice Training Centers at Batsari, Kankara and Danja.

(N141.917 0n construction and N55.23 million on equipment).Some 417 persons trained by the BATCs were offered loan under the Youth Entrepreneurship Loan Scheme. N30 million was released to the Agency. N10 .43 million was spent on the repairs of vocational schools destroyed by rainstorm 2,110 other youths were trained under a special vocational training and attachment program known as Katsina Youth Empowerment Scheme. 80 percent of the trainees were absorbed by their master craftsmen. N27.72 million has gone into it in the past two years.

Inadequat inancing bane of haulage business in Nigeria— Horrocks Inadequatee ffinancing ernard Horrocks, M a n a g i n g B Director,Bukkehave Nigeria

bring together all the various bodies and organisations involved in the haulage business Limited, sole distributor of Renault and create a forum for advice, brand of trucks in Nigeria. He solutions, and ideas, alongside a spoke to Saturday Vanguard meeting place for interested Business in Lagos during a parties. Moreso, to create meeting of its partners to proffer partnerships between ourselves, solutions to the challenges of our customers, the banks and haulage business in Nigeria. other interested parties and to open channels. We see Nigeria Excerpts: Sir, Renault and Bukkehave as going through a transition in met recently in Lagos, what is the the haulage business, and want relationship between the two to be able to be part of that reorganisation, by supplying companies?

Bukkehave Nigeria is the only quality products, support and authorised distributor of Renault after sales that are ideally suited trucks in Nigeria and also the to Nigeria.

How did you see Nigeria authorised distributor for UD trucks and bluebird buses. The business environment for relationship is as manufacturer Renault and Bukkehave?

Nigeria is a challenging and distributor.

What message are you convey market, not only from a to your clients and emerging bureaucratic and legal / government point of view, but also markets in Nigeria?

We hope that the event was because of the lack of reasonably informative on a number of levels, priced finance options and credit in that our objectives were to availability. There is also an educational requirement for hauliers a n d businesses with regards to the benefits of a b e t t e r organised haulage:Newer trucks, adequate maintenance, safety – road and load safety, training, road sense and policing.

T h e s e Horrocks: We need reorganisation in Nigeria’s areas need to haulage business.

be addressed long term and not just by the government, but also by the industry in general.

Maintenance on vehicles in Nigeria is exceptionally poor, with many not being maintained, or being done on the cheap, without realising the extra wear this places on the truck, and on the overall safety on the vehicle.

As an example there are probably

10 million drivers in Lagos, who would all tell you they can drive well, yet Nigerian roads are some of the most dangerous roads in the world. This is an educational issue, for hauliers, drivers, government, and especially the police, in an attempt to improve road use in general.

What are the challenges facing your operation in Nigeria?

The biggest challenge in Nigeria is finance from a truck sales operation, most of our potential customers have huge problems getting reasonably priced and also reasonably easy to arrange finance. This is restricting the growth and development of the Nigerian trucking industry.

Opeifa, Riv er son tto o speak at Bo will River erson Bowill Errands annual public lecture T o create awareness on the opportunities and potentials abound in the courier industry and other sectors,the management of Bowill Errands Limited in its commitment to freely empower industry players and with information that could bring about best practice and position them for global competition, Mr Isaac Annan Riverson, Executive Secretary, Ghana Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission and Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Kayode Opeifa have been selected as guest speakers at the 5th edition of Bowill Errands on the theme: Harnessing business opportunities/innovations in movement of goods and materials in West African region.

However, to make it more interesting, Bowill Errands has partnered Federal Ministry of Communication Technology

(NIPOST) and Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Government to achieve desired results. Billed for October 29, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Riverson from Ghana will be speaking on how postal and courier services in Africa can harness business opportunities/innovations abounds in the industry, while Opeife will take on transportation system in harnessing business opportunities in West Africa respectively.

Postmaster General, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, who bagged award last year ’s public lecture will be chairman of the occasion while Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefulure will be special guest of honour.

According to the Managing Director/CEO, Siyanbola A. Oladapo, we are looking at harnessing business opportunities/innovations in movement of goods and

materials in West African region because we don’t want to continue running courier services that end at the door of capital market. “We realise also that other West Africans countries have postal commission but Nigeria is yet to establish one.”

He said, we have decided to go international because we want our indigenous courier operators to see the opportunities in West African market because this is a market that could assist operators diversify from capital market and when we diversify that could increase the GDP of Nigeria and create better employment opportunities in Nigeria.

Oladapo told journalists at his office that his happiness is the extent at this annual public lecture has positively impacted on people since initiated four years ago,promising that participants would gain more at the event this year.

50 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26,, 2013

BY GAB EJUWA & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI elta Central Senatorial candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Chief Ede Dafinone says the Independent National Electoral D Commission (INEC) did not release or issue election result sheets and other sensitive election materials in most places during the election. He also says there was no election in Delta Central in this interview with journalists .

You protested your loss in the election but you didn’t seem to take cognizance of the fact that some DPP leaders defected to the PDP days before the election and these people might have defected with their supporters.

Yes, I believe that people that defected to the PDP at the last moment might have defected with their supporters, but it was unfortunate that we did not conduct public opinion poll before the election. If you conducted public opinion within the DPP before the election, you would have heard that those politicians had lost favour with the party. For example, there was someone who moved two days to the election, but DPP members in his local government will tell you that he is changing his phone number every two days and nobody can reach him.

This is somebody who is not in touch with his people, not in touch with the grassroots. I will also argue that our party is popular with the grassroots and the party is what led to these people being elected, because they were elected on the platform of the party, because of the popularity of the party and not on their personal recognition. Yes, I will agree that these politicians are popular in their own right, but in this particular case, I would say no. Your other point was that it was rumoured that Chief Great Ogboru worked for the PDP in the election, but this I would describe as a fantastic story. Chief Great Ogboru as the leader of our party will have a zero benefit in working for the PDP against his own party. He is not just a leader in the party, but he is the foremost leader in the party and for him to work against the party will be shooting himself not just in the foot but in the heart. So it is not possible, it is not feasible.

You complained about irregularities during the elections and you rejected the result, what exactly happened ?

If I should go back to my earlier statement, the voting materials arrived in most local governments after 3.00pm and in some cases 4.pm, the accreditation of voters was meant to take place by 12 noon and voting commences thereafter. But when voting materials arrived between 3 and 4pm, accreditation couldn’t take place on time and any voting thereafter would be invalid.Where voting did take place and where the materials were there on time, there was military presence.

Where voters were on the line and voting, PDP thugs beat the voters and moved them out of the polling units forcefully. This type of intimidation can never lead to a true representation of the will of the people. It is a sham, a complete sham. There was no election in Delta Central.

When you saw the way things were going, did you make any conscious effort to report the situation to the appropriate authorities?

As we saw events unfolding, we compared notes across the eight local governments and by 2pm, we released a press statement that was signed by the Chairman of the party in the state, that there was no election going on in Delta Central. For that statement to be released by 2pm, it Dafinone.. There was no elect ion in Delta Central clearly shows that we were aware of what was happening. We could see that there was no election going on and we protested immediately. At the different polling units and the different collation centres, our party agents made submissions to INEC to show their protest that there was no election going on and that the materials were not arriving on time and that the collation of materials were not happening properly.

These protests were filed with yet you had agents in all the pollINEC and despite those protests; ing units who were supposed to results were turned in from the sign the result sheets, did they collation centres at the wards and sign the results and were they coat the local governments. It was erced into signing? as if those protests never hapsial, moreso where that military It is a combination of all of pened, but they were all docu- would be expected in a by-election is under the control of one politithose. Where the military and mented and we shall furnish the but we had over three hundred and cal party participating in the elecfifty thousand votes cast in this bythugs were present, our agents tribunal with that evidence. election, while in the general elec- tion. The military actively particwere scared away from the pollipated in the coercion of voters ing units by thugs.Some of our You are accusing the INEC and tion in the district for the Senate, agents were clearly bought over, the Army of collaborating in the the number of votes cast was just and in some cases, actually but you will find as the record will rigging, but do you really have two hundred thousand. So we are participated in the tearing up saying that for a by-election where of ballot papers. So, the INEC show that most of the results were evidence of this? not signed by our agents. From Well, in the case of the Army, the you will expect a low voter turn- cannot be said to be indepenthe polling units up to the collaPDP people in office were riding out, the number of votes actually dent or neutral in the process. tion centres, they were not signed. around the town from unit to unit doubled, it is not possible. We ex- So, for a free and fair election, Okpe Local Government was a accompanied by military patrols. pected also the reports from the we need an independent particularly bad case where from This was witnessed all over the international observers to show umpire.Without that, the pro11am to 12 noon , protests were eight local governments. In the these facts about low voters’ turn- cess can never be just, it can coming from that local governcase of INEC, the complicity can out and that voters were intimi- never be concluded fairly. I ment that they were being beatonly be evident from the figures. dated and coerced in the polling dare say that without all those en and driven away by military We have applied for these figures units. things in place, one will won- personnel. It led to them protestand we believe that when the figYou just described that der how the elections of 2015 ing immediately, so there was no ures are examined closely, you will election in Okpe Local Governsee that where three people voted, election as a sham, because will be conducted, because we ment, in all the polling units. the collated figure will now be in- according to you, it was are approaching those elecThat protest was submitted to creased to eight or twelve and that marred by irregularities. tions just about a year away INEC and no result sheet was pattern will be consistent What will you suggest as a and if at this stage we are regressing to the election style signed by our agent in Okpe Lothroughout all the polling units, way out?

The first recommendation will of 2003 and 2007, where vot- cal government to my knowlbut we need to have the evidence edge. first in our hands before we make be for a truly independent na- ers are intimidated, where Now, what will your counsel categorical statement on that. tional electoral commission. Our there is no voting and just case will show that the INEC is be asking for in the Tribunal?

But just clearly from the numcome up with figures, then we Our counsel will proceed to the bers, it is clear that there is some not independent. Secondly, the should be all concerned. tribunal and ask for a complete foul play at hand. I pointed out use of the military to provide security for election is fairly controvercancellation of the sham of an electo you that low voters turn out You talked about irregularities,

DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL RACE

There was no voting — Dafinone

tion. We don’t believe it is possible to declare a winner based on what happened on the 12th of October.

There was no voting, voters were intimidated, the results that were written are all fictional. I make bold to state that to declare any

winner from that process will be false. We need a fresh election to decide the senatorial seat in Delta Central.

And you are sure this kind of thing will not happen again?

Well, we called on the authorities before the election to alert of potential irregularities, but it seemed our cries were not heeded to at all. I will want to believe that with the further cries we have made after the election, we will now get a fairer election.

I said in my first press release that we are a fledgling democracy and no Nigerian will expect a 100 percent free and fair election, infact there is nowhere in the world that you will get a 100 percent free and fair election, you will expect a few irregularities to mar the process in a few location, but to the extent of what we saw on the 12th of October leaves us with no option but a complete cancellation of that result.

48 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26,, 2013

EDO LG BY- ELECTION:

PDP kicks as Oshiomhole’s APC wins Anenih’s council We are with the original results, what EDSIEC announced is fake – PDP We will meet in court — APC

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

T

he much awaited Local Government Council by-election in Esan North East Local Government Council of Edo State had come and gone, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party at war once again with the All Progressive Congress (APC), accusing the later of rigging the election. Elections in the council were postponed twice due to violence, while the Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) successfully conducted elections in other 17 Local Government Councils on the 20th of April, 2013. The tension in the area was not surprising to many due to the caliber of politicians in the council. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and the Minister of Works, Arch.Mike Onolemenmen are all from this council. Before the coming of Oshiomhole, Esan land was in firm grip of the PDP leader, Chief Anenih who has empowered his loyalists from the area, particularly his Uromi brothers and sisters. However, the coming of Governor

Adams Oshiomhole changed the politics of the area due to the developmental strides of the Comrade Governor, which eventually helped Oshiomhole in winning the entire five Local Government Councils in the 2012 governorship election.

Following his recent political fortunes, it is not surprising that the Leader will not want to relinquish his Local Government to the APC even though it is a local election.

His foot soldiers prepared for the election, just as the APC members went to the election in full confidence based on the achievements of Oshiomhole.

However, the Tuesday election commenced peacefully despite the late arrival of voting materials in some wards.

Prior to the elections though, APC leaders expressed concern about the presence of ‘imported’ mobile policemen from Abuja and Lagos for the election. Infact, the Edo State Police Commissioner Folunso Adebanjo confirmed that the security arrangement was “water tight” and warned political leaders to warn their supporters to stay out of trouble. All was actually going well up till about 1pm when the

leader of APC in ward 5, Prince Joe Okojie raised alarm that a Mopol Commander of Uromi origin, who is based in Lagos was arresting APC members including their leaders and detaining them at the police station. At ward 7, the member representing the area at the Federal House of Representative and PDP chieftain, Mr Friday Itulah said though the election commenced late, he was happy that people are voting peacef u l l y .

lice shot sporadically trying to recover the ballot boxes but to no avail, as the youths ran into the bushes destroying the votes. Suddenly, the ward which boasts of the highest number of voters in the council became a burial ground as only security operatives were observed. The state Police Commissioner and the State Director of DSS,Bello Bakori brought the situation under control but was unable to appeal to voters to come back and cast their votes as they all ran for their dear lives.

At about 6pm, there was mass arrest of APC leaders by the police and they were subsequently detained at the Uromi Police station allegedly on orders from above. APC chieftain, Prince Joe Okojie who spoke from his detention cell, accused the PDP of alleged rigging, harassment and intimidation of their members.

According to him, “somebody from this our community who is a MOPOL Com-

Following his recent political fortunes , it is not surprising that the Leader will not want to relinquish his Local Government to the APC even though it is a local election He however alleged that an EDSIEC official was seen with ink all over his body indicating that he may have been thumb printing for the APC candidate. However, tension heightened in ward 5 when political thugs snatched ballot boxes and there was free for all fight between APC youths and that of the PDP. The po-

mander based in Lagos who obviously is working for the PDP came this morning arresting three of our members.

I went to the Police station to bail two of them but I was shocked while I was coming from the Police station when he came to arrest two more persons.

“It was at that point that our

people resisted him. The PDP tried to use their federal might to intimidate and harrass our people but we will resist them. Now, they have arrested me and other APC leaders, but we will not be intimidated. They saw that we were winning and decided to destroy the ballot papers, disrupting the election. But I thank God our people have spoken in one voice, no more dictatorship, we are free at last”.

However, at about 8pm, that Tuesday, the Chairman of the EDSIEC, Mr Solomon Ogoh announced the results declaring Sam Oboh winner of the election after he polled 12,672 as against his PDP opponent John Yakubu who polled 3,314 votes. The next day Wednesday, the elected chairman was sworn in by Governor Oshiomhole while angry PDP members led by Chief Dan Orbih, its state chairman, addressed journalists rejecting the results and threatened to go to court.

According to Orbih, “the result the EDSIEC chairman announced was not the true result, what he declared was variance with the results announced at the different polling units, wards and collating centers by the presiding and returning officers appointed by the electoral body. What he announced has no bearing with the actual results announced by the presiding officers. He has no result from the various wards and collating centers”. He further claimed that the results will not stand the test of time, alleging that it was very clear from the results announced

by Presiding and Returning officers from the various poling units that it was the PDP that won both the chairmanship and councillorship elections in Esan North East and the six other wards in the state where elections were conducted. He declared that copies of the election result were with the DPO in Uromi, DSS, Civil Defence and other security agencies and asked the media to verify this from security agencies. Orbih claimed that “ the PDP chairmanship candidate won the election by scoring 11,212 against APC candidate’s 6,143”.

But in a swift reaction, the interim chairman of APC in the state, Thomas Okosun, described Orbih’s declaration as laughable and wondered when the police, DSS and others “suddenly became EDSIEC members”. His words, “ we read in the papers that PDP said they were rejecting the results of the election,Orbih was saying that the authentic result sheets are with the police, SSS and Civil Defense,

Continues on page 49

SATURDAY

Continues from page 48 without saying that the results sheets were with the EDSIEC staff who are the authentic umpire for the election.

The first question we are asking Orbih is, who requested for the services of these people during the election because it is the responsibility of the EDSIEC to request for security during elections? So these people who requested for their services were they from Edo state or other states and if they were from other states, who brought them to Edo state? My second question is, since when did the police become returning officers such that they now have the authentic result sheet according to what Orbih declared as authentic result which he manufactured with his hired policemen from Lagos and Abuja.

“Because in an election, outside the presiding officers and returning officers who have access to the authentic results, the other persons entitled to the authentic results are the agents of the political parties participating in an election. So Dan Orbih cannot claim that he has authentic results or that they are with the hired police men instead of the EDSIEC. “I think his problem is that it is because himself and his party the PDP failed in their attempt to stop the election the third time, they are looking for avenue to discredit the election won by APC inEsan North East” he asserted. He added that “Orbih should know that just in 2012, ACN, now APC ,won Esan North East Local Government in the gubernatorial election and that was an election conducted by federal INEC, the same people that voted for us in that election and many more people that joined us again voted for us in this last election. Let me tell Orbih and his party that the people of Edo state will not give PDP opportunity to drag Edo state backward. PDP is dead and buried in Edo state.

I urge Orbih and his people to accept defeat and the outcome of the election in Esan North East or go to court as they said”.

But the Coalition of Registered Political Parties in the state led by Dr Samson Isibor hailed the election, asserting however that “ we are hearing this lamentation from the PDP today because the Comrade Governor is even a democrat.

PDP never conducted Local Government elections all the while they were in government, but because this man decided to conduct an election, the PDP is taking advantage of him talking rubbish.

But we commend the Comrade Governor for the free and fair election he conducted. APC members have conscience but PDP does not and that is why God is punishing them today in this state”.

Saturday Vanguard recalled that in 2005, Osaro Obazee the current chairman of Oredo LGA, was denied the chance to become a councilor in ward

Vanguard, OCTOBER 26,, 2013 — 49

EDO LG BY- ELECTION:

PDP kicks as Oshiomhole’s APC wins Anenih’s council

5, oredo Local Government even after he won the election convincingly.

Oshiomhole broke his silence on the issue, during the swearing in of the elected chairman. He said, “Nigerians fought for democracy, many paid the supreme price , they did not survive to witness the birth of the present republic.

Others including my humble self moved from one police cell to one prison, not on account of any dispute over our father ’s land but on account of our contribution in the system that Nigeria must return to

that the police may well have chosen to become the INEC or EDSIEC and over thrown by the force of fire arms, those who are authorised by law to conduct elections.

“As a Nigerian, I am embarrassed that the police are involved in carrying electoral materials, arresting EDSIEC returning officers and coercing them into a police station and converting it into a collation centre supervised by policemen imported from Abuja and Lagos in order to subvert the will of the people of Esan North East. As a civilised man,

I think his problem is that it is

because he and his party the PDP failed in their attempt to stop the election the third time, they are looking for avenue to discredit the election won by APC in Esan North East democracy in which the people and only the people can determine who governs them.

So some of us have paid our price.

“But during this period, there were others who were embedded with all manner of military dictatorship, they compromised, they sold mandate, they traveled around foreign capitals to rationalize the futile attempt to defeat the forces of democracy and they failed. Some have returned and they are today among the key manipulators criminally trying to subvert the will of our people and misusing the instrument of state in their futile attempt to impose their will on the people of our country particularly, in Edo State.

What I heard yesterday and I am still investigating; if the reports are correct, then Nigerians must be put on notice

I felt ashamed that men in uniform at rather very senior level supervised this criminal act of the police in yesterday’s (Tuesday) election. A federal Minister and other federal functionaries, including Assembly men used their exalted positions, taking unfair advantage of the police assigned to protect them and deployed them for election purposes, detaining returning officers and treating them as if they were prisoners of war and under duress, compelling them to sign fake results and police becoming Returning Officers writing result sheets. But thank God for modern technology that what the people have signed in full freedom is what matters, not what they signed under duress in a police station.

The law establishing the

electoral commission is very clear, the location for collation of votes is very clear. The location for announcing winners and losers is very clear and it does not include a police station.

“Law enforcement officers were involved in converting a police post to a collating center in order to subvert the will of the electorate and for me, it is a matter of national embarrassment. And I want to state that no one will live forever but our reputation will live after us. Temporary gains are not worth our place in hell, if we choose to mortgage what is good in order to sustain evil practices. But Edo State under my watch will not submit to intimidation. My duty is to remain one of the forces of democracy. Neither my voice, nor my physical efforts can be exterminated by the forces of darkness. Anyone who is under the illusion that they can use the instrument of coercion to intimidate us are poor students of history. We are at our best when we are challenged because we know that when we will die cannot be postponed by one day” he asserted.

Oshiomhole appealed that “

the Federal authorities and the security agencies should remain faithful to their oath of office which says they shall respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They shall not be influenced by affection but each time they behave in such degrading manner, they violate those office serially and brutally. Yesterday, the police high command in their wisdom chose to turn Esan North East to a police state, such that we had more policemen in that local government than the population of the Local government .

If we have such number of policemen, how come we are at the mercy of kidnappers?

We have such ruthless determination to deal with decent civilians and yet weak to deal with hardened criminals. I fail to understand that. I fail to understand why the police high command who has the tradition of posting away Commissioners and assigning new ones at the eve of every election, ostensively to ensure that there is fairness and impartiality.

“That in the case of Esan North East local Gov ernment election, they chose to bring senior mobile police commanders who are of Uromi origin knowing fully well that the fact of their origin means that they cannot be neutral in matters affecting some sections of that local government.

“In their wisdom, those are the officers they chose to deploy believing that they can help to subvert democracy. All of us remains in prison any time we keep quiet in the face of operation.We remain detainees each time we fail to speak our minds even in the face of abuse of office. And we are dead the day we keep quiet in the face of injustice. God gave us life, brain and mouth to speak, not just for nothing.

So, I want to appeal to all those who need to listen that this country is greater than any of us.

“We want a free and fair election, the police chose to detain very senior APC leaders including the APC candidate for election on election day in order to rub it in that the police rather than the people will decide the winner. The police used instrument procured by our tax payers money including the resources I provided them to conduct this election to brutalize and assault APC members for the simple reason that they are leaders of APC. They hoarded them into cell and according to them, under orders from above, they have moved them to Benin.

They can eat their flesh if that gives them some comfort but they cannot eat their soul”.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013—51

By FLORENCE AMAGIYA

S

hock, pandemonium, and fear gripped Lagosians as another five persons from Ago area of Lagos reportedly died of cholera recently. Before now, three persons were confirmed dead out of the 13 cases reported to the Ministry of Health.

Sunday, 25, a newspaper vendor in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos state was found dead on the staircase of a residential building in the area recently. It was also discovered that another young man who tried helping the deceased in his helpless state to the hospital died few hours after Sunday’s death. Comments from neighbours suggested that he stooled and vomited profusely the previous day.

Chika Eze, a resident in a wing of the complex located

by Marcity bus-stop, Ago, Lagos told Saturday Vanguard how Sunday, from Abia State who made the corridor of the complex his home had shown no sign of illness until the day before his death eating African Salad popularly known as Abacha.

Eze disclosed that the deceased was stooling and vomiting consistently from Friday evening till Saturday when he was taken to the hospital. “We rushed him to a nearby hospital but he wasn’t attended to because we couldn’t pay the mandatory deposit.’’

We brought him back to the complex and tried ‘self – treatment’ and there was no improvement. It was about 8pm that fateful evening that someone upstairs screamed that Sunday had died on the staircase.

The founder of Balm of Life Ministry (BLM) at the wing of the complex where Sunday died, Pastor Ralph James, said: Sunday could have survived if he had gotten financial help to pay the required deposit at the hospital. So, it was a great shock that Sunday morning to see his corpse lying on the staircase. It is indeed so sad.” wa Idika, a, fashion de signer who seldom sleeps in the complex exhibited the same symptoms but was lucky because he had some money to pay for treatment. He approached Treasure Gold Hospital in the area where he promptly received treatment. According him, he had taken about 59 drips within 72 hours.

Narrating his ordeal, Idika said: “I shared a plate of pepper soup and a bottle of stout with my wife last week Monday. But I later woke up in the middle of the night stooling which lasted for more than four times before dawn. I didn’t see it as anything and went about my work. Again, since I didn’t eat anything, I

A

CHOLERA OUTBREAK

Vendor, four others died mysteriously It is worthy of note that cholera cannot be treated at home, but the victim can be given (ORL) Oral Re-hydration before professional attention. Hand washing cannot be over emphasized; it saves life. thought the stooling would stop but it continued with intermittent vomiting. So, I spent four days in the hospital and paid the sum of N100,000 before I was discharged.

That same day, Saturday Vanguard gathered a woman and her son who were said to have eaten the popular African Salad called ‘abacha’ were both hospitalised after showing similar symptoms. The 15year old boy died after a few hours while the mother as at press time, is still receiving treatment in another hospital.

When Saturday Vanguard visited Treasure Gold Hospital, the doctor in charge, Dr. Tosan Hamsa disclosed that the hospital had eight chronic cases of cholera patients in the past few weeks.

He advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of visiting the hospital regularly to ascertain their state of health.

“Nigerians are known to indulge in ‘self–treatment’ and it is when they cannot help themselves that they take themselves to the hospitals. In one of the cases, we had treated a patient who had stooled up to 40 times before he was brought to the hospital,” he said.

He advised the public to watch out for consistent running stomach and vomiting and that first aid can be applied on the sick person before being taken to the hospital for immediate attention. He said: “It is worthy of note that cholera cannot be treated at home but the victim can be given (ORL) Oral re-hydration before the professional attention.

“What the hospital basically does is to send back fluid into the patient’s body through drips and stop the infection

causing cholera. Hands washing cannot be over emphasized; it saves life. A word, they say it’s enough for the wise,” he said.

Another young girl who was said to have gone to GKS hospital to see her sister being treated for cholera also died mysteriously last Monday.

She was said to be retuning from the hospital when she also slumped and died.

Again, at Cele Bus-stop, Lagos, another young woman in her 30s while returning from work was said to have eaten Africa Salad (abacha) which she bought at the same busstop. We gathered that on reaching home, she began to stool and rather than visit the hospital, embarked on self-

treatment. The situation grew out of control and she died the following day.

Sources from her residence hinted that she was stooling and vomiting heavily before she passed on. he State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, had in a statement a few days ago said: “The suspected cases that were recorded have been contracted from food sources such as the African salad popularly called abacha, well-water sources, especially in areas like Ikare community, Amuwo-Odofin local government area and Badia area of Apapa local government area, as well as other infected foods from food sellers and other unhygienic habits.

Cholera is an acute contagious bacterial disease characterized by severe form of sudden onset of profuse painless watery stools, nausea and profuse vomiting. The disease is acquired through the ingestion of an infective dose of contaminated food or water, and could be transmitted through many mechanisms like direct or indirect contamination of water or food by faeces of infected individuals.

T

52 —SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26 26, 2013 — 53

C M Y K

54 —SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Nigerian educational system can’t support our athletes —Ogba

U-17 World Cup: Eaglets must S avoid mistakes, by Esu

the athletes are being helped to get good scores in the American College Testing (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which have often posed an obstacle to prospective Nigerian athletes.

Some of the promising juniors include Divine Oduduru, who ran a 21.19 personal best in the 200m, Omezia Akerele, a 400m runner whom many athletics enthusiasts have compared to Clement Chukwu and have tipped the young lad to go far. There is also Ese Brume, Ada Benjamin and other high performing junior female athletes. “Our juniors have received scholarship offers from American unive-rsities. But they need to get good scores in the ACT and SAT and we are helping them in that regard,” said Ogba. “It is our conclu-sion that they need to be in that environment to get to the world level. It is in the USA most Jamaican athletes train.

“Besides our educati-onal system cannot support the aspirations of these youngsters. This is because we have several distraction •GOING TO AMERICA... Nigeria’s up and com- like strikes and all that will ing junior athlete Divine Oduduru hoping to move not allow the athletes to to the USA and get better concentrate,” the AFN boss added.

OME of the junior athletes that made Nigeria proud at the recent African junior championships in Mauritius have been offered the chance to study in the United States as a way of boosting their academic and athletics development.

According to Athletics

•Iheanacho, Eaglets prolific striker

BY EDDIE AKALONU

F

ORMER Shooting Stars coach Godfrey Esu has called on the Golden Eaglets to be watchful of their opponents’ style and tactics in coming games of the on-going U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

He said the team have the ability to do the country proud in the competition as he praised their effort so far, stressing that they remain highly favoured to become winners.

“So they must play with caution from now on because that is the way to avoid a repeat of mistakes made in past games especially the ones against Mexico and Sweden,” he advised.

Esu, who has also coached the defunct Julius Berger F.C and Enyimba, noted that because the Eaglets came off from the 6-1 thumping of champions, Mexico, they relaxed against Sweden.

“They under-rated Sweden by going with a mindset of another goal

feast. The Europeans proved tougher but I commend our boys for recovering to earn a 3-3 draw. Again the coaches must ask the team not to go full blast in future matches but play carefully. Obviously teams have seen the weaknesses in our team and that’s the more reason they have to be on alert.

“In competitions of this nature, it is always good to exploit your chances and at the same time, not to leave too much room for opponents to exploit,” Esu stressed.

Gumel, Iwuayanwu appointed into sports NGO Board

A

NON-Governmental Organisation, the Society for Promotion of Sports, SPS, established to promote sports in Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America has appointed Engineer Habu Gumel and Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu into its governing board.

National Coordinator of SPS, Vincent Michael Oche who disclosed this said while Engineer Gumel, former President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC will serve as president of the

Governing Board, Chief Iwuanyanwu is the vice president.

According to Oche, the unveiling of the SPS and the inauguration of the Board will take place in Abuja on November 28, 2013 at a ceremony to be attended by top shots of the National Sports Commission, the NOC and members of the Senate and House Committee on sports among others.

The SPS National Coordinator said that the “SPS shall work with local institutions to implement

result oriented Talent Identification Programmes (TIPS) at grassroots and schools for sports development.”

Among the many objectives of the NGO, Oche said, is sourcing of funds from corporate Nigeria and international donors to promote grassroots sports Nigeria as well as implement resultoriented Talent Identification Program-mes (TIPS) to identify and nurture sporting talents from grassroots and schools and developing them into world class champions.

Federation of Nigeria, AFN president, Solomon Ogba, there has been a myriad of offers for the up and coming youngstars and the federation was very disposed to having these athletes move to the USA as the Nigerian educational system will most likely thwart their career progress. He added that

PH performance centre crawling to a start

T

HE Port Harcourt High Performance Centre will take a little of

bit of time to get started after it was given the goahead by the IAAF presi-

Ogunkoya foresees 400m boom for Nigeria ...As two-day quarter-mile fiesta ends

A

FRICAN 400m women record holder, Falilat Ogunkoya yesterday predicted a boom for Nigeria in the quarter-mile discipline as the two-day meet packaged the former Nigerian international comes to an end today at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Ogunkoya, who won a 400m bronze and a silver in the women 4x400m at the Atlanta’96 Olympics Games stated that she was highly impressed with the turn out of athletes for the competition, meant to discover fresh and young 400m runners from the grassroots.

“We have over a 1000 athletes competing here and I am very impressed with the turn out. In the opening day, I saw a couple of kids who can to make us proud in the nearest future if we give them good coaches,” said the AFN board member.

During her time on the tracks Nigeria 400m men and women were vibrant.

In the women category

there were greats like Ogunkoya, Charity Opara, Fatima Yusuf and Bisi Afolabi all who made the National Championships looked like an African championships final, because these women were the best in the continent at that time.

On her retirement from the track and return to Nigeria from the USA, Ogunkoya had floated the competition, but after one edition in 2007, nothing was heard again.

However, she stated that this time around, she will strive to make the competition a yearly affair.

“We all know the importance of grassroots competitions. And we will do everything possible to make it a year affair.

“And I must acknowledge the contributions of FCMB, Solid Works, Lacasera and the Ogun State government for making it possible for us to hold it this year. Hopeful they will be there for us next year when we come calling.”

dent Lamine Diack in February. Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials are looking forward to the centre getting started with the highly qualified coaches from within and outside Nigeria expected to help groom Nigerian athletes to world standards.

But according to a member of the federation, no date has been set for it to officially commence training of athletes.

“Machinery has been put in place. But the hostels where athletes will stay is still needing a few touches. When that is ready, there will be an inspection by the IAAF team.

“However, it is only the AFN president who is in touch with the relevant international bodies that will be in best position to state when the High Performance Centre will take off,” said the AFN member.

University of Port Harcourt, the host institution, is ready to provide the academic and scientific support for the centre, which will host athletes from English speaking West African nations. The other High Performance Centres are in Senegal and Kenya.

The centre is expected to help Nigeria develop her athletes, especially in their areas of strengths sprints, the quarter-miles and the jumps.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 26, 2013 — 55

Iredia wants fresh start for Nigeria golf F

OUNDATION member of the IBB Golf Club in Abuja, Sam Iredia, has predicted a new era for the game of golf, after he was declared winner of the South-South zone slot in the

board of Nigeria Golf Federation [NGF} ahead of the its election on November 5 in Abuja. Iredia who had to battle through a zone that consisted a golf warrior, King Diete-Spiff, first Governor of the Old Rivers State, stated that his agenda in the new board of the NGF was to give golf a new meaning in

Disu, Nduka hail Keshi’s selection for Jordan friendly T

WO Nigerian football coaches, Tunde Disu and Ndubisi Nduka have hailed Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi for inviting 28 domestic league players for the friendly against Jordan on October 28.

Disu, Technical Director, Lagos Junior League (JLeague), said in Lagos that Keshi’s strategy of using local players to prosecute the friendly would help soccer development in the country.

He said that such a trend would spur the home-based players to aim higher as well as rekindle their hopes for a better tomorrow.

“The players, knowing that they can be called up to the Super Eagles, will strive to put in their best which will result in improvement for our league.

“It will spur local players to greater heights,” Disu said.

According to him, the spontaneous call-up of home league players to the National teams will ignite the league with the required flair and make the competition attractive to spectators.

Nduka, the estranged Head Coach of Heartland FC of Owerri, said the idea of calling up home-based players was in line with the local standards for the development of the game.

The coach, who had been on indefinite suspension since August, said that two of his players were among those called up for the international friendly.

“This is a plus for me,”the coach also told NAN. He thanked Keshi for the selection, saying it has lent credence to the good jobs of local coaches.

NAN reports that Daniel Akpeyi and Benjamin Francis were the players from Heartland invited for the friendly taking place in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

Hard Work...Nigerian attacker Ezekiel Mbah (R) tries to get the ball past Ivorian defenders during their 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualification match in Kaduna.

Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast 4 – 1, but lost the second in Abidjan 3-0.

Milo football clinic moves from Enugu to Akure T

HE Nestle Milo Football Clinic which kicked off in Enugu on Tuesday will end today and the train takes a smooth ride to Akure. The Akure stage will come alive as from Tuesday.

And as the event rounds off in Enugu, another set of 32 kids are to get scholarship from Milo. They are the best from the original crowd of 2,000 youngsters who were brought into the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. The original number was cut down to 500 and later 200 from where the top 32 were picked.

The players were selected by experts led by one-time Africa’s best goalkeeper Peter Rufai. The

selected few will play a ceremonial match with each member of the winning side taking home N40,000 and the other side going home with N20,000 each. They will also be handed over to the state football association to enable Milo clinic experts maintain a close check on their development.

The first leg of the 2013 programme devoted to children between the ages of 9 and 13 started in Abuja four weeks ago with the Benin City leg holding afterward. It has since held in Port Harcourt with the Enugu leg rounding off on time for Akure event to kick off. The programme teaches youngsters the basics of football in addition

My Eaglets not technically deficient Continued from B/P concerning the true ages of our players. It took me and my coaches a lot of time to go across the country to get these boys from the schools.

“Most people think that the crop of the players are from academies but that is not true.

Most of these players are from schools. In fact, we discovered a few of them from the Shell Cup for Secondary Schools because that tournament is truly for students in secondary schools.

“We picked a few of them from soccer academies but we had to work on them so that they can perform to get them to where they are now. They

Nigeria. “Golf in Nigeria has potentials to grow. And I hope to change the way we do things.

“I know how the Royal and Ancient (Rand A) St. Andrews, the world body handling golf treats golf, especially in third world countries. It’s just like football, which we cherish here.

As FIFA gives to third world countries so they can develop their football, same way R and A is giving so that golf can be developed in third world countries, especially Nigeria because it is known that the game is popular here. So why can’t we work with St. Andrews and get all the benefits that will uplift the game, This is why I call for the mandate to lead the new NGF. I want the nation to be well represented in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, especially now that the golf of golf is back in the Olympics.

“I have reached out to fellow golfers who won in their different zones. I congratulated them and I made them realize one thing... that is I did not come into the election just to seek power.

“I have held several powers in the corridor of golf in past years. All I seek is a renewal for this game of golf that is bringing so much to several countries across the world. Golf is huge foreign money..All I dream of is a situation where the new NGF will work in harmony with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation {NTDC}. Truth is golf is the backbone of any tourism.”

are still a work in progress because they are Under-17 players and you do not expect them to know everything in some months”, added Garba.

He informed Saturday Vanguard Sports that the ultimate plan was to take the crop of the current team to the Flying Eagles in two years’ time, noting that the players have shown that they have the talent to naturally fill that position.

“Our ambition is to take them to the next FIFA U-20 World Cup and African Junior Championship. “They have shown promises of a good future and if they get contracts with foreign clubs, it will be great for us and our cause to

build a stronger team in two years’ time. “If they get good deals with foreign teams, that will help them to play even better for Nigeria in the next tournament. I see them going places”, Garba said.

His whole national football career has been around youth teams. He was amongst the first Flying Eagles set that qualified to represent Nigeria at the maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup, Mexico 1983. He assisted the late Coach Yemi Tella to win the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Garba, assisted by Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Amuneke succeeded to qualify the Golden Eaglets for the ongoing FIFA World Cup in UAE.

to real life values off the pitch.

The programme will run next in Abeokuta with Lagos hosting

the finals on November 16.

More than 14,000 are expected to participate this year.

Rewarding Experience... Winners of the MTN Street Soccer competition pose with their prize during a media presentation in Lagos.

World Cup: Blatter pushes for more African slots

F

IFA President Sepp Blatter believes that African teams need to be given a better chance of winning the World Cup. Concerned about the prospects of an African team finally lifting the World Cup, Fifa President Sepp Blatter believes their chances would be enhanced if more teams from the continent were given berths at the tournament.

Blatter is seeking to break the stranglehold on World Cup berths for European and South American sides to ensure the global game is better represented at football’s showpiece event.

For the 2014 World Cup, 53 European teams have been

competing for 13 spots at the finals, but the 54-nation Confederation of African Football will have only five teams in Brazil.

That leaves Africa “woefully under-represented at the World Cup,” according to Blatter.

“As long as this remains the case, African sides may never win an intercontinental trophy, regardless of progress on the playing side,” Blatter wrote in Fifa’s new weekly magazine which was published on Friday.

“This flawed state of affairs must be rectified.

“At the end of the day, an equal chance for all is the paramount imperative of elite sport.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Five star Nigeria romp into round of 16 …Hammer Iraqis 5-0 HE Golden Eaglets T yesterday qualified for the second round of the

FIFA U-17 World Cup:

FIFA U-17 World Cup here with a convincing 5-0 win over Iraq at the Sheik Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

This comes as Mexico finished in second position after beating Sweden in the other match.

After beating Mexico 6-1 in their first match, followed by a 3-3 draw with Sweden in their second game at the Kalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, the Eaglets knew that a convincing victory against the Iraqis would set them finishing as group winners and ensure they return to Al Ain for their

My Eaglets not technically deficient, Garba replies critics ...Says boys will graduate to senior team

G

OLDEN Eaglets coach, Manu Garba has argued that it was unfair for his players to receive thumbs down after their 3-3 display against Sweden on Tuesday, at the on-going FIFA Under-17 World Cup here in the United Arab Emirate.

The Eaglets came from behind to share the points with the Swedes, after an emphatic 6-1 thrashing of Mexico in their group F opening game. The team on Tuesday looked outmaneuvered by the Sweden and Nigerian fans were to concluded that the Eaglets were deficient especially in the defence.

But coach Garba said that that it was wrong for people to say that, pointing out that: “This is an Under-17 team and none of them have experience. You do not expect them not to make some mistakes at times.

“I do not think we have struggled in this

FLYING HIGH... Golden Eaglets’ Taiwo Awoniyi fly over Iraq’s Mahdi Abdulzahara (L) during their FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 football match yesterday in Sharjah. Photo AFP tournament or at the CAN Junior event. We scored 18 goals in Morocco while Ivory Coast scored five and people are still feeling that we struggled.

“We are getting better.

At this tournament, we have shown that we can score and will get better with stronger opposition”, added Garba.

Coach Garba not given to flamboyancy unlike colleagues like Godwin Uwa, Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia and John Obuh, stated that he and his assistant did a good

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

T OD AY’S ODA ENGLAND Crystal Palace Aston Villa Liverpool Man Utd SPAIN Malaga Barcelona GERMANY Bayern Munich Schalke 04

v v v v

MA T CHES MAT Arsenal Everton West Brom Stoke

v Celta Vigo v Real Madrid

12:45 pm 3.00pm 3. 00 pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 5.00pm

v Hertha Berlin 2.30pm v Borussia Dortmund 2.30pm

Across 1 Country in Europe – (6) 4 Cote D’Ivoire “Elephants” Striker, Didier – (6) 7 Akwa-Ibom State Capital – (3) 8 Traditional Ruler of Oyo – (6) 9 Zimbabwe Capital City – (6) 11 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Director of Currency Operations, Mahmoud – (4) 12 L.G.A in Bauchi State – (4) 14 Brazilian Currency – (4) 16 Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olisa – (8) 20 Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri – (8) 23 Former Minister of Information, Jerry – (4) 26 Hebrew Alphabet – (4) 27 Young Sheep – (4) 29 Oyo State Governor, Ibikunle – (6) 30 Kenya “Harambee Stars” Striker, Kepha – (6) 31 Number – (3) 32 Former ICPC Chairman, Mustapha – (6) 33 Anambra State Deputy

job of selecting the players for the team.

“It was not an easy job at all. This is against the background of dust that was raised in the past Continues on page 55 1

2

3

Governor, Virginia – (6) Down 1 Super Eagles Striker, Uche – (6) 2 Country in Africa – (6) 3 L.G.A in Zamfara State – (8) 4 Qatari Capital City – (4) 5 Former Ivory Coast National President, Laurent – (6) 6 Former France “Les Bleus” Striker, Nicolas – (6) 10 Region – (4) 13 Spain Left-back and Barcelona FC Defender, Jordi – (4) 15 Snake-fish – (3) 17 Major City in Australia – (8) 18 State in Nigeria Known as “The Confluence State?” – (4) 19 Prohibit – (3) 20 L.G.A in Rivers State – (6) 21 L.G.A in Kaduna State – (6) 22 Former NFF President, Sani – (4) 24 African Textile – (6) 25 Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben – (6) 28 Against – (4)

second round fixture holding next Tuesday.

And the three-time champions of the cadet championship set off to doing just that when captain Musa Mohamed scored a penalty in the 4th minute to send the thousands of Nigerian fans in the stadium into a rhapsody of jubilation.

It was a good way to start the game and moments later it was double delight for the singing Nigerians fans, decked in the country’s green while green colour, as Chidebere Nwakali made it two in the space of a minute from the first goal. Iraq’s goalkeeper Mohamed Hayder was understandably looking depressed after conceding two goals within five minutes into the game.

His misery was sound compounded in the 17th minute when Musa Yahaya scored Nigeria’s third of the day, a goal that was greeted with wide celebrations by the fans, who were already in seventh heaven with the wonderful display of the Coach Manu Garba’s side, whose passing game have endeared them to fans watching the matches here.

Yahaya got his brace of the night in the 41th minute while second half substitute Chinozi Obasi made it a five star performance by the Eaglets, when he netted the fifth goal in the 90th minute, to send passionate Nigerian fans into ecstasy.

Nigeria will face another Arab test on October 29 when they face Iran in round of 16 knock out stage. Argentina topped group E after 2-0 win over Canada, while Iran pipped Australia to place second.

RESULTS FIFA U-17 WC Nigeria 5 Iraq 0 Argentina 3 Canada 0 Iran 1 Australia 0 4

5

6

7 8

9

10

11 12 14

20

13

15

16

21

17

22

18

23

19

24

26 27

28

29

30 31

32

33

SOLUTION on page 49

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Editor: 08052201257 (TEXT ONLY). Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: weekend @vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com.

Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) EDITOR: CHIOMA GABRIEL. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

25