Terror: Security forces on red alert

C M Y K

PAGE 2—

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 3

C M Y K

PAGE 4—

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 — PAGE 5

Children’s Day: Police formations beef up security The IGP enjoined the children to concentrate on their academic and vocational pursuits in order to prepare and equip themselves for leadership roles in the near future.

Continued from page 1 enforcement agencies was making it difficult to tackle the security challenges facing the country.

Meanwhile, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Sunday Ehindero, has warned against the creation of state police under the proposed constitutional amendment, saying such a step may lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

Security forces need intelligence – Ex-NIA boss Canvassing the peoples support for law enforcement agencies, yesterday, the immediate past NIA DG, Imohe, said the only way to tackle the security challenges confronting the nation is when citizens are conscious of their security by giving useful information to law enforcement agents.

Imohe, who described security matters as very tasking, pointed out that it is always difficult to tackle crime or terrorism without information, especially from the public.

He spoke in Benin City, Edo State capital, when the Edo Youth Political Vanguard (EYV) honoured him following his disengagement from service after 35 years.

“Security issues are the responsibility of all Nigerians.

We must give information to security agents to work. It is not easy to tackle matters like that, but I am glad that as a nation we have all it takes to protect our citizens. But citizens must complement the efforts of security agents by identifying questionable characters or suspicious movements in our locality”, the former security boss said.

“I have passed through a lot in my 35 years in the service and because I always work under ground, people hardly know me.

I am glad for this honour today and I urge all of us to work for a better society.”.

Speaking at the award, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, described Imohe as an achiever and a proud son of Edo State.

Owie admonished youths to abstain from social vices which may stop them from achieving their dreams.

In his address, the Edo State Coordinator of the EYV, Comrade Omomila Okute, explained that the erstwhile NIA DG was honoured due to his

IGP’s Alert The police, in a statement, yesterday, said the IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, had directed the zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Command Commissioners of Police in the states of the federation and the federal capital territory to put urgent security measures in place to stem kidnapping and terrorist attacks.

“In order to ensure a hitchfree celebration for the future leaders, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and Command Commissioners of Police to ensure that adequate security is provided at all venues of the Children’s Day Celebrations across the country ”, the statement, signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said.

It added: “The Commissioners of Police and other heads of Police formations are further directed to collaborate with all relevant government agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that the kids enjoy their day without any hitch”.

The statement quoted the IGP as advising Nigerian children and youths to use the celebrations to reflect on what they can contribute positively to their fatherland.

Abubakar urged them to shun cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractices, violence and crimes in all forms and learn to live in peace with one another.

He further advised the children not to allow the purity of their hearts and innocence of their conversations to be defiled by negative internet contents, peer group pressure and bad company.

SOLUTION

G

O

M

B

A R

N E

A

C

B A

L

T

A

P

E

V

C I

T

C

A A

E R

R C M Y K

R

T

E

E

E

A

T C

I

R

G

L

V

E

L

S

I

N

V

E

A

L

E

D

L

E

D

U

E

I

B

C

A

N

I

K

E

N

E

A

T

A

T

E F

B

U

A

R

G

G R

T

R

P

E

G

H

E

L O

I

A

D

G P

E

V I

E

T

E

W

R

E D

O

W

T

R

R

O

G

E

E

M

G

L E

O

A

S

A E

E

R

V X

G

T E

G E

E

R E

R

W B

E

T S

E

Y A

T

O

P

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (left),with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, during a visit to South Africa. unblemished records while in service, adding that “ it is also to afford us an opportunity to welcome our son back home so to that he can use his wealth of experience to assist in the development of our state”.

State police will divide Nigeria, Ex-IGP warns Meanwhile, Ehindero, a former IGP, yesterday, said the creation of a state police will lead to the disintegration of the country.

Speaking at a two-day seminar organised by the House Committee on Constitution Review, he said, “There is no need for a state police as this is capable of disintegrating Nigeria because there might be clashes between the federal and state

police. ”This was very noticeable during the colonial era where there were clashes between local and Native Authority Police”.

Also addressing the gathering, Muhammed Auwal Umar of Bayero University listed key challenges to effective policing in Nigeria to inc lude “Poor conditions of service including poor salaries, retirement, equipment and accommodation; limited evidence of strategic approach to policing.”

Ehindero dismissed calls for introduction of state police as an invitation to cessation of the country.

According to him, the step would lead to the proliferation

of ethnic and regional militias.

The former police boss expressed the fear that the introduction of state police could be abused by state governors.

H e suggested constant retraining of policemen to update them with modern trends in crime control and security m a n a g e m e n t .

On the Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission, PSC, Ehindero declared that their roles are conflicting.

Ehindero explained that the police know themselves better; so involving the agencies in transfers and postings is wrong as the IGP should transfer and post his men, not another body.

Anxiety over Archbishop Okogie ••• As Vatican names successor

A

NXIETY mounted, yesterday, when a television station broke the news of a replacement for the ailing Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence, A nthony

Cardinal Okogie, who is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed foreign hospital.

The early morning report merely quoted a Vatican Radio, without giving reasons, for the replacement by Bishop Adewale Martins from Abeokuta and the new posting of Cardinal Okogie, thereby heightening worries about the state of health of the longest serving Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.

Several Catholics across the country and other well wishers who were obviously disturbed by the development were busy making frantic efforts to get information about Okogie who has been out of public glare for months now due to ill health.

The director of Social Communications at the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu,

was overwhelmed by calls from inquisitive reporters and had to issue a statement dousing tension that the cardinal was being relieved of his duties because he had actually attained his canonical retirement age of 75 years.

His statement reads: “The Supreme Pontiff, Pope Benedict XIV, has appointed Bishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Abeokuta Diocese as the new Archbishop of Lagos. ”In a release gotten from the Vatican Radio and confirmed by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Bishop Martins is to take over as the Metropolitan Bishop of the See of Lagos from His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who has attained the canonical age of 75 years. ”Meanwhile the Pope appointed His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lagos until the installation of the newly appointed Archbishop”.

Continuing, the Archdiocesan spokesman said Martins was ordained a

Catholic priest on September 11, 1983 in Lagos and was elevated to become the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Abeokuta on October 24, 1997, before his new appointment on Thursday, May 25, 2012 as the Archbishop of Lagos.

Okogie was ordained priest on December 4, 1966 against his father ’s wish and he almost immediately after found himself in theatre of war when he was posted to the war front as chaplain in the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, an experience, many believe, helped to redefine his vocation as a priest.

Reacting to the news yesterday, the national president of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, welcomed Martins to the saddle while extolling the virtues of the retired cardinal, describing him as a colossus who had made invaluable contributions to the development of the nation and the Church in Nigeria.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

Storm cuts PHCN live wire, electrocutes hair dresser *Customers escape death

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

-23-YEAR old w o m a n , Blessing Eyo Okon, was, on Friday afternoon, electrocuted when a Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, cable cut and fell at the corridor of her hair dressing shop as a result of a stormy rain in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

The incident occurred at 25, Mount Zion Road, Calabar.

Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Calabar General Hospital mortuary.

A colleague of the deceased, who gave her name as Grace, said Blessing was attending to customers when the heavy rain began to fall and “suddenly the NEPA cable over her shop cut and fell on the floor and since the floor was tiled and wet, it began to shock those in the shop.”

Grace said Blessing was the most affected because her legs were wet, adding that the incident set the shop on fire. According to her, the flame was so much, it was “as if somebody poured petrol inside fire and Blessing had burns on her stomach and legs but those of the stomach tore open her stomach and left her intestines gushing out.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Calabar Distribution of

Late Blessing Eyo Okon PHCN, Mr. Fred Obi, said no such report had been brought to the knowledge of the company, but sources at

25 Mount Zion Road said some PHCN staff visited the scene of the incident soon after it happened.

The Public Relation Officer of Cross River State Police Command, ASP Hogan Bassey, said the command had not been briefed on the matter.

At press time, yesterday, the cut cable was still dangling from the pole while part of it sprawled on the road at the scene of the tragedy.

File: Girl 26/05/ 2012 Photo: Girl 26/ 05/2012

‘We will not condone attacks on Niger Deltans’ *Why Jonathan should dialogue, by Arewa Youths

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

Y

OUTH leaders in the Niger Delta have threatened to embark on reprisal action in the region if their kinsmen suffer violence in the hands of northern youths due to the statements recently credited to a former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

In a statement issued under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Leaders Forum, they warned the former military leader to stop overheating the polity with what they termed inciting utterances.

According to the

group, last year ’s massacre of innocent corps members in some states of the North was largely triggered by Buhari’s public utterances on the presidential election.

The statement signed by president of the group, Tonye Briggs, and the secretary, Ubong Mathew, said they would not hesitate to carry out similar action if their kinsmen are attacked in any northern state as a result of the recent statements

N-Delta women set to tackle blindness

T

they flagged off a state wide eye test in Oha community, Okpe Local Council Area of Delta State The organisers disclosed that the Delta Women would later in the year conduct the free eye test in Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North and Irri in Isoko South LGAs and will also organise the same test in Kano State where their late mother lived for over thirty years.

The free eye test is in honour of late Deaconess Comfort Ijorogu, mother

C M Y K

of the founder of the NGO, Mrs Elsie IjoroguReed, who was buried weekend at Oha town.

According to Reed, the eye treatment was organised to give a helping hand to those with eye problems in the society and to immortalise their late mother who had eye problem before her death.

Beneficiaries of the free eye test thanked the Delta Women NGO for the gesture and eulogised the late Deaconess Ijorogu for bringing up her children in the fear of God and heart of service.

During the free eye test, some people with eye problem were given free reading prescription eye glasses.

credited to the former Head of State.

They further advised Buhari to realise that power belongs to God, pointing out that He chooses leaders.

“The Niger Delta Youth Leaders’ Forum has read, with chagrin and surprise, the statements credited to General Muhammadu Buhari, who had ruled this great country at some point of her history, and we conclude that such statements are as provocative as

unbecoming of a supposed elder statesman and are believed to aim at engineering bloodshed,” the youths added.

In the meantime, Arewa Youths For um says the panacea to ending the security challenge in the country is dialogue. President of the organization, Alhaji Ibrahim Gunjugu, is of the opinion that if President Goodluck Jonathan could jaw-jaw rather than war-war, the Boko Haram crisis in the

Mimiko orders transpor ters to revert to pre-subsidy fare

BY DAYO JOHNSON

O curb the rising rate of blindness in Nigeria, the Delta Women, a NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisation, NGO, Sunday gave over one hundred persons free eye test and treatment as

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Hon Minister for Sport & Social (centre) flanked

by Prof Abdullraman Bello, Ag VC Unilag (right) and Prof Olajide Abbas during aspecial Muslim prayers for the late Unilag Vice Chancellor, Prof Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe by the University of Lagos Community at the College Mosque in Lagos. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

O

NDO State government has ordered commercial vehicle operators in the state to return to the pre-subsidy removal fare of N30.00 per drop from the current N50,following the release of 200 palliative vehicles to the state’s National Union of Road T r a n s p o r t Workers(NURTW) .

The fare reversal is contained in a statement issued in Akure, the state capital, yesterday, by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade.

According to him, the reversal is in fulfillment of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s pledge to the people of the state to cushion the effects of the recent hike in transportation cost occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petroleum products in the country.

According to the Commissioner, the governor directed that commercial vehicle

operators in the state should revert back to the pre-subsidy removal era when passengers paid N30 for a ride in the state.

“Mr Governor has said that henceforth taxi operators in the state must not charge more than N30.00 per drop as enough vehicles have been released to the transporters for this purpose”, the statement said.

“Governor Mimiko praised the road transport workers for the peace they have allowed among members and the synergy they have formed with the government which he

said has made the current exercise possible.

“Mr Governor commended members of the road union workers for allowing peace to reign among them and for co-existing peacefully with members of the public”.

To enable the government control fare price charged by commercial vehicle operators in the state, it recently purchased 290 vehicles for public use.

200 of the palliative vehicles were handed over to the NURTW members to commence operation last Friday.

Ido Day committee inaugurated

2

012 Ajodun IdoEkiti Day P l a n n i n g Committee has been inaugurated.

The 15-member committee is headed by Dr. Kayode Akinlade.

Speaking at the inauguration, witnessed by the Olojudo of Ido-

Ekiti, Oba (Captain) Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, the chairman, Ido-Ekiti Summit Co-ordinating Committee, Engr.

Babatope Bejide, urged the planning committee to work towards the success of the Ido Day celebrations, scheduled for November.

North would become history.

Referring to the Niger Delta militants and the consequent introduction of amnesty program after a cease fire proclamation, the youth leader said, “I refer to the case of the Niger Delta youth restiveness or militancy which posed a serious threat and challenge to our nation.

Niger Delta cuts across three geo-political zones of the South South, South East and South West; consisting of 9 states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Abia and Ondo and the revenue derived from this zone is over 90% which is the mainstay of Nigerian economy, yet the citizens of the area live in abject poverty and deprivation, environmental hazards and threat to source of their livelihood. It was as a result of these challenges that the citizens of the area began a protest to attract government’s attention to their plight.

“However, it was not until the emergence of the late Umaru Musa Yar ’ Adua as President that concerted efforts were made to restore peace in the area”.

Gunjugu added, “The cost of maintaining security in the North is quite alarming and this has affected other areas of the economy. This is why we are calling on government to listen to these aggrieved youths, toe the line of late President Yar’ Adua or do something, perhaps, totally different provided it brings about lasting peace in the region and, by extension, the country. These people can be rehabilitated, reintegrated into the system and their minds disabused. It is possible and we are there as their mouth piece.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 — PAGE 7

Gunmen kill cleric, retired prison guard in Yobe G

UNMEN killed a Muslim cleric and a retired prison guard, yesterday in Potiskum, Yobe State, residents and a medic said, amid a wave of such killings blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram.

Early yesterday, gunmen forced their way into the home of cleric Usman Muhammad in the Indiski area of the town and shot him dead, a resident said.

The attackers then broke into the home next door and shot dead the former prison guard, according to the resident.

A doctor at the government hospital in the city said two bodies with bullet wounds were depos-

ited at the morgue on yesterday.

“The bodies were identified as a cleric who ran an Islamic seminary and a retired prison guard who were neighbours,” said the doctor on condition of anonymity.

Another Muslim cleric was on Friday wounded by unknown gunmen in the state capital Damaturu, residents said.

Clerics have been targeted in the past due to their criticism of Boko Haram or when they were seen as linked to the government, among other reasons, though the details of the fresh shootings were unclear.

Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe State,

Ondo 2012: ACN kick starts aspirants screening

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

A

HEAD of the gov ernorship primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria can, in Ondo State, a 50-member Elders Committee has commenced the screening of the over 30 aspirants jostling for the ticket of the party.

Dependable source said that the party leaders have decided to give all the aspirants the equal opportunity to prove themselves before the elders.

The chairman of the screening committee is the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during the late Governor Adebayo Adefarati administration, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire.

The report of the committee is expected to be

submitted to the national chairman of the Party, Chief Bisi Akande, and later forwarded to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, for final approval.

It is expected that the candidate of the party would emerge early in June after the return of Tinubu from his overseas trip.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that five of the aspirants have been shortlisted out of the large number.

Another committee made up of some of the 50 elders and others from Lagos who are the think tank of Asiwaju are to meet with him to finally pick the party’s flag bearer in the October election.

One of the aspirants, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, in a chat in Akure, confirmed that many of them have appeared before the party elders.

has been rocked by deadly attacks and targeted killings blamed on Boko Haram along with other areas of Nigeria’s north.

Despite the imposition of an emergency decree, the deployment of troops and a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Potiskum, attacks persist in the city.

Two people were killed on Thursday when gunmen in a car opened fire at Potiskum’s timber market, according to residents.

Bianca Ojukwu, others to Umeh: Restructure APGA now •Party chairman, Gov. Okorocha, others boycott parley

BY TONY EDIKE, ENUGU , PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki & TONY NWANKWO

B

Y voice vote, members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday, in Enugu, consented to plans to structure the party so that it could emerge as a formidable platform for future electoral contests.

At the enlarged meeting of all state chapters of the party held in the residence of the leader of the party, Ikemba Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, wife of the Ikemba, Ambassador Bianca

HE Federal Opera tions Unit Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, Lagos effected a total of 364 seizures with a duty paid value of over N208 million between April and May this year.

The CAC FOU ‘A’ Comptroller Dan Ugo made this disclosure.

Conducting journalists round the government warehouse, the comptroller noted that the provision of an enabling environment by the Comptroller-

General of Customs Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko (CFR) and his management team was the needed impetus for the excellent results which the unit has recorded in recent times.

He pointed out that the unit had always taken cognizance of the CGC’s six point’s agenda as well as the mission and vision of the service in its approach to official functions.

The CAC reiterated that

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, warned the national chairman, Victor Umeh, to desists from acts capable of destabilizing the party.

The meeting was boycotted by Imeh, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Senator Chris Anyanwu, also from Imo State; and the party’s seven members of the House of Representatives, among other stakeholders.

In a five-point communiqué read by the National Vice Chairman of APGA, Morgan Anyalechi, the party agreed to build and strengthen its structures at ail levels without delay in such a

way to reflect the core values and strengths of the party as well as restructure and establish all organs of the party including Board of Trustees, (BOT) National caucus, National Executive Council, (NEC) and National working Committee, (NWC) among others.

Part of the communiqué read: “We call on the National Executive Committee, (NEC) of our party to organize a national convention without further delay and arrange to conduct proper congresses throughout the federation. Our party constitution provides that the convention and congresses

Niger MDGs up to date in counterpart funding — Bawa

BY WOLE MOSADOMI, Minna

D

IRECTOR General, Niger State Millen-

Customs rakes in 364 seizures in one month

T

L-R: Mr. Dimeji Amao (Globacom Divisional Director West 2), Architect Muyiwa Ige,(Osun State Commissioner for Land and Housing) and Mr. Busayo Ogundari (Globacom Staff), Mr. Hakeem fashola (Globacom Osun State Technical Head) on a recent visit to Osun State Government.

the unit will not rest on her oars in ridding the south-west of the nefarious and unpatriotic activities of smugglers.

The comptroller also confirmed the withdrawal of the FOU ‘A’ teams from the hinterlands in strict compliance with the CGC’s directives.

Consequently, the unit relies more on intelligence gathering and profiling of trade practices of importers to checkmate trade malpractices.

nium Development Goals (MDG), Joshua Nuhu Bawa, says that the state is not indebted on the MDGs counterpart funding, but rather has been counter funding above that of the Federal Government to meet up with its projects.

This is because of the thirst the state has for accelerated development especially in its quest to shake off poverty from the state.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Minna , Niger State, the Director General said, between 2008 to date, the Federal Government has provided a total of N2,064,928751.00 as its grant while the state has also provided

N2,160,396,043. 00 as its counterpart funding.

“If you look at the statistics, our counterpart fund surpasses that of the Federal Government because it is supposed to be 50-50 but, on our part in Niger State, we scale up investment because if MDGs is saying we should construct about 20 hospitals, what we do is to scale it up because we are in haste to achieve our Vision 3:2020 of the Chief Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, which is to become one of the best three economies in the country by the year 2020”.

He said one of the focal points especially in the state is on how to wage war against poverty and improve the living standard of the people.

of the party at the national, state and other levels shall be held at least once a year”.

While affirming unequivocally that the supreme leader of APGA remains Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, even in death; the party resolved to decentralize party structure and introduce derivation principle in the management and administration of party funds at all levels.

Some of the party’s stalwarts that attended the meeting at the CasaBianca residence of the late Ikemba included Governor Peter Obi; Vice Chairman BOT, Dr. Tim Menakaya; wife of the late Ikemba, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Political Adviser to Governor of Imo State, P. C. Onuoha; the party’s leader in Enugu State, Dr. Emmanuel Ozoeneh; Dr. Odu Nwosu, among others.

In his remarks at the occasion, Obi regretted that most of people vilify him after all he suffered to bring the party to its present level, pointing out that, right from 1999, he had been personally bearing the financial burden of sustaining the party even through the three years of protracted legal battle to reclaim his mandate.

Bianca, after thanking Menakaya for the “spectacular courage in summoning this meeting”, warned Umeh not to destroy the legacies the Ikemba left for the Igbo, stressing that no officer is greater than the party.”

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

Lagos condemns ‘NUPENG’s subterfuge solidarity strike’ L

AGOS State Gov ernment, yesterday, condemned what it described as the recourse to blackmail and arm-twisting by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) on the issue of medical doctors sacked in the state over an illegal strike.

The state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, said “it would soon be clear to the people that it is the NUPENG, whose stock in trade is to call a strike at every flimsy excuse, that is seeking to inflict more pains on the people through its sympathy strike and not the state government that has taken decisive steps to restore normalcy in the health sector in Lagos State.”

Noting that NUPENG has shown clearly by its rash ultimatum that it had

a clear political agenda, the Commissioner said “it was most unfortunate that NUPENG’s voice was not raised in defense of doctors in the military hospitals who have not been paid for nine whole months while calling a strike in support of doctors who are well paid up to date but who chose to abandon their patients with many avoidable deaths recorded adding that, in other climes, such doctors should be facing prosecution now.”

The statement reiterated the state government’s warning against the con-

tinued intimidation of old and newly employed doctors who have conscientiously decided to work in the state hospitals to save lives.

According to the statement, NUPENG should not use the doctors’ strike as a subterfuge to get back at the Lagos State Government for spearheading the much needed clearing of Apapa which has become a nightmare to lawful residents and businesses in the area due to indiscriminate parking and blockade of the roads by tanker drivers

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (right) speaking to youths during one of the orientation and skills acquisition programmes organised by the state government.

South West: Bode George faults integration plan

BY DAPO AKINREFON

F

ORMER Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democrat-

ic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George has faulted the proposed South West integration plan by governors of the region just

Lopsidedness in Kwara PDP exco alleged

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI, Ilorin The immediate past Youth Leader of Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in Kwara State, Alhaji Mahammed Mariam AlHassan, has petitioned the party leadership and

other stakeholders over the composition of the executives of the party in the state which he described as lopsided, discriminatory, unfair, unjust and grossly inequitable, especially as it affects the Kwara North Senatorial District.

This is contained in the

petition titled, ‘Constitutional violation in the composition of the executives of Kwara State chapter of the PDP. Alhassan, who contested for the office of the national youth leader in the last convention, pointed out that by the provision of Article 7.2 of the con-

stitution of the party as amended in 2009, promotion of mutual respect for and understanding of the religious and cultural diversities, principles of rotation and zoning with a view to maintaining equity, justice and fairness have been breached with impunity in Kwara State by the leadership.

He said that by the constitution of the party, there are 11 principal officers of the state working committee, noting that instead of spreading and sharing these positions equitably among the three senatorial districts, the offices were concentrated and manipulated.

Alhassan, in the petition, cited three state officers from Ilorin west local government, namely the Youth Leader, the State Publicity Secretary and the Women Leader, stressing that the Youth Leader and the Women Leader are even from the same Magajin Geri ward.

as he described those portraying themselves to be Awosits as not genuine.

He said this after being conferred with the title,”Iginla Oodua and Agba Akin Oodua”, by the Yoruba Council of Youths, in Lagos.

In his speech entitled: “Awolowo, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, George stressed the need for peace and unity among all Yoruba leaders irrespective of their political interests and affiliation.

He said: “It is a mockery of all that is just and fair for these raving charlatans to preach to all of us about the virtues and advantages of the integration of the Yoruba political and economic space.

“They don’t know what they are talking about. In its most primary and logical sense, the integration of the South-West will presuppose some kind of sameness in the present level of economic development and in the characterization of the content and character of each state. You can only integrate and weave together an economic union where there is some evenness in growth, where there is some shared distributive advantages for mutual benefits”.

NBA boss kicks against immunity clause

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA , Mr. Joseph Daudu, yesterday, asked members of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review to expunge the immunity clause from the 1999 Constitution.

Daudu made this call at a two-day seminar designed to make presentations that would aid members of the ad-hoc Committee on Constitution

Review while altering the document.

In his presentation, Daudu said: “The pertinent question is whether in the light of proven cases of corruption among some beneficiaries of the immunity clause, it is still of assistance to leave the clause in the constitution unaltered or amended. ”In other words, in the face of brazen corruption and the fleecing of state treasury being perpetrated at an alarming rate by some beneficiaries of immunity, there is a clarion call for its abrogation.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 9

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

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

A

INSECURITY:

Headache of a nation *An intervention by Gov Lamido

.... Says "my agenda is to restore good governance" is centred on good governance, security and leadership, particularly issues of ethics and morality. This is not merely a coincidence,” Wakili noted.

Observing that challenges are part of human existence, he said, “In our journey to democratic safe waters, from 1960 to date, our nationalist founding fathers knew we would face challenges.

,

S the IRS Airline flight was landing at Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, one thing that preoccupied the mind of this reporter, was fear of the unknown.

Even though he had spent a significant amount of time in many states of northern Nigeria, caution was the word as he boarded an airport taxi to Dutse, Jigawa State capital.

No sooner than the taxi had driven out of the airport premises, the reality of the terrible times most residents of Kano and other northern cities, plagued by insecurity came to the fore, as there was hardly any corner without the presence of heavily armed military men.

With the situation perpetuating palpable fear across the country, not a few are in a hurry to see the northern states reverse to their peaceful and glorious past.

Governor Sule Ladimo of Jigawa is one in a million, who are in haste to ensure that the current insecurity is confined to dustbin of history.

It is against this backdrop that he (Lamido) recently invited renown scholars, elder statesmen, former heads of state, traditional rulers, among others, to Jigawa for a conference on how to bring about good governance.

Tagged National Symposium on Security, Governance and Leadership, convened to celebrate Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the event provided a platform to debate on the dire need for functional leadership that would bring about peace and stability in the polity.

Held at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, the forum commenced with the arrival of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Spotting a cream coloured Agbada, lemon coloured cap and shoes, Obasanjo, whose arrival electrified the venue, walked in alongside the host governor acknowledging cheers from the audience.

Raising the curtain on what turned out to be a highly intellectual engagement, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Haruna Wakili, said the choice of the topic of the lecture was topical and timely because of Nigeria’s current distress.

“As for the theme of this years’s symposium, it is topical and timely because the nation’s discourse and agony

Jigawa State. For instance, in the year 2008, the unprecedented Talakawa summit was held, where the ruling elite, along with national and international anti-poverty NGOs and development partners, gathered here in Dutse to listen to representatives of the Talakawa describe their daily struggle for existence. One year later, the summit reconvened to access the interven-

Right from the day I came to office, I came with what I wanted to do.... Our efforts are geared towards restoring the culture of good governance and accountability

“Our founding fathers did not expect us to shirk away from our responsibilities or to shy away from the realities or to shy away from the realities of life. They expect us to solve our problems realistically.

T

hey knew that the chal lenge of leadership is one all human societies have grappled with, for a visionary, leadership that is alive to its duty and sincere to its mission will deliver their people to the promised land.”

Continuing, he said, “The engagement of stakeholders and exchange of opinion has been an on-going process in

,

tion measures taken to tackle acute poverty amongst other problems.”

Country set for crisis Similarly, Governor Sule Lamido, whose remarks were brief, regretted that leaders have failed to bring about good governance, which could have translated into general security for the citizenry.

As a result of this leadership failure, he said the country was set for crisis, as youths were left in a distressed condition.

“Right from the day I came to office, I came with what I

wanted to do, the military destroyed all our values with their power and guns. They made the laws the way they wanted it. They destroyed all the values which made the system responsive and accountable to the people. Over the last 30 years, any body born in Nigeria does not know what is called good governance. Our efforts since 1999 is to restore the culture of good governance and accountability. It will take time for a system that has been so disconnected to get back to the normal order of doing things. We must unite as a people by having sovereign benchmarks,” he added.

T

he remarks of President Obasanjo, could pass as the peak of the event given the topic of his lecture.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Governance and Security,’ Obasanjo, whose session was chaired by an elder statesman, Mallam Inuwa Dutse, observed that the current state of insecurity in the country is a result of long period of bad governance at all levels. ”The insecurity in Nigeria today is as result of misappropriation and high percentage of national resources that was used for the procurement of military hardware and maintenance of large military forces in the hope of promoting physical security at the expense of quality of living for the citizens”, the former pres-

ident said. ”Until recently, the greatest cause of anxiety in terms of personal security is violent crime. Today bombing of targets in occupied public buildings or in the open areas where people congregate has become the greatest anxiety of personal security for almost all Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in Nigeria”.

Consequently, he lamented that, “apart from the fact that it is giving us a bad image, it is also adversely affecting investment prospects in the country”.

“A lot of us see personal insecurity, economic insecurity and all forms of insecurity as a direct and indirect consequences of governance. Governance and security go hand- in-hand. The welfare and well-being of the people, starting with their personal security, is the direct responsibility of the government.

Performance of government is measured by the level of security enjoyed by the people.

It must be clearly stated that every citizen has a responsibility to contribute to the security of the state. It is the main civic duty of every citizen.”

Way forward The former president called for collective efforts to ensure total security in the country, appealing to people to eschew all forms of violence to ensure peace.

Meanwhile, while delivering his lecture, a former Permanent Representative of Nigeria at the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, warned that except the nation’s leaders lived an upright,just and honest life, the future might remain bleak for Nigerians.

Sule, who spoke on the theme, Leadership: Ethics and Morality, urged leaders to emulate the nation’s founding fathers by being responsive to the peoples’ needs.

A

ccording to him, what Nigeria needed at this time “are leaders not rulers, leaders who will not steal, leaders who will not betray the peoples trust, leaders who want to serve and not to be served, leaders who are ready to give and not to take.”

While urging the leadership to halt the current trend of discrimination, religious bigotry and ethnic chauvinism, the former diplomat said it was time for the country and its people to relive the past and rule with the fear of God as demonstrated by the past leaders.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

M A I L B A G

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

Boko Haram: Azazi was right Dear Sir

T

HE recent revelation by the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, that the Boko Haram ongoing onslaught against innocent Nigerians is a result of the undemocratic nature of the PDP is a long awaited revelation from a courageous officer, and a brother of Goodluck from the same region.

Last year, Azazi and the security chiefs also accused the Judiciary of playing games with the lives of Nigerians by quickly granting bail to arrested Boko Haram members. The government, PDP, and some godfathers from the North, have been frustrating the efforts of the security agencies by either conniving or sympathising with the Boko Haram sect.

Azazi’s recent revelation only demonstrates that he has once again spoken the minds of all his fellow security chiefs who have been battling with the activities of the sect.

Nigerians should be glad that Azazi is not from the North, else people would have accused him of playing a hidden agenda. Rather, this is coming from Jonathan’s trusted brother who has worked so hard to rescue his administration from the throes of the Boko Haram onslaught.

Azazi has just collaborated what Wole Soyinka once said of PDP – a nest of killers – vampires. The Boko Haram menace has complicity from the government especially some aggrieved politicians from the North. Therefore, they should stop hiding under the name of Islam and Al Qaeda in the lands of the Islamic Maghreb.

Associating Boko Haram with Al Qaeda is just a trick to create fear and uncertainty in the patriotic hearts of Nigerians; a miscalculated attempt to subdue Nigerians through deliberate and repressive misinformation.

The truth is that Boko Haram is a political weapon to settle scores within the PDP. Goodluck should listen and adhere to Azazi’s advice because, Azazi is not a child in security and intelligence matters. He rose through the ranks meritoriously, not through C M Y K

coups, and deserved to be heard and respected. Azazi has been in the intelligence arm of the Nigerian Army for over thirty years, holding major command duties and the Director of Military Intelligence in 2003. So he has enough knowledge of what he has said.

He receives intelligence information from the Joint Task Force (JTF),

comprising of the three services and the Police, hence, there is no greater honour than for Goodluck to look inwards into the PDP and eradicate the Boko Haram onslaught from the North before it spreads further.

Those from the North should stand against the Boko Haram murderous acts and their sponsors. Nigerians are saying no to the divide and rule

tactics. Nigerians are saying no to the religious and ethnic cards being played from all sides. Nigerians want honesty on the Boko Haram issue not honest misinformation.

Efemena Agadama, a UK -based activist wrote in from London.

May 29: A crawling democracy in Nigeria Dear Sir,

Come Wednesday, May 29, Nigeria will be celebrating 13 years of uninterrupted democracy amidst fears of security challenge across the country .

The emergence of Boko Haram has plunged the country into palpable fears of the unknown as the group has wasted many souls in the northern region. President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to get the sponsors of the group.

Precisely May 29, 1999 when the military government handed power to the civilian government under the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In the last two years, the country has witnessed brutal killings of Christians and Muslims in the northern region by the Islamic sect called Boko Haram.

Before the Boko Haram insurgence, OPC,Egbesu group of Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta militants were major players of this ethnic violence together with MASSOB group in the Eastern part of Nigeria.The Federal Government succeeded in creating Post Amnesty programme to the Niger Delta militants.

President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to find solution to the security challenges in the northern region.

Although the State Security Services(SSS) has recently tried to apprehend some Boko Haram suspects, the fact remains that suicide bombers have taken over the northern region in spite of efforts by Mr President to negotiate with the Boko Haram members in recent times.It is sad that every national celebration of

the country is marked with infamous bomb blasts. The fear of living in North is the beginning of wisdom to most Nigerians forcing people to relocate in order not to be killed unjustly.Many prominent Nigerians with their unguarded utterances have also contributed to the civil disturbance of the country.13 years of uninterrupted democracy has brought hardship to over 70 percent of Nigerians with no infrastructural development to show for it.

From 1999 to 2012, Nigeria had three presidents with different unfulfilled agenda and no infrastructural development.The various leaders have abysmally failed to provide a level playing field for Nigerians that voted

them into power. 85 percent of Boko Haram members are jobless hence became ready tools. Our educational system is nothing to write home about.

Early this year, Nigeria had a bitter experience of oil subsidy removal which threw the country into pandemonium. For the past three months, the country has been plunged into total darkness by PHCN with proposed increment of electricity tariffs

by June.The National Assembly probes on capital market, oil subsidy and others are yet to have positive resuls.

Godday Odidi, Public Affairs Analyst.

08058124798, 08063458693, @)20 Oro Street Ajegunle Apapa Lagos.

Letter to human rights lawyers on Nigerian govt Dear Sir,

A

S you are all lawyers, fighting for the defenceless in Nigeria, I want to draw your attention to the criminal acts of Nigeria governments, that is, the federal and state goverments. They backed fuel subsidy removal, as against the wishes of Nigerian people even when it was proved beyond reasonable doubts that there was nothing like subsidy on petroleum products.

The public are also unjustly made to know that now by June 1, a new tariff for power will be introduced, making the masses to suffer more.

Further, the government has also

made it clear that there will be a fixed amount to be paid,even when you did not consume any energy.This also, is against the wishes of the masses. The question is, why is that our own brand of democracy simply means adding to the suffering of the masses. We are tired of this military form of democracy that delights in ignoring the wishes of the electorate.

Human rights lawyers, please when will you act against these criminal acts on the Nigerian people. Where is Gani Fawehimi Oh, Where is Gani Fawehimi.

Joseph Adolor 17 Otabor Street, Benin City.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 , PAGE 11

PREFACE

I

A Year of the Locusts

By Jide Ajani

t is being treated like the last year. But it is actu ally the very first. For a four-year tenure, Presi dent Goodluck Jonathan’s first year as an elected leader is witnessing the do-or-die politics of a re-election year – at least by Nigerian standards. There are

many issues that have generally sprung up in the last one year but they all sink into the bottom of a pot: Succession! But some may disagree.

Need we enumerate? Firstly, when it was yet early days in the jostle (hustle) for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and it appeared that Jonathan may clinch the ticket (in spite of zoning), some politicians alluded to the possibility of Jonathan inheriting a poisoned polity should he win the presidential election - the environment is already sufficiently poisoned with the atmosphere of insecurity.

Unfortunately, however, whether as good intentioned as he claimed it was, or, perhaps he had another agenda, President Jonathan’s timing of the public presentation of a proposal about a single tenure of five years for office holders in the executive only served to hyper-activate the antenna of politicians who were waiting in the wings to take over from him in 2015. For them, it was bad enough that zoning was junked momentarily; worse, the beneficiary was beginning to push for tenure elongation. What to do? Make life unbearable for him.

Should they be blamed? The jury is still out. Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, made a prognostication of this long before the PDP primaries and the presidential elections of last year. He did not say where the problem would emanate from but in his words, “they would not let him rule the country”. He did not mention who the “they” were, nor who the “they” would be. Read Akinyemi's interview.

However, putting in context the fierce contest for presidential power last year and interfacing that with the crises that have bedeviled the Nigerian nation in the last one year, a section of the political elites in Nigeria may have unwittingly embarked on an expedition of bridge-burning.

The most critical issue confronting Nigeria today is insecurity. The wanton destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the activities of insurgents especially in the northern part of the country, while a section of that selfsame the leadership watches, creates the impression that Nigeria as a nation can as well go to hell. The egregious, yet inexplicable nature of what is happening in the North is that its economy is being wiped out, businesses are being closed down, lives are being needlessly lost, and maximum fear and pain being inflicted on a hapless people. In all of these, some of the leaders’ unwritten demand is 2015 or nothing.

Therefore, Nigeria must burn. Yet considered: Two foreigners have been killed; police stations, Police Headquarters and the United Nations’ House in Abuja were bombed; churches have been bombed, Christians, Muslims and pagans killed; military officers and po-

licemen also killed in the process. No matter the religious connotation of the insurgency, politics has interfered. Even if those involved would not accept, that is the truth. Whereas the indoctrination into the sphere of suicide bombings can be rigourous, painstaking and complex, the poverty in Nigeria makes it easy for those who have nothing to lose not to even bother about losing all in the first place.

Let it not be lost on Nigerians at all, the PDP is not Nigeria and Nigeria is not PDP. But the implications of a shambolic PDP, with its preponderant spread in the firmament, makes it easy for Nigeria to catch cold any time PDP sneezes. That is why President Jonathan's party appears to have hauled Nigerians into the onechance commutter bus with the attendant rape and despoilation that has been witnessed in the last one year.

Meanwhile, the challenges of governance are on their own enormous without any insurgency – the battle to stay in office in the face of litigation against electoral victory, the curse of the godfather, the pull-and-shove of party loyalists, the fierce competition to become a cabinet member, the expectations of the electorate are just a few of the challenges which normally confront newly elected public office holders at the state and federal levels. Yet, the political elites in both the North and South of Nigeria behave as if a single tenure of four years or twin tenures of eight years would never lapse – ask former President Olusegun Obasanjo. For those who say President Jonathan has not done anything, they deliberately choose to forget that there is nothing you can possibly do in an atmosphere of insecurity.

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State understood this quite well and, therefore, invited Obasanjo and Alhaji Maitama Sule to Dutse to address the issues of GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY. Far from the usual Democracy Day ritual of waxing pontifical via articles, the following pages present the workings of minds that are at once fed up with and desperately in search of a way out of these times.

Akinyemi’s views on how to get out of the poverty trap make good sense; Obasanjo’s piece on governance and security are profound; Maitama Sule’s position on the selfishness of a section of Nigeria’s leaders captures the present mood of door-die politics; Rev. Uma Ukpai’s stance that the insurgency may have its usefulness is instructive; Dele Sobowale’s review of the Nigerian economy in the last one year is revealing.

The directive principle of political agitation which seeks to foist insecurity on the polity loses sight of the potential danger: Should Jonathan be hounded out of office on the terms of the North, those seeking to benefit should imagine the spectre of insurgency that would kick off again from the South /South. That is where Nigeria's oil wealth is. The danger? More locusts, being incubated now, would be unleashed.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

Poverty, insurgency and the way forward, by Bolaji Akinyemi zSays Jonathan should be allowed to govern z`Ministry of Northern Affairs? Perish the thought' zInsists solution to unemployment is all around us z`Boko Haram is part of a global movement'

J

ust before the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, some time around October 2010, while discussing with Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, he disclosed, rather prophetically, that President Goodluck Jonathan would likely get the party’s presidential ticket – not minding the hoopla surrounding a consensus candidate from the North.

He went further to say that the challenge Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi of a Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for progressive Change, area where they've been able to CPC, may not be enough to stand in successfully handle it is a situation the way of Jonathan clinching the whereby the insurgency is not operatpresidential election. But he added a ing in its own environment. So, the bombshell, to the effect that Jonathan Americans and the British and the may not be allowed to effectively Europeans can deal with the Algovern Nigeria because some people Qaeda in their own area because it is who feel cheated would make life easy to spot a non- black American or difficult for him.

Well, this is one year since Jonathan Latino but the fact that they themselves have not been able to extintook office as elected President on his guish it successfully is because they own steam. Was Akinyemi right to have a sizable community of people have given that prognostication? where Al-Qaeda operatives can Perhaps yes. mingle with.

The question was openly thrown at I've heard of the half-baked IRA him and he responded in this solution and I was listening to interview.

McGuiness the other day where the Akinyemi also brought fresh (well, IRA knew that it could not defeat the not so fresh after all) perspectives to British and the British also realized the issue of unemployment; and gave that it could not just extinguish the an insight into governance and how IRA, then talks entered proper mode. not to act as a leader.

Therefore, we must get to the point On the issue of creating a Ministry where Boko Haram would realize that of Northern Affairs because of the the Nigerian nation is capable of insurgency in that part of the country, absorbing the shocks and therefore, it Akinyemi pooh-poohs the idea. can not defeat the nation; just as the Excerpts: federal government too should come to the realization that it can not defeat Let us look at the issue of Boko Boko Haram with brute force alone, Haram! for it to make sense that there must be It would be sheer arrogance on my talks. In the case of the IRA and the part to say I have a solution and it British, they were talking and playing would be sheer sophistry on the part cat and mouse game while the of anybody to claim to have a solution bombings continued. It makes sense to the Boko Haram issue. for the federal government to say let It is not a local issue. It is part of a us talk but all those conditions of global movement. I dare say - and I release all our people, pull out the expect my fellow intellectuals to tear troops would not work. No way for my idea to shreds if they disagree that. That is not the way to go. with what I'm saying - that I have not heard of or seen any insurgency that f you were the President and has been successfully contained when Commander-in-Chief and people such is operating from its own enviare haranguing you to pull out the ronment, is it in Chechnya, Somalia, troops from their area, that the Afghanistan! If you talk about Africa militarization is hurting their people, they may say it is because we are how would you handle that? incompetent so let us talk about their Let me tell you this, if I were the own. The drug movement in Latin President and some leaders are America is an insurgency on its own; saying I should pull my troops out, I'll have they been able to address it. simply pull those troops out and leave Insurgency could have different them to face Boko Haram on their manifestations you know. The only

I

own.

'You want the troops out'? Yes, I'll pull the troops out.

They think those troops enjoy being in the rain and under the sun? In spite of the training the troops too panic. They also feel threatened.

Look at what happened to the police!

You then come out and say your area has been over-garrisoned. You want them out I'll opal them out and then within one week, the same people will come back to beg for these troops to come back. You know it is convenient to sit in the comfort of Abuja or Lagos and just talk and criticize a government that is trying to do something.

Well, may be that is why I am not the president What would you say about the proposed creation of a Ministry of Northern Affairs?

Let me be very, very clear about my position: I think the concept of a Ministry of Northern Affairs is a solution that would even create more explosive problems at the end of the day. This is an idea that came from the United States of America, from the concept that the problem that led to Boko Haram, basically poverty, is unique to the North. As I've said at many forums before, poverty is not unique to the North - go to Abonema, go to Ajegunle, go to Benin, go to Ibadan, go to Jos, go to any part of this country, poverty among the youths is written bold and clear so I don't see a Northern poverty. I see poverty among Nigerian youths.

Obviously what you need to address poverty in my village would be different from what you need to address poverty in Port Harcourt or Kano or Abonema or Kafanchan; but it is still poverty that is crying out for attention.

A

t this point let me say it was an error of judgment to have created a Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and this is what is now leading people to the dead end of creating a Ministry of Northern Affairs.

I have a problem with that idea too because it has the potentials to create a situation whereby insurgency in other parts of the country could force such a proposal on government again, like the youths in Igbo land creating serious problem and then we run to the same solution: Ministry of Igbo or Eastern Affairs?

Exactly! As if you were reading my mind. When you then cannibalize Nigeria into ministry of every region, what would be left of the federal government? Has the federal government ever asked itself what would be left of it when it continues down these paths? Does that mean the Ministry of Works would not have anything to do in the Niger Delta region again?

Or Ministry of water resources, or ministry of agriculture, or ministry of

Continues on page 13

,

BY JIDE AJANI

You know it is convenient to sit in the comfort of Abuja or Lagos and just talk and criticize a government that is trying to do something.

If I were the President and people say they want me to pull out the troops from their area I’ll pull the troops out

,

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 , PAGE 13

`Jonathan should be allowed to govern' environment - does that mean they have nothing to do in the Niger Delta region? The whole idea is very funny.

Surprisingly, such a move would lead to disintegration by cannibalizing Nigeria because by so doing you are then giving them the opportunity to continue to make such ridiculous demands on government.

T

he situation is made worse by the fact that as of necessity, the Ministry of Niger Delta must be manned by a Niger Delta person just as the Ministry of Northern Affairs too would be manned by a Northerner; then a Ministry of South West Affairs would be manned by a Yoruba man.

This is the same way they ended up with the issue of reserving some ministries for a particular section of the country. For me, don't go down that road. Even the NDDC was supposed to be an interventionist agency created at that time to address peculiar issues in the Niger Delta.

Something like that was created by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa but it has taken so many names like OMPADEC and other such names but after 40 years of that concept of intervention, we are still screaming of poverty, it means that approach may not be the right one. I have championed that cause for long but I am not a guncarrying or bomb-throwing militant but I believe in the cause of the Niger delta people and I have championed it at an intellectual level. But if we continue with this type of dead end approach of creating ministries for problems or regions we are not ready.

We would merely create more problems that would be difficult to address The level of unemployment in Nigeria has become so alarming?

There is so much everywhere to be done yet people are not employed?

Look, this is something I spoke about some time in the year 2000. I made a blueprint available on the issue of unemployment. I made a point that my solution may appear simplistic and that it was not an idea original to me, that I was borrowing it from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At a time when most Americans where out of job, the economy going through so much stress and he was facing a revolution, there was the need to just get Americans to work again even if it meant digging up ditches and filling it again. He came up with what he called the NEW DEAL.

I

told them to look at the environ mental degradation facing the country and that the solution to the problem was staring every one of us in the face. I was ignored. I know the type of things that were said in the corridors of power in Abuja, about how illiterate my idea was. Please what is Fashola doing in Lagos today?

I just saw another advert in the papers by the Osun State Government about the Asejire/Owena road, people are being asked to come and bid. I am not saying either Fashola or Aregbesola is borrowing my idea because ideas have been in this world for hundreds of years. I just admire them. Setting up a disciplined organisation with different targets whether it is beautification or firefighting - these things soak up the

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi youths from the streets and it gives them a sense of purpose and a sense of mission in life. You've converted those people to apostles of government because they now have a stake in the success of that government.

I also said at that time that desertification is there. All that we could have done is carve out acres per person whom you would pay to be planting trees to take care of desertification because these people who have nothing to do have become willing tools for insurgency. The tree planters would get employment.

W

e keep voting millions of naira every year to ministry of employment but the question to ask is how many jobs have been created?

These people can set up mini companies, not very big ones that would make them take up some of these jobs in the area of road maintenance, agriculture and these small areas of intervention. We don't have to always wait for the big companies. We can engage these people in the area of road maintenance, with supervisors.

Look at the Lagos/Ibadan expressway.

You can adopt this approach and put supervisors. There would be levels of monitoring and supervision. We can make things work through delegation of authority. Rather than fill a pothole when it is so called, we wait until the pothole becomes a gully so that we can award the big contracts. People in the ministry too engage in nepotism so that their people and friends are the ones who would get these contracts. Potholes can be filled between 24 and 48 hours and we would be doing two things at the same time: Filling the potholes and getting people engaged. Yes the big companies can construct the roads but maintenance, if properly done would save us the trauma of road accidents caused by bad roads.

You can give the big construction companies road construction contracts; nobody is arguing that but in terms of maintenance, we can decentralize.

Your views on unemployment or employment generations and the reference to Fashola and Aregbesola may be apt. But even the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and the Afenifere leadership did not swing into action early enough, why?

Before you get me wrong, I am not Aregbesola’s megaphone of Fashola’s megaphone but when I see something good, I commend.

Having said that, and I think you just hit the nail on the head: Why did the Afenifere people not do this since 1999? Why must it be now? So, this is not just a condemnation of the Jonathan administration. If what Aregbesola and Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi in Rivers (I haven’t been to Rivers but people say things are changing for the better) and Rahman Mimiko in Ondo State (and Amaechi and Mimiko are of PDP and Labour Party), are positive enough for commendation, why were these things not done since 1999? Why did we have to waste almost nine years? The resources had always been there. When Obasanjo was there, oil prices were high and the nation got more money so like you asked, I don’t also know why we waited for so long before doing the right things. So we don’t both know why.

Y

ou’ve been in government before. What is that thing that makes otherwise intelligent and purposeful individuals go into government and become less productive and even begin to speak tongue-in-cheek?

It depends on the leadership and its vision and drive and when I say that mean the governor or the president.

If you have a president that has drive and who is not shy to surround himself with very intelligent or even more intelligent people, then you are likely to get an administration that is charged and prepared to move. I’ve said it before, that when people say I was successful as a foreign affairs minister, I immediately tell them that the leader contributed to the success.

This is not about sycophancy. No! I served under Ibrahim Babangida and he made us understand that we needed new, fresh and progressive ideas. He didn’t want to hear ‘this is how we’re used to doing it’. He believes that there should be new ideas. He believed that a leader needed to show leadership and courage. Taking a decision means giving hope. Even if the decision is wrong, reverse yourself and try something else. You need to show leadership and surround yourself with people of ideas and not to want to either surround yourself with people who would be content to say ‘yes sir’ or you want to be the one to keep taking all the glory in the land. That is not the way to go. But if you don’t mind your ministers being thought successful or brilliant, even you the leader would benefit from the glory.

Look at Fashola and what he is doing; he doesn’t mind Tunji Bello going up and down but it is a credit to Fashola that he has a Tunji Bello and there are instances like that.

That is the way government works – you watch the body language of your leader and act accordingly or you

Continues on page 14

,

Continued from page 12

When Boko Haram realizes that the Nigerian nation can absorb the shocks of insurgency and the federal government too, realizes that it can not defeat Boko Haram with brute force alone, it would make sense that there must be talks

,

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

'Ministry of Northern Affairs? Perish the thought' leave him with his job. The buck stops on the table of the leader either as President or governor or council chairman.

From all you have said we can locate an Obasanjo and a Goodluck Jonathan.One year from May 29, last year, how do you think Nigerians feel from what you’ve been observing?

Either out of frustration or the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, Nigerians have just decided to swing with the current. Nigerians just want to survive.

The people have surrendered the authority of governance so the leader is supposed to lead them.

Nigerians appear confused because they expect the leader to lead and move them down the road of salvation. There is nothing the people are going to do except to try to make a success of their lives and what do you then have? People begin to cut corners: The mechanic cheats you because he believes you, too, are going to cheat somebody else and the cycle goes on. Even from the pulpit, some people no longer expect salvation in some instances because in some churches, the pastor would rather buy a state of the art car instead of building a hospital and employing church members who are doctors.

There was this music from a Ghanaian artiste about church members getting poorer and pastors getting richer We can talk about it now because you said I should keep it confidential. You said President Jonathan may not have any problem getting the PDP presidential ticket and that he may even go ahead to win the presidential elections. Your fears then, which appear to be clear and present now, was that he may have difficulties holding the country together, especially on account of the perceived truncation of the zoning arrangement of the PDP. Today, what are the thoughts on your mind regarding what I’ve just enumerated?

Well, I feel rather sad that we miss opportunities to address anticipated problems until those problems have attained magnitude that it tests the will of government. At that time when we spoke and I insisted that we were merely looking at Nigeria together and discussing, I came to the conclusion that what the federal government needed to do at that time was to set up a Nigerian Eminent Persons Group, made up of non-governmental people who had influence in their areas, in their neighbourhood, in their states in their zones; people who are respected; people who command respect and attention in their areas and who have the gravitas to help moderate conflict. I said so at that time. If you’ve got those people together, those are the people who would – because they would not be seen as government people – be able to moderate what we’ve now faced in the last one year. I suggested traditional rulers, the intellectual elites; I suggested publishers and I also made it clear that the communication would have to be two ways. People trust you so they talk to you and the government must also trust you for you to talk to government; and because you

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi are not dealing with people as individuals but as a group, with members networking. If you don’t want to talk to the federal government or state government but because members of that area are in that group and because you have respected elders in that group, those people may then even become your interlocutors with government.

T

he National Council of States, NCS, should have been able to take care of that but it is a partisan body!

I suppose the whole idea then was also that the NCS was there but as you rightly pointed out, the concept of the NCS is such that half of them are government people and they are practicing politicians and that immediately negates the idea.

The concern would be that how more eminent can people be when we have an NCS When defining a concept, you can not remove that from what you want that concept to achieve. Somebody who could be eminent in addressing religious conflict may not be eminent in addressing questions of intra-trade disagreement amongst groups; somebody could be eminent in dealing with a face off between some communities may not be eminent enough in dealing with conflicts between Muslims and Christians, may not be so eminent in dealing with a conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers over grazing rights and the destruction of crops.

It’s the same issue we have when people are talking about national conference and people just say the national assembly is there. A national assembly that is there on partisan basis would not be expected to address fundamental issues on which those partisan antagonisms rest. No! That was last year! Do we still need an Eminent Persons Group now?

I think today we still need an Eminent Persons Group.

But the 2015 succession issue is there creating its own distraction.

Just three weeks ago, the President tried to let people know that FOR NOW 2015 was not on his mind and some people have come out to attack him that why should he qualify it; that why is it not on his mind NOW? If you were President Jonathan and you were thrown up the way he was, and people are already trying to

harangue you, what would you be telling Nigerians?

I don’t want to address that specific question at all because my position has been very, very basic but unfortunately, it is going to be subject to be subject to misinterpretation and even before now it was misinterpreted. We do not have a sense of history in this country.

People would forget that it was in an address to Yoruba Tennis Club, either in 1999 or 200 and the title of that paper was ON ZONING, POWER ROTATION AND ALL OTHER ABRACADABRA and I said it very clearly that I don’t believe in zoning and I don’t believe in power rotation – mind you, a Yoruba man was president at that time.

I

f we have clean and transparent elections, it would be irrelevant who rules Nigeria. So if the wrong person comes in and proves incompetent the people can then vote him out at the next elections but this concept of zoning limits the choice; I said so; and I said that what has led to this is because elections were never free and fair and people came to the conclusion that since we can not get the type of leadership that we want through the electoral process and that the electoral process in Nigeria ratifies decisions and selection that had been made elsewhere. I said it at that time; Obasanjo was the President at that time. So I don’t want to be distracted from addressing fundamental issues by now dealing with consequences of concepts I don’t believe in.

We’ve been advised by the western powers to address the challenges confronting the nation – social, economic, religious, political – and that if we don’t we may be toying with disintegration. From your experience and knowledge, would you say we are addressing those challenges appropriately?

My position has always been that we owe the United States a debt of gratitude by making those alarming wake up calls to concentrate our minds on the things that need to be done to avoid the calamity that they have identified for us. The Yorubas had a proverb that Ogun aso tele ki’pa’ro (a foretold war does not kill a cripple). That was what was said before but it has now been modified to say Ogun aso tele ki’pa’ro to ba gbon (that is a foretold war does not kill a cripple that is wise). If the cripple is wise, he would have scampered to safety before the war, to avoid being caught in the war. But if he is dumb and doesn’t believe there is going to be a war or he decides to crucify the messenger rather than face the message, he would see for himself.

M

y question is: Are these issues being addressed?

I would say yes, the issues are being addressed; they are being addressed.

But what is that look on your face?

(Laughs) Yes the issues are being addressed but not with the urgency that they demand.

I have addressed one of them, question of unemployment. That is a time bomb. If you address that issue alone, people would just say who really cares about who rules us. Then there is the problem of corruption.

Continues on page 15

,

Continued from page 13

My position has always been that we owe the United States a debt of gratitude by making those alarming wake up calls to concentrate our minds on the things that need to be done to avoid the calamity that they have identified for us

,

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 , PAGE 15

L

,

amido may have been called all sorts of names but the applica tion of certain aspects of rascality may have been part of the revolutionised transformation of Jigawa State for which no other governor had recorded. He is a respectable and decent rascal.

I was once referred to as such (rascal) by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo because he had wanted somebody of my character to do a certain job for him.

I had disagreements with some of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s policies, however, any leader who could rule Nigeria for eight years deserves commendation.

The lack of visionary leaders is the bane of Nigeria’s progress.

The leaders of today are merchants of disunity amongst the people because of their lack of compassion for the common man unlike what obtained during the times of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The leaders of today are merchants of disunity because of their lack of compassion for the common man unlike it used to be during the times of the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello; Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikwe.

Nigeria is a great country, with good foundation laid by past leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mallam Aminu Kano and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe after independence. God blessed Nigeria with abundance of mineral resources, including oil.

But the extravagant lifestyle of Nigerian leaders and stealing, got us to this bad situation that we found ourselves as a nation. I believe Nigeria will get better with the emergence of good leaders who will have the interest of the masses at heart. A good leader is the one that rules with the fear of God, justice, fairness and equity. That is someone with an open heart. Vision, accountability and transparency will bring lasting solution to our problems.

The leader of the people is a servant and not monster. The important leaders are the religious leaders and the Prophet (Mohammed, S.A.W) is the best leader. Let our leaders try to relive the past.

What was our past in the First Republic?

What were the leaders like? Though they had their shortcomings like any other human beings, but I make bold to say that our past leaders were ex-

What Nigeria needs at this time of her life are leaders not rulers, leaders who will not steal, leaders who will not betray the peoples’ trust, leaders who want to serve and not to be served

,

Maitama Sule

MERCHANDIZING DISCORD

Leaders of today are merchants of disunity — Maitama Sule

zSays Nigeria needs Awolowo, Azikiwe and Bello again z'The future might remain bleak for Nigeria unless...' cellent. Name them, from Azikiwe, Awolowo, the Sardauna, J.S Tarka and the rest of them, they provided selfless leadership. They all came to give and not to take.

W

hat Nigeria needs at this time of her life are leaders not rulers, leaders who will not steal, leaders who will not betray the peoples’ trust, leaders who want to serve and not to be served, leaders who are ready to give and not to take.

Leaders should halt the current trend of discrimination, religious bigotry and ethnic chauvinism.

This is the time for the country and

its entire people to relive the past and rule with the fear of God as demonstrated by Nigeria’s past leaders.

Nigeria's underdevelopment is being caused bad leadership, at independence, Nigeria was at the same level with both India and Brazil, but they have made significant inroad into development more than Nigeria.

Except the present leaders live an upright and honest life in leadership, the future might be bad for the people.

Being a presentation by Maitama Sule in a lecture titled Governance, Ethics and Morality, delivered in Dutse, Jigawa State

Boko Haram is part of a global movement— Akinyemi Continued from page 14 The judiciary is not being helpful.

The way and manner the government is going about it is not being helpful and the political elites are also a problem. We know now the strategy of derailing any anti-corruption measure: get bail for your client and make sure the case never really comes up for hearing by bringing up motions and objections. People say bail is constitutional. But we’ve amended the constitution twice so why not cancel bail. Nobody wants to rot away in detention. If there is no bail the cases would be dealt with expeditiously because no one wants to remain in jail indefinitely. It would even be the politician who would say please get this trial over with and even if the man is found guilty, he knows his C M Y K

detention would be part of the prison term. The government knows this; the national assembly members know this. Are they doing anything about it? No. The judiciary also has refused to be helpful. Tackle that. If you tackle unemployment and corruption, the issue of who rules this country would become secondary.

Okay, why should Nigerians trust their leaders? An example: When a government says it is removing subsidy to help the people whereas before the fact of subsidy removal, there was a massive fraud that had been committed? So, why should the people trust their leaders?

The principle of social contract in governance has been as ancient as the creation of my community. The leadership says that I would do A B C

D, in exchange that people would do their part.

Who moves first?

Let’s go back to the Bible but I’m sure it would be in the Quaran. God first made the first move. He got the Israelites out of Egypt, gave them manna, protected them from the Egyptian Army and then God said now, if you carry our My Commandments, it would be well with you.

God moved first. Government must move first to provide for the people and in response, the people will now pay taxes, become obedient to government and become obedient to the laws that the government has made.

You might even say that the people moved first by surrendering their will to government, giving government

Continues on page 17

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

INSURGENCY AND UTILITARIAN VALUE

Boko Haram is helping Nigeria to review its foundation — Uma Ukpai Reverend Uma Ukpai is an Abia State-born evangelist, the founder and president of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association Inc. with headquarters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with SAM EYOBOKA, the evangelist takes a look at the security situation in the country and concludes that nobody can islamise Nigeria. He, however, says we must be wise not to plunge the nation into a religious war. s it possible for the terrorists to Islamise Nigeria?

Number one, Christians in the South and North of the country are very dedicated and committed. A religious war is a terrible war because it involves the soul, the spirit and the physical. Many people would rather die than change religion and, to many, changing religion means disappointing He who created you; He who has given so much to you and has made you what you are, and He who has been with you over the years—people like us who have been involved in Christianity in the last 52 years. It’s not possible, because if you don’t die today and die tomorrow; it is the same thing. Every man must have something he is living for. If you don’t have anything you are living for, you don’t have anything you can die for. If there is something you can die, it’s very easy to die for such a thing when the need arises.

Their method of conversion makes it a little bit lousy. You don’t threaten a man and say to him, ‘You either join me or I kill you” He will rather die than join you. I think they should review their method. This country has been in existence for so many years and we have lived together and we can still live together. It is not possible for them to islamise the whole country. There is not place where they have islamised the whole nation. You still find some Christians.

There are nations like Egypt, Libya, Somalia which were once Christian nations but today are Muslim nations…..

At the time they converted those nations, they were not knowledgeable enough. Everybody knows his rights now and many people are ready to fight for the rights. A man who cannot fight for his right has no reason to live. There was this Rev. Orji they killed in Maiduguri. They asked him to denounce Christ and go free and he said no and before they killed him, he told the brethren there to announce to the world that he died well. There are many like him who are willing to die. After all, what is life all about? Is life just trying to please somebody or struggling to survive? No! There is also life after this life. So, it is not possible for them to islamise Nigeria.

Egypt still has pockets of Christians; same thing with Mali. If the iron curtain could not stop Christianity in Russia, I don’t think anybody can stop Christianity in Nigeria.

What does the Christian stand to gain by remaining in the North when he has been asked to leave?

There is nothing that says Christians can’t fight back. The Bible says; what you sow is what you reap.

They are sowing violence and they are bound to reap violence. There

Reverend Uma Ukpai was a time in Kaduna, when Christians fought back and, by every reckoning, they won. It can be done again. A day will come when people will say, ‘enough is enough, let us fight back’ They will not continue to run; they stand at some point and defend themselves and when they decide to fight back, it would be disastrous; then you know that the nation does not belong to them, because those who are prosecuting the war now can also be harmed, wounded and even killed.

S

ome argue that reprisal by Christians means helping God who says in the Bible that vengeance belongs to the Lord….

The same Bible says whatever a man sows, he must reap. When a man slaps here, he must reap the reward of that slap. They are chasing us, killing our people. What we are saying is that every Christian should devise a means of selfdefence; just stay and make sure that nobody kills you.

Many people have argued that Boko Haram is not a religious war; rather a social revolution against a political subjugation. Do you agree?

We believe that it is a religious war because it affects Christians more. I understand that when they struck at the Bayero University, Kano, they were shooting at people. What other evidence do you need to conclude that Christians were the target? By running after Christians and mauling them down, they are simply telling us that the war is between Christians and Muslims.

It’s obvious that you are looking at the ability of God to fight on behalf of Christians; you are not looking at the responsibility of the

government to protect every citizen….

I have always said that the essence of government is to protect the weak from the strong. I say that the government is doing something, but they are not doing enough. The government can do more. Faced with this kind of problem, the government should ensure security by training the police on how to quell a guerilla war. What Boko Haram people are doing is what we call guerilla warfare. So, we need the government to train our police on how to fight guerilla war. In guerilla warfare there are no fronts, the people are not known, they sneak in and strike or explode some bombs and relocate to another place.

The government is organised enough to train our people on how to contain such challenge. The Boko Haram people are Nigerians; there is nothing they have that other Nigerians cannot have. It’s high time this government stood up and put our acts together to contain the Boko Haram menace in the country.

J

ust before the last year elec tions, a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, elder statesman Adamu Ciroma and Alhaji Lawal Kaita boasted that if President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential election, they would make the nation ungovernable. Will you relate what is happening now to that threat and if yes, what approach would you recommend for government to safeguard the lives of Nigerians?

Well, I will not speak for government. Government should know the best thing to do. In 1985, Buhari said we had no other country except Nigeria. If today, he has decided to destroy the country; that sounds very strange. It shows he is not a good sports man. Only a bad sports man says; either I win or there will be no winner. In every game, there must be a winner and loser but the good sportsman loses today and waits for another opportunity to participate again. If Nigeria is consumed I don’t think Buhari will be around to claim any mandate. If he made that statement, it’s tragic.

It’s unfortunate, but Boko Haram will not destroy this nation. Nigeria has men who can think, plan, fight and defend this country. There are so many Nigerians who love Buhari and, if he ever said that, I don’t think that those people would still trust him and vote for him in future.

Recently, the Christian community proclaimed a day of prayers…..

As long as Boko Haram continues to terrorise the nation, we will continue to pray for God to give us wisdom, knowledge, God’s presence

Continues on page on15

,

I

The same Bible says whatever a man sows, he must reap. When a man slaps here, he must reap the reward of that slap.

They are chasing us, killing our people.

What we are saying is that every Christian should devise a means of selfdefence; just stay and make sure that nobody kills you

,

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012 , PAGE 17

Boko Haram is helping Nigeria to review its foundation — Uma Ukpai Continued from page 15 and peace in every part of the country. We are praying across the country. It’s a battle we cannot afford to lose. If Libya was a Christian nation and it’s a Muslim nation, there is need for us to intensify our prayers.

As President Goodluck Jonathan marks his first year in office, what is your assessment of his administration?

He is my friend and I cannot assess him on the pages of newspaper. I can fly to Abuja and tell him how I feel about his administration.

We meet and discuss the situation in the country. My job is to show him the limitless opportunities available in the country to transform the nation. We talk regularly, but I cannot divulge the content of our discussion.

M

any citizens are not happy with him, believing that he is not doing much to address the nation’s most pressing challenges, security, electricity, corruption….

Nobody can go to sleep when his

house is on fire without knowing where to apply water and where not to apply water. He is an educated man with abundant wisdom. He is a human being. He is a great thinker.

It’s just that when problems are overwhelming, it will look like he is not doing anything. Nobody can have his eyes closed when Boko Haram is at the door. Even if you are a political leper, you will take a step.

At the same time, Boko Haram is not seeing one of the best things God has done for Nigeria. His emergence is to help us to appreciate our foundation and strength. A shaking in a marriage is not a sign of weakness, rather it is sign that somebody is asking questions which should be answered. That is the question Boko Haram has been asking and people must be prepared to provide answers to the questions.

It’s a terrible time to lose lives yet Boko Haram is helping the nation to review our foundation as a nation.

We grow by the problems we solve.

By the time we are through with Boko Haram, this nation will not be the same again. But let nobody

T

hat is if we agree that their motive is poverty; because there is poverty in other parts of the country….

Yes there is poverty in other parts but not on the same scale. I don’t know if you have been to the North and see poverty walk on the streets!

We blame both their political leaders and the leadership of the country.

You know I have said that the essence of leadership is to protect the weak from the strong. Only the strong can stop the weak from benefiting from the resources of the state. Government must check the few who had prevented the masses from benefiting from the resources that have been allocated to the region.

Much as there are great politicians in the region, they must also remember the need to help the masses to enjoy some of the largesse due to them. It’s their duty as leaders. As long as they have no care for their citizens, they have failed. It shouldn’t be a government for the rich, by the rich and of the rich. They should remember the poor because they are part of the society. Every one of us has a dream to realize. Every average northerner should have a house, a car to himself and must be able to actualize his dream.

,

Reverend Uma Ukpai

think that Boko Haram will consume Nigeria, and let nobody think that we don’t have men in this country.

We have men who can think; it’s just that Nigerians want to work under pressure.

Life is made in such a way that each problem you solve will make you grow and God defines Himself to us through the problems we solve. Boko Haram is a very necessary instrument of growth, expansion, more understanding. It is a school of its own and we are learning, but a day will come that we shall be on top of this problem and the world will be amazed.

Are we going to be more united or more divided?

We will be more united. They are crying because of the level of poverty they have in the North.

When one section of the country is poor, the rest will feel the pain.

Their method of expressing their anger may not be the best, but they are making a point that they have been left behind. But I insist that their method is not the best, because anybody killed will not come back.

Life is made in such a way that each problem you solve will make you grow and God defines Himself to us through the problems we solve.

Boko Haram is a very necessary instrument of growth, expansion, more understanding

,

Solution to unemployment is all around us— Akinyemi Continued from page 15 the power, in exchange for good governance.

Government ought to have put other things in place before removing subsidy. We didn’t need a national assembly to investigate. Government had said it was removing subsidy because of its inability to deal with the corruption of the importers – an admission of impotence. Secondly, government said it can not police the borders, because the imported products are re-exported and since government admitted that it can not stop these twin evils, Nigerians should now carry the burden. In removing the subsidy, you don’t remove the burden of the wastage.

What that means is that either way the people are getting screwed.

What the probe has simply done is to give us names of these people; we knew there was massive corruption all along but the probe has given us figures and names.

If this probe is going to be handled the same way other probes had been handled, then please let’s not waste our time because from what we’re seeing and hearing, 10years from now we would still be talking about this subsidy matter – 10 years from now.

Our judicial system is such that…? kay let us even look at the lawyers handling some of these cases too, are they being helpful?

Why should a lawyer go to court and say its Police witnesses are not available? Why? Was it that you asked for the Police to make them

O

available and you were turned down?

When was the request made to the Police if I may ask? Before we start blaming the Police, we should find out when the request for the Police witnesses to appear was made.

Sooner or later, the judicial system would have to make clear whether it has been designed to either help stave off a revolution or actually help to facilitate it with the way things are being done.

The judges and the lawyers should understand that if there is a revolution in this country, they, too, would be consumed because in other parts of the world where it has happened, judges too were not spared. The people are watching and they know what is happening.

C M Y K

PAGE 18, SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012

ECONOMY: MAY 2011 TO MAY 2012 -1 “The $3.6 billion in the Excess Crude Account is not enough to sustain the economy for any period of time”.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the Economy, CME, April 12, 2012 in Abuja.

BY DELE SOBOWALE Introduction e are at the end of Jonathan’s first year in office since he was re-elected in May last year. And, the questions every Nigerian should be asking are: is the economy better than last year? And has my lot improved since last year? The CME provided some of the answers to the first question on April 12, 2012. With the exception of GDP growth, everything else was a catalogue of failures.

Even GDP presented a picture of growth without job creation. After revealing that the Excess Crude Oil Account, an illegal account it must be pointed out, had been drawn down to $3.6 billion, she then proceeded to warn the nation that we are going broke. Her answer, which includes continuing violations of our constitution in order to save for the future would strike many analysts as selfserving and a veiled admission of lack of creative ideas. Later, in that address, she pin-pointed the major causes of our predicament, which had been characterized by “growth without development”, as lack of transparency and proper accountability; and, she was one of the culprits.

Perhaps she got distracted by her bid for World Bank Presidency.

For the purpose of this one year assessment, this report will focus on a few key drivers of the economy and a few key result areas. The foci of attention are presented in the table below. The figures represent the actual or estimates as at April 2012.

The side comments indicate whether there has been an improvement or a decline.

The areas of attention for this

W

assessment will be the following: power supply, debt profile, Excess Crude oil Account/Sovereign Wealth Fund; Subsidy; Corruption; job creation; water supply; poverty alleviation, monetary policy, capital and money markets; budget implementation and security. For obvious reasons, we will start with the two real engines of national development and progress – security and power; although they are not directly related; as well as the number one impediment to progress in the country for more than sixty years –corruption.

Security ust before the request to make this contribution was made by the SUNDAY EDITOR, a general survey had been conducted involving 1,125 people in several states and the Federal Capital Territory. The same survey was conducted last year just before the 2011 elections. The respondents were asked to list the nation’s three most important problems. The results were as follows: Problem April 2011 April 2012 Corruption 55% 32% Security 37% 60% Power 4% 3% Others 4% 5% The most obvious change highlighted by this survey is the sudden emergence of security as the single most important issue having economic significance in Nigeria today. A deeper probe in selected interviews revealed that some prospective domestic investors have actually shelved planned projects in various parts of Nigeria –especially the violence-prone areas.

Shortly after resuming duty last year, the Finance Minister organized

J

TABLE · Gross Domestic Product 7.3% per annum; down from 7.8% · Total Debt $45 billion; up from under $40 billion · External Debt $7 billion#; up from $3 billion · Domestic Debt $34.4 billion; up from $30 billion · Debt ration to export earnings -5% · Debt Service ratio 19.6%; up from under 18% · External Reserves $35.23 billion (March 2012); up from under $33 billion · Unemployment c46%; up from under 40% · Poverty level 70%; remains largely unchanged · Power Supply under 4,000MW; remains unchanged; same excuses though # Additional $5 billion external borrowing is expected during the year 2012 and that might bring the total to over $10 billion.

C M Y K

W

ith the annual growth of population estimated at 3.2%, but higher in the Northern states, construction of new houses has become a race against calamity for years. Here again, private investors, northerners and southerners alike, have provided virtually all the additional residential and commercial buildings in the north. The governments of the nineteen states, controlling less than 30 per cent of Federally-allocated revenue, have been able to do little. With increasing violence and incipient ethnic and religious cleansing, new housing starts are slowing down everywhere – even in Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory. In some places buildings that have been razed by bombs or fire are no longer re-built. The owners are moving on. A massive internal migration is underway; disrupting business everywhere. When we now turn to education, and again focus the North, the heart melts completely; on account of the resources that had been destroyed since May 2011 and May 2012. Resources include not only

Continues on page 19

,

Are you better off now?

a retreat; Jonathan was there. The participants, all Federal government employees, were asked to write down what they considered the nation’s leading problem. Over 70 per cent named corruption. President Jonathan got up and announced that he disagreed. That is the perfect example of a leader who has stopped learning.

The President should not have taken that poll as a personal indictment; it should have been a guide to action.

He, after all, did not create corruption.

On that note, the year started.

Three sectors, all vital to Nigeria’s efforts at diversification from crude oil exports, now particularly feel the impact of escalating violence the most. The first is solid minerals, the second is housing and the third is education. And nowhere else are the problems more acute than in the Northern states which need all three the most.

It has long been established that most of our solid mineral deposits are in the North; it is also a matter of commonsense that to exploit those potential resources will require massive capital investments as well as skilled manpower. Unfortunately, most of the skilled workers are southerners and few can now be induced to work in several states of the North for any amount of money. Indeed, those already employed there want to leave.

Even those who once adopted a “wait and see attitude” are no longer waiting; they’ve seen enough.

The most obvious change highlighted by this survey is the sudden emergence of security as the single most important issue having economic significance in Nigeria today

,

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012 , PAGE 19 paid to pensioners denies the economy of the multiplier effect of the N2 billion, or almost N10 billion, in goods and services which would otherwise have been purchased.

Multiply that by the close to N300 billion, so far documented, cases of pension fund embezzlement and it is easy to understand why 7.5% annual GDP growth has failed to make any dent on unemployment. The people who would spend the money here in Nigeria are not getting their money because those who would spend it at Dubai and South Africa have stolen it.

So, the fraudsters not only impoverish the majority; they export jobs as well.

It is economic sabotage – by any means defined.

Continued from page 18 physical structures (buildings, teaching aids, school buses, etc) but the human resources as well –which represent the most important resource of all. Entire schools are now without qualified teachers because survivors have fled for dear lives. Many more are packing their bags. Mindless and intractable violence has not only devastated, in one year, what it had taken decades to build, it had set back the region by many unknown years in the future.

F

Corruption Anyone feeling relieved that corruption had taken a distant back seat to insecurity would be mistaken to stay in that comfort zone. A further probe of some of the participants revealed that their main reason for selecting security first is survival at all costs. They have stopped worrying about public and private officials robbing them – in the face of possible violent death. But, for that, corruption would be their first choice among problems impeding rapid development and social progress.

Our assessment of our fight against corruption will focus on the obvious two – fuel subsidy scandal and pension fund scam. Incidentally, the two shocking revelations have, once again, placed the banking sector in jeopardy. How, they have embroiled the banks in their destructive activities will be discussed at length later. For now, we focus on the magnitude of the amounts involved, the direct impact on the economy and the collateral damage done – all in one year.

The Minister of Finance, reportedly at the meeting, said that the government “did not explain itself well and did not wait long enough before removing the subsidy in January”.

That, is the Finance Minister’s equivalent of plea bargaining. She admitted a smaller charge so she would not be carpeted for the far bigger assault on the economy encouraged by the Federal government between May 2011 and May 2012. She actually confessed that her Ministry did not know how much subsidy was actually involved. That is not only an admission of irresponsibility; it also carries the hint of intellectual dishonesty. In December 2011, when she led her colleagues to the Muson Centre in Lagos, she was categorical that the subsidy was N1.314 trillion; so certain she published a document to indicate how she would spend the money more effec-

T

President Jonathan

o think that all these revelations came in just one year is to answer the question: are we better off? Even the Minister of Finance knows the answer to that one. Not

Are you better off now? tively – if subsidy was removed. To now tell us that she does not know, after the economic and social disruptions and the imposition of N97 per litre fuel is totally unacceptable from the standpoint of basic economics.

Nobody needs to remind the Minister that economic management is all about allocation of scarce resources to meet unlimited needs and each expenditure must be weighed against other options.

Governments collect and allocate these resources on our behalf and they are expected to know where each naira goes and for what reason. As it turned out N1.1 trillion of fraud was classified as SUBSIDY and charged to citizens’ accounts. That’s official robbery and mal-allocation of our resources. Until May 2011, the subsidy, even then disputed, was under N300 billion per annum or N25 billion per month. A serious government and competent Ministers of Petroleum and Finance should have raised queries the first month they had to pay N100 billion or more in any month. Surely, Okonjo-Iweala knows that with limited income the increase in price of any commodity affects the consumption function of citizens; it forces them to re-allocate their funds in disruptive ways. More for fuel means less for food; it’s that simple. And government is forcing people to starve, even when they don’t know how much, if any, subsidy is there.

So, once again, the questions are: is Nigeria better off today than last year?

Are Nigerians better off than on May 2011? The answer is again obvious.

P

ension Fund embezzlement will require a whole book to deal with the economic and human tragedies that it brought about. To start with, over ninety per cent of pensioners would be classified as lower middle class to lower class and perhaps even poor. The most cursory glance at economic-demographics would demonstrate that the people in those income groups spend virtually all their income; and some even more.

They also patronize locally manufactured goods more and spend a higher proportion on food and basics. By contrast, the rich and the wealthy spend a smaller percentage of their income on current consumption and save more. They also spend more on imported items and transfer money abroad more.

Salting away N2 billion, in cash, which would have otherwise been

only was the money stolen, it has been mal-allocated in a manner that does the Nigerian economy no good whatsoever. Hundred room mansions in Abuja for a family of four, built with stolen funds, thus tied down, do not represent investment by the economists’ definition of the word; they represent a colossal waste – which is not productive. Yet several mansions went up in the last year financed with embezzled funds. Some of them, now seized, are lying idle. Filling stations might be excused to some extent; if one subscribes to the Machiavellian principle of “the end justifies the means”. But, even those investments do not represent the manner the real owners of the funds would have spent them. Fron that standpoint they remain flawed.

Irrespective of the motives or the short term gains corruption invariably undermines the efficient allocation of resources in a free economy such as ours. And from all indications, it has got worse since May 2011.

Power ll economies from time imme morial hum along on power supply. From coal, during the industrial revolution, to petroleum and then electricity in the modern age – however generated—power has held the key to progress. Our economy moves along at 7.5% simply because Shell, Mobil, Chevron, Agip etc don’t depend on our power supply. If they did, the nation would have ground to a halt long ago. The table speaks volumes of our failure to move one megawatt forward since May 2011.

But, the Minister of Power, Professor Nnaji has “explanations”. According to the Minister, on hydro plants: “It is our tough luck we are experiencing our worst water levels in 10 years. Because of the poor rainy season last year in neighbouring countries, from which we derive black flood for the hydro plants. The white flood refers to flood derived during the rainy season in Nigeria which gets to its climax in July of every year, unlike the black flood which gets to its peak in November”.

And for the thermal he said that they were “built in the past without proper arrangements for either gas pipelines or the molecules”. He also revealed that there is “little coordination between the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

A

,

urthermore, with respect to education, the on-going and spreading violence is affecting education, not only in the core North, contrary to what most people believe.

Stories, true or false, reaching several university campuses nationwide have disrupted classes in our already declining citadels of higher education. There is hardly a federal or state university which is better today than last years. Continuous and unarrested decay has become the norm not the exception. What time and official neglect had not corrupted, violence might ultimately demolish.

Bayero University Kano might be only the beginning.

Unfortunately, there are no metrics in economics to measure the financial impacts of wrecked education systems. But, certainly, the repercussions will be felt in the future; a future which will surely come and will be as challenging as the present which we are managing badly.

Is the economy better today than last year? Based strictly on our appraisal of the security situation and its debilitating effects on three sectors the answer is obvious.

Nobody needs to remind the Minister that economic management is all about allocation of scarce resources to meet unlimited needs and each expenditure must be weighed against other options

,

C M Y K

PAGE 20, SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012

Why good governance and security go hand-in-hand, by Obasanjo

N

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

deliver on its obligations. It also enables interactive engagement between the state, its citizens, and the institutions of governance for the sole purpose of driving and directing human activity, purposely and meaningfully, to a desired end normally positive, but for which a negative end could also result.

It therefore follows that “governance” and “security”, which could be regarded as part of the processes and services of the State, are not necessarily on their own! They exist or are in place to ensure that the State is able to conduct or fulfill its primary purpose effectively and or with less vulnerability.

In terms of legitimizing the State, it could be argued that, they essentially crystallize the legitimacy that have been given or ceded to it by its citizens, individually and collectively to the state. States therefore derive their power and legitimacy from their citizens.

T

he concept of legitimacy usually is understood as the popular acceptance and recognition, by the public, of the authority of a governing regime, whereby authority has political power through consent and mutual understandings, not necessarily coercion. Drawing from here, political scientists have noted about three types of political legitimacy as follows; I. Traditional legitimacy is derived from societal custom and habit that emphasizes the history of the authority of tradition. Traditionalists understand this form of rule as historically accepted, hence its continuity, because it is the way society has always been.

Therefore, the institutions of traditional government usually are historically continuous, as in monarchy and tribal chiefs.

II. Charismatic legitimacy derives from the ideas and personal charisma of the leader, a man or woman whose authoritative persona charms and psychologically dominates the people of the society to agreement with the government’s regime and rule. A charismatic government usually features weak political and

IGP Mohammed Abubakar

administrative institutions, because they derive authority from the persona of The Leader, and usually disappear without him or her in power. Yet, a government derived from charismatic legitimacy might continue if the charismatic leader has a charismatic successor.

III. Rational-legal legitimacy derives from a system of institutional procedure, wherein government institutions establish and enforce law and order in the public interest.

Therefore, it is through public trust that the government will abide the law that confers rational-legal legitimacy.

Following, I should add quickly that, “governance and security” are not the exclusive preserve of “states” or their administrative representations. Indeed “governance” and or “security” are also deployed by other institutions that are not governmental in nature. They could be deployed by organizations and other such institutions. In this instance, they can be seen in the context of corporate administration of decisions or ideas or even project implementation and other forms of administration.

For this purpose, I shall dwell on the perspective that serves the needs and aspirations of sovereign nation-states.

The State lthough definitions of the state are not sacrosanct, many sociologists, political scientists as well as historians and economists address this from a wide variety of perspectives. Although for the purpose of this address, I shall adopt the definition of offered by the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English. My reason being that, most people who are interested in checking the meaning of “state” are more likely to look into a dictionary first, before they look for other materials with perhaps more complex definitions and amplifications. I wish therefore to connect with that simple definition. The Oxford dictionary defines “state” as

A

Continues on page 21

,

C M Y K

igeria marks her 13th year of straight democratic governance without interference. So far, it has been an eventful period for everyone, not only by virtue of being the longest stretch of uninterrupted democratic governance we have ever had since we achieved independence in 1960, but by what we all have learnt in terms of the potentials of the country to rise above her challenges and find a way forward. I want to congratulate all Nigerians for their investments and patience in reaching this important milestone, there is no doubt that there is a lot of room for improvement and progress to be made on so many fronts even as we ponder over another 13 years.

Discourses on governance and security presupposes a desire, by those holding the discussion, to review and/or continue to understand the evolving nature of the “state”, which provides the framework for “governance” and “security’. It also enables its citizens to have a better grip on how they can achieve their purpose and their goals both individually and collectively. It could also be inferred that discourses like this can and should throw up new ideas and also boost the commitment of the elected or selected representatives of the citizens, in conducting the affairs of the state such that majority of the citizens at any given time would benefit the most.

Historically it is evident that all social and economic phenomena are constantly evolving in nature and that new realities always give opportunity for-a revision of established norms or traditions. Thus History and time ensure that nothing remains constant; everything, even inanimate objects, will eventually yield to something, either better or worse than the last. We as human beings and citizens have a responsibility to constantly review the phenomena that direct our existence on earth and our path in our communities. We also have a responsibility to review the ideas and philosophies, derived over many years of observation and interaction and which keep us going forth in our communities.

Although we may be in danger of repeating what has been said before or established, there is also the likelihood that it could be said in another way that might hit home harder. It is also likely that someone will take away something significant and that this will eventually make a difference somewhere someday. This for me is one of the strongest methods of passing ideas, lessons and thoughts from one generation to another generation, from peer to peer, from the learned to the learners, from group to group and indeed, from one individual to another.

I am comfortable knowing that I am not restrained by the title (Governance and Security) and should be able to pass something tangible to those who have the interest of societal progress.

“Governance” and “security” are all essential elements of the “state” to enable it function effectively and

Personal insecurity is fed, invariably by political, economic, food and community security issues. In other words, personal insecurity fed by other security issues may be direct or indirect consequences of governance

,

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012 , PAGE 21

How insecurity diminishes unity in a society —Obasanjo a country with organized political community controlled by a government”.

As I said earlier, this definition is by no means exhaustive. Other political scientists and sociologists have offered differing perspectives depending on the characteristics that they have elected to associate with the state. Some variables, however, in the determination of the physical nature of the state, have remained constant. A state generally consists of a territory with boundary, a people or a community of citizens, a set of laws, principles or guides, written or unwritten, which could be referred to as the “constitution”, and a government. The capacity of the state to engage into relations with other “equal” states or foreign relations then makes the state sovereign by political definition.

Sovereign states are therefore states that have the capacity to engage and or manage relations on behalf of its citizens, including war, with other states. It is not dependent or subject to any other power of the state or otherwise. An abuse of the sovereign is usually taken to be a declaration, of sorts, of war.

G

overnance Going back to the dictionary meaning, the operative word for me in this definition is “controlled”. You will probably agree that replacing the word “controlled” with “governed” and the definition may not entirely lose its meaning, at least in this context.

The connection with government is further clarified if you agree that the “state” and by extension, the desires of the state needs to be “powered” or “governed” or “auctioned” by government institutions for it to achieve its primary purpose. Governance can therefore be seen as the process of administering government ideas, programmes and policies deliberately to either create the conducive environment for citizens to interact, or the process by which legislations are developed and enacted to guide the actions of either the government on its own, or the citizens individually, corporately and or collectively. The judiciary’s actions are also part of governance as they seek to interpret and correct anomalies in government and corporate procedures and engagements.

Government without “governance is, therefore, not possible. It is an absurdity. Governance or acts of the state’s machinery to provide and fend for its citizens then becomes a very important means for the state to undertake its mission and realize its vision and duties and responsibility to the citizens.

Fundamentally governance involves interactions and engagements; interaction and engagements involve perception and understanding and the will to act, while perception, engagement and the will to act involve a whole lot of values, principles and determination that affect successful and or failure of delivery. At the end, the executive, the legislature, the judiciary, the press, finance institutions, the

Gen. Andrew Azazi (rtd) regulatory bodies, the police and all other such institutions of government become the medium for which governance is applied on the state.

I have tried to place this perspective to show that, at any given time, “governance” is being conducted to administer, manage, influence and execute the functions of the state through their representatives in government.

Security (and the State) he abiding quest for security for the individual and community citizens including corporate citizens is a long lasting one and will last for as long as humans and their communities persist. In the past, it used to be argued that the stability of a country in terms of physical security is a necessary precondition for economic development within the context of inter-state rivalry and competition. It was further argued that the state legitimizes itself further in the eyes of its citizens when it provides the necessary conditions that guarantee its own survival and then the survival of its citizens individually and collectively.

Historically, “security” tended to be “state-centric”. This implied that the focus of all security activity was to ensure the survival and sustainability of the “sovereign state” before anything else. The implication of this was that, a disproportionate and high percentage of national resources used to be dedicated to the procurement of military hardware and maintenance of large military forces in the hope of promoting physical security. These were achieved at the expense of quality of living for the citizens.

With the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s however, the dominant focus on states with its “mutually assured destruction” and military security briefly enabled a broader concept of security to emerge. The exponential rise in the spread and consolidation of democratisation and international human rights norms opened a space in which both ‘development’ and concepts of ‘security’ could be reconsidered.

T

Seeking to influence the outcome of the UN’s 1995 World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen, Dr. Mahbub ul Haq first drew global attention to the concept of human security in the United Nations Development Programme’s 1994 Human Development Report. The UNDP’s 1994 Human Development Report’s definition of human security argues that the scope of global security should be expanded to include threats in seven areas: economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political security. These are citizencentred.

These redefinitions and re-scoping of the term “ security” then gave impetus to many extensions, including a review of state policies and government approach to matters of “security and indeed governance. It deepened programmes for the benefit of the citizens, and this in my opinion, is where the clear lessons for Nigeria should stem from or be projected from.

Of the seven areas listed by the UNDP Report, Nigerians today are more concerned and agitated by the aspect that relates more with personal security. The UNDP summarizes that personal security aims to protect people from physical violence and death by violence, whether from the state or external states, from violent individuals and sub-state actors, from domestic abuse, or from predatory adults. For many people, the greatest source of anxiety is crime, particularly violent crime.

U

ntil very recently, the greatest source of anxiety in terms of personal security is violent crime.

Today, bombing of targets in occupied public buildings or in the open areas where people congregate has become the greatest anxiety of personal security for almost all Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in Nigeria. It is already giving us a very bad image and it is adversely affecting investment in Nigeria. But personal insecurity is fed, invariably by political, economic, food and community security issues. In other words, personal insecurity fed by other security issues may be direct or indirect consequences of governance. Governance and security go hand-in-hand. The welfare and well being of the people starting with their personal security is the sole purpose and duty of government.

The effectiveness or performance of government may be measured by the level of security enjoyed by the people. It must be clearly stated that every citizen has obligation and duty to contribute to the collective security of the community or the society. It is the main civic duty of every citizen and it enhances relationship and interaction within the society. Inadequate security of any sort and particularly widespread personal insecurity erodes from the authority and standing of the government and diminishes unity within the society.

Being a presentation by Olusegun Obasanjo in a lecture on Governance, Ethics and Morality, delivered in Jigawa State

,

Continued from page 20

Inadequate security of any sort and particularly widespread personal insecurity erodes from the authority and standing of the government and diminishes unity within the society

,

C M Y K

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY

C M Y K

VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 — PAGE 23

“Thirty millions, mostly fools” Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881; when asked the population of England.

ODAY, the same question about Ni geria will receive a similar answer: “160 million also mostly fools”. Commonsense is not common; otherwise the majority of voting adults in Nigeria who were announced according to the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, could not have marched to the polling booths, nationwide, April last year, freely and overwhelmingly voted for Goodluck Jonathan, despite warnings on this page, only to now turn around now and wring their fingers while the “bull” they have pulled into our “China Shop” is wrecking the joint. The bull of course is Jonathan and the China Shop is Aso Rock. Now the same people who got him into Aso Rock want to drag him out, ANYHOW, without consideration for the consequences. Be it on Boko Haram or power failure or fuel subsidy scam or pervasive corruption in government; they have the same answer – which any fool can give. Hear them.

“Jonathan must resign immediately”. That, in the language of Unijankara, means take a whip to the bull and let it wreck the premises even more. Obviously, if Jonathan retires he must hand the reins of power to the Vice-President and the bombs will start exploding in the Niger Delta; in addition to those detonated in the North at the moment; because those will not stop immediately on account of ethnic and religious cleansing going on simultaneously.

For some reason, almost impossible to fathom, a lot of grown-ups, who, without thinking deeply, voted Jonathan last year, cannot get it into their heads that getting him out will require patience and tenacity. The best time is 2015; not now; whether we like it or not. Meanwhile, all we can do is to pacify him; prevent him from getting hurt or killed

by Boko Haram and gradually escort him back to Otuoke with a container load of shoes.

Anything else will amount to whacking the bull in the China Shop with an iron rod and setting it on a rampage that will devastate

T

,

The same people who got him into Aso Rock want to drag him out, ANYHOW, without consideration for the consequences

,

the joint. The guy has us by the balls.

Despite all the assurances by Reuben Abati, Jonathan remains the candidate to beat in 2015. Nobody else is deceived by the announcements. After all, he announced that he had not decided whether to run or not when Yar’Adua died. He later ran after “forgetting” that there was zoning agreement by his party from as far back as 2002 at a meeting Jonathan attended in place of the former Governor of Bayelsa. He endorsed the zoning agreement!!! So, if he has a credibility problem today, he created it. And he has reinforced it since then with several promises made and broken.

I thought that was clear from my writings in the past. Two recent articles have been misunderstood by people who either don’t read carefully or are bent on mischief. The first was WHY PRESIDENT, NSA MUST NOT RESIGN, the second, continued below, is Dear President, Try the Lyndon Johnson Option. The two have one central theme in common: GEJ cannot go now and his life must be protected at all costs, otherwise the consequences are dire. It is amazing how many adults cannot distinguish between supporting Jonathan and protecting the best interests of Nigeria – even if Goodluck is the temporary beneficiary. Johnson option is actually asking Jonathan to go in 2015 yet the following responses were received from read-

ers.

0806-747-8413: You are yet to tell us how much Jonathan (who you said you didn’t vote for) paid you for talking from both sides of the mouth. Ken”.

That is an adult engaged in defamation just because he can’t understand English. Another told me he is waiting for me to sell out to Jonathan like Reuben Abati. Well, he will have to wait, forever, in that home where honour is for sale. But, not for me! How on earth asking GEJ to go in 2015 constitutes support for Jonathan beats me; but it also explains all the failures at WAEC and NECO; comprehension is a problem.

In my view (and this is my view) Jonathan appears to lack most of the attributes of a good leader. He communicates poorly, sets bad examples; lacks charisma; and has perhaps the worst cabinet in living memory. So bad are his Ministers and so underwhelming has been their performance that twenty SS3 students gathered together and paid to take the test could not name up to ten Ministers and often gave them the wrong portfolios. Some even think Patience is the Vice President. Yet we must manage this disaster foisted on us by the majority who made fools of all of us in April last year. His staying constitutes a pain in the backside; his sudden departure will create a tragedy. That is the calamity that has befallen us. Resign now will not solve the problem, Ken. And all the Kens out there are invited to come and share the money. One fellow, named Jonathan, sent me a cheque for one hundred million dollars. I don’t want to chop it alone. Hurry while it lasts!!

Thoughts on government and state at this time DENRELE ANIMASAUN FROM LONDON

Every nation has the government it deserves-letter from Russia, 1811

A

T this time, once thought goes to government and the state. Why? In two days, Nigeria would have rounded another bend in her experiment in democracy. The 29th of May will mark the day when oaths were taken to usher in new governments in the country.

State governments will be marking their day; another will be completed or about to complete a fourth milestone in government.

The Edo government will be looking forward to a glorious achievement and hoping for another four years in government.

Some others, like Lagos State government, will be counting the meagre three years left. It will be

,

Removing your bull from our China shop

Dear President; Try the Lyndon Johnson Option –2

“Grant gracefully what you cannot otherwise refuse”.

Lyndon Johnson actually had a bigger problem than you did, when President Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963. The former President, from Massachusetts State, was murdered in Texas, the state of the Vice-President who would take over. Just pause, Mr. President, what would have happened, if Yar’Adua had been killed while visiting Bayelsa. I can assure you, there would have been no succession because our second civil war would have started immediately. Even today, nothing like that can happen to you in Kaduna State without creating another pogrom. We live in fear while you remain in office.

In the three part series which ended last week, titled Why the President and NSA cannot resign I had defended you against scurrilous attacks by critics, political opponents and others, just misguided, against charges that you know the terrorists and their sponsors. Mr Okar of MEND, standing trial in South Africa had not made your life easier, or enhanced your reputation by swearing to an affidavit that you were the sponsor of terrorist attacks in 2010. I honestly still continue to give you the benefit of doubt on all charges for no other reason that none of them had been substantiated. But, you have a credibility problem.

Few people believe you and that is unhealthy for a President.

Another charge, recently brought to the public domain by the National Security Adviser, NSA, was made against the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, for which you are party leader. According to General Aziza, the party’s zoning principle, as a result of which some individuals were not supposed to rule, was the root of the problem we are facing. I cannot agree more with Aziza – even though your party members have asked for his head on a silver platter. That has been the fate of people courageous enough to tell the hard truth.

From Lagos, to Abeokuta; from Ibadan to Ekiti; from Akwa Ibom to Rivers what are their scorecards?

Some of them could record: they were there. Yes, others will make very strong presence in solid achievements

,

a surprise if Fashola is not already looking forward to a new conquest electoral victory and elsewhere.

Just like some of his other colleagues. So time, flies!

From Lagos, to Abeokuta; from Ibadan to Ekiti; from Akwa Ibom to Rivers what are their scorecards? Some of them could record: they were there. Yes, others will make very strong presence in solid achievements.

I

n a time like this, my thoughts go to some profound sayings: Confuciussaid: in a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

Milton Friedmanthinks: Governments never learn. Only people learn in The Observer, 1980. But do they learn? Otherwise they would ask for project that will benefits them and not ask for pittance from the master’s table.

Thomas Jeffersondefines the objective of good government. He says: the care of human life and happiness and not their destruc-

tion, is the first and legitimate object of good government in a speech in Maryland in 1809. Don’t we not make the second the first object of good government?

John Stuart Mill was firm when he said: the worth of a state, in the long run, is the worth of his individuals composing it. In On Liberty he says the worthy individuals make worthy state. We can make even a bad government work. So says William Penn. No system of government was ever ill devised that, under proper men, it wouldn’t work well enough. In his Truth of Solitude, Penn says we all must have the will to make government work. He even says, let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

On the nature of government: various people have various views on them. On society Thomas Paine has this to say: society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one, he says in his Common Sense.

P

lato, the philosopher says: Democracy …. is a charming form of government full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a kind of quality to equals and unequals alike in The Republic. No wonder our ruler lie.

Because he says: The rulers of the state are the ones who should have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state. Here, they make no exception!

Plato has a reason: our object in the construction of the state is the greatest happiness of the whole, and not that of one class.

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few, says George Bernard Shaw in his Man and Superman: Maxims for Revolutionists.

On republican form of government, Herbert Spencer says, it is the highest form of government; but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature -a type nowhere at present existing in his Essays: The American Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian politician and Prime Minister says the forces of a capitalist society, (that is the one we practice) if left unchecked, tend to make the rich richer and the poor poorer in his Credo.

D

on’t we hear of a man who celebrated his first billion Naira while not lifting a finger?

The sages do warn: Charles Louis de Secondat, he was the noble Baron De Montesquieu.

He says: When a government lasts a long while, it deteriorates by insensible degrees in The spirit of the Laws. He follows up: the deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

Let us score our politicians by how they fared.

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD,MAY 27, 2012

Re: Churches & women’s rights View-Point F

C M Y K

ROM the responses got on this piece, it seems women shouldn’t put their hope in the church joining them to fight for their rights, as most of those who sent in their views feel this is not one of the roles assigned to the church. Rather, they think it’s the government and those in charge of our tradition/culture that women should look up to for a change for the better.

“Madam, I do appreciate your concern about how our laws, culture and tradition are not, in some instances, allowing our women to enjoy fully, what are deemed their rights by the western world, but trying to involve the church in the fight of whatever cause the women are fighting doesn’t seem reasonable to me.

The role of any church is primarily to win souls, and cater for the spiritual needs of its adherents so that they can make heaven. Along the way to realizing this, is the need to take care of our fellow human beings who are disadvantaged in any area of life, so, provisions are made for jobs, medical care, food, education, clothing, etc, as much as possible. There’s also the emotional need of going to ‘rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn’, so that members can feel a part of a big family. It isn’t the duty of the church to go engage in tussles about those aspects of the tradition and culture of the land which women feel don’t favour them, or, take on the government for not honouring the promises they made by being signatory to U.N. documents. You may not agree with me, but that’s the real truth. Getting people to forsake idol worship is tough enough for the church, even though more and more people are joining the body of Christ. I think the church should concentrate on this. It’s those who are custodians of these cultural practices that the women should approach for their abolition. Or, they could lobby government to make laws against these practices, and also implement policies they’re signatory to. Thanks. - Pastor, Ibadan.”

“Haba, madam, do you now expect religious bodies to help fight the cause of women? Isn’t that expecting too much of them and diverting their attention from what they stand for? The South African president you quoted, actually called on the women of that church to be at the forefront of those championing the cause of women. I don’t think he was calling on the church as a body to take up the cause of women. Besides, as a politician, he has to be politically correct in his utterances. Nice of you to bring up the matter, though. - Jeremiah, Zaria” “Sister Helen, many churches are now being headed by enlightened men and women of God, but in spite of that, I don’t think this institution is emancipated enough for championing women’s causes. In some cases, it might not be in their own interest. For example, take the issue of ordaining women as priests.

How many orthodox churches are willing to accede to this? Hardly any. They adhere to the tenets that they had inherited, which means men will continue to head these churches. Surely, you can’t expect them to now say the culture and tradition of the people should be undermined and eradicated! They wouldn’t want to do anything that would offend the communities in which they function.

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

It isn’t the duty of the church to go engage in tussles about those aspects of the tradition and culture of the land which women feel don’t favour them, or, take on the government for not honouring the promises they made by being signatory to U.N. documents Even the issue of family planning is a sore issue. So, my dear sister, it’s the government that they women should look up to for a change in their status and welfare. Solape, Lagos.”

“Madam, I don’t support you in this at all. The church should keep out of the matter of the so-called women’s rights.

They should continue to support women by providing them with needed items to give them a better life, e.g. food, clothes, accommodation, loans for business, etc., and also give emotional help to those who need them. As for dabbling in cultural practices and tradition, they should stay out. Churches are being attacked and burnt down, and Christians are killed for no just cause in some parts of the country right now. If you now say the church should challenge the local tradition and culture, won’t you be adding petrol to fire?

I think so. The south which is peaceful for all religious bodies, and where these cultural practices obtain, wouldn’t be that peaceful any more. Your piece might make a positive impact in South Africa, and in the western countries, but not in present day Nigeria. - David, Ibadan.”

“Mrs. Ovbiagele, women’s rights are

human rights too, and when women are well-taken care of by the society, and helped to live a respectable life, that country is the better for it, because the women would be equipped with what they need to raise worthy citizens. In my opinion, women in Nigeria are still being seen with the eyes with which our forefathers saw them.

Sure, their status has improved in that they have access to education, and can aspire to good heights in their professions, but basically, respect for their person, is still zero.

Violence against them is on the increase. Those traditional practices which erode their self-respect as human beings, are still there.

Disinheritance is very much with us as widows are prevented from inheriting what their husbands left behind. If a poor man dies, the family would leave his widow and his children in peace. But once a man with substance dies, the widow and her children are chased away after the burial, and if the woman has not been equipped with what would make her financially independent, she and her children may resort to begging on the streets, as most families are struggling to

make ends meet, and the ready help that the extended family used to be able to provide such widows, is not longer possible. I don’t think it’s out of place for the church to instill in its members, the need to treat women right. Fortunately, religion still plays a great role in the life of the average Nigerian, so, the church has a sound influence on its members, and therefore, can direct their attitude towards women. - Halima, Lokoja.”

“Aunty Helen, good day. With regards to ‘Can Churches Here Promote Women’s Rights?’ - Nigeria is a multi-cultural nation with diverse religious and traditional beliefs. Considering the predominant religion up north, the impression is that women should be seen, but not heard! So, who will amend this in favour of women? In the predominantly Christian southern parts of the country, churches seem to be more interested in what they can get from the gullible female members, as per tithes, etc.

Nigerian women should put religion aside, have absolute faith in God/Allah and fight for their rights. - from Celeste, mnse.”

We thank all those who wrote in., but regret we can only publish these few.

SUMMER FASHION 2011 FOR PAKISTANI/INDIAN WOMEN

meriurdu.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 25

Nigerian women should not relent in instilling good morals—Ezinne Makinde

By OLAYINKA LATONA

Mrs.Ezinne Abimbola Makinde is the National President of Methodist Women’s Fellowship, MWF. The Oyo State-born teacher and mother is also the wife of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Makinde. Recently, the Methodist Women’s Fellowship celebrated its 80th anniversary in Nigeria with the launch of a book titled ‘Women as Teachers and Character Moulders’. It also gave awards to 270 of its members.

In a chat with this writer, Mrs. Makinde strongly expressed her belief that women as agents of change, must rise up to the challenges of children’s upbringing, as no child with proper home training will choose the path of dishonor.

Hear her:

F

ration of peace and harmony in our nation. I believe that God did not create anybody that He cannot control; it is disheartening and painful when you see lives being wasted. Not only that, the perpetrators were born of women!

Therefore, Nigerian women should not relent in instilling good morals in their children. We should also practice what we preach because these children are watching.

Women should fear God, be prayerful; not leave their home front in the care of house maids or relations.

We should live exemplary lives that will curb divorce in the society, and try to keep homes that are peaceful, so that this will reflect in the nation.

Women as agents of change must rise up to the challenges of child upbringing as no child with proper training will choose the path of dishonor. They

,

Methodist church women’s fellowship OR the past 80 years MWF has been involved in numerous transformational projects in and outside the church. We provide sound education for the less privileged, hospitality service, care for the aged,the vulnerable, home for the homeless irrespective of their religion, prison ministry and other investments. Often, especially on Sundays, we provide food and clothing materials for miscreants because we largely believe that it is when these people are hungry that they think of getting into crime.

Celebrating womanhood It is a good thing to celebrate womanhood because women are greatly involved in numerous transformations at the home front, in the society and the nation at large. They are the carriers of life and they are working tirelessly in reshaping the society. We are celebrating our women today because they have been working tirelessly in seeing to the development of the church, individuals and are also at the vanguard of promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the awardees are late and we present it to their children or families. There were 270 awardees and I am happy that it was a success The book, Women as Teachers and Character Moulders The book does not only focus on the history of the church alone but how our Christian mothers can still continue to imbibe the culture of building, moulding leaders of tomorrow and shaping the society. The book also maps out how our women can live exemplary lives and be role models. It also teaches couples to be mutually supportive.

Women’s role in curbing terrorism The country has been facing lots of insecurity challenges for some time now. Innocent people of all ages continue to lose their lives. Our women, as mothers and carriers of life, can help change the situation with fasting and ardent prayers for resto-

The book does not only focus on the history of the church alone but how our Christian mothers can still continue to imbibe the culture of building, moulding leaders of tomorrow and shaping the society

,

should love one another, not discriminate because of differences in religion, language, background or personality.

Let us forget our differences and live as one family. I believe Nigerian women will achieve more in the area

Mrs.Ezinne Abimbola Makinde....Leaders in various capacities in the

country should have the fear of God of leadership especially in politics if we can learn to love, support and encourage one another.

Our leaders Leaders in various capacities in the country should have the fear of God and do their work effectively by serving the masses with all honesty because the masses are facing lots of challenges. Mr. President should please find a lasting solution to the menace of insecurity, which has led to the killing of thousands of innocent people and the destruction of proper-

ties amongst others.

Government Technical schools which are becoming shadow of themselves should be revived and funded properly. Advanced countries pay keen attention to technical schools because they develop the nations’ economy. Likewise, individuals and non-governmental organizations should support government in providing sound education for Nigerian children.

Teachers ought to be well paid because they are the ones in charge of instilling knowledge and building future leaders.

C M Y K

PAGE 26, SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012

The legislature as a laughing-stock in Nigeria NE unique feature of democratic government is the principle of separation of powers which recognizes three distinct branches of government- the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary with clearly defined functions and powers.

While the Executive is to originate issues such as annual budgets and key appointments to political offices which the Legislature must confirm, any friction in the exercise of power is to be resolved by the Judiciary. To ensure that no one branch gains absolute power or abuses its power, the three branches are expected to serve as checks on each other. It is the capacity of the principle to balance the art of governance that has popularised it world-wide. In Nigeria however, the separation of powers exists only in name because every type of power in the country is directly exercised or in some cases remotely controlled by the Executive branch. The other 2 arms of government are now and again materially compromised. A good example is the Legislature which often pretends to be confused as to what its real functions are by seeking to execute “constituency projects” as though it is unaware that project execution belongs to the Executive. Indeed, some of our legislators tend to testify that it is more profitable to belong to the Executive hence they lobby for and jubilate over appointments in that branch even after winning elections into the legislature.

The posture is curious because the parliamentary system of government which accommodates it ended in Nigeria in 1966.

To suggest that it may be due to materialistic gains may be correct considering the ease with which the legislature in Nigeria has become a willing tool in the hands of the executive to actualise every plot. In fairness, this happens mostly with members of the State Houses of Assembly that are ever ready to reverse themselves daily the way the ones in the Niger State House of Assembly ridiculed themselves the week before by electing 2 Speakers in a week as though they were drunk for half of the week.

It all began on May 15, 2012 when the House sacked its Speaker, Mohammad Tsowa Gamunu for alleged incompetence in the discharge of his responsibilities and unanimously elected Isah Kawu representing Bida 1 constituency as the new Speaker.

Gamunu immediately went to court to challenge his removal and joined the new speaker as a party. As usual, the legislators could not wait for the matter to be resolved by the Judiciary as the constitution prescribes.

Instead, they sacked Speak-

er Kawu that same week and elected another legislator, Adamu Usman, to take his place. The offence of the less than one week old speaker was not disclosed. The Assembly merely said it acted on a motion which was reportedly moved under matter of urgent public importance by a member- Andrew Domarepresenting Shiroro constituency calling for the removal of the Speaker because of loss confidence in

,

O

legislative rascality in the state by ensuring that all the development-oriented bills of the executive were passed within a few seconds of a single sitting Many more State Houses of Assembly are known for rubber-stamping executive proposals. In Oyo State, the House colluded with the Executive to thwart the emergence of truly democratically elected local councils by extending the tenure of their caretaker chairmen.

Of course, the legislators were not unaware that by the time the fresh extension lapses, it will be impossible to meet the legal requirement of 120 days notification be-

What was the rational for moving a motion of vote of no confidence on a speaker who was yet to perform any specific role in his few days in officein other words, how was the level of his competence determined?

his leadership. We can only hope that someday, posterity will ask those concerned the following questions.

What was urgent about the motion? Is the replacement of a speaker for undisclosed reason a matter of public importance? What was the rational for moving a motion of vote of no confidence on a speaker who was yet to perform any specific role in his few days in office-in other words, how was the level of his competence determined?

It was difficult to ascertain the role of the Executive if any in the matter as a rumour that the state government provided over N200 million to induce the lawmakers to terminate the less than one week old leadership of their House was denied by the Commissioner for Information, Malam Danladi Abdulhamid. But no one denied the other story that before the removal of Kawu, civil servants in the state had marched on the Assembly Complex, to demand his removal. Also not disputed is the story that military and armed policemen were mobilized to the premises of the Assembly on the day of the planned removal which suggests that the law enforcement agencies were privy to the plan.

They were there ostensibly to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Oh yes, they do that quite often. In February 2010, when members of the Edo House of Assembly violently ousted Speaker Zakawanu Garuba, media reports reflected not just the presence of law enforcement officials within the Assembly complex but also ambulances and medical doctors who were at the scene to administer first aid. Who called them in? In September 2010, the 9 legislators that suspended 15 of their colleagues in the Ogun House of Assembly were reportedly escorted by 10 policemen. Who supplied them does not matter because before that day, the state was notorious for unending confrontation between the Executive and the Legislature. The famous 9 legislators reversed

,

fore the council election as stipulated in the electoral law. Interestingly, although a member of the House, Azeez Yisau, objected to the reappointment of the caretaker chairman of his constituency-Oorelope local government-all the nominees including the one objected to were all approved “as the executive pleases”.

How then is the posture of democrats who frustrate popular governments at grassroots level to be explained? The pattern of removal of speakers seems to suggest that executive manipulation is not the only problem. There is also greed as legislators always put forward irrational reasons for removing their principal officers from office.

The December 2009 classical case of Speaker Ahmed Hassan Jumare of the Kaduna Assembly is instructive here. His colleagues who sought to remove him from office suddenly declared him as an illiterate and discountenanced his claim that he obtained his qualification from the State Polytechnic located in the same city as the House of Assembly.

Also to be noted is the fact that every legislator that is due for removal is usually described by his peers as incompetent. When Ibrahim Sadiq, Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly and his deputy were removed from office in 2011, incompetence and lack of administrative acumen were the reasons given by their colleagues. A few days later, Kano lawmakers removed their speaker-Yusuf Abdullahi Falgore for gross incompetence as articulated by Lawan Safiyanu Gogori, representing Shanono /Bagwai constituency. In the case of Ebonyi State, the situation was exactly the same with the removal of Speaker Ikechukwu Nwankwo.

Against this backdrop, it is getting obvious that it may become difficult shortly to find one legislator in any State Assembly in Nigeria that is not incompetent.

,

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 27

I feel inadequate with her!

Dear Rebecca

I

AM 20 year old, seeking admission into a higher institution while my girlfriend has gained admission into one already although I was her senior in secondary school. We met about two years ago.

My friends have advised me to forget about her.

But when she came back from school recently, she came to me unexpectedly. We talked about our relationship and at the end of the day, she gave me her photograph as a sign of her love for me. I also told her she is the apple of my eyes.

However, I am not very confident that she will always be mine because of my present educational situation. Should I trust her?

A Reader, Ibadan.

REPL Y REPLY

Y

OU did not say how old this girl is, but I guess she must be younger that you are, or, in the same age group. However, at this ages your feelings, values and needs are still dancing up and down.

They have not stabilized yet because you are still getting to know yourselves and also other people. Your likes and dislikes can change suddenly.

This girl seems fond of you now, and you, of her, but your feelings can change tomorrow, either because you have met other people you prefer more, or it may just be that you no longer find her attractive, or, she may no longer find you attractive. This may, or may have nothing to do with your educational level.

So, it is too early to start worrying about whether you should trust her fondness for you or not. Enjoy the relationship as it is, and stop feeling inadequate for her to love, simply because you are yet to gain admission into a higher institution of learning. If that mattered to her, she would not have come to you in the first place; she would

have simply stopped seeing you. Feel satisfied that she likes you for yourself.

However, don’t put hope for a steady romantic relationship in the photograph she gave you.

Some people give out their photographs to show friendship(not necessarily romance) while others give theirs out because they want to be admired for the lovely pose.

For a more satisfying relationship with members of the opposite sex, don’t discuss the details with

your friends. They can discourage you.

Your priority now is to gain admission to a higher institution of learning and embark on a future career. You have many years ahead of you to fall in and out of love. There’s no need to have any special girlfriend. Have several girls as ordinary friends so that you can have the opportunity to study and understand girls more. Good luck with the admission.

Distressing problems!

Dear Rebecca

I

’M grateful to you, dear Rebecca, for the advice you gave me sometime ago when I was having a particular problem. You told me to fast and pray. T h i s worked then. Unfortunately, for these present problems, I cannot fast because there is plenty to eat, as I now live in a comfortable home. The first problem is that I have ulcer. Is there any medicine that can cure this, or, must I go for an operation?

The other problem is that I was born a moslem, but I started living with my aunt three years ago, I have been following her to church even though I don’t believe in Christianity. Rebecca, I know definitely that you are a Christian. That is why I am asking you to advise me. My father writes and even phones to monitor my life as a moslem. He even sent two Quaran to me but I can no longer pray as a moslem because my aunty stopped me. So I now pray as a Christian and lead morning devotion, sometimes.

I pray in the name of Jesus. I am very worried because each time I want to pray as a moslem, I don’t know how to pray well anymore, and I am sure it is the reason why I’ve been failing my WAEC. I

am now 18 years old, and I hope to go to the university this year if I get my papers. Don’t advise me to leave my aunt because she is the one who can send me to a university.

Segun, Offa.

REPL Y REPLY

T

HESE problems may seem a bit too heavy for your young age, but they’re ones you can overcome if you stay focused and concentrate on what you want out of life.

A medical expert says that you don’t have to have an operation for your ulcer unless it is very bad and the doctor recommends it. Ulcer is a common ailment among people who worry a lot/eat the wrong foods, but it is a condition that can be managed. Avoid fried things like akara, dodo, chin chin, cakes, and oily foods. Avoid alcohol and peppery foods, and also hot foods. Very ripe pawpaw and oats porridge can help heal an ulcer, alongside medication. Don’t eat in a hurry or eat heavy foods late at night. Allow time for your food to digest before going to bed. Sometimes, wind gathers in the stomach when you eat too much protein like beans, eggs, meat, etc. and when the wind

moves around, you may feel as if you have ulcer pains. Usually, when you belch or do the blowup, releasing the air, you feel better. With sensible eating and diet, an ulcer can heal.

It is impossible as a living human being not to worry at all, but if you have faith in God, (whatever your religion), that He is able to solve all your problems through prayer, you will worry less. You know that whatever you may be going through, God knows about it and He will bring about a solution in His own way.

Now, you are old enough to have some self-discipline in life. Too much of everything in life, except the knowledge of God, is bad for us. So, please avoid too much food even though you have it in abundance. It is silly to over eat and endanger your health. Do exercises and engage in hobbies like jogging, reading, music, etc. to relieve the boredom of staying at home and waiting to further your education. Be active. Religion is a private and personal thing.

You have to decide firmly how you want to worship and serve God. It has to agree with your conscience, for you to have a meaningful relationship with your Maker. Sit down and think about the two religions you have practised. Choose whichever one you feel

more comfortable with, and which makes you feel sober and close to God. If your aunty is truly a good Christian, she would not refuse to sponsor your education if you tell her that you would rather go back to being a Muslim. The Christian doctrine encourages that we help those in need; not merely those who share our faith. Of course, most people of any faith in the world want to convert other people, but true Christians don’t punish those who don’t want to embrace Christianity by withholding support from them. As human beings, we may make the move to convert, but it’s actually the Holy Spirit who does the transformation. A person may resist all attempts to be-

come a Christian, but the day that the Holy Spirit gets hold of him/her, he/ she would fall under its spell and convert of his/ her own accord.

Your aunt would naturally be disappointed, but all she would do, would be to pray that the Holy Spirit would touch your heart so that you would give yourself fully to Jesus. Likewise, your father would not disown you if you told him that you have become a Christian. The only thing he can do if he cannot accept it, is to ask you to leave your auntie. Since he is in no position to sponsor your education and you are anxious to study further, he would leave you alone. Ask God to guide you into making the right choice. Goodluck!

Religion is a private and personal thing. You have to decide firmly how you want to worship and serve God. It has to agree with your conscience, for you to have a meaningful relationship with your Maker

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

P AGE 28 — PA

SUND AY Vanguard, MA Y 27, 2012 SUNDA MAY

0808 066 0660 (Texts only!)

Who do these toy boys think they are?!

I

was with Abibat when she first met Tony. We’d both gone to the electrical shop he ran to get a couple of stabilizers for some of her electrical appliances. She’d already lost a cherished DVD player and the compressor of her fridge - no thanks to the epileptic power supply in the country. Tall, very light skinned and handsome to boot, I was quite impressed by his clothes - and his spoken English. Very unlike your usual run-onthe mill shop assistant. He was also a good salesman.

He was quite helpful as to which make would suit what appliance, and by the time we were ready to pay, he’d told us he owned the impressive shop, that he was an electrical engineer who was prematuredly retired.

He set up the shop with his redundancy pay and had continued to build it up.

When Abibat discovered she was a few hundreds short of the total cost of the stabilizers, Tony offered to come with her to the house for the balance. That would also afford him the opportunity to help set up the stabilizers.

We were a bit skeptical about taking home a total stranger, but if you couldn’t trust the owner of such a massive shop, who could you trust? Leaving his hands in charge, he came with us.

True to his words, he set up the gadgets in minutes, took the balance of his money and left. I didn’t hear

much about him until months later when Abibat visited, complaining her daughter couldn’t stand Tony. “She thinks he’s too young for me and looks like an opportunist”, she wailed. I couldn’t recollectwho the heck Tony was. She reminded me sheepishly.

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

‘What in the world are you doing with him?” I wanted to know. It was then she confessed that Tony came to the house a few weeks after our purchase to find out how the stabilizers were performing and that one thing led to the other and before she knew it, they were having a full blown affair! Did he have a wife?

“He’s separated from his wife but lives with the two children of the marriage”, she said. Abibat had, in fact, visited and found his two sons really amiable.

“Isn’t he a bit too young for you?” I asked. “You must be, at least, 10 years older than he is? ‘only eight actually’, said Abibat “but he’s such a matured bloke.

You saw him yourself, saw what a dish he was. Not one for knocking toy boys (or joy boys) I gave her my goahead, with a stem warning to look out for the likelihood of his being an opportunist. Afterall, Abibat is a medical doctor with a thriving practice and a widow. “He’s never asked me for anything,” she assured.

I advised her to ignore

her daughter as she regaled me with tales of Tony ’s sexual prowess. She looked happy and was actually glowing. If Tony brought all these positive emotions out of her, then, he’s worth it!

After about a year they met, Tony travelled to the States, purportedly to stock up his shop only to call later that he might stay for a while and work so as to increase his capital. In the meantime, his two sons were still at his flat and Abibat had a key. She kept an eye on the boys, cooked for them whenever she could and took care of their welfare whilst Tony sent money, from time to time. A few months after Tony left, he phoned Abibat that he’d found some contract black American ‘ wife’ - once

they’re ‘married’ his green card would be assured.

“Well technically he is married”, I reminded her. “Is he planning on a bigamous marriage?” Falteringly, Abibat said Tony had lied to his contract ‘wife’ that he was a divorcee and she needed proof. She had already approached her sister who was a divorcee and she has agreed to let her use her divorcee certificate, pasting the replacement names where appropriate before making a copy ”.

“Wasn’t that fraudulent!” I asked. “You’ve come with your goody-goody views.

This woman of his knows the score and I’m sure she’s doing it for a fee. Once the marriage comes through, they’ll go their different ways”.

Tony ’s little scheme worked and his arrangement with Abibat continued, with his constantly sending money and little gifts to Abibat and his children. Then; Abibat called excitedly that Tony who was now a proud owner of a green card, was expected on a two-week visit . She’d already arranged to meet him at the airport and couldn’t wait to see if the spark was still there after almost two years ‘separation’. In the meantime, she’d cleaned up his flat and spruced up his excited kids. She wanted to have a welcome home party for him at her flat and we quickly went over the best way to go about this. The next day after Tony was supposed to have arrived,

Abibat came to my office very early and one look at her, I had to request another facilitator to take over the class I was lecturing. As soon as we got inside my office, she exploded: “The bastard!” No prize for guessing who this bastard was! “I couldn’t go with my driver to pick up Tony at the airport, so I begged Banke (her daughter) to go with the driver, as he is only a few months old in my employ, she grudgingly agreed to go with him.

“Hours later, she was storming up the path as I looked out the kitchen door.

‘Mum! Did you know Tony was visiting with his American wife?’ she cried. My heart nearly jumped into my throat . ‘He arrived the airport with this mean looking fat woman whom he introduced to me as his wife.

Man, she was ugly and he looked a bit sheepish when I glared at him. What to do?

The car was already there, so we took both of them to his flat!’ She was about to continue gloating when she saw how deflated I looked.

I actually saw her soften and she said I’d better pull myselftogether, that men like Tony used people all of the time. I was livid. What sort of a fool did he take me for? He still avoids me up till now but I know scores will be even some day. I still have a large chunk of the money he sent from time to time. Let’s see if he gets it back!

Continuing on the exercise path

C M Y K

Duration: Stay in this posture for between 5 and 10 seconds. Return to the original position of lying flat down: rest awhile and, repeat twice or thrice more.

Benefits: This exercise expands and airs the lungs.

INBOX Tree Pose Techniques: Stand with feet together. Now, place the sole of your right foot up against your inner thigh with the help of your hand. Now, proceed to place your palm together. Try to be as still as you can be. If you sway a little, don’t worry.

After all, trees way!

Breathe normally.

Duration: Stay in this nos seconds. Repeat with the left foot up against the right inner thigh.

Benefits: This exercise instills a sense of calmness and improves a

stoopy posture.

Half-Plough Technique: Place a chair at the head of your practice mat. Place your head halfway underneath the chair. Now, swing both legs and

,

Y

OU’VE come to understand that the lack of a fitness programme in your life has not done you any good. You have decided to reverse the trend of things. Good.

Well, once you get going, try not to give up along the way. Read up about the successes of others on the exercise path.

That should keep your enthusiasm burning. The truth is that, it won’t be longn when you’ll begin to look forward to exercising upon rising every morning. Let’s go into the following breathing exercises and postures.

Press-up Breathing Technique: Lying flat on your belly, arrange your palms next to your shoulders. Take in a keep breath, and raise the body horizontally. The position should find you on your palms and toes.

The Half-Plough Pose makes the spine elastic. The abdominal organs are massaged.

The gastric fire is improved and constipation dealt with

,

place them atop the backrest of the chair.

Duration: Stay in the Plough Pose for about 10 seconds. To return to the

original position, first bend the knees and gently roll down flat back onto the floor.

Benefits: The HalfPlough Pose makes the spine elastic. The abdominal organs are massaged. The gastric fire is improved and constipa-

, * Press-up Breathing

tion dealt with.

The Seated twist Technique: Sit upright with feet close together.

Clutch the left thigh with the right hand while the left hand holds the top lefet corner of the chair.

Sit tight and turn the trunk leftward.

Duration: Stay in this

INBOX

position for a slow count to 15 and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: This posture gives lateral flexibility to the spine. The kidneys are favourably affected and the innards are also massaged. This pose also aids eliminations.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 29

C M Y K

PAGE 30, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 31

PAGE 32, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 33

PAGE 34, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 35

C M Y K

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

NICO & challenge of cultural renaissance & peaceful co-existence in Nigeria harmonious relations between people of different ethnic, religious and political affiliations are clinically dissected by experts and culture practitioners, leading to the pragmatic recommendations for societal transformation.

I

ndeed, the Institute just concluded a pulsating 2-Day National Conference on Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen which was well attended - it was the largest collection of traditional rulers I had seen in my life. The paper I presented at the eventwas entitled “Religious Tolerance as an Essential Ingredient for Social Harmony and Peace in Nigeria.”

The core thesis of that paper is that, given the fundamentally intolerant nature of Christian and Islamic doctrines, both formal and informal education which stresses tolerance and peaceful co-existence must

,

I

T is not gainsaid that the advent of both Euro-Christian and Arab-Islamic civilisations into indigenous communities that constitute Nigeria has negatively affected the cultural heritage of these communities.

Europeans imperialists, Christian missionaries and Arab Jihadists believed, falsely of course, that the cultural achievements of sub-Saharan societies were definitely inferior in every respect to the ones they intended to impose, mainly through irrational means, on the local population.

After more than two centuries of cultural colonisation, and particularly since independence in 1960, concerted efforts have been made by different federal administrations to revive the rich cultural legacies of Nigerian peoples. The rationale behind these efforts is unassailable. A people without a cultural identity of their own would be lost in the forward march of world history, and their contributions to human civilisation forgotten very easily. Moreover, a sense of cultural identity is one of the characteristics that define our very humanity, which is why culturally conscious leaders all over the world try very hard to preserve and promote the cultures of their peoples. As already indicated, efforts have been to achieve cultural rebirth in Nigeria.

Europeans imperialists, Christian missionaries and Arab Jihadists believed, falsely of course, that ne of such efforts is the cultural O the establishment of the National Institute achievements of for Cultural Orientation sub-Saharan (hereafter referred to as debbiemoments@gmail.com NICO)

by Decree 93 of societies were 1993. Some objectives and functions of the Institute, as definitely inferior articulated in the enabling in every respect decree,are to:(1) serve as a focus for orientation in cul- to the ones they tural matters for Nigerian policy makers, (2) promote, intended to revive, develop and encourage Nigerian culture and impose history,(3) promote public enlightenment of the various facets of Nigeria’s culture and (4) promote Nigeria’s cultural image. I have been privileged to participate in several programmes organised by NICO targeted towards actualisation of its mandate, and there is no doubt that the Institute is evolving into a dynamic changeagent and game-changer in the quest for cultural reawakening.

Furthermore, considering the harsh operating circumstances in Nigeria, the leadership and staff of NICO deserve plaudits for their perseverance, diligence and professionalism.

To actualise its mandate NICO, aside from its annual Roundtable, also organises workshops, seminars and conferences where important and relevant topics pertaining to cultural reorientation and positive values for peaceful and

C M Y K

,

be actively encouraged by parents, teachers and traditional rulers in our various communities. Emirs that attendedthe conference were not comfortable with my arguments, which cast aspersions on the notion that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.But generally the conference was successful.

Those who were present, I am sure, went away with improved understanding and appreciation of how traditional rulers and chairmen of local governments can contribute to the enhancement of peace and social harmony in their areas of authority.

One of the flagship programmes of NICO is the diploma and post-graduate diploma course in Cultural Administration, aimed at producing knowledgeable men and women that can

harness the immense potentials of Nigerian cultural heritage for personal and national development.

The course content of the programme is rich, for it covers core dimensions of culture and tourism, as well as specialised topics such as religious beliefs, traditional medicine etc. NICO also runs a 1-Month training programme on Nigerian indigenous languages, which aims to teach participants selected indigenous Nigerian languages. The importance of the language programme cannot be overemphasised.

L

anguage is the most basic carrier of culture. Now, given the fact that some of our local languages might be extinct soon if we continue with business as usual by neglecting them, NICO must be commended and encouraged for its futuristic endeavour to preserve some of these languages for posterity. In this connection,John Bernard Yusuff (or ES), former Executive Secretary of the Institute, deserves some plaudits for his remarkable contributions to the organisation.

An experienced and versatile civil servant, Yusuff repositioned NICO through capacity-building programmes for his staff and other stakeholders in the cultural sector to bolster efficiency.

During his tenure, there was noticeable improvement in the Institute’s logistics and infrastructure. He launched the Indigenous Language Programme and Cultural Studies at NICO’s training school in Iganmu, Lagos. He also worked hard to ensure that NICO relocated to its present, more befitting, office headquarters at Wuse Zone 7, Abuja. Yusuff ’s successor, Barclays F. Ayakoroma, is a seasoned administrator and academic.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Ayakoroma has brought his academic and administrative experience to bear on the leadership of NICO. As a team player, the incumbent Executive Secretary is building on the achievements of his predecessors with the assistance of veteran NICO staff such as Mrs. Yerima, Mr. Ihenetu, Alex Omijie and others. Right from the start, Ayakoroma decided to reengineer all aspects of NICO’s operations. Consequently, he restructured the administrative architectonic of the Institute formerly comprising Administration and Finance, Research and Documentation as well as Training and Orientation into five departments, namely, Administration and Human Resources, Finance and Accounts, Research and Documentation, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, and Training School.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 — PAGE 37

C M Y K

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY

C M Y K

VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY Vanguard , MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 39 bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Husbands would stray if they’re meant to!

B

ET TY and Nike were school mates.

Four years Nike’s senior, Betty took her under her wings as a ‘school mother.’ “So, what time we actually had together when we were in school was only two years but we were fairly close”, Betty told me at one of our chin-wag session recently. ‘’Nike did every chore for me - washed my clothes, fetched my meals when I wasn’t up to eating in the dinning hall and plaited my hair all the time. In return, I protected her from the wrath of some of the seniors, as she was often rude and argumentative.

“We got in touch after I finished secondary school and when I got married years later, she was one of my brides’ maids. She got married a few years after I did to a man who was irresponsible from the start. He got her pregnant but denied paternity, insisting his marrying her would

be based on the result of a blood test . When the baby girl arrived, he suddenly changed his mind, married her and they went on to have two more children. Then he kicked her out when he found a more interesting woman.

“I saw the break-up coming but Nike was in love with the lout . When he kicked her out, she had nowhere to go and I suggested she moved her things and children to our boy’s quarters pending when she would find alternate accommodation. She had a good job and her husband had promised to help towards the finances of re-settling her and their children.

So, I agreed for her to move in. ‘As long as she doesn’t get under our feet,’ my husband

growled when I sort his consent. ‘She’s a bit too

boisterous for my liking.

“She was a very ‘good house guest and my children took her kids in their wings. She was always cooking mouth-watering dishes that I seldom had time to prepare, on top of which she managed to look good most of the time. In fairness to her, she made me take more care of my appearance at home as Martin, my husband seemed to relish the attention of two women. Once in a while, Nike spent the evening with us until one day, I noticed Martin sitting with her on the sofa. As the evening wore-on, I noticed Martins sitting far, too close to her. I didn’t take it seriously.

He was just playing, so I rolled my eyes and hoped she wasn’t getting the wrong message. A few days later, she was openly flirting with him, telling me how lucky I was to have such a lovely man: compared to the thug she married.

S

he was getting too fresh, but short of showing uncalled for jealousy, I had no way of putting an end to her flirting with my husband.

I was now witnessing a new side of Nike. Had I been wise to invite her to my matrimonial home?

The next time I asked how her house-hunting was going, she said a few estate agents were looking and she should have good news soon. Unfortunately, I had to go to the hospital for an operation to remove my ruptured appendix but Nike told me not to worry, she would look after my family. They all came to visit at the hospital and Nike was the one who actually brought me home as she said it was easier for her to take time off work than for Martin.

“When we arrived home, I took a quick

Y

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

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

A broken heart

My love, curse be the day that you left; curse be

her husband really kicked her out. In the meantime, hang on to your marriage.”

I gave Martin his bounced cheque back and he was jabbering away about how she begged for a loan and, since he wanted her out of the house at all costs, he obliged. I said nothing. The next week, I went to see her husband and told him what happened. He felt sorry for me. ‘Just ignore her,’ he advised, ‘she would soon

look around. I went into our bedroom with my small suitcase and pulled back the top sheet . I stared at the sheet on the bed then leaned closer. It wasn’t only ruffled on Martin’s side, but on mine also. My pillow was

dented from someone’s head. It was obvious that they forgot to make up the bed that morning. I was livid. I charged into the living room, glared at Nike and yelled: •gHow could you sleep with my husband after all I did for you? And with me ill in the hospital? She looked at the floor. I gave you and your children a roof over your heads in my home when your husband threw you out so you could have somewhere to sleep. And you certainly did. With my

husband!

“She was silent for a while, pretending to look contrite before blurting out that: ‘I didn’t want to do it, but your husband made me’. I asked her to pack her things immediately and leave, but she started weeping profusely. When Martin came home and I told him I knew, he confessed it was Nike who

made a play for him.

‘She told me she loved me,’ he said. ‘It just happened.’ When I told him I’d asked her to move out, he said I shouldn’t be hasty. That I should let her find a place to move to first, so that tongues wouldn’t start wagging.

“I was unsure of what to do. On the one hand, I didn’t want the tramp near my family. On the other, why should it be me that would suffer when I hadn’t done anything wrong? How could I keep this woman I’d brought into my home away from my husband? That evening, I told Nike that she had four weeks to leave. In the interim, she should stay away from my family. She agreed, pleading with me again to forgive her. I watched her like a hawk afterwards . She moved before the four weeks I gave her was up and I heaved a sigh of relief .

M

artin had al r e a d y bounced back from his remorseful self. Life was back to

the time I was drunk, curse be my stubbornness I was deaf, curse be our advisers they were wrong.

My tears is a river that flows continuously, my shame is like Cain that killed Abel, my sleep is filled with horrific scenes and my days has been dull without you. Where are you my love? Where are you my evergreen beautiful orchid? Anywhere you are now, know that you lover miss you very much.... please come back home.

OMOR VILLE omorville@gmail.com, 08062486549

My Woman

The day you will open your lips and say 'lets break up', that day will be the end of my world. I will beg your pardon, if you rejects me, I will ask your best friends, your parents and mine to plead with you

normal . But for only a while. One of the estate agents Nike used to get her flat called at the house to tell me the cheque my husband issued to cover the legal fees bounced. I wasn’t really surprised. I kind of suspected that now they weren’t under my nose.

M

artin and Nike might carry on their disgusting affair behind my back. But for him to be financially responsible for her new flat was just too much for me.

“Before Martin came home, I went to a very close magistrate friend of mine who always gives me sound advice. ‘I deal with cases like yours all of the time,’ she told me: ‘Whatever you do, don’t give the impression you want to move out of your matrimonial home. You have your children to consider. But if you think since she was your junior in school and, was like your slave then, you could cow her into leaving your husband alone, you can’t. It would be interesting to know why

show her true colour.

When we were married, she was sleeping with a co-tenant for years, and cooking for him until he got married. After he did, she wanted to continue but the wife wouldn’t have any of it. It wasn’t until things got physical and the wife tore Nike’s clothes to shreds that I had an inkling of what was going on. The rest of the tenants knew and were laughing behind my back. I was violent with her alright but it was because of her constant philandering. I bet right now, you too would ‘give anything to beat her up if you could get away with it!’

A

sk no questions, they say, and you’ll be told no lies. I’ve carried on as before and I have no way of knowing if the affair is still on and I don’t intend to find out. When you hear of cases of men who sleep with close relations and friends of the wives, and sometimes get them pregnant, you think it can never happen to you.

Why? Because you’re such a good judge of character? Husbands would stray if they ’re meant to. But you kick yourself when you find out you brought poison into your own home.

not to leave me. if you rejects them, I will ask our creator to plead with you. do you know why am asking everybody to beg you because I dont want to live in a day without you in my life. I love you very much.

Kelechi Ndubisi kconeofafrica@gmail.com, 08032900530, 08185515552

Divine passion

As love is the most noble and divine passion of the soul, so is it that to which we may justly attribute all the real satisfactions of life, and without it, man is unfinished, and unhappy.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08052757049.

PAGE 40 — SUND AY V ANGU ARD, MA Y 27, 2012 SUNDA VANGU ANGUARD, MAY

Empowering youths to be change catalyst MANY well meaning Nigerians are of the opinion that the current security challenges threatening the nation's corporate existence would not have arisen if the country’s leaders have not neglected the needful by engaging the army of youths and make them change catalysts to transform the nation. In an attempt to feel that void, the Apapa Family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has perfected plans to hold a one-day crusade-like spiritual event designed to gainfully employ the youths and prepare them to become needed change catalysts. The day long programme featuring a variety of youth-related presentations including music ministration by youthful musicians like Tim Godfrey, Eben and JO Blue, geared towards the role and impact of youths as the core agent of change and the change catalyst in the society is scheduled for Sunday, June 3 at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. The main speaker at the event will the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the theme is “Change Catalyst”. The Family has also concluded plans to feed at, 100,000 persons at the occasion as part its dream to eradicate hunger through an initiative called, A Can Can Make A Difference. Fielding questions from selected Religious Correspondents in Lagos, recently, the head of the Apapa Family—a collection of about 17 provinces of the church across the nation with strong showing in Europe, USA, Oceania and Asia and Pastr-in-charge of Lagos Province 4—Pastor Idowu Iluyomade revealed plans to host the high and mighty in the Nigerian society at the fifth annual EXCEL programme. To demonstrate that the Christian walk is propelled by love and unity, the Apapa Family helmsman and pastor in charge of the popular City of David parish in Victoria Island, Lagos explained that Excel was a divine vision given to the family in 2007. Our SAM EYOBOKA was at the interactive session and brings excerpts from the discussion: WHY IS THE FOCUS ON THE YOUTHS?

We believe that the youths are not the leaders of the future; they are the leaders of now. And the future is right now. They are the church of now as against the popular belief that future belongs to the youths. Statistics show that most people give their lives to Christ before the age of 18 and therefore that age bracket is very critical for evangelism and nationally the youths form the majority of the voting age who actually determine the faith of any nation. From the Bible we are told of a king called Josiah who ruled over Israel at the age of eight and of course our Lord Jesus Christ was a youth who started his ministry at the age of 30. If we invest in the youth now, the future of the nation is very bright. For example if you look at evangelism, the older generation may not be able to win souls a much as the youths who as versed in the use of the social media to reach millions of people.

So, we are taking the vision of impacting our world to the next level.

Is the security challenges part of the reason for targeting the youths; since they are the perpetrators of the evil devices?

It’s part of it. A catalyst is an agent that causes a change to a chemical reaction but remains stable and we believe that the youths can become the catalyst to change the society for good without being consumed by the negative spirits pervading the nation’s sociopolitical horizon. If you change the attitude of a person, naturally his propensity to commit evil will be changed. That is why we believe that the youths that are currently perpetrating terrorist acts in the country if we can bring them together and change their orientation they will become change catalysts who will transform the nation.

Invest in them and change their orientation because the Bible says as a man thinketh so he is. So, if we can change the orientation of those youths who are bombing churches and other public institutions there will be peace in the nation, because change can only come from within. The church is a big umbrella that can accommodate everybody.

What’s your assessment of the annual programme since 2008 when it started?

I believe that we’ve been focused and have been running with the theme God gave us each year. It’s been so

offering scholarships for prison inmates, old people’s homes and orphanages.

And at every E X C E L Foundation our General Overseer endows a N50 million professorial chair in Mathematics for one university. So far, he has done three and this year it is the turn of the Obafemi Awo lowo University. So, slowly but steadily we are moving with the vision of the Fa m i l y.

Lest, I forget we are also involved in corporate social responsibility including *Pastor Idowu Iluyomade sports; we have football clubs successful. For example the regrouping including COD United FC, New Courtyard of the Family to the impacting the world FC, Kings United FC, table tennis and in 2009 to leading change in 2010 right athletics clubs. I must tell you that we are up to leading change: impact through the proprietors of the first Nigerian club to service last year, its been a wonderful partner with an English Premier League experience. One of the highlights of last club, Bolton Wanderers as a result of which year’s event was the establishment of a four Nigerian children were invited by Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Centre Bolton last year. We are also the initiators of and so far the centre had screened over Heaven Gate, a TV serials projecting strong 2,500 Nigerians at very subsidized rates, family values and laying holiness. It recently an attempt to complement the efforts of won the first Gospel Media Award. We also the Lagos State government. Similarly, have youth churches in the Family which as part of our Christian Social Res- are involved even in political activities. A ponsibility, CSR, we fed 50,000 people group known as What About Us? They at the venue of the programme last year. participated in the presidential debates last As a church, we feed about 50,000 people year. every Sunday at different locations including prisons, hospitals and at our Apart from the food and the N50 million parishes. This year, we are feeding professorial chair what else should the 100,000 persons. On the whole we have people expect on June 3? fed about seven million persons since the project started. There are various other We have concluded plans to establish a areas where we are touching lives, re- Youth Academy, EXCEL Youth Academy fully habilitating drug addicts, prostitutes, equipped to guide, mentor and prepare them

for leadership. We have invited resource persons from different disciplines to prepare the nation’s youths. Every parish of the RCCG is mandated to teach information technology and we are doing our very best in the area of education as we have several schools within the Family. We have a blueprint for social reformation structures where we give out clothes and other items for the poor among us. We have clinics all over Lagos so that wherever you go you will see a health facility to attend to you and it is the same programme that is running in all the churches.

We already have a programme where train and empower the youths to take responsibilities. We have the only smoke-free event centres, charity shops, various ventures including book shops and laundries.

The growth of RCCG has also brought with certain challenges. Where do you see the church in the five years?

The church has come to stay.

If you look at the church, not in terms of buildings, but in terms of people who worship in them, you will agree with me. The Bible says healing can only come to a nation when the people that are called by my name repent, humble themselves, and go back to God. So the change and the healing that we are looking for, lye in our hands. So, the church will be there. I believe that God is using us to play our part in the healing of this country despite the challenges. Challenges have always been there. There is nothing new under the sun. The Bible says we are the light of the world and light can only shine when there is darkness.

Will you alien yourself with calls in certain quarters to fight back when they come under attack?

I believe that our leader, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has spoken and we are all under obligation to follow his directive.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012--- PAGE 41

Shonekan, Fashola, Obi task Nigerians on peace

L

GOD’S TRUTH VERSUS MAN’S LIES

I

MAGINE a world where everyone speaks the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? What kind of world would that b e ? Would we even want to live in it? It does not matter if we are Christians, atheists or agnostics; we don’t like the truth. What differentiate us from one another are relativities: the extent to which we tell lies. We all tell lies every now and then, but some of us consider ourselves to be righteous because we don’t tell “big” lies.

But can we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? The classical answer to that is: “so help me God.” Would we even want to tell the truth at all times? I think not. Telling the truth would get us into too much trouble. We would lose our friends. We would lose our jobs or not be able to get a job. Our marriages would collapse. To be perfectly honest, it would be too costly.

T

his world is a world of lies; it is not meant for the truthful. The quickest and surefire way to succeed in this world is to sin. The psalmist says: “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.”

(Psalm 73:12).

Therefore, a voice from heaven says: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins.”

(Revelation 18:4).

Therefore, Jesus invites us to come into the righteous kingdom of God.

Justifiable lies I write articles pointing out the contradictions and fallacies in the epistles of Paul. When I do, some Christians write to me asking for my objective. Do I need any other objective than the need to expose a lie? Clearly, they don’t think so. They believe a lie should be permitted if it is for the good of the gospel. Paul himself asks; “If the truth of God

We either love life relatively and lose it; or hate life absolutely and gain it has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?” (Romans 3:7).

Martin Luther also says: “What harm would it do, if a man told a good strong lie for the sake of the good and for the Christian church ... a lie out of necessity, a useful lie, a helpful lie, such lies would not be against God, he would accept them.”

C

hristians are fed on lies systematically and procedurally. For example, Bishop David Oyedepo says: “For over 25 years that I have been married to my wife, it has been tension-free, peaceful and serene.”

That is a big lie. No marriage can be like that for 25 years unless both husband and wife are physically dead. Several years ago, at a dinner captioned: “A Day Out with the G.O.” held for financial sponsors of one of his annual “Holy Ghost Festivals,” Pastor Adeboye boasted that the time would soon come when the Queen of England would plead to join the Redeemed Church in order to work as an usherette. The audience rejoiced in the lie. They responded with wild applause and shouts of “Amen!”

Relative righteousness

P

aul is a master of the relative and he offers us a way out of God’s absolutes. He does not just tell us to speak the truth. That would be too absolute. nstead, he says we should speak the truth “in love.”

(Ephesians 4:15). That conveniently qualifies the tru t h . For Paul, speaking the truth is only good if spoken in love. In effect, there are times when, according to Paul, it is not good to

speak the truth. If the truth is likely to be hurtful to someone, it is better to tell a lie. Thereby, Paul re-opens the door shut

by Christ for Christians to continue telling lies.

I

nstead of asking Christians to avoid evil, Paul says we should: “abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). I n effect, Paul is not against evil per se. He is more interested in appearances. His primary concern is public opinion. But while appearances may convince and satisfy men; they will never satisfy God who searches the hearts and minds of men.

For Paul, truth is relative. Where we stand depends on where we sit. Paul is fundamentally against God’s absolutes. On the issue of not eating food sacrificed to idols, he says dismissively: “He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.” (Romans 14:6). Paul even manages to give a malicious slant to the absolutely godly injunction that we should love our enemies. He says: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

(Romans 12:20).

H

e ends up with this principle: “All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient.” (1 Corinthians 6:12). In effect, even murder is lawful according to Paul, but it might not be expedient. If it becomes expedient, we would have no qualms in committing it. Paul says: “Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” (Romans 14:22).

God of absolutes

But our God is a God of absolutes. With him, there are no compromises. No grey areas. No white lies. God cannot lie. He speaks the truth in all circumstances. He is the embodiment of truth. His word is truth.

His Son, Jesus, is “the way, the truth and the life.” His Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. Therefore, when we learn at the feet of Jesus, we discover that a lie is a lie is a lie. A lie is never justifiable. There is nothing like a good lie or a white lie. God is absolutely the enemy of liars. He says categorically: “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8).

G

od raised one man to confound all man’s relative truths.

That man is Jesus. He never spoke a lie. He absolutely never committed sin. And yet he is a man. What manner of man is Jesus? He is the manner of man God expects all of us to be. Therefore, Jesus is our Good Shepherd. We must follow his footsteps.

Jesus does not give man’s relative commands. Moses says: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” This means if I don’t love myself, I am free not to love my neighbour. But Jesus says: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 13:34). Jesus is the single absolute yardstick for God’s righteousness and he confounds all our relativities and rationalizations of sin.

J

esus reveals the love of life is the absolute root of all evil. Therefore, God has made the hatred of life in this world the primary prerequisite for the attainment of eternal life. Jesus says: “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

(John 12:25). No relativities here. We either love life relatively and lose it, or hate life absolutely and gain it. The choice is ours to make.

AGOS State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi have charged Nigerian religious leaders to contribute their quota to the nation's development by teaching their members to be responsible citizens by seeking peace at all times, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Speaking Friday through the State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, during the official opening of 3rd session of the 2nd Synod of Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the governor said it is high time Nigerians, especially Christians, got actively involved in the development of the country.

Fashola said churches have a responsibility to encourage those in leadership positions and pray for the peace and tranquility of the country.

“Church leaders should teach their members to be good and responsible citizens. Those in power should be encouraged by churches because for us to have peace in Nigeria, we must pray and act wisely in our individual capacities”, he said.

Mr. Obi challenged Nigerians to pray for the peace of God to reign in this country, stressing: “We all owe a duty to the development of Nigeria.”

He therefore advised religious leaders to be involved in checkmating various ills in the society and correct those in leadership positions whenever they go astray.

“Churches must help us to stop celebration of irresponsibility in our society and they should not relent in correcting leaders,” Obi advised.

In a related development, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan urged every Nigerian to contribute his/her quota to the development of the country, noting that a successful transformation of the society depends on the efforts every individual.

Speaking after a benevolent partner award given to him by the church at the Cathedral of St. Jude, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, Chief Shonekan enjoined Nigerian masses to shun all forms of evil.

His words: “We should endeavor to work together as one in peace. Everyone of us must strive to do our own little bit. Through this the coming generation will have a better Nigeria.”

While commending the church for its diligence in seeing to the welfare of its members and the society, Shonekan assured Nigerians that with the spirit of love and unity, the lost glory of the country will be restored.

In his response, the diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Adebayo Akinde explained that the award was in recognition of Chief Shonekan’s efforts in nation building, church growth and towards humanity.

Osu makes case for the Nigerian child

A

S Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration, the Federal Government has been urged to invest more on the welfare of Nigerian youths by providing them with a conducive atmosphere for self actualization, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. According to Director, Social Communications of the Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, Very Rev. Msgr Gabriel Osu, the Jonathan administration must show its commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian child by ensuring free and compulsory education for all children up to secondary education and by putting in place enabling policies that will safe-guard them from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

“Our children deserve more than they are currently getting from us. They are the future of our nation and they deserve to be adequately catered for. They deserve quality education as this is the best policy we can give to them. That is why I am calling on the government to make it a policy for all children, irrespective of their states of origin, to have access to free qualitative education at the primary and secondary level. I am happy that some states are already doing this. But it should be made a policy for every state to abide with.’

The cleric would also want members of the National Assembly to pass more Bills that would protect the rights of the Nigerian child, to immune them from all forms of exploitation and ensure that they have access to the basic needs of life such as food, shelter and clothing, amongst others.

42 —SUNDAY, Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012

Damilola Odukoya hooks Dotun Banjo With Ayo Onikoyi

08033286159

Merry-merry bash for Omosigho @ 80 It was fun and merry-making all the way at the Porthacourt home of Chief Felix Bright Uwagboe Omosigho, a notable businessman and elder statesman when he clocked 80 years. The family, right down to the children and grandchildren came from their various destinations across the country to celebrate the joyous entry of their patriarch into the club of octogenarians.

The day started with a thanksgiving service followed by a super deluxe reception. Many of Chief Omosigho’s business associates, past and present, including several expatriates came to felicitate with him. Pictures show the happy moments

Chief F.B.U. Omosigho flanked by his wives

L-R: Christabel Omosigho, Chief Engr. Felix Bright Uwagboe Omosigho and first son, Sebastine Omosigho

Chief F.B.U. Omosigho with some of his children

M

From left; Chief David Odukoya, bride's father; Mrs Sileola Odukoya, bride's mother; Mr and Mrs Adedotun Banjo, new couple, Dr. Oluwatomisin Banjo, groom's father and Mrs Oluranti Erinfolami, representing groom's mother

L-R: Abdul Salah and Raimy business associates of Chief Felix Omosigho

Wallgreen, partner set up The Bamiros and the cement moulding factory Murainas become one R. Wale Lawal, a real estate practitioner, through his construction outfit, Wallgreen Properties along with his partner, is putting together one of the biggest ultra modern cement molding factory.

He will be citing the Block Molding Factory in Lagos and Abuja any moment from now. The project already has an understanding with Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC), Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) and some other agencies.

T

he solemnization of Holy matrimony between former Miss Damilola Odukoya, daughter of Chief and Mrs David Odukoya and Mr. Adedotun Banjo, son of Dr and Late (Mrs) Oluwatomisin Banjo and was held at The Chapel of Christ the Light, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday, April 21st .Reception followed immediately at Regency hall, also in Alausa, Lagos

From left; Chief P. Adebanjo, Aare Olorogun of Makun-Sagamu; Mrs Temitope Abiona and Princess Aderonke Adeyemi

T

he families of Professor Bamiro, former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan and that of Maj-General Abdullahi Iyanda Muraina, Chief of Army Accounts & Budget, became in-laws when their children were joined in a Holy wedlock

Atamu extols Okumagba, plans for burial

From left; Chief Mrs Mayaki-Ogunbe; Mrs Gladys George and Mrs Vicky Akinroso

A

TAMU Social Klub, a group of Urhobo professionals in Lagos, has described the late former president general of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) and Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Okumagba, as an uncompromising leader who fought selflessly for the development and well-being of the Urhobo nation.

Meanwhile, members of the group are billed to meet at Eleda Extension, Iba New Site, LASU-Iba road, Ojo, Lagos, today to plan for the week-long burial rites of the late Urhobo leader scheduled to begin in June.

Speaking on the leadership qualities of Okumagba, Engr. Valentine Omamogho, president of the club, noted that even though the former suffered a lot of deprivations on account of his resolute pursuit of the Urhobo cause, he remained courageous, refusing to abandon his people.

C M Y K

The newly wedded couple, Mr & Mrs. Olumide Bamiro (middle) flanked by father of the groom, former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Bamiro, mother of the Bride, Mrs Muraina (left), and Mrs Edun (nee Bamiro) and Maj-General Abdullahi Iyanda Muraina, Chief of Army Accounts & Budget, father of the bride (right).

From left; Alhaji Fatai Lawale; Mr. Biodun Sele; Mr. Musa Rabiu; Mr. Miftau Amusat; Elder Adedoja Olapade and Mr. Rafiu Oyebanji

SUNDAY, Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012 — 43

Omoigui receives Oba of Benin’s Royal Beads

B

enin City, the Edo capital came alive last weekend when His Imperial Royal Majesty Omo n’ Oba n’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, bestowed on Dr. Mrs Ifueko OmoiguiOkauru a “Royal Beads” as part of honour to celebrate her for a job well done while in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) . Traditionally, chieftaincy titles are not conferred on womenfolks in Benin, but women who distinguish themselves in service to state and humanity could receive the royal beads from the ruler as a mark of honour.

Photos by Barnabas Uzosike

With Ayo Onikoyi

08033286159

Oluwafemi thanks God Former FAAN boss gives @ 70 daughter in wedlock

W

hen Brother Samuel Olufemi clocked 70 the theme of the celebration was “ Come and worship with us” and members of Apostolic Faith Church, Anthony, Lagos did just that as they got together in thanking God for his goodness, favours, security, grace and good health on behalf of the celebrant.

W

edding ceremony between former Miss Olayemi Ruqayat Shittu Balogun, daughter of Engr. Femi Shittu Balogun, former MD, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN and Mr Adegoke Abodunrin Phillips, son of Eng Lanre Phillips, a consultant was held at Cathedral Church, Marina and Army Officers Mess, Outer Marina, Lagos. The reception took place soon after at Wilmot Harbour Points, Victoria Island, Lagos where guests were treated to a deluxe evening of refreshment and entertainment.

From left: Rev. Fr. Festus Ogbonmwan with Mr & Mrs. Omoigui

The Ds (NECA) Rev. Bayo Adeniran with Bro. Samuel Oluwafemi The Couple, Mr and Mrs Adegoke Philips

From left: Chief Anofi S. Guobadia; Prof.

Emmanuel Emovon; Mr. Okauru; And Justice Aluyi Members of Choir of Apostolic Faith Church, Anthony, Lagos

L-R: Engineer Remi Shittu Balogun, former M D; FAAN, father of the bride; Chief (Mrs) Teju Phillips, former Commissioner for Special Duties, Lagos State; the couple; Mr and Mrs Adegoke Phillips; Mrs Tokunbo Shitu, bride's mother and Engr. Lanre Phillips

Chief Sam & Barr. (Mrs) Obaro

Kind Gesture EXECUTIVE members of 1990 set of St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala, Imo State, Lagos Chapter; visited and donated materials to Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere, Lagos last weekend.

Photo by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R:Mr. Chikaodi Nnadim, Fin. Sec., 1990 set of St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala, Imo State, Lagos Chapter; Barr. Anthony Obi, President, Lagos Chapter; Mrs Omolaja Adedoyin, Founder, Hearts of Gold Children's Hospice and Mr. Gogo Anyanwu, Nat.President, SPCS '90 C M Y K

The celebrant,Bro. Samuel Oluwafemi with his children

Convocation SIR Patrick Akporuno, M.Ed, Measurement & Evaluation and Dr. Joseph Uche, Ph.D (Chemistry) were a couple of many who had a delightful time during the recent convocation of the University of Benin.

L-R: Sir Patrick Akporuno, M.Ed, Measurement & Evaluation and Dr. Joseph Uche, Ph.D (Chemistry)

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Olateju Phillips, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Erelu Abiola Dosunmu and Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande

L-R: Prince Gbolahan Dada and Mr. Dapo Abiodun

PAGE 44—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

chimeena@yahoo.com

Things Fall Apart named one of the Most Influential Books of the last 50 years today. Not all the books on

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU WITH A AGENCY REPORT

C

(L-r) Jekwu Anyaegbuna , 2012 Commonwealth African region prize winner and Chimamanda Adichie, winner of the 2007 Orange Broadband Prize for fiction

Nigeria’s Jekwu Anyaegbuna wins 2012 Commonwealth prize LITERA TURE LITERATURE

T

he list of Commonwealth prize winners, for each of the five regions, has been released. The winner for the African Region is Jekwu Anyaegbuna for his story, Morrison Okoli (1955-2010).

His commonwealth story is about Africans in the Diaspora, this time a Nigerian who spent several years away from home.

But Morrison lived a shady life; he was into crime, and his story is told as a flashback, after his corpse had been brought to a cemetery for burial back home in Nigeria. The exquisite angle to Morrison Okoli (1955-2010) is that it is told in a way that is not only creative, fascinating, but shocking for both the quality of imageries employed, and the mind of the author at work.

In this story, as in many of his works, Anyaegbuna makes symbols and imageries speak, carry his narration forward, carry it to the reader’s mind, more than words.

Jekwu has a style of writing that has always stood each of his stories out even among the 2009 class of students that

C M Y K

,

BY TUNJI AJIBADE

Jekwu has a style of writing that has always stood each of his stories out even among the 2009 class of students that attended the annual Farafina Writing Workshop

attended the annual Farafina Writing Workshop organised

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, winner of the 2007 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. While commenting on Jekwu’s name appearing on the short story shortlist earlier on, Adichie had said, “I’m going to be presenting the awards at the Hay festival...and I think I might just cry if Jekwu wins. This is exactly why I wanted to do this workshop, to let Nigeria see our talent, to let the world see our talent.”

P

rize winner for other Commonwealth regions are: Asia, Anushka Jasraj, India, Radio Story; Canada and Europe, Andrea Mullaney, UK, The Ghost Marriage; Caribbean, Diana McCaulay, Jamaica, The Dolphin Catcher; Pacific,

,

Emma Martin, New Zealand, Two Girls in a Boat.

J

ekwu is a graduate of the University of Ilorin, and his short stories and poems have appeared in several literary journals in the United States and the UK including Ambit, Orbis, Other Poetry, The Journal, Bow-Wow Shop, Eclectica Magazine, Atticus Review, Yuan Yang Journal, The Talon Magazine, Dark Lady Poetry, Asinine Poetry, Vox Poetica, Breadcrumb Scabs, Haggard and Halloo, New Black Magazine, Pattaya Poetry Review, dcomP Magazine, Tipton Poetry Journal, Obsession, and Black Heart Magazine.

Jekwu lives, works and writes in Lagos. The overall winner shall be announced in June.

hinua Achebe’s opus ma gus, Things Fall Apart was last week named one of the 50 Most Influential books of the last 50 years.

This was made known in the US by a group that identified itself as Superscholar.

Other novels on the list include; Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’, Salman Rushdie’s ‘Satanic Verses’, Joseph Heller’s ‘Catch-22’, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’.

The novel, Things Fall Apart, published in 1958 has been translated to over sixty international languages. The classical narrative, which according to Michael Thelwell, African America writer , “ midwife the birth of contemporary African literature” remains the most referenced work that captures the intriguing era of cultural confrontation and clashes between the West and the rest of Africa.

Achebe, who is the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University in Providence, RI, is the author of five novels, several volumes of poetry as well as essay collections. His latest book, ‘There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra’, will be published in September, 2012.

According to the group, “In compiling the books on this list, the editors at SuperScholar have tried to provide a window into the culture of the last 50 years. Ideally, if you read every book on this list, you will know how we got to where we are

this list are “great.” The criterion for inclusion was not greatness but INFLUENCE. All the books on this list have been enormously influential.

“The books we chose required some hard choices.

Because influence tends to be measured in years rather than months, it’s much easier to put older books (published in the 60s and 70s) on such a list than more recent books (published in the last decade). Older books have had more time to prove themselves. Selecting the more recent books required more guesswork, betting on which would prove influential in the long run.

“We also tried to keep a balance between books that everyone buys and hardly anyone reads versus books that, though not widely bought and read, are deeply transformative. The Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa never sold as many records as some of the “one-hit wonders,” but their music has transformed the industry. Influence and popularity sometimes don’t go together. We’ve tried to reflect this in our list.”

Prof. Chinua Achebe

Splendid Literature and Culture foundation calls for entries

T

he Splendid Literature and Culture Foundation is calling for submissions of entries from eligible young Nigerian writers, aged 11 to 21, of children’s literature from all over the country for the Splendid Literature and Culture Foundation Series.

The body is a non profit making organisation located in Surulere, Lagos with the aim of promoting young writers by making sure that books written by young writers that will entertain, enlighten and appeal to children of ages 8 to 12 readers are published.

Speaking during a press round table talk, the founder of the foundation, Mobolaji Adenubi disclosed that the

submission of entries opened on the 24th of May, 2012 and will end on 31st July. And that the entry is open to only young writers resident in Nigeria and their stories should have strong Nigeria/ African content. All entrants’ works must be original, unaided and unpublished works of fiction in English as Plays and poems are not eligible.

Continuing, she stated that the work should be between 3000- 3500 words, typewritten and double spaced. All scripts received will be reviewed by a panel of Judges and the best six (6) will be selected for publication.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 45

Gombe now on a firm footing for development — GOV DANKWAMBO

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

S

INCE 2003, Gombe State in the north-eastern geo-political zone of the country has tried to live up to its epithet — Jewel in the Savannah. With its undulating, arable farmlands and equable climate even in the arid zone, a casual drive around the state will convince a first time visitor that Gombe has immense capacity and potentials, especially in the area of agriculture, while its sizable limestone topography can provide feedstock for as much as 100 cement plants..

Sharing borders with Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, Gombe has a high connectivity index which can be a major advantage economically. To actualize the dream of the state for development, the administration of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, shortly after assuming office convened an 11-man committee to fashion a blueprint that can be used to develop the state, and assure and ensure continuity of developmental initiatives. In the interview below, Governor Dankwambo, a former AccountantGeneral of the Federation who said that his desire is to see the quality of the Gombe man appreciate, also spoke of the need for that blueprint and other initiatives he brought into governance in the Jewel of the Savannah a year ago. Excerpts:

Gombe needs a blueprint for development

Governance requires continuity, maintenance, planning and integrity, discipline and composure. We are all conscious of these variables and we put them together before we started and that is why they say we were slow when we started then. We were not doing anything because we want to ensure that some of these variables are structured in such a way that they contribute to

development and speedy distribution of limited resources that we receive. So, when we started, I set up an 11-man committee. It was not an investigative committee but it was a committee that will help me, between me and the electorate, build a bridge to agree on a consensus towards moving Gombe State forward . This is because anywhere you go in politics, they say continuity is important. But on what do you continue? In short, there is no blueprint for this continuity. It is not enough to say education is my focus and I will continue to focus on education, no. What I believed before I even came was that there must be standardised parameters for development, for continuity.

We must get things right

There are things we must get right and if we don’t get them right from the beginning, we can never get them right in the middle. So we set up a committee to ensure a consensus on things that we would do in the next four years.

Second, to ensure the involvement of the people and not to surprise anybody to say we are going to do a road. Thirdly, to also match some of these projects to our cash flows so that we will not have abandoned projects at the end of the day. We should be able to start well and plan and allocate our resources by deliberately creating accounts that will cater for works that has been done to be paid immediately so that contractors will not stop and demobilise and allow for fluctuation and all that. So, the 11man committee was set up to look at the issues wholistically. We are at advantage now because we are a new state; we are just about 15 years old, so we can always restart development. All Gombe people came irrespective of their political backgrounds, religion, tribe and we sat down and talked on what we should do on education, health, what kind of roads we need to construct linking the metropolis with local governments, which roads do we seek the assistance of some other people to partner with and how do we partner? Do we require loans, resolution and all of these terms were put together by the committee and the

zTRANSFORMERS PURCHASED TO BOOST ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

zHis

Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Executive Goveror, Gombe State

‘We have a mandatory responsibility to ensure that our future is good. It doesn’t matter how much money you have now’ inventory of where we were, where we want to go with short, medium and long term were all identified. We started this in all the sectors.

Can you give us an overview of the sectoral analysis of the findings and how you are tackling them?

When I came in, it was very clear to me that, as an accountant by training, there was error

margin because there are some numbers that cannot be contained in calculator. So these are the kind of numbers we were having and I asked myself; where did we go wrong? Is it possible for 18,000 children to be dull people? I said something must have gone wrong and we looked at the structure of education, see what Continues on page 46

zTRACTORS PURCHASED BY DANKWAMBO’S ADMINISTRATION

PAGE 46, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

zA NEWLY CONSTRUCTED CHALET AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LODGE, GOMBE

zCOMPLETED ROAD PROJECT IN GOMBE TOWN

Continued from page 45

zCOMPLETED NASRAWO CRESCENT ROAD IN GOMBE TOWN

zCOMPLETED ROAD PROJECT AT FEDERAL LOW-COST HOUSING SCHEME, GOMBE

zANOTHER COMPLETED TOWNSHIP ROAD

zA MODEL PRY SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT HASSAN CENTRAL PRY SCHOOL, GOMBE

programme is on course because of issues of procurement which we have to take two to four weeks to do and so on. We have just awarded the contract and mobilised the contractors in all the sites of those primary schools of 50% and I am monitoring them.

GSS Gombe 2 and we will be watching the enrolment and the population growth so that we can do in education and blueprint of all the when it is time for us to migrate, we will now sectors were made. When we got the blueprint, move to GSS Gombe 3 and be replicating. That we started development. Basically, like in is my belief about continuity. So anybody that education, we found that we have an excellent comes into Gombe now cannot go back and and wonderful university in Gombe that can say that continuity is classroom that has 400 match any university in Nigeria, but there is an Quality of teachers pupils. In terms of teachers too, I cannot say input to the university and the inputs are It is not only about the infrastructure, the that because all of them are not good, they basically the basic education-the primary and quality of teachers is zero. Some of them should go away; some of them can be retrained. secondary schools. So, if we have a university, cannot even write simple text on the board, To retrain them, we created a college of we have to start looking back like what is they don’t even come to school and nobody education which is meant to train the teachers, wrong in the primary and secondary schools. cares about them, the standardized curriculum to retrain the existing ones and also to serve as a We found out that there are some places that we for them to learn is not there. So, we have training ground for would-be teachers for cannot expand; we have a population of 300 to repackaged all these and have adopted the new primary and secondary schools and for other 400 people in a particular class, in a particular education system to which we have migrated vocational and auxiliary schools that we have. school that accounted for 30 per cent of total three months ago and which we are making That too has finished and we are in the stages enrolment in the whole of Gombe State and mandatory in all our schools. We have made of procurement. We finally gave approval to that class does not have up to 10 chairs. So, schools available through the SUBEB and we the contractors to start work and before the when a teacher is doing a roll call, she doesn’t are trying to make it cheaper by rehabilitating first anniversary, work will commence. Next call names again, She has to give them numbers and upgrading our printing press which is under week, we will make down payment for the by calling from number one, two, and three and the Commissioner of Information. By the time contractor. so on and they will be answering ‘yes sir'. we finish, we will just be publishing so that we It is commendable that you have will just be paying for some of the royalties. It embarked on the construction of Extra-large classes is the same thing in the secondary schools as physical structures in the schools but Is it possible for a teacher to teach 400 with the primary schools. When I came, after one is concerned about the other students in a particular class? We were only 30 getting the report, I had to go to the place variables like easy access to books when I went to the school then because I was myself. I went to the secondary schools and and relevant curricula, what efforts are privileged to have attended that particular tears came down my eyes; see innocent students you making in this direction? school and that was applicable to most of the who we say are the leaders of tomorrow, On the issue of schools, we have carefully schools in the metropolis here, so we had to whether we like it or not, our time will come mapped out the infrastructure and book define parameters and say what do we mean by and pass and these are the people that will take requirements. The books and the curricula go primary school? Unfortunately for those ones over from us. If a good man takes over from together. In the secondary school, I have just that are under-aged, we can't create another you, you live good but if a bad man takes over migrated to the new secondary school syllabus school. The best we can do is to expand .that from you, you are finished. So, we have a which is the latest. The difference, as you said, is school and start thinking of going forward in mandatory responsibility to ensure that our that they have introduced a lot of IT and stratified manner, maybe as population grows. future is good. It doesn’t matter how much vocational skills acquisition in the new curricula As it is now, we have a facility that will cater for money you have now or policemen you have which is okay so that you don’t only do theory, about 4,000 people by December. If the because when you live in the midst of your you also learn practical vocational skills. The parameters are showing that population will neighbours, they may look at you somehow person I brought at the primary school level is a grow at a higher rate, then we will think about when you come back because of the money you Professor who specializes in curriculum taking students from class 4, 5, 6 to another have, so you have mandatory responsibility to development, Prof. Gurama. I brought him location because those pupils would have make these guys good guys. So, we define from the National Board for Teachers Commisreached the age of 10 expectedly. So, that plan is boarding school as school that should not have sion specifically to be able to develop special in the booklet and we have started reconstruct- more than 1,500 students at any particular point curricular that will put in elements of IT, ing those schools and those schools are going in time. And we have started that in a particular vocational skill, guidance and counseling and to be model schools — five of them. With our location of Government Secondary school also remodeling character and children. statistics, we found out that the five schools can with a population of about 4,000 plus and by Are you not encountering problems now be broken into 10, but if we do the five our parameters, it should be about 1,500. if the area of funding? and establish about ten standard schools, that Immediately, we had to take some of the Like I said, since we came, we operate funding would take care of about 55 per cent of primary children to some schools and create another accounts in the sense that if I initiate a project school intake in Gombe State which is the secondary school where it is a day school. We today, we start saving money for the project. highest and if we take one in each of the local define the number of people in a day school, For example, there is the schools rehabilitation governments using the same standards, we will the facilities in a day school and all other indices account. If it is road construction, I call it take care of about 60% of enrolment in each that should be in place and they are now under Gombe township road account and that is how local government area. So, we have started construction,. With this, we were able to we operate for all sectors account. Like every day implementing that programme and that decongest GSS Gombe 1 and move them to we monitor, I have a capital account that has

two billion, I have Zenith Higher Education Fund account which is N375m, I have Joint Capital Project account which is for funding joint projects and it s N770 million, I have Primary Education Intervention Account which is N681 million. I have Water Rehabilitation Project account which is N1.2 billion and I have already advanced N1.3billion and this is how we keep all these accounts. There is also the secondary school rehabilitation account which is N2 billion. This is deliberately how we have been saving and every day we monitor this report. There are some people like I said who have this error margin and we cannot leave them, they must also be rehabilitated, some of them still wish to go to school, some of them will have to be engaged in vocational skill acquisition, to learn one trade or the other.

Instead of isolating them, we give them another opportunity to re-try. He could go to the university, he may prefer to become an administrator or a journalist. So we created school of media studies that will have a programme that will last for three years. It is a specialised one that is only relevant to Gombe.

No matter what happens, you will gain one or more skills when leaving which you may use and if we feel like, we may give him tools. We have also gone to say that some of them may not even fit into all these, some will only fit in physical things, so we have developed a huge sports arena where we will do physical training.

It will be a very good catchment area for us for sport men in athletics, boxing, wrestling.

Need to open Gombe

We also need to open up Gombe. We realized Gombe is an enclosed state; we are not accessible by sea, but we can reach Gombe by air. So we started road initiatives with work going on roads linking most fertile areas. What we are trying to do is partner with our private sector people who are involved in this; I don’t want any farmer to lose money. So we went to introduce an exchange platform; we designed the commodity exchange platform in such a way that all farm output would be taken to the commodity exchange. If I start with N1billion to assist farmers in two ways — to plant and to evacuate, we can buy them at a stabilised price and we will make a law which is already in the House of Assembly that nobody sells tomato from the farm, you must have a designated place where you can sell. That is why we are working with Bank of Industry to establish warehouses

Continues on page 47

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 47

zA NEW DAY SCIENCE SECONDARY SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION

zA NEW SCIENCE SECONDARY SCHOOL GOMBE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

zA NEWLY RECONSTRUCTED GOVERNMENT LOGDE IN GOMBE

zA RE-CONSTRUCTED PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AT GOVT. GIRLS SCIENCE SECONDARY SCHL, DOMA

zCONSTRUCTION WORK GOING ON AT SCIENCE SECONDARY SCHOOL BILLIRI

zGOMBE AT NIGHT , A COMPLETED TOWNSHIP ROAD WITH STREET LIGHTS

Continued from page 46 now. We are meeting them next week because we have just launched another one for traders.

The next thing we are doing in which we are putting N500 million is for the farmers. So, the exchange platform will minimize risk and also in the agricultural fund that is also available — a window from the CBN that we will also benefit — will be in such a way that if I lend N10,000 to a farmer, he can pay me N10,000 back or in terms of farm produce equivalent to N10,000 so that he will not start struggling to pay the money. All this is towards empowering people.

Potable water provision In the areas of the provision of water, we have done a lot of programmes from 1999 till date through the advantage of Dadin Kowa Dam and pipe water up to Gombe metropolis.

After we have finished the study, we have to network the water to house pump. Also, we have to make money from water now or in the future, so we now call the same contractors to do a survey and a study and to metre the households. So, that project is still on and it is going to extend 78km. We have done a design and that design will cater for five local governments- Balanga, Shongom, Bilere, Katagum and one other. It is a high place, water will be pumped across mountains to Tula — Tula is a plateau in Gombe and there is no mosquito in Tula — so that the water will now come down by gravity. So, that development is on. I have approval from the President to partner with them on 50-50 basis to develop that and as soon as we finish with the formality of the award of that contract, that contract could be awarded and it will take about five years to finish because it requires complete water treatment — plant construction, transportation of body of water uphill, construction of dams, water station and the reticulation in that local government. In all this, you have seen how Gombe is, Gombe is in a valley and we are prone to erosion, so what we are doing now is to remedy that. Apart from the valley nature of Gombe, it is also seated in a soil that is limestone and that is why you can do 100 cement factories in Gombe. We are very lucky that Gombe is a very well designed town.

In what other ways are you helping the farmers?

We have provided fertilizer continuously. I see those ones as usual even though I received a report from Abuja that the portion of fertilizer that we will be selling that is subsidized from Abuja will be coming through text message.

Maybe when you people go round to interview

farmers I will know how many of them have handsets that they will be receiving fertilizers through text message from, and how many of them will read that “I have allocated one bag of fertilizer for you go and pay”, and how many of them will be able to go and pay in the bank. We will also see whether the amenities they have put in place for collecting cash is appropriate; such that government will not miss a lot of money, whether that is really the kind of thing that we need now. I have observed that a lot of the people are small petty traders and they are the people who require small capital. Some of them must have been engaged in production, but unfortunately they have no capital, so I had to partner with BOI. We are going to do a one million loan scheme; it will be distributed to cooperative societies, that is about 21 -20 people will come together, secure a facility, go and invest, turn around the money, and when they repay we give the money to another group of persons and it goes on and on. But there are some people too who do not have enough collateral to go and get money from the bank , these are people who go to a particular market, they buy from somebody for maybe about ten thousand naira and get about fifteen or thirteen thousand at the end of the day. For those set of people, we have to create a window that will support them — small credits of one hundred or two hundred thousand naira. We also have a loan of five million, and we categorise them into about five categories, and we have developed a system whereby you have shops in the market and you are guaranteed, because we would take the papers. If you do not have a shop, a shop owner guarantees you, and we make sure the union also guarantees them so that it can go round that particular union, they make sure they don’t default so that it can go round, because if they do they block opportunity for others. As I speak with you now, the first batch has been given but ,unfortunately, the day of the launching was the day I lost my daughter, but we continued and the first set of beneficiaries who will share over N500 million was given, so we will do the second set of beneficiaries when this one stabilises.

Tourism

We also have other initiatives. I know it is difficult to be talking about tourism now because of security challenges but these security challenges will not be there forever and it should not frighten us that we should not do anything that we can. We can design places of nature, taking security into consideration, so we

are going to develop a hotel in that Tula. The same concept you can see in TINAPA can be replicated in that place. But I have the benefit of hindsight. Like I said, we are in a place where we don’t have rivers or ocean close to us, but we have a river in that place, so I am hoping the new roads we are constructing will open three roads to all those waterfalls. When we open the roads, we will get white sand through our partners and make artificial beach and when you come to Gombe in about a year or 18 months, you will go to a beach! I want to see the quality of the Gombe man go up, I want to make sure that whatever we produce in Gombe will be of highest standard.

You were famously known as a former Accountant General of the Federation and you seem to be coping well as a politician. This transformation from a technocrat to a politician, how did it happen?

Like I said, the most important thing is for anybody to first like what he is doing. Regarding how I came into government, since I contested an election, I cannot say it was by accident. I went round and canvassed for votes and I got elected. What motivated me to come was the sign of seriousness I see in Gombe and the kind of infrastructure and development that were put in place. I tell you, no matter the comfort we are in, we will all go to the villages we came from and when we say we go back, we say we go back and sleep and at that time we will be at a disadvantage because we will be old and will be relying on pension funds and dividends from investment and very meagre resources. That is what motivated us to say we can sacrifice the comfort of our office now and help develop our people so that we will sustain the tempo of development in Gombe; so that we will make Gombe and Nigeria a better place for people to live and appreciate.

These days, states hardly talk of internally generated revenue probably because most of them still depend on the revenue allocation from the Federation Account. As someone who was once at the centre of the disbursement of the funds, are there things you are doing differently to set Gombe State apart?

Over time, politicians have downplayed the issue of IGR because one; they are not popular and two; they are not sincere. I don’t want to overblow the issue of IGR now. IGR, from the way I see it, are positively correlated to the level of commitment and development a leader puts

interest in. Let me explain. As we have started the projects now, I want the manifestation of all these projects to be well appreciated by the people and for people to appreciate that their money, when we begin to tax them, would be judiciously used. I want them to have faith in the leadership that their monies would be applied judiciously for their long term benefits.

So the effort to get money from the people would be limited. Today, if I say I will introduce taxes in Gombe, I will be joking because the person that has not eaten, taken his children to school, who does not have a taxable income and then you say he should pay tax, they will tell you ‘wetin you dey find?’. No bi palaver bi dat? (laughs).

Before you came to power, their was the issue of the notorious 'Kalare' group which unleashed terror on the society with the presumed support of leading politicians. You came in and insisted that the group must be disbanded. How far have you gone in realising this?

First, I was not the master of ‘Kalare.’ Kalare was a resultant effect of all those things that I have mentioned to you. We are in a society where our sources of income are so limited to the extent that we may not be able to cater for all our children and relations. So, when you have all of these symptoms coupled with poor education; poor quality of education brings poor upbringing of children. Kalare was another bullying team and, unfortunately, at a time politicians patronise them and because they were bullying people, they were easy tools to be used by the politicians to manipulate the electorate. They are dangerous boys because they carry knives and guns, they also terrorise the town because they indulge in many things like rape etc. Because politicians use them, they became very difficult to be eradicated and sometimes too, because politicians use them, they rescued them (Kalare) when they commit atrocities. What I did when I came in was to give the security operatives the political will to say Kalare is not part of Gombe. But then, there is a limit to which you can tame somebody. They stopped because they believe I said I have programmes that will provide alternative to Kalare. Coincidentally, we just passed a memo from the Commissioner for Youths to recruit about 1,000 of them as road marshals and environment marshals and as security marshals. They will undergo a training for four

Continues on page 48

PAGE 48, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

zGOVT. ARABIC TEACHERS COLLEGE BEING RECONSTRUCTED

zONE OF THE COMPLETED TOWNSHIP ROAD AT FEDERAL LOW-COST GOMBE

z ONE OF THE CHALLETS AT SHEHU ABUBAKAR GUEST HOUSE

zONE OF THE COMPLETED GOMBE TOWNSHIP ROADS

zRE-COSTRUCTED SHEHU USMAN ABUBAKAR zRECONSTRUCTION WORK AT NEW SCIENCE GUEST HOUSE SECONDARY SCHOOL GOMBE

Continued from page 47 weeks at the NYSC camp where they will be physically trained to develop their thinking. It is at two advantages in the sense that if they want to do a military or police recruitment, we have them on ground. Also, if any of them gains admission into any school, he goes to the school and gets out of the marshal and another person will be enrolled from the same ward or constituency. If any of them is trained to acquire any skill, we will give him tools and start-up capital and he will go out of the marshal and somebody will replace him. We also establish four skill acquisition centres and we are graduating about 138 with tools and kits next week and we are establishing three more. I just challenged the management of Ashaka cement here that they require a lot of technical skills, they don’t need B.Sc or M.Sc but people who will tie machine, clean the machine and I said 'help us develop them'. Now, they establishing skill acquisition centre in Birinbo Lawa and they are doing a partnership with Gombe State University to invest in research and development in those areas.

I am surprised that you appear to be revisiting some of the projects that were presumably awarded by your predecessor and ought to have been completed before he left office. What happened?

I think what happened in governance is that some of us reposed too much trust in our subordinates; anybody can be a victim, including me. Nobody will come and tell you as a governor that a particular secondary school is bad; you have to go and see it yourself. So, it is not the fault of any governor because it is not something that happened in four years, this is accumulated decay of a very long time.

Tell us more about the cooperative farming scheme

What I found out in Gombe is that there are many cooperative associations not only for farming but also for trade and all kinds of activities. Cooperatives are people with like minds who come together to say we will partner- some contributing knowledge and some people link. And it has not failed so much in the history of our people because of the

zGOMBE AT NIGHT: A COMPLETED TOWNSHIP ROAD WITH STREET LIGHT

peculiarity of our people. There is a belief here that if you borrow money and you refuse to pay, it is very shameful and the greatest shame is for people to, one day, say they will come and auction your house. That is why they are cautious to even borrow. I believe it will not be a bad doctrine. I think I will give them opportunity to prove to us that they will utilize these monies for development and, like I said, a cooperative society will be guaranteed by

another cooperative society. A particular type of market activity will be guaranteed by the market activity. And you will be surprised because we even have a Commissioner of Cooperative Development. It is so organised in Gombe, we have more than 100 cooperative societies in Gombe and each of them has leadership like President, Vice-president and so on.

What's your take on e-government?

If you look at the history of Nigeria, we don’t know if we are 200 years back now or so but what is important is that we are now around. Llike I have always said, when I was Accountant General of the Federation, we didn’t do cash accounting; they did accruals accounting. I said, let us get the cash accounting right, then we can easily migrate to accruals. So, realistically, I would say 'let’s have the blackboard first because there are some schools that don’t even have black boards, they have finished cleaning all the black on the boards and nobody to paint it again.' e-Governance may be good but we have to look at other variables that go with its implementation. For example, I am here on generator all day, so how do I pass files round? Let us continue with physical passing of files so that any day these things that will sustain e-governance are ready, we can easily migrate because I know there are some things I do with much effort now which I know with egovernance I can do with less effort because it is in electronic way. At the Federal level, we have started; there is the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). It is an umbrella that will house the whole of the entire financial structure of government from the budget making to budget formulation and execution. I think what I will encourage is for us to master the manual processes in our service because if you look at the service now, it is very bad, the quality of civil servants is very bad, the infrastructure, security to support e-governance is very bad. So, we will continue to be thinking in line with that so that by the time we have all our manuals updated, it will be very easy for us to migrate when the time comes. How do we manage people? It is the most complex thing on earth because of human behaviour. What I found out when I came is that politicians are not very rugged people; people tend to misuse opportunity when they have limited opportunities because they will always think it is the last one, so they grab whatever they get. Since I came, I tried to encourage people to say that the revenue I get from Abuja will not be enough if I throw it up, but if I create economic activities as we are doing now, there won’t be yearnings by politicians as it is now because everybody would be busy doing one work or the other.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012, PAGE 49

C M Y K

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

Child abuse: Delta urged to raise family courts

BY FESTUS AHON

A

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) (middle), Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Basil Ganagana (right) and Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Chief Ighoyota Amori at the burial of Pa Frank Nani, father of John Nani, member representing Ethiope West in the State Assembly on Friday.

nongovernmental organization, Global Peace Development, GPD, in collaboration with Stepping Stones Nigeria and Prevent Abuse of Children Today, PACT, UK, has called on the Delta State Government to establish family court in all the 25 local government councils in the state.

Organizing a one-day workshop in Ughelli,

Delta State, on Capacity Enhancement and Public Education on Child Rights Law campaign; the groups said the call was in pursuance of the implementation of the Child Rights Law, which was enacted since 2008 in the state.

In his opening remarks, Director of GPD, Mr Onajite Esike, said the campaign was initiated by Stepping Stones, Nigeria, UK in 2006 with a focus on the Niger Delta region.

According to Esike, the workshop was to “build a vibrant and vocal coalition of individuals, churches and organization to stand up

for children rights and fight against child abuse.”

Delivering a lecture during the seminar, one of the resource persons, Mr Smart Edoge, a Legal practitioner, said that the nonestablishment of family court was hindering the implementation of the Child Rights Law in the State.

M e a n w h i l e , participants, in a communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, recommended the “establishment of family courts in the 25 local government areas; constitution of state and local governments child rights implementation committee; and that government should establish foster homes, care centres and rehabilitation centres”.

Indian band storms UNILAG

I

NDIAN rock band, Parikrama, thrilled University of Lagos, UNILAG, students with their unique and mellifluous rock tunes at the university ’s multipurpose hall. Their performance capped activities marking the formal launch of The INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future initiative.

The 7 man band which has been playing for 21 years came on stage after Cornel Ogar and his band had held the audience spellbound for over 2 hours.

Cornel, who played with 3 back up vocalists made up of his siblings, kept the youthful audience dancing, grooving and singing along to popular songs from leading contemporary stars like Tuface, Dbanj, Lagbaja, Jodie, PSquare and many others.

The INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future initiative is a three-year programme from theideaworks, an Indian based branding company, and the Public Diplomacy Division of the Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs. They partnered with AISEC, Lagos Business School and EDC for the Nigeria event.

C M Y K

C M Y K

C M Y K

C M Y K

Anambra community ends dispute

I

NDIGENES of Umueri community, in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, said the crisis generated by the election in its Lagos chapter has been resolved and that all the issues leading to the crisis has been addressed.

Mr Sam Ndubuisi Anene, the new helmsman of the group, in a statement to Vanguard said, “We, the Umueri people in Lagos, have since put the crisis behind us and are moving ahead in unity and brotherhood towards achieving our objectives.”

“Crisis engulfed the body between December 2011 and March 2012 due to the inability or refusal of the sitting executive to conduct scheduled election at the expiration of its tenure.

“This action or inaction generated so much anger and tension among members that our brotherhood and peaceful relationship was badly threatened.

“In response to calls by well meaning members and in conformity with C M Y K

the constitution of Umueri General Assembly, the President General and members of the National Executive intervened to halt the crisis from degenerating.

“They conducted/ supervised the election

of 1 st April 2012 which produced a new Executive Council for Lagos branch under the leadership of Mr. Sam Anene, a trained Accountant and Administrator of several years experience,” he said

Delta community takes measures against cultists

F

OLLOWING rampant cases of robbery, killings and the activities of cultists in Ovwian community, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, the community will take measures against the vices.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at the community town hall yesterday, President General of Ovwian community, Comrade William Saiki, stated that the action was because of high rate of rape, robbery, killings and other anti-social activities in the community believed to be orchestrated by cultists.

He explained that some weeks ago, one

Mr. Erite was murdered by cultists, adding that the most annoying part of it was that the cultists’ continued terrorizing the community.

Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (right), receiving gift donation for children's day from the regional manager, Oyo and Ogun of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Gbenga Soleye, while Mr. Biodun Awodipe of Iwo Road Branch looks on. Photo by Dare Fasube.

Ofuokwu extols Bafyau

O

NE-TIME National Treasurer of the Nigerian Union of Railways, Chief Dominic Ofuokwu, has commiserated with the family of the late expresident of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Pascal Bafyau, who passed on recently.

Ofuokwu, who is also the Eze Ebo of Ogbeowelle Ibusa, in Oshimili North LGA,

described the death of Bafyau, as shocking and a big blow not only to Labour but the entire nation.

He said the late former NLC president worked hard to improve the welfare of labour, including that of the railways, adding that he died at a time his contributions to the labour industry were most needed and prayed God to receive his soul and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

NDLEA arrests 30 suspects

BY ISIAKA OYIBO

T

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized 2476.204 kilogrammes of hard drugs, including Indian hemp, cocaine and heroine in Kogi State between January and May. The state commander of NDLEA, Alhaji Idris

Bello, who gave the figure, disclosed that 30 suspects were arrested within the same period, adding that seven of them were charged to court and convicted. ”The agency also seized over 2.3 psychotropic substances in the period under review,” he said.

He, however, regretted that delays in court processes had not enable the agency to arraign some of the suspects.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 — PAGE 55

TRIBUTES

Prof Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe (1950-2012)

BY RASHEED OJIKUTU

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The good that the late VC of UNILAG did lives after him.

Late Prof. Sofoluwe

L

IKE a bandit in the dead of the night, death sneaked through the fortified gates of the University of Lagos on May 12, 2012, meandered through the escalators to the 11th floor to snatch a treasure of inestimable value of the community, that is, its Vice-Chancellor. The morning after the ‘night raid’, the ‘marauder ’ left in its trail, tears, fear, despair, confusion and hopelessness. Every death is painful to the bereaved but the profound anguish attending this one is not because the ‘ victim’ is the Chief Executive of the community but because of the totality of his personality. Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe is valued by all and

sundry because he loved people and cared for their welfare.

A man of vast experience in human relations, he was a personification of humbleness and an epitome of godliness.

I have known Professor Sofoluwe for approximately three decades. From the first time I met him after his return from Edinburgh in 1983 to the time of his expiration in 2012, the man had remained very invariable in character. A determined but extremely kind leader who seemed to hold no bitterness against anyone, whether they are foes or friends, Professor Sofoluwe left a mark of his love on everyone that came across him in the discharge of his duties.

There are many superlative words and many good reminiscences of him to write about and the mind bleeds when one is jolted into the reality of his demise. When he was alive, whoever visited his office must go home with a souvenir of the University of Lagos. His generosity knew no bounds.

Toks, as he was fondly called, was an administrator par excellence and a silent achiever, who used resources with the deftness of an astute economist. Professor Sofoluwe touched the University of Lagos with the brush of a great artist, quietly altering its landscape for the better. In all his exploits, people were ready to go along with him, knowing that, at the end of the day, they would not be deprived of their rights and privileges.

The late Professor demystified the Office of the Vice Chancellor by completely disrobing himself of the garb of arrogance usually worn by the occupiers of that office. He

was simple and modest in character and would sometimes walk round the campus in such an ordinary fashion that staff and students would bump inon him before realizing that the simple man standing before them is the ‘oga’ of the university. His open-door

,

VIEWPOINT

All human communities eulogize death not only because of its creepy tendencies to bare its fang on man with devastating consequences but due to its ability to spring a surprise

,

policy was unprecedented.

Interestingly, this has never impeded his effectiveness as a Vice-Chancellor. Instances of his warm nature abound and there is hardly anyone in the university who does not have something good to say about his conduct.

While we continue to mourn the death of a great academic leader, there is the need for reflection on the circumstances of his end and the need to scrutinize the job environment of the average university worker. Though, the ‘slump and die’ syndrome is also widespread in the larger society, yet, the loss of the best

brains in academic community, as a result of cardiovascular accidents, requires a quick intervention from those saddled with the responsibility of providing succor, particularly as it relates to the hazards of the job specification in the universities. Like cranes in the dockyard, peopl, on daily basis, perform multi-task with little regard for personal safety and survival, all because there are set deadlines.

For Babatunde Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, the erudite professor of computer science, a mathematician of no mean achievement and the ViceChancellor of the University of Lagos, the sun set suddenly on May 12, 2012. May the Almighty Allah grant him AlJannah Fridaus?

All human communities eulogize death not only because of its creepy tendencies to bare its fang on man with devastating consequences but due to its ability to spring a surprise. Hence, the Yoruba adage “ Iku ti kii je ki a dagbere fun enikeji eni ki o to pa ni”, literally meaning “Death that does not allow people to bade farewell to loved ones before snuffing life out”.

Despite this, we should be comforted by the suggestion that the termination of one life may be the beginning of another. This is captured vividly in Raymond Moody’s classic bestseller “ Life After Life” in which he narrated the near death experiences of about one hundred people who have been declared clinically dead and still came back to life.

The experiences of hundreds of those who had near death encounters are epitomized by the narration of some of the

victims as follows: *“ I became very seriously ill, and the doctor put me in the hospital. This one morning a solid gray mist gathered around me, and I left my body.

I had a floating sensation as I felt myself get out of my body, and looked back and I could see myself on the bed below and there was no fear. It was quiet – very peaceful and serene. I was not in the least bit upset or frightened. It was just tranquil feeling, and it was something which I didn’t dread. I felt that maybe I was dying, and felt that if I did not get back to my body, I would be dead, gone *“ I thought I was dead, and wasn’t sorry that I was dead, but just couldn’t figure out where I was supposed to go.

My thought and my consciousness were just like they are in life, but I just couldn’t figure all this out. I kept thinking, “ Where am I going to go?. What am I going to do” and “My God, I’m dead!. I can’t believe it!”………….And so I decided I was just going to wait until all excitement died down and they carried my body away,…….”

Just like the experiences narrated above, Mr Vice Chancellor, If you can hear our voices, we wish to thank you profusely for your brotherly love and care while you were with us. We love you but God loves you more. We are indeed grateful.

Good night, my Vice-Chancellor, Rest in the bosom of the Lord.

* Ojikutu, a professor, is of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos.

The Ikeoha mystique

BY CHIEDOZIE-ALEX OGBONNIA

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A Tribute to Ekweremadu at 50.

T

HE life of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR, Ikeoha Ndigbo, the Deputy President of the Senate, and the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, is a catchy advertisement in discipline, humility, hard work, courage, godliness, empathy and sacrifice. It is the life of a man who does his very best in the discharge of his functions and yet attributes the outcome to the will of God. He therefore confronts life with an openness of mind, resilience, patience, perseverance and prayers.

Ekweremadu represents Enugu West Senatorial District in the Senate. He was born 50 years ago at Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area of EnuC M Y K

gu State. He is married to Chief Mrs Nwanneka Ekweremadu (Nneoma) and they are blessed with four children.

Before the coming of Ikeoha, Mpu community and environs had the worst history of neglect and marginalization in the resource distribution. Due to his concern and an unrestrained love for his people, he opted for politics because of its central position in policy-making. He started as a town union president. His distinctive performance as a town union president endeared him to the masses and the elite. This earned him an overwhelming leverage for the chairmanship of Aninri Local Government Council. His subsequent positions in the government as the Chief of Staff at Enugu Government House, the Secretary to the Government of Enugu State, the Deputy President of Senate and the Honourable Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament have raised the social momentum of Mpu to a Jerusalem of some sorts.

Ekweremadu has the credentials of a grassroots man, a democracy archetype, and a

blocks, human resources and capacity building etc. He has thus changed the Enugu West narrative from dilapidation and neglect to that of hope, rejuvenation and fulfilment Perhaps, the most enduring to the South East of Nigeria is

Senator Ike Ekweremadu transformational innovative visionary whose quality representation resonates with the electorate. To him, representation is a responsibility. He has transformed Enugu West Senatorial District beyond the rust and tarnish of even the least charitable. There is hardly any community in the Senatorial District where his impact is not felt in terms of road construction and rehabilitation, erosion control, water supply schemes, rural electrification, health-care service delivery, library centres, computer centres, classroom

,

VIEWPOINT

He has in various ways lifted several people out of melancholy and mundane existence into a higher level of awareness, performance, achievement and joy

,

his efforts in the actualization of the age-long Igbo collective unconscious- The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The Ikeoha Foundation which he started in 1997 as a Council Chairman is a multidimensional charity organisa-

tion that complements his constituency projects in his passion to improve the lives of his people. He has in various ways lifted several people out of melancholy and mundane existence into a higher level of awareness, performance, achievement and joy. To the average Enugu, kindness is the only language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see, according to Mark Twain.

It is a general knowledge that the longer one stays in politics the more the bruises and the less the number of admirers. The above backdrop explains why the rare gem whose unblemished ascendancy in politics has maintained a straight line graph on a grand wave of popularity.

As we mark his Golden Jubilee, it is the prayer of all men of goodwill that the Almighty will grant him more fruitful years of patriotic service to the nation.

* Ogbonnia is Special Adviser (Public Affairs) to the Deputy President of the Senate.

PAGE 56—SUNDAY

VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

TRIBUTE

The Aregbesola you didn’t know besola. It was a traumatic experience that ended in sweet victory.

You would expect the typical Nigerian politician to exert vengeance in the circumstance. But Ogbeni did not.

Although Oyinlola and the PDP used every available apparatus of government from the civil service to the police in the murderous war to prevent him from becoming governor, he refused to seek

TRIBUTE

BY KUNLE OYATOMI

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A tribute to the Osun governor at 55.

M

Y purpose in this portrait is not to tell what the reader expects a publicist to say about his ‘client’. It is to look to see through a man, not from what is known of him, but what manifests from his words and actions.

Is it possible to really appraise the content of a person

,

from his words, reactions to events and mode of actualisation of his thought processes in deeds? Maybe; but that is the difficult task I’ve set myself in this exercise.

Rauf Aregbesola is a complex personality. But that complexity is hidden behind a simple appearance that is hardly expressive of the combustion inside. That is what strikes you first if you had allowed yourself to be disarmed by his looks. Especially when he starts to address a gathering, you are bit of startled, then you look again and you are in a quandary.

He appears so much smaller than the sound and fury pumping from his frame, you want to hear him out. The more intently you listen the more astonished you become.

Depending on who you are and your disposition to reason, Ogbeni will dazzle, perhaps infuriate and perplex the listening audience all in one fell swoop.

Yet, you don’t leave the event in doubts about the message he had put accross - it would have been lucid enough. His purpose is not to entertain or please his listeners, but to tell them what he thinks, believes or knows. And he does it with demonstrable passion.

Unfortunately that is not the

traditional style of the typical politician who, most of the time, speaks with a forked tongue. Ogbeni manages to impress in a quaint kind of way. You are not immediately sure if you want to like him or keep a discreet distance.

Here is where colleagues and foes alike look over their shoulders with unease. But that’s not where the complexity of Rauf ends, he compels respect with his earnestness and you are not in doubt about that.

When you take this picture of Ogbeni and match it with what emerged of him during the three-year struggle to reclaim his stolen mandate, then you see a personality moulded by the furnace of political hell. On several occasions he dodged bullets. And when he eventually took control of government in the State of Osun, he shunned vengeance.

Now, let me take you three years back before 2007. Immediately the decision was taken in 2004 that he had to lead the mission to reclaim Osun from the vice grip of parasitic, visionless politicians, he got himself prepared and equipped for the battle.

Ogbeni put together a compact team of brilliant professionals and collaborated with

them to do a holistic study of the area, its problems, needs and challenges, before drawing up a masterplan encapsulated in the six-point integrated action plan, to turn the state into the economic hub of the South-West. This is an unusual way with most Nigerian politicians. They are 90 per cent of the time planless, visionless and mere political merceneries.

When he hit the road, heading for the ‘battlefield’ to democratically unseat the incumbent PDP government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ogbeni was so formidably equipped, his opponents panicked and resorted to murderous violence. Ogbeni stood his grounds against the PDP terror, such that when it became clear he was heading for victory, PDP openly stole the vote and aborted his mandate.

Then a relentless and vicious legal battle began to reclaim the mandate. Twice Ogbeni suffered miscarriage of justice, in addition to having scores of his supporters killed or imprisoned. He himself escaped assassination by the whiskers.

But reprieve came on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 when the Appeal Court annulled Oyinlola’s stolen victory and restored the aborted mandate of Areg-

Ogbeni’s compassion is legendary. It is at the heart of his unstoppable longing to pull his people out of the hell-hole of poverty, misery and underdevelopment

,

vengeance when he won.

Nothwithstanding the general knowledge in Osogbo that Ogbeni is being sabotaged by some of Oyinlola’s loyalists in the civil service, he would not contemplate the idea to remove any of them. He would rather demonstrate that he could succeed in spite of them.

Many ACN loyalists are baffled why Ogbeni still accommodates these saboteurs, but he would smile and and say, ‘leave them’.

That is one unabashed Moslem (who many would want to believe is on the fundamentalist fringe), living the sermon on the Mount of Jesus of Nazareth: ‘Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you’. Not only that the loyalists of the Oyinlola ad-

ministration hated Ogbeni Aregbesola, they attempted to kill him. He barely survived.

They are still attempting to sabotage him; yet he won’t retaliate!!! How many so-called politicians out there are capable of similar behaviour? Ogbeni’s compassion is legendary. It is at the heart of his unstoppable longing to pull his people out of the hell-hole of poverty, misery and underdevelopment. It is the driving spirit of his political career. Indeed, the Ogbeni we do not know is still unfolding. What I am doing here is an attempt to make sense of what I have pieced together from his words, work and responses to events.

My preliminary conclusion from the pieces of evidence so far collated is that if he sustains his current momentum, his footprints on the sands of time will be difficult to erase in Yorubaland. We are all working hard and praying fervently that he succeeds.

If you ask me again for a summation of the personality of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, I will craft it this way: Ogbeni is a dynamic, unusual politician who is highly motivated to serve his people, and he is going about it in equally unusual ways that baffle his friends, astound his foes and delight the impartial observers.

The sheer brilliance of his ideas has attracted assistance for some of his projects from the World Bank, banks in Nigeria, the United Nations, and some other international organisations; and many more are coming.

That is the Aregbesola you didn’t know who celebrated his birthday on Friday, May 25, 2012. There is a lot more we may discover in the future.

But, from what we know so far, he deserves our best wishes and a HAPPY 55th BIRTHD A Y . * Oyatomi is the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, ACN, Osun State.

A Teacher of Teachers @ 70 TRIBUTE

BY AIZE OBAYAN

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A celebration of the life of Prof. Babatunde Ipaye.

M

AY 16, 1942 may have been like any ordinary day in Oka, Akoko in the Akoko South Local Government Area of Ondo State, but when historians settle down to create and capture history, that day will forever be remembered by many, including this writer, for the life and remarkable contributions of a man who was born on that day- speaking of Professor Babatunde Ipaye.

Professor Babatunde Ipaye Professor Babatunde Ipaye, a Teacher of Teachers, a Mentor, an erudite Scholar and Professor of Counselling Psychology with tangible proofs to show, is a wonderful father of five and a truly devoted husband to one wife (our very Dear Mummy, Mrs. Christiannah Bamidele Ipaye).

He stands out for his dedication to demonstrable servant leadership and academic distinction. He has been a worthy instrument whom God has used to shape the academic destinies of many people- I am privileged to be among the number.

Professor Babatunde Ipaye, looking at his academic track record, has maintained academic and professional relevance. A Counselling Psychologist yesterday, today and several years to come, he has lived an accomplished life in and out of the classroom, cocreating destinies and building leaders of the future.

His sojourn into the academia has been most humbling and inspirational. Between 1966 and 1969, Professor Ipaye obtained the University of Ibadan’s Bachelor of

Education (B.Ed.) degree with Second Class (Honours) Upper Division with specialization in Education and History, with French as Minor. He also trained at the University of Ibadan in 1972 in Educational and Curriculum Evaluation at the International Centre for Educational Evaluation.

Between 1966 and 1968, he attended the University of Lome, Togo Summer Training Programmes in the Teaching of French: Direct Method under Professor Davis. To crown all these academic efforts, Professor Ipaye obtained a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1975. He actually enrolled for the programme in 1972; meaning that he finished in record time.

Professor Babatunde Ipaye did not make any pretence of

finding a career as an academic. So, early in his career, he decided to teach. For some of us, his students, we found Professor Ipaye’s classroom an open space of intersecting connections of theoretical spins, inspirations, creativities, innovations and a platform for birthing of new paradigms.

This has helped to situate our own pathways on tracks of emerging truth and trajectories.

Between 1974 and 1976, Professor Babatunde Ipaye was a Foundation/Pioneer Head, Department of Education (in the School of Education), Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin. In 1969, through to 1974, he was a Lecturer at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and from

Continues on page 47 C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 — PAGE 57

Between Dickson and brief case contractors VIEWPOINT

BY FRANCIS OTTAH AGBO

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The Bayelsa governor 100 days after

L

IKE all progressive leaders in history, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson assumed office as governor of Bayelsa State with a clear conviction and trajectory of what to do with power. He believes leadership is a sacred responsibility and those who exercise power must be focused, responsible, transparent, accountable, frugal, firm and deliver on campaign promise to the electorate.

Part of the much talked about trajectory is for government to partner with the organised private sector and woo investors to Bayelsa State while distancing himself from those he calls “brief- case contractors.”

The thinking is that government alone can not deliver concrete developmental deliverables except it partners with investors and purposeful businessmen.

History has shown that brief-case contractors usually promise heaven and earth in their bid to nick contract and, after mobilization to site, they zoom off. Even when there is a properly documented agreement, many of them contravene it, connive with some moles in government and local contractors to defraud the state or stifle attempts to recover the lost ground through the courts. In many instances, the court process could be menacingly time-consuming thereby making government to loose developmental momentum. In fact studies have

shown that many of our failed leaders have these parasitic contractors to blame. However, construction giants which had genuinely abandoned sites during the immediate past regime have been given a matching order to return to work. At press time, GITTO and Julius Berger are now on ground in Bayelsa.

Dickson, aptly called the country-man governor, appreciates this snag right from the outset. In one of his media interactions shortly after taking charge, he stated: “What we need in Bayelsa State are principally investors and not contractors. Government will go into Public Private Partnership (PPP), create the enabling environment for private entrepreneur and investors to team up with government to turn Bayelsa State to a veritable workshop…”.

Government’s position is logical more so that the immediate past administration had mortgaged the future of the state by obtaining N67 billion loans without repayment in the five years that it was in power in Bayelsa State thus making the most indebted littoral state in Nigeria. Curiously, the administration handed over an empty treasury to Dickson spite of the fact that he got about N700 billion in federal allocations.

This partly accounted for why the governor went straight into cutting the cost of governance and compulsory savings so as to muster enough money to hit the ground running. It is amazing that in less than 90 days of taking over the reins of power, Dickson has saved over N23billion in two accounts for the state. And with the Restoration Appropriation Bill 2012 assented into law, all is now set to turn the oil-rich state into

a massive construction site.

Already government’s policies and the governor’s integrity and actions in the last 100 days of holding sway have won the confidence of many local and international investors who have continuously stormed Bayelsa State to hold talks with government on areas of investments. At the last count, 100 investors have indicated interest to invest in the state. Drawn from the critical sectors of the economy, some of the top entrepreneurs requested that the governor vis-

ited their investments with the view to replicate them in Bayelsa State.

It was against this background that the Country-man was recently in South Africa on the invitation of some of the investors for on- the- spot assessment of the investments to be replicated in his home state. The visit also provided the governor the opportunity to explore further, more areas of collaboration with top businessmen in South Africa with emphasis on agriculture, tourism, health, infrastructure and

power generation.

The climax of the investment campaign was the courtesy call on the South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma by Dickson. The president commended the governor for his vision, and his drive to turn Bayelsa State to an investment haven and called on other governors to borrow a leaf from D i c k s o n .

* Agbo is a socio-political commentator based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and wrote via francisagbo38@yahoo.com

A Teacher of Teachers @ 70 Continued from page 56 1978-1983, Acting Head, and later, Head, Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ilorin.

For the eight years he served as Provost and Chief Executive of Adeyemi College of Education; one of the oldest Degree awarding Colleges of Education in the country, Professor Ipaye helped prepare teachers for the secondary and primary levels of education.

I bless the Lord as I remember the first time I met Professor Babatunde Ipaye in 1983,.

I had just completed my National Youth Service and I arrived in the Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ilorin, to commence studies as a Master ’s Degree student. My father had brought me to school and handed me over to a man who today is my mentor, my teacher and academic father. I am glad and proud to be hewed from the academic and research stable of Professor Ipaye. All through my formal

studentship days with Professor Ipaye, he never stopped teasing me about commencing my Master’s Programme with a feeding bottle in my mouth because according to him my father brought me to school and personally handed me over to my Head of Department – Professor Ipaye. This is indeed speaking about Masters and Apprentices as it was in the days of the great philosophers of old! Professor Ipaye schooled and groomed us his students in a rounded way and inspired us to appreciate our rich indigenous base and the awesome legacies inherent in our culture, values and beliefs, in constructing the African framework for Counselling Theory and Practice.

Today I am proud of the seminal academic work that my Ph.D Thesis represents having been supervised by Professor Ipaye.

In almost thirty years since I first met Professor Ipaye, he has remained a solid mentor in words and indeed! He has continued to play the role of a

mentor as he continues to take active interest in my work and aspirations. Reference is made in several contexts to the Proverbs 31 Woman in the Bible, if there ever is a Proverbs 31 Man in our contemporary time and age, Professor Babatunde Ipaye will be that man to many of his biological and academic children.

We are therefore not searching to find such as man as Professor Ipaye is that man in all respects and much more. On a day such as today when he turns 70, we all rise up and pay tribute to a worthy mentor, advisor and inspirational academic leader, a man who held my hands to find academic pathways through some dark alleys and during a time in my life I refer to as my period of “academic exile”. I salute a teacher of repute; a bridge builder, a Professor of Professors and an inspirational academic leader of the 21st century! Happy 70th Birthday.

• Obayan, a professor, is Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Oshiomhole: The governor on a salvage mission VIEWPOINT

BY CHARLES AFE IKHAGHE

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Governor Adams Oshiomhole's transformational score card .

W

HEN he took the man tle of leadership of Edo State on November 22, 2008, via an Appeal Court verdict, not many Nigerians gave him a chance of success to turn around the hand of the clock in Edo State. Reason. Rooted in the ancient tradition and culture of the Old Benin Kingdom, Edo State has, for decades, resisted development. His predecessors, either by design or by default, had played along with this old tradition.

But, like a hardcore revolutionalist that he is , Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole took up the challenge to tread where his predecessors were afraid to tread. He

moved in with the doggedness of the I-can-do-it spirit which took him successfully through his years as a labour leader. And today, the Comrade Governor has demonstrated to the people of Edo State that it is not impossible to modernize the Ancient Benin Kingdom and yet preserve its tradition and culture.

This can be seen all over the State, but especially in the capital, Benin City, where roads which looked like footpaths before his coming have been expanded and streets have taken the look of modernity. Also modern structures have been put up to replace worn out hovels which hitherto littered the streets of the ancient city. The culture of beautification and greening, which has in the last four years put Metropolitan Lagos in the realm of most beautiful megacities of the world, has caught up with Edo State, courtesy of the Comrade Governor.

It will, indeed, be a repetition of the obvious to devote this space to enumerating the pace of development going on in Edo State

today because it is already in the public domain. But, like the Comrade Governor once said, it takes just one person to begin a revolution and over time others will fall in line. What he is doing in Edo State today; the revolution he is leading in all sectors across the state is there for all, including the opposition, to see.

This brings me to the main issue of this write up. In the run-up to the July, 2012 Governorship election in Edo State, the opposition seems to be up in arms already to prevent the obvious.

They are using the very familiar tactics of trying to blind the people to the realities of governance.

But that tactics falls flat in the face of the overwhelming realities of the pace of development in the State. They have gone into history to try to prove to the rest of us that the Comrade Governor would not win a second term simply because he does not come from a particular section of the State no matter his performance and that his re-election would depend on what part of the state

he comes from. That is what the Nigerian politics of old has been since independence.

Unfortunately for the opposition, however, the orientation of the average Nigerian electorate has changed. It changed with the emergence of the Action Congress of Nigeria on the political firmament of the country.

Thank God the situation in Edo State from 1999 to 2008 in terms of development is not a matter of conjecture. Edo State, particularly Benin City, happens to be a stopover state for many travellers across the country and, therefore, the situation between that time and now is very well documented in memory and in print. Given what is on ground, therefore, Edo State is, indeed, undergoing great transformation at the moment. It is a case of rising from the rubbles of infrastructural decay. Apart from the road infrastructure, many modern structures are going up in different parts of the state today to replace ancient shrines and sacred forests. All sectors of the economy, Health, Education, Transporta-

tion, Agriculture and even Technology are receiving a boost.

It is not what the opposition says that matters at this critical time. It is what the people see on ground. I recall that Comrade Oshiomole promised at his inauguration that he would let his performance speak for him as the opposition mounted their arsenal to put him to task.

It is neither in doubt today nor is it an empty boast that the Governor has fulfilled that promise.

Much as this reality is assuring, however, it is important to state here that the time has come for Nigerian politicians to discard their old antics and begin to think of service, real service to Nigerians.

Therefore, whosoever plans to contest against the Comrade come July, should look beyond the section of the state he comes from. Let him know that the coming election is an Annual General Meeting and the only card needed on the table is PERFORMANCE. Ikhaghe is an author and analyst, based in Lagos.

PAGE 58—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 —

59

MANAGING NEWSPAPER AS A BRAND

B

C M Y K

,

RANDS management is colorless, indiscriminate in scope of application and free of constraints as far as marketing is concerned. For marketing and advertising practitioners, it is simply a way of life. Most times when definitions are put to this concept, all such presentations say same thing naming the brand and stating its promise(s).

Imperatively, therefore, every such product that assumes all the key characters stated above becomes a brand and must of essence be taken through the product life cycle.

To that extent, a brand is a brand, no matter the segment of “its market”. Following from the definition and the characteristics of a brand, are some imperatives for any brand’s success or survival.

A successful brand must attract returns on investment.

To achieve that, it must attract consumer engagement profitably by delivering on Total Customer Satisfaction. To deliver on TCS, it must essentially be true in its formulation, offer quality and all such other attributes that will enable its competitive advantage at the market place.

The above serves as summary of the process of brands management.

However, the big picture is that for any brand to succeed at the marketplace it must be properly managed along the lines of professionalism, going through the strategic imperatives.

The launch and management of the then Universal Trust Bank’s (UTB) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) brand of instant money transfer in the early 1990s was one very interesting experience for me and my colleagues that worked on that brand. This was a time when funds transfer was still in its traditional form, when any such transaction would wait on inter or intra bank transfer process. The challenge then was that there was no process fast-tracking to meet the desire of then traders who would require cash for quick buying and selling. The service was designed to engage the highly mobile big volume/value traders who requires large sum of monies for instant business transaction, without having to physically move cash over long distance.

To effectively and efficiently meet that need, the bank developed an innovative electronic device that aided instant money transfer. That was one of the innovative money transfer services that gave birth to today’s e-transact that now runs as a common

With the advent of modern news sources including the internet, all sorts will unveil in newspaper management as businesses

banking service in modern times banking.

Complemented by the articulated integrated marketing support at that time, the brand was a huge success.

The above case-in-reference demonstrates a systematic application brand development imperatives: proper and purposeful research, planning and development and a deliberate effort to connect the brand with the identified target market (customer-centric).

Add to that strategic focus for the success of UTB’s EFT is the sense of purpose and commitment to achieving set-marketing objective for the brand and its owners. Nothing was given to chance, and that is why adherence to marketing and brands management discipline is classified as ARTICULATED. My days as a student of Mass Communication in University of Lagos left so much with me on issues of journalism, especially with print journalism. I came faceto-face with the grand rules for a successful career in the profession. I was challenged at the beginning, but I held on because the commitment to becoming a well-read journalist. I was so well equipped by the time I came out of school, to appreciate well-written news report,

,

opinion piece(s) and editorial page. The choice of newspaper I patronized way back was determined by those elements I picked up while in school.

It follows, therefore, that newspapers are brands in the competitive market of news gathering and dissemination.

Industry players such as Dele Giwa and his likes, way back, thrived on identifying and satisfying consume (readers’) needs. They took competition in news gathering and dissemination market to a new level, by evolving new and innovative product usage in form of ‘modern day ” investigative journalism.

Efforts of journalists in that league changed the face of journalism in our local market for good.

The unfortunate thing, however, is that newspapers/ magazine are not seen as brands

N

ewsroom glamour, individual stardom, struggle for survival and all such interference tends to veil the newspaper as a brand, frontal. Practitioners see themselves as all sorts of powerful society influencers, users of the ever-powerful pen mightier than the sword, third estate of the realm, the allpowerful commentators that can bring down political leaders, that they miss the

point of brand building and development for optimal return on investment.

Unfortunately, the glamour time is over, and it is time for business. With the advent of modern news sources including the internet, all sorts will unveil in newspaper management as businesses.

We know that with the new media environment and habit, competition for readership (consumers) will get keener, and advertisers are watching.

May we just quickly let it out here that advertisers are already looking at target marketing as the new face of media engagement for brands marketing support? What will you offer to attract advertisers if your newspaper or magazine does not post a fairly large size of readership to support the profitable investment in form of advert placement?

So, it is time for brand building in the newspaper business world. Presently there are very clear hazards any growth-driven newspaper brand must look at, as follows: 1. Market. Newspapers as brands must begin to define their markets along the line of identified needs or void within the market it tends to operate. I know most operators will easily take position as general interest newspapers, but clearly, that will not work in the emerging market.

2. Brand Packaging and Branding. Managers and/or owners of newspaper brands must begin to see their offering from the perspective of the target-readers and not their board-room thinking.

Therefore, special attention must be on how to be seen to fit into the expectation of the

target market. Of course such thinking will affect use of brand colors, nature and character of brand name, logo, masthead, etc.

3. Product quality. This is the very interesting part of it all. The basic and primary essence of a print news source is news reporting. Given as basic, therefore, the quality of news judgment and presentation, therefore, become fundamental for any newspaper or magazine brand’s success.

It is therefore forbidden for ill-trained reporter to be permitted in the business of news gathering and writing.

So many readers today are reluctant engaging our local newspapers and magazine because of compromises in quality on offer. Stories run through several paragraphs, only as repetition of the first and opening paragraph.

Stories now come as imagination of a reporter because beats are not properly covered, journalists do not read and so are themselves lacking in literary prowess, general information and exposure.

Spellings are most often wrong!

Add to product quality is brand involvement in experiential marketing for total value enhancement. If all a print medium do is sell news, such newspaper/ magazine automatically disengages from the public as fast as the need for news is satisfied. So, with several other sources of news (most of them are even free, less stressful and trendy), survival is keener for the prints.

Therefore, as brands, newspapers/magazines need to engage readers (their consumers) at such value touch-points that will build a more enduring relationship.

Newspaper/magazine brands must define their relevance to the public, to include public interest issues such as healthcare, public enlightenment and awareness, seminars on public health matters, human capital development, and etc. by the time the public sees newspapers and magazines engage in matters of public interest beyond their core business focus, they would become partners indeed as business opportunity.

On the whole, newspapers/ magazines require the services of professional brand managers to survive in the business world, as indeed all brands. It is time for re-think, among newspaper/magazine brand managers.

60— SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012 spect and the right to decide his future.”

Guardiola announced at the end of April that he would be stepping down from his role at the Nou Camp to spend time away from the game, bringing an end to four successful years.

The former Spain international, who will be succeeded at the Nou Camp by his assistant Tito Vilanova, has revealed he will be ready to return to management in the future for a club

Guardiola signs off with Copa del Rey triumph P

EP Guardiola signed off as Barcelona coach with his 14th trophy in four years as his side beat Atletico Bilbao 3-0 in the final of the Copa del Rey. Pedro Rodriguez’s brace either side of Lionel Messi’s 73rd goal of the season earned Barca a comfortable victory.

Despite reports linking him to Chelsea , Guardiola later appeared to confirm his intention to take time out of the game.

“I feel like I left some good things behind,” he said. “Now I will rest and try in the future a new challenge.”

Guardiola, 41, is the club’s most successful coach though Barca ended the season relinquishing both their La Liga and Champions League titles.

“We had a very good year, we won four titles and winning

this cup gives them better value,” Guardiola said. “I’m happy to close out the season this way.”

Ernest Macia of Catalunya Radio said he thought Guardiola would take time out from football.

“I’m sure he will stay out of football for one year - it could even be two,” he told BBC World Service. “I think he will decide what to do at the end of next season.”

Macia believes if Guardiola were to change his mind and move immediately, Barcelona’s fans would respond sympathetically.

“If that moment comes, he would speak directly to Barcelona’s fans and say that he has chosen, for example, to go to the Premier League, and people will respect that,” said Macia. “He has earned the re-

•Guardiola (r) celebrating that “seduces” him.

Guardiola won three league titles and two Champions Leagues with Barcelona.

He played for the Catalan club during the 1990s and early 2000s and was appointed Barca B coach in 2007 before taking control of the first team in 2008.

Torres ready to step into Drogba’s shoes

F

ERNANDO Torres is fired up for next season after holding talks with Chelsea about his long-term future .

The Spaniard has admitted he was not happy with his lack of regular action in the side with the striker forced to play second fiddle to Didier Drogba for much of the campaign.

However, after talks with the Chelsea hierarchy Torres admits he cannot wait for the new season to start as he wants to prove his worth at Stamford Bridge.

“My goal was to talk to them at the end of the season, I needed to know what plans they had for me,” Torres told the club’s official website.

“We’ve talked and now I have no doubt what they expect of Fernando Torres. I just want to start next season as soon as possi•Torres ble.”

Sagna confident on van Persie’s stay in Arsenal

B

ACARY Sagna is confident Robin van Persie will stay with Arsenal this summer and would also like the club to sign Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila.

Van Persie has just one year remaining on his current deal and has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium during the transfer window.

Having scored 30 Premier League goals to fire the Gunners to third place in the Premier League, Sagna believes the Dutchman will decide to commit his future to Arsenal.

He told the Daily Mirror: “I’m confident Robin will stay. He was a complete professional from the beginning until the end (of

KINGLY TEE OFF...

King Alfred DietteSpiff, the Amayanabo of Twon Brass Teeing off at the MTN eastern regional golf qualifiers held at the Port Harcourt Golf Club yesterday .

•Anelka & Drogba

Anelka congratulates Drogba, others

N

icolas Anelka says he has not discussed a move to Shanghai Shenhua with Didier Drogba after congratulating his former Chelsea team-mate on winning the UEFA Champions League. Drogba rolled in the decisive penalty in last week’s shoot-out as Chelsea became European champions for the first time after beating Bayern Munich.

The Ivory Coast striker subsequently confirmed he will be leaving Chelsea when his contract expires after admitting the Champions League success was a fitting way to end his eight-year career at Stamford Bridge.

•Van Persie

the season) and helped us into third.

“We want to keep him. Everyone is so grateful to him for what he’s done for the club and how important he is.

“He is our captain and takes his role and responsibilities very seriously.

He gives everything as a player and captain.”

MTN Golfers championships qualifiers rock Port Harcourt

N

IGERIAN golfers had another weekend of excitement yesterday in Port Harcourt with the eastern qualifiers for the MTN World Golfers Championship slated for South Africa later in the year.

The Port Harcourt Golf Club took the hosting baton from its Ikeja counterpart which hosted the C M Y K

maiden edition of the Alumni Golf Cup, now one of the numerous MTN sponsored golf tournaments in Nigeria.

Dignataries who graced or participated in the championship included former governor of old Rivers State and now traditional ruler, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, former Deputy MD, SPDC, Chief Jimi Odogwu, CEO,

Rainbow Properties Asaba, Dola Bamgboye Master Brand Specialist MTN; Princcess Joyce Nule, President, Ladies Golfers Association of Nigeria; Kester Osahenye, Regional Trade Marketing Manager MTN and Sam Nwankwo, DGM TotalFinaelf.

The golf community in Nigeria has been brimming with excitement since MTN

unveiled an attractive calendar with the eastern regional qualifiers. The event will be followed closely by the western qualifiers on June 9th, while the northern qualifiers will hold shortly after on June 23rd.

General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi said that the qualifiers present a unique opportunity for

MTN to facilitate an atmosphere where top business and political elite network and relax.

“This is the point about MTN, we are not simply a provider of GSM services, we are passionate about creating unparalleled opportunities for our publics to achieve the ultimate both in their businesses •Robben and leisure.”

61

C M Y K

62

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 27, 2012 —

Lagos flicks off 3rd Hockey Premier League

BY IME BASSEY

T

HE third edition of the International Energy Insurance Hockey Premier League would flicked off at the weekend in Lagos at the National Stadium Hockey pitch with all eyes on the Union Bank hockey team, winners of the inaugural Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) Top 4 Championship for Adekunle Kukoyi Cup last month.

The IEI hockey league is coming back in a big way following last season’s one off grand finale in Abuja. The tournament is returning back to its old format with regional places in Lagos and Kaduna after which the top four teams in the male and female categories would gather in Abuja for the grand finale.

The tournament flicked off with the Atlantic Conference with teams in the south and western region of the country converging at the National Stadium Hockey pitches, Lagos.

The 2011 IEI Premier league was won by Yobe

Desert Warriors, which defeated Niger Flickers in the final play while the female category was won

by Bayelsa Queens,

BASKETBALL CLINIC... The Youth Alive Basketball Clinic sponsored by Honeywell Noodles took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park in Yaba, Lagos recently. Commercial Director, Honeywell Superfine Foods Limited, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola (standing right) posing with one of the participating teams at the event.

Gulder 5-Aside: Ijebu-Ode Champion kicked out

I

T took just one day for the first upset in the ongoing GUFAF South West qualifiers to be recorded as Moonstar FC, winners of last year’s qualifiers in the zone were kicked out of

Ocean Boys will survive relegation – Unuanel

BY KATE OBODO

H

EAD Coach of Ocean Boys of Yenegoa, Samson Unuanel is confident that his team would retain their Nigeria Premier League (NPL) status at the end of the season.

Ocean Boys, have garnered 26 points from 24 matches and are currently placed 19th on the 20-team log table.

Unuanel however, is optimistic the Yenegoa based-side would survive the relegation axe at the end of the season.

“I am sure the team will overcome their present predicament. It all started when we lost most of our key players to the top teams and recruited new players from the grass root and were faced with financial challenges.

C M Y K

which returned to give Imo Heartlands, winners of the inaugural edition of the league in 2010, a run for their money, to lift the

trophy.

According to Omiema Brown, NHF Director of Development Committee and coordinator of the Atlantic Conference, the Atlantic Conference would be tough considering the calibre of teams vying for honours in Lagos.

Among them are Union Bank team, Lagos State male and female Hockey teams, Ondo male and female Hockey teams, Heartlands of Imo State (African champions), Rivers State male and female teams, Edo male and female teams, Delta male and female teams and Bayelsa Queens, defending champions.

We have recruited more quality players and I believe with time the players will blend together and the team will continue in their winning ways, “ the Super Falcons assistant coach said.

the competition by little known Fire Two FC. Moonstar were defeated by Fire Two FC 10-9 on penalties after both teams drew blank during regulation time on Friday. Over 60 teams converged at the Dipo Dina Staduim, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State for the annual football journey which began Friday and ends today.

The qualifiers brought together teams from Ijebu-Ode, and its environs as well as Lagos, Benin City, Akure, Sango, and other states. At stake are the two tickets to repre-

sent the zone at the knock out stages scheduled to hold in Lagos.

Speaking shortly after his team’s defeat, Coach Lawal Oluwaseun of Moonstar FC described his team’s exit as a shattered dream.

In his words: “It is a shattered dream for us because we did not expect to lose out of this competition this soon. In fact, we had hoped to improve on our performance of last year because we lost out in the opening stage of the next round.”

Aiyegbeni hints of Blackburn exit

S

UPER Eagles for ward, Yakubu Aiyegbeni may have played his last match for relegated Blackburn Rovers. The 29-year-old has told BBC Sport that he is not keen on playing in the Championship, after Rovers dropped out of the top flight.

Yakubu was the one bright element in an otherwise gloomy season for Blackburn, scoring 18 goals in total. He has two years to run on his contract but - a proven goal-

scorer - there would be interest from other clubs.

“I may be playing in the Championship. I may be in the Premier League.”

The former Everton and Middlesbrough striker netted 17 goals in the Premier League, including two in the 3-2 victory at Manchester United in December. His tally accounted for more than a third of Blackburn’s entire total and, though he played for Leicester City in the Championship, a return to the second tier

•Aiyegbeni of English football is not on his wish-list. “I still have two years left with Blackburn, but I played in the Championship before.” he said. “It was good but I don’t want to play in there again.”

63

NANF ekini ANF,, APFON and YYekini

I

was at the Oleh Township Stadium in Delta State last Sunday for the Gulder 5-Aside Football competition where the Midwest representatives were to be picked for the national final scheduled for Lagos later in June.

While waiting for the final match between Campos FC and Apex FC both of whom have qualified for the Lagos finals, ex international, Edema Fuludu sauntered into the arena in company with veteran journalist, Ejiro Omonode, a consultant to Nigeria Breweries Plc on the 5-Aside competition. Fuludu was the guest of honour at the final natch.

Hardly had both men settled on their seats than banters ensued between them and yours sincerely on the piece I had written after Yekini’s demise early this month. Ejiro was to corroborate my story that the late gangling striker complained to him in 1994 shortly after they returned from Tunisia where they won the Africa Nations Cup about an alleged gangup against him by his Super Eagles team-mates.

Fuludu, now a coach with Premier league side, Warri Wolves and a team-mate of Yekini at a time, would not confirm or deny the gang-up story but chipped in that Yekini’s undoing was his ‘selfishness’ as he never celebrated his success with or for his team-mates.

The thrust of our discussion that day was the role of the players union or association on the welfare of both active and retired footballers like Yekini. Fuludu at this point said that the problem with the players’ association was the players themselves as they always feel reluctant to contribute to the association’s purse.

He said because players have been used to always receiving money from government or other sources, they find it difficult to part with any token even if it is their subscription to the association.

Apart from the players attitude, Fuludu also blamed the division of the players association into two factions, the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF and the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria, APFON headed by two warring friends, Harrison Jalla and Austin Popo respectively, for the neglect of players in distress.

He attributed the quarrel and subsequent parting of ways by these two friends that led into the formation of two factions of the association to ego and sit-tight tendency of both of them, adding that something could still be done to bring the two friends to a round table for an amicable settlement.

At this juncture both Omonode and Fuludu agreed that with a united players’ body, welfare of both explayers and their active counterparts would be taken more seriously because the association would be able to approach the government, the corporate world and individuals alike to raise funds for its members welfare and other activities.

Drogba, an African hero

P

ENULTIMATE Saturday, Chelsea Football Club, against all predictions, clinched the coveted European Champions League trophy for the first time in their history. The feat could not have been possible but for the fighting spirit of the entire team championed of course by Ivorian Didier Drogba, who the late Sunny Okosuns could have referred to as an African soldier.

Drogba’s doggedness gave him the edge in the midst of charging Bayern Munich defenders to nod home that million dollar equaliser with a few minutes left in the game to take it into extra time. Again in the penalty shoo-out, he clinically tucked in his kick after selling a dummy to the Bayern goalkeeper who dived the wrong way.

Drogba has also chosen to quit Chelsea, and may be England, when the ovation is still very loud. That is the true path of men with honour. Any surprise why the London 2012 Olympics organisers chose him, belatedly, to join in the Olympic torch bearers and run on the streets of London? Bravo Drogba, wish you well anywhere you choose to go and retire from the game that has brought you both fame and money.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 27, 2012

We can match-up with the rest of the world — Okon

By KATE OBODO

H

AVING qualified for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, Chief coach of the female Under20 national team, Edwin Okon is confident about his side’s chances as he looks up to the global challenge in August.

The Okon tutuored-girls completed their qualification with a 3-0 away win at Kinshasa’s imposing Stade des Martyrs last week Saturday to add to their 4-0 first leg win in Abeokuta earlier in May and their coach is confident that his side would leave up to the expectation when the competition starts.

“So far their performances have been good. I’m confident and very sure about my side’s chances ahead the global challenge,” Okon said, adding that, “We can match-up with the rest of the world.

I already have a prototype of how my squad will be at the World Cup. We are not going to relent in our effort, we are very determined to make Nigerians

happy at the World Cup in Japan.” he said.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the team, Ejiro Babafemi, disclosed that the team are expected to regroup in the next one month toward the Japan 2012 World Cup final.

Nigeria and Ghana both marched with impressive efficiency into the lineup for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, winning by handsome margins in their final qualifying ties. The two countries, who also appeared in Germany two years ago, will again represent Africa at the competition after sending a loud message of their competency in the preliminaries.

•CELEBRATION... Representatives of Madrid, Spain celebrate in Quebec City, Canada, following their nomination by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2020 Olymic Games.

National Sports Festival:

Lagos could surpass Port Harcourt’s standard – Okaro

By KATE OBODO

C

HAIRMAN of the Games C o u n c i l s Committee to the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged Eko 2012, Brigadier-General Emmanuel Okaro has said that Lagos state is planning towards hosting the best-ever festival billed to hold from November 27 to December 9, 2012.

Okara, who is also incharge of technical matters at the festival disclosed that the state is also making sure that all the facilities at their disposal are in proper order and the required standard for the events.

He said that in spite of national acclaim that

the 17th edition held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2011 was the best, he believes the best was yet to come, as Lagos plans big in terms of good facilities, venues, accommodation for both athletes and officials and as well good hospitality for its guests.

“Lagos State has been making serious effort to ensure a successful hosting of the forthcoming National Festival later this year. If you look at the facilities they have, you will find out that most of them were worn out but the hosting of the festival has given the state an opportunity to put the facilities in proper shape.

The state is doing its best in upgrading all the

facilities that would match the standard of the National Sports Festival and I think with what I have seen so far, Lagos would do better in this

year’s festival,” he said.

Asked if the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashiola has been supportive ahead of the festival, General Okaro

said, “So far the Governor has been supportive and he has asked for excellent facilities, athletes’ welfare and comfort for all the

ACROSS 1. Nigerian state (5) 3. Snarled (7) 7. Of the dark race (5) 8. Respond (5) 9. Consumed (5) 10. Wit (3) 11. Church part (5) 13. Entrance (4) 15. Stitch (3) 17. Deed (4) 19. Hope (6) 21. However (3) 23. Thanks (2) 25. Curve (3) 26. Class (5) 29. Important (5) 30. Before (3) 31. Revise (4) 34. Mate (4) 36. Italian City (4) 39. Push back (5) 40. Heed (4) 42. End of day (5) 43. Exposed (8)

contingents as well as visitors. With his suport, I think Lagos would surpass the show put up in the last festival by Port Harcourt.”

44. Halt (5) DOWN 1. Rubbish (7) 2. Go in (5) 3. Proceeding (5) 4. Eye-socket (5) 5. Fortune (4) 6. Faculty head (4) 14. Newt (3) 15. Heavenly body (4) 16. Damp (3) 18. Keen (4) 20. Treaty (4) 22. Goad (4) 24. Always (4) 25. Beer (3) 27. Grow old (3) 28. Stray (3) 32. Lucifer (5) 33. Fashion (5) 34. Schemes (5) 37. Leer (4) 38. Otherwise (4) 41. Pup’s cry (3)

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 5

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa.

Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01- 4707189; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com.

Internet: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K