RIVERS CRISIS: Majority Leader tortured - Supporters

2—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 27, 2013

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SA TURD AY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—3 SATURD TURDA

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4—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 27, 2013

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RIVERS CRISIS: ‘Majority Leader tortured’ *Brought to P/Harcourt blindfolded •Whereabout unknown •As DSS challenges immunity claim

BY JIMITOTA ONOYYME P/Harcourt

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HE Department

of State Services, DSS

yesterdayraisedapreliminary objection to the application filed by the Majority leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd challenging his invitation by thePoliceoverhisallegedrole in the recent fracas in the hallowed chambers of the Assembly.

The Majority leader in his application on matter of fundamental rights filed by his Counsel, Bello Olisa Nwafor, SAN, hadamongotherthings sought an order of the court to set aside the “declaration made by the Police on 17/7/ 2013 with the authority/connivance of the respondents declaring the applicant as a wanted person by the police, thesaiddeclarationbeingunlawful,ultravires,unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutitional, null and void.

“A declaration that whatever that happened or transpired on the floor of the Rivers state House of Assembly on the 09-07-2013 with respect to the illegal taking over of the House by the five members of the Rivers state House of Assembly through the use of thugs, hoodlums, and ex militants armed with AK47assaultriflesandactively backed by the men of the NigeriaPolicewasdoneindefence of the applicant’s right to life under section 33(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended” “A declaration that the applicant has the constitutional rightofimmunityinanything said or done on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly and in particular as the Leader of the House in a bid to restore sanity, peace and order in the hallowed chambers of the Rivers state HouseofAssemblyonthe0907-2013andthereforecannot be invited, arrested, interrogated , investigated and or prosecuted by the respondents or anybody whatsoever” His counsel had argued in court that the police violated the immunity of his client by invitinghimandsubsequently declaring him wanted. According to his Counsel, Nwafor, the police allegedly stormed the residence of his client with lorry loads of Policemen, an act he sought the court to declare as a violation of the rights to privacy of his client. He argued that his

client was entitled to immunity from the Legislative House Act. Meantime, in the preliminary objection filed by the DSS, its Counsel, Mr Dike Udena among other things arguedthataStateHighCourt lacked jurisdiction on the relief sought by the applicant.

The principal relief sought by the applicant do not relate to rules of this court, so they are matters for a Federal High Court”, he said He further argued that the immunity claimed by the applicant was not a fundamental right, adding that even if it was available to him, the immunity does not cover acts of violenceandcrimecommitted on the floor of the House and outside.

“Also there is a difference betweeninvestigationandinstitution of proceedings. AccordingtotheSupremeCourt on Fawehinmi in a case involving Bola Tinubu, “a personwhohasimmunitycanbe investigated. Immunity only coversprosecution. Sowhichever way, the case is incompetent. The court should dismiss it”, he pleaded.

On his part, Donald Wigwe, SAN, Counsel of the first to fourth respondent which is the Police argued that the applicant has no immunity for crimes,addingthatlegislative immunity only covers words spoken and written while functioning as a law maker.

Earlier, Counsel to Lloyd had challenged the preliminary objection filed by the DSS, ie the 5th respondent, arguingthatitshouldbethrown out since it did not come as motion on notice.

The trial Judge, E. Teetito adjourned the matter to 6th August for ruling.

Meantime, Hon Chidi Lloyd was brought into the state yesterday by security men. At press time, Saturday Vanguard could not establish contact with him. His Counsel, Nwafor, SAN, said he was worried over the safety of his client because of the way the Police was allegedly treating him. He said Hon Lloyd was driven in, blind folded and driven in a Black Maria from the Port HarcourtInternationalAirport.

“Because of my client’s information to me that he was detained at the Force Headquarters above the one-day that wasallowed, ChidiLloyd was flown into Port Harcourt yeterday, and instead of bringing him to court to defend himself , we found, he wasblindfolded andwe don’t know what is happening to

First Lady and Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame (Dr.) Patience Jonathan (L), being received by the Wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs Rachael Dickson, during the First Lady’s visit to the State, at Otuoke, Bayelsa State

him. There is genuine fear for his life.

“If the Police have nothing to hide, they would have brought Chidi Lloyd to court this morning. He is still not broughttocourttillabout5pm.

Even an armed robber is brought to court in a Black Maria, so whywon’t he(Chidi) be brought to court. If he is brought to court, then, we will know that he is alive.

“The Chief Justice of the Federation has made rules that we are following at the Federal High Court and the High Court and both have concurrentjurisdictiontohear fundamental rights application” Nwafor said.

Emenike Ebete who is also one of his lawyers said it was sad that the Police was yet to arraign the lawmaker twenty four hours after he went to the Force Headquarters, Abuja . Continuing, he corroborated claim by Nwafor, that his client was blindfolded when he arrived Port Harcourt, adding that at the moment, he could not say where he was. He further expressed deep worries over his security.

“We arrived Port Harcourt at 8.45am this morning and over 500 policemen escorted Chidi Lloyd from the Port Harcourt Airport to the office of the Commissioner of Police. He was blindfolded when he alighted from the Black Maria as if he was a common criminal. He walked into the CP’s office and spent about three minutes. After that, we don’t know his where about.”

Saturday Vanguard gathered that there were plans to prosecute Hon Lloyd over the fracas on the floor of the House of Assembly recently.

On his part, the member representing Andoni/Opobo

Nkoro Federal Constituency, Rivers State in the House of Representatives, Hon Dakuku Peterside condemned the alleged torture of Hon Lloyd by Police in the state yesterday.

“This is not only condemnable but regrettable. Rivers StatePoliceCommandunder Mbu seems not to be bothered by the fact that any evidencethatisobtainedbyforce, torture, intimidation or by any form of abuse is not admissible in the court of law, and this is unfortunate.

“This inhuman conduct by RiversStatePoliceCommand is not only a gross abuse of thefundamentalhumanrights oftheaccusedbutfurtherconfirms our fears that Mbu is out to eliminate Lloyd who has been subjected to horrific ordeal since his return to Rivers State.

“This ugly development in

our country today is anti-thetical to the Geneva Convention which expressly demands that countries take effective measures to prevent torture within their borders.

Other international laws also confirm that torture and other mistreatment of persons in custody are also prohibited in allcircumstancesunderinternational human rights law.

This, no doubt, is diminishing and a major setback to our nascent democracy.

“The Police High Command should do the needful and stopsubjectingthe accusedto this inhumanity until full investigation into the crisis is concluded. He has neither been convicted of any offence nor condemned to perpetual incarceration in police custody by any court of law,” Peterside said in a statement by his media aide, Sylvester Asoya.

Thestatementfurtherlaud-

ed the Inspector General of Police, for the way Hon Lloyd was allegedly treated while at theForceHeadquarters,Abuja.

On his part, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwanee alsoexpressedworry over the whereabout of Lloyd. “ There are dangers of his where about. You can recall the case of Abiola, when he was arrested and held in custody, few days after he was released,he died. So, we don’t know what the police authorities are doing with Chidi Lloyd. I gathered few hours ago that he was at the Police Officers’ Mess, but now it is about 5pm, Chidi Lloyd is not in court and nobody knows what might happen to him. I was told that he was handcuffed and tortured. Even if there are assumptions that he committed any crime, he deserves an opportunity to expresshimselfbeforehecanbe chargedtocourt. Nobodyhas the right to torture Chidi Lloyd, not to talk of any Nigerian”, Kwanee said

“If you’ll recall what happened, Chidi Lloyd was invited by the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja for alleged conspiracy.

It is not possible to conspire with oneself. Who aretheconspirators?Ihave spoken severally that there is a grand plan, a design to undermine democracy in Rivers State.

There are elements that are anti-democratic, working to undermine the developmental efforts of Governor Amaechi. It is the grand plan by those who are against the progress of the current administration. There is development everywhere, but, the enemies are at work”, he said

Cholera outbreak: 104 patients hospitalised •As epidemic spreads in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI Abeokuta

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traditional ruler in Ogun State, name(withheld) and 103 residents of the State have been reportedly hospitalised following the recent outbreak of cholera in Abeokuta, the State capital .But, the state government however, said the 104 cases recorded was as a result of gastroenteritis attributed to unhygienic condition of the affected areas and not cholera as being speculated .

Saturday Vanguard’s findings showed that the causalities cut across age

and gender and communities. Gastroenteritis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the gastro-intestinal track that involves both stomach and small intestine, resulting in some combination of diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It was gathered that the areas mostly affected are Ijaiye, Adedotun, Ake, Onikolobo, Ita-Eko among several other communities in the state capital.

Saturday Vanguard’s visit to the state hospital, Ijaiye and the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Idi-Aba, in Abeokuta revealed that dozens of resi-

dents are either being hospitalized or treated for the water-borne disease.

One of such on admission when Saturday Vanguard visited was a traditional ruler in the state as well as a journalist who was discharged on Thursday.

Although the management of the state hospital insisted that they were yet to confirm the outbreak, a ward had already been created for those on admission as a result of what they called gastroenteritis.

However, at the FMC, the outbreak has been confirmed, forcing the management of the hospital to issue a circular.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

Atiku, Mark, NGE, others mourn Alade Odunewu F

ORMER Vice-Pres ident, Atiku Abubakar, Senate President, David Mark and his House of Representatives counterpart, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have joined other Nigerians in mourning the late veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Idowu Odunewu whose remains were laid to rest yesterday at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He died last Thursday night at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos at the age of 85 years.

In a condolence message sent to the family of the deceased, Atiku described the late Odunewu as “a big loss to the journalism profession in Nigeria,’’ adding, “it would create a big vacuum in journalism for a long time to come.”

According to Atiku, the deceased sense of humour gave his writing style a unique and inimitable quality and class. “Jour-

nalists had a lot to learn from the extraordinary talent of the late Odunewu whose column became so popular like a hot cake because of its satirical and humorous style,” he said.

However, the former Vice President reminded Nigerians that the late Odunewu should not only be celebrated for his sense of humour, also because of his integrity.

Also, Senate President, David Mark, described the death of the veteran journalist “as a huge loss not only to the Journalism profession but the nation at large.”

Mark, in a pensive condolence message sent to the government and people of Lagos State, pointed out that Odunewu was one of those who fought for the actualization of the nation’s independence in 1960.

He said, Odunewu, through his famous, scintillating and reverberating column in the old Daily

•Late Alade Idowu Odunewu Times of Nigeria, educated and entertained the nation.

Senator Mark noted that Odunewu was not just a founding father of the modern day Journalism but the Nigerian nation.

For the Senate President, Odunewu was an encyclopedia and a reservoir of knowledge of sort who brought his skill and tal-

ent to bear in the discharge of his assignment.

He added that Odunewu did not only excel as a Journalist, he indeed triumphed as a manager of human and material resources as the then commissioner for Information in Lagos State.

“We shall miss his wise counsel, his humour and patriotism. He was a man whose good gestures transcended beyond ethnic and religious boundaries.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday described late Veteran Journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunowu who passed away on Thursday as a distinguished personality.

In his tribute, Tambuwal said, Odunewu’s journalistic works led to better understanding of contemporary issues in Nigeria and beyond.

According to him, late Odunewu’s satirical essays on the state of the nation, which appeared in the Daily Times, provided not only a dose of humour, but drew the attention of the world to salient issues affecting the nation.

For the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Odunewu’s death has without doubt robbed the NGE and Nigerian journalism in general of his wisdom, knowledge, wealth of invaluable experience and fatherly advice.

Noting that it received the death of the foremost journalist with “shock and sadness”, NGE stated that “It is noteworthy that Alhaji Odunewu was instrumental to the founding, nurturing and sustenance of the Guild, which today, has metamorphosed into a strong voice on national issues. In addition, he also played a key role as the ombudsman of the Nigerian Press Council until he

passed on Thursday night.”

The Guild wishes to recall that in his many decades as a practicing journalist and editor, Odunewu became famous for his incisive and satirical essays and his ‘Allah De’ columns in the Daily Times of Nigeria and later went on to publish a book, “Winner Takes All”, a compilation of some of his writings.

Regrettably, the Guild also notes the passing away of another veteran journalist, Herbert Unegbu, (Unu Habib), who edited the highly-regarded West African Pilot, founded by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

A renowned contemporary of his, Peter Enahoro, described him thus: “Herbert Unegbu was one of the three best informed political journalists in Lagos in the late 1950s, ranking after MCK Ajuluchukwu and Bisi Onabanjo.”

Also, in their tributes, governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, described late Odunewu as “a rare breed among his peers and his satirical style of writing incomparable.”

Governor Mimiko said, “no doubt we have lost a rare gem and an exemplary journalist in Allah Des. In the message made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, Mimiko stressed that in his life time Odunewu exhibited the best of the journalism profession through his lucid but satirical writings as ampli-

fied especially through his popular column.

The Ondo Governor, recalling his visits to Ondo State during the Nigeria Media Merit Award said, the late Odunewu had an infectious disposition to people-oriented changes and was encouraging of the modest efforts of his government.

Mimiko expressed his government’s condolence on the great loss particularly coming at the time of the Ramadan. He prays for the repose of his soul and for the strength of the Lord for his survivors.

For Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the media community in Nigeria has lost a frontline journalist and renowned columnist.

Describing the deceased as “a cerebral writer and satirist extraordinnaire”, Amosun said “‘Allah De,’ as he was fondly called, left indelible prints as a columnist, editor of Daily Times and chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Media Merit Award. The nation has truly lost a patriotic opinion moulder, educator and builder of men,” the governor said.

He urged Nigerian media practitioners to follow in the footsteps of Odunewu by making ‘fairness, balance and objectivity’ their watchword.

On his own, former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, described the “late veteran journalist, as a man committed to the advancement of Nigeria’s progress.”

My father died of age-related ailment – Odunewu’s son

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eanwhile, the youngest son of the deceased, Mr Segun Odunewu disclosed yesterday that his father died of age-related ailment.

Odunewu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the death of their mother in January 2012 might also not be unconnected with the death of his father.

“Our mother died on January 4, 2012 and the death of my father happened just last night. So, I am still dazed about the development.

“His health condition nose-dived after the family celebrated one year of the death of our mother. This might have affected him somehow.”

Odunewu wondered why this should happen to the family sixteen months after the death of his mother.

Another family member, Mrs Oreoluwa Odunuga (nee Odunewu), described the deceased as a very forthright man.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013 — 7

Emergency: DHQ inaugurates joint investigation team to screen terrorists

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

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OLLOWING the promise by the Federal Government that it would screen and rehabilitate certain Boko Haram suspects apprehended during the onslaught to dislodge terrorists from the North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the Defence Headquarters has inaugurated an 18member panel to carry out the screening.

Saturday Vanguard recalls that the Federal Government specifically declared that mostly women, children and vulnerable youths as well as unfortunate foreigners caught in the line of battle, would benefit from the government’s gesture; which is further proof that human rights/privileges are been respected.

The 18-member Committee to screen and categorize persons apprehended in

connection with terrorism in the ongoing security operations in parts of the country, was inaugurated yesterday by Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim.

A statement signed by Brigadier General Chris Olukolade noted that “The measure is geared towards the need to further ensure that the legal rights of persons involved are observed”. ”The team which will classify the detainees comprises experienced legal officers from security agencies as well as Ministries of Justice and Offices of Attorney General of the Federation and the affected states of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States”,the statement said. ”They are to submit a report to the CDS within one month making a p p r o p r i a t e recommendations with regards to prosecution, further investigation, deportation and or

unconditional release of the detainees”. Speaking while Inaugurating the committee, the CDS who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Major General Lawrence Ngubane charged the team to see their assignment as a national call to duty.

He enjoined them to bring to bear their wealth of experience in the new assignment, stressing that the work of the team is very important to the nation hence their selection to work in the committee.

Anambra guber: Anambra North‘ll produce the Governor of the State tivate strength of characnext Governor — Obi would come from Anam- ter that would enable them

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OVERNOR Peter Obi has once again reiterated his commitment to Anambra North producing his successor, insisting it was necessary in order to maintain equity, fairness and justice. Gov. Obi made this known while answering ques-

Mob sacks police station, damage patrol vehicles in Delta

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, Asaba

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MOB attack by pro testers numbering over 200 have sacked a police station at Ashaka in Ndokwa East Local Government area of Delta State in protest against the death of a young man who got drowned in the river as police raided some hideouts.

SaturdayVanguard gathered that a combined team of policemen and

anti-cult group from the community carried out an early morning raid at some hideouts where cannabis are sold.

And in course of the raid some persons running away from being arrested jumped into the Ase creek where no one person as at the press time was confirmed drowned.

Angered by the death of the young man the mob marched to the police station and damaged anytime at site.

Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun in a group photograph with winners of Ogun State 2nd Edition of Ramadan Quiz/Essay Competition during the prize giving ceremony at the Valley View Auditorium, Isale-Igbein in Abeokuta yesterday.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme told reporters yesterday that “mob numbering over 200 persons attacked and destroyed the police station windows, charge room including two patrol vehicles parked in the station”.

He further stated that “one Emeka and other principal suspects have been arrested and we (police) are warning fleeing suspects to surrender themselves to security agents”.

tions on APGA commitment that the next governor will come from Anambra North on Thursday during the Town Hall meeting at Onitsha North Local Government headquarters.

“Our leader, Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu died a man of honour and he fought the cause of justice till his last breath. Together with him, we made a firm commitment that after my humble self that the next

BY EMMA AMAIZE of the country. and AKPOKONA He also commended the OMAFUAIRE Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, DUMBFOUNDED who he said had done well Chief (Dr.) Edwin Ki- in sports and brought naagbodo Clark, yesterday, in tional and international recWarri, Delta State, shelved ognition to the state. his planned attack on GovClark spoke, yesterday, ernor Sule Lamido of Jiga- at finals of first edition of wa State and also apolo- Chief (Dr.) E.K. Clark Nagized to Nigerians for his tional Wrestling Championutterances, over the years, ship, held at the Brownwhich they consider to hill Event Centre, Warri, have threatened the unity Delta State. The Ijaw na-

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to remain focused and resist undue distraction from any quarter.

Commenting on the second Niger Bridge, Obi said that he had lost count of how many times the issue was raised by the South-East and himself personally with the President and the Minister of Works, as well as other relevant stakeholders. He appealed to the people to thank the President as the project is on course.

L.G. autonomy: NULGE goes on three days nationwide strike

BY GODWIN OGHRE, Sapele

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HE Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, will on Monday proceed on a three-day warning strike to draw the attention of the Senate, to the need to recognize the autonomy of the Local Government system across the country.

Clark suspends attack on Gov Lamido, lauds Uduaghan tional leader had come prepared to the event with a speech to lambast Governor Lamido over his recent outburst against him (Clark), but he was pleasantly surprised that despite the existing political differences between them, the governor sponsored a contingent from Jigawa State to a national wrestling championship in his honour.

His words, “We thank God. I said that today that I have been making statements, sometimes people

bra North. During the electioneering in 2010, all the candidates promised to support Anambra North. I urge them to be honourable and keep their words”, Obi said. He also debunked the crisis in APGA insisting that the party remained one.

On how a candidate would emerge, Obi said that the decision to give the State the best candidate was that of the people of the Senatorial Area and called on them to cul-

think that my statement is threatening the unity of this country. I believe in Nigeria, I believe in the unity of this country. I never at anytime like to make statement that will threaten the unity of this country.

“If over the years, I’ve made any statement that threatened the unity of this country, I apologize to all Nigerians. Nigeria is a big country and we all must make our contribution.’’he said.

Chairman of NULGE, Sapele Local Government Chapter, Mr. Stanley Akogba, who disclosed this yesterday in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, also said the Local Chapter of the Union had also directed workers in the council to comply fully with the directive of the Union at the national level which has asked members across the country to pro-

ceed on the strike.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I, Mr. Lawal Danladi Yaro, hereby state that the Original Allocation letter issued to me in respect of my House on 403 Road, ‘C’ Close, House 19 by Federal Housing Authority got lost on transit. All efforts made to trace it proved abortive. Federal Housing Authority and general public should be aware.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

17 children rescued from child-traffickers

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

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HE Benue state Po lice Command has rescued 17 underaged children from a suspected child trafficking syndicate who specialized in picking children from Benue and neighboring states for distribution to yet to be identified persons in Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan.

Also arrested by the command, were eight members of the gang who were nabbed along Otukpo-Enugu while conveying their victims

The rescued Children

to unknown persons around the country.

Parading the suspects and victims at the state command Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue state capital, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adams Audu said “few days ago, my men on stop and search duty along Otukpo-Enugu road intercepted three mini buses loaded with 55 persons among them 17 children of ages between five to seventeen. ”Among them were ten boys and seven girls and upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that

PDP determines nation’s stability — Dickson •Urges members to close ranks

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HE Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman of the newly inaugurated Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP Reconciliation Committee, Hon. Seriake Dickson says the stability of the country depends on the stability of the PDP. This, according to him is as a result of the Party’s spread and its unbroken hold on power in the last 14 years, noting that, the party remains the strongest centripetal force that holds the diverse country together irrespective of the threat to its very existence as an indivisible country.

Making this known in his acceptance speech as the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Dickson stressed the need for members of the Party to put aside their differences and forge a common front, adding that the interest of the nation should be of paramount interest in the minds of people, both in the political and non- political fields.

Noting the relevance of the PDP in the nation’s polity, the Governor said, it now becomes imperative for its members to work together as a team to enhance the success of the party in future elections.

According to him, “at no time in our history has our nation’s unity come under sustained and several attacks as it is now. Mr. Chairman instead of building a political platform for the

unity and development of the Country, the way our party is doing, the centrifugal forces are exploiting our diversity to expand the attacks and even making political capital out of them.

“Let me stress here that the PDP is the only political platform from pre-independence till date that has made it possible for a so called

minority to win presidential ticket and general election as President.

“A large platform like the PDP cannot be devoid of several tendencies, conflict of interest and all manner of crises.

But as democrats, we must evolve ways of appreciating them and resolving crises within the party without stifling

people. I think this is what you have done by setting up reconciliation committee” Calling on the members to support the reconciliatory efforts of the various committees set up by the leadership of the Party, the Governor disclosed that the mandate of his committee is to provide the template that will make the ruling party organize cred-

ible primaries and select candidates for elections.

Urging the members to take advantage of the Committee, Hon. Dickson said, ‘it is the Party, and only the Party that wins election; no individual has the capacity to single handedly win an election. To us, the Party is like a race horse, anybody can ride once it is strong’

Man, 34, charged with inciting disturbance

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HE Police y e s t e r d a y charged Jeff Momoh in an Abuja Grade 2 Area Court in Kado with inciting public disturbance.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Simeon Ibrahim, told the court that on June 19, Cpl. Mankput Norbert of the Nigerian Police Force attached to the Utako Market Police Outstation, Abuja, brought the matter to Utako Police Station.

He said that Norbert reported that on the same day, he arrested and brought Momoh, a trader in Utako Market, to the police station.

Ibrahim said Momoh used a megaphone to incite traders in the market by telling them to come out and protest the arrest of their president and members of the executive of Utako Shop Owners and Traders Association.

The prosecutor said the

president and his executive members were arrested in the morning of the same day Momoh was arrested.

Ibrahim said the offence contravened Section 114 of the Penal Code, which prescribes a two-year imprisonment term or fine, or both for an offender.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the offence, adding that he was campaigning for a just cause.

The counsel to the accused, Mr Chuks Mpama, told the court that “the accused is also an executive member of the Utako Shop Owners/ Traders Association, Abuja. As a matter of fact, he is the PRO 1”.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 and a reliable surety.

Ado adjourned the case to Aug. 18 for further hearing.

they were taking the children to Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan.

The suspects confessed to have taken the children away from their parents at Oju in Benue state and Yala in Cross River state and they were to be given out to strangers who subject them to child labour, prostitution and hawking in return for money for both parents and the suspects who take the trade as their means of livelihood.”

The Commissioner of Police also sued for assistance of the public in its bid to apprehend the fleeing members of another child trafficking syndicate who recruit medically deformed children for begging and prostitution along streets in major towns in the country.

He said, “ Tyotyev Tarchill and Tyodoo Yamuer were liaison of the child trafficking syndicate in Benue state who collude with parents to send out their children for begging and prostitution in urban cities.

He said, the Police in Lagos in collaboration with an NGO of the former Inspector General of Police, ”Hands that Care Foundation” arrested the victims and suspects led by one Chigozie Amechi, who operates from Lagos and Port Harcourt with links to other suspects in Benue state.

Mr. Audu said he has ordered full scale investigations into the matters pleading for cooperation with members of the public in its constitutional responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the people of the state.

Businessman petitions NASS over killing of 25 Ibadan traders

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N Ibadan busi nessman, Mr Adisa Onifade has petitioned the National Assembly to launch a probe into the killings of 25 Ibadan traders earlier this month allegedly by members of the Boko Haram sect.

Mr Onifade in the petition said he lost his cousin in the gruesome incident. According to him, he is calling on the National Assembly to launch a comprehensive

investigation into the killing of the traders from Ibadan because of the circumstances in which they were killed.

One of the traders, who according to reports did not immediately die from gunshots fired at him was later slaughtered.

“That could have been my cousin, Oladepo, who traveled with other traders but has not returned till date,”Mr Onifade said.

News reports indicated

that traders from Ibadan, numbering about 25 traveled up north to Borno State where they had usually gone to buy agricultural produce which they then sold in markets in Ibadan.

One of the survivors of the attack, Taoheed Adewuyi recounted his ordeal, and attributed his survival to the grace of God: “They stopped us along the way and asked us to come down from the car

and lie down. Afterward, they started shooting us one after the other. I was the third person. I was also shot but the bullet did not hit me well. It was after an hour that I realized I was still alive,” he said.

Adewuyi added that one of them was slaughtered by a member of the gang that shot them, seeing that he was still breathing after being shot. Adewuyi was convinced the gang mem-

bers were part of the Boko Haram sect.

Lamenting the loss of his cousin, Onifade queried: “How can one human being slaughter another like a goat?”

He urged the National Assembly as representatives of the people, the Police and other law_enforcement agencies to get to the root of the matter and solve the problems of insecurity in the country before things get totally out of hand.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013 — 9

Attack on Delta Police Station: Police arrest over 10 suspects

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Asaba

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OLICE in Delta State have seized over 10 persons in connection with Wednesday’s attack on Ashaka Police Station, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, by a band of hoodlums.

However, there has been tension in Abavo, Ika South Local Government Area of the state in the past few days following a new oil find in Okpe community.

Some irate villagers, who were protesting the meddlesomeness of some community leaders that encouraged the oil company, Pan Ocean, to start work in the area without properly negotiating with the people, confronted security agents following the shooting of a youth.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the arrest to Saturday Vanguard said the criminals invaded the station a day after police raided a den of criminals in Ashaka on grounds that a youth, who escaped the crack-down by jumping into the river was later found dead.

He said police repelled the attack by over 200 hoodlums, adding that investigation was on to track down the fleeing criminals.

Aduba said, “what actually happened is that the criminals are angry that the police raided their hideout where they smoke India hemp and they decided to unleash mayhem on the police under the guise that a youth was shot by the police.”

A source, however, said the deceased youth, Oge, jumped into the river to evade police arrest, but when the police left, his gang unleashed mayhem on members of the anticult group in the area, who they alleged, led police officers to their den.

“The corpse of Oge, a kingpin of the group was found the next day, and the group hid under it to attack the police station,” he added.

An official of Ndokwa East Local Government council told Saturday Vanguard, “What we know is that some criminals attacked the Ashaka Police Station without

provocation because they claimed that some anticult members led policemen to their hideout.”

A villager also told our reporter, yesterday, “four days ago, the police and anti-cult group in Ashaka raided a suspected criminal hideout in Ashaka, back of Ase creek called the Bunk. Criminals usually gather there to smoke Indian hemp.”

“One of the kingpins, Oge, jumped into the river and was not seen until the next day when his corpse floated. Therefore, the criminals organized and attacked the police station. It took the intervention of policemen and sol-

diers from other parts of the two Ndokwa local governments and soldiers to overpower them”.

“They, however, succeeded in destroying louvres of the police station before they were overcome,” he added.

On the Abavo incident, Commissioner Aduba said the police were investigating the alleged shooting of a youth by a security agent.

A source said the problem emanated because some powerful persons in Abavo conspired to deprive the Okpe community from having any dealing with Pan Ocean Oil Company whereas oil was found it its domain.

L-R: Aramide Tola Noibi with the special guest of honour, 2013 ordinary general meeting, Lagos State Medical Guild, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora at the event held at the LASUTH auditorium, Ikeja, Lagos.

Two brothers docked over robbery and kidnap

BY ONOZURE DANIA

T

WO brothers, O l a y i n k a Jagbojagbo,38,and Kabiru Jagbojagbo, 30, were, on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court,

over alleged kidnap and robbery.

The suspects who were docked before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe, are facing a four- count charge of conspiracy, robbery, kidnap and attempt to

escape, preferred against them by the police.

The police prosecutor, inspector Iranus Nnamonu, told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the alleged

crime some time in January, 2013, at about 3:20pm, at 26, Jagbojabo Villa Erode, in Epe area of Lagos State.

He said that the accused and others at large received N8,500,000 ransom from ZTM

Ex-militant leader, Tompolo donates drugs to four govt hospitals Ogbe-Ijoh and Ugbokodo dation, Dr. Clarkson General Hospital, Ekpan,

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

E

X - M I L I TA N T leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has provided drugs worth millions of naira to four government hospitals in Delta State to complement Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s effort in free maternal and childcare.

He also pledged to train 50 Science teachers in the College of Education to meet the educational needs of children in the riverside areas of the state.

Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation, Warri, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, said while handing over the drugs: 50 cartons of Paracetamol, 50 cartons of multivitamins, 50 cartons of vitamin C, 50 cartons of Nomalin cough syrups, 50 cartons of B complex and 65 pieces of bed sheets, that the charity organizations would reach out to more government hospitals.

The four health institutions that benefitted from the gesture are General Hospitals, Ekpan, Warri,

Primary Health Centre.

According to Bebenimibo, “We are here today to affect lives, no matter how small these drugs maybe, we are confident it will help to save children’s lives, children are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Also speaking, Director of Health, Tompolo Foun-

Agagha, noted, “We know that children are prone to various illness during the rainy season, so we acted quickly to get the drugs to help in complementing the government efforts of free maternal and child care.”

Receiving the drugs, Chief Medical Director,

Dr. Vincent Oziga, said, “On behalf of the State government and health ministry, we say a very big thank you for this uncommon gesture and remembering the children. These drugs will go a long way to assisting us, we will put them to effective use.”

Surety docked over N4m theft

BY ONOZURE JANE

A

60- year- old sure ty, Henry Okoli, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing N4million belonging to a Company, Amazuma Nigeria Limited.

Okoli, who is facing a two- count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police, was docked before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, said that the accused committed the alleged crime in January, 24, 2013, at about 6pm,

at Site 709,699,215,137,374 Globacom Mask situated in Lagos Island and its environs.

He said that the defendant and others at large conspired together, to steal a five AVR, from a generating plant and 1,300 litres of diesel valued N4million.

The prosecutor, said that the offence committed is punishable under section 409 and 285, of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

It was said that the defendant, was standing as a surety for one of the people that stole five AVR from a generating plant and 1, 300literes of diesel valued at N4million, property of

Amazuma Nigeria Ltd, which was meant for Globacom Mask.

It was said that when they could not find the suspect that Okoli, was standing surety for, he was arrested and charged to court.

However, when the charge was read to the defendant, who was looking dazed and in shadow of himself, pleaded not guilty to the twocount charge, levelled against him.

Magistrate Komolafe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000, with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She further adjourned the case to September, 17, 2013, for mention.

Nigeria Limited, over a kidnapped Chinese national one Mr Kuang Vingjiun, who is a staff of ZTE Nigeria Ltd, at Osborne Road in Ikoyi.

Nnamonu said that the suspects and other members of the gang, shared N200,000 each from the money realised as ransom.

He said that the suspects procure charms for themselves and members of their gang, from one Taiwo Aduloju, to enable them escape being punished by the police.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants kidnapped one Ilogbonu Kingsley Ifeanyi, on May 13, 2013, between 6pm and 7pm, at 26, Jagbojagbo Villa Erode, in Epe area of Lagos.

He claimed that they unlawfully detained him, for four days in their house and also in an uncompleted building at Imokun area of Epe, until a ransom of N500,000 was paid for his release.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 409, 16 (B) (C) (D) and 269 (1) (2) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

However when the charge preferred against the defendants, who resides at 26, Jagbojagbo Villa Erode, in Epe area of Lagos, the two brothers, pleaded not guilt to the four-count c h a r g e s .

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

Senator Yerima

On slippery slope to legalised paedophilia

By EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO The Yerima Doctrine: When a girl has seen her menstruation, develops breasts and has pubic hair, she is mature to be married.

Not many people would have thought a time would come when paedophilia would be celebrated in Nigeria. But that seems to be the case with the Senate's much-touted bid to legalise child marriage.

Specifically, the Senate voted in support of a resolution to amend the provisions of Section 29 (4b) of the 1999 Constitution. Section 29 (1) states: “Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.”

Subsection (4a) states: “Full age means the age of 18 years and above,” while (4b) says: “Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” But with the proposed amendment, a married underage girl of 10, 12, 13 or less is deemed to be an adult.

Despite the Senate's plans to expunge the section which makes a married woman an adult, the proposal did not sail through because proponents could not get the 2/3 majority vote required.

"We wanted to remove it but failed. We were a total of 101, 85 voted and about six or so abstained There was hardly any dissenting vote, but it got mixed up with so many issues and didn't get the required 73 votes anymore," said Senate President David Mark.

That situation was, however, shortlived. At the intervention of some powerful Northern senators, with Sen-

ator Sani Yerima as the arrowhead, things changed.

Yerima, former governor of Zamfara State, is alleged to have married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl.

“Yerima brought religious sentiments to the Senate, misled the Senate, intimidated everyone for the northern senators of Islamic faith to have their way. I was in Kano and Katsina and saw girls in hospital with Vestico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) abandoned with stench and their lives at stake, due to early pregnancy,” said Mustapha Mohammed, a political analyst on radio.

Senator Yerima had argued against Subsection 4a of the 1999 Constitution because the Islamic law permits marriage to girls below 18 years. Under the said law, underaged married girls are adults by virtue of marriage.

Some days after, it dawned on one of the Senators who voted for the resolution, Ayo Akinyelure, that he had been misled. The senator claimed he thought he was voting against child marriage, and wept while explaining his predicament to his constituents at a Town Hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State.

His words: “I can never support such a barbaric and wicked bill. I am sorry for this costly mistake. I actually voted in error. I can never support a bill which is not only retrogressive in nature but will also subject the girl child to pain and anguish.”

While the global and national quest for girl child education gathers momentum, the Senate seems to be throwing a spanner in the works by passing a resolution that could stultify women empowerment.

Indeed, many feel the country will be in peril if the practice of taking underaged girls as wives

gains ground. After all, many of the female ministers gracing the President's cabinet would not have assumed such lofty positions if they had been given out in marriage as early as 12 or 13 years old.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, when asked on a radio programme about the Girl Child Marriage Bill, seemed to be against it.

“I am a woman and totally support empowerment of women. Letting girls go to school is good for the family. Health improves, education improves. There is no sentiment about this. Research studies have shown that to educate girls is the best way out of poverty,” she asserted.

Meanwhile, the Child Rights Act 2003 which defines a child as “anyone who is below the age of 18 years,” also guarantees universal free education to every child, including girls. The law stipulates five years' imprisonment for any person who marries a girl under 18 years and prohibits child labour.

In the same vein, Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child, to which Nigeria is signatory, defines a child as “every human being (male or female) below the age of 18 years” and stipulates that the education of the child shall be directed to: *The development of the child’s personality, talents, mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. *The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Similarly, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the child stipulates in Article 11 that (1) Every child shall have the right to education.

It recommends the preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, tolerance, mutual respect, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, tribal and religious groups.

At a World Conference on Women held in China (Beijing), it was determined that equality of access to and attainment of educational qualifications are necessary if more women are to become agents of change. The literacy of women is key to improving health, nutrition and education in the family and empowering them to participate in societal decision-making.

All of that notwithstanding, discrimination against girls regarding access to education persists in many countries including Nigeria, owing to customary attitudes, early marriages/pregnancies, sexual harassment and inadequate schooling facilities.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—11

'Child marriage not in conformity with Nigerian Law'

Many days after the news broke, reactions to the proposed Child Marriage Law show no signs of letting up. From clerics to educationists, lawyers and of course, activists, opinions are divided. While some believe the customs and traditions of northern senators agitating for child marriage should be taken into consideration, the majority have outrightly condemned such a move. Here are what experts think about the Senate's controversial endorsement:

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, MOSES ANOSIKE, FLORENCE AMAGIYA, OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI, ANOZIE EGOLE, OLAYINKA AJAYI, ADERONKE ADEYERI

They want to give our young girls VVF—Yinka Odumakin

We must bow down to the culture and traditions of our people —Ebenezer Babatope I believe before the National Assem bly would approve such a bill, they must have taken into consideration the customs and traditions of the North. But I don’t support child marriage in any way.

I am a Christian and Christianity is against such. How can a girl be given out in marriage? A girl is not mature enough for such an institution, but we must bow down to the culture and traditions of our people. The only thing I won’t agree with is if it is forced on other states outside the North, because you can be sure other states of the Federation are against such a move.

z Babatope

z Okoye

It's a sin against God and humanity—Akpori Okon

The solution lies in education and enlightenment — Festus Okoye If I had a 13-year-old daughter, she should be in school and not married.

A 13-year-old girl, for instance, cannot form a credible opinion of what life and marriage are all about. She can’t even form a credible opinion about herself and her body.

Every country must conform to the prevalent world movement; although I agree that sometimes, customs and traditions affect the way we think and act. But we must see that those traditions are in line with what obtains in the world. Even those who married girls in the olden days didn’t sleep with them until they reached puberty and maturity.

The solution here lies in education and enlightenment. I see it more from the physical and physiological development of the girl child. We must be educated about the dangers of early marriage so that we can all keep ourselves in check.

Child marriage not in conformity with the Law —Justice Odunowo C hild marriage can’t be in confor mity with the law because the law says anybody that reaches 18 years of age is mature and therefore can vote. So, it means any girl not yet 18 is not an adult. To give an underage girl out in marriage is an

As far as I am concerned, the early marriage thing is a negative blow on our morals in this nation. The Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment is trying to cover up.

They want to change the clause in our constitution. The Yerimas of our time go about taking more underaged wives while their children go to better schools and others to VVF. The senator in Ondo State who joined in signing the bill was totally disgraced during the week by both women and Youths. He was disgraced to the extent that he begged the people for forgiveness. I believe it is time for us to have a national conference. People like us who would not want our daughters to be subjected to early marriage need to set up a fight to allow our daughters go to school.

z Ajie abuse and against the law.

Personally, I don’t know about customs and traditions that could support such. In places I’ve heard of, even if the girl is given out in marriage, she continues to live with the family she was married into until she matures.

We must therefore nullify such a thing because it doesn’t make sense both legally and morally.

Yerima should tell Nigerians where his daughters are — Carol Ajie (LAWA Fellow, Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa) No, God forbid! A girl child should be in school. The bill is criminal and should be disregarded. The customary laws of the land cannot overrule the supreme law. So such obnoxious traditions in Nigeria should be done away with as soon as possible. The senators who shamelessly gave the law their own interpretation should be prosecuted. This same senator who led the agitation for the acceptance of the

z Tolagbe bill, years back, took a girl as a wife and kicked her out after 18 years. This same senator took another girl from Egypt. Two years back, they wanted to prosecute him but he rushed to court to stop the wheels of justice from rolling against him. It’s this same Yerima that wants to contaminate our laws.

Why is he comparing himself to Prophet Mohammed? He’s committing a sacrilege because he isn’t Prophet Mohammed! Didn’t Jesus Christ raise the dead? Can I raise the dead or do I have such powers to do so? Children should go to school, live their lives and then decide when to get married.

He should tell Nigerians how many girl children he has and did he give them out in marriage before 18 years? I bet you, his girls are in school. So why does he want to contaminate our laws?

We have to condemn this in all totality. A protest must be staged because we don’t accept it!

To me, this is a very big sin against God and humanity. These kids that you want to marry out early know nothing about marriage. Do you expect them to start learning all those things with their so-called husbands?

Sometimes I ask myself, how would an old man feel sleeping with a kid?

I think something should be done about that - and fast too. Things like that shouldn’t be given a second thought before scrapping them. I am totally against that and I am sure every right-thinking Nigerian should not support such bills.

It is paedophilia — Tolagbe Animashaun (Senatorial Aspirant, PDP, Lagos Central District, 2011) When a man gets married to a girl below the age of 18, he should be charged to court for paedophilia since we are copying the United States Constitution. There is a law in the US that protects children. Any adult that has anything to do with a minor is charged under that Law. It is regarded as contributing to the delinquency of a minor and carries a capital punishment.

Yerima, with no apology to him, is not fit to be a member and those senators that adopted child marriage are a big embarrassment to their constituencies. I am a devout Muslim and very much against it.

They should stop hiding behind any religion or tribe. Whether in the NorthEast or North-South, a child should Continues on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

Continues from page 11

be allowed to grow to her full potential before you put her in the family way. Will these senators encourage their own children to go into early marriage? The child in this context has virtually nothing to benefit from it because she is not even up to the age of consent. Why can’t they wait until the child decides what is good for her?

Our leaders need renewal of mind—Jacqueline Odiadi, President, Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW) The recent advocacy drive by Hon. Senator Yerima, the renowned husband of a minor and his cohorts, came as no surprise.

A lot of noise was made at the time he married the Egyptian minor with a lot of fanfare, a marriage ceremony graced by a number of respectable and notable Nigerians. But as is the usual practice in Nigeria, after the initial noise, nothing else was heard and no action was taken.

The essence of education is lost if the transformation expected by the training and exposure is not imbibed and lived.

The advocates of child brides, going by the list being peddled by the media, acquired some form of education and can be categorised as frequent travellers. But unfortunately, this has done nothing to develop the minds and broader outlook of these people.

The religious argument being peddled in support of marriage to the underaged is not tenable.

In progressive Islamic countries, the intellectual, physical and general well-being of the girl child is on the front burner of developmental issues. The Northern leaders are yet to come up with a solution on Boko Haram, the socioeconomic development of the Northern part of Nigeria has been flung back decades and what is of paramount importance to these advocates of child brides is to satisfy their sexual urge and distort innocent minds.

I believe decent and progressive human beings should challenge this move to further dent the image of Nigeria and Nigerians. Our leaders need a transformation of the mind, body and soul to make them relevant to modern-day living in order to advance the country and its peoples along the path of global development.”

Nigerian Child has a right — Tunde Adeleye, Human Rights Activist Q uite rightly, any reasonable and sane person should be outraged about the stance of the National Assembly supporting child marriage. What surprises me more is the deafening silence from female Senators about the child marriage issue. Not so long ago, the same Senate went up in arms denouncing gay marriage on our shores. Clearly, the supposed premise to justify child marriage

z Odumakin

z Kaka

z Odiadi

z Adejumo

'Nigerian Child has a right' legislation simply does not hold water. What the proponents of child marriage have callously disregarded are the health complications the young minors go through during childbirth. Due to their small pelvis, complications arise whereby it results in Vestico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) - the leakage of urine and faeces through the vagina.

Evidently, these innocent young girls (minors as young as 9 years old) being abused sexually have no voice of their own. They should be in school receiving quality education. They have a Right under the Nigerian constitution to be protected and not abused. For this reason, they shouldn’t be allowed to grow up so fast and their childhood taken away from them, leaving them scarred emotionally for life.

Not surprisingly, religion and culture have been used as convenient tools over centuries to hoodwink the Nigerian society. To a degree, there is nothing overtly wrong with that, provided such laws and beliefs have led to visible transformation in the society without infringing on the rights of the people.

It is heartening to note that with the passage of time, the world is changing. People are evolving and

becoming more enlightened. Even Muslim countries that used to practise child marriage have since abolished it. Similarly, the Nigerian Constitution drafted during the military rule, on the basis of a secular and not Islamic country, needs to be redrafted as it is not representative.

Legalising child marriage is shameful —Akintokunbo Adejumo My take on this issue is that by subtly endorsing child marriage in Nigeria, the Nigerian Senate has brought the country massive shame (we are already a joke in the comity of nations anyway). The message that is sent to the watching and discerning world is that we would rather abuse our children than protect them; that paedophiles are welcome in Nigeria. I can already imagine seeing an influx of notorious Western paedophiles rushing to Nigeria as they used to do in Thailand, Philippines and some other Asian countries.

This is also an invitation to those wishing to embark on or commit such a crime. But take some examples: In the United Kingdom, even watching child pornography will certainly

land you in jail. If caught in the act itself, a very long prison sentence awaits such a pervert. In some countries, even, any person caught with an underage will be castrated. That is how seriously this issue of paedophilia is taken.

I was not shocked at all.

Since 1999 when this current so-called democratic dispensation or rather, democratic farce started, Nigerians have slowly realised that these socalled legislators have never had our interests at heart only to collect their atrocious and obnoxious remunerations, chase contracts, nurture their inordinate ambitions to further impose themselves on us, corrupt the youth and generally show their ignorance of the positions they forced themselves in. The nature of the laws that have up to date been made by the Senate informs us of the calibre of people in this supposed Hallowed Chamber. They are morally bankrupt. It is rather naïve to blame Senator Yerima alone; we should blame all these charlatans calling themselves lawmakers. They are lawbreakers.

Aren’t there female Senators in the house when this law was being debated and then put to vote? And they sat there and supported that young women of this country should be further debased and raped? And with our various Federal and State (and even Local Government) First Ladies surpassing themselves for recognition, are these phonies not supposed to be 'mothers of the nation?' Yet, they are looking at the rape and degradation of their female children?

Child marriage is another form of enslavement —Tunde Tella, Secretary, Abeokuta North Local Government Nigeria seems not to be satisfied with the numerous challenges she is battling with and ready to create more problems. May 24,2012, the United States Senate passed the International Bill Protecting Child Marriage Act (s.414). This bill was passed unanimously by voice vote,demonstrating strong bipartisan support for an end to child marriage. So why should such be legalised in Nigeria? This is a practice that will deny millions of girls their rights to health, security and education Again, this child marriage is another method of enslavement because the child in question does not even know what marriage is. The life and future of the girl bride will be at the mercy of the man because she cannot make concrete decisions about her life or future.

Also,the girl in question does not understand love or her responsibilities as a married woman. Whereas marriage should be a bond agreement beContinues on page 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—13

Continues from page 12 tween two people that are of age.

For me,child marriage is absurd because it leaves the girl child socially isolated with little education, skills and opportunities for employment and self-realisation.

'The bill is ambiguous'

It is forced marriage —Barrister Kaka Let me start by saying that child marriage constitutes forced marriage. Forced marriage can be explained as a marriage established without the valid consent of one or both parties, and at such duress whether physical or emotional is non-negotiable. Child marriage should be recognised as violation of children's rights and a direct form of discrimination against a child, especially the girl bride who as a result of the practice is often deprived of her basic rights to health,education, development and equality. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,1990,Article XXI, states that “child marriage and the betrothal of girls and boys shall be prohibited and effective actions, including legislation, shall be taken to specify the minimum age of marriage to be 18 years.” On the part of the Senate’s Child Marriage Bill, there was no age certification,which means there is ambiguity in that bill.

What was passed into law is for a girl child that is married to be accorded adult status. The Senate still needs to sit over this issue.There should be a clear definition of the child in this regard.

The Nigerian Constitution states that adulthood begins from the voting age of 18years and now these senators want a person below 18 to be accorded adulthood. It has to be upturned.

Also, the implication of child marriage on the society is that anybody can decide to behave irrationally to a girl. It is like legalising immorality, promoting promoscuity and forceful marriage.

It will cause complications during child birth - Medical practitioner The child bride is likely to become pregnant at an early age and there is a strong correlation between the age of a mother and maternal mortality. Girls between ages 10-14 are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than women aged 20-24, and girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely to die. Young mothers face higher risks during pregnancies, including complications such as heavy bleeding, fistula, infection,anaemia and other ailments which contribute to higher mortality rates of both mother and child.

It's a symptom of faulty federalism —Adegbuyi A chieftain of the Afenifere Ree w al Group and lawyer, Mr. Bisi Adegbuyi, described the controversies trailing the inability of

n

Aren’t there female Senators in the house when this law was being debated and then put to vote? And they sat there and supported that young women of this country be further debased and raped? the Senate to remove the obnoxious law encouraging girl child marriage from the Constitution as unnecessary misconception and interpretation.

Attributing the issue to Nigeria’s faulty federalism, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) stalwart regretted that Nigeria's fault lines were widening and canvassed enthronement of a true federal structure that would take care of

Nigerian’s diverse cultural and religious beliefs.

Last Tuesday, the Senate, as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment exercise, voted that any married woman of ripe age is free to renounce her citizenship. The Senate wanted to expunge a controversial section of the constitution which makes any married woman an adult, but the proposal failed because those in favour could not get the 2/3 majority votes constitutionally required for the proposal to sail through due to shortage of 13 votes because 60 Senators voted for its removal as against 73 required votes; while 35 voted for its retention.

The alleged under-age marriage provision is an existing law in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as contained in section 29 clauses 4(b) which states that “any woman that is married in Nigeria is of full age.”

The failed amendment is generating furore in the polity following the interpretation that an under-aged girl who gets married will be deemed to be of full age (18 years and above).

Reacting to the controversies, Adegbuyi said there was a need to clear the misconception and misinterpretation of Section 29 (4a) and (4b) of the constitution, which he said were in respect of a woman who wants to renounce her Nigerian citizenship.

According to him, the Child Rights Act sufficiently deals with the issue of under-age marriage.

Adegbuyi said the controversies

would not have arisen if the country had been practising true federalism.

“There are cultural differences and different religious beliefs in Nigeria. If your culture permits taking a child as a wife, nobody can stop it.

In Yoruba land, Western Nigeria, where I come from, our culture and history frown at marrying an underage. But Western Nigeria is not Nigeria as a whole. We have different people, different backgrounds and different cultures. There is no culture that is universal.

“The Federal Government as represented by the National Assembly has no business talking about marriage. That is why we say let each state have its own constitution so that if people of a particular state want under-age marriage, they can do it within their state without making it a national law.

“The fault lines of Nigeria as a nation are becoming manifest. So this one-size- fits-all approach to issues will continue to break Nigeria down.

People who believe that their religion allows them to marry underage girls should do so within their area of jurisdiction.

“We will not do ourselves any good if we continue to vilify the Senate.

The obnoxious law is in the Constitution. The Constitution was not made by the Senate. The Senate wanted to amend it and failed. It is a specific provision regarding a woman who wants to renounce her citizenship and not marriage.”

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

Early marriage is exploitation —Bishop Olawuyi STORIES BY EBUN SESSOU Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church of Nigeria, in this interview, explains the religious implications of subjecting the girl child to early marriage.

Is there any age restriction to marriage in Christendom?

The controversy of a section of the Child Right Bill which is section 29 (4b) that indicates “child marriage” has been on the front burner and it is quite unfortunate. In the first place, I thought the issue was child’s play, but the fact remains that these honourable men of the Upper House should transfer their energy to matters of interest to the generality of Nigerians.

From my scriptural understanding, there is no age restriction in marriage. But nobody would ever think of putting a child into such a critical condition as marriage.

Marriage should be for adults and not children. In this 21st century, any girl less than 18 years should be regarded as a child. And anybody that is below 18 years should not be encouraged to

From scriptural understanding, there is no age restriction in marriage.

But nobody would ever think of putting a child into such a critical condition as marriage go into adult affairs.

The Bible would never support the act of subjecting a child into business that is meant for adults which is

guided by maturity. The fact that a10-year-old girl can menstruate does not indicate that she is mature enough to handle marriage. Therefore, it is completely out of order to support or allow child marriage in the country.

At what age should a girl be given out in marriage?

I believe a girl that is serious with her life would prefer to further her education rather than subject herself to such a ridiculous scenario.

No reputable higher institution of learning will admit a child below 15 years. Therefore, the girl who is ready for marriage would have attained the age of 18 before talking about marriage. And in a situation where the parents of the girl are not

financially bouyant to sponsor her education, she would have received a particular training. This means that the girl is mature both physically and intellectually.

But this practice is not restricted to Nigeria?

Traditionally, mar riage should not be considered a public subject. Rather, it should be a private issue.

There are different cultures and religions in the country.

A particular religion or culture has its way of handling marriage. In those days, families gave their children to each other from their childhood, but the children would stay with their families until they were mature and on the condition that they liked

each other. But any act of giving out a child’s hand in marriage is devilish and barbaric. It is an act of oppression. It is also child abuse to subject a girl less than 18 to marriage. It is an act of exploitation, rape and the perpetrator should be considered a murderer.

Are you saying the couple should be of the same age?

I believe marriage should be between people of like minds. They might not be of the same age, but surely, they must be mature and intellectually sound. Anyone who marries a girl below 18 years old should be arrested and jailed by the government of the land. I see the act as child trafficking and child abuse.

What are the religious implications of early marriage for the girl child?

There are lots of implications including religious, social, health and physical. An underage girl who is forced into marriage has been deprived of her right to education. She cannot be independent in thought. She cannot take decisions of her own. It is very bad and I don’t think any true religion would permit exploitation, oppression, ravaging, undue subjection of another life to torment.

And I don’t think any girl in her right senses would want to subject herself to early marriage or another form of slavery. There are many adverse and uncomplimentary implications on the life of the girl and the society at large.

No age restriction in Islamic marriage —Prof Akintola

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rof Ishaq Akintola, Direc tor of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has expressed support for the controversial underage marriage law currently generating furore in the polity.

In a statement sent to African Examiner, an online magazine, he said teen marriage was in order, stressing that there is “no age factor in Islamic Marriage”.

According to him, “The conditions of marriage in Islam are four: Proposal and acceptance (al-Ijaab wa alqubuul), approval by both parents (ridaa alwaalidayn), payment of a dowry by the groom (almihr) and the presence of at least two male witnesses at the ceremony (shaahidayn ‘aadilayn).

“Age is therefore not part of the conditions which must be met before marriage can be solemnised in Islam. Where the bride is a ‘minor’, Islam prescribes protective solemni-

to legislate constructively or comment objectively on any aspect of Islam must therefore

arm himself with the divine and documentary evidence.

Anything short of this will

earn lawmakers and commentators disrespect and contempt of Islamdom,” he quipped.

It contradicts Child Rights Act —Anaba Prof Akintola

Barrister Itoro Eze-Anaba, a human rights activist, explains the legal implications of child marriage.

sation of marriage without consummation.

“This means that the girl who is deemed to be of tender age is left untouched by the man until she attains puberty. Another major condition for child marriage is that the girl herself has the right to repudiate the marriage when she attains maturity if she does not like her ‘spouse’.”

“Islam is a complete way of life and its institutions (including that of marriage) are based on divinely ordained and well documented rules. Whoever wishes

What is your opinion on the 1999 Constitution which says 'any woman who is married shall be deemed of full age?'

Section 29(4)(b) of the Constitution is against all reason and practical wisdom. Are we saying any child that is married has suddenly become an adult based solely on the fact that she is married? This is wrong because a child is a child. We should ask why old men like taking young girls as wives.

Children of the rich are given the opportunity to develop, go to school up to university level and at times postgraduate level before getting married. In many instances, it is only children of the poor who suffer from early marriage, are withdrawn from school and given out in marriage to men old enough to be their fathers and grandfathers.

Barrister Anaba What are the legal implications of this section?

The section contradicts several international and regional human rights instruments signed and ratified by Nigeria. It even contradicts the Child Rights Act, a domestic legislation that states clearly that no person below the age of 18 shall be married. Is a child below 18 who marries and is deemed to be of full age allowed to vote?

How would you describe early marriage for a girl child?

Early marriage has many implications for the girl child. In the first instance, the girl child is not given the opportunity to mature and make informed choices about issues that affect her. So she is robbed of decisionmaking powers. She is also denied the right to education as she is withdrawn from school in order to be married. Her right to development is therefore violated.

The girl child also faces severe health risks as a result of early marriage and pregnancy. Since her reproductive organs are not fully developed and ready for childbirth, she could die in the process and of course she stands the risk of VVF, which is more common among children having babies.

Would you support expunging this section from the Constitution?

I fully support the removal of this section from the Constitution.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 27, 2013—15

Gen. Alabi-Isama's account of the civil war

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have on my shelf, an autograph ed copy of General Obasanjo’s ‘My Command’ which gave his account of the unfortunate civil war.

I also have General Madiebo’s (unautographed) version of the war.

Between these two extremes, I have read other authors who have made their valuable and invaluable contributions to enrich our knowledge as to what really went on during those three years of madness.

So why would another book on the civil war interest me; a war that ended over 40years ago and from which we have refused to learn any tangible lesson?

General Alabi-Isama is someone I have liked almost from the first time I met him. He has also been talking about this book for at least a couple of years now. He was gracious enough to give me a draft copy to flip through.

To top it all, he had given me more than an advanced notice of the launch.

So when Uncle Sam Amuka called me a day to the launch for details, I had more or less made up my mind to attend. The fact that the venue was less than 15 minutes drive from my house was an added incentive. I pleaded with Uncle Sam to show up if only to ‘shake hands and disappear’ as he sometimes does.

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am sure it was more than a reunion of sorts for these old generals. It was however, not only the Generals that graced the day. Many otherwise busy VIPs and veteran journalists were there too.

At the end of it all, Uncle Sam echoed my thoughts when he wondered what it was about ‘our friend’ that brought all these people to the hall. He repeated the question twice but I could not think up a good answer.

My answer ‘came’ a couple of hours later when I got home and decided to browse the book. I found myself spending the next two hours. It was that riveting. But what got me was the man’s attention to details. Pictures, maps and documents authenticated the fact that General Isama not only C M Y K

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he book from what I have read- and I have read more than half—gives a more believable account of what happened during that dark part of Nigeria’s history than many books on the topic including international ones. It shows that truth, whether hidden for 40 or 400 years, will one day eclipse untruth. Thanks to the book, we get to know a bit of the personalities of those who took decisions –either in the war front, or in their offices that affected the outcome of the war. We also got an insight into the politics, intrigues and indiscipline of our young generals; how the war officers and desk generals—as Wole Soyinka once described them, took decisions that perished lives.

Why is it that those who are at the fringes of things in Nigeria are those who benefit the most?

o my surprise, he was not only there before me, he stayed till the very end. When I signalled to him at a point that I wanted to leave, he waived me back to my seat.

The programme started almost on the dot which was a welcome surprise despite the slightly inclement weather. Another surprise was the quantum—and quality of attendees.

Many old Generals—some leaning heavily on walking sticks-graced the occasion and stayed the course. They were ably led by General T.Y Danjuma who doubled as Chairman and Chief Presenter. Their use of nick names and aliases in addressing themselves was enchanting and indicative of old camaraderie.

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took part in the war, he was a major participant.

In spite of what many of us were made to believe, the real truth about each officer’s role in the civil war is known to many of the officers of that era. So their presence was possibly to identify with the author and give their approval of the ‘corrections’ that have been made.

Secondly, anybody who keeps records and provides minute details the way General Isama has done, can not be described as flippant, a fact that might be overlooked by those of us who only know the social side of him. It was probably this attention to details that made him reach out to many officers that played a role in the war. As to the rest of us who filled the hall, the social, amiable side of him probably won us over.

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I was touched as I am sure many at the hall would have been, at the presence of many unsung war heroes; the barely literate tank driver whose tank sank on the bank of a river, the tribal marked tank commander who was mobbed by the enemy, the colonel who virtually started the war and was there throughout the duration of the war, the officer who actually received the enemy surrender, and wives of those who had passed on.

You wonder why very little capital has been made of these unsung heroes. Why is it that those who are at the fringes of things in Nigeria are those who benefit the most? They are the ones who have streets named after them, who collect the nation’s most coveted awards while laughing to the bank. Mean while the real heroes are left to languish like Brigadier Adekunle who gave his all to the war effort. Today, he is dying slowly; a poor, neglected and dejected person.

The same thing has happened to June 12 where the fringe players have cornered most of the spoils. We hope the real story of June 12 with its many heroes and infidels will emerge soon.

I salute General Isama’s courage and urge all of us, especially those who are playing brinksmanship in River State, to sometimes remember how we came to fight this mindless war.

Lean no our o wn nott on yyour own understanding

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e believe that God wants to move your life to a new realm that you have never experienced. As you read this message, please try not to reason it out or rationalize it. Just accept it and you will see God’s manifestation in your life as you begin to apply it.

Our main text will be taken from Prov. 3:5. “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”. The text started by saying that we should trust in the Lord. To trust means, to believe, to depend on, and to have absolute confidence in someone. This means that the one you trust must be the one that cannot fail. The word Lord implies Master, meaning the one that is in absolute control of circumstances. From this little definition, we can see that, when the bible says that we should trust in the Lord, we are been told that God is trustworthy and that you can depend on Him. He always does what He promises (see I Kings 8:56).

The text also says we should trust God with all of our heart because, the heart of man is the spirit of man, and the spirit of man is the life of man.

Therefore, it is expected of man to trust God with his whole heart and not part of his heart. God demands a 100% trust. The God, who said you should trust Him, knows you better than you know yourself. He knows all that concerns you and knows your end. Remember that he created you and has a plan for your life. He said His plan for you is of peace and not of evil and to get you to an expected end (Jer. 29:11).

God has the solution for your every need and knows exactly what to do in every situation. Ps. 34:19, says “many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord, delivereth him out of them all”. Who is it then that gives deliverance? The bible says it is the Lord. Unless the Lord builds the city, they that build, builds in vain.

No matter how much you try to get delivered from those afflictions on your own, you will find out that the more you try on your own the more

difficult it gets, for by strength shall no man prevail.

Has God instructed you to do something and it seems to make no sense? Listen, 1Cor. 1:27, says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”. Know for a surety that God is the Alpha and Omega.

He is the beginning and the end.

Whether God’s word makes sense or not, it is only in your doing it that God’s word can become real. Stop depending on what you think or what your circumstances might be saying or suggesting. Your circumstances are temporary and subject to change while God’s word that is eternal is not subject to change for it is already settled in heaven.

In IIKings 5, the bible talks about a man by name Namaan, the Captain of the host of the king of Syria, who the Lord used to give deliverance unto Syria. He was also a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper. His maid recommended that he meets with God’s Prophet Elisha, who will be able to help him. When he got to the place of God’s prophet, the prophet of God sent a messenger unto him, saying, go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee.

But Namaan was wroth and went away and said behold I thought he will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place and recover the leper.

You can see from Namaan’s reaction that God’s instruction usually do not make sense. He wanted things done in a particular way. However, he was persuaded to obey God’s prophet and when he did he got the desired result.

What would have happened if he had walked away leaning on his own understanding? He would have remained a leper. Are you leaning on your own understanding right now?

No matter what the challenge is, please surrender it to the will of God. God’s victory will manifest as you follow and obey His word. God bless you and bless our great nation Nigeria.

Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer.

Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. Email: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C

1011711622.

Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:1511:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

PHOTO NEWS

The Islamic funeral rite for Late Alhaji Alade Odunewu The Islamic funeral rite for Late Alhaji Alade Odunewu, a veteran journalist, was held at Ikoyi Gardens and Vault, cemetry, Lagos yesterday. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele showing media personalties in attendance.

Islamic scholars led by Sheikh Ahmad Abdul Rahaman, Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria during the prayer session for late Alhaji Alade Odunewu

Mr Segun Odunewu (left) and Mr Akanni Odunewu, Children of the deceased

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From left: Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, Mr Lade Bonuola and Mr Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of This Day Newspapers during the Islamic funeral rites

From left: Mrs Oreoluwa Odunuga; Mrs Bashirat Odunewu and Dr (Mrs) Mobola Lanre-Ladeinga

L-R Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State and Chief Bolaji kuti

From left: Mr Lanre Idowu; Mr Lade Bonuola and Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor in Chief/General Manager, Publications, Vanguard Newspapers

From left: Mr kunle Elegbede and Chief Odafe Othihiwa

L-R: Eng. Vincent Maduka and Mr Bolaji Kuti

From left : Mr Qasim Akinreti, Voice of Nigeria VON and Mr Deji Elumoye, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council.

From left: Mr Sola Odunfa and Chief Duro Onabule

L-R: Mr Segun Oki and Alhaji Akin Disu

SA TURD AY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—17 SATURD TURDA

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18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 27, 2013

She’s using me as backup Dear Aunty Julie My girlfriend and I have been dating for a year now and we both attend the s a m e u n i v e r s i t y. T h i n g s were going so well until she told me she had a guy somewhere. She said she met the guy before me but didn’t tell me this from the beginning.

Whenever we go on holidays, her attitude changes.

Her love and care would reduce drastically and we would always be arguing, but when we resume, she’d become loving and caring self again. I have done everything to show her my love, but I know her heart still lies with the other guy whom she calls her first love. We finally broke up due to her misbehaviour.

Now she has returned, wanting a reunion. My friends have advised me to back out, but I don’t know why I’m still in it. Please I would want to know, is she using me as a backup for the other guy? Can anything good come out of this double-dating game she is playing?

Should I listen to my friends and just quit and find some else? What can I gain or lose from this relationship?

Josh, Lagos

except if you want to be used as a back-up. So, make up your mind what you really want from this lady. If it’s just friendship, then don’t bother about her real love and just be friends. But if you need something deeper, then sit down with her and define it. If you love her and she doesn’t love you, why bother with her?

What you need to do is tell her she is on your mind all the time, and your genuine feelings for her. Then turn and walk the other way with your head up high. You will be trapped like this for the rest of your life if you don’t stand up for yourself. If you truly love someone, let that person know.

But the truth is, you need to move on because she doesn’t want anything to do with you. I would say the only reason she wants you back is because she is alone when she is in school and you are her last resort (no offence) or she knows you would take her back but when she gets back together with her first love, you get tossed aside. Is that

what you want? If you decide you want her back , I will advise that you take things slow, go easy, don’t talk too much about feelings

and make her feel like she made a mistake to leave you and has to work to get you back.

However, don’t keep that up forever, or it would be just one

of those one-sided relationships that no one wants to be in. I wish you luck, but I should say if I were you, I’d run away as far as I could from that lady.

My ex wants me back Dear Aunty Julie, Good morning, Aunty Julie.

I‘m a regular reader of your column in Saturday Vanguard. Presently, I’m having a problem in my relationship.

I met a girl two years ago, we fell in love and things were smooth for us. But sometime last year December, I started noticing some changes in her.

I realised that if I don’t call her, she won’t even bother to call me and when I ask her if there is anything wrong, she would say nothing is wrong, that it’s her work taking her time.

Sometime in January this year, she called me and said someone told her I’m dating another girl, which isn’t true.

We broke up after her accusation and I came across another girl February this year.

Things have been smooth with

Dear Josh, She cannot have her cake and eat it. It’s either she wants you or someone else,

Dear Kennedy, You must be joking. Do you know what you are trying to get into? You will just wind up driving yourself crazy and hurting yourself the more.

When a girl tells you she needs some space and you break up, you have to stay away. Do not call her, text her, or email her. Don’t visit her.

This will solve nothing. You need to focus on your current girl. If you want to go back to your former girl, then break up with the current girl. You may end up hurting yourself if you keep the two girls. Nothing anyone can say will make anything better. Just let go and concentrate on the current re-

lationship.

Think rationally. If you still love your ex and she still loves you, the sign should be obvious. Unfortunately, most men dismiss it. Why? Because they (mistakenly) treat it as an open invitation to jump back into the relationship. However, when they suggest working things out, the proposition is quickly met with a hope-crushing comment such as “I think it’s best we remain friends”.

In your own case, the attraction might still there but the core essentials that keep couples together may be missing.

A relationship lives and dies with attraction - when the latter goes the former soon follows. However, attraction in itself is not enough to keep a girl. She has other needs and she’s either going to get them from you or someone else.

The key here is to use an indirect approach. Let her come to her own conclusions that you’re capable of giving her what she wants. Do not verbally express this. She’ll take everything you have to say with a grain of salt; after all, you are the ex with an agenda, right?

still not right.Some things just need to be worked out personally with God. It can be harmful to your way of life , and your lifestyle is one of the most important things to protect. The ideas and images we entertain shape us into the people we are and the way we view the world and those around us. If we’re constantly entertaining certain images in our minds, I think it can be really damaging.

We’re told to take captive our thoughts, and I think that’s really, really important in many areas of our lives.

I’m almost entirely convinced that God hates sin so much not because of what it does to him, but what it does

to us. He knows that entertaining sexual thoughts outside of the context of a committed union can really harm us. If I’m a single guy constantly thinking about all kinds of girls, I’m still going to have to battle that once I settle down with the girl of my dreams. But if I can let God teach me, to control my thoughts, it’s going to make for a better marriage in the future.

My advice to you would be this: don’t beat yourself up.

Such is common to man, and God isn’t condemning you.

But it may be worth taking a step back and seeing if the thoughts you’re entertaining are building you up or tearing you down. I wish you well.

us.

But some weeks ago, I had this urge to visit this former girl and she opened up to me that she still loves me, that we should come together again but I didn’t tell I have found someone else whom I love so much.

But Aunty Julie, I still love her too. What should I do? I need your candid advice.

Keep on shining!

God bless you Kennedy, Benin

I’m single and masturbate Dear Aunty Julie, I am honestly impressed with the level of maturity and wisdom with which you answer people’s questions .May God continue to bless you. Aunty please, what is your opinion on masturbation? You see, right from my childhood up to my graduation from the university and even till this moment I’ ve never had a girlfriend . In fact, some of my friends are surprised when they see me talk to a girl. My path comes accross many things but not girls. I don’t count these things as an achievement, but God is my witness that I speak the truth.

But I do masturbate to relieve myself. I came across some

The whole truth

Masturbation is abnormal. Whatever you or anybody may think, it’s not healthy, and although it may be natural, it isn’t a good thing opinion on the issue. Some say it’s a sin, others insist it’s okay.

But since I believe the Bible is against sex outside marriage, the only solution is masturbation. What is your view?

I believe you are in a better position to respond since you

At school, a boy was told by a classmate that most adults keep at least one dark secret, and this makes it very easy to blackmail them by saying, “I know the whole truth”. The boy decides to go home and try it out.

He goes home, and as he is greeted by his mother he says, “I know the whole truth.” His mother quickly hands him a N50 note and says, “Just don’t tell your father. “ Quite pleased, the boy waits for his father to get home from work, and greets him with, “I C M Y K

are mature in age and wisdom.

Chukwudi T. Kaduna Dear Chukwudi, Masturbation is abnormal.

Whatever you or anybody may think, it’s not healthy, and although it may be natural, it isn’t a good thing. You are an adult male from what you said about yourself. You have passed through the university and have never had a girlfriend but you masturbate.

That is absolutely wrong. Why are you not in a relationship?

Do you sincerely believe you don’t commit sexaul sin when you masturbate? Ask your pastor his opinion. Even if you don’t consider it a sin, it is

C O C K - T A L E S know the whole truth.” The father also promptly hands him a N50 note and says, “Please don’t say a word to your mother.” Very pleased, the boy is on his way to school the next day when he sees the mailman at his front door. The boy greets him by saying, “I know the whole truth.” The mailman drops the mail, opens his arms, and says, “Then come give your FATHER a big hug.”

A Christmas Wish

An elderly couple was celebrating Christmas at home when a fairy appeared. The fairy told them

that since it was Christmas, she would grant them a wish each. The wife said, “I’ve lived for so many years, but I’ve never seen the beautiful Swiss Alps. I wish we could travel there.” The fairy waved her wand and SWOOSH! She had a pair of return tickets to Switzerland in her hand. Surprised at what he saw, the husband became excited and started racking his brain for a wish. He contemplated for a moment, and then said, “I am envious of those guys who have young wives.

If possible, I want to be married to a woman who is 20 years younger than me.”

The fairy waved her wand and SWOOSH! He became 20 years older.

SATURDAY

Vanguard JULY 27, 2013—19

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women become drunk faster and sober up more slowly. They are also less well adapted to metabolise alcohol in the stomach

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Are all these ‘heavy’ parties turning women into alcoholics?

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ITH virtually all ‘heavy ’ A list parties being dominated by women, it stands to reason that most of the exotic drinks, especially alcohol, would be guzzled by them. Little wonder that women are increasingly being told they’re drinking too much, consuming more alcohol than ever before. Binge drinking, where you knock back the stuff at social outings, is now a favourite activity.

So, what’s really going on? Are the women becoming a nation of alcoholics? Or are they being unfairly blamed for drinking too much? “To answer your questions, you need to compare women’s drinking habits to those of our mothers at our age, and yes, we drink a lot,” confessed a very much sought-after-events manager. She was keeping a hawk-like watch over the huge coolers of bottles of champagne she must disburse at another lavish wedding. Otherwise, a few could miraculously disappear, no thanks to the waiters she uses who know what a bottle of champagne costs.

“Most of these would definitely be drunk by the female guests”, she continued. “They are also the ones who shell out good money for the aso ebi both sides of the couple’s parents favoured.

They are also the ones that would later storm the dance floor, spraying the celebrants as if their lives depend on it. A few booze down their gullets makes sure they wriggle their waists to the guests’ delight and envy without being too selfconscious, “Long working hours and higher incomes, combined with the fact that women are having children later, and, therefore, have fewer responsibilities are the main reasons for this greater indulgence,” observed Dupe, a business consultant. “And it is accepted— even expected — that women should mix socializing with their favourite drink.

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t is not in Nigeria alone, it’s all over the world.

Women are earning a lot more than ever before, some even more than their husbands or partners, and booze is as handy as the next liqueur shop! So, what’s stopping the average women from unwinding with a tipple of her choice-just like her male counterpart? And you don’t need to go to parties to do that. These days, the average successful female drinker’s refrigerator is stocked with her favourite bottles of wine; and washing down a good lunch with a well-chilled bottle of

become drunk faster and sober up more slowly.

They are also less well adapted to metabolise alcohol in the stomach. This makes them far more dependant on the liver. In the long-term, once damage has been done to the livers, they are more likely to develop cirrhosis than a man, even if they stop drinking entirely.

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Chardonnay goes down a treat “And what happens when you socialize? You go out determined to stick to your booze limit, but the average night club creates an illusion that easily confuses people — you think it’s because of the music that you’re so excited and swaying —it’s only when you get outside that the drunkenness hits and you know you’ve downed more alcohol than you should.

The point is, drinking is an emotional issue for women because many associate it with meeting up with friends and getting their problems off their chest... But, should women be drinking so much?

According to medical reports, “ most women enjoy a drink as much as any man. But the proportion of fat to muscles of women, their usually smaller size, their hormonal balances and the differences in absorption and metabolic rate of alcohol mean women cannot drink as much as men.

A woman’s body is able to tolerate a third less alcohol than a man’s. In the short-term, women

lcohol is now second only to tobacco as a cause of premature death. The reality here is that, even in a world where a woman can do anything a man can do, the difference in a woman’s body means, when it comes to drinking, she simply can’t-alcohol has a more devastating physical effect on women than on men.”

Do you think you’re drinking too much? Experts offer this advice on alcohol intake: Try keeping a drinks diary one week. We often see alcohol as a quick-fix solution for shyness or stress, so, write down your emotions before and after you go out.

You’ll see drinking not only fails to solve these emotional triggers, it actually worsens them. Avoid the trap of round-buying. If you buy the first round in a group of five, you’ve signed yourself up for four more drinks. Before you go out, write down a drinking quota limit. Put it in your purse and look at it when you feel the craving for one more. Only take out enough cash to cover your stated drinks quota. Drink water - both to quell your thirst and soften your hangover. If you’re worried your friends will pressurize you into drinking too much to keep up with them, prepare an excuse for stopping.

Say you have a big meeting the next morning, even if you don’t. With the various social events always ahead of us, the message from the experts is drinking isn’t something we should be ashamed of — but we need to be aware of our reasons for doing it. By saying, “I’ll drink what I want as much as I want,” you believe you’re showing yourself to be a free spirit who does what she pleases. Ask yourself whether this is the case and, if not, who are you putting a show for? We also need to be aware of the tactics used to lure us into drinking more when we may not want to.

Drinking is fine—as long as we’re the ones in control.

One in three w omen has a violent par tner women partner O

ne in three women across the Victims of abuse are also more world has suffered physical or likely to experience mental health sexual violence at the hands of problems, alcohol misuse and her partner, research reveals.

According to new figures, 35 per cent of all women have experienced violence, with husbands or boyfriends responsible in 30 per cent of those cases.

Women are also six times more likely to be killed by their partner than men, the figures released by sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the World Health Organisation unwanted pregnancy and abortion, show. researchers found. The study comes in Partners are responsible for 39 the same week that photos in British per cent of all female murders, tabloids emerged showing Charles compared with just six per cent Saatchi with his hands around wife of male killings.

Nigella Lawson’s throat, sparking a

national debate about domestic violence.

Holly Dustin, director of the End

Victims of abuse are also more likely to experience mental health problems, alcohol misuse and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as unwanted pregnancy and abortion

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,

Violence Against Women Coalition said: ‘This report confirms what we knew, which is that violence against women has a significant impact not just for the woman herself but on society more broadly.

‘We need to take comprehensive

action including preventing violence in the first place, public campaigns to change attitudes and offering more support for survivors’.

Dr. Claudia Garcia-Moreno, of WHO, said one of the problems was that staff coming into contact with the issue were not trained to deal with it.

‘Often, health workers simply do not know how to respond, she said.

The study showed that those who experience brutality at home are almost twice as likely to suffer depression and their chances of having alcohol-related problems— and undergoing abortions —also double. They are also one and a half times more likely to be infected with syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhea.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

I

have been asking this question of both men a n d women, and it probably won’t surprise you to learn that an awful lot of men feel women expect too much from them. The “too much” that women expect doesn't have to do with a huge list of things that men should repair around the house or the dates of special occasions.

Instead, it has to do with wanting men to do or be two opposing things at the same time. For example, being strong but sensitive or being chivalrous and o p e n i n g d o o r s f o r h e r, while recognising that she is capable of opening her own doors. The truth is, many women have sheepishly confessed they do sometimes expect such contradictory things from their man.

“Why can’t a man suggest that his wife should stay home with the kids?” This was the opening to a story shared with us by a man who offended his pregnant wife by suggesting she should stay home with their soon-to-be-born baby after she could not find her choice daycare.

He thought he was being supportive with the suggestion, but she thought he was being insensitive asking her to give up a career she had worked so hard to build.

"Women want to spend quality time with their

08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Do women expect too much?

for when the next pay rise would come and how much it would be. So ultimately, these men are left wondering how they are supposed to work less but earn more.

I don’t like to distinguish between man’s work and woman’s work around the house, but of course the traditional role is that

Women should have high expectations for the men in their lives when it comes to love and respect, but they need to be careful about whether their other expectations are unrealistic guys." That was perhaps the biggest complaint men had about women expecting conflicting things from them. Many explained that they spent many nights being greeted with a lecture

about how they needed to get home earlier to spend more time with the family.

A little while later, they added, that same woman would list all the things they could not afford, ask

cooking, cleaning and caring for the children are all “ woman’s work” while fixing things around the house and sometimes even doing some maintenance on the car are collectively “man’s work.”

Even though households with

Is he playing with me?

Ques: I have been in this relationship since 2009 but I’m not happy with my guy.

I had serious problems with him which lasted for eight months. The causes of the problems are: he doesn’t tell me where he goes; visiting him without notification is a problem and sometimes when I call him, he hangs up on me. We have reconciled but the problem is still there. There was a day I called his line and it said 'switched off'.' Then he later called me back with a strange number. One day, I called him on that same number but another lady picked the call and said he was not around. Few hours later, he called me

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and said I should not call him on that number gain, that it was his mother’s number.

Recently, I was admitted into the hospital for two weeks. I sent him a text informing him but he didn’t come to see me. I am dying in silence. Do you think this guy really loves me?

Ijeoma, Warri Ans: It appears you have found a man that isn’t really into you as much as you are into him. I would love more details as to what else is going on in your relationship. But from what you have said, it appears he’s not really serious with you.

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The reason I would tell you this is simply from the way he treats you.

If you have known him that long, you should know his family members, including his mother. I believe you should have a measure of relationship with other members of his family. So, asking you not to call his mother when he has used that number to call you baffles me.

I think you should have her number and also have a relationship with her. But it sounds as if he doesn’t want you to have dealings with members of his family. So, be wise.

The guy is playing with you and has been doing that for too long.

Move on! If he is just introducing

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Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com Do you want to be linked?

Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

both parents working have us moving away from dividing household tasks into work for men and women, many men feel pressured to fill the role their own fathers played plus a whole more.

One man explained that his wife was very critical that he hadn’t had time to fix the toilet when her own father always managed to keep the house in proper shape. But he wrote to remind her that her dad had never cooked dinner, which he (husband) had done every night that week. Instead, he flatout informed her that their plumber was single, and would probably be willing to cook dinner for her. Luckily, she found the humour in this and thanked him for starting dinner, quashing the idea of running off with the plumber like he suggested.

Women should have high expectations for the men in their lives when it comes to love and respect, but they need to be careful about whether their other expectations are unrealistic. If the things you expect from your man are polar opposites, then it is time to revise your expectations.

The roles of men and women may have changed, but the amount of work that any one person can accomplish in a single day remains the same.

What do you think? Do women really expect conflicting things from men?

you as his friend or isn’t even introducing you at all, he’s not thinking much about the relationship you share. If you’ve been together for that long and he’s not introducing you as his girl, his lady, his baby’s mama, his lover etc; you should be thinking this relationship isn’t going where you want it to be going and you are just a girl he is sleeping with temporarily.

Before you throw it away, though, bring it up with him as an issue that bothers you. Talk it out and give it a few more weeks. But if he still doesn’t give you a title, take my first bit of advice.

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—21

Chronicles of a comical nation

A

time will come when this too will become an entertaining anecdote round the dinner table and we’ll be like tee hee hee hee….

Remember when then mace was the political weapon of choice…hee hee…’.but for now, our very own theatre of the absurd moves on and is playing out to a packed house in the Garden City.

To think that our ‘intellectuals’ query the plausibility of Nollywood stories when some of our real life stories are weirder and more outlandish than fiction. Abi how do you explain the on-going situation in River’s State?

M

r Ameachi has been the consistent flavour of the month and Aso Rock can’t seem to get enough. It is a terrible thing to fall in the hands of an angry, spiteful, Nigerian ‘big man’; especially a politician.

A slight change in state party leadership and suddenly 27 people get suspended.

That these 27 happen to be members of the state House of Assembly considered loyal to the sitting Governor is just a tiny coincidence as if that’s not enough to give you whiplash, five people then go ahead and impeach the speaker and install a new one in his stead. Chikena!

Home grown democracy a la Nija!

What are we on about any way? But for a few tweaks here and there,and a few changes in the cast,this is the same script that played out in Ogun State during the days of Mr Daniels and his black book. Didn’t eight people oust the Speaker at the time and hold sway in the House for several months?

And I stand to be corrected but didn’t Jona himself become

those five men, they had better pray that the two elephants currently trampling the ground never kiss and make up! Chai! Even if one is sent on a fool’s errand, wisdom, caution and common sense should apply.

So, finally, Mr President picks his battle. I know many of us would have preferred if he concentrated his considerable might to tackling issues that could have a positive impact on the largest number of people possible, which is the real dividend of democracy, but alas!Frankly, if he had faced Boko Haram relentlessly the way he’s pursuing this other matter the problem for don solve small.

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Governor of his state under similar circumstances?Plus our mace has been in worse situations than being used as a cudgel during political disagreements. It’s a paradox; the “mace” itself. For an inanimate object that is repeatedly handled with unparalleled levels of disregard; I don’t understand all the pomp and pageantry surrounding it and why they continue to give it the pride of place. I digress. Just another detail in this current bizarre and yet not unfamiliar drama playing out.

No, these comically insane moments of unbridled passion and fury are not alien to us or as seen from time to time other parts of the world. I guess the fact

Plus our mace has been in worse situations than being used as a cudgel during political disagreements

that social media is more pervasive and readily available and by this people are becoming more sociopolitically aware, is what brings this one closer to home and reveals just how ugly it can get. Then again there is something pretty disturbing about watching a man repeatedly hitting someone over the head with a blunt object.

I worry though… about the pawns in the game that is fast turning cut-throat with the lead character declaring his willingness to become the next martyr. With the way and manner in which he has been stripped of his security detail may his words not turn out to be prophetic. And as for

,

S

o all this brouhaha to what end? And in his own backyard? I think everybody else had better sit up and take notice. If all of this is really about 2015 as they say, well Jona and his henchmen are giving us a preview of coming attractions.

Then again, each time they pull one of these stunts and heat up the polity, I silently wonder to myself if this will be the tipping point, if this is the one that will unravel everything… for there to be a new dispensation the old one has to come to an end somehow abi?

Nothing spoil! I’ve got my popcorn and my front row seat, looking forward to seeing how this episode will play out.

22—SA TURD AY 22—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JUL Y 27, 2013 JULY

The Cobra

• Amarachi Adigwe

Technique: ie prone on the ground with your forehand touching the ground. Place the palms down, on the floor below the shoulders. Keep the elbows lose to the body.

Keep the knees together.

Extend the toes back, pointing them to the rear.

Pressing the palms hard against the floor, inhale and slowly raise the upper part of the body. Draw the head far back feeling the vertebrae bend one by one, until the body from the navel downwards alone touches the floor. Feel that the entire weight of the body is resting on the legs and hip (rear end of the spine). No weight of the body should be on the palms. Retain the pose as long as possible (from 20 to 30 seconds).

Concentrate on the abdomen and the rear end of the spine. Slowly lower the body and exhale.

Release the entire body to rest on the floor and relax with deep breathing.

Repeat the posture three times.

Benefits: This Asana tones up the spine and expands the chest. It also helps to set

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right minor spinal disorders.

The abdominal and back muscles get themselves well stretched, thereby effecting proper circulation of blood into the regions of the spinal column, stomach and back. It helps to increase the body-heat, promotes good appetite, removes constipation and increases the digestive power. This Asana specially renders the spine supple and elastic. This provides good health, vitality and juvenility to the individual.

This Asana is particularly helpful for ladies in toning up the ovaries and uterus.

Main Benefit:

The cobra is always practised as the first in a series of backward bending movements. Its effect is to arch the spine back gently, promoting flexibility of the lower back in particular. The gentle pressure that the pose brings to bear on the abdomen also has a beneficial massaging effect on the internal organs.

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—23

E

very couple, when en tering an intimate, committed relationship and hopefully before marriage, should have the infidelity conversation. The understanding of infidelity is quite blurred, as some may not consider “emotional infidelity” a breach of trust, but it actually is. Both physical and emotional intimacy with somebody other than your partner is infidelity.

Physical intimacy or sexual relations outside an intimate relationship is distrust and betrayal, while emotional intimacy can be emotional dependence where quality time, attention and romantic love are spent with a person with whom you are not in a relationship. In both cases, the other partner in the relationship is cheated and betrayed, amounting to infidelity.

Most people in a relationship would agree that commitment means never going astray on sex, and at times even being emotionally intimate with someone else. But in a recent survey, it was found that many people admit being unfaithful at some point in their lives. Interestingly, the married lot cheated more than the single.

The reasons for this vary from person to person, but the single factor that is relevant to both genders is the aversion to commitment.

With the romance coming to an end after marriage, many people cannot reconcile themselves to the mundane life.

They want the same attraction back which is not possible in the partner with whom they have spent their last year together.

A nagging wife or over-passionate husband can make the spouses look for another person to get sanity back into life. That is one of the prime reasons men and women fall into the arms of a person other than their partner.

Why couples cheat

In the case of some persons, it is the group tendency that drives them to commit adultery. In the event that a buddy does it and shows off, there are many men out there who would be unable to resist doing same. The same goes for women, as some friends make their peers cheat just for kicks.

For married men, it is sexstarvation that constrains them to have extra-marital affairs. If the woman is not willing to have sex as much as the man wants or needs it, he is going to look for it elsewhere. Likewise, an unsatisfied woman would look for someone who can satisfy her urge.

The craving for a new thrill is one of the most important reasons behind cheating. A

man has gratified himself with you, and is not likely to feel the same again. That brings out the urge to experiment; in other words, flirt with other women.

If someone is in a state of despair and under great stress, having an affair can fix many problems. It can not only offer release from the tension but also boost ego as he or she now feels more desirable. This is usually due to lack of a spark or mutual appreciation in a relationship.

How to deal with thoughts of infidelity Before you decide to cheat on your partner, learn to deal with the thoughts of infidelity by figuring out what is lacking in your relationship.

The foremost step is to figure out how such thoughts

come about. Daydreaming about your favourite movie star/s or getting attracted to someone on the street is perfectly normal, but getting intimate with another person is an indication that your current relationship is lacking something essential. Instead of focusing your attention on the one you admire, revaluate your relationship with your partner to know the differences.

Second, while thinking of cheating on your partner, just give a thought to its dire consequences. Think how it will hurt your partner and everybody else around you. If children are involved, think how it is going to influence their life and their mental development. Infidelity does not only involve you and your

partner, it impinges on your family’s mentality and tears them apart. The best solution is to locate the problems in your relationship that made you think of cheating on your partner in the first place.

Such thoughts can be forced by innumerable reasons such as staying away from your partner for too long or giving a lot of importance to the person you are attracted to.

Third, spend some time on self-analysis and ask yourself if cheating is worth the risk of hurting everyone you hold dear. Question yourself as to what is important for you: being intimate with another man or woman or your marital life and family. Be honest to yourself and give a thought to what you are putting at stake by being disloyal to your partner.

Fourth, communicate your feelings to your partner. Do not tell him or her that you are having thoughts of infidelity, but explain that you are finding some difficulties in your relationship. Tell him or her what is missing in the relationship and try to voice your present feelings. Do it in a way that it does not hurt your partner’s emotions and try to clear your doubts as much as possible so that the two of you can decide an appropriate future action i.e. whether to make things work or go your individual ways. Putting an end to a relationship is always better than being unfaithful and disloyal.

Fifth, instead of feeling guilty for being unfaithful later, confide in a close friend about your thoughts of indulging in infidelity. Perhaps, your friend can give some fresh ideas to steer your current relationship in a positive direction.

Ripple effects of infidelity An extra-marital affair causes unbearable emotional and mental loss involving a myriad of emotions. It is a blow to the other spouse’s self-esteem, trust, sense of stability and personality. Some major effects of extra-marital affairs on an honest partner in a relationship include: A blow to self-esteem An extra-marital affair is like a blow to self-esteem. In such a situation, the victim starts questioning him or herself. Thoughts such as “what was my mistake?”, “what have I done?” start haunting the other spouse. It also caus-

Ask the Sexpert I am a 49-year-old single woman and have a male friend of the same age. We wish to indulge in unprotected intercourse. What tests should we take to ensure we are not infected with dieases?

Please visit a pathology laboratory.

The staff will inform you about the tests. If you are still menstruating, it is advisable that your partner uses a

es emotional and mental imbalance that leads to self-accusation by the victim, like blaming himself or herself for their spouse’s affair. But the victim of an extra-marital affair must realise that he or she had not taken the decision to cheat. Instead, the other spouse broke the sacred vows of marriage to indulge in infidelity.

Broken trust A disloyal spouse kills the trust of the other spouse and makes it difficult for him or her to trust anybody in the future. For a victim, getting over the shock of an extramarital affair is the toughest thing to do.

Entering into another romantic relationship

also becomes difficult as the victim is more judgmental and cautious the next time around.

Lost stability Discovering your spouse in an extra-marital affair may turn your world upside down. Life may seem totally shattered and disoriented.

Nothing hurts more than a dishonest spouse. Just parting ways with the person who was once your support system can cause an emotional breakdown. The victim feels like nobody and loses his or her inner sense of stability.

condom.

My girlfriend and I had unprotect ed intercourse, after which she

I am 41 and my wife is 39. We have a 10-year-old daughter but want another child. When my wife took the pregnancy test, the result was positive. Is this a right age to go ahead?

Do we have to take any special care?

missed her period. I think she is pregnant. Are there any chances of abortion? Please advise us.

The pregnancy will go through successfully but be monitored by a gynaecologist who needs to do some tests now.

Ask her to visit a gynaecologist immediately. If there is pregnancy, it can be terminated medically. But if delayed, an operative procedure will have to be used.

But why not have the baby?

My girlfriend is 25. During fore-

Emotional breakdown The major effect of an extra-marital affair is emotional breakdown of the victim. She finds herself in a traumatised state and usually pushes herself to discover the reason(s) for the infidelity in the first place.

It is at this point that the self-blame game starts. After facing infidelity, a victim goes through a roller-coaster of emotions and feels negativity all around.

Hampers social life An extra marital affair destroys the victim’s social life and he/she disconnects from the outside world and has a different perception of everything. play, I inserted my finger into her private part. Later, she experienced a lot of pain in her stomach and a burning sensation . It was our first time. Is it due to her vaginal skin being sensitive or were my fingers harsh? The pain and burning lasted for three-four days.

Yes, you were too harsh, as she may have split her hymen. She may have had an orgasm. If the pain continues, the foreplay may not be the cause. Use more lubrication in future.

24—SA TURD AY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013 24—SATURD TURDA

How could anybody blame these generation of rebels when they grew up knowing guns as mere toys

Oil wells of the Savannah

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

P

a Brendan Clark emerged from the bush where he had sought refuge for six days. He staggered the long distance to the shambles that used to be Effurum Community, to the spot where his house used to stand. He had spent years constructing the building and exhausted his gratuity on the project. But now, there was no house to be found. What remained all around were chaos, blood and fire.

Corpses littered everywhere, victims of the recent mayhem that sacked the entire community. Very close to where he stood was the decomposing body of a middle-aged man lying on his belly. He recognised the blue shirt worn by the corpse.

His half-brother, Papa Onome, had worn those same clothes that black Friday when he came to warn him about the reprisal attacks by the government army sent to quel the mayhem unleashed on the white oilmen by the rebels.

Pa Brendan Clark had never figured out why anybody would blame those youths who constituted the rebel forces. In his 75 years of existence, he had seen the land ravaged by the oilmen who invaded the community where he used to enjoy so much peace.

Years ago, Pa Brendan Clark and his father used to go to the local stream to fish.

So he practically grew up on the banks of the river, catching fish with his bare hands and roasting them in the nearby fire after a hard day’s work. When the fishes were well roasted, he would throw them inside his mouth, one after the oth-

er, enjoying the crunchy noise. But the generation of the rebels did not have that privilege because things had change during their time. There were no more rivers or streams to fish in. What used to be their favourite rivers had been declared unsafe and they could hardly find clean water to drink.

How could anybody blame this generation of rebels when they grew up knowing guns as mere toys? How could these boys be expected to fold their arms and watch as their farmlands were forcefully taken from them without compensations?

Some of those farmlands had since became flow stations, oil rigs and sites for flaring gases. Even the water they used to fish from had become polluted.

Pa Clark watched as a young soldier in combat gear approached, pointing a gun at him. He wondered what else he expected out of life. Should he die now, that would no longer be young.

“Move!” screamed the soldier boy who did not look more than twenty-three, the same age as Pa Brendan Clark’s last child, Oghene.

But what right did the young man have to threaten him at gun point? He observed the soldier boy’s smooth face and wide mouth. The youngster looked innocent on the surface, but his eyes were small and menacing. Pa Clark knew the boy would shoot if he dared delay to move.

Brendan Clark was not afraid of death.

After all, what was he alive for? At 75 and with frail limbs, he would not pose

any threat to the occupation forces. He studied the soldier boy briefly, shook his head and began to move .

The soldier marched him at gunpoint to join the rest of the refugees who were the original land-owners and landlords.

Now, they were refugees in their own community with nothing but rags which clung clumsily on their thin bodies.

Pa Clark wished desperately for death.

His heart had haboured too much pain and bitterness over the years. He had also haboured too many secrets. If only the occupation forces knew he had been the custodian of the sophisticated weapons used by the rebel forces to terrorise the conglomerates. But what would a man do when fate had bestowed on him the unenviable task of being the father of Gbemre Clark, the leader of the rebels? And who would blame his son and his colleagues who as children had witnessed the invasion of their lands by white men searching for oil and in the process robbing the community of its pride, subjecting it to total deprivation and degradation? Who would blame these youths who had witnessed the oil conglomerates forcefully taking away their lands without compensation but getting government protection nonetheless? Over the years, the indigenes had experienced acute poverty and neglect. They had witnessed land and water pollution, and their women had been enticed by the oilmen who raped and abandoned them. Effurum community was filed with half-caste products of such rapes and illicit relationships

whose fathers did not deem fit to bear their names. Pa Brendan Clark felt sad whenever he saw children bearing names of oil companies, government agencies and institutions.

One of his sons bore the name Government, because he was born during the government takeover of their lands. Another bore Chevron, after the oil-company took over their land and built oil wells there without any form of compensation.

His third son bore Director because that was the year he opened talks with the directors of the oil companies over his seized lands, at the end of which he got nothing.

Three of his sons were forced out of the local school when crude was discovered on a farmland very close to the school premises. The pupils were sent packing without any alternative and his sons who dreamt of being a lawyer, a doctor and an engineer respectively never saw schools again.

So could his son and his friends be blamed for kidnapping and in some cases murdering the oilmen? Were the foreign oil firms justified in taking their lands and rendering them homeless? Would his son be a rebel if he had become a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer? Pa Brendan’s unhappiness knew no bounds. What irked him the more was the protection given the oil firms by government agencies.

Was government justified in protecting the foreigners who made so much wealth from oil and in their search for more, destroyed the land and impoverished the people without doing anything to improve their lot?

If a mere boy in military uniform could march Pa Brendan Clark at gunpoint to join the increasing number of refugees, who then should blame his son, Gbemre Clark, now at large for leading the rebels?

Pa Brendan Clark got to the spot where others were sitting like prisoners of war, having been rendered homeless and jobless. It occurred to him then that he hadn’t seen his two daughters Cleopatra and Gloria for ages. He was almost forgetting he had daughters but wouldn’t blame himself. Cleopatra had moved in with an old white oilman old enough to be his grandfather and had three half-caste children; while Gloria had been travelling in and out of the country over a business deal in Europe.

He sat down on a wooden pavement, looked around him to see if there were familiar faces. There was Pa Granville who could hardly recognise him. He was bloodied and weak and Pa Brendan Clark knew Pa Granville could drop dead any minute.He looked at the soldier boy and signalled at Pa Granville.

“You can at least help this man. He looks very ill,” he urged. “ Sharrap!” the soldier boy thun-

dered, pushing him with the head of the gun. Pa Brendan Clark spat mucous that had gathered in his mouth at the soldier boy who corked his gun to shoot.

But just then, Pa Granville slumped and died. The soldier boy had the grace to express surprise and lowered his gun.

It just dawn on him that the man that slumped and died was his maternal uncle.

O-Men

What’s really on your man’s mind?

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omen want what? Love, right? They want to feel loved all the time and if they aren’t constantly reminded (not only verbally but emotionally shown), they tend to feel unwanted. But how does the man feel? He also wants love, right? Do you know a man finds it more important to be respected than loved? Yes, it is true. So the advice is, never question his authority at home. That is disrespect and is equivalent to him not showing you love. When he corrects the children, NEVER step in. That is extremely disrespectful!

Now, lets talk about sex

You have organised the house, made dinner and cleaned up afterwards. You have bathed all your kids and put them in bed. Now you want to sit down, relax, perhaps take a hot bath or sip a glass of wine.

Sounds good, huh? Sure it does, but your beloved has other plans. He sneaks his way over to steal a

kiss and other things he can get away with. You are thinking ‘(sighhhhh) I want to relax’ ‘I’m tired, leave me alone.’ Am I right? Yes I am, admit it! Well... to the contrary, that loving, intimate husband has other plans. He wants to get intimate, right? Well...that is what you think, I know. Actually, this is probably what he is thinking more then anything else: ‘I want your attention and to feel wanted’ OR ‘I want to show love to my woman.’

Now don’t get me wrong. Of course, the physical aspect is important, but not as important to a man who really loves his woman. So ladies, your man truly wants to be wanted and desires to feel that way by expressing it through sex. Never make him feel you are making love to him out of duty, that is the worst thing you can do. Most men want to satisfy their woman. It makes them feel confident. Rejection is hard for a man to take. To a man, ‘no’ to sex is like

saying no to him altogether.

The photographic memory

Women see the image of a good-looking man and can forget it in seconds. Men, on the other hand, tend to store images in their ‘photographic’ memory bank. Yes, they see a pretty lady and she can be stored in the hard drive of their mind for months to come. Is this the man’s fault? No, he was created like that. That is why I am so against immodestly dressed women - although the male memory won’t only capture a pornographic picture but also an attractive lady who is fully dressed. Either way, by nature, the images can remain there for months to come. So the best advice is to always be that pin-up for him. Be the one he desires to save on his hard drive by always being presentable for him.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 — 25

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

Surprise birthday bash for Emma Nyra

M

ADE Men music, MMM, song bird, Emma Nyra, was a clue less guest recently when her label bosses, Ubi Franklin and Iyanya, threw a surprise birthday party for her at the Four Points Hotel in Lekki, Lagos.

Among celebrities who graced the birthday bash for the America-based singer were Don Jazzy, Iyanya, Dr Sid, Lilian Unachukwu, Simi Osomo, Noble Igwe,

•Emma Nyra

Fade Ogunro of Beat FM, Dotun of Cool FM, among others.

The soft-spoken musician who was overwhelmed with joy at the occasion has dropped her hit single, “Kereshere” which is enjoying massive airplay.

Matinee gathered that the video was shot some weeks ago in faraway UK.

Miss Nigeria not c ancelled!

BY OPEOL UW ANI OGUN

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JIMI o n tr a ry ru m o of the countr to th a y’s oldest an u rs one nual pagean t N i g ts, Miss e r i been cancell a , ed, the comp h a A scoop wa s etition is stil s le t l in vogue. o u t last week this year’s by a tweet edition of th bird, that e pageant w ly in Lagos, h m ers are curr ay be the last for no ich held recentw e the pagean ntly in court battling o , as the organist. ver owners hip of Reacting to although th the tweet, a source Nigeria 20 e case is still in court, told Matinee that 1 th for the Cre 3, Miss Ezinne, retain e winner of Miss a s her crown ti v e Directo ho, “the pa geant isn’t r of the pageant, M . Also, iss Elocould warr witnessing an a The pagea t its being cancelled.” ny hiccup that nt’s public ist who’s simply kno wn as Fidelis refu which rece ted the news, insist Daily Time ntly held in Lagos ha ing that the pags not been 6th of June ws, Gabriela Osamor, sa c e a n t it id “as far asancelled. Managh o ut any contr Nigeria 201 I’m aware, o ing Editor, v e rs 3 y, , M a th n is e d s p it E a will continu geant held zinne Akud ”Meanwhil Queen, Ak e, newly crowned Miso, remains the winnere to hold. Th winner oon the f Miss udo Ezinne and no one s Nigeria 2 child marria 0 is ge in NigeriAnyaoha, has added 13 has hit the ground contesting it. her voice to ru a. the campa nning. The ign against

Lagbaja’s daughter weds

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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OT many people would believe that the masked musician,Abisade Ologunde, popularly known as Lagbaja, is old enough to father a grown-up daughter who has been given away in marriage.

Lagbaja’s first daughter, Moyosade Ologunde recently got married to her longtime friend,Olamide Obilana, at Motherlan in Opebi,Ikeja.

Moyosade attended Pennsylvania State University School of Management where she bagged a Masters Degree in Business Administration and now works as a Change Management specialist in a US firm.

Matinee gathered that while the wedding ceremony lasted, those who graced the event were forbidden to take pictures so as not to unravel the true face of the father of the bride, Lagbaja, who stormed the event without wearing his mask. This, also formed part of the reason the media as well as the general public were left out of the whole arrangement.

R&B singer, NS Ben to drop hit single A

FRO pop act, Ben Suleiman, a.ka. NS Ben, is all set to launch himself into the mainstream music world with his debut single, “Mo Ti Bo Mbe” which is about to the airwaves.

The song, which is composed by a talented R&B Singer, BEN, was produced by Mega X and mixed by One Plus, a prolific music producer noted for having added his unique touch to hit songs like ‘Aboki’ from Ice Prince, ‘Lodun Yi’ by Jaywon, among others. The soft-spoken singer is set for online release of the hit single in a fortnight after which it will be pushed into the market. The single could be said to be a follow-up to his song, “True Love” which has been enjoying massive airplay since its release in February, this year.

The Kogi State University graduate of Biology, NS BEN, has promised to keep the tempo high.

•Ben

26 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, JULY 27, 2013

I

t appears you are more than any on Tinsel other movie?

My commitment to ‘Tinsel’ is on a first-call basis; which simply means that the production is considered above any other work commitments I may have. Professionalism, integrity and plain common sense dictate that I would not play a character similar to Sheila Ade-Williams in any other production. Besides, what would be the artistic challenge in that? If I find an interesting character in a project that can accommodate my commitment to ‘Tinsel’, I’ll jump at it. Fortunately, there have been a few.

In the last one year I’ve been busy. I was a member of the star cast of the 2013 V-Monologues in May. I’ve shot three movies.

One, ‘The Gods are still not to Blame’, has been released and just concluded its cinema run.

Another, ‘Torn’, will premiere on the 27th of July and will screen in cinemas across the nation as from the 2nd of August. The third is in post-production.

Aside these, I present the weekly show ‘NIMASA This Week’ on Channels TV and also a Hausa talk show ‘Toron Giwa’ that airs on the DSTV Hausa Channel, not to mention my engagements as an MC. So , Tinsel as consuming as it can be is not the only thing I do.

Would you run for public office if given the opportunity?

Am I likely to run for public office? I’m not sure. It’s not something I am consciously thinking about talk less of working towards. However, I am deeply concerned and have very strong views about the state of my nation. I often voice these views in my weekly column here in Saturday Vanguard as well as in a few other socio-political gatherings where I have been invited to speak. Should the opportunity present itself, though, I would like to think I have the strength and courage to step up to the plate.

I have no intention of starting up an NGO, although I do have my own personal CSR that I engage in. I work with young ladies wherever I find them. As it turns out, the industry I thrive in is thronging with them. When I say ‘work with them’ I mean like a big sister: Provide a listening ear, guidance and sound advice and sometimes when necessary, a stern talking-to.

For some, it is financial assistance, for others it might be opening a door that had hitherto remained shut. Young girls are drawn to me and find it easy to talk to me about sundry things, some of them excruciatingly personal. I, on the other hand, had made up my mind long ago to do whatever I can to make someone else’s journey a whole lot easier. The Lord has found diverse ways to put that desire to use. Will this ever develop into a full- fledged NGO or something like that? I doubt it very much. Besides, the biblical injunction is that your right

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hand should not know what your left hand is doing. In terms of ‘giving’, my default mode is to be unobtrusive; a paradox, given my chosen career - though I have toyed with the idea of holding a public lecture for young ladies where we can sit and talk to each other about selfesteem, making good choices and the need to understand who we are from an early age.

Something like an annual event to coincide with my birthday perhaps. We could call it the ‘Iretiola Doyle Annual Lecture For Young Ladies’. The idea popped into my head around my birthday this year. I thought maybe I’d visit a couple of secondary schools and start from there. However, my commitment to the stage play(which, incidentally, was performed on my birthday) ensured that this year at least, it remained just that – an idea. Let’s see what happens next year.

Q N lif —

Many of your colleagues are brand ambassadors, what about you?

Endorsements are not something you pursue overtly. There’s a whole marketing strategy behind picking a brand ambassador that goes beyond your competence in your area of endeavour, even though it all begins from there. It has to do with your level of visibility, how the public perceives you, etc. I’ve had a few offers, that they did not come to fruition simply means along the line we found we were not a perfect fit. It’s the law of averages…

At some point will come a brand and it will be a match made in heaven.

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and o

These days, a lot of Nollywood stars are dying, some due to carelessness. What are you doing to curb stress and avoid hypertension?

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. The only thing you can do is to respect and take good care of the body you’ve been given. The older I get, the more cautious I am of what goes into my mouth. One tries to do all things in moderation. I try and get a lot of rest when I am not working. I try not to expose myself physically, mentally and even emotionally to undue danger. And I get regular medical check-ups. I also actually ‘listen to my body’. If there is some inexplicable pain or swelling etc., I try and get it checked out as soon as possible. When I do take risks, they are calculated.

Those are the things you can control. For the things that I can’t, I simply place my trust in my Lord Jesus Christ from whom comes my help and salvation.

I notice you now play romantic roles in ‘Tinsel’. Hope there are no complaints from your husband?

Nope, there are no complaints whatsoever.

How do you combine marriage, career and motherhood?

Pretty easy. I’ve always worked,

so my family is used to me having a busy schedule. I have faithful staff and a hands-on partner who makes things very

Continues on page

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 — 27

Quit acting?

Not in this fetime!

— Iretiola Doyle

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est described as a bundle of talents, Iretiola Doyle is an actress, presenter and producer with a lot to look forward to. In this no-holds-barred interview with CHIOMA GABRIEL, she talks about her marriage, career of course, the premiere of her first movie which holds today. easy to manage. Besides, my kids are all grown now and can look after themselves for the most part. Then of course grace – which is the key factor.

I read an interview sometime that portrayed you are impatient and quick to anger. How true is that and what are you doing about it?

Malice is a poisonous emotion. Now I recognise it for what it is and on the very rare occasions it does rear its ugly head. I work assiduously to rid myself of it before it takes root and begins to fester.

I am still an impatient person, but I think I’ve learnt a bit more tolerance. You can’t be a team player if you’re not tolerant. And you really can’t excel in this job or in life in general if you’re not a team

Who are your friends in the movie industry and what endears them to you?

I have many friends and associates, but the two people I am most intimate with in the industry would have to be Najite Dede and Kate Henshaw. What endears them to me, besides the very high level of professionalism they bring to bear on their craft, is that they understand the meaning of friendship and loyalty.

Why did you stop your TV Fashion Show?

My fashion show ‘Oge with Iretiola’ aired for 10 years. I took it off air because we had done the same thing almost the same way for a decade and it was time to revamp. As it turns out, this coincided with

You can’t be a team player if you’re not tolerant. And you really can’t excel in this job or in life in general if you’re not a team player. Plus, it is only a foolish person that will grow to be middle aged without learning that while you may disagree with another’s views, that’s no reason to disrespect them player. Plus, it is only a foolish person that will grow to be middle aged without learning that while you may disagree with another’s views, that’s no reason to disrespect them. So you learn to accommodate. And where accommodation is impossible, you learn to get your message across without malice. Where that might be difficult, you learn to walk away with grace.

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the time my character on ‘Tinsel’ grew big. I was working 12-hour days, some days I had 20 scenes; there wasn’t the time or energy to do anything else.

However, in the last several months, we’ve been working on bringing it back.

This time, we’ll launch it as a web series for two reasons - first being that this will give us a global audience and secondly, it is to circumvent the astronomical cost of airtime. It will eventually find its way

on to some cable stations as well as TV stations where the cost of airtime still makes economic sense.

Is it true you had a child at 17 outside marriage?

Where is the child now and what is he doing?

I got pregnant at 19 and had my baby when I was 20.

She’s doing great! She lives with me, she is a graduate of Economics from OAU and is now working.

What’s your biggest regret about life?

Regrets? No. I consider ‘regret’ a waste of time and emotion. Are there things I wish I had done differently?

Perhaps. But what’s done is done. I learn from my mistakes, move on and try not to repeat them. I certainly do not carry them around like baggage.

What is the secret behind your successful marriage, especially at a time many Nollywood marriages are crashing?

Being patient, tolerant, learning the rules of engagement as regards marriage, not having a knee-jerk reaction to issues and circumstances and learning how to compromise.

After many years, one would have thought you would be bigger in the industry. Is marriage weighing down your career?

It can be challenging, even though there are also moments of sheer bliss. The key is learning how to prioritise your time and realising you can’t pull it off alone.

There’s now a collabo beween Nollywood and Hollywood. What’s your take on that?

I think the ‘collabo’ between us and the rest of the world is a good thing. It will affect quality control and to some extent, ensure that what we churn out meets global standards. However, I hope that in our bid to be ‘accepted’ by the rest of the world, we don’t lose what sets us apart – our ‘Africanness’, our culture and traditions which also inform our value system.

Movies are now getting premiered in cinemas. What’s your opinion on the development?

Now that’s exciting. It brings our movies closer to the public in a comfortable setting. It will also affect quality control. I don’t see any cinema serious about staying in business showing sub-standard movies. Plus, it’s another distribution channel that completely side-steps the ‘almighty marketer’. It’s an avenue for the producer to reap further financial gain from their labour. I wish there were many more cinemas across the nation.

When do you plan to quit acting and what next after that?

Quit acting? Not in this lifetime. That’s the beauty of this business. I’m going to be acting until I am old and frail. And even after that, for as long as I have my faculties in good working condition, I will still be involved in communication in some way: writing, producing, radio show hosting etc.

What next?

The next is all happening right now. I’m a budding farmer. I’ve always wanted to own something that was 100% mine, which could not be affected by someone else’s whims and caprices. I also strongly believe that in the years to come food and water will become a major deal. I started out with a tiny snail farm in my backyard. It was an experiment, to see if I could do it and if it was something I could sustain. Today, I’ve acquired a nice parcel of farmland in a farming community somewhere around Ewekoro. I’m currently putting up the infrastructure.

There, I intend to rear snails, fish, do some animal husbandry and whatever else catches my fancy. I’m pretty excited about it. Not only is it being set up as a commercial venture, it’s my little getaway.

You and your husband were handling ‘Today on STV’. Why did you quit?

When my husband was commissioned to produce ‘Today on STV’ I wanted that job badly and he told me pointblank to forget it. He didn’t want to be accused of nepotism. Less than a week into the show, the presenter went on leave, and suddenly out of the blue, I was asked to stand in for her. I stood in for two weeks after which Mr Ben Bruce asked that I remain a permanent fixture. That is how I became lead anchor on the show for two years. It was a fantastic run, and I enjoyed the job and myself tremendously. Along the line, there was a misunderstanding between my husband and the owners, details of which I’d rather not go into here. Suffice it to say that when my husband left, I had to leave as well.

What would you change about yourself if given the chance?

Not a thing. I’m perfectly and wonderfully made by God.

28— SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013 — 29

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30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013

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Ephraim Oseji 08023542350

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Tottenham to offer Bale new £150k a week contract

RONALDINHO:

Everyone said I was finished

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to offer star man Gareth Bale a new deal worth £150,000 per week in order to keep the player at White Hart Lane this summer, reports the Daily Mail.

The in-demand Wales international has been the subject of intense speculation throughout the entire close-season transfer window, with both Premier League champions Manchester United and Spanish giants Real Madrid reportedly happy to break the bank in order to land the 24-year-old.

However, the North London club have so far steadfastly refused to even enter into negotiations with those two clubs for the wide man’s sale, although there is also a realisation at Tottenham that Bale may seek a new challenge in his career next year.

Valencia set sights on Hernandez

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alencia have targeted Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez as a replacement for Tottenham bound Roberto Soldado.

Spurs are thought to be closing in on the prolific Soldado, with the clubs technical director Franco Baldini in Spain to conduct negotiations with Valencia over the transfer.

The clubs president Amadeo Salvo said last night that Soldado won’t be sold for less than £25 million but many at the club are already resigned to losing the striker.

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iverpool have reportedly iden tified Udinese youngster Luis Muriel as a potential replacement for want-away striker Luis Suarez.

The 22- year-old Colombian had an excellent season last term, scoring 11 goals in 15 Series A starts and is considered one of the hottest young striking properties around, though clearly it would be a very big ask for the Udinese man to fill

West Brom favourites to land Kalou

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he former Barcelona and AC Milan star was delighted to have joined a prestigious group of players to win both the Copa Libertadores and Champions League.

Ronaldinho has voiced his delight with Atletico Mineiro's hard-fought Copa Libertadores win over Olimpia and has hit back at his critics who claimed the forward was in decline.

Mineiro were beaten 2-0 in the first leg of the final in Paraguay but turned things around in the return as goals from Jo and Leonardo Silva levelled the tie before the Brazilians ultimately triumphed on penalties.

"This is the reason why I returned to Brazil. This is the one trophy that was still missing," Ronaldinho was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"Everyone said that I was finished and that my time was over. Let them talk now..."

Victory saw Ronaldinho join an elite group consisting of Suarez’s boots. However Brendan Cafu, Roque Junior, Rodgers has a fair few options at Dida, Carlos Tevez, present with the likes of Daniel Walter Samuel and Pablo Sturridge, Fabio Borini, Luis Sorin to have lifted both Alberto and Iago Aspas to call upon the Champions League and the Anfield boss may feel that and Copa Libertadores it’s a healthier situation to have a trophies. number of strong young alternaThe 33-year-old won tives that can chip in here and there European club football's as opposed to having to be so relielite competition with ant on one prolific marksman, as Barcelona in 2005-06. with Luis Suarez.

Muriel to replace Suarez at Liverpool

Sevilla complete signing of Kevin Gameiro

•Gameiro

Transfers TransfersTransfersTransfersTransfersTransfers

evila have completed the sign ing of PSG striker Kevin Gameiro for £8.8 million.

The striker has signed a five year deal with the Spanish club and will look to establish himself in Sevilla’s starting eleven.Sevilla announced the signing in a statement on their official website. “Kevin Gameiro, the French striker, has become the newest member of Sevilla after passing a medical examination and signing his new contract, which will link him to los Nervionenses for the next five seasons”.

• Kalou

alomon Kalou could return to the Premier League with reports that West Bromwich Albion are favourites to land his signature. The 27-year old Ivory Coast striker left Chelsea last summer to join French club Lille for whom he scored 14 goals in 28 Ligue 1 outings last season. Kalou has been the subject of £4million bids from both the Baggies and West Ham United but reports suggest he could be on his way to The Hawthorns to link up with former Stamford Bridge mate Nicolas Anelka.

•Saviola

Olympiakos sign Javier Saviola

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reek giants Olympiakos have completed the signing of Argentina striker Javier Saviola.

The player joins the club having completed a spell at Spanish side Malaga last season. The player has signed a two year contract with the Greek side and will link up with his new teammates this week. "I would like to thank the supporters who came out to welcome me and have showed me such love in my first moments here in Athens," Saviola said.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 —31

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Totti urges De Rossi to stay at Roma

Cesc reveals he'd love to join Man United C

esc Fabregas has told friends in English football that he wants to quit Barcelona for Manchester United.

The Spanish midfielder is the subject of a fierce battle between United and Barcelona, with the Barclays Premier League champions having had a bid in excess of £30million turned down. United manager David Moyes on Thursday told a press conference in Japan that the club’s pursuit of the former Arsenal star was ‘ongoing’ and it is understood that another bid is imminent.

But the fact that Fabregas has told friends in England that he wants out of the Nou Camp could finally give United the impetus they

need. It is understood Fabregas is attracted by the promise of regular football at United and he is keen to link up again with one of his old Arse-

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he Giallorossi leg end has asked the club's vice-captain to honour his 30th birthday by committing his future to Stadio Olimpico Francesco Totti has urged Daniele De Rossi to stay at Roma amid ongoing speculation that the midfielder could be on the move this summer.

Chelsea showed an interest in signing the Italy international in the early part of the close season, while Real Madrid and Paris SaintGermain have also been

Stoke want Taarabt on loan nal team-mates, United striker Robin van Persie.

Fabregas also believes he can win an English title with United to go with the one he won in

Spain’s La Liga last season. The 26-year-old won only an FA Cup and Community Shield during his years with Arsenal.

Newcastle United ponder move for Kone N

apoli are set to make a €25 million bid in an attempt to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.

The Partenopei have made the headlines this week after signing Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe Reina, but it appears as though owner Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to stop there.Along with Porto’s Jackson Martinez, the Partenopei are set to make a €25m bid in an attempt to bring Verratti back to the Serie A. With the Italian struggling to come to terms on a new contract with the French side, Napoli are hoping their offer will lure the Pescara native back to the peninsula for the upcoming season.

he great Radamel Falcaoage debate has taken another twist as a picture of the striker’s birth certificate has surfaced and suggests he is in fact 27. Reports claimed the former Atletico Madrid man was 29 and his date of birth was February 10 1984, after alleged documents from his primary school years came to light.

Palace, Liverpool keen for Piazon

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•Verratti

Wesley Sneijder admits he's in regular contact with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. But Sneijder says playing in England is not on his agenda for now. "I am always in talks with Mourinho. I am in contact with him right now," he said.

"But this has nothing to do with any transfer negotiations. We are good friends and keep in touch regularly."

toke City are inter ested in signing Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt on loan. However,

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Sneijder in regular contact with Chelsea's Mourinho alatasaray midfielder

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Hoops’ manager Harry Redknapp would prefer a permanent deal for the Morroco international, who was recently sent home from the clubs preseason training camp in Devon. The 24 year old has a reputation of being a trouble maker, and was reportedly fined for refusing to take part in a weight check and turning up late for training.

Colombian newspaper prints Falcao's birth certificate in bid to prove he's 27, not 29

ewcastle United are set to go head to head this summer with Cardiff City for the signature of Olympique Lyonnais defender Bakary Kone.

Both Premier League sides are understood to be interested in signing the Burkina Faso international for next season, although at present it appears as though it is the Magpies who are in pole position to land the 25-year-old, possibly as part of a double purchase that would also include Lyon front man Bafetimbi Gomis and would cost the Geordies £10 million.

Napoli to bid 25m for Paris Verratti

linked with a bid for the midfielder.

However, Totti is hopeful that De Rossi will honour his 30th birthday by committing his future to the Stadio Olimpico side.

•Sneijder

rystal Palace and Liverpool are interested in Chelsea midfielder Lucas Piazon.

Piazon has been told by Jose Mourinho that he needs one more year of development at another club before he is ready to compete for a first team place at Stamford Bridge.

Having spent six months at Malaga last season, both Chelsea and Piazon are keen that his next spell should be in the Premier League to prepare him better for the rigours of English football.

•Piazon C M Y K

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

BY IYABO AINA

Celine Dion admits ‘tough times’ in marriage

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T last, Canadian music diva Celine Dion has revealed that her marriage to Rene Angelil ‘ wasn’t always easy’, saying out of their 18 years of togetherness, they only started communicati n g properly seven years ago.

The singer admitted that they had their tough times too, adding that being husband and wife is never easy and they had additional pressure as they are in business together.

The pop artist confessed to being in the habit of shrugging matters under the rug and forgetting about it, hoping it goes away. But thanks to her best girlfriend, she learnt to say things the right way.

Dion says that this advice helped a lot and improved their communication and made her marriage stronger than ever before.

She also disclosed that the key to a successful relationship lies in communicating openly, and talking over everything. The couple is blessed with three sons, Rene Charles, 12, and twins Eddy and Nelson, 2.

•Celine and Angelil

Beyonce’s greatest fear!

B

•Beyonce’

EYONCE has admitted that she does not sing her hits to her baby daughter, Blue Ivy, in her full concert voice because she is scared the toddler will grow up hating her voice.

The pop singer disclosed recently that instead of using her ‘Beyonce voice’, she uses a ‘simple Mummy voice’.

“I remember hearing a story about Celine Dion and she’s like when I sing my, I don’t know if it was her son that cried. She has the most beautiful voice in the world but she’s like he hates it,” Beyonce said.

The 31-year-old singer said that she’ll prefer giving a little simple nursery rhyme voice to her toddler.

The songstress added that she believes music is important for kids because it gave her self-esteem when she was younger.

She said it’s incredible to travel around the world and see that the power of music brings so many people together.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West not getting married”—Kris Jenner

•kris , kim & kanye

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Kelly R owland lost at sea ffor or 1 2 Ro 12 hours

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•Kelly Rowland

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AMED R&B singer , Kelly Rowland, was rescued after being stranded at sea for 12 hours. Rowland and a half dozen others embarked on a whale-watching expedition on Friday morning (July 19th) but soon encountered 5-foot waves, disorienting fog and got off course.

The captain of the boat became groggy due to the conditions.

However, Harbour Master triangulated the position of the boat to the Coast Guard after the boat car-

rying the “Sail On” singer was late on its return. TowBoat US captain Noah Santos rescued everyone and returned them back around 11pm on Friday (July 19th). According to Santos, everyone “was just a little shaken up” but he later received a personal thank you from Kelly Rowland herself: “I ran into her the next day while I was out at dinner with my wife and she bought us dinner. She told me I was her hero.”

HERE are strong indications that Kim and Kanye West may not be getting married after all.

57-year-old Kris Jenner a.k.a momager, while speaking on The Talk recently, expressed her disappointment that daughter Kardashian and boyfriend, West aren’t getting married after welcoming their first child, daughter North.

Addressing rumours on the show, co-host Sara Gilbert asked Jenner, “Are Kim and Kanye going to get married and are you upset about it?”

“No and no,” the Keeping up with the Kardashians star said.

“They’re not getting married. Not right now, that I know.”

Kim, 32, finalised her divorce from second husband Kris Humphries in April.

Asked why aren’t they getting married?” Julie Chen replied, “I don’t know.

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013—33

‘We take borderline students to next academic level’ Busola Thompson is a UK-based educationist with over 10 years’ experience. She is the brain behind Anchor Tutors, a tutelage service that specialises in taking borderline secondary school students to the next level in their academics. In this interview, the Osun Stateborn teacher explains why she has decided to bring Anchor Tutors to Lagos and more. Excerpts:

By Uju Mbanusi What is Anchor Tutors all about?

Anchor Tutors was born out of the need to assist children with their educational development. It was started in Essex, United Kingdom four years ago, when I was employed by a school to improve results through exam strategies. Primarily, I was supporting borderline children, taking them to the next level in their learning and school performances. If we had a 3rd grade student, we would support that child to at least a B grade, and if we had a B-grade student, we would support him/her to get an A grade or an A+. What we do is help the school to improve on their academic standards in the Maths department primarily, because Maths is a core subject in the United Kingdom. It is Maths and English that is used to grade how good a school is.

Why are you bringing Anchor Tutors to Lagos?

I decided to bring Anchor Tutors home to Nigeria because back in the UK, I started to see the joy in both parents and children when a child moves from one level of performance to the next. I thought it would be a good idea to bring it home to Nigeria, so that children over here can also benefit from it. Here in Nigeria, I noticed that children value education, and because of that I want to see many of them succeed at a very high level so they can compete with their global counterparts. I want to ensure they are on a par with their peers abroad.

When is it starting off?

It will start off this summer. and proprietors has been enorWe have been to various pri- mous. vate schools here in Lagos, Are there plans to take this engaging in intensive aware- vision to the public schools as ness marketing programmes well? and school presentations, Yes, we have plans for that. getting parents to register In order to bring this vision to their children for the summer the public schools where the school. The support we’ve masses are so that they can got so far from heads of schools also benefit from this pro-

Thompson...I decided to bring Anchor Tutors home to Nigeria because back in the UK, I started to see the joy in both parents and children when a child moves from one level of performance to the next

I have put together a gramme, I have visited some scheme of work, Queens Col- When will the programme team of leading unity schools and they showed lege will handpick some of commence?

It will start off on the 5th of interest in the pro- their teachers to work with us. teachers from great gramme. On a bigger picture, They will deliver subjects August and end on the 6th of will be taking it further to based on the scheme of work September, with a closing exthe UK who we the public schools. We are in from WAEC and NECO. We hibition on the 6th of SeptemThere will also be also have sever- collaboration with Queens Col- will be looking at teaching En- ber. lege, and will be using the glish, Mathematics, Literature planned trips to some of the al years’ experi- school premises as our venue. in English, Sciences and IT global companies in Lagos.

The children need the experireason for our venue courses as well. ences in the UK The Who are your target stu- ence of visiting those compachoice is to buttress the point nies because it will help educational sec- that the summer school is not dents?

Our target students are the shape their career in the fufor the rich, but for anytor, to come to just secondary school students ture. Some of these compaone that can register and bring from JSS 1 classes to SS 3 nies are large. We need that their children to participate in Nigeria for the classes . The reason is because to draw a picture in their the programme. programme How have you been able to although I have some experi- minds, that they can be the coordinate teachers who will assist with this project?

I have put together a team of leading teachers from the United Kingdom who also have several years’ experiences in the UK educational sector, to come to Nigeria for the programme. This is because they are more conversant with the scheme of work in the UK, which is our basic standard.

But to support the local

ence in primary school teaching as a volunteer reader; I have always been a secondary school teacher. That is where my experience is based. On a later date, we might be looking at bringing it down to the primary education.

Is the tuition affordable?

I believe it’s affordable because we are looking at N100,000 for the five-workingweek programme.

Managing Directors of such companies. This will help shape their career choices. We are also collaborating with the Kid Golf International of whom my brother Oba Oladotun Thompson is the chair, so that they will be getting golf lessons as well. So it is a mix of curricular and extracurricular packages.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

n o s k c i D s a Drama, a l o t o m O s t mee

• Omotola

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overnor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State may not have had any face-to-face encounter with Nollywood actress ,Omotola Jalade-

Ekeinde, before now. But when he eventually did last Saturday night, it was with great passion that he confirmed why the actress is called “Omosexy”by her fans.

African Movie Channel berths in Nigeria

Williams, Head, Uyo International Airport, Akwa Ibom State; Mohammed Jammal, a recording artiste; Jason Newsome, Hollywood celebrity producer/ artiste; Ebizi Brown, Director General, Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency; John Opara, General Manager, Lufthansa, Abuja; Ini Okorie, a businessman and Thandeka Sibisi, Executive Director, Two Glowing Sunset SA were judges for the MBGN 2013 event.

They were responsible for the emergence of18-year old Anna Ebiere Banner who was crowned the new MBGN. B a n n e r, r e p r e s e n t i n g B a y e l s a State,defeated 31 other beauties to clinch the coveted crown. The new queen went home with a N1million cash prize,an investment package worth N500,000 from a finance company,a brand new car, Cartier luxury wristwatch from Polo Limited and most importantly, she will be representing Nigeria at the forthcoming Miss World Beauty pagean,holding in Indonesia on the 28th of September.

As an indigene of Bayelsa, she was appointed the Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism to Governor Dickson, and will also serve as the state’s ambassador.

Sandra Bassey: Beauty queen turned screen goddess

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K based African Movie Channel (AMC), the world’s first global channel dedicated to the best movies and series from Nigeria’s Nollywood, and the best from the rest of Africa, has berthed in Nigeria.

AMC, HVP gathered, will be officially launched in Nigeria on Sunday, August 11, at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Lekki.

Expected to grace the classy event which will be hosted by the man of the moment, Teju Babyface, with Andre Blaze as red carpet Anchor persons, are who’s who in media and business, along with top Nollywood stars.

African Movie Channel started operations in 2006, when it launched Europe’s first channel dedicated to top Nollywood and other African movies, and also pioneered the online digital distribution of Nollywood movies and drama series at full-screen DVD quality a year later through its online On-Demand channel, and a partnership with British Telecom (BT) on its BT Vision Download Store.

The 24/7 African movies and series linear channel dedicated to showing only the best quality movies and series primarily from Nollywood, was launched in May 2011, with AMC’s technical partners, Advanced Broadcast Services (ABS) in London providing a fully managed playout service of the channel. ABS is one of the largest playout and TV facility companies in Europe.

Notable TV platforms carrying African Movie Channel include StarTimes in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique, among others.

Omotola, who was one of the MBGN 2013 judges, was recognised by the Silverbird Group during the grand finale of the event which held in Yenagoa.

Interestingly, the honour fell on the soft-spoken governor to present the award to the screen diva. However, when Omotola mounted the stage to recieve the award, Governor Dickson could not help but admire the actress. Lost in the euphoria of her good looks and curves,Dickson muttered loudly,"Having seen you closely, I can see why they call you Omo Sexy."

He thereafter held the actress,not minding the presence of his wife, who was seated at the front row in the Banquet Hall of the Government House,venue of the glamorous event.

Beaming with smiles,Omotola thanked the governor and Silverbird Group for the award and later announced the presence of her hubby, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, who accompanied her to the event and was seated somehwere in the crowd.

The actress, alongside Captain Bunmi

S

ometimes it takes courage to go that extra mile for something you love.

But Sandra Okon Bassey decided to do just that.

About a year ago, this beautiful damsel hit the runaway industry in a spectacular way when she emerged the winner of the prestigious Miss Niger Delta pageant to set a new record for herself.

But interestingly, modelling is not the only good thing Sandra is known for. She is also an actress of great repute, and a student in her own right. In fact, she had to combine her studies with her passion to become a role model for young women, a win she dedicated to her fans and family.

As Miss Niger Delta(Symbol of Talent), Sandra, who hails from Akwa- Ibom State, described her reign as one characterised by “the good,

the bad and the ugly," adding, "It was also stressful sometimes.”

While her reign lasted, S a n d r a touched so many lives through her pet projects such as 'Catch them Young', a talent hunt show as well as her community-based project which was targeted at the widows and the less-privileged children in the Niger Delta region.

“Apart from the love I have for modelling,the other reason I ventured into the industry was to have a good platform to launch my acting career. I’m quite new in the industry but so far, it’s been fun all the way. I did my first movie sometime late last year, an indigenous movie which is meant for the international

audience,” Sandra stressed.

Besides being a student of the University of Calabar, where she’s studying Education Biology, the exbeauty queen is also a Computer Science student of Cross River State University of Science and Technology.

Sandra says she has an undying desire to hit the hall of fame before her graduation from the university.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—35

Saidi Balogun ups ante

Breakup: Fans link hands with Funke Akindele on Facebook

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opular cross- over actor and producer, Saidi Balogun, has proven his diversity once again, with the production of his first English language flick, You or I. The movie, according to the prolific entertainer, follows the life of a black man in a white man’s world. The intriguing and suspense-filled movie, which follows his last effort, 'Eti Keta', featuring Kate Henshaw, is being released from the stables of his selfowned company, Saidi Balogun Productions.

With a lavish premiere that saw top entertainers storm the Anchor Events Centre, Agindingbi, Lagos recently, the multilingual actor has no doubt recorded another breakthrough in his career.

Balogun, who doubles as an actor in the movie, also cast stars such as Kevin Barry, Elizabeth Croydon, Shira Oyive in the film that was shot in the UK.

N

ollywood actress,Funke Akindele, is gradually getting over the jitters resulting from her break up with hubby.

The actress finally opened up on the status of her marriage with Kenny Oloyede last weekend, admitting it has crashed.

Probably facing the hardest time in her life at the moment, Funke is still putting up her trademark tough front, posting different pictures of her time-out while on location.

‘Filming, fun’, she wrote as she uploaded photos of herself flanked

by Mercy Johnson and Charles Inojie online. And trust her fans who will do everything to cheer her up. They quickly sent heartfelt messages via her Facebook page.

One of her fans, Taiwo Kudu, advised that the actress should be strong and move on with her life: “ It is well, my dear sister. Every disappointment is a blessing.

Move on with your life. Don’t let irrelevant things affect your life.

It has happened. Wait upon the Lord, He will surprise you in so

many ways.”

Another fan, Oladunni Diyaolu, while cautioning those blaming Funke for the breakup,noted that it takes those who have been in her shoes to understand what she’s going through at the moment. Oladunni, however, urged the 'Jenifa' star to move on with her life and to continue to do what she knows how to do best -acting.

For Bukola Eniola Amusan and Funmi, Funke is 'a genius' . “Read lots of stories on the internet about your marriage. I’ m not happy about it.

But I want to use this medium to reach out to you in prayer, that the Almighty God will turn your sorrows into joy. You will never be the laughingstock of your enemies. I commit you into God’s hands to make you happy and overcome all your trials and tribulations. No matter what they

say about you, you still have a special place in my heart.”

“Funke, you are a woman that a man needs.

You are an asset and a blessing to your home.

Whatever happens, love, it’s part of growing up and like your friend said, ‘bad things happens to good people’ sometimes but never let the Devil steal your joy.”

OC Okeje, Appiah now BBA judges F Group hails FIAPF for appointing Nollywood practitioner VP

BY GAB EJUWA

A

Lagos-based socio-cultural group, Iwere Knights Association, has commended the election of a Nigerian film maker, Mr. Alex Eyengho, as Vice-President of the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF). He was elected into the office during the last General Assembly of FIAPF which held recently in Cannes, France.

The group, in a statement , said the election of Eyengho, who is also the President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), into the global motion picture outfit had boosted the global recognition of the Nigerian movie industry.

Enter Supermom episode 3

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

T

his week’s episode of Supermom (third episode) will bring three different emotions to bear: rejection, death and hope as the stories of Oyiza Home Orphanage and Gideon Orphanage Home take centre stage in the emotive reality show sponsored by Procter and Gamble and Promasidor.

After nursing a set of twins to life for over two years, Mrs Oyiza Adenuga, founder of Oyiza Orphanage Home, receives the shock of her life when the father of the twins calls the police to harass her for the release of his children - even though he doesn’t have the funds to cater for them.

Mrs Oyiza who has heard the rumour that the twins' father who is desperately in need of money is planning to sell them to a man in dire need of babies takes the children to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare where they are saved from their moneymongering father.

Due to her closeness to the twins, she can’t get her mind off them. She misses them so much to the point where she falls ill, which coupled with her hypertension, reportedly leads to her death. Though dead, her dream,Oyiza Orphanage Home, lives on, catering for the motherless and those whose parents can’t take care of them. What a rare gem and heart of gold Mrs Oyiza was.

ast-rising Nollywood actor,OC Okeje and his Ghanaian counterpart, Jackie Appiah, have been named judges in the Big Brother-The Chase house for this week’s task.

The duo will also make a special appearance at the eviction show holding tomorrow. Appiah won the inaugural AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Award for Best Actress – Drama award for her role in Perfect Picture, while Ukeje picked up the Best Actor – Drama award for Two Brides and a Baby.

The eviction show, which promises to be exciting, will see the Namibian rap sensation, Sunny Boy, rock the BBA stage.

Sunny Boy grew up dreaming of making music that touched people’s hearts. Four albums later, the darling of the Namibian rap scene has been making it happen for nearly a decade. His fusion of sounds from genres like Kwaito and Hip Hop led to the creation of his own unique ‘Hikwa Style’ – a mix of tight Kwaito beats with a Hip Hop flow.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

Toni Braxton is single again!

T

•Toni Braxton

claiming she had debts as high as $50 million, and finally resolved all of her financial issues after reaching a deal to pay her trustee $150,000 earlier this month.

According to legal documents, Toni, who first filed for bankruptcy in 1998, got into trouble again after she struck a deal with the trustee to buy back some of the personal property she lost by paying back $5,000 per month over 15 months but she failed to make the final lump sum payment of $50,000.

The trustee and the singer finally came to an agreement recently that will see her pay back that $50,000.

Toni also agreed to hand over $100,000 from the $754,000 she made from performances overseas.

A judge is expected to sign off on the settlement later this month.

oni Braxton has finalized her divorce.The ‘Un-Break My Heart’ hitmaker split from musician Keri Lewis, with whom she has two sons, after 12 years of marriage in 2009. She is now legally single.

A spokesperson for the Grammy-winner said, ‘’The couple has had an amicable split and will still both be actively involved in raising their two sons, 11-year-old Denim and 10-year-old Diezel.’’

The 45-year-old star is now ready for a fresh start as she also recently settled all of her bankruptcy debts.

She filed for insolvency for the second time in 2010,

Lagbaja, P-Square, Omawunmi, others rock PH

BY AYO ONIKOYI

P

olitically nervy Garden City of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, got a reprieve last Saturday when leading telecommunication company, Globacom, made a stop in the city with its refreshingly entertaining Glo Slide and Bounce concert.

The line-up of artistes comprising the dancing duo, Psquare; the mask man, Lagbaja; the home boy Burma Boy; African rapper number one, MI; the lady with velvety voice, Waje, Omawunmi, Lynxxx, Bez and Chee, the Voice were just more than the city could handle as they thrilled and mesmerised the residents.

Held at the beautiful Aztech Arcum event centre, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, many believed the event could not have come at a more auspicious time. One noticeable factor that distinguished the Port Harcourt edition of the Glo Slide & Bounce Concert from other shows that had held in the city was the flawless fusion of music, dance and comedy with a very participatory audience. It was a compact event and the organisers did not spare any effort at ensuring the audience had

value for their time.

In the next three weeks, Calabar, Uyo, Lagos and Abuja are on the queue to experience the unlimited fun and entertainment of the Glo Slide & Bounce Concert.

O’jez holds special night for Fatai

Rolling Dollar Dollarss C

elebrity hangout, O’jez, organisers of the monthly O’jez Entertainment Awards, have concluded plans to organise a special tribute night in honour of veteran highlife musician, Fatai Rolling Dollars who passed on last month at the age of 86.

The event is scheduled to hold tomorrow at O’jez Restaurant inside the National Stadium premises, Surulere, Lagos.

O’jez had last month cancelled the June award which was billed to hold on Sunday, June 30 to allow time to plan a more befitting honour for a man that was part of the O’jez entertainment family for over a decade. Sunday ’s event also coincides with the 41-day mourning of the fallen musician who was a Muslim.

In a statement signed by the outfit’s media company, Media Image Managers, MIM, the MD/CEO of the outfit, Chief Joseph Odobeatu, said everything had been put in place to ensure Sunday’s event turns out to be a success.

•P-Square performing

Divorce blues? Foundation to the rescue W

ith the spate of divorce cases in the polity and the emotional trauma that comes with it, there is a need to nip the trend in the bud. One of the organisations stepping up to the plate in this regard is the Dinma and Nedum Foundation.

With this in mind, the foundation held its periodic marriage enrichment retreat, season 5 with pomp. Venue was the Rockview Hotel in Festac Town, Lagos.

Couples were feted with all sorts of activities like exercises, music, comedy, C M Y K

puzzle games, among others.

The couples also enjoyed the lecture and experiences of other resource persons who handled other marriage issues such as Dr. Akinwale, Rev Frs. Sebastine Ukwandu, Dan Ileka, Michael Nkuku, among others.

A member of the foundation, Mr. Theophilus Nwobi, who explained that the foundation for five years has been bringing couples together for deeper intimacy, informed the gathering the retreat coincided with the 10 th

anniversary of his wedding.

Together We Can: The spirit of partnership was the focus of the message Mrs. Dinma Nwobi dwelt on as Chief Speaker.

“The theme came about upon discovering during counselling sessions that oneness in couples is dwindling.

You can learn something positive from other couples and apply it to your own peculiar situation. Many marriages will be better if they understand that

marriage is a collaboration and not competition. Partnership is a deliberate blending of capacities for the mutual benefits of involved parties. Your goal in marriage is not to think alike, it is about thinking together. Marriages can be formed by accident but cannot be sustained as such. Marriage is daily hard work and intentional living. The three fundamentals of marriage are leaving, cleaving and becoming one,” she said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—37

The glitz and glamour of MBGN 2013 Governor Dickson with the new queen, Anna Ebiere Banner

Omotola and her husband

Dickson and the new queen

Dickson, Chief Edem Duke and Ben-Murray Bruce

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enagoa, the capital city of Baylesa State, was temporarily brought to a standstill last Saturday night when it played host to over 1000 guests for this year’s edition of the prestigious Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria,MBGN, pageant.

But besides the glitz and glamour that pervaded the event, this year’s MBGN was a celebration of the beauty in the Nigerian woman.

Like the previous editions, the event, which held at the Banquet Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, was laced with music,dance and professional displays. Expectedly, the 32 contestants took time out to flaunt their fabulous figures, curves and good looks on the runway. At the

Contestants in their bikini outfits C M Y K

end of the show, 18 year-old Anna Ebiere Banner, representing Bayelsa State, cemented her place in the grand finale by emerging the winner of the keenly contested crown.

For Banner, it was an overwhelming feeling to be declared the new queen.

“There are no words to describe how amazing it feels,” she said.

As rightly pointed out by Ben Murray Bruce, Chairman of the Silverbird Group,organisers of the yearly event, over the years the pageant has transformed the lives of not only the beauty queens but also, that of their families. Indeed, it was a night to remember.

The new queen displaying the rich culture of her people

I’m overwhelmed with joy

Dickson, Omotola and Ben Murray Bruce on stage

Vice President , Silverbird Group embracing the new queen

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

—-Anna Banner,MBGN winner

E

ighteen year-old Anna Ibiere Banner spoke with Showtime shortly after she was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2013. To say the 100-level student of Linguistics and Communications, University of Port Harcourt was reeling from achieving the extraordinary feat is an understatement...

How do you feel

winning the

competition?

I feel awesome. I’m so glad and I’m overwhelmed with joy.

When you were announced the winner, what went through your mind?

A lot of things were passing through my mind.

But actually, my mind was kind of blank initially because I didn’t clearly hear my name when it was announced. I don’t really know what to say, but I’m so happy.

Have you ever looked forward to occupying this position someday?

Yes, I have. I have always dreamt of occupying this position someday. I have always had this passion for helping humanity. So, I have always wanted a platform that could help me achieve my dream.

How did you get to know about MBGN? A friend of mine introduced me to the pageant.

His name is ambassador Uche.

How would recount your experience in the camp?‘ The experience was wonderful. There was a lot of fun, a lot of talking and laughing. So

many memorable things happened while we were in the camp. There were good memories.

Governor Dickson immediately appointed you his aide and cultural ambassador of the state. How do you intend to combine the position as well as your office as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria?

I’m really going to try my best to ensure that I make my state proud. No matter how difficult it may be, I put in my best and ensure that the best comes out of my one-year reign.

What project do you intend to embark upon?

Education. I just want to help my people in terms of propagating the values of education.

I want to create the awareness not only as it concerns formal education but also, informal education which has to do with skills acquisition.

Were you surprised that you won the crown?

Yes, I was actually surprised because there

were a lot of beautiful girls that contested for the crown.

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

On child marriage saga...

Abominable! bominable! — Chiege Alisigwe

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ntertainers are not left out of the shock waves which have continued to trail the controversial Child Marriage Bill recently debated at the Senate. Showtime went to town and sought their opinions.

I

t is bad. I see it as the worst bill so far. I don’t like thinking about that because it gets me worried. I cannot give out my daughter at that age for marriage. I think we all should put hands together to fight this kind of bad bill and ensure it’s not passed into law. What we should know is that it is not going to affect their own children. It is so bad.

Senat Senatee should tread with caution — Aneke, Actress

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he Senate should tread with caution because subjecting the girlchild to early marriage will rob her of the opportunity to live normal life.

It’s morally wrong and

abusive. The girl-child needs adequate education, better healthcare and a promising future.

These things are not achievable with under age marriage.

Chiege Alisigwe

Future of girl cchild hild bleak — Benita Nzeribe

T

o me, it is totally wick ed for our senators to think of something like that when there are several issues to debate on.

Marriage is not what you just jump into. They should be thinking of giving the Nigerian girl child quality instead of subjecting them to early

Bad decision — Elvis Chuc ks, Actor Chucks,

marriage. The future is bleak with this kind of law. I would humbly advise the Senate to have a rethink as regards this controversial bill.

I

Elvis Chuks Benita Nzeribe

Barbaric — N ene SoulDiv Nene SoulDivaa, Artiste

I

It’s lik er likee sleeping with one’s daught daughter — Halima Abubakar

think its totally barbaric and ungodly. Why should a child who should have her attention on books be thinking of the responsibilities meant for an adult? The Bible says “when the wicked are in power, the people groan.”

I

t’s actually shocking that a bill like that was passed by the Senate. I know more than half of them cannot give out their kids for marriage at that age.

To me, it’s like sleeping with one’s child. We need a wakeup call as regards that issue.

Aneke

air ttoo women — FFrragr ance, Artiste It’s unf agrance, unfair

I Halima Abubakar

Crime agains amar eimo againstt humanity — TTamar amaraa Et Eteimo eimo, Actress

I

Tamara Eteimo C M Y K

t is not right; they have their own daughters, they should marry them out at that age and allow others to enjoy their lives. These men are supposed to be jailed for this crime against humanity. A child, as it were, cannot be knowledgeable and mature enough for marriage. Immaturity of the body can cause diseases like VVF and the rest. So many young girls are abandoned in the hospital because of this problem and they end up living miserable lives. Now they want to make it legal? A big rejection from me.

do not think it’s a good decision. We cannot use any religion or circumstance - be it political or otherwise against an innocent child. Children are our future, and when they are traumatised it affects their future and that of the nation as well. I am of the opinion that the errors of our predecessors regarding early marriage in whatever form can be rectified by us.

Fragrance

t is pathetic and a shame to Nigeria.

What does a 13-year-old knows? They’re not even fully developed. Is it that there are no fully grown women ready for marriage anymore? What is this world turning into? I am a woman and I will say that it is not fair to us women. They should at least give the girl child a little respect in this country; she deserves it.

naccept able — N onso Odogwu, AcTotally unaccept nacceptable Nonso tor don’t think it’s the

I r

i g h t thing to do; it is also terrible and unacceptable. A child should remain a child, do all the stuff children her age do until she is an adult.

Every fruit that is plucked before time turns out bad and can cause problems for the consumer.

Nonso Odogwu

Nene SoulDiva

If this saga isn’t nipped in the bud this will unleash the wrath of God upon us as a nation. It will breed an uncontrolled spread of the VVF, AIDS, high rate of Child pregnancy leading to higher infant and child mortality. But more than these afore-mentioned, it would breed the next generation of indiscipline, prostitution and women with the lowest level of self-esteem.

This is the time for us women to stand up for our own, this is when all female leaders in politics, entertainment and the corporate sector should come together with one voice to stand up against this modern day slavery.

Child not a bride — Colle tt Collett ttee Orji Orji, Actress magine the issues fac ing Nigeria like energy, Isecurity, education,

among others, and here our Senators are legalising early marriage.

I think such a debate wasn’t worth debating among learned leaders in the first place. A child is a child and not a bride.

There will be other times for her to get married after she has gone through schooling and maturity.

Collete Orji

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—39

C M Y K

40 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

yemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com

Ella and Gabby

“Tropical Sophistication”

to show at Africa Fashion Week London o to the w days to g ith just a fe an fashion biggest Afric utside of ao extravaganz ek London 2013, e W n io a Fash Africa; Afric -3 August, 2013, at Old r1 scheduled fo ry, Nigerian-based e w re B lla and Truman ion brand, E sh fa ry ra o contemp her new t to showcase ction tagged Gabby is se e ter 2013 coll Autumn/Win istication” ph solutely “Tropical So cation” is ab nd ti is h p o S l a rs a “Tropic bright colou e th ; g in w d and mind blo hand stitche r sore y ll fu re a c ll prints a a cure fo is absolutely tribal prints, embellished ite e the exquis ng eyes! We lov gant dresses and teasi le e e th b g ri floor len ply desc d rds can’t sim cut- outs, wo love each piece. Ella an e i, w k k h e c L how mu n drive, d at Chevro is Gabby locate ded by Ada Mgbudem a e e th h f d o n on Lagos a ant celebrati of a st n o c a r fo known nd pride ness, class a mplified art si beauty, bold d detailed an s. woman with n and luxurious piece o ti al a ic c p ti ro is 3 “T of soph /Winter 201 e n m tu u A w The ne on will b on” collecti 3 at Sophisticati the 2nd of August 201 n o is h d T . se a n ndo showc ion Week Lo sh a ard F d a n ic a fr st e The A n is to set th io it d e d ir th year’s come. for years to

W

C M Y K

Flamboyant hairdo is my style — Jennykool

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 — 41

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ast rising star, Janet Ibangah, popularly known as Jennykool, has been making waves in the Nigerian music industry since the release of her latest album titled ‘No be So’. Her loud hairstyles often cause a stir among fans, and that is the subject of her chat with Hair & Style.

By IYABO AINA Why do you like flamboyant hairstyles with loud colours?

I don’t really know why, but I think that’s just my style. As you can see, I’m wearing a golden-coloured Mohawk. My hair is my little secret on what makes me cool. Coloured hairstyles make my style unique and outstanding. I have been creative with my hair for the past four years, and my family and friends have accepted me for that.

Have you ever tried wearing your natural hair?

Every woman believes in her natural hair, but taking good care of your hair makes it unique and charming. I love my hair and spend so much to make it look charming because hair is the beauty of a woman.

Is there any special treatment for your hair?

I don’t have any special treatment for my hair except the blunt I use for the colour maintenance.

What hairstyle would you not be seen with?

This question is funny because I’m

grades, girls hated me for my styles, my dressing and sometimes my hair colour.

What do you find most funny about your hair?

The funny thing is that since I transitioned, I’ve become less obsessed with it but I still love my hair. I might even love it more because it is stubborn, just like me. But I no longer freak out if a hair is out of place or a style does not turn out how I think it should.

B

efore I started being creative with my hairstyles, I used to have long hair. But I was bothered by it and being a teenager then ,there was nothing I could do about it because my mother didn’t want me to cut it. But after some time, I had the confidence to cut it. Even though people around me didn’t like the way I cut it, I was no longer bothered about people’s opinion and when they realised their comments no longer affected me, they stopped. Now they admire every hairstyle I do.

a woman that can change to whatever hairstyle I want at any time.

But why did you cut your hair in the first place?

It’s because I wanted something different, something to get more attention and comments from fans. So, I decided to do something like cutting my hair and adding more colour to it, which is the Mohawk style How best do you wear your hair?

I love to fly my hair in sexy, charming, shiny colours that match my dress code. I know the dress to go with whenever I change my hairstyle.

My hair is basically just another accessory. I can style it anyhow and love it whenever people comment. I have a serious attachment to my hair.

It’s my pride and joy. I remember when I was younger, my mother would take me to the salon and if I didn’t like the hairstyle the stylist made, I would cry.

For most of my childhood, the only positive comment I ever heard were when people commented on how long and full my hair was. I can remember that my friends and family didn’t like it when I cut my hair. My hair always gave me lots of attention. Although I was pretty and made good C M Y K

•Jennykool

HAIRSTYLE OF THE WEEK

•Jennykool

42—SATURDAY, Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

Pizzazz as Olawale-Cole’s son weds

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he Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos came alive with cascading colours last Saturday as high-profile dignitaries resplendent in different colourful attires converged on the premium event centre for the wedding engagement of the son of Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, a two-time commissioner in Lagos State and the President and Chairman, Council of Nigerian Institute Management.

Both the bride’s people (the Ekundayos), from Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti, and the groom’s people, from Onigbongbo, Lagos State spared no expense in giving the couple, Abiola Olawale-Cole and Oyinda Ekundayo a memorable experience as there were a lot to eat and drink. Photos by Oscar Ochiogu

The couple; Abiola and Oyinda Olawale-Cole

Groom, Abiola Olawale-Cole with parents, Dr. and Mrs Michael Olawale-cole.

Bride, Oyinda Olawale-Cole with parents, Chief and Mrs Ekundayo

L-R:Oba Munirudeen Olatunji Yussuf, Oba of Onigbongbo and Oba Kehinde Olugbele, Olu of Ilaro. Rotarian

L-R; Princess Sarah Sosan, Abiola OlawaleCole, groom and Hon. Jimoh Olawale-Cole

Urhobo Social Club swears in executives Aisha Lekky bags Paul

T

The Executives: (L-R) Chief Emman Egoh,Chief Silver Etsemitan, Bishop Joseph Salubi, Dr. Isaac Feludu, Chief Simeon Ohwofa,Snr. Evang. Emmanuel Evue ,Mr Austin Enajemo-Isire, Barr. Jitobor Akanike,Mr Francis Aridi and Engr. Charles Ughuvwu .

L-R:Mr Austin Enajemo-Isire,2nd Vice President, the President, Chief (Sir) Simeon Ohwofa and Dr. Isaac Feludu.

C M Y K

he Elite Urhobo Social Club, Lagos on Sunday, June 30 th swore in their newly elected executives to run the affair of the Club for the next tenure.

The event which was well attended by all the members took place at the prestigious Blueberry Hotel, Amuwo, Lagos.

After the high points of the day which included a stirring speech by the elected President, Chief (Sir) Simeon Ohwofa, the members settled to a fun-filled merriment.

The Immediate Past President, Snr. Evang.

Emmanuel Evue congratulating the newly elected President, Chief (SIR) Simeon Ohwofa.

Harris FFello ello wa ward ellow aw

R

otarian Aisha Lekky was recetly decorated as a Paul Harris Fellow by the past District Governor of District 9125, Rotn. Barrister Yamah Otsemobo in Abuja.

Aisha Lekky being decorated as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Past District Governor of District 9125, Rotarian Barrister Yamah Otsemobo

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—43

08056180112

H

ead lice, though common, still make most parents, teachers, and health-care workers uneasy. The good news is that head lice usually do not cause any serious disease and can be treated easily. The common head louse is an insect which attaches itself to the scalp and feeds on human blood. A louse is tiny and mobile, and can be hard to spot, especially in individuals with thick hair. Lice lay eggs on the shafts of hair, and often it is these small white “nits” that are the first indication of an infestation.

If you think you have head lice...

mayonnaise, and vinegar. The mainstay of treatment remains those permethrin— or pyrethrinbased medical Fine-toothed combs Besides the shampoo treatments, using a fine-toothed comb is also recommended. This will remove the nits and casings left behind. It is often a long, tedious process, but it will pay off in the end.

How they spread Lice spread through direct contact. They cannot jump or fly and therefore depend upon direct or indirect “head to head” contact. Lice can survive for short periods on clothing, hats, and hairbrushes, so these are often involved in the spread of infestations.

Head lice myths All children are at risk for head lice. It has nothing to do with one’s hygiene, income, or other issues.

Head lice have been around for thousands of years, and evidence of infestations have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. As long as we remain social beings, head lice will continue to be around.

Spotting head lice Lice and their eggs (nits) are visible to the naked eye. They can be variable in color, depending on how recently they have fed.

Most frequently it is the nits which are seen, since they are static, round, and white and attached to the hair strands close to the scalp.

Symptoms Although itching may be a sign of a lice infestation, most often

,

Allergies For individuals who develop an allergic reaction to the lice, there is a risk for developing a bacterial infection due to skin breakdown and overscratching.

In these cases,antibiotics may be required to treat the skin infection. It’s important to call the doctor if there is increased swelling, redness, and pain.

Do you have head lice?

A true head lice infestation needs to be treated. If live lice C M Y K

•Irritated by lice spread...

Generally, the topical shampoos have little effect on the nits, so these should be removed manually using a fine-toothed comb

individuals are asymptomatic. Keep in mind that although the only reliable sign of an infestation is the presence of a live louse or nymph (juvenile louse), the presence of nits may be a sign that there is or has been an active infestation. Some people develop an allergic response to the lice, and it is not uncommon to see evidence of inflammation on the neck or scalp.

Head lice and school Head lice should not be considered a health hazard and do not spread disease. Therefore the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all healthy children with head lice should not be excluded from school. This flies in the face of many local school policies which exclude children from classes unless all nits have

,

are detected at any stage, notify a healthcare professional and ask for advice about treatment options. Remember to also check the rest of the household contacts, because it is rare to find a single case of lice, given the ease of transmission.

Removing lice from hair Most topical lice treatments are available without a prescription; however, since some of the ingredients may not be recommended for small children, always discuss the options with a health-care professional. Generally, the topical shampoos have little effect on the nits, so these should be removed manually using a fine-toothed comb.

Often, more than one application is needed to ensure complete eradication.

Removing lice from the home Try to wash all bedding and clothing possibly exposed to head lice. Though lice cannot survive long without feeding, it serves as another level of security that the lice have been eradicated. Though it is unnecessary to clean and bag all pillows, removable cushions, stuffed animals, etc, it is probably wise to focus

•Removing lice from hair on every member of the household. been removed.

Head lice home remedies Protecting against head lice There are a number of non- Unfortunately, it is next to impossible to medical remedies that have been prevent all head lice infestations. Children used over the ages to treat lice tend to have significant opportunities for infestations. Although there is little head-to-head contact. It is wise to remind evidence that these are effective, children to avoid the sharing of hats, combs, many pediatricians recognize that and brushes and plan on checking the there is no harm in trying them out. child’s scalp regularly. The earlier the These include using barrier diagnosis, the easier the treatment. remedies, such as oil or

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

08116759759

Archaeologists find dinosaur tail in Mexican desert The ‘unusually well-preserved’ tail is the first-ever found in Mexico. It is from a hadrosaur and was discovered by villagers living nearby. The find will increase understanding of dinosaur afflictions. The team, made up of archaeologists and students from INAH and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, identified the fossil as a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur. The tail, found near the small town of General Cepeda(the border state of Coahuila), is likely made up half the dinosaur ’s length, Aguilar said. What happened to the rest of it?

Force-fed to find husbands

Mauritanian women are fattened up ‘like foie gras geese’ and take dangerous animal growth hormones to satisfy men’s love for larger lady. Big is believed to be beautiful in the West African country. Obesity in a wife is a sign of wealth and prestige. Girls are force-fed from the age of eight to make them marriageable. Women take dangerous animal growth hormones to increase appetite. Having a fat wife is desirable, and is a sign of wealth and prestige in a country where food is in short supply.

Baby stabbed 90 times with scissors by mother

Seriously ill newborn baby

B

aby was stabbed 90 times with scissors by his Chinese mother after he bit her as she was breastfeeding him. Xiao Bao needed more than 100 stitches after the incident in Xuzhou, eastern China’s Jiangsu Province.

The infant lives with his mother and two uncles, who make a living recycling rubbish. It was one of the uncles who discovered Xiao Bao lying in a pool of blood in the yard of their home and rushed him to hospital.

Irishman ttoo oo fat for staircase 42-stone Irish man has been forced to sleep on his A floor downstairs after becoming too large to climb his staircase. Ritchie Doyle, 44, from Bantry, County

Cork, is demanding that his local council move him to more suitable accommodation. He has ulcerated legs and relies on the use of an oxygen ventilator. Mr Doyle, who was born in Dublin, says he has been on the waiting list for a home for over a year now.

W

hen baby Isaac Curtis was born struggling to breathe, doctors decided he needed immediate specialist treatment. He was whisked away from his parents to two different hospitals hundreds of miles away as doctors fought to save his life. But the family were able to be reunited closer to home after the Children’s Air Ambulance took Isaac back safely to his local hospital in Somerset in a specialist ‘baby pod’ which enabled him to breathe.

Tiny Isaac wore miniature ear defenders for his helicopter trip, which took him 170 miles from Leicester to Musgrove Hospital, Taunton, in just 59 minutes.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 — 45

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JUL Y 27, 2013 JULY

Nigeria needs the discipline of planning and execution — Eyitayo Ogunmola

E

yitayo with a soft but assertive personality at 25 is a certified PMP Project Manager with vast expertise in project execution.

He is a Lean VI Sigma Certified Professional; a project management entrepreneur and top facilitator of Project Management (for organizations. Eyitayo is the founder and the Team Leader of PM Hub Nigeria. He is one of the youngest project management entrepreneurs and consultants in Africa. He was at the Vanguard head office to tell his story. Excerpts: My Background I was born and bred in Lagos State. I am 25. I lived all my life with my mom. I grew up to know only my mom. My father left us when I was 2. Please, don’t ask me why. I have four siblings—I’m the eldest.

Growing up was a challenge for me.Ihad my primary education in Lagos, and my Junior Secondary School at Ekiti State Government College, Ado Ekiti and had to complete my secondary education in African Church Model College, Ifako-Lagos. I lived with my low-income earning mom, and she was very proud of me.

After Secondary school, I took up a teaching job—just to support my mom— although I didn’t support her with my earnings; I spent all as a young boy. I could remember those days when my mom will force me to save—it was terrible because I always wanted to spend those little earnings.

I was teaching in a local primary school in Lagos.I trained the best graduating students and that was where I discovered my top skill for training.

Everyone around me wanted me to study medicine. I had a contrary opinion at first, but I was influenced by selffulfilling talks,and I started to see myself as a doctor. I was admitted into University of Ilorin to study Medical Physiology. Oh, it was so difficult. I couldn’t find my passion in the field, so I joined school politics.

After graduation, I decided to start a new professional quest as a project manager.

My passion I started PM Hub Nigeria early 2012 after long considerations.

Everyone around me wanted me to get a nice job with fat salaries but I had a contrary opinion. It was a hard decision at the beginning and I have to be truthful—I was confused. I had a nice session with Nidine Rix, the co-founder and executive director of Nyansa Africa and she influenced my

•Eyitayo Ogunmola decision. She tutored me and told me indirectly to be the change I want to see in my field. I started with a team of 4 young project management trainers— wonderful guys with a lady who worked with me as a freelance. I wouldn’t know what made these guys decide

just started, we made our training very cheap and affordable for young professionals (Especially NYSC Corp.

Members). After 3 months of hard work, we were able to increase the number of our students to just 10. It was a hard time for my team; yet they were devoted.

With energy and vision, we expanded the hub from one study centre in Lagos to three training centres and also expanded to Ogun State.

I learned that leadership is vision transmuted by energy.

It's amazing how our team grew and our c e n t r e s developed. It’s a fun working with Tijani Azeez, one of our top trainers in project management and health safety and environment management also Bode Oyetunji, the guy who works with me as the c o r p o r a t e governance and marketing head.

My Professional Exploits I became a member of Project Management Institute, PMI, United States in 2011 where I got certified as a PMP project manager. Then I pursued my professional certification in PMI- Scheduling Professional.

With keen interest in Quality Management, I became a Green Belt Lean VI Sigma professional with American Society of Quality. After few months, I was nominated by

I learned that leadership is vision transmuted by energy. Its amazing how our team grew and our centres developed to join me, but I saw them displayed strong passion to help me build a sustainable and surviving enterprise. At first, I wasn’t paying them. I paid them nothing. It got to a point, they became my motivation.

We started marketing our trainings together. We became all dirty—worked in the sun sharing handbills and fliers.

At the beginning, we got just four participants. Because we

Professor Ron Krate as an International fellow of International Professors Project, IPP, United States.

Not quiet long, I started to unveil the opportunities as created by a Netherland association of Project Managers, and I decided to join the association. I became a member of the young crew: International Project Management Association, IPMA.

And that was where my global relevance in project management started. I joined an annual competition for young project managers in the world. The competition is named GeCco, Global eCompetition Collaboration—a virtual competition among project managers in the world.

I learned a lot from my international colleagues.

Actually, the competition brought on board 64 project managers from about 14 countries, we were grouped and I was in group 12. I worked with some participants from Nepal, Sweden, Poland and Austria.

The competition exposed me to professional analysis of projects and business framework. At the end of the competition, my team came 3rd. It was a breakthrough for me.

My mentor, Taopheek Babayeju nominated me as the project coordinator of Project Management Conference of Nigeria, PROMACON FOUNDATION, a gathering of project managers in Nigeria.

When I got the news, it was a great platform for me to work with more experienced project managers among the older professionals. Our focus in PROMACON is institutionalizing project management in Nigeria.

At the moment, I am enrolled for a professional training in entrepreneurship with Columbus Business School. I am trying to be a better entrepreneur through entrepreneurship education and mentorship.

My Consulting Career Even though I am an entrepreneur, I still take up the challenge to build my organization through a

mechanism I call Flow Wave.

Flow wave is my philosophy and it explains the concept of building an organizational structure and reputation for an organization from the outside.

It simply describe why I work with other consulting organization so as to develop a relationship, learn more and create huge attraction to my company. I work as the team lead of my company,PM Hub Nigeria. Three things define us: Training-Consulting-Solution.

I am a team lead and not a CEO. Our organization has worked out projects charter for over 100 projects.

Our initiatives and projects As an organization, we have been able to launch a major initiative called VPMVolunteering for Project Management. This strategic initiative helps us connect our trained project managers to organization that need the support of suck skilful and educated individuals. In project management we call this method Value Engineering: getting the same scope for less cost. That is what we present to organization— get more young staff for less cost. This in turn gives our volunteer hands on deck experience.

At the moment, we are also work on a major project— an online exam simulator for project management, lean VI sigma, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP and other professional exams. This initiative hopes to give our organization a better platform to train our students in the subjects and also prepare them diligently for these professional exams.

We hope to launch this online simulator soon.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

MARK IDIAHI Lagos State

M

ark is the CEO/founder of Wealth Academy Global Initiative. His interest in Brand Management over the years has turned him into a Brand Consultant and Business growth strategist. He is very keen about Sales and has been speaking with unusual passion on Sales and Marketing. He has over 10 years experience in the Media profession having worked with Vanguard Media Limited. His passion for entrepreneurship made him also set up an air cargo Logistics company called Markyn Chairs Logistics Errand which he is the chairman. He is the founder of Project /President of Dream House Foundation and is the Brand consultant at Diffadin Nig Limited.

Mark is currently working on a project called ACTIVATE, a platform for young entrepreneurs to converge to discuss and confront issues and challenges that businesses: business men and women still face in Nigeria. Jim Ikye, Victor Gotevbe and Gregory Azemobor are the guest speakers for this project scheduled for August 10 at Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—47

ASUU strike...It has shut down the nation’s tertiary institutions

I

t was a twin problem that shut down the nation’s tertiary institutions, sending the students home. Indeed, the industrial strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) took just about everyone by storm. But while ASUP has suspended its strike, the ASUU standoff is still raging. Regrettably, there seems to be no end in sight to the impasse, as the Federal Government is yet to address the problem that brought it about. Saturday Vanguard’s LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU, in this special piece, analyzes the situation as it affects the future of the nation's students.

Nigeria is like a theatre where there are many activities to watch and issues to discuss.

Sadly though, the issues are very often unpalatable. They are such that project the country as a sinking ship. They are issues that place many Nigerians at crossroads with their leaders, giving the impression that the future of the Nigerian child is bleak. Otherwise, how could anyone explain the current impasse in the education sector of the economy? Despite the “huge” progress the government claims it has made in the sector, results appear to be far-fetched. And just when hopes were high that some sort of stability had been achieved in the academic calendar of the universities and polytechnics, the worst suddenly happened.

A face-off ensued between the combined team of ASUP, ASUU on one hand and the Federal Government on the other.

ASUU strike

INDUSTRIAL ACTION:

Necessary tool or sign of a failed government?

ASUP demands/strike/ suspension Many have expressed surprise that the polytechnic system of education in Nigeria could be literally crippled for 81 days without the Federal Government being perturbed.

This is a system that produces experts in technical and vocational education. In other words, the technological expertise of the country revolves around the system.

into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, the segregation against graduates of the system and the stunted growth in their career progression, review of the retirement age of lecturers in the polytechnics from 60 to 65 years, nonestablishment of a National Commission of Polytechnics, and the bias in the distribution of budgetary allocation for polytechnics. Others were the artificial impediments involved

“Our demand is strictly on the implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement and the commencement of the renegotiation of the same agreement which was due to be reviewed in January, 2012 What was the grouse of the lecturers? Indeed, unlike their previous demands which always revolved around a higher pay package, the major issue this time around was a little different. According to the National President of ASUP, Dr. Chibuzo Asomugha, what topped the list were the discriminatory cut-off points for candidates seeking admission

in accessing the Tertiary Education Fund by poly lecturers and the implementation of CONTISS 15 which affects junior workers in the polytechnics.

Hear him: “The Federal Government is biased against polytechnic education. If you look at the distribution of budgetary allocation to institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education, you will discover that

universities alone got N188.4billion — that is about 47 per cent — out of the N400billion approved for the sector in the 2012 financial y e a r . ” In a chat with Saturday Vanguard in Abuja during the week before the Body suspended the strike, Asomugha maintained that until their demands were met, ASUP would continue with its industrial action.

But on Tuesday July 17, 2013, ASUP graciously suspended the 81-day-old strike with a caveat that all its demands must be met within a month.

According to Asomugha, the strike was called off by the National Executive Committee of the Union as a result of the intervention of the Joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Education. He said the union gave the government representatives one month to accede to their demands and release the white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics.

This means there is every tendency that the lecturers might down tools yet again if their demands are not met within the stipulated time-frame.

While teachers and students of polytechnics have just returned to the classroom, ASUU has continued with its indefinite strike which began on Monday, July 1, 2013. With this, the nation’s tertiary education has become a cul-de-sac of sorts. ASUU demands are akin to their counterparts' in A S U P .

National President of the Union, Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge, said in an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard that “our demand is strictly on the implementation of the 2009 FG/ ASUU agreement and the commencement of the renegotiation of the same agreement which was due to be reviewed in January, 2012. Apart from the salaries that were paid after the strike and then granting of academic and professorial cadre retirement age at 70 instead of 65...(there are) other issues such as funding for the revitalisation of the university system, Federal assistance t o state universities, setting up of a Research and Development Council, improvement of research facilities in the universities, the academic allowance from the registration of the Nigeria University Pension Management Company (NUPENCO) and then ensuring university autonomy and academic freedom.

Aren’t the universities autonomous?

How can they be autonomous when NUC is usurping the powers of Senate and Council?

NUC has its Acts. They are only expected to operate on the basis of its Acts. But what the Continues on page 51

48 — Vanguard, SATURDAY JULY 27, 2013

d e t p m e t t a o h W t u o e f i l f f u n s to ? r e g a n e e t s i h of t

By IFEANYIN OKOLIE

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kiruka Ugwu,14, least expected the fate that befell her Wednesday, as her family members left for their respective places of work.

Alone in the duplex situated on 5, Nwaezeonu Shalom estate in Satelite area of Lagos, the Junior Secondary School student who only came home to spend the third term holiday , went about the house chores,unaware that danger lurked at the corner.

Then all of a sudden, an incident which left every member of her family shocked and speechless, with the police at Satellite division still trying to unravel, occurred.

As you read this piece, the teenager is lying unconscious at the Intensive Care Unit of an undisclosed private hospital around the area , with doctors trying all they could to resuscitate her.

When Crime Guard visited the hospital, the teenager was

discovered to have multiple bruises on her face with blood shot eyes. Her face was swollen beyond description with blood dripping from her nose and mouth. The question on every one’s lips was , what could have happened to Nkiru as she is popularly called? Could she have been attacked or raped? If yes, what was her offense?.

Her elder brother simply identified as Innocent , disclosed how she was found in the pool of her blood. “ We are all traders except my elder brother’s wife who is serving her National Youth Service Corps at Amuwo Odofin Local Government secretariat.

W

e all left the house early Wednesday and by evening when my brother ’s wife returned from work, Nkiruka,whom we all left in the house was nowhere to be found. She dialed her number but discovered it was switched

•The victim in the hospital

off. She called her and at the same time opened all the bedroom doors but there was no response from her. Along the line , she discovered that one of the bedrooms was locked.

She decided to open it witha spare key only to find Nkiru lying still on the ground. She screamed, thereby alerting residents who rushed her to the hospital. She was rushed to three different hospitals where unfortunately, they rejected her, until she was taken to where she currently is.

When we conducted a search round the duplex, we discovered that all the laptops,

Three remanded in prison over alleged threat to life Stories by ONOZURE DANIA

A

Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja, has ordered that Olasunkanmi Are-Ago,20, Dolapo Olowu 38, and Ochuko Adeniji,33, be remanded in prison custody over alleged terrorism and threat to kill. The defendants according to Magistrate Margaret Dan-Oni, are expected to remain in prison custody pending the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. The trio were charged to court by the police on a three-count charge of conspiracy,threat,threat to kill and terrorism.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi told the court that the defendants and others at large, conspired to commit the alleged offense on June

6,2013, at about 7.19 pm at Ikotun Egbe, area of Lagos. He explained that the defendants, contacted one Mrs Abosede Owolabi on her phone, intimidated and threatened to kidnap her, her son and her husband.

Okoi stated that the defendants demanded N5.5 million which they instructed should be paid into three different banks,with series of threat text messages and calls to her telephone.

A reminder note according to him was also pasted on the Owolabi’s premises,giving them a deadline to pay or they would execute their threat; an offense he said contravened Sections 230, 402 and punishable under section 409, Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

phones and jewelries were missing, including Nkiru’s mobile phone. This made us conclude that she could have recognised the intruder .Perhaps that was why he attempted to strangle her to avoid being exposed. But for the prompt arrival of my brother’s wife, she could have given up before our arrival because we usually come home late”, Innocent stated .

Victim suffering from head injury

M

eanwhile, the Managing Director at the hospital disclosed that the

victim was suffering from head injury and assault.

According to him, “The patient was brought in last night (Wednesday night) unconscious. We want to believe that there are foul play some where because she has multiple brushes on her face, blood shot eyes, swollen face and protruding thigh.

She is also bleeding from the eyes nose and mouth.

She is semi conscious and restless.

We think it is a case of head injury and assault. We have been trying to stabilize her with oxygen which has taken over her system and we have administered a broad range of drugs to reduce the swell in the brain. It’s a very bad case but we are giving her

Man docked for assaulting policemen

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31- year- old man Chinedu Nwuruku, was Wednesday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly assaulting three police men. The suspect was said to have conspired with some soldiers who were fully armed and abducted the policemen to Bonny Camp in Victoria Island. The accused who is facing a five- count charge: conspiracy, stealing, assault and false information by the police, was docked before Magistrate Abimbola Oshodi-Makanju.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the defendant and others at large allegedly committed the offense on June 25, 2013 at Ikate round about ,Lekki-Epe expressway at about 5pm, during which the policemen on patrol identified as Inspector Johnson Aruku, Sergeant Momoh Isaac and one Corporal Johnson Ime, were inflicted with body injuries .

Ekikere claimed that a Rolex Wristwatch worth N14,000 belonging to Cpl Johnson Ime, one Techno phone valued at N8,500 and N22,000 property of one Stanley Ogege were stolen in the process.

He added that the defendant gave the soldiers false information claiming that the policemen gave arms and ammunitions to armed robbers, an offense ,he said was punishable under sections 409, 285, 96 (a) and (b) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to the five-count charges when read to him,while his counsel, Oshibogu, pleaded for his bail, disclosing to the court that the accused had been in police custody for over four weeks as against the stipulated time of detention.

Vanguard, SATURDAY JULY 27, 2013 — 49

O

all the care she deserves. A nurse is permanently stationed in her ward to care for her,” the doctor stated”.

However,the Police have vowed to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. But Crime Guard learnt that investigation was hampered by the unconscious state of the teenager who is believed to be in the best position to reveal the identity of her assailant.

Police sources however assured that: “ we will get to the root of this matter. Even though the only person that would have given us clue on how to go about it is incapacitated, we have switched to plan ‘ B’.I I assure you that in no distant time from now, we will get the assailant”.

PERATIVES at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS Ikeja Lagos, have arrested two brothers and their friend for sending a threat message to a proprietress of a school in Igando area of Lagos, pretending to have been hired to kill her.

Their journey to the SARS cell began last month after the proprietress(names withheld) received a call and was told by the caller that his gang had been paid to eliminate her.

Immediately the 65-year-old proprietress was shocked, wondering why anyone could be after her life. Before she could recover from the shock, the line went dead.

Two days later, Crime Guard gathered that the strange caller dialed the proprietress number again, requesting for N150,000 if she wanted her life spared. Calling their bluff, the sexagenarian went about her normal business, only to be thrown off guard when a warning letter was pasted at the school gate given her a deadline for the payment.

The suspects according to police sources met their waterloo after the case was reported to the m.

“They sent an account number to the elderly woman to pay N200,000 into if she wanted to stay alive. When she refused to pay, they pasted threat letters on the school gate and school bus , threatening to kidnap some of her pupils for failing to pay in the amount.

The frightened woman who felt that any attempt to pay a dime to the gang would open a floodgate of extortion, quickly reported the matter to the police and the Officer-inCharge of SARS, Abba Kyari,

Commercial sex worker charged to court over allege theft

A

COMMERCIAL sex worker has been charged to court for allegedly stealing N300,000 from her male ‘customer’.

The defendant, a mother of three identified as Chinyere Anuforo, reportedly ventured into the business after her husband abandoned her to cater for her children alone. Although she was said to have learnt catering but did not make anything worthwhile with it.

She was slammed with a count charge of stealing ,with the Police prosecutor, Iranus Nnamonu, informing the court that the alleged offense was committed at Botife Guest house, Oba Akran avenue, Ikeja, on July 3, 2013 The stolen sum , including a Nokia handset according to Nnamonu, belongs to one Chuks Anderson Ogbonnaya of 23A Iyana Ipaja road Lagos, informing that the alleged offense was contrary to section 278 (1) (a) and (b) and punishable under section 285 of the criminal law No 34 Vol 44 laws of Lagos state 2011.

Two brothers, another arrested over SMS threat

•Joblessness pushed us into it—suspects

•The suspects mobilized a team of operatives who were immediately deployed in search for the suspects.

Interestingly,leader of the gang, Jude Uwaje, was tricked to a church where he was supposed to secure a job and he was arrested. He also assisted the operatives in apprehending his younger brother David and their friend, Philemon who took part in the crime”, the source narrated.

Continuing, Police sources said:“the Lagos State Police Command have received several compliants of unknown persons sending threat massages to rich people that they had been paid to kill them. They further demand for money depending on their victims’ status if they want their lives spared. Following these complaints, the CP, Umar Manko directed the SARS and all Divisional Police Officers to be on their toes and nip activities of these unscrupulous individuals in the bud”, police sources stated.

Joblessness pushed us into it urprisingly, the suspects were discovered to be living in the same vicinity with the proprietress and during this interview with Crime Guard, the trio blamed their criminal indulgence on joblessness,stating that they had no intention to carry out the threat but were only out for the money.

Jude,25, said: “ We all live in one room apartment with my wife and child, and we are jobless. My wife has been the one fending for the family. We

S

have tried all we could to secure a job to no avail.

Also,my rent expired and my landlord threatened to evict us if I didn’t pay. I begged friends to lend me but none obliged.

When the threat from my landlord persisted, I felt there would be no where else to go if my family and property were

,

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

We are not criminals. We were not armed. We o n l y ventured into it because we had no job

,

thrown out, than the village. It was this situation that brought about the idea of threatening owner of the school. Since we share a common fence with the school,we got the proprietress’ number from a poster in front of the school gate . We called her and asked her to call us back but she didn’t. We later called her and informed that some one had paid us to kill her.

Immediately we said that, she begged us not to kill her that she is a God-fearing woman and that it was God that made us call her.We told her we called to inform her because we knew she was a good woman. We said

the only solution would be to kill the person that sent us and to do that, she would have to pay us N200,000. At the end of the day we settled for N150,000, because we intended to use part of it to pay for the rent and the rest for our well being.

She cooperated initially and even asked how she could send the money and I gave her my sister’s account number in Delta State, without her knowledge because I thought it would be difficult to trace the account.

After waiting without any response from her Philemon and I wrote threat letters and pasted some on the school gate and school bus.

Some days later, we received a call from a man who identified himself as a police officer and threatened to arrest us for harassing the woman. At that point, I became afraid and decided to stop. But I did not know how the police managed to find out that my brother David is a drummer in a church.

But a female church member of his called to say he should come to the church quickly that someone needed his services.

He was not home and I decided to go on his behalf so as not to miss the opportunity. When I got there , I met the lady and she introduced me to a pastor who turned out to be a police officer.

I have told the police all I know . We are not criminals. We were not armed. We only ventured into it because we had no job. If given a second chance, I swear , we will turn a new leaf”, Jude stated amidst tears.

50—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 27, 2013 Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief he Central Bank of Ni geria, CBN, has revoked the operating licence of Express Discount Limited, with headquarters in Lagos.

The decision of the apex bank to wield the big stick against the Discount House was announced by the Director of Banking Supervision of CBN, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, at a press conference, in Abuja, yesterday.

According to her the revocation followed the failure of the owners of the company to recapitalise the organisation which has been in dire need of fund injection for several years and as such could no longer meet its liabilities.

“Mindful of the fact that EDL no longer had sufficient assets to meet its liabilities, and the shareholders had been unable to inject the capital required for the continuation of its operations, the CBN, in exercise of its powers, revoked the operating licence of Express Discount Limited, with effect from 18th July, 2013 as contained in the Federal Government Official Gazette No. 49 Vol. 100 of 19th July, 2013.

“A liquidator will be appointed for the company as required by extant laws to resolve its assets and liabilities”, Mrs. Martins said.

The director traced the Discount House’s troubles to as far back as 2006 when the licences of some financial institutions, which were shareholders of EDL, were revoked due to their inability to meet the prescribed

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CBN re es Express revvok okes Discount’s licence

pany: maintained false and misleading books of account; had huge exposure to Margin Loans; engaged in activities in contravention of Discount House guidelines; and indulged in distress borrowing by sourcing funds at rates higher than it could earn by investing the funds”.

The director explained further that EDL had negative shareholders’ funds and required a minimum capital injection of N21 billion if the company was to continue operation.

“In the light of these findings, the Board of EDL, in November 2011, relieved the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of his appointment.

“Following the removal of the MD/CEO, the CBN directed the Board to take necessary steps towards

ameliorating the situation, and this included the injection of fresh capital.

“However, the shareholders foreclosed any injection of fresh capital into EDL’s operation but rather predicated their recapitalisation plan upon a bail-out possibility from the CBN. The CBN, however, did not see any justification for the injection of funds to rescue the discount house as its total assets constituted only 0.3% of the banking industry assets. Therefore, its failure would not in any way precipitate or constitute a systemic crisis”,.

EDL was incorporated on November 25, 1992, as a private limited liability company and was licensed by the CBN on July 22, 1993 to carry on business as a discount house. It commenced operations the following day, July 23, 1993.

Lions Club plans community empowerment

I

Rotarian Kevin Ofili (second left) inducted as the 12th President of Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metropolitcan, flanked by his wife and other members of the club during investitutre ceremony, Lagos.

capital requirements.

She added that other shareholders which held about 42% of the company’s shares equally had their operating licences revoked in 2011 and their assets acquired after being adjudged to be in grave financial condition.

“Over time”, Mrs. Mar-

tins noted, “this led to the deterioration of EDL’s financial position” in addition to the shareholders failure to exercise the necessary due diligence and oversight over the activities of the Management of EDL”.

Cooked books According to her, the apex

bank through its examinations discovered that the management of EDL was playing pranks by cooking up its Books with false claims to mislead regulators, shareholders and the public.

Her words, “CBN’s examination of EDL’s operations revealed that the com-

nternational Association of Lions Club District 404B has unveiled plans to empower communities in Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Kwara with primary health centres, institutes for youth training, development and empowerment, among others.

Briefing the press on the theme: “Our Dream, Our Future” for the year in Lagos recently, the District Governor (2013-2014), Yinka Bolarinwa,

Mushr oom FFarming: arming: Panacea for mono-econom ome Mushroom mono-economyy syndr syndrome PRINCE Arinze Onebunne, Principal Researcher/CEO, Jovana Farms, is an

advocate of poverty eradication through animal farming. That explains why he is

BUSINESS GUIDE

on a mission to equip Nigerians interested in the business through regular nationwide seminars and capacity-building initiatives. In this edition, he highlights mushroom farming and its benefits.

My personal experience as an agric entrepreneur has proved that farming mushrooms, antelopes, quails, rabbits, grasscutters, snails, laboratory rats and guinea pigs is second nature. In mushroom cultivation particularly, its production gives smallholder farmers a big chance to increase their income, improve their health and offers an alternative means of livelihood to urban and rural farmers.

The process of growing mushroom is one of the easiest ways to earn a living and interestingly not much physical strength is required in its production.

The potentials in mushroom farming makes it an investor’s delight as a viable money-making option.

Investment in mushroom production will in the long run contribute to food security, wealth, health and employment creation.

Getting Started Starting a mushroom farm is a potentially lucrative way of getting into the farming business. Its cultivation is also regarded as one of the most sciencebased branches of agricul-

ture and horticulture.

Growing mushroom is a rewarding experience.

Not only can it be used for your dining table, you might also be able to develop great relationships with individuals, hotels and food caterers if you have a space to create a small farm.

This kind of farming is a highly remunerative enterprise with quick returns.

Types There are many types of mushrooms and they can be categorised into four: Saprotrophic, Mycorrhizal, Parasitic, and Entophytic.

Health Benefits Edible mushrooms are

Prince, holding Grasscutter for rearing

considered healthy food because their mineral content is higher than that of meat or fish and most vegetables. The protein content of fresh mushrooms is about twice that of vegetables and four times that of oranges.

Mushrooms contain proteins which have all the nine amino-acids that are essential for the health of human beings, and they are especially rich in lysine and leucine, which are lacking in most staple cereal foods.

Scientists have also indicated that mushrooms are devoid of starch and low in calories and other carbohydrates. It is clear that apart from the nutritional value of mushrooms, they have potential medicinal benefits

Mushrooms

highlighted some proposed projects for his tenure, while soliciting that well-meaning Nigerians and corporate concerns partner with the club to actualise its dreams.

“The Lions Club intends to accomplish as many projects as possible, but this will depend on available resources. Our focus is on construction of water projects, provision of free eye glasses, free health checks and screening for diabetes, cataract and so on in both the South-West and North-West,” he said.

and are also an ideal food for the diabetics and obese people.

The health benefits of mushrooms also include improvement in the body’s immune system and the prevention of all forms of cancers and tumors.

Good Market Opportunities abound in the growth of mushrooms as many hospitality industries in the country still import the product to add to their meals. The majority of big hotels in Nigeria have mushrooms on their daily menu, but these mushrooms came from abroad.

This means local production will have a ready market. There is the opportunity to even export mushrooms once you can produce good quality that can be exported to Europe and America.

In Asia, there are lots of youth and women organisations that are engaged in mushroom farming and they are able to Attend our nationwide seminars nearest to you and know more opportunities in mushroom and other agro businesses.

V i s i t www.jovanafarm.com or w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / jovanafarm for more details. Choose also the nearest venue from the advert box in this page.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—51

Continues from page 47 NUC is doing now is usurping the powers of Senate and Council. In the statute of the University, there are functions meant for the Senate and Council, and NUC with its recent actions is taking over those functions.

Necessary tool or sign of a failed government?

When will ASUU call off the strike?

When government does what is right. No pay, no work. In reality, it seems to be in Nigeria where academics have to go on strike to put pressure on government to do what is right.

I give you a typical example.

Recently in Brazil, people had the guts to go to the streets to protest the policy of the government, and what the Brazilian government did was to assure them of investing more in education so that the citizenry would have sound, quality education. It’s not surprising that Brazil has moved from where it was almost at the same level as Nigeria to where it is now.

It is about the 6th economically sound country of the world.

Other countries have done a lot in terms of human resource development. You cannot achieve development if a country does not have sound, quality education. Typically, the recent

trend is that in globalisation which is what the government is so keen about, you can’t have investors when your human capital is not fully developed. I give you an example. Many companies are now migrating to China because the Chinese have given their people sound, quality and empirical knowledge and we are at par with China in Africa as China is in the world. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, the most populous black nation; if we cannot give our people sound, quality education, forget about development

FG is paying lip service to education— Dr. Oladimeji Lawal, Gombe State University When you look at this litany of strikes in our country, it simply tells you one fact which I have always emphasised about honesty, commitment to nationbuilding and what have you. You see, for instance, you talk about the recently suspended NUPENG/ PENGASSAN strike, I think the whole thing is not just all about the well-being of those working in the Oil and Gas sector but the wellbeing of the country at large. Ordinarily, the government should not be told to look into this. And it is not about the President Jonathan administration alone. In fairness, these are things that have decayed

Polytechnic System of Education in Nigeria had been literally shut down in the last three months.

over the years in our country. You find out that successive governments have not paid serious attention to issues they are ordinari-

ASUU demands are all about the ly supposed to pay attention to. Again, I don’t know if universities, the there is a new conference on what government should do educational system or avoid other than what generally is known world - that efforts should wide as essential responsibilbe put in place to ities which is about working for the well-being of the peoensure that these ple, improving the lot of the things are suspeople; because the well-being of the people cannot be tained; that the created from the sky. It comes through issues that system should be affect their well-being; issues enabled to do well of the various sectors of the economy: Education, Health, Oil and Gas Sectors.

And you find out that there is hardly a single sector of the Nigerian economy that is free of troubles in terms of agitations by Labour Unions and stuff like that.

There is a fundamental problem somewhere. It is not about nipping it in the bud. It is about people who are in positions of authority, people who are in government not knowing what they should be doing. That is the fundamental thing and the government has forgotten the essential thing it was elected to do. What role would members of the public have played in getting government to be responsible?

So, people in positions of authority should clearly understand that if we are not dealing with these issues, we are really doing nothing. It is not about playing politics with them.

ASUU demands ASUU's demands are all about the universities, the educational system - that efforts should be put in place to ensure that these things are sustained; that the system should be enabled to do well. From time to time, you hear that none of our universities is being captured among the 500 best universities in the world and all of that. These issues have to be addressed; improve the facilities in the universities, improve the condition of service in order to avoid this brain-drain syndrome. You see, this is what ASUU has always been concerned about. It was what gave rise to the 2009 agreement. But it is very unfortu-

nate that 4 years after that agreement was signed, you still find out that the larger portions of this agreement are yet to be implemented by the very government that accepted to sign the agreement.

It is very unfortunate and ASUU has come to a point where we are convinced that except we embark on this kind of action, the government is not actually in a position to do anything. The government has developed the attitude of reneging on agreements. You find out that that it has happened in the Health and Oil and Gas sectors.

ASUU should call off the Strike- Senator Chris N g i g e For me as a Senator, I have had the privilege of sitting with other members of the Senate Committee on Education and even in the Senate as a whole, we have taken education very seriously and given them a lot of exemptions. Remember, the other day, we moved the age of Professors from 65 to 70 and then we moved that of academic staff and every other person there to 65. Normal civil servants retire at 60.

Their salaries have also been beefed up. Professors and senior lecturers take salaries that anybody can be proud of, so I do not see the reason for this strike. Two professions are social professions Medicine and Teaching, that is Education. As a matter of fact, when they go on strike, my hearts bleeds because it means they don’t under-

stand the import of those professions. So, I am not happy about it, and this is why a lot of people advocate that they send their children abroad for education. So, ASUU has to do the needful and call off the strike.

On improving the facilities in universities You don’t get that by striking, that is why they go on what is called “warning Strike” which you can do in a day to show that you need something - but not by striking perpetually like they have done now, stifling everything. They should get back.

Implications Whichever way it may be viewed, incessant industrial strikes by authorities and lecturers in the tertiary institutions suggest that there is a fundamental problem which has not been solved.

Analysts believe the Federal Government has not really done enough in the education sector to make Nigerian universities and polytechnics the envy of the world.

They submit that this is one of the reasons many Nigerian parents prefer to send their wards abroad for studies. Indeed, not a few persons are worried that if the issues are not resolved in good time, the quality of the products churned out by the nation’s higher institutions would continue to dwindle.

52—SA TURD AY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013 52—SATURD TURDA

A

s the standoff between the Aca demic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government heightens with no immediate end in sight, Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG); former Publicity Secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Civil Rights activist, shares his thoughts on the lingering problem in this interview with Saturday Vanguard AZU AKANWA

‘ASUU strike will rubbish Jonathan’s re-election bid’ off before the year runs out, it will affect the Ijaw people’s campaign that the country should give our son a second chance in 2015.

This strike can rubbish all the good work that President Jonathan has done so far because the plight of children and their parents will be clear in every home and Nigerians will be grumbling against the President. Over 80 percent of Nigerian parents will see their children sitting at home frustrated and some going into crime.

If the President makes sure ASUU demands are met, it will go down in history because the President, as a former lecturer, is also a member of ASSU. So he should ignore all the manipulations against ASSU to enable us celebrate victory for our children.

What do you think is responsible for the yearly ASUU/Federal Government standoffs?

It’s very simple. Right from the Obasanjo era, we have had wicked individuals in the corridors of power interested in private universities where they make billions of Naira as profit.

So they destroy the government universities to enable their private universities prosper. They are the ones manipulating the people in power to frustrate ASUU demands.

What is the implication of this on the nation?

People in government don’t care because their own children enjoy private institutions. So the rot in our public institutions is not their business.

When you go through the demands of ASUU, you will thank God that we still have patriotic Nigerians who want to leave this world as great contributors to mankind. They want our universities to compete with the best in the world.

The government cannot tell us there is no money to support infrastructure

Comrade Joseph Evah and manpower development to equip our universities. A lawmaker earns more than five professors’ salaries put together in Nigeria. So those lawmakers will not care if professors are crying about university development since all their children are in private universities. Now this strike is coming at a dangerous time. Elections are around the corner and if it is not called

So what’s the way forward on the ASUU issue? Should clerics be involved in finding a solution to the impasse?

Have you ever heard of any top religious leader condemning the Federal Government for frustrating ASUU since the problem started with the Obasanjo government? Why would they do that when they are using religion to set up private universities and making billions of Naira?

The reason Nigeria is not moving forward is because these top religious

Subsidy Scam:

My victory is for all Nigerians — Ubah T

HE Chief Execu tive of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd, and Labour Party chieftain, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has said that his legal victory at the Federal High Court, Abuja, is for “all Nigerians”. The court exonerated him from all fuel subsidy payment scam charges, on Thursday. The Anambra state politician, who is seeking the gubernatorial ticket of the Labour Party, said that the judgment has reinforced his belief in the judiciary being the hope of the common man.He also reassured his supporters about the unambiguous ruling, saying that “the February 18, 2013 judgement, the House of Representatives Report and the Police Report of February 12, 2013 collectively are tantamount

to a complete and final exoneration of any criminal offence with regard to application of subsidy payment under the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) Scheme” against him.

He said: “it is expected that those who delude themselves that smearing my name by bandying the spurious allegation will stop me from pursuing my ambition will have a rethink”.

This “complete exoneration from any reasonable suspicion of commission of any criminal offence under any subsidy scheme” will make “the threat of detention, arrest or prosecution by the EFCC or any agency of government” against me an “infraction” of my fundamental

human rights.

He said: “It is remarkable that the court has successfully resisted attempts from sundry quarters, through several devices, to sway it to debase justice and return a pre-determined ruling.

In the press statement, Ubah said, “This judgment again confirms the courage of the Nigerian judiciary in upholding the rule of law and protecting our democracy.

It is not just about Patrick Ubah’s political ambition and the unseen hands attempting to manipulate the system to impede that ambition.

No! It is me today but it could be anyone else tomorrow. This victory is for all Nigerians who are tired of being blackmailed of unfounded allegations of crime and

humiliated through malicious instigation of the prosecutorial process. It is a wakeup call to law enforcement agencies that there are minimum ethical and constitutional standards set by our Constitution which must

leaders invite the wicked political class into their churches and mosques to endorse their wickedness. You cannot see such in South Africa or Ghana. If this ASUU strike were to be happening in South Africa, Desmond Tutu would have mobilised the masses against the Federal Government to accept ASUU demands. But here, the President of CAN, Pastor Orisejafor; Pastor Adeboye and Sultan of Sokoto who is head of Moslems will appear on television to tell the people that God’s miracle is on the way for Nigerians. That is how they deceive the country every year since they are living comfortable lives.

If we were in a sane country like South Africa or Ghana, religious leaders like Orisejafor, Pastor Adeboye, Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Sultan of Sokoto would step into the ASUU matter and take over the negotiation with the Federal Government because we are talking about education which is the bedrock of every nation and needs to be established for the sake of future generations. But they don’t see it as important because they are living in luxury, they don’t want to offend the Federal Government. They also see the destruction of the public education system as the growth of their own church business.

If they read their bibles and Qurans based on God’s inspiration, they will realise that their silence on the ASUU strike is a crime against God and humanity. I pray God to give them the spirit he gave to Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa to ensure Nigeria makes progress.

be met before there can be a legitimate exercise of their lawful immense investigative and prosecutorial discretion – so that innocent Nigerians are not tarred unjustly.”

According to Dr Ubah, “in my case, it was conveniently forgotten by certain government agencies that it is given in law that no one is tried more than once on an issue or allegation,

otherwise legal trials would become fishing expeditions on an unending sea of unfounded allegations just to weigh the accuser down and discredit his image.

“This is what makes this legal victory not only mine, but a victory for all Nigerians because this will serve as a precedent for any Nigerian that would be unduly hounded in future.”

Youth gr oup urges NA OC tto o in e indigenous congroup NAOC invvolv olve in the ongoing project tary and PRO respectivetractors

BY SIMON ADEWALE

T

HE Tuomo Indige nous Contractors Association (TICA) has tasked the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to involve local contractors

in Tuomo, Delta State, in line with the local content law, adding that it would sustain peace in the area.

In a statement by Mr. Godwin Pereyei, Smart Clement and Ebitimi Akass, Chairman, Secre-

C.C.C Harvest 2013

T

HE Annual 30th & 33rd Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Harvest of Divine Covenant 2013 of Celestial Church of Christ, Iyanu Oluwa Parish, holds tomorrow, July 28th at the Church premises, 19 Powerline Street, Ikotun, under the

distinguished chairmanship of M/S/E Oyebode , who is also the chairman of the occasion and under the Shepherd in-charge, Sup/Evan.

Dr. S.O. Olajide.

Bazaar sales will follow immediately after service.

ly of the group, it claimed NAOC has not involved local contractors like Denpereyei Nigeria Enterprises, Israelite Global Nigeria, Penastone Nigeria Ltd, Dan Amatec Nigeria Enterprises, Akass and Sons Nigeria Enterprises amongst others recommended by the Tuomo community since 2010.

The group tasked the military Joint Task Force (JTF) to also intervene in prevailing on NAOC to involve local contractors in respect of the Nigerian local content law.

SA TURD AY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013—53 SATURD TURDA

C M Y K

54—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 27, 2013

IPC Athletics World Championships: Nigerian athletes bemoan no show in France

BY BEN EFE

F

IVE Nigerian paralympians who were scheduled to participate at this year’s International Paralympics committee athletics championships in Lyon, France but failed to attend, have been licking their wounds.

According to one of the athletes, a discus thrower, their inability to be in France for the championships was a great disservice to their career as para athletes.

“It is a pity how we disabled athletes are being treated in Nigeria.

After all the training and

suffering, we were told that we cannot go anywhere. This is killing our morale,” said the athlete at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Secretary of the Nigeria Paralympics committee, Frank Thorpe said that Nigeria was not represented at the IPC world Championships because there wasn’t any money to ferry the athletes to Lyon.

“We applied for funds to attend but the NSC told us there wasn’t any to give to us and all our efforts to secure private sponsorship failed to yield

any result. Five athletes and two officials were penciled down to go to Lyon. This is out of the 12 slots given to us by the IPC. Now that we realise that government alone cannot carry us, we are doubling our efforts to raise funds.

“This is because we cannot afford to miss all these international events.

We need to attend and expose our athletes because next year we have the Commonwealth Games and then 2016 the Paralympics in Rio, Brazi,” said Dr. Thourpe.

The event which began on July 19 will end on Sunday.

World Championships countdown:

Egwero, others ready to ‘squeeze water out of stone’ N

IGERIAN athletes have been left on their own devices as preparations hots up for the World Championships happening August 10-18 in Moscow, Russia.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN had planned a month-long camping for the team selected at the Cross River/All Nigeria Championships decided in June, but having failed to secure funds to make that happen, the athletes were left to train on their own.

“We are still waiting for the AFN to tell us the next line of action. It is

regrettable that we are not having any special preparations for the World Championships, just like other major athletics countries.

“However, we will make do with the little we have.

All the athletes are preparing on their own.

On my part, I am ready to go there and give it my best,” said sprinter OghoOghene Egwero.

Egwero ran a personal best of 10.16secs at the CAA permit meet in Warri.

He is looking to better his time with an appearance in the final of the 100m event at Moscow 2013. He made his first World

Championships appearance in Berlin 2009.

AFN president Chief Solomon Ogba, who is desirous of ending Nigeria’s unfruitful medal chase at international events, expressed optimism that his charges will do well in Russia.

“It is a bit frustrating when you have a plan and the funds to implement it are not just there. We can only hope that we get the kind support other federations get from their respective countries.

However, we are hoping to do well in Russia,” he assured.

Igali excited with wrestlers standard of performance

BY SOLOMON NWOKE, Warri

P

RESIDENT of the Nige ria Wrestling Federation, Dr Daniel Igali has expressed delight at the standard of wrestlers performance at the maiden Chief E K Clark wrestling championship here in Warri, Delta state.

The Sydney 2000 Olympics gold medalist who was recently saddled with the leadership of the Wrestling Federation of Nigeria said that his goal is to see Nigeria win medals at the 2016 Olympics,vowing that wrestling would not suffer under his leadership.

Speaking at the backdrop of the fallen champions at the championship, Dr Igali said he would have been worried if at this competition, the known champions are not beaten.

He said, “ Our goal is to go to the Olympics in 2016

•Dr. Igali in Brazil and win medals and we are poised to do that and as one can see from the level of the competition we have had here, we are on the road to that.

I would have been very bothered if most of our champions are not beaten. That would have meant that there is no progress in the federation. I hope we can have a little bit more of that because when that happens, and the fight for a place gets tougher, then we know that we are going to do better at continental and world lev-

Oladipo laments 3SC’s poor showing in Glo League

BY OSARETIN EMUZE

D

R Rafiu Oladipo former board member of the Shooting Star Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan has lamented the poor showing of the club in this year’s Globacom Premier League.

Dr. Oladipo who is the President-General of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club said all hands must be on deck to C M Y K

prevent the former African Winners Cup Champions from going on relegation.

“The way Shooting Stars FC are going, relegation is staring them in the face.

We are not going to let it happen. We are going to mobilize to save the team, the only legacy left in the South West after the extinction of Leventis United, Abiola Babes and Stationary Stores, etc,” he vowed.

els and I am really excited by that development”.

Continuing, he said, “ I have a very healthy relationship with the National Sports Commisin ( NSC) and also a very roboust relationship with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and as you are aware, I double as the chairman of the Technical Committee of the NOC. So you will know that wrestling will not be neglected and of course, NOC knows that wrestling is the hob of Nigerian sports in international championships.

I will do whatever I can do to ensure that we improve on our last record at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games”.

He eulogised Delta state government for putting in place a wrestling championship in honour of one of Nigeria’s foremost elder statesmen, Chief E K Clark. ”I really want to thank the governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for his kind gesture. I also want to thank the chairman of the Sports Commission in Delta state, Amaju Pinnick who has brought vibrancy to the organization here. I think with due respect, to the standard I have seen here, it’s about one of the best tournaments we have ever had and my prayer is that we should continue to have this every year.

Chief EK Clark is a man we all adore for what he stands for in Nigeria and we really look up to him and be glad that he is alive to see that we appreciate him. I wish we could do more for people like him”,he said.

•DASHING LIMITS... Ogho-Oghene Egwero contesting with Usain Bolt and Jason Desaolu at the Berlin 2009 Worlds.

Asafa Powell dreams quick return from dope palaver

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AMAICAN sprinter, Asafa Powell has said he wants to return to the track once it becomes possible.

The 30-year-old Jamaican sprinter, a former 100m world record holder, was found to have banned stimulant oxilofrine when tested at the

Jamaican Championships in June.

Again, Powell repeated his first line of defence when the news emerged that he had never “knowingly or wilfully taken any supplements that break any rules”.

He said: “This has been the most difficult week of

IAAF plans sophisticated anti-doping programme

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COMPREHENSIVE blood testing programme will be organised at the IAAF World Championships, Moscow, Russia, as part of a sophisticated antidoping programme for the 14th edition of the championships which takes place from August 10 – 18, 2013.

Two years ago, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) collected blood samples from all athletes taking part in the 2011 IAAF World Champ-

ionships in Daegu, Korea.

That anti-doping programme which was conducted in close co-operation with the Lausanne WADAaccredited Anti-Doping Laboratory and with the support of the World AntiDoping Agency and local partners was unprecedented in world sport history.

It was the first time that nearly 2000 elite athletes competing in a major sports event were blood tested under the same optimal conditions, within the same time period.

my athletic career.

“The supplements I took formed part of a very strict and rigid training regimen,” he added in a statement.”

News of his positive test came out at the same time as American sprinter Tyson Gay failing his drug test.

Jamaican track star Sherone Simpson has also tested positive for banned substances – news that has further stunned the world of athletics.

Powell, like Gay, is awaiting the results of his B sample.

The Jamaican added: “Should this sample return adverse results, my team and I hope that the hearings will happen as fast as possible so as to allow me to return to my team, to once again represent my country, and to make my family, friends, and fans proud.”

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 27, 2013—55

We’ll mobilize for Eagles —Alabi

BY OSARETIN EMUZE

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HAIRMAN of West Africa Supporters Club Sunday Alabi has said supporters across

the sub-region will mobilize for the Super Eagles this weekend against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan in the second leg

Agbim, Mba, Oboabona ready for Elephants overhaul C

HAN Super Eagles players, Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona have declared that they will play like they are 2-0 down when they face Cote d’ Ivoire in the second leg of the CAF African Nations Championship today in Abidjan.

First choice keeper, Agbim stated that his team mates trained hard for the game and that they recognised the tasks ahead of them.

“This game is like a battle, there must be a victor and the vanquished.

The Ivorians are going to come all out to fight, but I can assure you that we are battle-ready to win.

We don’t intend to sit back and defend our 4-1 lead, but we will attack all the way, because attack is the best form of defence,” he said.

Mba who had a hand in all four goals scored in the first leg in Kaduna, said they were currently in high spirit in the camp.

“We are looking forward to the game.With the kind of spirit in our camp, I believe we will come out victorious,” he said.

Oboabona, the team’s defender, thanked God for the 4-1 victory they secured in the first leg, stressing that all that they would need would be to build on that victory.

“It is just a matter of focus and determination.

SAFETY REHEARSALS ... Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu puts Daniel Akpeyi and Chigozie Agbim through the paces.

We have been warned not to be distracted when we get there. We know it’s going to be a very

HELSEA FC have made it clear to clubs interested in signing John Obi Mikel that they have to meet the estimated 15 million pounds (about N3.7b) value placed on the Super Eagles attacking midfielder.

Galatasary of Turkey have been in talks with the player, but it is more unlikely that there will be any deal soon as Chelsea insisted on making a permanent deal for the player.

Mikel has a contract with C M Y K

We have discussed and taken care of all that during our training sessions. I hope by the

special grace of God that we are not going to be distracted by their antics,” he added.

Confusion breaks out at Oliha’s funeral Continued from backpage of the confusion that was to come.

After the convoy of vehicles navigated through the traffic-littered roads of Benin and got to the house built by the former Super Eagles midfielder, the drama of what to come started unfolding as the mourners, comprising family members, ex-teammates,

Chelsea slam N3.7b prize tag on Mikel

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difficult game for us because the Ivorians will deploy all tactics to get us to react negatively.

qualifier of the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) for African based players.

Alabi who spoke in Lagos during the week, said they are ready for the match, adding “I have gone round the West Coast sensitizing the supporters to come all out to support the Supers Eagles beat the Ivorians to the African Nations Championships ticket.

I have been to Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana to intimate them on the need to come out en masse to supports the Eagles.”

He disclosed that part of the reason he came to Lagos, was to get the blessings of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club President-General, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo on the Abidjan match.

Oladipo corroborated Alabi’s claim saying, “we are going to storm Abidjan with a bang. The Eagles will win again in Abidjan,” as he appealed to Nigerians to support the Eagles with prayers so that they could come out of the match unscratched.

The home-based Super Eagles a fortnight ago, beat the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 to move nearer South Africa for the CHAN tourney.

Chelsea till June 2016/17 after he recently signed a new, improved deal at the London club.

It was gathered that representatives of the player were in Dubai to meet with Galatasaray officials and it was there that talks collapsed.

Big-spending Russian club Anzhi have made an offer for Mikel, who has in turn asked for an improvement, while French big spenders Monaco are yet to put an offer on the table for the player.

friends and relatives disembarked to discover that the grave for the deceased was close to the toilet outside the premises.

Shocked and bewildered with what they saw, some friends and relatives objected to the burial place. They said that Benin tradition was against burying a man who had properties outside his compound.

They smelt foul-play and accused the immediate brothers and sisters of attempting to play a smart one on the wives and children left behind

by Oliha, who they said deserved to be buried in one of the rooms built by him as a mark of respect or better still in the front corridor.

They said that they were not going to allow Oliha’s brothers have their way on the grave, demanding that the already dug grave be closed while a new one be dug in the front corridor. As the diggers were closing the grave, a mild fracas broke out as

the eldest sons of Oliha family, Ayo, came out to direct that the diggers discontinue the closing up of the grave.

But the protesting friends and relatives threatened to deal with him should he carry out the order, insisting that the Benin tradition on burial of men with properties be respected.

Ayo Oliha, in a final attempt to have his way, told the protesters that the decision to bury Thompson at the back side of his house was well thought-out. He explained that the family plans to build a tombstone later so that people can visit him to pay their respects.

But one of the protesters fired back that the tombstone would even look better and command more attention of people in the front corridor.

He alleged that the earlier plan to bury Oliha close to the toilet outside the premises was for family members to have opportunity to dispose off

the property of the deceased.

“If we allow you to bury him outside, you people will sell this house and that would not be good for the wives and kids that he left behind.

But as he is going to be buried here, this house is secured from any sale because nobody buys a house where the owner was buried in Benin,” said Modecia Isibor, Thompson Oliha’s best friend .

As these scenes were unfolding, the two women who had children for the former Eagles midfielder were sobbing.

They knew that the fight was for them.

Isibor said that Oliha had four houses in Nigeria, wondering why a man with such properties would be buried in such a manner.

“In Benin City, he had two houses, he had one in Lagos and he was already building another one in Ilorin, before he died on June 30”, he said. In the heat of the raging storm, the Oliha

family beat a retreat and a new grave was dug in the front corridor where Oliha was buried at 6.30 p.m. amidst tears and wailing yesterday.

Another friend of the deceased, alleged that the Oliha’s family were already demaning for the release of the landed documents of the former Bendel Insurance player.

“I do not know why they want the documents.

I guess they want to sell his properties but after this burial, I would run away and they would not see me again. We have to secure the future of this young children and wives he left behind”, he said.

It was learnt that the late Oliha did not legalise his union with his two wives, a development that has made them object of target by the Oliha clan.

One friend said that Oliha’s biggest mistake was his failure to legalise his union with his two women, Ajara and Iris, both of whom were seen with their kids yesterday.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 27, 2013

CHAN battle: Be wary of Elephants —Ekpo warns Eagles

BY JACOB AJOM

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ORMER Super Ea gles midfielder, Friday Ekpo has warned the

Super Eagles not to be carried away by the 4-1 scoreline recorded over the Elephants of Ivory

Ivorians bank on away goal, crowd support to stop Eagles •Gates thrown open •Keshi says players ready to make history

BY PAUL BASSEY

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HE captain of the lo cal Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, Goua Mahan Mark has called on Ivorians to come out in large numbers today to support them against Nigeria.

He made the call at the team’s last media parley before the final crunch that will determine which team will qualify for next year’s final competition to be held in South Africa.

Asked whether he believed his team has a chance of qualifying, Mark said the one goal scored at away was vital and that if they get the type of support the Eagles got in Kaduna, then they would have themselves to blame if they do not score three goals and qualify. ”The key is for us to put pressure on them and if we can score early, may be two before half time, then we will certainly qualify,” he said.

To guarantee this the match which will be held in the 2,800 capacity Robert Champroux Stadium in Marcory has been declared free of any gate takings and there are fears already that the stadium will be over packed, more so when the match will not be televised.

Out of this number, only 300 will be reserved for Nigerians and the Ivorians believe that in an atmosphere of a hundred percent support for ninety minutes they will triumph.

However, there also exist some pockets of Ivorians who believe that the match has been won and lost.Yao Norbert, a fan of Daniel Amokachi says these Elephants are “ fake” that they do not know them.

“We only heard about them after they had gone to Nigeria and lost. I don’t think they can score three goals without the Nigerians

MBA ... Can he kick out Elephants again today? scoring any ” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

On the part of Nigerians, Coach Stephen Keshi said Friday at the team’s Ibiss Hotel Plateau residence that he has told his players to forget the first leg. ”For us the first leg does not exist. We have forgotten the scores. Tomorrow (today) we are starting afresh and that means we have to win to qualify,” he said.

Will he defend? Does he see the Ivorians coming back? He said football is funny but that the boys he has in camp are determined and focused. That they are aware Nigeria has not qualified for this competition before, so they are ready to make history for themselves and for their country.

For those who are colour conscious, the Nigerians will step out in green jerseys with the Ivorians wearing their traditional orange.

Kick off 4.30pm Nigerian time.

CHAN QUALIFIERS

Confusion breaks out at Oliha’s funeral •Friends protest burial site •Brothers dug grave close to toilet •Edo donate N2m, Kwara N1m to children

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN, Benin City

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HE wish of late Th ompson Oliha to rest in peace seems a dream too far going by dramatic events that unfolded yesterday dur-

ing his burial ceremony here in the ancient city of Benin.

After the lying-in-state held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which featured a novelty match between selected former Eagles teammates and the Kwara Foot-

Coast from the first leg of the African Nations Championship qualifier in Kaduna.

Speaking in Lagos during the week, Ekpo warned, “if the Eagles think the first leg result is comfortable, then they will be making a grave mistake. They must work hard to restrain the Ivorians because in football, it is not over yet, until it is over.”

He warned the Eagles against complacency, saying, “if we could score 4-1 here against them, what stops them from scoring three in the second leg?” He advised the players to be conscious of this as they take on their hosts in Abidjan this weekend.

Ekpo spared a moment to praise the exploits of the home based Eagles, especially, those who featured for Nigeria in the FIFA Confederations Cup, pointing out that the Stephen Keshi team deserved some praise.

“When I hear people talk about home-based players being inexperienced, it beats me hollow. Brazil won the Confederations Cup with the bulk of their team being home-based. Why can’t we encourage our boys to become stars?”

ball Academy, his place of last appointment, not a few persons who proceeded to his Upper Sakponba residence for the interment, had a premonition

Continues on pg 55

Niger vs Burkina Faso CIV Nigeria

vs

Rwanda Ethiopia

vs

Uganda vs Tanzania Botswana vs Zambia

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Super Eagles Striker, Nnamdi – (8) 5 Senate President, David – (4) 7 Former Kogi State Governor, Abubakar – (4) 8 Traditional Ruler of Oyo – (6) 11 Adult Female Fowl – (3) 12 Former Gombe State Governor, Mohammed – (4) 13 L.G.A in Kano State – (4) 15 Crustacean – (4) 16 Kenya National President, Uhuru – (8) 19 Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim – (8) 22 Anambra State Capital – (4) 24 Peru’s Capital City – (4) 25 Former Super Eagles Defender, Taribo – (4) 27 Greek Alphabet – (4) 29 Portuguese Premiership Clubside (6) 31 Bayern Munich Midfielder, Marco – (4)

32 Japanese Wrestler – (4) 33 Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu – (8) Down 1 Flying Eagles Coach, John – (4) 2 Country in Africa – (6) 3 Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed – (8) 4 Super Eagles Midfielder, Sunday – (3) 6 DR Congo’s Capital City – (8) 9 World Trade Organisation President, Mr. Pascal – (4) 10 Apartment – (4) 14 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (4) 17 Bhutanese Currency – (8) 18 First Man On Earth – (4) 20 Greek God – (4) 21 Former Super Eagles Striker, David – (4) 23 Poland Capital City – (6) 26 Cardinal Direction – (4) 28 Precious Stone – (4) 30 Former Minister of Sports, Adamu Isa – (3)

on page SolutionSOLUTION to puzzple on page 15 55

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