Nigeria sends over 1,000 officers to Russia

2 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—3

4 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 — 5

Terrorism: 1,200 Nigerian security personnel leave for Russia

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BOUT 1,200 Nigerian security personnel including members of the Armed Forces, the police and members of the Department of State Services, DSS, have so far left Abuja for antiinsurgent training in Russia.

Their departure for training as Special Forces, security sources said, followed alleged snub or nonchalant attitude of both the United Kingdom and United States towards Nigeria in her fight against Boko Harm terrorists.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that 400 security personnel left the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in a chattered aircraft at about 5pm weekend, accompanied by top security officers as well as Russian instructors who had been in the country to part of the initial selection process for the officers and men that would take part in the training.

It was further revealed that two other batches of 400 troops each had earlier departed for the training, bringing the total number of officers so far to about 1,200.

Saturday Vanguard had exclusively reported that following the dithering of the some western nations especially, notably Britain and the United States of America over the training of Nigerian security personnel to confront the Boko Haram insurgents, the Federal Government had decided to turn to Russia to meet some of its immediate security needs pending the resolution of the diplomatic difference between Nigeria and the two Western countries.

According to sources the latest batch of Nigerian security personnel are joining three batches of their colleagues who had left for training in Russia earlier this year.

The last group would be in Russia for four months before returning to the countryearly next year to form a nucleus of the Special Forces Brigade to be set up by the country.

A similar scenerio played out when Nigeria faced sanctions following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections won by the late Moshood Abiola by the then Military government led by late General Sani Abacha as the Federal Government turned to China and India

for its miltary needs.

The emerging scenario in the fight against terror and the steps Nigeria’s government has taken would have resulted in global sensation during the cold war as the West would have fought to keep her allies to the then Soviet Union as now represented by Russia which has, although, embraced free market economy.

Nigeria, for years, enjoyed close ties with the West and was seen as a US ally. But the seeming nonchalant attitude towards it by its traditional allies has reportedly compelled the country to turn to Russia and China for the training of its military as well as acquisition of military hardware to fight Boko Haram.

However, highly placed military and intelligence sources told Saturday Vanguard in Abuja that the decision to turn to the other two world military powers was an interim measure to roll back the advances made by the Boko Haram insurgents who have gained some grounds in seizing and controlling some towns and villages in the north eastern states of Borno and Adamawa before the latest defeat suffered by the insurgents in the last two weeks due to the increased performance of Nigerian troops, leading to the killing of the insurgents leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Following the increasing sophistication of the tactics employed by the Boko Haram terrorists, the Nigerian government had reportedly approached both the US and British governments to procure arms for its armed forces in order to effectively counter the insurgents but the two governments continued to dither, a situation that might have been responsible for some of the gains recorded by terrorists in recent times.

A senior security official told Saturday Vanguard: “the United States and Britain appear unwilling to provide arms to our armed forces. It is surprising because these are two friendly countries to Nigeria which is under threat from terrorists. We have no option but to look somewhere else for our needs pending when the issues are resolved at the diplomatic level by our

government.”

However, Russia which has always been willing to supply weapons and some other logistics to Nigeria when other western countries are not forthcoming readily accepted the Nigerian proposal as the Nigeria Air Force, NAF, has several Russian fighter jets in its fleet.

Already, Nigeria has entered into contract with

President Goodluck Jonathan bidding farewell to the Women Affairs Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina (l); Wife of the Sentate President, Mrs. Helen Mark; Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke and others during departure formalities for the President after attending the 69th Session of the United Nations in New York, USA. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

Tribunal: Ekiti boils, ex-NURTW boss killed •As govt imposes curfew

By Emeka Mamah, Innocent Anaba, Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Gbenga Ariyibi

E

KITI State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the state, in a bid to avert crises following the gruesome murder of the former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Omolafe Aderiye, who was an ardent supporter of the state governorelect, Mr Ayo Fayose.

Angry reactions trailed the brutal murder of Aderiye, as a large crowd of protesters razed down Governor Fayemi’s private office, the state APC Secretariat, and destroyed properties including vehicles worth millions of Naira.

Aderiye was killed by some unidentified gunmen in his office along Ijigbo Street, Ado Ekiti on Thursday. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, blamed Aderiye’s killing on the out-going APC government in the state, saying it was to precipitate mayhem in the Ekiti.

Armed soldiers and policemen have been however stationed at strategic points in the state even as anti-riot policemen led by the Commissioner patrolled the major streets in the state.

However, this was coming against the backdrop of angry reactions which trailed the attack on Justice John Adeyeye of Ekiti State Judiciary same Thursday.

The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Human

Rights Agenda Network, HRAN and Access to Justice, AJ, described the attack on the Judiciary as an affront to the rule of law in the couSntry and called for trial of the culprits.

The NBA in a statement signed by its National President, Mr Augustine Alegeh, SAN, accused the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies of alleged complicity in the two separate attacks that led to the indefinite closure of the High Court complex in AdoEkiti where the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was sitting, just as the HRAN and AJ lamented the action which they described as a ‘’desecration of the temple of justice.’’

The APC called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Ekiti State Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose for allegedly leading a band of thugs to beat up a judge and then instigating his supporters to attack and burn down the opposition secretariat in the state.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said since Mr. Fayose does not yet enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution, he should be arrested over the dastardly and barbaric attack, which represents an attack on justice and the rule of law.

Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State also condemned the two separate attacks of the state High Court on Monday and Thursday by some political thugs in which some judges

including Justice Adeyeye were physically assaulted, pointing out that the temple of justice should not be desecrated “Also, I have taken the decision to institute a dusk to dawn curfew in the state immediately.

Accordingly, there would be no movement between the hours of 7 pm. and 7 a.m. everyday till further notice.’’

Condemning the spate of attacks on judicial officers by the political thugs, Fayemi said he had instructed the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda to liaise with the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodele Daramola to look for a way of hearing all the pending political and the governorship election petition cases by the tribunal outside the state “Most assuredly, the course of justice can only be delayed, but can never be truncated. The independence of the Judiciary is an inviolable tenet of any democracy.

Accordingly, I have this morning directed the Attorney General of the state to issue a legal advisory to the Chief Judge of the state and all the parties to the existing cases in the state High Court and the Ekiti State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal, on the desirability of seeking an alternative venue for the hearing of these cases outside Ekiti State.”

In a statement it issued in Abuja yesterday, the NBA maintained that reports it received from its members at Ado Ekiti, indicated that policemen and other security agents at High Court Complex on the days the ugly

incidents took place, looked the other way while the hoodlums had a field day in perpetuating wanton criminal acts of violence and damage to property.

On its part, the Access to Justice also condemned ‘’the outrageous affront on Justice John Adeyeye of Ekiti State Judiciary’’ and called for the prosecution of the culprits In its statement signed

by Chinelo Chinweze, AJ regretted that Justice Aderiye was ‘’physically assaulted’’ and his clothes torn, leading to his hospitalisaion. ‘’This is coming barely three days after another attack on another court presided over by Justice Isaac Ogunyemi after he delivered a ruling assuming jurisdiction to try a case involving the Governor elect, Ayo Fayose, which angered his supporters... ‘’This attack on Judges and the administration of justice must be repressed and repelled with all the power and authority of the State... We also call on the leadership of the Nigerian Police to secure the lives and integrity of judicial officers, especially when political cases are being adjudicated upon.

The APC further lamented that, each time a judge had been attacked anywhere in the world, the attackers were jailed to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to take the laws into their hands.

‘Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor -elect, Mr Ayo Fayose yesterday paid a condolence visit to the family house of the slain former NURTW boss, Chief Aderiye.

•Continues on page 50

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

BRIEFS

Boko Haram: Davis links funding to agent in Cairo

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

USTRALIAN negotiator, Stephen Davis yesterday gave ome details of how top Nigerians have been channeling huge sums of money to bankroll the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The influential Nigerians, whose names were however not revealed, were said to have created a strong network which assisted them to wire a large sum of money via the Central Bank of Nigeria to an agent in Egypt. The agent, he said, purchases the arms and military uniforms for the insurgents.

Apart from the Cairo agent buying arms directly for the sect, vehicles and some materials are sometimes moved to Benin Republic where some are sold to raise cash while some are

A

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, discharged and acquitted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who was arraigned before the court on an amended 54 count charge of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Meanwhile, the EFCC, has said it will appeal against the ruling of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which set free the Speaker and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi.

Both had been standing trial on a 54-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N503 million.

Justice Buba, yesterday ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the accused persons, according to him, the trial was “anachronistic,” adding that the prosecution ‘ misconstrued and misinterpreted the Money Laundering Act”.

Lead defense counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), had prayed the court to discountenance the charges preferred against Ikuforiji, saying that, the Money Laundering Act 2004, with which the accused person was charged, have been repealed and replaced with the Money Laundering Act 2011, and so should not have been

By Caleb Ayansina

F

EDERAL Government, weekend, declared Wednesday, October 1,2014 as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 54th Independence Anniversary.

Also declared public holidays are; Monday 6 and Tuesday 7, October 2014, to mark the Id-el-Kabir celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Com. Abba Moro, who announced the dates in a statement in Abuja, urged “Nigerians both home and abroad to build a more united and virile nation that would be the pride of all Nigerians wherever they live.”

While congratulating Muslim faithful, the minister enjoined them to support Jonathan administration in its “sustained efforts to building a peaceful, united and virile nation.”

Moro called on all Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the country.

Nyanya bombing: DSS,Police fight in court over Ogwuche’s trial

•General Mohamadu Buhari (Rtd), a chieftain of All Progresives Congress (APC); Kehinde and Adebukola Adekunle (children of late General Benjamin Adekunle) during a condolence visit of Gen Buhari to the Adekunle’s family in Lagos yesterday Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

moved to them for their operations in Nigeria.

These details were given by Dr. Stephen Davis in an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard.

Davis said: “Funds are

provided to purchase weapons. This is sometimes transferred through the Central Bank of Nigeria to a person in Cairo who provides the weapons and

Court acquits Ikuforiji, aide of money laundering charges •EFCC to appeal judgement

By Innocent Anaba

FG declares Oct. 1, 6, 7 public holidays

used in charging him.

Atoyebi’s counsel, Tunde Akinbisi, aligned his submissions with the arguments of Olanipekun.

Trial judge in the matter, held that the prosecution failed to prove its case and upheld a no case submission made by Ikuforiji.

The Lagos House of Assembly Speaker,who was arraigned alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution had closed its case on June 20, after calling two witnesses, Mr Adebayo Adeniji, an investigating police officer, and Mr Adewale Olatunji a former clerk of the Assembly.

Both witnesses had given various degrees of testimonies as to investigations conducted on the accused and activities of the Assembly

respectively.

After the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence counsel made an application for a no case submission, arguing that the whole charge preferred against the accused amounted to mere witch-hunting Ruling on the no case submission, Justice Buba held that it was difficult not to agree with them that the prosecution misconstrued the provisions of the money laundering Act, by charging the accused under a repealed law.

The court noted that it was the duty of the prosecution in a criminal case, to establish all elements of the offence against an accused, adding that the prosecution failed to discharge this duty in the instant case.

also provides military uniforms.

“At other times vehicles are purchased in Benin for example and driven into Nigeria where they are sold for cash. They do not mind taking a loss on the sale price as by this method they can obtain cash in Nigeria without a direct link to the sponsor,” the negotiator explained.

Asked to explain whether the Egyptian Boko Haram agent is a foreigner or a Nigerian, Davis said he is a Nigerian of Kanuri extraction with strong connections with Boko Haram and a network of jihadists.

The Australian pointed out that the man in question was not strange to the Nigerian security agencies as his details were already with the Director of State Security Service.

Davis also revealed that the sect’s favourite brand of vehicles is the Volkswagen Golf, which were easily sold off in Nigeria and others used for suicide missions in Nigeria.

On the allegation by a member of European Parliament that the opposition in Nigeria funneled foreign aid to insurgents, Davis said that the sect did not mention any particular party as its sponsor to him.

NYSC boss clarifies on-line registration

T

HE Director General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Bamidele has clarified the charge of N4,000 imposed on fresh graduates expected to join the scheme, saying it is not true that corps members are being asked to pay to serve their country.

He explained that, rather the NYSC and the government appreciated the enormous sacrifice that corps members have made, and continue to make for the unity and development of this nation.

According to him, the new charge was conceived in that spirit, adding, “based on feedbacks and requests from past corps members, the initiative was designed to lessen the costs and risks associated with corps members travelling to their schools to pick up callup letters.”

He said that paying N4,000 to process call-up letters on-line was a choice for those who prefer that option. It is not a condition for national service. So, no one is being asked to pay

to serve, as any form of discrimination or sanction.

Brig-Gen. Bamidele further stated that the money was not just for printing call-up letters.

“It is for the entire package of on-line registration which requires the deployment of IT hardware and software and personnel to orientation camps all over the country but which also gives those who subscribe to it the advantage of processing their registration on-line, saving time during registration at the orientation camps.”

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

T

HE planned arraignment of the alleged mastermind of the April 14, bomb blast that killed over 75 persons at a motor park in Nyanya Abuja, Aminu Ogwuche, was stalled yesterday owing to bickering between the Department of State Service, DSS, and the Nigerian Police Force, over which of them should be allowed to conduct the trial. Sequel to a heated argument that ensued between lawyers from the two security agencies yesterday, the Judge in charge of the case, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, said he was left with no option than to adjourn the matter till November 10, to enable Federal Government to put its house in order.

It will be recalled that Federal Government had in its bid to expedite the process of extraditing the accused person from Sudan where he escaped to shortly after the terrorist attack, entered a three-count criminal charge before the High Court.

The charge which was endorsed by the Inspector General of Police, was still pending before the High Court when the accused person was successfully returned to the country with the help of the Interpol in Sudan.

Synagogue church: Lagos constitutes Coroner Court

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

L

AGOS State Government yesterday constituted a Coroner Inquest to unravel the cause of the incident that led to the collapsed building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations at Ikotun Egbe, Lagos and the several deaths that followed.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye who constituted the Coroner court in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007, noted it will investigate the cause and circumstances of deaths and bring his findings and recommendations to the appropriate authorities. The Coroner court is expected to commence sitting from next week at the premise of the Ikeja High Court.

The government of the South Africa which lost several of her citizens as well as Lagosians, have been mounting pressures on the government to constitute an inquiry into the cause of the incident, to establish a claim by the founder of the church, Prophet T. B. Joshua that the structure was a target of terrorism.

One dies, two injured in Lagos auto crash

By Bose Adelaja

A

truck driver was feared dead while two others suspected to be the driver’s copy boys were injured, yesterday, during a lone accident which occurred at Obanikoro bus-stop, Ikorodu road, Lagos.

According to eye witnesses account, the incident occurred around 2.35pm, when the container-laden truck with number plate AKD 79 XJ, which was heading for Ikorodu from Apapa lost control and hit the BRT keb.

The scene was said to have attracted sympathisers who tried to lift the container only to see that the head has been smashed and the copy boys who sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital.

Anthony Zonal Commander for Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, Ayuba Akinpelu who confirmed the incident to Saturday Vanguard, attributed the incident to over speeding on the part of the driver.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 — 7

BRIEFS

N50bn debt: Court orders AMCON to take-over MMA 2, Old Fed Secretariat, others •Bi-courtney reacts

By Innocent Anaba and Peter Egwuatu FEDERAL High Court A sitting in Lagos, has appointed Asset

Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, receiver manager of the assets of BiCourtney Limited, owned by Mr Wale Babalakin, SAN, over an alleged N50billion debt.

AMCON through its counsel, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, had applied to the court for orders of possession and receivership over these assets as a result of the failure of the companies to pay a cumulative debt of about N50 bn owed to AMCON. Other companies also to be managed by AMCON, according to the court include Chartered Investment Limited, Resort International Limited, Roygate Properties Limited.

Agbakoba in a statement, yesterday, said “This is to notify the public that I have, pursuant to an Order of the Federal High Court made on September 22, 2014, in the suit between parties, been appointed Receiver over the assets of Bi-Courtney Limited, Chartered Investment Limited, Resort International Limited, Roygate Properties Limited and Dr. Wale Babalakin, to realize their assets, enforce the individual liability of the shareholders and directors and to manage the affairs of the above mentioned companies for the purpose of recovering debts owed to the AMCON. “The public is hereby notified not to carry on business with any of these

•L-R:Mr Andrew Esemezie,GM, Customer Experience, MTN, Son, and wife Mrs Nonye Esemezie, Mr Kay Ramos and Hon Chief Charles Okeke at the Vaults and Garden Cemetry during a funeral Mass for Late Mrs Mary Gold Esemezie at the Church of Assumption Falomo, Lagos. yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

companies without my authority and reference.

“The public is notified that any person(s) that carries on business with any of the companies without my authority will be liable to contempt of the orders of court.”

It added that pursuant to the suit, the court also made an order restraining the banks from allowing these companies operate bank accounts held with your banks in whatever form or description pending determination of the substantive action.

“The court also ordered that the banks shall file and serve on Agbakoba and Associates, within seven days, an affidavit disclosing the balance on all accounts held with your banks jointly and severally as at date.

“Please note that any bank that acts contrary to the Orders of Court will be liable to

contempt,” it added.

However, Bi-Courtney, in a swift reaction through its spokesman, Mr. Steve Omolale-Ajulo, described the court order as illegal as it had earlier on Thursday, obtained an interim injunction restraining AMCON from taking over the companies.

The statement read, ‘’it has been brought to our attention (that) a court judgement granted AMCON the assets and finances of BCL. ‘’BCL however on Thursday 25th September 2014 at the Federal High Court, actually obtained an interim injunction restraining AMCON from taking over the assets, finances and accounts of BCL for debts owed to AMCON. ‘’The restraining order was given by Justice I. N. Buba, the Presiding Judge of the

Synagogue: We were never served contravention notice — Church

T

HE synagogue Church of all Nations hasrefutednewspaperreports that it ignored contravention notice served on it by the Lagos State Building Control Agency ( LSBCA) over the collapse of one of the church’ s guest houses.

According to the church, it neither received a contravention notice nor was the building in question ever sealed off before the unfortunate incident, adding that at no timewasanystopworknotice or directive served on the church or pasted on the building prior to the September 12,2014 incident.

The church said the only form of communication with theLSBCAoccurreddaysafter the incident.

According to the church, “ the letters that were written to the church were written after the collapse in the following order: AletterdatedSeptember16, 2014 with Ref No. LASBCA/ AL/PCA/DH/01requestingfor the submission of a development permit and approval of structures within the church complex, four days after the building collapsed. - a

Contravention notice dated September 17, 2014 Ref No. AL/LASBCA/DH/PCA/CN06 alleging certain contraventions, five days after the building collapsed. - another Letter dated September 17, 2014 with Ref No. AL/ LASBCA/DH/PCA/CN 06 requestingfornon-destructive tests for structural stability, five days after the building collapsed”. The church further

noted that no sealing or quit notice has been served as the buildingnevercalledforsuch.

“In the above circumstances, we would like to believe thatLSBCAhadbeenquoted out of context with the motive of destroying the ongoing investigation into the case as well as casting doubt on the position of the church that the collapse was due to an attack”.

Federal High Court, following a motion filed by BCL. ‘’BCL is categorically stating 1. she is not indebted to AMCOM or any of it’s agents, officers , privies, proxies, assignees, receivers, solicitors or any affiliates of AMCOM. 2. BCL had on 2nd November 2011 earlier obtained an order of Injunction restraining AMCOM from tampering with the management assets and finances of BCL. This order is yet to be set aside and subsists till date 3. BCL is not indebted to AMCOM but rather, AMCOM as an agent of the Federal Government is indebted to BCL to the tune of N132b.

4. BCL is a net creditor of AMCOM and 5. AMCON has been advised to net off whatever they claimed BCL is owing them from the N132b.

“As a law-abiding and credible organisation, we wish to urge AMCON to stop brandishing a court judgement that is automatically and lawfully set aside as an earlier interim injunction given on 2nd November 2011 by the presiding judge, Justice A.M Liman of the Federal a High Court was never set aside or vacated. The injunction obtained again on 25th November 2014 further reaffirm that BCL remains a credible and ongoing entity with its clear identity.”

... As Lagos begins identification of recovered bodies

By Chioma Obinna

T

O ensure proper forensic identification including DNA analysis of the bodies recovered from the site of the collapsed building inside the premises of the Synagogue of All Nations, SCOAN, Lagos State Government yesterday commenced the identification of recovered bodies by calling on family members and all Nationals who believe their relations could have been trapped in the collapsed building to

come forward and submit samples that can aid forensic identification and DNA analysis of the bodies.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who spoke in his office stated that the State government has considered it necessary to start forensic identification and DNA analysis of the recovered bodies in view of the need to identify each of them.

Idris further appealed to family members especially parents, children and

siblings of Nationals who believe their relations could have been in the collapsed building to visit the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja from yesterday, Friday 26th September, 2014 to submit samples.

The Commissioner explained that those eligible to give samples for the forensic identification and DNA analysis in order of preference include; parents, children and siblings of the deceased.

Gov. Chime anoints successor

BY FRANCIS IGATA

T

HE member representing Igbo Eze North /Udenu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, has been selected by Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State to succeed him in 2015.

Ugwanyi was said to have been chosen at a meeting presided by Chime in Enugu last night.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that after the proJonathan rally at Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium on Thursday, PDP caucus members were summoned meet for the selection which took place at the Government House.

A Source revealed that at the meeting, that Chime moved the motion for the adoption of Ugwuanyi to succeed him in office.

His motion was seconded by Chief Goodsmark Ugwu prompting the party state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Vita Abba to throw his weight behind the governors position. According to the source, Chief Abba said, “ having served the party for several years. I will align myself with the position of the governor and am stepping down for Mr. Ugwuanyi.”

Sultan honours Tambuwal today

T

HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, will today, confer the traditional title of Mutawallen Sokoto on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

A statement issued in Abuja by Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, said dignitaries from within and outside the country are expected to grace the occasion.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour.

Other dignitaries invited include former Nigerian leaders, state governors, traditional rulers and members of the Organised Private Sector.

Already, the national organising committee of the ceremony, headed by Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said all arrangements have been concluded for a successful gathering.

“Nigerians from all walks of life are therefore invited to grace the event where the rich cultural heritage of the people of Sokoto and the Caliphate will be showcased,” the statement quoted Saraki as saying.

Osun APC greets Pa (Sen) Ayo Fasanmi @ 89

T

HE All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun has described Pa (Senator) Ayo Fasanmi, the Octogenarian who clocks 89 years today, as a role model whose devotion to principle, integrity of character and loyalty to the progressive cause are rare in a country like Nigeria where ethical and moral values have almost totally collapsed.

“At 89, Senator Ayo Fasanmi has a fantastic record of not wavering in his loyalty to democratic values, freedom and justice, which had, continues to be the guiding principle of his political engagement and participation for over half a century of his political career,’ the APC said According to the party, in a statement by its publicity Director, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, ‘the political career and personal life of Pa Fasanmi is so consistently focused on the life more abundant for the people, that from his hay days in the Action Group party led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo till today, he has no other identification except devotion to that cause.’

Boko Haram: Ekhomu advises schools to protect students against suicide bombers

R

ENOWNED security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has decried the inability of security officials and school authorities to protect school students as shameful and unacceptable.He said that it was the responsibility of the school and security authorities to protect young men and women in various schools throughout the country in order to keep them safe from terrorist attacks.

Reacting to the double suicide terrorist attacks that occurred at the Federal College of Education Kano on September 17th which resulted in the death of 17 persons and the injury on 35 others, the security expert said thatthere was a social contract between parents and the school authorities which mandates school authoritiesto keep students safe while on campus. “Unfortunately, the schools are failing in this duty and parents are not aware of their rights to seek redress for the negligent deaths of their kids” he added.

The President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) Dr. Ekhomu said that in the last 90 days three or more tertiary institutions had been attacked in Kano State.

8—SATURDAY

Vanguard , SEPTEMBER 27 27, 2014

BRIEFS Delta LG polls: IYC hails choice of Clark’s son

Zoning arrangement truncates NASS T members’ return bid in Bayelsa

HE choice of Chief Ebikeme Anthony Clark, son of Chief Edwin Clark as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for Burutu Council Chairmanship in the coming Delta State Council elections has been commended by the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Ngbilebiri Clan chapter.

Amakiye Ekaye, Chairman of Ngbilebiri Clan IYC chapter who spoke in Warri said Chief Ebikeme’s victory at the PDP primaries was long anticipated as a result of his father’s good works for Ijaw Nation and Nigeria at large.

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

A

TTEMPTS by the present set of senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives from Bayelsa State to return to the National Assembly in 2015 may have been dashed following the decision of stakeholders in the state to apply zoning formula for elective positions in the state.

The stakeholders decision, it was learnt, has the backing of the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of the state, Governor Seriake Dickson and his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd).

The affected Senators are Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) and Senator Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East).

The Federal Representatives are Foingha Jephthah (Nembe-Brass), Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw), Warman Ogoriba (Yenagoa-KolokumaOpokuma), Dr.Stella Dorgu (Sagbama) and Nadu Karibo (Ogbia).

The stakeholders from the Bayelsa East Senatorial district were led by the state Deputy Governor,Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) and a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, King Amalate J.Turner.

The meeting of the Bayelsa East Senatorial district, attended by political leaders from the zone and convened by

Akw a Ibom police parade 3 7 Akwa 37 hoodlums

T Mr. FRED INOMA OGBE being presented with traditional sword as IDOSU of Warri Kingdom by the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II (CON) yesterday in Warri, Delta State.

C

OMMITTEE for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, CENTREP, Warri, Delta State, yesterday, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and reject any attempt to sweep the transporting of a colossal sum of 9.3 million dollars in a chartered private jet to South Africa under the carpet.

Executive director of the group, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a statement,

BY TOM MOSES

HE Akwa Ibom State Police Command yester day paraded 37 armed-bandits who were arrested for committing criminal offences.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Achong who briefed journalists shortly before the parade of the hoodlums reiterated the commitment of his command to rid the state of criminal elements and therefore make Akwa-Ibom a truly tourists delight and investors haven.

The 37 suspects include murder suspects identified as Patience Nkeruaem Bassey, female, Michael James Akpan and Enefiok Michael James who allegedly beheaded one Godwin Alphonsus, a native of Ikot Umoh Essien in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

Delta lawmaker empowers 10 constituents with cars

M

Chiefs of Warri Kingdom paying homage to the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse II (CON) during the Chieftaincy ceremony. groups of Kolo,Oloibiri King A.J Turner, argued are not to be returned in and Ayama. that the zone will imple- 2015. The stakeholders Karibo is from Oloibiri ment the existing zoning argued that the position group and the position is arrangement in the inter- held by Hon. Foighan to be occupied by an Jephtah was zoned to Ayama indigene in 2015. est of peace and equity.

The meeting, which rotate between Brass and The Senate position of was held at the Ogbi Nembe people. Foighan Bayelsa East being held Brotherhood hall in Og- is from Nembe and the by Senator Clever Ikisikbia Local Council area of position will be occupied po, according to the the state, it was reliably by an indigene of Brass leaders from the zone, is learnt, resolved that in 2015. to be occupied by a Brass While the position of indigene in 2015. IkisikSenator Clever Ikisikpo, Hon.Foighan Jephthah Hon. Nadu Karibo is to po is from Ogbia. and Hon. Nadu Karibo be rotated among Ogbia

$9.3m arms deal: Nigerians should reject attempt to deceive them- CENTREP

BY EMMA AMAIZE

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

said, “We vehemently condemn the ferrying of a colossal sum of 9.3 million dollars in a chartered private Jet to South Africa, under the pretext of using the said funds for the purchase of arms.”

“We make bold to state that Nigerians strongly believe the aforesaid money which was not declared by the Federal Government was one of those numerous monies stolen from our national treasury, and being fer-

ried illegally into private foreign accounts reminiscent of the General Sani Abacha era,” he said.

Ikimi , therefore, urged the South African authorities to treat the said money as stolen funds until the contrary is proved.

“If we may ask, does the above act of the Presidency exemplify a cashless society policy it preaches back home? Our answer is definitely in the negative,” he said.

CENTREP also urged the South African authorities

to probe the said funds, saying, “Nigerians do not have any iota of confidence in any probe by the National Assembly after the allegation by Representative Aliyu Madaki from Kano State on the floor of the Nigerian House of Representatives that the sum of 50,000 dollars bribe was offered each of the People’s Democratic Party lawmakers in the House to kill the motion to probe the 9.3 million dollars seized by the South African authorities.”

BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

EMBER representing Ughelli North constit uency II in the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Edoja Akpodiete has empowered 10 persons in the constituency with cars under the Rufus Edoja Akpodiete People’s Welfare Scheme, REAPWELS. Presenting the cars of various brands which included Volkswagen Vento, Golf, BMW, Mazda and Nissan Primera to the beneficiaries, Akpodiete noted that the gesture was in furtherance of his empowerment programme for his constituents which he said began in 2011.

Those who benefited from the car gift were, Olorogun Moses Arubi, Mrs. Patience Onwulu, Mrs. Paulina Efeakpokrire, Mrs. Mary Oba, Sir Jude Emavwodia, Ovoke Ovwemu, Mr. Martins Ariemere, Mr. Paris Ukpemeku, Monica Uvwo and Mr. Emmanuel Amuno.

AnnKio moves against Ikwerre for go or po wer govvernor ernor,, calls ffor pow rotation

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

HE governorship ambition of Ikwerre politi cians was again threatened yesterday when an activist, Ms AnnKio Briggs vowed that an Ikwerre man would not be allowed to succeed Governor Chibuike Amaechi who is also from Ikwerre come 2015.

Ms Briggs who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt called on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to enforce its constitutional provision on zoning and power rotation on the party’s governorship ticket in the state.

While making reference to section 7(2) (E) of the party’s constitution as amended to strengthen her call on the party to ensure power rotated in the state between the natural divide of upland and riverine dichotomy in the state Ms Briggs further enjoined the national leadership of the party to ignore impressions being created by the state Chairman, Mr Felix Obua that all was well within the party.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—9

C M Y K

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

HOW REAL ARE T.B JOSHUA’S MIRACLES? worshiper shiperss at SCO SCOAN •Horrifying experiences of wor shiper AN Miracles acles are ssttage- managed •Some allege Mir powerful Journalistt •It’s a lie, TB Joshua is power ful and a true man of God - Journalis •Whyy fforeigner oreignerss ffloc lockk ttoo his Synagogue loc •Wh oreigner •Interesting account of how he heals the sick

By Our Correspondents

I

f the adage, ‘good wine needs no bush’ is anything to go by, then the crowd at Synagogue of All Nations may not just be ordinary spectators. They come with a load of problems seeking one form of miracles or the other. Miracles were parts of the ministries of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and of course, Jesus and the apostles. Their miracles primarily served the purpose of confirming their message as being from God. Today, many people still seek to experience miracles and some will go any length to have that experience. At Synagogue Church of All Nations, (SCOAN) located at Ikotun- Egbe in Lagos state, an outstanding edifice structured to contain more than 20,000 worshipers with a quarter of that population mostly foreigners, it is a destination for miracles seekers. People are assured that on seeing the Prophet, TB Joshua, their load of problems would be solved. Little wonder that people especially foreigners besiege the church in search of miracles. Just imagine more than 80 South Africans dying in the collapsed foreign guest house building at the church on September 12. Thousands throng into the Synagogue Church of All Nations for miracles. But how real are these miracles that are spreading like wildfire world over? Saturday Vanguard deployed reporters out to get the feelings of both past and present members of the church including some foreign worshipers on the issue. They filed in this report: Mr. Michael French, a 45 years old Cameroonian suffering from acute

Diabetes traveled all the way from Cameroun for more than 13 hours by bus, stool ling and urinating frequently on the way. Mr. French was insulted by passengers in the vehicle due to his constant call of nature, but he endured it all hoping that when he gets to Lagos, “it would be a thing of the past.” He arrived Lagos very late and slept at the park because there was no vehicle going to the church.

Mr. French was one of the few that landed at the church the very next morning. He felt that he was already healed because of the adrenaline of hope and excitement in his body. His feet couldn’t hold him; he had read and watched the exploit of this man back home in Cameroun. He knew it was his day to be healed. After all the songs and Sunday School, the Prophet climbed on the podium and started praying for sick people.

“I prayed so hard to be the first to reveive the healing. I wanted to tell the world what God has done for me through the prophet. But l didn’t get to give my testimony that day. l didn’t receive any sign of healing. So many people came out to give testimonies of their healing and I envied them, but I

Continues on page 11

TB Joshua

SATURDAY

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—11

Continues from page 10

‘How I was deceived at the Synagogue mountain’ room again to check on us as they usually did that period. We asked after the man’s whereabouts and we were told that he had been healed and had left.”

Awele continued: “I sensed a lie because the man’s luggage was still with us and the man was taken away lifeless. So, if he was healed, he would have returned to pick his luggage and would have given testimony of the miracle. But we never saw him again. All this while, we were feeding ourselves while waiting to be touched by the servants of the Lord.

“Again, after a few days, one of us who complained of feeling very bad the previous night died the following morning. We shouted for help, like we had done in the previous case. The church members came to see what the problem was and took the lifeless body of this man away.

They didn’t return to tell us what had happened to the man, just like they did in the last case. But l knew that the man had died, as his body was very cold.”

“I felt that the story would be like the previous one, so, I waited for their next visit.

When they visited again, I

,

prayed and hoped that my own healing would come, perhaps on the second day.

“As usual, l was there early alongside my sister the following day. We had carried everything we had saved for this trip. We believed so much that God would settle us that second day. We went there the second day and it was the same thing, a few others received their healing, but l still didn’t get any. By the third day, I became worried because I was running out of money. I called Cameroun for money to be sent, but l didn’t received any alert. We were still spending money on accommodation, feeding and by then, our faith which was aflame when we entered into Nigeria began to die fast just as our pockets were draining fast.

“It got to a point when all we had was our transport fare back to Cameroun; we approached the church, but they couldn’t help to sustain our stay. We were so sad and left Lagos utterly disappointed.

I prayed to God for help to survive the long journey back to Cameroun so that I can manage my health just like l was advised by the doctor in the first place. I came to Nigeria because l was told l would be healed; l would say that l spent the worst one week of my life in Nigeria and l didn’t receive what l came for.”

Again, the story of Awele, a 37-year-old mother is more horrifying. Awele, a breast cancer patient based in Lagos told Saturday Vanguard her experience at the Synagogue while searching for miracle.

After series of tests, she had been told that her both breasts would go under the knife or she goes to join her ancestors in less than eight months. She couldn’t believe that she was going to die so soon. She thought about the possiblity of her only daughter becoming an orphan at 18. Amidst that awful verdict, she exuded faith and decided to seek a miracle at Synagogue.

“On visiting Prophet Joshua’s church I was directed to see any of the four Wise-men.

(Saturday Vanguard last week wrote about the ‘four wise-men’ ). After discussing my case with the Wise men, I observed there were three other similar cases involving two men and one other woman. We were all kept in a room. Few days after, we were not attended to and I insisted on seeing the prophet himself.”

“But after three days, instead of the prophet, it was one of the wise-men that visited us and nothing was done.”

She said further: “About the fourth day of our stay in the church, we noticed that one of us died, we screamed for help!

When the members came, all they did was to take away the lifeless body of the man; we didn’t know what happened to him again. Not even a single word of prayer was said in our presence for the guy. The man didn’t return to the room, but his luggage was still there. Two days later, they visited the

I felt they were only waiting for us to die so that they could do away with our bodies. To me, I was convinced that the so- called miracle thing going on there is a big fraud

,

asked the whereabouts of the man they took away. They said that the man had gone home because he had been healed.

So, l asked the impossible question. “Why didn’t they come back for their belongings when they got healed?” Perhaps they didn’t believe that we would ever remember to ask because they were not prepared hence they were caught offbalance. They claimed the church had made provision for them to go home with new clothes, so, they did not need their old luggage.

There, l made up my mind to leave the Synagogue as soon as possible because there appeared not to be hope. I felt they were only waiting for us to die so that they could do away with our bodies. To me, I was convinced that the so- called miracle thing going on there is a big fraud.”

“I have decided to live my life as though it was the last because surely my end is near as I was told by my doctors. I don’t understand why some pastors claim to heal people when they can’t heal anybody,” Awele said.

Awele went back to the hospital for the breast surgery.

She did not live to witness the collapse of Pastor TB Joshua’s

hostel building two weeks ago.

She died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital shortly after the surgery.

“How I was deceived at the Synagogue mountain”

“I was invited by my sister inlaw in the year 2011 to Synagogue church for healing and deliverance when I was having some problems which I would not like to tell you. So, when I got to the church, I was told that mothers whose children were below six years were not allowed to sit in the main church auditorium with their children. Their reason was that since the program was always a live-broadcast, they would not like children to distract the camera men. They keep mothers and their kids at a separate place. If your kid is above six, they will register him/her to Children Sunday School. So, that very day, I went with my little daughter to the church. When we got to the church after observing all the protocols, we were kept with other mothers. So, suddenly,

Continues on page 12

12— SATURDAY

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

‘Miracles are stagemanaged’

one of the wise men came to us and said that the man of God wanted to see all the nursing mothers and therefore, he ordered that all of us should be brought into the main church auditorium.

When we came in, we were told to kneel at the alter for a prayer session.”

“While the prayer was going on, I fell under the power of anointing. After the prayer session, they came to all of us that fell during the prayer session and said that we would be going to the mountain for deliverance. We were all booked for the mountain, when I told my sister in-law who invited me for the program, she congratulated me for being lucky saying that as far as I was scheduled to go to the mountain, all my problems had been solved.

“On that day, we assembled at the church premises where the bus came to take us to the mountain located in Agodo, Ikotun, area of Lagos state.

The rule while going to the mountain was that, “you do not talk to each other when you get to the mountain.”

“The mountain is a riverside area just like a very long street.

There were so many animals in the river. There were huts constructed with planks where people that came for deliverance at the mountain including the man of God stay.

I asked them why did they choose this kind of place as the mountain, they said that was the place the man of God first stepped his foot when he was fasting to build the Church. Right there, we were asked to pick a red piece of paper which was passed round to others present. On the piece of paper, some quotations from the Holy Bible were written on it and you will be asked to pick your choice for prayer. You will also be asked to buy the Holy water which goes for N5,000 and pray with it and it ends there. I did not get any deliverance, neither was there any miraculous changes on the issues that took me there.”

Again, Mrs Ruth revealed that, the deceit in the church was also discovered by her own brother who was based in Norway. According to her, one of the major criteria for seeing the man of God, especially if you are coming from outside the country, is that you will keep sending e-mail until you get a reply.

“My brother who is a Redeemed Pastor, based in Norway with his family, has his two children, his son and daughter, deaf and dumb right from birth. The man being ignorant of the procedures for seeing the man of God, flew into the country with his family with the hope of seeing the man of God for a miracle, but he was told he could not see the

,

Continues from page 11

In the deliverance and miracle section, the ailments were categorised into different parts, so, you were expected to go to your deliverance section

,

man of God since he did not get any reply to his mails. So, they were asked to go back and keep sending mails until they get a reply. The man went back and kept sending mails to see the man of God. When they eventually got the nod to come, they did not go with the kids.

The wife was scheduled to go to the mountain as well, but after going through all these processes of mountain and anointed water, the children still remained the same, nothing changed in any of them,”she explained.

But many worshipers believe miracle as being taunted by Pastor T.B Joshua is a function of individual faith. A worshiper who preferred anonymity, at the church recently told Saturday Vanguard that: “Just like in every other church, it is your faith that heals you. I am not a regular worshiper here, I come here once in a while for prayers and healing, I believe that it is your faith that heals you. No amount of prayer from a man of God can set you free, if you do not have faith,” she said.

There are those who attest to the efficacy of prayers offered

by Joshua.

Another eye witness who was met at the premises of the collapsed building said that the building initially was meant for just restaurant but because of the high demand of worshipers, they have to add buildings on top which resulted in the collapse.

“If you watch out, you will see that the ground floor was used as canteen where worshipers both in the church and those that lodged in the hotel come to eat. But because of the influx of people and the demand for accommodation especially, foreigners, they decided to add additional floors. These collapsed building is for people from different countries and it costs between N50,000-N60,000 per night including feeding. While the other one standing not too far from the collapsed building is for ministers and top

government officials and it costs between N100,000 and above. And if you are lodged in the hotel, you are not allowed to have visitors until you leave. Everything you want, all kinds of food will be made available to you in the hotel, so there is no reason to have visitors,” he said.

He added that only members of the church are allowed to work in the hotel. “None members are not allowed in the hotel either as visitor or worker. If you do not worship in the church, forget about working there. From the contractor to the least person, they all worship in the church.

The church is doing that as a way of empowering their members,” he disclosed.

Miracles are stage-managed

“A friend told me about prophet T.B Joshua in 2010 when my late son had swollen penis. He suffered for two years before I went to T.B Joshua. I took my son there and after a while, I was given a card to see the prophet. I was among several other people who were having problems.

In the deliverance and miracle section, the ailments were categorised into different parts, so, you were expected to go to your deliverance section.

“It was very tough before we could see the man. And because of the state of my son, we had to rent an apartment in the area so that we could keep close contact.

At about the time, there were about100 people waiting to see the prophet, yet we could not see the prophet after three months.

“I was helpless but I held on and believed that once I saw the man, everything would be fine. Everyday, my son was groaning in pains and we were not financially buoyant. So, we wanted to see the man at all cost so that my son would be healed.

“One the day, my son was

Continues on page 13

SATURDAY

asked to come for the deliverance, we came as early as 5am. I was anxiously waiting for the man, but he didn’t show up until 4pm. He was accompanied by his press crew and other people in his ministry. Ï saw the man, he saw my son, but he didn’t lay hands on my son. Ï called on him desperately but he ignored me and my son. Someone close to him said to me: “it seems the prophet wasn’t directed to heal my son. I was perplexed and asked why. But he later told me to come the next month.

Perhaps, God will direct him to heal my son. I was disappointed and went back home.

“The next month, I went back to the church but to my surprise, I was asked to start the process of seeing the prophet all over again. I was devastated, I did not know what to do. At that time, my son’s condition had deteriorated. He shrunk and paled. I cried for help but nobody heard me.

A man told me to go and buy the anointing water and give my son. I bought the anointing water and gave it to him but nothing happened. Instead of my son to be healed, he was getting worse by the day. At that time, there was nobody to help me. I tried all I could to get to the man, all to no avail.

Then, I went back home and started praying to God to save my son. Unfortunately, the boy died after two weeks.

Since, then, I have decided not to go back to that man’s church because there’s nothing called miracle there. What you see are all stage-managed miracles.”

I got initiated in the dream by drinking green water

One man told us his story this way: “It all started when I came to Lagos in search of financial empowerment. I was advised to go to Synagogue Church and that the man of God there empowers people financially.

One month later, I came in contact with the prophet. I was told to drink the green water and go home.

When I got home, I started experiencing some strange

‘I got initiated in the dream by drinking green water’

,

Continues from page 12

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—13

According to investigation, Pastor Joshua has good relations with highlyplaced foreigners including presidents both serving and former leaders of some countries in Africa and beyond

,

things at home. I didn’t know what they were until I slept off. I saw the man in my dream and in a way, I was initiated and I started seeing strange things. I couldn’t explain everything I saw but I knew I was initiated.

Then, I left everything, family and came to the church.

I lived in the church for more than one year but there was nothing like empowerment. I was working as a cleaner.

One year after, I was told to leave the church environment, that my services were no longer needed. I did not know what was wrong. I left and went back to my family. It was when I got home that my father told me how they had been into intercessory prayers for my restoration, that I was initiated and lost my mind.

Why foreigners believe in Prophet T.B Joshua

To several others, T.B Joshua is like a man-of God who is not honoured in his hometown. This perhaps lends credence to the influx of foreign nationals to the Synagogue.

According to investigation, Pastor Joshua has good relations with highly-placed foreigners including presidents both serving and former leaders of some countries in Africa and beyond. They come in droves from all corners of the planet for spiritual healing and solutions to different ailments or problems. Saturday Vanguard encountered an Asian woman from Singapore at the SCOAN recently.

When asked why she chose to travel so far to attend a church service here in Ikotun, Lagos Nigeria, the woman who pleaded anonymity said: “Why will I not believe him when I witnessed many miracles taking place before my very eyes. I witnessed those “wheel-chair bounds’ getting up on their feet and instantaneously walking after his touch and prayers. I witnessed the cancer-stricken patients getting healed. I

witnessed people possessed by the spirit of lizard, possessed by the spirit of snake, possessed by the spirit of monkey receiving deliverance and being delivered from the evil spirit living in them for many years. You are not going to believe this, but you have to. I even witnessed a HIV infected woman getting cured.”

Another European man in his 50s who came to Nigeria three years ago said: “When T.B Joshua comes to the pulpit to preach, his sermons are great. Another thing that fascinates me about this special man of God, instead of posing himself as another miracle worker and asking people to donate large sum of money, this man of God preaches with strong conviction and clear message of holiness.

“Prophet T. B Joshua will always say “Healing without putting the Word of God as our standard will not stand the test of time” and I adore him for that. This humble man of God attributes Jesus as the healer and he preaches about putting the Word of God as the central principle guiding our lives, one on which through the Word, healing, peace, and others are built upon. So, tell me what more I need to believe? He is a true messenger of God,” he queried.

Why many South Africans died in the tragedy

According to reliable sources, South Africans are passionate about the Synagogue Church, always coming there on pilgrimage.

There is a tour package which cost an average of 10,000 Rands each for one week. The collapsed building was meant for Southern African groups like worshipers from Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Botswana and the Republic of South Africa. . Worshipers from Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan also use the collapsed building but investigation revealed that South Africans were more because Pastor Joshua decided to give more opportunities for the South Africans who have remained insistent and shown solidarity to SCOAN. No fewer than 84 South

Africans were killed in the tragedy.

Healing of sicknesses and diseases also bring nationals from other countries to Synagogue - all for miracles.

Holy water, otherwise called anointing water, is sold to pilgrims between N5000 and N10,000 per bottle.

Even thousands of anointing water bottles are exported to some West African countries.

Worshipers from foreign nations are encouraged to stay until after seven days. They are always screened and registered by the church authorities.

Those with financial problems believe that use of the anointing oil restore their finances.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the ruling African National Congress, ANC, Youth Wing had warned Pastor T.B. Joshua not to come to South Africa. He should not enter the country until they know what happened to their compatriots in Nigeria. According to Bandile Masuku of ANC Youth League, “we will make sure that Pastor T.B. Joshua is not issued with a South African visa.”

The influx of foreign nationals into the church could be explained by the adage that a Prophet is not acknowledged or recognised in his own country. But with this tragedy, many people are becoming scared of the Synagogue church and more knowledgeable about what goes on there.

Strangely, however, several South Africans, we reliably learnt, are still anxious to return to Nigeria to patronize the church because of their believed spiritual prowess of Pastor T.B. Joshua. He is feared and highly respected by politicians, including prime ministers, presidents and ministers. Even sports men come to the Synagogue not only for healing when injured but also for for success in their outings. Prominent athletes and footballers have gone there to seek one form of help or another.

P

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

rophet TB Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations is no stranger to controversies and condemnations. Since his emergence as a man of God to whom many run for deliverance, salvation and miracles, the supposed man of God has had to fight off other men of God who see him as nothing but fake.

Perhaps, the most antagonistic among them all is Reverend Chris Okotie of the Household of God who once described the Prophet as the vicar of the devil on earth. Okotie has no mixed feelings about T.B Joshua. To him, the so-called man of God at Synagogue Church of All Nations shouldn’t be associated with because, according to him, he is in partnership with Satan to subjugate the church to the will of the devil.

Okotie’s aversion to everything T.B Joshua stands for became more evident sometime ago when a video showed T.B Joshua and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome purportedly praying for a man on wheelchair.

Pastor Chris Okotie made a number of public comments to Nigerian newspapers and other media sources expressing displeasure that the respected Pastor Chris Oyakilhome started fraternising with TB Joshua.

In one of his media comments, Okotie alleged that T.B. Joshua was a practitioner of an occult science called Docetic Gnosticism and Cerinthian heresy. Docetic Gnosticism, according to Wikipaedia was an ancient Greek spiritual belief system during A.D. 70 through A.D. 100.This particular group asserted that Jesus Christ did not rise physically from the grave as foretold by the Old Testament prophets, eye-witnessed by the apostles and recorded in scripture.

This teaching is the biblical definition of false prophecy - the teaching that Christ did not rise physically from the grave.

Cerinthus was a Greek heretic (A.D. 100) who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. According to Cerinthus, Jesus Christ was not born of a virgin as scripture plainly declares. Cerinthus also believed that during the future millennial reign of Christ inhabitants of the earth would be in bondage to certain lust.

Okotie has also ascribed the acclaimed healing power of TB Joshua to the practice of an ancient Asian yoga-like sorcery called Shamanism, a practice, according to Wikipeadia, that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to encounter and interact with the spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world. A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically enters into a trance state during a ritual, and practices divination and healing.

Evidences abound that worshipers at Synagogue revere and and adulate the name of T.B Joshua by calling him ‘Emmanuel’ (God with us). To this, Chris Okotie stated emphatically: “‘He (T.B Joshua) has three symbols of mysticism. The first is called “The Head of Jesus Christ” or “Christ”. This is a reference to the source of his power. That power is invoked or acknowledged by the word, “Emmanuel.” When

How other men of God see T.B Joshua

•Ayo Oritsejafor

,

14—SATURDAY

It said the group had for years warned of “the dangers of infiltrators who have modernized cultism by injecting the name of Jesus Christ into their largely unbiblical practices. It is necessary that we reiterate this position that the Synagogue (of All Nations) falls into this category

,

•Reverend Chris Okotie “Emmanuel” is chanted, it energizes’ the power. The scriptures say that the head of Christ is God. So when Joshua ‘refers to that head, he is speaking of himself as God Incarnate.’

At the height of the Joshua-OkotieOyakhilome imbroglio, other Pentecostal pastors warned T.B Joshua not to parade himself as a Pentecostal preacher.

“He is an occultist,” says Anselm Modubuku, pastor of the Revival Assembly Church in Lagos. “Joshua claims he was born again in his mother’s womb. It is tragic that Spirit-filled people are led astray by him.”

“It is puzzling why Americans are drawn to him,” said Ayo Oritsejafor, pastor of Word of Life Bible Church in Warri and now President of Christian Association of God, CAN. “Where and when did he get saved?

Who is his pastor? That is what I would like to know.”

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, headed by Bishop Mike Okonkwo, denounced Joshua as an imposter in a statement. It said the group had for years warned of “the dangers of infiltrators who have modernized cultism by injecting the name of Jesus Christ into their largely unbiblical practices. It is necessary that we reiterate this position that the Synagogue (of All Nations) falls into this category.”

All that notwithstanding, hundreds of thousands still revere him. To those thousands who seek T.B Joshua for spiritual help, the Okoties and Mike Okonkwos of this

world are entitled to their opinions.

To them, the man TB Joshua is a king who is not recognised in his place. He is a true man of God who heals the sick, delivers people from spiritual attacks and is ever generous to the indigent. His healing power is largely responsible for the thousands who flock into his church especially from abroad.

Hence Joshua is more recognised outside than in Nigeria.

My experience at Synagogue – Jacques Pauw, South African journalist

A renowned South African investigative journalist, Jacques Pauw writes on his experience at Synagogue.

I was making a TV documentary and my challenge to Joshua was straightforward: allow me to film how you heal Basson (a 25 year old Springbok rugby player who was dying of liver cancer and went to Prophet T.B Joshua for healing). If you succeed, I promise I will show it to the world.

When we arrived at Joshua’s compound, the TV team and I were in effect incarcerated. For two weeks, we were forbidden to leave the grounds.

We were told we could not drink or smoke, and had to attend services and events with the pilgrims. While I

Continues on page 17

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—15

C M Y K

16 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

SATURDAY

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—17

Continues from page 14

T.B Joshua is real

—Journalist Mr Oye Ogunwale worked in Vanguard as a sub editor for more than a decade before he moved on.

He was very close to T.B Joshua and had this to say about the man: T.B Joshua is authentic. He is real.

I can assure you of that. He is a true man of God. Don’t mind what Nigerians say about him. He performs miracles. I know that some people claim that he is not genuine because they were not healed by the man. It all depends on faith. Again, it also depends on the sins the miracle seekers committed. Who knows what they have done against humanity that God may want them to go through more penance. Joshua heals people, I can tell you authoritatively. He heals HIV. I know about 20 HIV victims that he has healed. If you go there you will know that he heals about ten of them in a week. I know of a top man in government whom he delivered from HIV infection. The man returned with a car as gift. T.B Joshua asked

•Anselm Modubuku

•Mike Okonkwo

‘TB Joshua is a true man of God, not an ordinar y per son’

,

stayed in a dormitory with other pilgrims, Basson and his mother set up camp in a private room.

The church took away the young man’s morphine and pain pills.

During our first interview, a softly spoken, affable Joshua said it would be easy to heal Wium because he had nothing but a “little sore” on his liver.

At Sunday sermons, the afflicted lined up with placards stating what condition they needed healed. There were lines of people seeking a cure for HIV/Aids, cancer and heart conditions, business failures, wandering spouses and dull brains.

A festive, almost joyous atmosphere filled the compound as churchgoers sang, clapped and danced. Evil spirits were cast out and those set free by the Prophet writhed in the dirt while vomiting out the demons.

Joshua prayed for every person in the line and declared them all healed. He ordered them to stop using any medication and trust in God. Among the pilgrims was Capetonian John Rindel, who was suffering from full-blown AIDS and already had dementia.

He had arrived at the church several weeks before we did, was prayed for by Joshua and declared completely healed.

He had stopped taking his medicine and showed remarkable improvement.

Scientists refer to this as the “placebo effect” of faith healing. A patient can experience genuine pain relief and other symptomatic alleviation after being prayed for.

The relief is short-lived and the patient soon returns to his original condition.

On my request, Rindel agreed to go for two independent HIV/Aids tests when he returned to South Africa. Both showed he was still positive. He died a short while later.

The BBC recently investigated the London branch of the church and reported that three women had died after being “healed” and told to stop taking their HIV/Aids medication.

I challenged the pilgrims to provide me with medical proof that they had been healed. None did.

Ruben Kruger died in 2010 just before his 40th birthday.

T.B Joshua is too much but Nigerians blackmail him a lot. I’m a direct witness to all these things.

During service, he would ask witches and wizards to step out and will ask them to reveal their powers

,

him to take back the car, that he didn’t want it. He only asked him to go, and sin no more. T.B Joshua is like Obafemi Awolowo who was not generally recognised as a great leader until he died. Awo was never given his real value until he died.

Nigeria is like that. Look at Zik. He is another great example. I was close to T.B Joshua for more than 10 years and I can attest to his genuineness as a man of God. If he is not real foreigners will not be going there.

Many of his disciples are foreigners.

He heals people at the church there or he visits them in their homes to heal them.”

The reporter, at this juncture cuts in to ask “so T.B Joshua visits people in their homes to heal them?”

Oye Ogunwale responds this way: “Yes, he visits them spiritually. He goes to their houses in spirit and heals them.”

How would a sick man in his house know that TB Joshua was the one that healed him”, the reporter asked.

“He would know,” Ogunwale insists, his voice rising. “He will see the man in his dream. And if it’s surgery, for example, he may see spots of blood on his bed or signs that healing has been done. The sick person will know that healing has taken place. T.B Joshua visits people spiritually and heals them. The patient will see him in a dream. T.B Joshua is not an ordinary man. He can also transfer power to an ordinary person and that person will perform healing. During healing hours, he may touch any person in the congregation and tell that person to come up and heal this man or that man and healing will actually take place when that ordinary person acts as he directs. It is amazing. Heads of States go there. The former President of Zambia who was always going there said that Africa didn’t know

what they have in Joshua and that if T.B Joshua were a white man the whole world will recognise him. He could not believe his eyes when he saw how people were being healed.

T.B Joshua is not an ordinary man.

The only thing is that when you go there it may take you days to see him. This, I attribute to the Nigerian factor. When I was in Vanguard, one of the gate men approached me one day and told me that his wife was sick and everything indicated she had cancer. He wanted me to help him with some money. I told him I didn’t have money but that I could take him and his wife to a man who could help cure his wife. They agreed and I took them to TB Joshua and the woman was healed. An Army General from Ghana once came on wheelchair and on the day of healing he told him to get up and walk. The man got up and staggered and the man of God touched him with his leg and the he stood. Few seconds later he was firm and even ran.

There was applause. The was paralysed from the waist but he walked after T.B Joshu’s touch. T.B Joshua is too much but Nigerians blackmail him a lot. I’m a direct witness to all these things. During service, he would ask witches and wizards to step out and will ask them to reveal their powers. You can’t believe the revelations that come from them and the things that they have done in the past. Unbelievable.

Then you will see him deliver them.

He is a powerful man. For a man of God to call somebody from the audience, touch him and transfer power to him and ask him to heal another person and it happens, you should know that such a man is not an ordinary man. And he is very generous. He heals people and still gives them alms. Can you beat that?

That’s what I can tell you about T.B Joshua and you can quote me.”

18—SA TURD AY 18—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Egypt Air Saga:

It’s time our govt stood up for us, Joshua’s mother cries to FG *Says tearing Nigerian passport is an affront on Nigeria

FLORENCE AMAGIYA, JULIET EBIRIM & AKEEM SALAU

A

My son’s ordeal with Egypt Air In the month of June, Joshua had come home on holiday. He’s a medical student in Ukraine and he hadn’t been to Nigeria in the past nine years. He grew up in Zambia.

In the past five years, he’s been wanting to come to Nigeria and I promised him that if he made a five-point CGPA, we would allow him come. He got it and so he came. He was here for seven weeks and then he was ready to go back to school. Most of the airlines were fully booked because students were resuming school and Ukraine is a route that is not patronised by all the airlines, so we were advised by Turkish Airline (since they had no seat) to go to Egypt Air and we did. We purchased the tickets and reviewed the ticket itinerary and immediately observed that the airport code indicated on it was different from what we were familiar with. The ticket indicated an unfamiliar airport code.

We immediately brought this discovery to a ticketing officer’s attention who restated that the ticket was full economy and for Kiev, Ukraine with all the segments confirmed. However, we remained unconvinced, given that our prior experience indicated that the airport code for Kiev, Ukraine would usually read “KBP”. My son boarded

Madam Favour Anirejuoritse Gbenebichie

,

17 year old Nigerian medical student, Joshua Kunle Abdulazeez, returning to school in Ukraine, recently gave an account of how he nearly died at the hands of Egypt Air officials who wrongly routed him to Moldova, never gave him food for days, treated him like a criminal, calling Nigerians bloody people before deporting him back to Lagos. In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, the boy’s mother, Madam Favour Anirejuoritse Gbenebichie expresses anger and disappointment at the inhuman treatment meted out on her son by Egypt Air for no fault of his and what should be done to forestall a re-occurrence.

For an Egyptian to have the guts to tear a Nigerian passport says a lot.

,

the flight and I warned the Egypt Air Staff, that for their sake I hope they were right.

The following day, he was supposed to be in Istanbul, so we didn’t follow him up. But on the third day, we knew he should be in school in Ukraine, so we started calling his number and it wasn’t going through. I left Lagos for Ibadan, on my way to Ibadan, I had three missed calls and any time I answered the call, I heard a foreign language I didn’t understand. My daughter, Joshua’s elder sister told me that Joshua called her and said he’s been deported from Moldova and he was at Istanbul and that we should buy a ticket from here, so he can go to Ukraine. We tried calling the foreign number back, but unfortunately, I think it was an answering machine in Turkish Language.

My son later called to say he was in Moldova and that he was told there was no way he would get to Ukraine from there. So he was given a form to fill and a deportation letter. He hoped that when he got to Istanbul, he would buy a ticket to Kiev from there.

He couldn’t get the ticket in Istanbul and I had to call my Office in Ukraine, because I’m an Education Consultant. I actually take students from Africa to Ukraine for studies.

So I called my office and asked them to help

Sat issue

25-9-2014

him get a ticket. Fortunately, we were able to buy one, but the Egypt Air staff in Istanbul absolutely refused, even though Immigration agreed. They said that no matter what happened they were bringing Joshua back to Lagos.

Joshua later sent a text to say that they had put him in seclusion in a cell and at that point, he hadn’t eaten for three days and he was already sick. He said he was told that he would be on the flight to Lagos the following day and that I should meet him at the airport.

Very early, the next day, I went to the Egypt Air Office in Lagos from Ibadan and requested to see the overall head. After waiting for a long while and he wasn’t forthcoming, I began to shout and scream, because I didn’t know what condition my son was in and that was the fourth day. The General Manager, Mr. Khalid was so nonchalant and very abusive. He brought a wrong itinerary which was different from the ticket they sold to my son. I insisted that it wasn’t the ticket and that they should stop covering up, because I had copies of the one they sold to my son. They later printed out the actual itinerary. I told him to call and find out if my son was fine.

Continues on page 19

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

When he did, he was told that my son was already on a flight back to Lagos.

We went to the airport and truly, Joshua was on that flight, his passport had been torn by an Egypt Air Staff in Istanbul. He was looking very pale, his eyes were sunken, he could barely talk or stand. At that point, I was broken and I wept from the airport to the hospital. I couldn’t believe human beings could be that wicked. This happened within 20th to 22nd of August and he just turned 17 on the 16th of August. We are talking about an under-aged boy, a minor. He had his Ukraine Residence Permit, Ukraine Visa and Student’s documents. Everything was there for anyone to know he was genuine and help him and to see that he got to school as easily as possible. The primary thing for me at that time was to get him to the hospital. One luggage came back, the other didn’t. He had two. The one that came back was vandalised, half of the things inside were gone. The suitcase that had his clothes didn’t come back, he came back with only the clothes on his back. He was stinking like a pig and looked very sick. He just kept coughing and each time he coughed, there was a yellowish discharge coming out. I remember that when I pointed it out to Mr. Khalid, that how could anyone have locked up this child in this physical condition in a cell? He told me that their Group General Manager in Egypt had said because he’s a Nigerian and he’s coming from Lagos, he was locked up for fear of Ebola. It’s so sad. It’s unbelievable.

We rushed him to the hospital and they quickly put him on intravenous fluids, because he was dehydrated. The doctor said that due to the fact that his mouth hadn’t been active, some bacteria had worked and his gums were swollen. He couldn’t eat and had developed a horrible mouth odour. I don’t think it’s normal for any human being to be that wicked, the way Egypt Air, the Egyptians and everyone involved was to my child. It’s very pathetic.

As a mother, what was going through your mind while all these were going on, before you eventually saw him?

Panic! I was very scared. We’ve heard so many stories about prisons and cells, how people get beaten up, assaulted sexually and all that. I was scared that my child shouldn’t be beaten up or sexually assaulted. I couldn’t sleep from the point when I got to know he was in a prison cell in Cairo.

No doubt this is pathetic. What should the government do about this?

I personally regret having gone to Egypt Air. It’s a first time and it’s definitely the last. It’s an airline that I didn’t even know much about, but we were sent there by Turkish Air, because most of the airlines were fully booked. It was like a last resort. They ply the route Joshua was going to, which most airlines do not. I don’t recommend it for anyone and I definitely would not use that airline again. In this age and time and with the amount of civilization in the world today, I don’t think anyone should be that barbaric and inhuman. When you see Joshua, you see an innocent child. He’s had a sheltered life. It’s very sad. I remember when he was leaving the hospital, he said to me, “Mummy, I don’t want to go back. Can I go to school in Nigeria? I don’t want to travel again”. It took my younger brother and I a long while to convince him, before he agreed to go back to Ukraine. He just didn’t want to go in an aircraft.

A lot of damage has been done to my son psychologically. We were just unlucky to pick the wrong airline. Egypt Air is a wrong one. If justice be done, their license to fly in this country should be revoked.

Why didn’t you make a case with the police immediately you learnt his passport was torn?

The Egypt Air Manager at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Mr. Ahmed had done damage control. He pal-lied with the immigrations people at the airport. One of the immigration guys at the airport gave us a letter to Passport Office in Alausa for the passport to be done for us the following day. That was how he was able to travel back within two days. The passport was replaced, but we still have the torn one. It was torn on both sides and Joshua said the Egypt Air staff who tore it said, ‘These Bloody Nigerians!’.

‘If justice be done, their license to fly in this country should be revoked’ Have you made efforts to contact the human rights commission?

We haven’t, because we have handed the case over to a lawyer and we thought it best that he handles it, the way the law demands.

How far do you want to take this issue legally?

To the extent the law would allow that justice be done. I wouldn’t say more than that, so that I don’t pre-empt whatever actions our lawyer is already taking. But we have handed the case over to a lawyer for legal redress.

,

Continues from page 18

Vanguard , SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—19

He was looking very pale, his eyes were sunken, he could barely talk or stand. At that point, I was broken and I wept from the airport to the hospital. I couldn’t believe human beings could be that wicked

,

Would you want the government to be involved?

Definitely, because if firm action is not seen to be taken, then this would repeat itself over and over. It’s an affront that a Nigerian passport is torn. Who would dare tear an American passport even if it’s being held by a mad person or the poorest person.

No-one would have the guts to tear an American passport, because they know the implications. The world sees Nigerians as a people nobody fights for and they believe they can get away with anything they do against Nigerians. Oftentimes, we travel and we are not treated well, just because you have a Nigerian passport, you’re delayed unnecessarily, foul languages are used on you and you can’t do anything, because you need to go to these places for some reasons.

I think it’s high time our government stood up for us and fought our cause. Maybe if they do it this time, it won’t repeat itself.

Compared to Nigeria, Egypt is so small. For an Egyptian to have the guts to tear a Nigerian passport says a lot.

him that if he had a C.G.P.A of five points which is the maximum, then he could come.

He worked hard for it, got it and I allowed him come to Nigeria.

Would you say we Nigerians share the blame in what happened to your son?

Yes, in the sense that Joshua isn’t the first that such a thing has happened to. He just happened to be the first that has come to light. I read the commentaries and I saw that a lot of people have suffered, maybe not so drastic incidents, but a lot of them have in one way or the other been abused. It’s the system, I guess.

Even when you speak up, no-one is going to take it up. So everyone just believes, why talk? I think it’s time and it should start with our government.

What do you think is responsible for the illtreatment and abuse Nigerians suffer in foreign lands?

Vices perpetrated by some Nigerians.

Everything has a spill over effect. In times past, we had issues of 419, our ladies being quoted to be prostitutes in places like Italy and so on.

But in recent years, our image has improved, because you don’t find Nigerians being mentioned in many of those things as they were before. Probably, the animosity towards us as a people was as a result of these. But then, why should innocent people suffer, because that is what’s happening. Everyone is suffering from the mistakes of a few people.

Where are you from?

I’m from the Niger-Delta, Itsekiri. But Joshua is Yoruba.

Why did you choose Ukraine for your son’s studies?

For the medical courses, Russia (the old USSR) is the best location for Medicine.

Ukraine used to be part of the USSR until between 1990 and 1993. For medicine and aviation, Ukraine is one of the best in the world, that’s why we chose it.

You said your son grew up in Zambia, when did he move to the place?

They relocated in January 2006, because I had started a business in Lusaka. He was born here in Nigeria, but he was about seven years old, when we relocated. He left Nigeria when he was going into Primary Two, so all of his growing years had been outside Nigeria – his primary and high school education was in Lusaka.

Was this his first trip to Nigeria since then?

Yes, it was his first since he left in 2006 for Lusaka. In the last five years, he’s been wanting to come. He would learn Nigerian songs even without knowing their meanings and he would come to ask me their meanings.

He just wanted to come to Nigeria and I promised

Madam Favour Anirejuoritse Gbenebichie

20—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 met the man called I the Black Scorpion who died a couple of

weeks ago, about four times in the 70s. One of them was when I had this interview with him.

I thought of sharing my impressions during those meetings but I believe excerpts of my interview done in August 1977, will better capture the essence of him. Enjoy!

R

ight now, I will do any job that will lead to the saving of souls of fellow Nigerians. Not that I regret my period as a soldier, or my killing days as some people would like to refer to it.

But there are certain times when you need to do some reassessments.

To be a soldier can be a curse in that you are branded. People look at you as if there is no good in you, as if you are just a blood-thirsty cannibal’’.

I took a closer look at him. A slim man, there

—Benjamin Adekunle, Black Scorpion

is nothing particularly menacing about his small frame, except perhaps the slight lifting of the eye brow which gave him a menacing or ferocious look. How did he acquire the acronym: ‘The Black Scorpion?’

He shrugged. ‘’I believe the Western press made a mistake to identify an Octopus as a scorpion and since then it has stuck. You see, the insignia of my battalion was and still is an octopus. I don’t mind. It doesn’t really mean anything to me. I have been branded’’. Another shrug. alk about branding, T he is also seen as a very dangerous man.

‘’Assessments of a human being can be dangerous. If you say I am dangerous in the performance of my duty, as a father I don’t think I am dangerous. If you say I am a radical; yes.

If you say I am a disciplinarian, I will believe you. But if you

say I am dangerous, I’d like some proof. I was considered a radical in the Army because of my ideas. ‘’Just look outside and see if the people need radical changes or not.

Find out if they understand their enemies and their

measure of success in certain areas. He was successful in the art of compromise in all his dealings. But he also successfully raped the norms and traditions of the Army with which the Army had hitherto been able to maintain the standard of discipline

To be a soldier can be a curse in that you are branded

,

The Black Scorpion doesn’t sting anymore.

His venom was neutralised some three years ago when the Gowon regime retired him from the Army. ‘’My killing days are over ”,Brigadier Adekunle affirmed last week at his Surulere residence. ‘’Hitherto I had been labelled as a legalised murderer by the society called Nigerians.

My killing da ys are o days ovver

friends. Radicalism is giving the people a new lease of life to the point where they have a sense of pride and belonging to the Nation.’’

Was it the absence of it that caused the collapse of the Gowon regime? ‘’Part of it’’. He answered. ‘’ Any government would fall that way. But there are other reasons like corruption in thoughts, words and deed. Not forgetting of course that he had some good points and achieved some

,

over and above the common man on the street by prostituting promotion and interfering with discipline.’’

On the issues of the day, Brigadier Adekunle applauded the work of the Constitution Drafting Committee in trying to raise the consciousness of Nigeria to its human resources but disapproved ‘very much’ the proposed two tier legal system’’. ‘’ I am talking about the introduction of the

Sharia court of justice. It just can’t work.’’ Another aspect is revenue allocation. The main revenue is from the oil producing areas.

Nobody has sat down to find out how these people can be compensated for the loss of their land and the conditions of the people in the oil rich areas. My conclusion is this; there are certain forces in this country that believe in maintaining certain principles—whether political or economic— when it suits them most.’’

not understand their rights. Nigerians are so timid that they think that at every corner, a soldier is going to shoot them.

Who the hell is the army?’

What have you been doing since you left the army? shrug. ‘’trying to be a businessman.

A I have had to adjust as

an individual. I wanted to do 22 years in the Army. I only did 14. But I want to make it clear that anybody worth his salt should not be one sided as far as aptitude and capabilities are concerned. Besides, there is some beauty in being a civilian and there are boundless opportunities’’.

Was he rich by the time he left the Army? ‘’It depends on what you mean by being rich.

I was not rich and still not rich. I didn’t make money during the war’’.

On how he became a soldier, he said, ‘’its in the Family and I had a liking for it. I had always been surrounded by uncles and brothers marching all over the damn place’’.

Have you ever been close to death? ‘’Several times. When my boat capsized, when I was shot through the pants in an aircraft, when I crashed a plane etc’’ Are you afraid of death? ‘’Yes. I am afraid of a slow death’’.

e moved on to the H new law on secret society and said, ‘’As far

as I know, there is no law that can govern the conscience of an individual.

Maybe Nigeria will be the first to be successful in her experiment.’’

On the army, he said ‘’ the size of the Army is in line with the political position of Nigeria in Africa. And you can’t tell when there will be peace from when there will be war. America talks to the world the way she does because of its army and the bomb. We don’t have the bomb but we have the human resources. What we should do now is to sharpen our teeth into dangerous fangs.

However, no army worth its salt should feel superior to the people it is supposed to protect.

The trouble with Nigerians is that they do

The impossible place (6) gain we come to you with the glorious word of the Lord. Which we believe will daily bless your soul and cause you to walk in absolute liberty and prosperity.

There are times you find out in life that people who are supposed to support you turn their backs at you or just disappear from you.

Sometimes, for no real reason, they don’t even want to touch you with a long stick. For some, their father or their husbands have moved out of their home and refuse to support them and so things suddenly turn from good to bad. For some, in their offices, they just refuse to promote them even when they ought to be promoted.

Listen, the bible says that the forces of darkness might be at work but even at that, if you are a born again Christian, you are an overcomer and more than a conqueror.

In the book of Esther, the bible says a man by name Haman (who was very close to the king) was able to convince the king to kill all the Jews because a man by name Mordecai refused to bow to him. Now Mordecai, whose niece was married to the king, sent a word to her that the Jews in the land were to be killed and that she must do something about it. The Jews were in an impossible place.

Queen Esther who was the wife of the king was not permitted to see the king unless he sent for her. So you see even Esther was in an impossible situation.

Now, the problem is, if she does not do something, the Jews C M Y K

would be killed and that would include her because she is also a Jew. Now, what can she do? She could not approach her husband because of the law that was in existence in the land but then, she decided to approach her husband the king by first approaching the Almighty God in fasting and prayers (Esther Chapter 4) The bible says that Queen

,

A

held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the head of the scepter. Then said the king unto her, what wilt thou? Queen Esther and what is thy request? It shall be given thee of the kingdom! By prayer and fasting, she broke the

The bible says that the forces of darkness might be at work but even at that, if you are a born again Christian, you are an overcomer and more than a conqueror

Esther, after fasting and praying for three days, approached the king without being sent for by him. Esther 5:1-3. Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther the Queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight. And the king

,

power of the existing law. She not only was able to come to the kings presence, but the enemy Haman who wanted them destroyed was hanged in the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7)

I prophesy unto you, that your enemies will stew in their own stew, every pit they have dug for you they shall fall into it, and every gallow prepared for you, they will hang in it in Jesus Name god bless you, our great nation and President Goodluck Jonathan.

We are trusting God to make a way for us to go on radio and television with the same message of His reality and we count on your financial support in bringing this vision and mission to pass. You can call us on phone to discuss with us or you can send your donations in cheques and cash to our contacts at the end of this message. The mission is estimated to cost about B

N 7 . 5 m ( S e v e n million, five hundred thousand naira). As

B A

G

R

O

B

A

M

E

A

I

A

C

M L

B S

Y

T E

S

A

I

G

U

A

N

T

A G

I

A

B

L

A

M

A U

R

U

A

K

G

E

D

I

N

N

I O

I A

A K

M

S

R M

U

U T

N A

B B

E

I N

U

O M

J

T A

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

A

O

you support our vision to take His reality to the world, the Lord will supernaturally turn around every impossible situation in your life and family.

Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour? If not, but you desire to do so. Then pray this prayer out loud and believe. Father in heaven, I have heard your word, I give you my life; cleanse me of my sins with the blood of Jesus. Make me a new person, Jesus come into my life and be my personal Lord and Saviour. Thank you for saving me in Jesus Name, Amen.

L O

U

R E

M

B

I

E

M

E Z

B

E

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.

W

A

K

N

A

S

B

A A

F

A

M D

L

O

A

A

O

T

T A

N

G

I

O

K

B

O

L

A

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—21

C M Y K

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

JULIET EBIRIM 08137897935

Would you marry a former

I will, but …

—Junior Pope Odonwodo, Actor

prostitute?

M

ost men wouldn’t mind dating a former prostitute, but would you really marry one? What if you are seriously in a relationship with someone that you might end up settling down with, and you suddenly find out she used to be a prostitute before you met her.What would you do? Go ahead and marry her or walk out of the relationship? Here are the responses of some of our celebrities:

I will never trust her — Prince David Osei, Actor

*Prince David

Sincerely speaking from my heart, it’s a yes. This is because they are humans. But before I make such a risky move, there are so many factors to be considered. Firstly, why she was a prostitute. Secondly, she must undergo thorough medical examinations.Thirdly, she would vouch that she won’t go back to her old ways no matter the situation.

Lastly, she must be very attractive.

*Junior Pope

I won’t continue with her. The reason being that I will never trust her because there will always be the tendency to go back. After marriage, if she sees or runs into her wealthy customers, she might be tempted to do a quick one. I have dealt with women, “...old things are passed away...” exist only in biblical sense. If peradventure, I didn’t know before I got married to her. I will divorce her because I will never trust her. But trust me, I will know if she used to be a prostitute before I marry her.

It won’t work

— Rhymzo, Singer Without mincing words, my simple answer is NO! I can’t marry a former prostitute because I don’t think I can cope with the feeling that everybody we meet may probably have had it with her. As a true African, it’s not going to work.

*Rhymzo

*Kelechi Udegbe

If God says yes, why not?

— Kelechi Udegbe, Actor

Some people are currently married to former prostitutes without knowing and their marriage is going well, while some got married to virgins and they don’t have a happy marriage. Most former prostitutes have not only changed, they have moved on with their lives. While some single ladies who were decent got married and became loose and wild.

A man’s happiness, health and wealth depends most times on his wife. I pray for a happy and joyful home, so if God tells me to do it, I will.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—23

Warri ready for Independence show ...as Ja Rule, Ashanti arrive Nigeria, Sept. 30

A

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

merican rap star, Ja Rule, and R&B singer, Ashanti are getting ready to roll with their Nigerian counterparts in what would surely go down as a music concert never seen in the annals of country’s entertainment industry.

Fillers from the organisers of ‘Warri Again: The Flagship’, a musical show, holding at Brownhill Events Centre, Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, October 1, to mark this year’s Independence celebration indicated that the American superstars are arriving the th country on the 30 of September, ahead of the big showdown.

Already, the atmosphere in Warri is charged, as residents are looking forward to the big musical event taking place in the ancient city. The show is expected to attract people from Lagos, Port-Hacourt and other Nigerian cities. “Yes, the people are full of expectations as they can’t wait for the show any more. They are looking forward to seeing some of the top Nigerian artistes to play in Warri. The likes of Wizkid, Patoranking among others. They are excited and people are rushing for our tickets,”the Managing Partner/CEO of Brownhill Events Centre, Mrs Julie Pinnick told Matinee during the week.

Perqueen of songs, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Flavour, Oritsefemi, Yemi Alade, Patoranking, Olamide, Wizkid, Iyanya, Dr

Sid, Harrysong, Ice Prince, Daddy Showkey and Seyi Shay are among the top musicians that will be performing alongside their American counterparts at the event.

Others are top comedians including AY, Bovi, Buchi, I GoDye, Basketmouth, Okey Bakasi, Gordons, I Go Save, Funny Bone, Buchi, Baba Kome and Frank De Don. Whereas DJ Xclusive and Explicit Dance Crew will be handling the entertainment stuff, the show will be anchored by acecomedian Ali Baba and Omawumi, with a guest appearance by Don Jazzy.

Speaking on the show, Managing Partner/CEO of Brownhill Events Centre, Mrs Julie Pinnick said, ‘Warri Again’ is a show aimed at rebranding Warri and making it a destination for entertainment.We can use entertainment to drive social and commerical activities in Warri.. I am happy that people are beginning to acquaint themselves with what Warri really stands for; peace, hospitality and warmth. The forthcoming show, I can tell you will be the biggest show ever to be organised in here. The vision is to keep using entertainment to drive the economy of Warri, she added.

The maiden show was held in October, last year and this was followed by the Valentine Night show.

•Ashanti

•Ja Rule

ST Michael’s Chapel unveils gospel music event Grace Ogizeh speaking at the event

A

BY OSA AMADI

3-day scintillating gospel music carnival cum competition kicked off last Thursday, September 25, at ST Michael’s Chapel, Erunwen Ikorodu, Lagos. The musical event titled ‘Praise Him With Swag’ continued Friday and will climax with the grand finale tomorrow, Sunday 28 September, 2014.

‘Praise Him With Swag’ is organised by the youth department of ST Michael’s Chapel (SMC), A Touch From Heaven Ministries, with the aim of tapping the abundant gospel music talents in Ikorodu and Lagos generally, as well as empowering the youths to excel in all aspects of life. Addressing the gospel artistes and youths who came to be auditioned for the competition, the General Overseer of SMC, Reverend Joe Edoro, popularly known as PJ, an avid friend of young people and philanthropist, said the Thursday hilarious performances was only a sample of the great things to come on Friday all-night and the Sunday grand finale.

He praised the youths, saying they have passed a test of their organisational ability to which he had subjected

them without their knowledge. PJ promised to make subsequent editions of the event big. One of the high points of the Thursday event was a presentation by the guest speaker, Grace Florence Ogizeh, a youth empowerment lecturer and founder of the NGO Grace FM. Grace listed the steps youths must take to self empowerment and transformation: determination, responsibility, study, vision, faith (in self and in God), diligence, focus, persistence, positive mindset or optimism, and knowledge. “If you are not transformed, you cannot impact your environment,” she said, adding that one question God will ask every youth is: what did you do with this information you have been given today?”

Kemi Seidu, a physiotherapist, also spoke on youth empowerment, saying that poverty is not an excuse for failure. “Use your youth to help yourself. While pursuing academics, try to equip yourself with a hand work. Work and pray,” she urged the young people.

The entire event was made lively by Tunji Sax, an accomplished saxophonist with Solomon and Miraculous on the piano keyboard, Miracle Edoro on the drums, Great Edoro on the conga complimented with a wonderful choir. The Youth president of St Michael’s Chapel, Gabriel Ayoo, was so busy running up and down to ensure that everything was working that he missed his time to give introductory remark at the beginning of the music carnival.

Emma Nyra talks on her cleavage

•Ema Nyra

D

espite her educational background in Health Administration, supertalented singer, Emma Nyra, found love in music and has proven beyond doubt that she has come to stay in the industry.

In a chat recently, the sexy singer talks on her opinion on exposing cleaverage.

Hear her: “ It’s not that I flaunt them but part of your selling point as a female artist is your body, your voice, your look, your hair, everything. Like, Chidinma’s lack of hair is her selling point, you understand. Each part of you is your selling point. Somebody like Toolz for example, her selling point is her body.

Before her voice, it’s her body. As a woman, her own packaging is always different.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

With FLORENCE AMAGIYA

08061644307 email: daise4000@yahoo.com

JULIUS AGWU: The zero to hero of a versatile Comedian!

Wishes to be governor of his state come, 2015…

I

t is no news anymore that Ace Comedian, Julius Agwu was born “without a spoon” as he always mention in most of his interviews. His story is that of a young man who wasn’t born into wealth, yet his love for the good things of life prompted his struggle which led to his glory. Julius devised ways to become better than his contemporaries even at School, social gatherings and everywhere he went. Agwu began the journey as a little sales boy; hawking wares on the streets of Portharcourt; he was only a young boy,but he became a perpetual late-comer just because he had to attend his own business in the early hours of the morning before going to School which was also in the morning. His saviour on such days which were not few was his comedy and entertainment.

He would get to the School very late and he would have to entertain his class until it became a pattern for him to get to the class late and entertain everyone as punishment. It is no wonder that, entertainment and comedy is an integral part of his life. Julius Agwu charges over three million naira per show as a comedian and as a performer, He is a musician, an actor as he has acted in some movies; he kicked- off his acting career when he acted in a popular, Nigerian movie titled“Rattle Snake”. Rattle Snake was shot and produced in 1993.

Julius also comperes events as well as he does other businesses. Today, he has taken upon himself to run for the gubernitorial election in his state in 2015. In this edition, we introduce to you, a versatile young man who is planning another Another Agwu's car ‘Crack Ya Ribs show’ in Abuja next month, as well as his declaration party.

Enjoy!

Julius D’ Genius

C M Y K

•Julius Agwu

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 — 25

Julius Agwu is from Choba in Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. He was born 41 years ago in Choba, Portharcourt main Town on April 7th, 1973 to Chief Augustine Amadi Agwu and Mrs. Mary Agwu. He was the fifth child of his father’s six children. He completed his primary education in Choba and attended Government Secondary school, Borokiri, also in Portharcourt. He obtained a Diploma in Theatre Acts and a degree also in Theatre Arts.

Although it was not rosy for Julius even as a student, in the University as he virtually sponsored himself, but that didn’t stop him from taking it further. While in the Higher Institution, Julius would travel all the way from Portharcourt to Lagos sitting on the ''attachment'' seat, just to find greener pasture in entertainment . It was one of such journeys that he first landed a role in the movie titled “Rattle Snake’ in 1993. After Rattle Snake, Julius did other movies and also produced one of his titled ‘the gods also cry’. He tried his hands also in music, since he was in the choir as a child and as a youth. Julius Agwu single-handedly founded the genre of music in Nigeria known as musicomedy which actually made him so popular. He became the first Comedian to release a comedy album in Nigeria and since then many other Comedians have tried their hands and have been successful.

After conquering the home front, D' Genius took his shows and skills to different parts of the world; he has shows in Atlanta, Maryland, London, among others. He has show case his Crack Ya Ribs and Laff for Christ Sake in these places and received many accolades.

Charity/ Foundation One outstanding thing about Julius Agwu is that he is a massive giver and considers people. This, he display via his yearly Crack Ya Ribs shows where he usually sponsors all his cast and crew abroad. With the support of some great establishments like the Diamond Bank, Arik Air, which has been his official airline and Virgin Nigeria.

He has a foundation called JAFOY, Julius Agwu

Foundation for the Youths. Under which he has a football talent hunt that he does in Portharcourt yearly, he also supports the orphanages. He empowers and creates platforms to enable the youths both in Rivers state and other parts of Nigeria to achieve their dreams.

Awards/ Recognition As recent as a week ago, D' genius travelled to Dehli, India for a summit sponsored by the Indians. The summit was to discuss the way forward for the Nigerian entertainment business partnering with the Indian entertainment business. He was their guest of honor and the only African invited to speak. Julius Agwu has won lots of awards and nomination both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. He was the first to take comedy abroad as a way of making the Africans in Diaspora feel at home. His latest show in Abuja for October is sponsored by Heritage bank; the official airline is Dana.

Investment

•Julius and his children

Julius believes in investing in human lives more than buying all the properties in the world; it is no wonder, he registered a Construction company in Portharcourt where he has employed many Youths, and the aged. These ones for lack of employment would have ended up as armed robbers, militants, prostitutes and killers.

Perhaps, this is the singular reason why the sons and daughters of Rivers state in the Diaspora believe so much in him and are willing to support him come 2015? Julius Agwu plans to pick up the mantle when his brother, Governor Rotimi Amechi, the present governor leaves.

Properties/ cars Although he is still in a nice, rented apartment on the Island, the dude has a state of the art mansion in Portharcourt. He is also secretly concluding a mansion in Portharcourt for his … As for cars, the dude loves the Mercedes Benz above all, he is of the opinion that the Benz is a machine. He has the latest 4matic SUV and a few others.

•One of his SUV

Clothes The dude loves standing out in bright clothings and he does his designs himself.

One of Julius''s Range Rover

•Julius and his family

•Julius' family and his new born baby C M Y K

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

When KSA blessed me —Waje W

e haven’t seen Waje this excited in a while.

‘Inspired’ is the most appropriate word to describe her feeling when she took to her Instagram page to wish King Sunny Ade a happy birthday.

In her words: “I watched him perform in 2010 for the first time in London and I was reborn. Amazed! Inspired and blessed because few minutes before he climbed the stage he laid his hands on me and prayed for me backstage. Powerful words of wisdom, he gave me happy birthday my daddy music KSA” Waje is currently promoting the visuals of her song’ Onye’ featuring Tiwa Savage.

*Waje

I’m happy Guinness identified with me — Eva Alordiah F orget her tom-boy attitude. Fastrising rapper Eva Alordiah who recently signed an endorsement deal with Guinness Nigeria Plc disclosed how she feels about the platform Guinness has given her. According to her: “The Guinness #MadeOfBlack campaign is one I am very proud to be a part of. It speaks volumes of the same things and ideals I have been trying to pass across for a while now. What we have just talked about with my new single “War Coming” is what Guinness is trying to pass across with this campaign all over Africa which I think is huge. I’m happy Guinness identified with me as real as I am and enough to give me a role as significant as this”

Describing the inspiration behind her new single ‘War Coming’ she says she has long identified with the song because it tells the story of her many struggles with life. “ As someone who has gone through many ups and downs to get where I am, having a medium as beautiful as music to express myself and my many views through real life experiences, the song “War Coming” helps me do that with ease. It’s like you are at war with yourself in search for a better you, a more successful you, a deeper sweeter meaning to this beautiful life we have been blessed with.

Phyno shows romantic side on social media

I

t seems Azubuike Chibuzor Nelson known as Phyno in the Nigerian music terrain is a loverboy at heart even though he tries to project a tough exterior.

The indigenous rapper recently on his Instagram page posted a picture where a monkey was seen saving a puppy. And what did he do, he asked a question of his fans; “If animals can say why can’t we? Where is the love?”

Phyno is currently one of the most sought after rappers in the Nigerian music scene and he shares a deep chemistry with fellow indigenous rapper Olamide.

*Eva Alordiah

*Martins

Many people think I did surgery on my hips —Ella Martins

E

lla Martins has been under fire since her picture and that of Genevieve Nnaji surfaced online, allegedly kissing. But the actress that cried out that there is nothing untoward between her and the Nigerian leading lady of the screen, has shrugged off the experience has since continued with her life. She recently released her 5th album tagged ‘Success’ featuring hit single ‘Baby Chocolat’ In another chat with Showtime she opened up on what was her most embarrassing moment. She said during a stage performance fans carried her up and tried to have a feel of her backside.

She puts it this way:”There are two accounts of my most embarrassing moments as an artiste. The first one was when I was performing with DJ Arafat and during the performance he stopped to kiss me. I was also performing with Orezi when the crowd carried me and tried to have a feel of my backside. I was really embarrassed.”

She continues:”A lot of people think I did a surgery on my hips but I didn’t” she declares.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 — 27

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

Stop denying your wife, Adokiye tells Kcee S

eductively beautiful singer, Adokiye Kyrian who has just released the video of her single ‘Back Up’ never steered too far away from the news not because she loves reading about herself in the papers but because she is very opinionated and could not turn her back on things she considers disgusting to her person and principles as a person The 23-year old singer has said she is not happy with the way the ‘Limpopo’ crooner, Kcee has been making a mess of his wife in the pages of newspapers and on social media. “ Only in Nigeria a guy will marry and when he makes money he turns his wife into a slave. Look at Kcee, the musician. He is lucky he is not married to someone like me, I would have called on the gods of my village to strike him down for me,” She began. “ Some guys in Nigeria are so irresponsible and it drives me insane and sometimes I wonder if ever I would want anything with a Nigerian guy. I am too scared of what our

generation has become. When I say turning his wife into a slave, I mean by denying her publicly. It is something too wrong for a responsible man to do. I fear if these young men are truly the people that would become leaders of tomorrow. People who deny their families?”

She queried When she was reminded that Kcee has said in the past that he is legally married to his wife, Ijeoma Okonkwo, the actress rebutted : “ I wonder why someone that is officially married would do that. Kcee says he is not married in a story I read and he explained why he is not married. I pray he is h a p p i l y married as you said he once claimed”

Gulder Ultimate begins drill in Aguleri Jungle A

Brymo returns with Fe mi O

lawale Ashimi, better known as Brymo is back and bubbling after his controversial split with Chocolate City. The talented Afro-pop sensation created the spark in Ice Prince’s ‘Oleku’ and surprised many when he gave an excellent rendition of ‘Ara’.

Brymo is working on his forthcoming album titled ‘Tabula Rasa’. His new single ‘Fe mi’ might just be the song he needs to relaunch himself into the music terrain.

The song is not your regular clubbanging track that is littering the Nigerian airwaves, it’s a soft traditional ballad where Byrmo brought out the best of his honeyed voice convincing his love interest to marry him. Brymo’s fans are in for a blend of melody and depth when they listen to this easy on the ear song.

fter an intense exercise which saw them overcoming several obstacles when other hopefuls fell by the wayside; and after a suspense-filled final selection party, which coincided with the launch of a new Gulder bottle, the contestants for this year’s Gulder Ultimate Search have finally proceeded to the Aguleri forest.

Their search for this year ’s hidden treasure has commenced in earnest.

The lucky contestants for this year ’s search, tagged ‘The Mission’ are: Iwuoha Ikenna, Nwagboso, Joshua, EmedikeIkenna, Nne Cosy Joe, Ubachukwu, Chinedu, Otto, Canon Chimenem, Afolabi Emmanuel Olusegun, IrohNoela and Appi Samantha.

ErijakporLoretta, Robinson Sharon, Eriata Blessing Ese, AddohEvi and Nwagbagiro Sandra.

Prior to their entry into the jungle, the contestants paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, at the State Government House in Awka Anambra State. The delegation from Nigerian Breweries Plc., manufacturers of Gulder lager beer, which led the contestants to the Anambra State Government House included Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend and Life, OnyekaOkoli, Senior Brand Manager, Gulder and Seun Lawal, Brand Manager, Gulder. *Gov Willie Obian of Anambra State with GUS contestants

I get paid to attend events —Toke Makinwa P

etite radio personality and red carpet regular, Toke Makinma, who many have questioned for her attending many events has come out to explain why she graces many events.

“Attending events is part of my work as well. I do get paid to attend some events. When you grow a brand and it becomes a solid one, people will want to associate with it. And if they have some products or services they think is in sync with your brand they invite you to be part of it. Some just feel your presence alone at their events add glamour. I see it as work as well. I really don’t go out to have fun or just hang out. I think I enjoy the fact that it’s a job and I am getting paid for it. I am the life of a party and that hasn’t changed.

I love talking, I love to go out to listen to music and have a good time. That’s who I am and I am truly happy to be with someone who appreciates that part of me” she said

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

08111813022

T

wenty two years after it ruled the silver screen in the 90s, “Nneka the Pretty Serpent,’ one of the most influential home videos in Nigeria, is set to hit the screen again.

Also, hitting the screen is the epic film, “Battle of Musanga”, which has been produced since 20 years ago, but was yet to hit the market for reasons best known to the producer, ‘Beyond Vows” among others.

Notable film maker and businessman, Igwe gabosky Okoye who is embaking on this laudable project said, has commenced the process of reproducing the evergreen Nollywood movies to sustain the legacy.

The films made waves in the 90s, and later went into oblivion when the ovation was still very loud.

While it was in vogue,‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent’served as a career Launchpad for the likes of Ndidi Obi, Eucharia Anunobi, Ngozi Ezeonu and Rita Nzelu, Sam Loco and Kanayo O. KanayIt was directed by veteran director, Zeb Ejiro and featured cameo appearances by actors late James Iroha, Claude Eke and singer Nelly Uchendu. ‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent’ tells the story of a

Nneka, the Pretty Serpent, other Nollywood classics set to hit the screen again mermaid disguised as human Accoding to Gabsoky, “Reproducing these films is in line with the ideals of my organisation-GMedia. We will be marketing contemporary Nigerian movies as well as classics; those movies that heralded Nollywood which included; “Battle of Musanga’, Nneka, the Pretty Serpent, Fatal Desire, Living in Bondage, Evil Passion and Circle of Doom.

Some of these films, I still have them in my shelve. I will be meeting with the producers with the aim of reproducing them.

That’s why I started by reproducing my own works; Battle of Musanga, Nneka, The Pretty Serpent, Beyond the Vows.

I will not limit myself to Gabosky’s Productions. I will go beyond that to create the difference in the industry. I want to tell the story

that movies are supposed to sell for eternity, and not for a while”.

Gabosky said, he preserved the films, adding that the films went through audio-visual corrector in order to make them meet the standard of today. ‘It’s same production but they films are clearer now than before. Nneka (played

by Ndidi Obi) whose mission on earth was to go after married men. She would use her supernatural powers to hypnotize any man she fancied and eventually destroy them. Although shot

*Lancelot is truly the Guvnor —Zeb Ejiro

T

hunderous ovation greeted the screen of Lancelot Imasuen’s historical movie, “Invasion 1897' as an opening film act the just concluded Abuja International Film Festival.

The film, last month premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canada, and also screened inside the Bristish Museum, ealy this month.

Meanwhile, after seeing the film at the festival, veteran dirctor, Zeb Ejiro acknowledged Lancelot’s creativity, saying “We

P

C M Y K

in Igbo language and subtitled in English, the movie still gained a lot of attention in the other parts of the country, especially in the South West. Gabosky recently launched his distribution network, G-Media to check the excesses of pirates and reurn Nollywood to its lost glory.

Applause greets screening of Invasion 1897 in Abuja

Adora is set to open doors for me —Bridget John roducer of award-winning movie, “Adora”, Bridget John has said that she was surprised when the movie was named the Best Film in the Diaspora category at the just concluded Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards held recently in Beverly Hills, USA. The beautiful and delectable Bridget, who is based in America told HVP that she was overwhelmed with emotions after her film, which she played a lead character, beat top films to the Best African film in Diaspora at the awards ceremony. “ I did not see it coming but I was hoping to win the award. When ‘Adora” was declared winner for Best Film in the Diaspora, I was ecstatic. It was unbelievable. I felt so honoured. The film is set to open doors for me. There were some good films in the same category, like Ortega and his Enemies, Go Fish, Gem of the Rain Forest, and Busted Life, but I would say Adora had an edge over them because of it’s uniqueness. It is an independent film with a diverse cast.

According to Briget, “Adora had an awesome cast and crew that understood the art of Film making.

“Adora is a captivating film. It takes

*Igwe Gabosky

*Bridget John

you on a roller coaster ride with lots of twists and turns. It is about the life of Adora a young mother going through tribulations and just when she thinks she is at the end of the tunnel the inevitable happens. A lot of people can relate to the story as we all go through challenges everyday, but whether we sink or float is up to us. There is an Adora in everyone of us”.

She said that she decided to go into movie production because of her love for the arts.

Briget said, she’s planning to bring the movie which was written by Dianne Diaz and directed by Austeen Eboka.

call him Lancelot, the Guvno, and after seeing this film, I must conclude that he he’s truly the Guvnor.

Set in the ancient Benin Kingdom, the movie portrays how the British invaded the kingdom, deposed its ruler, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, and looted the palace, carting away religious sculptures as artefacts.

The movie was commended by the audience at the screening for trying to tell the “African story” from an African Perspective.

Lancelot said, Invasion 1897 was premiered in Toronto, Canada. It was also shown at the British Museum, Britain in August, at the Smithsonian in Washington DC, US and in Brasilia, Brazil during the FIFA 2014 World Cup.

*Lancelot

SATURDAY

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—29

Eat these foods and lose belly fat!

O

atmeal Your morning snack attack is caused by a dip in blood sugar levels. Fibre-rich oatmeal stays in your stomach for hours, staving off a doughnut run. Steer clear of the sugary flavoured varieties. Choose the plain stuff, and sweeten it with berries.

Almonds and Other Nuts Go nuts! They slim your tummy by keeping it full. A study showed that people who ate nuts felt full longer than those who ate rice cakes. Stick to 24 almonds a day to satisfy your hunger pangs without overloading on calories. Skip salted nuts; too much sodium raises blood pressure.

Olive Oil Everyone needs a little fat—it controls hunger.

Go for monounsaturated fats like olive or canola oil. They will help keep your cholesterol under control and satisfy cravings. Steer clear of hydrogenated vegetable oils; they’re loaded with unhealthy trans fat.

Berries Berries stuff a lot of filling fibre into a tiny package: Just one cup of raspberries has six grams.

Jelly is the junk food of the fruit world. It has almost no fiber and contains added sugar.

Eggs Eggs contain vitamin B12, which your body needs to metabolize fat.

In fact, researchers at Louisiana State University found that people who ate eggs for breakfast every day lost more weight than those who ate bagels. Talk to your doc first if your cholesterol is high.

Beans and Legumes Beans are low-cal and packed with protein and fibre, which help you tone up and lose weight. Make a beanheavy dish, such as burritos, instead of meat once a week. You’ll cut a lot of saturated fat and replace it with fibre.

Refried beans are high in saturated fat. Choose

C M Y K

•Choose right:fibre-rich foods,like oatmeal stays in your stomach for hours...

plain black, pinto, or other varieties instead.

Lean Meats and Fish Your body burns more calories digesting protein than carbs or fat. Want the leanest meat out there? Opt for turkey, but to cut down even more on saturated fat, choose fish. Go for tuna and salmon; they are full of omega-3s, which help prevent stress chemicals that promote fat abs.

Cured meats and sausage have a lot of saturated fat.

Whole Grains The right kinds of carbs are actually good for you. Choose whole grains — their fiber keeps you from getting hungry.

Sometimes bread labelled “ wheat” has been stripped of all of its fibre and nutrients. Look for

“whole grain” or “100 percent whole wheat.”

Peanut Butter Who would have guessed that a kid-friendly food could be waist-friendly, too?

Peanut butter is packed with niacin, which keeps the digestive system on track and prevents belly bloat.

Just keep an eye on portion size: Peanut butter does have a lot of fat, so limit yourself to no more than two tablespoons a day. Pick allnatural peanuts, which doesn’t contain added sugar.

Green Vegetables If their vitamins and minerals don’t persuade you, maybe their waist-

whittling powers will do the trick. Veggies like spinach and broccoli are loaded with fiber and very few calories.

Have a salad before a meal and you’ll be satisfied with smaller portions later.

Iceberg lettuce has almost no fibre. Fill your bowl with romaine, arugula, or spinach instead.

Dairy There’s a reason the woman in the yogurt commercial fits into her bikini: Calcium helps break down fat and may even prevent it from forming!

Always pick low-fat or fat-free dairy over the full-fat versions.

Avocados In addition to containing lots of heart-healthy

monounsaturated fats, avocados are a terrific source of filling fibre (11 to 17 grams per avocado!), making them a great food for staving off hunger.

Iced tea Tea, especially green tea, is rich in antioxidants that have been proven to speed metabolism.

In fact, according to Swiss researchers, tea-drinking subjects burn a whopping 266 more calories per day than those who abstain. For consummate calorie-torching, skip bottled teas — processing has depleted them of slimming nutrients. Instead, steep a tea bag in one cup of hot water for two minutes, then cool with ice cubes. Enjoy four cups daily.

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

08 116759 759 081 6759759

t! osst!

Prros F

irst kegs of Oktoberfest are tapped for Munich’s 181st beer celebration (and it’s not just the steins which are overflowing!)

With a cry of ‘O zapft is’ Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter tapped the first keg of 2014’s Oktoberfest festivities in the Bavarian capital of Munich where 6.4 million revellers are expected over the next 16 days.

The annual beer festival’s tents were packed well before lunchtime on Saturday as thou-

sands of locals and tourists took part in a tradition that’s taken place in some form since 1810, and inspired imitations the world over. Sellers of traditional lederhosen and dirndls did a roaring trade in the lead-up with a majority of first-day festival goers looking the part.

The thousands who managed to gain entry on the opening day were undeterred by an average 2.58 per

cent hike in the price of beer that this year exceeds the 10 Euro mark in some halls. In seven of the festival’s main tents in its heartland in Munich, punters will part with at least the equivalent of £8 for a glass measuring 1.76 UK pints, of which two out of three won’t be filled properly according to an official on duty last year. The annual festival brings hundreds of millions to the local economy, with an estimated £252m flowing at the venues themselves, while hotels and hostels get a boost of more than £230m for their hugely inflated room rates. Oktoberfest runs until October 5.

DUMPED HUSBAND QUEUES FOR 44 HOURS TO BUY NEW IPHONE Circus, Bristol at midday on Wednesday to make sure he would definitely be able to get one of the handsets.

His wife Joanna called an end to the 20 year marriage after she accused him of valuing material possessions over his family.

But Mr Wlodarski, who was born in Poland but now lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, decided to make the peace and spend £800 on a new iPhone for her – despite being out of work. He was determined to keep a promise he made to her before their marriage hit the

rocks and paid for the device on a credit card.

Mr Wlodarski has admitted the break-up was his fault: ‘I wasn’t the best husband and father unfortunately. I didn’t know how important family was to me.

‘I did so many things wrong and I want to say sorry to my wife and daughter that I wasn’t as good as I could.’

To make up for his mistakes Mr Wlodarski made sure he was the first person in the queue, arriving a whole day before anyone else.‘Lots of people in the queue were very happy but it was different for me because of the circumstances. ‘It took me a while to realise what really mattered - and that is my family. ‘My wife said to me I should remember that it is now “things” that matter, that I was worrying too much about saving for things, and she was right.

‘I know an iPhone is another “thing”, but I told her I would get her one and I wanted to keep my promise.’

D

umped husband queues for 44 hours to buy new iPhone in desper ate bid to win back wife who ditched him because of his obsessions with gadgets. A heartbroken husband queued for 44 hours to buy the new iPhone 6 in a bid to win back his wife after she kicked him out - because of his obsession with gadgets.

Darius Wlodarski, 41, started queuing outside the Apple store in Cabot

Protocol? What protocol?

A

dorable moment three-year-old interrupts homecoming procession to hug his mother after her ninemonth tour of Afghanistan.

It was the emotional moment these soldiers had dreamed of for nine months in Afghanistan: to finally be dismissed so they could see their families. But as they dutifully waited in line to receive orders, threeyear-old Cooper Wald-

vogel took charge. Ignoring the strict military protocol, he ran up to the troops and into the arms of his mom Kathryn, a member of the National Guard.

The line of uniformed officers from Chisholm, Minnesota, tried desperately to keep straight faces as the touching display reduced many to tearful smiles and laughter.

But 25-year-old Kathryn could do nothing to contain her excitement. ‘I

was longing to hold him, that’s all I thought about,’ Ms Waldvogel told USA Today.

‘It just melts my heart’.

The troops who served with th e National

Guard’s 114th Transportation Company had been ordered not to interact with family members as they stood in line. This moment, however, was the first time in 18 months little Cooper would have both his parents together.

His father Adam returned from his ninemonth tour in Afghani-

stan with the 850th Horizontal Engineers in December. And Cooper could not wait a second longer. The family will now be based together in Chisholm for the foreseeable future, so they can all make up for lost time.

Ms Waldvogel’s regiment - known colloquially as The Wolfpack - spent almost a year moving equipment to close bases.

There were no combat casualties during the tour.

Since 2001, more than 25,000 Minnesota National Guard members have been deployed, serving in more than 33 countries worldwide, according to the Minnesota National Guard. As of September 7, there were more than 13,000 soldiers and airmen in the state’s National Guard. Of those men and women, about 600 soldiers and airmen, including the 114th Transportation Company, were deployed in support on the war on terrorism.

C

olombian women’s cy cling team refuse to stop wearing bizarre flesh-coloured kit.

A Colombian women’s cycling team are not ‘ashamed’ of their new flesh-coloured uniform despite being criticised by the International Cycling Union. The team, who sport a uniform which is flesh-coloured between the stomach and thigh area, have defended their new kit at a press conference in Bogota, Italy.

Team member Angie Rojas said: ‘I’ve already said that I designed the uniform and as an athlete, as a woman, as the cyclist that I am, I wouldn’t be ashamed with this kind of design.’ Brian Cookson, the president of the International Cycling Union, called the uniforms ‘unacceptable by any standard of decency’, according to The Telegraph.

The uniforms were worn by the IDRD-Bogota HumanaSan Mateo-Solgar riders at the Tour of Tuscany in Italy over the weekend.

‘As a woman I wouldn’t be ashamed with this kind of design’

The race is held in honour of former Italian champion, Michela Fanini, whose promising career was cut short when she died in a car crash in 1994 at just 21 years old.

The team had taken to the stage in their new kit, seemingly unaware of how exposed they were and the criticism that lay ahead. It is unclear if the six-women team will wear a similar uniform next week at the road world championships in Ponderrada, Spain.

The uniform caused quite a stir on social media where it was described as the ‘worst ever’ and ‘unintentionally vagina-like’. Some have questioned whether the uniform was simply a stunt. And comparisons were also made with other sporting fashion mishaps - such as the Scottish team’s kit at this summer’s Commonwealth Games which involved a strange tartan and blue spotted design.

SA TURD AY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—31 SATURD TURDA

Pomp as Lai Ogunbiyi’s daught er w eds daughter weds

I

L-R: Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi; Chief Dipo Onabanjo; Gov Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Mr Biodun Shobanjo.

t was joy and celebration galore at the Ipara-Remo residence of Chief Yemi Ogunbiyi last Saturday when the daughter of his brother, Lai Ogunbiyi was given out in marriage to Adebayo Gboyega Dalemo, son of Professor and Mrs Isaac Ayinde. The traditional marriage and engagement ceremony saw Temitope Abigail becoming a member of the Dalemo’s family.

Many high profile dignitaries graced the event. Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

The couple; Mr. and Mrs Adebayo Gboyega Dalemo,

L-R: Dr and Mrs Lai Ogunbiyi, parents of the bride with Mrs Wunmi Ogunbiyi.

Actress, Nazareth mar ks bir thda marks birthda thdayy L-R: HRM Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Ooni of Ife and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

L-R; Olori Ladun Sijuwade and Lady Maiden Ibru, Publisher, Guardian Newspaper

N

ollywood actress, Nazareth Jesse Bako marked her birthday penultimate Sunday in Abuja. Few friends from the entertainment industry turned up to celebrate with her

Medview inaugural flight dinner

M

embers of staff of Medview Airline and their top management were in exhilarating celebratory when the company successfully conducted its inaugural flight from Lagos to Accra. In celebration of the landmark achievement a dinner for the staff and their associates held at the Nigerian Embassy in Accra, Ghana. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

Nazareth Jesse Bako dancing with friends

Members of staff of Medview Airline with the MD, Alhaji Munir Bankole (sitting 3rd right) at the dinner.

From left; Captain Wale Oke, Head, Flight Operations, Medview Airline; Alhaji Munir Bankole, MD and Ambassador Ademola Onafowokan, Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana Nazareth flanked by Kcee and Harrysong

From left; Mansur Bamaki, Ososona Oluropo and Poko Abraham, all of Nigerian Embassy in Ghana at the ceremony.

Mr Seyi Oyefeso, Managing Director, First Bank Ghana and Mrs Boyin Famous-Cole

Nazareth Jesse Bako with comedian, Gordon

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

F

air-skinned Nollywood damsel, Uche Ogbodo, who has just returned from the United States after the delivery of her baby girl, is no stranger to controversies. The current one rocking her boat is about her failed marriage to ex-Nigerian footballer, Ato Ubby. While some say she dumped the man because he had a brain tumour, others accused the actress of marrying the hapless footballer only for money.

But Uche is back and ready to tell her own side of the story about her marriage and other issues: What have you been up to since you came back?

It’s just two weeks that I came back. I haven’t really been up to anything. I’m still new, so I’m still trying to weigh the current and know where to land Don’t you want to be an actress any longer?

I have always been an actress. I didn’t quit. I was just pregnant and pregnancy is like a curse. It took me a while, but now I’m out of that. I need to re-organise myself and get back to my work Did you do any movie after your Turning Point premiere?

Turning Point is not my movie, my friend produced the movie and I only went to support it during the premier

Re rea ma cra

What movies have you done recently?

I’ve done a lot of movies; I did Festac Town for iROKOtv, I did Raging Passion, Sacrifice for Marriage, and I did a lot of other movies even while I was pregnant.

Have you left your husband for real?

The marriage didn’t work out.

Was it really a marriage?

It was a marriage but we didn’t do any wedding. We didn’t do any court marriage or church wedding. We did nothing. We didn’t even do traditional marriage but in my culture, there are many processes to getting married and I did a few of those, so you can say I was married. In Igbo land, there are rites you adhere to before you can say this is my wife and I did a couple of them.

—U

* fo

Why did you do the rites in secret?

You cannot do rites openly; it’s just a family thing, family members only. It’s not a traditional wedding. If I had done traditional wedding, I would definitely invite people. If I had done a white wedding, I would have invited people. If I had done a court marriage, I would still have invited people but it was just rites. I didn’t do anything the public needed to know, so you can’t say I did any marriage in secret.

What really made you leave your husband?

My marriage was full of lies. I cannot tell you in detail what those lies were, if that’s what you’re trying to make me do but it was based on lies. It’s a pity it didn’t work out. I didn’t go into the marriage to crash it. I wanted a family; I wanted a loving home and a loving husband. That was why I went into it in the first place but as nature would have it, I didn’t get any of those. I still thank God my head is intact Did he cheat on you? What exactly did he do?

No, it’s not about women. Like I always say, you cannot build a home on sinking sand. You need to

build a home on a rock.

What I mean is that a marriage built on deceit and lies is no marriage at all. If you want a solid marriage, it must be built on honesty and trustworthiness. If not, it’s definitely going to crash.

If it doesn’t crash today, it will crash tomorrow, so the lies are my reasons.

When did you discover he was lying to you?

Well, it was good while it lasted; he was a good man to me. I felt all I saw was all I was supposed to see but later when one thing led to another and things started unfolding. I started finding out that everything was not what it seemed. Every relationship, you have problems in-between, there is no relationship that just goes on smoothly.

,

BY DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

I have always been an actress. I didn’t quit, I was just pregnant and pregnancy is like a curse. It took me a while, but now I’m out of that. I need to reorganise myself and get back to my work

In the process of friendship and dating, we had issues that we resolved but when we took it to the next level we just couldn’t hold it together. There are things you can hide as friends but as married couple it is impossible because so many other things like families are

,

involved. As his girlfriend some things that were hidden were revealed when I became his wife. What happened between me and my husband is between me and my husband. We caused it, both of us caused it.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 — 33

Uche Ogbodo

Says the door is open or other men

For how long were you guys together?

The marriage lasted barely a month before we started having issues. We were having issues before I found out I was pregnant.

Are you planning to raise your child as a single mother?

When I don’t have a husband, I’m raising her alone. I can’t throw my child away. It’s not her fault that the marriage didn’t work out, it’s not her fault that I got pregnant, it’s not her fault that we didn’t take our marriage seriously, so I’m going to raise her no matter what happens.

How old is she now?

She’s a month and two weeks now

Some people were saying you got into the marriage because of money?

I didn’t get into the marriage because of money in the first place. I got into the marriage because I wanted to be married and because I saw something in him that I felt would work out for me later in life. I didn’t go into it because of money; there were no millions to spend so it wasn’t about money. I don’t care what people say. What matters is the truth and I try to be very straightforward when I deal with people. So, it wasn’t about money because there was none Others are saying you left him because of his brain tumor?

He doesn’t have brain tumor. He was sick at the time, he had issues but his sickness is not the reason why our marriage crashed. Money was not the issue either. I would definitely know about his health status before I would marry a man. I knew what I was going into, so how could I just leave a man because he had a brain tumor? It’s funny

What attracted you to your husband before you married him?

I saw something in him that nobody had ever seen. I saw a man that was a good man inside his heart. It’s not like when you’re looking at him everything is perfect but I saw that deep down somewhere, there’s a good man. Without the influence of society, he would have been different. I blame it on society and I blame it on him. He allowed things to influence but he was born a good man and I thought I could bring that goodness out in him. I thought that I could change something and make it better. I tried but it didn’t work out.

Was it completely his fault that your marriage

You said he didn’t have a brain tumor, what was really wrong with him?

I cannot tell you, he would tell you. He was sick, he was treated but it had nothing to do with the brain. He had surgery but it was not brain tumor, it was not cancer, he was just sick and I thank God that he’s alive. I don’t know why people just wake up and conclude things out of the blue; you don’t know these people from Adam, you just read about people and then you go and comment rubbish. You write rubbish to tear people’s lives apart even when you know nothing about their issues.

Is he still in hospital?

He’s not in hospital; he has never been in the hospital. I don’t know why that picture came up, that picture you saw online was taken like last year December Was your husband with you when you were pregnant?

No, he wasn’t. We were having issues, we weren’t together.

He didn’t see me pregnant for one day If you’re going to marry again, what

,

eal asons my arriage ashed

crashed?

It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have allowed our marriage to crash. I wouldn’t know my mistakes; he would tell you my mistakes. Maybe I was a little too much to handle, maybe that’s why but I wouldn’t know until he tells you his own side of the story.

There’s nothing I can’t do in a movie, once it’s a movie. But in real life I’m not a lesbian, so, don’t get it twisted. That’s why I’m an actress, its make-believe, it’s not who I am

,

would you do differently to make it work out?

I’m only going to keep praying to God to give me someone who wouldn’t lie to me, someone that would be plain, very plain to me.

Are you still planning to marry again?

I’ve left the door open. I’m not going to close the door of marriage because one marriage didn’t work. The door is wide open. When I find someone that I’m going

to be happy with but I wouldn’t want another experience where my marriage crashes because once beaten twice shy. So I’m going to take my time now and dig deep You said you were going to take on more daring roles back then?

Of course, I’m going to take on more daring roles, that’s my career and I’m only going to keep improving myself.

Can you have sex on screen?

As an actress, there’s nothing I cannot do.

Can you do a lesbian scene?

There’s nothing I can’t do in a movie, once it’s a movie. But in real life I’m not a lesbian, so, don’t get it twisted. That’s why I’m an actress, its makebelieve, it’s not who I am.

I’m only going to do my career the way I’m supposed to do it and it puts food on my table Are you shooting any movie soon?

I’m shooting a movie but it’s not in Nigeria, it’s in Europe. I’ll be travelling any moment from now. The Nigerian version will be shot down here as well but I’m going to shoot the European part any moment from now. I start filming in about three weeks or less.

34 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

NATIVE & VOGUE PORT HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL Famed Johnson Johnson Collection that sent buyers wild

By Jemi Ekunkunbor

F

or those who were present at the opening of the Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week, the spectacular show put up by young designer, Johnson Johnson, will for ever remain etched in their minds.

Not only were his garments brilliant, the 36 pieces of garment he brought to the show were all sold out before the end of the event.

The collection, a typical male wardrobe ensemble had in it, suede blazers, double-breasted suits, monochrome tuxedos, floral jackets as well as tartan ones. Blazers get dressier with elegant buttons, embellished collars; in some with fur etc. There were also plaid tiny ties and matching caps.

While Ankara print trousers worn under dark suit and matching bow tie made a pleasant surprise, the two piece Rivers State native attire gets a modern look with more fit and subtle details.

Johnson Johnson:

Designer with the magic touch —Why my collection sold out

BY JEMI EKUNKUNBOR

U

ntil the Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week, he was relatively unknown and unsung. But by the end of the show, Iyaye B. Johnson, better known by his label, Johnson Johnson, became one of the most sought after designers of the show by both journalists and buyers.

The law graduate from the University of Abuja, started designing clothes barely over a year ago, yet his designs and finishing could only be described as that of a master. With no formal training in garment making but his passion for the needle and thread profession, there is really no denying the fact that a man’s gift truly makes room for him. Although his creativity cuts across genders, his focus at the moment is making quality clothes for men drawing inspiration from the traditional outfits of his native Rivers State.

Decked in a dark suit, a pair of blue print trousers and matching bow tie, he relieves his passion and his participation in Native and Vogue with Vanguard.

•Johnson Johnson Collection

•Pix by Oscar Ochiogu

How would you describe your style?

My style is simple and classy. It’s for any lady or guy whose got style What was this collection about?

It was about promoting the Rivers State culture and heritage. I am an indigene of Rivers State so; I want to bring back into vogue, the style and the nativity. What I did was to trigger the native attire but in unusual way. The unusualness is what they liked.

What fabrics did you employ?

I worked with damask, cashmere, cotton, sari, kineli, wool, and all good materials available.

Who is your target market?

My target market is the high income earners because of the time I put in each of my pieces. I give it great attention. I just don’t rush my pieces in one day. Sometimes, some designers could take one day to create one garment. I could take five days to create just one garment so it’s quite pricey because of the time and quality of work I put into it.

Your clothes are quite edgy, a bit away from convention. How would the older generation who like convention be accommodated?

The brand, Johnson Johnson covers all genders and all age brackets. We give you what you want.

The brand is not all about edgy garments alone, it’s about creating your dream looks. I’ve seen a lot of guys who dreamt about seeing themselves in a certain look but don’t know how to go about it or how to achieve it. You just dream it and we would bring it to reality.

Designers are moving from the conventional, embracing more colours and even fabrics men would usually not adorn. Isn’t that the case with you?

Gone are the days when it was only women who thought about fashion and about being glamorous. We want to reenergize the men’s fashion and bring back the dead vibes. Johnson Johnson stands for timeless styles, vintage pieces.

The kind of things we saw in our grand-parents closets. There are people who imagine wearing those kinds of clothes. We can bring it to pass for

SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—35

FASHION WEEK 2014 them. So, we stand for the past, the present and the future. We are bringing back the old in different forms suitable enough for the older generation. We give them what they like or dream of wearing.

Did you have any such parent or grandparent who inspired you?

Yes I had a grandparent who has inspired me a lot through pictures and words. My dad especially, has inspired me greatly. He has personality and carries himself well in clothes. He has that charisma I admire in all men. Each time I see him, even if he is wearing something simple, he carries it the same way. You just can’t tag the price. That alone gave me courage that if my father in his late 60’s could still rock clothes and look good, why can’t other men out there do the same?

Your designs are very up beat do you think a client without charisma can carry your clothes?

We have a unit under the brand that builds up charisma and self esteem when it comes to carrying clothes. We just don’t give you clothes to wear, we help you wear them, we style you, and we tell you how to wear them and how to carry yourself in them that is what the brand is all about.

What do you look forward to after being on this platform?

I look forward to great shows, great audience and great clientele. It’s been growing since the show. I came to this show with about 36 pieces of garments, immediately I stepped off the runway, from the back stage, I sold about 25 of them. Then later that night, some guy from Lagos who watched the show on TV called me, I don’t know how he got my number, but he said he watched the show and my designs wowed him. He said he was flying into Port Harcourt the next morning and he flew in the next day and bought the remaining pieces. I’m not kidding you. Then a lady who owned a •Johnson retail shop here in Port Harcourt Johnson came and begged to take what was left.

So what was it about those garments making their adrenalin rush?

It has to do with the styles, the fabrics, the finishing and the details.

Which of the pieces are people requesting for?

The jackets are spectacular! The traditional pieces as well and they were sold out before the show ended.

The governor, honourable Rotimi Amaechi ordered some shirts, senator Magnus ordered and the commissioner for Information also ordered some for her husband and some other top government functionaries.

Finally, what is a lawyer doing in the needle and thread profession?

I am driven by passion not really by profession because I didn’t study fashion in school. What you see here today is not something that started today or something that I was asked to do. It’s something that has been with me since childhood. So, if I can get it good under 12 months, you’d definitely see more in the days ahead.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada to headline Nigeria Fashion Week 2014 L

egendary Gold Limited in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the World Fashion Organization, proudly presents the Nigeria Fashion Week 2014 ‘going green 3’ scheduled for the 19th – 21st November at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

The highlight of this year’s eventis the participation of Spanish highly acclaimed, designer, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. She is going to be showing her latest summer collection as the headline Special Guest designer on the last day of the fashion week.

With various lines which include Women, Men, Children, Shoes, Bags, Perfumes etc, Agatha Ruiz de la Pradahas presence in 140 countries around the world with stores in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Milan, New York etc.

This year’s event will be declared open by Chief Edem Duke, Honorable Minister of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation while his counterpart in the ministry of trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, will declare the show close. This ye’s event will fover 50 local and international designers with two shows going daily.

One of the 6 shows of the fashion week is the ‘Going Green 3 Collection’. This collection will be made up of contribution from participating designers who will be making garments from recycled materials.

The essence is to draw awareness to climate change through eco-fashion by encouraging designers to use environmentally friendly materials (natural fibres, organic cotton etc) and socially responsible methods of production that will create social change and empower communities.

The Nigeria Fashion Weekis one of thbiggest fashion event in Nigeria with reputable national and international partners and collaborators. It has been a huge platform for manufacturers of garments, fabrics, fashion accessories, hair and beauty products to display their outstanding capabilities. Annually, it brings stakeholders in the fashion, beauty and hair industries together with the goal of creating a vibrant market by linking manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and the end users.

•Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Collection

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 — 37

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—39

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—41

C M Y K

42 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—43

C M Y K

44 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

O

ou cannot overemphasize Y the importance of the first 10 years of a child’s life. A recent experience has driven that point into my inner recesses. That is when the character foundation is laid. It takes enormous efforts and the grace of God to restore and repair what is damaged in those first 10 years. Parental hard work should continue into adolescence and by the time children get into their twenties, parental influence should diminish to advisory under normal circumstances.

How do parents relate with their grown-up children? I believe that the rules of engagement should have been made in the early stages, based on the family ’s core values.

These rules, like principles, must be able to withstand scrutiny and stand the test of time. Over time parents should

"Killer kids" legitimately earn their children’s trust and respect. Problems lie ahead when children obey their parents from an early stage because of fear of sanctions only. What will happen when the pendulum swings and the balance of power shifts? Many children from age 15 look like giants and tower above their parents.

Some cannot only give their parents a good fight, but beat both parents combined silly. If in the early stages you used a cane to get respect and obedience from them, are you still going to tell them to surrender themselves for flogging in later stages?

Talking about flogging, the Bible says if we spare the rod we spoil the child.

With modernism, flogging of children has become a very contentious issue.

Many people contend

that it is barbaric and an anomaly to keep a cane in the house. “Are you rearing goats here,” a visitor once asked his host on sighting a cane in the sitting room. I am a firm believer in “spare the rod, spoil the child.” Whether it is at home or in the school, I love the way children suddenly comport themselves when they see a cane, but my understanding of the biblical rod goes beyond a physical cane.

F

or me, it connotes discipline, “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour.”

So the issue really is whether or not a cane should be part of the tools used in this training.

Among those who believe in flogging a child, where do you draw the line between discipline and cruelty?

We have seen cases of

multiple lacerations on the skins of children.

This is cruel and unacceptable. There should be no place for cruelty in our modern world to a being not to talk of human beings and minors for that matter. Parents must know where discipline ends and cruelty begins.

In addition, at what

,

f recent a number of youngsters have killed their parents. The trend is somewhat strange to our culture. So why are some Nigerian youngsters turning on their parents? On the surface, the issues are often trivial: disagreements over household chores, poor grades in school, missing items, differences in opinion and so on, but I believe there are underlying fundamental issues. Our starting point is what was the childhood of these troubled youngsters like? Was it normal or dysfunctional? Are they from stable homes or broken homes?

Was enough parental attention paid to them in their formative stages or were they left alone to plot the graphs of their lives and connect the dots? Are their actions predominantly naturedriven or nurture-driven?

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—45 The Bible warns us about driving our children to resentment.

Children’s ways might be in conflict with the ways of parents, but parents must be very careful and learn to strike the delicate balance between discipline and driving their children to resentment. I saw one diminutive mother jumping up and slapping his six-footplus son repeatedly, in spite of the son’s warnings that she should stop. I wondered why the mother was engaging in such a suicidal adventure. Even if she is eager to die, must she make her son culpable?

Next, what do you do if your child who is now a young adult but still under your roof wants to

Wisdom, restraint and caution are very important

stage does flogging stop? I saw a man telling his 20-year-old son to submit himself for flogging. Honestly I found it ridiculous.

What about verbal flogging? This too has its downside. How do you verbally discipline a child without destroying his selfesteem or emotions?

Wisdom, restraint and caution are very important.

live by his own rules which are contrary to yours, his benefactors?

Allow him have his way or put your foot down? I believe young adults need bigger latitude to operate and a huge dose of respect from their parents, but “he who pays the piper dictates the tune.” Unless you want chaos, only one set of rules operates in a home.

Young people need to imbibe the virtue of

Technique:

T

How best to massage innards

assage which comes in M the form of pinching, chopping and kneading has

been known to bring about improved physical well-being.

Some people seem to register a decrease in tension in the body after a massage. The relief that follows makes the next and spine more supple and flexible.

Remember, it is along the spsisssnal column from the nape of the neck to the scral region just above the buttocks that most people store tension.

But this is the massage that is given to one by another on the outside of the body.

The Yogis who devised the various postures for man’s health had the wisdom to know that the internal organs which you cannot touch directly with the hands also needed gentle but efficient massage.

To be able to massage the innards, the great men devised the Peacock Posture —Mayuras

Sana in Sanskrit. A little digression.

We see men with pot bellies; women who have reached menopause, from a cursory observation of women-folk the world over, also register a high incidence of increase in the girth aside of fatty deposits elsewhere in the body.

The pot belly according to a report I picked up from the cosmopolitan magazine was indicative that all was not well with the condition of the heart.

People with pot bellies it said

were very likely to suffer heart attacks.

Of course, the connection between a protruding belly and heart’s condition is that by the time the stomach grows from a position of being trim and flat to big, the lack of exercise and the extra helping at the table at each meal, have given the body extra mass and weakened the heart—which is a muscle.

If it does not get exercise like other muscles it becomes weaker and unhealthy to function well.

,

patience. Life is a building. You lay one block at a time and over time, it comes together.

This microwave-oven mentality to become a Tony Elumelu or an Aliko Dangote overnight is behind some of these killings. Youngsters collude with criminal elements to kidnap or rob parents and grandparents. ome kill parents and S grandparents for rituals, while some have

killed their mothers because of the erroneous belief that their mothers are responsible for their often imaginary woes in life.

On a final note, parents, especially fathers, must refrain from engaging in fisticuffs with their children. It is not only shameful; it can easily end in disaster.

Many middle-aged men have fitness challenges and cannot last the distance in a fight, so they stand little chance against their grown-up sons, even if they are physically stronger and more experienced. They might end up being beaten to death or dying from exhaustion. If they survive the fight, ego comes in; no man wants to be disgraced. They might end up shooting or stabbing their children to death or vice versa. It must not come to that.

The Headstand

o perform the h e a d - s t a n d , sirshasana in sanskirt, get on your knees, interlacing the fingers, place the hands on the floor in front of you. Lean forward and place the head on the floor and supporting its back with the interlaced fingers.

With the help of the feet raise the hips up in the air.

Now, raise the feet and bend the knees until stillness is obtained standing on the head.

Straighten the legs rather slowly until the whole body is in a straight vertical line.

Benefits: •Gives the heart a well d e s e r v e d rest, as

gravity helps to return venous blood to the heart.

•Regular practice helps to strengthen the respiratory system and the circulation, keeping them flexible and slowing down the rate of breathing and the heartbeat when at rest.

•The body is generally enhanced by the deep breathing and the brain, spine, a n d entire nervous system receive a r i c h supply of nutrients.

T h i s refreshes a n d rejuvenates the entire body.

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos. 9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

I’m tired of rejection Dear Julie, From my experience, one of the most aggravating things that can happen to a woman is to be noticeably rejected by a man she is attracted to. This has happened to me more times that I’d like to admit. I have actually experienced the embarrassment of a guy shaking my hand ‘hello,’ while at the same time eyeballing my best friend who’s standing next to me, and telling her what beautiful eyes she has, not looking at me once!

How can I get over tangible rejection when it’s hitting me

in the face? What does one do at that embarrassing moment of rejection? Do you crack a joke or do you stomp his foot by accident? Please offer me an insight, or a fresh thought on how to handle situations like this, because, truly, I have run out of ideas.

Mirabel, Ughelli

Dear Mirabel, Being ignored or overlooked when you really want to make a connection with someone can really hurt. You’re not the only one who has had this experience; it’s probably happened to most people at one

time or another. However, when it seems to happen over and over again, it can really make you wonder why.

When next you are faced with a scenario similar to what you’ve described in your question, it may be helpful to keep in mind that not every response you get is a reflection of you as a person.

It’s possible that the people you’re meeting aren’t ignoring you out of meanness. Their response to you may not be about you at all. At times, people might seem uninterested when they are actually distracted, stressed, or tired. It may sound trite, but if people are rude to you on purpose, they’re probably not relationship material for you anyway.

On the flip side, some people might feel like you’re coming on too strong. Do you think people might perceive you as overwhelming? If you’re really working to gain approval from every person you interact with, people might sense that and feel uncomfortable or pressured. It

My brother is more attractive Aunty Julie, I am a University graduate who has always had trouble finding a girl to have a romantic relationship with. I have had only one real relationship during my early years in the University and it ended before the point in which we would have had sex.

I am still a virgin!. The other day, my elder brother and I were talking about this and he advised me to be more aggressive. I am admittedly somewhat shy.

However, I fear that it may be something more basic than that. I used to think that my brother was not that much better looking than me but seeing girls walk across a crowded room to talk to him on more than one occasion while I stood right beside and watched has changed my mind and affected the confidence I have in myself.

I’m starting to realize that all the girls I am interested in don’t see me as attractive.

Without even asking, I can see it in their eyes. If my

problem is lack of physical charms, maybe I should set my sights lower.

What do you think?

Tony, Umuahia

Dear Tony, There are no generic standards for attractiveness.

Different people are attracted to different features in other people. Physical looks, charm, quietness or outgoingness, sense of humour, long hair or short hair, it’s impossible to determine which qualities might attract a potential mate.

The women who are attracted to your brother are not necessarily the same women who would be attracted to you.

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

It seems as though you may be struggling with your selfesteem.

This is the thing that has perhaps been diminished somewhat by comparing yourself or your experiences to your brother’s. Stop for a moment and take a look at yourself.

Think about and recognize all that you have to offer a potential partner. If you are having a hard time coming up with this, ask someone you trust. When you start to notice that you’re dwelling on your shortcomings or otherwise feeling down on yourself, take a gander at that list.

Also think about the qualities you would enjoy in someone else.

Talk to lots of women, knowing that you will not have a relationship with all of them, but that you’re open to exploring the possibility with a select few — your selection! Tr y not to fear rejection; it happens to everyone at some point. That’s part of the process of finding someone compatible.

Take care.

might help to try to relax and not feel so emotionally invested in every interaction.

You’re right; it’s hard to not care what people think, but maybe you could try to worry less about it.

If it’s clear that you’re interested and they’re not feeling it, some of your other ideas make sense too. Humour can help diffuse tension, so you could try drumming up a laugh or two in the moment.

And even if it feels hypocritical

to try to be upbeat when you feel down, dwelling on negatives isn’t likely to accomplish anything.

Feeling rejected can really sting. Starting with a good base of support, i.e. your friends and family, may help remind you that you are a fantastic person, making those moments you feel rejected sting a bit less. And remember, while you might feel crumby in the moment, this too shall pass.

I’m dumped because I’m a virgin Aunty Julie, I grew up in a very conservative household and community and never really dated much in secondary school. Now I’ve been through the University and I’m much more confident and have matured a lot. I’d feel perfectly comfortable having sex now, but everyone assumes I already have. How do I approach this topic with a girl?

When the last girl I dated found out I was a virgin, she dumped me because she said she didn’t want to be the one to de-virginize me. I am 27 years old and I feel embarrassed.

Leo, Jos

Dear Leo, There is nothing wrong with being a virgin or not having had intercourse at all or yet.

Everyone is different and has his own path. Both men and women act as if they have had intercourse, when in fact they have not. Understandably, people want to save face. They foolishly believe that not having had intercourse means they are not popular enough, attractive enough, mature enough, or smart enough to get some. Clearly, you are still a man, even if you have not had intercourse.

You feel burned by the last woman you dated. You trusted her, and she dropped you. It’s not clear what she thought was the matter with “being the

one to de-virginize you.”

Your feelings were probably hurt, but the other side of hurt is usually anger, and it’s important to deal with your hurt and angry feelings before you venture out and about again in the social/dating world.

So the best thing to do, and the only thing you can do, is to be yourself. If you are, you can be certain that whomever you eventually have sex with will want to be with the real you, and not with the someone you are pretending to be. And that is the part that’s emotionally fulfilling.

,

46—SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

When the last girl I dated found out I was a virgin, she dumped me because she said she didn’t want to be the one to devirginize me. I am 27 years old and I feel embarrassed

,

C O C K - T A L E S

On a diet plan There were no two ways about it.

Rosie was fat. Very fat.

“Martha”, said Rosie to her best friend, “it was terrible what happened yesterday after the birthday party. You know how half of the birthday cake was left over? Well, I knew Bob would be fuming at me for eating it,with my diet and all, but I couldn’t help myself, it started with just a small nibble and before I knew it, the whole cake was gone!.” “Oh my!” clucked Martha, “ was Bob really upset?” “He never found it”, responded Rosie with a full double chin smile, “I just baked another cake and ate half of it!”

Keeping her on the scale “Brian, what’s wrong with you? You’ve been sitting at your desk looking depressed for the last five minutes!” “Oh Dan,” responded Brian “I don’t know what to do! I got in a big fight last night with my Suzie, she claims I never buy her gifts, so I must not care about her!” “Brian, that’s horrible!” said Dan putting his arm around Brian. “What type of a gift does she want already?” “Well, right before she closed the door on my face she said to me: “Why don’t you show me how much you care about me?

Why can’t you get me something that goes from 0 to 175 in seconds!” “Dan what should I do? I don’t have that kind of money? I can’t go out and buy her a car!” “A car? Asked Dan. “Who needs a car? Just buy her a scale!”

Fooling around

There was a middle-aged couple that had two stunningly beautiful teen-aged daughters. They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted. After months of trying, the wife became pregnant and sure enough, nine months later delivered a healthy baby boy. The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son. He took one look and was horrified to see the ugliest child he had ever seen. He went to his wife and said that there was no way that he could be the father of that child. “Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered.” Then he gave her a stern look and asked, “Have you been fooling around on me?”

The wife smiled sweetly and said, “Not this time”.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27 27,, 2014—47

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Happy to be childless? who are you kidding?

A

s a young girl, having a family was something I dreamed of and assumed would happen. But then the education system swallowed me up, and nothing in it tells you that having a baby any time soon is a good idea,” says Anita now in her 40s and a successful entrepreneur. My parents’ divorce put me off too. I became anxious of being betrayed during every relationship until I finally met someone I could reasonably trust at the age of 38. He was a divorced father of four, and wasn’t really keen on starting another family at 43. But he was willing to give it a go so I could have a child of my own.

“It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would. For a start, age wasn’t on my side. I spent a lot of money on fertility treatment, even going as far as faith healing, but in the end I realised I no longer had the energy to be a mother. Especially when the last specialist I saw abroad told me that at my age, I wasn’t producing healthy eggs and my chances of getting pregnant naturally were slim.

Even the chance that IVF would work was also thin.

“Not so long ago, women without children were pitied.

But now the world has caught on to the fact that, on the surface at least, they don’t have such a hard time. I could take as many holidays as I want, sleep for hours if I want to, eat meals in bed and stay reading well after lunch time. I couldn’t be number of women who believe bothered to cook as my husband having it all means not having is not a fussy eater. What’s more, a baby. Another hurriedly his first daughter brings us admitted she was a single cooked meals from time to time. mother of one and happy with “Some months back, I smiled her lot. The childless one whilst some three women reminded us that in the 60s, discussed motherhood at a about one in 15 women seminar I attended. One of them remained childless at 45 and in her late 30s claimed she was were considered rather wilfully and joyfully child free. peculiar but that figure is now That she was one of a growing “

,

R

The parent/ child bond is the commonest and most reliable form of giving unconditional love

,

about one in ten. That for women with a university education like her, the figure rises. She then reminded us of examples in the realms of the super-successful from Oprah Winfreh to local examples.

“She bragged she never wanted kids because it would get in the way of her career. I told her she was mad. While a child-free life looks fun on the pages of magazines, no number of career highs, foreign travels, weekends away or adult pleasures can disguise the fact

that it feels — there is no other word—empty.

“Sadly, statistics do not reveal whether the percentage of educated women who are childless are so by choice or by circumstances, but I believe motherhood deniers rooting for childless life are in the minority. Like one of them recently observed, ‘You look at families all the time and you see there’s something there that you don’t have.’

According to her: ‘If I could mentor a class of teenage girls about the importance of having a baby while you’ve still got the energy and fresh eggs in your ovaries, I would. When I was young, my mother kept saying to me, ‘Have a baby as soon as you can.’ When she died, mixed up with all the other grief was that realisation that I was the end of the line.

“While women who don’t have kids often go on how wonderful it is to have so much time on their hands, I can’t help noticing it’s the women with kids who get the most done. My sisterin-law runs a successful events centre with all the mod cons, has three kids and much bigger home than me. Let’s face it, the parent/child bond is the commonest and most reliable form of giving unconditional love. I have never met a woman who regretted having children.

She surely exists, but not in my experience. I have met, however, older people who lamented never having kids, for whatever reasons and I’m sure those now rooting for the childless life will soon join them. We all know for sure that nephews and nieces are not in the business of dedicating their lives to maiden aunts.”

A se or yyour our tteenage eenage daught er sexx guide ffor daughter

ecently, Annabel Cole, a renowned children’s psychologists offered a few advice to help guide her daughter through the pitfalls of being a modern teenager. She said she came up with the idea because of the vast pressure that young people are under today when it comes to sex, relationships and the internet. Here are some of the advice based on her own experience you could find useful: Keep private things private:Your private life should be private, not splashed over the internet. To us oldies, it’s beggars’ belief that teens might send pictures of their private parts over the phone; or share their intimate feelings with several hundred so-called ‘friends’ on Facebook. In a world where these activities are often seen as ‘normal’, it’s easy to forget that you do have a choice.

Would you let someone read your diary?

Why should your attitude to the internet be different? Posting something intimate online might seem like a good idea, but it has the potential to go from private to public at the press of a button. The potential consequences of this are at best embarrassing, at worst very damaging. A good rule of thumb is:If you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing this with the whole school, then don’t share it electronically.

Porn is not real life: There seems to

be quite a lot of confusion about this among young people like you at the moment. Porn is a form (if you like, and many people don’t) of ‘entertainment’. The people in porn films are paid actors. The danger is, teenagers— particularly boys—don’t always get this, and they can develop some pretty unrealistic expectations of what real-life sex will be. An inexperienced boy who has watched a porn film will have about as accurate an idea of what real-life sex is like as a viewer of reality shows will have of day-to-day family life.

Sex doesn’t have to involve theatrical groaning and volcanic orgasms; it generally doesn’t take place within two seconds of coming within sight of a man. Some of the most intimate moments are far removed from these artificial scenarios.

D

ates aren’t fairy tales: Dating can be a very grisly business, particularly when you’re new to it, and often when you’re not. The best preparation for dating is to abandon fairy tale fantasies and prepare yourself for awkwardness, nervous chatting, deadly silence and possibly clumsy fumbling. First kisses are generally not the earth-shattering experiences you might imagine. It

could end up being a nasty mess of clashing teeth, blackheads and saliva flavoured with cheap cans of cola.

Don’t be fooled by ‘big talk’ from your peer group. No teenager really knows what they’re doing, although many people will try to convince you that they do. And don’t lie to get a guy. ‘Yes, I love football; no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon,” ‘The Matrix—my favourite movie. What a coincidence!? Rejection will happen. It is awful and you will feel as if the world has ended. My first love left me to go back to his ex.

Even now, it hurts and I still feel a little bit indignant—how could he prefer her to me? If you like someone, a little bit of them will stay with you forever.

Not everyone is doing it: It’s ok to wait and absolutely ok to say ‘no’. There is so much talk about sex among teens that you think you are the only one on the planet who isn’t bed-hopping on a nightly basis. You are not. Experience has taught me that those who boast the loudest about sexual encounters, generally aren’t doing it at all.

Nobody likes to feel left out, but it is your body and you should be in

charge of what you do with it and whom you share it with.

When I lost my virginity at 17, it was with a mixture of pleasure but more than that, relief.Box ticked. Could I have waited longer? Yes. Was it with the right person? I thought so at the time. Did I feel more grown up? Not really. I still had to go home afterwards and finish my homework.

The first time might not be special: As with first kisses, your first sexual experience may not be the stuff of your wildest fantasies. Sex takes practice and it’s best with someone you love and who loves you. So it’s no surprise that the ‘first time’ can be riven with false starts, embarrassment and often the feeling that something didn’t go quite right. That’s absolutely normal and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But when things do go right and you eventually fall in love, there is nothing better. A real, worthwhile relationship will not play itself out online and the person you are with will give you the space to be who you are, not constrain you within a porn-inspired fantasy which will be elaborated—with pictures—on Facebook the morning after.

Don’t expect everything to run without a hitch. Even after a romantic date and night of passion, your partner is as likely to be thinking about his breakfast as he is hearts and flowers.

48—SATURDAY

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

YETUNDE AREBI

Let's talk about sex!!

T

,

he truth is always a very bitter pill to swallow. This is more so, if it concerns something or someone we hold dear and in high esteem. Most parents invest so much on their children, especially in terms of providing education and welfare, with the belief that they will turn out the way they want, perfect, mini angels. However, once puberty sets in, the mode of the game changes because of the myriad of problems that come with it. Sex and sexuality issues naturally shift to the front burner and become perhaps the greatest and most important focal point. For, whether through individual choice, or they fall victims of coercion and violence or because they are forced to marry young, the truth is that young girls and guys too are having sex.

The sad news is that most of them are doing so without access to adequate information about sex and sexual health and proper methods of protecting themselves. According to a research by Save the Children, about 13 million children are born to women under age 20 worldwide annually, with more than 90% of them in developing countries such as Nigeria. Earlier in the year, a report by Marie Stopes estimated that over 14 million adolescent girls want access to contraceptives but do not have them. The consequences of this can be devastating as the leading killers of girls aged 15-19 are pregnancy and childbirth related. Unintended pregnancy causes one in four girls to drop out of school in sub-Saharan Africa while babies born to adolescent mothers are at higher risk of infant and child mortality among many others.

Though the teaching of Abstinence as the first and only option for young and unmarried girls as safeguard to prevention of pre-marital sex, has continued to be the focus of many parents, government and non government sponsored advocacy programmes, the truth must be told that not all girls who have pre marital sexual encounters do so by choice.

In Nigeria and many other developing countries, economic survival, early child marriage, rape, incest, coercion as well as domestic and sexual violence remains the underlining forces driving young girls into having sex at an early age or before they are prepared for it.

Saddening also, is the fact that our social and moral values and standards as a society and people have continued to fall over the decades. Other reasons why young girls engage in premarital sex include, peer pressure, love and romance, the need to experiment, the need to feel cool and be

This new school of thought focuses on abstinence as the preferred choice of protection, but young people are also provided with information about contraception and disease prevention so that they can protect themselves when they do become sexually active

,

accepted. Hormonal changes in the body when puberty sets in also play a significant role where adequate information are not readily available. To make matters worse, most parents and NGO programmes often fail to offer sex and sexuality education to young guys simply for the fact that they play very little biological role in the whole reproduction and birthing process. Young boys must be thought to show respect to women and their decisions. Often, young males go unpunished even in clear cases of violence and rape.

While adequate sexuality and sex education has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as tool to improving the lot of women, for sex education to be meaningful and beneficial to the individual, it must also be realistic, practical, and accessible to that individual.

Unfortunately, the teaching of sex education has remained a controversial subject between the stakeholders which include the government, parents, political and religious groups.

The concern bothers on the content of sex education which has been divided into two schools of thought; i.e, Abstinence and Comprehensive sex education. While Abstinence focuses on sex only within the marriage boundaries and the need for the young unmarried girl to abstain until marriage and hereafter, stick to that one marriage partner throughout their life time, Comprehensive sex education approach focuses on the mechanics of the human body, the whole reproductive system, contraception, pregnancy through to childbirth, abortion and the whole gamut.

And though they do explain to young people, the benefits of delaying having sex until they are emotionally and physically ready, they also ensure that they are taught how to protect themselves from infections and pregnancy when they do decide to have sex.

The controversy between the two schools of thought is hinged on the fact that the Comprehensive approach offers too much information for the young girl and may encourage her to want to experiment. The raging arguments over the years have forced researchers to come up with another theory which combines the major elements of the two, now known as Abstinence Plus.

This new school of thought focuses on abstinence as the preferred choice of protection, but young people are also provided with information about contraception and disease prevention so that they can protect themselves when they do become sexually active.

Perhaps this would appear to be a more

realistic approach given the fact that pure abstinence education fails to reflect modern, industrial societies in which people marry later in life, if at all. The high frequency of breakdown in marriage, means that people are likely to have several sexual partners over their lifetime too.

Though we may not have the necessary statistics readily available in Nigeria, media reports about troubled marriages, domestic violence, divorce, infidelity, rape, abuse, incest, child trafficking and prostitution, and the abduction of young girls for sex slavery, a new dimension added by the Boko Haram insurgents, all indicate that it is not all the time that having sex will be consensual or by choice. Advancement in technology, education, feminism, sex inequality, poor economy, increased awareness in sex and sexuality as well as value to individuality also make it difficult for young people to marry at an early age.

In addition to all these, age at which people marry has risen, age at which they first have intercourse has been falling, while a diminishing minority of people report that their first sexual partner was also their marriage partner. Furthermore, data on young people's sexual lifestyles and behaviour from countries in developing world such as Nigeria, where HIV infection is high also suggest that advice to abstain from sex until marriage may be wildly out of step with accepted social behavioural pattern. Finally, the fallout of the socioeconomic problems plaguing the African continent has continued to expose young people to sexual activities for survival reasons, the sugar daddy and mummy relationships and the sex for favour or material gifts attest to this.

For sex education to be effective therefore, it must enable young people to acquire knowledge and skills that they can use to protect and promote their sexual health, as well as enhance the quality of relationship they build and their ability to make informed decisions in their relationships and sexual experiences over their lifetime. Knowledge is power. Let us empower our young people to take care of themselves. Let's talk more about sex!

Dear readers, sex education, especially for young people, is a subject I hold very close to my heart. More issues under this subject will be revisited on this page in due course.

Please feel free to share your views on this or any other topic discussed on this page with me via email address: yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk Do have a wonderful weekend!

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—49

C M Y K

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Tribunal: Ekiti boils, ex-NURTW boss killed •Continued from page 5 Judiciary’’ and called for the prosecution of the culprits In its statement signed by Chinelo Chinweze, AJ regretted that Justice Aderiye was ‘’physically assaulted’’ and his clothes torn leading to his hospitalisaion. ‘’This is coming barely three days after another attack on another court presided over by Justice Isaac Ogunyemi after he delivered a ruling assuming jurisdiction to try a case involving the Governor elect, Ayo Fayose, which angered his supporters... ‘’This attack on Judges and the administration of justice must be repressed and repelled with all the power and authori-

ty of the State... We also call on the leadership of the Nigerian Police to secure the lives and integrity of judicial officers, especially when political cases are being adjudicated upon.

A2Justice calls for the immediate prosecution of all those who were involved in this sordid act of assaulting Hon. Justice John Aderiye,’’ the statement added.

The Chairman of the HRAN, Chino Obiagwu in a staement on the attack said, the ‘’HRAN unequivocally condemns the unprecedented attacks by political thugs on the Ekiti State Judiciary. HRAN equally condemns the lukewarm response given to the attacks by the security forces and calls for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all involved.’’

However, the APC further lamented that, each time a judge had been attacked anywhere in the world, the attackers were jailed to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to take the laws into their hands, adding that ‘’The case of the Fayose should not be different.’’

APC said it was particularly necessary to act fast to prevent anarchists and crude individuals from taking the laws into their hands and tampering with the administration of justice, especially because the attack on Justice John Adeyeye came a few days after pro-Fayose and some PDP supporters reportedly invaded a court room in the state state and beat up litigants, among others.

Mohammed’s statement read

in part, ‘’the clear message being sent out by the PDP is that it is ready to resort to self help to capture and govern any state, especially in the South-west... ‘’Even though Mr. Fayose has not assumed office, he has succeeded in taking Ekiti State back to Egypt within a few months of his election. Not only are Judges being attacked, the kind of killings and chaos that characterized his first time in charge of the state have already started. He is struggling hard to ensure that Ekiti is no longer in the league of states where disputes are settled in courts, instead of on the streets, and judges preside in the administration of justice. ‘’The disgusting attacks on the administration of justice in Ekiti

has shown the truism in the aphorism ‘show me your friends and I will tell you who you are’.

Nigerians now know the company the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan keep and what the party and the President truly are... ‘’While Ekiti State Police Commissioner Taiwo Lakanu did well by rushing to the venue to help restore order after the Judge had been beaten up Thursday, the overall role of the police in the two attacks was shameful.’’

Meanwhile,the Ekiti State Governor -elect, Mr Ayo Fayose yesterday paid a condolence visit to the family house of the slain former NURTW boss, Chief Aderiye Fayose who was accompanied to the Olokemeji residence of Aderiye was received by the deceased wife, Funmilayo and the children,where he con-

demned the killing of Aderiye by the suspected hired assasins, and prayed for the repose of his soul.

“It is barbaric and happening at this point in time, it is a political killing. And I will rest it with the police to do a proper investigation, the murdered Aderiye was my very strong supporter.

“We were together till about 5pm yesterday, (Thusrday). But taking his life is not an option. It is not the best. This is irreparable and we have come here to condone with the family. If this other party.

The Ado Ekiti Capital City was like a ghost town yesterday afternoon as palpable tension enveloped the town, paralyzing commercial activities, following massive protests against Aderiye’s murder.

Aderiye, was killed by a fourman gang of suspected assassins. His body, had since been deposited at the morgue of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, just as protesters razed down Fayemi’s personal office in Ajilosun, the State Secretariat of the APC, as well as APC Secretariat in Ado Ekiti Local Government Also, the personal house and property of the former Chairman of Road Employer Transport Association of Nigeria, RETAN, Mr Rotimi Olabiwonnu was razed down Some Youths, who trooped out en masse destroyed some government’s property located along the road, while some vehicles parked from Fajuyi to Ajilosun, ranging over two kilometres were vandalized.

They also made bonfires on the major roads, thereby making the whole day hectic for the police, which patrolled the major roads in Ado Ekiti throughout yesterday. The patrol team was led by the state Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu, visited all the flashpoints to dismantle the barricades mounted by protesters.

As at 12noon, thick smoke from the several bonfires made around town by the protesters still enveloped the city, while soldiers and anti-riot policemen were seen in strategic locations to forestall the resurgence of the violence that seemed to be gradually subsiding .

Meanwhile, the state wing of the PDP has condemned the murder of the former chairman of the NURTW The PDP state Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole who addressed a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, described the killing as the barbaric and satanic.

Oluwawole said, “We had raised an alarm on the clandestine move by the Fayemi and his men to attack the GovernorElect, Dr Ayo Fayose and some notable leaders in all the 16 Local Government Areas as from the 22nd of September 2014 while the killing of Aderiye who is one of the notable leader of the party in Ado Ekiti occurred on the 25th same month, this has vindicated our earlier claims.”

Oluwawole who said that the late Omolafe Aderiye was at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting inAdo Ekiti on the June 21 Governorship election in Ekiti State, when he mobilised all driver Union members and other associations in solidarity with the Governor-Elect, Dr Ayo Fayose, saying that as a result of his commitment to the mandate given to the Governor-Elect, he became a prime target of the ruling APC government.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—51

Wh y Go vernor s blac kmail FG Ken Ojiri speaks on the problems of Imo State and

what he plans to do if he becomes Governor of the state

T

he major challenge facing our country as at today is the fact that some govered states are ruled by people who did not set out their agenda and goals before they got into offices. They only began to think of what to do with their position after getting into offices. When eventually they failed to perform, they shifted the blame to the federal government.

This is the submission of Ken Ojiri, a governorship aspirant under the flagship of People’s Democratic Party in Imo state.

In an interactive session, K .O as he is fondly called says the federal government is simply a victim of blackmail by some governors after non performance. He speaks on a variety of issues affecting Imo state.

The Problem with Imo State The major problem with Imo state is lack of employment which is due to lack of industries which in itself is lack of planning by government. While each administration tries its best within the scope of its capacity, lack of

forensic examination of the actual need of Imo people and a master plan on the short and long term means of solving them has been a hamstrung.

The only problem that is universal is hunger, otherwise, every area has its peculiar problem. What provides sucour for someone in Lagos may not be what will give someone in Imo state joy. It is therefore important to identify those things that will add value to the lives of the people of the state, things that will prolong the citizen’s life. What will return the cultural values of the people and the pride of the people of the state? When you identify all these, it becomes easy to connect with the people.

Imo state has suffered the highest amount of urban migration in all its ramifications.

This has affected not only the aged who are left alone in the villages, but the younger generations most of whom are born and bred outside Igbo land. They grow up in foreign environment, foreign culture and language. The implication is that Imo culture and traditions are fast fading away while Igbo language has

*Ken Ojiri become foreign to these children.

Creative Governance This is the reason everyone who aspires to govern any state in the country must set out his or her agenda, have a study of his state and its critical needs and come close enough to the people to connect with them. If you ask me, the biggest problem of my people in Imo state is lack of employment. Most Imo people are not happy in most cities where they reside, but unfortunately, they have no choice. It is difficult to imagine a state that has almost

2015: Minister clashes with former Senate President over Rep seat out last Sunday when at an

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

HEAD of the 2015 elections, trouble is already brewing in Benue State over the choice of candidate for the Ado,Okpokwu, Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, made up of three local government areas.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the candidate being put forward by the former Senate President, Ameh Ebute is being opposed by the duo of Interior Minister, Abba Moro and the Chairman of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Agbo Emmanuel.

It was revealed that while Ebute was in support of rotational arrangement among the three local government areas to ensure equity and justice, the minister and the party chairman preferred the incumbent legislator on the seat to go for a second term next year.

Chief Ebute confirmed to Saturday Vanguard recently that the decision to rotate the seat among the three LGAs was taken by the elders and political leaders of the Federal Constituency in 2010 and wondered why the two men would want to change it overnight without consulting the people.

Trouble reportedly broke

enlarged caucus meeting of the Federal constituency, the chairman and the minister announced to the members that the caucus had changed the single-term formula and adopted ‘continuity ” to enable the occupier of the office, who hails from Ogbadibo, to continue next year.

After making the announcement to the chagrin of many elders of the LGA, the minister and the chairman of the party warned that the decision was final and should not be challenged by anyone from the three LGAs.

Delta 2015: I stand for unity—Andrew Warri

I

JAW Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has given his blessing to Dr Andrew Warri, Delta State 2015 gubernatorial aspirant on his political ambition.

During Warri’s visit to Clark’s Abuja residence, the elderstatesman wholeheartedly blessed Dr Warri, saying: “he is not only the youngest taking the bold steps to seek office as governor of Delta State, but also I have seen and heard the numerous work done by him as a medical doctor whose sole passion in life is to serve humanity in building a strong and healthy society,” he said.

Chief Clark added: “I give you (Dr Warri) my blessings and God’s guidance to achieve your goal .”

Meanwhile, Dr Warri in his speech said, “I stand for unity because I do not have any

C M Y K

political sin, no political enemy and I do not belong to any political bloc. So as a consensus candidate, the unity my candidacy will usher in Delta state is a rerequisite for sustainable

development. We may have our different languages, different tribal marks, different ways of worship and diverse cultural heritage, but I know of a truth that these differences are far too small compared to what we have in common.

DTHA 2015: Pius Labo under pressure to contest

A

FRONTLINE politician and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Bomadi local government chapter, Hon. Pius Labo has come under pressure to consider the calls by various groups in the local government to contest for the State House of Assembly in 2015 under the platform of the ruling party. This is even as several other groups in the area have thrown their weight behind Labo, whom

they describe as “a square peg in a square hole.” echoing open and honest leadership, that will help to create high quality of life and community wellbeing.

This is also the view of market women in the area, which was made known by the group led by its president Ms Ebiere Clarke during the group’s one day rally at Bomadi the administrative headquarters of the LGA to make clear their position.

the highest number of graduates annually without a single industry in the state let alone, industrial park or estate.

Is it that Imo does not have enough land for industrial estates or that it cannot design an industrial estate, or that it is a taboo for industries to flourish in the state? There is no rocket science in it. Once you make the environment attractive for industrialists, they naturally come to invest. It is my desire to develop industrial estates in Imo, attract major industries that will attract ancillary industries.

The truth is that once you put certain things in place, most people who are welders, electricians, brick layers etc. who are working hard outside the state but leaving like ants will rather come back home and work.

Graduates who leave from hands to mouth because what they earn is too meager to take care of their accommodation, high cost of city life and the hassles of the city will find sucour in coming closer home to work. Others who have aged parents and desolate compounds will be too glad to relocate back home. Most people who are three sharing a room in cities across the country have comfortable homes in their fathers’ compound. If given the opportunity, they would be happier working from home.

Again when industries come and businesses thrive in Imo, property values will naturally raise, tenement houses becomes an investment. Unfortunately, this is what our people are providing for other cities that have the foresight to develop their industrial capacities. In places like

Lagos, Rivers. Ogun, Anambra etc., what they are reaping today is deliberate long term industrial plan which was sustained. Chief Sam Mbakwe of blessed memory started but successive military administrations could not sustain it. Unfortunately, no one has been able to study Mbakwe’s master plan for Imo state.

Let me tell, you, if I stay in office and follow Mbakwe’s master plan, Imo state will never be the same again. It is time to think of Imo state as an industrial state rather than a leisure state. I don’t think Imo people are that lazy to equate them with only leisure. It s ironical that a people whose hands power the industrial capacities of other states have only hotels and restaurants to show as their industry. Imo state must change. It is long over due. It is time to reverse the trend of urban migration to rural migration and believe me, it is possible.

Federal Government as Victim Much of what the federal government is suffering today has its root on non performing governors that hold sway in some states. A state governor t hat collects allocation and invests it on jamboree will turn round to blame the federal government for flooding in his state. He turns round to blame the federal government for high turn over of area boys turned criminals or graduates turned kidnappers.

When a governor uses his money to purchase votes, buys himself into office and spends the whole time in his office trying to recoup investments, you don’t really blame him.

52 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—53

C M Y K

54 —Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—55

C M Y K

56— 56—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Aus tr alian negotiat or vis, sends a message ttoo Bok ustr tralian negotiator or,, Da Davis, Bokoo Harm

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

I

n this interview, Australian ne gotiator, who has been work ing closely with the leadership of the Boko Haram sect, pleads with the group to seize the window provided by the death of Shekau to end the destructive cycle of insurgency in parts of Nigeria, free captured Chubok girls and return to normal life. Excerpts: A senior member of the European Parliament, Franz Obermayr, alleged that the opposition party in Nigeria could be sponsoring Boko Haram by channeling European Parliament financial aid to Boko Haram in the North East of Nigeria. Do you have any such evidence?

I have never heard any political party mentioned by any Boko Haram leader as funding or being associated with Boko Haram.

The Boko Haram commanders have only mentioned individuals like former Governor Sheriff. I heard Sheriff was APC and now PDP but that is irrelevant to me. I have never mentioned political parties in my discussions with Boko Haram. The names of individual sponsors were given by Boko Haram leaders, not their political party association.

What sort of sponsorship has been mentioned by Boko Haram that they have received?

Former governor Sheriff was specifically mentioned many times. Specifically for example, Sheriff was mentioned as sponsoring trips of the boys to the Lesser Hajj. There, the boys are “reorientated”. In effect they are recruited to Boko Haram. When they return to Nigeria the recruits are then taken off for further reorientation by which they mean teaching and for training. Some of the training took place in Mali by Tuareg leaders but now more training is conducted locally.

Could mere funding for Lesser Hajj by the assumed sponsors have manifested in the high level of sophistication that the sect has assumed today?

Funds are provided to purchase weapons. This is sometimes transferred through the Central Bank of Nigeria to a person in Cairo who provides the weapons and also provides military uniforms.

At other times vehicles are purchased in Benin for example and driven into Nigeria where they are sold for cash. They do not mind taking a loss on the sale price as by this method they can obtain cash in Nigeria without a direct link to the sponsor.

This person in Cairo, is he an Egyptian? Why are you not able to disclose his identity to the security agents for necessary action?

No, he is Nigerian. He is a Kanuri who has fought with Boko

Steven Davis Haram and now associates with a network of jihadists. I have given all his details to the DG-SSS. What sort of vehicles do they purchase?

VW Golf was mentioned as a favourite. They can sell these very easily in Nigeria. They do keep some to use for suicide bombing.

Some time ago they told me one sponsor pledged six Hilux vehicles for the suicide bombers.

You have heard that a “fake” Shekau was killed last week in Kondunga. Do you believe what the military is claiming that the man killed was Shekau or possibly a “fake” Shekau?

I continue to believe that Shekau was killed on or about June 19, 2013 when we were deeply engaged in peace discussions. I have had so many senior commanders tell me that Shekau is dead. It was several weeks after that a Shekau video appeared on YouTube. When I viewed that video with JAS leaders they immediately said, “That

boy. We have used him before.”

They were totally dismissive of any claim that Shekau was still alive.

They referred to the person in the video as the “fake Shekau”. Some months later one of the senior commanders told me the name of the fake Shekau was Abdul Mutallif. The commander who named him was the one who wrote the script that the fake Shekau reads from in the videos. But I have heard they have used more than one fake Shekau. In July this year I was told the fake Shekau is Isa Damasaka. Earlier in June they referred to him as Bashir. We had been in communication with him over the release of the Chibok girls. Isa Damasaka is one of the names the military has released when identifying the man killed at Kondunga last week. He has also been identified as Bashir Mohammed so I am confident this man is indeed the fake Shekau.

However, I do not know if Abdul Mutallif is another name he used or there is another fake Shekau named Abdul Mutallif who may still be alive. I have no doubt we will know soon so we await a new video by another fake Shekau.

The man who was captured at Kondunga last week was a great source of information about Boko Haram sponsors. He was captured alive. The military are too quick to execute captured Boko Haram leaders. This man could have revealed so much about Boko Haram and its sponsors that may have brought a quick end to

the terrorism.

There are some reports that many Boko Haram fighters have surrendered in recent days. You want to say something on this?

This is an indication that Boko Haram commanders now understand that they have been fooled.

They have followed a “fake” Shekau. Boko Haram fighters have died following a fake Shekau and fake teaching. The political sponsors have led these boys to believe that they are purifying Islam, purging the country of corruption by slaughtering people. In fact the political sponsors of Boko Haram are corrupt politicians seeking power and more wealth. The sponsors epitomise all that the Boko Haram fighters are seeking to eliminate from Nigeria.

So what is next for Boko Haram?

The death of the fake Shekau shows how the fighters have been duped and totally misled by the sponsors.

The fighters and commanders would be wise to take this opportunity to reach out to the government for a peace dialogue. If they do not believe they can have a peace dialogue without being captured and executed the alternative message I have for the commanders is this: Your sponsors will use you and sacrifice you so they can gain power. Set the captive girls free and walk away from Boko Haram while you still have the opportunity.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—57

EMMA AMAIZE,

Regional Editor, South-South

Rearrangement OME months ago, the information was not quite clear, but up-to-the-minute findings seem to indicate that the governorship seat in Delta state in 2015 may go to the Delta North (Anioma) senatorial district, which is the only one of the three districts that has produced a governor since creation of the state in 1991.

The permutation is only as far as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state is concerned. The former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, who still exercises considerable influence in the politics of his native Central (Urhobo) senatorial district, the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (South senatorial district, comprising Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri), we gathered are reliably disposed to the Anioma 2015 agenda.

National Vice Chairman, South-South of PDP and Akinuwa of Anioma nation, Chief Cairo Ojougboh, voiced it loud at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, HRM (Prof) Chike Edozien that the leadership of the party was not against power shift to Anioma people, but maintained that the senatorial district must seek the support of the Central and South senatorial districts to make it happen.

At the risk of being guillotined over it, Ojougboh said the Presidency, PDP leadership, chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Anenih, Governor Uduaghan and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark were not against power shift to Anioma nation.

S

Uncertainty At the last check, governorship aspirants from Delta North alone gunning for a single PDP ticket are over 24. But the gist that Ika-born Sir Anthony Chuks Obuh, who pensioned off from the Civil Service of Delta State, recently, after 32 years, is the one that has been anointed by the party establishment to take over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is commonplace in the state.

Uduaghan denies sponsoring any candidate What is, however, ambiguous is if, indeed, Governor Uduaghan had picked Obuh from the pack.

The governor denied , last month, that he had anointed any candidate, while elder statesman, Chief

DELTA 2015 LATEST:

Power shift likely to Delta North zNobody anointed me — Obuh zWe’ want level-playing field— Ochei, Ofuani, Opone

*Obuh Edwin Clark, told one of the governorship aspirants from the district, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who visited him at his country home, Kiagbodo, lately, that he heard the rumour and inquired from the governor. According to him, Uduaghan said there was no truth in the prevalent claim. Clark said he believed what the governor told him.

Obuh’s gubernatorial ambition is raging like fire in the state and last Saturday, at the Saint John Baptist Church Catholic Church, Agbor, where he held a thanksgiving service on his voluntary retirement from Delta Civil Service, the state practically emptied into Agbor.

Level-playing field Former Speaker of the Delta State House of

Assembly, Hon Victor Ochei, former Commissioner, Mr. Clement Ofuani and chartered accountant, Mr. Anthony Opone, who are among the aspirants from the district, disagreed that there was nobody beating the drum for Obuh, given the trend of things in the state.

However, they all expressed unshaken position in the 2015 Anioma governorship agenda, but called for a level-playing field for all the aspirants.

It was gathered that some displeased aspirants were already thinking of pursuing their ambition on the platforms of other political parties, but the guiding belief is that 2015 is for Anioma to produce the governor.

Amori at Obuh’s reception

At the carnival-like reception for Obuh shortly after the thanksgiving service, the national chairman of Urhobo Political Forum, UPF, a pressure group of the Central (Urhobo) senatorial district, also pushing for the 2015 governorship, Chief Ighoyota Amori, described by a living Urhobo governorship aspirant, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, as the living deity of Urhobo politics, featured prominently, fuelling the belief that he and other powerful Urhobo leaders have at last accepted power shift to the North.

In fact, Amori was said to be one of the chief campaigners of Obuh for governor. Recent events in the state have also shown that aspirants from the other senatorial districts, who had decoded the handwriting on the wall, have toned down their campaigns and started lobbying for the slot of deputy governor.

An influential Anioma leader hinted that two governorship aspirants from one of the senatorial districts approached him, last week, for support. He said the governorship ticket is open to all members of the party, but a decision had been taken that power will go to Delta North in 2015.

Macaulay, others lend credence The presence of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ovuozorie Macaulay, from Delta South senatorial district, who is one of the principal movers of the Obuh for governor project and other top PDP chieftains at the Obuh reception, also seem to give the impression that his candidacy is popular.

Macaulay, who is the supervisory coordinator , Isoko Federal Constituency, Project Obuh 2015, said the aspirant was qualified to be governor of the state.

Not a do-or-die affair Obuh Before the church service, Obuh strolled in casually and self-confidently with few aides to a meeting with a group of senior journalists, where he declared unmistakably that he had not been anointed by Governor Uduaghan or any other person, saying that he had planned going into farming upon retirement, but changed his mind eight months earlier to serve the state at a higher level.

The man said to have distinguished himself while in service, however, asserted that “if a candidate is not popular nobody will support him.” He stated, “For me, politics is not a do-or-die affair, if I do not win, I will congratulate the winner, I am not going to spill blood because of politics,” he said, denouncing the politics of acrimony and bitterness.

Obuh said he believes firmly in the “Delta beyond Oil project” of Dr. Uduaghan and is in the position to drive it from where the incumbent governor will stop in 2015.

The aspirant said the Songhai-Delta project was the idea of Chief Moses Kragha, who lost the governorship to former governor, Chief James Ibori, but Ibori implemented the idea because of its importance to the state, assuring that he would not throw away good ideas.

Obuh spoke like a man with a mission and like the humble man he is generally acknowledged to be, refused to be dragged in to controversies and claims by foes that he was being set up to be a puppet.

According to him, he was still making consultations on his governorship ambition with leaders, women, youths and other interest groups across the state, adding, “If you give me the opportunity, I will take Delta State to higher heights because I owe the state greater service.”

Anioma Congress gives it to Obuh National president of Izu Anioma, Brigaider-General Alabi Isama, who spoke on behalf of the congress, Aniocha, Ndokwa, Oshimili and Ika ethnic groups at the reception, congratulated Obuh for his retirement and exceptional service to the state.

He prayed that the candidate will win and become the next governor of the state, saying, “God has approved that we will have a leader in Tony Obuh.”

58—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

,

THANKSGIVING: from left; PDP Governorship aspirant, Sir Anthony Obuh, his wife Mrs. Esther Obuh, Tony Obuh (jr) Nma Obuh and the Secrtary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozuorie Macaulay during the thanksgiving service marking the voluntary retirement of the guber aspirant held at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Agbor. Photo: Henry Unini

Tony Obuh’s thanksgivingA coronation of sorts I

t started as an idle beer parlour or taxicab gist that in the womb of time, some ‘Dark Horse’ (a term meaning that it was deemed unlikely), would emerge on the political landscape of the vibrant Delta politics, whose ‘un-heralded’ entry it seemed to the suffocating armada of billboards and posters, all jockeying for the plum job in 2015. When such an entry occurs, it might well either cause an upset for the trumpeted, settled grand-masters of the hardcore and uncompromising optimists among the professional political class or create an equivalent of a political earthquake when the Horse, who they did not see coming, finally and quietly emerges to the glory of God. In my previous series from my seemingly prophetic crystal-ball on the 2015 Delta gubernatorial gladiators, I had always played or toyed with the idea of some dark horses from the blues that could determine the new direction of politics in Delta State.

For a state that had sought accommodation with the church in the past 15 years, a state that had transited from the ‘Big Heart’ to the ‘Finger of God’, it had been tagged a praying state, every power-seeking politician has routinely offered thanks and sought the face of God for blessings and favour.

Last Sunday, Yours Truly was among thousands invited to Agbor, exactly at St. John’s Catholic Church, along that sloping old Benin-Agbor road that criss-crosses a landmark bridge hanging over the Orogodo River where perennial floods usually overflow its banks and make the road impassable during the rainy seasons but thank God for most clement conditions on that day!

It is an age-old church with history and tradition that had served the people of Agbor for many decades. That includes one of their sons, Mr. Tony Chuks Obuh, from Oki in Agbor Ancient Kingdom, where the revered traditional ruler, a hereditary title from his father, the Dein of Agbor, His Royal Majesty, Obi Kiagbokuzi, Ikenchunkwu I, Dein Of Agbor Knigdom reigns supreme. Tony Obuh after serving both in Bendel and Delta states for 32 years had voluntarily retired

from the Delta State Civil Service as Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol, with his head high on his shoulders.

The thanksgiving was to celebrate his successful retirement in good health but midway into the service, the Reverend Father, Joseph Ugboh prayed to the watching Heavens that: “Bless, Tony Obuh, Father that one day, he will be Governor of this state.”

For many Agbor indigenes, it was a perfect and proud home-coming for one of their own.

They savoured it to the fullest: men, women and little children, the old and young, including pregnant women, all salivated in the ambiance of the thanksgiving.

The who-is-who in Delta politics, especially, the establishment shakers and movers of the current administration were there and ostensibly, they had assembled in such large numbers as indicative of the systemic support to an outgoing member of the present government to thank God for 32 years meritorious service and realize his postretirement dreams.

There was the Governor ’s spiritual pillar of support in Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan, seated resplendently next to the Secretary to State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, the government was adequately represented at the thanksgiving .

Other dignitaries at the church were the PDP Chairman, Barrister Peter Nwaoboshi, whose eyes are still fixed to the Red Chamber in Abuja- the Senate; I saw the Speaker of the DTHA, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya, his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Basil Ganagana; two prominent faces I also saw were Dr. Festus Okubor and Chief Paulinus Akpeki, both of them also had their eyes on 2015. Chief Akpeki, Commissioner for Housing from Sapele and Dr. Okubor, an Ika Son are believed to be looking forward to 2015 but who really knows?. Others I saw in the House of God included Chief Ighoyota Amori, Senior Political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan and a formidable politician from the Central Senatorial District, Chief Monday Igbuya, Majority Leader of the State Assembly and to mention one of the earliest supporters of Anthony Obuh’s initiative to throw in his hat

into the 2015 gubernatorial ‘rumble’ and one of the old war horses of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war,[ 1967-70], he is Brigadier-General Alabi Isama (rtd), leader of the Izu Anioma political pressure group’ he was the Chairman of the reception after the church service at the Government Field, Agbor.

I also saw in the crowded church, the ‘foot soldiers’ of the PDP government, I mean the caretaker council chairmen from the 25 local governments, women groups and youths, past and present civil service gurus, former Heads of service and many officials of the government all came to celebrate with one of their own in Anthony Chuks Obuh.

The metamorphosis of Tony Obuh from the bureaucracy, seems, to me, to mark the beginning of a new marriage between the hitherto taciturn civil service operatives (so to speak) and the political class in a symbiotic relationship where it becomes difficult to draw a distinct line but see the linkage between politicians and civil servants.

As such, it was no surprise to see myriad support/acknowledgment of Obuh across the state, singing and echoing the Obuh story so far, which had gradually coalesced into what one might call ‘OBUH-ISM’, a metaphor for the Obuh dream, vision, sermon and all what he symbolizes.

For a former hardcore civil servant whose humility had become service personified, many observers are waiting to see when he would declare openly for the 2015 governorship race, which when it comes, their dreams of continuity for a greater Delta would begin.

Out of the church, one moved over to the Government field which had been canopied for the reception. The crowd there made the one in the church look like a small classroom; out there was more of a carnival-like atmospherics with a live band from Warri, owned by a young Warri-based business tycoon in Ayeri Emami, a Chief of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse. He was the first convener of the ‘Obuh for Governor ’ campaign and held the first meeting in the

Continues on pages 59

The metamorphosis of Tony Obuh from the bureaucracy, seems, to me, to mark the beginning of a new marriage between the hitherto taciturn civil service operatives (so to speak) and the political class in a symbiotic relationship where it becomes difficult to draw a distinct line but see the linkage between politicians and civil servants

,

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—59

,

Having worked for 32 years as a humble civil servant and passed through the crucible of the nittygritty of good governance and the democratic imperatives of how a government is run successfully in our clime, I can assure you all that after my consultations, I will come out smoking with my blueprint of my core areas of concern to the people of Delta state

,

From Left; Chief Funkekeme Solomom,Fred Majemite,D.G Obuh Campaing Organazation, Comrade Ovuzuoire Macauly SSG.Delta State and Hon.Nicholas Mutu, Member House of Rep.Abuja

Continues from pages 58 Asaba home of the Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Tony Nwaka, PH.D. At the reception grounds sprawling with the ‘Obuh Crowd’ from all the senatorial districts of the state, the masters of ceremony announced the following groups: Delta En masse for Tony Obuh, One Belle group, Love Your Neighbor dancing group, Progressive Initiative, Delta United for Obuh, Egbema Progressive Assembly from Warri North LGA, Consolidation Agenda for Tony Obuh and Delta Central Youths for Tony Obuh.

When the Chairman, Alabi Isama mounted the rostrum, he spoke and prayed for Brother Tony in this vein: “Today’s bright weather is an indication of what the celebrant is likely to reap in his total desires for the immediate future. I am praying that as a proud son of IKa Ethnic nationality and the larger Anioma people, may God continue to guard and guide you throughout your ambition to become the Governor in 2015. I have no doubt that with your exceptional qualities as a retired permanent secretary, after serving meritoriously for 32 years in both Bendel and Delta states, God almighty will crown your efforts with resounding success in the coming 2015 governorship elections. We are solidly behind you, Tony Chuks Obuh, go and win the most coveted gubernatorial baton from the incumbent Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. God bless Delta State and the Anioma people.”

It was not act of mere coincidence but divinely arranged platform for two great sons of Delta State to opine and file behind Tony Chuks Obuh in Agbor last Sunday as another top member of the Delta State Government, SSG Macaulay, who a few months ago had been misquoted by some miscreant reporter to the effect that Comrade Macaulay had expressed some reservations about an Anioma son as Governor in 2015, as he drew some anger (due to that misguided report) from the retired Alabi Isama, leader of the Izu Anioma, threatening and giving some ultimatum to the well-grounded Comrade Macaulay to retract whatever was the misgivings coming from him with regard to 2015. But last Sunday, both were on the same page, leaving that reporter biting his fingers Comrade Ovuouzourie Macaulay laid the ghost to rest, as it were, in Agbor when he eloquently and unequivocally said that having worked with Tony Obuh over the years, he found him eminently qualified as he had served the state so well that he could manage the complex nature of Delta if given the opportunity to govern it in 2015. Comrade Macaulay said further: “Tony Obuh always carried out his responsibilities with smiles on his face and I can vouch that he is someone we can trust with great responsibilities while we sleep, he is never tired or complains in the face of daunting pressures.”

The presiding Priest, Rev. Father Joseph

Ugboh said that consulting God for a thanksgiving has the opportunity of opening doors for those who seek his face. From the crowd and systemic support in an ‘Obuhmania’ at Agbor exemplifies solidarity, so to speak as it is perhaps, appropriate to assume that the Obuh moving train has won many hearts across the state.

In his response to all the joyous outing at the Government field, Agbor, Anthony Chuks Obuk had a rare opportunity to showcase his gift, dressed in white jumper and shokoto, he stood in front of the large crowd and briefly highlighted what appeared to be some snippets from that ‘OBUH-ISM’ sermon.

Hear him: “I feel overwhelmed by the large unprecedented crowd here in Agbor as a show of goodwill and support for my yet-to-be declared ambition to run for the governorship in 2015 in Delta State.”

“Having worked for 32 years as a humble civil servant and passed through the crucible of the nitty-gritty of good governance and the democratic imperatives of how a government is run successfully in our clime, I can assure you all that after my consultations, I will come out smoking with my blueprint of my core areas of concern to the people of Delta state.”

“From my vantage positions criss- crossing several ministries and departments of government, I realize that we have large cultivatable lands around us which could stand us in good stead, if properly harnessed, to bail us out through Delta Beyond Oil to a buoyant economy.”

S

omething that sometimes worries me is the large pool of the youth population in Delta State and how to redirect their curriculum in Technical Colleges where they could sharpen their skills and professional touch for purposes of selfrecruitment and survival in a society that is more ICT-driven and self- employment driven.

He thanked all those who had come from far and near to partake in his moment of glory and thanksgiving to God for sparing his life in the past 32 years. “And as I stand here today, I am in the job market and ready to serve the state in a more challenging capacity to impact on the lives of the people of Delta State.”

And in the background, there were shouts of ‘Tony Obuh, Carry Go with 2015 elections as Governor ’.

It was as euphoric as that all over the Agbor Government field, it was all showering praises and goodwill messages to Tony Obuh. But beyond the euphoria for the penetrating ‘Obuh-ism’, one must quickly add that with the coming of an Obuh contending for 2015. I want to remind us as a systemic observer over the past few years, what the hard-boiled civil servant in Tony Obuh, the ‘Man of the Moment’ told the crowd in Agbor at the reception grounds. The Anioma state stakeholders, traditional rulers from Delta

North, Youth groups across the Anioma political stage should move in and restrategize and possibly prune down the avalanche of over 15 or so contenders from the ruling party to dowse whatever cracks or flares that might erupt into an unquenchable political inferno and break the PDP Umbrella down the middle, God forbids.

We must guard against dividing the ruling party and unwittingly driving some top contenders, who should never jump the PDP boat into another waiting opposition ferry which may not carry them too far in the contention for the top governorship post in 2015.

There is no doubt that the PDP in Delta State is solid like the Rock of Gibraltar or Olumo Rock of Abeokuta. Any complacency in politics might be too dangerous to contemplate. God is the ultimate giver of power on Earth, so the Men of God had proclaimed. And like I will always say, if the ‘Obuhism Sermon’ has been bought into by a majority of the people in Delta and the ‘systemic system’ and if it be the righteous way to go, let the best and divinely-propelled contender prevail. Amen!

“I am still consulting”, so said Tony Obuh in that unforgettable Agbor gathering. And to round off my piece on the Obuh-mania which has become viral in the political circles in Delta, one would want to remind our politicians on what Governor Uduaghan said at the 23rd anniversary of the creation of Delta thanksgiving at the Anglican Cathedral in Asaba, saying that: “I can see most of the governorship contestants in the church today. In 2007, I was disqualified in Port Harcourt by the screening officers but God upturned the Port Harcourt decision in Abuja and I was cleared to contest and I won. In 2015, it is not by power, money or beauty that one can become Governor in Delta State. If God does not approve of your candidacy, there is nothing you can do about it.” It was a bold and true statement of fact by an incumbent governor. I also wish to recall in another arena at the Government House Press Centre in Asaba when he hosted the media to brief them on sundry issues. Responding to my question, he made it clear he was not clamping down on the polity; that was a few months ago. Hear him: “If any contender or politician is gathering weapons of selective or collective destruction to cause mayhem over the 2015 elections, he may not have the opportunity to use those weapons.”

It can only come from a Man who has seen it all, survived militancy in the Warri axis and survived three governorship elections during his eight-year tenure coming to a close on May 2015; I think we should listen to him and be security-abiding: Peace and Security is his middle name with all what he has done in that area, showing crime the way out. I believe he can midwife a peaceful transition to the next anchor Man who would further pilot the state beyond oil and further nurture the beautiful triplets- the Three-Point Agenda.

60—SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

How can you describe the level of development in the community?

A lot is happening in different communities.

The only challenge is the intention behind those developments. When we serve only for material gains such as money, power or prestige, no matter the platform whether in the church, mosque, family, village groups, state or national, the aim gets defeated because intentions reinforce values. When the intention is not to

We build capacity of communities in challenging environment—OGBOZOR Chioma Ogbozor is the Managing Director/ CEO, Management Advisory Consulting (MAC). She left the public sector for the non-profit sector in 1997 where she had worked for both international and indigenous organisations, providing strategic guidance, designing and implementing life changing projects in communities for the past 16 years.

She has a first Degree in Engineering and Masters degree in Development Management and was certified a Project Manager by Standford University, USA. Excerpts: What does Management Advisory Consulting specialise in?

Management Advisory Consulting (MAC) is a consulting firm based in Abuja. It strengthens public and private organisations to improve their revenue and productivity of staff, mentor individuals aiming at leadership positions, expand their businesses, increase online visibility, simplify organisational processes using management portals, create online stores for interested clients and attract thousands of individuals to show interest in client-organisations and the services they render.

In Management Advisory Consulting (MAC), every service is meticulously designed and delivered because we believe that our clients deserve to receive knowledge in a manner that is applicable. In line with our mission of turning business

theories to practice, MAC simplifies ambiguous theories into implementable actions that transform lives at all levels.

As a woman, how do you go about building capacity of communities in a challenging environment like ours?

As a woman in senior leadership position, I see capacity building as a Ogbozor service to others. The only difference is that I get paid for changing lives. I believe that capacity building ought to be about transforming the way people think about themselves, about others and the environment. I find such transformations, especially when I succeed in getting individuals to see the world differently, very gratifying and fulfilling. Positive change has no race,

I believe that capacity building ought to be about transforming the way people think about themselves, about others and the environment

gender or colour. This is the reason why orientation message to new hires at Management Advisory Consulting (MAC) focuses on clarifying the reason why we are in existence. Our talents and skills are utilised in a manner that make clients better than we met them. It has nothing to do with being a woman or a man.

reduce the burden of the communities, it ends up impoverishing them. This could be one of the reasons why someone would get a government contract to deliver a service and prefer to deliver substandard service or goods to the detriment of the communities.

We need more service providers

L - R : Managing D i re c t o r, T r a c e Nigeria, S a m Onyemelukwe with Chief Commercial Officer, A i r t e l Nigeria, Maurice N e w a , during the press launch of Airtel Trace Music Star at Trace O f f i c e , GRA, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday.

Ladipo International Spare Parts Market under construction In order to achieve modern standard of building construction and also avoid incident of building collapse as stipulated in Law, the Lagos State government has instructed developers in charge of constructing Ladipo International Spare Parts Market to revoke all former allotees and commence reconstruction of the market to ultra modern standard as approved by law.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, on the conditions for developing the market, the founding chairman and developer, High Chief Innocent Echefu, said, government has asked us to revoke former allottees and build the market to modern standards.

According to him, Ladipo market which formerly was built as bungalow will now be developed as one-storey building each with facilities from banks to help make it of modern standard since we are to fund development ourselves and thereafter recoup our money before handing over to government.

Echefu, who years ago developed Onitiri market said, former allottees that had their shops revoked because of the on-going construction will be provided with temporary structures to continue their businesses pending the completion of construction.

According to him, “one thing is sure, government has asked us to rebuild and members of the public interested can obtain form for allocation and former allottees who are still interested will be allocated but otherwise can as well forfeit it.

In the same vein, Echefu explains that the company has presently done a good humanitarian job by involving two banks, Fidelity Bank and Diamond Bank to be the sponsors of the allottees. Once you open an account with either of the banks, obtain a form from the company, pay 30% of the total cost to the bank, the bank will build the shop for you, he said.

who are not just interested in acquiring wealth but also willing to deliver quality services.

Bringing women to the forefront of societal development, what do you suggest should be done?

On March 8 each year the world celebrates International Women’s Day. I feel that it is important to celebrate women’s achievements socially, politically, and economically. It is equally important to remind ourselves of the continuing struggles women still face as a result of their gender.

There are various barriers that prevent women from flourishing in their chosen careers. In my opinion, the starting point for bringing women to the forefront of societal development is through education of our girls.

When a woman is educated and mentored to be emotionally intelligent, she becomes better positioned to serve the society with her skills and talents. When a person plunges into leadership position with little or no preparation, the person performs very badly. A lot has been learned in the field of management and one of the lessons is that leadership is learned.

This means that it is easy to raise good leaders, especially if individuals concerned are willing and open to learn, unlearn and relearn what will enable them to utilize their leadership positions as a platform to improve lives rather than a platform that encourages disunity, greed, corruption and injustice.

Group lauds Akpabio on infrastructural devt A Socio-Political group in Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Mandate Crusaders has applauded the governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio describing him as a great revolutionary and unparalleled man of action in Sub-Saharn Africa.

The National Coordinator of the group Mr. Aniekan Ekwere and the National Publicity Secretary Pastor Mike Akpan made this known recently during an

interactive forum in Uyo, the state capital recently.

“It is worthy of note that Gov. Akpabio has brought honour to the most advanced state in Nigeria, the state is better equipped for the future advancement of our people as well as celebrating corporate institutions and individuals who have contributed immensely towards the development of the communities.”

Some infrastructural

rebirth outlined by the Akpabio led government are E-library, the new Governors lodge, the ultra modern banquet hall, the new deputy governors lodge, Ibom Tropicana entertainment complex, the underground pipe jacking drainage system and the Ibom International Airport, 330000 sitting capacity, free and compulsory education, human empowerment initiative, free medical treatment for pregnant

women, children and the aged amongst others must have made the organisers to think Gov. Akpabio and actually draw the attention of the organisers of the visionary qualities of Gov. Akpabio.

The free, compulsory and qualitative education policies of Governor Akpabio must have been some of the estimation of the organizers qualifying Akwa Ibom State as the most advanced state in Nigeria.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014—61

62 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Gladiators jostling for Maigari’s seat T

HE drumbeats of war have been beating at high pitch as the Elective Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation holds next Tuesday in Warri, with a new President set t to succeed Aminu Maigari.

In this report, JOHN EGBOKHAN chronicles the agenda of the aspirants bidding to take Nigerian football to the proverbial next level.

I ‘ve seen everything in football —Dominic Iorfa

I am the best person to lead Nigerian football to the next level because I have put in over 30 years of service to football, first as a player, who played at the top level in the Nigerian league, before going to Europe to play professional football, with top clubs in Belgium, England and Turkey and went on to play for the Super Eagles and I am presently a top administrator of a leading club in Nigeria. I have administered tLobi Stars of |Makurdi for 15 years, uninterrupted. Of all the other aspirants going bidding

to succeed Aminu Maigari, I can confidently say, with all sense of modesty that I am the only one who has the all-round experience to properly position the NFF to achieve better results.

Those conversant with the league can readily testify that I’m one of the best administrators around today. I have the magic to change Nigerian football.

One of the things that I will offer if elected President of the NFF, is strong leadership.

The administration of Maigari achieved a lot. It was during his time that we won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE, qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey and qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where we reached the semifinal and are in the race to qualify for the next edition in 2015. However, despite all these achievements, Maigari’s administration was tainted because of weak leadership. Maigari was a weak leader and that is why, even with all his outstanding achievements that he cannot seek re-election.

It was during his tenure that we had crises, which came because of weak leadership, When elected NFF President, crisis will be a thing of the past because as a team player, I will carry everybody aboard the train of progress .Take the case of our league, the weakness of the Maigari’s board was evident in our league, where a team got banished to another venue for five matches, only to get a reprieve after serving two matches of the stipulated period. That is not good for our football. We have to be seen to be strong and firm in decision making.

There are so many things that I plan to do for the Nigerian league, which remains the bedrock of our

•Iorfa football development. Our league remains the surest foundation for a strong and virile football development because once we have a very strong and highly competitive league system, from the amateur rant to the professional level, then we are surely going to excel as a football country.

Having been in the league since 2000, it is a fact that I am the most eminently qualified person who can readdress the problems of our football. As a former player and current top administrator, I know the stakeholders who will help drive the vision of the incoming administration to every nook and cranny of the nation. I am well known and respected by players, match officials and players and that gives me the edge over others. I can solve our problems within one hour.

The biggest problem of our football is greed, where one person wants to control everything and run a oneman show. This sort of greed breeds problems and underdevelopment.

I don’t want to talk about Eagles because I know the problemsoftheteam.Iplayed for the Eagles at a time when some of the candidates were still in school. I was the Nigerianplayerfromthelocal league to play in the English league with Queens Park Rangers in 1988-89 season.

Alongside Peter Luck from Zimbabwe, we were the first two Africans to play in the English league. I was also the first player to feature in the Turkish Super Liga and because of that, was denied

aplaceinthe1992AfricaCup of Nations in Senegal. They said that they can’t invite a player playing in Turkey to play for Nigeria but today, most of our players in the Super Eagles are based in Turkey.

It is clear that the current disagreementbetweenKeshi and NFF members has affected the performance of the team. As NFF President, I will ensure that the coach and us are on the same page for the growth of the team. If we are not agreeing, there will be problems. You have to have an understanding with the technical crew.

I was part of the people who made Stephen Keshi the coach. Keshi has not been happybecauseofthecontract.

And the reason being that when a local coach is made Nigerian coach, what he gets is so small when compared whenaforeignerisappointed Eagles coach. And there is no wayanindigenouscoachwill be happy with such a pay. If they want Keshi to succeed, youhavetogivehimthesame contract as the expatriates because our local coaches believe that the foreigner is not better than them...

My final message to the delegates is that they should vote for the candidate who will guarantee the progress of our football. The delegates are important stakeholders in Nigerian football and I urge them to vote for me because I will change the face of our football. I’m the right person to be the President and I promise to run an allinclusive administration.

Amanze Uchegbulam: NFF will witness great changes

I

F elected NFF President, I promise to do things that will make the game grow to great heights. Under my regime, the NFF will be a strong and progressive organisation. I will address all the problems that have polarized the football fraternity and ensure that lasting peace returns to our football.

Ex-internationals will have a great role to play in the administration of football during my regime and I make bold

•Uchegbulam to say that I will midwife a new change that will usher in the real

development that Nigerians so much yearn for.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Era of mediocrity will end —Taiwo Ogunjobi O

NE of the things that I will do when elected NFF President is to reconcile all our stakeholders because our football has been rocked by crisis. We have had series of litigations and these do more harm than good to our football.

I will make sure that the football family is united once again. I promise to bring an end to the crisis and bring everybody together again.

When elected President, I will rework our youth programme, so that our youths will graduate from one level to another level and eradicate all forms of agecheating from the system. We have been deceiving ourselves for a long time and it is high time that we stopped this deceit.

I will ensure that our league returns to its glorious days, when the stadia were filled with fans on match days. I will also work assiduously to ensure that our pitches comply with acceptable world standards. I heard players complaining of the pitch at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, after Congo defeated Eagles 3-2. The players said the pitch was not good enough and that it affected their performance. This is not good for our football. The emphasis on astro-turf has to stop. We must have regular pitches, with green grasses, not artificial grasses. All our league matches will be played on natural grasses, when I resume work as NFF President. The era of tolerating mediocrity will be over when I get to the Glass House.

I will also work hard to ensure

•Ogunjobi that we qualify for all major continental and international competitions. We will not only qualify but also perform well The problem of Decree 101

I will bring innovation to NFF —Mike Umeh I WILL bring innovations that will make a difference.

The difference must be clear between what we did in the last four years what we are about to do now. We were about the luckiest board of the last three boards of NFF. We had a lot to show in terms of achievements, we won the African Cup of Nations, won the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the female teams also did very well in all the

competitions we participated in, our rankings in both CAF and FIFA rose to enviable heights but now it is beginning to drop because we are not there.

I have been in football for almost 30 years. I have been team manager of the Super Eagles, managed the most successful coach in Nigeria ClemensWesterhof and was in charge of Rangers.

We will request the minister to send us a desk officer who will occupy an office at the NFF secretariat. This is to ensure understanding and a proper appreciation of the workings of the NFF by the ministry. Because we want to be very very transparent, the desk officer will see to whatever money we spend. This will curb the frequent misunderstanding between the ministry and the NFF. The league is the most important aspect of football development in any country. You must straighten your league in order to improve the lot of your players.

— 63

statutes. Once you fail to do what the statutes say, then you are guilty of all and that is why you hear of FIFA ban every now and then. You are bound to have problems when you do not follow the statutes. And sadly too, our people are guilty of not knowing the rules governing football.

As NFF President, I will ensure that all State FAs follow the statutes religiously. We will organise training courses for all state FA chairmen and their secretaries and club administrators, so that al of us will be on the same page My experience stands me out among the other candidates. If you look at the other candidates, you cannot compare my pedigree with theirs. I played for the best teams in the country before graduating to the higher level and later administered Nigerian football as the secretary of the NFA. I am coming to serve Nigeria again. This ambition has been on for a long time. I even went back to school, the National Institute for Sports in Lagos in 2013,where I bagged a Higher Diploma in Sports Management. That is aside my degree from Clemson University in 1978. At my age, I went back to school to update my knowledge of the game.

I urge delegates to put sentiments aside and vote for someone someone with my kind of experience and pedigree, If I call CAF and FIFA to offer us help, they will listen to me.

Above all, I want to serve my country again.

•Umeh

Football will thrive in my dispensation—Pinnick Amaju programmes if elected NFF

Shehu Dikko: Players welfare will be my priority

I

I

WILL resolve all the legal issues hindering the progress of football in Nigeria because the endless litigations and court cases against the NFF slow down our football development.

I will champion the strengthening and enhancement of the Technical department of the NFF to enable it deliver its services of safeguarding the future of Nigeria football (from amateur football, women, youth development, professional football to the national teams as well as effective Governance.

I will work to ensure a credible performance and success of our national teams in al international competitions at all levels. The aim is to win these tournaments.

will also be resolved during my tenure as I will collaborate with the National Assembly to fasttrack the passing of the bill into law so that football can thrive

without limitations. has to change, I will use my contact to pass it to law.

Concerning marketing and financial independence, I was instrumental to the signing of the contract with Adidas. I also brought in Globacom, Indomie to support our national teams but all of a sudden, I read that Adidas will be backing out in December. That is not good for our football development.

Adidas is a global leader in sports wear merchandising and we cannot be losing such deals because such will send out wrong signals to the world.

When I come in I will make sure we get the best brands to partner with NFF. I will use my vast network of experience to bring back top global brands.

I will make sure that the welfare of all football stakeholders is my priority. As a former player and top football administrator, I have done more for former players than any other aspirant. During my time as the Secretary of NFA, I was instrumental in the co-option of ex-internationals into the management of our national teams. The roll-call of explayers who were made coaches of our teams include Christian Chukwu, late Joseph Ladipo (Jossy Lad), Samson Siasia, Bitrus Bewarang, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu.

Ex-players did a lot for the country but not all of us can come in as NFF members but we can serve in other roles for the good of our football.

Our administrators are guilty of non-adherence to the

•Dikko I will place a premium on players development and promote the unity of all footballers and resolve issues affecting players (both active and retired).

I will introduce a minimum players and other technical personnel welfare package in Nigeria and use appropriate legislation and regulations to enforce it at all levels.

I will set up a unit within the NFF in charge of players’ welfare to provide advisory services and support to current players and ex-internationals.

AM assuring delegates and Nigerians that if elected the next President of the NFF that we will concentrate more on youth development. We will also make the league a thriving business for the players and ensure that our referees go on refresher courses to update their knowledge of the game, I promise to bring my wealthy of experience and robust business network to attract the best sponsorship deals for all our

•Amaju

Akpabio Scrabble begins

A

FTER over nine round of matches in the first day of the Akpabio Classics, there is nothing to say in terms of leadership position.

The Technical Director of the Classics, Faruk Baba-Ina told reporters at the Ibom Le Meridien venue of the Classics that it is too early yet to talk about pole position.

On the opening day, the cynosure of all eyes as usual is on World Champion Nigel Richards who is topping the list of entries in the Masters Category which carries the Star prize of $20,000.

President.

Under my leadership, the Delta State Football Association, currently enjoys the longestrunning football sponsorship deal in Africa, spanning 14 years with Oceanic Bank, now Ecobank. The DFA has also interned over 500 coaches in the last 12 years at the NIS & Sports Institute in Mosogar, while some coaches have gone overseas for training, through private sector initiative.

Under my stewardship, the DFA also sent referees to England for training, with one referee, officiating in Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford as part of the training, which was financed by the private sector.

Delta is the first State FA to broadcast its FA Cup finals live on television. This has been on for three years.

And to my credit, Delta is the first State or Regional FA in Africa to build a World Class Secretariat, called Patrick Okpomo Football House, which was built through private sector initiative

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Gladiators jostling for Maigari’s seat — Pg.62

Today’s EPL Fixtures Liverpool Chelsea Crystal Palace Hull Man Utd Southampton Sunderland Arsenal

v v v v v v v v

Everton Aston Villa Leicester Man City West Ham QPR Swansea Tottenham

12:45pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 5:30pm

Keshi recalls Enyeama, Moses for Sudan ...lists five new players for AFCON cracker

•Samuel

•Ugonna

•Akpan

•Emmanuel

including former junior international Raheem Lawal, China –based striker Aaron Samuel and relatively unknown Anyora Ugonna, who plays in Norway.

There are also opportunities for World Cup star-boy Babatunde Michael, back from injury, Reading FC of England’s Hope Akpan and Austria –based forward Sunday Emmanuel.

African champions Nigeria must win both matches against pointless Sudan next month to have any realistic chance of reaching the finals in Morocco early next year.

•Enyeama

Full list Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (HapoelBe’erSheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United) Defenders:Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, England) Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi FC, Israel); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor FC, Turkey); Anyora Ugonna (Haugesund FC, Norway) Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Victor Moses (Stoke City, England); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R & F, China); Sunday Emmanuel (SV Scholz Grodig, Austria); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine)

Eaglets battle Gabon for CAF U-17 ticket 15 goalkeeper, did not

G

OALKEEPER Akpan Udoh would most likely start in goal when the Golden Eaglets battle Gabon in today CAF U-17 final qualification match at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar. Gabon won the first leg 2-1.

The former national U-

make the trip to Libreville but has swiftly regained his position ahead of today’’s crucial game Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has ordered his players to shoot down Congo with goals . Eaglets won the last FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE in 2013. to win.

•Lawal

S

UPER Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has recalled goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama, striker Victor Moses for next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations must-win qualifying tango away

and home to Sudan.

Both teams clash in Khartoum on Saturday, 11 th October before trading tackles at the National Stadium, Abuja four days later.

Keshi has also included a hatful of new faces,

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka – (10) 8 Yoruba Girl’s Name – (4) 9 L.G.A in Sokoto State – (5) 10 Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran – (4) 11 Enugu Rangers Striker, Chikeluba – (6 13 Colour – (3) 14 Sate in Nigeria – (6) 17 Executive Director, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Okechukwu – (6) 19 Former Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Boni – (6) 21 Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Razak – (6) 23 Beverage – (3) 24 Saudi Arabian Capital City – (6) 26 Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Ibrahim – (4) 28 Warri Wolves Striker, Oghenekaro – (5) 29 Africas Longest River – (4) 30 Former United States President, George – (10)

Down 2 Peruvian Capital City – (4) 3 Belgium Prime Minister, Mr. Elio – (6) 4 Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),.Mr. Ima – (6) 5 L.G.A in Lagos State – (6) 6 Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Striker, Samuel – (4) 7 Former Angola “Palancas Negras” Midfielder, Paulo – (10) 10 Argentina and Barcelona Midfielder, Javier – (10) 12 Boredom – (5) 15 United States Secretary of State, Mr. John – (5) 16 Number – (3) 18 Beverage – (3) 20 Greek Capital City – (6) 21 Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode – (6) 22 Netherlands “Oranges” Midfielder, Nigel – (6) 25 Ghana “Black Stars” Striker, Jordan – (4) 27 L.G.A in Benue State – (4)

1

2

3

•Moses 4

5

6

7 8

9

10 10

11 11 12 12 15 15

13 13

14 14

16 16

17 17

18 18

19 19 20 20

21 21

22 22 25 25

26 26

23 23

27 27 28 28

29 29

31 31

30 30 32 32

33 33

34 34

SOLUTION on page 20

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. EDITOR: ONOCHIE ANIBEZE Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-4544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail:news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. (Text) 08053068728; Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

24 24