Stop governors before they ruin Nigeria - Jubril Aminu

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PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Chairman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Mr Jim O’Neill and Managing Director, Investment Banking Division, Goldman Sachs lnternational, Mr China Danforth Onyemelukwe, during a Special lnteractive Session with the Governor at the Goldman Sachs Growth Markets Summit in New York.

From left: Mrs. Bose Adeboye, Minister for Defence, Erelu Olsola Obada, parents of the bride, Chief Olagunsoye and Mrs. Omolola Oyinlola and Mrs. Titi Atiku during the wedding of Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s daughter.

Jonathan has justified his mandate – Okupe

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ENIOR Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, says President Goodluck Jonathan has justified the mandate given to him by the electorate in the 2011 general elections.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with S u n d a y Vanguard in Lagos, Okupe said the Jonathan administration inherited five major challenges in the power sector namely, low generation capacity, comatose NIPP projects, poor and inadequate gas supply and nonalignment of gas infrastructure with the location of the NIPP projects, poor and dilapidated transmission infrastructure and nonimplementation of the privatization exercise in the sector.

According to the presidential aide, within two years of the Jonathan presidency, four of those challenges have been substantially resolved and the only outstanding one, which has to do with transmission and distribution, will be resolved in the next 12 to 15 months.

“Some of the transmission projects completed by the Jonathan administration within two years are Ganmo, Sapele, Katanpe, Mando, Kubotso, Alaoji, Ikeja West, Oworonsoki, Ojo, New Haven, Ajaokuta, Abuja, and Ihovbor.

It is also during this period that Nigeria attained a peak generation of 4, 517 and we are certainly looking at about 10,000 m e g a w a t t s b y December this year.”

According to him, the agricultural sector is another area where giant strides have been attained by the Jonathan administration with the progress made in rice, cotton and cassava production while making

single digit loan available to farmers nationwide with the attendant potential of creating millions of jobs.

In the aviation industry, he said over fifty percent of the nation’s airports have been rehabilitated and plans underway to assist indigenous airlines acquire new planes to end the era of avoidable crashes in the country.

He explained that the moribund rail transportation is being revitalized nationwide.

On the provision of road infrastructure, Okupe said major critical

road projects in the country have been fully or in the process of rehabilitation. They include Benin Ore Road, Kano Maiduguri dual carriage way and Port Harcourt-Enugu Road.

“This administration is also making efforts to construct the Second Niger Bridge and the East West Road. The first of its kind multi lane dual carriage Lagos Ibadan Express road of which the design has been fully completed will be ready in the next 24 months.

“On the economy, the administration has been

able to establish micro economic stability upon which we can now build in order to further improve on the standard of living and well-being of citizens.

We have an excess crude oil account with a surplus of over 9 billion dollars, a foreign reserve of over 48 billion dollars, a Sovereign Wealth Fund of 1 billion dollars, a World Bank projected growth rate of about 6.5 which is the highest in the sub region and an inflation rate descent to 8.5 percent from 11 percent in the previous year.”

Oritsejafor’s wife seeks more roles for women in politics

HE wife of President, C h r i s t i a n Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mrs. Helen Oritsejafor, weekend, advocated more roles for the women in politics.

Ortsejafor ’s wife, who is also the Chairman, Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank, spoke during the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs’ 20th anniversary in Abuja.

Being one of the three awardees for women e m p o w e r m e n t programme, Mrs Oritsejafor said that

despite the enormous endowment of women, they had been denied for a long time the opportunity to contribute their own quota to the economic and political development of the country.

She added that there would not be a limit to the success of any country who gave women the opportunity to express themselves. ”We have equal right to make our impact in the upliftment and growth of this nation and if women are given opportunity I can tell you there is no place, there is no limit to the growth of what this country can become,”she said.

Arewa cemeter y, 60 people were buried by their relations. The Magumeri grave yard also gave me a total of 60 fresh graves. These bring to a total of 228 people massacred and buried in Baga by their surviving relations last week.

“Inside the town, the community leader furnished me with a total of eight graves in which some of the victims killed in the Tuesday and

Wednesday clash between the Boko Haram insurgents and soldiers.”

He called on humanitarian agencies and philanthropists to act swiftly to “intervene and assist” the surviving tens of hundreds of Baga victims with food, shelter, medical services and drugs, and shelter by setting up more resettlement camps and water points, as against NEMA’s two tents.

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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Baga death toll rises 228 killed, 4,000 houses burnt – Senator Maina

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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ONTRARY to reports of death toll of 185 lives and destruction of over 2,000 houses at Baga, Borno State, after Boko Haram gunmen and men of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTC) clashed, last week, Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan, representing Borno North Senatorial District, declared that his two-day visit to the border town revealed 228 fresh graves, 4,000 houses leveled.

Lawan made the “declaration and assessment” of the Baga carnage, yesterday.

According to him, despite the widely reported carnage and destruction of Baga, there was much more to the reports on the total number of people killed and houses destroyed in the fishing and commercial town.

The reality of the clash on ground, he disclosed, is very much higher than the 185 lives lost and the destruction of 2,000 houses, 62 vehicles and 284 motorcycles reported. Instead, the

senator said: “During my two-day on-the-spot visit to Baga, what I saw was very frightening and sad to report and comment further, as many more lives and properties were destroyed in the two-day carnage.

The houses leveled or torched run for a distance of three-four kilometers of township settlements. I drove through the charred remains and counted no fewer than 4,000 houses of innocent residents destroyed in the fight between the Boko Haram sect and soldiers of Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).

“The magnitude of the carnage has overwhelmed me, as the number of and level at which the National E m e r g e n c y Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Red Cross (NRC), the JNL, Izala and other humanitarian agencies in Baga town are carrying out their humanitarian activities is grossly inadequate to meet the food, health and housing requirements of victims that are still sleeping in

the open air. Even, NEMA, as at last Friday, had only two tents to cope with tens of hundreds of displaced victims.”

Speaking on the exact death toll, Lawan said: “I personally visited all the four grave sites before arriving at the exact number of residents killed in the destruction of Baga town. At the Wayah grave yard, I counted 130 fresh graves, while at the

Transparency critical to investments in Nigeria —ABC Orjiako

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R. ABC Orjiako, of Ch airman Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, has emphasized the need for transparency in business and adherence to corporate governance global best practices as a corollary for increased investments.

Orjiako made the contribution as a panelist at the “Investor Risk in West Africa” Breakfast Session convened by FTI Consulting in London. The session was chaired by Lord Malloch-Brown, former Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff

of the United Nations under Kofi Annan In his contribution, Orjiako noted that when we speak about transparency and corporate governance in Nigeria, “ we should look from two perspectives; the previous period when the government did not play an active part in encouraging transparency and the current dispensation where the government is actively promoting the entrenchment of global best practices and the rule of law by tackling bribery and corruption and encouraging corporate

governance best practices in corporate Nigeria.”

Making a connection between good corporate governance practices and investment growth, Orjiako noted that the present state of affairs has played a huge part in the increased inflow of foreign direct investment.

He also spoke about the the ongoing divestment by the international Oil Companies arguing that the success of the still evolving exercise is predicated, mostly, on transparency and adherence to corporate governance principles.

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013 — PAGE 5

How aviation authorities grounded Amaechi, Tambuwal at Akure airport – Rivers govt *Their plane only delayed – NAMA

Imo State to attend the funeral rites of the younger sister of the Deputy Speaker of the of IVERS State House g o v e r n m e n t , Representatives. Hon. y e s t e r d a y , Emeka Ihedioha. Our alleged that an aircraft, plane, a Bombardier jet scheduled to fly owned by the Rivers government, Governor Rotimi State Amaechi and Speaker of landed at the airport in the House of Owerri. It was in Owerri Representatives, Rt. that the pilot of our plane Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, was first tipped off that among others, out of there was a plot to Akure, Ondo State, was ground our plane in grounded by the aviation Owerri that Friday”, the authorities on spurious statement started.

It continued: grounds.

It described as false “Fortunately, we took off the claim that the from Owerri airport and From left:The out going Bishop, Rt. Revd. & Mrs Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, aircraft’s pilot did not arrived Akure airport ensubmit a manifest route Ekiti for the burial of Lagos West, Asiwaju, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Deputy gov. of Lagos State, alongside his flight plan. of the Deputy Governor Mrs Joke Orelope-Adefulire, and the Most Revd. Adebola Ademowo, Bishop But the Nigerian of Ekiti State, Funmilayo of Lagos, during a service to mark the 70th birthday & retirement of Adebiyi, Airspace Management Olayinka without any held at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Agency (NAMA), in a incident. On the flight to response, said the plane Akure was the Speaker had been grounded! He Sani Idris Kutigi, Daniel Port Harcourt with the the House of said that the plane Rayeineju, Idris Ahmed was not grounded but of plane(another small Representatives, Rt. should and Ifedayo aircraft) that brought the delayed. have been Wase Amaechi, Tambuwal Hon. Aminu Tambuwal grounded in Owerri. The Abegunde, returned to other four Honourable and the others were who we met in Imo State Controller on duty at the the Akure airport, there members to Akure. To confusion accommodate Governor returning from Ado- and was also heading to airport in Akure was Ekiti, Ekiti State where Ekiti for the burial of Mrs mentioned some vague everywhere. Speaker Amaechi in the small the aircraft, one of the House they attended the Olayinka. Also on the issues relating to the Tambuwal, funeral of the deputy flight were the Governor Customs papers of the Honourable members, of Representatives governor, Mrs. of Rivers State, Rt. Hon, plane, which has been Governor Amaechi and members offered his seat Rotimi flying in Nigeria for his team, were stranded.

Olufunmilayo Olayinka, Chibuike to the Governor .“The on Friday, when the Amaechi; the Director- many months? That The plane that brought pilot of the Rivers State General, Nigeria incident happened. didn’t make any sense to Speaker Tambuwal and Forum the pilot. He enquired on Governor Amaechi to government plane was statement by the Governors already locking up the chief press (NGF), Asishana Bayo whose orders the plane Akure could not leave aircraft for us to leave for Okauru; Kalabari prince secretary to the Rivers was being grounded. He the airport. Calls were Lagos by road when a State governor, David and politician, Prince was told that it was the made as these two call eventually came Iyofor, yesterday, Tonye Princewill; some Managing Director of democratically elected through that the plane aides of the governor the Nigerian Airspace leaders, furious and entitled could now leave. The How Rivers State and myself.

Management Authority perplexed, tried to Controller received a “Once our party left the (NAMA). And that he fathom what could have Gover nor, Rt. Hon. directive to allow the Chibuike Rotimi Akure airport for Ekiti, should reach the NAMA caused this monumental plane fly out of Akure. our pilot went to the embarrassment.

Amaechi, House of MD. The decision to let us go, “After trying fruitlessly we later learnt, was due R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s airport offices to make “By the time our party, statutory airport for some time to get the Speaker, Aminu which now included four to the pressure brought Tambuwal, House of payments and fees, file House of plane released, Speaker on the aviation R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s his flight plan and R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Tambuwal offered to fly authorities by Speaker Members, Director- declare his manifest. members: Mohammed Governor Amaechi to Tambuwal.

General Governors’ After filing his fight plan declaring his For um Prince Tonye and Princewill were manifest, our pilot was grounded in Akure told to go and see the The Airport and aviation Controller. os that could consume the control. They decide what authorities, cock and Controller bluntly told Continued from page 1 country”. him that the Rivers the LGA chairmen should bull stories, narrated the governors of Aminu said: “The spend up to the last kobo. government plane the alleged grounding. arrogating to themselves “We had set out from would not be allowed to roles that were not in the governors are against all It is a complete negation Abuja in the morning of leave the airport. In Constitution thereby of us and the president. of the provisions of the They have organised to Friday April 26, 2013 for other words, the plane conferring illegal stop the government from Nigerian Constitution and advantage on themselves doing what is right for this they must be told so in clear to the detriment of country. You can see that terms to desist forthwith from such unholy practice majority of Nigerians. they have organised to stop in the interest of the country The former minister anything functioning in K O G I K A L A B A R I pointed out that, apart Nigeria without them. This and its people. But they keep on doing it with from acting as a clog in the is what is happening. impunity.

G H A N A U N A wheel of progress, “Governors are the ones “Unfortunately, there is governors had also imposing things on the rest M N E B U L O U S T U B A constituted themselves into of us. The problem with the nobody to call the an army against the governors is that they meet governors to order because L E A U I G P S have already Nigerian people by regularly and have their they destroying the local way by threatening the swallowed the House of S R T I D L E I O T A government system and president that they would Assembly that would have their Houses of Assembly, not support him for second served as a check on them.

A S P I R E N C N which they use to act as a term. You can’t do that Today nobody gets any job or appointment at the state check on the executive.

Y A G E N T A N N E X because it is wrong. They According to him, the gov- must realise and be told level without the approval ernors now want to deter- that as governors their first of the governors. Even A L I N G E R S I mine everything at the local, responsibility is to their election into the National Assembly is controlled by state and federal levels, states.

T E A S E E K E B B I governors. So they have thereby stripping the presi“Many of the states are super powers and nothing dent of his statutory powers. in a very parlous state and U C E A S E S S R Describing the action of their governors are moving gets to anybody except the the governors as inimical about in Abuja trying to governor approves same.

E D N B A L L A N T S “Not satisfied with the to the progress of the fight Jonathan in a P N I T A R A D nation, the professor of needless war. Number one, powers they have already medicine asked well- they have stopped the local usurped, the governors now want to extend their power E E V E N E X P E C T E D meaning Nigerians to rise governments from to the president. They want against “the malevolent functioning. to dictate to him what he N A R R O W D R attitude of the governors “They decide what before they plunge the amount to give to the local should and should not do S E T S S U N D I A L S nation into avoidable cha- governments under their when it is not their right to do so. This is not right and

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME & DANIEL ETEGHE

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Plane only held for five minutes - NAMA

eacting to the R Rivers government story, yesterday, NAMA

boss, Nnamdi Udoh, stressed that the aircraft was not grounded but delayed because the pilot did not submit the manifest alongside his flight plan to the appropriate authorities.

He spoke to newsmen at the agency ’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Udoh debunked the claim that the aircraft was grounded by the agency.

According to him, there was five minutes delay because the pilot, at the time of take-off, did not submit the manifest of the names of those onboard the aircraft contrary to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that was issued to nonscheduled operators earlier this year, adding that adequate clearance must have been given to avoid any delay because the Akure airport was restricted to day light operations only.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA), last night, declared that the Rivers government aircraft was operating illegally as its clearance approval expired on April 2, 2013.

Consequently, the NCAA said it had finally grounded the Bombardier -BD 700, Global Express aircraft.

Addressing reporters at the Aviation House, the headquarters of NCAA, the director of airworthiness standards, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka, explained that while the aircraft was operating illegally , it was sighted in several places including Owerri and Akure.

‘Stop governors before they ruin Nigeria’

SOLUTION

that is not what the Constitution envisaged. This is not the federal system we hope to get”.

Turning to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his state of Adamawa, Aminu blamed the development on the inability of Governor Murtala Nyako to perform and meet the expectations of the people.

The PDP Board of Trustees member noted that the party made a mistake by facilitating the emergence of Nyako as governor in 2007.

He said, “It is also my fault that we put Nyako there as our governor. Nyako is not good enough. The state is not moving forward.

We don’t know what he has been doing with our resources and not much has happened under him.

“Some of us believe he should go and he does not like that and almost all of us who were responsible for his emergence are uncomfortable with his style of leadership and the state is going backward.

Full interview next week

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

L-R Gov. Peter Obi; Commissioner for Sports, Edozie Aroh; Ody Ikpeazu; Mr. Chigbo Enwuzor, while the Gov. was presenting a cheque of Thirty Million Naira to Ody Ikpeazu , the Chairman of Ikpeazu Redoutable Football Club Onitsha at Imeobi playground Onitsha, to assist the club to upgrade infrastructure at their playground.

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HE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, has challenged universities to move away from facultycentered and lecturebased paradigm to the one where learners are the focus of teaching and learning. He said this is in line with the global trend where faculty mem-

L-R: Member, Customary Court of Appeal, Ondo State, Justice Eunice Aderonke Alade, the President of the court, Justice Folasade Aguda-Taiwo, Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, members of the court, Justice Titilayo Adesola-Ikpatt and Justice Michael Owoyemi at the formal presentation of the Judges to the bar and the bench held at the High Court Akure.

VC seeks paradigm shift in varsities bers become learning environment designers and students are taught critical thinking skills. He was speaking at an event organized by the university to appraise its blended leaning support programme.

Daramola urged lectur-

ers to support students by adding to their intellectual growth and instilling in them the awareness of important social issues and supporting their ability to become more productive members of society as life-long learners working toward common

good. The vice chancellor challenged lecturers to fully embrace the use of ICT in order to equip students

and co-learners to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Also speaking at the

event, Dr (Mrs.) Funmi Olubode-Sawe, a lecturer in FUTA Department of General Studies, noted the importance of incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into teaching, learning and research.

Ultimatum: Ijaw leader appeals to Egbema youths

BY EMMA ARUBI JAW leader, Chief Emmanuel Ebimami,

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has appealed to aggrieved Egbema youths to sheathe their swords and remain calm as their grievances are being addressed by the leaders and stakeholders.

The Egbema youths had issued a 14-day ultimatum that will expire today to the authorities to address the alleged political marginalization in the administration of the Warri

North Council, saying that since the creation of the council, no Ijaw man from Egbema has ever sat as Chairman.

Ebimami, who addressed the youths at his Warri residence, told them that violence will not solve the problem and appealed to them to remain calm as amicable solution was being fashioned out to calm frayed nerves.

How elders can avoid stroke, heart diseaes, by dietitian

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

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OLLOWING the long elderly kilometer walk organized by the Charity Organization for the Welfare of Aged People, COWAP, the nongovernmental organization advised aged people to eat more fruits to remain healthy.

Speaking of a seminar organized by COWAP, tagged, “Healthy Eating and Healthy lifestyle for the Elderly”, in FESTAC

Town, Lagos, a dietitian, Sara Olabisi, encouraged them to eat more of variety fruits like tomatoes, apples, vegetables and whole grains which, she claimed, would be simple actions that would help protect them from heart diseases and stroke.

The president of COWAP, Olusola Esan, admonished the elders to desist from taking herbal substances that do more harm than good in their old age.

Mortein Ambassador, Omawumi, campaigns against malaria

BY EBUN SESSOU

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WARD-WINNING musician and Mortein Brand Spokesperson, Omawumi Megbele, has strengthened Reckitt Benckiser-backed Africa anti-malaria initiative with a call on governments, institutions and relevant stakeholders including mothers to join hands in the ongoing global effort to stamp out malaria in Africa.

“Protecting Africa against the scourge of the

killer disease malaria is a fight that requires our collective effort. Although malaria-related deaths in Africa have fallen by an estimated 33 percent since the year 2000, we have a long way to go before we can proudly announce that we have won the fight against malaria”, she said.

Omawumi was on her second advocacy campaign for the eradication of malaria in Africa to Nairobi, the Kenya capital, at the weekend.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013 — PAGE 7

NMA faults allied health workers over strike threat BYCHIOMA OBINNA

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An official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps screening candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) at the African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko in Abeokuta yesterday

AGOS State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has faulted paramedics/ allied health professionals at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan over their plan to down tools to protest doctors’ appointment as leaders of the sector.

The paramedics/allied health professionals had threatened to embark on industrial action

JAMB holds amid malpractices in Lagos BYDAYO ADESULU

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HE Unified T e r t i a r y Matriculation Examination (UTME) was, yesterday, held in Lagos State amid delay in capturing the candidates’ biometric data, malpractices, and shortage of question papers.

The examination started in Yewa Junior High School, Diary Farm, Agege, Ikotun High School, Government Technical College, Ikotun and Igando Community High School, around 10: 00am, an hour behind official starting time.

When Sunday Vanguard visited some centres in the state, some candidates were seen shortly before the commencement of the examination copying supposedly answers from their cell phones into small sheets of papers, which they hid in secluded parts of their body including their private parts to beat security officers.

Also, some clever ones went into the examination halls with their cell phones making it easy for them to cheat.

Our correspondent at Vetland Senior High School in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area witnessed officials tackling the challenge of biometric screening of candidates within the scheduled time.

The chief examiner at the centre, who simply identified herself as Mrs Olajide, had to announce to those affected and who had earlier been screened manually to go into classrooms within their examination numbers to settle down. While the exam was going on, she went round to announce that every candidate should ensure to do biometric screening before leaving the exam hall.

”These are some of the candidates that the machine could not capture their data and we cannot continue to waste time on them. That is why I asked them to go in first while the official will go round to do their biometric capturing later,” she said.

There was also a situation of candidates not having all their subjects combination in one booklet and there was no left over questions papers across subject combination.

Some candidates who had economics, chemistry, government as subjects combination were affected.

The supervisors at some centres managed the situation by asking affected candidates to switch the question papers with those who had theirs complete pending when they would be ready to do them. ”And we’re able to manage the problem with understanding,” Mr. Yekini Olawale, a supervisor at Yewa Junior

High School who teaches at Lagos City said.

Polytechnic, On malpractices, although many supervisors denied knowledge of any, a JAMB official in charge of the 11 centres in Ikotun/Idimu area said that over 30 candidates were caught cheating in exam hall and that some invigilators aided the practice such that he had to re-arrange some of the invigilators at Comprehensive College, Ikotun, having suspected foul play.

Okiro challenges African leaders on security

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

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O R M E R InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, has challenged African leaders to modify their concepts of security as panacea to sustainable development, and to include in their security agenda non– conventional threats to the well-being of their peoples.

In a lecture he delivered at the Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom, the former IGP noted: “The purpose is to ensure that the continent benefits immensely from the advantages of the emerging African market. I consider it expedient as a security professional to say that it will be very necessary for African nations to modify their concepts of national security as well as their security agenda to include the various non – conventional threats to the well being of their people. The purpose is to ensure that the continent benefits immensely from the advantages of the emerging African

market. We should remodel our national security policies to reflect the need to promote security and democracy in Africa for sustainable development.”

The lecture was an annual Scottish-African International Business Conference and Exhibition 2013, held at G o v a n - M b e k i Conference Center of the Caledonian University.

Choosing “Re-thinking Global Security: An African Perspective” as

his topic, the former IGP disclosed that, since globalization has evolved to become a paradigm for u n d e r s t a n d i n g international relations, and an analytical tool with which to interrogate global governance, trans-national policing, global peace and (in) security, and international criminal justice, his topic is within the context of globalization, to make room for the United Nations’ option for crime prevention and control.

Aregbesola deserves second term – Oladejo

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OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has worked for the people and hence deserves second term, according to a chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),Atayese Abiodun Oladejo.

Oladejo, resident in Vienna, Austria, spoke in a message he sent to a function in which some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Aagba, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State defected to the ACN. “As 2014 gubernatorial election in the State of Osun is warming up, we must participate actively to checkmate the traducers

following the appointment of a laboratory physician (pathologist) as the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) of the Laboratory Services in UCH. Speaking during a press conference to announce NMA’s 53rd Annual General Meeting in Lagos, tagged:“Eko 2013”, Lagos State Chairman of NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, condemned the agitation for the removal of doctors as leaders of the health sector, saying the decision of the hospital was the norm worldwide.

His words, “We stood by the decision of the Chief Medical Director of UCH, Ibadan on the appointment of doctors

as heads and we are calling on the Federal Government not to be cowed by the health workers’ threat, as this appointment was in tandem with international standards.”

Faduyile explained that pathologists are medical doctors who had gone for five or six years’ postgraduate specialist training in laboratory medicine making them specialist laboratory physicians.

On the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM)/ Scientific Conference billed to hold April 29 NMA through May 5 in Lagos, he said the theme is “e- Health: Potentials for improving healthcare in Nigeria” adding that over 2,500 doctors across the country are expected to attend.

Corruption turning youths to illiterates – Ohanaeze chief

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA HIEF TAIN of C Ohanaeze Ndigbo and President of Oraifite

Town Union, OTU, Chief Sunny Igbanuzua, says the high rate of corruption in Nigeria was turning the youths into illiterates, as the young ones now want to be billionaires by all means without being educated.

Igbanuzua spoke when he received officials of the Centre for Mentorship on Morals, Enugu, now

campaigning for a good moral society in the country, led by its President, Maureen Chima, saying that the situation portends doom for future generations of the people. ’’The youths are not talking about education; all they want is to be billionaires; not millionaires again.

Today, money is the most important and it doesn’t matter how you get it. It is about getting rich quick.

That is our problem and you cannot convince the young ones to bend down and read to be educated”.

I remain the Aidonogie of South Ibie, no court deposed me —Danesi BYSIMON EBEGBULEM

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HE Aidonogie of South Ibie clan, Alhaji Aliu Danesi, has described as shocking and embarrassing the judgment by a High Court in Benin which referred him as a deposed monarch, asserting that the Court of Appeal, which the judgment referred to, didn’t depose him.

The monarch had filed a suit against Prof.I.BelloIman, Chief Shaibu

Imogore, Chief Dirisu Ekhalefo, Chief Zubiri Momodu and Alhaji Jafara Saliu, after he alleged that the defendants libeled him by petitioning Edo State Commissioner of Police, accusing him (Danesi) of hiring assassins to go after some certain persons in the community.

But delivering judgment, Justice E.Ikponmwen said that the monarch had no right to institute the suit in the first place since the Court of Appeal earlier deposed him as Aidonogie.

and demagogues in concomitant to the warning of Plato, a philosopher in classical Greece that, ‘one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors’.

The burden to allow ourselves to be thrown into another political thralldom can be too heavy and costly to bear as the only manumission is to exercise our franchise effectively.

Action Congress of Nigeria is a The chairman, Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Hon Mrs party of the masses and the Morenike Adesina-Williams(l), with the LCDA’s governor deserves a second medical officer of health (MOH), Dr Olatunji term,” he said.

Sunday Orebiyi, at a health screening event sponsored by the Lagos State Medical Guild.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

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

Technical education, key to employment generation Dear Sir,

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N this jet age where other nations are improving at a geometrical progression in technical education, Nigeria is busy churning out graduates from our schools with theoritical orientation,thereby increasing the unemployment rate with low industrial capacity.

It is pathetic for parents to spend huge amount of money in training their children in the university only to still see them stay at home for many years without any job as they lack the necessary skill to be self employed.

This misnomer will come to an end if the government, stakeholders, private school owners and companies focus on the development of technical education for Nigerian youths.

Technical vocational education and training is totally concerned with the acquisition of knowledge and skills for the world of work. The knowledge and skills needed here are practical skills required in manufacturing, designing, inventing and production, for internal and external society to consume. The theory content will be 10% while 80% of psychomotor and another 10% for leisure.

The inmportance of skill in the development of any nation cannot be over-emphasised because it is dexterity in manufacturing, creating, designing, inventing and servicing, for human’s consumption. No nation that neglects technical and vocational education and

training which is a vehicle of skills carrier can develop to an appreciable level. Skills are critical for sustainable industrialization and poverty reduction in terms of creating a critical mass of technically and entrepreneurially qualified people, who are able to stimulate investment opportunities, create jobs and increase productivity. Industrialization is conventionally believed to be a propeller for rapid growth and development of any economy, be it developed, developing (Nigeria) or under-developed. It is usually argued that industrialization is capable of

increasing the rate of economic growth and ensuring swift structural transformation of the economy.

Ironically, most developing countries have failed to attain industrial development despite several industrial policy reforms. This is as a result of neglecting technical education. In Nigerian context, technical education is classified as an education meant for dropouts,those with low intelligent quotient and those that cannot function well in general education. This is not true, technical education was designed for high intelligent quotient people.

Every stakeholder in government

should delete those constructs from their mindset if they want Nigeria to move forward to meet up with the vision 20:20:20 which the Minister of

National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has even started

giving up on its realisation, based on his recent pronouncement.

I am using this medium to call on stakeholders and those at corridors of power to support technical vocational education and training for the emernece of a new Nigeria.

Mr. Ikechukwu Fridy Nwaosa.

A technical expert ikefreeborn@yahoo.com

A nation without focus!

Dear Sir,

I

wept for our country after watching for several hours how the well equipped, trained and highly organized security agencies of USA were able to track down the Boston Marathon bombers before they could kill more people!

Despite the fact that more than N900billion was voted for defence in this year’s national budget, our ability to detect and combat crime scientifically, will still not improve, as part of this huge sum of money, will as usual end up in private pockets!

This is a country whose rulers are not ashamed that nothing works in our richly blessed country and that our country has remained underdeveloped and backward, due to the greed and corruption in all facets of our national life and which we treat with kid gloves by even granting state pardon to treasury looters. This action, will definitely encourage would-be looters waiting in the wings to pounce on our national coffers, once they are given an opportunity to serve our father land in one capacity or the other.

The greatest tragedy of our country, is that since the 70s till date, only a negligible number of our compatriots

in positions of trust, rendered patriotically, selfless service to our fatherland, while the majority were busy competing amongst themselves who will become richer from what they voraciously ate from our national cake, culminating in the backwardness and the stunted growth of our country and the unending poverty and suffering of the masses in the midst of plenty!

Ifeka Okonkwo Plot 44, Ahocol Housing Estate Phase II, G.R.A, Awka.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 9

Victims of Boko Haram: Jonathan -- 1

The White Elephant...

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” - Mahatma Gandhi

A

week or so ago, news filtered through that the 37-year old National theatre in Iganmu, Lagos is to be converted into a five-star hotel. It is understood that President Jonathan has approved the development of the National Theatre land, in writing. So, it seems if it is to be believed the plan is to have in the theatre’s place, a five-Star Hotel, shopping mall, multi-level car park, land and water restaurant and offices…

Who would have thought that this proposed plan will gather such speed and polarise different camps, those for and against. The National Theatre has come to represent all that was once good but now decaying and ruined in Nigeria.

Am I being dramatic? Per-

haps not, take a good look around you, we do not maintain our buildings to a good standard,once it's up and standing, there is no commitment to maintain and ensure for future generations. It comes crumbling down and we just move on to the next best thing. We have become a disposable society, we do not stick to things too long, we use and then abuse. For the uninitiated, the National Theatre was the pride of Nigeria and the black nations. The world sat up and noticed when Africa is united and put on a show of such diversity and pride. Nigeria played host to the World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977 (FESTAC '77) and it was our nation’s pride.

No wonder the art and culture camp are up in arms against the sale of the structure, they argue that the National Theatre was primarily established for the preservation, promotion and presentation of the nation’s art and culture.But like I said,we use and abuse then every intention goes

controls it, has become the main stumbling block to peace in the Northern states. But, it is not the only hurdle.

Last week, after months of agonizing over the continuing devastation of large

If Jonathan ever solves the problem of Boko Haram before 2015, then nobody can stop him from the second term. It is the acid test of his leadership

,

parts of our potentially great country, massive losses of life and properties, as well as foreign and domestic investment, I decided to test out a thought by going North and talking to some people, who might have information they are hoarding – deliberately or inadvertently. Over thirty years hands-on experience in sales and marketing had taught me that induced scarcity of information almost always occurs when somebody or a group of people expect to profit

rybody acting and commenting from partial knowledge – while insisting they have all the answers.

The truth is; it is stupid to proclaim support for or opposition to amnesty until we can uncover more reliable information. Amnesty, of a sort, is inevitable anyway. You cannot execute 5,000 -20,000 people -even if confirmed as Boko Haram.

Going north, I was interested in finding out who could possibly profit from the scarcity of information

out of the window.For the these Art and Culture custodians they feel aggrieved that the President does not grasp the appreciation of arts and culture in Nigeria. Take it anyway you want, but the theatre has been in decay and ruins for so long and it fails to be used for the purpose it was originally created. And yes, it’s true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it. But it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it is lost.

Whatever, the final fate of the National Theatre, the decline of a once loved structure have clearly seen better days and that no one can argue with that.

fashion shows in the very place. I remember it was a place to be seen and there were many creative people and groups who came in to showcase their work but that was in the past. Now it stands derelict and desolate. The ground has become a dumping ground and a no go area. Most of the facilities have broken down, I mean really, broken down. The complex had no power for many months, it plunged the place into eerie silence, the roof is sinking and structurally it is unsafe. So what is left for this grand old building? It is on a prime site, with a great view and it has got a lot of history.

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RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan, for once, has my sympathies – because he is a prisoner of circumstances.

Only a few were self-created; the majority were invented by his declared enemies and undisclosed adversaries. In the entire history of Nigeria, no Head of Government has ever faced the set of problems associated with the Boko Haram insurgency that this particular President has had to confront right from the first day after inauguration on May 29, 2011. What everybody thought was another post-election violent protest had exploded into a hydra-headed national disaster. Today, Boko Haram has become a code name for a sectional jihad, for armed robbery, for political warfare by other means and for wealth-seeking terrorists. The share complexity of the monster problem has turned everybody who attempts to comment on the issue and to offer solutions into a “fool” or accomplice by some; a sage and patriot by others. Everybody is probably some kind of a “fool” or patriot on this

matter – and that includes me.

I had refrained from commenting on this issue because it is not my habit to write on any important national controversy until there is at least a gleam of knowledge on which my article can be anchored.

For months, we had oscillated between the Federal Government’s position, not to talk with the terrorists; and the call by the Sultan of Sokoto for amnesty. That proposal was at first rejected by the President; only for the same government to turn around and embrace amnesty; set up an amnesty committee and receive a slap in the face from a faction of Boko Haram. Note the word “faction”. It is deliberate. There are now more than one faction of Boko Haram – each with its own agenda. Those arguing for or against amnesty, NOW, are both right and wrong – depending on which faction of Boko Haram will benefit from the amnesty proposal – which now has a steep price tag attached. Irrespective of which faction one is talking about, surprisingly, peace will depend on who will control the billions of naira that will be released by the Federal government afterwards. Money, filthy and bloody lucre, and who

,

“In our vile times/man [is], whatever his element/ Either tyrant, or traitor or prisoner”, Alexander Puskin, 17991837.

from it. Boko Haram is probably the first national issue on which reliable information has been so scarce, it had led to the situation in which we find ourselves today; a situation in which irrespective of what President Jonathan does or does not do, he cannot “win”. That makes our President the first victim of this Boko Haram. I make this statement, not out of disrespect for the thousands of people who lost their lives and the trillions of naira worth of properties destroyed, but because the man we elected, as President, to solve the problem is being hampered by eve-

and who stands to benefit from the funds eventually released. But, more importantly, I was interested in finding out why Jonathan is being boxed in from all sides. A few calls from Lagos and conversations with a few people finally provided a partial clue to why the Federal government is getting the run-around. SOME POWERFUL PEOPLE DON’T WANT JONATHAN TO GET THE CREDIT FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM. If Jonathan ever solves the problem of Boko Haram before 2015, then nobody can stop him from the second term. It is the acid test of his leadership. A word is sufficient for the wise – if they read newspapers. For whatever it is worth, the President has my complete sympathies. I wish him God’s guidance on this matter. No human intelligence can solve this one to everybody’s satisfaction.

QURAN A-Z: JOINT ATTEMPT PROMOTING PEACE IN NIGERIA “A picture is worth a thousand words”, according to the Chinese.

OR any nation in se rious crisis, symbols can substitute for millions of words – spoken or unspoken. The overwhelming percentage of Nigerians does not want a divisive religious war which will certainly set us back in our march, however slow, towards becoming a developed, caring and prosperous society.

Lacking an army; not elected; but still caring for our country, three individ-

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and not for the few and over privileged.

Most importantly,we cannot and should not replace one edifice with another. This is a chance to build anew and make the area heritage site.

This takes careful consideration and consultations by the interested parties and all transaction has to be transparent and above board For the love of posterity and history,those who have decided to take on this task of replacing the National Theatre with whatever building, must know that we are losing a part of our heritage and it will be just to have a lasting building in its place that will last over three decades.

Can’t we consider the Lagos State Governor as an owner as a first option?

They should know what to do.

Those who have decided to take on this task of replacing the National Theatre with whatever building, must know that we are losing Encore -More of a part of our heritage a good thing.....

In its hey days,the National Arts Theatre had a main hall, a conference/ banquet hall, exhibition halls, two cinema halls and a VIP lounge. For us during that time, it was a grand affair and we always make an event of going to the Theatre.We picnicked on the grounds,we meet and socialise around the Theatre. I have been to the theatre many times in the past, watched films, plays and even organised one of my

,

Whoever is taking this on, I really hope it is for the right reasons, not for enriching some individual pockets or exchanging hands for political favours and that the undertaking should be clear that is an area reserved for the appreciation of Nigerian arts and culture. It is only right.

I do hope that it does not end up in the personal portfolio of one of the political grandees. These should be for the people of Nigeria

“By lifting the weakest, poorest among us, we lift the rest of us as well.” - Bill Clinton There is a lot to be said about Rauf Aregbsola. He has changed Osun state and for the better. The Governor’s administration has and continues to deliver significantly on the sixpoint Integral Action Plan to transform the state. So I heard that the 322 ward chairs of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have endorsed him for a

uals have combined to produce the book QURAN: AZ. The author, Nurudeen Seriki, is a Muslim; the Publisher, Mr Agbo Areo, is a Christian and the Foreword has been written by our Father, Uncle or Brother (depending on your age), Alhaji Kola Animasaun (always THE VOICE OF REASON); of course a devoted Muslim. y role in the entire M initiative had been that of a facilitator and a

messenger (and I mean that in every sense of the word). I am happy to be a messenger for anything that will bring peace in Nigeria. In fact this is probably the most important thing I have done in my life – helping to bring peace in an ironic way to Nigeria.

The book will soon be launched at a Forum including leaders of the two religions. I hope you will respond positively when called upon. But, even without being launched those who have seen it – Christians and Muslims alike – have fallen in love with it.

A Christian seminary has promised to introduce it into the curriculum for their priests. We, Christians, and Nigeria, can benefit, immeasurably, by learning, in English, about the Islamic Holy Book. Incidentally, a far greater percentage of educated Muslims have read the Bible than Christians who have read the Quran. I am about to start with this book. It might not be out of place if Muslims send a copy to their Christian friends as gifts. Efforts need to be made on both sides to bridge the knowledge gap.

V i s i t www.delesobowale.com

second term. Well,why won't they? He has showed an outstanding performance and the party will be misguided not to endorse him. I think majority of Osun State people would have clearly done that anyway come next election. If the Ogbeni has to be rewarded, he has earned every bit of his salary. With the success of ; O’YES, O’REAP, O’MEAL, O SCHOOLS programme, the O’RENEWAL, the road construction, and the maintenance projects .The governor, to me, seemed very driven and will not rest on his laurels and continuously make more improvements and development to the lives of the people of Osun State. The last time I wrote about the governor,many of the readers agreed that he has transformed the state and while there are some still grumbling of his way of working but his track record which I think ,it speaks for itself. More people are in work,better transportation, school children have a better quality of education and the economy has improved manifold.

If anything,the other state governors should follow suit. Nigerians deserve capable government; and we have the right to use our vote as we see fit.

The people of Osun should be proud that they got it right and they have the right man at the helm.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

pears to be what played itself out last week Saturday, when the ACN appointed election officials put on the toga of the infamous defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO).

The latter was the nation’s electoral body which was disbanded 30 years ago, after it conducted the 1983 general elections which saw the ruling party- the National Party of Nigeria(NPN) winning more votes than were available as well as emerging victorious in centres were elections did not hold.

From the testimony of Independent observers, materials for the Edo local election got to polling stations in Benin City-the state capital as well as the operational headquarters of the electoral body as late as between 4 and 5pm. Whereas the lateness warranted the postponement of elections in such polling stations, the electoral body was able to ‘conduct’ elections in other polling centres –some of them over 100 kilometres from the same Benin City!

So many bizarre tales concerning the poor show donot deserve a recount here.

Even if youths who ceaselessly protested many days after the event were sponsored to do so, we need to remember that in the last 5years, Edo citizens have been adequately schooled by their government on street protests. In addition, the contributory negligence of the election administrators justified the protests.

The immediate issue before us now, is not in earnest, the suspected case of partisanship of the electoral body, but the proven case of its constructive inefficiency- a charge that would have similarly been sustained if the opposition party- the PDP that is now cry-

ing foul was the one in government. Of course, a PDP government would have also employed the Electoral Commission as a tool of election rigging. Indeed, there is no difference between the ACN and the PDP particularly in Edo State.

As the Publicity Secretary of Edo PDP testified the other day on national television, majority of ACN members defected from the PDP obviously taking along with them, the rigging expertise they garnered from their old party The Edo State “Independent” Electoral Commission performed woefully and ought to be dissolved without further delay. This is necessary because unlike what happens in other climes where bodies which fail in their assignments resign, the edo electoral body will not of its own quit because it is not in the character of Nigerian public officials to so act. The Commission cannot even apologize for the lapses because they were deliberate. The pain in all of this for the citizenry is that once again, we are unable to conduct free and fair elections- a feature which has characterized every Nigerian election even before independence notwithstanding the encomiums being poured on the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Perhaps, political violence and the snatching of ballot boxes may have reduced but those are not enough to bestow free and fair elections on our nation. Nigeria needs to move with the times and adopt current

best practices in election management. For instance, the conduct of an election ought not to be premised on faulty statistics.

In 2010, INEC organized a voters’ registration exercise. Till date, those that were captured as prospective voters by its temperamental “DDC” machines are yet to be issued with proper voters’ cards. The Commission has also not been able to revise the register since then. Consequently, some registered voters who have since died are still listed in the register making it obvious that every election that has been held since then has been based on inaccurate figures. Similarly, many citizens who were unable to register in 2010 as well as those who have since attained the voting age after the 2010 exercise have been disenfranchised in every election held between then and now including the recent edo local elections. It is inappropriate to describe as successful, elections in which some persons who are qualified to participate are officially but inexplicably excluded. It is worse to condone elections marred by avoidable lapses like shortage of materials or late arrival of election personnel and materials to voting centres. In every Nigerian election, these vices partially manifest in one form or another of the FEDECO ghost. It was however, the full ghost of FEDECO that resurrected in Benin City, Edo State on Saturday, April 20, 2013. It is a shame.

the concept of God, then the problem of whether it is proper or improper to ask such a being probing questions does not arise because it makes absolutely no sense to ask a nonexistent being questions - and probably expect answers too.

In that connection, although there is no doubt in my mind that the anthropomorphic God of religion does not exist despite the ingenious fallacious arguments marshalled by theologians and religion-minded philosophers right from antiquity to date, we should suspend the issue of God’s existential status or, better still, presume tentatively

duty-bound to explain or justify, as the case may be, fundamental anomalies, absurdities and evils which permeate his creation. The first question I would ask him is: God why did you create anything at all? Others include: God, if you were really all-knowing and allpowerful, why did it take you billions of years of trial and error just to evolve life on earth, and why should a world created by you be filled with egregious flaws as if it was produced by an apprentice learning on the job? Why did you single out an insignificant planet (earth) for preferential treatment out of the astronomical number of planets that you allegedly created? Why did you create the earth specially for human beings (according to scripture) and yet filled it with deadly viruses and bacteria to terrorise

Why did you permit the totally unnecessary and nauseating rigmarole of Jesus dying on the cross to redeem humankind when you simply could have forgiven people for their sins and allowed the matter to end there?

Must the so-called original sin purportedly committed by Adam and Eve affect every other human being? Does it make sense for a loving father like you to create a very boring place called heaven and a most hideous and terrible place, hell, where people will be tortured forever? Do you derive pleasure in seeing people suffer without end?

Why are you indifferent to the plight of Nigerians?

God, why can’t you afflict corrupt Nigerian leaders, both past and present, and their collaborators, with the worst incurable diseases on earth to ensure they did not benefit from their wickedness and reinforce the futility of corrupt enrichment and primitive accumulation? Why are you silent while pastors and imams are shamelessly deceiving and stealing from gullible Nigerians in your name?

Are you happy with the cash-and-carry religiosity dominating Nigeria right now? Why are good people suffering so much whereas the wicked ones are enjoying in this world? If you are perfect, why are people born with serious congenital abnormalities?

On a personal note, why did you make me an albino when you know that I will live in the tropics where human skin needs a lot of melanin for protection from the sun’s harmful ultra violet

radiation? To even worsen matters, you chose as my place of origin a backward country dominated by cruel ignoramuses who stigmatise and mistreat albinos just because they look different - how come? Why wasn’t I born in Iceland or other places where the colour differential between albinos and others is small and where the sun is very mild? Indeed why even create albinos in the first place - is it because you ran out of melanin and just wasn’t patient enough to make more?

God, whatever you are, I have so many questions for you, but the limitations of space cannot allow me to ask all of them in this essay. Meanwhile religious bigots should stop making silly excuses for God, because assuming that indeed God actually created the universe and all it contains, the truth is that, given the serious imperfections in the universe (and in the earth particularly), the universe is certainly not the product of a perfect omnipotent being.

That is why I sometimes sympathise with the suffering God of process philosophy postulated by Alfred North Whitehead.

Believers might respond to my questions by quoting the scripture which declares that “the ways of God are not the ways of man”.

Well, that is the whole point of this essay: if the ways of the almighty are so different from ours, how can we be sure that he has all the attributes traditionally ascribed to him? How can we really be sure that he even exists?

CONCLUDED.

Miracle in Edo as FEDECO resurrects after 30 years expected the ruling partythe Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to once again, use its incumbency and the acclaimed popularity of its Governor to trounce the opposition.

Some analysts even introduced the symbolism of football into the issue by predicting that the election would take the form of a football match between Brazil, the acclaimed best football playing nation and one of the poorly rated

,

T

HE July 14, 2012 Governorship elec tions in Edo State, were reportedly overwhelmingly won by the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

According to the election results, the Governor won in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

Some discerning minds that were described at that time as cynics were however unsettled because of reports of the role which money played in the process.

Many members of the main opposition party-the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly sold out while the law enforcement agencies were said to have been overtly partisan. Even some politicians in the uniform of Chiefs reportedly assumed the role of canvassers on account of material benefits like Jeeps.

Expectedly, everyone ignored the cynics because the results showed that the Governor defeated his opponents and their sponsors even in their own polling booths. When therefore, a local government election in the state was fixed for April 20, 2013, everyone

would make her record as many as 7gooals to nil. The world would however, be obviously and exceedingly shocked to hear that Brazil won the game just because the match officials –all of them- appointed by the Brazilian Football Association, arrived late to the pitch only to record more goals than were scored during the match which lasted far less than half the prescribed regulation time.

This strange scenario ap-

Nigeria needs to move with the times and adopt current best practices in election management. For instance, the conduct of an election ought not to be premised on faulty statistics

,

countries. In other words, ACN was generally expected to trounce its opponents the way Brazil would humiliate a weak team by putting up a transparent superior performance that

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Interrogating God worship him. After all a piece of pottery is not in a position to ask its maker, the potter, any questions”.

Now, the main problem with such a response is that, unlike the pottery which lacks self-consciousness and rationality, a human being is a self-conscious rational creature whose intellect can transcend certain limitations of his finitude.

Thus nothing, including God, is beyond the whetstone of rational interrogation. The possibility or ne-

,

O

NE of the most persistent miscon ceptions by believers concerning the entity designated with the word ‘God’ is that he (she or more appropriately it) is unquestionable, meaning that the existential perplexities troubling the heart of humans should not be brought to the doorstep of the Supreme Being.

The idea that God is immune or beyond the questioning spirit of human beings is both a linchpin and article of faith for religious apologists, to the extent that it is considered sinful, heretical and blasphemous in the three Abrahamic religions, especially Christianity and Islam, to demand to know why, for instance, a world supposedly created by a perfect, omniscient, and omnipotent being should contain so much evil.

If you demand from a devout Christian or Muslim the reason one should not ask God critical questions about the vicissitudes of human life and existence in general, you are likely to be told that ‘’God is the almighty, omnipotent, and perfect being and no one has the right to question him.

He has created the universe as he pleases; therefore, since he is absolutely superior to us we should acquiesce to his divine power and

On a personal note, why did you make me an albino when you know that I will live in the tropics where human skin needs a lot of melanin for protection from the sun’s harmful ultra violet radiation? To even worsen matters, you chose as my place of origin a backward country dominated by cruel ignoramuses who stigmatise and mistreat albinos just because they look different - how come

cessity of asking God searching questions is meaningful only on the tacit assumption that the entity denoted by that word and described in religious texts such as The Holy Bible and The Holy Koran actually exists. If ‘God’ denotes nothing, if there is no objectively existing being outside the fecund imagination of humans that corresponds to

that he exists and concentrate on the appropriateness of asking him questions, the sort of questions that we should put to him just in case we meet him face to face.

In my opinion God has a lot of questions to answer, for if indeed he has all the superlative qualities traditionally ascribed to him in the scriptures, then he is

,

them? Why did you give humans free will when you, as an omniscient being, already knew they will abuse it? Why are you indifferent to human suffering although you have the power to bring it to an end? Why are you tribalistic? Why did you choose Israel or any other ethnic nationality as your favourite if you really created all human beings?

SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 11

fats will grow back. In my almost 20 years in practice, I have found out that the best thing to do is to eliminate the fat. The idea is that the fat that has been eliminated cannot come back, except you start taking in new ones. If you eliminate the fat cells, you do so completely, but we do not encourage people to do it themselves. We encourage them to see professionals, because we do not want you to do something that will affect your organs and that is why you see that those who come to Quincy look healthy even after undergoing the process of eliminating the fat cells. You find out that there are added incentives to the treatment because there will not be a case of migraine, insomnia or related illness.

By EMMANUEL AJIBULU

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RS. Quincy Olasumbo Ayodele is pioneer Secretary General for the umbrella body of traditional medicine in Nigeria; and an adviser for the development of African traditional medicine to the World Health Organization (WHO). Quincy has contributed significantly to the development of traditional medicine to combat malaria and HIV, as well as research and development of African traditional medicine and integration of African traditional medicine into the healthcare system and many others. This has positioned Quincy Herbal Slimmers as an authority in traditional medicine not only in Nigeria, but also across the African and beyond. In this interview, she discusses her key milestones, and the need for the passage of Traditional Medicine Bill, etc.

Excerpts: As key stakeholder, can you say traditional medicine is getting government’s support. What can you tell us about the Traditional Medicine Bill in the National Assembly?

First of all, I will commend the government for identifying with traditional medicine practice in Nigeria; I understand there is a department in the Federal Ministry of Health for traditional medicine. I was made the first Secretary General of National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), the umbrella body that governs traditional medicine in the country; this in itself is a form of support from government.

However, the passage of Traditional Medicine Bill will play significant roles in our practice. If passed, it will help in regulating the industry fully and it will help in the integration of traditional medicine to the existing health care system so that there can be complete collaboration for efficiency. All the mechanism for the traditional medicine is ready even by the World Health Organization; we have the mechanism for collaboration, we’ve done research and development on all kinds of herbs, we have perfected that of West African pharmacopeia on traditional medicine and some countries have even started, it is only Nigeria that has not passed this crucial bill. Traditional medicine is for the people of Africa and it works.

The regulators are ready, practitioners are ready the products are also ready; our lawmakers should make our dreams a reality in this aspect. Traditional medicine is a goldmine if well harnessed, and it can compete favourably with the proceeds from crude oil if well managed. National Health Care cannot really move forward until they carry us along so that we can all be at por with the western world. We cannot compare the efficacy of our local herbs with the orthodox medicine; meanwhile, I shouldn’t be misconstrued because the or- with the ring and get a slimming ring. However, this is how thodox medicine works too. the sliming ring works. Have you heard of acupressure beSlimming packages?

We have various slimming fore? The rings we talk about at products developed and Quincy are simply in line with produced for effective weight acupressure concept. The herbs loss. Depending on the level of are embedded in the rings and, weight loss necessary, we have as you wear them on your fincome up with slimming gers, they perform the slimming packages. We have a “lose 10kg on your body naturally with no and 10” in 10 days’ program, a side effects, no voodoo, and no one month slimming program, metaphysic powers involved. If a three-month slimming you put the ring on a particular finger, it sparks of metabolism program and inject-o-slim. for a particular purpose. If you ow does the slimming put it on your index finger, it ring work? Any link will work on your pot belle.

There is a particular one you with voodoo or metaphysics?

If it is possible to mix some can put on, and it will work on things with water and you get your eyes. At Quincy, we spethe slimming water, it is also cialize on just one thing and possible to mix some things when you focus on one thing

H

•Quincy Olasumbo Ayodele

Why people say I am mermaid — Quincy •There is no witchcraft in African medicine’ •Says National Assembly should act on Tradomedical Bill

C M Y K

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for over years, you discover other you we have lots of success stothings that are related to your ries to our credit at Quincy. specialty. Here, we are specialist in obesity. You will be surSome people argued that prised that they bring people in your medicines are somewhat trucks to purgaQuincy and, tive?

The herbs are embedded since the perFor you son is too big in the rings and, as you to treat or to exercise, wear them on your fingers, manage we have no they perform the slimming o b e s i t y choice but to you have on your body naturally with t eliminate the o no side effects, no voodoo, cleanse fat cells.

Therefore, we and no metaphysic powers the sysprofessionally tem. We involved apply what work on we have to reducing treat obesity. Many people excess body fat. Fat cells are livthink obesity is a small disease, ing cells and you can exercise it is not. It is a serious health and the cells will stop growing condition and it requires exper- or they shrink, but the moment tise in handling it, and I can tell you stop doing those things the

,

ow do you go about eliminating fat cells?

There are three ways of eliminating fat cells from the body.

If you are using a fat cell eliminating product, you would be told what you are using and the administration and prescription will be based on your body type and health condition. We do not eliminate body fat cell for our ulcer patients, but, like I said earlier, we have three methods of eliminating, and purging is not the way we do it. You could either go for purging, sweat or urinate depending on your body condition and that is why we encourage our clients to come for examination before they use any of our herbs. Even if you offer to pay for home delivery service, we still insist that you come to the clinic so that we can examine you.

What do you tell those who call you witch doctor or mermaid?

There is a popular saying, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” All that happened because they did not know what I was doing. However, I always try to educate them. I let them know that there is no witchcraft in African traditional medicine. I let them know that God has opened the eyes of some of us to the medicinal value in some of these herbs. I keep telling people about the herbs, I keep doing my thing and, of course, they were seeing the result and, over time, it became a thing of pride. Now, I am happy that with persistence in the cause governments are now trying to identify with us. I told people to call me whatever name they wanted, but I know what I was practising. People who patronize me know the result they get from the herbs they buy from me.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

Writing the Advertising Brief: How and Why

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is writing the advertising brief. The importance of a good advertising brief is simply enormous and cannot be narrated simply. To start, let us appreciate the importance of THE BRIEF from the standpoint of the fact that advertising is all about telling a brand’s story. Simple! Now, this story could be towards persuasion, enlightenment, reward, developing or consolidating friendship (relationship), forming an opinion or simply planting an idea - in someone’s mind.

Again, that is why advertising is about the human mind.

Decision taken on account of an advert message is resultant and in fact consequent upon the impact the given advert message had on the mind of the target recipient of the advert message. If we closely follow with another fact that there is no good story without pieces of information and a plot, we can then begin to appreciate the importance of background information, properly gathered and arranged, set in a plot for a good and impactful brand story.

That sets the tone for appreciating the importance of an advertising brief.

The advertising brief helps in determining the scope and extent of strategic and creative work, creates and shapes the plot, guides the creative process and helps in profiling the target audience. In addition, the brief helps in revealing the brand’s competitors, guides the

agency towards properly investigating the possible threat areas including the competing brands, investigate own-brand for proper and appropriate protection from harm, and channels the use of scarce resources.

In effect, therefore, a brand’s communication or advertising campaign is only as good, effective and impactful as the

,

HIS piece is in keeping with our commitment to helping compliance to the standard professional practice of brands management and advertising, by bringing to notice, those basic and functional elements more commonly undermined in the face of present day quick-fix approach and system compromise due to impatience and inadequate training. We must also quickly add here, that more and more, professional training and proper and induction are lacking in the advertising industry. Consequently, quality of service delivery is dropping with time. It has become alarming.

On the one side of the divide in this case, are the practitioners on the client’s side, and on the other are the professionals on the agency side. We must also state here that practitioners on both sides are equally tasked on the provision of world standard professional service delivery.

It is to that extent of expectation and responsibility that we have always made the case forappropriate human resource consideration through an unbiased selection process, when there is the need to engage people for brands management and advertising functions. It also applies in the process of engaging advertising agency for a brand.

The consequence of compromising this process of human resource engagement is simply too costly to be undermined. But because the consequence of mediocrity in brands management and advertising build up rather slowly, most systems wish it away. But unfortunately, it tells on the brand, its competitiveness, market performance and the value of its equity in the long run. May we also state here, that in most cases, the benefits of professional brand management are not measured in sales figures?

Suffice, therefore, that a brand may still be enjoying good level of consumer engagement and shelf off-take but losing out on consumer perception in so many ways. The danger in a case like this is that owners of such brand will assume all is well since the sales figures remain good, not knowing that potential competitors are waiting to take advantage of the negative market perception of that brand to attack. It is that simple.

One of those critical points in the process of developing effective brand communication commonly undermined today

their system. The aim was to adequately intimate the agency with the global practice standard and method of handling the P&G brand.

Their system is so thorough the intellectual and mental ability of all those put forward by the agency were rated during this process. At the end of the interaction process participants are scored on the

The advertising brief helps in determining the scope and extent of strategic and creative work, creates and shapes the plot, guides the creative process and helps in profiling the target audience

brief that originated the entire process. That explains why professionally managed brands pay utmost attention to advertising brief development. I still find the Procter & Gamble outstanding (if they still do so now). Way back when I worked in the team that introduced Vicks Lemon Plus and EuroPampers brand into this market, P&G system required that all those chosen to work on their brands from the Agency side go through a period of orientation within

,

bases of alertness, appreciation and internalization of the P&G process. It is when they are satisfied at this point that on the job interaction begins.

Then, it is assumed that everybody on the brand know what to do for the brand.

Not to mention the advertising brief from then on; a brief from P&G clearly spells out the given brand’s personality, value-essence, its target market, a history of its market performance up till the time of briefing, its

challenges, strength and weaknesses in the face of market expectation versus competition, the marketing objective in volume and value terms, the immediate and long term projection for the brand, in terms of market performance, perception/ image and market position.

Of course, and that is what makes it all the more interesting, the brief from this team is extensively supported by current figures. The figures they supply are open to independent verification. In fact the agency is expected to consider information contained in the brief as hypothetical until verified through independent market study. It was quite engaging and exciting because by the tradition of the practice environment then (which is the tradition with my team now), the next step after reading a client’s brief, is conducting a research.

Agencies’ research helps in either confirming or substituting client’s information or claim based on empirical studies. Such extra work on the agency ’s part helps the strategic planning and creative process which in turn ensures a effective endproduct in form of advertising campaign.

A good advertising brief assures all of the above.

The challenge, however, is that a good brief can only come from a properly trained person/professionally matured personality. Writing a good advertising brief requires intelligence, commitment, dedication, professionalism, attention to details, knowledge and hard work. All of these are considered too problematic by over 75% of brand managers on the client’s side in today ’s environment – not to mention “corporate affairs managers” and “corporate communications” managers of today (mostly journalists and PR people by training).

Improper job description and personnel engagement, therefore, have added to the confusion. By and large, we must put the importance of writing an advertising brief in its true perspective. There cannot be a good and effective advertising or campaign with potentials to optimize returns on advertising spends without a good brief. So, it is important that clients engage professional brand managers in their system and these persons are constantly trained and retrained for optimal efficiency – starting with ability to write a good advertising brief. …as captured above!

SUND AY SUNDA

BY JIDE AJANI

B

efore the ‘Baga killings’, of penultimate week, there was My Lai, some 45 years ago.

The My Lai event happened on March 16, 1968, when a company of U.S. soldiers went into the village of My Lai 4, in Vietnam, and committed atrocities never before seen in combat. According to the testimony of one of the soldiers who later testified, “The order we were given was to kill and destroy everything that was in the village. It was clearly explained that there were to be no prisoners.”

Indeed, in 2004, a newspaper in Ohio, the Toledo Blade, won the Pulitzer Prize for its extensive reporting on the atrocities “”committed more than (45) years earlier by the U.S. Tiger Force Unit in the Vietnam War” .

Part of the report reads that “Women and children were intentionally C M Y K

,

PROLOGUE

“You didn’t have to look for people to kill, they were just there. I cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, and scalped them. I did it. A lot of people were doing it and I just followed.”

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blown up in underground bunkers.

Elderly farmers were shot as they toiled in the fields; prisoners were tortured and executed - their ears and scalps severed for souvenirs.

One soldier kicked out the teeth of executed civilians for their gold fillings”, the paper reported.

“We met no resistance and I only saw three captured weapons. We had no casualties. It was just like any other Vietnamese village - old papas, sons, women and kids,” a soldier said describing what they

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PPA AGE 13

found on entering My Lai. “As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing one military-age male in the entire place, dead or alive.” The paper ’s report continues, ”The U.S. soldiers started killing everyone in sight.

“There was an old lady in a bed and I believe there was a priest in white praying over her... [U.S. Lt.] Calley pulled the old man outside.

He said a few more words to the monk. It looked like the monk was pleading for his life. Lt. Calley then took his rifle and pushed the monk into a rice paddy and shot him point-blank”.

Another testimony disclosed that “An order was given to push all the Vietnamese who had been forced into the area into a ditch. I began shooting them all. I guess I shot maybe 25 or 20 people in the ditch...men, women, and children.

And babies!

“A baby crawling away from the ditch was grabbed and thrown back into the ditch and shot. All over the village, platoons of U.S. soldiers were committing similar atrocities.

The huts that the villagers lived in

and their crops were burned, their livestock killed. Some of the dead were mutilated by having ‘C Company’ carved into their chests; some were disemboweled. Women were raped”.

One GI would later say; “You didn’t have to look for people to kill, they were just there. I cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, and scalped them. I did it. A lot of people were doing it and I just followed.”” The story only came out because “of the persistent efforts of GIs who refused to let the story die”.

According to reports, “Lt. Calley was the only soldier convicted of any of the atrocities that took place at My Lai. Despite being convicted of killing over 100 unarmed Vietnamese, Calley served only two days in jail! (Then American President Richard) Nixon then ordered him put under house arrest at Fort Benning, where he could live in a nice apartment, cook his own food, receive guests, watch TV and go to town for supplies (accompanied by

Continues on page 16

PAGE 14 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

'We are still picking corpses of women and children in the bush' *Baga... after the military struck

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orno State is Nigeria's self- acclaimed 'Home of Peace'. That is the appel lation. But you may not be wrong if you now describe it as 'The Home of Ruins and Pieces'. The truth about the state is that it has become a theatre of a war unleashed by the Islamist group called Boko Haram.

Insurgency has been the order of the day in the state, leaving in its trail bombings, shootings and deaths.

When the residents are lucky, the death toll is low, but sometimes it can be high. Some analysts blame the problem on the international borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroun which they believe is porous as to allow Islamic extremists from the countries to enter the state at will. The Federal Government raised a military outfit under the aegis of the Joint Task Force (JTF) which it deployed to contain the Islamists. However, the efforts to abate the violence in the state have led to the JTF's stand-off with the intransigent Islamists, claiming more lives. One of such incidents was the face-off of last week between the JTF and the Boko Haram elements which reportedly claimed about 185 lives – the JTF is the arrowhead of a multinational force working in the state to contain the insurgents.

The face-off took place at Baga, a remote village in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, believed to have been a haven for the Islamist group. Most of those killed in the four-hour battle were said to have been civilians thus sparking national outrage.

The dead, according to reports, C M Y K

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BY NDAHI MARAMA

The Federal Government raised a military outfit under the aegis of the Joint Task Force (JTF) which it deployed to contain the Islamists. However, the efforts to abate the violence in the state have led to the JTF's stand-off with the intransigent Islamists, claiming more lives

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include women and children, while hundreds of houses were torched.

Baga, about 235 kilometers away from Maiduguri, Borno State capital, is a border town with Niger and Chad. It produces fish. Troops from Niger and Chad were reported to have been involved in the operation.

Until this incident, the last reported insurgent activity in the area was the killing of a Customs officer. This time, the multinational force took the battle to the 'home' of the Boko Haram Islamists. Reports said the civilian casualty was high as the Islamists used residents as human shields from the multinational force fire.

A Baga resident, who gave his

name as Mallam Bana, said he survived the battle by whiskers.

According to him, it all started at about 8pm penultimate Friday. "The soldiers were heartless that night in their approach; they killed and burnt our houses, chased everyone into the bush including women and children.

So far, we have buried 185 corpses. some were burnt beyond recognition; others are hospitalized with various degrees of injuries," Bana said.

But the commander of the JTF, Brigadier General Austin Edokpaye, who confirmed the incident, while conducting Governor Kashim Shettima round the affected area, on Sunday, debunked the claim that scores of civilians were consumed during the battle. "We lost an officer during an attack on our men on patrol. We received intelligence report that some suspected Boko Haram members usually prayed and hid arms at a particular mosque in the town. It was around that mosque that our men were attacked with several of them injured and an officer died", Edokpaye said.

"When we reinforced and returned to the scene, the terrorists came out with heavy firepower including RPGs which usually have a conflagration effect that caused houses with tatched roof or fencing to catch fire."

The commander revealed that the fire that consumed the community and the resultant deaths should be blamed on the Boko Haram Islamists who opened fire on soldiers and using civilians as human shields. He denied the residents' allegation that the shootout was unprovoked.

Edokpaye noted that in his many years of stay in Borno State, he had

cultivated civil and military relations to the effect that Baga and environs had enjoyed relative peace.

He said those who died as a result of the incident could be victims of the crossfire between the soldiers and the Boko Haram gunmen, which he said was highly regrettable.

Shettima drove through the village with a large retinue of government functionaries, including the member of the House of Representatives representing the area, Hon. Isa Lawan Kangarwa, and the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Ahmed Jidda.

The governor and his entourage also visited the General Hospital, Baga, where he commiserated with the women, children and aged men admitted for various cases of burns.

The governor took time to pacify the aggrieved residents and pleaded with those in the bush to return home.

He directed that those in hospital with severe cases of burns be transferred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where they could get better treatment.

Shettima later expressed his displeasure with the way the soldiers carried out their duties on the fateful day, just as he implored the commander to “take full charge” of his operation and ensure he personally supervises his field officers from time to time “in order to avert such nasty incidents in the future.”

Before he left the town, he inaugurated a high-powered committee, led

by Hon Isa Lawan Kangarwa, to ascertain the extent of the damage

Continues on page 15

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PPA AGE 15

'We are still picking corpses of women and children in the bush' Continued from page 14

* A community in ruins

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and how the people could be helped out of their "seemingly irreparable trauma".

Sunday Vanguard checks revealed that food and other basic needs became a problem in the community throughout last weekend as a grocery merchant, who lost his house and business stall in the conflagration, Malam Bashir Isa, said, “Everyone has been in the bush since Friday night; we started returning to town because the governor came today. To get food to eat now is a problem because even the markets are burnt. We are still picking corpses of women and children in the bush”.

To cushion the effect of the hardship faced by the surviving residents, the Federal Government ordered the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, North East Zone to collaborate with Borno State government to mobilize to site on Wednesday to assist the victims with relief materials. Consequently, NEMA officials were deployed to the area.

National outrage trailed the killings. The Senate and the House of Representatives mandated separate committees to probe the massacre.

President Goodluck Jonathan also raised a committee to carry out a fullscale investigation into reports of high civilian casualties in the confrontation.

In the Senate, three committees were asked to jointly probe the killings of those the senators called “the innocent.”

The probe committees, which are the National Intelligence, Police and Defence, were asked to turn in their report within 14 days. The decision of the Senate followed the intervention of Senator Maina Lawan (Borno North), who raised the issue under matters of urgent national importance drawing from Order 43 of the Senate Order Rules.

Maina, who hails from Baga, said that following the military operation, which lasted three days, the community was currently in ruins, with 180 to 200 lives lost and numerous others unaccounted for. According to him, 2,000 homes, 62 cars and 284 motorcycles and tons of food stuff were destroyed.

The lawmaker, who said he would not like to delve into the controversy of the possible perpetrators of the act, however, noted that the scale of atrocities were condemnable. He prayed the Senate to “call for a full scale investigation to unearth the truth, as this is a recurring decimal in all such past instances in Borno.”

Maina urged the upper legislative chamber to “call upon all concerned agencies of government, NEMA, states and local governments as well as good spirited individuals to come to the aid of the surviving victims,

"The security forces struggle to identify the insurgent and criminal groups migrating in the region, a confusing and lawless environment that has led to the reckless targeting of innocent civilians

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women, children and the aged who are in dire need.”

Senate President, Senator David Mark, also condemned the alleged high civilian figures occasioned by the action of the security operatives.

He said the task force must operate under globally accepted military standards as well as the rule of engagement prescribed by the military. According to Mark, “We cannot have this high number of Nigerian casualties at a given time.

The military task force must conduct itself within the rules of engagement provided for them as well as the global best practices.”

While fielding questions from newsmen after the Senate session, Maina revealed that members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect had sacked about one third of the Borno local government councils. He said that in some of the council areas, the sect also sacked the police, the Immigration Service and Customs.

The lawmaker described the situation in some of the councils as complete breakdown of law and order. “The truth of the matter is that when JTF intensified their operations in Maiduguri , of course, they concentrated in Maiduguri understandably because it is the state

capital, it was too hot for them (Boko Haram)", he said.

"They ran out and fizzled into the countryside. In the countryside, there is no police presence. In Borno North, there is no police outpost or divisional office standing. There are some areas that government officials don’t go for the fear of their lives.

"Ask the Immigration or Customs officials when last they visited their Banki outposts. Where there are supposed to be an inspector and three constables and they are not there and when they are not there and there is somebody with a gun, he rules.

"So when newspapers reported that officials of government had abandoned their posts, whether federal or state, in Borno, apart from areas where the military are operating, I am afraid, it is largely true. And that is exactly why we are talking of this brute application of force. About one third of the neighbourhood in Maiduguri are closed already and you can see grass as tall as myself.”

The House of Representatives also urged the Federal Government to institute an inquiry into the killings.

The House made the call after it passed a motion sponsored by Muhammed Tahir Monguno and seconded by Hon. Abdurrahman Terab, both of ANPP-Borno.

Monguno brought the motion under matters of urgent national importance.

He warned that if government continued to ignore the killings, there was the possibility that the people might begin to sympathize with the sect. “If the Federal Government continues to ignore calls to address the cases of indiscriminate shootings and killing of civilians in Borno and Yobe states , there is the tendency that members of the public

would begin to sympathize more with the sect and it will help the sect recruit more hands”.

Monguno lamented the massive loss of lives in the two states as he disclosed that, because of the porous state of “our borders in those states”, Nigeria had joined forces with Chad and Cameroun in the battle against Boko Haram He said that soldiers were killing civilians in their hundreds for every death of a soldier and ,therefore, called on members of the sect to “embrace the amnesty offered by the Federal Government”.

The House adopted the motion and directed that the Federal Government “set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of the soldier and 185 civilians” and that NEMA should provide relief materials to the victims who lost property.

Shehu Sani, an expert on religeous violence, in his own reaction on the massacre, accused the military of widespread atrocities in the campaign against Boko Haram, including killing of scores of civilians.

"The details of the alleged military atrocities in Baga are still emerging, but it could mark a major setback in Nigeria’s effort to end the insurgency. Baga’s location near Chad and Niger Republic is problematic for Nigeria’s security forces as people from the three countries move freely through porous borders,"Sani said.

"The security forces struggle to identify the insurgent and criminal groups migrating in the region, a confusing and lawless environment that has led to the reckless targeting of innocent civilians.

“The security agents are very much confused as to who is an insurgent and who is not."

In its reaction, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, called on the Federal Government to deploy only Hausa speaking soldiers to Borno, Yobe and other states facing insurgency, just as it expressed fear over the composition of the amnesty committee headed by government officials.

Spokesman of the group, Prof.

Ango Abdullahi, said, during a visit to Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, secretariat in Kaduna , that using soldiers to curtail insurgency would aggravate the situation.

The group demanded the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry into the Baga killings, adding that it should expand the terms of reference for people to come out and testify. NEF said: “This is because most of these soldiers posted to these areas are not only known as soldiers but they are also coming from totally different backgrounds.

"If you want a peace keeper in Borno, you need a person who can

Continues on page 16 C M Y K

PAGE 16—SUND AY 16—SUNDA

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

'We are still picking corpses of women and children in the bush' Continued from page 15

*Borno State Governor Hon. Kashim Shettima.... Wept when he saw the level of destruction in Baga

MULTINATIONAL FORCE Vs BOKO HARAM

Destroying Baga to save it?

Continued from page 13 MPs). Calley was released from house arrest in just over three years and was able to make large amounts of money speaking to right-wing groups”. Over 400 people were killed in that event. That was 45years ago in Vietnam.

April, 2013, Borno State, Nigeria! The fishing community of Baga suffered its own fate. The operation was carried out by a multinational force. Details are still sketchy and confusing as there is yet no authentic confirmation of the number of dead. Aid agency and Red Cross reports put the figure at no fewer than 180 dead.

But Nigeria’s military and defence authorities are disputing that. When you hear about a multinational force, your mind quickly goes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO; or, were it the days of the bitter/hot cold war, you may think of the forces of the Warsaw Pact.

Between NATO and countries of the Pact in those days, tensions were always very high.

But this multinational force, which has made and is still making bad news, is made up of soldiers from Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Mind you, Cameroun, a country to the east of Nigeria and which was supposed to contribute a contingent to this multinational force, does not appear to be willing to do so – at least according to information from intelligence sources made available to Sunday Vanguard.

But that tag, multinational force, dresses this team of military men in a toga of respectability.

However, what happened penultimate week (either Tuesday April 16 or Friday April 19) came with neither respect nor humour: unconfirmed and disputed reports put the figure of fatalities at over 180. The Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno insists only some 30 insurgents and a soldier died. Defence information claims that 25 insurgents and one soldier died. But Senator Lawan Maina, speaking on the floor of the Senate insisted that over 180 people were killed and his community devastated and in ruins. Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, said, on Monday, that “more than” 100 people died.

Now, between 25, 30, 100 and 180 dead, the sad thing is that many lives have been lost.

This bestial act throws up some challenges as well as poses some questions viz: C M Y K

Firstly, how did the soldiers commence their engagement?

Though reports claim that some informants disclosed to the men of the multinational force that insurgents were hiding in the community and the soldiers made a run for it, the question is who were those harbouring the militants up to that point?

How did the militants smuggle in the weapons of mass destruction alleged to have been stored in the community – the type that were discovered immediately after President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Borno State?

Some people in Baga who collaborated with the insurgents to use their abode as hiding place, were they expecting garlands from the military? Or did they expect that there would be no consequences?

Early reports claimed the insurgents opened fire on the soldiers first. Did that grant the military men the magna charter to fire back and, in the process, kill civilians?

And whereas the very ready excuse by the military is that the insurgents used civilians as human shields, does that justify any form of killings when it becomes established that there was a very high civilian fatality?

What was the multinational force trying to achieve by employing what may turn out to be a disproportionate fire-power in tackling the insurgents?

How are the people of Baga coping in the aftermath?

Or, were the military men in the multinational force trying to destroy Baga village in order to save it? Into this mix, let’s throw in the proposal for amnesty for the insurgents: Would this affect the on-going amnesty efforts?

Whichever way the Baga tragedy turns out, one thing is certain: The story of insurgency in Nigeria is set for another turn.

Whether that turn would be in the direction of sobriety on the part of the members of the Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect, or whether it would harden the minds of its leaders, Nigerians would soon discover.

speak Hausa, somebody who can speak Kanuri, somebody who can speak Shuwa and most of the soldiers posted there cannot even communicate in Pidgin English.

“This certainly is not the way an operation like this should be conducted. That is why we believe the president needs not just a probe.

We need a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel what has happened in Baga.”

On the amnesty proposal for Boko Haram members, he said: “Where the government has one of its ministers as chairman of the committee and the secretary of the committee coming from the government, this will not give the kind of confidence one expects to get because the other side was saying they don’t need amnesty because it was the government that offended them.

"The only worry in some quarters is about the independence and neutrality of the committee because of its chairman and secretary.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, also condemned the killings.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party warned the JTF against engaging in extra-judicial killings, saying the security agencies must respect the relevant rules of engagement in their ongoing onslaught against the sect in order to spare the lives and property of innocent civilians.

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ithout jumping to any conclu sion on what really transpired in Baga, we hasten to say that the military, in fighting an asymmetric war against insurgents, must ensure a strict observance of its rules of engagement to avoid the kind of deaths that were recorded in the border town", ACN said.

In the meantime, Borno State government says the number of persons killed as well as houses destroyed in the Baga affair have not been accurately ascertained by any competent authority as government awaits the report of its committee, or any reliable source of information to ascertain accurate figures. It said in a statement that Governor Shettima had ordered the state Ministry of Works to immediately mobilize to the community and start the reconstruction of houses which were destroyed, take records of all those killed or injured, take stock of all houses destroyed and recommend compensation.

The statement said reports claiming 185 persons were killed and 200 houses destroyed in the incident were solely based on accounts by some residents of Baga who spoke with the governor during his visit without any independent verification for accuracy and with no form of investigation whatsoever.

Rescue workers, meanwhile, last week, struggled to reach the community. The National Coordinator of the Red Cross, Umar Mariaga, said, on Wednesday,,that his staff were still struggling to reach Baga, because of the uncertainty of the security situation there.

“We are making efforts to get clearance from the security agents to get in and assist the victims of the violence,” he said

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 17

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

BY HUGO ODIOGOR Foreign Affairs Editor

W

hat could have made British gov ernment send a war ship,HMS Ar gyle, to the Gulf of Guinea and its Ministry of Defence backed the mission by sponsoring a conference on West African Maritime Security and Development?

Put differently, why would the British taxpayers be more concerned about bearing the burden of defending us from pirates and armed robbers on the high seas and militants in the the Niger Delta? It all has to do with the geo-economic interest of Britain on the West Coast of Africa, known to harbour abundant natural resources but endemically afflicted by poverty, bad government and conflicts.

It is estimated that West Africa, one of the world’s richest fishery grounds, loses billions of US dollars due to unreported and unregulated fishing. The region holds significant share of the global energy mix. Statistics reveal that the West African maritime space is poised to acquire more relevance in global energy calculus on account of its huge hydrocarbon deposit.

This is further reinforced by the persistent insecurity in the Middle East and the geographic proximity of the sub-region to Europe and America, and the availability of abundant but yet untapped proven reserves of crude oil and natural gas in the maritime domain. But, inspite of the amnesty programme, the growing incidence of piracy, armed robbery and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea remains a critical source of concern in a region where bandits traverse with impunity.

From the Sahel belt stretching from Mauritania to the horn of Africa and from the coast line running from Senegal to Angola, African states and governments are at the mercy of criminals who are either inspired by religious tenets to levy war against the state or those demanding social justice for the resources taken from their domains.

According to the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Ezeoba, “the strategic elements of Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria’s maritime environment are demonstrated by the fact that there are over 5,700 oil wells, 112 flow stations, 16 gas plants, 126 production platforms, 6 Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) platforms and 13 erode oil terminals in the region. One of such FPSOs, the BONGA, a deep-offshore production platform with a production capacity of about 200,000 barrels per day, is currently valued at over US$4 billion.”

The economic importance of this maritime domain is further buttressed by the fact “that 80% of the world trade is conducted by sea and over 46,000 large vessels touch about 4,000 sea ports world will annually. According to the CNS, “We depend, to a large exthe

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C M Y K

zChief of Naval Staff arriving during the Exercise Farauta, conducted to secure Nigeria's maritime assets

The Niger Delta is one of the maritime hotspots in the world given the fierceness and ferocity of attacks on vessels on high seas. The financial and material resources that the world has committed into fighting piracy from Somalia to South East Asia, the Middle East, Gulf of Guinea is unquantifiable

tent, on the sea for transportation, food, trade, and energy, all of which are essential ingredients of our national security and therefore imperatives of our economic growth and national development.

In fact, Nigeria relies on the sea for 99% of its import and export transport with oil being a major part of the trade. This is where insecurity at sea becomes a major some of concern”.

Militancy

The Niger Delta is one of the maritime hotspots in the world given the fierceness and ferocity of attacks on vessels on high seas.

The financial and material resources that the world has committed into fighting piracy from Somalia to South East Asia, the Middle East, Gulf of Guinea is unquantifiable.

At the height of the militancy in the Niger Delta, it was difficult to insulate the element of criminality as majority of the criminal activities of the militants were seen as part of the Niger Delta struggle, but, with the amnesty programme, this has changed. The amnesty regime has led to a reduction of such attacks. This has helped the country to regain its foothold in the oil production quota of over 200,000 bpd.

Too many cooks

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An attempt was made to create what was known as Presidency Security and Safety (PICOMSS) in 2003. This was in compliance with International Ships and Ports Code. This body was located in the Office of the National Security Adviser and continues to exist even though maritime watchers regard this as a duplication of the operations of Nigerian Maritime Safety and Security Administration (NIMASA).

On assumption of office in 2007, former President Umar Yar ’ Adua tried to create the Maritime Security Agency (MASECA). The bill to give legal backing to MASECA is stalled in the National Assembly. The emergence of PICOMSS was as a result of the Niger Delta militancy. The coming of the agency resulted in the underfunding of the navy as funds that should have been used to strengthen it was diverted to it.

NN and post amnesty

Asked what Nigeria is doing to secure the maritime environment, Ezeoba said, “When I was appointed as the CNS, the president gave me a specific mandate to combat maritime crimes, the rising incidence of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other acts of illegali-

ties within the nation’s maritime space.

“It is in compliance with the presidential directive that I promulgated a Strategic Guidance 0 [SG-01] in October 2012, which provides a holistic operational framework that clearly defines the end state with properly articulated ways and means for the actualization of my mandate, taking cognizance of the dynamics of the operating environment. The main pillar of the operational dictum of the NN as enunciated in the SG-Q 1 itself is anchored on a ‘Trinity of Actions.’

This encapsulates surveillance, response initiative and enforcement considered variables for effective maritime security”.

Accordingly, Ezeoba said “the NN is striving to increase existing Regional Maritime Domain Awareness Capability through surveillance systems located along Nigeria’s coastline in order to improve total awareness of the environment”.

Based on the trinity of actions and sustained presence at sea, the CNS initiative has started yielding results. This is shown in the arrest of over 40 vessels engaged in illegal activities in the nation’s maritime environment in the last months.

Ezeoba said, “Similarly, efforts are in progress to increase the deterrence value of the criminals through acquisition of additional ships, including Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for enhanced operational capability. Furthermore, the NN has adopted a collaborative approach of engaging other maritime stakeholders in its campaign against maritime crimes.

For instance, the high incidence of poaching denies governments in the sub region accruable rev-

enue needed for national development in addition to depleting fishery stock and distorting the marine ecosystem. Additionally, piracy and sea robbery impose huge insurance cost on shipping, which translates to higher cost of imported goods and services, thereby further impoverishing the citizens”. According to him, “as discomforting as these threats would appear, they are not insurmountable. There is the need for a constructive, proactive, sustainable and holistic maritime security to ensure a secure and safe maritime environment for optimal exploration and exploitation of the abundant maritime resources. Apart from the national level, the Nigerian Navy has pursued a deliberate policy of collective maritime security mechanism within the ECOWAS sub region. This provided the basis for the bilateral partnership between the Nigeria Navy and its Beninoise counterpart in what is codenamed OPERATION PROSPERITY. This involves joint naval patrols aimed at curbing the activities of pirates that had tried to operate in the area with impunity ”. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, said whatever action that is necessary to check piracy and armed robbery at sea should be explored. According to the envoy,” we don’t need new institutions to solve the problem but to strengthen the existing ones and make them function efficiently”.

Rear Admiral GSA Ombo was of the view that insecurity at sea is a product of lack of knowledge of the country’s maritime assets and the security needs of the sector.

There is also what he called lack of maritime culture that makes it difficult for the political leadership to appreciate its maritime assets and what is required to protect them in terms of funding the navy, the major national maritime security power.

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APRIL 28, 2013

50 percent of our mandate is to prevent corruption – ICPC boss •‘The many road blocks to the anti-graft war’ •Explains why the agency body is back in the universities

Mr. Ekpo Una Owo Nta, lawyer and administrator, currently presides over the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, an agency charged with the task of fighting corruption in the country. Although Nta assumed office at a time the public perception of the antigraft agencies in Nigeria is at its lowest ebb, the former OMPADEC director believes strongly that with proper education and determination, the scourge will be brought under control. He describes plea bargain as an acceptable international tool that Nigeria needs to move the corruption war forward.

W

HAT are you bringing differently on board to fight corruption in Nigeria?

I might not be coming to do something drastically different because we are guided by the rules and regulations and the Act establishing the ICPC. But the whole essence is that given the time we are in, our approach we be different because if we say we want to do things differently, it might sound as an indictment of my predecessors. The essence is to improve on what they have done. They have already put the structure in place and what am doing now is the proactive interpretation of what the Act intended that we should do.

What is the difference between ICPC and EFCC? The major different between us has to be with our power of system study and system review, that gives us the latitude to look at any organization particularly in government, look at the processes and the structures that support or promote corruption and, on the basis of that, we recommend a new alternative and impose it on them if need be and, when those infractions continue, the Act also gives us the power like it does to EFCC to arrest and prosecute. The EFCC, if you read their Act, like the name implies, Economic and Financial C M Y K

Crimes Commission, was set up as a response to money laundering activities, what you call 419 activities, internet scam, etc. We were principally set up to look at the abuse of office and engage in public enlightenment and education, which are very powerful tools that have been given to ICPC, and that is what most other commissions in other parts of the world have been charged to do, dealing with ethical issues. In some countries, you might find ethics and anti-corruption commission dealing with the kind of matters that we are handling in Nigeria. So, we are also looking at reforming ethics, which on its own, is a fulltime engagement and we have started at the primary school level, collaborating with the Nigerian Education Research and Development Centre. We have succeeded in developing a curriculum for ethics and civics at the primary school level and we should be launching that very soon.

What’s the essence of this?

The essence is to reawaken Nigerians to the core values that make societies great. My desire is that ethics and civic will become a compulsory subject in Nigeria just like you have English and Mathematics, because we cannot be raising children in isolation of what is happening in their country and what is expected of them.

We have engagement with the secondary school level through our Anti-corruption Vanguard, and, recently, you must have noticed that I have started serious interaction with the universities in a bid to reach out to the Nigerian youths. We are currently carrying out very ambitious system study of all Nigerian universities. We started with the pilot and, from the result that we saw; it was alarming enough for us to decide to do the entire gamut of the 127 Nigerian universities. It appears you may have an uphill task in checking illegal campuses in Nigeria since the Ministry of Education and the National Universities

•Mr. Ekpo Una Owo Nta Commission, NUC, have not been able to checkmate the illegality despite strident efforts over the years.

Is that to say that they have the mandate to run illegal campuses? If you look at the name ICPC, you will notice that it is ‘Independent’ Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. So, I will not close my eye when other offences are being committed, particularly, where I can trace the impunity of continuing to run such facilities might be getting assistance from officials that are not in the

,

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH AND CALEB ANYANSINA

where she was working. In turn, the ministry wrote back to the polytechnic to confirm and the main polytechnic said it was not aware of the existence of our institution in that part of the world. ICPC has raided that place and, any moment from now the promoters of the fake school will be charged to court to account for their actions.

Having been in the saddle for a few months now, are you satisfied with the law that set up the ICPC or do you think that there is an ingredient that is missing and should be strengthened

Let me say that the existing laws we have in this country are good enough to give us what we want if they are effectively implemented. It is not the issue of amending laws all the times, it is the will to execute those laws

position to do so. I am sure you are aware that satellite campuses have been banned; if you do your research, you will find out that a particular polytechnic had satellite services going on at Nyanya and the main polytechnic outside Abuja was not even aware that it had a full satellite campus going on and issuing certificates to unsuspecting but desperate Nigerians until a ‘graduate’ of one of those so- called programmes graduated and took her papers for upgrading in the ministry

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to enable the commission bark and bite?

Let me say that the existing laws we have in this country are good enough to give us what we want if they are effectively implemented. It is not the issue of amending laws all the times, it is the will to execute those laws by the different agencies that are charged to execute those laws at whatever levels, be it education, information or regulatory processes. Maybe the only that should be looked into in our laws is the

weight of sanction. If I were to say I have a problem with the way the present law was constituted that would be giving myself and this commission an excuse not to perform and that would not be acceptable to me and this commission. That is why I insist that we will work effectively with what we have on the ground. Whatever review that is going on will meet us on the way.

What is the relationship between ICPC and the judiciary in the effort to fight corruption?

I cannot say that the judiciary is my main problem.

Whatever the case is, I believe that we can do better.

Don’t forget that if you don’t have good investigation, you probably would find it a bit difficult to secure conviction.

So, we are all working together now with the judiciary. We are attending the same programmes, they are doing mentoring programme for us, we are also highlighting some of the problems that we face in the field and I am seeing a better synergy between us and the court system and it can only get better. It is gratifying that they have also put in place a self-cleansing mechanism which you have seen. We commend them for that and the interface that is required will continue at the level of my office and at the level of the Chief Justice of the Federation. We are also have a good working relationship with the Office of the

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Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PPA AGE 19

Continued from page 18 Attorney General of the Federation and we believe that, at the end of the day, we can effect the needed change in the system for the good of all Nigerians.

‘50 percent of our mandate is to prevent corruption’ responses from students’ unions from various universities that they are ready to partner with us and I have had students calling me directly, I gave my telephone numbers and email address to students in each of the universities I visited to enable them call me directly and give me an idea of what infractions are being committed in those places for immediate actions. May be I should use this forum to sensitize Nigerian students that if you face a challenge which resulted from a consequence of corruption or negation of duty, it is much better to have second opinion from the ICPC than block the street in the name of protest, which could turn violent and lead to the loss of precious lives. We have done something already to resolve the problem in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The institution decided to impose internet access charge on their students and the students felt aggrieved and were about going on demonstration. Others opted for peace and called in the ICPC. As soon as they reached the ICPC, I put a call through to the Vice Chancellor and put an officer the next morning on a flight to Enugu and I had one of my board members who is a professor here to speak with the Vice Chancellor and the matter has been resolved amicably just because of a phone call and a trip.

I think it is right to focus our attention on what is happening in the universities

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You recently tried to track unspent funds from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. How much have you recovered so far?

I don’t have the exact figure of what has been returned with me here but we have informed all the agencies of the deadline we have set to check what they have given back to the Central Bank of Nigeria. It is only after that we would have known whether what we set out to do is being achieved. We want to see a percentage increase over what we recorded in 2011 and that will further trigger certain areas that we intend to look at. As a matter of fact, following the declaration by the Minister of State for Finance that they had discovered 45,000 ghost workers in the MDAs, I have instructed my staff to get information on the agencies where the ghosts are working because it will tie in to where we say that unspent money must be returned. We need to take it from the base and we know where we heading.

Do you think you have the capacity to deal with the growing number of vices in the educational system?

We have already built that into our system study and we have developed a template that will assist us in that regard. Part of what you must have read and seen me doing is to give ownership of that ultimate cleansing to institutions and bodies that operate within the educational sector. ASUU is ready to collaborate with the ICPC to clean up the system and bring sanity to the sector.

As we speak, I have a letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary of ASUU in one of the southwest universities reporting an infraction in their university and an inhouse committee has been set up to sanction all those found to have been involved in the infraction. The mere fact that they have written to the ICPC means that they are ready to partner with us and we are going to move into that immediately. I have already asked my staff to go into that university and collect the conclusion of the disciplinary committee that met on it.

Let me also use this forum to say that we have anticorruption and transparency unit (ACT) in all the universities. I have also issued a circular directing that, henceforth; we must get status report on what is going on in all the universities on monthly basis. The moment the university lecturers and non-academic staff and those that work in whatever capacity in the university system begin to understand that routine report is going to ICPC, they may begin to have a rethink of their actions. By the time your names surface two, three times, then we will bring you in and you know what will happen there after. So, that check is there. I have had

I have instructed my staff to get information on the agencies where the ghosts are working because it will tie in to where we say that unspent money must be returned. We need to take it from the base and we know where we heading

today because the students are the future leaders of our country. That is why we are also looking into the contracts which the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, gave out for the building of hostels for students across the region.

We are interested in making sure that the contractors who collected billions of Naira as mobilisation fees complete the work as scheduled. We have complaints that some of the contractors have abandoned the work after collecting mobilisation fees running into billions of Naira.

I am telling you that ICPC will take that up.

Why is it that the ICPC has not successfully prosecuted and convicted at least one top politician?

I must make a distinction between prosecution and persecution. We have to follow the courts in whatever we are doing. Don’t forget that there is a matter we thought we had concluded only for the Supreme Court to return it to us to start afresh at the lower court. Do you think if we had the

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opportunity, we would not have finished that matter many years ago? When you investigate a very complex matter, you may discover that the person who wrote the petition is not willing to come forward to testify when the matter goes to court.

Some are not even willing to give further information or clarification on the petitions they had sent to the ICPC. In fact, you will find out that some petitioners change their minds in the middle of prosecution, saying that they were misled or something forced them to write the petition at the time they did.

Successful prosecution must be evidence-based and your evidence must come through prosecution witnesses and, if you don’t have witnesses who are ready, you begin to rely on having to build strong circumstantial evidence.

How are you catching up on the preventive mechanism mandate of your commission?

If you look at our Act, 50% of our functions should be based on prevention, and the other 50% is shared out

equally to investigation, prosecution, public enlightenment and education. On the 50%, which is prevention, that is where the present focus has been really intensified. This trend is not only being promoted in the ICPC but also around the world. We attend meetings of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and people come there with their best practices and the general agreement is that prevention is better than cure. That is why we have started strengthening the capacity of our staff in the area of system study and the Act permits us to hire consultants in areas where we do not have enough hands to carry on with our work.

I have exercised that power particularly in the education sector. That is how I was able to bring in Prof. Okebukola to head the committee on the University System Study and Review, based on his intimate knowledge of the university system. As a matter of fact, we are looking forward for collaboration; there are certain international agencies that have indicated interest in that particular study and it can be replicated and used in addressing the problem of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, etc.

What are the challenges the ICPC is grappling with?

The immediate challenge I face has to do with the apathy of Nigerians in corruptionrelated matters. The average Nigerian seems to see corruption as something that does not concern him and, as such, shies away from giving information about those who are aiding and abetting graft under their nose.

I have been tried to raise their consciousness that corruption war concerns everyone and must be taken seriously by all Nigerians if we must have a breakthrough in that regard. This is because if your child, wife or associate dies in an illequipped maternity because he or she does not have the right drugs or equipment despite the money released by government, it becomes a big loss to you and the nation just because of silence.

Similarly, corruption can affect you and your children who are studying in substandard schools after the administrators must have pocketed the money meant for the proper equipping of such schools. But I am happy that the apathy is beginning to change because after the fuel subsidy issue many Nigerians now ask questions on what has been subsidised and how they must get real value for their money: they don’t want to be short changed anymore by anyone.

What legacy are you leaving behind at the ICPC? I am looking towards leaving behind a legacy where every Nigerian will be conscious of his rights and insist on those rights without having a policeman behind him. I want to awaken the consciousness of every Nigerian to the rules that govern the society and make him to live by those laws at

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Vanguard , APRIL 28, 2013

years.

A

•Senator Iyiola Omisore

I am set to face the ACN over the murder of Bola Ige — Omisore •’We doubt INEC’s neutrality ahead of Osun 2014 poll’

S

enator Iyiola Omisore, a former deputy governor of Osun State, was in the Senate from 2003-2011. He is eying the Osun State Government House again, this time as governor. In this interview, Omisore bares his mind on the 2014 governorship election in the state, his gubernatorial ambition, how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may boycott the election if the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, fails to remove the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, the state as presently run by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the late Bola Ige murder saga, among others. Excerpts:

BY HENRY UMORU, ABUJA

Y

ou want to be the governor of Osun State.

How prepared are you?

We are praying that Professor Jega will comply with the court ruling and he will not allow INEC to perpetuate electoral fraud, because we will not do any election under the current INEC in Osun State. As we are now, we have lost confidence completely in Osun State INEC and even in Professor Jega’s leadership of INEC. Our zonal representative is Professor Olorode, an Action Congress of Nigeria cardcarrying member, he is a columnist in The Nation and

he supports Senator Bola Tinubu all the time. So, we are in trouble; INEC must remove Professor Olorode, South West coordinator of INEC, and Ambassador Akeju, Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, for us to have an election that we can participate in, in the state.

Once an umpire is not trusted, what do you expect?

Once the referee is deemed to have taken a position, of course he would just be awarding penalties anyhow for his favoured team to have cheap goals. We have seen this thing before, it isn’t as if we are crying wolf where

there is none.

A

CN is relying solely on rigging. Aregbesola has lost control and he is panicking already. I have said it that they spent about N1 billion on hotels’ bills on their Lagos guests, and the ACN replied by saying, is there any limit to the amount of money one can spend on hotel bills?

They spent N460 million on chartering of aircraft between Lagos and Ibadan alone; they admitted that they awarded contract to Samiya, an unknown name.

These are weighty

allegations senator; do you have proof?

The Samiya they gave N19billion contract, I am a professional engineer, I haven’t seen them on any contract in the last 20 years in this country. They are putting Aregbesola’s billboards on federal highways, I haven’t seen that kind of thing before.

Deliberately confusing the public! On Kwara-Ila-Odo boundary, you will see Aregebesola there. Even in my town, dualisation of Lagere—to Enuwa, Ilesa by pass, you will see ACN billboard, just to confuse the public.

There is no single tap running in Osun now. When I was in the Senate, I facilitated money to be released to repair the turbine; it is where I stopped that they have left it. That’s why we want to go on rescue mission in 2014 to save ourselves from this man: an engineer in Lagos for eight years and an Ogbeni in Osun for two

s you prepare for this rescue mission, there’s always been the issue of the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, which you were charged with but acquitted. How do you intend to tackle this seeming encumbrance, the late Ige murder challenge?

Actually, what has been helping me is the sympathy from the people. In Yoruba land, in our culture, when you are framed up and you go through a horrendous trial, people sympathize with you; that has been the secret of my political success.

But the Action Congress of Nigeria has been latching on this and I have taken them to court for false prosecution and they are going to pay the price; they will go and explain what led them to the frame me. I have sued them, I am asking for N21billion, for inconvenience. The procedures are there. The moment you are discharged, you are qualified to sue them for malicious prosecution—that means they lied all through. Of course, they have kept quiet because they know it is all blatant lies and it isn’t working for them, because my people are enlightened.

So, it isn’t a campaign slogan for anybody anymore.

Yoruba people are very wise.

What I am just praying to God for and appealing to Professor Jega is to allow free and fair election: one man, one vote. That is what we are praying for in the PDP Osun State.

The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, just concluded a reconciliation tour across the geo-political zones. Can you give us your individual assessment of the trouble- shooting effort as it affects the South-West?

Again, at the Ibadan rally, the national chairman said he wasn’t happy that the ACN is in control in the zone. What is the PDP doing?

Well, PDP, as a national party, is a visible party with high democratic credentials; that is, there is internalization of democracy in PDP. And Nigerians, from where we were coming, from the time of military regime, democracy, to some of our members, are being misapplied, misunderstood, and misconstrued, basically leading to internal bickering, ego- bruising and ego massaging.

On this note, the National Chairman went round the zones, starting from the South-West precisely and, from our own experience in the South-West, we admitted that there are some few areas

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SUND AY SUNDA

that we need to actually reconcile. But most of the issues that were brought to the fore were issues bothering on the last congresses in the states and, unlike many other states outside the zone where there were actually no congresses at all, in about five of the states in the South West, there were misgivings about the congresses.

So, we already asked a committee to look into it. So, the issues are actually not irreconcilable. But Osun State, particularly, is rancor free. We went for congresses and we have now reconciled ourselves and came out with a formidable united party.

Other states and zones have same semblance of crises here and there, but PDP, from experience in the last 13-14 years, has developed an internal machinery with which it resolves its crisis, to surprise onlookers, who are looking for the fall of the PDP. You can see that during the last president’s administration, that there were disagreements leading to the national convention, but within three, four days, the party leaders came to a consensus. So, those are the things you see with large parties anyway: large parties, large interest, large and big people as well.

If you compare this with the attempts by the ACN and its allies to form All Progressive Congress (APC), as small as they are, they started with crisis. So, in comparison, they are dead on arrival. Can you now compare them with a long standing PDP, with its democratic credentials? That’s to show that PDP can stand out as a national party in this country and it has internal machinery to resolve its matters.

If you compare the attempts by the ACN and others to form APC with what has happened to PDP since its inception and APC’s crisis at infancy, the difference is clear. If you compare the

Continued from page 19

all times, as is the case in other societies.

I want to change the mentality of a Nigerian from the carelessness that has been driven into his head to a situation where he drives to the traffic light; there is no policeman or traffic warden but he stops once there is red light and moves when the green light comes on.

I want to see a situation in Nigeria where a man takes his daughter to school and they say he must pay a bribe and he refuses but insists his child must be enrolled in that school on merit.

I am dreaming of a situation where a woman goes to

’We doubt INEC’s neutrality ahead of Osun 2014 poll’ B

•Senator Iyiola Omisore

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Continued from page 20

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PPA AGE 21

Petition? When there is a court declaration. What is more weighty than a court order? So, what would a petition do when there is a court order? we are in serious crisis in Osun State and INEC is conniving with ACN

governance of the PDP in South-West and governance of ACN in South-West, you can see why people are complaining about ACN. Violence has become the

,

order of the day, attacking, maiming innocent people and then they run to the media to start making noise, afraid of their eventual failure.

ut the ACN is the party that has been accusing the PDP of perpetrating violence?

Taking a cursory look at these accusations and counteraccusations, where precisely, as journalists in Nigeria, have you seen any PDP person being pointedly accused besides the general accusation? In my state for instance, when there was an attempt by ACN supporters to defect to PDP in Atakumosa local government about a month ago, a member of the party was alleged to have physically assaulted some young people. They are in court now.

During the last election, they allegedly attacked more than 70 members of the PDP in different parts of the state; the cases are in court. The last one that broke the camel’s back was the internal crisis between some ACNleaders in Ife. They now attempted to implicate some PDP stalwarts and they mentioned one Adebowale Adedotun and Wale Ojo, who are PDP members close to me.

These are clear evidences of violence of the ACN and justice miscarriage. In Ilesa, Ejigbo, Ila, they attacked members of the PDP and hounded them to prison.

There is a way they do that: all the suspects would be released in one day or two; the governor would be phoning frantically all over the place.

H

ow do you mean that INEC is conniving with ACN to rig elections? Can you substantiate this?

One, the last National Assembly elections in Osun

State, the Federal High Court in Osogbo established that the state INEC commissioner was a card carrying member of the ACN and, by the Nigerian constitution, he wasn’t eligible to conduct elections.

The court gave instruction that he must not be allowed to conduct the elections, but Professor Jega didn’t abide by the court pronouncement.

After the elections, the court now said anything done by Ambassador Akeju was a nullity. Up till today, Professor Jega is still keeping Akeju in Osun State. So, we don’t have confidence in INEC in Osun State.

Have you complained to the INEC national secretariat?

We have written a letter to Professor Jega; we served him the court papers. He should come and tell us why he is keeping Ambassador Akeju in Osun State. We are in court now and they are frustrating all the court procedures. So, we don’t know which role Professor Jega is playing in Osun State.

Concerning the REC, have you also petitioned the Presidency?

Petition? When there is a court declaration. What is more weighty than a court order? So, what would a petition do when there is a court order? So, we are in serious crisis in Osun State and INEC is conniving with ACN. They rigged the last election, they want to connive to rig the next election in 2014 and they are desperate.

With the picture you have painted, even the Action Congress of Nigeria is alleging that it is PDP that is planning to rig?

But you can see the facts, let them come up with their own facts. They had done it before. What has PDP done to show that we are planning to rig election?

‘Wh sities’ ‘Whyy the agency body is bac backk in the univer universities’ hospital and demands and gets service and goes to get justice if she does not get what she wants from the health facility.

Do you believe in pleabargaining?

I am asking because the way it has been applied in Nigeria makes it look like a 419 tool. If you goggle the world plea-bargaining, you will have a lot of materials on it. Why? Are we not the same people applauding the British government for incarcerating James Ibori after he escaped punishment in Nigeria?

Ibori’s incarceration is the product of plea-bargaining. It would have cost the British government £26 million to secure his conviction for the

offences that he was facing in the UK, but he had an option to plea-bargain and took the lighter sentence and the cost of the investigation and prosecution came to only £14 million. That arrangement saved the British taxpayers £12 million, but he got punishment for owning-up immediately. Plea-bargaining is an acceptable tool that aids law enforcement, but it must be judiciously used, because if you don’t use it judiciously, it can also turn out as an abuse of office.

When your name was announced as the ICPC boss, how did you feel?

Excited, anxious or challenged as the one being saddled with the risky job of

fighting corruption in Nigeria?

Supposing I am walking in the street and a car hits me?

That would be regarded as an accident. Well, the truth is that somebody has to this job.

The job you think is really dangerous is because you have not looked at the other person’s job. The surgeon who is busy operating on an HIV patient might in the process of the operation nit himself. I know of doctors who have died in that respect. I am not even talking of commercial bus drivers, who take up a journey and might not get to the end of the trip. Everybody has risk factors. What of the risk in journalism? Dele Giwa is a

classic example but that does not mean that this job must be abandoned. I will do it to the best of my ability because the effect of corruption also tells on me and my family. No matter who you are, when you go outside the country, they check you as if you are nobody whereas others are treated with respect when they come to Nigeria. That is why I am ready to put in my best and change the way things are being done in this county. I am not afraid to do battle corruption in all facets of our national life to as to give Nigeria a new lease of life and prepare a better future for our children. That is my goal and motivation.

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

Worried about small organ!

Dear Rebecca

I

am a boy of nine teen. I just com pleted my secondary school education. My problem is that I have a very small penis. I showed it to my friends and they told me that it is very much on the small side, and that I may not be able to have sex.

This has given me a lot of worries.

Till now, I still haven’t had an affair with a girl .

Besides, how do I tell a girl I want her to be my girlfriends ? Though it may sound light, it is a real problem to me.

Please help Worried boy Ade. REPL Y REPLY

A

pproaching a girl for a roman tic relationship is quite a problem for many young men. This is because you are not sure what her reaction would be. Some girls could be downright rude and tell you not to disturb them if you try to stop them and have a chat with them.

If you write a letter, they may quote out loudly from it whenever you pass by, especially if there are grammatical and spelling mistakes, as there are bound to be in love letters these days when many people’s grammar is so poor. So the safest method is to start off with mere exchange of greetings

whenever you meet the girl you are interested in.

Say ‘hello’ or ‘good morning politely and move on.

That should not offend any girl.

As you do this regularly you would be able to know if she could be friendly;y or not. You then progress to stopping for a little chat- asking after her studies, family, friends etc. If she responds well, then comes the exchange of magazines, novels, dvds, etc.

At this stage you are now friends , and she would have guessed that you want her to be your girlfriend. If you can’t tell her this face to face, send her a text message, or write it in a card and give to her. If she is not interested, don’t get abusive, instead, remain friends still and try another girl for romance.

We all have different body sizes so, since there is no standard measure for a man’s private part that you can compare yours with, you should not conclude that yours is too small. Did you actually show it to your friends? That wasn’t necessary, and whether you have a girlfriend or not, have sex or not, is strictly your own personal and private affair.

You don’t owe any boy an explanation about it.

If your friends are discussing sex and girls, you can listen, but don’t have to table your own

No discharge Dear Rebecca

I

am 18, and a petty cashier in a small scale industry. I have a problem with my sex organ. It is always difficult for me to discharge sperm during intercourse. Could this be due to ill-health?

What can be responsible for a low sperm discharge? I do get full erection, though, when I’m aroused. Must a man discharge sperm during sex? Please help me out of my puzzle.

Thanks.

Simon

REPL Y REPLY

A

medical expert says this could be a psychological problem, especially if you used to discharge sperm in the past. Does

it happen with a particular partner or every time you make love? It could also be your body’s reaction to a drug you are taking- may be those you bought on your own without a prescription from a doctor. Some anti-hypertensive drugs could cause this. Ejaculation should happen during sex, unless there is a blockage some where. If you urinate, it means the passage is free. However, you are advised to see a urologist i.e. a specialist in sex organs, for a proper examination.

I suggest you suspend having sex until this problem is sorted out.

When you resume, make it a habit to use the condom always in order to reduce the risk of venereal diseases and unwanted pregnancy. You may want to abstain from sex until marriage, later.

love life. If they ask you just tell them that is not your priority. Getting more education and embarking on a career takes precedence over that. Say ‘thanks’ if they suggest that you could be impotent. They will leave you alone An expert says the size of a male organ has nothing to do with being fertile or virile. And it should not affect your performance when you begin to have sex.

She’s too scared to show affection!

Dear Rebecca

I

will be 30 very soon. I started a relationship in August last year. Along the line, I proposed to the lady, and she said she needs a confirmation, which when it comes, I will know. Sincerely I know I don’t pester her and she confirms that too. I love her very much and do things to express my feelings towards her.

She is 24 and expecting to go for NYSC soon. Recently, I asked for the confirmation to my marriage proposal, and we had a talk that is almost breaking my heart. She said we still have some compatibility issues but what she loves about me is my ability to have understood her all this while. Her level of reciprocity to my love is at the lowest ebb and when I complain, she says that is how she is, that she cannot change. Before we met she was in a relationship that lasted for 2 years, but she had to break it up because she said she was not compatible with him. I asked if she loves me and she said yes. I told her how bad I felt about her request for a break up, to which she said she is not initiating any break up.

I also told her the reason she is bringing up this compatibility issues a year after after we began dating is because she doesn’t love me and she said it was painful for her to hear me say that..

We are still friends but we both need to move on. According to her, she is scared and doesn’t want the past to repeat

itself (her 2 years relationship that ended in a break up). I have never asked for sex and don’t intend to till marriage. I love her so much but she is so hard at reciprocating love and showing affection. Also, according to her, material things which I don’t have yet are not an issue to her.

Me REPL Y REPLY

Y

ou know what?

My first reaction when I went through your mail was ‘Let this guy get a life and stop demeaning himself!’ On the second reading, however, I figured that you’re probably a man who has not studied girls enough to understand the way their minds function. That’s why we always counsel young people of both sexes to start off making casual friends with several members of the opposite sex, in order to understand them well, before they embark on romantic relationships.

If you had this experience, you would have seen this girl for who she really is. She likes you, but she’s not in love with you and doesn’t see you as a man she would like to spend the whole of her life with. On the other hand, since you’re available and seem so smitten by her, she’s leaving a toe (not a leg) in your camp, just in case she doesn’t find her ideal man, and she can fall back on you. I’m sure you don’t want to be that ‘how for do?’ choice. On rare occasions, such a union may stand a

chance of being successful, but in the majority of the cases, nothing the man does or becomes would ever be good enough for the wife, and she would always despise him in her heart.

What’s more, her attitude may rub off on the children who may be reared by her to see their father as inadequate.

Sometimes, this may lead the man to exhibit violence in the home as he struggles to show himself the head of the family. There would be no respect or happiness in such a home. This girl is not a bad person, but she’s playing games with your heart because you’ve shown a dog-like affection for her, and she feels superior in the relationship. This is not good for any relationship, let alone one that you’re hoping will lead to marriage. Give yourself some respect and not be a ball for a 24 year old girl to toss around as she likes. The man is the senior partner in the home, so, no matter how much in love with a lady you are, you have to believe in your own selfworth. This doesn’t mean boasting, or bullying people to show authority or your importance; it simply means having this quiet confidence that you’re good enough for any girl, and that God will lead you to the right lady to marry.

As far as I can see, I don’t see any relationship worthy of mention between you and this g i r l . From day one, she’s been making it clear that you don’t

stand a chance with her. You seem not to want to accept this, and you’re trying to hang on in there. Talking about compatibility and her past experience, are all aimed at making you understand that she doesn’t really want you. You have to realize this and leave her alone. You don’t beg a person to remain in or go into a relationship with you. Remain friends with her, but look elsewhere for a romantic relationship.

Just stop all talk of marriage, etc.,with her, and give her space. If she contacts you, be friendly and polite. That’s all.

Let her see that you’ve gone off her. If she tries to come closer, tell her marriage is very far from your mind at present, as you have other priorities now. Stick to that attitude. At your age there should be no desperation to get married.

Realize some goals in life first before asking someone to come share your life - like completing your studies, having a steady means of income, saving up for a good accommodation and other things, and then for marriage. Also, don’t just fall in love with appearances. Study the character, the background, her family and friends, etc. and be quite sure that she’s at least 80% of your ideal w o m a n .

Somewhere, there’s the right girl God has appointed for your life, waiting for you. Meanwhile, concentrate on other things.

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

SUND AY Vanguard , APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 23 SUNDA

One night stands are as good as having a snack!

T

HE problem most people have is deciding at what point it is okay to have sex with a Newfoundland. It doesn’t matter whether you’re single or a married adventurer wanting fast and furious sex, the problem is still the same! I recently ran into this dishy guy at a party - very macho and a good mover, he looked absolutely delicious. A few years younger (so what?), he made a play for me, staring all night at my boobs.

If another man had been so brazen, I would have given him a what for!

But this one was a rogue - he could get away with anything. “Want dinner tomorrow?” he offered later in the evening. We’d become sort of connected!

Before I could even consider it, he added: “I’m a good cook, you’ll enjoy my specialty (he didn’t say what it was!) The wife’s on holiday with the kids. You could bring a nightie if you like.” He needn’t spell out the type of a dinner date he was offering, and no, I didn’t slap his face. And I’m not going to tell you whether or not I took him up on his offer!

As my happily divorced Casanova friend Kay, aptly puts it: “I’ve always believed that, if you have chemistry and passion,

you should go to bed there and then. I mean, why wait? What are you waiting for? To ask her father ’s permission to shag his daughter? Or, as a woman, are you waiting to be sure he is not a psychopathic woman-beater? Women particularly believe you shouldn’t sleep with a man on the first day because he won’t have respect for you. What a load of rubbish! If you and a man fancy the pants of each other and you still decide not to have sex because of some mysterious idea of ’ respect, then he’ll think you’re too uptight to be bothered with anyway!

This kind of behaviour may be justified on the first date. But on the second date, it’s just plain frustrating! Believe me, there aren’t that many men who will hang about to see if it’s worth investing the inevitable thousands of Naira on the third date simply to have to wait for madam’s favour yet again!”

As far as Ini, my adventurous friend is concerned, the men who are attached shouldn’t necessarily be off the market! “Attached men are always right for the picking - so are attached women, come to think of it,” she gloated. “Only

you should be prepared for the shock that you aren’t the only one with that belief. Take Ben for instance (Ini has a string of them, so I won’t bore you with Ben’s details!)

He was married and proud of it, but he didn’t want that to cramp his style. We actually met at a friend’s housewarming party. There was a major attraction between us that neither one of us wanted to ignore. His wife was away marking some exam papers so I took him home - his wife went with the only family car.

It was worth the effort, believe me. When we eventually got down to it, he was amazing and very sensual.

‘Two weeks into the relationship, his wife was

marking exam papers once again when she phoned she was leaving early - when I’d already settled in! I had to dash out very late in the night.

Then one night, I walked into a restaurant with some friends and he was out on a date with a woman who wasn’t his wife. I deliberately walked past him so he could see me, but the ‘cad just slunk down in his seat and acted like he didn’t recognize me. I refused to have anything to do with him after that!”

One-night-stands or not, there are some nerds (oops! Gentlemen) who want more of a one-onone relationship than flings. I was at Yori, an old friend’s place, and in a relaxed mood with a

couple of his friends when I carefully introduced the topic. The men were really keen and wanted to know what it meant. I told them that since we were all grownups, we should readily admit that most of us must have met someone and had sex with them right away, regardless of whether it was a onenight-stand or the start of a meaningful relationship. I’d expected the two ladies present to squirm, but they were more vocal than the men. “‘Life is too short to be pretentious,” one of them said matter of factly. “If a man wants it fast and furious, it stands to reason he’s going to do it with a woman, so why the pretext?

“If I fancy a man, I go for him. They’re just like having take-away meals - some are new and delicious whilst others make you gag. The good ones you might try again and give the bad ones a miss!

It was her date who squirmed and told us snootily that: “‘The way I was raised, sex was very intimate and very honest with my parents.

I look for that same honesty and rapport with a woman. I take relationships very seriously.”

His date reminded him that if his parents’ rela-

tionship was so passionate, how come his dad have a second family? I quickly steered the conversation back to basics - that one-night stands could be as satisfying as having a snack instead of a main meal. “Have you had one lately?” Yori wanted to know. My experience with the cad at the party must have made me a bit bolder.

Had he? I tossed the ball back into his court. He wagged his finger at me and the topic was dropped. But he admitted having a one-nightstand a few months ago.

He went on: “She claimed I’d gotten her pregnant,” he complained. “Could you imagine any woman pulling that kind of stunt in this day and age? I told her what she could do with the pregnancy but she threatened to tell my wife if I didn’t give her money to get rid of the pregnancy. I paid her off in the end. It would have been understandable if she were a hustler, but this is a well-trained professional with a good job.

She knew I was married when she agreed to have a romp. So why the blackmail? It’s amazing how low some women would stoop to make ends meet.”

w a y. ‘ S i t w i t h l e g s stretched out before.

Now place the sole of the left foot against the upper inside of the right thigh. Raise both arms overhead. Lean backward as far as possible and coming forward grab hold of whatever part of the right leg you can with both hands. Be careful not to over strain.

'Bend your elbows and pull the trunk slowly downward and at the same time turn the right shoulder downward and the left shoulder upward.

Breath slowly and deeply.

'After a comfortable while, release hold and gently straighten u p . Pe r f o r m s i m i l a r movements with the left leg. Go over from right to left legs three times in all.'

Apart, from the ‘selfmassaging’ effect of this posture to deal with cellulite and tension, fatigue are also relieved throughout the legs.

The Locust, the next exercise effectively deals with excess weight, firms, streamlines and develops the buttocks, hips, thighs and legs.

To perfor m the Lo cus, lie face down with the chin on the floor and place the fists on the floor beside the thighs. Breathe in deeply, regaining the breadth, push legs as high as you can. Remain a while like this, then bring down both legs and exhale.

Take a short rest and repeat. If it is too difficult raising both legs in one go, take the described position, but raise one leg for a while, lower it, and then repeat with the other leg.

08052201867(Text Only)

Forward bend posture

A

lady I know once said to me, ''I want to do yoga, but how soon do I start to see results?'' I simply looked her in the eyes and shot back, “about half the time that it has taken you to acquire your excess baggage.”

Tr o u b l e w i t h m o s t people when they take up some fitness regime to correct what they have allowed to go wrong with their bodies, is the expectation of a miracle - instant results. But, fat bodies like fast food will bring problems in their wake.

Apart from the seriousness that accompany crash exercises, there is also the problem of anxiety to be dealt with. I think the best attitude with which to get into a fitness routine is resolving to C M Y K

make it’ a way of life.’

Dr. George Sheehan advises, “become a life long athlete.” What is meant is constancy and diligence in practice.

This done, everything will come your way, namely, shamefulness, fitness, strength of body and mind, in short, all the good things that a healthy body has to offer.

The Leg Pull

A certain amount of curiosity and a selfhelp mentality are also very necessary qualities to inculcate into the personality makeup.

Read up on good eating and other healthy living habits and seek to make them a part of your life. It is not good to do all the wrong things, then one day look at yourself in the

mirror and say: I don’t like what I see, I want a bit off here, a bit off there, oh, my God, a bit off everywhere, really?

The fact that you are reading this means you want a change for yourself. A change for a healthier, more responsive body.

Having made the decision, resolve to have the tenacity of purpose. It will be your greatest asset in your bid to improve on your b o d y. Wi t h i t , y o u r ‘dream’ body will become your ‘ real’ body.

The following are some yoga exercises to help you reduce weight, firm thighs and the buttocks. A must for ladies with the problem of cellulite.

The Leg Pull, jausirasana in sanskait, is done this

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

P AGE 24 —SUND AY Vanguard , APRIL 28 , 2013 —SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Snatching your love life back from endometriosis THERE were gaps of surprise when Nike Oshinowo recently blew the lid off the debilitating disease that makes her love-life virtually non-existent. Endometriosis, the crippling disease she has is not as uncommon as we all think - unfortunately, it is often mis-diagnosed.

Catherine was in her late twenties and about to wed her lover of many years when she decided to go off the Pill.

She said: “After nine years on the Pill, the natural periods that followed were terribly painful. And during a particularly bad one six months later, I was hospitalised with suspected appendicitis. An operation revealed my appendix wasn’t infected, but it was coated with endometrial tissue. Bits of tissue, made up of cells normally lining the womb, were bleeding, causing inflammation and scarring. It explained why sex often hurt, and the ripping period pains. To top it all, it meant I’d have trouble conceiving, as endometriosis had clogged up my fallopian tubes too.

“A few months later, I travelled abroad and an operation lasered off as much endometrial tissue as possible. Then I was prescribed a drug for six months to stop my period. That isn’t exactly what a new bride who yearns for a baby wants to happen. Naturally, I was heart-brokan and cried a lot. Thank goodness my new husband was understanding we’d both come a long way. After six months, I

came off the drug - my painful periods and the endometriosis - returned, leaving me almost bedridden. My stomach was bloated, I had diarrhoea and was passing blood.

Another investigation revealed the endometriosis had spread to my bowel.

“My doctors then decided to remove two inches of my damaged bowel so it would be much easier to start IVF. It took three attempts, and a lot of hard currency for me to get pregnant with twins! I’d heard pregnancy might cure the disease, but when the twins were born, the diarrhoea returned, along with the intolerable period pains. My specialist advised I had a hysterectomy and get rid of the endometriosis for good, or end up with a bowel so damaged I’d need to have a colostomy bag. So I opted for my womb to be removed. My ovaries were removed too and I needed HRT patches to cope with the menopausal mood swings and hot flushes that followed as a result.

“Thanks to the op, I’m fit enough to enjoy every moment of motherhood ... “ Louise, 38 never really had a proper orgasm, thanks to endometriosis, “1 liked the closeness of sex, but because I didn’t get much physical fulfilment from it, I focused on pleasuring my partner.

When boyfriends touch me intimately, I didn’t feel much and it wasn’t from lack of trying. I knew I was missing out.

Friends suggested I try different positions and stimulate myself - which

Y

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

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

Part of me

See there's this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and

“Mama”, she howls, “Luca has hairy legs”.

“All good men have hairy legs”, M ama says. So, up she goes again.Luca takes off his socks, revealing he only has two toes on his left foot. Horrified, Sophia runs downstairs screaming.

“Mama, Mama, Luca’s got a foot and a half ” “Stay here and stir the pasta”, her mother says.

“This is a job for mama” .

worked a bit, but still no explosion .

“When I met my husband seven years ago, it bothered both of us that I wasll’t seeing stars. We bought a vibrator, but orgasms still eluded me.

Then a friend said she’d tried a clitoral stimulator, which goes on the end of your finger. She got me one the next time she travelled and I used it when I was alone one evening, but it didn’t work. Then a few days later, my husband used it on me - both internally and externally along with lots of lubricants, and I had my first orgasm!”

So what exactly is Endometriosis? Part of the endometrium (tissue that lines the womb) migrates to other parts of the body.

This tissue bleeds during menstruation, but because the blood can’t escape, it leads to inflammation and scarring. Symptoms include painful and/or heavy periods, infertility, pain during sex, fatigue, problems with bowel movements.

What causes it? Doctors are not certain, but possibly retrograde menstruation - when menstrual blood flows along the Fallopian tubes into the pelvis, taking cells from the endometrium with it, which then implant.

The ailment is not common but quite a number of women are affected.

Unfortunately, there is no cure but hormones therapy, surgery, pain

your whispers softly echo. It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me.

Pasola Fred Obinna pasola2007@yahoo.co.uk +2348057161505,+233260947966

My absence

How like a winter hath my absence been from thee,the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezing have I felt,what dark days seen.

Danny00melie@gmail.com 08077048962

management and alternative therapies can help.

Mama Knows Best!

(Humour) Sophia’s newly married and being a traditional Italian, is still a virgin.

On her wedding night in her mother ’s house, she’s nervous. But mama reassures her: “Luca’s a good man. Go upstairs: he’ll take care of you” .

Upstairs, Luca takes off his shirt, exposing his hairy chest. Sophia runs downstairs, wailing: “Mama, Mama, Luca’s got a big hairy chest”. “All good men have hairy chest”, says Mama.

So Sophia goes up again. This time Luca removes his trousers, showing his hairy legs.

She runs downstairs:

Oh, what a night! (Humour) A couple have a dog that snores. The wife asks the Vet for help because it keeps her awake. The vet tells her to tie a ribbon round the dog’s testicles to stop the snoring. That night, the dog snores as usual. So, the woman ties a ribbon round his testicles. The noise stops and she settles down to sleep. Later on, her husband comes home drunk. He falls into bed and starts snoring very loudly.

His wife thinks maybe the trick will work on him too. So she ties a ribbon round her husband’s testicles. Sure enough, he stops snoring and the woman sleeps soundly.

Next morning, the husband wakes up with a thumping hangover. He stumbles to the bathroom and notices a blue ribbon attached to his private. As he waves back to the bedroom, he sees the red ribbon attached to his dog’s parts. He looked down at the mutt and says: “Boy, I don’t remember where we were or what we did, but by God, we got first and second place”.

Can't stop loving you!

Yesterday I was so busy that I couldn't think about you. Guest what? I fell sick. I went to have a medical check-up and the doctor said I will die if I should stop loving you. Baby, I just want you to know that I will never stop loving you. I have love you to the extent that any time we have a misunderstanding I always fall sick. I can't live in a day without you. I love you very much.

Omorville Umoru omorville@gmail.com, 08062486549

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013—PAGE 25

FACE TO FACE WITH SERIAL CHURCH ROBBERS

Fear of God meant nothing to us!

zSuspect claims salary from teaching job inadequate for family

zThe suspects: Theophilus (l) and Folorunso

zChurch...robbed thrice

,

By Wale Akinola

zThe broken musical instruments iron cage

Will a man rob God? … Malachi 3:8

T

o Akinbode Theophilus (30), Waidi Folorunso (27) and Wasiu Olusola (31), the answer to the question above is possibly, yes. They are in police net accused of robbing a church, among others. The robbed church is located at Ijegun-Ikotun, Lagos. And it wasn’t only once that the church was robbed. Robbers attacked the church on three separate occasions during which they carted away items, the most valuable of which were musical instruments valued at hundreds of thousands of Naira. The musical instruments were believed to be the target of the robbers and the other items, secondary.

The trio of Theophilus, Folorunso and Olusola were said to have confessed to police interrogators that they were behind the serial robbery attacks on the church.

Sources close to the interrogators also quoted the suspects as admitting to carrying out attacks on some other churches in Lagos and Ibadan.

God, in Malachi 3:8, puts those robbing him, this time of tithes and offerings, under a curse. If it is proven that Theophilus, Folorunso and Olusola carried out the church robberies, then they C M Y K

Asked if he did not fear God as to go to a church to rob, Theophilus, a Christian, said he feared God, but that, that fear paled into insignificance when the survival of his family was at stake

,

may never escape the curse of God; unless they seek genuine repentance. The suspects arrest is as dramatic as it is mysterious.

Many attributed it to nemesis and God at work.

They had allegedly broken into the headquarters of the Kingdom Zone of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ifelodun Street, Ijegun – Ikotun in the early hours of April 5, 2013. They entered the church auditorium, broke the iron cage inside which the musical instruments were secured and removed them. Not done yet, they broke into the church offices and ransacked them, apparently looking for cash and valuables.

Two of them – Theophilus and

Folorunso- allegedly chartered a tricycle to convey their loot and had successfully escaped from the area. The suspects were said to be transferring the musical instruments from the tricycle into another one at Ikotun roundabout, some five kilometers from scene of robbery – around 5 a.m.

- when a police patrol team noted their suspicious movements and accosted them.

A police source said they told the patrol team they were musicians coming from a night engagement. Not convinced, the police team, led by one Inspector Ahmed, reportedly, asked the suspects to take them to the venue of the engagement to confirm their story. Then, on close scrutiny of the musical instruments, the policemen found the name of the church engraved on them.

The game was up. Folorunso allegedly tried to bolt away. He knocked down one of the policemen in the process. But as he dashed across the road, an oncoming tricycle knocked him down, instantly demobilising him.

Both suspects – Theophilus and Folorunso – were arrested and taken to the scene of robbery. They allegedly confessed to the crime and told the police that they had another colleague working with them. The suspects also allegedly named a marketer at Oshodi who had been helping them to sell their loot. The two suspects were

held at Ikotun Divisional Police Station. Some officers at the station gave the credit for the arrest to the DPO, CSP Austines Akika, who, according to them, insists on ridding the area of criminal elements..

Items allegedly recovered from the suspects were the church musical instruments, a saw, two iron bars, a master key and a padlock. Theophilus an Folorunso were later taken to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja where further investigations yielded the arrest of the third suspect, Olusola.

Olusola is said to be an ‘insider’ in the Ijegun church who facilitated the robbery. The alleged marketer to the suspects was said to be on the run. Theophilus told Sunday Vanguard that he was not resident in Lagos, and that he came in from Abeokuta where he claimed to be a teacher.

He claimed to be a university graduate.

According to the suspect, he is married with a child. Indeed, the police took him to a high profile hotel where he claimed to be lodging in Ikotun area to corroborate his statement, and he was found to be paying N6,000 per night there. Asked if he did not fear God as to go to a church to rob, Theophilus, a Christian, said he feared God, but that, that fear paled into insignificance when the

survival of his family was at stake. The salary he earned from his teaching job in a school in Abeokuta, according to him, was too meagre to sustain the family. Folorunso was not forthcoming on his means of livelihood. Sources close to Lagos SARS told Sunday Vanguard that all the three suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations into the case were completed.

Detectives were also on the trail of the fourth suspect on the run.

The Ijegun church sources spoke on the two previous occasions robbers broke into the place of worship. The first time, according to them, the robbers made away with musical instruments, among other items, which were never recovered.

The second time, the robbers carted away gift items earmarked for the Bible College graduands whose graduation was scheduled to hold in the church. “There is the hand of God in the arrest of the suspects who are now alleged to have carried out serial robbery attacks on the church. Don’t forget that they had successfully escaped from the scene of crime before they were apprehended at Ikotun, some five kilometers away.

The arrest also shows that no matter the misgiving about the police on their effectiveness, they sometimes work”, a member of the church said.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

Itsekiri anxiously wait for the world cultural festival

BY EMMANUEL OKOTIE-EBOH

C

ulture is a strong instrument for peace, development and national unity. One can see a number of ways in which culture plays an important role in development. First, the culture industry is a dynamic and prosperous sector of the economy that provides fabulous avenues for development through growth and employment.

Secondly, we all know the popular saying that “culture is what remains when everything has been forgotten.” Culture is what remains when everything has been lost. It was not therefore surprising that United Nations identified culture as strategic resource for development.

Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance, powered by Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance Initiative, adopted culture as an instrument for peace and development. And when the First Itsekiri World Cultural Festival was organised by Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance on 28 December, 2009, Delta State came to standstill.Traditional rulers from all the ethnic nationalities in Delta State graced the occasion.

During the maiden edition of the Cultural Festival, some prominent Itsekiri, who had directly or indirectly impacted on the development and promotion of the Itsekiri rich culture were honoured, amongst whom were

Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, Madam Julie Coker and Mr. Tony Omabuwa.

The second edition, which took place on 4 February, 2012, was an improvement on the maiden edition, in addition to the rich cultural fashion (UKUEKE) and different cultural dances that were showcased during the maiden edition. There were cultural a r t exhibition and colourful and entertaining masquerade (UMALEOLEGUA).

The Itsekiri culture has been well known in Nigeria and beyond. In the pre-independence era, Itsekiri culture and dances were among the Nigerian cultures and dances that were showcased abroad.

It was not therefore surprising during the Second Itsekiri World Cultural Festival that Chief Duke Eden, Minister of Culture and Tourism, in admiration of the colourful, rich, orderly and glamorous culture, endorsed the festival. The Delta State Ministry of Culture and Tourism also endorsed the festival.

In Warri Kingdom, the Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance Initiative has been able to bring together the different cultural groups under the umbrella of a brand ‘Itsekiri World Cultural Festival’ in order to promote the culture, arts, and tourism and above all

A husband’s agony: Rapist impregnated my wife

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*Ogiame Atuwatse 11, Olu of Warri

to use the culture to promote peace amongst our neighbouring ethnic nationalities in particular and Nigeria in general.

Plans are in top gear to organise the third Itsekiri World Cultural Festival. Unlike the previous two editions, which were one day affair, the coming edition will be a three-day festival.

Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance Initiative implores corporate bodies and private individuals to seize this wonderful opportunities to promote their goods and services either by sponsoring or advertising in the program brochure or both. * Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh is President, Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance.

y husband is jealous and always feels in secure and thereby trailing and monitoring my movement whenever I go out or go to the school”, a housewife, Mrs. Olanike Ogunsakin, has said.”Because of his temperament, I left his house for my parents house when I was pregnant. I left to prevent his frequent beating”.

Meanwhile, the husband, Yinka, 30, denied the allegations. “I trailed her to an hotel with one of her concubines and since that day I stopped providing for her needs”, he said. ”I married her out of pity because, according to her story, she was raped and got pregnant which she later aborted,” he said. ”I could have called it quits with her if not for the compassion I had for her, but now, my eyes are opened, I am ready for the dissolution.” Four years into marriage, 23-yearold Olanike urged the Orile-Agege Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve the union over alleged battery and threat to life by her husband. The embattled wife, who lives at 9, Mashed Ashafa Close, Orile- Agege, told the court that her husband used cane to beat her at the slightest opportunity, adding that he had no respect for her as well as not taking care of the only child of the union. She told the court that her husband started showing his bully nature when she was two months pregnant. The mother of one and student, feared Yinka would pour acid on her anywhere he sees her. ”My husband cannot take care of our child. He stays in a room apartment with his friends; so I want the custody of my child,”she said.

Yinka, an IT engineer, who lives at 5, Olooti Close, Orile Agege, said her wife was adulterous, and kept “many big men”. ” I caught her several times and l reported to her mother but the mother was always in her support”. The court president, Mr Joseph Adewusi, told the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case to April 22 for judgment.

Fading into light

*Seplat to the rescue

By Adeola Adenuga

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here is something about blindness that signals defeat.

It must be something to do with being led by the hand, blind, relying on other people.

That was how many of them looked, blind men and women, wearing defeat like a robe, as they were led by the hand, by wives and husbands, sons and daughters and even neighbours, into the Okpe Hall, Sapele. They had come in response to the initiative by SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company, which was returning for the second time with its very well received corporate social investment drive, the Eye Can See programme.

The programme was launched last year and the first edition saw over 300 men and women regaining their sight. This year, the lucky ones were referred to the Sapele Central Hospital where Dr. Isaiah and his team performed corrective surgery to remove cataract.

Speaking on why SEPLAT is concerned with visual health, Austin Avuru, the MD/CEO, said: “The project is part of the company’s yearly CSI programmes and its objective is to make visual health accessible to people in Delta and Edo States, particularly those in our host communities”. According to him, good eye health and eye care are crucial to preserving excellent vision and protecting overall health because eyes are the “gateway to your soul, and can influence or reveal common or serious health problems — such as diabetes and hypertension amongst other commonly associated health problems”. During

By Adeola Adenuga

Corrective surgery to remove cataract the programme, medical experts, including opticians/ophthalmologists and consultants, conducted free eye screening, correction and restoration surgeries (cataract) and counselling. They also distributed free reading glasses and treatment of eye related diseases like diabetes and hypertension in carefully selected centers across many communities in the two states.

Additionally, the patients were educated on how to detect cataract and glaucoma and provided post-surgery intervention and drugs.

The medical consultants were supported by the Delta State branch of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) made up of medical doctors, laboratory attendants, nurses and pharmacists.

The turnout was impressive on the first day with almost 1,000 people. They were tested for hypertension and diabetes and those requiring visual aid received prescription glasses while over 30 were attended to for corrective and restorative surgery.

Those in need of surgery were taken to the Central Hospital Sapele where they were operated. The surgery, which lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, helps restore sight to completely blind people. Two of the lucky 30 selected on the first day were present at the inaugural programme in 2012. They had arrived completely blind in both eyes but left seeing in one eye.

One of them was Mrs Margaret Esunem, who lived at Yoruba Road, right opposite Union Bank.

Blind for six years, she had been unable to get help for four years because, as she put it, she couldn’t afford it.

Others include Gladys Onomo, 69, who lived at 39, Green Egbedi Street, Sapele and Carol Egbiaduma of 41, Ogodo Street, Sapele.

The next morning, there was palpable joy as the bandaged eyes were removed and hitherto blind eyes blinked open to see the sun after years of darkness. The beneficiaries were full of praises for Seplat for restoring their sight.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 27

House wif e ttells ells cour Housewif wife courtt: My marriage collapsed because of childlessness

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA don’t have peace of mind with him. He has low sperm count. He has a child and I don’t have; so I left his house after a deep r e f l e c t i o n . ’’He comes to threaten me where I live now. I want the court to dissolve the union so that I will be free because he said he won’t allow me to marry another man.”

With these words, 31-year-old Awawu Olusanya pleaded with an Agege, Lagos Grade ‘A’ Customary Court to dissolve her four-year-old marriage

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over battery and childlessness. Olusanya, who lives at 37, Fashola Street, Papa Ashafa, Agege, told the court that her marriage to Wasiu collapsed as a result of childlessness. ”Any little misunderstanding between us, my husband would throw my things out of the house, saying he doesn’t derive anything from the union”, she said. ”He beats me at every slight argument and he doesn’t give me money for food; instead, he would want to meet good food before he returns from work. ”He had a wife and a child

before I married him. At that time, he was not in good terms with the other woman, but now, he has reconciled with the woman.”

Olusanya, a trader, told the court that she got to know that her husband had low sperm count after their visit to the hospital for t e s t . ”I got him an herbal medicine, he drank some and threw the remaining away.” However, Mr. Wasiu Olusanya,her husband, 41, refused to come to court for the fourth time since the proceedings s t a r t e d .

The court president, Mr Emmanuel Shokunle, adjourned the case for judgment.

Ogbaru fetes Obaze, Anambra SSG

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INE months into his tenure as Secretary to the State Government, SSG, of Anambra State, representatives of the sixteen Ogbaru communities, traditional rulers, politicians and friends, gathered at the Ogbaru Local Governmnet Headquarters to honour Oseloka Obaze, in a grand civic reception.

It was also an ocassion to fete Hon. Obaze who celebrated his 58 birthday on 9 April 2013. Rev. Fr. Collin Ojene, Rector of the Madonna of Mercy Home for the Aged in Odekpe, served as the overall coordinator.

Among the special guests who attended the event were Governor Peter Obi, present and former members of the National Asembly from Ogbaru, Honourables Okwudili Uzoka and Afam Ogene, the chairman of CAN Anambra State, Bishop Ephriam Ndife, and members of the Anambra Executive Council, Judiciary and House of Assembly.

Significant among the special guests of the day, were inmates of institutions for the handicapped, destitute, aged and lepers, who regularly received support from SSG Obaze.

He also drew attention to plight of the handicapped and

From left: Hon. Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, Hon. Callistus Ilozumba, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, H.E. Governor Peter Obi, (CON), SSG Oseloka Obaze and Attornrney-General Peter Afuba at a grand reception to honour Obaze in Ogbaru. d i s e n f r a n c h i s e d , which he attributed to “fate”.

The people of Ogbaru used the civic reception to thank him especially for transparently handling the 2012 flood disaster that devastated Ogbaru and for coming home to serve, which various speakers including Governor Obi and HRH Obi Ogene, variously characterized as “a selfless and enormous sacrifice”.

In his formal speech titled “We are called to serve so that our posterity may be enriched”, SSG

Obaze explored the leadership challenges confronting Nigeria and Anambra State, and the purposeful and good gover nace that Gov. Obi was offering. He observed that Obi was “ not just a Good leader ” but “a good steward and a good servant of the people”.

Assessing the post-Peter Obi scenario, SSG Obaze urged the people of Anambra to “pray for the ability to make the right choices; and the ability to take Anambra from being good to being great.”

Ugbomro leaders task FUPRE mgt on employment

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HE leadership of Ugbomro Community, hosting the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, has expressed displeasure over the non employment of qualified indigenes of the community by the school’s management.

The traditional ruler (Unuevworo) of Ugbomro, High Chief Ambrose Tadafe Olughor, disclosed this at his palace, when the Chairman of

the Governing Council of the University, Senator Barigha Amange, Vice Chancellor, Prof Lawal Alhassan Bichi and management team paid him a courtesy visit. and also insisted that henceforth documentations in the University should bear Ugbomro and not Effurun.

He pointed out that the Council agreement in section vii (d) of the visitation panel report into the affairs of the

University, states that the “University should employ most of its junior staff from the locality, lamenting also that contractors from Ugbomro are not patronized.

“The Governing Council should take drastic actions in engaging youths of the community in accordance to the provision of area cashment policy which stipulates 60% employment of low cadre staffs to host community”

Delta monarch tasks Uduaghan on Hausa/ Fulani cattle rearers

By Hugo Odiogor

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he Obi of Onicha-Ugbo Agbogidi Chuk wumalieze has called on the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, to take urgent steps to check the menace of Hausa/Fulani cattle men who have become a security threat to communities in the state.

The monarch, who spoke in Onicha-Ugbo, said, “ These Hausa/Fulani cattle men have an agenda that we are yet to unravel, they are not here to rear cattle but to ravage our communities and terrorise our people. They are destroying economic crops, raping and killing women and perpetuating acts of robbery, ”.

In fact, clashes between Hausa/Fulani cattle men have become regular feature in Delta State where they have attacked communities in Ibusa in Oshimili North, Ogume in Ndokwa West local government areas. In Ogume, no fewer that 10 persons were killed in a clash with cattle men who were alleged to have attacked the villagers with AK 47 rifles.

Narrating the experience of his people Agbogidi Chukwumalieze said: “The cattlemen just unleash their cattle peoples’ farms to eat up their cassava plants,and other cash crops, thereby destroying the economic lives in the communities, they also harvest yams from people’s farms.”

According to the monarch, “We have discussed this matter with the governor and the police leadership, we want them to take action to Chukwumalieze check these rampaging Hausa/Fulani cattle men, they have become a major source of security threat in the country”.

Commenting on the choice of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as the Odogwu designate of the town, the monarch said: “ It is not the prerogative of the Obi to nominate any of the four Olinzele chiefs who are the warrior chiefs that command troops and have the responsibilities of defending the four major territorial frontiers that make up the town.

“It is the duty of each of the four villages to nominate a potential occupant of any of the four titles whenever there is a vacancy. My role as the Obi is to accept whoever is presented to me as the bonafide choice of the concerned village or villages.”

To dispel doubts over the choice of Kachikwu, the Obi called on the Odafe of Ishiekpe, who is the head of the village, to announce publicly announce the name of the person they have chosen as the next Odogwu of the town and to present their nominee the king.

Agbogidi Chukwumalieze said “the Odogwu designate has been a pillar of support in the social and economic development of the town even before he became Isagba of the town.”

The gestures offering of scholarship to over 900 students, as well as empowering young people with motor cycles and the elderly ones with bicycles. He singularly tarred the major road linking the town to the Asaba- Lagos express road.

28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

Ekiti Dep. Go es ffinal inal bo w!

Govv. tak takes bow!

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he upper crust of the Action Congress of Nigeria, eminent politicians and other dignitaries gathered in Ado Ekiti on Friday to witness the funeral service which was held in honour of the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka. The service took place at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel. Notable among those present are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Aremo Segun Osoba, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Engr. Segun Oni, Chief Bisi Akande and many others. Photos by Dare Fasube

L-R: Boss Mustapha, Chief Bisi Akande, National Chairman (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

L-R:Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, his wife, Erelu Bisi, Arch. Lanre Olayinka (husband), Yeside, Lolade and Olamide (Children) of the deceased.

L-R: Mr Dare Babarinsa and Mr Soji Omotunde.

L-R: Engr. Segun Oni former Ekiti State Gov. with Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and wife , Bisi.

L-R:Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Governor of Ekiti State.

L-R: Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, M r s Olufunsho Amosun and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

Trinity House dedicat es audit orium dedicates auditorium rinity House, a church owned by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo held a thanksgiving service on April 7th to dedicate its newly completed church auditorium. The T ceremony which held at the Victoria Island premises of the Church was graced by important dignitaries from different walks of life. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

L-R:Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Ven. Gbenga Fagbemi, Pastor & Mrs Ituah Ighodalo and others C M Y K

Mrs Monilola Ajayi (m) flanked by Mr & Mrs Aji Rone-Orugboh

L-R: Mrs Elfrida Omole, Ms Tolu Ighodalo and Mrs Beatrice Kolade

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 29

‘What Dafinone did to make all his children chartered accountants’

BY FEYI BANKOLE

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is manner of interac tion even with his members of staff exuded simplicity. None had to fret

over his presence, and that alone reshaped my impression of this chartered accountant, politician and businessman whose father is the famous Deltan second republic senator, Senator David Dafinone. The second son in the Dafinone dynasty of chartered accountants, Chief Ede Omueya Dafinone is a partner at Horwath Dafinone, a chartered accounting firm in Lagos. One stupendous aspect of this man’s life is his perception of politics. In 2007, Ede contested under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic PartyPDP-for the Senate seat in Delta Central but lost in the primaries. In a dispensation where cupidity has become the main reason people aspire for political seats, though he lost, he chose to still serve his people as promised, but at his own expense. Using the Senator David Dafinone Foundation as a platform for this service, he has since then continued to execute human development programmes in Delta State. Enjoy our chat!

Why did every one of you take after your father’s profession? t’s a long story, but actually, we were not persuaded to read accounting. I think the best recommen-

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ventures that have failed in the past. So, this is to tell to you that life does not give free lunches; one must work hard for it. Of course people will always look at others from afar and make their own judgement, but that’s wrong. I agree that some people had it really easy in life, but, believe me, they are few.

And do you consider your-

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dation for a child is to see his parents do well in a profession.

Fate had it that none of us had the ambition to do anything else, and whenever we told dad about our desire to study accounting, he would say: “Okay, let us try that….Accounting is a fairly good profession…”.

You have the opportunity of building on your father’s foundation, so, I doubt if you ever have to struggle hard?

Life does not give anybody free lunches. Even children born into rich homes still have to study and work hard, even harder. Otherwise, they fail and quickly lose family fortune when it is put in their hands! It is hard to make money, but I tell you, it is harder to keep or grow it. After my university education in London, I worked for four years as a trainee chartered accountant and then a qualified chartered accountant before returning to Nigeria. I’ve, over the years, started a lot of businesses that I have had to put in hours, both day and night, to ensure they work out.

Also, I spend only about 10% of my time as an accountant; the other 90% varies from politics to insurance, property, oil, farming and export business. These businesses are the ones that exist presently; not the diverse

Chief Ede Omueya Dafinone.... Spirituality is also very important My parents were strict with all of us as we grew up; we were not spoilt. When we were teenagers and also in our early twenties, we would look at our friends and question why our parents wouldn’t buy us cars like their parents were doing.

We thought we were unlucky!

Even my oldest brother was refused a motorbike when he asked for it around age 19 or

Life isn’t all about material things; spiritual things and emotional well-being are very important.

self one of them?

I don’t think so. Easy would have been getting government to give me one nice oil bloc and collecting some dollars without putting in so much effort.

Overnight you’ve bought a private jet and you’re building one mansion in South Africa (laughs). Easy is actually a relative term.

What was it like to grow up as the son of a famous senator like your dad?

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thereabouts. We were simply told to ‘go read our books!’ As much as we could have been, we were not affected by senator’s position as a national statesman.

Has that shaped you in any way?

Of course! Now, my siblings and I find it difficult to want to look at what our friends or neighbours have. We’ve grown to understand that we can look but not want to own every object

of our admiration. Life isn’t all about material things; spiritual things and emotional wellbeing are very important.

People imagine that we must be pompous or proud or maybe arrogant, but they are overwhelmed when they find that I myself is as simple as anything.

You see, fulfilment and happiness do not emanate from the size of one’s bank account or number of gold. Real happiness actually derives from very simple things like one’s child doing well at school, graduating with a first class, your wife giving you your favourite food after a hard day at work, etc.

You wore an unpopular look to political defeat; the typical Nigerian politician would have felt badly wounded. Rather, you went onto fulfilling your promises…

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politician, who does not feel a need to set up an alternative programme because he didn’t get his ticket, was never going to work for his people!

For me, anybody who is truly a politician should be able to serve his people, whether elected or not. I noticed my campaign team had a group of faithful and loyal women from Sapele and, because I

had promised them empowerment once elected, I felt encouraged to fulfil my promise even though I wasn’t going to the Senate since they stood by me under rain and sun. I started the scheme with micro-credit, dividing it based on the wards within Sapele.

The businesses of these women were however studied to be sure they would use the loans properly and have a multiplier effect. We had gone on with that programme for about six months when they came back to say that some of them needed to learn to read and write. We therefore added an adult literacy class. Again, because the micro-credit was designed strictly for women with already existing businesses, other women who had neither businesses nor skills came to appeal that a skill acquisition programme be designed for them. That was how we went into skill acquisition, distributing hair dryers, sewing machines and cookers upon the women’s graduation. We’ve also introduced a programme for men too(welding, aluminium, etc) into the scheme, and we’re progressing into different local governments like Ethiope West and all.

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PAGE 32— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

(07036819426)

Escalating sleep problems as Nigeria murders sleep

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HE United Nations Organiza tion, apart from its role of en suring peace and harmony between nations, is having a closer relationship with the individual, as it directs focus on all the different problems which assail the human life.

Every day of the year marks something in the human welfare; in addition to the usual Children’s day, Labour day, Food day, Water day, days for Women, Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, the Physically challenged, we now have special days for Sight, Hearing, etc.

Recently, the third edition of the World Sleep Day was marked in Lagos with the theme, ‘Good Sleep, Healthy Ageing’, packaged by Mouka Ltd, and the talk delivered by a neurologist, Prof. Njideka Okubadejo of LUTH. Even though I was not present at the talk, I was curious about what the experts have to say about sleep, which is a very important aspect of. I also wanted to know how this disorder can be combatted in a nation like Nigeria, where stress level is so high.

With the sort of life we are living here, it’s amazing that there are citizens who can still perform well at business or work, and be focused enough to rise to great heights in their endeavours. With so many elements working against a sound sleep in our country, I don’t know how such people can achieve this feat. Sleep disorder is so common that many people resort to taking tranquilizers, sleeping tablets, herbal tea, yoga, meditation and acupuncture, in order to have the semblance of a good night’s rest.

Consider the life of the average Nigerian. Security of your life and property is not guaranteed anywhere/any time so, most people cannot sleep with both eyes shut. You jump at the least noise, your heart racing wildly. Very unsettling. The dismal performance of PHCN is another sleep killer, as you can’t always power your fan or air conditioner, and you have to toss and turn on your bed in the sweltering heat, not to mention pitch darkness. If you’re brave enough to go sit outside your house for cool air, mosquitoes would have your blood for dinner; and you could be arrested for ‘wandering’ by some very zealous law-enforcement people. You can’t leave the generating set on throughout the night, because of high cost of fuel and diesel, overheating and likely fire incident.

With a bad night, you’re grouchy in the morning, and the bad roads, poor transportation, unreasonable road users, filthy environment help to plunge you into more gloom, which could lead to sleep disorder and a health condition High unemployment rate and the worsening economic situation which make businesses retrench or fold up, escalating food prices and house rent, are a nightmare to citizens in a country without social security benefits, good and affordable healthcare system and housing. There’s no buffer of any sort from the government to make life bearable. In short, you’re on your own.

Why won’t there be a high rate of sleep problems? We’ve murdered sleep, so to say. Until we have caring leaders who focus on the welfare of our citizens, the problem will persist with the attendant consequences. ’63 million Nigerians have sleep problems, says an expert’, screamed a headline in one of our dailies.

“That’s an awfully high figure,” re-

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View-Point

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

desired sleep. I’ll like to meet people who actually sleep well at night. Would you say that you do?”

“Certainly not! . There are so many problems to cause one sleepless nights, particularly in the cities. What with having to get up at four-thirty in the morning in order to be able to leave home at five. I usually get back quite late, and it would be close to midnight before I settle down to sleep. One has to use some help most times to induce sleep. Even at that, one’s lucky to have a full four hour nightly sleep.

That isn’t a sleeping disorder, is it? It sounds a nasty condition to have. ” “Don’t worry. So long as you don’t fall apart or break down, the regular insufficient sleep may not do you much damage.”

“Ah, madam, in this article, the professor recommends daily sleep of 14 to 15 hours for infants, 12 to 14 hours for toddlers, 10 to 11 hours for children, and 7 to 9 hours for adults.”

That drew laughter from other colleagues around. “Where on earth would an able-bodied adult

Why won’t there be a high rate of sleep problems? We’ve murdered sleep, so to say. Until we have caring leaders who focus on the welfare of our citizens, the problem will persist with the attendant consequences

marked a colleague. “Are the experts saying that almost half the population have sleeping disorders? Where did they get those figures from? Where did they carry out their research? Madam, where you aware of such a research?”

“No, but the professor couldn’t have made it up. Maybe it’s the number of people who consulted physicians on the problem. You think the figure is high? ” “Madam, I think it is. Don’t you?”

“No, I don’t it’s high enough to reflect the true situation of living in Nigeria. How many people in this country would actually go consult a doctor about their inability to sleep?”

“Only the elite, I think, and at private hospitals. For the masses, though, they may mention the condition while consulting on other health problems. The figure is probably lower than 63 million.”

“I think it should be much higher. If we walk down three streets around us here, and we ask passersby if they sleep regularly well at night, I’m sure most of them will tell us that they don’t, and they would give a long list of things that rob them of a much-

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who’s not ill, find the time to sleep for seven hours at night?” asked one.

“Apart from the stress of commuting in a big city, sleep disorder can arise from almost every aspect of our life. Hear the expert, ‘According to Prof Okubadejo, the dictates of the modern world has drastically reduced the number of hours that people sleep because of the demand of their lifestyle or nature of their work. She noted that sleep is a natural process controlled by the brain, which restores body functions, and that the consequences of lack of proper sleep include poor memory recall, decreased academic performance, decreased work productivity, reduced attention, alertness and concentration.’ ” “‘Others, she added, are irritable mood and poor social interaction, increase risk hypertension, increase risk diabetes, mood disorders, reduced immunity, memory deficit, increased vulnerability to accident and errors and reduced lifespan.’”

With the stressful life that governance enforces on our citizens, I wonder how soundly our rulers sleep at night. Are they exposed to the problems which cause us sleep disorders?

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 33

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

‘Autism: Why I’m introducing af fected children to structured teaching’

benefit from this programme, we invited schools, therapists, parents and the state government, and we made it free for them all. This training actually costs $825 in the US. All we just really want to see is progress for our children, and that’s why we’re giving this out for free.

What changes do you hope to achieve through this initiative?

My ultimate goal is to help affected individuals reach their full potential. No child should be deprived of learning.

-Bolanle Adewole

You sound so passionate about that…

I believe autism did not drop at my doorstep by accident; it dropped for a reason. I have been working with children now for nineteen years but ten years into my work with children was when I discovered my one-year-old son had autism. Prior to that time, I had never noticed a child with autism.

My mission now is to make sure every child learns and no child is left behind, irrespective of developmental milestone.

Hence the establishment of the Learning Place Centre in addition to our already existing school, The Learning Place. Nothing is going to stop my mission, especially now that I’m getting results in my work with these children.

•‘I have seen it in action in my son’

• Bolanle Adewole

M rs.Bolanle Adewole, the Founder/Director of The Learning Place-TLP School and TLP Centre in Lekki, Lagos, is passionately spear-heading the introduction of Structured Teaching in Nigeria in collaboration with AACTION Autism, a voluntary group of professionals from Chicago, USA, working to help thirdworld countries develop their techniques for working with children and adults with autism.

AACTION was in Nigeria recently for a three-day intensive training on structured teaching convened by TLP Centre.

This approach to teaching children with autism, and related developmental disorders is said to be spreading like wildfire in the West due to its success rate. Vista Woman had a chat with Mrs.Adewole.

Excerpts: You look so excited; what’s happening?

This is the beginning of a new thing! It’s the introduction of

structured teaching for children with autism. Structured teaching is a method which re quires breaking down their tasks into very small components and getting them to work with the small components. This leads them to acquire independence!

Children generally learn better when you give them simple tasks because it’s easier for them to assimilate.

Structured teaching is widely known now, globally, but this is the first time it’s being introduced to Nigeria.

nine years old. Since I came back from a seminar on structured teaching in Chicago, I have not for once made his breakfast! He goes downstairs and makes his cereal by himself from start to finish, because of what I have thought him based on structured teaching. He now takes his bath by himself and fully dresses up by himself! These were skills he didn’t have before we travelled last summer. He’s making an impressive progress. More so, in

How has the work been?

It’s been wonderful. We’ve been doing this now for two and a half years at the TLP Centre.

Initially, we weren’t quite sure what we were getting ourselves into because though we had gone to learn how to work with children with autism, we didn’t know what would be the outcome or reality. But I tell you, we are overwhelmed right now with the intensity of what has happened to the children at the centre.

We’ve seen improvements to a very high degree! We have children who came here not talking two years ago, but are talking now. I have seen structured teaching in action. My son is on the spectrum and he’s

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BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

(07036819426)

I’m very much aware that people learn things without putting them into practice. Within six months to a year, these people (AACTION) would be coming back to Nigeria to train us on the next stage of structured teaching.

They’ve been doing this in India for the third year running, and they’ve recorded progress with approximately 3,000 people with autism. They go to different schools, teach them, and then go back again to see children

My ultimate goal is to help affected individuals reach their full potential. No child should be deprived of learning

the self-help skill area, he’s making significant and impressive progress too.

In terms of sustainability, how far do you think this approach can actually go in Nigeria?

How far it will go will depends on how far our people use it because

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who were incapacitated in diverse areas beginning to do amazing things because their schools are actually using the structured method to teach them. So, what we’re introducing to Nigeria now is Level-1, and we’re looking forward to the other levels.

To let the general society

TLP Centre is quite young…

Yes. Like I said earlier, is about three years old now. I’ve been an educationist for almost two decades now, but what I only had was the The Learning Place, nine-year-old Montessori School for children aged one to twelve.

The Learning Place Centre-TLPC is a product of TLP. The centre actually became necessary when we found that there were a lot of children who came to TLP which is supposed to be school for typical children, but were demonstrating some traces of difficulty with learning (not necessarily autism). Funny enough, their parents would not readily admit that there was something wrong with them! We studied them and found that some of them didn’t quite fit into school yet. There’s a beginning which we call ‘The Individual Skill Acquisition Level’, and when a child is still at this stage, you cannot throw him or her into a class, otherwise, he or she feels lost. So, what such a child requires is one-on-one moulding before anything else. That’s what the centre does for our main school. After being tutored at the centre, we find that these particular children become more receptive to learning.

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PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

The banking sector suffered breakdown in corporate governance, inadequate risk mgt – Edozien, ex-CEO, Afribank *Says SEC, NSE must take hard decisions on capital market

First of all, I absolutely owe everything in my life to the Almighty God. God has been very kind to me. Of course, He gave me what I consider to be a very good parentage and upbringing. I grew up in an environment of love. I was brought up with very strong and good family values. I had good exposure to religion – the Catholic Church – and that gave me my faith, which I consider one of my strongest assets. These attributes combined to give me that discipline of mind and stability needed to pursue a successful career. I was also lucky that I have a wonderful wife and a family that have been very supportive, and have contributed to giving me over the years that peace of mind necessary for anyone who aspires to perform at the highest level. My father was a civil servant and I grew up liking the type of life he led and what the Service helped him to achieve. So, I went into the Civil Service feeling that I had the temperament required to thrive. The Service was not about itself, but about service to others. That suited me very much. I have made the point in several situations that public service gives one the fullest opportunity to do either good

The Service is also a mirror of the society. The Service does not exist in isolation

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Chief John Edozien or evil. It is a matter of personal choice. But that choice significantly affects the life and well being of others. You can create happiness. And what is happiness?

Happiness consists of seeing and making other people happy. It is not about you, it is about how you use the blessings God has given you either through using your own resources or the resources God has enabled you to hold in trust for others to create the enabling conditions for their happiness. This is why the public service is an altruistic Service. So, I was privileged to have served in that Service.

The Service then was also merit driven and you were sure that if you worked hard and performed well, your career was secure and you can reasonably expect to rise to the top.

Why do you think it has been hard to get it right in some of the civil service reforms embarked on over the years by successive governments?

Successive governments have tried to introduce some reforms in the Civil Service and some of those efforts fell short of what was needed.

Others were quite useful in solving some of the problems identified, especially specific problems that were supposed to be addressed. I believe everything revolves around the perceived role of the Service and this has been with us for a long time. I always refer to the Service as the engine room of government and you can imagine what happens to your car when the engine knocks! You get stranded. I believe part of what has plagued the Service and is yet to be addressed is the issue of the overall role and perception of the Civil Service relative to other employment cadres and opportunities in the country.

In the past, the Civil Service was the employment destination of choice for graduates and it is a fact that the vacancies were open only to those who made first class, second class upper and second class lower degrees. However, overtime, the standards got compromised and lowered while the standards imposed by the private sector were rising. It was as if, the Civil

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HAT was growing up like for you and what were the building blocks to the achievements you made in your career as a civil servant, politician and private sector o p e r a t o r ?

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Chief John Edozien is a man of many parts and has traversed different sectors of the economy. As a civil servant, he grew through the ranks to the position of a federal Permanent Secretary.

He served in many government agencies and ministries and spearheaded the promulgation of some policies that are still celebrated today. He was a deputy governor of the old Bendel State and later Delta State. In the private sector, he became the Group Managing Director/ CEO of Afribank Nigeria Plc, as well as Chairman of Afribank International Ltd (Merchant Bankers) from 1993 to 1999. He also served as the Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, from 2005 to 2008.

He clocked 70 on 20 April. In this interview with NKIRUKA NNOROM, he says the culture of service to humanity seen in Civil Service when he was practising has eroded.

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comes. I think the whole thing has to be addressed holistically. We have to get the Civil Service back to where it belongs. It must have respect.

How is the role of task forces set up by successive governments affecting the civil service function?

You cannot govern by committees and taskforces.

There are Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, working under political heads. For each problem area that confronts government, there are MDAs established to deal with such challenges.

Take for example the banks, the police, etc, it is not usual to inject people from outside those organisations to undertake career functions. In the case of the civil service, however, it is a no man’s land!

Anybody can just come and be thrown into the Service to perform career functions. It’s like anybody can do the job.

But that is wrong! Working in the civil service is a calling, a deliberate choice of a career.

You have to be committed and have the right temperament to go into the Service and

In the absence of adequate sanctions for corruption, impunity holds sway!

People engage in acts of corruption and boast that nothing will happen and nothing indeed happens!

Service was going down, while the private sector was going up in terms of employment a t t r a c t i v e n e s s .

Also noteworthy was that, in the past, the public service was a respected Service. Those working in the public sector were convinced that if they worked diligently hard, they could make a satisfactory career in the Service. All these have changed. Conditions of service at the civil service were getting worse, while those of the private sector were getting better. Private sector has since become the employment destination of choice while the public service has become a place where people go when they do not have any other choice. So it has got to a point where those who go into the civil service are those who do not have other options and if they have options, they just go there to mark time until a better employment opportunity

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function properly. So let’s go back and do it right. The civil service is a Service with its own norms and ethos. It is not possible to bring people from other services and expect them to conform and gel with the Service overnight. This is why we now have different loyalties within the Service. There is no espirit de corps. People no longer gel. Let people go into the Service together at the entry point and grow together, and develop a sense of oneness.

Is this the reason for high level of corruption in the Civil Service today? There are arguments that the perm secs are the ones telling politicians how to loot the treasury?

I don’t think it is true. One will not, however, say that there is no corruption in the Service. But the Service is also a mirror of the society. The Service does not exist in isolation. People want to see

the Service get back to its former glory. Any reference to that period of time should also talk about the society. You will find out that the society at that time was more disciplined. The society then was not as corrupt as it is today. But while we recognise that there is corruption transmitted from the society, there is the overriding need to deal with the serious corruption prevalent in the Service itself.

The Service, as an organisation, has rules and regulations that should be enough to deal with errant civil servants. Why are those rules no longer being stringently applied? I do not see how civil servants will hold the politicians’ hands and guide them to loot the treasury. I think it is a societal problem and the nature of party politics today. It should be firmly dealt with. We have the laws, we have the regulations to deal with corruption but this is not being done. In the absence of adequate sanctions for corruption, impunity holds sway! People engage in acts of corruption and boast that nothing will happen and nothing indeed happens! You know what is going on. How many corruption cases have been successfully concluded?

Why is the problem of bureaucracy becoming endemic in the public service?

There is bureaucracy in every organisation but you can shorten bureaucracy and you can cut it lengthwise! The truth about this is that decision making in the Service by nature and definition should be slower than the decision making process in a private company. In the case of the Service, you are dealing with a decision that affects a whole country and requires wider consultations that may be time consuming compared to a decision by a private firm on what for example affects its profitability! So, by definition, decision making in the private sector is faster than decision making in the public sector because of the nature of the issues that are being handled.

But that is not to defend a situation where issues take unduly long time to be resolved in the civil service.

What do you expect when duties traditionally meant for the civil servants are transferred to taskforces and committees who may not have the experience and historical records at their disposal to see how similar situations had been previously handled?. The Continues on page 36

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 35

Inside the new PPPRA

* The positive transformation by Reginald Stanley

BY ADEMOLA ADEDOYIN

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NAEE Award Winners this year are in four categories. And the caliber of winner(s) in each category speaks eloquently about the standard and quality of the award. The Achiever Award Category went to Professor Omowumi Iledare, the first African President Elect of the IAEE and a renowned Energy Economics Professor; the Distinguished Corporate Service Award Category went to Platform Petroleum (Now Seplat) that indigenous upstream sector operator that has emerged today as perhaps the biggest independent player in the nation’s crude oil and gas production.

In the Distinguished Fellowship Award Category, the Winners were: Professors: Yinka Omorogbe, former Legal Adviser at NNPC and Professor of Energy Law and Layi Fagbenle, a retired

Diezani Alison Madueke Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ibadan and former Energy Adviser to Botswana Government.

The Distinguished Public Service Award went to Dr. Timothy Okon, Group Coordinator, Corporate Planning and Strategy, NNPC and Stanley.

To keen Energy watchers and analysts, the Stanley Distinguished Public Service Award stands out among the lot.

First, until his arrival at PPPRA in November 2011, the twin issue of subsidy regime and importation of petroleum products had become the most daunting problem for the government as dozens of oil

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N this season of acute moral famine when all institutions of state have been bastardized and every societal value desecrated, the temptation to dismiss every honorary award as lacking in credibility is not only high, but dismissing the recognized as beneficiaries of a rigged process is difficult to resist.

But then, at such time as this when society appears to have lost its soul and its institutions have surrendered their self esteem to the highest bidder, there is always that flicker of hope that should remind men of conscience and those that refuse to join the bandwagon that all is not totally lost, after all. At such season of moral decline, a few institutions stand out of the crowd, refusing to be compromised and insisting on not lowering the standard, no matter the pressure. Or the temptation.

It is in this context that the recent Distinguished Public Service Award with which Reginald Chika Stanley, the head of Petroelum Products Pricing Regulatory, Agency PPPRA, was decorated by the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE), can be situated.

The Nigerian Association of Energy Economics, by the way, is the Nigerian affiliate of the International Association for Energy Economics, IAEE. The Association berthed in Nigeria in 2006 and has since grown so rapidly with membership cutting across energy professionals in the academics, energy industry, government and several others operating in different areas of economics of energy-oil and gas, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, energy finance, energy technology, energy law and regulation environment and climate. Its current president is Professor Adeola Adenikinju of the Department of Economics at the University of Ibadan and a Research Professor, at the Centre for Econometrics and Allied Research at the same University.

Reginald Chika Stanley, the head of PPPRA to undertake the verification of product discharge on all transactions under the PSF Scheme. These inspectors were actually mandated to fiscalise the shore tanks and vessels at berth before and after discharge and also monitor quantity of products trucked out of the depots. This measure which is aimed at curbing sharp practices has, according to industry operatives, worked wonderfully well that such under hand deals as volume manipulation and round tripping now belong to the past.

In order to reconcile imported volume with volume that is evacuated for consumption from the depots, and to ensure that imports get to end users, the new dispensation, through nominated surveyors, monitor truck out of PMS from the depots as an added check on marketers operations.

This is also used as a basis for subsidy reimbursement.

In its determined battle against shady practices, the Stanley team rejects “homogenized cargo” for multiple vessels with no defined origins. Under the new regime, importers are required to produce Certificate of Origin for Cargos from refineries or blending plants only. T h i s measure, which is aimed at ensuring that products supplied into the system are from credible and verifiable sources only, has with contacts in the corridor of put paid to the issue of off-spec products with their damaging power up till November 2011.

By this time, about 128 effect on engines and machines.

And to make proper tracking companies, many with only their brief cases as their offices, were of imported products easier and in the business of importing put round tripping to a halt, a fuel. Today, Stanley has reduced total ban has been placed on cargos procured from floating that figure to less than 40.

How did he do it? One of the storage in the West African Coast.

To authenticate sources of earliest measures he took on assumption of office was to imported cargo and ensure that restrict participation of international suppliers are held marketers under the PSF scheme accountable for products to only owners of coaster supplied into the country and to discharge/depot facilities. This track all transactions relating to measure ensured that only the operations of suppliers, credible, established operators marketers and banks under the with verifiable investment can Scheme oil traders now have to submit the following additional participate in the business.

Other measures aimed at documents to have their subsidy entrenching transparency and claim processed: Certificate of compliance with best global Origin, Affirmation Letter from business practices were to follow supplier and Complete “Family in quick succession. One of such Tree” of transaction.

Still in respect of supplier, a initiatives was the introduction of independent cargo surveyors prequalification exercise for Madueke) giving him an unambiguous mandate to clean the Augean stable and put in place, a transparent system that is result driven. Dead line was November 21 2011.

One year and five months down the line, what Stanley has accomplished in that Agency is not just about the fact that he has saved for Nigeria billions of Naira which could have gone into the private pockets of some fat cats, he has put in place a system that is so transparent that it is impossible to circumvent.

Stanley ’s stride at PPPRA is worth taking a look at. As noted earlier, fuel importation had become an all-comers’ affair and one endless cash cow for fat cats

One year and five months down the line, what Stanley has accomplished in that Agency is not just about the fact that he has saved for Nigeria billions of Naira which could have gone into the private pockets of some fat cats, he has put in place a system that is so transparent that it is impossible to circumvent

trading and importing companies feasted on the country under the guise of importing fuel with the regulator appearing helpless while the revelry lasted.

By the time the stock was taken, Nigeria had expended over N2.2 trillion on alleged fuel importation in 2011, an amount even higher than the Capital expenditure for that year.

Determined to clean this mess and institute a regime of transparent operation at the Agency, a major plank of its transformation Agenda, President Jonathan gave matching orders to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison Madueke to reform the Agency and get it working as it should. Stanley’s appointment came on the heels of this presidential directive with his supervising minister (Alison-

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traders/suppliers in form of technical audit of suppliers of PMS into the Nigerian market was embarked upon. The initiative, which is aimed at weeding out unscrupulous suppliers, will leave only prequalified suppliers/traders to supply products into the Nigerian market once the Minister of Petroleum Resources signs off on it.

Adjudged as remarkable on the list of the reform initiative of the Stanley- led management team was the subscription to Lloyd’s List of Intelligence Tanker/ Channel/Sea Searcher Services and Reuters Eikon tracking system.

With this subscription, it is possible for the Agency to track and validate movement and location of vessels worldwide and confirm import claims of marketers.

The initiatives listed above are, by no means, the only ones put in place to sanitize the downstream sector by Stanley. There are others already working along those listed here and many more are in the works. But the poser, at this juncture, could be: have these measures really worked?

What difference have they made?

A lot, as any interested observers will discover. The figures tell the success story.

Between January to October of 2011, the average daily quantity supplied (from both NNPC and marketers) was 59.7 million litres per day. Stanley came on the beat in November 2011.

Between January and October 2012, the Stanley Reform Initiative has crashed supply to 35.6 million litres per day.

In monetary term, between January and October 2011, the Nigerian government under the Petroleum Support Fund, (PSF), subsidy payments stood at N1.35 trillion. During the same period in 2012, the total subsidy payments was N679.736 billion; thereby saving for the country some N671.7 billion, when compared with the 2011 figure.

It is estimated that subsidy payment for 2012 may not exceed a little over N1 trillion as against over N2 trillion in 2011.

Another major gain of the on going reform initiative at PPPRA is that a system is being put in place, an institution is being built. Today, to earn a license to import fuel, the criteria are very clear. For the first time, whom you know does not count, where you come from is irrelevant and your political affiliation is of no use.

It is perhaps in this regard that discerning analysts contend that Stanley owes his strides at the Agency to the transformation Agenda of the present government and the iron cast resolve of the supervising minister to reform and sanitize the downstream sector. M r.

President and Madam Minister just happened to have found the right guy for the job. He deserves this award!

Adedoyin, an Energy Analyst, is the Editor-In-Chief of Energy Thisweek.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

‘SEC, NSE must take hard decisions on capital market’ past informs the present and the present conditions the future. What we have consistently done in this country is to ignore the past as if we don’t have a past. But these things matter.

So, these committees and taskforces tend to complicate matters.

Perhaps we should rather take the time to develop, train and motivate civil servants who are hired to do the job than to go outside, assemble people on a temporary basis and at huge cost, saddle them with the responsibility of preparing the task and then hand it over to the same civil servants to implement.

Between 2005 and now, the banking sector has gone through two major reforms. What will you say are the problems with the industry that led to the rot that was seen during the Sanusi Lamido’s cleansing exercise?

It was largely the absence or breakdown in corporate governance and inadequate risk management. There might also have been a regulatory failure. Add to these the high level of moral decadence in society, the breakdown of our value system and the

enthronement of impunity.

However, after the problem in the banking industry, a whole lot of reforms have been put in place. We now have a robust risk management system that has been put in place and if effectively applied will ensure that the problems that led to the banking crisis will not happen in the future. In addition, the industry regulators have issued stringent corporate governance codes that effectively guide management and Board behaviour in banks.

What advise will you give the regulators in the nation’s capital market to improve the market?

Like they say, the capital market is as good as the companies quoted on it. So what the regulators have to do is basically to effectively carry out the core functions of regulation and market development.

Under regulation, you have the issue of adequate surveillance of the market, investigation, enforcement and compliance. If those issues are very well taken care of, you will be able to achieve a zero tolerance for market infractions. When infractions occur, they affect investor confidence.

Our market has been on the rebound and will continue

to do so as the performance of quoted companies improves and confidence in the market grows. The SEC and the NSE must be prepared to take the hard decisions. They must regulate the market with firmness and keep transactions transparent in order to attract investors.

And not only for domestic investors, but more importantly, for foreign portfolio investors and there is a whole lot of them out there. There are huge

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Continued from page 34

We should continue to develop the Nigerian capital market to make it more attractive. When it is sufficiently attractive, I’m sure the listing will come

equity funds all over the place looking for good investment destinations. We cannot therefore afford to encourage anything that will create problems for our market and lead to the diversion of investment inflows to other jurisdictions. So

Customs seize 8,000 bags of smuggled rice

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

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OLLOWING the order by the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Dr. Abdullahi DIKKO Inde, to curb rice smuggling through the land borders, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja intercepted a wooden boat along the creeks of Badagry laden with an estimated 8,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice.

The Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Inuwa Mohammed Abubakar, attributed the seizure to careful planning and logistics by the CGC which was executed by his unit.

The Controller noted that the unit became more aggressive in the campaign to stop the importation of rice through the land borders sequel to the meeting they had with the Comptroller-General and the management team. He stated that as soon as he arrived the unit from headquarters, he created the enlightenment squad that was charged with the responsibility of educating and sensitizing the people at the border areas and beyond on the dangers of allowing their domains to be as smugglers havens.

According to him, the

approach paid off because the team was able to change the perception of the border communities who hitherto were hostile to security agencies particularly the Customs.

He stressed the cooperation of the host community, Gbaji, especially the Baale, Chief Emmanuel Idowu Kuwakalu who vowed to support the Customs in this

regulation is very important while the market should be given more depth. I hope that SEC will be equal to the task.

How do you see the recent calls for the regulators to compel multinationals to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange?

This is why we talk about market development. I don’t believe in forcing people to do anything. I believe in creating the enabling environment that

campaign. Abubakar promised to partner other security agencies to eradicate all forms of smuggling in his domain.

The Controller pointed out that the seizure was effected by a patrol team led by CSC Yusuf, M.A. The patrol team, according to the leader, laid ambush for the smugglers for thirteen days following an intelligence report.

Honourable Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar (left) receiving the report of the Stevedoring and Jetty Review Committee from the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Musa Nagogo

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will motivate people to take actions on their own. That way the action is sustainable. I think we should continue to develop the Nigerian capital market to make it more attractive. When it is sufficiently attractive, I’m sure the listing will come.

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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network of purposeful professional and business women has called on the National Assembly to enact a law that will exempt parents of special needs children from paying taxes.

Speaking at the third WOW DIVAS autism seminar, I f u e ko Karibi Whyte, coordinator of the initiative, noted, “Caring for a child with ASD is extremely expensive and can be a life time of continuous expenses for medicals and education.

“Since government cannot subsidise these costs, we humbly request our law makers to sponsor a bill that will exempt parents of special needs children from paying taxes”.

According to her, savings from taxes will go a long way in accommodating the expenses of a child with ASD, while calling on the executive arm of government to resend the proposed disability law to

There are so many Nigerian businesses that are not yet listed. That is another area of challenge.

We should encourage them to list. It is even in their bestinterest to list. The idea of force should be viewed with a lot of caution.

Do you think there is basically something wrong with youth development programme in the country that is creating high level unemployment?

I joined the service in 1967 and left in the 90s. I think it was in 1989 that the first Ministry of Youths and Sport was created by the Babangida Administration and I was privileged to be the pioneer permanent secretary of that ministry.

The whole idea was to look at youth development holistically. There is need to educate the youth; create skills in order to adequately prepare them for self-employment. Not everybody is happy to seek paid employment in regular organisations. That is what small businesses are all about. You empower the youth to be able to set up small businesses of their own and become employers of labour rather than seek paid employment. These are

Tax exemption canvassed for parents of special needs children the legislature.

“Signing of this bill into law signifies the first step in giving dignity to all persons living with disabilities”, she explained.

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HE management of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, has advised port users and importers to apply for fasttrack clearance to speed up

operations within the ports.

The Chief Commercial Officer of the Terminals, Mr. Neil Fletcher, stated this in a public notice sent to the terminal operator ’s customers.

He said: “Note that we are experiencing a sharp

increase in the number of containers targeted for scanning, which is hindering our capacity to maintain the booking and scanning of containers within 24 hours as it exceeds the 200 units daily

The event, according to the organizers, was initiated to creating awareness and celebrate families with persons living with autism.

Nigeria records highest pirates’ attacks in Gulf of Guinea

BY EDIRI EJOH & HANNAH ISIBOR

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I G E R I A accounted for 11 pirates’ attacks out of 15 incidents recorded in Gulf of Guinea between January and March, 2013.

Disclosing this in their latest quarterly report on Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and International Maritime Bureau, (IMB) said a total of 66 incidents were recorded worldwide within this period.

Apapa concessionaire warns on delay in container scanning

BY UDEME CLEMENT

some of the issues and most importantly, we also need to focus on technical education. Today, as a result of serious neglect of technical education with emphasis on a good certification system, we now have houses built with perpetual artisan problems. These days we have to import people from Togo, Benin and Ghana to handle those jobs for us.

People are establishing universities everywhere offering general education but not enough emphasis is being given to technical education and youth development. The reasons for establishing the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports are not being met and this may partly explain the high incidence of youth delinquency in our country today.

What do you think about the 2013 budget now that we have entered into the second quarter of the year?

I like to see a budget anchored on development programmes. When this is done, you can relate the budget to a longer term objective. It ties in with the saying, Proper planning prevents poor performance.

The budget has been approved and we hope that the budget will be respected and implemented as approved.

agreed on. The use of two scanners, which we normally fall back on in such situation with good support from Cotecna, is not available at the moment due to ongoing preventive maintenance.

The report stated: “This is down significantly from the 102 incidents reported for the corresponding period in 2012. In the first three months of 2013, four vessels were hijacked, 51 vessels were boarded, seven were fired upon and four reported attempted attacks.

During the review period, 75 crew members were taken hostage, 14 kidnapped and one killed.

“The Gulf of Guinea represents an area of concern with 15 incidents recorded, including three hijackings.

Nigeria accounted for 11 incidents in the region. Guns were reported in at least nine of these attacks in the country.

An offshore supply vessel with 15 crew members was also hijacked. One crew member subsequently died as a result of a gunshot wound after his chemical tanker was fired upon at Lagos anchorage. A further 14 crew were kidnapped from four different vessels in Nigeria.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 37

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 39

Madness Plc with this generation which has been driven to madness; given no purpose; no dreams; no love; no jobs; nothing to aspire towards?

These Nigerians are certainly growing more desperate, more daring, and more vicious. There is a part of me that cannot blame them too. Perhaps, Bamigbetan himself also deserves a little of that experience to remind him of his own duties in public service: as the chairman of the Ejigbo local government, he must now adjust his own programs for more public investment in public and human services: perhaps he would, with his aldermen (councilors) go back to the drawing board to develop new ameliorative programs, starting with adequate public housing – a sort of Ejigbo Council

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VERY week, I look very hard for some great thing to celebrate about Nigeria. I desperately want to write about beauty; about great accomplishments; about transformations of the kind that puts Nigeria on the mark for a sprint towards greatness; and weekly, Nigeria’s national indices for madness only rises. I would certainly acknowledge that Nigeria’s most important attribute is what we have very frequently called the “resilience” of its citizens.

At this point I am becoming very leery of such descriptions; it is beginning to sound increasingly trite; like left-handed charity; “resilience” indeed! What I suspect is that Nigerians have almost given up and reconciled themselves to the fact that this nation was established to defy the laws of gravity.

But let me step away a bit from generalities and address these very specific issues: Kehinde Bamigbetan was released last week by his abductors. Well, Bamigbetan did look overweight, significantly heftier than I remember my pal, who was once, before his adventures into public office, a lot trimmer and fitter. I guess that’s what public office does to people – they gain dangerous weight and risk all the high blood pressure and diabetes and cancer that come with the plus-size. Perhaps it is also the consequence of the sedentary mid-life, and I’ve been warned myself, of the effect having added quite a bit to the waistline, and I’m not in public office. In any case, what Bamigbetan did not lose in weight in this experience of abduction, it seems, he gained in his sense of justice.

He came back bearing witness on behalf of his abductors: how well he was treated; their own lament or excuse for going into a life of crime: they were all highly trained graduates of universities who have been condemned to a life of crime and forced to take extraordinary measures for survival in the cut-throat and inhumane society they’ve inherited because they have no jobs or real means of livelihood. Their skills go to waste and they use their minds for dangerous schemes like kidnapping. It is all touch-feely, this story of victimhood, but I’m tempted not to buy it wholesale: while I do frankly sympathize with young men and women for whom Nigerian citizenship in this age of crass leadership is not much but a curse, I do not find it in me to just simply excuse people who would cause other innocent victims pain in order to indemnify their own lives or lack thereof. Bamigbetan’s kidnappers deserve to be tracked down, arraigned, punished and rehabilitated.

Yet we are all at this crossroads: what shall we do

I do not necessarily disagree with him on Jonathan.

President Jonathan has thus far proved that he has nothing original to offer Nigerians.

Nonetheless, we must recognize that he is an inheritor of thirtyyears of madness in public policy

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Housing – especially for low income residents; Community security and public safety initiatives; programs in public health and public education that would reduce the burden on the unemployed and the low-incomed and the general citizenry; small business loans for small business investors with established residency in the Ejigbo Council Area; better street planning; well-designed Community parks for the recreation especially of Ejigbo residents; perhaps even an Ejigbo Council unemployment stipends or the “dole” for established residents without jobs.

Ejigbo is a slum, and slums breed antinomy.

Bamigbetan could take the responsibility and the initiative, as Council Chair, of making Ejigbo an oasis of prosperity and safety in Lagos – an example for the rest of Nigeria to follow. Afterall, he too is at the head of a government, and is primus inter pares with the president. I say this because, he’s reported to have railed on President Jonath-

an, whom he described as a weak and indecisive president, whose policies have driven Nigeria to the bend.

I do not necessarily disagree with him on Jonathan.

President Jonathan has thus far proved that he has nothing original to offer Nigerians. Nonetheless, we must recognize that he is an inheritor of thirty-years of madness in public policy.

The current Nigerian national crisis has much to do with the last thirty years of Nigeria’s neo-conservative, neo-liberal economic and social policies which had dismantled the national growth capacity and the capacity of the nation to absorb, contain and rein-in the forces of neo-liberalism.

The result is triple-digit unemployment, insecurity; the shrinking and destruction of the public space; the expansion of the wealth of a very small group of the population to whom the national commonwealth has been ceded even as most Nigerians grow exponentially poorer. While these few oligarchs grow horrendously wealthy, most Nigerians are reduced to extreme poverty and hopelessness.

These oligarchs fund separatist and fissiparous organizations – Boko Haram, OPC, MASSOB, MEND – and make us all victims of the powerful surge of hysteria produced to amplify the fragility of the nationspace. Chaos and insecurity is big business: it is in the interest of this very small group of Nigerians and their international business partners that Nigeria remains incoherent, torn apart, and edgy.

The more Nigerians fight internal boundary, ethnic and religious wars, the more the citizens fail to organize for their common interest. That is why Nigeria is a big business enterprise called “Madness PLC.” That is why there will be more kidnapping; assassinations; instability and poverty, until Nigerians organize for real change. Nigerians are yet to. While fire consumes their homes, “resilient” Nigerians are very busy indeed in pursuit the rats breaking free from these fire. My point is: I think Bamigbetan missed the point – the problem is not just about Jonathan, the trouble is a more systemic crisis – the failure of the institutions of state. We must rebuild the public system and it goes beyond the current presidency. It begins at the crucial level of community organizing: cooperative security; cooperative housing; cooperative energy and electricity; cooperative ways to reduce the effect in the abdication of the role of the central government in securing meaningful life for Nigerians – and the likes of Kehinde Bamigbetan should lead the way – as leaders of local governments.

C M Y K

PAGE 40 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

C M Y K

SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 41

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

P

OLICE investigations into the kidnapping and murder of a 72-year-old woman, Mrs. Regina Obi Daity, took a twist after detectives found that it had direct link with the abduction of Prof.

Kamene Okonjo, the mother of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Both victims were kidnapped in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State by the same gang.

The alleged insider in the Okonjo abduction, a palace guard in Ogwasi-Uku, Chiejine Onochie, was said to have lost out in the sharing of the N13 million ransom collected on the victim out of the N200 million demanded, following his alleged role in the “premature release of the woman”.

Consequently, the palace guard was reportedly asked by the gang to find another victim with wealthy relations they could kidnap, and that it was from the ransom he (Onochie) would be compensated.

The palace guard picked Daity, the septuagenarian, as their next target because, in his reckoning, she had a wealthy son, Danquah, a Customs licenced clearing and forwarding agent based in Lagos.

That marked the beginning of the Daity woman kidnapping nightmare on 3 March.

The kidnappers demanded N10 million ransom on the victim, got N2 million but still murdered the woman over the N8 million unpaid balance.

The woman’s body was found in ‘Igbeki evil forest’ in Okada

They took ransom and still killed my mother – Danquah My mother was kidnapped on 3 March. My elder sister, who resides in the village, called and informed me about it. The incident happened on a Sunday as I was preparing for church.

I told my sister not to bother, that the kidnappers would later call and demand money. After the church service, my niece came and told me that my sister called her and said the kidnappers had been trying to reach me and that I had not been picking my calls. I went to my car and picked my phone. I saw a lot of missed calls from one number.

They also sent me a message saying, ‘Mr. Danquah, pick your call or you will be sorry’. I tried calling them back but the line was switched off. But on my way home, somewhere around Ipaja, they called me again and asked if I was aware they took my mother that morning. They said they just wanted to let me know that my mother was in their custody. I told them I was aware. They later said that they will call me back and tell me what they wanted from me.

About two hours later, they called and asked if I was ready to talk and I said yes. They said I should give them N30 million. I asked them where they expected me to get such money. I tried to plead with them that I had just lost my wife. The moment I said that, they erupted and said that they got information and they had investigated me and realized that I used my wife for rituals.

Rituals C M Y K

THE SEPTUAGENARIAN KIDNAPPING NIGHTMARE:

They murdered my 72-yr-old mum over N8m ransom balance •N13m collected on Okonjo-Iweala’s mum was feeding money — Suspected gang leader They also said that my file was on their table and that if I didn’t pay N30 million, they will not release my mother. I begged them for N1million but they said no. I explained to them that was the only amount I could afford. Then I asked if I could speak with my mother, they gave her the phone and I spoke with her. That was the last and only time I spoke with my mother. When I finished speaking with my mother, the kidnappers told me that they wanted to round off the business and move on to other things. Then they asked me to pay N10 million. I told them that they were still on the high side and I insisted that all I had was just N1 million.

The next day, Monday, they called me again and asked me, ‘where is our N10 million?’ I told them that I didn’t have such money and, if I had, I would give it to them and there was no one that could borrow me. They said they wanted to do me a favour, that I should pay N3.5 million and come and carry my mother because they had other issues to attend to and they didn’t want my mother’s issue to disturb them. I offered to pay them N1.5million because I didn’t want to make it look as if I was being greedy . They said now that they would never take N1.5million from me and the last they will accept was N2million. I called some friends whose mother had been kidnapped before and they told me that they paid two million ransom.

I asked the kidnappers to give me three days to raise the money.

Two hours to pay They told me that if I wanted three days, I will have to pay them N3.5millon. I told them I didn’t have such money. They said I had two hours

to pay the money. Then I called a friend in Delta State and told him what I was going through. He withdrew the money and gave it to my cousins, Chinedu Obi and Cyril Obi. I sent their telephone numbers to the kidnappers and they called my cousins and told them where to come to Abudu in Edo State. When they got there, they were asked to go to Benin. They went and the kidnappers called them again to come to Okada Junction, and instructed them to drive into a bush before three men, armed

,

area of Edo State.

Besides Onochie, 32, the other suspected kidnappers are Chukwuma Okoh, 31, Michael Ojeabulu, 23, Endurance Oke, 22, Ibrahim Abubakar, 28, Buhari Amajola, 27, and Hassan Husseini, 29.

The alleged gang leader is Jideofor Ogbue, aka Marvelous, 22.

All the suspects in the kidnapping saga are in police net with the exception of one, identified as Peter, said to be on the run.

Marvelous described Peter as the deadliest in the gang, alleging that he was the one who, infuriated that the N8 million balance of the ransom was not forthcoming, shot dead the 72-year old woman.

Danquah, the son of the victim; Marvelous, the alleged gang leader, and Onochie, the Ogwashi-Uku palace guard, narrated the kidnapping story to Sunday Vanguard.

•The suspects

When my cousins got there, they didn’t find my mother and they called the kidnappers who now told my cousins to tell me that I thought I was smart, that I was going to pay the remaining N8 million

,

with rifles, came out and took the money from them. At that time, I didn’t want to get the police involved; all I wanted was for the kidnappers to collect the money and free my mother. After collecting the money, the kidnappers asked my cousins to go to mega filling station and that when they get there, they should call them to bring out my

mother. When my cousins got there, they didn’t find my mother and they called the kidnappers who now told my cousins to tell me that I thought I was smart, that I was going to pay the remaining N8 million. Then the kidnappers called me and said that they had received my N2million, but I must pay the balance.

Account under watch I asked them where they expected me to get that kind of money and how was I even sure that if I paid them the money they will free my mother. Three days later, I went to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters and reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police. I briefed him, and he directed the State Intelligence Bureau, SIB, to commence investigation. Two days later, my sister got a call from one Chukwuma, who told her that he wanted to free my mother and my sister should give him N300, 000. My sister called and informed me about it. I asked if she had the money; she said yes, and I said she should give him. The boy foolishly sent an account number of his sister to my sister and I contacted the bank and informed them about what was happening and they kept the account under watch. When his sister went to the bank to withdraw the money, she was arrested. When she was brought to the SIB, we told her that her brother was a kidnapper and if she did not want to get involved, she should call her brother and tell him she had cashed the money. She called the brother and informed him, then the brother asked him to keep it for him. Then the sister took us to their

Continues on page 42

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

They murdered my 72-yr-old mum over N8m ransom balance Continued from page 41 home town and called the brother that she was home and that he should come and get his money. When the brother came, she alerted us and we swooped on him. When we arrested him, he told us that it was his friend, Onochie, who asked them to kidnap my mother. I told the police not to bother about Onochie, that we will get him and all I wanted was for him to hand my mother over to me. He gave the police the names of everyone who took part in the kidnapping and that my mother was being held in Edo. He also told us that they used a Mercedes C Class for the operation and the vehicle belonged to Idowu a top member of the gang based in Benin.

•Daity.... dead

Kidnapper’s Mercedes Benz We proceeded to Edo State, but while we were driving along a street in Benin, I sighted a silver Mercedes Benz C class and I showed Chukwuma if it was Idowu’s own and he looked at it and said yes. The car was parked in front of a grocery store and the driver went inside the store. Chukwuma gave us the description of Idown, one of the policemen entered the store and confirmed he was there and when he came out they grabbed him. He was shouting that they should let go of him, that he had done nothing wrong. But when he entered the vehicle we drove and saw Chukwum,a he became shocked. I asked if he knew who I was, he said no. I then told him that I am Danquah, the man he kidnapped

his mother. He screamed and said I should kill him. He told me that he did not deserve to be alive. I told him I won’t kill him and, all I wanted from him was to take me to my mother and release her to me. He said no, he deserved to be killed.

Strong-hearted The man was so strong-hearted, we asked him to take us to where they held my mother, he refused. Then Chukwuma gave us the direction while Idowu was handcuffed and kept in the truck. The moment we got to the entrance of the forest, called evil forest, Idowu jumped out of the moving vehicle and attempted to escape. The police officer who was supposed to guard him shot at him; he died from bullet wounds. Then Chukwuma led the policemen into the forest.

Decomposing body After some hours, one of the policemen came to me and said, ‘Take heart, Danquah, your mother is dead’, that they found her decomposing body lying on the ground. I went in and saw her, I felt like dying. We went back to Edo State Police Command and informed the Commissioner of Police about it. He gave us permission to remove my mother’s corpse to the mortuary. We went back to Delta State, arrested Onochie and took him and Chukwuma to Lagos. When the CP Lagos, Umar Manko, was briefed on how my mother died, he ordered the officer in charge of the State Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Abba Kyari, to clamp down on the remaining suspects.

We planned to quit the business after the abduction saga of Okonjo-Iweala’s mum — Marvelous, alleged kidnappers’ leader Marvelous’ alleged journey into kidnapping had been a successful one. The Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State indigene says he ventured into the illicit trade out of frustration. He narrates: HEN I came back to Ni “noW geria from Ghana, I had job and my parents were very

poor. I met some of my classmates who were doing very well and they told me they were into kidnapping.

I offered to join them because I was very poor and I needed a way out and they accepted me. We kidnapped a businessman in Asaba and we got 20million ransom but the people I did the job with were very greedy. They gave me just N900,000, and I rented an apartment with it in Port Harcourt and I decided to form my own gang. I contacted Okoh Chukwuma aka Chuks, 32, from Isele Mkpitima in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State; Michael Ojeabulu, 23, from Esan, Edo State; Buhari Amajoda, 27, Hassan Oseni, 29, and Ibrahim Abubakar, 28, from Adamawa State; Endurance Oke, 22, from Edhere Aviraha Idowu; Peter; Ifeanyi; Mohammed and Buba.

Some of these guys are experienced kidnappers and we started operation.

Chuks was our scout. His job was to look for potential victims who could pay huge ransom. The first job he brought was that of his uncle who operates a popular hotel in Asaba. We picked the man on his way home and his family paid us a ransom of N10million. I got about N2million as my own share and used part of the money to open a boutique in Port Harcourt. I also bought a car. We did several jobs before the Minister’s mother’s job.

When Chuks brought the job, he told us that he got the contact from the woman’s former aide who is his friend. We met with the guy

identified as Chiejine Onochie and he gave us all the information we needed for the job. At that time, we all saw that job as an opportunity to get rich and quit kidnapping.

Since the woman’s daughter works for government, we felt government would assist her in paying the ransom. I had no fear of being arrested at that time because I knew there was no way we could have been traced. The negotiations for ransom were usually done with the phone of the victim and, after making our demands, we would switch off the phone, that alone will make it difficult to track our phone lines. But while we negotiated with the woman’s (Prof. Okonjo) son, he agreed to pay us N13million first as feeding money before bringing the main money, but before I knew what was happening Chuks called me and said Onochie was panicking and that he had threatened to expose us if we didn’t release the woman. I consulted other top members of the gang and they agreed we should free the woman and withhold Chuks and Onochies share of the money.

How I traded minister’s mother with poly rector, by ex-palace guard Chiejine Onochie, a native of Ogwashi-Uku, claims to be related to the Okonjos. In this interview, he explains how he masterminded the kidnapping of Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala’s mum.

According to him, “my mother is a member of the Okonjo family and she is from the palace where I

was working as a palace boy before I got a job at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku as a security guard.

“Sometime in August 2012, I met one Chukwuma Okoh in the room next to my girlfriend’s at the polytechnic hostel and we became friends. He told me that he was a fresh graduate of accounting from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.

“I liked his lifestyle and we started hanging out together. After a couple of weeks, he started asking me questions about the rector of the polytechnic, Mrs. Edna Nneka Mogekwu. He asked about her security details and how she was moving about on the campus. I told him that the woman was very free and she did not move about with police or security men.

“Then he told me that he wanted her kidnapped and that, that was the reason he was around the campus. I pleaded with him not to do it because the woman is my aunt and she was the one who gave me the job I was doing. I also explained to him that the woman was not so rich, and that he shouldn’t do her any harm.

“But he refused and insisted that he was going to kidnap her. After some days, I called him and told him that I was from the Okonjo family and that I could deliver the mother of the Minister of Finance to them. He was shocked and I took him to the palace and showed him around before taking him to his bus stop where he boarded a bus back home.

“I decided to give them Mama Okonjo because I knew her daughter works for government and, if we succeeded in kidnapping her, the Federal Government would assist in paying the ransom. Few days later, which was in December, he called me and said he wanted me and members of his gang to meet, so we could plan how to kid-

nap mama.

Suspects to disguise as Corps members “I went and told them that they would have to disguise as corps members in search of where to work. With that I told them that they could enter the palace and probably see their target. We all agreed on that plan, but on the day they were supposed to strike, there was a renovation going on in the compound and the whole place was rowdy, so they couldn’t kidnap her.

“On the Sunday of that week, that was December 10, 2012, they asked me to go to the palace and check how the palace was. I did and told them that construction was still on but it was minimal.

Some hours after, I got a call from a member of my family, asking me to rush down to the palace, that mama had been kidnapped. When I got there, the whole palace was in disarray.

“They told me how it happened and I joined them in the search and no one suspected I had a hand in it. I called Chukwuma and asked how she (mama) was faring and he said she was okay and that they had made their demands for ransom. About five days later, I got news from the palace that a ransom had been paid, but the kidnappers refused to release mama.

I then called Chukwuma and asked about what was happening and he said Marvelous, who he said was the leader of the gang, said the money they collected wasn’t enough and they needed more money. I told him that wasn’t our agreement, that he should do all he could to get her released.

“In the evening of that day, mama was released and I called Chukwuma and asked for my share of the ransom. He told me that Marvelous was angry with both of us for pressurising them to

free mama and vowed not to give us a dime. I was shocked. I tried reaching Marvelous but his line was switched off. I and Chukwuma were devastated but we accepted our fate.

Hotel in home town “But, in March, there is man, Danquah, a clearing agent, he was building an hotel in my home town. He called and asked me to take a key from the security man and give it to his mother. I went to the hotel with Chukwuma and when he saw the place, he was elated. He asked what my brother was doing and I told him that he was a clearing agent and he asked if my brother still had parents alive. I said it was only his mother, then he asked if we could get Marvelous and his gang to kidnap her. I said only if we could get our money from him. He called Marvelous and informed him of the new plan, but, this time, Chukwuma would have to go to our victim and tell her that some people were trying to sell her land and, when the woman comes out to confront them, she will be kidnapped. They did as we agreed and a ransom was demanded. I didn’t go to the bush at Edo State where she was kept, but I called Chukwuma after a while to know if the ransom had been paid and he said he hadn’t heard a word from them, that all their lines were switched off. He then asked me to give him a phone number of another member of the family, so he could communicate with them. I did so; after that, he called me and said that the people had paid some money into his sister’s account and that when he gets it, he will give me my share. It was while I was waiting for my share that the police came and arrested men. I didn’t know they killed the woman, it was never part of our plan”.

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 43 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Trinity House opens new shop

By SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

O

N July 18, 2010, former urbane Re deemed Chriustian Church of God pastor, Ituah Ighodalo inaugurated his own assembly, Trinity House, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island to end a widerness period that trailed his sack at RCCG. At that inuguaral meet attended by former Ekiti State governor, Niyi Adebayo, wife of former Cross River State governor, Onari Dake, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Christopher Kolade among others, the former pastor of ChristChurch, Gbagada, Lagos welcomed the tumultuous crowd of worshippers, saying that Trinity House is a church with a mission to transform the society and the future of generations yet unborn.

In less than three years, while his contemporaries are still strugglings to find their feet, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo has taken the Trinity House to a great new height when he invited another group of Nigerians to a special thanksgiving service cum auditorium dedication of the church called “Zion Centre” located on Water Corporation Drive, off Ligali Ayorinde in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The dedication of the 5,000capacity sanctuary also coincided with the pastor's 52nd birthday just as Pastor Ituah Ighodalo’s Foundation used the occasion to give out a lifetime achievement award to former principal of Maryhill Convent School, Ibadan, Mrs. Ogunnusi and Akerele Oluwaseun Samuel, the best ac-

counting student of Unilag.

Pastor Ituah in an unusually joyful mood appreciated the goodness of God upon his life and his ministry, giving hint of the various challenges the young church which transited at the Civic Centre, before moving to the Landmark Village had surmounted before the acquisition of a permanent site of their choice.

The humorous pastor did not hide his gratitude to his former principal Mrs Ogunnusi, describing her as a mother, teacher, disciplinarian and a woman of integrity who had contributed her quota towards educating and instilling morals and sound doctrine into students that passed through her tutelage at Maryhill Convent School, Ibadan.

Admonishing the congregation in a sermon titled; “Our Great God”, Pastor Ituah quot-

*L-R: Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Pastor Ibidun Ighodalo and Venerable Gbenga Fagbemi at the special service.

*Presentation of a lifetime achievement award by the Ituah Ighodalo foundation to Mrs. Ogunusi. ing several scriptures, noting that it is only God who can make the impossible possible as He is great and the only creator.

In his words: “It is only God who can create something out of nothing. He is God of all

creations, and He is the only one who knows the end from the beginning. He is the only one who answers prayers and do great things. He lives for ever, He alone can give and take life and He cannot die”.

Various departments in the

church including the teenagers used the occasion to show their affection for their chartered accountant pastor as they presented a playlet in his memory. The drama group also staged a short scearch while the choir thrilled the audience with numerous melodious songs and choruses.

Dedicating the auditorium, Deputy National President of PFN, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, and Venerable Gbenga Fagbemi described Pastor Ituah as a visionary leader, humble and destined to soar higher in ministry.

Pastor Paul who conveyed the goodwill message from the new POFN president, Rev. Felix Omobude, also enjoined members of the Trinity House to join hands with their presbyter to accomplish the Godgiven vision for the ministry.

Pastor Ituah also used the

occasion to commend the sterlings contributions of certain individuals including the project manager, Bayo Rotimi, one Ezekiel, who he said had been sleeping at the site for the past four months, and several others who had ensured that the held.

He hailed the brotherly prayers and efforts of Senior Pastor and Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, Pastor Sola Balogun of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeolu Adefarasin and the traditional ruler in the community, the Elegusi of Egusi.

The atmosphere in the exquisite auditorium became electric whem all the eminent participants were called up to cut the birthday cake. The choir responded appropriately while the choice equipment wafted high faloten music as the members danced heartily.

RCCG empowers over 700 people

I

N line with its vision of giving hope, restoring dignity and performing her corporate social responsibility, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lagos Province 1 recently embarked on putting smile on the face some of the residents of EbuteMeta and Apapa Road area by organizing a two day moment of hope, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. The programme according to the Special Adviser to General Overseer on Administrative and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola was in line with the mandate given by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye that the church must ensure implementation of projects within their locality to complement government’s efforts in providing basic amenities for the citizens.

In his words: “Corporate Social responsibility entails giving back to the society by adding value to the life of the people. Not only blessing these people spiritually but also en-

sure that their physical life also have a meaning. It was on this note that the entire Lagos Province 1 came together for the first time to stage this year CSR so that we can have a better impact unlike previous years.

We have people from EbuteMeta West and Yaba axis’s that benefited from this programme” The Pastor in charge of corporate social responsibility, Lagos Province 1, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan explained that the province is not giving back to the society for the first time but has been in vanguard of seeing to the physical need of the less privilege. Olaniyan explained that the church collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to achieve the laudable project The two days CSR programme was well attended with over 700 participants which include both young and old alike.

The organisers create room for different points where the participants choose the voca-

tion of their choice and they were extensively taught on different vocation of their choice.

Seminars on healthy living, medical check-up with treatment and free food items, cloth, household goods amongst others were not left out from the programme.

Highlighting some of the activities he said: “Medical check-up with treatment are provided, empower the youths with various vocational training like, soap making, hair dressing including pedicure and manicure, craft making so that they can start small business on their own so that they can be useful for themselves and their immediate families.

On going is building of school library for Kadara Junior High School because we believe in the development of Nigerian children’s education”.

On the theme of the programme “Touching lives in the year of signs & wonders”, Olaniyan said “We choose the theme to keep alive the vision that God gave to us this year

that it is going to be a year of sings and wonders”.

Olaniyan also revealed that the church will empower some of the participants and also set in a monitoring team who will from time to time monitor the progress of the participants.

Some of the participants

showers encomium on the organisers urging other churches and stakeholders in the country to engage on such activities.

One of the youths identify as Bosun Oyeniyi described the programme as an eye opener for him revealing that he was bless by the RCCG programme.

Pathfinder Foundation holds Destiny Night ESTINY Pathfinder D Foundation, a global movement for noble men and

women ordained by God for his services,will hold its monthly Destiny Night, tagged: “Anointing for supernatural speed” on the 30th of April at the banquet hall of Hartford Hotels, behind NNPC, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the founder of the foundation, Evangelist Onyeka Ezeh, the vision of the movement is to duplicate heaven on earth through divine wisdom, practical love and to promote

national unity through the word of God. He said that God’s anointed vessels will minister to bring down God’s power upon his people, advising those who want to be celebrated as champions not to miss the teachings for wisdom, sustainable prosperity and fulfilled life.

Ezeh stated that the programme will feature power encounter, high praise, prophetic declarations for destinies, business carriers, kingdom dancers and rappers.

C M Y K

PAGE 44, SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHAT IS THE NAME OF JESUS?

S

EVERAL years ago, I was listen ing to a sermon

by Ethel Aderemi, when the Lord suddenly asked yet another of his enigmatic questions. “Femi,” he said, “ what is the name of Jesus?” I was

The name “Jesus” was never heard of until 1,500 years after Jesus walked the earth

dumbfounded. I asked myself: “Is Jesus not the name of Jesus?” What then could be the meaning of the Lord’s question?

Real name I soon discovered that the name of a person is usually not his name. The real name of a person is the very essence of that person. It is his character, personality and profile. I know a lady called Peace; but she is neither peaceful nor peace-loving. Her real name must be “Trouble-maker.”

But in the bible, no one ever acted contrary to his or her name. If your name is “Thief,” then you are a thief.

Abigail says of her husband: “As his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him.” (I Samuel 25: 25). Jacob’s name means “one who supplants.” All his life, he acted according to that name until God changed it to Israel. He deceived Esau out of his birthright. He deceived his father and obtained his brother’s blessing.

So what is the name of the Lord?

The name of the Lord is the very nature, character and personality of God. God revealed to Moses that his name is compassionate, gracious and slow to anger. (Exodus 34:5-7). Likewise, the name of Jesus is the very personality of Jesus. It represents all that Jesus is. The name of Jesus is Saviour of souls. His name is Joshua; it is Saviour from sins. His name is wonderful, counsellor; mighty God. (Isaiah 9:6). It is love; merciful; goodness and holy.

Unanswered prayers Jesus says to believers: “I will do whatever you ask in my name.” (John 14:13). Why then do we pray and get no answers? It must surely be because we don’t really pray in Jesus’ name.

We simply attach his name to the end of our prayers and presume thereby that we have prayed in his name. But to really pray in Jesus’ name, we must have the character of Jesus. We must have his faith and his compassion.

That means we cannot tell lies and then pray in the name of Jesus. Neither can we be quarrelsome and pray in the name of Jesus. We cannot walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners and pray in the name of Jesus. To pray in Jesus’ name, we must walk in his name. To pray in his name, we must stand in the righteousness of God. The psalmist says: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

(Psalms 66:18).

Jesus said to his disciples: “Until C M Y K

now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive.”

(John 16:24). This indicates that hitherto the disciples prayed according to their own wishes and desires. Thenceforth, they were to pray only according to the desires of Jesus. Nevertheless, many of us still go to the bank of heaven with forged cheques. We attach the name of Jesus to requests he would never make. We fail to appreciate that praying in Jesus’ name is not “my will be done” but “God’s will be done.” (Matthew 6:10).

Formulaic prayers Moreover, praying in Jesus’ name is not a formula. We don’t need to say “in Jesus’ name” with every prayer.

If it is in his name, then it is in his name. If it is not, it is not. The fact that you put my name on a cheque does not mean you can get anything out of my bank account. The cashier can tell the signature is not mine. And if he contacts me, I will not confirm the cheque.

There are many counterfeiters of the name of Jesus. You will know us by our fruits. We are people who swear and lay down curses “in the name of Jesus.” We go to prayer-meetings and kill our enemies “in the name of Jesus.” We practice witchcraft “in the name of Jesus” and use his name to hold men in bondage.

We need to recognise that Jesus only knows those who know his name. Nobody gets introduced to Jesus in heaven. We must make sure he knows us by name now, by walking in his name.

When we deceive and tell lies “in Jesus’ name,” it shows we don’t know him. Jesus says: "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.'" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Lost in translation Some years later, I discovered Jesus could not have been the actual name of Jesus. Jesus is not a Hebrew name.

The real Hebrew name of Jesus is ‘Yahushua,’ which means “God saves.”

Accordingly, the angel must have said to Joseph: “You shall call his name ‘Yahushua,’ for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).

‘Yahweh’ is the Hebrew name for God. ‘Yah-ho’ is usually appended to the beginning or ending of Hebrew names, just like the Yoruba ‘Oba’ or the Ibo ‘Chukwu.’ ‘Shua’ means deliverance. Both are combined to form ‘Yahushua’ (pronounced ‘Yah-hoo-

shoo-ah’), which is then shortened for everyday use to ‘Yahshua; and then even shorter still to “Y’shua.” In the process of conversion to English, “Y’shua” became ‘Yeshua’ and then ‘Joshua.’

In order to render Yahshua in Greek, it was transliterated by exporting the Hebrew sound, instead of translating it into the Greek equivalent of its meaning: ‘Godsaves.’ This had certain implications. Ancient Greek did not have the ‘ y’ and the ‘sh’ sounds found in Yahshua. In order to make the ‘y’ sound in Greek, the letters ‘iota’ and ‘eta’ have to be combined together to form ‘ee-ay.’ And in order to make the ‘sh’ sound, you had to make do with the softer ‘s’ sound of the letter “sigma.” Therefore, Yahshua could only be transliterated into Greek as ‘Ee-ay-soo-ah’ instead of ‘Yah-shoo-ah.’

However, masculine Greek names that end with vowel sounds were usually given the letter ‘s’ as a suffix. Thus, ‘Judah’ became ‘Judas’ and ‘Cephah’ became ‘Cephas.’ This suggests ‘Eeay-soo-ah’ should become ‘Ee-ay-soo-ah-s.’

But there was yet another dilemma. It is unconventional in Greek for there to be two vowel sounds before an ‘s.’ So the last vowel sound was dropped, leaving us with ‘Ee-ay-soos’ (Iesous) as the Greek pronunciation for Yahshua. When Latin became the predominant language of Christianity, Greek versions of the New Testament were translated into Latin. In this so-called Latin Vulgate, ‘Ee-ay-soos’ was further transliterated, making it ‘Iesus.’

The letter ‘j’ did not exist in the Old English language. But around the early 12th century, ‘j’ began showing up in certain English dialects, often replacing letters “i” and “ y.” Therefore, names like ‘Iames’ became ‘James;’ ‘Yohan’ became ‘John;’ and ‘Iesus’ became ‘Jesus.” The publication of the popular King James Bible in 1611 effectively “ ratified” Jesus as the English name of our Saviour. In effect, the name “Jesus” was never heard of until 1,500 years after Jesus walked the earth.

WHY DO WE PRAY? “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”(James 5:16).

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HY do we pray? What happens when a man engages in effective praying? It is vital we consider these questions.

Having a clear understanding of the benefits of an exercise is a very strong incentive, for a full and faithful engagement in that particular exercise. We pray because God has given us very definite promises in His Word that He will answer us when we pray.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:13-14).” (Matt. 7:7-11; Mark 11:23-24; Matt. 16:18-19; Jeremiah 33:3; Psalm 65:2).

When we pray, God supernaturally supplies our needs according to the riches of His grace.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). (Phil. 4:19; Judges 15:17-19; I Sam 1:26-28, Genesis 21:1519; Genesis 24:12-26).

When we pray, we enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding, and we are not troubled by any fear, anxiety and insecurity.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:67). (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; 2 Thes. 3:16; Rom. 16:20; John 16:24).

When we pray sincerely, we enjoy a deep fellowship with God, we can hear His voice, receive clear direction and solve life’s problem in His presence. This brings fullness of joy and great pleasure.

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11). (Matt. 17:17; Acts 4:31; Acts 13:1-2; Acts 2:1-4; 2 Chro.5:13; 2 Chro. 20:1-18).

Prayer certainly changes things. Jabez prayed and his life changed. David prayed and God turned the counsels of his enemy to foolishness, Daniel prayed and the nations of Israel came out of their captivity.

There is a difference between the person who prays and the person who does not.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3). (1 Chro. 4:9-10; Ps. 40:1-3; Daniel 9:1-6; 1 Sam. 1:26-28; Acts 6:4-7).

Prayer changes us. Nobody prays truly and remains the same. There is a transformation that takes place in a person’s life, when you spend time in the presence of God in prayer. That was the story of Moses. Forty days in the presence of God and his face began to shine. You too can be transformed if you will stay in His presence. Try it today.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (II Corinthians 3:18). (Ex. 34:28-30; Ps. 40:1-3; Acts 9:11-16; Matt. 17:1-7; James 5:16).

As you pray today, pray with a definite expectation of answer. Our God will surprise you.

INSTALLATION OF BISHOP *NEW Anglican Bishop of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji will be enthroned today at a ceremony at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral Church, Oba Akinjobi Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos. The ceremony kicks off at 10.00 a.m.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 45

Understanding the issues in Alamieyeseigha’s Presidential pardon

BY IFIDON UNUIGBE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Convicted former governor granted clemency has paid for his sins

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HE uproar against the presidential pardon granted the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has been unprecedented.

While some of the comments have been based on sound thought not infallible logic, others have simply been based

on emotions, ignoring facts of our national history, the constitutionality of the pardon and his postconviction contribution to national peace and development.

Reading some of the comments of those against the former governor ’s pardon, it is clear that those against it have been played on the falsehood of the events surrounding his impeachment and subsequent plea bargain. It is equally clear that the case has become a collateral damage of the fight for 2015 as well as the

growing national consciousness against corruption.

All over the world, pardons are granted when individuals who committed crimes have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, are otherwise considered deserving. Thus, pardons are sometimes offered to persons who are wrongfully convicted or those who were convicted and have turned a new leaf.

Interestingly, no one has argued against the constitutional right of the president to grant pardon to persons convicted of any crime.

Many analysts have argued that because there are no scientific methods of determining who will benefit from presidential pardon, most of such acts of mercy are inherently controversial. Presidents, being humans, often bring their own emotional and filial considerations in the exercise of this prerogative.

First, it is typical to shout high when we are not involved a situation, but turn a blind eye when we are involved. Alamieyeseigha has been credited with plucking President Goodluck Jonathan from total political obscurity and making him his deputy throughout the duration of his governorship. From that happenstance,

fate took over and the rest, as they say, is now history. If you were in the president’s shoes, what would you have done?

Second, the constitution grants him the powers and he is expected to exercise them after consultation with the Council of State.

It is clear from reports on the pardon that the president took the matter to the NCS. The body is made up of former presidents, former vice presidents, former Chief Justices of the federation, the president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives and all the state governors.

There have been no reports of dissenting opinions within the council on the matter of the pardon. Given the calibre of leaders who make up the body, it is doubtful if they would have supported a pardon for Alamieyeseigha had the president been unable to justify his memorandum on the matter. Some of the members of that council are people who owe Jonathan no favours.

The key ingredients for pardon in most societies are that the sinner admits his sins, pays for them, shows remorse and is willing to contribute positively to the society. All these are present in this case.

The strongest argument by those opposed to the pardon has been that it negates and sends a wrong signal on the fight against corruption.

In Alamieyeseigha’s case, we have flouted the due process of the laws so many times (more on this later). This pardon cannot

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VIEWPOINT

If anything, Alamieyeseigha’s case has already served the purpose of the fight against corruption.

The man has paid for his sins. He cannot be asked to pay more than is necessary

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impede the fight against corruption for the simple reason that the law was allowed to run its course, the man was convicted, served the punishment and even forfeit-

ed the proceeds of the crime.

If we are able to achieve this with even five per cent of corrupt public officials in Nigeria, this country will be a decent society. The deterrent against corruption will be created and the treasury will be richer for it. We will be known as a society where the high and the mighty pay for their crimes and not rub our noses with impunity.

If anything, Alamieyeseigha’s case has already served the purpose of the fight against corruption. The man has paid for his sins. He cannot be asked to pay more than is necessary by denying him the right to mercy if the authorities so decide. What is needed now is for the law enforcement agencies to go after those who looted and are still looting our treasury with impunity.

Most importantly, Alamieyeseigha has served Nigeria. When the country’s oil production dropped to 700,000 barrels per day from 2.4 million barrels as a result of the activities of Niger Delta militants, then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua thought the best way out was to offer amnesty. The militants did not trust the government and never believed there was sincerity in that offer.

Yar’Adua needed someone trusted by the militants to convince them to accept the offer. The only person with that level of standing in the Niger Delta at the time was Alamieyeseigha. *Unuigbe is a political analyst based in Benin City, Edo State

Advertising and the neo-colonialists

BY KELECHI NWOSU. DR. CELEY OKOGUN AND JENKINS ALUMONA VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Advertising to Nigerians can best be done by Nigerians who understand Nigeria VIEWPOINT

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ERY often, Ad men pre fer to be seen and not heard . We seldom raise our heads to speak on issues of national importance even when they concern us directly. Peharps it is because by training and inclination, advertising people believe that our work should speak for us. Therefore, a majority of advertising practitioners have been accused of being media shy; a case of the physicians not healing themselves.

Thus when President Goodluck Jonathan announced, for instance, a $200m intervention fund for the creative industry, it appeared as if the money was due only for the film and entertainment industry. No one, least of all practitioners in the advertising industry considered that the advertising industry is the bastion of creativity; producing ‘short ‘ films by way of commercials and telling stories for brands .

That said, some of us joined this creative advertising industry a few decades ago with the intent

to develop fresh and new ideas for brands in the country. While the jury may yet be out on what we have achieved, the truth is that major Nigerian, pan African and international brands have benefited immensely from the work of Nigeria’s creative advertising Industry.

The recent suggestion by certain elements that the advertising industry in Nigeria has not grown and therefore needs re colonising is pathetically self serving and criminally incongruent with the current reality. The declared desire of the new messiahs to teach us how to communicate with our own people and grow brands in our own country with its peculiar culture and tendencies is as insulting as it is laughable .

It is most unreasonable to suggest that at a period when the world is celebrating our country’s creative explosion that Nigerians lack the capacity to communicate creatively. Clearly these neo-colonialists lie. The truth is that advertising to Nigerians can best be done by Nigerians who understand Nigeria and then by nonNigerians who understand Nigeri a .

Theoretically, it is trite to say that advertising to a people , their stories ( visual or audio) are best told to the people by the people who understand the people. It stands to reason also that a people will understand their own people better than outsiders.

Recall MTN Mama Na boy.

See Saka who has Ported from Etisalat to MTN and several other examples that illustrate that our stories are best told by us.

Campaigns like these and many

more show who we are and benefits the brand.

Nigerian advertisers, contrary to some of the blatant lies that have crept into the recent narrative of the reality of our industry, have mostly relied on Nigerian advertising agencies to make strong connections for their brands and ideas .

Interestingly, a great number of the agencies in the country are affiliates of the world agency g r o u p s ( W P P, I n t e r p u b l i c , Omnicom,etc). What these world-

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Nigeria as a whole needs to wake up to the real scramble going on to make us mass consumers instead of producers in our country

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wide brands networks have therefore gained is a solid footprint in Nigeria working with creative Nigerian firms who understand the Nigerian landscape and can develop resonant and befitting brand stories for the international and local brands scrambling for mar-

ket share in the country. Nigerian agencies can therefore claim rightly to have helped grow so many international brands here in the country. Much of the criticism though is that the agencies should grow local brands and franchises. The rebuttal from agencies is that those brands are few and far in between. Apparently, Nigerians love to consume foreign brands at the expense of developing local brands. An example is the current scramble to consume European football brands instead of developing our football league!

It is actually true that Nigeria as a whole needs to wake up to the real scramble going on to make us mass consumers instead of producers in our country. Professor Akpan Ekpo in an article on “the NEW Scramble for Nigeria” Tell April 29 says that ‘’Nigerian leadership must put in place mechanism to reduce the exploitation of Nigeria and Nigerians. One way is to preserve certain business activities for Nigerians and Africans. This is not against competition,per se, but to ensure that Nigerians and Africans are given the opportunity to compete. Government has the right to intervene in the market to give its citizens a fair deal.

The new scramble ought to translate into building of factories of all kinds that must engage in the production of goods and services for the large domestic market and abroad…”

Obviously growth and development only happen when the internal production are aligned with consumption to create ideas, jobs and improve personal

incomes. The scramble for Nigeria will be dysfunctional if we allow every man and his dog to land in Naija, sell to us and make their money without producing much in the economy. Call it protectionism or even development or affirmative action, clearly all sectoral groups in Nigeria need a strong local content development like in the oil and shipping industry, that must make it mandatory for any FDI to participate in producing in the local economy.

Nollywood , the Naija music industry ,warts and all, have become the poster boys of creativity by Nigerians telling the Nigerian story. T h i s d o e s n o t mean we should be insular and not learn from advanced economies. It means we should not allow our minds and our stories to be colonized in word and in d e e d .

As the real creative industry turns 40 officially, we need to further engage Nigerians with content, made for them, that tell their stories . Ask the man in Kano if he wants to see non-Hausa models dressed up and passing off as Hausa people in ads meant for him or her. No of course: he sees it as passing off. Understanding each other and setting a united national agenda via creative communications is another role that admen must play; and government should take interest in that. Again it is trite to say that this is done better by Nigerians for Nigerians.

*Kelechi Nwosu, Celey Okogun and Jenkins Alumona are practising Admen based in Lagos

PAGE 46 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

TRIBUTE

Adenuga: Humility, resilience, hardwork personified

BY ADAMU NINGI TRIBUTE IN BRIEF Celebrating an icon at 60

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S Dr. Michael Adeni yi Ishola Adenuga Jr (GCON), fondly called the Great Guru by his admirers, mentees and devotees, marks his 60th birthday on April 29, one could not but marvel at how this specially blessed and prodigiously talented business icon has become such a global phenomenon. The answer is not far fetched: hard work, complete focus on microscopic details, resilience, exceptional managerial dexterity, uncommon philanthropy and an unlimited capacity to win all the battles he has ever fought in the corporate and political arena.

Even when it seemed he had been completely knocked out like in his battles with Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, he has an elastic ability to bounce back in a manner that will make the proverbial cat with nine lives green with supreme envy.

Mike Adenuga was indeed the anointed kid who predicted his future in words and deeds. He was just a toddler when he uttered a prophecy about his future. An aircraft had just flown by. The fascinated young boy looked skyward and, fired by an uncommon inspiration from within, made a pledge to his Aunt who was tending to him, “I’ll buy you an aeroplane when I grow up”. He said the words in a voice laced with the typical innocence of childhood, but laden with the conviction and authority of sure-footed philosopher kings. Bemused, yet enthralled, his Aunt, Mrs Racheal Olaitan Osunsanmi, nee Onashile, smiled and nodded approvingly but in the inner recess of her thoughts was not sure whether it was a real prophesy or the fantasy of youthful exuberance. She did not need to wait for too long before Adenuga showed his character as a rare breed.

Right from his childhood, he has been a man of steely resolve who dreams big and works every inch to turn his dreams to reality. He was later to buy his Aunt an exotic car and keeps a fleet of aircraft for the use of self, special friends, business associates and family members.

For the past three decades, Dr. Adenuga Jr, businessman extraordinaire, large-hearted philanthropist and accomplished manager of men and resources, has been a mega

success story in all ramifications. The fascinating story of this Great Guru succinctly amplifies the audacity of hope, the triumph of excellence over mediocrity and the grand coronation of the famous aphorism that nothing facilitates success more than persistent perseverance and hard work.

He was barely in his 20s when he showed the world a sample of his brilliant business acumen. A singular shrewd philosophy has always guided his business instinct: scan for an opportunity many have not noticed and hit the hammer with all the energy you can muster when the iron is still blazing to achieve unparalleled results. This was exactly what he did with his first articulated business, the importation of removable car stereos during the oil boom era. Empowered by the Udoji financial windfall, the Nigerian working class could suddenly afford to buy cars but they were also losing their car stereos in droves to thieves.

Rather than joining the rest of the crowd to lament the situation, Adenuga quickly saw the golden opportunity in the horizon and imported removable car stereos to solve the problem created by car stereo thieves.

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hile still relishing the fortune the car stereo business brought him, Adenuga quickly saw another opportunity and grabbed it. He had sat, by chance, next to a manufacturer of lace materials in Austria on a flight from New York to Lagos. The Austrian got Adenuga interested in lace importation. From lace importation, he started importing tomato, vegetable oil, wine and other commodities. He was also a dealer for Peugeot Automobile of France. He was a different Jack-of-all-trades.

He mastered all!

Since that quiet beginning, Adenuga has moved on to greener pastures, having his hands in every lucrative business pie. From banking to oil and gas, real estate to telecommunications, Adenuga has dominated everything he ventured into.

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or Adenuga, the big break came in 1990 when he struck oil and became the first Nigerian to drill and produce the black gold in commercial quantity. Before then, he had established two banks, Devcom Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank. He was also a successful contractor to the Military high command, supplying arms and building military barracks. He is the gracious businessman with the Midas

Chief Michael Adenuga touch. Everything he touched turned to gold, including the moribund national asset, the National Oil and Petrochemical Company, which he bought over as majority shareholder and transformed to a profitable company now known as Conoil Plc.

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e was one of the Nige rian investors given the opportunity by the federal government in a deliberate policy to encourage indigenous participation in oil exploration. Rather than sell off his own oil licence as was the practice, Adenuga gazed into his crystal ball of opportunities and saw the prospects.

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Though he hails form IjebuIgbo, Ogun State, Adenuga was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on 29th April, 1953 to the family of Chief Michael Agbolade Adenuga Snr, a school teacher and Chief (Mrs.) Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga (nee Onashile of Okesopin, Ijebu Igbo), a successful businesswoman. She was the Iyalaje of Ijebu-Igbo and the Yeye Oba of Ijebuland.

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e studied at the Ibadan Grammar School before heading to the United States of America to read Business Administration, specialising in Marketing. In his formative years in Ibadan, Adenuga was

Mike Adenuga was indeed the anointed kid who predicted his future in words and deeds.

He was just a toddler when he uttered a prophecy about his future

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Against all counsels by those around him, including his precious mother who strongly believed that prospecting for oil is like gambling and he could lose all he had labored for, Adenuga put his hands on the plough and invested over $100 million to drill his first oil block. The gamble paid off handsomely.

Adenuga took the same resilience into his telecoms investment where he kept pushing the boundaries until he won the second national carrier licence with Globacom and its bouquet of offerings.

so fascinated with the 25-storey Cocoa House, reputed then to be the tallest building in Africa that he dreamt of owning such an edifice in the future. In 2004, Adenuga fulfilled that dream when the super-magnificent Mike Adenuga Towers located in Victoria Island, was commissioned. This is just one of the numerous property owned by Adenuga across the world and he is reputed to be Nigeria’s biggest individual investor in real estate with assets in excess of $5 billion.

Today, Adenuga is the larg-

est individual employer of labour in Africa through the chains of companies in the Mike Adenuga Group. He is a strict disciplinarian and an exceptional manager of men and resources. From all accounts chronicled about the capacity of Nigeria’s rich men to reward, Adenuga towers over everyone else. Impressed by his consistent and gargantuan contributions to nation building, the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2010 named Adenuga as one of the 50 most eminent Nigerians that ever lived. The Thisday Newspaper, one of Nigeria’s most authoritative publications same year declared Dr. Adenuga as Nigeria’s most successful businessman ever based on a nationwide opinion poll. The crowning glory was last year when President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on Adenuga the highest civilian national honour in Nigeria, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

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denuga’s humility is leg endary. At the commissioning of a premium ICT centre he donated to Ibadan Grammar School earlier in April, Adenuga prostrated himself on the bare floor to greet the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. He is never shy to pay honour to whom it is due, old or young, rich or poor. For those around him, Adenuga has created the myth of a man who works 20 hours daily. He is dishing out orders to his lieutenants as early as 6am or as late as 1am.

Frivolity is never in his lexicon. Many had asked, “Does he ever sleep? ” He is an epitome of humility and hard work.

My prayer is that the Harvard School of Business Studies or any other iconic business school around the world will in the nearest future succeed in persuading Adenuga to share his depth of business intellectualism with the rest of the world. What can Harvard or any other such institution use to stimulate him? Money?

No! He would rather fund Harvard. Recognition? No! He already has it in abundance.

Passion? Yes. The Harvards of this world may succeed if they can find an ingenious way to connect with his strong passion to impart the lessons he has learned on the younger generation. Tough call but possible. For Adenuga, nothing is impossible!!! A memoir will be the ultimate.

Ningi, a social commentator, contributed this piece from Abuja

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 47

TRIBUTE

A toast to the grand commander at 60 nications community.

According to Rick Pitino, ‘excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer ’, while Booker T. Washington, said that ‘excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way; Adenuga (Jr.) is a man of rare and consummate excellence. He does not belong

By Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf* TRIBUTE IN BRIEF Honouring Chief Mike Adenuga at 60

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OMORROW (Monday, April 29, 2013), one of the legends of our time will clock sixty years. Expectedly, the media, especially the print will be agog with congratulatory messages to celebrate this unique Nigerian who has made a success of his socio-economic endeavours. Otunba Mike Ishola Adeniyi Adenuga (Jr.) has become a business colossus and the barometer for benchmarking the country’s economic and philanthropic landscape, and indeed, those of the West African sub-region.

A cerebral business mogul, Otunba Mike Adenuga entry into the economic arena became noticeable in the 1980’s and in quick succession he founded and nurtured Devcom Merchant Bank Limited, Equitorial Trust Bank Limited and Conoil Limited to enviable heights. The advent of the Global System for Mobile Communications (hitherto known as Groupe Special Mobile), in Nigeria saw the enigmatic Mike Adenuga (Jr.) floating what is up to the present, the only indigenous and private telecommunications company, Globacom Limited to challenge the earlier three entrants- Zain (now Airtel), MTN, and NITEL. Ever since, the industry has never been the same as Globacom brought with it innovation, patriotism, and zeal yet to be matched by any other telecommunications company.

The auspicious event of Adenuga’s diamond birthday is a consequential and monumental mo-

Otunba Mike Ishola Adeniyi Adenuga (Jr.) ment to celebrate success, resilience, excellence, generosity and kindness, humility, optimism, patriotism, corporate social responsibility, and many more as exemplified and personified by this thoroughbred Ijebu.

How do we define or determine success? To paraphrase Bessie Stanley, to achieve success is to live well, to gain the respect of those around us, to fill our niche and accomplish our task, to leave the world better than it was met, to look for the best in others and give them the best one could, for one’s life to be an inspiration to others, and for one’s memory to be a benediction. The cumulation of all these point to the fact that Adenuga (Jr.) is a success story in every material sense.

A resilient entrepreneur, his achievement in life has been built on concrete personal achievement and damning the challenges of failure. No doubt, business has not been a bed of roses. He once made an attempt to acquire the moribund and defunct NITEL, but for some inexplicable reasons, this did not materialize.

Re-strategizing, he launched Globacom, which introduced what was then said to be impossibility, the Per Second billing regime that has now become the vogue in the mobile telecommu-

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all the possible changes of life’.

The transformation of Adenuga (Jr.) to one of the richest men of our time can surely not have been achieved without a good dose of humility.

It is no gainsaying that ‘no pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new

In conclusion, the diamond jubilee of the Otunba Apesin of Ijebuland, Mike Adenuga (Jr.), is indeed, a unique opportunity to salute his selfless and unwavering commitment to humanity and astonishing accomplishments in life

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to the wasted or wasting generation. Rather, he dazzles us with his virtue and outstanding qualities, and above all, his commitment to achieve the best for his race.

Talking about his generosity reminds this writer about the quotation from Albert Pike that ‘what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; and what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal’.

Equally true is that ‘those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves’. These two statements exemplify the spirit of Adenuga (Jr.). He has done much for Nigeria and Africa. He has also brought fame, honour and prestige to the black race.

A leader among men, he has always avoided putting himself above others. To some he is elusive or evasive, but those who know him attest to his uncommon humility and shyness. Humility, according to George Arliss ‘is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for

heaven to the human spirit (Helen Keller)’. The achievements of Adenuga (Jr.) have been built on optimism- seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. His life is telling us that we can conquer our nightmares because of our dreams, and that there are possibilities in impossibilities.

Indeed, it is possible to operate from a higher level of consciousness if and when we identify the opportunities in any good, bad and ugly environment. The dream in us will die if we are pessimistic.

A patriot of no mean order, his business empire attests to his commitment to and belief in the country. Directly and indirectly employing over 500,000 workers, he is a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project. The queuing into the philosophy of corporate social responsibility has been a great uniqueness of Mike Adenuga (Jr.). Every part of the country has benefitted from his tremendous spirit of giving to charity, sports, culture, education and many more.

Recently, he was conferred with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). He is the greatest ambassador of Ijebuland in the socio-economic sphere and an indefatigable Pillar of sports and youth development in Nigeria. Adenuga (Jr.) is an indomitable employer of labour and the economic generalissimo of our time.

On a personal level, when the Awujale of Ijebuland appointed this writer the Coordinator of the centuries’ old Annual Ojude Oba of Ijebuland some seven years ago, the involvement of his company, Globacom has changed the face of the festival. The festival, through the instrumentality of Adenuga (Jr.) has become a global event playing host to millions of people annually including Presidents, Governors, National and State legislators, diplomats and foreign tourists. He is undoubtedly, the foremost benefactor of our Ijebu’s cultural heritage- the Annual Ojude Oba Festival.

In conclusion, the diamond jubilee of the Otunba Apesin of Ijebuland, Mike Adenuga (Jr.), is indeed, a unique opportunity to salute his selfless and unwavering commitment to humanity and astonishing accomplishments in life. May his Diamond Jubilee usher in more grace to his glory as he continues to further manifest his destined greatness.

Happy Birthday to a quintessential and an amazing son of Ijebuland. May his mega vision, octopus mission and unassailable journey of purposive and selfless service to humanity continue to magnify. *Chief Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, the Baagbimo of Ijebuland, lawyer, media scholar, management consultant, and former Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Culture wrote in from cfaoyusuflaw@yahoo.com.

Before Jonathan’s amnesty to Boko Haram

BY MUSA SIMON REEF VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The issues that should precede clemency for Islamists

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HE continued bloodlet ting caused by the insur gency of Boko Haram has left the North worse off.

In response to the avalanche of appeals for amnesty, President Goodluck Jonathan recently set up a committee to look into the matter with a view to tackling the dangers posed by the violence.

But before the amnesty is offered, Nigerians must understand the dynamics behind the insurgency and why the Federal Government’s planned vision of enthroning peace could prove a tough path to follow.

Since the killing of the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, by security operatives in 2009, the sect has multiplied from leaps and bounds. Those conversant with the life of Yusuf would readily recall that the man

never allowed his followers to engage in brigandage and killings.

There are instances where people, who disagree with others, simply resorted to killing in the name of Boko Haram. Few days to the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa, my uncle, who was a principal in one of the schools in Kaduna, got a text message from a group claiming to be Boko Haram. The text message ordered him to leave the school or be killed with members of his family.

Imam Ibrahim Shekau, as the inheritor of Yusuf ’s vision, has not left anyone in doubt that the organisation he leads is committed to the establishment of an Islamic nation where the Sharia legal system will hold sway.

How can one explain how poverty would force a man to expend N.5 million on a machine gun to unleash unimaginable violence?.

The Shekau’s group is basically ideological and cannot be assuaged with any form of amnesty. In fact from the messages of threat issued by the group, dialoguing with the government is an anathema. So, what group is the government offering amnes-

ty to?

Let it be stated without any form of equivocation that Boko Haram is not the same as the

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VIEWPOINT

For the amnesty to be relevant and effective, the North must recognise the fact that Boko Haram was a religious platform, and it is for the Islamic clerics of the region to look at the issues and tackle them

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Niger Delta militants.

In the case of Boko Haram, the group’s mandate is to challenge the secular status of the country and to bring everyone under the

Sharia legal system. Even after attempts to make Nigeria believe that they are in dialogue with Borno State government, Shekau released a video debunking the dialogue theory with any government.

For Boko Haram, the task may be different and the challenge almost insurmountable. Unless and until Boko Haram changes its ideological perception as forerunner for the emergence of an Islamic state in Nigeria, the government’s amnesty will not go far.

For the amnesty to be relevant and effective, the North must recognise the fact that Boko Haram was a religious platform, and it is for the Islamic clerics of the region to look at the issues and tackle them. Security is too important and complex to be left in the hands of security operatives alone.

Ahead of 2015 polls, northern governors have not demonstrated any capacity to contain the menace of Boko Haram. Looking at the trend of Boko Haram insurgency, no one should be deceived that an offer of amnesty by government will end the violence.

Those accusing President Jonathan of being responsible for the bloody upheavals are simply expending their energies wrongly. As certain writers pointed out, the President cannot do anything without the support of all.

Can we say the same of Boko Haram? Are northern leaders not pretending all is well when it is too obvious that the bombs are nearer their compounds?

As Nigerians wait for the amnesty, the task ahead can be made easier if Shekau can renounce his often declared statement that Boko Haram is irrevocably committed to the overthrow of the present secularity status of the Nigerian state.

Before President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua announced amnesty for the Niger Delta militants, it was after several months of discussion with leaders of the militant groups. Has northern elders engaged Boko Haram in any form of dialogue? All these issues should form the fulcrum of engagement before a declaration of amnesty. * Reef is a journalist based in Abuja and can be reached on simonreef927@gmail.com

PAGE 48—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

chimeena@yahoo.com 08056180157

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

Jayne Cortez:

African American Poet •Benin’s symbolic burial

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un tre grandson,Akeem had by their ancestral o r a l travelled across home loving wife l n a r , thege the mythical and mother. a s me an le seven Having cona w h p r c t u o seas to cluded the rites oe perf tive a co ith p grant the of burial under te oet, n ac ing ed w z a wish of the blessing l e it h their dead of His MajThest: a p and a s wr ublis s,Cort ry e wife , mother esty, Oba arti ector Besid rks p Pres perto h she and grand Eriadiuwa mother,Jayne o f dir ent. ry wo Bola ts Re whic tor. t c t , Cortez.

B e n i n , r g t a e e a po rin W y fo dir Before she died t h e of r imp d the pan istic on 28 December, Edwards’ he nde com s art 2012 at the age of 78, sitting by the sea the renowned Ameriside restruant of Lafou eatre as it can poet and and human gos Motor Boat Club, h d T rve rights activist had inAwolowo road in the company se structed her family that she of Professor JP Clark looked lief in fulfilled. be buried in Africa, the place the power she called home.

Gazing intensely at the goof art as a mo- ing and coming of the sea The late poet was an all bilisation vehicle for wave, one needed not to be round artist: a poet, perthe propagation of politi- told that their grieving hearts former , theatre director and an active change agent. Be- cal causes and hence, the use had been transported again to sides writing a couple of po- of her work in the registration that same coming and going etry works published with her of voters in Mississippi in that shaped the ritual of their imprint, Bola Press,Cortez 1960. coming to Africa to mark a hisfounded the Watts Repertory toric moment. eing her desire to be Theatre company for which Donaldo, late Cortez’s son, brought back to Africa, spotting black T shirt atop a she served as it’s artistic dithe Cortez’s family felt obliged jean trouser and Akeem rector.

She had an unflinching be- to grant that significant request grandson , also wearing a T

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T was a historic moment last week, when an African American family of Sculptor Melvin Edwards came to Benin, Nigeria with cremated ash of his late wife, poet Jayne Cortez for final burial. The quiet and symbolic ceremony underlies the eternal connection between Africa at home and Africa in the Diaspora.

The ceremony was a quiet one. It was a wish that was ritually and historically symbolic. It was one last wish by a departing wife, mother and grand mother. In a more emotional sense, It was a wish , if not a prayer, from the dead to the living.

This wish was wired across seven seas. And in the fullness of time, it became a journey of ritual appeasement.

What happened that brilliant Sunday afternoon was simply a fulfillment of that African dictum that there is an eternal communion between the living and the dead.

Three men: Sculptor Melvin Edwards, his son, Edebor Donaldo and

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Shirt a top a blue faded jean trouser, sat quietly and watched their father and Clark ate launch.

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nd time came to talk:” I am a retired Professor, Melvin began. “As couples we spent time in many parts of Africa. We stayed in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal. Jayne was an intensely African person. She even wrote a poem, which she dedicated to Nelson Mandela before he was released from prison. That poem was titled, Mandela is Coming. It was both poetry and music.”

Continuing he said : “ she wrote poetry that had to do with Africa and African experiences. She wrote poems that reflected African culture. And by culture, I mean everything art. It was poetry, music, religion, philosophy, science and all of that. She was in fact, a very remarkable woman.

So, when she died , we made contact with some of the

Continues on page 49

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 49

Two generations, one canvas

BY CHRIS ONUOHA

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NE can call it a dramatic come back to her first love or an era of fulfillment.

After three decades of perfunctory practice, she returns with her strongest body of works featuring her recent pieces, embodied with variety that announces her as a brilliant and intelligent artist and also, works of her son, a modernist, full of strength and vigour of a youth whose style geared towards the “”tabletage” contemporary with a speed and refinement in modern art.

Genes Apart is a mother and son joint exhibition that runs

Continued from page 48

from Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th April, 2013, at Victoria Crown Plaza, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The two generations in one canvas are Nkechi Abii, a very adventurous Nsukka trained artist whose long leave of absence from painting did not in any way deter her dexterity, rather spur more zeal to explore and create fantastic works in multi-media. A woman with a great passion for her country Nigeria.

In a period when escapism for greener pasture is the inthing for many budding artists, this is one person who could not bulge but rather,

strongly believes “positive change” is inevitable. She is a natural, silent observer who expresses her feelings or opinion through art medium. While cartoonists use line to express the ills of the society, Nkechi uses materials and forms to capture the scene. One of the art piece “Scavengers” clearly depicts the image of those on seat where the masses tax money, entrusted in their hand for

meaningful development, are seen devoured without prejudice. Next to that are the “Tribute to Alu Four”, Naija Rape, Oil Doom, Up Nepa, etc.

These, clearly show her expressionistic nature. Nkechi in her word said, “My art is my voice”, it takes a critical view of social, political and cultural issues that bemoan the nation.

When I despair at the sorry state of things in the country that gave me life, my despair

lifts when I assault the canvas with the brush… letting out the steam and anger in me. Her passion for colours is seen in a thorough relief work celebrating our cultural heritage – Dupe, Ngozi, Omo and Amina that dignifies womanhood. Nkechi is a tireless artist who conjures emotions in a medium.

The next generation is Nduka, a protégé of an art genius whose enthusiasm was influenced by both icons of art and the modern trend of digital art. A meticulous and thorough artist whose quest for perfection knows no bound. He’s an undergraduate of art school in an American University. Although, trying to differ a bit from his mother, Nduka in his works on display brings out the dynamism of art. In as much as his works are greatly enhanced by digital gadgets, his use of colours on canvas vividly depicts his mastery of the game. Nduka in a chart with media said “Art is my life” and I bring everything to the exhibition, a combination of the traditional, new, and the futuristic. This is a myriad of colour, texture, style, film and experimental art.

African American Poet

people we had known in Benin , who took our request to the Oba of Benin and he granted our request. In fact, he granted my wife’s request really.

On granting us the request, we prepared to come. The coordinator between us and the Oba and the place is Chief Daniel Innieh. This ceremony is not just a mere ceremony.

It is a very important one. In fact, very important to us as African Americans. It shows that we want to come home.

In other words , this is to say that this is our place.

For us as a family, it is one great experience. I am here, my son is here and my grandson is here also. It is a great experience because all of us have come to observe and share in this great experience.”

Giving further insight into his late wife’ life, sculptor Edwards, who is known for his land mark sculptural in• Melvin Edwards, Akeem (grandson), Donaldo Edebor (son) stallation, Lynch Fragment, a work inspired by the Civil Rights Movement in America noted same time, it was an international founded the Organisation of that no other poet of American origin impact and an important one both Women Writers of Africa also organmade more impact on American poetry in the literary, aesthetic, political ised the project called Slave Route: than Jayne Cortez. and social realities of our world. She The Long Memory. ” She did poetry in a very unique did all of these in a special and Her works, he said, were read and way. One of the unique ways was by unique ways.” performed in universities, festivals, combining poetry, music and song in With over twelve collections of pomuseums in Africa, Europe and Asia. a musical accompaniment.” He said. etry to her credit, late Cortez, who In line with tradition, the Continuing he added that : “At the with Ghanaian writer, Ama Ata Aidoo Edwards revealed plans to design

and construct a befitting house at the Sapele road , Benin burial site for the late poet.

According to him, ” we are quite aware of the tradition of house and burial in relation to the house. We will develop the place and there is no question about that . So that in the future people will know who is there, adding that “ the burial site is as significant as it is symbolic given the ritual of libation which is usually performed at burial sites in Africa.”

Describing his mother as “ a very powerful poet, Donaldo, first son of the late poet said that her mother ’s deep love for Africa reflected so much in her works to the extent that she drew most of her images from Nigeria.

He noted that it was the same intense love and yearning for the home land of Africa that culminated in her desire to be brought home to be given final burial.

In the same vein, sober looking grandson, Akeem described his grandmother as a “ very close, strong, intellectual and hospitable person.” He however regretted that he only came to Africa the first time on the occasion of the burial of his beloved grand mother.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

Edo: ACN floors PDP again •And the controversy that trailed the LG polls

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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Gov. Oshiomhole leader of the ACN in his Etsako West, Alhaji Usman Shagadi, who opposed the governor ’s chair manship choice of Kadiri Hassan and insisted on Shuiabu Elamah.

But majority of the leaders agreed on Hassan; Shagadi and a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Abubakar Momoh, were not happy with that decision.

While the parties were strategizing for the elections, the EDSIEC made arrangement to print the election materials in London to avoid a situation where it would leak before the polls.

The PDP raised the alarm that the EDSIEC had concluded plans to write the result of the LG polls at the Government House, BeninCity. Though the idea to print the ballot papers abroad was laudable, the EDSIEC ran into trouble when they had problems flying the materials from L agos to Benin-City.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that it was the Friday President Goodluck Jonathan visited Lagos for a function and therefore the Lagos airport was briefly shut to commercial flights. As a result, they decided to move the materials by road to Benin that Friday night and they arrived Benin at about 5:30am Saturday, the election day. That was how the late arrival of election materials marred the exercise in the 18 local government councils. People who came out in large numbers started casting their votes at about 1pm.

As a matter of fact, aggrieved ACN members in Auchi, the governor ’s area, capitalized on the EDSIEC lapse and started making

Dan Orbih trouble when Oshiomhole went there to find out whether materials had arrived after casting his vote in Iyanomo. The ACN members started throwing stones at the governor ’s convoy. An ACN lawmaker was said to have been arrested. But the situation was brought under control by security operatives.

The elections went peacefully

EDSIEC had issues with some results which were said to have been recorded by the police where Returning Officers were said to have bolted away due to the activities of thugs. Sunday Vanguard observed that the crisis that ensued in most areas were ACN fighting themselves and not necessarily the PDP fighting the ACN because the PDP was

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OVERNOR Adams O s h i o m h o l e conducted his first local government council elections in Edo State penultimate Saturday.

Elections into the 18 local government councils of the state had not held since he was sworn-in in 2008, due to legal issues the state government had with former members of the Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). Expectations on the polls were high due to the personality of the governor and his one man one vote mantra. Whereas many PDP controlled states including Bayelsa held local government elections recently and the opposition parties didn’t win any seat, people were watching with keen interest whether the Comrade Governor will follow suit or he will conduct free and fair local government elections that may see the opposition PDP in Edo winning a seat or two. After inaugurating the Solomon Ogoi-led EDSIEC, the state government mobilized funds for it and tasked the commission to ensure free and fair elections.

The two major political parties in the state, the ACN and the PDP, commenced campaigns but the ACN campaign was more visible.

Oshiomhole led the ACN campaign in the 18 local government councils while the PDP was only visible in Ovia North East, Esan North East and Etsako Central.

Initially there were arguments as to whether the PDP should boycott the elections after the humiliating defeat it suffered in the hands of the Oshiomhole ACN in the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state. However, the party, led by Chief Dan Orbih, expressed the desire to go into the contest and called for free and fair elections. When the ACN held its primaries ahead of the elections, there were disagreements in some local government councils over the choice of candidates anointed by the leaders. The leadership of the ACN agreed they were adopting the consensus approach to avoid a contentious party primaries that may polarize the party. But there were areas where the leaders did not agree and the aggrieved ones were only waiting on the day of election to punish their party. Sensing the problem that may arise, Oshiomhole made frantic efforts to reconcile aggrieved members before the elections, but he made about seventy per cent success. For instance the governor had issues with a

The youths of the PDP, on Tuesday, stormed the Ring Road, Benin-City, protesting the swearing in of the 14 ACN chairmen who won their elections. The protest grounded activities in Benin City for over two hours and tension heightened when the ACN youths stormed the King’s Square, commending Oshiomhole and the EDSIEC for organising free and fair elections.

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in most councils, but the late arrival of materials stalled the exercise in Esan North East, Chief Tony Anenih’s domain, and Esan West. PDP members in the areas insisted that the elections could not go on since the materials arrived late thereby forcing the EDSIEC to shift the exercise to Wednesday.

The elections in Oredo and Ikpoba were also moved to Thursday because materials for the councillorship were not printed. At the end of the exercise, the ACN won in 17 local governments; the result of Esan North East was being awaited at the time of this report. It was learnt that the

over whelmed. Like in the ward of the chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, the ACN lost the councillorship position due to the fact that some leaders of the party in that area said the candidate was imposed on them. The Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme, lost his to the ACN. Protest But the Edo PDP kicked against the entire result, describing the exercise as a charade. They called for the cancellation of the polls just as they called on the governor to resign. The youths of the PDP, on Tuesday, stormed the Ring Road,

Benin-City, protesting the swearing in of the 14 ACN chairmen who won their elections.

The protest grounded activities in Benin City for over two hours and tension heightened when the ACN youths stormed the King’s Square, commending Oshiomhole and the EDSIEC for organizing free and fair elections.

Tony Kabaka, who led the ACN youths, said: “This is the first time we are having local government elections in this state. When the PDP was there for ten years, they only wrote the names at Government House and announce to us. We will resist any attempt to destroy the image of the Comrade Governor. The PDP thinks.

Orbih called for the sack of the entire members of the EDSIEC, alleging that they connived with the ACN leadership to make result sheets unavailable. The chairman of the ACN, Thomas Okosun, debunked the claim, saying the PDP was never prepared for the elections.

According to him, the PDP never campaigned for the polls. The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Edo, and a political group in the state, Edo is in Safe Hands, commended the EDSIEC for the conduct of the election but advised that they should improve in future elections. State chairman of the CRPP, Dr Samson Isibor, said: “ We want to commend the governor and the EDSIEC because this election is the freest and fairest we have ever witnessed in this state. When the PDP was in government in the state, we never held any local government election and that is why we are surprised that they are protesting..”

On his part, Edo State chairman of Edo In Safe Hands, Washington Osifo, admonished the PDP to distinguish Oshiomhole from the EDSIEC, saying the party should not castigate “a man who has always acted and is still acting with the provisions of the law and constitution of the Federal Republic. He added, “Therefore, we will resist any attempt by any group or party to distract the Comrade Governor. As a mass based organization with structures across the length and breath of the state, we hereby place all structures at alert. Anyone trying to foment trouble will meet the wrath of the people. We are appealing to everyone to follow the path of peace in the interest of our state.”

Speaking on behalf of the new local government chairmen at their swearing-in, on Monday, Mrs Lucy Omagbon, Chairman Ovia North East Local Government Area, assured that they would work to ensure the development of their local government areas.

Oshiomhole, at the occasion, apologised for the late arrival of materials for the polls and condemned the PDP’s attack on his government.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013, PAGE 51

APGA: Obi, Okorocha, Umeh provoking Ojukwu’s spirit BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

Gov Rochas Okorocha APP, which later metamorphosed to All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, that was predominantly North.

The presence of Ojukwu made the Igbo to embrace APGA as their own party. Before the formation of APGA, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had made inroads into the South East as the five state governors then were elected on the party ’s platform. But after the demise of Ojukwu, the party is engulfed in crisis that is likely to tear it apart and this development is enough to trouble the soul of Ikemba Nnewi who tried to give Ndigbo political identity.

The birth Okorie, the man behind the formation of APGA before he was shoved aside, worked tirelessly to convince Ndigbo that APGA was the only party that could give them hundred percent voice

Gov. Peter Obi

Chief Victor Umeh

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DIM Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu lived and died a fulfilled man. In death, he is equally expected to rest peacefully. But his spirit is continuously being tormented by his political protégés from his Ndigbo nation.

Throughout his life time, Ojukwu, like a messiah, dedicated himself to the wellbeing and advancement of his people and stoutly stood against any form of injustice, whether seen or perceived, against the then Eastern Region where he was governor before the outbreak of civil the Nigeria/ Biafra civil war between 1967 to 1970 when he assumed the position of the leader and head of state of the now defunct Biafran Republic.

Even after the war, the Ezeigbo Gburugburu, a title he held before he died, made spirited efforts to bring Ndigbo together and to have a political platform which the Igbo could use as a bargaining power in the nation’s political chess board.

He found solace in the Chekwas Okorie’s All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. He gave his backing to the party and adopted it as an Igbo party in just as the Alliance for Democracy was then controlled by the West (Yoruba) and the then All Peoples Party,

The tussle over who should control APGA has indeed shaken the party to its foundation. It has also exposed it to several courts

among all the political parties in the country. He was able to convince Ojukwu to use the platform in his quest to be the president of the country.

In the 2007 presidential election, despite the factor of incumbency in the country, majority of Ndigbo voted for APGA because of Ojukwu.

In 2003, the party won the governorship election in Anambra State, a feat made possible by Ojukwu but the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, decided

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otherwise and gave victory to the PDP candidate in the election, Dr. Chris Ngige, against Mr. Peter Obi, the APGA standard bearer but Obi, after years of legal battle, was declared winner by the court which ordered that he should be sworn in.

The struggle The tussle over who should control APGA has indeed shaken the party to its foundation. It has also exposed it to several courts.

The story of crises in APGA dates back to the ascendancy of

It’s time to end disunity in Urhobo nation – Agagbo, Atamu President When he was handed the mandate to lead Atamu Social Club, a group of professionals toiling for the development and growth of the Urhobo nation, it was clear he had been given a huge task to accomplish. But in this interview, Johnson Ikporho Agagbo, says even though the job of leading a pro-community development group is always a difficult one to handle, he and his management team are ready to give the assignment all it needs to succeed. He also speaks on the challenges confronting the Urhobo people,among other issues. Excerpts: EADING a nongovernmental group like Atamu is never an easy task. How prepared are you for the task of delivering on your agenda?

It is a great task and a challenge indeed. But there is no ripe time to work for the uplift of your people. Since the task to lead Atamu has been bestowed on me and my management team, we have taken time to prepare through a strategic retreat session where the plan for the next 10 years was articulated.

The management team is well prepared and focused for the task ahead.

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What in your opinion are the greatest challenges confronting the Urhobo nation today and how best do you think they can be tackled?

In every facet of human existence, there exist challenges and the Urhobo nation is no exception. Yes, there are many challenges confronting the Urhobo nation. The first is economic. The question here is, has the Urhobo nation fared well economically? The answer is no.

The big entrepreneurs in Nigeria today are well known and the Urhobo are not among the first 10. Coming back home, most of our young entrepreneurs are not making enough progress as expected. Take for instance, the oil industry which has its foundation at our doorsteps does not have Urhobo as major contractors? The major players in the oil industry are well known. There is no Urhobo man among the top 10. In trying to tackle this problem, the primordial thinking that only the major tribes get all the juicy jobs should be discarded and let’s take the bull by the horns. What can you show to convince anyone that you want to play it big? You cannot sit down in your house and wait for food to fall from heaven. Atamu shall be in the vanguard of the campaign for more Urhobo businessmen to

show their presence in Urhobo land. Some of our brothers have their businesses in other parts of Nigeria but none at home. Warri and its environs need more business presence and the Delta State government is calling on investors to come and invest in Delta and from available records, the response from Deltans has not been encouraging.

Another major problem is political patronage. In this present dispensation, the

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BY LUCKY OJI

Lack of unity and cohesion among the Urhobo political class has contributed in no small measure to the lack of representation of the Urhobo nation

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Urhobo have not fared well. The Federal Government has not considered the Urhobo nation in its appointments. A situation where the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria does not have even any political appointee at the federal level is appalling and unacceptable.

• Johnson Ikporho Agagbo I blame this on the I-don’tcare and nonchalant attitude of the average Urhobo politician who is complacent about the situation and doesn’t see the need to lawfully demand what should normally accrue to the Urhobo nation in terms of political patronage from the centre. You will agree with me that most Urhobo politicians do not play politics at the federal level, and that is why we have been shortchanged. Also, lack of unity and cohesion among the Urhobo political class has contributed in no small measure to the lack of representation of the Urhobo nation, especially at the centre. Can you tell me who is the political leader of the Urhobo people? Every Urhobo politician is a leader. It cannot work. There must be a leader who will ensure the political mobilisation of the people with a view to getting recognition for the people and ensuring growth.

Chief Victor Umeh as National Chairman in 2006. That was after its founding National Chairman; Okorie, was removed for alleged anti-party activities allegedly championed by Mr. Peter Obi, who had assumed office as governor of Anambra State.

Umeh, before the unusual elevation in what was described by some analysts as Anambra politics, was the National Treasurer of the party. Before then also, Umeh had been catapulted from National Vice Chairman of APGA in 2002 to National Treasurer down to Acting National Chairman when Okorie exited and finally the National Chairman elected at the second national convention of the party in Enugu on December 2, 2006.

For those years Okorie fought, Umeh enjoyed a robust relationship with Peter Obi as national Chairman. He basked in the euphoria of the times but only recently his travails began.

An Enugu High Court in March this year nullified his re-election in February 2011 and sacked him from office. Those in the know did not see that as just a judgment of a court but opined that nemesis had caught up with him.

But Umeh had a plan. Hardly had the court booted him out than he went to the Appeal Court,

Continues on page 52

politicians, whether in government or in the opposition, to work together for the purposes of realising what is due the Urhobo people. Fighting for the dividends of democracy for the Urhobo people should not be a partisan thing. It should be an all-inclusive struggle. That is the only way I believe we can make impact. I do know that most of the opposition politicians view the forum as a PDP agenda.

Politics is by numbers and Urhobo has the numbers to decide how the votes of Delta State should go, thereby giving the Urhobo an edge during political negotiations. A divided house cannot stand the test of time.

What specifically are the roles of Atamu in tackling the challenges of the Urhobo nation?

Atamu’s mission is to provide a platform for the promotion of unity, growth and development of the Urhobo nation through interaction, empowerment and advocacy in a non-partisan way.

We shall periodically engage all stakeholders, be they in politicians, business, the academia and other professions, on how to tackle the enormous challenges facing the Urhobo Nation. Atamu intends to kickstart a major stakeholders’ engagement before the end of the year. This will encourage the Urhobo to develop a 20-year development plan in all ramifications. It will neither be

Continues on page 52

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

APGA: Obi, Okorocha, Umeh provoking Ojukwu’s spirit Continued from page 51 Enugu and appealed the ruling. Not satisfied, he also prayed the court for a stay of execution pending when his appeal of the High Court judgment that sacked him will be determined.

Okorocha, Obi battle In the 2011 polls, APGA added Imo State to Anambra already in its kitty. Not only that it produced the governor in Imo, it also produced a senator, Mrs. Chris Anyanwu, who represents Owerri Senatorial District and many members in the House of Representatives.

However, in recent times, the party has been enmeshed in internal wranglings over which of the two APGA governors emerges the leader of the party.

The crisis started between Obi and Umeh who was accused of trying to make himself APGA life chairman.

Obi was in the meantime

accused of being behind the sack of Umeh by an Enugu High Court over his suspected approval of the merger arrangement with three other political parties. The Obi faction, last weekend in Abuja, elected interim national officers to oversee the activities of the party. Mr. Maxi Okwu, who was the National Chairman of Citizens Popular Party, CPP, was elected the interim Chairman, while the Secretary, Alhaji Sanni Shinkafi, was made the National Interim Secretary, but Shinkafi has reportedly rejected the interim position claiming that he remained the substantive Secretary.

Shinkafi, it was gathered, accompanied Umeh to a briefing in Abuja and even told journalists that he would not submit himself to illegality.

“I will not submit myself to illegality. I remain the National Secretary of APGA until the final determination of the appeal filed by Umeh. There is no way I will accept to become an acting National Secretary of the party

when I am the substantive Secretary. I will continue to align myself with Umeh as far as the leadership of the party tussle in the party is concerned,” Shinkafi stated.

Umeh, after the court judgment that sacked him and the enthronement of Maxi Okwu as the National Chairman, filed an appeal against the High Court judgment and also rejected the election of interim national executive officers, saying that such action was contrary to the constitution of the party.

He said, “There is only one APGA that is legally recognized

by INEC and that leadership is the one led by Umeh and Shinkafi. It is true that the leadership was ousted by the court but that court judgment has been appealed against.

“We will continue to pursue our appeal against the Enugu High Court, and, as long as the appeal subsists, no move to foist a new leadership on the party will succeed. We are going to take appropriate action to protect

Lagos PDP Women Vanguard holds training programme

our party from further denigration”.

On the issue of merger, Umeh said that the leadership of the party will continue to respect the wishes of the late Ikemba Nnewi that APGA retains its identity as according to him, Ojukwu would not have supported merger.

Apart from Obi and Umeh’s differences that seem to have torn the party apart, the second battle in the party, according to political observers, is the internal war between Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who is said to be assuming the position of a leader among those called the progressives in the party and his counterpart, Obi, who leads the other pack.

Okorocha’s faction had recently joined the merger with the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, that now fused to All Progressive Congress.

Those led by Okorocha claim to be the real APGA people,

'It’s time to end disunity in Urhobo nation' Continued from page 51

T

HE Lagos PDP Women Vanguard has organized and concluded the first phase of a vocational training programme for women in the state.

At the end of the programme, certificates were awarded to participants at a colourful ceremony which held in Surulere, Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, President of Lagos PDP Women Vanguard, Mrs Abiola Folami Ada said that the vocational training programme became necessary in order to complement the Federal Government’s women empowerment efforts.

Further, Mrs Ada noted that notwithstanding the presence of many women in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, women have remained the underdog in the political arena, their efforts as grassroots mobilisers notwithstanding. ”Despite the role of women in politics in Nigeria, they have not been adequately c o m p e n s a t e d . ” She then called on women in public offices to remember their gender and lend helping hands. ”Women occupying political positions must help women in the grassroots and see to it that the quota of 35 per cent of

a one-off or period engagement; there will be constant advocacy of what Atamu stand for.

We want to see a situation where the Urhobo person is encouraged to willingly contribute meaningfully to the development of Urhobo land and Urhobo people without discrimination.

Atamu being a socio-cultural club, will play the role of mobilising the Urhobo people to be part of the transformational agenda for the Urhobo Nation.

From left, Secretary of Lagos PDP Women Vanguard, Mrs Paulina Akinshe, Publicity Secretary, Mrs Omotunde Sode, and President, Mrs Abiola Folami Ada at a ceremony where certificates were presented to participants of a vocational training programme the Lagos PDP Women Vanguard held for Lagos women last Thursday in Lagos.

political positions for women is entrenched in the c o n s t i t u t i o n . ” Mrs Ada however noted that women empowerment is not and should not be about doling out money. ”We want to empower economically by training them in different vocational skills.

We don’t want women to continue to wallow in poverty, so we teach and train them in various vocations like baking, weaving, detergent making and so on.”

She also added that as a women’s group, the Lagos PDP Women Vanguard

observes the International Women’s Day and other global events that focus women issues.

Also at the event, a wellness talk was given by Dr Olayinka EniafeOlatunji, who was the gubernatorial running mate to Dr Ade Dosunmu in the 2011 general elections. Dr EniafeOlatunji spoke on Hypertension as a Killer Disease, and gave tips on how to identify, avoid, and.or manage the condition where it already manifests.

while those under Obi are accused of being the PDP elements in APGA. The Okorocha faction has embraced the merger claiming that it is the coming together of the progressives who are in the opposition political parties. The faction also claims that it is only the merger that could lift the country from the dungeon allegedly dug by the PDP-led administration.

As the battle for the soul of APGA rages, there are allegations that the crisis in the party is sponsored from outside to whittle its power especially in this period of merger, while another allegation has it that those in the Obi group will be compelled to merge with other political parties that have not joined the APC so that they will collectively work for the interest of the ruling party, come 2015.

For now, it looks like the more you look, the less you see, a situation that may be tormenting the soul of the Ezeigbo Gburugburu.

Besides Atamu, there are other groups with the interest of developing the Urhobo Nation. This sometimes leads to inter-group clashes. What’s your strategy to avoid such possible conflicts?

Atamu does not pride itself as the most important or superior group in Urhobo land. But as a group of professionals of diverse backgrounds, we are easily noticeable and visible in the area of serving as a catalyst for mobilising the Urhobo to focus on the development of the Urhobo Nation. And I believe the development of Urhobo land is the principal interest of other similar pan-Urhobo groups. If I am right about that, I don’t know how that should lead to conflict.

From what we hear, youth restiveness, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes are still a big challenge in the Niger Delta, the Urhobo nation inclusive. What is responsible for this trend and how do you think it can best be handled?

I may not agree entirely that kidnapping and other violent crime is as a result of joblessness. Most of these

violent crimes are brought about by the urge to get rich quick.

Most of our young men cannot withstand a temporary hardship.

But it is also true that had our resources as a nation been judiciously used and fairly distributed, Nigeria would have risen above the challenges of violent crimes we’ve found ourselves today. Unemployment contributes up to 70 per cent of these crimes, while the urge to get rich quick accounts for the remaining 30 per cent. No singular individual or organisation can tackle these violent crimes. However, Atamu has so far committed itself to tackling this challenge through scholarship awards and proyouth advocacy. The youths need to be sensitised to the dangers and effects of such violent crimes in relation to their own future and the economic and social life of the state and the nation at large. But government also must be much more responsive in its handling of these violent crimes. Safety for the people and the nation is a core responsibility of government.

The government cannot afford to fail in this respect as the case appears to be now. The security agencies must be provided with state-of-the art equipment to fight crime. The employment inequalities in the Niger Delta must be addressed for youth restiveness to stop. Our youths need to know that kidnapping and all other forms of criminality can only arm those who connive to deny us a potent excuse to continue in this ungodly path. So, I believe the challenge of crime in the nation can be better tackled if the government is much more responsible to the people and if

H

Love

i, few things in life can cause us to experience such a broad range of emotions, from the floating in air feeling of being in love for the very first time to the pain and agony of our most recent broken heart. In between, somewhere we find the love we not only can live with, but want to live for. Cheers!

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Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

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APRIL, 28, 2013,

PAGE 53

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54 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 28, 2013

Heineken Champions Planet: Siasia hails Bundesliga’s UCL domination F

ORMER Super Ea gles coach, Samson Siasia, has hailed the domination of German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, over current powerhouses in European football, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the semifinal matches of the UEFA Champions League at the Heineken Champions Planet in Lagos.

Many of the guests viewing the semifinal matches at the Heineken Champions Planet were surprised by the scores but the former Super Eagles striker noted to the large gathering during the interactive session that, “It is a power shift from La liga to the Bundesliga.”

He further stated that “The combined final score in those two first-leg fixtures tells a tale of German greatness, Spanish stagnation and a significant shift in power among Europe’s

elite on the football field.

The Bundesliga has handed a harsh lesson to the Primera Division today and it is now Bayern and Dortmund who look set to rule on the continent, not Barcelona or Real Madrid,” said Siasia.

Like it happened last season, when the semifinal draw was made earlier in the month, most guests to the Heineken Champions Planet were quick to predict an allSpanish Classico clash at Wembley in May. Only few, it seemed, held out much hope for an all-German Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s a huge burden for the Spanish giants to cope with. Although football is highly unpredictable, the outcome of these matches to me seems to have been won in the first leg. The Germans have been able to practically secure the re-

BOMBARDMENT... Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, being bombarded by media representatives last Wednesday at the Heineken Champions Planet in Lagos.

sult from the home leg, it would not be easy for Real Madrid and Barcelona to cancel the deficit without conceding goals,” Siasia observed.

The former Nigerian coach who is not a first time visitor to the Heineken Champions Planet was de-

lighted to mix freely with his fans in the ambient environment. “This is a huge transformation from what I admired three seasons ago when I used to come here. Heineken has created a near-stadium environment that gives football fans in the country a di-

rect link with the most glamorous club competition in the world, the UEFA Champions League.

Siasia, who vacated the position as the national team coach following the failure to qualify the Super Eagles for the African

Cup of Nations in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea in 2012 further said, “I feel highly honored to be here as I enjoy the quality interaction with many of my fans who even inquired to know what I have been doing since I disengaged from my post as the Super Eagles coach. I am further compelled by some of them to remain in the country and contribute to the grass root development of football and ensure that many more Nigerian youths have the opportunity play football for some of the best clubs in the world.”

Siasia’s interactive moment on a match day of the UEFA Champions League during the week, made him the sixth Legend to grace the alluring Heineken Champions Planet as the likes of Christian Chukwu, Austin Eguavoen, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, and Dan ‘The Bull’ Amokachi have been around to thrill guests in the ongoing season.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013 — 55

Mikel will welcome Clattenburg — Benitez C

HELSEA’S interim manager, Rafael Benitez has assured that Chelsea and Mikel Obi will welcome referee Mark Clattenburg to Stamford Bridge today.

There was bad blood generated last October when Clattenburg was the centre referee between Chelsea and Manchester United, which Uunited won 3-2. At that meeting, Clattenburg sent off two Chelsea players and was accused of casting a racial slur at Mikel Obi. The Nigerian midfielder was given a threematch ban and a £60,000 fine from the FA for aggressively confronting the referee after the encounter. Clattenburg was cleared after FA investigations though he was relieved of refereeing duties for about a month.

But Benitez has said all that is in the past and forgotten and that Mikel will shake the referee’s hand before the match against Swansea.

“I think John will shake his hand, I don’t see any

Tunisia pick U-17 bronze

T

WINNERS.... Western Union recently held a draw for fans who will watch the Europa League final in Amsterdam next month. From Left; Mrs Chekwube Williams-Okonta, Product Manager MoneyTransfer Service , Diamond Bank, Mr Ebere Nwaolikpe, Assistant Marketing Manager -Ecowas, Western Union, Mr Balogun Olusola, Product Officer, Western Union, UBA Plc, Mr Uche Eze, Asst Product Manager, Western Union Access Bank, Plc, and Mrs Adetoun Oyenuga, Product Manager, Western Union, Skye Bank Plc, holding the winning tickets after the draw held at Zen Garden, Isaac John, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi.

problem,” Benitez told the Daily Mail.

“They are professionals and know their job so hopefully everyone will concentrate on the football and that will be it.”

Chelsea also have his-

tory with Swansea as the Welsh club beat the European champions in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup and Eden Hazard was banned for kicking a ball-boy in the second leg.

“It was a bad image but it’s in the past and you have to move forward,” Benitez concluded.

Chelsea are chasing a top-four finish in the Premiership and a place in the Europa League final.

UNISIA finished third at the CAF U17 Championship yeterday after they pipped hosts Morocco 11-10 on penalties after scores stood at 1-1.

Sabbar of Morocco, who scored the first penalty in the shootout, was unlucky to blast his kick wide after scores stood at 10-10, while Tunisia captain Sakhin stepped forward to score the penalty which gave his team the bronze medal.

Hajj Hassen tapped in from close range in the 44th minute to give Tunisia lead after Morocco goalkeeper parried Ben Larbi’s header into his path.

Morocco’s Sahki failed to connect a cross when he was face-to-face with the ‘keeper in the 57th minute.

First shot on target in this classification game

was in the 31st minute when Azuk of Tunisia saw his 25-yard free kick saved by Morocco goalkeeper Ben Koush.

Six minutes later, Koush was again called to save a 20-yard shot

by Tunisia. The goalkeeper again rose to the occasion in the 62nd minute when he saved yet another effort from inside his box.

Bnou Marzouk equalised for the home team Morocco when he lashed onto a great pass from Sahki, chested it down before he powered home.

Morocco captain Jaadi’s canon shot then hit the bar in the 71st minute and Sahki blasted wide from the rebound.

Tunisia then held on before they triumphed on penalties against their North African rivals.

Basketball: Kano team lambast screening committee

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE Screening Com mittee of the Milo Basketball championship

has come under severe criticism from the Kano State delegation to the competition holding at Stadium, Lokoja. An an-

Zamfara girls continue their winning streak accuracy, pinning their op-

Z

AMFARA girls team were at their best when they took on host, Kogi to the cleaners in their encounter at the 2013 Nestle Milo Basketball championship here in the Confluence Conference.

Kogi fell 7-18 to the fire power of their Zamfara State counterparts. The Indoor Sports Hall of the Confluence Stadium erupted at the end of the referee’s whistle as the Zamfara Girs took a victory lap, dancing round the hall. They were joined by their boys who danced along with them. At a point, they lifted their youthful coach high. In the second match, Katsina defeated Taraba 10-8.

In the Boy’s category, Taraba stood firm to ward off the strong challenge from Sokoto as the highly competitive match ended 31-24 in their favour.

The match was even until the third quarter when the victorious Taraba boys began inching their way towards victory with accurate shooting.

Taraba led 18-16 at the end of the third quarter. On resumption the Taraba boys increased their velocity and

ponents down with their every move to achieve victory.

gry Kano state official, Rabiu Audu said his team(boys) fell victim of a “pre-meditated plan” to see them out of the competition.

He said this after his Kano state team had been walked over by their Zamfara State counterparts in the second match of Day 3 of competition in the

Confluence Conference.

“We only have four players,” Audu said in answer to a reporter’s inquiry.

“We brought 13 players, 8 were screened out because they said they were over age. Out of those screened out three of them were rejected because they nsaid they were in the last Top 50

Camp. I do not know how that contravened the rules regarding this competition since they are still within the age limit.”

He said that Kano had always done well in the Milo championship in the past. “Perhaps, they are tired of seeing us do well,” Audu said, with a tinge of sacarsm.

But Kano is not the only affected team here. Some teams were left with just five players after screening. “We did it to serve as a deterrent,” an official who pleaded anonymity said. “We don’t want to give cheats any chance because this a developmental programme.”

Eulogies as Ekeji is pulled out of service in grand style

BY OSARETIN EMUZE

I

T was fanfare on Wednesday night, April 24, 2013 during a send-off party in Ilorin, Kwara State for retiring Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Dr Patrick Ekeji as he was finally pulled out of service . The very emotional ceremony which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Ilorin,

•Dr. Ekeji

Kwara State was very colourful and well attended by major stakeholders in sports, enthusiasts and other invited dignitaries.

It was eulogies all the way and Dr. Ekeji was awed by the rain of accolade and praises from both friends and the not too friendly. The kwara state cultural troupe added colour to the occasion with their dance drama.

The police band rendered songs that lifted the souls and spirit of all present and it made the retiring DG remember he is the son of a police officer.

Chief Ekeji stood tall during the reading of his citation and showed his musical side when he joined the police band to render melodious songs to the surprise of all whom never new he was also a very good musician.

The entire guests had to

join him on the floor, when they could not resist his dance steps. He sang in Yoruba to the admiration of all who danced and celebrated with him.

The NSC Chairman and Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullhai who led the team of NSC staff said Ekeji made history as he became the first Director General to be ever sent forth in sports.

He said the NSC honoured the out-going Director-General because of his peculiarity, hard work, sincerity, milk of human Kindness, and benevolence.

In his good-will message, the minister commended Dr. Ekeji for his remarkable contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria which has made him a focal point in sports administration not just in Nigeria alone but also the world

in general.

“Tonight, I am watching the departure of a very strong pillar from the sports arena, you are a true icon of Nigeria sports, an Institute and Research Centre in sporting affairs”, he added.

Another speaker, Tijani Umar, president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, said Dr. Ekeji was loved by some for his good work while some others hated him, not for what they know but what some people told them abot him.

Stressing that Dr Ekeji supported him to lift basketball in Nigeria, Umar added, “Dr Ekeji met landmines in the NSC but left landmarks,”, a comment that received a loud applause from the crowd.

In his response, Dr. Ekeji thanked the NSC for the event which he described as one of the very memorable occasions in his life

as he assured the minister of his assistance whenever he is called upon.

The highpoints of the occasion were the reading of the citation by the Director of Grassroots Development, Yakmut Al-Hassan, presentation of various commendation plaques and awards for his immense contribution to the growth of sports in Africa as well as good-will messages from prominent stakeholders in the sporting community such as the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President and former minister of sports Engr. Sani Ndanusa, International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive member, Engr.

Habu Gumel, Directors at the NSC and Presidents of various national sports federations.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2013

RESULTS Man City Everton S’hampton Stoke Wigan Newcastle Atalanta Cagliari Levante Athletico B.

2 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 2

West Ham Fulham West Brom Norwich Tottenham Liverpool Bologna Udinese Celta de Vigo Barcelona

1 0 3 0 2 6 1 1 1 2

•Manu Garba

High-scoring Eaglets fail to lift U-17 trophy •Lose on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire

BY SOLOMON NWOKE, Marakech

T

HE hope of high-scoring Golden Eaglets of Nigeria revenging the defeat suffered in the hands of their Ivorian counterparts and and win the African U-17 Championship in Morocco melted away yesterday as they suffered their second defeat to the same team and settled for the silver medal.

The team handled by Manu Garba with Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Amuneke as assistants went into the lead eight minutes into the game through Prince Omego to raise hope that they will not only revenge their defeat but crush the young Elephants like they did to other teams on their way to the final.

That was not to be as the rugged and hard fighting Ivorians did not want to fall to Nigeria like their seniors did to the Super Eagles at the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa and so took the game to the Eaglets.

The Eaglets took the lead through Prince Omego in the eight minute, raising hope that they were not only on a revenge mission but were going to crush the Ivorians like they did to other teams on their way to the final.

Chidiebere Nwakali took a corner kick that forced a save from the Ivorian goal minder

PENSIVE ….Some members of the Golden Eaglets wearing pensive looks as the Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire gave them a fight yesterday.

Aboubakar Diabagate who punched a goal-bound header back into play and Omego reacted quickest to poke home the first goal of the match.

The Eaglets could have doubled their lead some minutes later when the ball found Musa Yahaya all by himself in the box but with everyone looking for the off-side whistle which did not come, Yahaya dragged his

short wide of the post.

However, the hard-fighting young Elephants, not wanting to fall like their seniors did to the Super Eagles at the 2013 Africa Nations Cup took the game to the Nigerian lads and it paid off in the 26th minute when they equalised through Chris Bile Bedia to send their camp wild with jubilation.

The Baby Elephants won a

Keshi moves one step on coaches ranking

By BEN EFE

S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has moved one step on world coaches ranking for the national teams for the month of April.

Keshi is rated the 27th best national coach in the world and the fifth best in Africa despite his triumphant run at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Keshi, who has coached in Togo and Mali, finally made an impact with the Super Eagles when he won the Nations Cup, became the second African to win the trophy as captain and a coach after Egypt’s Mahmoud El Gohary, but all that failed to give Keshi a quantum leap on the world rankings.

Spain coach Vincente Del Bosque is the world’s best coach.

While Joachim Lowe of Germany, Bert van Marwijk of Holland, Oscar Taberez of Uruguay, USborn Egyptian coach, Bob Bradley, Reinaldo Rueda Ecuador, Fabio Capello Russia, Morten

Olsen Denmark Claudio Cesare Prandelli Italy and Venezuela’s César Farías make the world top ten coaches. Keshi will come face to face with the Del Bosque and Taberez at the Confederation’s Cup June in Brazil.

At the continental level, Bradley tops the top ten ranking with Michel Dussuyer (19th) of Equatorial Guinea, Zambia coach Herve Renard (24th), Egypt legend Hassan Shehata (26th), Stephen Keshi (27th), Francois Zahoui (45th), Sami Trabelsi (52nd), Alain Giresse (53rd), Kinnah Phiri (63rd), Claude Le Roy (65th) and Rabah Saadane (66th) making up the numbers.

The Football Coach World Ranking is world’s first ranking of football coaches based on actual performance. The national team coach ranking is monthly calculated on the results of 3,800 national soccer matches played over the last 48 months.

The coaches earn ranking points in those international matches that give points for

FIFA’s World Ranking. Founded in the Netherlands in 2010, the Institute of Football Coaching Statistics is an independent provider of football coach performance data and statistical analysis.

free-kick in the Nigeria half.

Bedia used his height advantage to jump furthest and flick a header into the top corner of Eaglets’ goalkeeper, Adeyinka Adewale’s net for the equalizer.

Just after that Success Isaac was thwarted by Diabagate after beating his marker but the goalkeeper closed the angel forcing the competition top-goal scorer to blaze his effort.

The teams engaged in a fierce battle and both defenses stood solid in an evenly contest match.

The Baby Elephants came close to a second goal when captain Yannick Kessie played a through ball to Maiga only for Musa Muhammed to come with a crucial challenge.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nigerian state (4) 3. Niger-Delta tribe (8) 6. W. African country (5) 8. Wind instrument (4) 9. Vast (8) 11. Meadow (3) 12. Smallest part (4) 13. Unemployed (4) 14. Have ambition (6) 16. Attachment (5) 18. Spy (5) 20. Hangs around (7) 22. Irritate jokingly (5) 24. Nigerian state (5) 26. U.S. currency unit (4) 29. Insects (4) 30. Orb (4) 31. Sailor (3) 32. Hoped for (8) 33. Smooth (4) 34. Tox (5) 35. Sun-measuring equipments (8) 36. Consolidates (4)

DOWN 1. Nigerian state (7) 2. Middle Belt tribe (5) 3. Nigerian tribe (6) 4. Distending (7) 5. Examine (7) 7. Stockpile (5) 10. Seize with teeth (4) 14. Engine part (4) 15. Cereal (3) 17. No (Scottish) (3) 18. Enquires (4) 19. Pen tip (3) 21. Maiden name (3) 22. Businessmen (7) 23. Hang (7) 25. Isles (7) 26. U.S. currency unit (4) 27. Sportswear firm (6) 28. Go in (5) 30. Makes beer (5)

1

Nigeria went down to ten men in the 73rd minute when defender Akinjide Idowu ‘s challenge on Aboubacar Keita with a raised arm got him sent off but the Eaglets made changes and kept on the pressure as a see-saw battle ensued.

The contest could not provide a winner and it was left to a penalty shoot-out to settle the matter and the Ivorians scored all their five penalties through Kessie, Diallo Ismael, Angban, Keita and Dogbole Niangbo who scored the winning penalty after Chidiebere Nwakali has missed for Nigeria. Success, Ifeanyi Mathew, Yahaya and Musa Muhammed converted their kicks for the Eaglets.

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SOLUTION on page 15

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