SENATE WRITES JEGA: "Stop allocation of 30,000 Polling units"

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Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari with the Chairman,Lubcon Limited, Eng. Jani Ibrahim, at the turbanning of Alhaji Umar Bello as the 18th Baba Isale of Ilorin Emirate, at the palace yesterday in Ilorin.

•Muslims visiting Masjid Quba, the first Mosque in Madinah, during the Muslims Istikhaarah to some places in Madinah and Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Allocation of new polling units: Senate stops INEC Continued from page 1

Creation of new Polling Units by INEC “The Committee wishes to use this medium to express its confidence in the capacity of the Commission, in its drive to improve the electoral system in the country.

“The Committee has always been in full support of the reforms and policies the Commission has introduced in furtherance of its mandate to deliver free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in Nigeria. The Committee will continue to lend its support to policies and programmes that the Commission intends to embark upon towards realizing such reforms.

“The Commission’s intention to reconfigure the existing Polling Units to improve the election – day voting experience of the electorate is indeed a laudable and commendable exercise. “However, the exercise is coming

controversial allocation of new Polling Units, PUs. The Senate, through its Committee on INEC, sent the advisory to Professor Jega on Thursday, September 23, 2014.

The letter, titled CREATION OF NEW POLLING UNITS BY INEC and signed by the Committee Chairman, Senator Andy Uba, pointed out that “there appears to be a general misconception that has generated controversies over the commission’s intention”.

It, consequently, advised “that the commission postpone the proposed exercise at this time, until after the 2015 general elections to allow for further review, adequate stakeholders consultation and buy-in of your good intention”.

The letter reads:

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

THE SECRET —3

By Richard Eromonsele

The second leg of A.S.K. acronym is seek. This simply means to look for something. What this simply implied is that this something we are looking for is already in existence. The truth is that everything we need in life has already been provided for us by God. Therefore, our duty is to find out where they are located. You will agree with me that, no matter how intelligent we are, we cannot get to Akure if we face the road to Badagry.

There is a way to where that thing we are earnestly looking for is located. All we have to do is to be diligent in our search. Seek and you will find …

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at a time that the 2015 general elections are imminent and there appears to be a general misconception that has generated controversies over the Commission’s intention.

“Consequently, the Senate Committee would like to advise that the Commission postpone the proposed exercise at this time, until after the 2015 general elections to allow for further review, adequate stakeholders consultation and buy-in of your good intention.

“The Committee will like to reassure the Commission of its full support on any of its policies or programmes that will further the Commission’s goal to enhance the quality of the electoral process to sustain our fledging democracy”.

Controversy had ensued after Sunday Vanguard published INEC’s introduction of 30,000 new Polling Units, PUs, and allocated some across the country in a manner that suggested that the exercise was skewed in favour of Northern Nigeria.

The allocation showed that whereas some states in the North, which recorded less number of registered voters during the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, got more additional PUs, some states in the South, with much more registered voters during the same CVR exercise, got less.

Of the 12 states in the country that got more than 1,000 PUs from the 30,000, only Lagos was a southern state. The other 11 states are from the North.

That was not all.

It was also discovered that INEC was yet to receive the total number of registered voters in at least 12 states of the country but still went ahead to carry out anticipatory allocation of PUs. In addition, the Post-Business Rule Figures (the term used for the final phase of validity for the registration exercise and on which basis Permanent Voter Card, PVC are being issued and which were used for Ekiti, Osun and the coming Adamawa State guber election and which would be used for next year’s election) was not employed in allocating the PUs. The figures that were used for the allocation were the Post-AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) which

represent a lower cadre of validity in the chain.

And although the INEC Chairman had come out to defend the Commission’s actions, a cross section of Nigerians raised concerns on the propriety of the process.

More knocks for Jega

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eanwhile, accord ing to Emma Amaize, our Regional Editor, Nigerians in Diaspora, yesterday, slammed Jega for his perceived ethnic agenda on the PUs.

Chairman, GEJ 2015/ Igbo Presidency 2019- Home and Diaspora Support Group, Chief Lambert Igboanugo, in a statement made available to Sunday Vanguard, said, “It will be difficult if not practically impossible to consider him (Jega) a sellout on the issue of integrity until the new lopsided Polling Units, PUs, saga. We roundly condemn Mr. Jega’s action as a hatch job that can never hold water considering the fact that Southern Nigeria has not disappeared yet.”

Igboanugo, leader of the Nigerian community in The Netherlands, who com-

mended Sunday Vanguard for exposing the scheme, said, “A lot of genuinely concerned Nigerians raised serious issues on his proposed lopsided new polling units craftily designed to favour the North come 2015 General Elections.” “ GEJ 2015/Igbo Presidency 2019- Home and Diaspora Support Group commend all the personalities and Nigerian institutions that have lend their voices to condemn this outright abuse of office with sinister agenda before we have a demagogue as an umpire.”

Gunmen invade Enugu varsity, shoot 3 students

BY OUR REPORTER

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HREE students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Agbani were, Friday night, shot and wounded by suspected armed bandits who invaded their hostel.

The students were undergoing treatment at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, ItukuOzalla, Enugu, where they were rushed to in the early hours of yesterday.

The father of one of the students said his son was

undergoing surgery at the hospital.

He said the student was shot in the stomach and it was suspected that some bullets were lodged in his abdomen which doctors were battling to remove.

The two other victims were also undergoing surgery at the hospital while efforts were being made to contact their parents.

The Unique Hostel, where the incident occurred and other hostels within the Agbani permanent site of the university, according to a source, have been placed under security watch as it was suspected that the gun-

men could be members of a secret cult.

To forestall a reprisal attack, the source said, the management had taken measures to beef up security at the hostels with plain-clothes policemen deployed to strategic locations.

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the attack, said preliminary investigations revealed that the gunmen could be “student-robbers”, assuring that the police would do everything to get to the root of the matter.

I will crush Boko Haram —Jonathan *Why the North must back Mr President’s re-election - Anenih SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

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RESIDENT Good luck Ebele Jonathan, yesterday, at the South-south Unity Party of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in Benin-City, vowed that his administration will crush Boko Haram exactly the way it fought Ebola virus disease.

The President also boasted that the PDP will recapture Rivers and Edo states in 2015 and 2016, insisting that the entire South-south must return to the PDP as it were in 1999.

This comes as South-south PDP leaders and governors, through the Chairman,

Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, urged the North to back Jonathan’s re-election bid, asserting that the people of the zone were determined to ensure his re-election.

According to Anenih, the North must reciprocate the gesture of the South-south in the political empowerment of the North in the past.

Jonathan, who arrived the Benin Airport at about 1pm, was welcomed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and members of the Edo State Executive Council. He proceeded with the governor to the commissioning of the reconstructed Benin-Ore-Lagos dual carriage road before storming the Samuel Ogbemu-

dia Stadium for the PDP rally.

Dignitaries at the rally include the Vice President, Arch.Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Seriaki Dickson (Bayelsa), Theodore Orji (Abia) and the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Others are former governors of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Prof.Osariemen Osunbor; a former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alameiseigha; Esama of Benin Kingdom,

Continues on page 7

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

LAST WEEK IN BRIEF

By Emem Akpan & Yemisi Nimota

Russia gives condition for military aid to Nigeria

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N Nigeria’s quest to surmount its security challenges, Russia says it is open to an invitation by the Federal Government to raise its military assistance. But, the increase in military collaboration, according to Russian envoy to Nigeria, Amb. Nikolay Udovichenko can be helped by a proposal by Nigerian stating what its needs are.

Udovichenko said Russia always stands for Nigeria in this struggle. “Every year we provide different training and courses in Russia for Nigerian police officers, we understand that a lot can be and should be done to promote our bilateral collaboration in the security sphere to a higher level”, Udovichenko said, adding, “In this connection, we are ready to carefully consider any proposals from the Nigerian Government including providing additional ammunition”.

According to him, ‘’Russia wants to express her solidarity with the Federal Government and the Nigerian people in the fight against terrorism because it is difficult to overcome that challenge”.

Synagogue tragedy: TB Joshua not welcome in South Africa, ANC warns

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HE youth wing of the Africans National Congress.

ANC, warns the spiritual head of the Synagogue Church of All Nations. SCOAN, Prophet T.B Joshua, not to visit South Africa in the nearest future. The ANC members were reacting to Joshua’s announcement of his proposed visit to the country to empathize with the families of the 84 persons who lost their lives in the Church’s Headquarters in Lagos recently.

A six storey guest house belonging to the Church, collapsed on September 12, claiming at least 115 lives and leaving others missing. The warning came as Botswana Government said its High Commission in Nigeria with the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency. NEMA, and the leadership of the Church had managed to locate 10 Botswana citizens who were in the vicinity of the collapsed building at the time of the accident.

Controversy over alleged Shekau’s killing

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HE reported killing of top Boko Haram leader said to be Abubakar Shekau has again ignited a fresh controversy between Nigeria and Cameroon troops. The Cameroon Union had quoted a military source as saying Shekau was killed by the Cameroon Army during a cross border air bomb of his hideout in Nigeria. But Nigeria’s defence authorities dismissed the Cameroonian claim. The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, stated that there was no raid on any terrorists’ hideout by Cameroon or any other foreign country within Nigerian soil.

Olukolade explained that the ongoing operation against insurgents in Kodunga and its neighbouring communities were being undertaken by Nigerian forces only.

Defence authorities said the troops that repelled an attack by insurgents at Konduga, Borno State, captured a high ranking terrorist leader who was being treated in military medical facility. The last statement by Cameroon on the issue was an encounter with the insurgency at a border town called Kirawa where four civilians were killed. The spokesman for the Joint Task Force, Sagir Musa, had said in a statement that Shekau might have died of gunshot wounds during a shoot-out with insurgents at the Sambisa forest.

2015: Atiku declares, says corruption worse under Jonathan

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ORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC. Abubakar, at a ceremony held at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, explained that his desire to become president was born out of the need to give back to the nation. He told his supporter during the ceremony that he had the capacity to bring people together and turn things around for the better of the country.

He stressed that the nation, under the current administration,had failed to provide the required environment for the youth to reach their full potential. The former Vice President said, “it is inspiring that among difficulties and growing anxiety over the future of our country, our people have refused to yield to despair and hopelessness”.

He noted that it was this intergenerational collaboration and partnership that represented the best model to create the future that the nation desired and deserved.

Thugs beat-up Ekiti judge

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HE sanctity of the judicial arm of government was violated, as political thugs invaded the Ekiti State High Court premises, beating up a high court judge and tearing his suit. This prompted the chief judge, Justice A.S. Daramola to order immediate closure of all courts in Ekiti State until adequate security had been put in place.

The assault was said to have taken place at the hearing of an application filed by Ekiti State wing of All Progressive Congress, APC, seeking nullification of the election that produced the governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose. Chief Registrar of the court, Obafemi Fsanmi in a statement narrating what happened in court, said even the court room of the judge was not spared in the orgy of assault by the thugs.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 7

•From Left: The Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry President, Alhaji Remi Bello; Senate President, Senator David Mark; Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Housing, Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa and the Resident Representative, UNIDO, Dr Patrick Komarwa during the conference organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry at Eko Hotel &Suites, Victoria Island, on Friday.

•Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), held its North West rally yesterday in Kano.

Picture shows Senator Anyim Pius, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Sheu Shema, at the event. Inset, is the massive crowd that turned up to express support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

I will crush Boko Haram —Jonathan •Continued from Page 5 Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Senator Roland Owie; Chief Dan Orbih (Edo PDP Chairman); Captain Hosa Okunbor; Ken Imasuagbon; Gen.Charles Airhiavbere; Senator Ehigie Uzamere; Chief Tom Ikimi; and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Addressing the rally, Jonathan declared that his administration had made giant strides in infrastructural development despite criticisms from the opposition, just as he urged PDP members to ensure unity to be able to win the forthcoming general elections.

His words, “Before coming to this stadium, we commissioned the Benin-OreShagamu dual carriage road. The governor (Oshiomhole), though he is not a PDP member appreciates that work. And we promise Nigerians that we will improve on infrastructures.

And if you observe carefully, those who travel, you will know that the PDP administration has improved the quality of our roads.

“We cannot do all our roads the same day, but, within this short time we have been in power, we have reconstructed the roads, we have also fixed the airports.

So when we talk about infrastructure, PDP is not only talking about feeding people. There was somebody who said PDP believes in stomach infrastructure. Yes because PDP must ensure food security. Every President in this world talks about food security and job creation. “ And we have been commended for reducing hunger, our detractors don’t even want Nigerians to know that we are working, but those who monitor what is happening in the world know that we are working.

Recently, we were recognized for fighting Ebola disease. So I promise you that there must be food security and anybody who says that we should not talk about food security is not ready to lead the people.

“You are all aware that we have conquered Ebola and we will surely crush Boko Haram. And if you look at what is happening, a lot of things are changing. Everything is turning around”. ‘ We will get all our states back’ Admonishing PDP members to be united ahead of the 2015 general elections, the President said: “Let me appreciate the leadership of the party for their commitment and members of our party from the non-PDP states because we know the things they pass through.

We are here in Edo for a unity rally, we are not here for campaign, we are here for a unity rally because we must bring our party members together especially now that elections are coming.

“This is South-south Unity Rally. Elections are coming and we have different interests. We appeal to our people, from state to National Assembly, that so many people will be interested in this position but only one person will go. We belong to the same party, so when we are struggling to get to this position, we must do it decently so that we don’t create enemies amongst ourselves. If we don’t create enemies among ourselves and we continue to unite, we will surely get all our states back. “ At the beginning of 1999 when I took oath of office as Deputy Governor, the entire South-south was PDP. But today Rivers and Edo are no longer in PDP. But from 2015 to 2016 we will get all our states back”.

While welcoming Ikimi and other APC decampees to the PDP, Jonathan assured that they will be given a level-playing field with old members.

“People like Ikimi left the PDP before due to internal crisis, but they are back today. Now, we have corrected all the things that made them leave the party. Every party member will be treated equally, no discrimination, no imposition, no god father, no god mother. This is the only party that will

give you the freedom and the opportunity to plan to the highest without any interference. Edo State will go to PDP. “ For Rivers State, we know that the only party there is PDP. Other parties exist on bill boards, so allow their sign boards to stay, we know the party that is controlling Rivers State.

All what we need is unity”.

‘Interest of Nigeria’ On his part, Anenih, the PDP BoT Chairman, said the leadership of the party in the South- south had endorsed Jonathan for second term, and urged the North to support the bid in the interest of the nation.

“Our brothers and sisters in the North, we have reasons to be part of the contributions of the Southsouth zone to Nigeria’s development. The zone has, over the years, made sacrifices, including supreme sacrifices not only to keep this country together but also for economic development,” he said. “ Our sons and daughters such as Chief Tony Enahoro, Chief Okotie Eboh,

How tourism is lifting Bayelsa — Brown geria. “The governor as a viBy Bilesanmi Olalekan

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HE Director General of Bayelsa Tour ism Development Agency, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu Brown, yesterday, revealed that one of the greatIsaac Boro, Gen.David est achievements of GoverEjoor, Chief Dennis Osade- nor Henry Seriake Dickson bey, Chief Marere etc, have is the rebranding of the state served this country with even as she added that tourgreat dedication. In the po- ism is being used as a key tool litical history of Nigeria, the to lift people, especially in the South-south has always rural areas and semi urban been a close ally of the communities, from poverty North. We have fought po- and help create new economlitical battles together. We ic opportunities across the have given support to the state.

North when it matters most.

Brown said the establishThe current situation calls ment of the Bayelsa State for corporation, in appeal- Tourism Development Agening to the conscience of Ni- cy, with the mandate to disgerians, in the prevailing cover, promote and market circumstance, we must the tourism potentials of the claim our right with dignity state, has helped to attract and and determination in the in- enhance the development terest of our dear nation. process in the industry. The “That is the message from agency, according to her, has the entire leadership of the redefined event management South-south to our brothers for the purpose of engaging in the North, that we need in tourism promotion in Nitheir support day and night, not only to win election also to win peace” .

On his part, National Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, insisted that BY SIMON EBEGBULEM Jonathan remained the candidate of the party, and chalS the authorities of the lenged the opposition APC University of Benin that “rather than talk about (UNIBEN) intensify search who qualifies to be Presi- on who succeeds dent in our party, bring out Prof.Osayukin Oshodin as your best and let us see how Vice Chancellor, the Senate, your presidential candidate yesterday, withdrew the apwill emerge”. pointment of a former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Andrew Onokerhoraye, as professor emeritus.

They cited as reasons for the withdrawal his alleged failure to carry out his rework with social enterprises sponsibilities as professor through private investors to emeritus in the university and address the social, environ- alleged failure to attend mental, cultural and eco- meetings. nomic challenges no governA statement by the Public ment can solve alone”.

Relations Officer of UNDr. Michael Omolayole, in IBEN, Harris Osarenren, whose honour the lecture series was instituted, stated that this years’ lecture series is significant as was the first

By Tony Nwankwo time all the lectures in the series would be compiled in HE Coordinator, Ijaw a book and launched. “I feel Monitoring Group, so fulfilled that this book IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah, could see the light of the day has described the attack on and we are being able to the President of Christian Asplace it on Jumia book store sociation of Nigeria, CAN, for everyone that may want Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by the to access the book”, Omo- Arewa Consultative Forum, layole said.

ACF, and some groups over the Omolayole hinted further $9.3 million seized in South that “with too many entre- Africa as hasty and barbaric preneurs, levels of aspira- as investigations by the South tions in a country may rise it African government and the it is well-known that with in- Nigeria Senate who had comcreasing material wealth (or menced such invesgigations opportunities) people’s aspi- have not concluded. Evah, rations increase.” who was the Coordinator of

UNIBEN Senate strips ex-VC of emeritus status

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Omolayole, Guiness boss give panacea for economic devt

By Emmanuel Ajibulu

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OCIAL entrepreneur ship has been identified as a veritable initiative to building community, self-reliance as well as creating vehicle for organizations to meet their needs in a financially sustainable way. This was a major discourse at the 30th edition of the Omolayole Management Lecture Series, organized by the Alumni of the International Association of Students in Economics and Commercial Sciences, AIESEC. Speaking at the event, MD/CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, who was the guest speaker in his key note address, said, “Social enterprises help create a vibrant and diverse economy with more opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds.

All nations must be able to

sionary leader had long envisaged the need to engage in the promotion of sustainable tourism development. And as such, the state economy has received a lot of boost due to the tourism events; hotels are being built consultants in the hospitality industry are being employed;young men and women are engaged in these hotels and Catteries/Restaurants; better perception of the state by foreigners; greater recognition by international bodies such as the commonwealth, WTO etc due to the events organised by the state; development partners are showing a lot of confidence in the administration of Governor Dickson”, she stated.

Brown said the state government was implementing a number of strategic measures to develop the state in readiness for the upsurge in the tourism sector.”

said the decision was taken at the special meeting of the Senate held on Wednesday.

“The action of the Senate, which has been hailed by a cross section of the University of Benin community, was influenced by the facts that he had defaulted in carrying out his responsibilities as professor emeritus. More importantly, Senate observed with dismay that, since his appointment as professor emeritus, he was never present at meetings”. The UNIBEN Senate, at its meeting, held on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, had appointed Onokerhoraye as professor emeritus in the Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences.

$9.3m Deal: Ijaw leader faults Arewa

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Non-Indigenes for the Actualization of June 12, during the June 12, 1993 struggle, in a statement, said: “Recently, Pastor Oritsejafor set up a private university in Delta State, if tomorrow a staff of the university uses the facility to engage in a questionable activity, would that mean blackmailing the owner of the university as a criminal? This concerted condemnation of an illustrious son of the Niger Delta without fair hearing in a serious matter that is attracting international attention is unacceptable to our people”.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

October 1 film gulped $2 million — Kunle Afolayan

other person to go and we had to fill so many forms. We had to be sure that we were not coughing but because we were also invited by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation. It was easy to just get out once they realized that we were government’s guests, but it’s normal, it’s good to take precautions. Nigerians would have done the same thing. I didn’t know the news was going to spread that much because I was just thinking out loud, I wasn’t reporting.

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hat if a man leaves the comfort of a bank job to face an uncertain future as a film maker and not long after wins the Oscar? Well, this may be the premise someday for Kunle Afolayan’s story. Hailed by the New York Times as the ‘Martin Scorsese of Lagos’, Kunle has continued to push back the frontiers of film making in Nigeria. In this interview, he talks about his new film, October 1, and the journey so far as a film maker. Enjoy!

Is being a film maker what you’ve always wanted to be,considering the fact that you majored in accounting before you went to the New York Film Academy and you also worked in the bank as well?

Well, I would say yes and no, film wasn’t in my agenda but, of course, an average child who grew up around a movie making circle would probably want to be an actor, maybe not a film maker; you know, as a child, almost all the children of the practitioners were also involved in the same business then - acting.

For us our father shielded us from it because he just said, you would be distracted and you needed to go to school and be educated. Yes, I always enjoyed the cheap publicity of being a son of Ade Love but it wasn’t something I really wanted to do, not until I grew up, the man passed on, then I was seeing a new generation of film makers and I realized they were not doing as much as my father and those who started it used to do and I said to myself, ‘I can actually do better’, which was what really got me interested in making film.

How easy was it for you to leave the comfort of a paid employment to jump into the uncertain waters of filmmaking, I mean first you left for the New York Film Academy, what gave you that confidence that this was going to work out?

Well, before I even became a film maker, I started off as an actor in 1998, and when the zeal, anxiety and dream of wanting to become a film maker came, I approached established film makers like Tade Ogidan and Tunde Kelani.

Tunde Kelani gave me audience and when I said I wanted to be a film maker, he said what do I know about films? That film making is not

Kunle Afolayan and others on location a fluke -you have to learn it, you need to go to school -and he said he would advice that I start as an actor, that if I started as an actor, I could start like my father.

When it was time for them to shoot Saworoide, they invited me for audition and I scaled through and that was how I started as an actor. But, the following year, I started working in the bank, that didn’t give me room to feature in so many films. So, while in the bank between 1998 and 2004, I didn’t feature in up to ten films.

But in 2004 I said to myself that I didn’t belong in the bank. I was making money, I was comfortable, I had a car, I was living in a fourbedroom flat but it wasn’t really what I wanted to do. So one day I resigned, stayed home for eight months doing research on what I wanted to do.

Afterwards I went to school, did a diploma in digital film making, came back, and set up this production office; it was quite small, just two people and now we are where we are and I think it’s the passion really.

Apart from the normal challenges any entrepreneur faces, what was the most difficult challenge you faced when you came back from America to set up?

Setting up, as an entrepreneur, like getting an office, was not difficult for me because there was someone who was just moving out of an office and the person had six months’ rent still available and he said to me, ‘Kunle, you can take over this office and when the rent lapses you can pay’. I just said to myself, ‘I doubt if I would be able to pay’, because it was in Opebi, but I said ‘let me at least enjoy the first six months’. I took over the office, got an office assistant and it was just two of us. Then I got myself a computer to learn editing, then this idea of Irapada film came.

From ‘Irapada’, I bought my first camera. Thereafter, every project that I did, I’m always equipping myself for those projects, that was how it all started. After Irapada, we grew to maybe a company of five staff and we moved out of there to another office, a bigger space. But I would say we have really done well in Golden Effect between 2004 and

now. And I think what has really helped is the fact that once I dreamt it, it had to be actualized, and I’ve always worked with practically the same people as crew, some of them on contract, some of them as permanent staff.

In addition, I’m able to combine my creativity in art with business, and that is why the show is still on because a lot of people don’t break even in art.

Of all the movies you’ve produced and directed, which one is your favourite?

That’s a tough question because I think there are different genres, there are different kinds of films, so people relate to them differently and they have their advantages.

Irapada, which was the first film, cut

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How was growing up like with your dad, Ade Love, and how has that influenced who you are today?

I would say my growing up really helped and influenced where I am today. It also influenced my decision to do what I am doing today -which is film making.

I didn’t really have the opportunity to try my hands on the trade as a child but, as I grew older, unofficially my father got me involved in how to do cinema business not really how to make film.

I didn’t know anything about how to make film but how to do exhibitions, and also promotions of films, and I did that for some time before my father passed on and through that I also visited some of the movie sets.

That also got me curious and interested in movie making but, to a large extent, I would say my background has really helped in moulding and grooming me towards what I have become today.

so it cost arm and leg - we lost a lot of equipment, a lot of people fell ill after the shooting; it was really tough and it’s because we embarked on something that seemed bigger than we bargained for.

You are a very busy man and obviously you have to travel and be on the road most times -how have you been able to handle that and still stay happily married with four kids?

Well, they came into my life while I was already in this business. My wife of course knows what goes with the kind of job that I do; so when I’m not working, I give them all the attention, and when I’m working, the one they can join and support in, they do; the ones they can’t, they

When the idea of the film came, I was initially going to run away from it because I knew it was going to be challenging and considering that in Nigeria we hardly archive things, we don’t even have records

across the lower Yoruba crowd; Figurine was what did it for me, it went really international, recognized all over the world; but it cost me so much. In fact that was the most difficult film I have ever done.

October 1 is not even as difficult as Figurine.

And why is that?

Well, it’s because after Figurine, I did Phone Swap, so I’ve been able to master the flow, the trade and business. October 1 is supposed to be more difficult because it’s even set in a particular period and it benches you to a particular work flow, you can’t shoot in a modern setting and you can’t have cables and masts and billboards, mobile phones, you can’t have all of these showing in your film, meaning our direction must be accurate.

Figurine was a bold step.

Figurine was a step that nobody in this country has ever tried before,

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give me my space and allow me do my thing. So really I’ve been able to balance both.

You wrote on your Facebook page, about a month ago, how you and your brother Gabriel were isolated on a flight to Seychelles from other Kenyans onboard due to the Ebola virus scare. How was the experience and have you had other related challenges lately as a Nigerian?

Well, I wasn’t really surprised because the Ebola thing was all in the air that time. We flew through Kenya to Seychelles and while in Kenya we had to go with some of our Kenyan colleagues. When we got to Seychelles, the Kenyans were coming from East Africa we were coming from West Africa and West Africa is where the Ebola thing has been reported. So, even with my yellow card, they had to put me and my brother aside and allowed every

Tell us about your latest movie October 1. What was the inspiration behind it?

October 1 is a film set in Nigeria against the backdrop of the Nigerian independence in 1960.

When the idea of the film came, I was initially going to run away from it because I knew it was going to be challenging and considering that in Nigeria we hardly archive things, we don’t even have records.

We were looking for all the guns of the 60s, we couldn’t find them.

When I read the script, I realized it was challenging but if I did this, it was going to definitely put me on a new slate and it’s a film that cut across internationally.

So I decided to give it a shot and not just shooting it, but also using actors that I believed would do justice to interpreting the roles. The project took us about two years, pre- production took more than six months, we shot for about two months, and post-production took more than eight months. Right now, it’s ready and it’s going to have th its world premiere on the 28 of September 2014 at the Eko Hotel and Suites. After that, it’s going to be released in cinemas in Nigeria from the 1st of October.

How much did the movie cost you?

It’s a two – million dollar budget film.

How did you get Sadiq Daba to feature in it?

When I read the script and the script says ‘a northern police detective who is at the age grade of 50 and 60’, I looked around and I didn’t want someone who could speak Hausa, I wanted someone who could really represent the North when people see it. I looked around and he was the only person that came to mind. I looked for him and found him. I got him the first draft and he got excited and we pulled it through.

Has any of your children shown interest in acting?

Well, even if they don’t show it, sometimes when I’m looking for extras, I always put them. At least it saves me cost but I know that there’s no way one of them would not end up doing what I’m doing. If they want to do it, I would give them all the support they would need. If not, whatever it is they want to do, I’m open.

What’s your thought on actors going into politics now and do you have any plans of doing same in the nearest future?

Well, Arnold Schwarzenegger became a governor and Ronald Reagan was also an actor; so there’s nothing wrong. First of all, you have the advantage of having people who like you because you are a public figure.

But being a public figure as an actor is different from going into politics. Politics is a serious game; for me, I am not interested, but I would always support anybody who I believe has good intention to lead. I’m not a politician but I would always do whatever it is in my capacity to support whoever that I think is chasing the right position.

Read more exclusive interviews on www.samumukoro.com Follow us @su_Interview

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 9

And He laughs!

Seemed a good idea and I would have put that call through if God hadn't decided to crack a joke that could only be divine.

For some reason, I hesitated to make that call and God intervened in a way that only He could have done. My better half is also a fan of the column and he was the first person I told of my decision to rest it. Truth be told I had kept at it because he encouraged and prodded me most

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OMEDY is great fun, I especially love to laugh heartily and I can make jokes of most sad situations.

If you can find some mirth in adversity, you can find enough hope to positively spin things around. That said, there is nothing funny about tragedy, plagues and terror, I haven't found the jokes in those situations just yet! I am amazed to be writing this column this week as it wasn't a possibility I even gave a thought to. Just a few days ago, I sat down with a publisher friend of mine who had asked me about it, he had really wonderful things to say and tried to dissuade me when I had broken the news to him that I was done with it. I was just looking for a good way to tell my editor who has bent over backwards to accommodate my excruciatingly busy and tiring schedule that I didn't want to write anymore. He said I was probably suffering from a writer's burn out and should just take a month or so off.

didn't put up too robust an opposition. I wont say he was pleased with my decision but I believe he understood it.

The hesitation in making the call to my editor turned into a complete block as I plain forgot and didn't remember till the day after when my phone rang and I saw a name flashing that had me genuinely flustered! It was Uncle Sam, my mentor, my publisher and my friend. It was bad enough prepping myself to give the goodbye talk to my editor, I didn't have the liver to give one to my publisher. It was quite funny hearing myself apologising profusely for going AWOL for the past

How long can I keep up without getting a burn out? I don't know, I do know grace is never in short supply and I will be praying for it in abundance

times; I confessed that the joy of writing had deserted me, so if I kept at it, it would be for him. He could see that I was struggling to cope with a plate that had way too much on it, so he

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few weeks and saying yes of course when he calmly told me that he expected my column to be submitted for the coming week!

"Have you ever thought of

your writing as a ministry?" that's a question I have been asked countless times and I always said No. Writing for me is therapy, it's how I process my thoughts and make peace with difficult situations. I find that things aren't so bad if I can write them down and I know it's kept me sane and thankful over the years. I didn't want anyone to make it seem like work, or another obligation, in my view that would milk it of all its joy and for some time it has felt like work. To be sincere. I honestly cant think of another person on the planet aside uncle Sam who could have had me do a 360 degree turn and the one person who knows that would be my maker, I didn't even think he would notice I had stopped and it's even more surprising what happened after that call. I haven't felt like writing in months but here I am, a day after, in the middle of a crowded store, music blasting, people about and my fingers are flying over the keys getting the words out. My preferred option to write is some peace and quiet, a full belly and comfortable seating.

Amazingly right now, I am standing crouched over a counter and typing like a crazy genius! (crazy because I am muttering to myself as I type).

Can writing be a ministry? I don't know, but it could be a calling of some sort. As long as I get peace from it and people get

encouraged or positive by it, its a great calling. Did uncle Sam's call give some much needed validation?

Maybe but validation doesn't bring grace or even zeal and only those two components can explain this 24 hour reawakening.

Only God gives grace to the weary, only He can move an engine further and faster even when it's running on empty. How long can I keep up without getting a burn out? I don't know, I do know grace is never in short supply and I will be praying for it in abundance. By the special grace of God, I will walk and not faint, run and not grow weary, mount up with wings like an eagle and continue to be a blessing while I yet draw breath.

So let's catch up! Last time I wrote the scourge of Ebola was very new and I remember praying for the beautiful and amazing Dr Ameyo Adadevoh. She has since been translated into glory and we all thank God for raising a Heroine who confronted death for her nation. She lost her life but enters immortality gloriously. She gave her life to save that of millions and we will never forget. I had the privilege of meeting her and I can confirm all the beautiful eulogies written and spoken to be very true.

She will definitely rest in peace, living in peace is now left to us who still live.

According to my children, the last holiday was the best one so far and while I appreciate that sentiment, their parents are yet to

recover from all the expenses. My favourite bit was a ferry trip and I can truly say I now know how the other half live. It was amazing, I didn't much care for the cuisine but I have proven that man can live on hot chocolate and plantain chips. A wedding in the family also made for beautiful memories as all our loved ones took the time and congregated from different corners of the globe to celebrate with us.

My goodbye didn't quite work out and I am convinced I was the victim of a divine joke, God must have been laughing while I was planning and luckily I find it hilarious as well. My Pastor says that 24hours is all we need to do all we have to do, according to him, our God is not a God of confusion, the time frame we have is more than enough given the grace that is so readily available. I imagine there are others like me who are struggling and buckling under the weight of a myriad responsibilities and I pray for them the same prayers I pray for my self. May the Lord direct all that you do so that whatever you do is effective and effectual, may you never be overwhelmed by life and reality such that you begin to resist even its blessings and glory, may you find laughter in big and little things and may you recognise the hand of God when he intervenes to straighten your affairs, may your ears be tuned to hear when He laughs!

BATTLE FOR EKITI

Murder they wrote

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI, Ado Ekiti

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he acrimony between members of the two political parties in Ekiti State – the outgoing government of All Progressive Congress(APC) and the incoming government of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) - reared its ugly head last Thursday, when a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye, was killed by suspected hired assassins in his Ijigbo area, Ado-Ekiti office at about 8.30 pm.

Aderiye was a strong member of the PDP and an ardent supporter of the state governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose The hired killers, wearing mask and said to have dressed in police uniform, according to reports, earlier visited the Olokemeji residence of Aderiye to fulfil their mission but could not locate him.

Therefore, he was traced to his Ijigbo office where he and some of his friends were relaxing.

On sighting their target, they (the killers) fired shots which hit the former NURTW on the chest. At this point, he was said to have made an attempt to run for his dear life, but he fell to the ground. The gunmen ran after him and released more bullets. Aderiye died on the way to hospital.

Aderiye’s assassination is the seventh in the litany of the political killings in Ekiti in recent time and they are mostly members of the opposition.

Others killed include Adeleye Awomulate in 2011, Kehinde Fajuyi in the same year, Mic Ipinlaye, Yusuf Abiola, Ayo Jeje, Juliahna Adewumi in 2013, Foluso Ogundare, a chieftain of

*One of the houses razed Ekiti ...burnt vehicles at the state APC secretariat the Labour Party (LP) from Emure Ekiti in 2013, and Akinola Abiola, who was killed few days to the June 21 governorship election.

Majority of the people across the state had expressed happiness that there was no single casualty during the June 21 governorship election in the state Since the issue relating to the election is currently before the election petition tribunal, it is the hope of everybody that justice would be done at the end of the day However, there was renewed tension in the state last Monday during a case instituted by E-11, a socio-political organisation, and the Citizens Peoples Party(CPP).

The case before Justice Segun Ogunyemi was to determine the eligibility of the governor-elect, Mr Fayose, to contest the June 21 election. Proceedings were on when some hoodlums stormed the court-room. A timely intervention of law enforcement agents on

ground saved the situation, as the trial judge was spirited out of the court room.

The same story repeated itself on the third day last Thursday. That was the day the election petition tribunal was to commence the prehearing session. Some hoodlums forced their way to the venue.

Though the governor-elect, accompanied by a handful of aides to the tribunal a little bit late and could not wait till the end of proceedings, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, at a press conference later that day, claimed Fayose assaulted one of the judges in the High Court,Justice John Adeyeye ,a claim that was denied by Fayose.

The governor-elect said he was in the court premises as a respondent at the election petition tribunal.

“I was at the court as a respondent at the election petition tribunal”, he said.

“When l arrived the court,I went

straight to the venue of election petition tribunal with a sizable number of aides.”The moment l noticed that the place was becoming uncontrollable, I went back to my office. I did not meet any other judge except the three honourable justices who are members of the tribunal”.

Later in the day, the Chief Registrar of the court, Obafemi Fasanmi, issued a statement on behalf of the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, directing all the courts under the control of Ekiti State government to close until security of judicial workers was guaranteed Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi announced a dusk-todawn curfew in the state as part of measures aimed at curtailing the crisis.

Announcing the curfew in a television broadcast on Friday, Fayemi said there would be restriction of movement between 7pm and 7am everyday till further notice.

The governor, who also announced the suspension of his ‘Thank You Tour’ of the state, urged the citizenry to be vigilant and

provide security agencies with details of suspicious activities that could undermine peace.

Meanwhile, the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, on Friday, decried the Thursday attack on Justice Aderiye..

Also, the lawyers condemned the killing of Aderiye, a former NURTW chief by suspected assassins. Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the Ado Ekiti NBA Chairman, Mr Joseph Adewumi, and Secretary, Mr Gbemiga Adaramola, said the desecration of the temple of justice would not be condoned and should also be decried by justice and peace-loving Nigerians. Adewumi said while the association was still feeling bad about the Monday incident during which Justice Ogunyemi was invaded, it came as a shock that a repeat of the ugly incident took place. On whether Adeyeye was holding court session when the alleged attack took place, Adewumi said the NBA could not confirm that.

On the implications of the siege on the judiciary, the NBA boss opined that it could lead to anarchy.

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Old Peoples Day celebration October 21, 2014 “What you are, we were. What we are, you will become.”

B.Tuchmann.

While compiling the VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, one of the thousands of books I waded through was Tuchmann’s opus on 13th and 14thcenturies history of Europe – on which she is the world’s leading expert. In one of the passages in the book, a group of knights had entered an open cave in which many people were buried. Somebody had placed on top of the heap of bones the quotations above – “What we are..”

The usually courageous warriors who had witnessed blood, carnage and destruction had recoiled at the spectacle and left in a hurry. At 48, I did not appreciate the significance ofit. Now 70, and at death’s door, I now realize that nothing truer had ever been written. We are all destined to become skeletons, skulls and shin bones someday.

Even Miss Universe will

Fear is the sum total of Nigerians "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." -Nelson Mandela HERE is a saying that: there is nothing to fear but fear itself. It seems that we are fearful of fear that we are unable to make decisions that can change our lives for the better. We live on a daily diet of scaremongering, superstitions and salacious grandstanding. We worry too much, we hate too much, we love too little and expect far less from ourselves and others.

Often we are quick to support or defend people on grounds of kinship or religious beliefs or same political party membership, despite the fact that they are not suited for the job or are morally sound.

They said it's better to work with the devil you know. Actually it is not. Why should we feel hopeless and helpless? Why do we settle for less? We are fearful of

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living that we simply exist and convinced that things cannot change. We cannot afford to go on leaping from one calamity to the next. No wonder many Nigerians can't see the wood for the trees. Why do we believe that things cannot change? Things won't change unless we become brave enough to want a change for the better.

Nigerians are battling daily and relentlessly with no respite in sight. This takes a toll on the quality of life of every Nigerian (yes, even those that are morally bankrupt). From dusk to dawn, they wake up to chaos, toil and endure frequent power outage, bad roads, high young people's unemployment, insecurity, bribery, poorly maintained schools and health care, corrupt politicians, and institutions. They return home to chaos and more the same, day in and day out.

Quality of life becomes affected with the drip- drip culmination of Nigerian daily grind. We are much stressed and this affects one physical and emotional

end up with sand in the face and rot finally.

But, if we are fortunate, we will get old first. So, I am proclaiming, on behalf of all the Elderly people of Nigeria, to the young, that “What you are, we were. And what we are you are going to become also”. But, before you get there, you are

We make an elaborate ritual out of Valentine’s day – which from all the adverts, is devoted to promoting prurient interests in the name of love.Nobody gives a damn about the old people

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invited to start preparing this nation to start taking better care of its aged people. Children’s Day, Mothers’ Day, Labor Day, etc are well celebrated.

We make an elaborate ritual out of Valentine’s day – which from all the adverts, is devoted to promoting prurient interests in the name of

not help matters. So, each year a date will be fixed, other than October 1 to celebrate our elders.

And of course we need donations.

Without apologies for naming some of those who can help us, permit me to start with the following: 1. President Jonathan and Vice President

health.This cumulative factor contributes to emotional and physical deterioration. The side effect overload has taken a toll on our relationships, at home, work, and in our respective communities.

Some illness occur because of these stresses and it can reduce our life chances as the body attempts to adjust but fails to respond to the daily onslaught.

We will only begin to feel better, when we begin to look fear squarely in the eye, it has no control over us contrary to what we think. Whenever we face fear, we will begin to feel in charge and then we can become more compassionate, tolerant, understanding to ourselves, our children and each other.

this villainous marauder.

There are several sources that claimed to be responsible for his death but it really does not say who and where. If it is true, then many Nigerians home and abroad are better off without him. There has been too many killings in the name of religion and they cannot justify any of this senseless killing that has left thousands in its wake. This should not be allowed to happen again, we need to look at the root cause of radicalism in Nigeria and educate our young that terror will not and cannot win.

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Y Oga, mentor and friend, the oldest newspaper man in Nigeria today, now racing towards 80, had repeated this during several of our discussions about aging until it has now become Uncle Sam’s Principle of Life. He also frequently adds in Itsekiri, “Agba soro da” (translation: “it is not easy to be old”).

And finally he reassures all the old people around him, “If you wake up feeling pain [as all old people do] in any, or several parts of your body, then cheer up, you are not dead yet.” Now that I have fully joined the old people, I can now appreciate the wisdom in those statements. And that brings us to a warning to the young, who might think that this article does not concern them. I have news for them – good or bad depending on how it is

interpreted.

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“If you don’t die, you are bound to grow old.”

Uncle Sam, Publisher of VANGUARD Newspapers.

love.Nobody gives a damn about the old people. They have become the invisible men and women living among us – until they die; when we then spend more money, in a few days, entertaining ourselves, than we spent on them in their entire lives. If our excuse is that we were not aware of our neglect of the elderly, then that plea should end now.

Once again, we plan to remember the elderly among us on October 21, 2014 – in Lagos. The United Nations had fixed October 1 as the Elderly Peoples Day. But, that clashes with our own I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary and our experience two years ago had taught us that insisting October 1 will

Things won't change unless we become brave enough to want a change for the better. Nigerians are battling daily and relentlessly with no respite in sight

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Terror revisited and Terror dismantle In the last couple of days, we were told that the heinous leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau has been killed in a gun battle and the grainy picture seems to show someone that resembles

All roads lead to South Africa

Wole Soyinka said that "religion has entwined with politics and has created a toxic brew". He is right.

Gone were the days of tolerance and respect for one another. In the south in particular, it was as a common place, to have in one family of Christians and Muslims and it was the given. It was the way it was and we thought nothing of it. It seems that is no longer the case in the south or anywhere nowadays Last week, I was unable to comment on the case of two Nigerians and an Israeli who smuggled $9.3million into South Africa and of a private jet belonging to the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

I find it incredulous that the Nigerian government would think it is normal practice to turn up in

Sambo.

2. All State Governors and Deputy Governors.

3. All Federal Ministers and State Commissioners.

4. All candidates for elective office.

5. Northern Elders Forum, Yoruba Council of Elders, Ohaneze, South South Peoples Consultative Forum, 6. Elder Statesmen/ women including but not limited to: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Maitama Sule, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Edwin Clarke, Chief Igbiniedon, Chief T.S Danjuma, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chief Arthur Eze; Alhaji Femi Okunu, Olorogun Michael Ibru, Chief Ade Ojo, Professor Aminu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Femi Otedola, Chief Mike Adenuga, Jim Ovia, Jimoh Ibrahim, Hajiya Shagaya, Mrs Alakija, Mr BIGGS, TANTALIZER, CocaCola, Seven-Up, …….

The list is not complete yet and more names will be published as we go along. But, you don’t have to wait to be named.

Anybody who wants to help in getting this thing off the ground can send their donation to: GTB 001-216-3187 The venue and time will soon be made known to all Nigerians.

All, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnic nationality, gender or income status, are invited another country with cases full of cash and it will go unreported. The South African police were right to demand an answer and to investigate why the Nigerian government did not follow the right protocol and procedure. We can no longer run Nigeria as a fiefdom, and allow our commonwealth to be used as private expenses.

Although, the Nigerian government owned up this scandal, it does so because they were caught red handed. As far as I know, international arms’ trafficking is a crime.

The fact that the private jet involved to ferry the mysterious figures to do this shady deal is the president of CAN. By association he has brought the organisation to disrepute.

No one can come out of this lily white and ignorance is not an excuse.

The CAN organisation was after all set up to promote cooperation among Christians and to promote interfaith harmony and safeguard the welfare of all Nigerians. In this case, its leader has failed to do so.

They say "show me your friends and I will tell you who you are". Well, if you sleep with dogs you will get fleas. Make of it what you will, we need to begin to question our involvement, ourselves, our beliefs and be brave enough to be guided by what is right not by fear.

Pastor Chis, the man of God

because this is a nonpartisan matter. As my Oga said: “if you don’t die you will grow old.”

CHRISTIANS, $9.3M AND OTHER MATTERS “Wherever God erects a house of prayer/ The Devil always builds a chapel there/ And, ‘twill be found upon examination/ The latter has the largest congregation.” Daniel Defoe, 1661? –1731.

I am a Christian; so I am involved in the matters to be discussed here. It is quite possible that I am the only one feeling embarrassed for our Lord Jesus Christ for what the so-called leaders of our faith had done lately and openly to disgrace us. There is neither space nor time to touch on every issue that has cropped up in recent times – all of which should call for a total reappraisal of our role in Nigeria and the world as a whole. The US$9.3 million smuggled into South Africa, on a plane, admittedly, partly owned by one of our leaders was the proverbial “last straw which broke the camel’s back”. That came as corpses were being dug out of the rubble of the Synagogue; which also followed revelations about the reasons for a messy divorce case in London….

Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/ biolasobowale The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.Gandhi Speaking from Pretoria some weeks back, Mr. Oyakhilome known as Pastor Chris described himself as a man of God and he warned his congregation to refrain from speaking against a man of God. As it is common knowledge, his wife has filed for divorce in the British Courts. So he has in effect sent her to Coventry and none of his congregation is to have anything to do or say about the matter. I found his rhetoric eerily disturbing.

He has told his followers that "to speak against the man of God is to bring a curse on yourself and your children. When you hear people speaking against a man of God, move away from there. "Men of God don't just talk. When they speak, God is forced to move."

When will we learn to rid ourselves of such fear, dogma and when would we think for ourselves and know this for certain, that everyone will have to find his own way to Heaven. We place so much prestige on our religious leaders that we fail to question anything they do or say because we fear the Repercussion. It is about time that people questioned their beliefs and devotion.

We often defend blindly and shout down any one that thinks differently and is brave enough to voice his opinions.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 11

N less than 72hours from today, Nigeria would be due for another independence anniversary the 54 th . Last week, I listened to a radio public enlightenment programme in which a young caller passionately begged the producer to kindly explain the controversy of Nigeria being 54 years old in the same year in which her government celebrated what it called the centenary.

From the feeble response of the producer, it was clear he did not know much more than the youthful caller. The truth however is that Nigeria is only 54 years old because although she was created by the British in 1914, she was only a colony and did not become a nation until 1960 when she gained independence and nationhood. Why then did our government celebrate 100 years of our nationhood earlier this same year?

Two sets of analysts would answer the question differently. The first set made up of what could be

described as critics or supporters of opposition politicians or cynics could imagine that perhaps some political office-holders wanted a catchy budget sub-head from which to draw resources for expenditure on celebrations. So they made us to become a country that was 100 years old in January only to be reduced to 54 in October of the same year. The other group made up of transformation crusaders and development c o m m u n i c a t i o n

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coming together, while next Wednesday ’s celebration would be the 54 th anniversary of our independence from Britain.

They would probably add that because government is prudent, it would not celebrate twice hence on October 1, we shall have what has become popularly known as ‘low-key ’ celebration.

Those who are not familiar with the Nigerian meaning of the term lowkey need to be told that the term captures when a national celebration is restricted to those who have access to the corridors of power. They are, in actual fact the only ones that would witness a simple

Those who are not familiar with the Nigerian meaning of the term lowkey need to be told that the term captures when a national celebration is restricted to those who have access to the corridors of power

practitioners would employ a more patriotic diction.

They would simply say what was celebrated in January was the centenary of our amalgamation, that is our

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military parade and later have dinner at the Villa-a place which frequently functions these days as our alternate Eagle Square.

Well, there is doubt if the

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Shibboleths and refutations (1)

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NYTIME I suggest, with good reasons, that successive federal governments have s y s t e m a t i c a l l y marginalised south eastern Nigeria since the Biafran war ended in 1970, some critics allege that I am over flogging the marginalisation issue, that I must be a tribalist, and that my claim is tantamount to making excuses for incompetent and corrupt Igbo political leaders. Now, it is probably true that a lot has been written on the subject of Igbo marginalisation within the Nigerian system; but according to an Igbo aphorism, if a hand does not beat a drum, the drum would not produce any sound. As long as Nigerian government treats the Igbo or any ethnic nationality in Nigeria unfairly, it is legitimate and proper for the citizens to draw attention to it, so that corrective measures can be taken to correct the situation before it gets out of hand.

With regard to the allegation of being a tribalist for criticising continued marginalisation of Igboland by past and present federal government, my response is that those who know me well know that I am a cosmopolitan.

A cosmopolitan is someone who believes that despite

our differences the human family is one and that everyone has a right to the pursuit of happiness and well-being anywhere in the world. Therefore, anytime I write against marginalisation of Ndigbo, I am automatically arguing that it is wrong to treat any other ethnic group that way. In otherwords, following Immanuel Kant's moral prescription, I maintain that it is wrong for Nigerian government to implement policies and programmes which suggests that a certain part of the country is less important than others. For national unity, peace and justice, all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic origin and religious affiliation, should have a sense of belonging to one nation dominated by fairness and justice.

On the issue of making excuses for incompetent political leaders, no one who has followed my modest contributions to national discourse would dream of calling me a sycophant. Indeed, I have always maintained that, collectively, Igbo political leadership has been a colossal failure, except for a few bright spots epitomised in the administration of late Chief Samuel Mbakwe of old Imo state. Largely, political leaders in the southeast have wasted, and are still

squandering, wonderful opportunities for providing exemplary leadership for the people. Igbo leaders owe the people a sacred duty to develop Igboland, if for no other reason than to repair the terrible devastation of eastern region during the civil war, and showcase to Nigerians the quality a president of Igbo extraction can bring into governance at the highest level.

Unfortunately, up to now, Igbo politicians and leaders of thought are yet to forge a collective strategic vision or set of interconnected visions and action plan for the future of Igboland.

Now, agbata ekee politicians motivated by bulimic desire for primitive accumulation dominate politics in the five states that constitute southeast geopolitical zone. The same is true about ministers and federal legislators from Igboland. It not surprising, therefore, that economic and infrastructural development in the zone is sluggish due to indiscipline and corruption at the highest levels of governance. That is a matter for serious concern, especially given the steady decline of southeast as the hub of informal economy in Nigeria. Given this scenario, I can never for whatever reason make excuses for incompetent leadership or support mediocrity in Igboland.

R e c e n t l y , marginalisation of Igboland (and southern

much especially when contract fee is added, some of the money for the anniversary dinner should be saved for better use. A good percentage of the money can be given to Mama Peace to purchase independence anniversary gift items for the sick, the poor, the homeless and the physically challenged. But if we must have dinner, those to be assembled should include victims of insurgency and the traumatized families of those abducted. The gesture would boost the morale of many of them who would remember often that they were never abandoned.

Two more groups of citizens who deserve our anniversary dinner are: first, our sports girls who now make it possible for our national anthem to be played at international competitions. Okagbare and her colleagues in athletics as well as Oshoala and others in football deserve national dinner.

Their achievements are best understood when placed side by side with the fate of their male counterparts who have not been quite lucky or those of members of the Nigerian Football Federation who take delight in haunting their nation with the ghost of FIFA. Another batch of those who should partake of a national dinner is made up of our gallant military forces who we hear have greatly reversed the

Nigeria generally) reared its ugly head, this time round in the form of allocation of new Polling Units (PUs) to the thirty-six states of the federation and Abuja by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Keep in mind that PUs, which, by determining the number of polling booths during elections, constitute the foundation of our electoral process and democratic evolution. According to media reports, INEC has approved the creation of additional 30,027 new PUs in addition to the existing 119,973 PUs, making 150,000 polling units nationwide. Given that existing PUs were created in 1996, INEC's move to create more in preparation for general elections next year is reasonable. After all, more Nigerians of voting

of a PU means provision of voting facilities for 500 eligible voters. When a state gets 1,000 new PUs, for instance, it has additional facilities to accommodate half a million eligible voters.

Hence, the over 21,000 polling units given to the north, including Abuja, translates to the accommodation of more than 11,000,000 potential eligible voters, while over 8,000 allocated to the south yield 4,000,000 eligible voters, far less than half of what INEC provided for the north.

Although the nauseating imbalance in INEC's allocations is obvious, a closer look at the details reveals that the southeast was the least favoured of all the six geopolitical zones.

It is ridiculous that INEC created additional 1,200

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Who deserves Independence Anniversary dinner?

venue of the celebration is as important as those who are privileged to be in attendance. What appears certain is that those who are likely to be at the dinner may not necessarily be those who deserve a national dinner at this point of our socio-political disposition. This view point is influenced by the fact that those who can enter the secured venue of the dinner are not those in need of food as they can from their personal resources organize any form of sumptuous dinner.

Again, they do not fall within the hungry bracket because before dinner, many of them would have had breakfast, tea, mid-day coffee, lunch, snacks etc.

They therefore do not need dinner at government expense. Others who have no business in our national dinner but who will as usual be there include our politicians who are daily re-decamping to wherever their bread is buttered. The same is true of our political office holders whose aides earn more than the highest technocrats. Of course, our legislators who do not even know how much they earn have no place in our independence anniversary dinner.

They should not be there to increase the fat bill of next Wednesday’s dinner. In addition, considering that government dinner which usually consists of first course, salad, main meal, wine, sweet etc. could cost

It is ridiculous that INEC created additional 1,200 PUs in Abuja, whereas the entire southeast comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states got only 1,167! Now, Borno and Yobe states received 1,336 and 790 additional PUs respectively, almost two times what the entire southeast got

age have emerged since then. Again, it is important to avoid overcrowding at the booths and ensure that prospective voters do not have to walk long distances to vote.

The main problem is serious lopsidedness in INEC's allocation of the PUs. Of the 30,027 new units it delineated, the commission allocated over 21,000 to the north and Abuja, while the south got slightly over 8,000. In practical terms, allocation

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PUs in Abuja, whereas the entire southeast comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states got only 1,167! Now, Borno and Yobe states received 1,336 and 790 additional PUs respectively, almost two times what the entire southeast got. Yet, Borno and Yobe are the hardest hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, probably with up to 500,000 internally displaced persons that have migrated to several states in the Middle Belt and mostly to the South.

overwhelming damaging impact of insurgency on the nation. The soldiers deserve a special treat for their current great strides because until a week ago, everyone had virtually written off our military.

We kept hearing stories of obsolete equipment and how our soldiers have developed a habit of refusing deployment; how they were shooting at their commanders in anger; how they were protesting the ban on motorcycles in the barracks and how their spouses were organizing street protests on their behalf. Alas, it is now a new story of how the former and immediate past shekaus are no more and how lost territories have been recovered etc. Indeed, our military and security operatives should be at the dinner in addition to getting winning bonuses at each junction. This would spur them on to over-all victory and bring peace to our troubled land. When this happens, everything would return to normal and we shall have cause as a nation to put aside low key celebrations and openly rejoice when the occasion demands. But we should not encourage any already well-fed Nigerian to be at the feast. Indeed, any of the rest of us not in the above list of those who should be at the coming anniversary dinner should for now eat his dinner in his own domain.

Jega's excuse is that "everybody hopes that normalcy would be restored in those areas before the 2015 general elections"!

Thus, based on mere hope, the INEC chairman did not reckon that the situation might indeed get worse as the elections approach, that the number of casualties and demographic shifts might escalate to a level that could be statistically significant, and that many of those who migrated to more peaceful states in the south might not return. It means that for Jega, the current violence in the northeast is demographically inconsequential, which is an unrealistic assumption indeed.

A panoramic view of the table for allocation of polling units gives a strong impression that INEC, led

by Prof. Jega, has a hidden agenda to promote the electoral strength of northern Nigeria against the south. Naturally, Jega has tried to defend himself and INEC, but his arguments are hollow and unconvincing. In a session with journalists penultimate Wednesday, the INEC chairman told those present that "When you get the document we have provided here, please go through it thoroughly and you will understand there is no basis at all to talk about favouring any part of the country."

Now, if the document Jega was referring to includes the table containing a list of the thirty six states and Abuja, post-AFIS data used for creating new PUs, total number of existing PUs in all the states and the federal capital, and new ones allocated to each of these, then something is fatally wrong with his logic.

To be continued

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

2015: The exodus of APGA lawmakers and the war within

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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Hon. Victor Ogene

Hon. Uche Ekwenife that Ekwunife, who is also the House Committee Chairman on Environment, would ditch APGA for any other party. But far from it. Early August, the lawmaker packed her things and joined the chorus in the PDP. She would rather not move alone as she dragged four other lawmakers with her, leaving APGA bleeding in the parliament.

On the heels of the defection filtered the news that Hon. Victor Ogene, member representing Ogbaru federal constituency of the state in the national parliament followed suit. But this has long been proved to hold no water as Ogene himself refuted the claim, authenticating his tenacity in APGA. In fact, if there is any one who has decided to swim and sink with APGA, it is Ogene. He did not defect. He has been joined by his colleague and member representing Akwa south and Awka North, Hon. Emeka Nwogu.

Ogene, who is the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, has reasons he would not move. One: he wants to remain grateful to the party under which he got elected in 2011. Two: His people have assured him of their unflinching support in the 2011 race, after all, such was the case in 2011 when they ignored all the entreaties of a sitting representative from the PDP and voted for him.

Perhaps, the biggest of the reasons Ogene is staying back in APGA is yet another call by the people of Ogbaru federal constituency to him to return to the National Assembly in 2015.

This way, they would show appreciation to a worthy ambassador who has, in the last three and a half years of his political career, made altruism his watchword.

Again, repudiated as the shining face of APGA upon the exit of Ekwunife and co; it will be easy ride for him as the people would pour in their sympathy.

Ogene’s strides Within the period under review, a plethora of unassailable feats now stand conspicuous on every nook and cranny of Ogbaru

despite the fact that as a legislator, he is more lawmakingoriented than he is in the provision of social infrastructures. But even before providing the infrastructures, Ogene, who is an accomplished journalist cum editor, had decided to start from the basics.

This is better elucidated in an interview he granted recently.

His words: “First and foremost, when I entered the fray as it were, I made it clear that I was not going to be sharing money because I was not coming into the field as a money bag.

Secondly, I told the people that I was not going to build

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HEY may not have been the leading opposition but they were a bunch that could bite. And they did when occasion demanded it as their number fetched them a place in the mainstream opposition.

But as far as the 7th assembly of the House of Representatives is concerned, they are no more because their number has been pruned to two out of seven persons who gave their political party a national significance at the dawn of the present dispensation in 2011.

This is the situation with All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, at the moment. The party’s numerical fortunes in the House began to dwindle in September, 2013 when, in one fell swoop, some 37 lawmakers from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, defected to the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC. Ordinarily, nothing in the development was of any concern to the APGA lawmakers. This is according to some analysts, but for seeming political reasons, two members of the party got taken by APC, leaving the party five members. with Understandably, the two defectors came from Imo State and so followed their governor, Rochas Okorocha, who helped to form APC. But barely one year after the development, the largest of all blows visited APGA. This time, it was a well calculated attempt by its members in the House to finally snuff life out the party.

At the centre of the current development is Hon. Uche Ekwenife, member representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House.

To keen observers of Ekwenife’s exploits, her action is not entirely a novelty. Tutored in the political dynasty of former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Ekwenife has since understood appropriate moves that could pay off.

First, she launched a grip on PDP, secure the ticket, contested for the national parliament and won. But hardly had her first term elapsed when she threw in the towel for a governorship contest in 2010. Aware of the hurdles in the Anambra PDP which lowered her chances of grabbing the ticket, the banker-turnedpolitician headed for the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA. Ekwunife grabbed the PPA ticket, contested but failed. But she was not not perturbed. Her consolation apparently came from the fact that her term was still running at the National Assembly. Of course, she headed back to the House. But not too long, campaigns for the 2011 elections came on stream. Again, aware of her slim chances with PPA to return to the parliament, Ekwunife migrated to the ruling APGA. APGA favored her and she got re-elected on the party ’s platform.

Until August, no one thought

be a lot more visible, and I started that even right from the campaigns by setting up the Ogbaru Voice, a community tabloid, which we have sustained.

We are into our fifteenth edition, and we give it out free. Besides giving it out as an identity for an Ogbaru man, it also serves as a kind of feedback position for our representation.

“So, whatever we do, we put it there alongside other community based stories. Then moving from there, on the floor of the House of Representatives, we also have not been quiet. Virtually everybody, the other 359 members now know Ogbaru. At the

Already, signs that a dirty battle is imminent between the trio are everywhere with the stealing of voter cards in the area

skyscraper, because it was not in my line of duty to do so. However, I still have my campaign pamphlets because I asked them to keep it safe and secure; that that would be the basis upon which they judge my tenure at the end of my tour of duty. First, I offered to give my people a voice within the larger Nigerian spectrum.

“By that I mean, in not too recent past, when you ask anybody from my own sub-ethnic group within the larger Igbo nation; the Ogbaru people are on the banks of the great River Niger, and when you ask where are you from, and we say we are from Ogbaru, the next question is where is Ogbaru? You now begin to explain that it is where the highlife king, Stephen Osita Osadebe comes from. If the person does not catch the drift, you now say okay, do you know Prof. Ben Nwabueze, the foremost constitutional lawyer, you say yes that is where I come from, close to Onitsha.

“But I said that because we are a proud people and we ought to

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mention of the word Ogbaru, you know it is in Anambra state, associated with Hon. Victor Afam Ogene. So, through my interactions with the media, contributions, Ogbaru now has added impetus”.

Not long ago, Ogene empowered over 150 of his constituents who were essentially youths. The youths graduated from a skill acquisition programme of the Fidelis Ogene Memorial Foundation, an institution founded in memory of Ogene’s father at his home in Atani community. However, the training programme was in conjunction with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

The event, which attracted the presence of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as the Special Guest of Honour, APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh amongst other party stalwarts, had the youths graduate in the different fields which included computer application, fashion and

designing, electrical installation, barbing, hairdressing, catering and GSM repair.

Items distributed to the graduands included 250 sewing machines, 100 grinding machines, 25 hair dryers, 25 gas cookers, 50 laptop computers, 15 wheelchairs, 20 electricity generating sets, clippers, 20 tool boxes containing components for GSM repair, 25 tool boxes for electrical installation, and additional 10 motorcycles, apart from 80 pieces he had donated earlier, and five block-moulding machines.

Also, over 350 men, women and the physically-challenged, benefitted from the lawmaker ’s generosity, as they went home with various items of empowerment.

Besides all these, by Ogene’s efforts, some communities in his constituency had been connected to the national grid of Power Holding of Nigeria, PHCN through the distribution of transformers.

Hurdles But despite these strides, Ogene faces some challenges in his ambition to stage a come back to the House in 2015. At the center of the challenge is the Speaker of his state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili, who is eying Ogene’s seat.

Ordinary, there is nothing wrong with her ambition but many people think that the way she is going about defies every conceivable political nuances.

For instance, she allegedly stopped her father, Igwe P.C.U Afubera, who is incidentally the traditional ruler of Ogbakuba, Ogbaru, from conferring on Ogene a chieftaincy.

Ogene displayed maturity and asked for a postponement of the exercise which was originally slated to hold on July 26, 2014.

Last week, the wife of the governor of the state, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, during her maiden familiarization tour of Ogbaru local government, also defied every political decorum and pronounced Nwaebili the choice of the party for Ogene’s seat.

But for the interventions of elders of the community, a free for -all would have ensued between the supporters of both parties.

Outside Chinwe’s muzzleflexing, the former occupant of the seat, Hon. Chukwu Onyema, who was roundly defeated by Ogene, is also angling for a return to the National Assembly.

Sources say his hope is hinged on his brother, Mr. Oscar Onyema, who is currently the Director- General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Already, signs that a dirty battle is imminent between the trio are everywhere with the stealing of voter cards in the area. On September 2, unknown persons broke into INEC’s office at Atani, headquarters of Ogbaru local government and carted away permanent voters cards of people.

Though the matter is before a magistrate court in the area upon the arraignment of some three INEC security staffers, the elites and major contenders for the seat have continued to point accusing fingers against each other.

The people to decide Though the game has completely assumed a dimension where money has become the language now, Ogene, who has the support of the common people, believes that his good works in the constituency and his finesse would sway the people to his side during the primary elections.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 13

Mr President and the free and fair polls question

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BY EMMANUELAJIBULU

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan might have firmly delivered credible elections since his inception into office, compared to what the citizenry witnessed in the polls conducted by the past administrations.

Nigerians cannot forget so easily, incidents of ballot stuffing, ballot snatching, intimidation and victimization of voters, inducements of voters, and electoral officers which often times are known to be factors bedeviling the success and credibility of our voting exercise. Yet, he won’t stop getting bashings from the opposition. This is normal in any constitutional democracy and moreover the buck stops on his desk.

Mr President seems to be working very hard to convince everyone that he means business. He is very quick to brandish the credentials of the electoral umpire in the person of Professor Attahiru Jega, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Arguably, Jega is qualified; but his recent polling units scandal and the probable electoral dangers that deliberate blunder could bring to Nigeria’s future elections had openly put Jega’s integrity and competence to test.

This latest incident has also revealed that Jega’s past successes are not unconnected with the enabling environment which President Jonathan dispassionately

President Jonathan created; truly a functional system is what is needed to sanitize Nigerian electoral process for credible results.

For the records, the recent outcomes of two elections from the South-West States, namely Ekiti and Osun which are perceived to be litmus tests to the 2015 general elections are pointers to validate enthronement of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

It is no news that there were pockets of violent clashes before the Ekiti elections, which gave enough reasons to warrant the deployment of about 12,000 troops including, soldiers, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Security Service (NSCDC), police officers to keep the peace during the poll.

In retrospect, elections were also held in Edo, Ondo and An-

Arguably, Jega is qualified; but his recent polling units scandal and the probable electoral dangers that deliberate blunder could bring to Nigeria’s future elections had openly put Jega’s integrity and competence to test

,

ambra States respectively, with huge attendance of armed security operatives, movements were equally restricted before, during and after the conducts of the polls. However one key thing played out in these three states, none of the candidates of the PDP which has the control of the government at the centre, won the guber contests. Such a leveled playing field cannot be said to be short of acceptable, credible, free and fair elections.

Edo’s July 14, 2012 governorship election, the battle was between the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Peoples Democratic Party which had the full support of the Federal Government.

However, Edo was critical to the ACN as the party was determined to keep its influence in a non-South-West state and Governor Adams Oshiomhole won the vote of the people decisively for a second term in office.

In Ondo, the dynamics were slightly different as the incumbent is of the Labour Party, which has no presence at the national level and Ondo is the only state it controls. The ACN (now APC) was desperate to control, as said in Nigerian parlance, ‘capture Ondo’, which was the only nonACN state in the South-West as at that time; while the PDP would love to get a foothold in the ‘hotbed’ of opposition. After months of intense politicking and anxiety, the Ondo State governorship election held on October 20, 2012 ended, with incumbent Governor Segun Mimiko of the Labour Party emerging victorious.

Anambra election that held on November 16, 2013 was not anything different from the experiences of Edo and Ondo States.

The outcome of the hotly contested election produced the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Willie Obiano, as the winner of the Anambra governorship election.

To a larger extent the ‘militarization’ of our polls as famously described by the opposition has obviously yielded positive results for our electoral process, perhaps the President was tak-

2015: Senator Delta North needs – Hon. Adigwe

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

A

head of 2015 polls, a senatorial aspirant and former House of Representatives member representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, Hon. Pascal Nwaoranine Adigwe, in this interview speaks on why Aniocha should produce the next Delta North senator and his chances.

Adigwe from Ogbeogudei quarters of Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State, also speaks on his plans for Delta North if elected.

We are informed you are seeking the support of your people to become senator in 2015. Can you throw more light on this?

Your source is correct. The name Pascal Nwaoranine Adigwe rings a bell in the political circle as well as other sectors in Delta North, the state and the country. I am home grown and have firsthand experience and seen sensibilities of the circumstance, needs and aspirations of my people, as well as driven by a fervent desire to better the lot of the people of Delta North.

Why are you seeking the mandate of your people to represent them in the Senate having represented Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives?

It is true I represented Aniocha/ Oshimili in the House of Representatives where my service is clear for all to see. I decided to go to the upper level of the National Assembly where I am sure my experience would be fully utilized to provide an effective, resourceful and capable representation as a platform for the economic and social transformation of Delta North, DeltaState and Nigeria. My mission is to champion the interest and galvanise the unity and resourcefulness of my people for the promotion of the

Hon. Pascal Adigwe economic, social and infrastructural development of Delta North.

My reasons for seeking the senatorial seat are as follows: To provide a credible and result-oriented representation and platform for the economic and social transformation of the entire district leveraging on my considerable experience and record of quality service; the necessity to galvanise the unity and resourcefulness of our people in teamwork and under the auspices of the PDP to advance peace and progress of Delta North; equity and justice demand representation at the senate by the Aniocha block (where I come from ) after representations

by Ndokwa by Senator Patrick Osakwe, Oshimili by Senator Nosike Ikpo and Senator Francis Nwajei, Ika by Senator Mrs. Bernice Ken and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa with none from Aniocha.

This is the time for me to be appreciated by my party as an advocate of justice, fairplay and equity.

Can you highlight your stewardship during your period in the House of Representatives?

I was elected with an overwhelming majority to represent Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency from 2003 to 2007 where I displayed

excellent service marked by the delivery of numerous projects and human development opportunities for my people. Notable among these include: sponsorship of over 50 youths in higher education in various fields of studies which is still ongoing, employment scouting and placement of over 50 young graduates, non-graduates and beyond from my constituency into ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government as well as in the private companies.

Attraction of Ogwashi-Uku Dam project through the dragged effort as a then federal legislator.

This dam on completion will supply water and electricity to

many towns and villages in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.

During my tenure, I fought and got the enlistment of Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency to benefit from NDDC programmes and projects.

I continue to be a major voice and mobiliser for economic transformation, humanistic development, people oriented policies, electoral reforms and poverty alleviation.

What have been your contributions to the PDP? I am a faithful PDP member. I am a strategic party worker, a dynamic grassroots mobiliser and charismatic campaigner. I have a

ing a cue from the deadly postelection violence in northern Nigeria, following the April 2011 presidential voting which left more than 800 people dead. The victims were killed in three days of rioting in 12 northern states.

The violence began with widespread protests by supporters of the main opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim from the Congress for Progressive Change (now fussed to APC), following the re-election of incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the Niger Delta in the south, who was the candidate for the ruling People’s Democratic Party. The protests degenerated into violent riots or sectarian killings in the northern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Thankfully the government had learnt its lesson and this has consistently informed the need to be proactive during the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

However as Nigeria continues in her democratic journey, it is expedient for the opposition to show magnanimity in victory and exhibit spirit of sportsmanship, especially when electoral outcome fails to favour them. The insinuations that there are sinister motive behind deployment of security agents for election other than ensuring peace may dangerously drift the nation back to square one. superlative record of tenacious and result-oriented service to PDP at national, state and even local and ward levels which resulted in heading various positions in the party including being chief presidential returning agent for 2011 presidential general elections (Delta State), Secretary 2012 PDP National Congress Appeal Panel, Yobe State, chief governorship returning agent for 2011 governorship election and that of senatorial election.

Also, I was the chairman, committee on logistics and protocol, Delta State government census (2003 – 2007).

As a senatorial aspirant in Delta North in 2011, I stepped down for (Dr.) Okowa and served as one of the leaders of his campaign and then his returning officer.

Imo 2015: The electorate’s unsettling demand

W

BY MOSES NOSIKE

HAT started as a casual talk in Imo State that those who are queuing to be nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fly its flag in the 2015 governorship election in the state must give account of their stewardship at the National Assembly and public offices they occupied in the past has ballooned into an unquenchable demand threatening the ambitions of some front-line aspirants.

The people of Imo state are now insisting that throwing money around and making promises are not enough to determine where the pendulum of victory would swing in the coming primaries of the party. They are challenging those who have represented the state at the National Assembly, particularly, to present their score card in terms of executed constituency projects.

Various groups in the state have warned the PDP that it will amount to political misadventure

if it nominates any of these people as its candidate unless the people are satisfactorily convinced that the monies collected for constituency projects were duly applied to the projects the funds were collected. This is because if the party goes ahead to do what it likes disregarding the warning, the electorate will wait at the general election proper to make a statement.

A group which has been in the forefront of the accountability campaign has even gone a step further to threaten to publish the total amount collected by each of these aspirants on year-byyear basis as constituency projects on behalf of the people.

The amount, according to the group, is staggering and mindblowing with little or no reflection on the well-being of the people. Some PDP stalwarts said they are in a quagmire on the way forward as they foresee the possibility of the party losing out in the end if it ignores the warn-

ing signs emanating from these threats. A chieftain of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity said the party could not afford to present a candidate that will have encumbrances at the general election, which may mean handing Governor Rochas Okorocha a second term on a platter.

There has been series of sensitization campaigns by various organizations from within and outside the state on the need to elect credible people into offices as a way of moving the state forward. The organizers of these campaigns have always pointed out that Imo has been a victim of individual and collective greed.

A situation where the people are willing to collect money to elect the wrong persons into offices and turn round to complain when the looting and mismanagement of state resources begin is the height of collective greed and nothing has held the state down more.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

THE PRESIDENT’S STEWARD

A pauper in Aso Rock!

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any Nigerians would like to think that having a job in the Presidential Villa would be the opportunity to avail oneself of his/her share of the national cake. That, however, is not the case with the presidential steward, Mr. Micheal Onuh, who lives in a rented apartment on the outskirts of Nasarawa State and survives on two hours sleep daily.

He has served different heads of state and presidents for 30 years as a steward. He started his work with Shehu Shagari, witnessed the coup d’tat of Major- General Muhammadu Buhari and General Ibrahim Babangida.

He prepared the table of the interim government of Ernest Shonekan and witnessed the brutality reign of General Sani Abacha. He was also at the Villa when General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to the Civilian reign of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.

The intrigues and drama of the Umaru Musa Yar Adua’s administration did not deter

him from doing his work.

At present, he is the head of presidential stewards at Aso Villa. One would expect someone who is very close to power to have some of its trappings, but the 59-yearold lives in a rented apartment at Karu, Nasarawa State.

In spite of his rare dedication to duty, the father of four children admits that he faces a challenge in his job, and also has regret.

“The regret I have is that for someone that has been working for his country for over 30 years, it is not good that I don’t have my own accommodation. I live at the outskirts of the city (in Karu, Nasarawa State) in a rented house,” he confessed.

“My greatest challenge is coming all the way to work from a very far distance every day. Waking up by 3am to be at work and closing in the early hours of the morning only to be back again very early to work is a big challenge for me.”

The Cable, quoting Villascope, an in-house magazine of the State House, said the native of Kogi State maintains a strict

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BY ABIODUN ALADE

My greatest challenge is coming all the way to work from a very far distance every day. Waking up by 3am to be at work and closing in the early hours of the morning only to be back again very early to work is a big challenge for me

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code of not asking for favours because it is against the ethics of his job.

“I cannot approach anybody for anything. We are trained not to beg anybody for anything. Do your job and leave everything to God,” he said.

Describing Onuh, Villascope wrote: “Quiet but unassuming, Micheal Onuh has seen it all. From the first executive president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari to Dr Goodluck Jonathan, he has been in the inner recesses of power attending to the domestic needs of the first family of the most populous and powerful black nation in the world.”

Meanwhile, in the 2014 budget, the Presidency had allocations of about N108.2 billion ($650 million). About N200 million was allocated for the provision of foodstuffs/catering supplies while it plans to expend another N162,556,500 on meals and refreshments for the year.

For honorarium and sitting allowances, the Presidency allocated N320 million with the sum of N33.8 million set aside for the office of the Vice-President to take care of his foodstuff and catering supplies as well as meals and refreshments in the year.

Recall that N34.5m was budgeted for two animals for the Villa Zoo. Onuh loves his job, which,

he says, has given him much exposure. He has visited the United States, Libya, Venuzuela and Jerusalem, to name just a few. “I have always derived pleasure in serving others. It also brings one close to the people that matter,” he said.

“I am happy to take care of the people that serve the nation. It means a lot to me.

I believe it is my contribution to my fatherland to be in charge of taking care of the little stuff of the presidents.”

Onuh, the longest-serving staff member at the Presidential Villa, will be bestowed with the honour of Member of the Order of the Niger.

Onuh will join 306 other Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to be conferred with National Honours Award on Monday, September 29, 2014, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The man who many call the pauper in the villa will stand on the same podium with the Chief of Staff, service chiefs, the acting Inspector-General of Police, eight governors, nine ministers, captains of industry, politicians and traditional rulers.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 — PAGE 15

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 17

bb pin: 20C37A25

Why I am still a virgin —Adokiye

Now

A

Then *Adokiye

My dieting plan does not include losing my boobs – Florence Johnson

while ago, Imo State-born singer, Adokiye Kyrian, created a media storm when she disclosed to Potpourri that she was a virgin. Adokiye, who called herself ‘pretty virgin’ during the disclosure said only the man who could buy her mum the private jet she promised her would get to unlock the secrets of her womanhood.

Just some days ago, she told Potpourri she now has a boyfriend. But whether the boyfriend has consented to buying her mother the jet she promised her is something she didn’t say. But then, she doesn’t have to, because, according to her, the guy hasn’t gone beyond ground floor of exploring her womanhood.

“I have a boyfriend now, But what we share is AGAPE love; no sex kind of love.

But I know I want to settle down and have kids. I heard, these days, things have changed; Menopause comes fast now! Young girls aren’t young again after all, ” she began.

When Potpourri reminded her it would be like making the poor fellow go through hell, having a relationship without sex, she simply replied: “I don’t think so. Do you know sex hinders blessings? Do you know sex takes your hand very far from the reach of your blessings? I know you are married and have every right to sex but try this sometimes. It always works like magic. It’s faster than 100 million Babalawo’s power.

Anyway, maybe it is okay for those who have license to have it but for me, I won’t have it until after marriage”.

F

inding Goodluck star, Florence Johnson has always been a plus-size woman, gracefully endowed with a pair of mammary glands that make her both an object of fierce attraction and lust. Recently, a guy who must have been drooling on one of her pictures sent her a message on her Facebook page requesting for her boobs picture in exchange for N1,500 recharge card.

Florence got so embarrassed that she posted her reply and the picture of the guy on Facebook. “Okay. This pervert, this useless he-goat called Levis Ediku wants me to send him my boobs picture in exchange for N1,500 recharge card. That’s alright. You all should please say a word of prayer for him. I attach his picture in case you need his picture for the prayers,” she wrote.

But that has become a bygone issue to the ever-smiling Florence. What is on her table right now is the dieting programme she is undergoing to trim down. In a matter of a week, Florence says she could see results but feared losing the big boobs that must have brought too many compliments to her over the years. She expressed her fears also through her Facebook page “First week of my exercise and dieting. Hmm, I think the result is becoming visible as I could see my long neck already. But I don’t want my precious ‘gift’ to reduce a bit o,” she wrote. Precious gifts? That should be as clear as day.

C M Y K

Chiamaka Nwokeukwu in Washington for AAFMF Award

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

T

*Chiamaka

he first ever AFRIFIMO Awards and Film/Music Festival (AAFMF) is scheduled to hold in the US next week. The Festival begins on October 1 and ends on the 4th of October. Chiamaka Nwokeukwu said during a chat on phone, Tuesday, that she had arrived in New York in preparation for the awards.

According to her,the main event would hold on October 3,in Washington DC, Maryland. Chiamaka just got into Nollywood recently and her performance in Chinelo the Shy Virgin got her two nominations; including Best Actress and Best Lead Actress. The movie also got nominated for Best African Film. The Award is created as an avenue to bring several African countries together and celebrate their talents.

Other Nigerian celebrities that got nominations include Ebube Nwagbo, for Best Supporting Actress, Frederick Leonard, for Best Actor, Flavour N’Albania, for Best High Life, P-Square, for Best Music video, Wizkid, for Best Solo Artist and Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade and Asa, were on the list.

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

New glamour girls of Yoruba films I

n 2009, I brought to public glare those I consider as ‘Glamour girls of Yoruba films’. The list included the likes of Biodun Okeowo, Iyabo Ojo, Mosun Filani, Mercy Aigbe, Doris Simon, Laide Bakare, to name a few. Now, those ladies are the ones calling the shots in the industry. In 2011, I followed up with another article to update those that just sprung up.

This edition is being guided by five older actresses who gave me their list of the newest reigning queens of Yoruba films. Meet them and hear a little about them:

My mom gave me money to produce my first film — Joke Jigan A

miable, pretty and lovely Joke Jigan, known in the industry as Bisola Beyonce is a big thing waiting to happen. Even though she only started acting professionally three years ago, she has produced five of her own films. “I started acting in 2005 but was doing it part time until three years ago. Acting is what I’ve always wanted to do, it’s not something that happened to me by accident. I’ve always loved it from day one and I am so glad I am doing it now. The first film I produced was Idoti and it was okay. My mum gave me money to produce it and I had friends in the industry that helped on location,” she told Potpourri.

Joke isn’t just a bundle of talent; she is easy on the eyes and a bit heavy on the chest but if you ask her what is unique about her, she would tell you it is her simplicity. She is also a consummate actress that brings life to her characters. “I’ll do what’s asked of me concerning my chosen career. I am not saying I’ll go naked to interpret a role or have real sex in a movie to prove I am a professional but I’ll do whatever I am asked to.

*Joke Jigan C M Y K

I can act any role as long as I am comfortable with it — Tope Osoba S

ome have called her the most beautiful and sexiest Yoruba actress rocking the Yoruba sector of Nollywood right now. Whether they are right or not, it is all left to the eyes to do the seeing. At least they say ‘seeing is believing’. Delightfully busty Tope Osoba started out as a video vixen until, according to her, acting found her.

“I really didn’t choose acting, I guess acting chose me. The first movie I ever featured in is titled IJOYA. I can’t really tell which is my most popular movie yet. And I have produced two films yet to be out.

The first is Single Ladies and Ifedolapo” she told Potpourri in a chat.

“I want people to look forward to the premiere of my film, Single Ladies. It is going to be awesome, amazing and classy. Date, time and *Tope venue of the big day will be Osoba disclosed soon,”she quipped.

Of course Tope is such a bundle of talent and one not given to too much scruples when it comes to the roles she could pick up. We saw Tope the Stripper in Igboro Ti Daru and Tope the uptown girl in Gucci Girls.

“I can act any role as long as I am comfortable with it. I can only do my best as long as I am comfortable with it, and then let’s shoot. I am human really, so that doesn’t make me really different from my peers but the truth is I am just me, it’s really hard to fake it,” she added rather smugly.

I do whatever my script says – Awele Edota A

wele Edota is from Asaba, Delta State but where destiny has taken her is making a living as a Yoruba actress. A delicate beauty with a touch of glamour and style, Awele came into the industry through Muyiwa Ademola who tutored and led her to the path where she has become the face that not only delights but also entertains. “I joined the Yoruba movie industry in 2008, when a friend introduced me to Muyiwa Ademola. My first film was Awure Eni by Rilwan Adebayo; I got the script through Sodiq Adebayo. But my most popular films are Koboko and Sekowale, by Yinka Oladele,” she narrated.The Mass Communications graduate from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, says acting is what comes to her naturally and she doesn’t see any role she cannot play.

“I will do whatever my script says. I believe it is the hallmark of a good actress. I can go as far as kissing on set but will never go nude. *Awele Edota

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

There is no role I can’t play perfectly

When off set I am cool and calm — Feyisara

— Temitayo Adeniyi

Hassan E

F

air-skinned and beautiful Temitayo Adeniyi rode to fame on the back of her popular film, Shakira.

In fact, most of her fans and colleagues now call her Shakira.

Telling Potpourri about her foray into the make-believe world, Temitayo traced how the passion came about.

“My passion for acting sprung up during my diploma programme at the Yaba College of Technology. I made inquiries on how to join the movie industry and it led me to my boss, who showed me the way. He gave me the guidelines. I registered and went through a three-year training programme, after which I graduated and I started as a professional actress. Between then and now, I have produced four films of my own and still counting,” she stated.

Temitayo can be described as a natural actress because she believes an actress should be able to take on any role and perfectly bring it to life.

“The interpretation of my roles perfectly makes me stand out and unique from others. There is no role I can’t touch and interpret perfectly. We all know it is all make-believe. Even the so called sex scenes are not real,” she explained.

*Temitayo Adeniyi

bony beauty, Feyisara Hassan, Yoruba actress, producer and model is a lady with few complications, that is, if she has any at all. Straightforward, downto-earth Feyisara would tell you with her poker face, “I don’t pretend’. “ When I am on set I focus on what I am doing, I never get distracted. “If I am on set it is another thing externally.

But when I am off set I am cool and calm; very humble and I never pretend,” she told Potpourri.

She also revealed it was Damola Olatunji who gave her her first script. Since then she has featured in many films like; Fikayomi, Rokun Rosa, Ipinle Ese, and according to her, her latest film to hit the market soon is Asan Speaking about her experience as an actress, Feyisara disclosed to Potpourri that her most challenging role till date was in Ipinle Ese, a film where she had to get into the character of a tom-boy. “I have never come close to being a tom-boy. But thank God Damola Olatunji brought out the best in me,” she said.

With the mention of Damola Olatunji at every turn, Potpourri probed if there is anything between the colleagues. But Feyisara retorted, “I never dated anyone in the industry. Only God knows what can happen in life. But to me there is nothing bad in dating or marrying a male colleague”.

*Feyisara Hassan

I can go for any role I can’t do things I will except sex roles later —Juwon Adewunmi regret — Empress Sosanya O

ne of the new acts adding extra glamour and flavour to Yoruba films of today is the beautiful Juwon Adewunmi. She would tell you her face is her selling point and looking at her, you could not but agree with

*Juwon Adewunmi

C M Y K

her. Telling her story, she said it was actually her mum that paved the way for her into acting.

“I love everything about acting and it was actually my mum that introduced me into it. What really inspired me into it is that actors are just like teachers you learn from and I wanted to b a good role model to people. I started acting since 1995 but then I was only featuring in mum’s production and her colleagues at Lagos Island chapter.

Later, I joined my own group, the African Spirit Performing Art in 2005 at Gbagada, Lagos. The head of the group was Mr Lekan Ojo (aka Gbatami), who I can call my master in the profession,” she narrated.

But Juwon reminded us she didn’t break through to the surface in her profession by picking roses along the way. There were times she erred and badly enough to want to quit but the passion, according to her, has made her stayed in the game.

My most embarrassing experience was on set during my first production.

Then I was still learning, so when I was asked to pronounce some words, I just couldn’t and fluffed my lines so bad that the director got mad and started shouting at me in front of everyone. Everyone started laughing and I had to leave the set at that moment.

E

mpress Anu Sosanya is not the showy or the flamboyant type. She is your modern day Mother Theresa without the cloak and veil. The warmth of heart could be felt like a kind of beauty you cannot see yet connect with in some odd way. “I’m a very godly, easy, calm and friendly being. I’m very easy to talk with if the approach and manners are nice and adequate. I go out of my way to be useful to people even if at the end it isn’t worth the stress. I just do my part and leave the rest,” she told Potpourri.

“Acting started way back for me. All my family except my mum and sister were against the decision. But later they saw my good intentions and consented. I later joined Jide Kosoko training school in 2004. The very

*Empress Sosanya

first movie I featured in was Arobi, where I played the part of a mad woman. I graduated in 2009 to produce my first movie Tofunmi, then Boseye Korin, Ilumi and Edidi, The Bond.

Edidi was the most popular of them all because it was widely accepted,” she said.

When it comes to acting, Empress has her limits and strong principles, which she doesn’t ever intend to compromise.

“I can never be caught acting nude, I mean exposing my body. Movies are long lasting that even your grandchildren will someday get to watch them. Even when you grow old you will get to watch them yourself, so why do things you will regret for a lifetime,” she queried.

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

I don’t mingle unnecessarily —Sotayo Sobola

I can be calm, wild, saucy and gentle — Oluwaseyi Edun S

*Oluwaseyi Edun

he calls herself ‘Unstoppable’ and truly, this fair beauty has stuffs stars are made of. She is called Eja Nla, meaning ‘Big Fish’ on account of her sterling performance in her movie titled Eja Nla. She has featured in other films like; Ogo Olorun, Tanika, Agbelebu Mi, Wasila coded, Ohun Oju Nwa, Orule, Baba Were, Alade Owala and Game Master, to name a few.

“My name is Oluwaseyi Edun.

I’m an actress and a film-maker. I joined the industry in 2009 and graduated 2011 under the house of Wisdom Caucus. The film that brought me to limelight is Ogo Olorun produced by me” she offered. “ Oluwaseyi Edun on camera is quite different from Oluwaseyi Edun off camera. I do what I’m asked to do by my director when on camera; I can be calm, wild, saucy and gentle. It depends on the character I’m playing but when I’m off camera I become my natural self; easy-going, gentle and humble” she added.

S

*Sotayo Sobola

I don’t want to be seen by my son acting nude

My stature gives me the edge —Temitope Solaja B

eautiful and petite Temitope Solaja, a mass communications graduate of Tai Solarin University, got her call into the movie industry through an invite from a senior colleague. “I started acting through my boss, Afeez Eniola when he came to shoot his movie titled Bamitale in my school. I ended up in that movie and it was my first movie. But Opolo made me popular;The movie was produced

by Shola Akintunde Lagata! He saw me in one location years back and told me that he really liked my acting.

*Temitope Solaja C M Y K

otayo Sobola is what they call a cross-over actress. She shouldn’t have been on this list if she had started out strictly as a Yoruba actress.

Sotayo started her acting career in the Englishspeaking sector before making a name for herself in the Yoruba sector.

In her words: “Well, acting started for me a longtime ago as far as 2003. I was and I am still a valid AGN (Actors Guild of Nigeria) member. I was doing lots of English movies then and at a point I started acting Yoruba movies. I started with Ewu loko Longe a movie produced by Mr Yinka Sam Aina. He just called me up to come pick up the script and that was my first ever major Yoruba movie. I played a lead role. But my first personal movie production was Arewa Onijogbon”.

Explaining to Potpourri the kind of person she is, Sotayo says she is an indoor person even when she doesn’t look it. “I know I take my time to do my things. I am multifaceted and I don’t mingle unnecessarily. I am an indoor person but I don’t look it. I have the ability to do a lot within and outside the industry” she quipped.

But how far would Sotayo go in interpreting her roles? “Of course, I can’t act nude; reason being that I am African. The society doesn’t welcome or encourage it. Movies tell a lot and sometimes people take personal, what they see in movies” she answered. At times people forget that what they see in movies are performances, and they take it personal against you”.

— Adunke Bamidele

He later invited me to cast in his movie Opolo” she said Speaking about her career, Temitope says her petite stature helps her blend into roles most of her colleagues could not fit into.

“Well, there are some certain roles that I can’t take and there are other roles that I can take and some of my colleague can’t take. I have a very young look that makes me look odd playing a married woman. But I go in for younger sister, elder sister, student and child roles which some of my colleagues can’t go for because of their stature. I believe my stature gives me a certain edge” she explained.

*Adunke Bamidele

O

labisi Onabanjo University graduate and mother of one, Adunke Bamidele has a unique story concerning her foray into the movie industry. Unlike her colleagues who have told stories of passion and childhood dreams, Aduke stormed into acting through one of the most fabulous ways you would ever imagine.

“I got into acting through my son. Yes, a director saw him on my Facebook page and wrote if I could permit him to use my son in a movie. Being a person that loves acting I gave them my permission. I have always wanted to act but thought I was too old to go into it. So, I took my son to the location, he was very small then. When it got to a scene, where he couldn’t go on, the director asked me if I could act and I said I could. I delivered my lines without any mistake and from there I started acting for real” she said.

Her first film is Mopesola and the most popular, according to her, Aworan Ife was only just released some weeks back. Aduke says she lives for her son and wouldn’t want to disappoint him.

“I don’t want to be seen acting naked and that’s because of my son. As a woman my selling point is my character and how I dress in public.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 21

Women, it's time to speak up!

BY YETUNDE AREBI

S

TEVE and Tomi have been dating for a couple of months. The chemistry between the duo had been so intense right from the go. As Tomi confided, she was completely swept off her feet by his gentleness, his deep mesmerising voice, his laughter and general body language, and most of all, wrapped in his arms, she felt like she'd entered a safe haven, like being swept into a warm, soft cuddle by a giant teddy bear. Communication between them was also great, they could talk about almost anything and did appear to share similar views on most issues too. The sex was great too, however, it always failed to flip her to the other side. Plus her many personal demons acted as huge barriers. Not because he did not try but simply because Tomi failed to confide in Steve exactly what tickled her fancy.

Tomi's self inflicted dilemma mirrors the pitiable situation of the sex life of many women. It is no secret that many women find it difficult to initiate sex with their partners while some others think it absurd to tell their partners how and where they want to be touched even

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P AGE 22—SUND AY Vanguard , SEPTEMBER 28 , 2014 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

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To help you move on, you need to forgive that love rat!

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INDING out that Sunny, my exhusband had taken his new girlfriend broad for the summer while I was still chasing after him for the school fees for our two children, was the final straw”, said Mariam, a 46-year-old copy writer who’s currently separated from her husband of 21 years.

“It was over a year since our marriage had ended after Sunny started a serious affair with a much younger woman.

It was like living a nightmare when he left so he could be with her any time he felt like it.

“The injustice of my scrimping in order to fed and clothe our children while he swanned around on exotic holidays made my blood boil. What’s more, having to deal with financial worries as well as trying to care for my bewildered children was taking its toll on me. I was having a good moan with a friend who had been through a very similar experience years earlier with her exhusband, when she cut me short by saying, `You can’t change his behaviour – all you can change is your reaction to his behaviour’. That was all well and good, but how was I going to change my reaction? I’d already tried the usual methods of coping with marriage breakdown – drowning my sorrows with a bottle of wine, throwing myself into my work, doing a bit of forced socialising and counselling – one of them had worked and I was still bitter.

“My husband and I had met 23 years ago at a friend’s birthday party.

It was pretty much love at first sight and soon we were inseparable. After an exciting courtship,

marriage and two lovely children now aged 20 and 17 years, followed in quickly succession and our first ten years together were reasonably happy. But the crack were beginning to show by the time our younger son was born. While Sunny watched football on television most evenings, I’d be in the kitchen cooking or doing some late-night work on my write-ups. We slept with our backs to each other and had a miserable 15 months in which we either avoided each other or disagreed about every little thing.

“It was around this time I discovered Sunny had fallen for a young woman he’d met a year previously through a mutual friend of ours. I was devastated. He refused to give her up after we’d had heated arguments about her that in the end, he opted to move out. The first few weeks after he left, the children and I went about our every day lives in a state of bewilderment. There were times we got four plates out at meal times by mistake, eating in numb silence and painfully aware of the empty fourth chair. After a while, the children seemed to be more accepting of the situation. But I, now 46 years old and on my own for the first time in over 21 years, was still failing to contain my grief.

“The level of anger and resentment I felt scared me at times and I knew it was detrimental for the children as well. I would get stressed about every little thing and yell at them, or they’d find me sobbing at the dining table, feeling unloved, and totally out of my depth. I knew something had to change, but how?

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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"

My Angel

Of all the people in this world, you're the one I run to. Your name has been inscribed in my heart before

My divorced friend, suggested I tried a new counsellor they had in her Church who had helped her cope with her grief. I snorted – haven’t I had enough of those?

But what did I have to lose?

“The counsellor we met didn’t look like your-runof-the-mill priest. Fairly young and trendy, he knew what he was talking about when he talked me through the need to release deep tension from my body by evoking self-controlled thoughts. `Often, we continue to build tension deep inside the core of the body’, he said, `and as a result can end up with symptoms such as sleep difficulties, depression, anger and back pain – even posttraumatic stress disorder’. Now he had my interest as he stressed the importance of exercises designed to relieve tension.

“It was later my friend told me he was a psychologist as well as a pastor. Three more sessions with him and there was a boost to my confidence. When next

Sunny came round to see the children, I went into the living room instead of hiding in my bedroom, greeted him warmly and asked him if he wanted t a drink. He looked as surprised as I felt but said yes, he wanted a drink and I gave him one as our sons stared in disbelief. I realised I felt totally different towards him. For the months since we split up, I’d seen him as a heartless stranger, hurting me with everything he did and said. Now he was just Sunny, a man from my past, the father of my children and a human being who simply made mistakes.

“Thanks to my changed behaviour, we were able to talk frankly. I told him how much distress and pain he’d caused me and the children. To my surprise, he texted me later that day, saying that he was `deeply sorry’. I had wanted but never expected an apology from him, so this was hugely significant for me.

“It hasn’t been all sweetness and light since my breakthrough

I knew your name. In the moment we met all those years ago, I knew you were the one. I whisper your name each morning when I wake, and each night to the stars.

I am who I am because of you, and there is no one else I want to be. You have taught me so much about this world, and even through the times when darkness covered my world, you were always the light.

I will love you for the rest of my life, no matter what.

Love always, CENT OBAMA +2348061379003

The pretender

When someone you love most with all your heart

moment. When I found out recently that he’d taken his girlfriend to meet his mother, the tears flowed freely. And the first night he had our younger son at the flat he shares with his girlfriend, I had a sleepless night wondering how it was going and secretly hoping my son wouldn’t like her. But he did: only now, whenever I feel myself getting stressed or upset, I got to my bedroom at the earliest opportunity and go through the notes I made with the pastor’s counselling. The impact on my whole family has been enormous. The children now hear me singing round the house again, and when I speak of their father, I do so without gritting my teeth.

“While I can’t imagine being exactly `friends’ with Sunny just yet, I have recently spoken to his girlfriend on the phone when I called to enquire about stuffs my children left in their flat – another huge breakthrough”.

Need any help?

(Humour) The young man walked his girlfriend to her front door and started to kiss her. “How about a quick blow job?”, he said “before I go”. “Oh no,” she replied, “not here, anyone could pass and see us”. “Oh come on”, he coaxed, “it won’t take long, just a tiny little blow job”. “No, it won’t be right”, she said adamantly.

For the next couple of minutes, the man tried unsuccessfully to change her mind, then suddenly the front door yanked open and a young girl stood there sleepy-eyed, obviously just having got out of bed. “Dad says hurry up and give him a blow job, or he’ll come down and do it, or I will, or someone will just as long as you take your bloody hand off the intercom”.

Are you sure?

(Humour) The judge looked over his glasses at the man standing before him.

“You are filing for divorce on the grounds of your wife’s adultery. Is that so?” “Yes, your honour”.

“And do you have proof of this adultery? Can you name the man involved?

Have you seen him?”

“Well, erm, no, not exactly, Your Honour. But I can tell you when I first knew about it’, he added confidently. “It was one weekend three months ago. I had been away all week on a conference and didn’t arrive home until late on Friday night.

In the morning, we made passionate love when suddenly the woman in the flat next to us started banging on the wall and shouting: “Don’t start all that again, for f..k’s sake!

Have you not had enough this week?”

leaves for someone else, you cry. You are broken hearted, you feel you are the most unfortunate person, you wish you didn't love that person and you feel like a LOSER! But let me tell you, you didn't lose anything big.

You only lost the person who pretended to love you but didn't love you actually. You lost the person whom you loved with all your heart but didn't love you back.

So its not you who lost big its actually your ex who lost, because your EX may never get someone who will love them the way you did and even you, you may never get someone whom you'll give all your love but hurt you the most as your EX did. So feel happy because that pretender left you.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 23

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The old tricks that often work for women!

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OTS have been said about the average female sexecutive. Amongst other things that she has bottom-power … that she knows how to twist a man round her little fingers, that she discards tale boy-friends as callously and with as little a remorse as you would have squashing a menacing cockroach. And most of these criticisms are borne out of envy because come to think of it, all women have a bottom – be it flat, rounded or inproportionate, but very few women have that ability to use what they have to get what they want. Discard the illusion that the female sexecutive should be slim and trim with delicate features that draw hundreds of admiring glances in her wake because she is not that any more. The fish the female sex ecutive wants to catch is not on the streets, it is there sitting pretty in the office and she’s done a lot of arithmetic about him. She has found out all the things that make him tick.

She’s found out too that that aloof, almost unapproachable air he

has about hm is a front.

And she’s mathematically calculated the moves she has to make to smash this barrier. And don’t for a minute think that all the brain-work she’s doing is just for a five minute tumble in the hay with a few thousand naira notes exchanging hands. Not on your nelly it isn’t.

The price, the well-worth it price is that junior executive post that’s just been left vacant but which she has not

enough qualifications to merit.

So Miss Ambition sets to work. If anything her moves need a load of guts and she is to be admired on how she executes them. “Men think they are smart”, Rolly, one of the females in this modest class told me with a coy smile.

“Who else would be in a position to offer a young woman good job but the average middle-aged man who thinks he’s passed it where winning

favours of young girls are concerned? Imagine what boost it’ll be to his ego if a girl he thinks he could only admire from a distance pays him a lot of attention with promises of wild romps later if he plays ball! Of course, you don’t make your intentions known from the start or you’d be tagged a rabber.

Convince the old fool that he’s the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you. When he fondles you, don’t let

the disgust show on your face, instead smile and tell him how you didn’t think his love-play could be so arousing. Don’t just kiss him either. Do a load of things other girls of his age would never do for him in the sexual department. And after his amateurish love-making, don’t `wait for him to make the first move next time you are in the bedroom. Grab at him as if you couldn’t wait for his wild love-making and when the act is on, don’t just lie there like a log.

At one time in your life, a man must have excited you tremendously sexually,k and you know how you behaved then.

This is the time to fake that excitement you once felt. Tell the old bag that is on top of you that he is the best – in short make him think he is Don Juan all over again. After the second session, tell him casually about that vacant young executive post. Let him know that although you don’t have the relevant paper qualifications, you’d been helping the clot who had the job last with all his assignments. And since you could do the job as well, if not better, doesn’t

he think it would be sheer waste of time if someone whose ability is not a certainty `is brought in?’

‘That’s your first line Don’t chew on it after you’ve let him know.

Switch to talking about other things and see him a third time … and as several times as it takes you to realise you’ve had him in your clutch. Then put on the pressure pump about the job and it’s an 80 to 20 chances that you’ll get it. After the job is yours of course, you’ll know if whether or not it’ll be advisable for you to discard him. If he’s still your boss, you’ll need him again. If he’s not, then it’s the next man in line, who’s now your new boss you’ll be aiming to please. As you make your next move, you make sure your old lover has no hold over your new boss or you’ll be in big trouble.

“Once in a while, you get in a muddle when two top officials in the office are at daggers’ drawn because of you.

When this happens, your best bet is to start looking for another job – a simple case of you win some you lose some!

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Forward, backward bends & the spinal twist

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C M Y K

C M Y K

HE ability to bend forward and backward and twist the spine laterally ensure flexibility to the spinal column and rest of the torso. This suppleness, according to the advanced practitioners of yoga, spells great health and youthfulness.

A very fit upper body guarantees you at boundless energy and wellbeing and since most of our vital organs are encased there. It makes sense to devote sufficient time exercising it. There are many forward and backward bending postures in yoga. But we shall for now restrict ourselves to a variation of the triangle and the camel.

The triangle: Technique: Stand with the feet about a yard apart. Clasp your hands at your back and turn the fingers upward while pushing the hands as high as they’ll

go. Turn the trunk to the left and lower it till the forehead is resting on the left knee or your level best. Retain the posture for, say 10 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The triangle improves the forward bending of the spinal column. It massages the abdominal increasing the digestive fire and banishing indigestion and constipation.

It helps with stretching taut, the hamstrings and strengthening of the shoulders.

The Camel.

Technique: Sit on the heels and arrange the hands next to the feet with the fingers pointing away from the body. Inhale deeply and raise the body off the heels humping up the chest and throwing back the head. The elbows must be fully extended.

Breathe normally once

you are in the posture and retain the position for 10 seconds. Rest a bit and repeat.

Benefits: The Camel instills back-

ward flexibility to the spine. It stretches the muscles of the front of the trunk from the pelvic region to the chin. It strengthens the arms and expands the chest allowing for more intake of oxygen.

The Spinal Twist.

Technique: After the practise of the

bending postures of the Triangle and the Camel, it’s very refreshing to perform the Spinal Twist.

Sit with both legs stretching in front of you. Bend the right knee and place the right foot across the left knee. Bring the left hand to clutch the left leg passing it on the outside of the right knee. Place the right hand at the waistline and turn the trunk neck and head to the right. Breathe deeply into the lower abdomen.

Retain the position for 10 or 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The squeezing movements improves the circulation and stops stagnation in the vital organs ridding body of poisonous wastes and breaking down fatty tissue. It allows the spinal area to come more alive with lifeforce giving you added strength and mental focus.

* Spinal Twist * The Carmel Pose

YogaAbdominal classes Lift at 32 Ademola Adetokunbo *The

Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

PAGE 24 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

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AFTER FIVE AGONISING YEARS

How I became the mother of ‘test tube baby’— Francesca Onwudijo *Speaks on the challenges of childless couples and IVF

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

C

OUPLES often face hard decisions when experiencing infertility and harder choices when going through fertility treatments, and yet if they are successful, they face many other decisions as well.

Thirty six years ago, on July 25, 1978, Lesley and John Brown faced such decisions prior to successfully undergoing a complicated and at that time, relatively unknown assisted reproductive procedure known as In Vitro Fertilisation, IVF. The birth of their famous daughter, Louise Joy, at Oldham General Hospital, in the UK, ensured that the Browns will be forever remembered as the world’s pioneering IVF parents.

It is thanks to efforts of English scientist Robert Edwards, and his medical colleague Patrick Steptoe, that Louise, technically the world’s first “test tube baby” baby was created through the procedure of introducing fertilised eggs into a woman’s womb for a successful IVF pregnancy.

Millions of couples all over the world challenged by infertility have since been inspired to toe the path of the Browns by adopting the revolutionary IVF intervention to become parents of their own biological children. To date more than five million IVF babies have been born.

On September 14, 2004, in Lagos, Nigeria, precisely 23 years after the historic birth of the world’s first IVF baby, Emmanuel and Francesca Onwudijo, joined the growing list of happy parents of perfectly healthy IVF children with the birth of their son, Julian Oluchukwu (God’s work).

Nobody knew for certain that Julian, who was conceived through a combined Assisted Reproduction Technique, ART, of IVF and Intracytosplasmic Sperm Injection, ICSI, was going to be the first IVF baby at

Nordica fertility Centre, Lagos, until after his mother got pregnant at the first attempt.

Although separated by space and time, in several ways, the Browns and the Onwudijos had a lot in common. While the Browns had been trying to have a baby for the better part of a decade, the Onwudijos had been searching for the fruit of the womb for five agonising years.

Like all IVF babies, at birth, Louise and Julian were miracles to their parents. Louise, who is now a mother of two, marked her 36th birthday earlier in July, while Julian clocked 10 Sunday last week.

Like Lesley, he was successfully delivered through a Caesarean Section.

In a chat, Julian who loves Jollof rice and chicken, is currently in Basic 6, and would like to be an engineer, told Sunday Vanguard that his mother told him about the origins of hid conception a long time ago and how, she and his father didn’t really have an option after going public to let other couples know how he was conceived and born.

Journey to motherhood In a trip down memory lane, Julian’s mother, Francesca, recalled the long journey to motherhood.

Unlike Louise’s mother, Lesley, whose fallopian tubes were blocked, Francesca recalled that she had no such impediment.

“I got married in July 1999 and had Julian in 2004 - that was five years interval. I was taking treatment at Lagoon Hospital, but went to the internet to search for solution. You know when a woman is looking for the fruit of the womb, she would do anything and go anywhere. I was in the office and was just going through the internet when I saw the website of Nordica Fertility Centre, I took the address,

L-R: Uju, Julian’s 8-year-old sister, Julian and Francesca

at that time the clinic was at VGC, in Lekki. I went there and made enquires. That was how I met Dr. Abayomi Ajayi who I had known at Lagoon Hospital. I tried the first time and and to God be the glory, it was successful.

There is never any harm trying.”

Francesca who said she has never had had to defend

is a natural process, I made enquires and was satisfied.

Julian wasn’t the first IVF baby in Nigeria. He was a normal baby and has grown into a normal child. He was perfect at birth and has been perfect in every way a baby should be. Julian has grown to be very intelligent, normal and smart just as babies from normal conception. I

It was my egg that was taken as well as my husband’s sperm. So there is nothing to hide. For those that are hiding, it is ignorance the fact that she gave birth to an IVF baby, had no problems about the issue of stigma.

“We went through the normal tests, there was nothing wrong, I was 24 or 25 then I could not wait to carry my baby rather than waiting and doing nothing. I was not intimidated by the cost. I had no fears or reservations at that time.

“I read a lot found out what the process was about. It was a kind of assisted process. I knew that. It wasn’t as if the baby was going to fall from heaven, it

have not observed any abnormality whatsoever.”

Nothing to hide Francesca, who had to rely on her trust in the church and has stood before congregations to talk about her experience, said she has never had to defend what she did or hidden it from anybody. “I had no problems about the issue of stigma. I have never hidden the fact that I did assisted reproduction. There is nothing to hide because he is my blood. It was my egg that was taken as well as my husband’s

sperm. So there is nothing to hide. For those that are hiding, it is ignorance. They need to be better educated about the process”, she stated.

“The church I attend does not preach against IVF. I recall a few years ago, a doctor was invited from Abuja to lecture women on the IVF. He did with his team and educated women and asked the church to bring out three women to be given free IVF cycles. They did.

Out of them, one was 54 years old; now she has two kids, twins - a boy and a girl. The husband was 69 last year. Another is carrying her baby now.

“If I were to be in a church that preaches against IVF, since I have gone through the process, I would try to educate women and let them know that it is not as if the baby is coming from another planet. It is an assisted procedure just to aid you to conceive. I can even go to the Pastor and use myself as example. My faith always works for me, I believe in God and so far he has not failed me. Why would you suffer in silence when you know there is an alternative?

Why are you dying in pains?

Children come from God. You just try the best you Continues on page 25

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 25

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*Julian flanked by mother and sister

‘My test tube baby experience’ Continued from page 24 can”.

IVF and controversy Almost since its inception, IVF has been a subject of ethical and controversy.

Today some arguments once made against the process have fallen by the wayside, while others remain unchanged. Arguments in favour of IVF have remained fairly consistent over the years, notably the potential of allowing previously infertile couples to finally have children of their own. Prior to IVF, it was more or less the end of the line for infertile patients, but today, IVF is almost like the rule than the option for infertile couples.

Daily, babies are conceived and born throughout the world, but the percentage of those born with the help of assisted reproductive technologies doesn’t appear to matter. Rather, what matters is that the techniques available to infertile couples work.

It matters that wonderful doctors are helping people have a child, but it doesn’t matter how those children were conceived or born.

What matters is that they are coming into the world at all.

However, people ask if there is need to get wrapped up in the ethics of reproductive medicines, when the bottom line is to be helping a couple bring a normal, healthy child into the world.

Effective but expensive Speaking on the birth of Julian, Medical Director/ CEO, Nordica Fertility

Centre, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, said it represents a new beginning in the history of Nordica, a new hope for parenthood.

“Julian is like a son to us all here, our greatest achievement indeed. In view of our successes recorded, first with Julian our first baby and all those that came thereafter has necessitated the need for further advocacy by the parents in order to share the good news”, Ajayi said.

“Whilst we have achieved monumental growth in the number of babies conceived, we have equally not neglected our corporate social responsibility. Working in conjunction with the Fertility Treatment Support Foundation, FTSF, free fertility treatments have been made available to over 58 couples with diverse infertility challenges. We also work with the ESGN, Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria, the only Foundation supporting this cause in West Africa”.

On IVF, he described it more as a necessity than an option for infertile couples.

“It is unfortunate that infertility is seen as a personal problem. We know it is a social problem. In Nigeria, unfortunately, the government is not and probably cannot for now sponsor fertility treatment. But government still needs to look at some of these things, and may be providing more centres that can cater for people who are might not be able to afford IVF.” Noting that IVF treatment isn’t cheap anywhere in the

world, Ajayi remarked that the way out is for government to help put the issue on the front burner.

“An experience I’ve seen i s

dependent. Julian’s mother had age in her side, because life comes primarily from the egg, so the younger the egg, when every other thing is normal, the better the success rate. This is why we tell people not to leave IVF as the last resort, because if you do you are actually compromising on success rate”, he said.

“We want people to report early so that there will be proper assessment and, if you need IVF, do it when chances are best, and the best can be done for you. For people above 35, we still have above 40 percent success rate; the problem in Nigeria is that a lot of people above 37 are doing IVF. But things are getting better.

“When we started 10 years ago, about 80 percent were above 37. The picture is getting better. The younger people should report early so that the success rate can be the best for everybody. It is not on even for us when we have to be doing this 4-5 times and asking people to be using donor eggs when they are not really prepared.

“Do proper assessment on time and if you need IVF, do it. It is age-dependent. If you are below 35, and you have tried for a year, and there is no pregnancy, see a gynaecologist. If you are above 35 and you have tried for a year without success, see a

An experience I’ve seen is that IVF treatment is not only taken up by the rich because we place a high premium on child bearing in this part of the world that IVF treatment is not only taken up by the rich because we place a high premium on child bearing in this part of the world. And what people do is that it is like a family challenge. Once somebody has infertility in the family, I’ve seen people contribute money for people to have treatment. It is like a family challenge. Now that the government cannot measure up now, banks are coming up with initiatives that can make you pay in instalments. We know that there are companies beginning to take fertility treatment as part of their staff welfare. They are very few, but there is light down the tunnel and this is what we need to keep doing.”

The doctor, who maintained that IVF success rate is the same everywhere in the world, however, regrets the lack of nationwide data in Nigeria.

‘Success is age-dependent’ “The success rate is age-

gynaecologist”.

Challenges with couples According to Ajayi, sometimes there are couples that are seeing the traditional gynaecologist who is doing the assessment on them and everything is ok, but that is not so because the basic test can only identify a certain percentage of the problem.

“For somebody that is 45, the first thing to look at is the age. If we look at it from the point of view, you know we said it is the eggs that become babies. For such woman, even if she is still menstruating regularly, the problem lies with age which cannot be detected by regular tests. We are not going to look at whether she is ovulating or not, we are not looking at the stock ovaries, even then such person has normal function, we know it cannot be true. You have to interpret your tests holistically, so it is like a 60 year old woman now has an ovary

function test that says normal, it cannot be. You have to look at the whole person to make your decision”, he stated.

Mrs Ranti Ajayi, the Clinic Manager, explains further.

“When they come in and they are told they need donor eggs, they do not readily agree. Well it is a normal thing that every woman wants to have her own child biologically but when the reality on ground says it is not feasible, they just have to use donor eggs.

“Some will not accept, even when you give the options – to use donor eggs, adopt a child or buy one as they do now. With donor eggs, most of the time the child looks like the father. We look at the attributes of the mother before choosing a donor egg.

Even then, other things are taken into consideration.”

Recalling how, in 2003, the vision of setting up Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos was conceived, Ajayi said the primary aim was to courageously combat the plague of infertility by providing true “comfort centres” where the pain of childless couples could be soothed both emotionally and medically.

“Our first Centre opened on the 14th of April, 2003 at Victoria Garden City, Lekki Lagos. But owing to our desire to be close to our clients and the fact that we were also rapidly expanding, we moved to Ikoyi, Lagos in January 2008. The Yaba Clinic opened its doors in October 2003 and the our bid to make our clients the centre of their world, another Clinic opened in Asaba in November 2009 and the newest Centre in Asokoro Abuja was commissioned in November 2012.

“The lack of information about fertility options coupled with the stigmatisation associated with childlessness has contributed to the reason why a lot of people do not explore the possibility of assisted conception. This should not be seen as a taboo but seen as a means to an end. “In 11 or so years of existence, God helping us, we have been able to assist in the conception of several hundreds of babies and we are still counting,” Ajayi noted.

In its lifetime, Nordica Lagos has set a number of firsts. With all modesty, it is the first IVF clinic to have a baby from laser assisted hatching and remains the only fertility clinic currently using the Intracytoplasmic Morphologically selected sperm Injection, IMSI, in addressing male related infertility issues. It is also one of the few clinics in Nigeria to utilise acupuncture for IVF treatment and to carry out Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis and egg freezing”.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

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BY ADELEKE ADESERI

C

omrade Jude Ukori is

a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, from Egbema Kingdom in Warri North local government are of Delta State.

He is also the executive secretary of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation EGCDF, a nongovernmental organization. In this interview, Ukori speak on the political leadership of Chief Emmanuel Ebimami and the prevailing peace in Egbema Kingdom.

Political agitations in Egbema Kingdom We have had series of political agitations in Egbema Kingdom.

However the political situation in the kingdom is being handled well by stakeholders and the situation is getting better.

Particularly now that we have Chief Emmanuel Ebimami as the political leader of Egbema, his era will enhance the political fortunes of Egbema.

We may have faced political challenges in the past, it was because we had no leadership structure, but, today, we have a leadership structure led by Ebimami, and it is obvious the structure is yielding positive results.

The development of Egbema is the collective responsibility of

Egbema: Oil community in search of devt every son and daughter of Egbema Kingdom, and we can only achieve that when we are united, live in peace and harmony. And I want to thank our brothers and sisters in Egbema for supporting the political leadership structure led by Ebimami. Let me also appeal to my people to sustain the tempo believing that in the near future we will get to the promised land.

The recent meeting convened

by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on the political situation in Warri North was positive and commendable.

Ebimami’s leadership is committed to the political upliftment and development of Egbema Kingdom.

Moreso, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the governor, Dr. Uduaghan for having confidence in Ebimami and we all know that with such cordial relationship between the governor and Ebimami, believe me, Egbema is being positioned for the best.

We also have a traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Gold Oro Tiemo, Bini Pere III, the

Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom, a king whose reign has been a blessing to the people. In spite of our political challenges, Egbema is still one of the most peaceful in Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general. We are blessed with abundant human and minerals resources, while our people filled with love and desiring a brighter future.

Effect of abundant human and minerals resources in Egbema Yes, we do have both in abundance. Unfortunately, we are yet to feel the full impact of our minerals resources. Oil companies operating in our kingdom are executing some projects, scholarships being offered to our children but the truth is that we need rapid infrastructural development across all the communities in Egbema.

However, now that we have leadership structure led by Ebimami, I am very sure that all these issues and challenges will be addressed accordingly and in no distance time things will take appropriate shape.

Ebimami has been contribut-

ing immensely to the political development of Egbema kingdom.

Most importantly, the political situation in Egbema is under control and I want to give kudos to him for his commitments and unrelenting efforts.

Despite our challenges it is known all over Nigeria and Niger Delta that our traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Gold Oro Tiemo, Bini Pere III, the Agadagba of Egbema kingdom, is an ambassador peace. It is also known that our political leader, Ebimami is an ambassador peace. So, we having such a wonderful traditional ruler and political leader, they are blessings to us in Egbema.

On Chief Ebimami, as a member of the board of Federal Character Commission I appreciate President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to have considered our political leader worthy for the appointment.

Uduaghan recommended our political leader for the appointment, we are also grateful to the governor.

Anyakorah takes over at Rotary Club of VGC

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

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usiness mogul, Dr. Christopher Ugochukwu Ayakorah, has emerged the new President of the Rotary Club, Victoria Garden City, VGC. At the investiture ceremony of the eighteenth president and the induction of the 20142015 board of directors event, held at the Le Real Hotel and Event Centre, Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos last Sunday, the ostensibly ecstatic Anyakorah, taking over from the immediate past president, Victoria Kuteyi-Ogundemuren, promised to turn the club around and ensure he improve it more than he met.

The VGC branch of the club debuted in 1997 with Segun Marcus as pioneering president. He ruled till 1998 and his achievements kept being built upon till 2001 when Dr. Billy Aigbe took on the baton till 2002 and on and on till 2012 – 2013 period under the leadership of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Chief Joseph Sanusi whose tenure themed, “Peace through service”. Gbenga Obasa had led the club between 2002 – 2003 far before Sanusi but Kuteyi Ogundemuren became the most involved in the enthronement of Dr. Anyakorah.

In his acceptance speech after taking over from KuteyiOgundemuren, Anyakoral, traditionally of every newly installed Rotary president, declared, “I hereby call the meeting to order as Rotary President 2014 – 2015 of the VGC and I hereby call on all the Board of Directors of 2014

Ayakorah during his investiture – 2015 to step out for induction.” From then on till next one year, Anyakorah takes charge of the Rotary Club VGC. Christopher Anyakorah also touched on the programmes and activities of his branch of the club which were expected to be executed for the 2014 – 2015 period that he would hold sway as President. They include a N500,000 Ebola monitoring and control support; N50 million vocational school infrastructure (land and building); N30 million vocational school equipment; N15 million medical equipment supply to two general hospitals and N5 million water project for Ogombo Primary School, which he said would serve 500 pupils of the school where drinkable water had lacked for quite some years.

Others, according to him, include orphanage visits and donations which he said

would gulp N300,000; N945,000 dictionary project to

go to 2,500 students and N1.2 million clinics drugs, supplies project. He called on affluent people within and outside the Rotary Club to come to the aid of the branch to enable it carry out those programmes and activities without flaws.

Prominent rotarians in attendance included the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Chief Joseph Sanusi; Chief Sylvan Ebigwei, OON, the Iyase of Okpanam, chairman of occasion; Professor Laz Ekueme, Igwe of Oko, Anambra State; Barrister Fred Nzeakor, President Abagana Welfare Union, Lagos and professor Green Nwankwo, Igwe of Ndi, Ogbuonyeoma, who was royal father of the day.

2015: Community leader advises PDP on transparency

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community leader in Ughoton, Okpe Local Government Area, Comrade Andrew Agbi, has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State, to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants gunning for the forthcoming 2015 general election..

The community leader who is the chairman of Ughoton community and Delta State House of Assembly aspirant to represent Okpe constituency, called on the party leadership to allow the people to pick their choice of candidate, affirming that it is the only determining factor for PDP’s success at the poll.

He made this observation

while speaking with newsmen, saying that the Ughoton axis of Okpe local government area has suffered serious setback in the area of appointive and elective positions, urging the leaders to give the area the privilege to produce the next House of Assembly candidate to representOkpe local government.

He emphasized that his desire to represent his people at the Delta State House of Assembly came after having observed that the Okpe State constituency has not been fully represented, promising that his representation will be allembracing to ensure that dividends of democracy come to the grassroot.

Oniro becomes Ogun first class monarch

BY PEACE ONYEUKWU

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overnor Ibikunle Amosun has assured the people of Iro in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State of his readiness to extend its rebuilding mission to transform communities in the state.

Amosun spoke, while presenting the staff of office and instrument of appointment to Oba Najeem Alani Aromaye Eyiowuawi Adebari, the Oniro of Iro land.

The governor, represented by Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said his administration was committed to developing every sector of socio~economic life in the state.

He charged the new Oba to deploy his wealth of experience to the rebuilding mission while urging him to be a good father to his subjects by promoting peaceful co~existence and uniting them for socio~economic development.

The governor said that the Oniro has become the only first class oba in the local government area and that by his appointment he has become a member of Egba Traditional Council and permanent member of Ogun State Council of Obas.

In his acceptance speech, Oba Adebari appreciated God and the support of the Amosun administration in making the day a reality.

UPU leaders tasked on Urhobo liberation

BY EGEUFE YAFUGBORHI

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HE leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, has been charged to liberate the Urhobo nation from political and economic injustice as the Nigerian nation matches towards another transition.

Industrialist and Delta State governorship hopeful, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor gave the charge at Adagbrasa, Okpe Council Area, during a condolence visit to the family of the late UPU President General, Gen. Patrick Aziza.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, guber aspirant, accompanied by Chief Ovie Frank Kokori and other party chieftains, said the liberation of the Urhobo nation is the best honour the UPU leadership can bestow on the Gen. Aziza in death on account of his untiring commitment to achieve same for the Urhobo while alive.

Responding on behalf of the UPU and late Aziza’s family, Acting UPU PG, Chief Joe Omene thanked them for the visit, saying Chief Emerhor has been one of the honourable sons Urhobo holds in high esteem.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014---PAGE 27

08023145567 (sms only)

sameyoboka@yahoo.com

Terrorism: Nigeria lacks moral leaders ---Rev. Kasali

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ENIOR Pastor, Foun dation of Truth Assem bly (FOTA), Rev. Yomi Kasali has attributed the longstanding war against insurgency in parts of the country to lack of truthful, transparent and moral leaders.

The cleric who stated this while addressing newsmen ahead of the Assembly’s Giant Killer’s Conference, GKC, held in Lagos, added that the country at present is not devoid of great religious, political and business men, rather of honest and ethical leaders.

He also cautioned leaders at various levels not to drag insurgency and other challenges facing the nation along religious lines, adding that embarking on such actions will further place the country at the brink of a major catastrophe, which may take years to recover from.

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BY OLAYINKA LATONA & WILLIAM JIMOH

Our leaders need to be more open to the people, I will be bold to say that lack of leaders who are honest, transparent and open to us had been reason why we are not dealing with insurgency with the right approach

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According to him, “I don’t believe that Boko Haram is against Christianity because it has a political ideology. This is not to say that there are some people who are trying to islamise this nation, even as we have others who are Christian fundamentalists, but the war we fight is not against any religion or tribe; it is against the continued existence of our nation.

Foundation of Truth Assembly, FOTA, Senior Pastor, Rev Yomi Kasali (c) Chairman, 2014 GKC planning committee, Ogbole Oghedegbe (l), and Julius Ekum at the press conference.

“Our leaders need to be more open to the people, I will be bold to say that lack of leaders who are honest, transparent and open to us had been reason why we are not dealing with insurgency with the right approach. There is a lot more behind the scene of which if we want to put an end to Boko Haram the leadership of the nation not the

Oritsejafor condoles with Dimgba's family

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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ATIONAL President of the Christian Associa tion of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on Tuesday described the late Vice Chairman of Sun Publishing Limited, Pastor Dimgba Igwe as a great man who in his stay on earth set an enviable standard for journalism without compromising his faith in God. Oritsejafor also pledged, during a condolence visit to family of the deceased at their residence in Okota as well as the corporate headquarters of the Sun Publishing Limited in Kirikiri area of Lagos, that the umbrella body of Christians in the country will not forsake the family; but will partner and support them in its own little ways, stating that the late journalist was someone whom CAN is proud to identify and associate with.

The CAN helmsman who was accompanied on the visit, by chairman of CAN South West, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, CAN Director of National Issues, Elder Sunday Oibe, Ven. Peter Ogunmuyiwa of the African Church among others, lamented that his first visit to the residence of a very devoted friend was to grief on his demise.

He noted that the news of Dimgba Igwe's death came to him as a shock, especially when they had common proposals they were to accomplish only to hear news of his death. but however stated that it was not surprising to God. Condoling with the widow, Mrs. Oby Igwe, Oritsejafor said: “Your husband was a great man and he is still a great man. I wish I wasn’t visiting here for this kind of bad news; I wish I was coming under a different circumstance".

Continuing, he said: “I have

president alone, must make plain to the masses about terrorism.

“Nigeria used to be a country where Muslims and Christians co-exist peacefully. My parents were Muslims before they died and my siblings are still Muslims up till date, we do not see ourselves as enemies.

Reflecting on alleged arms smuggling involving President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, divorce tussle between Rev. Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy and his wife and unfolding issues surrounding the collapse build-

ing at Prophet Temitope Joshua’s Synagogue Church of all Nation, SCON, he urged Nigerians not to jump into conclusion on the matters but be hopeful that all will be well.

“I was shocked as much as every other Nigerian when I got the news of a jet belonging to the man of God that was used in this transaction. But as a man of God very respected as the president of CAN, the number one Christian in the country today, we need to respect his office and be careful about the kind of statements we utter on the matter, couple with the fact that investigations are ongoing.

“For me I believe for the fact that the office has issued a statement that the jet was leased out without the prior knowledge of what it will be used for simply means that the man of God involved has dissociated himself from the entire process.

On Pastor Chris and wife he said, “I do not believe in divorce, as a church we think pastor should practice tolerance, we should live what we preach, we should preach what we live."

Prayer can change Nigeria—Meduoye

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From left: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, condoling with the widow, Mrs Obioma Igwe and her daughter, Miss Victory Igwe, during a condolence visit of President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to the family of late Mr Dimgba Igwe, The Sun Newspapers Vice Chairman in Lagos.Photo: Biodun Ogunleye. been striving to come and pay us today," not forgetting to menvisit to you to let the world know tion that they both came through that we are proud to identify with the tutelage of late Dele Giwa a man like this. I am proud and who also died a very gruesome CAN is proud to identify with death. your husband".

From the Okota residence of The CAN president then the Igwes, the CAN delegation pledged to support the family led by the chief executive officer and urged the widow to take soof Sun Publishing Company and lace in God who cannot abanpresident of Nigeria Guild of don her.

Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina where Responding to an appeal by a the CAN president condoled with soulmate of late Mr. Dimgba the management and staff of the Igwe, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa that company on the loss of one of the nation should urgently adtheir finest while also pouring dress the unhealthy state of the more encomium on him. nation's sector which necessitatHe noted that he was one of the ed the death of a consummate people who gave direction to The journalist, Pastor Oritsejafor said Sun and propelled it to the glohis prayer on a daily basis is that bal brand that it is today and a one day, there will be, at least, man who wrote because he was one quality hospital in this counconvinced of what he was writtry where people can run to and ing. get quality treatment and good “I feel pained”, he said, “but it people like Dimgba Igwe not to is a joy to be here because of a go before their time. man who, in my own opinion, He noted with heavy heart that was a shining light; someone the health facilities in the counthat you cannot hide. He wasn’t try are to say the least in a sham, the kind that will want to show "help us tell the Federal Governhimself but somehow, I think his ment about the state of our works, his dedication especially health facilities. If we had a betto his spiritual life is astoundter health facility in the country, ing.

Dimgba would still be here with

ENERAL Overseer of the Foursquare Gos pel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Felix Meduoye, has assured that the nation can surmount its seemingly intractable challenges with sustained prayers.

Prayers, he stated, have the

capacity to show one the path to overcoming a problem, assuring that if Nigerians pray hard and follow the instructions of God, the nation will experience massive transformation.

He spoke with reporters on the forthcoming quarterly Holy Spirit Refreshing Vigil of the church slated for October 3, at its International Conference Centre in Idimu, La-

gos.

The vigil with the theme "Fruitfulness" is expected to attractabout 30,000 worshippers.

Meduoye said: “When we pray, God will show us the way to go. He will show us revelations that will bring solutions to our national problems.”

On the anti-terror war, he said: “We are doing well because it is a complex, protracted war. It is not a conventional war and so in that context we are doing well though it could be better.”

Meduoye stated tha t

prayers would be offered for the nation and Nigerians during the vigil.

CAN election: Atilade, others advise Christians

BY EBUN SESSOU

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HAIRMAN, Christian Association of Nige ria, CAN South West, Archbishop Magnus Atilade has called on all Christians to vote a credible leader in the forthcoming CAN elections.

He also called on aggrieved persons to withdraw all court suits filed against some members in CAN, saying the time is ripe for fresh leadership to emerge that would move the organisation forward.

In a related development, a cleric, Archbishop Olu Ehindero has warned Christians against selling their votes, noting that anybody who compromises himself in the next political dispensation would have sealed the hope of his unborn generation.

He made the appeal at the launch of Christian Conscience in the Lagos East Senatorial district; which took place at the Comforter Gospel Assembly Cathedral Ikorodu, Lagos.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

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Beware of men The things of men are not, and can never be, the things of God. The things of men always run contrary to the things of God. God says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Nowhere is this difference between God and man more clearly defined than in matters of will.

The will of God is completely different from the will of men.

For an extended period of human history, the will of God was not done on earth. It was only done in heaven. Therefore, Jesus taught his disciples to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10).

and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10). The Holy Spirit is the living water. (John 7:38-39). Without him, no one can do the will of God.

Looking unto Jesus

WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD? (1) Passport to heaven It is of the utmost importance for everyone to know and do the will of God. Christians have this erroneous tendency to sub-contract everything to Jesus. We claim Jesus has accomplished all the eternal requirements for us. We talk of being saved by the completed works of Jesus on the cross. However, Jesus spends more time telling us what we need to do by ourselves than he does telling us what he will do for us.

Jesus will not do the will of God for us. We have to do it for ourselves. Failure to do this has eternal repercussions. Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 7:21). Simply put, if we don’t do the will of God, we cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, when Christians go to God in prayer, it is often in order to ask him to enable us to do the will of the father on earth, as opposed to the will of God; the Father in heaven. This is because we assume the will of the father on earth is the same as that of the Father in heaven.

However, if we don’t know the will of God, we cannot enter the

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HRISTIANS often go t o “Nicodemus pas tors,” seeking the will of God. We want to know whether to accept this or that job-offer.

We want to know if we should marry Joseph or Kunle. “Which one will enable me to fulfil my destiny? Which is God’s will for my life?” we ask.

“Nicodemus pastors” are wellschooled in the ways of men.

They throw up coins in prayer asking “heads or tails?” "Which job pays more? Which suitor has the better prospects? Which choice will yield the bigger tithe and thanksgiving offering?”

“Nicodemus pastors” can always be trusted to be ignorant of the will of God. They deceive men into believing the will of man is the will of God. This makes them enemies of the souls of men. Jesus says: “Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are wolves.” (Matthew 7:15).

God wants what is best for those in heaven to be accomplished in our lives on earth. But we want what is best for us on earth

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kingdom of heaven because we won’t do what we don’t even know.

What is the will of the father on earth? It all depends on the father. Some earthly fathers want their children to get an education and become doctors, lawyers and engineers. Others want them to get married and give them grandchildren. As there are many fathers on earth, so are there many different wills of earthly fathers. But there is only one Father in heaven and he has only one will. That one will is not the will of any of the fathers on earth.

Gift of God Indeed, the will of earthly fathers is anathema to the will of God. When we see how rich and successful Lionel Messi is from

playing football, we conclude that playing football must be the will of God for his life; after all, he is very good at it. When we see how prolific Tiger Woods is at playing golf, we conclude that his proficiency at golf is a gift of God. Then we ask God to reveal our own gift to us, so that his will can also be done in our lives.

But playing golf or football can never be the will of God for any man. Playing golf or football is of little or no interest to God. As a matter of fact, the ability to play golf or football is too mundane to be even the gift of God. These so-called gifts are of zero eternal consequence. They do not promote God’s righteousness or ensure eternal life.

There are many counterfeit “gifts” that bring glory to men.

But there is only one true gift of God. That one gift is the Holy Spirit. In differentiating earthly fathers from the heavenly Father, Jesus says: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

Jesus teaches that rather than exulting in the pride of life arising from this or that possession, we should ask God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said to the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well: “If you knew the gift of God

The earthly father sent his son to the University of Lagos because he wanted him to become a doctor. While at the university, the son wrote him a letter asking if he should join the Debating Society or the football team. These choices are of little interest to the father. He is only interested in his son becoming a doctor.

It is the same with God, our Father. In the final analysis, our mundane preoccupations are of little interest to him. God is only interested in us doing his will.

Before Jesus, the will of God was not known on earth; therefore, it was not done. Jesus was sent from heaven to reveal the mystery of God’s will. Thus, he declared to incredulous Jews: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38).

Before Jesus came, men were doing such things as going to school, taking up employment and getting married. Therefore, none of these things have anything to do with the will of God. According to Jesus, the will of God requires what is done to God’s specification in heaven to be done also on earth. But no one is going to school or getting married in heaven.

In short, God wants what is best for those in heaven to be accomplished in our lives on earth. But we want what is best for us on earth. Moreover, we do not understand that in order for the heavenly will to be accomplished in our lives, our earthly will must be relinquished. (CONTINUED).

Playing politics with Pastor Oritsejafor Oyedepo at 60, thanks God

BY RT. REV. DR. DAVID BAKARE

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HE persistent attacks on the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), by opposition politicians suggest a calculated campaign to discredit him. Since none of these politicians intend to run for his job, one must ask what agenda they are pursuing and why. Politicians seldom act without calculation and premeditation, so we must look beneath and beyond the deluge of criticisms to understand what forces are at play.

The latest to join in the gratuitous attacks is the Senate Minority Leader and former Governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume. The bone they will not let go of is the cash-forarms aircraft that landed in South Africa. Despite the fact that the parties involved have stated their roles and, the acceptance by both the Nigerian and South African governments that no blame or guilt can be attached to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the campaign of calumny against the CAN President has been relentless.

When one hears politicians speak of their propriety in matters religious, it is best to run for cover. George Akume has sought to present himself (by implication in contrast to Pastor Ayo) as righteous in his guardianship and promotion of “the tenets of the teachings of Jesus the Christ”.

The rancour accompanying the cries suggests that the opposition want their pound of flesh.

On the face of it, their intentions are clear to see, to discredit Pastor Ayo; their motives deserve closer scrutiny. Since they cannot have Pastor Ayo’s flesh, whose flesh are they clamouring after?

George Akume has chosen to disregard the legal and legitimate and instead resort to an exploration of what he describes as a “case of criminality involved in the questionable misadventure”. His language is deliberately mischievous, bordering on the slanderous. He plays fast and loose with the idea of “vicarious liability” and clearly only has a passing familiarity with the concept.

Pastor Oritsejafor is not and has never in any way, shape or form been involved in the “murky waters of international arms trafficking”. For George Akume to insinuate without substantiation is the kind of language that should not emanate from a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let alone the Senate Minority Leader.

Indeed, given Akume’s exalted position in our upper legislative house, rather than indulging in idle speculation, he has a duty to bring to the attention of the nation’s law officers any information he has on the flouting of the laws of the land. If he has no such evidence, he should learn to keep a civil tongue in his mouth. People who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones.

If, as we suspect, the object of the thinly veiled attacks by the political opposition is not Pastor Oritsejafor, then his reference to vicariousness takes on added meaning. If the political opposi-

tion wish to lay into the President, they should not go by way of the President of CAN. CAN has been vociferous and volubly engaged in the security affairs of the country of recent because those affairs have directly and continue to directly impact CAN’s primary constituency, the body of Christians in Nigeria.

The Body of Christ should not shirk from that duty and responsibility merely because those that are not in office would rather we not support efforts to restore a semblance of justice and normality to the North of the country.

Long live Nigeria!

God bless Nigeria!

BY EBUN SESSOU BISHOP of Living Faith Ministry, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo marked his 60th birthday yesterday, expressing gratitude to God for a life well spent.

Addressing pressmen at the Covenant University School, Ota in Ogun State said, the bishop said he has always seen life as a gift from God, noting: “Life is a privilege, not a right. No one brought himself or herself to life and no one can sustain his or her life on their own. I’m just grateful to God for all His goodness and mercy till date”.

ldisi pledges quality representation

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and House of Representatives aspirant, Barr. Lovette Idisi, has promised the people of Ethiope federal constituency of full representation and transformation if elected to represent them at the National Assembly.

Idisi who gave this assurance while consulting the Senior Political Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Chief Ighoyota Amori, member, representing Ethiope West in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. John Nani, Ethiope East and West chairmen of the PDP, Dr. Kings Okpako and Mr. Felix Oristegbone, said he has come to ask for their blessing.

While urging them to give him their total support in achieving his aspiration, Idisi explained

that if he is given the privilege to serve his people at the National Assembly, he will attract developmental projects to Ethiope federal constituency and bring to stability in the area using his wealth of experience.

Responding, Chief Ighoyota Amori, member representing Ethiope West in the House of Assembly, Hon. John Nani and the Hon. Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Chief Kenneth Okpara, in their separate statements promised to support him to actualise his ambition for the Ethiope federal constituency in 2015 general election.

The PDP party leaders said Idisi’s background as maternally from Jesse, Ethiope West and paternally Ovu, Ethiope East, places him in a vantage position to win the election.

Speaking on his life as a child, Oyedepo said, he grew up under his grandmother where he was exposed to highly profitable lessons such as character, hardwork, focus and financial integrity, adding "under my grandmother, you are not permitted to do what you like but what is right. Such upbringing gave me respect among my peers and audience with my superiors. It is this man-child concept that informed the founding philosophy of our university system.”

Recounting his new birth experience, he said; “I had a missionary teacher while still in secondary school called Betty Lasher.

She communicated the love of God with such passion and led me to Christ on February 19, 1969, when I was only 15 years old. My calling to ministry, via a divine vision, was such a dramatic one; it was so crystal-clear that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had called me to the ministry.

"The vision lasted 18 hours between May 1-2, 1981 and I arose from it fully persuaded of God’s call upon my life into ministry.

There was nothing to consider; there was nothing to prove; the mandate was very clear,” he maintained.

Asked why some Christians are still poor, sick, oppressed and depressed, he said; “Many Christians are suffering from spiritual ignorance and this is the bane of their fulfilment in life. Many Christians disregard the place of covenant practice that is the immutable law of giving and receiving," he explained.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 29

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Roll of honours at GCUOBA third national dinner

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overnment College Ughelli Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, rolled out drums to celebrate and honour some of their own who have contributed outstandingly to the progress, growth and success of the association at its third national dinner which held recently in Benin City. Photos

by Barnabas Uzosike

When Egbeda R o tar Ro taryy Club installed Jerr Jerryy Aighe yisi as president Aigheyisi

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istory was once again updated when Mr. Jerry Aigheyisi was installed as the 12th president of Rotary Club of Egbeda. The fun-filled event had the members, their spouses and some special invited guests in attendance.

Some past presidents of the Club also graced the landmark occasion

L-R: Chief Joseph Akpieyi, handing an Award to Mrs. Julie Okoigun on behalf Mr. Alfred Okoigun.

L-R: Mrs. Iyayi (l), wife of Late Festus Iyayi and son (r), with Chief Joseph Akpieyi (m), presenting a book ' The Hero's Mind' in honour Late Festus Iyayi .

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ayoola Adeyefa, Atunluse of Ikola, Odunsi land, Ipaja, Lagos and his wife, Chief Mrs. Olayinka Adeyefa.

L-R: Chief Andrew Maduku receiving an award from Prof. Peter Hugbo and Chief Joseph Akpieyi

R-L: Capt. Toritseju Ogisi; Mr. O. Mac Emakpore; Mr. Andy Fregene ; and Mrs. Julie Coker .

L-R : The immediate Past President, (IPP), Rotary Club of Egbeda, Rotn. Kunle Oyatomi, Mrs. Helen Aigheyisi and her husband, President, Rotary Club of Egbeda.

L-R: Mr O.Mac Emakpae; Mrs. Julie Coker and Chief Chris Enahoro .

L-R: Chief R. Evueh; Mr. Andy Fregene, Chairman, Organizing Committee; and Mr. Charles Omonokhua.

St. Jude Thaddeus Society OMPH @ 30

THE St. Jude Thaddeus Society of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Amuwo Odofin Lagos held a classy party to celebrate her 30 th Anniversary and enthronement of patrons and patronesses recently at the Church Premises. The party almost turned a carnival with great fun, lots to eat and drink. The climax of the occasion was the enthronement of some distinguished members of the church as Patrons and Patronesses and fund raising for the execution of some of the society’s project.

L-R: Mr Oniyelu, Mr Chime president, chief Gabby Okorare and Mrs Ndupu, all members of the society C M Y K

R oland Igbadumhe tto o build Orphanages in four states

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ce comedian and Special Assistant to the Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Entertainment, Roland Igbadumhe, aka ‘youngest oldman’ is set to take his love for the orphans to another level with the recent plan to build orphanages in four different states of the federation. Work is already ongoing at Benin, to be followed by Cross River, Kano and Imo States.

High Chief Tony Izuagbe being presented with a plaque as a patron of St. Jude Society Omph by R-L: Roland Igbadumhe, aka ‘youngest oldman’ the Parish Priest Rev. Father Henry Ogbonna and with Dr. Bolere Elizabeth Ketubu.

Chief Gabby Okorare.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 31

Omatse es daught er in marriage Omatseyye Dudu giv gives daughter

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The couple, Mr and Mrs Dawodu with both parents, the Dawodus and the Dudus .

olatsu Omatseye was a complete happy father when he gave the hand of his daughter, Omajuwa Omeime, in marriage, to Oseyi Simeon Dawodu.

The first part of the wedding was the engagement ceremony which was performed according to Itsekiri customs, in Warri, Delta State, followed by the wedding proper at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ugbor in, Benin City, Edo State.

Many important dignitaries graced both events.

Photos by Barnabas Uzosike and Nath Onojake

The couple, Mr and Mrs Dawodu, exchanging rings as the officiating priest watches.

Prof. Okonofua and Mr. Emmanuel Ojei

L-R; Pharm. Anegbode-Eromosele; Prof. Friday Okonofua; Dr. Dawodu and Dr. Osahon.

L-R: Pharm. Anegbode-Eromosele, the sponsor; Mrs. Anegbode-Eromosele;and Mrs. Dudu, mother of the bride

Adenike Damola weds Akinkunmi Ogunsola

I

t was celebration galore when Adenike Damola, daughter of Mr Kunle Damola signed the dotted lines with Akinkunmi Ogunsola, son of Mr Segun Ogunsola. Their union took place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church,Victoria Island, Lagos before family and friends. Photos by Diran Oshe

L-R: Groom's father, Mr. Segun Ogunsola; bride's mother,Mrs. Ayo Damola; groom, Akinkunmi; his bride, Adenike; groom's mother,Prof. Sade Ogunsola; and bride's father, Mr. Kunle Damola.

Mrs. Iyabo Ogunshola and her husband, former Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola.

Mr. Segun Ogunlana and Mrs. Foluso Ogunlana

Mr. Bambo Adesanya (SAN) (l) and Ven. Yemi Agbelusi

Young Ok oh tak es wif e Okoh takes wife in style

Y

oung Okoh changed his status from a single man to a married one when he took former Miss Mary Karimo to the altar. The families of the groom and bride spared no expense to make the day a memorable one, for the couple, their friends and well-wishers

L-R:Chief Preyeta Kareowei, Ebisidor Tyahghag; the couple, Mr and Mrs Young, and Mary Oko with Mr and Mrs. Nancy E Karimo, bride's parents.

The couple, Mr and Mrs Young and Mary Oko with their friends and siblings

PAGE 32 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 33

PAGE 34 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Currency and power are synonymous — Akinjide Extracts from a lecture delivered by the second republic Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide, on economic prospects of Nigeria nay Africa at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

T

he history of the present legal system in Nigeria began with the introduction of the English Law into the Lagos settlement with effect from 4th March 1863, by the Ordinance No. 3 of 1863. In April 1863, the Supreme Court of Her Majesty’s Settlement of Lagos was established to provide for the better Administration of Justice within the Settlement.

Nowadays, more than ever before, the world has its eyes on us. And certainly watch it. Are we not the oldest inhabited territory on earth, the cradle of humanity, the root of all human achievements?

It is in the course of the 20th century that fossil evidences of occupation of Africa by the ancestors of the humans have been found in abundance, perhaps as old as seven million years. In the scientific community, a general consensus now exists that it is in Africa, most likely East Africa, that our far away ancestors slowly evolved into homo sapiens, the modern man whose appearance is dated between a hundred fifty and a hundred thousand years before Christ.

In Africa, agriculture, a key development in the rise of sedentary human civilizations, was preceded by the domestication of cattle. Four to six thousand years before Christ, it was well established in North Africa where it existed alongside the hunter-gatherer culture.

Deteriorating climatic conditions in the Sahara region then caused lakes and rivers to shrink and desertification to spread. Less arable land conducive to settlements encouraged farming communities to migrate toward the more favourable tropical climate of West Africa.

In the millennium preceding the birth of Christ, not only agriculture and cattle domestication but also metalworking was common place in West Africa. Excavations of copper objects dated about 500 years before Christ and originating from North and East Africa also suggest the existence of sustained transSahara trade flows.

But it is not because of our far away past, no matter how fascinating it may be, that we now elicit the world’s sustained attention. Rather, it is because of our prospects; more precisely our economic prospects.

Africa, the world reckons, is the last frontier, the next beneficiary of economic prosperity. For several years now, western media have marvelled at Africa’s high economic growth.

15 FASTEST GROWING COUNTRIES Rising primary product prices, foreign direct investments and the slow emergence of sustained domestic demands are combining to make Africa one of the fastest growing world regions and, soon, the fastest growing one. Africa is showing some evidences of economic take-off. A perusal of recent African economic growth statistics indicates that among the 15 fastest growing countries in the world, five are in Africa. Moreover, the national economy of more than 20 of the 54 African countries presently grow at an annual rate equal to or greater than five percent. It is a better performance than that which, sustained over several decades, allowed the remarkable development of Western Europe after the massive destructions of the Second World War and the widespread shortages of the years which followed the advent of peace.

What of the other 34 African countries, those who do not achieve this high level of performance? A large majority of them do not stand still. These countries also grow but at lower annual rates.

Only three African countries currently

Sweden and Norway.

The land is mostly arable but only two percent is exploited.

*Akinjide...The world’s eyes on us

display negative growth. All world economic prospects agree: Africa is about to become the fastest growing world region with an expected average annual rate of expansion of 6% in 2014.

This is today. Longer term possibilities are even more appealing. In the next few decades, neither China nor India will match the population explosion foreseen for the African continent. In mid-century, Africans will constitute a mass of two billion people, close to a quarter of the projected world population.

They will then have become the youngest people in the world as 70 percent of them will be aged 30 or less.

With such a young and energetic human potential combined with a durable emergence of peace and good governance, Africa’s large and mostly untapped wealth from her mineral and agricultural resolves could transform into massive wealth.

With 30 million square kilometers of land Africa is the second largest continent. She is endowed with abundant natural resources, the majority of which is yet to be discovered or barely tapped.

There are vast oil and gas reserves in Nigeria, Ghana and Angola. There are diamonds in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Congo-Kinshasa, Angola and Botswana, the first world producer. There is gold in South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania and Mali. There is uranium in Namibia, Niger and South Africa. There is also bauxite (an input to aluminum), copper, platinum, iron, cobalt, silver, lead, nickel, zinc and titanium. There is an abundance of precious tropical wood and tropical fruits and there is rare earth without which our cell phones and computer tablets cannot be made. If Africa were to allocate efficiently only a few percent of her mineral wealth to develop our infrastructure, she would benefit from an infrastructural network more than that of Western Europe. Another cornucopia would result from efficient land use and well-organized agricultural production.

Many African countries do not cultivate their land. Congo-Kinshasa alone, the second largest country in Africa by area, has 2.3 million square kilometers of land.

This is roughly equivalent to the combined areas of Spain, France, Germany,

WEALTH CREATION VS POVERTY LEVELS What of those large land areas which cannot be used for food production? They can be used to harness energy. Libya has about the same surface as that of CongoKinshasa but is mostly a desert bathed by sunlight. With an increasing efficiency of sola cells, solar power is on its way to achieve cost parity with electricity from the grid. Covering some of that desert land with photovoltaic cells could generate enough electricity not only to power the whole of Africa but also to generate substantial revenues from exportable surpluses.

It is one’s common mistake to interpret world events through the biases of one’s own culture.

For observers in advanced countries, especially those who live in depressed ones, more economic growth is the savior. It means more funds for projects, more activity, more employment, rising income levels, less social unrest and the restoration of these beneficial self-reinforcing processes which through revived demand, production and trade bring general prosperity.

Such is not yet the case in Africa.

Recent studies published by the consulting firm Mckinsey and the World Bank conclude that if Africa is indeed creating more wealth, her poverty does not recede.

A third of Africa’s population of some 1.2 billion, that is, 400 million individuals continue to live below the poverty level of US$1.25 per day. The most common number used to measure the success of a country’s economy is the gross domestic product (or national income) capital.

Basically, it is the monetary value of a country’s total production of goods and services divided by the number of its inhabitants. Countries are always proud to announce that their income per capital is growing.

Based on this number alone, one can logically infer that increasing or persisting poverty results from a negative difference or, at best, no difference at all between the growth of a country’s economy and that of its population.

Poverty increases if economic growth stands below population growth and it persists if economic growth cannot surpass that of population. But poverty should diminish if a country’s economy grows faster than its population. Prosperity implies that people create wealth at a faster rate than they multiply.

A question at the core of economic development is therefore how to keep the reinforcing process of capital accumulation, that which generates more production and more wealth, from growing at a slower pace than that of population so that people get richer rather than poorer.

What do the African statistics earlier mentioned, all originating from world class institutions, suggest?

They suggest that poverty in Africa should definitely recede as Africa’s economic growth is now significantly higher than the growth of her population.

Africa’s overall average yearly economic growth stands higher than five percent while its population grows no faster (and perhaps now slower) than three percent.

There is a significant positive difference and it should be accompanied by clear evidences of decreasing poverty levels.

But Mckinsey and the World Bank, who can hardly be challenged as reliable sources, tell us that it is not so. What economic growth data do not and cannot show is the confiscation of the surplus away from national development.

It is non-inclusive, narrow, jobless and

Continues on page 35

They suggest that poverty in Africa should definitely recede as Africa’s economic growth is now significantly higher than the growth of her population

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PPA AGE 35

Currency and power are synonymous — Akinjide Continued from page 34 non-poverty reducing. Despite current high growth rates, Africa has yet to find a lasting solution to the real challenge of development: that of translating her ability to produce more wealth into significant improvements in job creation, income levels, education, health and general welfare for her rapidly growing populations.

Comparative statistics indicate that sub-Saharan Africa has been the least successful world region in reducing poverty. Moreover, in spite of a significant number of fast growing economies, Africa continues to have one of the highest child malnutrition rates in the world, major infrastructural deficiencies, repeated conflicts, inadequate education, no real industrial base and corrupt governments.

CORRUPTION Strong economic growth in a number of African countries presently results from a combination of increasing primary product prices and rising levels of foreign direct investments aimed at harvesting these primary products for export.

But such growth, while faithfully recorded in official statistics, fails to transform into domestic development for several reasons. It is created by projects which are capital intensive and create few jobs.

Linkages with the rest of the domestic economy are few or negligible. As a result reinforcing processes, those where demand from dominant sectors create recurrent activity, production and income in many others, are prevented to occur and wealth is not created. In addition, growth-generating projects are de facto under foreign control and large junks of repatriated profits escape the domestic grasp.

And here comes corruption. Every country includes both productive and extractive investors. Productive investors create wealth. Extractive investors do not.

They extract existing wealth from the system in which they operate thereby generating gains which might be extremely handsome but are obtained to the detriment of legitimate producers.

Speculation is a major source of extractive investment in advanced countries. It is at the origin of the crisis of 2008, one of the worst the West has ever faced. Government corruption, one of the principal causes of persisting or increasing poverty in Africa, is a less sophisticated but equally destructive process. And, basically, it is not prosecuted.

The engine of sustained growth and development in any economic system is capital investment. Without well-selected and productive investment projects there is no possibility of economic progress. It is the accumulation of productive capital which drives not only production but also productivity, that is, how much each worker is able to produce in a given period of time and, to some extent, how well it is done. The impact of capital accumulation can be amazing. In Nigeria, government rents tractors at a subsidized rate to small farmers who cannot afford their acquisition. It takes a week and half a dozen of hard-working non-skilled farm workers to adequately prepare a 40 acre surface for planting.

But the same work is accomplished in a few hours and at a lower cost by a man on his tractor.

DURABLE DEVELOPMENTS Corruption is particularly damaging when it hinders the investment process.

There are four essential conditions for capital investment projects to translate into durable developments.

Projects must be in the right quantity (there must be enough of them), they must be of the right quality, they must be properly apportioned and they must operate over the right period of time. Any parameter that prevents one or several of these four key ingredients, quantity, quality, distribution and duration to combine to make projects productive is a threat to economic success. Let us examine them one after the other.

Quantity. This is the number of capital investment projects that a country

implements, say, on a yearly basis.

Sustained economic growth basically requires that a sizeable proportion of a country’s national production be made of such goods as machines, plants or infrastructures not aimed at satisfying the immediate needs of consumers but at producing or at facilitating the production of more goods in the future so as to increase welfare. Considered from a different perspective, capital investment is the amount of work that a society accepts to undertake to prepare the future rather than to satisfy present needs. Capital investment is financed by the amount of money that a community financed by indebtedness but there are dangers. The process becomes more risky and the cost of failure higher.

So saving rates are important economic parameters.

How much do countries or regions invest? Orders of magnitude vary widely.

The average rate of investment, that is, the share of national income allocated to capital formation is 21% on average in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is higher, 26%, in the Middle East and North Africa and impressively higher, 42%, in East Asia. In Nigeria it is 9%.

Quality. The motive of private investors is profit. That of public investors is (or should be) to optimize public utility. In both cases it is critical to ensure that the stream of revenues that an investment generates cumulates at least to cover its initial cost as rapidly as possible.

Anything in excess becomes profit.

Anything below is a loss. The quality of a capital investment project can therefore be appraised by the time the project takes to return its initial cost. When a large infrastructure project is initially awarded for over US$100 million by a government then recalled by the next and re-awarded for six times its initial cost, it should not come as a surprise that the real motive behind the project had nothing to do with optimizing public utility and rising public welfare.

Distribution. Most African economies are short of capital. But this quantitative problem is made much worse when it compounds with repeated malfunctions in the way investments are distributed. In the East-Asian region where in excess of 40% of the national income is reinvested, there is twice as much private capital as there is public capital. In Africa, it is the contrary. Bridges and roads are useful to economies but they do not always provide the tools and equipment which workers need to produce, enhance their efficiency and generate more income.

A country which has bridges over its rivers but lacks pumps to irrigate its cultivated fields cannot increase its food production. The result of imbalances between public and private capital is low productivity, limited job creation and persisting poverty. African economies are in dire need of private capital investments in productive sectors. But it will take time before investors’ current perception of the investment risk in Africa, which is high, turns around to become a more favourable assessment.

The perception of this risk is not the monopoly of foreign investors alone. Rich nationals whose funds are invested abroad do share it. Pr Paul Collier in The Bottom Billion explains how a painstaking processing of trade statistics allowed him and his research team to establish that, by the end of the military rule in 1998, Nigerians were holding about US$100 billion of capital abroad. Who could blame them? Nobody wants to hold assets in places where opportunities are poor and returns neither sound nor safe.

Duration. An investment of good quality is therefore one which is of the right size, regularly produces income and turns into a profit making machine in a reasonably short time. But also required is that whatever mechanical, chemical, electric or infrastructural process generates such benefit is correctly maintained. Capital depreciates.

It is an inescapable fact of life. But the rate at which capital depreciates has quite a bit to do with the way it is taken care of. Africa is not so good at maintaining what is has and many projects decay faster than they should.

At the core of any economic process and behind the accomplishments that any community claims, there are people.

Human and social values are therefore

*Akinjide... Our future in our hands

critical to economic success. There is a close and reciprocal relationship, a strong feedback, between a society and its economy.

Much more than physical endowments, what makes countries rich and prosperous are a combination of intangible human and social factors first among which are the skills and know-how of their labor force. This is perhaps where Africa’s most pressing problem exists.

The assets that a country can rely on are either physical (tangible) or insubstantial (intangible). Both are required but they have a vastly different impact on economic development. The difference comes from the fact that intangible assets, unlike tangible ones, can become destructive and turn into heavy liabilities. Let me give an example. To be the owner of a car is an asset but not owning one, though it may not appear as a desirable situation, is not a liability. In contrast if the mechanic who has been hired to fix this car, because of his incompetence returns it more damaged than it initially was, this is clearly a liability.

Corruption, which dissociates reward from merit, is one of the most dangerous among such liabilities. In a corrupt society, monetary gains and social status do no longer result from knowledge acquisition, effort, integrity and hard work but from one’s skills at fraud and embezzlement. As corruption spreads in a society, the notion that success is associated with fraud rather than merit also spreads especially among the youth and the value system collapses.

In the long-term the economic consequences of such social dysfunctions can only be disastrous. Workers loose their skills. Countries do no longer efficiently invest to prepare the future. Mutual trust among society members disappears.

There is no longer a common cause to believe in, work for and adhere to.

Individual and egoistic hunts for illegitimate financial gains to the detriment of others and the community multiply. Institutions decay. The maintenance culture becomes inexistent.

Governments no longer trust their civil servants or citizens.

Citizens and civil servants no longer trust or support their government. The law is ignored.

THE FUTURE No matter how potentially rich this continent is, the future of Africa is in the hands of our people. As long as decisive progress is not accomplished, building, improving and perfecting our human capital, I should not give too much attention to appealing economic growth statistics or bright long term forecasts.

Our hope and progress are in our hands. Our power and currency are synonymous.

Corruption, which dissociates reward from merit, is one of the most dangerous among such liabilities. In a corrupt society, monetary gains and social status do no longer result from knowledge acquisition, effort, integrity and hard work but from one’s skills at fraud and embezzlement

PAGE 36— SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

One more step forward … and things can get better — Edosomwan Chief Charles Edosomwan, a former Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and a delegate to the 2014 National Conference, visited the headquarters of Vanguard Newspapers and shared his thoughts with senior editors on the gains of the Confab and how to make the recommendations count. He spoke as Nigeria turns 54 on October 1.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE On comments that the delegates wasted taxpayers N7 billion spent on the National Conference Really, I can’t tell you for a fact how much was expended on that exercise. The reason is that I was quite taken with the purpose of the talks for me to reconcile with the naira and kobo that made it happen. No doubt, that money was spent because we were paid allowances and, for you to run a thing like that, you must spend money but I do know that a lot more money has been spent for less worthy projects that have not benefited Nigerians at all.

For the first time, for those who are familiar with pre-Nigerian history, even our economic history will know that Nigerians were convoking to talk about moving the country forward without being prompted or supervised by some European power; organized or headed by gun-totting khaki persons. We all went there to meet and most of the people who came are people you could say are credible. You can make some allowance for others who are not credible, and people who ordinarily would not win election because of their inability to play the political game, but otherwise, they have established a track record for themselves and with the ability to look at Nigerian people, interrogate them and look for middle ground that form the basis for which we will be able to move forward. So, to that extent, I would not say that the money spent was badly spent.

On what he took away from the Confab We recorded some achievements. I call it achievements because so many people out there call it a waste of time, a jamboree; that we came up with policies and recommendations that would not be implemented.

Now, we are at such a precarious juncture in our nationhood that something has to happen. In 2010, when the late President Umaru Yar Adua had to convoke the Niger Delta Summit, things had become so fluid in Niger Delta that law and order had totally broken down. It was just as bad as what is happening in the North-East now even though their culture is different.

Then, we were not selling much oil, so our economy became badly affected that somebody somewhere saw the need for the people of Niger Delta to come together, select people and talk about the problems of Niger Delta. We did that; fortunately, your Chairman (Mr. Sam Amuka) was part of us. He was the most active in genuinely trying to seek solution and we did reach some resolutions even though some of us are still angry that President Goodluck Jonathan has formally refused to implement the report we sent to him. Some policies that were to be subsequently promulgated came out of the deliberations we had. I spent four months of my executive time in the committee. It became very important for us to bring to the consciousness of the rest of Nigerians that you don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

We suggested as an economic concept: open up the Niger Delta, establish industrial clusters, get the young ones engaged, removed them from the creeks, which was temporarily the theatre of operations, to end the insurgency. We suddenly saw the mentoring system that was engrained in the amnesty project. The militants were removed from the scene.

As they were removed from the scene,

*Edosomovan ...Nigeria won’t break criminality that was enshrined in the loss of lives and properties, which in Obasanjo’s time instigated Odi massacre and others, became unnecessary.

To the present, there has never been a time when mutual suspicions are so high in this country as now. Centrifugal forces at play have never been at variance as now so much so that some people in the North-East have embarked on open rebellion.

As a Benin man, I used to be a part of an empire with pedigree. We used to be part of an entity recognized by Europeans. The ancient Benin had a policy of imposing its language on places it settled; they were speaking Bini in Accra, in Lome, across the west coast and some parts of Igbo land.

The British came here in 1897, subjugated us, reduced us to nothing and put us in an economic project called Nigeria.

The Igbo still go to the days of the civil war in 1967, they haven’t lost their street mentality. They have not been welcomed back in the North. I remember when the first Igbo Chief of the Army Staff was removed, a lot of dust was raised from certain quarters. If you go to the MiddleBelt, the grudges are so deep-seated that you have these explosions from time to time.

People will sit back and say Nigeria will always remain one. They take our sovereignty for granted. This is what President Jonathan saw and said, ‘let us not take these things for granted, let us come now and talk about these things at a National Conference’.

And, in the end, we came up with farreaching recommendations that will save the country, if implemented.

On criticisms trailing Confab’s recommendation for creation of additional 18 states when most of the current 36 states are not economically viable The issue of state creation is very tricky.

As a Benin man, I went with a mandate to speak for regionalization which is premised on the fact that creation of states would cost us much. We are a mono-economy. Now, we are in a presidential system where every state has

a regime of quarterly use of officialdom.

So, I don’t need too much convincing that those who sent me to the National Conference asked me to speak for regionalization and the thought was that we should go back to the four regions: West, North, East, Midwest or use the present six geo-political zones as the federating units.

We got to the conference and found out that if we need to do a smooth job, we must confront Nigeria’s problems from the perspectives of the multi-facets.

Nigerian has a bouquet of problems in different compartments, economic, governance, political, sociological and religious and solution must be sought in such a way that we ensure harmony and political balance.

There were age-long agitations and grudges that needed healing. The first thing I learnt in the conference is that talking as a Midwesterner, the Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri, who were part of us, didn’t want to come back to Old MidWest. Even the Igbo components want Anioma State.

In a discussion with one of their leaders, I said, ‘How can you be talking of creating states when we should be talking of compressing governance?’ He said, ‘Are you real?’

If different parts of the country are asking for state creation, as a political problem, what do we do? Ignore it?

Moving further, I came to see that while regionalization and compressing structure may make good economic sense, it will make a very poor political judgment because those in the MiddleBelt, who felt aggrieved, have formed themselves in tight restless group and want a platform to express themselves.

This is the same situation with southern elements in Adamawa, Bauchi and even Borno. Then, there is South-East, which felt that one of the ways of continuing the civil war unofficially against them was making them the underdog among the zones. One of the strong agenda they brought to the conference was state creation, giving them one more state.

I never went there to support creation of states. My people told me that no part of Edo State must be ceded to any other entity. We even had the issue of Edo and Delta denying us access to the sea. The first time I spoke, I did for one more state in the South-East, to create a balance.

But looking at the various agitations, the issue of political problems, economic, sociological, and religious dimension, I became convinced that for us to have politically harmonious balance in Nigeria’s structure, state creation at this time probably makes more sense politically than regionalization.

On derivation, removing local councils as tier of government and the effect on sharing of federal revenue I don’t think we came out with all the solutions to our problems. Let’s be realistic about it, nobody can say there is a catalogue of solutions to Nigeria’s problems, but we have come to realize that when it comes to system of government, federalism is the one that best suits us. There are over 300 ethnicities in Nigeria, some of which were internationally recognized on their own before Nigeria became an economic project of Britain. The Kanemi Bornu Caliphate, for instance, was once in existence, and the Fulanis, who came all the way from Mauritania, only got in 1804. Now, the

Continues on page 37

Centrifugal forces at play have never been at variance as now so much so that some people in the NorthEast have embarked on open rebellion

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PPA AGE 37

One more step forward … and things can get better — Edosomwan Continued from page 36 Benin, the Jukuns, the Nupes, and the whole conglomerate of cephalic Igbo people, Tivs whom we saw as the last to migrate into Nigeria. So it became clear that we have to affirm the principles of federalism. We have been pretending to be a kind of federalism since 1954, which worked till 1966 when the coup happened and Ironsi enacted a decree that removed federalism from Nigeria’s Constitution.

Several Constitutions that were promulgated, most of which were done by the army, were used to distort our federal structure. We had a situation where the military became a political force, we saw the military as a party of a sort in the country. It was during that period that so many things happened to our structure that did not make sense; over centralization, multiple creation of states and local governments, etc.

The centre came to hold over 52 per cent of revenue. Things in other federalism that the centre will allow the federating units to handle were held strongly to the centre. The centre held them in a state of inaction which eventually led to a progressed regression - our railway system, power and energy, aviation and so many other things.

It got so bad that Land Use Decree was promulgated. Babangida took it to a disgraceful height when he said all coastal lands belong to the Federal Government. People who live in Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, Rivers, Delta, Lagos and Akwa Ibom states no longer own their lands.

What was done with the booty that now accrued to the central government? It was dealt with as gifts for patronages. We needed to address our federalism and happily I think we affirmed the principles of federalism in this conference. How did we do that? We agreed that nobody owns anybody in this country. If you had been privileged and entitled all the time we have been together, this is a new era.

The times have changed. The kind of consensus Nigeria had in 1967, I was small during the civil war, to fight a war to keep Nigeria united is no longer there.

To their thinking, they were preserving a unity gotten in heaven. If for instance, the Southwest part of Nigeria, which has a Constitution, map and flag, say they are leaving Nigeria today, who can stop them? Nobody!

However, being the biggest black country in the world is an asset to us in terms of self-esteem. We go around the world, even other people from other countries are proud to tell you they are Nigerians. We are the envy of other Africans. So what will be the ingredient for this federalism? We need to cut into the overwhelming capacity of the Federal Government, 52 per cent is too large.

Even the roads maintained by the Federal Government are bad. Go to Aba for instance, there are federal roads.

When I was commissioner in my state, Edo, the road that came from Lagos into Benin is federal road. It got bad. Nobody remembered to talk about Obasanjo during the time of Igbinedion. He could not maintain our road but nobody remembered to talk about the Federal Government, which competes for small things it ought to refer to states or local governments.

Look at the police. Can a monolithic police secure lives and property in Nigeria? They have not done so. They brought a Commissioner of Police from Zamfara to Edo who didn’t have empathy for victims of crimes. Bring a report to him, there was no empathy. He didn’t belong there. He did not have the cultural influence that will enable him to establish an intelligent regime that will bring to him the information he needed to combat crime, arrest suspect or get evidence to successfully prosecute suspects.

We need to reduce federal capacity from 52 per cent to 42 per cent even though it is not enough. Let us take the exercise as the first in our march towards actualizing a better Nigeria. In future, there may be need for changes. The reduction of

allocation from 52 to 42 per cent for the Federal Government will free up money for states that should be able to build their own railways, improve education and construct more roads.

On the failure of the conference to resolve derivation and resource control We achieved beyond expectation and resolved most of the issues through consensus. At the beginning, it was not like that. Everybody came with his agenda. If you are from the section where the system did not change, the system allows you to acquire without interference; where local government revenue allocation is coming as booties for feudal leaders, your position will be dictated by your perspective. But it so happened that we found out that things have changed and we had to do all we can to reach compromise in the interest of Nigeria. I gave lot of praise to conference members and the leadership. Whenever we came to a brick wall, a resolution was to be carried by 70 per cent, the conference leadership will set up a committee consisting of members from all parts of the country and across the various sectors.

They would meet and often come back without solutions. They would be told to go back and work. For consensus, we from the South kicked against 75 per cent.

Having worked in this conference with other Nigerians, I came to realize that truly there is no Nigerian that wants Nigeria to break up, including the man who said he was going to Cameroon. We were able to work through difficult resolutions like state police. We addressed the bad issue of funding religious pilgrimage. The matter of derivation became more serious. It was obvious that we from South-South didn’t want it put to a vote. We said that the South-South people are ready to go on with urgent developmental projects. What we needed badly is railway. I went to Verona to see marbles, some of the prettiest marbles I saw were from Edo State. There are so many precious resources in Nigeria that if we harness and take them to the world market, we will be talking less about oil.

The Mambila in Taraba State can feed the whole of Africa.

So I think we should increase capacity and turn revenue allocation to revenue gathering where everybody will be active participant in contributing to the nation’s wealth. It was a resolution that came out of the derivation debate.

On whether President Goodluck Jonathan can surmount the Boko Haram insurgency, rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and implement the confab report President Jonathan will be remembered in history for two things. One is the Chibok schoolgirls and the other will be his commitment to the National Conference. Those who thought that he was a lame duck, gutless man, fickle without clue were shocked when he talked about National Conference and took active steps to bring it to being by first, inaugurating the Okurounmu Committee. Some people thought he was playing a card.

Some said, ‘if we hold the conference, we will break up this country’, and all sorts of conflicting theories. I wasn’t very sure until I was called up to represent my people and I gave it a thought and it came to be.

When he was briefing us on the 17th of March, he said he had already appealed to the National Assembly who had begun a constitutional review process to introduce the point of referendum into our constitution.

When we finished at the conference, the anxiety among us was how we will proceed further what we have done? In my own interaction with people all over the country, I came to see a lot of cynicism, doubts, lack of confidence. The question was what will happen to the end product of the conference? However, the project of progressing the recommendations of the conference into becoming the substantial part of the regime of rules that will guide Nigeria is not the business of

*Edosomwan... We need to address our federalism

one man.

We are talking about President Jonathan. His first term is winding up. If the PDP politics play out as beautifully as they have done over time, he will have another four years and then goes away, but we will still be here with the problem which has no solution.

So, the business of progressing the work of the conference, which I perceive as a good job and the next pedestal upon which Nigeria will move, is the business of all Nigerians. Every Nigerian is a stakeholder in the Nigerian project.

What do I mean? Let us even assume that Jonathan was playing politics with the conference, it has gone beyond him now. Nigerians are saying they have interrogated Nigeria. They were together to say Nigeria is worth saving. It is the best form of entity that we can have as a people so that we can move as a black nation to the next level.

All these are lofty agreements. Why must we leave it for one man who may have been playing politics with the conference? So, good he has taken a step by constituting people from his cabinet to interrogate what to do with the conference report. I have criticism against the composition of that committee. I do not think it should have been members of the cabinet alone that should interrogate the way forward.

Some people from the conference, the academia and people who are also knowledgeable in systems, the press, even some religious leaders who think centripetally should have been recruited.

The press must be in the front of the process of getting the report implemented. Why? Its immense information capacity, sensitization quality and motivational capacity. If Nigerians don’t know about these recommendations, they can’t be sensitized. There’s need for vigorous sensitization.

We must speak the truth to ourselves.

These things are doable. Talking about time, unfortunately, I have to admit to you that we can’t have time. But what can’t be doubted is the commitment of Nigerians to engage this process.

Elements in National Assembly, probably, don’t like what we have done because by submitting local government to states, there is no need for constituency boundaries. So we too must accept that if we want things to happen, we must act to force National Assembly to do what is right or to make it happen in spite of them. How that will happen, we all will contemplate it and have the solutions.

However, the project of progressing the recommendations of the conference into becoming the substantial part of the regime of rules that will guide Nigeria is not the business of one man

PAGE 38 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

We need peaceful means of break up — Chekwas Okorie zSays PDP and APC are two sides of a coin z‘The attribute I share with Awolowo, Waziri Ibrahim, Aminu Kano’

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

C

hief Chekwas Okorie, founder of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the incumbent Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), believes in the emergence of a better Nigeria, if polluted and recycled politicians can be done away with. In this encounter, he laments what he describes as the weak approach by the presidency to the war against Boko Haram. Okorie also speaks on pro-Jonathan campaign group and Nigeria 54 years after independence among other issues.

What do you make of the controversy triggered by the pro-Jonathan’s campaign group which adopted the hashtag, ‘#Bring back Jonathan 2015’, that many considered a mockery of the hashtag on the abducted Chibok girls.

I am very disappointed that the president did not call them to order until recently, when he realised it had snowball into a national embarrassment. He later made a very weak statement dissociating himself from the campaign. Even at that, the campaign is still on-going.

It does not speak well of the free,fair and credible elections we are anticipating come 2015. If INEC rules could be ignored by those who ideally should abide by them, what then do you expect from the opposition?.

But our electoral system should have grown to a level whereby groups would not be involved in begging candidates to contest for political offices. What is your view about this?

It is the way our people have degenerated over time. It is also a sign of poverty in Nigeria. There is an adage in the East that says ‘goats only follow the person that holds a palm front’. Which means that pro-Jonathan groups can be regarded as hungry goats with low sense of reasoning.

It is unfortunate that in this part of the world, some groups are begging people to rule over them. If the person didn’t succeed while ruling over them, then he is not accountable to any of them. Anybody who wants to manage a big project called Nigeria must be intelligent enough to come up with a clear plan of what he or she intends to do differently to make life better.

However, it is not going to be a one-man show. Our party is presenting a presidential candidate from the South-east. It appears the APC is poised to present a northern presidential candidate, the PDP candidate is obvious to Nigerians (Jonathan). So far, Nigerians would be left to choose from different candidates, either the one some groups that are agitating the ruling party to continue or from a fresh political party ours.

What is your stand about key forces in the National Assembly being accused of indirectly lobbying for the postponement of the 2015 general elections so as to fight the Boko Haram sect to a standstill?

An average northerner believes the next election is an opportunity for power to come back to the North.

It appears the ruling party is so scared of confronting the Nigerian electorate because it will be the one to benefit from tenure elongation.

Any postponement of the 2015 general elections will create an impression that it is an agenda for tenure elongation which could be dangerous for our polity, leading to chaos and anarchy.

We in UPP want the elections to run as scheduled by INEC. We believe with an improved INEC, Nigerians are rational people who know how to use their votes to change their situation. There would be many upsets even to the level of presidency. We can’t wait to see Nigerians exercise their franchise and where majority would cast votes because democracy is about numbers.

Your party, until recently, had kept mute

Chief Chekwas Okorie on matters concerning alleged misgovernance by the ruling party. Was it deliberate?

When it comes to being objective, we have never been silent. Unlike other parties, what we have not been involved in, is name-calling. We don’t believe the opposition should be reduced to namecalling. The PDP and APC are two sides of the same coin. They both have equal share of recycled politicians from the same source who came under new platforms.

I have said it before, the battle line has been drawn between progressive UPP and the reactionary parties. We have zoned our presidential ticket to South-east.

Nigerians are left with the choice of going for a change or stooping low with the endemic that had eaten up our system. We are the only party that can pursue the anti-corruption cause passionately to a justified end.

What do you make of the rumour making the round about the UPP and APGA merger come 2015 elections?

Actually, there was a form of collaboration that is ongoing between our party and a faction of APGA led by Mazi Ogbu.

You are aware I founded APGA while Mazi Ogbu was my deputy chairman, south and Umeh was my treasurer. It was the crisis in the party that spurred me to form another party. When Mazi Obgu became the chairman based on the invitation of former Governor Peter Obi, his executives paid me a courtesy visit and they apologised for what they did wrong to me. They offered to work with us but being a faction we thought we should give them time to sort themselves out before we could go into discussions. But merger was not part of the plan because merger is a process enforced by law any time more than six months. But we agreed to collaborate come 2015; some where along the line, the role the presidency played in the APGA crisis made one faction of the two adopted Jonathan’s return come 2015. This has propelled divergent views and positions.

The Boko Haram sect has moved from abduction, killing and destruction of lives and properties to declaring certain areas as a caliphate and installing emirs. Do you think the 2015 elections are feasible?

It is possible. Election will come and go despite the war in the North-east. I remember during the Biafran saga, despite the heat in the Eastern Region, Nigeria did not break. The insurgents have not taken over the whole of North-east, the battle is ongoing. I don’t see it affecting election in a country as big as Nigeria with 36 states. If Adamawa State is poise for governorship election soon, why won’t the general elections hold?

But some people are of the opinion that there should be provision for peaceful separation in our Constitution, because 54 years after independence, our unity seems not to be working. What do you make of

this?

This was what some of us tried to suggest at the just concluded National Conference.

There should be an exit clause in the new Constitution so that any section that wishes to disengage from Nigeria can do so lawfully but apparently it was discarded. As it is, there is no legal means of separation.

There are exit clauses in other countries.

In Nigeria, any separation will still be by force. If such provision is made, there will be appreciation of interdependence of each faction and it’s becomes boring to separate.

But it appears, we are not mature to that level.

How best can insurgency be curtailed?

The war is on going. What Nigerians are not happy about is the inability of the Federal Government handling the war with kid gloves. Stronger armed forces should be deployed to clean out the place. There will definitely be a collateral damages, which is inevitable in a war situation. But the situation has been allowed to linger too too long. This does not speak well of our military as a nation.

How do you describe your being the only Igbo man in the league of the late sage Obafemi Awolowo by founding two registered political parties?

Circumstances led to that. I had a vision and founded APGA but that vision was derailed when APGA turned out to what I would describe as a political kidnap. You will discover that people with vision found political parties, but people with ambition join political parties. When circumstance led me to found UPP, it suddenly dawned on me that I had made another history. I am the first Igbo man to found the first registered political party in Nigeria. NCNC was founded by the late Herbert Macaulay, NPP was founded by the late Waziri Ibrahim. When I founded UPP, I became the fourth person in the history of Nigeria to have founded political parties in their life time. The prefect of the class is Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who founded Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria. Second in line is the late Mallam Aminu Kano. He founded Norther Elements Progressive Union and later Peoples Redemption Party.

The next is Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim who founded Nigeria Peoples Party. But when Dr.Azikiwe joined, he felt he could not struggle with him. He moved to found Great Nigeria Peoples Party. That action of his gave him the title of ‘apostle of politics without bitterness’; because he didn’t want to stay to fight, he simply found another political party. In my own case, circumstances led me into founding the second political party. Unlike every other visiondriven organisation, founding political parties is not like building real estates. If it is, Igbo folks would have founded many and sold them but because if is not the best way to be comfortable, except you are pursuing vision that is the reason, we are only four in the entire history of Nigeria. Among the four, I am the only one alive by the grace of God. How well is UPP prepared for 2015 elections?

Our party is like David in the Bible who defeated the giant. We have a natural constituency that can be likened to tradition that is entrenched in everywhere in Nigeria.

What do you make of the additional 30,000 polling units for election?

I took time to study INEC. I have absolutely nothing to fault Jega on the issue.

He has done what is efficient for the conduct of elections. I studied the voters register and everything is clustered with figures. For the purposes of better management of elections, INEC said a polling unit should not have more than 500 voters. But in the North, they are not as closely populated as we are in the South. Outside the metro-police, others are sparsely distributed and if you do not bring polling units closer to them, during election time, movement is restricted. And so many people will not be given the opportunity to move around. That was the main reason behind my clamouring for electronic system of voting.

There should be an exit clause in the new Constitution so that any section that wishes to disengage from Nigeria can do so lawfully but apparently it was discarded. As it is, there is no legal means of separation. There are exit clauses in other countries

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 39

(1)

BY JIDE AJANI

I

t may never really matter now what has become of him – as a rolling stone that may end up not gathering moss.

But as is always said in politics, anything can happen; especially when placed against the backdrop of a shambling and shambolic presidency, made worse by sycophants who have held President Goodluck Jonathan hostage to his own ambition.

Yet, the odds are stacked against the man, Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, in his fresh bid to become Nigeria’s President.

That he is a rolling stone can never be in doubt: Two-time member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; former member, ACD; and now member of the All Progressive Congress, APC; all between 1999 and 2014.

For the man Atiku Abubakar, he remains one of the very few Nigerians whose first name can never be confused with any other individual – there is a tiny tribe of Nigerians whose first name rings a bell: Fela (Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti), Murtala (Ramat Muhammad), Gani (Fawehinmi), Muda (Lawal), Beko (Ransom-Kuti).

However, in the realm of presidential politics, especially the murky, insensate and perhaps killme-I-kill-you chess game which held Nigeria in a vice-grip of embarrassment from December 2002 to February 2007, the man Atiku stands out. It is generally acknowledged that but for his mobilization, Nigeria may have been reeling under a life presidency.

At every turn of the way in the now infamous struggle and contestation for power, Atiku always headed for the courts. For, whatever anyone would say, the many judgments he got against his rampaging boss helped bring some semblance of sanity. Unlike the embarrassment being caused the PDP and the nation in Ekiti State today, with the indecorous Gov-elect Fayose’s sense of propriety or lack of it, Nigerians must be encouraged to seek judicial assistance and not recourse to selfhelp.

Atiku may not be liked. He may, more appropriately, be loathed, a reflection of the perception that he was a disloyal Vice President to his boss, then President Olusegun Obasanjo But this is one rolling stone that appears to have gathered some moss.

Let us make some clarifications upfront. When you place the thinking in the presidency beside some of the solutions proffered and being proffered by Atiku, side by side, you would simply empathize with the former.

This is more so, in the face of a seemingly ‘clueless’ presidency that allows almost every Tom, Dick and Harry to poke fun at it. As was the case in 2011, President Jonathan would do well for his aspiration and his well-being not to appear for any national debate with an Atiku.

PROLOGUE

ATIKU Atiku Abubakar Having become serially impatient as to move from party to party, the former Vice President may have unwittingly estranged not a few supporters.

Yet, the template for garrison politicking, a practice that Obasanjo introduced, was just a make-over of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, the embryonic entity in the then Social Democratic Party, SDP, which was effectively used during the SDP presidential primaries of 1993 and which produced MKO Abiola.

Today, it is because of the way

Obasanjo elevated brute politicking to an art that forced Atiku out of PDP; the same paradigm was employed by Jonathan’s supporters to force out five of its own state governors just so Jonathan would have a smooth sail for a second term.

No matter.

Atiku continues to enjoy the type of spread no other politician in Nigeria enjoys.

But whether that spread would be enough to oust a President running on the sentiment of constitutional guarantee for a second term on the platform of the major political party

in the country is another thing.

Yes, there are two dominant parties today. But it would be sheer foolhardiness to try to match the numerical strength of the All Progressive Congress, APC, with that of the PDP. However, in politics, being what it is, anything can happen. Atiku continues to insist that if he becomes President, he would deliver for Nigeria and Nigerians. To do that, he must first scale the primary in his party before confronting Jonathan next February.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

(1) THE MAN WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT

The story of the struggle of my life, by Atiku Abubakar Says his father wanted him to be Islamic scholar or herdsman

JADA I was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa State, Nigeria. I was named after my paternal grandfather, Atiku Abdulkadir. It was the practice among the Fulani people to name their first sons after their paternal grandfathers.

My grandfather, Atiku, came originally from Wurno in Sokoto State. There, he had met and befriended Ardo Usman, a Fulani nobleman from what is now known as Adamawa State. My grandfather decided to accompany his new friend back to his home- town of Adamawa.

They settled in Kojoli, a small village in Jada Local Government Council of Adamawa State. My grandfather farmed, kept livestock and raised a family. He married a local girl in Kojoli and gave birth to my father, Garba Atiku Abdulkadir. He was their only child.

My father was an itinerant trader who traveled from one market to another selling imitation jewelry, caps, needles, potash, kola nuts and other nick-knacks which he ferried around on the back of his donkey. He also kept some livestock and cultivated guinea corn, maize and groundnuts.

When it was time for him to

But my father was not a happy man. He was sad and angry that his only child had been taken away from him to be exposed to a strange world

marry, my father chose a young girl from nearby Jada town whose parents had migrated from Dutse, now the capital of Jigawa State.

My mother, Aisha Kande, was born in Jada.

Both my father and paternal grandfather were learned men.

They gave free Islamic classes to adults and young people in Kojoli during their spare time.

As a young boy growing up in Kojoli, my parents doted on me.

They tried their best to provide for me and to ensure that I grew up in a wholesome environment of love and spirituality. My father saw me as a rare gift, a child of destiny.

My parents tried unsuccessfully to have more children.

GOING TO SCHOOL My father, Garba Atiku Abdulkadir, was fond of me. He wanted me to become an Islamic scholar, herdsman, farmer and trader just like him. He was a deeply religious man who was suspicious of Western education which he believed could corrupt the impressionable minds of young people.

My father did not want me to go to school. He tried to hide me from the prying eyes of Native Authority officials who had embarked on compulsory mass literacy campaign in the region. My father soon discovered that he could not resist the wind of change that was blowing through the area at the time.

My mother ’s older brother, Kawu Ali who had received a lit-

tle education through adult literacy classes, registered me at Jada Primary School in January 1954 as Atiku Kojoli.

For trying to stop me from going to school, my father was arrested, charged to an Alkali court and fined 10 Shillings. He refused to pay the fine. He said he had no money. He spent a few days in jail until my maternal grandmother, who made local soap for sale in the community, raised the money to pay the fine and father was released to her.

But my father was not a happy man. He was sad and angry that his only child had been taken away from him to be exposed to a strange world. He saw Western education as a threat to their cherished values and way of life.

FATHER’S DEATH Three years after I started school, tragedy struck in December 1957. I was then11 years old.

I was just about to begin the Senior Primary School in Jada as a boarding pupil. My father drowned while trying to cross a small river known as Mayo Choncha on the outskirts of Toungo, a neighbouring town. The river was in high tide following a heavy rainfall. Father’s body was recovered

the following day and buried in Toungo according to Islamic rites.

He was less than 40 years old when he died. I built an Islamic primary school at his burial site years later to immortalize him. He was a simple, hard working, kind, honest and God-fearing man. I miss him a lot.

After my father’s death, the task of raising me fell on my mother, Kande, and her childless sister, Azumi, as well as my father’s extended family members in Kojoli.

Although people were generally kind and caring towards me, it was difficult for relatives to fill the vacuum left by my father. As such, I was often sad and lonely. Father’s death pained me greatly.

I resolved to work hard, remain focused and be successful in life to make my father proud. I was sure that he was somewhere watching over me. I did not want to disappoint him. I wish father had lived long enough to see the benefits of Western education in my life.

KADUNA, KANO & ZARIA After completing my primary school in Jada in 1960, I was admitted into Adamawa Provincial Secondary School in Yola. I joined 59 other young boys from Adamawa and beyond in January 1961 to

Continues on page 41

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 41

(1) Continued from page 40 begin a five-year high school journey. The school’s motto is Tiddo Yo Daddo, a Fulani aphorism for “Endurance is Success”. It reminded us daily that success in life would only come to those who worked hard and persevered. Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, like others in the region, belonged in the second category of post-primary institutions in Northern Nigeria. The most prestigious schools were the Government Colleges in Zaria and Keffi.

Pupils who excelled in the entrance examination went to the Government Colleges; those who did reasonably well went to the Provincial Secondary Schools; average students were sent to the Craft Schools in the various Divisions; and those who failed the examination were sent to Farm Centres which were established in all the Districts. It was a good system which took care of everyone irrespective of his or her level of intelligence.

When I was 15, I spent my school holiday at home, working as a clerk in Ganye Native Authority. My boss was Adamu Ciroma, the then District Officer. From my holiday job earnings, I bought a house for my mother in Ganye, the headquarters of the local government council. The thatched mud bungalow had two rooms plus a kitchen and bathroom. It cost me about nine Pounds Sterling. My mother was very happy and proud of me. I had saved her from homelessness after her older brother sold the family house in Jada without her knowledge.

SERVING IN THE CUSTOMS Before completing my Diploma in Law programme in June 1969, a team from the Federal Civil Service Commission came on a recruitment drive to the university. By chance one of the interviewers found in my file a report that I had once been found suitable to join the police force and had in fact received some training in 1966. This in- formation was brought to the attention of the chairman of the interview panel who promptly ruled. “O.k., you go to the Department of Customs and Excise”.

That was how I joined the Department of Customs and Excise in June 1969. The invisible hand that has always shaped my life had once again steered me towards my destiny.

After my training at the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos and at the Customs Training School in Ebute Metta in Lagos, I was posted to Idi Iroko border station. My colleagues and I were tasked with collecting duties on imported and exported goods, stop- ping the entry and exit of banned items, and arresting and prosecuting smugglers.

I was posted in 1972 to Ikeja Airport in Lagos and later to Apapa ports in Lagos.

I saw Customs not as a punitive institution but as a way of making money for government.

Instead of seizing goods and extorting money from their owners, I made money for government. A lot of people tried unsuccessfully to induce me.

I was posted to Ibadan mid 1975 and promoted Superintendent of Customs. This was during the memorable days of General Murtala Muhammed, the nation’s new military leader who had electrified the nation with his campaign for discipline, probity, hard work, patriotism and dedication to duty.

I admired General Muhammed and tried to promote the same values and attitudinal change in our office. I was nicknamed “Murtala Muhammed Junior” by my Customs subordinates in Ibadan because they said I was behaving like him. Although I was second-in-command in Ibadan, I used to order late-comers to be locked out of their offices.

I was sad to hear about General Muhammed’s assassination on February 13, 1976 during a failed military coup. Some of those who were later implicated in the coup and killed were well known to me.

But I did not know they were involved in a coup plot. Shortly after that failed coup, I was transferred to Kano in 1976.

MAKING MONEY I recognized very early in life that I have a good nose for business. In 1974 I applied for and obtained a Federal Staff Housing Loan. The loan, which amounted to 31,000 Naira, was the equivalent of my salary for five years. I was granted a plot of land by the Gongola State Government at Yola Government Reserved Area (GRA). I hired a foreman and began building my first house. With close personal supervision, the bungalow was completed on time and to my taste. I rented it out immediately. The rent I collected in advance on the house was substantial enough for me to purchase a second plot. I built my second house there and rented it out. I continued to plow back the rent into the building of new houses and within a few years I had built eight houses in choice areas of Yola. I also built a new house for my mother and rebuilt the old mud house I bought for her in Ganye when I was a 15-year-old student.

Property investment can be very rewarding. It is safe and the returns are high de- pending on the location. Kaduna, for instance, was a good place to invest in property before the emergence of Abuja. I built my first house in Kaduna with rent from other property. I bought six more plots and built residential houses and rented them out to individuals and institutions.

Of all the businesses into which I would venture, the most successful and the most lucrative would be a small oil services company I established with an Italian business man in the early 1980s. I met Gabriel Volpi when he was working at Apapa Ports in 1982. The Genoa, Italy-born Volpi was a director in MED Africa, a shipping company.

Volpi suggested we go into oil and gas logistics. He knew Nigeria’s future was in oil and gas. We registered the Nigeria Container Services (NICOTES), operating from a container office at Apapa Ports. I was not involved in the running of the company.

NICOTES relocated later to the Federal Lighter Terminal in Port Harcourt when the business began to grow. The company, now known as INTELS (Integrated and Logistics Services), has grown into a multi-billion Naira business providing over 15,000 jobs in Nigeria and other African countries, and paying hefty dividends to its shareholders.

MOTHER’S DEATH My mother, Aisha Kande, died suddenly of a heart attack in 1984.

I was in Lagos where I had been posted as the Customs Area Administrator in charge of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja. Lamido Aliyu Musdafa summoned

me home and broke the sad news to me in his palace. I wept like a child. She was hale and hearty when we last saw a week earlier.

was informed that Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the retired Major-General and former deputy to Obasanjo, was waiting to see me.

Yar’Adua wanted a license to import beans from Niger Republic for sale in Nigeria. I told him that he would have to write an application to President Ibrahim Babangida for the license.

Yar’Adua thanked me and left.

Babangida approved his application. Yar ’Adua imported the beans from Niger Republic, sold them and made good money. He felt he needed to show appreciation to me for assisting him. I was happy to see him again when he visited me and happier still to know that his business had gone well. He offered me a token of appreciation, but I declined, saying it was unnecessary. I was just doing my job.

Yar’Adua w a s

A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE A few months before my mother ’s death, soldiers had overthrown the civilian administration of Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983. MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari became the new Head of State.

As part of its monetary policies, the Buhari government had introduced new Naira notes in April 1984. The policy was aimed at halting the illegal speculative trading of the Naira outside the shores of Nigeria. A time limit was imposed within which old notes could be turned in for new ones. Government agencies at the nation’s bor-

*Atiku... My action surprised Yar’ Adua ders, sea and air ports were instructed to screen all bags and containers entering the country to ensure old Naira notes were not being smuggled into the country.

A first class traditional ruler and a returning Nigeria diplomat had arrived from Saudi Arabia with several bags. My officers at the airport in Lagos were not allowed to search the bags. The duty officers reported the incident in writing. I did not know how a newspaper got wind of it. The

Property investment can be very rewarding. It is safe and the returns are high depending on the location. Kaduna, for instance, was a good place to invest in property before the emergence of Abuja. I built my first house in Kaduna with rent from other property

Guardian, a Lagos-based newspaper, reported on its front page on June 10, 1984 that “Passenger with 53 suitcases leaves airport unchecked”.

The incident became a scandal and government was forced to set up an administrative panel of inquiry to determine why due process was not followed. The government was clearly embarrassed by the incident and rather than punish those who flouted its directive that all baggage be searched, it began to look for scapegoats. They mounted pressure on me to deny that the inci-

dent ever happened. I was threatened and intimidated. I vowed to surrender my uniform and quit the Customs rather than lie.

The Federal Government would later declare that the controversial 53 suitcases contained the personal effects of the traditional ruler, the returning ambassador and members of their families. The government added that those who intimidated and threatened the Customs officers on duty on that day at the airport had been reprimanded.

Some government officials wanted me sacked for not covering up their mess. But Finance Minister Onaolapo Soleye, who supervised the Department of Customs and Excise, said I should be left alone.

Soleye did not know me. He acted on the basis of the facts before him. He said it would be unfair to punish me for doing my job and for standing by my officers.

He was also swayed by my impeccable service record. No queries.

No sanctions. My file was filled with commendations for meeting and exceeding revenue targets at the different posts I had headed.

A PASSION FOR LEARNING I have always had a passion for education. In 1988, my second wife, Ladi and I registered a limited liability company called ABTI-ZARHAM (formed from the first letters of the names of our children: Abba and Atiku Jnr = ABTI and Zainab, Rukaiya, Hauwa and Maryam = ZARHAM). We established ABTI Nursery and Primary School in Yola in 1992.

We later set up ABTI Academy, an elite high school with boarding facilities modeled after the British public school. It was followed by ABTI-American University (now American University of Nigeria, Yola). It provides American-style university education to students. Nothing gives me more joy and fulfillment in life than my modest contributions to the improvement of education in Nigeria.

POLITICAL LIFE Meeting Yar’Adua While in my office one day, I

highly impressed. In an organization known for its endemic corruption and unethical deals, he was happy to find one decent officer. From that day, a friendship developed between us.

Going into politics When I joined the Customs 20 years earlier, I had drawn a graph anticipating my career progression from Cadet to Director of Customs by age 40. I told myself that if by the time I was 40 years old I did not head the organization, I would quit.

I retired at 43 as a Deputy Director on April 30, 1989. I paid the mandatory three months salary in lieu of notice to government.

A year before my retirement, I had started attending political meetings at Shehu Yar ’Adua’s house in Ikoyi, Lagos.

“Look, you are good, you relate well with people. I think you will make a good politician. Why don’t you join me in politics”, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua said to me one day.

That was how it all started. The Yar’Adua Group, as we came to be known, wanted to build a bridge across the old fault lines of ethnicity, religion and region. In May 1989, the Babangida administration finally lifted the ban on party politics. The Yar ’Adua group immediately unveiled its political association, the People’s Front of Nigeria (PFN), which had “the pursuit of justice, peace, and service” as its motto and “People First” as its slogan.

At its first national convention in June 1989, Farouk Abdul Azeez, a medical doctor from the then Kwara State, was elected Chairman while a woman, Titi Ajanaku, was elected National Secretary.

Six of us represented the then Gongola State at the convention.

I was elected one of the National Vice Chairmen of the party. I was also in charge of setting up party structures in the South-East where I already had a network of friends and business associates. Yar’Adua and I paid the initial expenses of the PFN. I took PFN to Gongola State.

Continues on page 42

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

(1) Continued from page 41 It was the first political association to be launched in the state when the ban on party politics was lifted. I was the party’s sole financier in the state. My contributions to my immediate community had earned me a lot of good- will and support.

Of the 13 political associations formed at the time, the PFN was the most organized and disciplined. Yet, on October 7, 1989, President Babangida announced that his Armed Forces Ruling Council had decided not to register any of the associations because, as he put it, “the associations were set up by the same old discredited politicians who must never be allowed back in power”.

He disbanded the 13 associations and created and funded two new parties – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC).

The SDP, he said, was a little to the left in terms of its ideological orientation while the NRC was a little to the right. He asked politicians to join either of the two.

We in the Yar’Adua group decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the party considered closer to the PFN in ideological orientation.

The parties were formally launched in Abuja on October 7, 1989. I was one of the delegates from Gongola State. I was elected to the 1989 Constituent Assembly.

To be Governor On August 27, 1991, the Babangida administration created nine new states. Gongola State was broken into Adamawa and Taraba States.

The SDP governorship primary in Adamawa State was held in November 1991. Six people contested with me, including Bala Takaya, a former political science lecturer at the University of Jos. The primary took place amidst allegations that the state party executives were solidly behind Bala Takaya. Voting was relatively peaceful and orderly. The result was however disputed. I was declared winner but Bala Takaya and his supporters protested.

It was amidst this chaos that in December 1991, the Babangida administration announced the cancellation of nine state primary election results, including that of Adamawa. Takaya and I were also disqualified from contesting the upcoming governorship election.

The former state Chairman of the party, Boss Mustapha, emerged the winner of a fresh governorship primary. He had just two weeks to convince the people of Adamawa State to vote for him.

Apart from the short time available for campaign, Mustapha’s chances were also weakened by the unresolved internal bickering in the party. So it was not surprising that the candidate of the rival NRC, Saleh Michika, won the December 14, 1991 governorship election.

To be President Yar ’Adua and 12 other socalled banned politicians were arrested and detained on December 2, 1991 for participating in politics despite having been banned.

He was released on December 20, 1991 after 17 days in detention.

He was free to participate in politics again, the government said.

We, his associates, persuaded him to join the race for the presidency. He declared his interest on

February 25, 1992 at City Hall, Lagos. He was one of the 50 presidential aspirants of the two parties that participated in the sixzone presidential primaries from May 2 to June 20, 1992. I was Yar’Adua’s campaign coordinator.

I had no doubt in my mind that he would have made a good President. He had a vision and he knew how to bring good people together to achieve his goals.

A three-stage party primary was introduced, beginning in September 1992. By the end of the first round, Yar’Adua had emerged the front-runner, beating prominent politicians in their strongholds.

The Babangida administration cashed in on the unfounded allegations of rigging, thuggery and bribery and cancelled the primary results on November 17, 1992.

All 23 presidential aspirants were also banned. The executives of the two parties were dissolved.

A new system of presidential primary was announced. The handover date from military to civilian rule was extended to August 17, 1993.

With Yar ’Adua banned, the group needed someone that its members could rally round. My influence, hard work and selfless contributions to the Yar’Adua group as well as my loyalty to Yar ’Adua and my youthfulness (I was then 46 years old) count-

3,617 votes. Kingibe came a close second with 3,225 votes. I came third with 2,066 votes.

We met again with Abiola. We agreed that I should step down for Abiola in the final round of voting. I agreed to subordinate my personal ambition for the sake of democracy. I was ready for any personal sacrifice that could end military rule in Nigeria.

In the two-way race between Abiola and Kingibe, Abiola triumphed with 2,683 votes to Kingibe’s 2,456 votes.

However, Abiola refused to ho-

itary ruler Olusegun Obasanjo were the two people in the world that Yar’Adua could not refuse, I went to see Obasanjo at his Ota farm to ask him to convince Yar’Adua not to withdraw his support for Abiola. I said the Yar’Adua group needed to work closely with Abiola to defeat the reactionary forces in the upcoming election and to get Babangida out of office.

Obasanjo promised to talk to his former deputy. He did. And the Yar’Adua group went on to support Abiola who won the June 12 election. But the Babangida administration annulled the election midway into the vote count.

We were all sad and angry about the annulment. We were tired of the endless transition. But we could not leave the ship of state adrift. We began consulting other political groups. In the end, a compromise was reached to form an Interim National Government (ING) with corporate chieftain Ernest Shonekan as Head. The ING was sacked three months later by General Sani Abacha, the Defence Minister. Nigeria once again returned to full mili -

* Atiku ... I had problem with Buhari govt

ed in my favour.

My closeness to Tafida (as I used to call him) also meant that I would inherit both his goodwill and his ill-will. I knew that those who did not want Yar’Adua to become President could also stop me.

But I was not deterred. I decided to run on the same ideas and vision that Yar’Adua had espoused during his candidacy – a strong, united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria.

Babagana Kingibe, a former member of the Yar’Adua group who became SDP Chairman because of the group’s support, was also vying for the party’s presidential ticket. So was newcomer Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a wealthy businessman and newspaper publisher.

I contested and won the SDP presidential primary in Adamawa State in March 1993. Moshood Abiola, 55 years old, and Babagana Kingibe, 48, had also won in their respective states. Altogether, 27 of us from various states converged in Jos in March 1993 to contest the SDP presidential ticket at the national convention of the party.

To stop Kingibe, whom we all believed had betrayed our group, the Yar’Adua group resolved to negotiate with Abiola. We would support Abiola’s candidacy for the presidency in return for making me his running mate. We met Abiola and his key advisers and agreed to go to the Jos convention to push for an Abiola-Atiku ticket. Thereafter, we would harmonize our campaign structures and finances. At the end of the first ballot, Abiola came first with

nour the agreement to make me tary rule. with his running mate. problem He picked Ba-Buhari govt bagana Kingibe.

POLITICAL CRISIS Yar’Adua was angry over AbiA little over six months into his ola’s betrayal. I knew it would be administration, Abacha gathered difficult to persuade him to suppoliticians in Abuja to fashion yet port Abiola again. I was concerned another Constitution. I was electabout our party. Without the suped by my people to represent them at the Constituent Assembly. Shehu Yar’Adua was also an elected delegate from Katsina State.

The conference began in June 1994 with 273 delegates, includWe were all sad and ing 96 appointees of government. angry about the an- In the middle of its proceedings, I was informed that Abacha wantnulment. We were ed to see me. When I met him, tired of the endless Abacha told me he would like to work with me. He said I should transition. But we support his political programme could not leave the and advised me to dump Yar’Adua. I said Yar’Adua was my ship of state adrift. and that he should not try We began consulting friend to tear us apart. I said I was my own man and that I could take other political of my own. Abacha was groups. In the end, a decisions not impressed. He asked me to go compromise was and think about it.

By March 1995 Abacha began reached to form an to move against opponents of his Interim National government. Yar ’Adua was the first on his list. He was arrested Government (ING) and detained on March 9, 1995 with corporate chief- for daring to recommend a termitain Ernest Shonekan nal date for the Abacha government. General Obasanjo was also as Head. arrested.

Days after their arrest, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chief of the Defence Staff, addressed a press port of the Yar’Adua group, the conference in Lagos during which SDP could lose the presidential he disclosed that 29 officers and election to the NRC whose Bashir civilians had been arrested in conTofa, then 46, was generally nection with a coup plot. thought to be inexperienced.

Suspects were tortured and Knowing that Shehu forced to confess their role in the Yar’Adua’s father and former milcoup and to implicate innocent

men such as Obasanjo and Yar ’Adua. A sham trial was staged. Yar’Adua was sentenced to death and Obasanjo to life imprisonment.

In an Independence Day broadcast on October 1, 1995, Abacha announced the commutal of 13 of the death sentences to various terms of imprisonment.

Obasanjo’s life sentence was reduced to 15 years while Yar’Adua’s death sentence was reduced to 25 years. This was in response to pressure from to a coalition of journalists, human rights activists, pro-democracy campaigners and the international community, including the Pope.

I visited Kirikiri as often as I could to see Yar’Adua with Inua Baba, the Plateau State-born personal assistant to Yar ’Adua. In detention, Yar ’Adua was more concerned about the future of the country than about his own life.

He feared that Abacha would throw the country into chaos. He was later transferred to Port Harcourt and Abakaliki Prisons.

Abacha was not satisfied keeping Yar’Adua in jail and intimidating me. He was determined to cripple our businesses as well. He seized our most lucrative business, NICOTES, and renamed it INTELS (Integrated and Logistics Services). Yar’Adua and I were removed from the company as shareholders.

My residence in Kaduna was *Ak itattacked u by unknown gunmen in ...May 1995. Six policemen and I one guard died in that attack. It is hastill d a miracle to me how my wife, Titi, our son, Adamu, and I escaped unhurt.

Going into exile Following the bloody attack in Kaduna, family and friends persuaded me to leave the country for a while. Abacha’s security agents trailed me everywhere in their unmarked cars and trademark dark sunglasses. My telephone lines were bugged. I had to sneak out at night to meet people. My life under Abacha was horrible.

The State Security Service (SSS) seized my international passport just as I was making plans to travel outside the country to cool off and to seek the support of some political and business leaders in Europe and the United States for the democratic struggle in Nigeria.

I obtained another passport in the name of Atiku Kojoli. With the assistance of friends within the security forces at the airport, I was smuggled into a London-bound flight directly from the tarmac.

I arrived London late 1995. I made several unsuccessful efforts to reach the British Foreign Office. The government of Prime Minister John Major was, as usual with the British, a bit too cautious in its dealings with the Nigerian opposition.

From London, I linked up with Jackie Farris who had worked as a consultant on polling and political strategy with the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua presidential campaign in 1992. Through her I was able to re-establish contacts with former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young. He promised to talk to his contacts at the State Department in Washing- ton, DC to get me an appointment.

While in the United States, I also re-established contact with Jennifer Iwenjiora, the television journalist I had known as a friend in Lagos since 1982. She was then liv- ing in Maryland. Jennifer and I later married and had Abdulma-

Continues on page 43

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 43

(1) Continued from page 42 lik, Zahra and Faisal.

Jennifer took me to some of the contacts Young and Farris had arranged for me in Washington, D.C. USA. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, received me warmly in her office. I briefed her on the political situation in Nigeria and commended the Clinton Administration for supporting the democratic struggle in Nigeria.

I pleaded with the Administration to press Abacha to free political prisoners, such as Yar’Adua and Obasanjo, and restore democratic rule. Rice expressed delight in seeing me and promised the Clinton Administration’s commitment to the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.

YAR’ADUA’S DEATH I wept like a baby on December 8, 1997 when I was informed that Shehu Musa Yar’Adua had died in Abakaliki prison. He was just 54 years old.

Yar’Adua had transformed Nigerian politics with his organizational skill, analytical mind and his uncommon gift as a strategist.

I lost a brother, a mentor, a confidant and a friend in Yar’Adua.

DEATH OF ABACHA & ABIOLA Then, on June 8, 1998 Abacha died suddenly of a heart attack in Abuja at the age of 54. Chief of the Defence Staff, Abdulsalami Abubakar, became the new Head of State. One month after Abach’s death, Moshood Abiola also died suddenly in detention.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar read the national mood well. He released political detainees and announced a short transition to civil rule programme. He also began to look into previous rights violations. I petitioned him about the seizure of INTELS from Yar’Adua and I. He set up a committee to look into it and the committee promptly recommended that the company be returned to us as the rightful owners.

From Governor to Vice Presidency As soon as the military government announced its transition programme, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), as the Yar ’Adua group came to be known, immediately reconvened in Lagos.

We resolved to liaise with other political associations with the hope of setting up a strong national party that would promote unity and stability and serve as a bulwark against military incursion into politics.

On August 19, 1998, the PDM and other groups came together to form the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as “a credible, nationwide, people-oriented and principled political party, enjoying the widest support throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

I led a small group to identify a presidential candidate from the South-west that we could support.

The Abubakar government sent an emissary to inform us that they wanted Olusegun Obasanjo.

In the end, our group agreed to support Obasanjo’s candidacy. A contact team was set up with Lawal Kaita, Sunday Afolabi, Ango Abdullahi, Titi Ajanaku and I as members.

We were convinced that Obasanjo would make a good President.

After Obasanjo agreed to contest the PDP presidential primary, I went back to Adamawa to realize my long-time dream of governing my state. I was unanimously picked as the PDP governorship candidate for Adamawa State.

*Atiku ... I initially kept away from Abacha transition programme Boni Haruna was my running mate.

I won the January 9, 1999 governorship election, defeating my perennial rival, Bala Takaya of the All Nigeria People’s Party.

The PDP held its national convention in Jos in January 1999 and Obasanjo defeated former Vice President Alex Ekwueme to become the party’s candidate. He chose me as his Vice Presidential candidate. I was quite surprised as I had not shown any interest in the position. I wanted to govern my state but that was not God’s will.

Our ticket was sold to the electorate as a team of two great personalities, the convergence of two generations and the bridging of the South/Christian and North/ Muslim gulf.

Obasanjo went on to win the February 27, 1999 presidential election, defeating former Secretary to the Government, Olu Falae, who ran on the AD/ANPP joint ticket.

Obasanjo and I were sworn into office as President and Vice President, respectively at a colourful ceremony in Abuja on May 29, 1999.

RE-INVENTING NIGERIA For eight years, our administration worked assiduously to deepen our young democracy, unite our diverse people, professionalize the armed forces, re-establish our country as a great and respected member of the international community, and reform our economy to become more productive, diverse and globally competitive.

Our reform package included

ed (NITEL) paraded throughout its existence.

In one of the most courageous and ambitious privatization programmes ever embarked upon in recent times, we sold off scores of unprofitable and inefficient public enterprises, such as banks, insurance companies, hotels, newspapers, cement, oil and petrol chemical and fertilizer companies.

Thus, we relieved the federal government of the unnecessary burden of running businesses. We then refocused government’s attention on making laws and good policies and creating a conducive atmosphere for businesses to flourish.

Most of the privatized firms are today being run profitably and efficiently by their new owners, creating more jobs and delivering quality products and services.

One important achievement of our administration was the banking sector re-form. In 2005, we raised the minimum capital base of banks from N2 billion to N25 billion in order to make the Nigerian banks stronger, healthier and globally competitive. The policy saw the number of banks operating in the country drop from 89 to 25.

Also, our administration cleaned up Abuja, restored its Master Plan, computerized the land registry and halted uncontrolled developments in the federal capital territory. By the time we left office in 2007, Abuja had become the pride of the nation as a beautiful, clean, safe and efficient world class city.

To ensure that the increased revenue accruing to the government benefitted the greatest number of people, the Obasanjo administration set up the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) the Economic and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Both the ICPC and EFCC waged a vigorous and sustained war against corruption, money laundering, advanced fee fraud and other economic and financial crimes.

In a related development, our administration also introduced new procurement system with emphasis on due process, open and transparent conduct of government business as well as adherence to public service rules and financial regulations.

In October 2005, our administration successfully negotiated a

One important achievement of our administration was the banking sector re-form. In 2005, we raised the minimum capital base of banks from N2 billion to N25 billion in order to make the Nigerian banks stronger, healthier and globally competitive. The policy saw the number of banks operating in the country drop from 89 to 25 fuel price deregulation, low and stable interest and inflation rates, privatization of inefficient government-owned enterprises, enthroning a culture of transparency and accountability, monetization of the benefits and entitlements of public sector workers, setting up a new pension scheme and growing the revenue base of the government through a fair and equitable, more efficient and easier-to- comply tax system.

In 2001, our administration successfully auctioned mobile phone licenses and by the time we left office in 2007, more than 70 million Nigerians had phones compared to the 400,000 landlines that the state-owned Nigerian Telecommunication Company Limit-

deal with our external creditors that saw Nigeria pay off a total of $14.48 billion in return for the cancellation of our remaining $18 billion debt. Also, we set up the Debt Management Office (DMO) to review and restructure Nigeria’s debt.

Our economic reforms led to massive growth in both the formal and informal economy. By the time we left office in 2007, our economy was ranked 31st in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which was estimated to be about $500 billion (estimate included both formal and informal economy). It became the second biggest economy in Africa.

Financial Products

REVIEW

with Dave Baro-Thomas

The GTBANK

Naira MasterCard C

ONSIDERING the impact of the GTNaira Mastercard, closely, this financial product from the stable of GTBank Nigeria Plc is undoubtedly another plus for the bank, its customers and Nigerians generally.

Launched in collaboration with MasterCard Worldwide, the GTBank MasterCard is, quite creditably, also a global payment card used as means of payment for goods and services worldwide, leveraging on the MasterCard global platform. Therefore, beyond the traditional mode of the MasterCard, the Bank creatively took the business to the next level in Nigeria with the introduction of the Naira MasterCard which happens to be the first of its kind in the country as at the time of entry. The emergence of this innovative product was very timely and a well thought-out response to address a market gap where the traditional MasterCard was seen as a collector’s item for a certain class in the society. The product was not just revolutionary but came packed with strong value propositions for Nigerians.

Upon its deployment, the GTBank MasterCard portfolio came in four variants which include: The GTBank Standard MasterCard, GTBank Debit MasterCard, GTBank Pre-paid MasterCard (all denominated in dollars) and lastly The GTBank Naira MasterCard (Debit) issued to individuals holding either a current account or savings account with the bank, and it is linked directly to the account(s) online, real time.

This Naira MasterCard comes in two sub-variants: GTBank SKS Card targeted at kids but with the guidance of their parents and the GTCRE8 Card created to meet the needs of students of senior secondary school and tertiary institutions.

This product comes with some unique features and clearly-defined propositions. Operators/Users of the Naira MasterCard have 24 hour access to funds from about 29.4 million merchant locations and 1.9 million ATMs in 210 countries.

It can also be used to make payments across multiple channels (POS terminals, ATMs, Mail Order, Telephone Order, Internet, etc)?; it eliminates the inconvenience and risk of carrying cash, and it is very secure as it employs the use of Chip & PIN technology to guide against unauthorized transactions. With a validity period of three years and having the customers name printed on it, the Card can be used to pay for goods and services at about 29 million

merchant locations worldwide (hotels, supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants, etc)?. This indeed is worth the while especially for those traveling out of the country and could be in urgent need to make withdrawals.

Unlike the CashPlus card, which is a magnetic stripe card, the GTBank Naira MasterCard provides more security as the MasterCard secure code guide against fraud when customers use the card online. Transactions can be monitored via the GTBank internet banking platform issued to customers. Presently, the Bank has issued well over 1.8 million Naira MasterCard cards to its numerous customers without discrimination. The beauty actually is that the GTBank Naira MasterCard is issued to every newly opened account for free and N1000 for card replacement in the case of loss, theft or expiration.

However, the introduction of the GTBank Naira MasterCard could not be said to have hit the market without some initial challenges. In the first phase of transiting its customers from CashPlus card to the Naira MasterCard, the usage of the card was limited to GTBank ATMs, local transactions and could not be used on the internet for transactions. Customers were furious because their expectations were high, but these teething challenges have been overcome to some reasonable extent as the card can be used on other bank’s ATMs, local and international.

Another challenge with the GTBank’s MasterCard is the complaint by customers that one cannot do interbank transfers from ATM platforms with the GTBank card. This is indeed constraining as such service will, no doubt, ease transactions for the bank’s customers. One of the bank customer also said that, it was difficult to access his savings account while he was on a trip to Dubai last year since the GTBank Naira Mastercard is linked to both the savings and current accounts.

These are flashpoints the banks should look into.

In conclusion, this financial product offers some values and so far, apart from the few challenges enumerated above, there appears not to be any major issue associated with its usage from our findings.

However, this page is open for feedback. If you have had a challenging experience while using the product that the bank could improve upon, and other users can learn from, kindly write us.

PAGE 44 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

The collasped building at Synagogue Church of All Nations. Inset: Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun-Odunayo

Lagos govt has technically taken over Synagogue – Animashaun-Odunayo-Building Agency chief *’Police barracks may be the scene of next building collapse’

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

G

eneral Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mrs. Abimbola AnimashaunOdunayo, in this interview, speaks on the recent collapsed building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, the intricacies surrounding it, the next line of action by the state government, among others.

Excerpts: What actually went wrong with the SCOAN collapsed building?

We need support from stakeholders and everyone.

Before now, we have been trying to curtail incidence of collapse building until we had the latest one. I think the problem of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, brought the issue to the fore again. A lot of institutions are too secretive they will not allow government officials do their job properly. They believed that if you are not a member, you cannot have access to their premises.

Perhaps, what happened in Synagogue would not have happened if they had allowed government officials do their job. What Synagogue needs to know is that the place is no more in their purview, everything now belongs to government because that’s what the law stipulates.

Anytime our officials went there they were prevented. We could not gain access. I believe

We asked them about the approval papers, but the representatives of the church said the approval papers had been burie4d in the rubble we need to sensitize public institutions more, so that when an incident happens they give way to rescue team and government officials otherwise there will be issues like this in future. We will not allow this anymore because the law has given us the power to carry out our work effectively and efficiently.

We have a task force, but on that fateful Friday, church staff did not allow us to in to have access to the collapsed site until then Rapid Response Squad, RRS, came to our aid.

People should allow us access to do our job without fear. We have had issues where we were beaten, harassed and molested in the course of doing our duties, it should stop.

They fail to realize that the function of our agency is to save lives, reduce incidence of

building collapse to zero. If people are not allowing us to do our job we cannot save lives.

I think we need to increase the number of our taskforce men to enhance our work.

In the Synagogue incident, was your agency not carried along in the building process and do they have necessary approval?

We are still investigating. As I said earlier, we asked them about the approval papers, but the representatives of the church said the approval papers had been burie4d in the rubble. So we are still waiting for them to present the papers.

Yet, the fact is that the building in question was initially a twostorey building before they added four raising it to six.

They could not have done that without having competent people overseeing the building.

If a raft foundation was done to carry out two-storey building, what did they do to fortify the strength of that foundation to carry out sixstorey building.? This is the question we are asking them.

Investigation is on-going; until we finish the investigation, we won’t be able to do much. We are just waiting for the result.

Lagos State Material Testing, current registered institutions, NIA and other professionals are all involved in the investigation. We will do the test to unravel the cause of the collapse. Even though, they said it was due to aircraft, we have a lot of houses that planes fly over. everyday and they are

not collapsing, so why this particular one, we have to conduct a thorough investigation.

On the seeming reluctance of the state government to place immediate sanction as it is usually the case.

The state government is not reluctant. The fact is that the place is not a plot of land, it is a compound. We cannot go ahead and seal the whole place, the site is an open space.

We can’t seal for now, because the law says when such an incident happens, the first thing to do is to evacuate victims into safety after which we have to cordon off the place and take charge. But unfortunately that land has other plans.

And also because of the aircraft theory, we have to investigate. Aviation experts are involved. We have to sort things out before taking action.

The Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2010 is there. We need to follow the law. So we are leaving everything till investigation is concluded which I believe will come very soon. But, I can assure you appropriate action will be taken.

Similar challenges in the course of duty.

We have several nasty cases.

There are places where our staff were beaten up and prevented from doing their work sometimes by people using guns. We have cases of

barracks where buildings are in distressed and dilapidated state. When we go for inspection, they harass us and chase us away with guns. I think the Federal Governments and the governor need to do something about them fast before they start falling down one after the other Because as long as a building is within Lagos State, the governor has the power, under the 2014 Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, to challenge and enforce the law.

Particularly, the Federal Government should do something now about the distressed buildings in police barracks, most especially the ones in Ikeja, Iponri, Ojuelegba, Obalende areas, all those barracks are not in good condition. There is need for immediate intervention to prevent avoidable loss of lives.

Like the ones in Iponri and Ikeja, we have compiled our reports and sent to the authorities and I am sure the state is working in collaboration with the FG because we will not allow any loss of life because of negligence and stubbornness.

We will not wait for the magnitude of destruction of lives and property like that of SCOAN to happen in Lagos before something is done.

We plan to reduce the incidence of building collapse in this state to zero tolerance.

Incidence of building collapse will stop in the country if Nigerians imbibe the culture of adhering to building laws, rules and regulations.

We implore Lagosians to help us to help them, to save lives because if you say it doesn’t concern you, you may have relatives, family members friends in the collapsed building. We don’t want anyone to lose his or her life and that’s why we are around. After the SCOAN incident, people have been coming forward to tell us of other noticed distressed buildings.

How building standard is measured in the state.

Soil test must be determined.

The soil on the Island is not the same as the one on the Mainland. Depending on the soil investigation, we can determine the kind of foundation required. The foundation will always determine the type of building whether bungalow, duplex, highrise, among others. LASBCA always gets involved in any building from the soil investigation; when you have this, we give you one or two options. It is now left to you to make a choice. And when we approve what the person intends to do, we follow-up right from the foundation to the level of construction so that we can do the stage inspection and certification to ensure that the developer is building right, that is, to make sure the building is up to the standard specification and building code and according to the law after which he can proceed to the necessary things: the wall, the blocks and materials are of good quality. At end of the day, we look at drainage, plumbing, electricity, fire safety and then the roofing.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 45

PAGE 46 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

•Sambo

•Jonathan

•Lamido

2015, JONATHAN AND THE PDP

The Lamido challenge and VP Sambo’s uncertain fate * Muazu, Babangida Aliyu, Shema connection

By HENRY UMORU

T

HE National Executive Committee, NEC, of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at its 66th meeting, endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election ahead of his formal declaration for his re-election bid and the party’s national convention fixed for December 6.

Prior to the position of the NEC, the party’s highest organ, the National Caucus, the Board of Trustees, BoT, the governors, and members of the National Assembly, at their various meetings, had endorsed the president’s sole candidacy for the 2015 election.

At the meeting where Jonathan was adopted by the NEC, the governor of Niger State and Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, spoke on behalf of PDP governors; a former Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu

Oyedokun, spoke for the BoT; Senate President David Mark for the National Assembly while Ambassador Justina Eze spoke for the PDP women.

To give the process what could be termed a legal backing, a former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, and past Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello, who moved the motion, said, “In view of the fact that we have a tradition in the PDP of recognising excellence, in view of the fact that the transformation president has performed creditably well according to the manifesto of the PDP to the satisfaction of party members, in view of the fact that at meetings like this, year after year, we have made similar decisions, and we have always gone into elections in harmony and have always won fair and square, I will like to move that the decision of our governors to endorse the candidature of our serving and performing president, the decision of the Board of Trustees to recognise the performance and endorse

I am extremely challenged. It means that whatever we had done in the past three years, we triple it. That is the only way Nigerians will appreciate it the candidature of our sitting president, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the decision of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to enable us present one front at the next election to avoid fractious arguments and contention that has always tended to break the unity of our great party.”

Seconding the motion, a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, said, “It is difficult to change a winning team because this team has done so well. I think it is just fair that I second the

motion that Dr. Ebele Jonathan be returned as the sole candidate of the PDP”. Soon after Nwobodo seconded the motion, PDP National Chairman PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, put the motion into vote and it was unanimously adopted by the NEC.

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n elated Jonathan, while accepting the adoption as the sole presidential candidate by all the organs of the party, said he was humbled, overwhelmed and promised not to disappoint the PDP governors, the leaders,

stakeholders and members of the party. “Let me really say that the events of yesterday, starting with the BoT meeting last night and what has just happened today, with the various motions adopting me as sole candidate of the party has really humbled me,”he told the PDP INEC. ”Let me specially thank our governors that initiated that action, let me thank members of the BoT, let me thank the Senate President and members of the National Assembly, let me appreciate the PDP women for their position and the NEC, because no matter whatever anybody does, if NEC does not approve, you will be on your own. ”Adopting me as the sole candidate of the party has humbled me; I am totally overwhelmed. When the governors came up in a jointly signed paper, though House of Representatives started it, governors intervention was like an atomic bomb. I commend all departments of the NEC. I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express myself. I leave it for another day. For today, for you to have that kind of confidence, I am extremely challenged. It means that whatever we had done in the past three years, we triple it. That is the only way Nigerians will appreciate it.

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Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PPA AGE 47

Jonathan presidency of which Vice President Sambo is an integral part.

This motion, which was unanimously endorsed by the NEC, left no room for any form of speculation as Sen. Jim Nwobodo, who seconded it, expressly commended both the president and his vice for lifting the banner of the PDP very high while praying the NEC to approve the motion.”

Also speaking 48 hours after Metuh, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, described Jonathan and Sambo as a winning team, saying, “I don’t know why people will continue to overflog the issue of the vice president.

Continued from page 46 I promise I will not disappoint you.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan’s adoption has triggered controversy on the status position of Vice President Namadi Sambo as what could be described as an oversight on the part of NEC happened as there was no categorical statement that the adoption includes Sambo other than playing on words like, “It is a winning team, you don’t change a winning team.”

The 2002 episode aking advantage of the loophole that was created, those who may not want to see the face of the vice president may have been selling a dummy on the issue of whether the president would run with him or not when he finally declares, with history about being replayed when, in the face of political quarrels, there was an attempt by former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to run with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar when he declared for second term in 2002 , but following Atiku’s sagacity and doggedness, he won the war.

If Atiku and Obasanjo fought which may have explained why there were moves not to run with him, the case of Sambo is quite different. The VP is a very loyal follower of Jonathan; he is not a political rascal.

Even though many believe he is not aggressive enough, it is important to say that the president may not need any vice who may be too powerful or more colourful politically and one who will rock the boat.

To buttress his loyalty to the president, Sambo was quoted as telling a delegation to his office, led

by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and which included prominent sons of the state who were on hand to commend him for his unwavering loyalty to their son, Jonathan, that the confidence he receives from the president encourages him to do even more. “I want to assure you that I will personally continue to give my full support and loyalty to Mr. President. I also assure you that we will not allow anything to detract us. The Transformation Agenda of Mr. President is well on track. We will continue to work in the interest of

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•Shema

•Muazu

The Sambo, Lamido battle If Atiku and Obasanjo fought which may have explained why there were moves not to run with him, the case of Sambo is quite different Nigeria; we will continue to work as patriotic Nigerians and we will ensure that we deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians”, the VP said.

The controversy surrounding the issue of whether Sambo will run with his boss in 2015 started barely five days after the NEC endorsed Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate when the national leadership of the party disclosed that the onus would be on only the president to decide whether to run with Sambo or not.

After addressing journalists and it was time for questions, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said

Sambo’s fate hanged on the President.

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etuh said, “I believe a lot of people are trying to speculate on Jonathan/Sambo ticket, but why don’t we wait when the president declares for such issues to be resolved?

But I must inform that it is part of the reasons PDP has mentioned that it is a winning team; what the president has done, he has done it very well and it is a winning team. I believe that there is no need to magnify or attempt to highlight any difference between the president and the vice president, they have worked so well.

“The vice president has

continued to be the second most loyal vice president in the history of this country.

So I believe that he enjoys the confidence of the president. In the 2015 elections, if the president accepts to run, we will be able to take it to the next level.”

But the next day, Metuh came up with a statement, saying Sambo was part of the winning team, with the party expressing implicit satisfaction in the working relationship between the president and his deputy.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that the vice president has implicit confidence of the president. The PDP is therefore very pleased that they are working together in actualizing the Transformation Agenda to the popular acclaim of bot Nigerians and the international community”, the PDP spokesperson said. ”We wish to place on record as well that the 66th NEC meeting of our great party, which endorsed President Jonathan as the sole candidate of the PDP for the 2015 general elections, responsibly reasoned and anchored this decision on the outstanding performance of the

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hy don’t you wait for him (Jonathan) to accept before any other thing on the fate of the vice president?”

Alkali went on: “A lot of people are trying to speculate ?such issues.

Jonathan is yet to communicate his decision to the party or the entire nation. Why don’t we wait till the president declares for such issue to be highlighted. ”The PDP has mentioned that it is a winning team.

The president and the vice president have done very well. I believe there is no need to magnify or attempt to highlight any difference between the president and the vice president. The president and the vice have worked so well. The vice president has been the second most loyal vice president in the history of this country besides the President when he was the Vice President. I believe he enjoys the confidence of the president. And in the 2015 elections, if the president accepts to run, then we will be able take it to the next level. For the various organs of the party to adopt Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate means that a lot of work was done.”

The Lamido promise Sunday Vanguard gathered that ahead of the 66th PDP NEC’s meeting and before he finally dropped his presidential ambition and agreed to support the sole candidacy of Jonathan for the 2015

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Sambo, Lamido and the PDP ticket lost his local government, Kaduna North, out of the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State in 2011.

Continued from page 47 presidential election, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State was said to have been promised to be the president’s running mate because of his performance in his state, his loyalty to the PDP and as a founding member of the party, just as it was said to have been agreed that frustrating his ambition without concrete sealing would amount to injustice.

But a source said that the Presidency may have been advised to have a second thought because of overwhelming political prowess which may lead to the replay of the Obasanjo, Atiku episode. The president was then asked to continue with the Jonathan-Sambo ticket because of the VP’s loyalty and especially since Sambo is one who may not have the capacity to cause trouble.

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esides Lamido, several names like Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State, Governor Aliyu of Niger State and the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, were being mentioned as those who want to take Sambo’s job as running mate to the president in the 2015 elections.

As a way of saying ‘thank you’ to Lamido because he was not around at the last NEC meeting when the Jigawa governor dropped his presidential ambition and declared support for Jonathan’s re-election, the Chairman, BoT of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, visited Lamido. Anenih was accompanied by senior party members among whom was the PDP’s National Vice Chairman North-west, Ambassador Ibrahim Musa Kazaure.

Speaking at the Dutse International Airport, Anenih said: “I came to see my son, Governor Sule Lamido”.

He declined to comment on the speculation that the PDP would replace Sambo with Lamido, saying, “Sule Lamido is a mature leader.

This is my third visit to Jigawa this year and we have no problem as you are speculating.”

Weakened party Sambo’s camp must be very proactive as he has a lot of work to do on the home front to gain the confidence of his people.

There is also no doubt that the PDP in the state has been weakened by the defection of several key members to the APC. Though PDP leaders in Kaduna State may claim that all is well, it is not, especially with the defection of majority of members of former Governor Ahmed Makarfi’s group from the PDP, a major setback that may affect the fortunes of the party in the state.

•Anenih

•David-Mark

Last week, posters of Muazu were seen pasted around the federal secretariat and strategic corners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The posters, pasted in broad daylight, read, ‘2015: Alhaji Adamu Muazu for Presidency ’.

It was gathered that the posters were a necessary collateral by the Adamu Muazu support group, but the interest may be Sambo’s job, by positioning him for the 2019 presidency when Jonathan would have finished his second term.

The posters, bearing the photographs of the president and Mu’azu, were produced by the PDP National Chairman Support Group, one of the associations assisting the PDP National Chairman to consolidate in office.

Although Shema, also from the North-west like the VP, may have tacitly said he was not interested in Sambo’s job, he is a politician who may say due to pressure from his people, he wants to run, just as Aliyu has not denied the speculation against the backdrop that, for this ambition, he may say he did not follow his colleagues who left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He declined to comment on the speculation that the PDP would replace Sambo with Lamido, saying, ‘Sule Lamido is a mature leader. This is my third visit to Jigawa this year and we have no problem as you are speculating’

It was also gathered that the Niger governor, who was said to be planning to use his position as Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum to woo his colleagues to get the PDP presidential running mate slot, dropped his senatorial ambition for Niger-east and supported a former deputy governor, Dr. Nuhu Zagbayi, who was elected to replace the late Senator Awaisu Kuta who died June 12.

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unday Vanguard also gathered that there may have been a gang-up against Sambo by stakeholders in a part of his state, Kaduna, especially from those who felt he has

not been fair to them.

The seeming war against the VP has never really ceased since the 2011 elections as his political opponents are of the view that the only thing he has working for him is his loyalty to Jonathan. The opponents say he has no political structure against the backdrop that, in 2011, he never won any of the elections in his area for the PDP as the defunct opposition party, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, emerged winner in all the elections. His opponents are proposing that he is dropped as Jonathan’s running mate on the premise that PDP only

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he VP may not have been winning elections in his area, but he has been able to attract many federal projects to Kaduna State and the North-West. Of the nine new federal universities established by the Jonathan administration and located in the North, four of them are located in the NorthWest. The universities are sited in Gusau in Zamfara, Dutse in Jigawa, Dustin-Ma in Katsina and Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi States in the NorthWest, while others are in Lafia, Nasarawa; Lokoja in Kogi; Kashere in Gombe, Wukari inTaraba and Gashua in Yobe.

With the support of Sambo, there are several ongoing projects running into several billions of naira in Kaduna State, a multi-billion fast rail track connecting Abuja to Kaduna; the Galma Dam project, which, after completion, will provide raw water for the multi-purpose Zaria water supply scheme, the Gurara Dam project, and the Kudenda Power Project, among others.

With these projects, the profile of Sambo should increase in his state and geo- political zone. Even though the decision on whether or not to retain Sambo as running mate lies with Jonathan, it is evident that PDP leaders may be afraid that the party may lose Kaduna State if he is removed and that a devil you know is better than the saint you do not know.

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2015: Adoption of Jonathan was a product of sacrifice — Gov Akpabio •’Our action will shake the opposition’ •Speaks on fake churches and kid witches

BY HENRY UMORU

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n this interview, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State bares his mind on why the PDP governors endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 ahead of the December 6 National Convention of the party, the achievements of the PDP-led Federal Government, his state, his massive support for Jonathan, and his next political move, that is, his senatorial ambition, among other issues.

Akpabio spoke after the PDP performance tour team, anchored by the Chief Olisa Metuh-led National Publicity Secretariat department of the PDP, visited his state.

Do you think the PDP has done enough to enhance the nation’s democracy?

I think considering the time frame when PDP took over power in 1999, PDP has done very well. There is stability in the polity and there is steady progress. And in spite of challenges faced by the party, challenges which are global in nature, such as insecurity,particularly the recent insurgency in some zones in the country, PDP has been able to give hope to future generation of Nigeria.

So many things have been done in the country that were hitherto not even contemplated. And PDP has been able to grow the economy to a point that today one can say that Nigeria has the largest economy in the whole of Africa and the 24th largest economy in the world. Infrastructures that had decayed have now been rehabilitated. And I am excited that today we now have a second Niger bridge under construction. We have the railway that is working. We can travel now from Lagos to

Governor Godswill Akpabio Kano. We can move all the way from Lagos thorough Ore going to Onitsha.

If you get to a place like Onitsha for instance, you will be amazed. The dump that we used to have as a central location in Onitsha is gone.

This, I believe, is evidence of action. The improvement in education is legendary. The PDP administration, particularly under President Goodluck Jonathan, has established up to 12 universities, an unprecedented record, with many polytechnics and colleges of education. And I think as Nigeria population grows, PDP is rising to the occasion.

And if you go to the states, you will be amazed at what is going on, particularly in the PDP states. Yes, there is a splinter group in one state in an opposition party like Lagos.

But if you compare what Lagos State is doing with what Akwa Ibom is doing, it is so insignificant. Based on the kind of resources available to Lagos, then you will know that the PDP administration in Akwa Ibom and other states of the federation are doing exceedingly well. So I am sure that at the rate the PDP is going, Nigerians will never cease placing their hope and mandate with the PDP.

As the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, how has the forum and you as the leader helped in stabilizing the party?

What we have done is to give the opposition a big challenge

and something for them to ponder about. For instance, in the history of democracy in Nigeria since 1960, the PDP family came together through the engineering of the PDP Governors’ Forum and then accepted by the National Working Committee, NWC ,of our great party, the BoT and our NEC, which is the final decision making organ of our party. We endorsed Mr President. We say we want to follow the democratic example of a democratic party in America, where a sitting President does not have to go through the hurdles of spending a lot of money in order to get nominated for second term in office.

Particularly when that President is a sitting President, it is evidence of capability and shown some strides to move forward the America economy, which is the same in Nigeria today. So we have done something remarkable, something that is first of its kind in Africa when we came together and said, ‘look, let’s bury our ambition and line behind our party leader, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for a second term in office’ and this has been applauded by all organs of the party. So I think, to a large extent, our efforts in the PDP Governors’ Forum have helped to stabilize the polity helped to assist the Working Committee to be more effective and even reunited the party across board.

In the entire country, the PDP states are no longer looking forward to a fractured party as

a result of inconclusive presidential primaries. Rather, they have lined up behind their leader and they are waiting for the opposition to scatter, come and join us, so that we can win easily.

The issue of adoption of the President as the sole candidate at the last NEC was championed by you as the leader of the PDP Governors’ Forum. What is your take on criticisms from the opposition that the action was not only undemocratic, but also lacking in what they termed internal democracy?

Well, you can answer that for me by explaining to them that, that was democracy in action.

In America that we are copying, the incumbent President does not go through primaries.

We are not saying that the President will not face general election, he will but the incumbent does not go through primaries. So the idea of going to spend presidential time instead of facing insurgency, food insufficiency and other things and then you start travelling around the country first to win primaries when you are already the sitting President within your political party does not make sense.

I think it is a very fantastic new model of internal democracy that we started from a point of saying ‘look, let’s sacrifice our personal ambition and support Mr President to have a second term’. We are not saying that other people should not come and contest.

But we are saying as governors, we are not going to contest against our sitting President. That we want to put hands and support him to go for second term so that there will be stability in our party. It does not mean that any person who feels like contesting cannot contest. So we have not affected democracy in any way, instead, we have deepened democracy by suppressing our own personal ambition. That is the first thing.

And then we wanted to create stability for our party and allow our party to focus on other positions in terms of primaries instead of having a fractured party at the end of the convention. So we are going to move as one family to the convention to elect our President.

A fantastic way of putting the question and everybody will say yes and then we go back and then face the opposition that is democracy at work. So I don’t think anybody should criticize it, rather we should be commended for not behaving like past governors who, by now, nine or 15 of them would have declared for Presidency and then confusion will start in the party.

Should people who said no, we don’t want to go for Presidency, we want to support our President to have a second term, should they be castigated or should they be praised? Rather people should say yes, for people to suppress their person

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‘Our action will shake the opposition’ Continued from page 49 ambition and sacrifice their own longing for power and then move forward to support another, is evidence that Nigeria is changing.

So I think the opposition is rattled. Any time you do something and the opposition criticizes it, know that that thing is biting them. But if they praise it, then you should be worried. Now that they are against what we have done, that shows that they have a big challenge because they know they are not going to be able to do same. So I am not worried about the opposition, rather I am excited that the opposition is feeling the impact of what we have done.

One major problem on Nigeria is that of continuity and lack of maintenance culture, and having done a lot, are you thinking of how these projects will outlive Akpabio.

Who succeeds you and, after leaving office as governor, where are you going?

First, I thought of what have always been the bane of Nigerian development which has always been maintenance culture. So I submitted a bill to the House of Assembly to set up Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure Maintenance Agency. The bill has been passed and we have signed it into law. We are hoping that through that agency, we can employ hundreds of our youths to assist in the maintenance of the infrastructure that we have built.

The second one is that I did not emerge as a governor on my

Lessons You will be amazed at what my colleagues have learnt from my state. So many of them who have visited here have taken one thing or the other away.

Look at the way we have been able to handle the issue of the Akwa Ibom child and Akwa Ibom as an industry for house helps. We realised that the root cause of it was illiteracy. So we declared free and compulsory education and made it possible for every child to have access to education from primary school to senior secondary school level. And we opened it up to all Nigerian children who are resident in Akwa Ibom. And ask me why? The answer is simple, if you educate your children and you don’t educate your neighbour, you are preparing armed robbers to attack your graduate children.

Today, we have 1.9million children at the basic education level in the state in a population of 4million. And we brought certain innovations because some of the kids might not be able to pay for chalk, to pay for broom and all those things. So we started paying subvention, N100 per child, per term in the primary school to the head master and N300 per child in a term in the secondary school to the principal to provide logistics so that things like chalks, dusters and diesel where they have generator, they will not go and place the burden on those children and that will stop them from having free education.

We now signed a bill into law, the child right law and then

So I think the opposition is rattled. Any time you do something and the opposition criticizes it, know that that thing is biting them. But if they praise it, then you should be worried

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own. I didn’t come through my own volition, it wasn’t through my power, not because I was rich. I came through the benevolence of God and I said ‘let God’s will be done’. When I was campaigning, I went to a particular local government to address some elders and I told them that my prayer is that the best candidate should be chosen by God and they said ‘no, always pray that God should choose you’.

If God chooses the best, that best will develop the state and I will benefit from it and my children will benefit from it. I don’t have to be a governor to serve my people. But when it fell on me, I knew that God had sent me on a mission.

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enshrined a provision that made it compulsory to ensure that every child resident in Akwa Ibom has access to education. We have tripled school enrolment; now appointed education monitors.

We appointed a senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education Monitoring and a Special Assistant for Education Monitoring for the three senatorial districts.

The law also gives us the power to destroy fake churches using the belief to make money. They stigmatise the child and say the child has big eyes and therefore she is into witchcraft and therefore, for exorcism, the parents should bring N300,000. Where the parents

Governor Godswill Akpabio

have no money, the child is thrown out of the house. So the law allows us to demolish those houses, those churches and addresses those fake pastors and we have charged some of them to court. Today many of them are facing conviction and that has brought the practice totally to an end.

In the health sector, we have built a lot of primary health centres, renovation of existing hospitals and equipping them and building five brand new hospitals and a state-of-the-art hospital at the federal centre in Uyo that can cater for over 357 beds that would be doing open heart surgery, kidney transplant and all that, one of the biggest hospitals in Nigeria. Yet we are able to declare free medical treatment for all our children and I can tell you that in six years we will not have a single incidence of polio.

We declared free medical treatment for all pregnant women across the state. What has happened is that we have reduced maternal mortality to its barest minimum if not totally eliminated. We also declared free medical treatment for retirees and pensioners so that our elderly people can also enjoy the benefits of their labour after they have retired.

Why the massive support for your party and the President?

First, the PDP is Nigeria and Nigeria is PDP. The only true national party today in the country is the PDP, all other parties are either owned by one individual or the other, or owned by one ethnic group or the other.

PDP is the only political party

that cuts across ethnic lines, cuts across religious lines and it is not owned by any symbol. That is number one, so saving the PDP is saving the nation.

Two, yes I support President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan with everything that I have. I was not happy in the past when governors were fighting Presidents, Nigeria has so many problems and so when you become a leader in Nigeria, you have enormous load in your head.

And to get distracted by your commanders who are supposed to ease the load from you, to me was something I felt should not be tolerated and it was all because of personal ambition.

I believe that power comes from God and God gives it to who he pleases. Nigerian having learnt a lesson that all those who clamour for power never really get the power.

Those who really go out to search for power in Nigeria never get the power, that is the history of our country.

So I am a good student of history, I don’t go looking for power. Rather I look for a way for my country to survive. And I know that the success of the President of that country is the success of that country. If President Goodluck Jonathan does not succeed, it means that Nigeria has failed. And I look at my six-year- old son and I ask myself a question, what do I want to bequeath to that child? A fractured country where he will not be sure of stepping out to go and visit his friends just across Abia State? A country where criminals and hoodlums will take over and you cannot stroll or even take a ride?

I have also made a point clear. It

is not only President Goodluck Jonathan that I am supporting.

When his excellency of blessed memory, President Yar’Adua was in power, I did not fight him, I did not organize insurgency against him and thank God there was no bomb blast. I never organized a newspaper write ups to insult even when he had his own challenges. With President Goodluck Jonathan now in power, why should I go and start insulting him or try to bring him down? I never did that and I supported him.

What would be your legacy and what would you like to be remembered for?

In Akwa Ibom, for instance, I would like you to remember that it was that PDP governor that brought his people closest to God. What I have done in the last seven years had always been guided by God. I put God first in everything that I do. I hold a solemn assembly every year to pray for the benefit of my people and for God’s mercy and then God’s guidance for the administration. And then every month, I gather all strata of the Christian faith and then I bring in bishops, clergy from across board and they gather in the Government House and pray for the peace of the state and for the progress of the state and for the intentions of the government.

And at the end of the year, we give glory to God in a major coral festival, never seen before in Africa. We assemble 9,999 choristers and they sing to the glory. Something extremely remarkable that has broken the Guinness book of world record, that state has a serious covenant with God.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 53 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Late Art writer, Mcphillips Nwachukwu ‘resurrects’ in Lagos PRESENTATION

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HE memories of life and times of late celiberated writer, poet, author and former art editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Mcphilips Onwukamike Nwachukwu came alive again in Lagos during the memorial lecture and presentation of his book, So Long A Night, as friends colleagues and stakeholders in art and culture industry spoke eloquently of his contributions to the development of the sector.

The event which held at the nation’s culture house, National theatre, Iganmu where the late writer reported most of their activities, was chaired by Sam Amuka, Vanguard publisher, represented by Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor in Chief/ GM publications.

Speaking in his capacity as the chairman, Gbenga said that apart from the various write ups of Mr Amuka, he was a good collector of arts and that made him to fall in love with whoever that covers the desk.

On his own part, Adefaye who pointed out that apart from the fact that late Nwachukwu worked in the same establishment with him, they were also products of University of Nigeria Nsukka.

He described Macphilips as a good writer who did his best in his field and urged those present to emulate what the late writer did. “Do your best while you are on earth and hope that your best will be good enough to speak well of you when you are gone. That was the Mcphilips way.”

He harped on the importance of reading, noting that, “Where I grew up in Ile Ife, every child was given a book to read during the week and that helped us to read.

I don’t know whether it is on now.

What Mcphilips has done is great so we will keep his memory by reading the book becasue a nation that does not read is dead.”

The book presenter, Dr Barclays Ayokoromah, Executive secretary of NICO, who was represented by Prof Kalejaiye, while harping on the importance of book said that, “Mind is a terrible thing to waste, so if you do not want to waste the mind, nourish it with books.”

Mrs Annette Ibe, representative of the DG of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation NTDC commended the organisers of the event especially, Mrs Tina Nwachukwu who she described as Osodieme for their excellent work in immortalising the late writer. Director of dance at the National Troupe of Nigeria and choreographer, Arnold Udoka, described the late Nwachukwu as a very special writer who took his work serious.

“During our encounter, he was always a torn in my flesh with his questions, but each question he asked brought out the best in me.”

Mr. Toni Kan, who reviewed the book, said that the book is a profond and innovative immagination of the subject matter. Quoting McPhillips’ own words to drive home the message: “Forgive me if I leave the stage halfway, it is because I have journeyed for long through life’s

experiences.’’ Kan said the poems were written “in service of the message, and that the poet had a lot of messages to tell. They are his last will and testament”.

On her part, widow of the late writer, Tina Nwachukwu who organised the event in association with Arts and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria AWON felt elated at the success of the book launch, thanked all for honouring her late husband. Her words: “I feel fulfilled. Though I have been

,

By JAPHET ALAKAM, PRISCA SAM-DURU & IGBOANUGO STANLEY

Do your best while you are on earth and hope that your best will be good enough to speak well of you when you are gone, that was the Mcphilips’ way

,

in pain for a long time, the success of this book launch has made me very happy.” She said that Mcphilips’ poems make him come alive to her. “Any time I go through the poems he wrote, I feel his presence. It’s like we’re talking in some spiritual sort of way. I feel his voice, I communicate with him.

The event also doubled as the Maiden Memorial Lecture series in honour of the late journalist.

Guest speaker, Toyin Akinoso spoke on the ‘Influence of Arts and Culture reporting towards Nation Building: The McPhillip Example.

From left, Mrs. Tina McPhillips Nwachukwu; Prof. Oladipo Kalejaiye, rep. DG NICO; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, rep Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers and Chairman of the occassion; Mrs Annette Ibe, NTDC; Mr. Toyin Akiosho, Guest Speaker, and Mr. Toni Kan, book reviewer, during the Maiden Memorial Lecture series and Book presentation ceremony of late McPhillips Nwachukwu, former Vanguard Newspapers' Arts Editor, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Akinoso who started with a poem titled Memory of Absence, a poem by Mcphilips and the article written by him in 2005 tagged, Do Not Let Me Die, bemoaned the absence of art writers in such occasion.

Akinosho who has followed the art scene for years frowned at the way many journalists are dieing in Nigeria and urged the journalists to take adequate care of their health. He tasked the Editors to create a desk apart from health that investigates the series of careless deaths recorded in the industry. ‘’I know that my main brief here is to discuss the role of Art writers in contributing to the art

and culture industry. But the first thing I would urge is that since we are journalists, we might want to take advantage of Mcphilip’s memory , which we so cherish, to examine the question of negligence and quality in the Nigerian medical landscape, in a way that hopefully will lead us to a place of such blinding self awareness, that we will use knowledge as a curative in itself. Nigerian journalism ought to pay attention to its own health, starting with situating death of one of its most likeable personable practitioners in context, and this is by investigating it thoroughly.”

He then traced the various transformations art reporting

has gone through in the last 31 years and urged present art writers to try and go beyond event coverage in order to see themselves relevant in this IT world.

The event was attended by many stakeholders in the art and culture industry; Mr Olaniyan Aderemi representative of DG of NOA, Mr Odiari Emeka representative of DG of NGA, members of the Vanguard family, led

by Victor Omorogie, corporate affairs manager. Others were Innocent Nwanegbo , Asst. Admin manager, Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager, Innocent Anaba, Vanguard NUJ chapel chairman, Emma Nnadozie, Theo Opara, Chioma Gabriel, Osah Micheal Osah, Vanguard lawyer, Judith Ufford, Mike Ebonogwo etc.

Anikwe, CBAAC’s new boss, sets goals for the centre

By JAPHET ALAKAM CULTURE

T

HE new director general of the Centre for Black Art and African Civilisation, CBAAC , Ferdinand Anikwe has promised to take the centre to a higher level. Anikwe, who stated this while highlighting his plan of action for the centre to art writers in Lagos, promised to retain the centre’s intellectual contents, but that will be complimented with programmes that will highlight some of the neglected aspects of African c u l t u r e He, however disclosed that CBAAC will not not fail in realising the dreams of the founding fathers of the FESTAC 77 hosted 37 years ago.Anekwe who spoke with experience, disclosed that there are some of African culture that have not been given adequate attention in the past and the centre intends to promote and celebrate t h e m .

The new boss who took out time to explain the mandate of the centre said “if you expect us to concentrate on Nigeria, we might do something there

• Mr Ferdinand Anikwe,(m) presenting kola to the audience

but it is not right, it is not actually our mandate, our mandate includes promoting our culture and the culture of the entire black nations of the world and of course the entire A f r i c a . ’ ’ Anikwe who confessed that his administration will carry the children along, promised to promote the use of indigenous languages by encouraging the children to use it for cultural behaviours in languages, drama, dances and other art development.

According to him, the centre is planning to institutionalise the African masquerade with the establishment of an international research and viewing centre in Abuja that

will showcase varied architecture of the black people to be known as Black and African unity centre.

Such will provide a platform to examine their place in the social cultural life of Africans. There will also be a conference centre where people from all over the world will come and study African culture. It will be a first class tourist centre as all the different aspects of African culture will be demonstrated in reality. “‘The CBAAC museum is one of such areas we must showcase to the globe.

There is also the traditional African architectural design, which must be

preserved and promoted. ‘’ He a d d e d Continuing, he pointed out that the FESTAC 77 hosted 37 years ago afforded Africans the opportunity to depict their rich culture to the world, ‘’;so we want to update some of the documentaries of FESTAC 77 for the younger generations to a p p r e c i a t e . ’ ’ “Apart from our seminars, conferences and symposium, book and journals that engage in real academic work, we are going to add the theatrical performances to it, because there are some festivals that need to be promoted. We will bring in our film stars to demonstrate on our culture through acting and that also falls within our mandate.’’

He promised.

He also commended the efforts of his predecessor, Professor Babawale for the great jobs he did that sustained the tempo of realising the dreams of the founding fathers.

On the issue of funding, he admitted that it is a challenge, but promised to look inwards by identifying with stakeholders and international organisations to get them involved to make sure that it will not pose a problem. He, however commended the federal government for their support so far.

PAGE 54—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Gospel music should’t just ent er tain, enter ertain, but minist er--- Pas minister--Pasttor Kingsle Kingsleyy

By TONY IYARE

By PRISCA SAM DURU INTERVIEW

Kingsley Innocent (aka The God of Talk-na-do), is the Senior Pastor of Bible Believing Mission Incorporated with headquarters in Aba, Abia state. In this interview, the young minister speaks on his books, essence of gospel music, state of the nation as well as other sundry issues. Excerpts: About your books? have written over seven books. I have one entitled Living A blameless life that is selling very well. I also authored Morning Dew, a daily devotional book. I have authored several books and journals.

Your take on gospel music?

True gospel music is one thing we cannot do without, it creates the spirit-filled atmosphere. Gospel music is essential and important as individuals in church cannot do without gospel music.

Singing and giving praises to God is Godly, it is Biblical because God says, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself. When we praise God, He blesses us. There are too many gospel artistes that I love. So, gospel artistes must have a high level of integrity and will amplify the gospel through their music. Gospel musicians should always adopt a lifestyle that is pleasing to God but those of them who now sing secular music are like hirelings, they are doing it to feed their belly but those who are called to preach the word of God, no matter what, are still holding on to what they believe.

I am looking for a gospel musician, who will not just entertain but minister. I want people to fear the Lord and I believe that one day, this nation will have a leader that will lead like Christ.”

The state of the nation?

Our nation, Nigeria is presently in a trial period when Christians and everybody

I

• Pastor Kingsley Innocent

should join hands/faith together and call upon the name of the Lord because our nation is going through a lot of things worse than the time of the civil war.

The thing that is actually happening in our nation now, is what I call political sabotage because our politicians are not fair to what binds us together, that is to what makes us Nigerians that we are.

Politicians before the war were politicians who had the interest of the nation at heart.

Even when they had misunderstandings over issues, they were not self-centred.

They were not interested in their personal interest but national interest and their love for the people. But now, we have politicians who do not have the interest of the nation at heart. They believe in what they can acquire for themselves. None of them is there for the people and it has plunged us into national decay. Today, the country is facing a lot of things like Boko Haram insurgency. This is a trying period for our nation, we should all come together and pray, trusting that God will give us victory.

Boko Haram Insurgency?

The best and the only way to end it is that let us be Nigerians. No man outside this country will come into the country with Boko haram and succeed. It is Nigerians that doing the Boko Haram thing.

If I don’t know your house, I won’t know where to attack you from.

Our government both present and past should say that we don’t need Boko Haram because with the kind of weapons that they have, you will agree with me that the weapons did not just fly into the country by magic, they were brought in by people. It is only powers that be that brought in these weapons through our borders.

The leadership of the military should be ready to stop Boko Haram because we are losing our military also.

Our soldiers are well trained. I still believe in the capabilities of our soldiers because they are celebrated in the world when they go for peace mission in other countries. Nigeria has one of the best soldiers in the world, we didn’t earn it by bribe but they earned it by action. our boys know what to do to combat the menace of Boko Haram.

Do you think Nigeria will break up in 2015 ?

As people look forward to 2015, it looks so tough, but I don’t see it as the end of Nigeria. A lot of things bind us together and this is what our politicians do not know. 2015 may be tough but Nigeria is in the hand of God and at the end of the day, He will rescue this country from the hands of the greedy ones. I see Nigeria smile someday.

In 2015, Nigerians should be decisive, they should make up their minds and come out enmasse and choose our leaders.

Nigeria: causes of repeated failure in print

By CHRIS ONUOHA

REVIEW

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he turning point will be the moment when we will all realize that politics is a process that defines the how, who, which, when and what any individual or group of persons who

seek to govern Nigeria must know and understand. In fact, failure to understand this truth is often the cause of repeated failure in governance in Nigeria. “Our generation can work as collective unit across this country and set the agenda for lasting positive change in the political architecture of Nigeria,” says the author. All these, in a nutshell, summarises the book under review.

The book is a socio-political consciousness awakening, by Steve Etajeruo, a motivational speaker and Chartered Accountant from Ethiope West in Delta State. His strong vision for positive change, good governance principles in the society, and meaningful political approach, spurred him into churning out this 90-page book titled, “Our Stake for Good Governance”.

It’s a neatly designed book di-

Blast from the past..

Ukoha’s account of civil war

vided into 9 chapters that deals with issues of good governance, its concepts and enemies, the roles civil society, religious bodies, youths, traditional rulers and women, should play in actualising healthy and good governO u r Stake for G o o d Governance; Steve Etajeruo; Difawian Consulti n g ; 2013;PP. 90 ance. The book is published

by Difawian Consulting 2013, forwarded by the Executive Director of Organisation for Education & Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria, Paul Phillips Iwok. It is scheduled to be launched and released into the market by December 2014. ou may recall that many books have been written about Nigeria and its complex issues concerning politics and

Y

governance, but this is one that thoroughly defines and details what governance should be. In addition, it proffers solutions

in a self-conscious awakenin g spirit. This book

pursues the ideology and tenets of well structured polity in the society, the role each sector plays, bringing to mind, their legitimacy and functions in creating cohesion and harmony to achieve positive and quality governance the people need. ccording to the au thor, “The aim of this book is to re-awaken the consciousness of every individual in the political affairs of the nation.” “For me, I see politics as a process of leadership selection and not a profession as assumed by many who believe that it is their birthright to rule. Everyone has equal legal right to rule as long as the basic criteria are met which includes the historical evaluation of the person before selection,” he said.

A

REVIEW

A

s a contribution to the grow ing number of literature on the 30 month old infraticidal Nigerian Civil War, this compelling book titled Blast from the Past-Aftershocks of the Nigeria civil war by my colleague, friend and brother, Ukoha Kalu is a refreshing and interesting fictional prose account of a war that underscore the raging national question in the world’s largest Black nation that was cobbled together by Lord Luggard exactly 100 years ago.

Some are yet to resolve whether Biafra was a national or secessionist question. More than 40 years after the Civil War, the country’s political plain is still awash with different groups professing disparate ideas and angling for either confederation or a total break up of the Nigerian space.

As much as we pretend that everything is fine, we are daily confronted with these rhetorical questions some of which are posed by the writer. With the heightening level of religious and ethnic bigotrytribalism, statism and corruption, can we safely say the Civil War has ended in Nigeria? How effectively have we dealt with growing inter and intra regional struggle for primacy and pre-eminence?

With rising agitations for independence by Scotland, Wales, Quibec, Tibet and other parts of the world, can we afford to sweep the raging agitations for devolution of power in Nigeria under the carpet and simply continue to govern ourselves the old way? Have we fully come to terms with inter and intra nationalities dialogue amongst the different peoples in Nigeria? Why have we opted to govern a multireligious and multi-ethnic country along a unitary path, clearly away from the federalist vision of our founding fathers?

If Scotland that has been in a 307 years union with United Kingdom did a referendum on independence, why have we prevented same in Nigeria? If a little over 5 million people are allowed to conduct referendum for independence, why have we denied same for the Igbo or Yoruba ethnic nationalities who together must be close to 70 million people? Even the Ijaw that are smaller in population are much bigger than 50 nations that are members of the UN. Can we say we have learnt anything from Biafra? In what way have we managed disparate agitations for self determination in different parts of Nigeria?

Perhaps more challenging to Nigeria’s existence is the affront by Boko Haram, a group led by Shekau Ibrahim which like its international soul mate, the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), is more adept at foisting its brand of islam anchored on Wahhabi doctrine, on a multifarious and multi-religious country. Thousands of people have been killed since the group began its assault about 10 years ago with several people rendered homeless particularly in the north east region of Nigeria.

The issues around the Civil War is alive around us. The curtain was low-

ered only recently for some of the dramatis personae of the Civil War like Biafran leader, Gen Odimegbu Ojukwu who died a year ago,

Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle, commander of the 3rd Marine Commando who died last week while Major General Mohammed Shuwa who commanded the northern sector of the war was cut down recently in the Boko Haram offensive in Maiduguri.

From Frederick Foresyth to Chimamanda Adichie and Ukoha Kalu, different writers of the Biafran story have sought to express their literary license and freedom. We cannot therefore fault Kalu for opting for a fictional prose style.

In a rather lucid account, the writer seeks to strike a chord and symmetery between literary form and content, making it a compelling read not only for further discourse of the Civil War but also for literary appreciation.

From how many survived by eating human parts to being sodomised by persons much older, Kalu sought to paint the dark sides of a war that pushed many in the defunct Eastern region to live in conditions worse than the pristine condition of the early man as they battle for survival.

And before we began to resort to narrow and parochial ethnic shells, he told the story of how Nigerians lived in settings which threw up polyglots as they picked up several languages spoken in their respective neighbourhoods raising a poser as to whether that Nigeria is still possible.

This is depicted by the writer as

Blast from the Past-Aftershocks of the Nigeria Civil War; Ukoha Kalu; PP-347 he explained how the “unadulterated” Igbo mother of his fictional character was at ease with exhaustive conversations in Hausa and easily switched into Efik or Yoruba depending on whom she was holding court with.

So from a pan-Nigerian setting we’ve all receded into our cocoon ethnic shells which has arrested national development and dimmed the vision of our forebears.

Perhaps the inability to foist a genuine and admirable national assence is a bi-product of the successor cyclical and near rudderless and marauding elite, which have not given much to cheer since after replacing the first generation elite.

It is my view that all those who yearn for a new Nigeria should indeed get a copy of this book.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 55

Nigeria’s growth indices, 54 years after *The need for entrepreneurial devt – Expert

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BY UDEME CLEMENT

IGERIA’S economy has experienced series of reforms in the last 54 years. The annual indices on growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1960 to 1970 was 3.1 per cent. In the 1980s, the economy on average recorded high rates of inflation but with low rate of unemployment. In 1980, inflation rate was about 10 per cent while the growth of GDP was 4.2 per cent.

The rediscount rate was 6 per cent and the level of unemployment in the system was 6.4 per cent. So, from the 80s up to 1991, the economy achieved relative full employment, as inflation remained double digit, except for the years between 1990 and 1998 up to 2000.

Between 2000 and 2011 inflation rate, though double digit was still within the accepted threshold. As the economy grew by 7 per cent, unemployment was still high, from about 13.1 per cent in 2010 to 23.9 per cent in 2011. In 2012, unemployment became prevalent in the system with a substantial part of the labour being idle.

The on-going reform in the banking sector is yielding positive results but our financial system is not developed like the advanced economies. For instance, net credit to the nation’s economy dropped from 59.2 per cent in 2009 to about 10 per cent in 2010, while the credit to private sector grew by 27 per cent in that 2009 to about 4.1 per cent in 2010, increasing rapidly to 31.6 per cent in 2011. This shows vividly that the credit to private sector as a share of GDP is on the increase while credit to the core private sector-GPD is a dominant trend from 2010 to 2011 fiscal year.

The economy attracted more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in 2013 and 2014 compared to previous years. The rate of unemployment stood at 24 per cent while poverty increased to 70 percent in the third quarter of 2013. The growth of GDP in 2013 and 2014 is between 7 and 8 per cent. The non-oil sector that grew by 7.8 per cent in the previous year, declined to 7.4 in 2013.

The manufacturing sector grew by 7 percent in 2013 and contributed only 4.2 per cent to the GDP. The agric sector experienced marginal growth of 5 per cent in 2013, compared to 4.5 per cent the sector recorded in 2012. The contribution of oil and gas stood at 13 per cent in 2013. Building and construction grew by 15 per cent in the third quarter of 2013 in contrast to a growth rate of 12.5 per cent it had in early 2013. The sector contributed just 2 per cent to the GDP. Looking at the economy generally, the macro-economic fundamentals appeared much better in the second quarter of 2013.

Now in 2014, the inflation rate is single digit as the economy witnessed marginal increase in various sectors. But unemployment is still high, especially among youths, as unemployment rate is about 37 per cent for youths. To tackle the rising unemployment rate in the country, the Federal Government recently approved the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), designed to create 30million jobs across various sectors of the economy.

Since its approval, the Master Plan has received divergent views. While some economic experts advised government to diversify the economy into non-oil export and agriculture, others said entrepreneurial development is what government needs to create jobs for the economy to optimise outputs. An experienced entrepreneur and Chancellor, Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development, Bassey James, a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), established over seven years ago for

Mr. Bassey James

For government to achieve its target on job creation, entrepreneurial development must be given proper focus. We need to train the citizens on various skills capable of enhancing individual development and the economy at large capacity building and entrepreneurial development, spoke on the need for government to invest extensively on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), manpower training in order to create jobs and transform the economy for greater productivity.

As an entrepreneur and Chancellor of a capacity building Centre in the country, what measures would you advise government to put in place to create 30million jobs for the citizens in few years?

To start with, we must adopt a pragmatic approach. This means for government to achieve its target on job creation, entrepreneurial development must be given proper focus. We need to train the citizens on various skills capable of enhancing individual development and the economy at large. This also requires investing in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), for industries to spring up in different places across the country. The concept of skills acquisition as well as man-power development is paramount to economic development everywhere in the world and Nigeria must key into the concept.

Training the citizens, especially youths on various skills is important because that would enhance sustainable development.

This is what our Centre stands for. We believe in skills acquisition as a good strategy to tackle unemployment in the system. For instance, we are currently making arrangement for over 1.000 artisans to be trained on various skills in the Centre. Therefore, for our economy to thrive, we must train and empower our people, especially youths to enhance

sustainable development.

54 years after independent the economy is still experiencing some challenges and government’s developmental agenda is anchored on economic transformation of different sectors. So, what aspect of skills acquisition do you think would be viable for rapid economic growth?

There are so many skills such as, a good use of computer for Information communications technology, which is vital not just in Nigeria but globally, fabrication, which is big business in the oil and gas sector, mechanic, tailoring, bead-making, wood-work/furniture making, soap making and many others.

Cosmetics sub-sector is a big industry that government should equally give attention.

Others include capacity building for operators of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. For example, there are many Nigerians today who specialised in making palm oil, which is a good product for export.

These people buy palm fruits and process the fruits into palm oil, which we consume in every household in Nigeria. This category of people should be well trained and empowered to acquire sophisticated equipment needed to process palm oil in large quantity for local consumption and export for foreign exchange earnings.

Man-power development must not be left for the Federal Government alone, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commercial banks, the 36 States, corporate organisations and various agencies of government should support entrepreneurship by funding capacity building programmes at different stages.

For instance, N100million can train and empower many people on small scale businesses. The interest of youths is paramount all over the world and our government must key into this through entrepreneurship development. We need both political and economic structures to produce a strong economy. Politics without economic growth would not guarantee sustainability. If we build political leaders without economic experts, unemployment would persist. Every Nigerian must be ambassador of investment for our economy to move forward.

Your Centre was established over seven years ago. What are your contributions to economic growth and development?

The Akpabioism Centre for Leadership and Development is built on 100,000 square meters of land, with a view to having 100 percent concentration of manpower development. More than 20 Professors are already keying into the project to enhance effective capacity building programmes. Recently, we

organised the Akpabioism Economic Summit Lagos 2014, with the theme, ‘Sustaining Economic Development through Good Governance.’ At that economic summit, we had investors from South Africa, China, Ghana and Indonesia among others. We hold economic summit regularly to bring in foreign investors and open up our economy for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

At present, three Universities are already talking about partnering with the Centre to establish a good library as a tool for effective entrepreneurial development. We have trained many youths on various skills.

The Centre just awarded scholarship to some youths, even as 300 people have been selected for entrepreneurial training. Also, we just got100 names for another round of scholarship. Our aim is to drive the consciousness of people on economic development now and for the future.

How do you source for funds to run such a big project?

Our major source of funding is from the banks. We have just concluded arrangement with three banks to get more money. Right now the banks are doing documentation and once that is done, they would release more money for the project.

We have a Board of Trustees and the project is done in phases. Our hall is more than 6,000 sitting capacity and is one of the biggest training centres in Africa. The Centre is a carefully packaged project aimed at entrepreneurship development and job creation. It is a new consciousness for people to focus on building the economy and a place of skills acquisition for people to brainstorm on important economic issues. We have members in over 31 States in the country. We also have members in Ghana, Indonesia and other parts of the world. The synergy is for investors to come into Nigeria and open factories to create jobs, not just to invest in tourism and housing. We need technology transfer to move our economy forward like what obtains in developed countries.

What informed the name Akpabioism?

The Centre is located in Akwa Ibom State. In the South West we have Awoism and everyone from this part of the country respects late Obafemi Awolowo, for his vision in developing the South West, especially for his free education programme. When I got the idea, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, did not even know about it.

Akwa Ibom is better than China in terms of landmark, transportation system through the waterways, man power availability, road network and infrastructure. For instance, the International airport is where everyone is coming in to invest in the State. From Akwa Ibom you can invest in Delta, Cameroon, Cross River, Abia and other places because it is a central place for investments.

How do you assess the governor of the state?

He has done well in building infrastructure and opening up the State for FDIs. He has re-branded the concept of leadership by giving every indigene an identity. He has done away with the housemaid syndrome and provided free and compulsory education for the people. For many people, the governor is a face of change and has put his State in the World map. He had received more awards than any other governor in the history of Nigeria and even the CBN honoured him with award of leadership. Nigerians should not only criticise but must learn to celebrate their leaders like South Africans are celebrating Nelson Mandela. I personally appreciate people from the South West for celebrating the legacy of Awolowo.

PAGE 56— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Why the tax system in Lagos is transparent — Fowler, LIRS Chairman which we apprehended about 10, 000 car owners. Those apprehended had never paid one kobo in tax. But now, if your car is seized, you’d have to be checked for tax payment before it is released. These are the people who give us the biggest headache. Last year, the governor met with such professionals and appealed to them to pay their taxes.

How have you been dealing with this category of people?

Apart from the appeal made by the governor, he added that the state also has the power of prosecution and we have started to prosecute such individuals.

Complaints about multiple taxes remain rife, with claims that there are about 20 different tax bills. Is this situation not stifling businesses?

This is not correct. The tax issues in Nigeria are federal laws.

First and foremost, all states have the same taxes and have the same rates that are passed and approved by the National Assembly. A state is empowered to introduce new taxes and levies. I can tell you clearly that there is no multiple taxation in Lagos State. What some people call multiple taxes are user charges.

Some of these so-called taxes are charges for the use of services. Multiple taxation is when you pay the same taxes to more than one arm of government. We don’t do so in Lagos State.

Mr. Babatunde Fowler...... With what we generate, it is not unsafe to say that Lagos can meet its recurrent expenditure.

BYJIDE AJANI

Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service and Executive Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue, explains why the state is the model in tax administration and development in the country at a time when there are fears that the dwindling revenue from crude oil sales may get worse.

W

HAT would you describe as your biggest achievement in the nine years that you have been on the job?

Apart from the jump in revenue, it will be the acceptance, by members of the public, of the fact that taxes are required for development. I am convinced that we have succeeded in educating people on the importance of taxes. We have sent young people into the open market, unaccompanied by policemen, and they have faced no harassment from members of the public.

Earning the trust of the public is a monumental achievement.

There is no country or state that can achieve its objectives of governance without funding. Every leader who has a vision needs funding to achieve his objectives and payment of taxes is the primary source of funds for the government. Taxation is so important that in the parts of the world where it is well embedded in the political eco-system, it plays a major part in politics. The question of whether taxes will be

raised or reduced is very important. Even ordinary citizens in those climes have come to understand that government cannot achieve anything if taxes are not paid. I believe that the people of Lagos State have also gotten to the point whereby those paying taxes understand and see what the taxes are doing for them. Lagos State currently receives an average of N8billion from the Federation Account on a monthly basis. Out of this, N6billion is spent on the payment of salaries.

If we remove this, Lagos State will be left with only N2billion.

This N2billion will not be enough for anything. Just imagine what Lagos will be without these taxes.

Look at the recent Ebola outbreak in Lagos and the way the Lagos State Government dealt with it.

Imagine a Lagos State without the financial might to curtail the virus. So, every government needs funds through taxes. If you say that Nigeria has oil, remember that Africa has the most resources yet it is the poorest continent. Between June and July this year, oil receipts dipped by about 19% and this immediately affected revenue allocations to states. So, the only way to sustain development is to depend on taxation, which the government can plan with.

To what will you ascribe people’s unwillingness to pay taxes?

For a start, you won’t find anybody willing to part with his or her money. The second reason is that Nigerians appear unsure that

their money will be spent judiciously. This makes them reluctant to part with their money in the shape of taxes. But Lagos has proved an exception.

Lagosians have since seen what their taxes have delivered in terms of development and are more encouraged to pay taxes.

Lagos is held up as a model in tax administration. In specific terms, how much does Lagos generate monthly?

is not unsafe to say that Lagos can meet its recurrent expenditure.

A major problem in tax administration is how to capture those in the hidden economy.

How successful have you been in bring commercial motorcyclists, tailors, hairdressers and other artisans into the tax net?

I am sure you’d be surprised if I say members of the category you just spoke about actually pay

Every government needs funds through taxes. If you say that Nigeria has oil, remember that Africa has the most resources yet it is the poorest continent The Commissioner of Finance has the audited figures. But for last year, the IGR was an average of N20.5 billion per month.

On the average, we generate almost thrice of what we get in federal allocations. That is not to say we don’t need the allocation from the centre. There is a need to realise that we still have many things undone. There are many expectations yet to be met; a lot of major infrastructural project requirements, which involve transportation, water, health and others. With what we generate, it

their taxes. They do. The ones who give us the biggest problems are the high net worth individuals in the in formal sector.

These are professionals who work for themselves, own cars but don’t pay taxes. We are talking about engineers, architects and doctors.

They are people who may have travelled abroad and admired the kind of services that the government over there provides, but are unwilling to pay taxes.

Over the last two or three years, we have had occasions during

There is this long-running debate about Lagos State being heavily indebted to Ogun State as a result tax collection from people that work in Lagos State, but reside in Ogun State.

It is not true that we are heavily indebted. The two governors have met. If you notice when you are driving in Lagos, at certain points and in certain areas, you will find yourself in Ogun State.

The two governors came together and looked at the boundaries between the two states.

These boundaries have been clearly defined. And in accordance with tax laws, you pay taxes where you reside. It means that for all those who work with the Lagos State government, for example, but reside in Ogun State, their taxes are being sent to Ogun State. We have a very good working relationship and there are no hiccups.

How much has been paid to Ogun State in arrears and how much remains yet unpaid?

Since the discussions started, all payments due to Ogun State have been made. In terms of arrears, the Ogun State government then did not enforce its tax administration in the past and the current governors have decided to correct past mistakes and start on a clean slate. Things are working well now.

There was a time the Federal Executive Council directed that state governments should stop

Continues on page 57

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 57

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

Recently, Guinness Nigeria Plc published its audited result which showed dwindling performance resulting in a drop in the patronage of its products.

Sesan Sobowale, Company Secretary, spoke on the reason for the poor result and the step by the company to reverse the trend.

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HE 2013/2014 performance The performance showed that for the full year, revenue was down 11 percent, profit declined 19 percent. This is attributed to a couple of things. One was pricing disadvantage. In October 2013 we increased the prices of most of our brands. This is what players in the industry do once in a year to account for inflation. I have been in this business for 10 years and in each of those years we had increased price by one price point which is usually around N10 because of the issue of changes. Retail usually round this off for customers. Each time we do this, the other players in the industry will follow. But for the first time since I got here in 2004, we increased price in most of our brands but our biggest competitor did not follow suit. We thought they wanted to do it close to Christmas, we watched as the months of last year rolled by and they did not increase prices.

These are discretionary products which are different from rents or schools fees. Before you drink you must have taken care of other essentials and it is an industry that is price- sensitive.

Price increase / consumers movement Yes consumers moved to cheaper brands and the sales affected our bottom-line. It was because our input cost was going high. It was a routine thing to hedge inflation.

Price reduction/ hedge inflation It is a cost you have to pay in

Correct pricing is Guinness new strategy – Sobowale, Company Secretary We have noticed that there is a slide in beer consumption and this is due to pressure on discretionary income. We are hoping that overall productivity will increase this market. What that means is reduced overall profitability. But we are hoping that with price correction if we get more volume sales we won’t be hard hit especially if we sell more of our high margin brands. The situation means that given the economic realities the business today will probably be less profitable than it was two years ago when we could freely adjust prices for inflation.

Slide in beer consumption We have noticed that there is a slide in beer consumption and this is due to pressure on discretionary income. We are hoping that overall productivity will increase and that even if government removes the remaining subsidy Nigerians could still do what they want to do. Secondly, the beer industry comes second after telecom in promotion and advertising spend. We will play our part in stimulating sales. The third thing is to further get more consumer insight in terms of innovation that consumers crave for and we have been bullish about innovation especially with the introduction of Orijin bitters.

Mr. Sesan Sobowale who is now looking at issues Getting right marketing around distribution, around new strategies channels and providing back I don’t think we have a broken office for the core commercial market strategy. I think what team. Garvin Pike takes his job happened is that we sell iconic as marketing and innovation brands that have been around for director. some time. While the old brands Ill-timed decision/ factors that have their advantages, the affected performance disadvantage is that if you don’t The decision as not ill-timed in constantly recruit adorers to your the previous years. I don’t think brands, then the people who are the decision was probably in line loyal to the brands as they get with the mood of the market. As older, they retire and being more a result of that, what we did was careful with discretionary spend. to reduce prices. But it is easy for What we find is that the 18 to 35 things to go up but hardly come years want to be different from down. their fathers in everything, even The second reason is that the if it is to make a statement that fasted growing segment in the they are young. Our target now is beer industry is the value segment to make it more relevant to the where we have few brands. This youthful population. We are now is where Dubic, Goldberg among doing certain exciting things that others play. Dubic and others will will resonate with the youth. sell at N150 but the other Restructuring marketing team mainstream brands like Harp No. We are not restructuring as and others will sell at N200. we have great marketers in our In the value segment, we have two team. But as part of his offerings - Dubic and Satzenbrau, development, Austin Ufomba is but they are relatively small no longer the marketing and brands compared to others. innovation director. He has The third reason is that we have moved into another commercial had distribution challenges. Our area of the business. He is now national share market today is the trade development director

probably around 26 percent but in Lagos our share market is around 40 percent. If the national average is 26 percent, this means that there are areas we are around 10 percent. Our products are nationwide but you may not find all our brands in some remote areas. The forth reason and especially for the decline in the bottom-line, is our finance cost.

Addressing challenges On pricing for instance, we have rolled back the prices across board. On distribution, we have a route to consumer project that is currently on-going where we are supported by executives from Diageo, and we are working with consultants to improve our route to consumer around Nigeria. We have finished our pilot scheme in Lagos and this has resulted into a slight increase in our market share. On finance cost, we are managing that better. In fourth quarter (April to June) when the financial year ended, we sold more and paid less on interest, and profitability was higher, but when you put the whole year, the profitability was affected. Our expectation is that the fourth quarter trend will continue in the new financial year.

Increasing market share with orijin We did a research some time and the result showed that our target consumer is more conscious about their lifestyle, health and other things that fit the aspirational lifestyle and the Origin fits all the boxes. Some drink it because it does not give them pot belly. Origin was introduced to fit the consumers lifestyle and we are delighted that the product has validated the research. We are struggling to meet the supply

‘Why the tax system in Lagos is transparent’ Continued from page 56

using consultants for the collections of taxes. Has Lagos complied with this?

What we learnt was that some organisations and individuals are collecting money on behalf of certain states and local councils.

The law, unambiguously, states that only the board of internal revenue is mandated to collect taxes in terms of cash. This, however, does not suggest that a state cannot use consultants to gather data.

The law only says that consultants cannot do assessment. This means they cannot determine how much is due in terms of taxes, which is a function of the board of internal revenue. That has been the case in Lagos State for a number of years. Also, our policy is that all taxes or payments to the state government are made directly to designated banks.

The government used to allow collection of N2, 000 and below by staff, but we have a policy under which staff are not allowed to collect any cheque or cashirrespective of the amount. Any staff that goes against this will be dismissed.

How much of a leap in IGR can

we expect in Lagos and what targets have you set?

I am not the type to put a figure on such things. What we aim to do is to get 99.9% of Lagos residents to pay their taxes.

What drives you to do a job that not many would relish?

My motivation is the transformation of Lagos.

Everyday that I drive through Lagos, I feel glad seeing the changes in the state and the joy that this development brings to our people. We have a visionary governor. But it is a fact that without the money to implement the vision, it will remain a mirage. We need to commend the tax payers because they could make our job considerably more difficult. If we look back and compare we were and where we now are, we can see an enormous difference.

To what will you ascribe the success of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service over the years?

I will first of all give appreciation to the two governors I have served under.

First, it was His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu who, perhaps, as an accountant and a money manager, understood that with money coming in from the federation account, there was no way he could achieve his vision

for Lagos State without the funding that comes with good tax administration and he gave us one hundred support. And the current governor, His Excellency Babatunde Fashola, has also done the same. At certain functions, when he is making jokes, he asks people who make comments whether they have paid their taxes. Because, as he continues to say, without tax revenues, Lagos cannot perform.

Lagos is one of the few states that

can be said to be working. In 1999, the internally generated revenue averaged about N600 million per month. The budget size was about N17billion per annum. Last year, it was N500bn and this is because the IGR has increased to the point that we can get loans from the World Bank and other agencies, which see that we are able to pay.

What makes tax Administration In Lagos State special?

The transparency; the way we do business in Lagos. Our staff don’t touch cash. All taxes are paid straight into state coffers. We don’t, as a revenue generating organ, have access to the monies we collect. We depend on subventions like other government agencies. The people of Lagos State also see the benefits of the taxes collected.

They see how the government is spending their money. All of these help us and make our job easier.

FirstBank ATM ownership

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HE decision of FirstBank to increase the volume of its Automated Teller Machine,ATM, galleries across the country has redefined the significance of ATM to customers.

Particularly, the offer is geared towards satisfying customers increasing needs for ATM. A visit to FirstBank’s branches across the cities revealed that the ATM galleries have been increased to a minimum of four with more in busy areas.

Unlike in the past, cards are now renewed within 15 minutes of application.

This development has elicited

commendations from customers, who hitherto had difficulties in renewing their credit cards.

Speaking in that respect, an industry expert Dr. Julius Ighodaro, said: ‘’ I have always wondered what would have been the lot of every Nigerian, particularly families with working parents, if not for the intervention of ATMs. Assuming you work in a firm where you have to leave your house at six in the morning and come back at eight in the evening; and your spouse is also engaged in a job that takes her out of the house at eight in the morning and then

back at six in the evening. With kids still in primary schools who only manage to come home from school everyday through a neighbour’s help. ‘’This initiative helps you carry out your transaction with ease.

Paying of bills in one is now convenient at zero cost. Using the ATM is still the same procedure, only added features that help you make your transactions with ease are added. They come as interactive guides that appear on the screen as you slot in your card.

Just follow the prompts and you will get your transactions done in just a few minutes.’’

Page 58— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

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HO is a good man?, you may ask!

He who, knowing that what he would say would definitely get some people angry, but puts it to the test of sincerity and honesty, convinces himself that saying it would be for a good cause before decent men and God Almighty, still goes ahead to say it, is a damn good man!

Those may not be his exact words.

But were he alive and you ask Felix Odusanya Dina, LLB, BL, his response would not be too far away. A man of character, Mr. Dina, as he was generally known by fellow residents of Abesan Low Cost Housing Estate, Abesan, Ipaja, Lagos, particularly his Block 396, Flat 3, was one damn good man.

Our paths crossed sometime in 1995.

I had gone to the six-flat block to check the condition of the flat I was prospecting to rent – which happened to be Flat 4, just directly opposite h i s . Totally beaten by improper use and left to the elements and a safe haven for rodents around, the flat presented the sight of a cesspit. Seeing me, Mr. Dina approached and sensing that I would be his new neighbor, straight-facedly said, “Aburo, ise lo ma se ni bi yi-o” – “my brother, you would need to brace yourself for the arduous task of restoring this flat”.

VIEWPOINT

BY INWALOMHE DONALD VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF A governor’s ingenuity to shore up govt revenue

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HE deepening revenue crisis facing the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for over 18 months is helping to refocus the attention of Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Edo State.

For several months, the allocation to the state from FAAC has been on the downward trend, hampering developmental strides of the Oshiomhole administration. In the last allocation, the state lost well over N2 billion. An average of N1.5b monthly is being generated as IGR. As one of the oil producing states, Edo is getting the least allocation from the federation account, not enough to meet the developmental challenges.

The minister of state for finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda,

The passing of a good man Even at great pains and discomfort to him, Dina would take up causes on people’s behalf inso-far-as it was a worthy cause

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But he did not let it stop at the realm of armchair observation. Within minutes, Mr. Dina had emptied his entire household (save the wife) into my flat with buckets of water, brooms, mopping sticks, rags and hand-towels: They were all ready to assist in washing the floors and restoring whatever could be restored. A carpenter friend of mine would later come to fix the windows and doors. And if you thought that was a mark of compassion, Mr. Dina, along with another neighbor, Mr. Kola Sotade, were to demonstrate the meaning of true brotherhood.

Now, you cannot talk about Dina without mentioning Sotade. Even their wives could not separate these two.

Dina, Ijebu;Sotade, Egba.

And this is where the story of Dina becomes more interesting because, save sleeping on the same bed with

their wives and going to their separate offices, the two were always together.

As a young man coping with the challenges of building a family with meager, very meager means, Dina, it was, who would remember to buy loaves of bread on his way from the office for my family.

Dina, it was, who would come in on a Friday evening to ask whether I would be comfortable for the weekend.

Dina it was who would wake his children up as early as 5am in those heady, difficult days, to come and assist push my Volkswagen Kombi bus, for the difficult task of jump-starting the bus. Dina, it was, who would call you to a corner (along with Sotade) and whisper, ‘Aburo, ma fi gbo-gbo owo mewa jeun o’ – ‘save for the rainy days’.

Like every mortal, Dina was not a saint.

But Dina was one good man.

Even at great pains and discomfort to him, Dina would take up causes on people’s behalf in-so-far-as it was a worthy cause.

Also popularly known as Baba’Jebu, Dina’s sense of humour knew no limits.

His humourous disposition is best complemented by the one he used to call BESTED – Sotade.

At parties, Community Development Association, CDA, meetings, family gettogether, this duo of Dina and Sotade would regale you with

•Felix Odusanya Dina

stories, songs and derisive versions, sometimes twisted though, of church hymns, to the delight of whoever was around.

But beyond all these, Dina was a man who loved his family and friends.

He also loved himself and worked hard to ensure that he made a name.

Born on April 2, 1954 (he always made a joke of not being born on Fools’ Day), he attended Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Italupe, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, from 1960 to 1966. He later proceeded to Ijebu Ode Grammar School.

He joined the services of Nigerian Ports Authority, Apapa, in 1974, from where he retired.

In February 1983, he got married to his wife, Theresa Dina, and the marriage is blessed with four children, Titilayo, Temitayo, Tolulope and Tolani.

He obtained a diploma in printing from Yaba College of Technology in 1983, and a

The Oshiomhole IGR strategy while speaking at the FAAC meeting in July, blamed the decline in the amount which accrued to the federation account on oil theft and vandalisation of oil pipelines in parts of the country.

Oshiomhole admitted that the situation is very challenging and outlined the state’s coping strategies: “We have been able to pay workers and pensioners salaries and are meeting our other financial obligations during this turbulent period because of our being very prudent. Edo has been able to raise Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) from N500 million to above N1 billion monthly. ” With a meagre monthly allocation of an average of one billion naira from the federation account and an internally generated revenue of little above one billion naira a month, the governor has maintained a motivated workforce paid as and when due; built, renovated

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TRIBUTE IN BRIEF The life and times of Felix Odusanya Dina, described as a very good man

FELIX ODUSANYA DINA (1954 – 2014)

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VIEWPOINT

BY JIDE AJANI

Oshiomhole admitted that the situation is very challenging and outlined the state’s coping strategies

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and reconstructed primary and secondary schools across the state; rehabilitated and constructed health facilities; built and reconstructed roads and streets designed and completed with covered drains, walk ways and street lights; provided communities across the 18

local government areas in the state with portable water and electricity as well as flood control, environmental sanitation and beautification. Benin City, the Edo State capital, is undoubtedly a cleaner, safer, orderly and beautiful city compared to the decay of the past.

Compared with other NigerDelta oil producing states’ huge monthly allocation of an average of N20 billion and internal revenue receipt of eight billion, Oshiomhole, by all standards, qualifies to be termed a genius in financial management, prudence, accountability and transparency.

Meanwhile the governor has stressed the need for government and security operatives to stop oil theft and pipeline vandalisation in the country since the Federal Government continues to blame the revenue shortfalls on these factors. The Federal Government must find a last-

diploma in transport from the Olabisi Onabanjo University in 1996. He obtained L.L.B from Lagos State University in 2007, and B.L from Nigeria Law School, Abuja in 2009.

This good man was called to glory on the 9th September, 2014.

You may never have met him; but those who had dealings with him would easily relate to this piece.

He couldn’t have been the best man around. But he was a good man.

He was also not a saint because his volubility sometimes verges on the indiscreet.

But a chance meeting with him would change your life.

He was wise, full of life.

When the news of his death broke, many kept wondering why? Yes, why?

But that question is now very familiar when condolence visits are paid to the bereaved.

We may never know. He had friends and was loved by many.

Dina loved Nigeria so much; always harassing me about current issues and about why government needs to do the little things that Nigerians want.

Nigeria is bad; things are not working; life is brutish in this country.

If the opportunity were to arise for Dina to answer, he would still want to be around his bested friend, Sotade. And he would have loved to be around his many friends and beloved children. And, above all, he would still have loved to be around his wife, Iya’Jebu.

He would be committed to mother earth this week. Adieu. ing solution to this problem in order to ensure prompt payment of civil servants salary and delivery of developmental projects across the country for the benefit of the people.

In Edo, more than half of our allocation goes to civil servants who are less than two per cent of the population of the state. And we have a bad culture of not paying tax but we have a unique culture in Edo State which expects government to do everything for them.

Lack of stringent punishment for oil thieves is part of the factors responsible for the rising wave of criminal activities in the Niger Delta.

The huge financial gain in illegal bunkering is another factor responsible for the persistent oil theft in the Niger Delta. I have always advocated a special court to try offenders as part of the measures to fight the menace. *Donald is of the Justice Research Centre, Benin City, Edo State

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014,

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The odds favor the VP to run with the president in 2015

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RC. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, generally acclaimed as a loyal vice president and a strong pillar of the Jonathan administration is, no doubt, in his trying times. His monumental contributions to the success of the Transformation Agenda and the candid acknowledgement in his tactical endorsement by the president at the South-West PDP sensitization rally in Lagos, seem not to be sufficient guarantees to keep his welldeserved VP slot for the next dispensation in 2015. Far from being unopposed at least two governors and the PDP National Chairman are already being reported to be interested in his job.

With such a treacherous scenario playing out, it certainly cannot be re-assuring for the vice president who has even endured the backlash from the North for his seeming loyalty and support for the president.

First, Gov. Ibrahim Shema has repeatedly denied being interested in the VP’s job even when his posters

VIEWPOINT

BY MICHAEL TIDI VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The need for equity in Delta oil city

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HE

Warri Federal Constituency stands on a tripod- Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West LGA. There exists an unwritten agreement between the three LGAs on the need to rotate the Warri Federal Constituency seat in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice.

Ironically, its only Warri South West and Warri North that had occupied the coveted seat for a period of 16years, implying that since 1999, Warri South has experienced this growing discrimination which should not be. Yet, it has always supported every candidate brought out by the so-called structure. It would therefore amount to inequity if the present occupant of the seat is allowed re-election, his constitutional right notwithstanding.

Instructively, proponents of zoning had stressed that they

VIEWPOINT

BY JOE AGBRO

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

A word against politics of regression

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S politicians gingerly await on INEC to announce guidelines for 2015 elections, the political space is agog with activities with aspirants striving to gain vantage positions preparatory to their party primaries. In this frenzied atmosphere a lot of shenanigans are manifesting, polluting the otherwise healthy air in the atmosphere that people should ordinarily breathe. Understandably, securing the people’s mandate at any level of political representation must not be taken for granted.

In Delta State for example, massive interest is being shown on who succeeds Governor Uduaghan come 2015. Gladiators are parading their credentials. This development ordinarily should be applauded, for as they say in local parlance “the more, the merrier”. But the worrisome trend. is the false claim that the position of

The Sambo conundrum As the clock ticks towards the presidential declaration, all the strong and justifiable indicators point to a secured return of the Goodluck/Sambo ticket

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and body language betray him. He has silently been moving towards realizing his ambition by taking concrete steps that will eventually build in his favour.

His recent marriage to the Yar’adua family is set to bolster his chances as pundits consider it an avenue to settle whatever issues he has with the family so that a formidable front can be established to fight for and secure the VP slot.

He has furthermore tried to silence the opposition in Katsina State through the local government election and according it massive publicity to shore up support and assert his total control of the state and the power broker in charge. The

idea is to try to draw comparison and show that while he has electoral value, the VP, who was reported to have lost in his local government, lacked any. This is in spite of the fact that events leading to such electoral catastrophe are well known to discerning minds and political pundits in Kaduna State as a deliberate attempt to undermine the political relevance and significance of the VP. It should be on record that the PDP has consistently won the Kaduna North Local Government until that fateful election. The councillorship seat of Kabala ward which is the VP’s ward was however won by the PDP’s Bashir Tukur.

Suffice it to state that the VP was not even present during the election as he was out of the country on official engagement.

Kaduna State has been a major contributor in terms of votes to the presidential election as the PDP, from inception, has consistently remained the second largest contributor of votes second only to Rivers State.

Others touted as competing with Sambo for the VP slot are Sule Lamido and Adamu Mu’azu.

Lamido has been battling the party to remain relevant. That is his

greatest albatross.

But the PDP Chairman’s exploits were the gains from the mismanagement of the PDP by Bamangu Tukur who took on several fronts and fought the governors who decided to gang-up against him leading to his eventual ouster.

The Adamu Mu’azu-led NWC has reasons to complain of his high handedness and disregard for due p r o c e s s .

He too was previously alleged to be working silently for his own presidential ticket rallying round his former colleague ex-governors and trying to place them in strategic positions to help him. When that was frustrated by the vigilance of the Presidency, he now changed gear and opted for the VP slot.

In his display of total loyalty, the vice-president concentrates only on assignments given to him by his principal and involves himself with those things he is permitted to delve into. He recognizes that the President has the full constitutional powers and therefore acknowledges the inappropriateness of confrontation which will serve no one any good.

This was very well acknowledged by the president when, in Lagos at the South-West PDP sensitization rally,

Delta 2015: The symbol of equity in Warri aren’t sacrificing merit for rotation by canvassing for power rotation to Warri South. They are, however, inspired by the words of Victor Hugo, the French philosopher who said that “nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come”.

The people of Warri South now feel they must be masters of their own collective fate in the future.

But realizing that they would throw away the opportunity to ascend the War ri Federal Constituency seat in the Green Chamber, they reached out for a man who can be described as the best man for the job. The choice of Barr. Ada Val Arenyeka by the Warri political leadership appears not only logical, but also destined as well. Arenyeka is an independent –minded leader with an even-keel temperament, charismatic speaking skills and a knack for consensus-building.

He is also a talented and introspective writer.

His values are strongly shaped by his expertise as a constitutional lawyer and civil rights attorney,

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BY ABDULLAHI GARBA

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VIEWPOINT

Such a man with a clear purpose of overall performance in bettering the living standard of the people should be encouraged to take the plunge

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and by Christianity, Arenyeka mingles easily with others, but is most comfortable addressing large crowds.

At any rate, contrary to false propaganda, widely publicized by his rivals, the people of Warri Federal Constituency know better than casual visitors who are easily duped of facts, that Arenyeka is a detribalized Deltan who made a lot of developmental statements in the geography of the oil producing communities of

Delta State.

In 2005, he was appointed Delta State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). His record and stances as commissioner and Delta State representative reflects “practical, common sense progressive “thinker who emphasizes rapid development in the Niger Delta Region.

The monumental GbaregolorGbekebor-Ogulagha Road with bridges which has changed the history of the Ijaw from that axis is a testament to behold, and the Ijaw are very grateful for that unique insight of giving Bomadi and environs vehicular civilization. As for the Warri Federal Constutuency, he began the spadework for the KokoOgheye Road. He embarked on the construction of numerous road networks in War ri metropolis, in an effort to bring back the glory of Warri as we used to know it as an oil city. In Okerenkoko, we remember him

Delta 2015: Time for sober reflection the governor of the state has been zoned to Delta North. This was quickly followed by a more devastating rumour that an aspirant from that zone has been anointed. Anointed by whom? Which individual or group is attempting to usurp the verdict of nomination delegates in what should be a democratic process? As all can attest to, records are clear that there has never been zoning in the choice of a governorship candidate in the PDP in Delta State at any point in time since 1999. Both Governors James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, who were elected on the platform of the party, were challenged at the primaries by aspirants outside their senatorial districts, without let or hindrance in an open, free contest. Those now canvassing zoning as part of their qualification for the governorship of Delta are only trying to distort facts of events for expediency in their pursuit of shadows of fantasy.

Since the advent of this democratic dispensation, there is no evidence of marginalization of the people of the Delta North, both at the state and fed-

eral levels in terms of appointments and physical development. Rather the zone has benefited in very awesome ways.

Asaba, the state capital, which is at the tip of the state, is far removed from the core Delta State as it is; indeed it was never a part of the Warri province that metamorphosed into the present Delta. It was through a military fiat, not on the basis of geography, historical or political imperatives, that Asaba emerged. A state capital is permanent; it is a creation of law, and it remains so until the law is amended, while the governor of a state changes in response to the vagaries of democratic forces. In spite of the stupendous benefits accruing to Asaba, other zones are at peace with it; they are not grumbling.

At times like these when gladiators are jostling for visibility, it is pertinent to take a sober reflection, to advise ourselves against the politics of regression, against the self-defeating strategy of playing the politics of entitlement.

There is no short-cut route that leads

to the Government House; we should not make attempts at devising alternatives to free and transparent primaries. In the state, everybody needs each other to succeed and should allow democratic process to proceed unfettered.

In the congested political space, a clear front runner is gradually emerging among the PDP governorship aspirants in the person of Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege. He has traversed the length and breadth of the state, from one village to the other, covering all the LGAs. This aspirant has consulted widely from ward to ward, selling his governorship ambition to the elders and plethora of other stakeholders.

While consultation by itself is not a novel strategy, what distinguishes Ovie Omo-Agege brand of politics from most of the others is that he is an unrepentant believer in the politics of engagement, consensus building and inclusion. Pan Delta mindset is the philosophy propelling his aspiration, to be accepted and understood as a political citizen of every ward in every

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he stated that he and the vicepresident have promised not to disappoint Nigerians. This therefore explains their excellent partnership which was anchored on mutual trust and understanding that has continued to produce positive results.

The statement by Olisa Metuh, the PDP spokesman, is a message full of wisdom. Since the president was only given a right of first refusal and he is yet to finally declare, they could not jump the gun. This was why the current interpretation of the outcome of the NEC meeting was conveyed and the part played by Chief Jim Nwobodo to the endorsement deal was relayed.

As the clock ticks towards the presidential declaration, all the strong and justifiable indicators point to a secured return of the Goodluck/Sambo ticket. The ongoing undercurrents of conflicts of interest based on inordinate ambition are the normal political brouhaha which keeps the polity heated and exciting. The president knows those who will assist him in the due discharge of his constitutional responsibilities and his dreams for Nigeria. Others are merely positioning themselves for 2019. The odds favour Sambo to continue as vice president.

•Garba can be reached at Abdullahi_garba@yahoo.com

for kick-starting the road that would link OmadinoOkerenkoko, amongst other growth catalyst.

He donated transformers to countless communities in his catchment. When it comes to health matters, he gave his all to it. Twice, he embarked on medical missions to Koko community and, on those occasions, medical equipment, ambulances inclusive, were donated to Koko General Hospital.

Such a man with a clear purpose of overall performance in bettering the living standard of the people should be encouraged to take the plunge.

His passion to give effective representation to his people is incontestable. His faith in their good judgment is not in doubt.

His loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the People’s Democratic Party, and its leadership at all levels remain an unshakeable article of faith.

•TIDI, a Principal Investigator in Political Fact-Finding Forum, lives in Warri.

LGA across the 25 LGAs in the state, so as to empathise with the people in their native habitat. This strategy of reaching out is in tandem with the spirit of PDP, underscored in its constitution, as a family party with equal opportunities for members to realize their ambition under the large umbrella that provides shelter for all.

Unlike some of his colleagues, Ovie Omo-Agege is not seeking for special favours to clinch the ticket, no recourse to zone or godfather – he relies on the delegates to transparently vote for the aspirant most suitable for the job. His governorship quest is not based on North, Central or South divide; it is not a function of where he comes from or the language that he speaks, but over time he has thought deeply about the realities on ground, to come up with a master plan to cope with emerging challenges.

He has demonstrated passion for service, the capacity to shoulder statewide responsibilities and ability to deliver on them. He has proved to be a prepared aspirant anxious to move Uduaghan’s legacies a notch higher.

•Agbro lives in Warri, Delta State.

PAGE 60— SUNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

DIASPORA

‘Over 50% of global population to have internet access by 2017’

BY EMEKA AGINAM A new country-bycountry data on state of broadband access worldwide released last week by the United Nation Broadband Commission has indicated that over 50% of the global population would have Internet access within the next three years.

The 2014 edition of the State of Broadband report released in New York at the 10th meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development revealed that more than 40% of the world’s people were already online, with the number of Internet users rising from 2.3 billion in 2013 to 2.9 billion by the end of this year.

The State of Broadband is a global snapshot of broadband network access and affordability, with country-by country data measuring broadband access against key advocacy targets set by the 54 members of the Broadband Commission.

Over 2.3 billion people, according to the study would access mobile broadband by end 2014, climbing steeply to a predicted 7.6 billion within the next five years.

In the report, Republic of Korea continues to have the world’s highest household broadband penetration at over 98%, up from 97% last year.

Country by country ranking : Monaco now surpasses last year ’s champion, Switzerland, as the world leader in fixed broadband penetration, at over 44% of the population.

According to the report,

ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Touré there are now four economies (Monaco, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands) where penetration exceeds 40%, up from just one (Switzerland) in 2013.

The US ranks 19th globally in terms of number of people online, ahead of other OECD countries like Germany (20th) and Australia (21st), but behind the United Kingdom (12th), Japan (15th) and Canada (16th). The US has slid from 20th to 24th place for fixed broadband subscriptions per capita, just behind Japan but ahead of Macao (China) and Estonia.

In total, there are now 77 countries where over 50% of the population is online, up from 70 in 2013. The top ten countries for Internet use are all located in Europe, with Iceland ranked first in the world with 96.5% of people online.

Sub-Saharan Africa The lowest levels of Internet access are mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, with Internet available to less than 2% of the population in Ethiopia (1.9%), Niger (1.7%), Sierra Leone (1.7%),

Guinea (1.6%), Somalia (1.5%), Burundi (1.3%), Eritrea (0.9%) and South Sudan (no data available).

The list of the ten leastconnected nations also includes Myanmar (1.2%) and Timor Leste (1.1%). “ There are now over three times as many mobile broadband connections as there are conventional fixed broadband subscriptions.

The popularity of broadband-enabled social media applications continues to soar, with 1.9 billion people now active on social networks” the report said.

“As we look towards the post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is imperative that we do not forget those who are being left behind,” ITU SecretaryGeneral Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, who serves as co-Vice Chair of the Commission with UNESCO DirectorGeneral Irina Bokova, said.

According to him, “Broadband uptake is accelerating, but it is unacceptable that 90% of people in the world’s 48 Least Developed Countries remain totally unconnected.

WSA: MDG wins best African mobile app 2014

T

HE World Summit Award(WSA), African Content Award Jury has selected Malaria Destroy Game, (MDG) project promoted by Mobile Software Solutions Limited as the best African mobile solution in the mobile category of the World Summit Award. With development, MDG solution is one of the winners of the African content award 2014.

It would be recalled that WSA had received in the last 10 years extremely successful and powerful applications from Africa and could award several African winners in the global competition.

To strengthen this regional network and encourage more knowl-edge transfer inside the region, Peter Bruck, WSA Chairman in a letter to originator of MDG, Chris Uwaje said that , “We have started this year a

special regional award and forum for people to learn from each other and encourage creative solutions in and from Africa.

“It is my pleasure to herewith inform you that the African Content Award Jury selected your project as the best African mobile solution in your category. Therefore you are one of the winners of the African content award 2014 “All WSA-mobile nominees from Africa have been considered by the jury and they selected one winner and 2 Runner Ups by category” With excitement , the Chairman of Mobile Software Solutions Limited, Chris Uwaje who has always believe that software Nigeria has the capacity to compete in the global market in his reaction said that, “This award to Mobile Software Solutions as WASAfrica e-Content 2014 Winner, clearly demonstrates that the ICT Technophobia

era in Nigeria has been constructively demystified and significantly downsized.

“Now, Nigeria can confirm to the World that Software-Nigeria has arrived and matured on world stage, with resounding capability to match global standard and enhance Africa’s Technology potentials.

When the organizers of WSA asked Mobile Software to express their feelings on this award through, the Oracle said “Our hidden smiles and inspirations radiate in serving humanity, peace advocacy, impacting and saving life”.

The winners, the promoters said would receive their awards at the 2nd Ministerial Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa, organized by the African Development Bank, African Union, UNECA and UNESCO, taking place in Rabat, Morocco next month.

‘Sir, you look so ordinary’

S

OME years ago, I ran into a “big” Nigerian on the streets of Edin burgh, United Kingdom. To be honest, it wasnt a “running into”, it was a case of a conscious encounter.

This big guy, at a point in time, was a power broker in the political and military set up of Nigeria. I was just over a year living in the United Kingdom at the time of this chance meeting, so I was as eagle eyed as any new comer to a city could be.

At every visit to the city centre, I was always “eye opened” and looking out for any body I could have known back home.

This is not for any thing than ego tripping, so I could be “reported” to have been seen live in the UK. If we are to be honest with ourselves, every Nigerian in diaspora has been in this situation before. You want somebody or something to validate the fact that you have now relocated to the United Kingdom or the United States or whichever country you are. In the days before the availability of smart phones or social media that now allow us to instantly announce/broadcast our locations to our friends and enemies, we relied on photographs. So we find ourselves in the situation whereby though we live abroad, there must be validation or proof of our presence outside Nigeria.

So in my quest for a validation or proof to my friends that I actually had relocated to the United Kingdom, as I was “scanning” the streets on this particular Saturday mid-morning, I spotted this “big” Nigerian on the other side of Princess Street, Edinburgh. I was just coming off the Waverley Stairs to Princess Street to join a bus going to Clovenstone. I recognised him immediately, from pictures of his in the Nigerian media.

I looked his way again, just to satisfy myself that he ‘ wasn’t’ really the person I thought he was. At this time, I had a good and long look at him. Instinctingly I managed a muffled “its him”, “I am sure.” And the Nigerian in me woke up.

Wait a minute, I said to myself. But why is he looking so ordinary? Why is he not with the usual retinue of assistants? What is he doing in front of the “One Pound Store”? What has happened to Chief (Dr) X? I just could not place him right now with the “big man” I was used to seeing on TV back home in Nigeria.

In Nigeria a few years before this sighting, this “big guy” was a power broker who commanded all the trappings of power. We were just coming off the military era and he played a big role in various military administrations in Nigeria. Citizens were always queuing at his door to see him and he was always moving about in convoys and blaring sirens.

You can now imagine my bewilderment when I saw him on the pavement of Edinburgh. I crossed to the other side of the road and caught up with him just in front of The Phone Shop, where he was about to start another session of window shopping.

He saw the intent in my face and was quite receptive towards me as I said “Hello sir”.

He responded with enthusiasm and I could sense a bit of eagerness to talk, and not particularly to me, but to just anybody.

I asked him with feigned surprise and caution, if he was the person I thought he was. Enthusiastically, he replied, “Yes”, and I could see the pride in him. I could situate myself in him as well, as how I would have felt if I had seen anybody I knew back from Nigeria walk up to me and asked if I was the same Babajide Alabi. He was happy somebody could recognise him in a foreign land. Jokingly, he said that probably because he has a Tshirt on instead of the usual military apparels he was identified with on Nigerian TV, that was why I couldn’t easily recognise him.

We exchanged pleasantries like strangers we were. I warmed up to him, thinking he could still be able to facilitate a few things in government. At this time I had “accepted” his “commonness”. So I asked him: “Can I buy you a cup of coffee sir?” I could sense a slight shock on his part, probably thinking he should be the

one offering to buy. I was comfortable in asking as I knew there was a McDonald round the corner by the Job Centre and I knew the cost of a cup of coffee there. By quick calculation I knew I would not be spending more than £2 for two cups of coffee or latte. Thinking back though, I wasn’t sure if McDonald was what he had in mind when he said yes.

We collected our coffee from the assistant and took a vantage position in the restaurant. Before we could settle down in our seats, he fired his first question. “Do you work?” Of course I had a job.. He asked practically everything step by step on my journey to Scotland. The questions were all in rapid successions.

At a pause in his questioning session, I “hijacked” the discussion and quickly asked what his business was in Edinburgh.

According to him, he was in the city for his annual medical check up. He told me how he had attended a further course at the University of Edinburgh many years ago and was compelled to register at a public clinic, a registration he had not given up ever since he left the university.

He told me his family was in Nigeria, comfortable. So on every trip he lodged for a few days/nights at a house apartment in a street behind Princess Street. He revealed he had been coming annually to

Just like many other Nigerian politicians you run into on London streets, his thoughts about the Nigerian health systems are unprintable. Yet he had the opportunity to make a difference but chosen not to

make use of the service ever since he finished his course many years back. According to him although he has no history of life threatening disease or ailment, he enjoys how he “maintains” his health free of charge on the bill of the UK citizens.

I sat there depressed and disappointed in our “big man”. And suddenly I really felt uncomfortable in his presence. I thought about the many Nigerians that had no access to good health facilities in the country that was at a time governed by the likes of the big man sitting in front of me. My mind wandered to many who had died just because General Hospitals in Nigeria could not treat them and had to be referred to private hospitals, bills of which they could not afford.

I looked at him from the corner of my eyes and I saw a disgusting little man, who though he could afford private clinic bills in Nigeria felt very comfortable coming over to UK to eat from the “awoof ”. What a small-minded man. Here was a man who was part of government for so long and who could have made impact on the health systems in Nigeria, but, together with his clowns in government, did nothing.

Within 45 minutes I had been on emotional roller coaster with my new friend. I admired him from afar, moved close to him, analysed him, angry with him and now I found myself sympathising with him. I could see in him a typical Nigerian leader: Selfish, care less for others and yet vulnerable. While he saw nothing wrong in coming over to the UK to maintain his health on other peoples bills, he felt no remorse in having to come all the way to do this.

Just like many other Nigerian politicians you run into on London streets, his thoughts about the Nigerian health systems are unprintable. Yet he had the opportunity to make a difference but chosen not to. Do you still wonder why Nigerian leaders care less when doctors in public hospitals go on strike? Wonder no more.

They either have the money to foot the health bills over here or like my new friend, the cost is the air ticket out of Nigeria.

Abruptly, I took leave of Chief (Dr) X. He was a waste of time. And I caught the next bus home disturbed that I had wasted my precious time on a loser like him.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 61

C M Y K

62 —

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Who can save Nigeria football from infamy?

BY BEN EFE

S

HAMBOLIC Nigeria Football Federation who can save it from the army of jobbers often foisted upon it by highly placed ‘interests’ in the corridors of powers? On September 30 in Warri Delta State, the elective congress of the NFF will vote for a new president that will chart a new course for the troubled football ruling body, that is if a Jos high court injunction filed by NFF president for seven days, Chris Giwa does not hold water.

The list of individuals who are vying for the position, truth must be told do not offer any hope that salvation is near. Over the years, some of these men have licentiously carried on running or may be perhaps ruining the country ’s football fortunes; the major focus of course for them is the multi-million dollar steady stream of cash flow from the governments at all level, corporate sources and the grants coming from the world soccergoverning body FIFA. Grassroots football development, the national leagues for both men and women, the national teams, players and coaches’ welfare, football supporters and other related industries maintain a back seat, while the tussle for power and who controls the cash continue to be the order of the day.

The good thing is that Nigeria is a member of FIFA, which in no small measure upholds the rules of the game. And so some of the shenanigans indulged upon by the country’s football administrators are choked out by statues governing international football otherwise by now, the NFF would have totally degenerated to the level of gangsterism.

The role played by the Sports ministry officials in these entire rumpuses is nothing to holla about.

They even stoke the fire of absurdity burning in the football ruling house.

Minister after Minister have come with their own idea of how and who should administer the game, but at the end the day, they have always left sour grapes in the belly of genuine and conscientious football people who are keen to see the sport grow.

Agreed that football cannot do without governing funding, but in developed countries including some African nations, football leans more towards private/public participation, unlike in Nigeria where those in charge solely rely on government funds. They do this because government funds are easy to come by. Naive politicians who believe that football is a political means to score cheap points, easily deep hands into government coffers and dole out huge sums. This has been the trend in modern day NigeriaN football.

Teeming lovers of the game in Nigeria want to see a thriving football federation. They want to see more of the players and coaches who are the major actors. Without them there will be no football.

The football juggernauts, the sycophantic followers and the charlatans should all retreat to the background and people with genuine intentions come in and think of ways the NFF could stand on its own. Nigeria football can depend less on government funding exactly the way it did when the association was first started by people who were only driven by passion.

Football stood firmly on its till the 1970’s when the government of Yakubu Gowan thought it humiliating for Nigerian football officials to go cap in hand to the public sourcing for funds to prosecute their programmes. Even at that the man who brought government into the fray, late

United in Soccer... Super Eagles players Victor Moses, Ogenyi Onazi and Emmanuel Emenike bring joy to Nigerian football, but how united are football administrators?

General Henry Adefope meant well.

There was a relative concordance between government and football administrators, not until corrupt and inept politicians began to find their way into all spheres of governance in the 1980s. This malady has taken a monstrous proportion; and a new craze has been added: “IMPUNITY”.

This perhaps was why a Plateau high court could declared an injunction restraining the executive committee of the NFF under Aminu Maigari from functioning. As if that was not enough, the state security service was used to harass football officials. Maigari himself is a beneficiary of government interference in football; he was enthroned after Sanni Lulu was

chased away following the debacle at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Lulu with no football antecedents was planted at the NFF after Ibrahim Galadima was forced out by the hawks.

Maigari should have known that those calling the shots in government operate like Beelzebub, they use and dump. Maigari should have quietly resigned when it came to him that his time was up. Maigari hiding under FIFA umbrella refused to see the hand writing on the wall and he got Mike Umeh started. If only the NFF was another Adamawa State, Umeh like a certain Umaru Fintiri will be counting the chickens by now.

It will be a thing of joy, if the congress in Warri can put a stop to all these embarrassing moments for

the country’s football. Respectable and passionate individuals ought to run the NFF and not people who are out for their pockets. People who deny players and coaches their signon fees, people who have no clue, but because they wine and dine with political heavy-weights, they feel they have what it takes to run football.

However, some of the gladiators for the top seat of the NFF have been talking and football enthusiasts are asking, who among these men can rescue Nigerian football and make it a global brand? Tough questions it seems; looking at the names vying for the post we wait and wonder if there will be any change.

Taiwo Ogunjobi for four years loomed large as the NFF secretarygeneral? He was accused of

misappropriating funds along side Mr. Lulu and Amanze Uchegbulam.

The three musketeers as they were called when they held sway at the NFF from 1996-2010. He said he wants to bring peace and development into Nigeria football.

For sure he is experienced and good at fixing things, but what about the credibility crisis rumbling in his breast pocket?

Pinnick Amaju declared that he is the man to beat in the election. He provoked a round of amusement, when he stated that his priority is to get Nigerian referees to officiate at the world cup. He couldn’t get Warri Wolves the club he presided over for up seven years, into the final of the Caf Confederation Cup or even guide the club to a domestic title. For a man, who has a ‘P. Diddy’ kind of swag, how he hopes to reason with stakeholders and ordinary football loving Nigerians remains to be seen.

There is also Shehu Dikko who became so popular because of his marketing deals with the Nigeria football league body. A lot of money changed hands, a lot of questions where asked, but there were no answers.

Kano Pillars reached the semi-final of the CAF champions league. But when Abba Yola, became chairman they failed to reach the league stage.

Now according to Yola, who was a former top shot of the sports ministry, he has all it takes to make football work having got first hand knowledge, while at the NSC. Dormic Iorfa does not talk much, but he is full of action. An exinternational, he played in the European league and he coached Lobi Stars with some excellent results.

Iorfa, often times has lamented about the low level of football administration in the country. He could offer something, but does he have the clout and the financial muscle to upstage those who are fully loaded?

It is not clear the intention of the sports ministry yet. But whatever might be the case, Nigerians are hopeful that a new era of football will be ushered in. An era of fewer rancors; more purposeful leadership and heartwarming results from the field of soccer contest.

AWC: My Falconets will lift Nigeria in Namibia— Dedevbo

BY BEN EFE IGERIA’S under-20 women N coach, Peter Dedebvo has backed the Falconets players

invited to the senior women team to lift the country at the forth coming African women championship scheduled for October 11-25 in Windhoek, Namibia.

Top U-20 players Asisat Oshoala, Uchechi Sunday, Ugochi Njoku, Sarah Nnodim and Mariam Ibrahim were invited by coach Edet Okon to the Super Falcons’ camp ahead of the task in Namibia. And these players who won silver at the FIFA under20 women world cup in Canada are expected to make the final cut for the AWC, which the Nigerian women are eager to reclaim after four years of trophy drought.

Coach Dedevbo who led the Falconets to Canada said that these junior players are in form of their lives and they are looking forward to winning the trophy with the Super Falcons.

“With the kind of form these

girls exhibited during the world cup in Canada they will do well in Namibia. I expect them to make the final team and they will lift the country just like they did in Canada,” said the coach. He stated that the players in camp of the Falcons are full of enthusiasm and this will work in their efforts to win

back the trophy.

“Our Falcons normally do well.

It was only at the last Championship in Equatorial Guinea, they failed to win a medal.

“This time around the coaches and players know what is expected of them and they will lift the trophy.”

Also, midfielder Oshoala stated that she was looking forward to winning the trophy and booking a ticket to Canada next year for the FIFA women world cup.

“My dream is to bring the trophy back to Nigeria. It will be nice to play in the women world cup in Canada.

Naira rain for Football chant fans

By Chris Onuoha.

I

T was an evening of fun and excitement at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island as the selected 10 football fans drawn from over 1000 entries contested for glory in the maiden football fans chant competition. Sola Soetan emerging champion and winning N5m Four out of the ten contestants performed their victory chants to elated guests

who really judged their songs worthy of winning.

According to the CEO, Kiss Events Managers Limited, Bayo Odusami, Football Fans Chant Competition, supported

by MTN is to celebrate Nigerian youth’s passion for football and music. It is an online competition that requires contestants to compose their original song and upload it to the fan chant website which were later shortlisted by a panel of

judges made up of Dj Jimmy Jatt, TY Mix, Olagbemi Olateru of Beat FM, Harrysong and Howei T from the qualified 153 to 10 songs and the winner is determined by the most downloaded chant as caller tunes.

The nine other contestants were Taiwo Ogobowale, Leke Daramola, Edema Casey, Emelife Christopher, Ace Empire, Cassey Kerry, Ojuri Tosin, Afuye Omoniyi, who won N500,000 each.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, PAGE 63

Cross River not bothered by Eagles movement to Abuja — Ugbe C

ALABAR was home to the Super Eagles in their qualification campaign for the Nations Cup 2013 and World Cup 2014, but one bad start in the match against Congo Brazaville for the 2015 Nations Cup ticket, the Nigeria Football Federation and the Sports Ministry rushed the team back to the Abuja National stadium.

Coach Stephen Keshi and his players who seem to have settled down in the Cross River State capital readily agreed with the move. It was gathered that the booing experience they received from the fans in Calabar as they struggled against Congo was like a shock therapy, even though the coach claims that the bad pitch militated against his team’s performance.

However, Cross River commissioner for sports, Mr. Patrick Ugbe disclosed yesterday that, the people and government of the State have no qualms with the decision to change home games venue for the Eagles.

“The Eagles can play anywhere in Nigeria. So if the NFF says the team should play in Abuja that is absolute no worry to us.

“We are still hosting the Eaglets they are doing well and that is very okay with us.”

Keshi and the sports minister, Tammy Danagogo last week inspected the Abuja national stadium where the Eagles will play their remaining games.

“There is the possibility of the Eagles playing their remaining AFCON qualifying matches here; that’s what we are discussing with the minister in case it doesn’t work out in Calabar, “Although we will love to play in Calabar, but right now, the pitch has a little problem, so if it’s not going down well there, then we can move down to Abuja and play.

“What I am seeing now at the Abuja stadium is a lot better than what we saw the last time we played here.

“Then, it was so sandy and not very good for players but what I am seeing now is encouraging for players to play on,” Keshi said.

By Eddie Akalonu

EARTLAND FC technical adviser, Kelechi Emeteole H has admitted there is a big face

•Keshi

World Cup Fall-out:

Blatter rejects calls to publish findings IFA president Sepp Blatter F has rejected calls for the report into alleged World Cup

bidding corruption to be made public. American lawyer Michael Garcia investigated the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, filing his findings to FIFA this month.

Garcia wants his report

published, and Uefa president Michel Platini is not opposed to it being disclosed.

But Blatter said Fifa is “bound by regulations”.

Any decision to publish now rests with Fifa ethics chief HansJoachim Eckert, who is currently considering the report and is expected to announce his ruling

next spring.

As well as Garcia, who is the chairman of the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee, FIFA vice-presidents Jeffrey Webb, Prince Ali bin AlHussein of Jordan and Jim Boyce have also called for the key findings of the report to be made public.

Ideye will score for Brom— coach W

EST BROM coach Alan Irvine who is hopeful of playing Brown Ideye in today’s premier League clash against Burnley said that his 10 million pound man will deliver after he scored his first goal in the league cup against Hull last Wednesday.

The head coach enjoyed an excellent evening on Wednesday night as Ideye made the first repayment on his transfer fee and several other new signings impressed in the Capital One Cup win over Hull City.

A second victory in four days, delivered in the most dramatic of fashions, was only clouded by the fact Ideye injured his ankle in the act of turning home Steve Harper’s parry. Inside the first

quarter of the match Ideye had both broken his duck and hobbled down the tunnel in frustration.

“Everybody is delighted for him. We all know strikers are judged on their goals and everybody is desperate for him to get them,” Irvine said.

“We think he can get them

because he shows in training he is a good finisher and he was in a good position to score.

“It’s a shame he had to come off because he had started the game really well. “I don’t think the injury is too bad, he’s just rocked his ankle, but later in the week we will have an idea of the extent of that. “I don’t think

it’s anything too serious but we will see.” Ideye was able to clarify the situation yesterday when he took to Twitter to echo his head coach’s confidence.

Brown tweeted: “Thanks everyone for the love, my injury is not that serious, hopefully I will be fine before the next game.”

Heineken/Nigeria Golf Cup hits high entry HE 18th in the series of the with over 130 golfers ready for the in the sporting environment.

Heineken, just like the game of T annual Nigeria Cup, a week-long competitions.

Chairman of the event golf is enjoyed globally. It is the tournament put in place to celebrate the nation’s independent anniversary will tee off at the golf, section of the Ikoyi club tomorrow

Fighting Spirit... Brown Ideye fighting for West Brom. He is likely to be in action today.

Heartland GM, coach fight over technical matters

Organising Committee, Tony Onwu said yesterday at the pretournament press conference that with the partnership from International premium lager beer, Heineken, a series of events have been listed to make this year’s edition a unique one.

“We are glad that Heineken brand of beer, like the previous editions will partner this event. It has been honour for us that Nigerian Breweries Plc have given Ikoyi Club an unbroken eight years of rewarding partnership,” Mr. Onwu remarked. In his response, the Corporate Media/Brand PR Manager, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Mr. Edem Vindah said, through the Heineken brand golf sponsorship, the company has created a platform for networking and socializing among the professionals and the elite class

world’s most international premium beer with a presence in over 170 countries.

“The same passion for quality exhibited by the leadership of Ikoyi Club 1938 has led to the Nigerian Cup Golf Tournament becoming the phenomenal success it is today. The commitment and dedication to hosting this spectacular competition has seen the profile of the Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament grow steadily over the years,” he remarked.

The week-long event will commence on Monday but the main events will get underway from the next day with lady golfers having the day through the 18hole course.

On the country’s Independence Day, October 1st, as usual golfers will take to the course in celebration the nation in a special way.

off and conflict of interest between himself and team general manager, Christian Ibe, following incessant interference in technical matters by the Ibe specifically on selection of players for matches.

“Well I have told him to face his office work while I do the field work for which the club engaged me.” Stakeholders and followers of the club fear, if the impasse is not checkmated, the club may be worse for it. Impeccable sources in Owerri say the general manager claims Emeteole’s selections for games are either inadequate or substitutions he makes during games are poor.

“This is a man they repatriated from Holland and brought him to Heartland to be rehabilitated.

I don’t blame him. If he knew me well as one who does not take nonsense, he would not have accepted the job in the first instance,” Emetole fumed at those insinuations.

The former Super Eagles assistant coach said the issue has been a recurring decimal that had led to open confrontations known to his club assistants and the players. “For instance there were occasions he demanded to see the team list behind my back.

Trust my assistants, they called me, I came and told him a categorical no! Team selection is strictly the business of my assistants and I to decide.

“If he loves to coach, he is at liberty to apply for the position,” he stated, adding “at a point the issue has even led to my suspension for 24 hours but the Sports Commissioner intervened to restore peace. “But I have made the point clear that I would not tolerate his interference in technical matters. And I think his actions are a draw- back for Heartland. We hear he attends our away games but does not come around the team either in the hotel or at the match venue.

I know this club inside out as a player and coach for 24 years on as Spartans of Owerri, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and now Heartland. The general manager may well be told the truth that he cannot be as dedicated to the this club as I am” Sports Vanguard made several calls to Christian Ibe to get his side of the story but he failed to pick. Not even did he reply to text message on issue even as at time of going to press.

•Emeteole

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

F

ORMER Super Eagles combative midfielder, Garuba Lawal has questioned the selections made by coach Stephen Keshi for the Nations Cup qualifiers against Sudan next month.

Lawal reacted angrily to some of the players that made the cut for the game. This is against the background of the poor result the team under Keshi posted in two qualification matches against Congo and South Africa. The Super Eagles are in danger of missing out in the 2015 Nations Cup in Morocco, if they fail to collect all six points from Sudan in the double banger next month. Congo and South African are in pole position for qualification.

Keshi recalled Victor Moses and Vincent Enyeama. And despite the glaring fact that he needs goal scorers and creative midfielders, he omitted Uche Ikecukwu and also Kelechi Iheanacho.

Lawal submitted that his captain during his playing days is experimenting with the Super Eagles, rather than call the players who will get the job done.

“I don’t know what the Coach thinks, but the way I see it, we keep experimenting.

I don’t know when we will stop experimenting with players because I believe that

NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER: Keshi toying with our chances, Lawal bemoans if your team isn’t working, you change your style but it seems like he wants to hold the

country to ransom “The selection process shouldn’t be restricted to a

group of players, but should be made open. Nigeria is not just some individuals, but for

everybody, but I just don’t understand, I just don’t understand,” stated Lawal.

Also former coach of the Eagles James Peters said he was at loss, why Keshi is still snubbing a striker like Uche.

“I find it difficult to believe that Uche is not on the list again. Honestly I do not know the reason why, but I think given his good form in Spain, he should naturally be in the team.

“Given the situation we’ve found ourselves in this qualifying series and the boy’s form, I’m surprised he has not made the squad. I really don’t know,” Peters remarked.

African U-17 Championship:

Eaglets roast unfriendly Gabonese N

IGERIA’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets responded to all the pain and frustration they suffered in Gabon by thrashing their Gabonese opponents 5-0 in the second leg of the African Championship qualifier at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar yesterday.

Gabon football fans taunted the Eaglets with chants of “Nigeria Ebola, Nigeria Ebola, Nigeria Ebola in the first leg in Libreville. This was after the Nigerian lads were subjected to harrowing traveling ordeal. The match officials were not also helpful.

But yesterday in Calabar, the

Today’s Match Burnley vs West Brom 3.00pm

RESULTS Liverpool Chelsea Crystal Palace Hull Man Utd Southampton Sunderland Arsenal Villarreal Barcelona

1 3 2 2 2 2 0 1 0 3

Everton Aston Villa Leicester Man City West Ham QPR Swansea Tottenham Real Madrid Granada

1 0 0 4 1 1 0 1 2 0

Eaglets proved that they are masters of the game with Ebere Osinachi and Kehinde Ayinde both scoring a brace.

The team captain Kelechi Nwakali opened the flood gate

of goals in just two minutes of play from the penalty spot.

Osinachi put the Eaglets ahead and just before the break he made three for Nigeria.

Ayinde came off the bench to compound issues for the hapless Gabonese as he scored two quick goals to cement the Eaglets qualification for next year’s AYC in Niger Republic.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Taraba capital (7) 4.Exchanges (5) 6.Crest (5) 7.Speared (7) 9.Fashion (5) 10.Weird (5) 11.Donor (5) 13.Domain (5) 17.Crestfallen (3) 19.Face (8) 20.Pianos (6) 21.Much (6) 23.Stayed (8) 24.Frozen water (3) 25.Snake (5) 27.Own up (5) 30. Arise (5) 31. Evade (5) 32. Dotted (7) 34. Lariat (5) 35. Moves like a horse (5) 36.Sowed (7)

DOWN 1. Incarcerates (5) 2. Nothing (3) 3. Command (5) 4. Cue (5) 5. Vapour (5) 8. Dog (3) 12. Nigerian state (6) 14. Ovum (3) 15. Connected (6) 16. Cooked (6) 17. Glare (5) 18. Ill-fated (6) 22. Maiden name (3) 25. Revise accounts (5) 26. Staggers (5) 27. Old fable writer (5) 28. Child (3) 29. Gave in (5) 33. Benin chieftain (3)

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3

4

5

6 7

8

9 10

11

12

16

13 1 4 17

15

18

19

20

21

22

23 24

25

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27

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32

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34 35

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See solution on page 5

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