CONFAB: Delegate dies, Stormy session likely on monday, Delegates set to debate Jonahan's speech

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4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

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Lagos gets $200m World Bank support

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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HE World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a total of US$200 million budget support to Lagos State for the ongoing reforms pertaining to fiscal sustainability, budget planning, budget execution, and the investment climate in Lagos State.

The first in a proposed series of two development policy operations, the donation builds upon the policy reforms initiated under a previous Bank supported program.

World Bank said that over the last decade, Lagos State has undertaken a wide range of reforms that have improved governance, reduced crime, and helped to bring millions out of poverty.

According to the World Bank, the goal of this pro-

gram is to assist Lagos State in sustaining the strong momentum it has achieved in improving public services, facilitating inclusive growth, and reducing poverty.

“This includes measures to monitor and manage financial risks more effectively, ensure adequate growth in revenues, get better value for money in public expenditures, and improve institutions and processes for land registration and development permits”.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, said, “Lagos State has sustained rapid growth and achieved what many would not have believed possible, and has managed to reduce its poverty headcount from 57% in 2004 to 23% in 2010.

“However, it still faces significant challenges going forward in sustaining

its economic growth and reducing poverty. This program will provide critical budgetary support to Lagos State to help the government continue key reforms in budgetary planning, execution, and improving the business climate,” she said.

The program the World Bank said supports a number of specific measures that aim to increase the returns to budgetary resources in Lagos State, including the implementation of progressive new Procurement and Audit laws, a stronger link of planned budgetary allocations with development priorities, and the rollout of a computerized system that will allow more efficient and transparent financial management.

The operation also supports key reforms for the investment climate, particularly in land registration, as well as greater capacity in Lagos State to monitor financial risks.

(L-R).... Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Adamu Muazu, presenting Certificate of Return and flag of PDP 2014 Ekiti Gubernatorial Election to Mr Ayodele Fayose while his wife Mrs Fayisetan Fayose watches in Abuja .

UNTH conducts 40 open heart surgeries in one year, says CMD

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu

F

ORTY patients suf fering different kinds of heart diseases have suc-

Ekiti 2014: Fayose gets Certificate of Return *says he brought Fayemi and will remove him

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

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HEAD of June 21 Ekiti State gubernatorial election, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday presented former governor of the state, Chief Ayo Fayose with the Certificate of Return as the party’s Standard bearer, just as he declared that twelve years after as governor, he has become wiser, more responsible and disciplined now.

Fayose also disclosed that he had told President Goodluck Jonathan never to consider him or any member of his family for federal appointment should he fail to wrest power from the incumbent governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the June 21 guber poll and remove him.

The PDP candidate for the Ekiti State election who stormed the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat to collect the certificate from PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu also boasted that with his emergence, the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi will shed tears,

adding he brought him and he would remove him as governor come June 21, adding that as a political lion, who has lived all his life in the trenches,his emergence was a threat to Governor Fayemi.

Fayose, who defeated thirteen other aspirants last Saturday to emerge the PDP flag-bearer, noted that he is optimstic he would defeat Fayemi because he knew how he became the state governor in the first place, adding, “I won’t look for government appointment because if they appoint you today, you may be removed tomorrow. I won’t ask the Federal Government for appointment if I fail to win this election. Let the Federal Government not consider me or any member of my family if I fail to send Fayemi packing. I’m sending Fayemi back to where he came from and we shall take over the Government House.”

Fayose also appealed to all he might have wronged in the past to find a place in their hearts to forgive him even as he assured them that he had learnt his lessons having gone into political hibernation for 12 years. He

pleaded with the other 13 aspirants who contested with him for the governorship ticket to put whatever grievance they have behind and join hands with him to ensure that PDP wins the state.

According to him, there was the need for reconciliation, even as he promised that he will do their bidding and that he only needed the governorship and will not contend for other positions.

“The way forward is that other aspirants should support me and work with me. It is their right to be angry and if I had lost, I will also be angry because is not easy to lose N11 million,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mua’zu, while handing over the Certificate of Return to Fayose, reminded him of the need to share positions among loyal party members to ensure equity and justice and cautioned aspirants on the platform of the party to work with the people at the grass root for their electoral victories instead of putting their hopes in their political god-fathers.

Mu’azu assured that his leadership would ensure

reconciliation of the aggrieved members just as he expressed optimism that the PDP would take over Ekiti Government House after the June 12 governorship election, adding that there was no godfatherism in PDP.

cessfully undergone open heart surgeries at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, ItukuOzalla, Enugu state since the past one year after the hospital resumed the programme.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Christopher Amah disclosed this yesterday while conducting journalists round the ultra-modern cardiothoracic theatre where both foreign and local surgeons are currently conducting open heart operations on not less than 18 patients from different parts of the country.

The CMD disclosed that UNTH was in 1986 designated as centre of excellence for cardiothoracic surgery having performed the first open heart surgery in sub-Sahara Africa in 1974.

He noted that the open heart programme of the hospital was suspended for about 10 years on account of the hospital’s relocation to its permanent site at Ituku Ozalla, adding that the centre said to be of international standard, was reactivated at the permanent site by March 2013 through the collaboration of foreign partners.

Abia Police abduct The Sun Editor

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OLICEMEN from the Abia State Command yesterday stormed the Surulere, Lagos residence of Mr. Ebere Wabara, The Sun Associate Editor and Special Assistant, Media to Dr. Uzor Orji Kalu, and whisked him away.

The incident happened between 6.30 and 7a.m in the presence of Wabara’s wife and underaged children.

The invading police from the State CID, Umuahia, had identified themselves to Wabara, and told him that some unnamed person had written a petition against him in Abia State. He was, therefore, asked to follow them to the state, where he would be charged with sedition.

First, Wabara was taken to Sholoki Police Station in Aguda, Surulere, and later to Oyingbo police station,

also in Lagos.

Speaking on how the abduction drama unfolded, Adanna Wabara, a mother of two kids aged eight and six years, respectively, said between 6.30 and 7.00a.m, her husband had gone downstairs to take something from his car.

“Shortly after, I heard him shouting, and I ran downstairs.

I saw between seven and eight men, who said they were policemen. They said he needed to follow them to Umuahia, that there was a petition against him for sedition.

“They took us back into the house, one of them brought out an I.D Card, showing that he was a policeman.

They requested to search our bedroom. They did, and collected my husband’s laptop and telephone.

“I followed as they took

him to Sholoki Police Station, but later, I had to take the children to school.

By the time I returned, they had moved him away. His phones could not be reached, and he had not eaten. Now, we are deeply traumatized, the entire family.”

The Sun Publishing Limited sees the abduction of Mr Wabara obviously on the orders of the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Ibrahim, and perhaps under the further instruction of the state governor, Chief T. A. Orji, as a throwback to the dark days of military dictatorship, when might was right, and the strong trampled on the weak.

“It is unconscionable, repressive and flies in the face of all that is decent and civil.

It has all the trappings of autocracy, rather then democracy.”

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

Defection: APC lawmakers lose bid to stop PDP from declaring seats vacant

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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HE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, declined to halt moves by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to declare the seats of all the fifty-one lawmakers that defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, vacant.

However, before striking out the suit that was filed before it by the lawmakers, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, stressed that in line with section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, only the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, have the statutory powers to sack the plaintiffs from office.

Justice Mohammed delivered the judgment after he dismissed a fresh motion by the APC lawmakers, asking the high court

to suspend its verdict sinedie (indefinitely), and await the outcome of a referral application they filed before the Appeal Court in Abuja.

The lawmakers had insisted that in view of section 295(2) of the constitution, the high court ought to allow the appellate court to give a clearer interpretation of section 68 (1) (g) of the constitution which bothers on the issue of defection.

Dismissing their application as unmeritorious, Justice Mohammed, accused the lawmakers of deliberately attempting to ‘arrest’ his judgment six months after hearing was concluded on the matter.

“Hearing has been concluded and the matter fixed for judgment. I do not know the procedure for an application to adjourn a ready judgment. In the final analysis, I find no

merit in the application.

The application is completely alien in the administration of Justice in Nigeria and it is accordingly dismissed”, the Judge held.

On the substantive matter, the high court, said it was convinced that the crux of the plaintiffs suit, bothered on alleged threat by the erstwhile PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to declare their seats vacant following their defection to the APC. The court held that the fact that PDP does not have the powers to execute such threat reduced the suit by the lawmakers to a mere academic exercise.

Consequently, the court said there was no live issue for it to determine since PDP had filed two separate suits with a view to compel both the Senate President and the Speaker to declare the plaintiffs’ seats vacant,

as well as, to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh elections in their various constituencies.

Therefore, Justice Mohammed, yesterday, asked the APC lawmakers to await the outcome of the two pending suits, saying “It is the law and practice in civilised societies that parties who have submitted their dispute before a competent court, must allow the court to decide on it.

It will be recalled that the lawmakers had asked the court to determine whether considering the circumstances in the national and various state chapters of the PDP, there actually existed a faction or division within the party.

“Whether any of the Plaintiffs or other members of the PDP holding elective seats who desires to become a member of another faction of the party or any other political party is not saved by the proviso to section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

As well as, “whether in view of the proviso to section 68 (1) (g) of the Con-

stitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the 1st Defendant, or any other officer of the 4th Defendant or authority howsoever described, can declare the seats of any of the Plaintiffs or other members of the 4th Defendant that opted to join another political party vacant in the present peculiar and precarious circumstance of the 4th Defendant”.

Nevertheless, PDP, which yesterday hailed the judgment as “a victory for the nation and for our polity”, in a preliminary objection it filed against the suit, insisted that there was never a crisis in any of its chapters, saying there was only a minor disagreement among some of its members. Relying on a previous court judgment that stopped the

Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje led nPDP from operating in Nigeria, the party, further challenged the jurisdiction of the court to meddle into intraparty affairs, saying, “It is normal to have disagreements within a political party and that does not qualify

as crisis”.

Besides, PDP told the court that the plaintiffs not only failed to disclose any reasonable cause of action, but also failed to utilize the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party before rushing to court.

More so, the APC lawmakers, had in their suit, also prayed the court for , “A declaration that the circumstances prevailing in the various state chapters of the party which led to factions/divisions as witnessed at the Special National Convention of the 4th Defendant held on 31st August 2013 and holding of a parallel convention simultaneously at another venue, followed up with the opening of a parallel National Head Office and release of the names of new parallel National Officers constitute and qualify as crisis and divisions anticipated under section 68 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

Ngige vs Obiano: Tribunal admits civil societies’ report on poor election conduct

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

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HE Governorship Elec tion Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka, yesterday admitted a copy of the report of the November 16, 2013 governorship election written by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Abuja, a non-governmental organization, NGO and a coalition of over 50 Civil Society Organizations, CSOs that monitored the elections in the state.

The report was brought to the tribunal and tendered by Edwin Onoja, a Programme Officer at PLAC and one of the numerous witnesses to the petitioners, Senator Chris Ngige and All Progressives Congress, APC in their petition filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commission, REC, Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. In his ruling yesterday, the chairman of the tribunal, Ishaq Bello said the report

would be admitted as evidence and considered along side the oral evidence and cross-examinations to be given by the witness.

Earlier before the tribunal admitted the report as evidence, the leading counsel to the respondents, Awomolo (SAN), for the first respondent, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for the third respondent and Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) for the fourth respondent had raised objection to the admissibility of the report as an evidence in the tribunal.

According to Awomolo, Ikpeazu and Ikwueto, the fact that the report emanated from an NGO, and the fact that the time frame allowed to tender such documents has since elapsed should not allow the report to be admitted as evidence.

But in canvassing for its admission, the leading counsel to APC, Akeredolu (SAN), assisted by the leading counsel to Ngige, Nnaemeka Ngige (SAN), said that the document ought to be admitted as evidence because it was the tribunal itself that summoned and subpoened the

witness in the first place.

Akeredolu and Ngige pointed out that the report could not have been tendered before the invitation of the witness since it is a reflection of what the witness would have told the tribunal and at the same time, made the tribunal job easier.

In the report, PLAC which claimed to have been duly accredited by INEC to observe the election, just as it observed other elections in the past, said it was their overall impression that the conduct of the elections leaves much to be desired and reflected the lack of competence on the part of INEC in the conduct of the elections.

The report further stated that the several failings of the past elections identified in previous observer reports seemed to have repeated themselves, adding that INEC assertion that this election would be a litmus test of its preparedness for the 2015 general elections has not been fully realised.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 7

Confab delegate, Misau dies •Jonathan expresses condolence …tension as confab debates Jonathan’s address Monday

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North and JOSEPH ERUNKE

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RAGEDY has hit the

National Conference, following the untimely death of one of the members from Bauchi State on Thursday.

Hamma Misau, a retired Assistant Inspector of Police, represented the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, ARPON and hailed from Misau in Bauchi State.

Conference Chairman and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, is said to have expressed shock and disbelief as he broke the news of the death of Misau but prayed Allah to grant his soul eternal rest.

Kutigi, while sympathizing with the family and the nation, however, noted that Misau died while on national duty to his father land and at a time when his services were most needed.

In a condolence message to the family of the late Misau and the Association of Retired Police Officers, President Jonathan commended the late delegate for his service to the nation during his life time.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati who signed the statement on behalf of the president said the President also extended his condolences to the “government and people of Bauchi State, as well as the Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd.) and all of the deceased’s co-delegates.

Meanwhile, a stormy session is expected to rear its head again on Monday, as the members begin to debate the address submitted to them by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, March 17, 2014.

The address, which has clearly set the agenda for the

confab, is said to have been carefully studied by delegates from across the north and south, who have picked out some issues to take up with the conference secretariat.

Among the issues, are the nogo areas, which the President spelt out in his inaugural speech, barring any discussion on the dissolubility and divisibility of the nation throughout the duration of the parley.But many delegates and interest groups are said to have argued that the President could not bar them from discussing freely on any matter of interest to them and their people.

One of the delegates has argued that if the President could stop them from discussing the issue of consensus or 75 percent voting majority, they would as well veto him discussing the indivisibility in indissolubility of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, at the resumption on Monday, the Vote of Proceedings of March 24, 25 and 26 would be adopted by the Conference for deliberation.

Top on the list of issues expected by all delegates and observers would be a report of the outcome of the consultative meeting between the Principal Officers of the Conference and the 50 selected delegates.

It will be recalled that Kutigi has following a protracted disagreement over the voting pattern and based on a unanimous decision of the delegates opted to raise a 50member panel to resolve the matter.

He immediately adjourned sitting from Wednesday afternoon till Monday to give the selected delegates sufficient time to discuss and agree on the contentious issue.

The Assistant Secretary

in charge of Media and Communications, Mr. Ak-

pandem James, confirmed yesterday that the delegates would on resumption on Monday adopt the rules of procedure, which were suspended last week.

It was learnt that although debates on the standing orders had almost been completed last week, delegates insisted on sighting the clean copy of the rules before formally adopting them for the regulation of the affairs of

the conference.The Conference will also, beginning from Monday, discuss and adopt its work plan, proposed committee structure and group classification.

Tiv/Fulani crisis: Over 32 displaced persons die in camps

• as measles, diarrhea and malaria spread

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

rhea and malaria while majority of the children are also malnourished.

Another worrisome development in the camps is the issue of open defecation due to lack of adequate toilet facilities for the inmates which has exposed the IDPs to air and water borne diseases.

One of the displaced persons, who gave her name as Mrs. Member Ikpa, told Saturday Vanguard that she lost her three months old baby two days ago after the baby sudden-

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FTER escaping the bullets of suspected Fulani mercenaries who are sacking communities in parts of Benue state, no fewer than 32 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs have been reported dead in the last one week in makeshift camps scattered around North Bank area of Makurdi town for the IDPs. Saturday Vanguard’s investigation revealed that among the dead were children and the elderly who in the last few weeks fled the escalating crisis and have been exposed to harsh conditions in the camps most of which were created by the IDPs themselves.

Investigations further revealed that most of the camps have been badly hit by childhood killer diseases like measles, diar-

Stars storm Oritsefemi dad’s burial concert

BY JULIET EBIRIM

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T was an evening of songs and comedy as popular Nigerian singer, Oritse Femi, on Thursday held a burial concert in honour of his late father, Mr Esanbo Majemite Ekele,whom he recently lost to the cold hands of death. The father of the Delta State born act, who started gaining unprecedented fame lately, following the release of his new hit album titled, Double

Wahala’, died at the age of 62.

“We are celebrating my father today ahead of the burial proper. He was someone I respected a lot.

My father was very social, hardworking and generous. He will be remembered for his generosity and friendly nature. I miss him a lot, especially his proverbs and advice”.Oritsefemi said. Some of the stars who graced the event include Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, Seyi Law amongsts

Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (right), acknowledging cheers from the crowd during the UPLIFTing Rural Dwellers programme to commence the state-wide distribution of ceramic pots at Olodo in Odeda Local Government.

•Oritsefemi others. The final burial rites will be held on the 29th of March in Warri and his hometown in Delta State.

Mr. Esambo Majemite Ekele was survived by five wives and thirty-four children.

ly developed constant stooling and vomiting.

She said, “I had my baby just five days before the Fulani sacked us from our homes, one week after getting here, I noticed she started stooling and vomiting. I started giving her drugs but days later she died. ”Apart from my baby, about ten other children and babies have also died in the last few days within this our area. The situation is beyond the state government, we are

pleading for the federal government to intervene and assist with relief materials and drugs,” Member said as she wept.

At the LGEA primary school North Bank and LGEA primary school Ichwa both of which houses over 3,000 displaced persons, Saturday Vanguard gathered from some of the inmates that they have been recording deaths in the camps almost on a daily basis.

FG inaugurates new Board for NNMA

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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HE Federal Govern ment yesterday in Abuja inaugurated a new board for the Nigeria National Merit Awards, NNMA with Prof. Francis Idachaba as Chairman.

Other members of the board include Prof Paul Onaji, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, Prof Andrew Nokia and Prof. Mrs G.T. Olutunla.

Others are Prof. John Enaowho, Prof. Garba Goje and Mr Abiodun Oyemade.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said the event signified another effort of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to promote merit, hardwork and intellectualism in the nation’s quest for sustainable development.

He further stated that NNMA was established by

Act 53 of 1979 adding that its primary objective was to confer the Nigerian National Order of Merit, NNOM, on deserving Nigerians who through intellectual and academic attainments have contributed to national and global developments in the fields of science, technology, medicine, humanities, arts and culture and any other field of human endeavor.

According to him: “The Act was subsequently amended by Act 96 of 1992 to: recognize the NNOM as an order of dignity which entitles the dignity to use the designation NNOM after his or her name; receive a cash prize, a certificate and a medal; and enjoy such other privileges as are enjoyed by recipients of high levels of National Honours and institute measures designed to promote intellectual and academic excellence

among Nigerians for this purpose and shall liaise with academic, professional and research institutions in Nigeria.”

Anyim further stated that the fore-going mandate places enormous responsibilities on the Governing Board “especially in view of the strategic importance of academic and professional research and development in our quest to meet the set targets of President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda and Vision 20:20:20.”

Going down memory lane, the SGF recalled that the NNMA has so far conferred awards on 70 distinguished Nigerian intellectuals since its emergence 35 years ago adding that President Jonathan had increased the cash reward for awardees to N10 million.

He explained that this gesture was for the purpose of attracting more intellectuals and academicians to apply for the award.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

JTF arrests 2 Britons, 12 Nigerians for illegal bunkering •Rejects $66,500 bribe offer

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagia

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PERATIVES of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield have arrested two Britons and 12 Nigerian technicians over their alleged involvement in illegal bunkering along the Chanomi Creek in the western delta.

The suspects were said to have offered the operatives of the JTF the sum of $66,500, to create safe passage for them to siphon crude oil into their barges from a Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline along the Chanomi creek in Delta State.

But the offer was rejected.

The two Britons identified are Messrs Piers Eastwood and Vincent Haywood attached to a United Kingdom based maritime security firm with regional branch in Lagos, according to the JTF, were to provide security/consultancy to MT Crete, a vessel believed to have positioned at Brass open waters for supposed illegal bunkering.

Trouble, it was learnt, started for the suspects when on March 17, a representative of a firm (name withheld) approached the JTF Headquarters, with an approval letter from the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta and an authorization from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC through the Naval Headquarters.

The approval, Saturday Vanguard learnt, was to evacuate products from an arrested vessel under the custody of the NN at NNS DELTA between 12 March -14 April 2014.

The Joint Task Force approval was reportedly issued and immediately, the headquarters directed Sector 1 of the special security outfit to monitor their activities in the waterways.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday at the headquarters of the JTF in Yenagoa where the suspects were paraded, the commander of the outfit, Major General Emmanuel Atewe who was represented by the Media Coordinator, JMCC Col Onyema Nwachukwu said they were arrested by operatives of the task force as part of ongoing effort to combat

The arrested Britons and Nigerians by the JTF for illegal bunkering

the menace of crude oil theft and other sundry crimes in the region.

According to him, “the Operations officer of 3 Battalion discovered through their confession that their intention was to hack into one of SPDC pipelines in Chanomi creek, Warri Delta State and siphon crude oil. ”They gave him as an initial payment, a bribe of $5,000 for recharge card and $1500 to fuel a gunboat that will escort the stolen crude oil.”

According to him, they requested the Operations Officer of 3 Battalion to facilitate a meeting with the Commander 4 Brigade, Brig Gen Fidelis Azinta.

Continuing he said, “the meeting was convened as a bait on March 20, 2014 at the Brigade Commander ’s office. During the meeting, the suspects expressed their desire to connect a hose to SPDC pipe-

line along the Chanomi creek in Delta State so as to illegally siphon crude oil into barges. ”While in the Brigade Commander’s office, they promised to bribe the Brigade’s Commander, with the sum of N20m as well as take care of the officers and soldiers along the Chanomi creek. ”On 21 March 2014, one of the suspects brought to the Brigade Commander $60,000 which translates to N10m being 50 per cent of the N20m promised. The suspects were immediately arrested for attempting to bribe the Brigade Commander for economic sabotage. ”Twelve technicians who were to connect the hoses to facilitate the theft and their implements were also arrested.”

He added that a follow up operation subsequently led to the arrest of two Britons, who were in company of seven Nigeria policemen led by an inspector.

UBA delivers impressive growth, records 20.2% increase in gross earnings U NITED Bank for Af rica Plc announces impressive growth across key financial parameters, due to improved growth drive, sustained operational efficiency and enhanced productivity.

In the financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2013 submitted to the Nigerian Stock Ex-

change, UBA recorded a 20.2% increase in Gross Earnings to N264.7bn.

This was largely driven by a growth of 40.4% in loans and advances as well as a 25% growth in the Bank’s total deposits. Consequently, the Bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio improved from 38.7% to 44.3%. The remarkable growth in loans

and advances, especially in the last quarter of the year, puts the Bank in a vantage position for continued revenue growth in the coming years.

In addition to achieving this growth, UBA also enhanced its operational efficiency and productivity with the Cost-to-Income ratio improving by 4% from

64.8% to 60.9%. This improvement was largely through prudent cost management policies, enhanced efficiency of the Bank’s network and the impact of other productivity initiatives.

The Bank’s Profit Before Tax grew by 7.8% to N56.06bn, representing a Return on Equity of 21.8%.

The Bank ended the year with a total balance sheet size of N2.64 trillion and a total deposit base of N222trillion.Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza said “UBA’s Gross Earnings for the year is quite impressive, with positive contributions from all our businesses.

Foundation to cushion effect of bereavement for widows

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HE Foundation for Passion and Genuine Hope said it has concluded plans to make life worthy for widows and the fatherless children across the country.

According to a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Mrs. Vivian Atuanya, ‘widows and children are the vulnerable ones whenever the breadwinner dies.

‘We plan to teach them vocational skills like hairdressing, dressmaking, bead making, catering, etc. across the country, to cushion the effect of bereavement and give them succour so that they can fit into the society instead of leaving them in frustration.

“We also want to create

awareness against unpleasant cultural practices against widows and make them live happier lives like

other normal persons,” says Atuanya.

The foundation, she says will be launched on 2nd

April, 2014 at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, where people from all walks of life are

expected to grace the occasion as part of awareness campaign against ‘unholy cultural practices’ towards widows.

Retired judge slaughtered in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI Abeokuta

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ARELY 24 hours after a policeman killed wife, five others and self in Abeokuta, a-65-yearold retired Chief magistrate, Olufunmilayo Timeyin, was slaughtered by a house help at her residence in Laderin estate in Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun State.

The tragic incident occurred at 3:30pm shortly after the 25-year-old

house help simply identified as David allegedly scaled the fence of the late Timeyin’s bungalow, reportedly deactivated the security system built inside the building and laid siege within the premises before hacking the retired magistrate to death.

David, an Igede, Benue state-born was reportedly employed two months ago and sent packing last two weeks for allegedly stealing some valuables including

phones and jewelries of his boss which led to his arrest and later release on the orders of his boss.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that David , after killing his former boss , scaled the fence back into the bush behind the house where he hid himself to avoid being caught.

It was further gathered that one of the sons of the late Chief magistrate, Olumide ,who had earlier knocked on the gates and heard the

desperate cries of his mum raised alarm and some residents immediately alerted the men of the Ogun State Vigilance Service.

One of the VSO men who raced to the scene, Oluseye Fasina attached to Operation Two, Laderin Unit told our correspondent that he immediately ran to the back of the house where he met David who had pulled off his clothes inside the bush and arrested him.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 9

70-yr-old man dies after sex with lover •As four students of College of Agric die in auto crash

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM Benin City

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DO State Police Com mand is investigating the death of a 70-year-old man, identified as David, who slumped and died Thursday after a marathon sex with his lover said to be a married woman.

Meanwhile, tragedy struck yesterday in Benin City after four students of the College of Agriculture, Igueoriakhi were feared dead in a motor accident along the Benin Warri bypass.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the 70 year old man who left his house for the hotel at about 12noon Thursday gave up the ghost before he was rushed to the hospital. A son of of the deceased who did not disclose his name said his father left their house that afternoon but was shocked when they were called that he had been rushed to Benin Central Hospital.

“We were called by the

police to come to Central Hospital only to be shown the corpse of my Dad” he w e p t .

Doctors on duty said the deceased was brought stone dead to the hospital.

Surprisingly, the deceased woman lover was also seated at the hospital before policemen men ferried her out so as to prevent attack from the family of the deceased. The corpse was deposited at the Central Hospital mortuary.

However, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Folunso Adebanjo, said the Command is investigating the cause of death.

“So I cannot tell you much now because doctors have to do their jobs while we also interrogate people around him”.

In another development, 13 persons were also said to have sustained various degrees of injury in the accident which involved a commercial bus. The accident occurred as a result of a deflated tyre. Doctors at the Benin Central Hospital were battling to save the

lives of the victims as at the time of filling this report.

Narrating their ordeal, one of the victims who gave his

name as Messiah Attah, said they were going from Igueoriakhi to Delta state for a burial when the tyre

of the vehicle suddenly burst and the bus somersaulted. “Some of my friends are dead now” he w e p t .

Teachers, engineer kidnapped in Delta Secondary School

BY FESTUS AHON, Aghelli

P

ANDEMONUIM broke out in AwhireAgbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, recently, when suspected gunmen invaded the community’s secondary school

and kidnapped two teachers and one engineer attached to a contracting firm working in the community.

The kidnappers numbering three, Saturday Vanguard gathered stormed the school premises at about midday armed to the teeth, took the three vic-

tims in the full glare of the students and other teachers of the school who watched helplessly.

Giving the names of the two teachers as Mrs Elizabeth Ureubu and Mr Emma Ekperu, the dependable source who pleaded anonymity said the kidnappers who came

Kidnapped two-year-old girl rescued

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

D

ETECTIVES from the Ondo state Police Command have rescued the two-year-old girl kidnapped by a Pastor and one other person in Akure, the state capital few weeks ago.

The baby was rescued in Ughelli, Delta state.

The 28-year-old Pastor Okpara Emmanuel Chigozie of Believers Prayer Ministry, Orji, Owerri, Imo state and other 25year-old suspect Chinonye Anufor are already in police detention.

A sum of N50m ransom was requested from the parents of the baby by the Pastor and his cohorts and have been negotiated downwards to N5million before the suspects were rounded up.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the detectives trailed the fleeing suspects to Ughelli where a woman in whose custody the baby was kept by the pastor was arrested.

After the baby girl was kidnapped in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the

Pastor and other suspects fled to Balyesa state.

The Police Image Maker Wole Ogodo told Saturday Vanguard exclusively that the baby was rescued from the suspected member of the kidnap gang late yesterday.

Ogodo added that the pastor kept the baby in the custody of the middle aged woman in Ughelli.

He pointed out that acting on a tip-off, the detectives stormed the hide out of the kidnappers where the woman and the baby were found.

The Police spokesman said that the detectives after rescuing the baby returned to the state with the baby at about 1am on Saturday.

It will be recalled that while parading the Pastor and other suspected criminals, the new Commissioner of Police Isaac Eke said the pastor was arrested in his apartment.

Eke said detectives from the state CID in Akure after the complaint was lodged swung into action and arrested one 25-yearold Chinonye Anufor who led them to the apartment of the Pastor in Owerri.

Messiah said they were on their way to Delta to attend the burial of one of their friend’s grandmother.

President Goodluck Jonathan (l), and the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (r), during their visit to Pope Francis 1 (m) at the Vatican City recently.

in a motor bike, also kidnapped one engineer working with a contractor in the community on their way out. Lamenting that the teachers were driven out of the school premises in the Honda Accord car belonging to Mrs Elizabeth Ureubu, the source said they immediately alerted the police and other security agents of the development.

According to the source, the Honda Accord car was later found same day at Omovwodoiribo-Agbarhaotor, a nearby village, abandoned, adding that; “the car has since been towed to the Agbarha-otor police station.”

On whether contact has been established with the suspected kidnappers, the source said no, decrying that; “the whereabouts of the teachers are still not known as I speak with you.

We have resigned to fate; believing God for His intervention. Since that day the incident happened till this very moment, nobody has heard from them”.

Confirming the incident, the Area Commander, Ughelli Area Command, Mr Awosola Awotunde said the police was on top of the matter, expressing hope that the kidnappers would be arrested and brought to book.

Group commends Jonathan, Obi on 2nd Niger Bridge ...demands headship of Customs or Prisons Goodluck Jonathan that

T

HE Coalition of Igbo Elders (CIE) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan over the flag-off of the 2 nd Niger Bridge and his assurances that the funding for the project had been seamlessly worked out.

In a statement by the group signed by its Chairman, Chief Julius Onyebuchi and made available to the press in Awka, the group said the South-East and, indeed the entire Nigerians would remember President Jonathan for em-

barking on the critical 2nd Niger bridge, noting that when others played politics with it, it was only Jonathan that had shown true and genuine commitment to the project.

The group also commended the former Governor of Anambra State for what it called his unrelenting efforts towards ensuring that the Bridge was awarded and flagged off.

Recalling the upgrade of Akanu Ibiam Airport to international airport and the commencement of full operations therein,

as well as massive upgrade of infrastructure in the place, the group assured him of the support of the South-Easterners, especially towards the realisation of his second term bid.

Furthermore, the group appealed to Jonathan to consider an Igbo man to head the Customs or Prisons, arguing that it is not good for “Zone balancing”, that Igbos are not heading any security agency or paramilitary organisation.

“It is on record that it was under President

Igbos were integrated into Nigeria after the civil war, for which we remain grateful. We shall thankfully remember him for appointing the first Igbo man to head the Army after the civil war.

Since these people have retired, we also appeal to him to look for competent Igbos to head the Customs or Prisons as a further way of reassuring us that his is out to promote justice and equity at all times.On our own part, we assure him of 98% votes of our people when the chips are down,” the group said.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

Millionaire baby sellers: How teenagers produce babies for sale

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

F

OR quite some time now, a new wave of making money through selling of new born babies and child trafficking is currently sweeping across parts of the country. The racket of keeping young girls and boys to produce children and then sell to desperate buyers is fast gaining prominence not only in the SouthEast but also in South West.

Operators of the homes and their syndicates usually scout for females with unwanted pregnancies and lure teenagers to their herbal clinic for delivery. Some keep young girls (teenagers) and allow their male syndicates to impregnate them and hold them in hostage throughtout the gestation period. Thereafter, the owner of the home settles them with cash and administers the babies to desperate childless women who patronise her herbal clinic to seek for fruits of the womb at higher costs.

Investigations revealed that the patrons of these homes are highheeled and well-to-do couples who visited mostly at night in sleek automobiles.

Recently, a London based couple travelled to Nigeria where the woman received fertility treatment at a maternity home. She returned to the clinic months later and she was sedated. When she regained consciousness, she was handed a baby and told she had given birth.

On her return to London, the authorities raised concerns. The child was taken into care and a DNA test proved the child was not related to the couple. The London

police then launched legal proceedings to get custody of the baby arguing that the couple’s story was a ‘charade.’

After weeks of litigation, the court ruled that the couple were victims of the 'most appalling scam'. The couple was said to have been deeply bothered about their predicament so much that the judge was impressed by their sense of humanity. They were recently awarded the custody of the child. The police authority also agreed to return the baby to them within seven days.

This is not an isolated case. A recent report also showed that Mr Adenuga Shoyibo, a Nigerian based in America was arrested and charged for alleged child trafficking. The couple claimed the babies were theirs, disclosing that the twins were born at a traditional home in Port Harcourt 15 years after they got married and after they paid N1.8million.

In another development, two suspected Cameroonian ladies, Ngala Nungu and Mrs. Mende Cecilia were arrested by men of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Calabar Seaport for allegedly stealing a five-day old baby girl recently. Nungu claimed she delivered the baby at Okitipupa in Ondo State through the help of a lady who specialised in herbal medicine.

In Port Harcourt, Aba, Osisioma, Okigwe, Imo in Umuaka, Owerri, the activities thrive and despite various clampdowns by the security agents on some of these homes, the business thrives with the clintele visiting the homes from various parts of the country

However, some believe that the increase in the trade could have been that those arrested in the past have not been appropriately punished but probably left off the hook after some time and outside even at nights and odd hours in sleek cars to get babies.

Recently, one James Ezuma who claimed to be a medical doctor was nabbed by the police in Owerri, Imo State, for operating baby factories. Not less than 16 innocent girls were set free by the police with many of them at various stages of pregnancy. The rich businessman was said to have no fewer than 10 exotic cars - a Jaguar, two Chrysler cars, a Lincoln Navigator, a Honda Jeep, a Nissan Quest, a Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle and three unidentified others.

According to reports, conservative estimates indicate that Ezuma’s land in Owerri valued at hundreds of millions of naira, with different structures at different stages of completion worth over N20 million.

An18-count charge has been slammed against him in court. His medical licence may have been seized by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, for improper conduct.

Apart from billionaire Ezuma,

other operators of these baby factories are smiling to their banks satisfying their clintele from different parts of the country for different purposes. In Umuaka, Njaba Local Government area of Imo state, there are orphanages said to be involved in the alleged baby-making business. In recent past, men of the State Security Agencies, SSS, uncovered childmanufacturing factory at both Umuaka and Umuguma, Owerri West of the state.

However, some believed that the increase in the trade could have been because those arrested in the past have not been appropriately punished but probably left off the hook after some time.

Some individuals who spoke to Saturday Vanguard maintained that they don't deserve to be punished since they help to satisfy someone’s need.

The security operatives have also raided quite a number of baby factories in the oil city of Port Harcourt and arrested proprietors of the homes setting free over 100 of pregnant girls.

Recently, no fewer than eight pregnant girls were rescued by the Ogun State Police Command as it uncovered a baby-making factory in Akute in Ifo Local Government Area of the state. In January, another 24 suspects were arrested in Ilu-Titun in Okitipupa council area of Ondo State by the state command of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Why the business is thriving Mrs Oshotimehin, who works in a charity home in Lagos stated that

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 11

Baby factories with int’l clientele

The lawyer carrying the baby and her friend

Female lawyer buys baby for N1.5 million

BY EMMA UNA

A

Lawyer from Came roon, Mrs Ngala Norgu Julia was recently arrested by men of the Cross River State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service for allegedly being in possesion of a one-week old baby girl which she claims she was delivered of by a herbalist at Okitikputa, Onda State.Mr Samuel Igochi, the Comptroller of Immigration, Cross River State Command said Mrs Ngala was arrested by intelligence and investigation team of the service at the Calabar Port while trying to smuggle the baby which apparently she did not deliver to Cameroon. “She claims a herbalist, the owner of Ayodele Herbal Home in Okitikpupa, Ondo State gave her some herbs which she took in November 2012 and she got pregnant and delivered the baby but there are no signs in her that she actually delivered that baby”.

Mr Ogochi said a team was constituted to examine her but after due examination, there were no signs in her that she actually delivered the baby. Her breasts were not able to produce any milk which is quite unusual”.The Immigration Comptroller said Barrister Ngala was examined and there were no signs whatsoever assocaited with child delivery in her. “She said she paid the sum of N1.5 million naira to the

They took me inside and I saw the child still covered with blood and I was very happy for my friend for the successful delivery of her baby woman who delivered her of the baby”.

He said the child would be handed over to NAPTIP for preservation till the determination of the case since the Nigerian Immigration Service is not a baby factory. “Taking care of such a baby is very expensive and time demanding and since the Nigerian Immigration Service is not equipped to handle such responsibility, we will handover the child like the one we had two weeks ago to NAPTIP in Uyo.” Mrs Ngala who was accompanied by another Cameroonian lady, Mrs Mende Cecila Fru said she heard about Ayodele Herbal Medicine Home which is assisting women to deliver children supernaturally and so, she had to borrow money and come to Nigeria to consult the woman and she was given herbal medicine which she took and got pregnant. “When I heard that the woman was helping women without children to deliver babies, I borrowed money here and there and came to Nigeria and she gave me herbal medicine and when I went back I met my partner and I became pregnant”.

According to her, out of the sum of N1.5 million, she paid Ayodele Herbal Home, the sum of N277.000 for the herbs to enable her become pregnant while N1 .2 mliion was for the delivery of the baby. “She told me the delivery

was supernatural and so, I should not visit any orthodox hospital when I am about to deliver, that I should go to Okitipupa and truly when I got there, after nine days, she took me to a room and delivered me of the baby". She said she was asked to lie on the floor while somebody exerted presssure on her stomach while she was asked to push and the baby came out and fell on the floor . “The woman then beat the child three times on the back and the child began to cry and I was asked to stand up”.

Mrs Fru who accompanied Mrs Ngala on her part said she did not go inside the room where the baby was delivered but that she sat in the parlour and when she heard a baby cry, “they took me inside and I saw the child still covered with blood and I was very happy for my friend for the successful delivery of her baby”.

Continued from page 10 the development is caused by young girls who ran away from their homes to avoid the stigma of early and unplanned pregnancies. “Young girls run to such homes to avoid the stigma attached to pregnancies outside marriage. So, they stay away from home for some time, delivered the babies and then returned home with pittance,” she said.

She also rationalised that the problem of infertility in women was a major cause of the desperate move for seeking babies from such homes.

“You know after long years of marriage, if there is no child, the woman will be so desperate especially to keep her marriage and also to avoid societal stigma.”

The 55-year old woman advised that desperate couples should rather take the option of adoption in order not to run foul of the child-trafficking law.

Adoption Process Relaying the process of adoption in most states of the federation, she stated that the prospective couples will pay prescribed fees upon successful interview with the Director of Social Welfare after the application is considered. “After the interview and if the director is satisfied, you must show evidence of procuring the requirements for the baby or babies depending on the age of adoption.Then there will be administative processing and screening which will be followed by a mandatory pre-counselling session, post counselling on parenting, collection of child from registered orphanages and legalization at the family court after three months,” she sated.

12 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

tions, non -governmental organizations and community based organizations. Last year, we had a 26-episode programme of ‘Itohan’ on national television. These are some of the things we are doing because a lot of people are not aware.

Joseph Famakin

We ‘ve made over 200 convictions – Joseph Famakin “The greatest challenges we encounter are from the victims themselves”

BY KEHINDE AJOSE AND ADERONKE ADEYERI

W

ith the proliferation of baby factories and child trafficking in some parts of the country, the Zonal commander National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Lagos zone, Joseph Famakin, opens up on what the agency is doing to curb the scourge of human trafficking and also how members of the public can synergize with the agency to nip the situation in the bud.

How would you explain activities that go on in baby factories vis-a-vis NAPTIP act?

Human trafficking is the movement of a person from one place to another for the purpose of exploitation.The aspect of baby factory in Nigeria is a new trend by the law of NAPTIP, but there are things that happen in the process before the sales of babies that are covered by NAPTIP Act. I give you an

If we prevent, if we protect, if we don’t prosecute, those that are making money from this illicit trade will be having a field day example. A pregnant little girl may be in the eastern part of Nigeria and she is coerced, deceived, and taken into a herbal home where the operators of the herbal home keep other pregnant ladies in preparation for their deliveries before the sales. So, keeping of the baby away from the guardian without their consent amounts to deprivation of liberty. Once the baby factory is discovered, the place is raided, the girls are rescued and whoever is the owner of the place is charged to court. The sale of the baby itself falls within the purview of the Nigerian police. However, the

NAPTIP Act 2003 as amended in 2005 has just passed another round of amendment that will soon be passed into law because of the new trend. The aspect of baby stealing is now embodied in the new act that is coming, so that we will be able to cover from the issue of kidnapping to unlawful imprisonment, to sales of the embryo which was not covered under the act when the law was promulgated.You can hear from people that sales of babies is not under the purview of NAPTIP. It is because it is not under our law. We deal with matters of baby factories up to the point of taking the victim from wherever they are taken from to the factory but the eventual sale of the baby is what is not in our law.

What is your agency doing to stop the trend?

When you talk about trafficking like I said earlier, trafficking is the movement of one person from one point to the other for the purpose of exploitation. This involves sexual exploitation or labour exploitation. In the case of children, they are taken from the villages to urban areas to serve as house helps. Now, considering the fact that we are mandated to rescue all victims of human trafficking irrespective of the fact that it is internal or external trafficking, we have been going out to sensitize members of the public through our public enlightenment department and our main objective is to get to the vulnerable. We warn that parents should not release their children to those who are promising to be God-send good Samaritans whereas they are devil’s incarnate. We collaborate with faith based organiza-

Your agency is different from the police, what strategies do you use in achieving your objectives?

We have a 4-approach strategy which we call the 4’Ps. These are based on what we call the prevention, which I had earlier mentioned that using the public enlightenment department, we go out to sensitize members of the public. The second of the P is called protection. Crime is dynamic, you can only succeed in reducing it until gradually, you eradicate it. There will be children that will be trafficked and it’s our responsibility to ensure that they are protected when rescued. That is why in each of the eight zones of NAPTIP, we have shelters all over Nigeria where victims of trafficking are kept. During the protection stage, we also protect their families from reprisal attacks of traffickers because traffickers will not stop at collecting their money if the victims are rescued. So, we need to protect the families of these victims from attacks.

Victims that are rescued are sent to our centers where we have professionally trained counselors. Their duty is to counsel the victims on how to overcome the traumatic experience they went through and they are also introduced to vocational trainings where they are trained as professional hairdressers, tailors,etc.

They are also introduced to informal form of education.

Empowerment are given to them to enable them start life all over again. We provide materials like –sewing machine, generators and then we rent shops and we continue to monitor them so that they are reintegrated into the society.

The next P is prosecution. If we prevent, if we protect, if we don’t prosecute, those that are making money from this illicit trade will be having a field day.

So, we have the investigation and monitoring department that go all out to seek for information either from rescued victims, from our international partners (foreign countries), or anybody that gives us information; we investigate and the person will be charged to court. As at 2013, we have recorded 208 convictions from inception to end of December 2013. In Lagos zone last year, we rescued 314 victims of human trafficking. Out of these num

Continues on page 13

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Continued from page 12 ber, 279 are females, the rest are males and they have been able to undergo the process of rehabilitation, counseling and reintegration into the society.

As I speak to you, two of our ex-victims are in the university.

This has also made us to establish an informal school in Ibadan where we have about 69 students that are to be reintegrated to the formal school in Oyo state. That is an ongoing project sponsored by the American government. The last P is what we call partnership.

We are in partnership with international organizations; we are here because of partnership.

I have appeared to several TV stations. We have gone to churches to sensitize them.

What are your challenges?

trying to make money. It is something done out of greed, getting rich quick syndrome.

What will be your advice to members of the public?

They should believe that nothing good comes easy and that the easiest way to getting there is to persevere and to be dedicated. The youths need to understand that get-rich-quick syndrome does not take people to the top, that it leads to condemnation. A lady who is trafficked to Europe and asked to pay 50,000 Euros, if you convert that to naira, it’s about N12 million? How many men will she sleep with to make N12million. There are other ways of making money apart from selling one’s body. Parents should not because of greed sell their children into slavery.

We ‘ve made over 200 convictions

– Joseph Famakin

The victims themselves are our greatest challenge. Those of them who are recruited are made to go through a process of barbaric oath-taking. They have what they call oath of secrecy.

This involves the removal of their pubic hair, menstrual pads, finger nails which are used to make incisions on the body of victims and because they are Africans, they believe in the efficacy of these oaths. So, sometimes when they are rescued, it becomes difficult for them to talk to us or tell us how they were recruited, who their traffickers are and this is a very big challenge. But we’ve been able to overcome that through our counseling department. The churches are also helping us.

They come to the shelter to talk to them. The counselors counsel them. Once they are counseled to a point where they can trust us, they give us information. It’s a very big challenge and the last but not the least challenge is that a lot of people see trafficking not as a crime depending on who you ask.

There are places that cases of human trafficking are endemic, they don’t see anything bad in it. So we try to see to it that we can carry the message there.

We tell them that apart from the health hazards associated with human trafficking, it is another form of slavery. It’s an act of man’s inhumanity to man.

People should not see it as a process where their daughter is

Vanguard , MARCH 29 29, 2014—13

They should not give out their children to people to go and work.They are suppose to work, and take care of the children. Members of the public should know that under the child rights law and child right convention, a child is only permitted to work within his immediate family environment.

If they need a house-help, they should employ people above the age of 18. Children are meant to be in school, they are not meant to be house-helps.

Above all, we should be our brothers' keepers.

No baby factory has been discovered in Lagos — Lagos PPRO

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI AND JULIET EBIRIM Following reports of increasing rate of baby factories in some parts of the country, the Lagos State police command has debunked claim that baby factories exist in the state. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, Ngozi Braide said there had not been any baby factory discovered in the state. In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, Braide stated further that the only case heard in Lagos was that of an elderly woman that took two babies for immunization, she was discovered to be medically unfit to put to bed at her age, was later nabbed based on a tip-off by the medical doctor in a hospital based in FESTAC town. “ People should get rid of such insinuation in their minds as there have not been any baby factory discovered in Lagos State. Some of the people the Nigerian police rescued were from other States.

The only one we investigated in FESTAC Town was an elderly woman with two kids who went for immunization and the doctor suspected a foul play, that it was medically impossible for her to be the biological mother of the babies.

So, the doctor alerted the area commander and immediately an investigation commenced. We arrested the suspect somewhere in Port Harcourt and she was brought down to Lagos and was charged to court,” she said.

Process of keeping a baby

By SAM ANOKAM

Joseph Famakin

The more illegal baby factories are uncovered, the more the lives

of the innocent babies are endangered by lack of care from their biological mothers.

This is so because they are immediately sold, thus depriving them of the bond between mother and child.

They are neither allowed to suck their mother ’s breast nor are they allowed to enjoy the care, love and affection of their mother.

Looking at the effect of such abandonment and slavery, Dr. Justin Ihejieto of St. James Hospital, Apapa said: “Normally, mothers attend ante natal care when pregnant. Mother and child would be under observation from time of conception. In the course of ante natal care, midwives, doctors would be advising on the type of food to eat, exercises to do, what to avoid and what not to avoid, monitoring of the baby to see if he or she is alright. From time to time, they will do scan to determine the condition of the baby in the womb. It continues till time of delivery. Some attend weekly, others once in two weeks. During antenatal, doctors conduct routine investigation to check if she is hypertensive, diabetic, HIV, and the rest.

"Then comes the post natal (after delivery), the baby will be observed for some days. Some observe for 24 hours or more. For traditional birth, they can go home same day. The mother then can be discharged after checking if she does not have any form of complication after birth like bleeding or infection. The baby is also checked to make sure she/he doesn’t have any deformity. There will be appointment for mother to bring the child for routine immunization or for any other issue.

In the case of a situation when a woman is unable to breastfeed her child on account of ill health or that milk is not flowing from her breast or that the baby is stolen or sold, then artificial baby food like Cerelac, Nan, SMA Gold and the rest can be fed to the child. The fact that a child is deprived of sucking her mother ’s breast will not in any way affect the growth of the child. The child will grow normally like every other child.

There is really no cause for alarm except if the child is starved or illfed.”

14—SA TURD AY Vanguard , MARCH 29, 2014 14—SATURD TURDA

T

he tragic circumstances in which no less than nineteen young Nigerians recently lost their lives in vain search for jobs in the immigration office is heartrending enough without the sloppy manner in which the authorities have reacted to it. The details are odious in the extreme. To conduct a recruitment drive in the manner of a jungle mentality speaks volumes of our lack of sophistication in conducting our public affairs, and sensitivity to human values. If that indicated the level of our appreciation of our lives, all that can be said is that it is simply frightening.

The young people involved were all graduates of higher institutions. That was a heartrending aspect when consideration is given to the arduous nature of going through university training in this country today. The search for admission trough the tortuous route of JAMB is enough to dampen any spirit more decent climes, he should have apologized but that of a Nigerian youth, to the nation and promptly resigned his desirous of acquiring appointment. If he had hesitated to be decent knowledge and the skills for about it, the man who put him there should have providing a better future amid given him the boot, thus dissociating himself from fierce competition, and eager to create a space for himself under the sun. And then to grow through the sometimes hazardous experience of the “ youth corps” exercise, once now stripped of most of its glamour only to end up with a search for jobs for months on end, is heart-rending, to say the least. Yet this is how we prepare our next generation for their future, which is our future, because those who are in authority are wealthy enough to send their children over most of the hurdles, and can escape the vicious aspects of raising a child to a prosperous future in our country.

This then is the first point we have to tackle —that there are children must be provided the equal opportunities for training and advancement in life. The terrain is totally uneven as it is, and it is made •Alhaji Abba Moro more so by the machinations of those who should ensure the callousness of that hesitation. But Moro is equity and progress. Men and still in the saddle. The man who put him there women who wish to present went off to Rome to visit the Pope, in continuation themselves for public office of his religious odyssey which must have a should therefore be made to meaning beyond ordinary piety to him. But in send their children to schools the real sense of the order of democratic norms, in Nigeria. This will ensure it is “ we the people” who are supposed to have that our institutions will be put him there, and there has been an incessant brought to an appreciably outcry against his remaining in office. That in high standard of excellence, itself is a blight on the in the first place, and reduce record of the Jonathan the advantages of privilege administration, but he does that the rich provide for their not “give a damn” as long offspring. as he can parade himself with priests and prelates he method of recruitment all over the globe. should be far removed One should no longer from the barbaric mode bother with the adopted by the immigration Immigration Minister. We authorities in the recent should retain our dignity as episode. However, the our youth. The “Prime a people and distance officials who should have been Minister” — let’s be done ourselves from the shame involved in it have openly with all those convoluted of shameless people. denied that the Immigration titles which mean the Minister, Alhaji Abba Moro, same thing—Dr. Ngozi fter all, we have was solely responsible for the Okonjo-Iweala, has been legislators, our organization of the entire reeling out figures again. representatives, who fiasco. That is why it is simply According to her, the jobs confirmed his appointment, amazing that the man has that were being provided and who should now need been allowed to stay one day for came to some one-andno prompting to represent in office after that national million in number. That is our views and make it stick. horror. He not only dug in, but reckoning from last year.

Beyond the provision of continued to insult the It was not as though good jobs for our youth, populace by spewing out filthy nothing was done —o no!

Alhaji Abba Moro’s stay in excuses and empty As a matter of fact, all but office must, and does, explanations about a two hundred of those jobs offend our self-worth as a disastrous exercise for which were provided, though it people who are supposed he ought to be prosecuted. has to be remembered that to be in charge of our own His retention in office is a there has been a backlog affairs. sad commentary on our of some five million But let us turn to the standard of public life and which came down with larger picture in this matter personal sense of honour. In former years and for of the provision of jobs for

*created jobs wanted *bumps and pimples

,

T

A

which provision still has to be made. But the government was doing its best, although they should try harder, she nicely agreed.

The word that came to mind as a reaction to all that hollow depositon should not be used for a lady. This is a serious matter. We are talking about human life, human living, which ticks with every second in its existence. We are talking about urgent measures, urgent approaches, to cure a patent ill in the land, and this fine intellectual pretends that she can push all this forward as issues that can wait.

I

t has ever been so with the grand dame of our economic fortunes to dismiss matters of gripping importance as though with a wave of her fan. Young people are under the throes of perennial frustration. They have been suffering quietly.

Now they are dying openly right before our eyes in the search for a living, and all we can do is to glumly declare that “ we have to do more?

Where is the “more”?

We see nothing on the ground. “Job creation” is an empty slogan that fills no stomach. For people to work there must be places for them in which to work. Even if the paltry number of a few thousands advertised as existing in the Immigration had been filled, could any sensible person equate that with the idea of “job creation”?

We are talking here of creativity in tackling an

There has been an incessant outcry against his remaining in office.

That in itself is a blight on the record of the Jonathan administration

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exigency that is spreading shackles around the feet of our development. There must be a conscious approach embodying innovations and vision of a sustainable timbre.

We must have factories in which young hands can strive to achieve a life of quality, in which young minds can thrive to attain a development for future endeavours. Our sweet speaking Minister of Agriculture should design work for the graduates in agriculture in which to profitably engage on the farm, our Minister of Transport should employ young civil engineers in the building of roads. There are young mechanical engineers that

that need factories where they can exercise their skills.

Let us have projects, and sites and factories. That is how to try more. No money?

Then stop spending our money on subsidies that do not exist, and through loopholes that drain our resources, and wasteful trips to see the Pope while our children our dying at home.

We must, however, congratulate President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The three places offered each beneficiary of those who died during the mad recruitment Immigration riot—sorry, recruitment — came to no less than 57. Well, that’s something.

The National Conference— some people still call it “dialogue”— is all set to enter the second week. A few bumps and pimples that emerged at the opening may soon be removed. It had better. The confusion of about five hundred people residing away from their normal terrain may be difficult to contain, and could be devastating to whatever matter they may have in hand.

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n this case, we are told it is a matter that affects the unity of the country. That accounts for why many of us are somewhat concerned about the issues that may disrupt meeting, the outlandish number not excluded, and the demand for more allowances for instances. There are still areas of ethnic groups which have decried the worth of their representation. In fact, a place like Kaduna South laments about its noninclusion among the delegates.

We would advise, at this time, that wise counsel should prevail in the matter of the voting structure to come to a decision. A twothirds majority should be acceptable all round. The socalled “rules of engagement” may also be somewhat toned down. These are not a bunch of errant schoolchildren but mature men and women of various ages, experiences and achievements in life, considered worthy of holing brief for their ethnic group in the consultations considered for the unity of our nation. At the moment, we may not know where we are going but we’ll be there soon.

Time out.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MARCH 29, 2014—15

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round noon on Thursday, March 6, the main building of Nigeria’s premier club, the Ikoyi Club 1938, was without electricity.

It was the first time I would notice that in the almost four decades that I have been a member of this elite club. But I confess that I have not been much of a member in the last 20 years with my best attendance not being more than ten a year. I have expected a flurry of activities from concerned staff but was surprised when the staff and even members who were around, acted as if nothing was untoward. This suggested to me, that it was not the first time, or the second, or the third…….

Now, I don’t know which surprised me more; the absence of light, or the attitude of those around towards that fact. One thing you do not expect from a club or hotel worth its name is the absence of electricity. These are places where you expect to be pampered.

These are places of escape. And Ikoyi club, Nigeria’s elite club with its history and traditions, is more than worthy of its name.

I

joined the club when it was being largely managed by expatriates and the first Nigerian General Manager,

,

Prince Adediran, was just coming in. I am not one to be unduly sentimental of the past and cling to the notion of ‘the good old days’. But there are in fact, a lot of good things to remember about Ikoyi Club in the 70s. It was, despite the fact there were many good cinema theatres in Lagos then, my first destination of choice for movies. It was also a place to have a first class lunch at a good price

N

othing exemplifies this shrinking feeling than the parking lot.

Time was when you could park easily at any time of the day. Then it became more difficult at particular periods and you had to sometimes drive slowly for a while before you could get a space to slot in your car. Then it got to a point when you were constantly being forced to park on the street in front of the club.

Now there is no space, even there anymore! This is one reason, perhaps, that has not made me use the club as often as I would have wanted to.

But the tendency to shrink space and erect more concrete is not peculiar to Ikoyi Club alone. It is a national

A club like Ikoyi Club, should never be dark at noon

whenever I found myself on the island.

We used to boast of its chapman, club sandwich and salad. Above all, we also used to feel proud of its ambience. Now ambience, like aura or sex appeal, is intangible. In this case, it was a combination of the staff, both local and foreign, the membership mix, the architecture, the lawns and landscapes, and the open space. Especially the open space. The few buildings that existed then were dotted between greens and woods, making the sometimes scented evening air enchanting and alluring.

I

accommodate the many interests of a growing population. What all these mean is that we have less space and yes, less ambience. Hence, in my mind, it has ‘shrunk’ from what it was in the 70s. It has also ‘shrunk’ into different clubs in my mind, through the fact that every section has almost become a mini club in its self sufficiency. You could use the club every day and not ‘bump’ into another regular user from another section. It wasn’t like that in the past when we had just one viewing centre for example.

t is a misnomer to say a club is shrinking when its growth has been this exponential. The current members are more than ten times what they were when I first joined the club. With this unfortunately, comes the possibility of charlatans and people of low character finding themselves in a club of this stature. The squash section where I used to play with the late Prince Adediran had just one court—or was it two? Now it boasts of about ten, with a well equipped gym to boot. We can say the same of the lawn tennis section and indeed every other section. What all these mean is that we have more structures, more concrete, to

,

malady; just look around you. What happened to Ikoyi Park where people used to hunt wild animals in the 60s and 70s? What happened to the Love Garden that was near the Onikan Stadium? They have all been shrunk by concrete. Yet I am aware of hectares of wooded land in South East London that had deliberately been left undeveloped for decades.

Is Lagos more pressed for land than London?

I am told that my late

mother- in- law learnt how to drive inside her compound in Ikoyi. Today, those Ikoyi compounds have shrunk.

They now accommodate two or maybe three other houses.

There is always a way (III) E

very situation and circumstances, no matter how bad, useless or hopeless it may seem, always has a way out of it. Let me ask you a simple question. One plus one is equal to what? You laugh and wonder why should I be asking such a simple question. Sure, one plus one cannot be a problem to you, but do you know that it is a problem for a little child. To you, there is a way out from this problem.

But supposing I ask you another question 1000 x1000 +7423 x 7650- 13-269.

Tell me what your immediate reaction right now is. For some people they will never attempt to find the answer because they think it is a complex question. But then, right in the question is the answer.

Beloved, if somebody can find the answer then you can also. No wonder the Bible says that ‘there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear,” 1Cor. 10:13.

From the above scripture, God says that out of the problem, distress, dilemma, hopeless condition, there is a way out of it. One thing in the verse above is that the Bible says that what you are going through is common and you know very well that what is common has no value. Why are you trying to give the problem a cause to gain ground in your life by giving it a value. Don’t allow it to weigh you down because there is a way out of that predicament. The only way is through Jesus Christ. He is the only one who has promised abundant life to those who believe in Him. He said in John 10:10 “the thief (satan) cometh not but for to steal, and kill, and destroy, but I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus does not want you destroyed, that is the devil. The devil wants to ruin your marriage, finance, business, family, ministry, education, properties etc. He doesn’t want anything good for you. What can the father of liars (Jn.8:44) give to you? If I may ask, can you ever trust a liar? The answer of course is no. Liars cannot even trust a lair then why should a child of God

,

The 'Shrinking ' club

God says that out of the problem, distress, dilemma, hopeless condition, there is a way out of it

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went house hunting with a friend to Oniru, Victoria Island last month and was surprised to see an 18 flat structure on a thousand, three hundred square meter space. Where will the children play? Most estates along Lekki- Epe express way are built around the notion of more concrete, less space. I compare this with the estates I saw in Ghana which had space as well as beautiful landscapes and I wonder at our concept of modern living.

Back to Ikoyi Club which is obviously facing the pressure of more demand for membership; can the club satisfy the growing demand by giving birth to another top club along the Lekki-Epe expressway where a vast middle and upper middle class people are setting up abode?

That, or the cessation of new members, is what the founding fathers would have done rather than shrink the club further by putting more pressure on its facilities. A club like Ikoyi Club, should never be dark at noon.

rely upon the lies of the devil. Listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to you.

There is a way out. You are not a failure, you are a success story. Where you are, you will be remembered for good. You are destined for greatness, you are a victor and not a victim, the hand of the Lord is upon you to give consistent miracles and testimonies.

Are you a servant of God reading this, your ministry may seem to be dwindling, you are losing your members than you are getting, your finances are getting so bad that you cannot foot the bills anymore, so you are becoming more and more discouraged, you are no more sure of yourself. Listen, there is a way out. He who began a good work is faithful to complete it. God said the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.

The one fighting you is already defeated, while you are winning with the heavenly host with you.

Don’t give up, for your hair (ministry, finance etc) will surely grow again in Jesus name.

In Matt. 17:24-27, Peter was wondering from where they could have money to pay their tribute. He must have searched himself, calculated most probably all they have and must have come to the conclusion that there is no way out. But then, the One who knows what to do said to Peter,…”go thou to the sea and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a piece of money; that take and give unto them for me and thee (vs27). You see, where Peter thought there was no way out Jesus, made a way. I pray that the yoke of financial stress in your life be destroyed and that the heavens be opened upon you to favour you always in Jesus name.

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has made a way already for you. Believe it and you will be a candidate for a miracle because there are answers to every life shattering problem. Jesus is the answer.

God bless you, our great nation Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan.

You can only find the way to God’s so-

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lution for the situation by first accepting Jesus as your Lord and savior if you have not already done so. Pray this simple prayer. Father, you said that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. I call on the name Jesus. Please forgive my sin and cleanse me from every form of unrighteousness.

Fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life. I praise you and give you all the glory.

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

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

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

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

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F course, we saw the handwriting on the wall before the inauguration. It was obvious that there would be more questions than answers. One would have been surprised had things happened differently. In fact, one cannot say for sure that President Goodluck Jonathan had not anticipated this. Perhaps, those who suspected that the whole agenda was to cause distraction were not far from the truth and if that was Jonathan’s mindset, his advisers should be clinking glasses with him for a job well done. The lines are falling for him in pleasant places going by the direction of this confab. With the limited time given to the conferees to wrap up, nothing conclusive would likely come out of it if the delegates continue on the same page they have started. At this point, one believes the issue of consensus should have been a no-go area and that being so, we can as well say, ‘to your tents oh delegates!’

If the President’s intention is ideally to seek solutions to the problems afflicting Nigeria since 1914 to date, it is certain the confab will look at Nigeria even before 1914 because these issues were clearly entrenched before the amalgamation. Nigerians are strange siblings of strange parents and that is the hard and soft of it.

So, will these delegates with a penchant for adjourning at the slightest provocation be able to address the multifaceted problems that have besieged the country? Will these delegates achieve anything towards building a more united, progressive and prosperous nation?

If the President said this confab is coming at a very appropriate time, after the celebration of Nigeria’s first centenary, where will Nigeria be at the end of the confab? Where will the wind blow Nigeria?

If Nigeria is what it is before the confab, where do we think we will be at the end of the confab? Will there be visible improvements? What difference will the conference make?

Other nations that know us more than we know ourselves have already foreseen that Nigeria may not survive 2015 because she is like a house built on sand, not a house on the rock and we think they are prophets of doom. We always try to equate our country with others who started and had the same challenges we are now having, but the problem is, are we approaching the solutions the way they approached theirs?

Other countries which today we refer to as developed countries had their teething problems and they overcame tactically. There was a time when bomb attacks were rampant in the United Kingdom like Boko Haram is doing in Nigeria and terrorists are doing in many countries today but what is not yet clear is why we haven’t tried to follow their approach to solutions.

Will the confab pave the way?

Or has Boko Haram nominated or elected delegates to the on-going confab? It’s possible they have delegates too going by the way the confab

Confab of discordant concord

L-R: Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal;Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi and Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi at the inauguration of the confab.

started.

Don’t blame anybody who is perceiving some Boko Haramic tendencies!

Even some of the delegates perceived same. Sister Florence Ita- Giwa is on the same page with me on this matter. She equally observed that some of the delegates are part of the problems Nigeria is facing. And many of the delegates are simply there to stoke conflicts.

Or what do you expect when things like flower vases kept in front of Kutigi could create controversy and needed to be removed for some people to have direct eye contact with delegates on the floor?

There were even insinuations that some delegates might have slept ‘under the bridge’ since many did not have hotel accommodations and some were going to Abuja for the first time.

And don’t reckon without those who went there to seek permanent jobs for their aides, drivers and other personal assistants.

Who would expect a firebrand Pastor Tunde Bakare to keep quiet when Islamic prayer was being offered instead of a uniform prayer. A pastor could start a praise worship or even a vigil and Nigerians know how to shout Allelua !

What also appeared obvious was that many delegates forgot that all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. Therefore, the less equal ones who arrived early must vacate their seats for elder statesmen and monarchs who came in late. We are Nigerians and we must respect our elders!

So, you see, there are many strong things!

One must therefore understand why there would still be as many adjournments as

we have had two in less than two weeks!

But will this sun kere, fa kere confab lay a solid foundation for faster development as anticipated by Jonathan?

Will these delegates map out a gateway for an inclusive national consensus on the structure and guiding principles of state that will guarantee Nigeria’s emergence as a more united, progressive and prosperous nation?

For a country that has weathered so much storm and with a checkered history as a political entity, will this goslow confab achieve much at the end of three months? Or should there be an extension

to six months?

When it reconvenes, will it continue debates and arguments (and maybe exchange of blows) on the 75% or 2/3 consensus. That could dominate the scene for the next one month, until maybe, President Jonathan or the national assembly comes out to tell the conference the way to go.

Those who think we have more inconsequential things dividing us than strong things binding us are not really far from the truth but the fact of the matter is that these inconsequential things are also the strong things and all these must be spelt out at inception to know whether the confab

should continue or whether the delegates should all go home

and leave the national assembly to do the job constitutionally foisted on them.

But you cannot just dismiss anything like that. Since N12million has been mentioned somewhere, before any further adjournment, they should just make sure each delegate’s purse is loaded so that in the wind of adjournments, the N12million does not enter any voice-mail or gets blown away by the wind.

Methinks also that if the N12million lands inside pockets, tension will reduce. Instead of fighting, many will be thinking about how to put the money to use rather than agitating unnecessarily over issues that don’t matter.

There would be more consensus under ‘favourable’ circumstances and less debates and arguments. Many opposition voices will die down and ‘business’ will commence ‘seriously’ and also without further adjournments. The twin issues of 75% and 2/3 voting benchmark will never crop up again and the foundation will be laid for united delegates.

Each delegate had reportedly gotten N1.4 million as at Saturday, 22nd day of March, 2014 as “ preamble allowances” of the conferees but I think all the money must be paid at once if there must be progress. Permit me, I’m not joining issues with anybody alleging that the N7 billion is borrowed. That shouldn’t be an issue at all.

But don’t reckon without somebody coming up with the issue of more money. This is Nigeria. That too is a guarantee I can bet on. As already seen, it’s going to be a confab of adjournments and that technical-

ly could extend the tenure beyond three months. Inadvertently or otherwise, that would create room for further spending.

The delegates should have the fun of their lives while it lasts.

Nobody should just wake up one day to disturb the peace of 492 Nigerians, inviting them to be delegates at a ‘come-and -chop’ confab without bearing the consequences.

What must be must be.

Ce qui doit être, doit être .

Willie Obiano: In Obi’s big shoes T

he other day, some people were ask ing if Governor Willie Obiano has had any baptism of fire since assumption of office. This according to a school of thought is necessary so that he does not become like some state governors who are so lack-lustre that you’d wonder if their states still exist.

A baptism of fire would shake a technocrat who got into office almost on a platter of gold back to reality.

Anambra State before Peter Obi who handed over to Obiano was a political war zone. Peter Obi didn’t get into power with ease. But Obiano did and hence mmy opinion he needs to have a rattling experience that will remind him not to dose for a minute. The crisis in Obosi seems to have died down and he shouldn’t let it happen again.

Anambra people are expecting so much from him because to whom much is given, much is expected and uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

Nobody should ‘sleep’ on duty because of the prevailing peace.

Many people did not understand how Peter Obi did it but Obiano’s administration owes Anambra people substantial dividends for many reasons. One, there was a smooth transition through a peaceful election. Nobody was caught with gallons of fuel trying to set any place ablaze during the election and nobody was taken to any shrine( Okija inclusive) to swear to any

oath.

Let’s believe the allegation about signing an agreement to pay a certain monthly allowance running into millions to a certain party chieftain was pure campaign of calumny. That should be the handiwork of his political enemies.

Former Governor Peter Obi laid a solid foundation for financial discipline in the state as well as a tremendous legacy of humble public service and Willie Obiano should toe the same line or improve on this legacy!

In politics, the pathway is littered with broken friendships and if anybody has coerced anybody into doing strange things, such ungodly agreements should be jettisoned with immediate effect!

Anambra people still expect a humble man in the mould of Peter Obi. However, idiosyncrasies must be respected.

There are many educated people from the state such as Emeka Anyaoku, Dora Akunyili, Alex Ekwueme, Chukwuemeka Ezeife and a lot of young professionals in different spheres of life.

The people are supportive but they want development and a governor they can relate with. And he who humbles himself will be exalted and vice-versa.This has been seen from the report card of the immediate past governor who humbled himself and God lifted him. A word is enough for the wise.

We welcome you aboard!

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 17

C M Y K

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

By KEHINDE AJOSE

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hine Begho is one media per sonality who isn’t afraid to show her originality and flaunt her sensuality .The svelte and sexyeyed Delta State-born on-air-personality started as a TV presenter and then found radio which caught her fancy. Shine opens up on how she handles attention from the opposite sex, her unforgettable moment as an OAP and the part of her body she considers the sexiest.

Broadcasting for me began way back in 2007. I started as a TV presenter and in 2008 I found radio and I just couldn’t leave it. I used to have a permanent TV job and radio was on the side. For me, the media has always been my thing, my passion since I was a kid.

The challenge is that you always have to be on point. It’s really not easy to keep the listeners interested in what you are saying. Why should they listen to you? It’s really not easy because it has no visuals, they cannot see you, nor see what the person is talking about. It’s really not easy, and don’t forget there are so many radio stations and people can just tune in to any one that suits them.

Secondly, people don’t know you facially ,they just know the voice. Most times when you say your name they recognize you. Radio on-air-personalities don’t get branded, no endorsements and it is really bad. If you want to compare it to the outside world, like America, OAPs get brand endorsements .So we need that.

Male attention? Usually I have this way I handle it, especially if the guy is very persistent. I know how to

My hips are the sexiest part of my body, you know hips don’t lie. I have had cute hips since I was a kid and I love it.

turn them into ordinary friends. I don’t know how I get it done, but I just do it. Maybe, it’s because I have been doing it since I was in the university. I can remember back in school, guys asking me out and not being interested in them. You know, we keep on chatting and doing stuffs but at the end of the day, they ended up forgetting about having me to go out with them. It’s the same thing here and now. I try as much as possible to make the person a friend, but if the person is too persistent, then I just ignore the person totally. Also, do not forget I am in a relationship too and I don’t want anybody to come and spoil things for me.

There are different nervous moments for a lot of different people. On

STAYING IN Read a book Reading is the way out of ignorance and the pathway to knowledge acquisition. Through reading, you understand the world more and understand a topic that interests you.

When you are reading, you are actually getting new knowledge and experience of others. This weekend, read a book and gain new knowledge.

C M Y K

•Shine Begho

this job, a lot of people always say they had butterflies the first time, like, they were really scared of looking at the mic.

I never had any of those experiences and that’s the truth. That was EKO FM then. I just turned on the mic and started flowing with the other presenters because I was cohosting and people loved it. I felt encouraged, maybe it’s because I had already had TV experience .

My hips are the sexiest part of my body, you know, ‘hips don’t lie’. I have had cute hips since I was a kid and I love it. I love the attention it gives me and people saying “Oh my God, you are hot”.

You know it’s not easy to have a Coca-Cola bottle shape, that was what I was called when I was a kid.

Now they call me ‘hips don’t lie’.

A colleague of mine usually says this:”Shine, the pride of Delta, have you seen those hips?” It makes me laugh but that’s true. I love my hips so much I pray that my daughter will have my kind of hips. I started noticing it when I was done with high school and I started taking care of myself wearing things that make me stand out.

GOING OUT Group running Running as a group can be both challenging and fun. Running with others, however, can boost your performance. Enter a race or join a group for a run and you’re bound to push harder and take your running to new levels. Running partners can inspire, support, and motivate you to loftier goals.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 19

Bloggers

BY JULIET EBIRIM

— DO THEY MAKE OR MAR ENTERTAINERS?

Everyday, the internet is awash with stories and pictures from various blogs about entertainment celebrities. These posts usually generate diverse reactions from members of the public. Are bloggers promoting or destroying entertainment celebrities? Saturday Vanguard sought the views of some entertainers on this issue:

It depends on the blog — Ego Ogbaro, Singer

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t depends on the blog in question. I think some of them are very good. They help to promote artistes. I’ve been fortunate in that respect. But I think some of them don’t go through the right channels, they just put it out there. Most times, I don’t pay attention to their stories because they don’t do their research.

Personally, I don’t rely on stories from blogs.

I love them, they are helping us!

They are doing both!

—Benson Okonkwo,Nollywood Actor

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believe bloggers are helping the entertainment people.

Controversy sells. So when people talk about you, whether good or bad, they are promoting you. Some top celebrities made it through controversies, while some made it through hard work. The stories and gists, whether positive or negative help to promote entertainers.

I love and appreciate bloggers.

— Ijeoma Imoh, Nollywood Actress

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hey are both helping and killing entertainers.They are helping those who wish to be known and identified to stay relevant. But for those who want to keep their lives private, they are not helping at all. I also think that these bloggers are loyal to some celebrities who they keep writing things about to make sure they are always in the news.

They are killing the industry — Biodun Okeowo, Nollywood Actress

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hey are killing the industry. 30% of them are helping us, while 70% are killing us. This is because most of them are not professional journalists who conduct one on one interviews to acquire and verify information. Most times they gather false information and go about spreading it without bothering to verify it. I’ve been a victim of false information from blogs.

It depends on the blogger and the artiste Bloggers destroy entertainment people — Peggy Ovire, Nollywood Actress

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ost times, bloggers destroy

entertainment people.. It’s a two-way thing, they are promoting as well as killing entertainers. It’s selfish interest on their part.

They only care about selling more of their stories, having more people on their sites without thinking about what they are writing and they don’t bother to find out the truth. Their stories are usually on the negative side, even after doing a good story, at the end they add something contradictory to it.

Personally, I think they are killing them, not promoting them.

C M Y K

—Uche Iwuanyanwu, Nollywood Actress

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t depends on the blogger and the artiste. Entertainers are supposed to work alongside bloggers, because they help in reaching out to a large range of people, within and outside the country. People who can’t get newspapers find it easier to access the internet. When they spread bad news about a particular entertainer, they are obviously killing that person.

But indirectly, bad stories actually promote entertainers, so they could build up your career or destroy it.

They are the gift and the curse

—Buchi, Comedian

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loggers are doing both. Their role is that of the gift and the curse. But I honestly believe that they can do better.

20 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014

08111813050

Inside the world of top Nigerian female designers Like in other excelling professions in the country, the Nigerian fashion designers have been able to propagate the Nigerian culture through its diverse fashion styles all over the world. These fashion icons who are constantly making the nation proud with their flamboyant, yet colourful and irresistible creativity, are also globally recognised with numerous accolades to show for their efforts.They clothe national and international superstars of different callings and also live in opulence. We bring you the very best who have succeeded where many have failed.

Lanre Da Silva- Ajayi

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T

HE emergence of Lanre Da Silva Ajayi in the fashion scene with iconic 1940’s couture signature designs in 2005, expectedly evolved into a modern cutting edge brand.

The label’s collection includes couture, prêt a porter, and accessories such as hairpieces and statement jewellery.

Despite the label’s strong historical design roots, LDA’s creatively combines pattern, print, exquisite and even traditional fabrics to produce day wear, evening wear, gowns and cocktail dresses that bridge time and make the label successful within and outside Nigeria.

LDA has also created four different collections for international Dutch wax print giant, Vlisco-Urban Beat, Gallery of Poems, Reflet de Lumie‘re, Tresor Brillant and Delicate Shades.

The label produces six major collections every year and has showcased locally and internationally including, Thisday Africa Rising Festival, London NTN24.com, (October 2008); ARISE ABCNews.com, Reuters Africa Fashion Festival, UK and Centric/BET. South Africa (June 2009)

and the New York Couture Fashion Week (September 2009); Arise Magazine Fashion Week, Lagos (March 2011 & 2012); the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 Made in Africa by Arise magazine, (September 2011); London Fashion Week (February 2012) and the Pitti Immagine Florence (June 2012).

LDA has been featured in various African and international media including L’Uomo Vogue, Vogue Black, ARISE Magazine, Daily Mail, Essence.com, Fashion Bomb.com, Zimbio.com, WWD.com, ITN News,

Tiffany Amber

•Lanre Da Silva

Her academic qualifications include a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Coventry University and a Masters degree in Finance from University of Leicester.

For her contributions to the Nigerian and African fashion industry, LDA has received numerous accolades and awards for excellence. With tenacity and determination, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, founder of the eponymous design label has gotten stronger making the label a fashion favourite among the media, celebrities and fashion lovers.

o doubt, the acclaimed Nigerian label known for its timeless and exquisite pieces for the everyday woman is one of the leaders in women’s fashion in Africa today.

Owned by Folake Folarin-Coker, Tiffany Amber made her international debut at the Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Blown away by her collections, the organizers of the New York Fashion Show invited her on stage, during the second show, making her the first Africanbased designer at the time to have been accorded that privilege in the history of the event.

With the success of her accomplishment, she launched extensions of the Tiffany Amber

brand that same year, rolling out TAN by Tiffany Amber (Diffusion Line) and Folake Folarin (Couture Line).

Although Tiffany Amber is a modern brand, the line’s success story comes from striking the balance between local flavour and international appeal.

Born in Lagos, and schooled in England, Switzerland and Scotland, Folarin-Coker is widely reported, and has appeared in international publications ,having been profiled on networks such as the BBC and CNN. The multiple award designer started Tiffany Amber in 1998. She has given back to her roots through projects like ‘Made in Africa’ created by Vogue Italia in partnership with Yoox.com as a way of selling the African market to the world.

BRIDGET AWOSIKA

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t became obvious from a tender age that Bridget Awosika, Head Designer/Creative Director of Namesake label would pursue a career in Fashion Design. She headed to Howard University in Washington, USA for her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management before proceeding to Parsons School of Design in New York.

Awosika keeps exhibiting her creativity, especially when it comes to draping, daring cuts and maneuvering fabrics. She has defined her style with an edgy glamour and sophisticated signature style with pieces consisting of detailed cuts, double slits, breezy colours and architectural art. The brand in the last four years has come to be a favourite among fashion lovers both within and outside the shores of the country.

Bridget Awosika

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014 — 21

Deola Sagoe

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stablished in 1989 in Lagos, The House of Deola Sagoe celebrates the inherent, ethnic glamour found in local African fabrics and hand-woven materials. Using African fabrics, hand-woven materials, and contemporising almost-lost traditional African techniques, Deola designs present a unique vision and attitude for the modern woman.

The Ondo State born mother of three who studied at the University of Miami and University of Lagos with a Masters in Finance and Management has worked with supermodels such as Alek Wek, Liya Kebede, Oluchi, among many others. She regularly participates in fashion shows in Africa, America, and Europe alongside fashion heavyweights like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Chanel, and Missoni. She was the winner of the MNET/Anglo Gold

African Designs 2000 award, following her nomination by the world famous fashion guru, and Vogue Editor, Andre Leon Talley. Her lines have been modelled in major International beauty pageants, including Miss Universe, and she has fans in the likes of Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, and talk show queen Oprah Winfrey. Sagoe who was appointed UN Designer, for the launch of the UN World For Food Program’s global campaign, ‘Catwalk the World – Fashion for Food’, has a state-of-the art boutique in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The brand retails in Ghana through Viva Boutique and has plans underway to open outlets in South Africa.

Recently, her daughters are beginning to carve a niche for themselves in 6th fashion business with their label called, CLAN.

Lisa Folawiyo

Zizi Cardow

ith no formal training, Lisa Folawiyo in 2005, established her label, Jewel by Lisa in her home, after the birth of her daughter. Since then, the lawyer turned designer has been crafting urban- chic collections and incorporating Ankara in the most non-traditional yet super couture ways.

She uses the highest grade of Ankara fabrics from the Vlisco Hollandais brand to concoct the perfect mixtures of Ankara, Sequins, Swarovski crystals, beads, taffeta among others, coupling with Nigerian fabrics.

Jewel by Lisa has showcased its collections on international platforms in Johannesburg, London, Paris, New York, Milan, among others. She has also enjoyed international reviews.

Among her celebrity fans are Beyonce, Tasha Smith, Kelis and Eve. She has collaborated with global brands such as Blackberry and L’Oreal to create limited edition of Blackberry Phone cases and Lipstick as well as Nailpolish covers. The multifaceted global women swear and accessories collection totally changed the face of the fabrics, creating a global print and turning the label into a coveted luxury brand. Her diffusion line ‘J Label’ promotes the Nigerian culture and flare with the combination of Afro-pop and urban cool designs that is very amazing

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W

Lola Faturoti I

nspired by the Obama campaign which made her create the Obama print dress with the words Olowa gba President Barrack Obama’ boldly printed on it, Lola Faturoti became known in the fashion industry in the United States.

Though the Ondo princess has been a sensation in New York occasioned by her ability to mix prints and create clothes that speak vividly of her origin before her globally recognised status, she is full of the African rhythm and inspired by the passion for African fashion. Raised in her home town and trained in London, after working in many clothing stores in the United States, Faturoti relocated to Milan to fine tune her talents and has since been a name in Nigerian fashion.

C M Y K

Deola Sagoe

ith numerous national and international awards to her credit, Zizi Cardow in 2000 succeeded in globalising distinctive African prints with the launch of her label, ‘ZIZI.’ The CEO of Zizi Industrial Clothing Company Limited has been featured in both local and international media including CNN, FTV, SABC, Channel O among others.

The Abia State-born designer has walked many a catwalk from Milan to Paris, Cape Town, USA and beyond, carrying with it the true Nigerian vibrancy and flavour. Cardow has gained as clients and fans, a lot of trend setters and first ladies celebrate her as an ambassador of the society. She has also given back so much to the world through so many mentorship programs. Equally, she has received laurels for distinguishing herself in her chosen career. Among them were African Role Model Leadership Gold Award, Pillar of National Development Gold Award, Nigeria Enterprise Award for Excellence, and Great Legend of Africa Gold Award and still counting.

Zizi Cardow

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

*Anita Joseph

*Clarion Chukwurah

*Iyanya

*RMD

*Chika Agatha

Showbiz on song at

Vanguard Personalities I

of the Y ear A wards Year Aw

t was indeed an evening of fun, colour, glamour and razzmatazz at the Vanguard Personalities award held last Saturday at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

The epoch making event which witnessed dignitaries from all walks of life featured comedy, music and a whole lot of other activities.

While Bimbo Akintola and Ali Baba gave good account of themselves as comperes, Gordons, Bovi, Buchi, I Go Dye among others sent the gorgeously dressed dignitaries reeling with laughter. Ghetto Soldier, Daddy Showkey, Sammy Okposo, Kcee, Iyanya, Harry Song, Omawunmi, Waje, and a host of others, further sent the audience into frenzy with

*Gordon

superlative performances.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Alhaji Aloko Dangote and Innocent Chukwuma bagged the awards.

On hand to spice the occasion were Nollywood acts such as Ngozi Nwosu, Fred Amata, Clarion Chukwurah, Jibola Dabo, Anita Joseph, Nonye Ike, Yvonne Jegede, Omoni Oboli Ufuoma Ejenobor, Chika Agatha, Uche Iwuanyanwu, Nazareth Jesse Bako, Paul Adams, Victor Eshiet of Mandators fame, Tamara Eteimo , Rachael Oniga, foremost publicists, Cornel Udofia, Bola Aduwo, actress and blogger, Mimi Ubini among others.

*Fred Amata

*I Go Dye, Ayo Onikoyi and Bovi

*Uche Iwuanyanwu *Omoni Oboli

*Nazareth Jesse Bako, Thelma O’kaz, Cornel Udofia, Yvonne Jegede and Peggy Ovire

*Jibola Dabo

SATURDAY Vanguard,MARCH 29, 2014 — 23

NIGERIAN IDOL UPDATE!

Dede Mabiaku pa ys tribut e tto o pays tribute lat e FFela ela K uti late Kuti

By AYO ONIKOYI

T

he legacy and memories of the Afrobeat legend, Fela AnikulapoKuti surely lives on.

Afrobeat performer and protégé of Fela, Dede Mabiaku brought back the legacy of the late Fela during the recording of the first group of Top 30 contestants for Nigerian Idol Season 4.

Dressed in a black T-shirt that had a painted picture of Fela Kuti in front with the legendary Fela pose and an inscription behind saying ‘United We Stand’ Dede said, “Fela influenced who I am today greatly, so, though he is no more in body, he constantly remains in my heart.”

Dede is a judge on the on-going season of Nigerian Idol alongside multi-talented entertainer and King of R&B, Darey ArtAlade and German-Nigerian hip hop/soul singer, Nneka Egbuna.

‘I‘I see see se sexx as as unnecessar unnecessary’ y’ —Eva

By KEHINDE AJOSE

T

he sexy, unconventional rapper and beauty entrepreneur whom Ice Prince confessed he once dated opened up recently on how she sees Nigerian men and what she thinks about sex.

In her words: ’I think Nigerian men are fine.

We have the best crop of men in Nigeria. My major priority is to be focused on necessary things. I don’t see relationships as unnecessary but I see sex as unnecessary ‘she reveals.

Darey Art-Alade loses cool on national TV

By AYO ONIKOYI

T

he first episode showcasing the first group of the Top 30 contestants of Africa’s No 1 music talent show, Nigerian Idol that aired on Sunday, March 23, 2014 saw multi-talented entertainer and King of R&B, Darey Art-Alade lashed out at a contestant after a woeful performance.

Royal George, a contestant from Benin performed Rihanna’s all time hit song, ‘Diamonds.’ Aside from having pitch issues, George also made a mess with the lyrics of the song.

“That was a royal mess,” said a disappointed Darey. “Messy lyrics, pitch issues, you know you didn’t do well,” he added.

How Paul Okoye’s traditional wedding became a concert

By KEHINDE AJOSE

P

aul and Anita Isama tied the knot on Saturday March 22, 2014 at the Aztech Arcum in Port Harcourt after dating for 11 years. The traditional wedding turned into a mini concert as several top Nigerian artistes took turns to perform their hit songs It was a festive and glamourous affair all the way. The likes of Banky W, D’banj, Phyno, Bracket, Sound Sultan, Ikechukwu, J Martins and Naeto C performed their songs. According to reports, the artistes performed like 2 to 3 of their songs each, excluding the Kokomaster who was the unexpected guest and performed 4 of his hit tracks. DJ Jimmy Jatt was the master DJ for the event turning his wheels of steel to delight all.

D’Banj r ve o s e sh u g l e h ic M jid a M

By AYO ONIKOYI t isn’t a strange cliché that in every pond there are small fishes just as there are big fishes. This fact very much captures the feeling Ghollywood actor, Majid Michel demonstrated when he met the Kokomaster, D’Banj at the Paul Okoye of Psquare’s wedding last Saturday in Portharcourt.

Majid was clearly enamoured at the sight of the top singer and couldn’t help but reach out to have his photograph taken with the ‘Oliver Twist’ crooner. It must have been a great day for Majid, who still took to Instagram to graphically recounted the encounter.

“So he was passing with his escort and I managed to tap him on his shoulder. He stopped, turned around, took his glasses off, smiled, looked at me and said “Bad Guy” .... Then he threw his left arm around my shoulder and hence this picture.... It was my first time meeting D’Banj... spectacular personality..!!! That’s one of the great things about music.

You can sing a song to 1million people and they’ll sing it back for 1million different reasons...’Please Sir ,I Want Some More’... were the words of Oliver...Oliver...Oliver Twist..?...Oliver Twist has been the subject of numerous film and television adaptations, and is the basis for a highly successful musical play. This “Maestro” took this concept and made music for every single person that walks the planet. Two big thumbs up for him.! What is your favourite thing about music? You see, we rely more on enthusiasm than actual skill.

Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically and people will like it more. And of course you can always see the enthusiasm D’banj emits on stage!! I may not believe in myself, but I believe in what I’m doing” he wrote.

I

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

E

ver imagined walking into a room in a fine suit and a refined French cuff tuxedo shirt laced with your choice of cufflinks or a sect of studs and placing your briefcase on the desk, revealing an elegant pair of cufflinks.

It gives a lasting impression that you are truly in charge. Unlike other accessories, cufflinks stand out even when you try to hide them.

It simply distinguishes you from the regular. So, putting on a double-cuff corporate shirts otherwise known as French cuff shirts or a native’s tailored double cuff, cufflinks have a way of suiting your style as a man.

However, the need to be conscious of your personality and then dressing accordingly is very paramount in today’s world.

So relish your style: go for the pair of cufflinks you love.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 25

Gimlet cocktail is one of the best

By ANOZIE EGOLE

A

visit to some highbrow joints and bars in Nigeria, especially Lagos state shows that irrespective of the financial situation of the country, classy men and women stop at nothing to give themselves the satisfaction they deserve. Some of these places will make this weekend worthwhile with choice wine and champagne.

Bacardi Cocktail

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his great classic cocktail is an excellent example of good marketing. In 1936, the New York Supreme Court ruled that an authentic Bacardi cocktail had to be made with Bacardi rum. Sour mix is often used in bars instead of the lemon or lime juice, but fresh juice makes a far better drink. If you want to go with sour mix, make your own, though it is not very necessary here because grenadine adds a perfect amount of sweetness. It is made of, 1 3/4 ounces Bacardi light rum, 3/4 ounce lemon or lime juice, 1/4 ounce grenadine. To get a good Bacardi cocktail,pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes; shake it very well and then, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Gimlet Cocktail A

personal favorite amongst the classic cocktail list, the Gimlet has long been appreciated as one of the best gin sours you will find. The difference is that lime is the citrus of choice here and when that is paired with a traditional gin like a premium London Dry, the drink is sweet, tart, and refreshing.

The unique sweetness of Rose’s Lime Juice is commonly used over fresh squeezed juice, an uncommon factor as we often hear that fresh is always better in any drink. However, a superior (fresher) Gimlet can be formed by making your own lime cordial. Another option is to use equal parts of fresh lime juice and simple syrup.

You can also wipe the rim with a lime wedge by gently squeezing it over the drink and dropping it in. You can also substitute the gin with vodka for a Vodka Gimlet. To get a Gimlet cocktail, it is a very simple process: you pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes, stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

*Summer fling cocktail

*Tequila cocktail

26 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

I get countless marriage proposals every year — Nazareth Jesse Bako

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BY AYO ONIKOYI

t is not often you run into a northerner who is into the mainstream Nollywood instead of Kannywood.

Nazareth Jesse Bako started her flourishing career in 2001, but got her break in 2004, when she starred in ‘Girls’ Cot’ alongside notable Nollywood faces like Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo, Ini Edo and Benita Nzeribe.

She is of the tribe of Gbayiza, one of the major natives of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. She has a BSc Degree in Economics from the University of Abuja. In this chat with Showtime Celebrity, Naz, as she is called by friends, let us into her quiet world.

Excerpts: When did you start acting and what made you chose acting as a career?

I started acting in 2004, but joined Nollywood 2001. My parents never liked it because they believed that girls who go into acting have to do a lot of amoral things, like sleeping around to get roles.

It took me time to convince them that I would never end up like girls who sleep with movie makers. Later, they discovered that I have passion for acting as they allowed me to follow my dream.

I am happy that I have kept my word since I joined the industry.

Which movie would you say launched your career?

Well, my very first film was ‘Girls’ Cot’, where I featured alongside senior colleagues like Genevieve Nnaji, Uche Jombo, Ini Edo, Rita Dominic and Benita Nzeribe. But the film, I will say that really launched me was ‘Bitter Generation’. It was my very first big film and it had a huge cast, including Olu Jacobs, Ini Edo, Oge Okoye, Ali Nuhu and some others. That film was produced by Stanley Ebonine and directed by Ifeanyi Ogbonna. The film was about runs girls who would do anything to get what they want. It also involved rituals.

As an actress, what role you wouldn’t take on and why?

As an actress, I should be versatile, and I am versatile to the extent that I can take up any role as long as the producer

is willing to comply with my terms.

What if the role comes with a bit of nudity, sex and plenty of sensual scenes ?

That is why I am an actor, I can do all that as long as the producer and whosoever is in charge of the movie complies with my conditions.

What are your conditions?

Do you want to produce one of those movies? That should only be known to a producer of such a movie.

Have you ever rejected a role before based on the script or as a result of your conditions not being met?

Yes I have. I can refuse to take part in a movie for many reasons. I have my principles and if a script doesn’t agree with certain beliefs I have, I am sorry, I may have to turn down the role.

As a beautiful, sexy woman, what has your experience been with men?

There is so much to say when it comes to men but I will put that in one Word “interesting”. I got so many men coming after me; face to face,on social media,some, I don’t even know how they got my number, some travelled abroad just to meet me. Most of them came with marriage proposals. Believe me, different calibres of men are always after me for a relationship.

Recently, one approached me on a flight. I was so shocked, I thought if I took a Business Class, I would be able to take a nap and shake off any intrusion from men but I was wrong. Sitting close to me was a high society man and he was all over me, bugging me, all the way, throughout the flight.

Like how many marriage proposals do you get per year?

My dear, they are uncountable. But these days my friends are saying I should begin to give some of them serious consideration. I am not in a hurry to settle down. When I see the right man, I will know it is time to settle down.

You mean you don’t have marriage on your mind at all?

No, I do have it at the back of my mind but I am not desperate to get married. I know some of the proposals are not

I want to marry a ready-made man, not even one struggling to make it. If you want my hand in marriage you must have achieved success on your own and still possess all these qualities I have mentioned

sincere, so, I am taking my time and waiting for the right man to come along.

So, why have you remained unmarried till now if you get such many proposals?

No comment on that. Like I told you before, when the right man comes along, I will know it is time.

What will make you settle down with a man and how will you know this is him?

My kind of man is a man who is Godfearing, mature and caring. Once you have a man who loves God, every other thing is secondary. I am matured enough to recognise all these virtues in a man. When I see a man who has these virtues, I may give out my heart completely.

So, even a poor man can have your hand in marriage?

There is nothing like a poor man in my diary.

But most poor men tend to be Godfearing?

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—27

Human Nature

It’s the menopause, not the end

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ven as a woman, Oluwatope has always had very little knowledge about the biological make up of a woman. She knew absolutely nothing about the menarche and puberty and even less about menstrual periods until as a 12–year-old, she woke up one morning and saw blood stains on her night dress and bed sheets. “I didn’t know what happened but I was really scared when I saw the blood. I thought I was going to die and began to cry. I was the youngest child in a family of five with three children — all girls. I have two older sisters but neither of them, nor my mother or father prepared me for the experience. My first menstrual period was an unpleasant surprise.”

Experience If Oluwatope’s entry into womanhood was unexpected and unprepared, expecting her to understand what the menopausal experience would be like is probably asking too much. “I was as ignorant about menopause as I was about puberty more than three decades ago simply because I never expected it to happen to me, yet.” Today, even as a woman in her mid 40s and herself a mother of three children aged 12, 10 and seven, the knowledge and information about menopause is just as sketchy and vague as her experience about puberty.

Oluwatope was 44 when she realised she had started missing a few periods. It didn’t bother her at first as she leads quite a stressful life. But after a while, she started getting really bad Premenstrual Tension or PMT whenever she had a period. She gained weight almost overnight and her eating habits also changed.

Hot flushes Then came the hot flushes. The first wave was intense and unpredictable. The attacks came on at any time. They were even worse than the PMT. Oluwatope felt like she was having a panic attack. “I had this feeling of intense pressure in my upper chest, and then my face began to feel like it was on fire. I also got palpitations.” Hot flushes are the most common reason women seek treatment for menopause.

They can last from a few seconds to several minutes and often induce a sweat followed by a chill. They often occur at night but some women have them

several times a day.

Expect the unexpected Olabode, Oluwatope’s husband had a hard time coping. Sometimes his wife is nice, sometimes she is nasty, yet he has no way of knowing whether she would wake up nasty or nice. They both had no idea what was going on, and in time, Oluwatope consulted her personal physician to discuss the best course of action. “My doctor is a woman, so I felt comfortable discussing things with her. I didn’t feel that I needed any medication. I just wanted information about what was happening to me and how I could manage it.”

occurred after 12 consecutive months of no periods. It is a change of life that usually happens between 45 and 55 years of age for most women, but could occur earlier or later.

Menopause before the age

the ovaries.

Dryness and urinary problems Falls in oestrogen levels can cause walls of the vagina to become drier and

oestrogen levels after menopause can contribute to health problems including osteoporosis (loss of bone mass and thinning and weakening of bone) and a raised risk of heart disease.

What is it?

The doctor dismissed her fears. “What you are going through is known as the perimenopause. It is the period of time from when you start to get symptoms to when your periods eventually stop.

Your periods may become irregular and you may have symptoms of oestrogen deficiency, such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and sweats. This may last about four years on average, until the very last period.” Menopause, that time when a woman’s monthly period stops for

•First menstrual period was an unpleasant surprise...

thinner, which can lead to itching, irritation or pain during intercourse.

Weakening of the bladder and thinning of the opening of the bladder (the urethra) can also occur.

I was as ignorant about menopause as I was about puberty good, is a natural part of ageing. It happens when the ovaries stop producing oestrogen and progesterone — the female sex hormones.

When does it occur?

Gynaecologists say menopause is said to have

of 40 is called “early menopause”. Factors associated with early menopause include a family, never having had a baby, a hysterectomy, previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer, and early failure of

Mood changes Although many women experience mood changes around menopause, it is not clear whether these changes are linked to lower oestrogen levels or other issues which can coincide with this time in life, such as career pressures. Some women do not experience adverse effects and aren’t aware of any other changes in their body. For most women, symptoms do not last long, but lower

Coping In trying to cope, Oluwatope has made small changes to her life style. “For example, she never used to eat breakfast but now makes sure she has at least some cereal or a sandwich and a proper lunch to keep her blood sugar levels steady. Each woman will experience menopause differently and there is no one treatment that will suit everyone. Menopause is an entirely natural phenomenon, not a disease, and many women experience no or minimal symptoms and require no specific treatment.

However, for others it can be a very unpleasant time. Some women don’t want any medical intervention, while others try complementary and natural remedies.

28—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

Coffee is good for you

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espite being the most pleasurable hot beverage in the world, coffee is also one of the most controversial. Even with a long history of being blamed for many ills, coffee ranks second (after water) as the most-drunk beverage in the world. Besides enhancing physical and mental alertness, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of potential health benefits. The list of benefits of coffee consumption is almost endless. It protects against heart failure, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer, liver cirrhosis, gall bladder disease, etc.

Coffee as a beverage possesses a wide spectrum antibacterial activity against a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms including Streptococcus mutans (the organism that causes dental caries) and other pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Choosing coffee over sugary drinks leads to reduced calorie consumption. It speeds up the metabolism, and C M Y K

contains components with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hormonal properties that could improve insulin sensitivity.

Dr. Batholomew Brai, a researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Yaba, says

coffee enhances mental and physical performance. In a presentation entitled: “Coffee and Health: New Scientific Findings. He says science proves that moderate coffee consumption can be beneficial to health.

Brai, who spoke at an interactive parley on coffee organised by Ignite, described coffee as a beverage which can be part of a healthy diet and is a major source of dietary antioxidants. “Coffee is good for you. The benefits of coffee

drinking far outweigh the perceived negative effects attributable to the caffeine content.

Healthy individuals can enjoy the ‘goodness’ in coffee.

“The antioxidant effect of coffee is becoming increasingly known, even though this protective mechanism of coffee against a host of diseases may involve a lot more than anti oxidation.

Coffee also exerts direct biological actions on the body, which may be protective against various diseases.”

6 secrets of longevity Stay active Sitting for prolonged periods of time can be highly detrimental to health, even with regularly exercise when not seated. The more time spent seated, the higher the risk of ill health and even death. If you work in front of a computer all day, take breaks every 45 minutes to walk around and catch some fresh air and stretch your muscles.

Try Yoga Practitioners claim yoga’s body/breath/mind exercises strengthen and balance the immune system, stimulating it to more effectively destroy sickness-causing microbes. .

Regularly engaging in yoga sessions can also reverse high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity.

Consider purchasing a yoga DVD to practice at home.

5-minute cold shower Cold showers improve blood circulation, strengthen skin, bolster the immune system, improve the mood and invigorate the body. Exposure to ice-cold water elevates levels of glutathione - natural, stay-well antioxidant produced by the body. The ideal length of a cold shower is five minutes.

Cut your calories Eating less has positive effects on overall health. A calorie-restricted diet of up to 25 percent less calories reduces overall cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood pressure. To avoid vitamin deficiencies, eat nutritionally dense foods rich in protein and vegetables. Avoid simple sugars.

Take a mid day nap Nothing beats afternoon siesta. The number and effectiveness of disease-fighting immune cells increases with longer sleep hours. A lack od adequate sleep promotes health-attack-causing calcium buildup in the heart arteries, and restricts production of human growth hormone, which limits the body’s ability to repair itself.

Take a nap when feasible. The ideal time is 1pm to 3pm in the afternoon, when the human body is most in need of rest.

De-stress Too much stress can invite sickness, cause sleeplessness, lack of energy, backaches, diarrhoea, constipation, depression, bloating, cramping, changes in appetite, listlessness, irritability, rashes, hives, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Exercising at least three times a week, inhaling calminducing aromatherapy candles, or simply sharing a laugh with friends can work wonders in reducing stress.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—29

Malaria and pregnancy, a dangerous twist

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

W

hat if I get malaria while I am pregnant?” She asked. Don’t direct your thoughts in that direction, I answered. Actually, pregnancy makes you susceptible to malaria.

Studies have suggested that if you get malaria while you are pregnant, your immunity level decreases.

I recall that six weeks into Julie’s pregnancy she had malaria. She never accessed treatment until it was discovered that the foetus was no longer breathing. Julie was induced and in the process it was discovered she had malaria.

Unfortunately, it affected the foetus.

Malaria in pregnant women can lead to complications. These include jaundice, anaemia, haemorrhage, enlargement of the “

spleen, and kidney failure. If a pregnant woman has malaria, there is a greater risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight babies and neonatal death. There is also a small risk of the baby being born with malaria.

fever occurs in 48 hour cycles of shivering and then extreme sweating.

Only a blood test will confirm malaria.

Passing malaria to the unborn

No, you cannot be completely immune to malaria, if you have had it just once. Your body gradually acquires some natural immunity, but only after repeated bouts of the disease. So, prevention is a safer option.

It is possible but rare. Most babies remain unharmed but in very rare cases the baby can get the disease through the placenta. When this happens it can cause serious complications.

If caught early can be treated so make sure to keep an eye out for symptoms of malaria Symptoms usually begin to show 10-15 days after the mosquito bite. They include a high fever, headache, chills and vomiting. In some cases the

After having an attack, am I immune for life?

What can I do to prevent getting malaria?

Keep mosquitoes at bay. Try to keep your surroundings free of mosquito breeding grounds, such as stagnant water, especially during the rains.

Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours so wear light colours.

Stay in air-conditioned or cool areas. Use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets to ward off bites

Can I breastfeed my baby if I have malaria?

Yes you can. There is a very slim chance of the malaria parasite being transmitted through breast milk. Studies show breast milk has immunity benefits to help protect your baby. Negatives of breastfeeding whilst you have malaria are outweighed by the positives.

Research shows only a negligible amount of antimalarial drugs pass on to breast milk and the benefits of breast milk far outweigh any harm that the drugs may cause to your baby.

30—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

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ast year, President Goodluck Jonathan mandated the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, to achieve coverage for 30 percent of Nigerians by 2015. But, in-house, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NHIS, Dr. Martins Oluwafemi Thomas decided to stretch the mandate to 40 percent through which, at least 70.8 million Nigerians will be reached. He speaks on the mandate and a host o frelated issues Mandate The President has given me the opportunity to influence the health of all Nigerians at all levels at this stage of our development. Actually, for me, this is the best time to be the Executive Secretary of the NHIS. Pay your contribution We are telling Nigerians that contribute their own part. When you have problems you will be taken care of. We are saying pay your own contribution now and we will cover you in retirement, because there will come a day when you will sign off in the office and join the vulnerable group in retirement.

When you live long there are issues that go with age, that is when all the diseases of this world will come knocking on your door, and we are saying why don’t you pay your contribution while you are still active and we will cover you in retirement? We are willing to take the risk off you.

Cross subsidisation What we operate is a form of cross-subsidisation. We will see a situation where people who are strong and able are paying and then the state will provide for the vulnerable group that cannot pay. That is the whole essence of making it mandatory. Government will contribute and those who are not working or those who are vulnerable will be covered through what is called cross subsidisation. Health insurance, unlike motor vehicle or housing insurance, does not

Lifeline

Managed Healthcare

Pay your contribution now and get covered in retirement

L-R: Mr Gbenga Adeyinka, Ace Comedian; Nasir Ikhaor, NHIS Zonal Coordinator, Lagos; Dr. Femi Thomas, Executive Secretary/CEO NHIS; Akin Fadeyi, CEO, Bufferzone Ltd and Ayo Osinlu, AGM, Media NHIS at the maiden edition of the NHIS TV Talkshow held in Lagos last week. lapse. The lapsing point is at the point of death if there is adequate risk pulling.

Legislation The Act of the NHIS is being reviewed to make health insurance mandatory. Under the current dispensation, it is not mandatory to have healthy insurance. And even it is made mandatory, somebody must pay for it. The process should be concluded this year. For health insurance to be universal it has to be compulsory. As long as you do not make it compulsory people will find reason not to enroll.

Universal Health Coverage There are two sides to the

Wh ou need regular Whyy yyou physical activity

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xercise is good for you, but just how good?

From boosting mood to improving libido, find out how exercise can improve your life.

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore.

And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need C M Y K

general populace; the demand side and the supply side. All these make up the aspect of Universal Health Coverage.

Only then we can talk about quality. The demand side is taken care of by us (NHIS). We are here to remove financial barriers to health. Then there are those who take up the supply side. This is mainly hinged on the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the State primary Healthcare Development Agency, and at the Local Government level. Private health managers are all stakeholders on the supply side.

National Health Bill This is another blessing in disguise. The NHB has just been passed, by the time Mr. President puts pen to paper on it, 1 percent of the national assets will be coming to NHIS. That would be something indeed. It is going to add another N30 billion annually to our pocket and then we shall start driving the scheme for the vulnerable groups. These are things that will make this programme very attractive to the people.

Health Maintenance Organisations It is not correct that one group is benefiting more than

more convincing to exercise?

Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

and diseases No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

Controls weight Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories.

The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don’t need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can’t do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

Combats health conditions

Improves mood A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can

another. The situation is essentially about risk-pulling at the level of facilities. Facilities are paid in advance quarterly whether enrollees fall ill or not.

The risk pulling is at the level of the facility. HMOs are like conveyor belts. They collect the money, give to the facility and take a percentage, as running cost, that’s all.

Risk pulling It is possible to pull resources to a level no one can steal again. For instance in the Pension Scheme there are now trillions of naira available, and these are like idle funds that can be used to finance the real sector. So if we have the same in the health sector, you can imagine the synergy. This fund has innate capability to resist depletion. That is the whole essence of risk pulling. We can build funds that will be so massive there will be no need to build vaults.

Centenary package As part of the Nigeria’s centenary celebration, we are supporting tertiary health for our enrollees. The NHIS is offering a special treatment package for NonCommunicable Diseases to hundreds of enrollees nationwide. We have approved funds to take care of tertiary and super tertiary diseases for 2014. We are going to cover 100 cardiac interventions and open heart operations, 100 cancer cases, 100 major renal and orthopaedic operations, nationwide. This is to have a multiplier effect to help those centres to grow and then people will have confidence in them.

Collateral benefits We are doing a programme to support tertiary health. A lot is going on in Nigeria now from bone marrow transplant, kidney transplant to open heart surgery. Many of our medical experts in diaspora are willing to come back home. That will tell you that if we create enough demand, we can actually go high in the country when it comes to health issues.

help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

Boosts energy Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.

SARTURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 31 Well, as an African lady and also from northern Nigeria, our tradition kicks against such things. Besides, we already have too many cases of rape and nudity issues in Nigeria, so, why encourage more of these things by promoting pornography. Injecting pornography into our films will only increase cases of rape.

Moreover, I don’t think it is something Nigerians will accept.

We are too sensitive as a people and such films will only infuriate people more than getting them to buy into it. I don’t agree that it is the next level. Movies are meant to impact something positive in our immediate society. Porn movies by Nigerians will not help our society because hypocrisy is everywhere. Even those

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Would you marry a married man like some of your colleagues are doing?

No comment on that. It’s their choice.

Please tell me all about your background I was born in Jerusalem and brought up in Bida, Niger state. My parents are from Kuje Area Council, Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory. I am a graduate of Economics from the University of Abuja.

My real names are Nazareth Jesse Bako.

Why were you named Nazareth?

I have never asked my parents. But my father always told me I am untouchable, and that is the meaning of the name ‘Nazareth’ Or could it be because you were born in Jerusalem?

I don’t think so. I think they lost their first child and when they gave birth to me they decided to name me ‘Nazareth’, meaning ‘untouchable’. I think they must have had some certain feeling about not wanting to lose me after they lost the first child. I am now the first child of the family.

•Nazareth Jesse Bako They will go for their own class of women.

I want to marry a ready-made man, not even one struggling to make it. If you want my hand in marriage, you must have achieved success on your own and still possess all these qualities I have mentioned. I was not born to suffer all my life. I have tried to get to where I am, so settling down would be resting and giving birth to my kids and taking good care of them Are you in a relationship now?

I am sorry, I don’t discuss my relationships on the pages of a newspaper.

What has been your most challenging role in a movie and why?

That movie must be “Share The Blood” the one where I acted as a Reverend Sister.

The film was directed by Timothy Onu. The movie was so challenging because I couldn’t recite the Catholic prayers or is it the rosary and I wasn’t given enough time to study my character. Besides, I felt it was something I would learn fast but it became very difficult, that at a point, I thought of quitting the set of the film.

How do see the injection of soft porn into Nollywood films, some said it is the next level, that it will make films more acceptable in the western world. What’s your opinion?

that will love it will be the first to cry out against it.

But you just said you could go nude in a movie if your terms are met?

And I haven’t told you what my terms are, have I? Part of my terms could be that I would not take part in such films in my country. I know it is show business and we are actors but our people are just not equipped to deal with such innovation in our films.

How do you handle randy producers and directors?

I get friendly with everyone and get by.

Some said you cannot go through the industry without being sexually harassed,how true is this?

Maybe back in those days, but now, lots of girls and boys want to be on screen so bad they are ready to do anything. What used to be is not any longer. The clock has turned anti-clockwise. Instead of the movie makers harassing the wannabe actors, it is now the wannabe actors who go after the film makers, offering all sorts of incentives. I don’t want to talk more than that.

Besides, sexual harassment is everywhere. It not only in Nollywood.

These days, you hear cases of job seekers saying the owners of companies want to sleep with them before giving them

jobs.

Instead of the movie makers harassing the wannabe actors, it is now the wannabe actors who go after the film makers, offering all sorts of incentives

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

Adokiye’s birthday present! S

ensational singer and actress, Adokiye Kyrian is set to give her numerous fans a bumper package today as she marks her birthday with the release of her hit music video, Pay as you go.

The sexy Architecture graduate said, “I decided to drop this musical video today as a way of celebrating my birthday. I thought of so many other ways of marking my birthday and I felt that dropping my music video today will be a wonderful way of appreciating God for m y life and my fans for their continuous support and encouragement.”

The singer who was unveiled sometime last year as Imo State youth ambassador recently became movie directors’ favourite after starring in the movie,Ghost Bridge which is yet to hit the market. Asked whether she prefers acting to singing, the sexy singer said, “I am an entertainer”, adding that “there is no one I have special calling for.”

Chik a Ik e becomes Chika Ike Bullet ambassador

•Adokiye

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ollywood actress, Chika Ike has joined the league of actresses who are brand ambassadors as she was recently unveiled in London as Bullet energy drink brand ambassador.

Though it has not been confirmed how much the deal is worth, those in the know said the deal is obviously not going to be a chicken change. The sultry actress is having a swell time in the industry irrespective of her recent break up with her husband. She keeps smiling to the bank. Matinee gathered that the deal was done at the Sunmark office in London. Wish you the best, beautiful lady.

•Chika

B’Black in My Matter E

femena Oghoro, aka B’Black is one of the fast rising hip hop stars to watch out for this year as he is set to release his album titled, ‘My Matter ’. The Delta state born, Timaya look-alike whose new single ‘Gum Body’ is currently enjoying massive airplay has done several songs in the past which had a wide coverage. He plans to take the industry by surprise. “I really appreciate the support of my fans. I’ll be releasing my album ‘My Matter ’ any time soon.

My fans should expect the best. I hope to surpass their expectations”.

•B’Black

Arewa drops new single A new pop diva otherwise known as Arewa has released her second single within a month. Arewa, whose real name is Sola Odekunle, is out with Something To You, a feel-good, laid-back song about a love gone sour. This new single is coming on the heels of her debut, Baba Omo, an educative song on the roles of parents in the life of a child.

The banker turned singer says, “Baba Omo is a song that basically talks about irresponsible parents. To simplify it, it’s saying that parents should be there to watch their kids grow no matter the situation and no matter the relationship with the other parent. I wouldn’t call it an abstract song because the meaning is clear but it’s not limited to the ‘Baba’, it could be the ‘Mama’ as well.”

•Arewa

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—33

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ove and fear are opposites. Not love and hate – hate comes from fear. So, why do men fear love?

In a lot of ancient cultures, love is characterized as a god, or a goddess. Why? Because nobody can control it. When you’ve got it, you’re stuck with it. Like the flu. But the answer is right here – control. Now, nobody sits a young boy down and gives him a speech about how he’s supposed to be in control because he’s a man.

But that’s the message men get. Emotion is for women.

Maintain control at all costs.

Well, love makes you feel out of control. So it conflicts with the programming. That’s the primary reason men are afraid of love.

A second reason that men fear love is that it plays havoc with one’s emotions. Men aren’t raised with emotion or given the knowledge, insight and benefit of the experience of older and wiser men. Women on the other hand, generally are provided with all of these things – women have no problem discussing their feelings with each other, and are given the benefit of the experience of those who are older and wiser than themselves.

This seems to be a cross-cultural phenomenon; so one particular race, religion or philosophy can’t be blamed.

Popular wisdom has it that, “men are mental, women are emotional”, which is really an oversimplification. Men do have emotions, but are discouraged from showing them and letting them control their actions. Love is one of the strongest emotions – so of course it’s going to conflict with the male imperative to “stay in control.” There are many men who are comfortable splashing around in the shallow waters of meaningless relationships because they don’t conflict with the programming.

A relationship that actually engages a man’s emotions … well, that’s a challenge, and a scary one at that. In fact, it’s so scary that a man may actually be in love for quite some time before the realization hits him – usually like a ton of bricks. So suddenly, there’s

o t to d i a r f ra a e h s I ?

l ov e

this huge, formless force bearing down on him, and this initiates the fight-or-flight response. There’s a lot of individual variation as to how strongly this reaction sets in, but set in it does.

Fear is something that’s managed, not overcome. The fight-or-flight response is sometimes called the fight-orflight-or-freeze response.

Think “deer in the headlights.”

That’s the “freeze” option.

Moving in spite of the fear is managing the fear. For instance, if a man is fearful of love, he tells himself to move forward with the relationship in spite of the fact that it scares him. The love outweighs the fear. Eventually, when the sky fails to fall, the fear gradually disappears. You can’t hang around waiting for the fear to magically go away; it has to be challenged. The flight or

PERT X E S E H T ASK My wife is suffering from an infection. She often emits an off-white, smelly discharge. The doctor says this happens when one does not have sex regularly, but that sounds fishy to me. I wanted a second opinion.

So get one. Ensure both of you wash well before having sex and that she washes herself every time after passing urine.

I am 31 years old. I used to masturbate twice a

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freeze options are dropped in favour of the “fight” option – and what he’s fighting is the fear.

When a man is overwhelmed by emotion, he will quite often disappear from the radar and retreat to his cave. That’s because he’s instinctively feeling the need to withdraw from the fray in order to elicit a calming antidote to the stress of the relationship. He may go fishing, he may go out to a bar with his buddies to blow off steam, and he may just sit in front of the TV and watch some mindless sitcom. These actions take the pressure off and renew his ability to cope. If we use an analogy here, you might say that when it comes to dealing with emotion, men have a coffee cup to fill, while women have an Olympic-size swimming pool. Once the coffee cup is full, it’s full, and has to be

It’s more difficult for a woman to understand why something that comes so naturally to them seems to be impossible, or at least very difficult, for a man absorbed into a man’s life experience before he can go back for more. Women often say, “Everything was great – we were communicating regularly, spending time together, nothing bad happened – so why did he drop off the planet?” The answer is, “So he can process.”

The length of time a man spends in his cave varies considerably. Some guys have it

day. But now, I have lost my ability to do so.

I don’t feel aroused. Is this due to my work environment? I don’t want to get married because I want to excel in my job.

Maybe your body is telling you to find other interesting activities. You could indulge in playing the fiddle or chess. Manage your work better and reduce your stress.

I am 28 years old. I started masturbating when I was 16 and at the time, the sperm was thick and white.

For the last three months, however, I have noticed that my sperm has turned transparent and is watery.

down to hours, some need days, and some need more.

This tends to put a woman in a place where she’s left thinking that the guy doesn’t care, he’s lost interest, there’s another woman, etc. The more time that goes by, the more likely she is to become convinced that the guy’s just gone … until he suddenly emerges from the underbrush acting like everything’s just fine.

So he’s processing but does that mean that he can’t just pick up the phone and say, “Hey, everything’s fine, I’m still alive?”

Because it interrupts the process. And also because there’s probably not a man on the planet who believes there’s such a thing as a short call with a woman. There’s a conviction that, when a man’s processing, that’s the last thing he wants.

Processing information about relationships for a man is largely subconscious. Keep the conscious mind otherwise occupied, and the subconscious takes care of the rest. Women on the other hand tend to process life and live it at the same time – in a sense, multi-tasking. That just makes it more difficult for a woman to understand why something that comes so naturally to them seems to be impossible, or at least very difficult, for a man.

If there’s an answer here for a woman, it’s simply this: patience.

Should I be worried?

A certain quantity of semen is secreted each time you ejaculate. More fluid is added later (this may be more or less). It does not disturb the motility of the sperms.

I’m an 18-year-old man. I have noticed that I started losing hair at the same time that I began to masturbate regularly (around three times a day). Will the hair loss stop if I give up masturbation?

No. Masturbation has nothing to do with your hair loss.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

oseji16@yahoo.com 07032769933

Liverpool set to open Ashley Cole talks

Barca considering GK signing arcelona could make an B emergency goalkeeper signing as doubts have

arisen over the fitness of Jose Pinto. Victor Valdes’ season and Barca career ended on Wednesday when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Celta Vigo and was ruled out for a minimum of six months. Jose Pinto came on in Valdes’ place but nearly injured his knee when he collided with the goal post in the second half.

Pinto has also been suffering from back problems and reports are considering bringing in an experienced goalkeeper for the rest of the season.

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iverpool are ready to begin talks over a deal for Chelsea full back Ashley Cole. The England international has been strongly linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, and the Reds are leading the chase to secure his services.

Cole has made fewer appearances in the Premier League this season than in any of his previous seven campaigns with the Blues, having lost his place to Cesar Azpilicueta.

His lack of playing time has led to serious doubts over his place in England manager Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad this summer, by which time he will be out of contract.

However, whilst a move to the MLS has been mooted, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to offer the 33 year-old a 12-month deal to provide valuable experience, with the Reds expected to be back in the Champions League next season.

Hiddink confirmed as new Netherlands head coach

Ar senal submit £2m bid ffor or Arsenal IrIranian anian ssttarle dar Azmoun arlett Sar Sardar

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he Dutch football association have revealed he will replace Louis van Gaal after the World Cup, with Danny Blind and Ruud van Nistelrooy to become his assistants.

Guus Hiddink has been confirmed as the new head coach of Netherlands and will take charge of the team after this summer's World Cup. The 67-year-old has long been expected to succeed Louis van Gaal at the Oranje helm, with the former Bayern Munich boss set to leave the post after the tournament in Brazil this summer.

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rsenal F.C. have made a £2 million offer for highly-rated Rubin Kazan forward Sardar Azmoun. The Iran youth international, who joined Rubin Kazan from Iran Pro League giants Sepahan in January 2013, is slowly but surely establishing himself as a first-team regular under manager Vladimir Maminov.

Azmoun, 19, has scored two goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for the Russian Premier League outfit this season and his performances

LA Galaxy of d offfer Lampar Lampard £72,000-a-week C

Tottenham eyeing Caulker return

helsea midfielder Frank Lampard is weighing up a move to LA Galaxy.

Lampard rejected the American club last summer but has a two-year deal. on the table. The Major League Soccer outfit are willing to pay the England midfielder £72,000 a week to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham.?

T

ottenham Hotspur are considering a bid to resign Steven Caulker just eight months after selling him to Cardiff City.

The North London club have conceded 40 goals so far this season – the same amount they have managed at the other end, and have identified Caulker as the man to shore up their back line.

The England international was surprisingly moved on by previous manager Andre Villas Boas last summer, and has gone one to appear in every one of the Bluebirds’ league games so far this season.

have triggered interest from a number of top European clubs, including AC Milan and Juventus.

Lampard is having almost a replica season to last year with Chelsea making no attempt yet to open talks about a new deal.?

They waited until mid-May until giving him a one-year extension. But this season the midfielder has found himself with stiff competition for a place in the Blues' starting line-up.?

obody ffear ear ying at ooney:: N Nobody earss pla playing QPR rejected Ibrahimovic as teen Rooney Old TTrraf d an ymore afffor ord anymore ueens Park Rangers rejected the chance

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to sign PSG star Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a teenager.Ibrahimovic’s friend Tony Flygare, who grew up with him in Rosengard, Sweden, has made the extraordinary claims in bestseller 'Once, I Was Bigger Than Zlatan'.He trained with the QPR reserve team for a week but was not asked back. "Zlatan was holding on to the ball for too long and the trainer tackled him when he wasn’t expecting it.

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Nigeria international anchester United striker Wayne Rooney

has admitted that Old Trafford has lost its fear factor this season and that teams no longer crumble at the thought of going there.

United succumbed to a sixth home defeat of the season against cross city rivals Manchester City on Tuesday and Rooney has insisted that the Theatre of Dreams is no longer the fortress it used to be.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—35

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helsea manager Jose Mourinho faces a battle to keep Eden Hazard and Oscar at Stamford Bridge this summer, with French champions Paris SaintGermain keen to sign both players for up to 121.5m pounds when the transfer window reopens.

PSG are considering a £41.5m bid for Brazil international Oscar before the World Cup finals start in June, while the Ligue 1 outfit also remain keen to sign Hazard, who has been one of the Premier League’s star performers this season for £80m.

It’s believed this could simply be a tactical move on the part of PSG to unsettle Chelsea ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.

News that oil-rich PSG are determined to sign the Blues’ two prized

PSG to bid £121.5m for Oscar and Hazard

assets is unlikely to sit well with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who has based his attack around the two gifted

attack-minded players since returning to Stamford Bridge last summer.

DAVID MOYES

Fans to fly banner demanding sack D

AVID MOYES will face the first direct dissent from Manchester United fans tomorrow with supporters planning to fly a plane over Old Trafford calling for him to be sacked.

Fans posting on a forum called 'the Red Issue' set out to raise £840 to have a "Wrong one - Moyes out" banner towed over the stadium during the match against Aston Villa.

The plane will fly over Old Trafford 10 minutes before kick-off and for the first five minutes of the game.

A section of fans voted for the "Wrong one, Moyes out" message as a way of registering their

FC Barcelona are planning on making a move for unsettled Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen at the end of the season. The Catalan giants have finally made the purchase of a new ball-playing centre to back their top priority for when the summer transfer window does finally reopen again .

Martinez

to sign six pla playyer erss if Ever opean spot Evertton land Eur European

R O B E R T O MARTINEZ will look to sign six new players if he guides the club into

Moyes. But the group responsible for putting up the 'Chosen One' banner - Stretford End Flags - have vowed not to remove it without supporters voicing their anger at Moyes inside the stadium.

opposition to Moyes and the 'Chosen One' banner that needed to be protected by stewards in the Stretford End following Tuesday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City. Some supporters want the banner taken down after United's difficult start to life under

Barca eyes Vertonghen

Europe and said he welcomes the pressure of being entrusted with spending one of Everton's biggest transfer budgets in t h e summer.Martinez is set to be handed a war chest that would be swelled beyond £20m should they qualify for the Champions League to continue his upgrading of the Goodison Park club.

Inter Milan plan summer move for Dzeko, Torres

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nter Milan will make a move for either Chelsea front man Fernando Torres or Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko at the end of the season.

The Italian outfit’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has been busy

scoring the market on the Continent of late as he looks to rebuild the first-team squad at San Siro, with new forwards their number one priority for when the summer transfer window reopens again at the start of July.“Aside from

FANS ZONE Are you a Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona fan and would like to meet fans, male or female from other parts of the country. Then send ur name, age, where you live and the club u support to 0802354-2350. sms only

zPeter, Ughelli, Chelsea, want a female fan as friend.08032056478 zFidelis, 24, Edo, Chelsea fan. 09092863941 zYetunde, 20, Asaba, Manchester United, needs male and female fans.08146340702 zKendra 19, Warri, Arsenal.08103203735 zMaureen Oby, Lagos, Chelsea. 08182329998 zKelly Ijabor, 31, Effurun, Manchester United needs female United fans as friends from Edo and Akwa Ibom. 08067959682 zOmesah, Abbi, Delta, Arsenal, need gunners fans as friends. 08023311930, 08055211999 zLari Adetola, 44, Lagos, Barcelona.08023176670

Man City, Liverpool watching Morrison W

est Ham United are preparing to sell Ravel Morrison this summer. Morrison has scored five times in eight games for QPR so far during his loan. Reports say, Morrison will play again for West Ham while Allardyce is manager and interested in the midfielder from home and abroad is growing, following his impressive displays at Loftus Road.

the names, I think it’s obvious we are working in that direction for that role,” he said.

“It’s true we cannot target players whose wages are too high, but in football there are often other resources.

Quiz of the Week Which referee was apologetic after sending off the wrong player in an EPL derby last weekend?

Send your answers to 0802354-2350 sms only.

Benitez faces sack after positive cocaine test

enitez supposedly tested B positive for the illegal substance during a doping test on

February 16 following a La Liga game against Real Betis and, according to AS, Granada are looking to sack the midfielder.

Benitez is on loan from Udinese who, just like Granada, are owned by the Pozzo family, who also own Championship side Watford, and the Italian club are being kept in the loop in regards to further

36 — SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MARCH 29, 2014

08111813022

Nuella Njubigbo speaks on her marriage to Tchidi Chikere ‘I’m following my heart’

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from his ex wife was going on, I definitely was not in that space where some story writers said, I was. I was busy doing other things with my life, other preoccupations, a relationship (I thought would lead to marriage), and my acting career. Things happened, my relationship packed up and we went our separate ways. I moved on.”

“Tchidi and I have always been friends.We trade in the same career, but we never crossed that line (we never dated), not to talk of me getting pregnant for him ( I’m presently not pregnant as still being written) sometimes It’s really tiring confirming or refuting some of these rumors. I know some naysayers would still believe what they have made up their minds to believe and stick to it; But the truth is, I am not making this statement for those set of people, neither am I making it to get people on my side.

This statement goes out to those who love me and truly care about me and the way I live my life, and to my very reliable and supportive fans who have been asking questions and deserve to know the truth. In the past two years, Tchidi and I worked more, we got closer ...as film premieres in Nigeria and more friendly. We were both single and I began to understand and see the real him. Needless to

BY SAM ANOKAM say that I also began to really, really like this real person I was EWANDE Sadiku, getting to know more and more an investment with every passing day. Then it banker with over 17 happened, our hearts clicked. Well, years experience who may be the flying rumours produced the screen contributed to this, and made me adaptation of look more his way, or it could have Chimamanda Ngozi been part of life we have no control Adichie’s best selling over. Suffice this to say, he novel, “Half of a Yellow proposed to me a while ago and Sun” has recounted the after very careful thought and challenges she faced consideration on every side I said producing the big‘ yes.’ Would I say no because of budget film. what people would say and damn According to her, she where my heart led me to? Just like spent about $10 million Sadiku Bill Cosby said, ‘the key to failure to produce the film, is trying to please everybody.’ I which was directed by chose not to take that route, instead Biyi Bandele and stars copies and have been I’m following my heart. the likes of Chiwetel translated into 30 My heart is remarkably at peace Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, languages attracted her with this decision, and I am willing Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka sponsors. to take this leap of faith which Onwenu, OC Ukeje, She made this every married woman has taken.

Hakeeem Kae-Kazim, revelation during the Where this love will lead me I Anika Noni Rose, Tina week, at the press Mba, Gloria Young and preview of the movie at cannot say, I am not God, but, I Zack Orji.

Ozone Cinemas, Lagos. have hope, faith and believe that it will lead me to a good place. Every Sadiku said, the film, The movie is due to hit one of us in this life deserves a which soundtrack was the Nigerian cinemas chance to be happy. I am taking my recorded by D’banj chose on Friday, April 25. It own chance. her because she has the had its world premiere This is the only statement I am skills that are relevant to at the 38th annual making on this matter, any other get it going. Explaining Toronto International one after this is not from me. I can’t that it was tough getting Film Festival (TIFF) in help what people say or write, but investors to fund the Canada to great please be careful about what you production,Sadiku said applause, and her goodwill, popularity subsequently premiered listen to or read and believe. For those who wish me the best, I wish of the author and success in Europe at the BFI the very best, for those who don’t, I of the novel, which has London Film Festival, leave you to God who sees and sold more than a million London, last year. knows all things. ore than one year after news about their relationship made headlines in national dailies, Nollywood actress, Nuella Njubigbo and popular producer cum director, Tchidi Chikere have finally confirmed they are getting married this weekend.

Their traditional marriage ceremony is billed to take place today at the bride’s home town, in Anambra State.

In a statement she issued through her publicist, BigSam Media, Nuella said, she’s following her heart.

According to her, “Let me start by confirming some of the rumours you may have heard. Yes, the traditional marriage rites between Tchidi Chikere and I will be performed (today) soon.

This, was not the way we imagined or planned it, but as they say, nobody has a crystal ball to tell where or who we end up with. Life is a dice.”

“At the time the controversies surrounding his separation/divorce

Between Stella Damasus and shutting down her facebook accounts

N

OLLYWOOD actress, Stella Damasus is rarely known to be a woman who does not believe in the saying that “my word is my bond.” Last week, she threatened to shut down her Facebook accounts.

The actress said, it became necessary for her to do so after

C M Y K

impersonators started using her accounts to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. But HVP checks, during the week revealed that Stella’s facebook accounts are still functioning. Does it mean that impersonators have taken over all her facebook acounts or that Stella has probably changed her mind.

Announcing her plans to shut down her facebook accounts last week, Stella wrote, “Just to let you know that I am shutting down all my Facebook accounts. And I really mean all. Please spread the word and let your friends know that any Stella Damasus on Facebook is not me. I need to protect both myself and my image the best way I can as some impersonators have started using my name to collect money from innocent people who want to get into the movie industry. I would rather sacrifice my Facebook accounts than have people think that I would do such a thing.”

Yewande Sadiku opens up on Half of a Yellow Sun

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SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MARCH 29, 2014 — 37

08111813022

Clarion Chukwura blasts Ibinabo

AMAA 2014: Dickson mobilises support

...Calls for her resignation as AGN president

BY IYABO AINA

W

EEKS after some members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, led by its president, Miss Ibinabo Fiberesima paid a courtesy visit to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, veteran actress, Clarion Chukwura has expressed her dissatisfaction with the move.

She described the visit as uncalled for, adding that it was not in the best interest of the industry.

According to Chukwura, AGN is not the guild that represents the English movie actors, the Association of Nigerian Theartre Arts Practitioners ANTAP, and Kannywood.

In a statement she made available to HVP, Chukwura said, “I read with dismay the address of president of AGN, Miss Ibinabo Fiberisima on a recent visit with some notable actors and AGN officials to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

It is alarming to discover from this address, the false claims by Ibinabo that the

Actors Guild of Nigeria is the only umbrella body of Nigerian screen actors; that President Goodluck Jonathan has by the “constant release of funds” effected a sustained development of the Nigerian movie industry since the inception of his administration; that an AGN Secretariat located in Abuja and political appointments for actors would advance the welfare of the Nigerian screen actors. While it is not surprising that Ibinabo would display such a lack of knowledge of what advances screen actors professionally in the developed world since she has not functioned consistently as an actor and has less than ten titles to her credit in a career spanning from the late eighties.”

Chukwura, however, blamed established actors who were in her entourage.

“They watched in compliance, the denigration of the integrity of Nigerian screen actors, as she read her requests literally begging for crumbs from the president’s table,” she said.

For her, AGN was not established as a platform to canvass for political appoint-

A

•Clarion Chukwura ments or pursue selfish interests.She, therefore, called for Ibinabo’s resignation as AGN president.”For her brazen use of a Guild created to serve the creative interests of a group to gain political appointment while in office, I enjoin her to follow the respectable road of her predecessors by joining the PDP and testing the real value of her self-earned popularity as an actress for political appointment...”

AY, Gbenga Adeyink Adeyinkaa 1s 1stt in a showdown Loud ahead of the Easter celebration.

The campaign aligns two great comedy shows in happiness; AY Live! anchored by AY and Laffmattazz anchored by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st.

The company ’s Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem said, the essence of the project is to share AY the happiness, Gbenga which is the slogan Adeyinka of the Maltina brand. “To us “Happiness” is a choice and he stage is set for a comedy is a great avenue for us showdown between two to relax and build the internal Nigeria’s great comedians, AY oasis of fun. Laughter – as you and Gbenga Adeyinka 1st as will all agree - is a positive Nigerian Breweries Plc, infection, and helps to spread unveiled its latest campaign the happiness that we have tagged, Maltina Laugh Out within us.”

T

AY Live! has been voted the comedy event of the year for the last three years, and has gained a large following on social media as those who are present and those unable to make the show seek to share the comedic antics later on. The event is billed for Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on Easter Sunday. It will be replicated in Port Harcourt on May 1 (May Day) and in Abuja on June 28 (Eid El Fitr).

On the other hand, Laffmatazz, the Gbenga Adeyinka & Friends Comedy a n d M u s i c co n c e r t i s a n experiential platform for the whole family which features notable Nigerian entertainers in its fourth edition, tagged ‘’The Evolution”. Maltina will take a sponsorship role with the show which is scheduled for three locations beginning with Ibadan on Easter S u n d a y, ” M r Ekanem explained.

HEAD of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Africa Movie Academy Awards,AMAA, which takes place on the 26th of April, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the governor of the state, Hon. Seriake Dickson has mobilised the private sector leaders to support the prestigious pan-African awards.

Dickson made this appeal at a dinner held last week at the Civic Centre in Lagos.

The governor who also used the occasion to regale the captains of industry present at the event about his achievements in office in the last two years said, his administration wants to develop the economy of the state beyond oil and he mentioned tourism as a major economic driver for the non-oil sector economy. ‘’With AMAA which is our flagship entertainment event platform and other entertainment events we are promoting in the state, Bayelsa is gradually becoming the entertainment headquarters of Nigeria. Investment in AMAA is an investment into the future of Nigeria. We are committed to promoting Nigerian talents in movie, music and fashion. Bayelsa is building a film City where filmmakers from all over the world can come and shoot their films.

We are also developing our tourism infrastructures to make Bayelsa the leisure capital of Nigeria. I appeal to leaders of private sectors to support AMAA and support our efforts in Bayelsa to enhance the capacity of our youths in the creative industry.”

Earlier in her speech, the Director General of Bayelsa State Tourism Board, Mrs. Ebizi Brown urged the private sector investors to come and invest in the state, adding that the history of AMAA with Bayelsa in the last 10 years has been one of partnership for development.

•Gov. Seriake Dickson

38 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014 Aunty Julie, I am in a relationship right now that is very complicated. I have been hanging out with him for a very long time. We talked on the phone, online and in person every day for several months. We both get jealous of each other being with a potential other person and his body language signifies that he likes me more than a friend. All my friends and his friends all say that he acts as though there is feelings between us, that we don’t even have to say anything but they know we have a “connection.” He centres all his activities on what I do every weekend and does everything that every guy will do when they like someone more than a friend. Problem is he tells everyone that asks him what is going on that we are just friends and that’s all he sees me as. I have, during this time, fallen in love with him. I don’t want to lose our friendship but I want to be with him more than just a friend!

Isabel, Benin City Dear Isabel,

We have not been steady

He’s not telling people the truth about us

Unfortunately, this is a very common situation and I really don’t know what’s holding your “friend” back. You didn’t tell me anything about his background so I have no way of knowing whether he has been burned in an earlier relationship which is making him phobic about entering into a new one. One thing you can do is not be so available. Why should he ask you out when he can see

you anytime he wants to? My advice would be to start seeing other people and when he calls, occasionally tell him you’re busy or going out. Maybe that will snap him out of the “we’re just friends” routine. The way it is now, why should he make a move when he has you anyway? I also think it would be wise for you to take a good hard look at his relationship history to

Will this love work?

Dear Aunty, I am an twenty-three year-old male with a four year old problem. I am in love with one of my best friends. At least I think I am in love with her. When I first met her, I really didn’t like her. She was always so annoying. But then, we got to know each other better and she sort of grew on me. Not very long after, I started to get to know her, I started to think about her romantically. Soon after, we became like brother and sister, always together. And my feelings have done nothing but grown since then.

It took me about a year to work up the courage to tell her about the feelings I had for her.

When I finally did, she told me that we had too good of a friendship, that she didn’t want to ruin it, that I was like a brother to her and that she couldn’t feel that way for me. But I just can’t shake off this feeling.The pain I feel has grown so strong that I needed to take a ‘vacation’ from her, which just gave my mind time to fantasize about how great she is and how someday she has to give me a shot.

But when I am away from her for so long, I miss her to the point where the only thing I want to do is be with her. No matter how much it hurts to know, she doesn’t feel the same way. I have actually cried about this almost a hundred times.The only advice I have gotten so far is to ‘get over it’, and if I could, I would. But I can’t. I think that the reason I can’t get over this is because I can’t let go of the

hopes that some day, she may change her mind. And I truly believe that if she did feel the same, I would marry her in a heartbeat. And there I go again with the ‘ifs’. I’m sure that you get a lot of mail, and what’s going on in my world doesn’t affect you, but please, help me.

Eddy, Makurdi, Dear Eddy, I know this is hard and painful, but we can’t force someone to love us just because we love them.

At some level, we all have to re-

alize that the right person will come along for us. While we are waiting for this magical event, we have to work on ourselves non-stop to be the best person we can possibly be while we are waiting. That means doing things to build our self-confidence by succeeding in our life activities. If someone just wants to be your friend, it actually may be too painful for you to hang out with her right now. You do need to make some new friends and actually ask some other girls out, even

try to understand what is really holding him back. Has he had other girlfriends and, if so, what has happened? Once you do that, you will know if, in fact, he is really a relationship material .

Maybe friendship is all he can do right now. The bottom line is you need to take care of you. He may be jealous and possessive but unless he steps up to the plate, what do you really have? By the way, I would definitely let him make the first move. He’s scared of something and he has to deal with whatever that is before he would be ready for anything deeper.

though right now it may just be going through the motions.

Get involved with new people and new activities and try to build a life separate from her.

She may even look at the new you and think, “Hey, he’s hot!”

Wasting your life mooning after her will just make you seem pathetic to her and you don’t want that. You could play a little harder to get and she may even start wondering why you are not panting over her as much as you used to. The more you move on, the more appealing you will become, not just to her, but to everybody else.

Please give this a try.

I cheated on my boyfriend Aunty Julie, I am 21 years old and have been with my boyfriend for almost eight months. This is my first relationship and I am truly in love with him. I traveled recently with two guys from my home town .

One of the guys had a crush on me and I used to have a huge crush on the other one. I have been friends with both of them for years and so has my boyfriend and there was nothing for him to worry about. The only problem was when I was drunk, I hooked up with the guy I used to have a crush on. I told him I would never tell my boyfriend because we were just having fun but he suspected something. I told my boyfriend the truth which really hurt him but he says he wants to work it out because he loves me and does not want to lose me. I felt so guilty before he knew I felt so

Confessions *Bill sat alone in the hospital room at his dying wife’s beside. It was difficult to hear her above the many life sustaining devices, as her voice was little more than a hoarse whisper. “Bill darling,” she breathed. “I’ve got a confession to make before I go... I ... I’m the one who took the $10,000 from your safe in the house ... I spent it on a fling with your best friend Jimmy. And it was I who forced your mistress to leave the community in utter disgrace. I’m afraid I also was the one who reported you to the IRS for income tax evasion...”

“That’s all right dearest; don’t even give it a second thought.” said Bill. “I have a small confession too. I’m the one who poisoned you.”

guilty afterward but I really do love him and want to be with him. I think I was just scared that he was going to be the last person I am ever going to be with.

I need some advice how to get over what I did. Also, do you think we can work things out knowing that I deceived my “true love.”

Lola, Lagos Dear Lola, You are really in love for the first time and that is absolutely wonderful. But there is a part of you that doesn’t feel ready to make a full on commitment just yet. That’s the part that slept with your friend.

Yes, you can work it out and probably will, but are you really ready to give up “playing the field.”

While it is wonderful and joyful to have found a soul mate

at your age, as mature as you think you are, very few people are ready to give up being an adolescent/young adult. Most would need more time to develop, mature and find out who they are. Only then can they possibly be ready to say that they want to spend the rest of their lives with someone. As hard as this sounds, part of you just does not feel ready to give it all up just yet. The good news is that you behaved honorably towards your boyfriend by telling him the truth. It is even better news that he forgave you. Now, all you have to do is forgive yourself and stop feeling so guilty about what you did and be more responsible. If you want to stay in a committed relationship right now, that is fine, as long as you tell yourself you are not ready to even consider marriage.

C O C K - T A L E S Harmonica *A solider stationed in the South Pacific wrote to his wife in the States to please send him a harmonica to occupy his free time and keep his mind off the local women. The wife complied and sent the best one she could find, along with several dozen lesson and music books.

Rotated back home, he rushed to their home and through the front door. “Oh darling” he gushed, “Come here... let me look at you... let me hold you !

Let’s have a fine dinner out, then make love all night.

I’ve missed your lovin’ so much !”

The wife, keeping her distance, said, “All in good time lover. First, let’s hear you play that harmonica.”

Dear Julie, There is a guy that I have been “dating” on and off for about six months. We were friends first and then we hooked up one night. Since then, we’ve been hanging out a lot.

The problem is that in the beginning, we were both dating other people and it was fine, because we were building a friendship/romantic relationship. Now it seems to me that we are really close. Sometimes, I think I love him. But the problem is he still sometimes hangs out with his exgirlfriend (who is still completely in love with him) and dates some other girls. I am dating also, but I realize that the one I truly want is him.

But I can’t tell him because I am afraid of losing his friendship as well. He sometimes says that he can’t see us in the “long term” but then he asks what I think. I tell him I just don’t know, because I’m afraid that we’ll grow apart if he knew how I felt. He also tells me he can’t let go of the ex yet because he can’t afford another long term relationship to go bad. I think he and I have that potential, but I need to know how to show him that. How can I truly find out about how he feels without completely scaring him off?

Flora, Warri Dear Flora, He is being really honest.

He is telling you he isn’t over his ex and that he can’t see the two of you long term. This is all you need to know. If you pursue this guy, it will probably not be the best thing for you. If someone isn’t over their ex and is still dating others, he himself is not emotionally ready for anything more.

Save yourself some heartache and keep the friendship as it is. If you continue to hook up and be romantic with no commitment, it will only hurt you in the long run. Perhaps he will want more with you down the road, but frankly, he has everything he wants now. So why should he change anything? He is definitely not a sure bet. I wish I had better news. My advice is to withdraw anything physical and romantic, tell him that you respect his wishes to stay friends and that you want to date a lot of people until you are ready to meet the right one. You may think he is the “right one” but he would have to think so too in order to be a couple. Doesn’t sound to me like he’s there yet.

Dream Condo *The middle-aged married couple finally moved into the Condo of their dreams, but right next door to a very sexy fashion model. The husband had taken to borrowing this or that from their neighbour and it seemed to the wife that it always took him way too long to return. One time, the wife had had enough and actually pounded on the wall between the two apartments. There being no response she telephoned, only to get the answering machine. Finally she went to the model’s door and just kept ringing the bell.

When the model answered, the wife fumed,”I would like to know why it is my husband takes so damn long to get something over here.”

“Well sweetie,” the model purred, “all these interruptions sure ain’t helping none either.”

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, MARCH 29 29,, 2014—39

Men who read too much into one-night stands!

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The little-live-wire I brought home seemed to be game for anything. We made love and in almost all

the space in the room and in every position — even using the basin in the toilet.

It was fantastic and there was no emotional involvement. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so energetic and full of lusty desire. At almost 50,

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XCITEDLY, Babs dressed for the all-night party that promised a lot of wicked pleasure.

A friend, one of these top government officials addicted to always having a good time, was in Lagos and was having a party for the ‘boys’. The last time he attended one of his parties, he had such a good time that he begged to be invited again.

This next one was going to be a very private do and guests were to wear casual clothes.

Babs’ wife was away on holidays with the kids.

This party couldn’t have been better timed! He had no problem deciding time on who to latch on to and on what to wear. He eventually decided on this would be damned if he very pretty but reserved girl. was going to look like a She was quite intelligent too fish out of water like he and as all sorts of booze did the last time. flowed, I could hear my own happy voice and the girl’s fter the last party, excited giggle. Around us, he’d treated there were screams of himself to a roguishly laughter as glass after glass casual gear the last time of wine and champagne were he travelled abroad. The emptied. The more this girl gear was a bit young, but drank, the more legless’ she that was the idea—to let became! Hours later, I left the it all hang out! party and took the girl home “I got to the party with me. She came willingly. expecting to have a good The steward opened the door time — and I did,” Babs with a disappointing look on told me. “The girls his face. Lately, my wife contracted for the party seemed to be aware of most were very young, very of my escapades. pretty and very daring in The culprit was either the the clothes they wore. driver or the steward or both.

They were all over the I’d threatened them with hellplace and most of them fire with no results. from the so-called Apparently, madam’s institutions of higher financial reward and the job learning. I felt like a kid security she promised must be let loose in the proverbial greater than my threats. candy shop! I took my

threatening look and he behaved.

“I was really pleased with the experience I just had. For days, I was on cloud nine.

Life couldn’t be more fulfilling, imagine me who’d resigned myself to being a one-round man going full steam all night long! Who says I couldn’t have this type of pick-me-up all the time? I definitely must see her again, I resolved. Especially since she showed so much enthusiasm, I took my time of course.

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s I’ve discovered, a girl is more flattered if I call when she least expected it. My tactics are to leave the impression that she has seen the last of me, especially when the first meeting had gone so well. A week after the party, I wore another of my recently acquired casual clothes, jumped into the car

,

Lately, my wife seemed to be aware of most of my escapades

one has to be careful exhibiting one’s prowess, but she was like an aphrodisiac. “I asked the driver to take her back to campus the next day after stuffing her bag with much cash. I was too tired to see her off and the look the driver gave her could kill if she took any notice of him. I gave him a

and headed for her campus.

It took a while for her to be located and when she eventually saw me, there was no look of happy recognition on her face. In fact, she looked slightly irritated and there was this distant look on her face. ‘You’ve forgotten me’, I prompted, a bit put out. It’s Babs from last week’s party’. ‘I know

who you are’, she replied coolly. ‘What are you doing here?’ This wasn’t how the script should read, I thought nervously.”If you weren’t doing anything important, I thought I could take you out.

‘Well, you thought wrong’, she assured me, a bit of anger creeping into her voice, “the party was for everybody present to unwind. I had a good time. You obviously had a good time too. It wasn’t meant to be the beginning of anything. Please don’t come here again’.

My jaw dropped. Before I could gather my wits about me, she’d marched away in fury. My face burnt with embarrassment as a couple of her mates tittered. It was a good thing I didn’t come with the driver. Now that my wife was back, I wouldn’t want him to go squealing to her about the humiliation I just had.

“I drove straight to the flat I shared with a couple of friends on the mainland. The flat is a sort of guest-house we ‘boys’ use for our escapades.

A few of them were around and they nearly split their sides laughing when I told them of my experience. What kind of a fool was I? Did I know that such girls were strictly onenight stands? No matter how lovely and promising a night with such girls might be, I was never to even think of a followup if I didn’t want to be the campus love-sick laughing stock! I was also handed a few tips on love-making with party pick ups, including tips about never letting them know where I was to be contacted.

How to recognise an orgasm when you get it hen an Agony Aunt gets a question on variation of orgasms or lack of it, she’s often in a dilemma as to the most satisfactory answer to give.

Although most women enjoy sex, how do they, know if they’ve reached a climax — or not? Julia Cole, a relationship counsellor says that women often wonder about orgasms. According to her, “they say they experience feelings of arousal and waves of pleasure but ask, is that it?’ Others get to a certain point where they feel something stops them and they can’t let go. Sometimes this can be because they are uncertain about relationship.

Another reason for failing to reach an orgasm can be that they are not being aroused or stimulated enough.”

She has helped to develop a special range of vibrators designed to work with a

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every sensation described here, but these sensations are the most common.

Do you experience tingling, warmth, a sensation or pressure, or a ‘twitching’

Another reason for failing to reach an orgasm can be that they are not being aroused or stimulated enough

woman’s body. She has also helped devise questions to help women identify the sensations of arousal and orgasm. According to her, every orgasm is different and unique to each woman. You may not experience

,

sensation in the vaginal lips and the general area between your legs?

These are signs of early arousal and are as a result of the blood flowing into the labia and entrance to the vagina. Your nipples will also

be erect at this time.

Following these sensations, do you notice lubrication and a slight sensation of dampness in the labia?

This is the result of the natural release of lubrication in the vagina.

This takes about 30 seconds after the initial arousal signals.

Are you aware of an increased sense of heat and a feeling that your labia has increased in size?

Labia engorgement varies from woman to woman, but also indicates that the clitoris is becoming erect, which is a precursor to orgasm.

Do you notice your heart

rate increases, your breathing getting fast and muscles tensing?

Muscle tensions in the thighs and stomach are signs that you are becoming highly aroused, as well as an increased heart rate.

Do you feel the need to move your hips in a thrusting motion and find that your legs become straighter and stiffer?

As arousal increases, your desire to thrust and gyrate your hips and straighten your legs become stronger.

You can still have an orgasm without straight legs, but many woman report this phenomenon as they approach orgasm.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

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erhaps, you have been bitten once and you’re twice shy. You don’t want history to repeat itself and so, your answer is no to every love proposal even before he/ she makes the approach. This has happened to a lot of men and women, leaving each aghast and almost lost.

They don’t want to fall in love again.

They won’t consider any relationship seriously because of the fear that the past may come calling.

But then, in your sober moment, you are confronted with this question: will I ever fall in love again? This is a question that commonly comes up in readings, and the answer to this question will always be the same for everyone who asks me. The answer to the million-dollar question is … if you allow yourself to.

People tend to think that everything in life is determined by destiny, and it’s true that a lot of what we experience is brought our way by the universal intelligence. However, when it comes to what is sent our way, we play a big part in what comes through to us, and what doesn’t come through to us. A lot of it has to do with how open we are to receiving what the world is offering us. I’m not talking about receiving

what you want or need. I’m talking about being in a state that allows your energies to flow freely without much blockage. Allow me to illustrate this with a common

Will I ever fall in love again? example: Your guy has broken up with you and you’re devastated, your world has come crashing down and you feel like you’ll never love again. You try your hardest to just suck it up and move on like so many people are advising you to do. You do your best, but deep down inside you’re still holding onto a lot of the pain from that past disappointment.

Although you’re being given opportunities to be with new people, nothing seems to ever move forward the way you want it to.

This is a classic case that plays out for many people time after time, and they always wonder, “Why?” We have been taught from an early age that pain is bad and that we must avoid feeling it at all costs. Crying and letting our emotions out are seen

People tend to think that everything in life is determined by destiny, and it’s true that a lot of what we experience is brought our way by the universal intelligence as bad things. So we begin to lose touch with our energy and aren’t able to feel what’s going on with it.

This creates blockage. So to answer the big “ why?” above, it’s because

I can’t find a girlfriend Ques: It seems to me that everybody I know has either a girlfriend or boyfriend and this really makes me pissed off due to the fact that I don’t have a girlfriend and that the biggest losers or misfits I know have one.

I do socialize with girls, but it’s just that I don’t really have interest in them for a relationship because either they’re my friends, aren’t my type, don’t know them real well, or I just kind of ignore them.

But, what I really am looking for in a girl is: extremely beautiful inside and out; someone who has a sense of humour and loves sports; someone who is extremely smart and can handle my personal problems; loves pets;

someone who can calm my great anger and arrogance (I had to admit these weaknesses), and someone who has a great body (perfect in my terms), funny, and someone who is just about my height or slightly lower- lower than 6 feet but higher than 5’3".

Though these qualities are way too much to ask for in a girl in my area, I just want to meet one exactly like that.

Look, I know this is crazy and won’t happen, but at least give me a few tips on how to meet the girl I desire, let alone get one.

Please help immediately, because I don’t want to be the biggest LOSER or a gay person.

Ans: Honestly, I think you know exactly why you don’t have a

girlfriend. Anger and arrogance simply don’t mix with intimacy.

What are you so angry at?

And what makes you so arrogant?

Usually, these characteristics are signs of a deep and underlying insecurity not to mention unresolved issues in your own life.

No girl needs to take on your problems. Why should any other person, much less someone you love, have to manage your feelings?

Sorry, but that is your job.

Your mail also displays a marked lack of self-acceptance. No outward situation defines whether or not you are a nerd or a loser. Maybe those people you define as such are able to make themselves more vulnerable and lovable than you are. Maybe they just plain know how to let

your energy is being blocked by past “junk” that you have been conditioned to suppress … you’re not flowing as you are meant to. By ignoring our energy and only focusing on the physical, we give up much of the power we have in deciding the quality of life we live.

So if you’re feeling stuck, not just in love, but in any area of life, it would be very helpful to look inwards to what we really want out of life and work towards achieving that. You will be able to see where things are blocked and what issues from your past you need to release.

Keep in mind that it’s not a quick fix and it’s basically like learning a new way of living that takes a bit of dedication. But, it will make a tremendous difference in your life, and allow you to receive the opportunities the world wants to send you. other people in.

Actually, your arrogance may be exactly what keeps you from finding the right one. Arrogance is usually an overcompensation for insecurity.

On the other hand, I can tell by your mail that you are bright, funny and thoughtful. You also seem to know exactly what you want, but I don’t think you really do.

What we all want is someone who loves us and makes us feel safe and appreciated.

I suggest you start by forming friendships and building trust with some girls you are attracted to.

Maybe after you are able to let someone in at least at the level of friendship, you will be able to give up the superficial characteristics you describe and find someone who is lovable, beautiful and kind.

In the meantime, learn to love yourself. All else springs from that.

religious lady who resides in Lagos * Owoyemi, businessman, needs a Godbetween age 25-36 on 08038146189 fearing and caring lady of age 30-37 for a •Sara, 28, based in Benin, wants serious relationship on 08101612566 to meet a good looking man for a •Mohammed, based in Lagos, wants a lady serious relationship on of 25-35 years on 08146375498 •Gbenga, 50, widower, needs a widow or 08035261363 divorcee for a mutually beneficial •Chidi, 30, from Imo State, wishes wants a responsible woman for a marital relationship on relationship on 07060981642 needs a decent working class lady 08088970826 •Martins, from Edo state, Christian, worker, •Max, 26, student in Warri, needs a caring loving lady aged 20-26 on for a relationship that can lead to fair, wants a lady who is a widow or divorcee marriage on 08100222125 08139293029 and also God-fearing aged 30-42 from any •David, 36, good looking, health worker, is searching for a sociable, •Ken, 31, from Delta State, is part of Nigeria on 08144036159 searching for a young lady of 23-30 •Sam, 29, slim, dark, from Delta State, for a serious Do you want to be linked? desires a sexually active woman from 30 and relationship on Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting above for a loving relationship on to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa07030664524 08076086684 tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for •Yemi, 42, Christian, fair, from Osun state,

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 41

Pa Ojinere Odom laid tto o rest R

Super model Adaeze celebrates bir thda way birthda thdayy on run runw

ecently, The Chairman/CEO, FWE Construction Company Limited, Mr. Henry Chidi Ojinere and his brothers, gave a befitting burial to their Late father, Pa. Athanasius Ojinere Odom a retired Headmaster, who passed on to glory on the 14th of February 2014.

The funereal service was held at Annunciation Catholic Parish, Umuchieeze, Ihitteafoukwu Ekwerazu, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State.

While the guest and friends were later entertained at a reception in his Country home.

Here are some of the personalities the graced the occasion.

I

t was a night of glamour and glitz as super model Adaeze hits the runway to commemorate her birthday. The event which was powered by 001 Entertain and sponsored by Vanguard’s Allure alongside other corporate entities was held at the Grace Event Centre G.R.A, Phase One, Port Harcourt and witnessed the presence of bigwigs both in the fashion and corporate world, in Port Harcourt and Nigeria. here are moments from the events.

Super model Adaeze

Super model Adaeze

Cross section of the daughters in-Law and grand-children.

Loveth Ogedengbe.

Chief Innocent Nwoga, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha and Mr. Henry Chidi Ojinere.

Uchechi Nweke

Airtel Red Hot Promo N10m Grand Prize Winner Winner,,

W

ife of the Nassarawa State governor, Hajia Salamatu Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and wife of Nassarawa State Deputy Governor, Asamau Damishi Luka were part of top dignitaries who presented the cheque of N10 Million to Airtel Red Hot Promo N10 Grand Prize Winner, Danjuma Ibrahim Yakubu in Lafia recently

Prudent Okeoma.

Nwanmoma.

Hon. A eds Ayyodeji w weds

T

he wedding ceremony between Honourable Ariyibi Olayiwola Ayodeji, the Majority leader of Amuwo-Odofin LG and former Miss Bimbo Ipaye took place in Lagos recently

Chief Emmanuel Nwuanyanwu with a guest.

L-R: Wife of the Nassarawa State governor, Hajia Salamatu Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Airtel Red Hot Promo N10 Grand Prize Winner, Danjuma Ibrahim Yakubu and wife of Nassarawa State Deputy Governor, Asamau Damishi Luka

From left: Alhaja Qudrat Dada, Vice Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LG, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LG, the couple and APC Chieftain, Alhaji Adegbola

L-R: Barr. Livy Uzukwu (SAN), Chief Charles Orie and Hon. Samdaddy Anyawu

42— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

Soka kidnappers' den: 'My son cannot recognise me'

By OLA AJAYI, IBADAN

I

s it possible for a mother not to recognize her biological child? Or what would make a grown up child not to recognize his mother again? This was the scenario on Thursday at the Adeoyo State Hospital in Ibadan where scores of people were trying to catch a glimpse of survivors who were rescued from the throes of death they were subjected to by suspected kidnappers at Soka in Ibadan.

Several parents especially women could only use photographs to identify their wards. Years of separation have erased some of the signs they could use to identify their wards.

Mrs. Sufianat Ola was not sure if the skeletal figure in front of her was her son.

She sobbed uncontrollably, trying to hold her son and embrace him but the mosquito net and the burglary proof blocked her.

Surprisingly, her son, Adewale Ola could still remember his sister. With his thin and barely audible voice, he said, "my sister".

Tears freely flowed. It wasn't long before the weeping became contagious as all women at the hospital put their own sorrow behind them and wept with the woman. A woman can joke with any other thing but not the child she carried in her womb for nine months.

As Saturday Vanguard got to the hospital, the women clung to the window of the ward where the survivors were kept. Some of them could no longer talk or recognize anybody. Apart from 45-year old Mrs. Titilayo Dokpesi who could still mutter some intelligible words, others were only grunting like a pig. It would take a lot to make them behave as normal human beings again.

When Saturday Vanguard asked Mrs. Sufianat Ola why she was crying, she responded tearfully, "My son can no longer recognize me. Is that not enough reason to cry. Ah! This world is wicked. For the past thirteen years, I have been looking for my son not knowing he was in a dungeon."

How did you know he

One of the rescued victims believed to have been bewitched and bound with fetters in a dungeon, in Soka, Oluyole local government area of Oyo State.

Human skull

was in the dungeon?

"He told me. That was what he told me. He said he did not see anybody to rescue him from the claws of those heartless, God-forsaken people.How can people be so heartless all because of money."

How are you sure he is your son?

"I have a picture he took with his friends here before he was taken away from me.

Look at the picture he took with his sister. Apart from that, immediately we got here, he identified her calling her 'my sister'. She then broke into tears".

When Saturday Vanguard turned to Wale, he could only mutter, "won pa, won pa" meaning, "they killed the person". He did not mention any name. That

was what he said last before he lost consciousness.

Probably sensing the correspondent could help locate their missing persons, four other women swooped on him each saying they were also looking for their loved ones.

Saturday Vanguard listened to them one after the other.

Mrs. Anifatu Olaiya who identified herself as the sister of two siblings that got missing said, “my two brothers are missing. Their

names are Nurudeen Rasaki Olaiya and Ismaila Olaiya. Rasaki was a driver who was working between Lagos and Ibadan. He said, he was going to Lagos one day and never came back.

Ismaila, was a university undergraduate. At the

time he got missing, he was 29 years. That was about 17 years ago. I am here to check if they could be among those rescued from Soka”.

Morufat Olawale who lives at Olopometa in Ibadan, said her brother Saheed Ganiyu was last seen ten years ago. "He was married and he had children. He just disappeared".

Bose Faniran, with tears in her eyes, recalled that her brother Oluokun Adedeji has been missing since 1992 when he travelled to Lagos and Ramota Inaolaji said she lost contact with her brother, Moruf Adekunle Inaolaji about 13 years ago. According to her, Adekunle’s friend came from abroad and Adekunle left with him.

"We heard that he boarded a taxi and had vanished since then".

The Osun State government sent an ambulance through its Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Biyi Odunlade to sympathise and bring back the indigenes of the state who are among the survivors.

But when they entered the ward to know those who are from Osun, they were not coherent enough to explain or give names of any member of their families. He had to go back to Osun State promising to come back when all necessary things have been done.

While pledging that Osun State would work with Oyo State to rescue those who are said to be trapped in a dungeon, he

sympathised with the government of Oyo where some people lost their lives in the hands of ritualists.

"Osun is ready to take them and rehabilitate them.

We have gone to see the police. We want to rehabilitate them as part of our own rehab. We have a programme called Osun Rehab. We are here to see the welfare of our indigenes who were rescued.

"Our visit is also a factfinding one . We want to go to Soka to see what is happening there. Our governor too is also coming. Nigeria is becoming more and more unsafe. If vehicles used to kidnap these people were identified, it would not have been easy to kidnap them just like that. Besides, Nigeria should address the issue of poverty and unemployment. We should also look at the ethical orientation of our people.

This kind of incident puts a question mark on our security. It means we still have a lot to do concerning our security. Some people must have seen and known such a place exists but they thought it did not concern them. That was why they did not report to the security agents".

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—43

'Our royal father wants to annex our ancestral land' zPetitions Police zThey are trying to rubbish my name—Onogie

Ewatto is a sleepy community in Esan North East Local Government Council of Edo state, but there is tension currently in the peaceful community as a result of land dispute between a 48 year old teacher in the community, Mr Osahon Osimhen and the Onogie of the area, HRH, Sylvanus Ikhumhen. Osimhen who spoke to Saturday Vanguard last week at the Edo state Police Command where he lodged a petition against his Royal Highness, alleged that thugs numbering over ten on the orders of the Onogie invaded a site where they were erecting a fence in order to protect his father’s land and beat him to a pulp while their working tools were seized. A petition signed by his Counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi & Co, which was addressed to the Edo state Commissioner of Police, Funso Adebanjo, alleged that “the thugs were led by the younger brother of the Onogie and while some of the armed hoodlums were beating up our client, others descended on the ongoing concrete fence and reduced it to rubbles. Our client was dragged on the ground to the palace of the Onogie where he was ordered to sit on the bare floor under the scorching sun on the instructions of His Highness as punishment. That our client was debased and beaten like a common criminal which he is not to public glare. Our client was not also told why he was being beaten or dehumanized by the Onogie’s thugs.

"It is however instructive to note that our clients late father was a very senior chief at the palace of the Onogie of Ewatto. There has not been any dispute on the land. That the whole essence of fencing the family land was to wade off intruders and trespassers. All our client’s personal effects and working tools were seized during the invasion by the thugs. All the seized items are still at the palace of the Enogie”.

But reacting swiftly to Saturday Vanguard, Onogie Ikhumhen described the allegations as baseless, saying that the petitioner was telling lies to rubbish his person. According to him, “I am not a hooligan, how can my subject come and I drive him away? My duty is to make sure that there is peace in my domain. They are all lies, the police is already investigating the matter. They just want to dent my image. He was trying to deprive other people from building in that land by fencing the place and I said no, it is not fair.You cannot ask people not to pass through the land and because his younger brother is a police officer, he is terrorising people. I told him that instead of encroaching in another person’s land by building

that fence, that he should build a house first before fencing it and not fence a land to deprive others from building on the land. The truth is that after the incident, he came to my palace and the matter was settled.

So, I was shocked to hear again that the matter is with the police. And I have spoken to the police about it and they are investigating. So, those things they are claiming are all lies.

I did not send any thug to beat him up. My duty as a royal father is to ensure peace in my community and that is what I have been doing” The Edo State CP, Adebanjo disclosed that the was investigating the incident, saying that “ we have asked him to remain calm while we investigate the truth of the matter. “We are investigating the matter. Detectives have met with the royal father and at the end of the day, we will know the

,,

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

“I am not a hooligan how can my subject come and I drive him away? My duty is to make sure that there is peace in my domain.

They are all lies, the police is already investigating the matter; they just want to dent my image truth”.

However, Mr Osimhen who vowed to drag the royal father to court for his ordeal, narrated the incident to Saturday Vanguard: “ 1 went to build a fence to avoid encroachment on the land because some people were already trespassing. As I was there with my workers, I went out to get a wheel barrow and when I came back, I was told that two men came in and warned them not to work on the site.

So, I told my workers to continue their work. Within 10 minutes, they came back and this time, about ten of them led by one Sunday Ikhumen, the immediate younger brother of His Highness, the Onogie. Immediately he came, he said they should demolish all they have been doing and the fence has gone far. Infact, that was the third day we worked there. So the workers insisted that they cannot demolish the fence, that it was an abomination that they have been working there in the past three weeks. But he ordered the boys to demolish the fence under my very

* Osahon Osimhen

eyes and after that, he ordered them to collect our working tools. As they were collecting the working tools, the workers working for me were crying that they should not collect their tools. So I now told them that rather than collecting their tools, that they should collect my own and leave the workers alone. But before I could say much, they slapped me and started beating me up. Two boys came and all of them dragged me to the palace.

They seized all our working tools. As we got closer to the palace where the Enogie was, they were still beating me. I tried to call my younger brother to tell him that they are beating me because I was losing my breath then but they collected the phone from me and smashed it on the ground. They said I should go and call whoever I want to call. When we got to the palace, they said I should sit on the floor but I told them no, that I want to stand. One of the boys kicked my two legs and I landed on the ground on my buttocks. I sat there for over one hour before I could escape to the police station. I went to the palace with the police but unfortunately, they started beating me up in the presence of the police, saying that I had the guts to bring the police to the palace. They asked the police to leave me for them that they have been looking for me.

The police almost left me for them until I raised alarm and told the police that I needed to be taken to the hospital because I was not okay. One of the High Chiefs came in and saw me and asked the boys to leave me, that the police should take me to the hospital that they will see me later.

That was how they allowed me to follow the police who now took me to the hospital. It was traumatic”.

Speaking further he said, “the Onogie said we should not enter into the land, that he was going to use the place for town planning and that some economic trees will go. He said that for the fact that we have been farming on the land does not mean that it belongs to us. But history has it that the land belongs to us. My father is the Ologbosere of Ewato, he was a senior chief in Ewato. His position is hereditary and by virtue of my father’s position, if Onogie is doing any ceremony, after Eguare his village the next village is Ogboso. There are things they do in the palace that without Ogboso, it cannot be complete. History made him to ascend the throne. So, I don’t see any reason why he should deprive us of inheriting what we met. He is trying to annex the village and chase us away. I don’t have another village. There is no other place to go. I grew up in that village and I don’t know where the Onogie wants us to go. I am pleading with the Oba of Benin and the state government to come to my aid because I was almost killed because of my own inheritance. He should leave our inheritance for us. My people can no longer farm on our land. Some of them have fled the community due to fear of the Onogie. The boys who beat me up resisted arrest and the Commissioner of Police has called for investigation. And each time they invite all of us, they will not come. They said they are ready for any action and that is where we are today”.

Meanwhile, Saturday Vanguard learnt that the victim, Mr Osimhen has dragged the suspects before the Magistrate court in Ubiaja last Tuesday.

44—SA TURD AY 44—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , MARCH 29 29, 2014

22m Lagosians live in danger!

5,000 sub standard telecom masts pose threat • Over • as LAMIRA embarks on masts decommissioning

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

C M Y K

galvanized steel masts which are not susceptible to collapse.

In 2012, it was divine intervention that saved scores of worshipers at the premises of H.F.P shopping center, Dolphin Estate, Lagos Island, adjacent to the El-Shaddai Church, located next to the Shopping Centre, when two masts erected within the precinct of the church collapsed while observing “Night Vigil”. Properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.

Also, on May 10, 2013, if 52-year old Mr. Adeolu Adeleke had a premonition that he was going to die that fateful day, he wouldn’t have left his house. As a petty trader struggling to make ends meet, he left his home that fateful day to No. 52 Marina where he sold wares by the road side, only to be snatched away by the cruel hands of death during a stormy rainfall.

The incident occurred as Adeleke was trying to shield his wares from rainfall. He didn’t know a faulty hollow mast had caved in and in the process collapsed on him. The mast was said to have fallen from a 2storey building and crushed him to death.

Another victim, Mr. Ekpe Young, a secondary school teacher was killed

,,

L

agos State Government, last Wednesday, declared that the state is expected to record normal rainfall this year with total length of 263 days to be accompanied with strong winds, lightning and thunderstorms.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, stated this at the presentation of year 2014 annual seasonal rainfall prediction for the state as earlier predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET. “From the magnitude of the seasonal prediction for 2014, Lagos State will experience normal rainfall, with minimal intensity compared to the recorded event of last year. The strong winds, lighting and thunderstorms which are regular phenomena during the onset and cessation of rainfall was also predicted to occur in stronger magnitude during this year’s raining period,” he stated.

Thunderstorms and strong winds had been major factors that had led to collapse of masts in the past. The Lagos State Urban Furniture and Regulatory Unit, UFRU, however, has been battling with users of sub standard masts who have refused to heed to directive to replace hollow pipes with the global standard of

by a collapsed telecom mast during a heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm in 2012 at Lagos Island.

Similarly, a telecom mast erected in the premises of Unity Bank Plc at John Street in Idumota Area of Lagos Island collapsed and killed one Mr. Debo Abiodun who left behind a wife and two children.

The case of another on Sunday June 17th, 2012 also collapsed in front of Diamond Bank Plc, Idumagbo Avenue and damaged properties.

Adeleke, Young, Abiodun, cases were some of several other victims out of the estimated 22 million residents who had lost their lives to collapsed masts in Lagos metropolis, with attendant loss of properties worth billions of naira.

Governor Babatunde Fashola speaking at a health safety forum in Lagos blamed the Federal Govern-

activities of the communication companies in the state. But what the Lagos state government is concerned about is that before they erect their masts and towers, they must visit the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to get approval for their design.

“This is because a mast is a structure that must be subjected to engineering and location regulations. `These are municipal issues that concern the municipal authority of the state, and the quicker we realise this, the better we will be.”

Fashola contended that FG lacks the capacity to regulate the erection of masts and towers in all the 36 states of the federation. So, it must be a state responsibility. ` Also, State House of Assembly Chairman, Committee on Environment, Abiodun Tobun and his Vice Adebimpe Akinsola at a parley with stakeholders in the Telecom sector and representatives of banking institution in the state urged operators and UFRU to put the safety of residents above other things.

Tobun said government is committed to protecting its citizens from any further disaster that might occur due to negligence on the part of masts owners.

The House had invited the stakeholders over a petition sent by the Lagos Island Government Legislative Arm dated July 21st, 2011 on incessant mast collapse that claimed several lives in the area.

Stakeholders that attended included: representatives of the Lagos Island Legislative Arm; Globacom LTM; UBA Plc; Swief Network; ECOBANK; First Bank; DIZEN; UNION Bank; WEMA Bank; ETISALAT; Skye Bank; Diamond Bank; Unity Bank; NCC Abuja; Keystone Bank; Sterling Bank PLC; Telnet Nigeria Ltd; MTN; GT Bank; C. A. T. Plc, and UFRU. The lawmakers jointly agreed with NCC that the operators should submit the required documents to UFRU for database planning among others.

Meanwhile, it had been observed that over 5,000 hollow pipe masts, considered sub-standard and unsafe to people and property being used by operators like banks, internet service providers and other companies are susceptible to collapse as they cannot withstand severe

On this issue of erection of mast, the state government is not competing with the exclusive right of the Federal Government to regulate the activities of the communication companies in the state but what the Lagos state government is concerned about is that before they erect their mast and towers, they must visit the state ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to get approval for their design

ment for poor regulation and monitoring on the erection of telecommunication masts and towers within the state.

“On this issue of erection of masts, the state government is not competing with the exclusive right of the Federal Government to regulate the

pressure from wind and storms.

Hollow pipe masts have inflicted damages in homes, leading to sorrow among others.

In a bid to salvage the situation, UFRU, an agency under the Lagos

Continues on page 45

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—45 masts.” He said UFRU have enough manpower to enforce compliance and would not mind whose ox is gored as the safety of lives and properties are paramount to the government.

Despite this action, mast users remained recalcitrant and refused to comply. Due to plea for extension, UFRU issued a final ultimatum to the mast users to obey government’s order or face the consequences. The new deadline is 30 April, 2014.

Igbokwe said, “ we want to serve this as a final warning to all concerned. The concerned companies, organizations and small users have been treating the UFRU directive to replace these old masts with disregard. They have begged and asked for more time to comply with the directive and as such, UFRU had shifted the ultimatum for compliance several times while these companies and organizations have consistently refused to comply.

“Since the last ultimatum, only three banks (nameswithheld) have shown serious commitment to 2014 by dismantling the hollow pipe comply with this directive. Except masts belonging to First Bank these three banks, other banks, branch, opposite Daily Times; insurance companies, government United Bank of Africa, UBA and agencies (federal and state), ICT Union Bank on Acme Road, among companies, oil companies, hotels, others. Services were disrupted in and other small users have ignored the three banks as all their networks our ultimatum to replace these old, connected to the masts were cut off dangerous structures.

by UFRU officials, who stormed the “Some of the companies have banks with armed policemen to asked for more time, which we have enforce the ultimatum. given between the expiration of the According to Igbokwe, government last notice (31 December, 2013) and had been trying to persuade banks, now (March 2014). UFRU has internet providers and others using commenced the decommissioning of masts to switch to the new ones for these old masts and while we about two years, lamenting that they proceed gradually, we will comhad refused to comply with the mence total decommissioning of directive. these old masts if they have not “We have been asking banks to been removed by 30 April, 2014. remove the disused hollow masts in UFRU has been magnanimous on Lagos State because of the coastal this so far because we did not want nature of the state and the inherent to cause disruption to the services of dangers involved. They think we are these companies, agencies and not serious. We just started with organizations. these three banks. These three “We want to notify the general banks have not been showing public that UFRU is basically concommitment to this issue”. cerned about the safety of Lagosians Igbokwe said for allowing governas it relates to the erection and use ment to dissembled their masts for of old, substandard masts as the them, the affected banks would pay state has recorded loss of human N250,000 each as fines for not lives, injuries, several damages to complying with government’s buildings and properties with the directive, saying that “ we have done constant collapse of these masts in away with the hollow type of masts several parts of Lagos, especially and have moved to the galvanized during the rainy season.

Over 5,000 sub standard telecom masts pose threat

Continued from page 44 State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, decided to take the bull by the horns in ensuring that the issue of incessant collapse of masts in the state was brought to a halt or minimized to the barest minimum.

The government decided that all masts users must replace their hollow pipe masts with the new and modern galvanized steel masts. The galvanized steel mast is thick, big and can withstand severe pressure from wind, storms and rusts.

Early last year, UFRU held another stakeholders’ meeting, directing users of hollow masts to replace them with galvanized steel masts and purchasing of the galvanized steel mast must approved by it and an installation fee of N850,000 be paid per installation.

After non compliance from stake-

holders, the government in September, 2013 issued 60 days ultimatum to banks, companies, internet providers and others to decommission the hollow masts in their premises and commission the galvanized steel masts, vowing to remove them after the expiration of the ultimatum which elapsed on 31 December, 2013. Setting the pace, Governor Fashola dismantled all hollow masts being used at the State House, Ikeja and replaced them with the galvanized steel masts.

The General Manager, UFRU, Mr. Joe Igbokwe lamented that death caused by faulty masts had become a recurring decimal in the state recently, saying that death tolls had been on the increase and government had come up with a prototype mast that it wanted operators and others to adopt and build. He stressed that UFRU expected that operators would change their minds in their interest so as to avoid incurring the wrath of government.

“We have severally engaged and dialogued with banks, internet service providers and other small users who use these local masts to boost their communication systems to see the need to employ new ways of building these structures to stem the tide of these tragic incidents, but they will not listen.

“We have carried out series of structural integrity tests on some of these structures. Our findings from the just concluded structural integrity tests on some of the masts within Lagos metropolis have shown that nearly all masts in the state, about 98 percent, used by banks and other companies are not only defective but accidents waiting to happen at the slightest wind storm.

“The report exposed the causes of this failure to include bad foundation, rusted joints, bad height, space problem, abandoned mast, weather condition, lack of maintenance and use of inferior materials. We have also made it known to them that these tragic incidents of masts collapse and their attendant grave consequences could be reduced to the barest minimum if the operators and other users will listen to us and adopt UFRU standards and specifications.”

He said the time had come for UFRU to wield the big stick. “Insurance companies and other local users must evacuate their old disused and dangerous masts to save lives and property. They have 60 days to go round their branches, remove outdated masts and seek permit to erect new ones. If they fail to do it, UFRU will carry out the task and the companies involved will pick the bill. Enough is enough.”

At the expiration of the ultimatum, UFRU swung into action in January,

Experts, stakeholders task govt on new paradigm angle against climate change

By Olasunkanmi Akoni t has been discovered that cities with high concentration of people and buildings, particularly those along the coasts, including Lagos, will be more adversely affected by climate change in the future.

This among other revelations were brought to the fore at the just concluded 6 th Lagos State Climate Change Summit 2014, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, with the theme; Exploring Business Opportunities in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Lagos State in Focus which was hosted by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

The summit, partly supported by one of the new generation banks, brought together a broad spectrum of about 750 stakeholders, including traditional rulers; senior civil servants from Federal, State, and Local Governments; political office holders; members of the academia; students,

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representatives of the private sector; national and international experts in climate change; non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and environmentalists, among others.

Declaring the summit open, Fashola, expressed concern about the rapid rate of population growth all over the world and the choices made as human beings.

“These are compounding our response to the increasing challenge of climate change and our efforts to pursue sustainable development.”

According to him, with the current global population of seven billion people that may reach about 10 billion in the next few decades, the world faces a daring challenge of meeting the needs of the people within the available and technological proven resources, unless deliberate attempt is made to slow down the rate of population growth, particularly in the face of changing climate.

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

ussian millionaire on the run after beating R his girlfriend so badly she

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Russian millionaire on the run after beating his girlfriend

looked like a ‘zombie’.

A multimillionaire R u s s i a n telecommunications boss has gone on the run after beating his model girlfriend up so brutally that she was left looking like a ‘zombie from a horror film’. Pavel Ushanov, 33, who is CEO of the Russian communications company Devino Telecom, had been dating model Alexandra Sereda for two years when she told him that she wanted to end their relationship.

But Ushanov was so enraged by her decision that he launched a brutal attack on the 27-year-old.

Speaking from her hospital bed she told Russian media: ‘I was leaving for work and it was 7 am in the morning when I heard the doorbell, and then I heard his voice.

‘I could hear that he sounded annoyed and I didn’t want to open the door, but he obviously wasn’t going away so then I did and without saying anything he just went inside and punched me in

Pope Francis reveals he went to confess falling in love with a woman while in priest training

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ope Francis reveals he went to confession when he was training to be a priest after falling in love with a young woman. Pope Francis has confessed that he fell in love with a girl that he met when he was training to be a priest.

After a week-long fixation, the Latin pontiff then aged 22 or 23 had to seek redemption in the confession booth, he revealed.

In an extraordinary interview to celebrate his first year in the Catholic church’s top job, Francis revealed that ‘there was a girl that turned my head for a week when I was at the seminary.’

He said: ‘But we were young.’ He added mischievously: ‘I tell my confessor about these things.’ The Argentinian pontiff seems to have had no problem attracting the ladies in his youth.

POPE SAYS HE’S OFFENDED BY HYPE AS VATICAN P R E P A R E S ANNIVERSARY COINS AND DVD. Pope Francis has said he is finding the growing ‘Superpope’ hype that surrounds him offensive.

In an

interview published to mark his first anniversary as pontiff, he said that he disliked the media painting a picture of him as a celebrity and a star.

Ho wever, in stark

contrast, the Vatican is marking the anniversary of his election with

commemorative stamps and coins and a DVD with never-before-seen footage of the pope.

Francis told Italian daily Corriere della: ‘Depicting the pope as a sort of Superman, a star, is offensive to me. ‘The pope is a man who

Threesome I

’m not physically capable, claims company boss... and my street-wise accusers are just out for money. A boss accused of sacking two women sales executives after they refused his demands for a treesome said it was not true because he is incapable of having sex. Darren Scott has been taken to an employment tribunal by Diana NichollPierson, 24, and Anna Mazover, 29, who are seeking £100,000.

They claim he subjected them to sexual harassment during the month they worked at a publishing firm before they were both dismissed ‘without notice’.

But the 52-year-old said having a threesome would be his ‘worst nightmare’, because even with Viagra, he is unable to have sex.

The sales director told the hearing: ‘I can’t make love to my wife, I can’t make love to anyone.’ He added:

‘I haven’t felt like a real man in 12 years since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as one of the symptoms is

laughs, cries, sleeps calmly and has friends like everyone else. A normal person.’ He has previously revealed that he had a girlfriend when he was 17, that he used to go dancing with in salsa clubs.

erectile dysfunction, which I suffer from. The two women started at the London-based company in May last year — Ms NichollPierson on May 13, and Ms Mazover on May 20 — and they were dismissed on June 14. Mr Scott denies all the allegations.

The hearing continues.

the head.’ She said that the man had then kicked and punched constantly for 10 minutes. She said that even when she screamed that he was going to kill her, he had simply replied: ‘Good, that’s what I want’.

Miss Ushanov only escaped after managing to open the door and run off and fortunately because she had her mobile phone

with her was able to call the police. Paramedics took her to hospital to be treated for her injuries.

She added: ‘When I looked at the pictures of myself after the attack I looked like a zombie from a horror movie.’

Police say Ushanov has since gone on the run, and they have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Europe’s most virile man - and generous sperm donor - who’s fathered 98 children

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eet Europe’s most virile man—and generous sperm donor — who’s fathered 98 children.

A Dutch man has been hailed Europe’s most virile man after his charitable sperm donating led him to father 98 children.

Ed Houben started out in 2002 donating sperm to a sperm bank but now donates the ‘ natural’ way God intended, he says.

Mr Houben was a virgin until the age of 34 but is now thought to be the most prolific charitable sperm donor in the world.

He helps lesbian couples, single women and heterosexual couples with fertility problems to have children free of charge.

And, rather than using turkey basters or syringes, he gets women pregnant the old-fashioned way— which, he tells the BBC — has a ‘much better chance of conception’.

He adds: ‘People probably think “oh! he has sex without responsibility ”, but usually I’m the only person people can talk to if it doesn’t work’.

The prospects are increased for sperm counts of 80 to 100 million.

Mr Houben’s count is 100 million. ‘I don’t fire blanks!’ he joked.

Sperm banks generally charge around four to five thousand pounds for insemination.

Mr Houben does it for free.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

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ama was very strict when we were growing up. She made it her priority that my father must meet us intact the way he left us for school. *Every parent plays a role in a child’s upbringing; while my father taught us humility and integrity, mama taught us self worth, dignity and courage.

Mama is virtuous and prayerful. While growing up, she and my father ensured we prayed in the morning and in the evening every day. As time went on she kept adding to the

Happy Mother’s Day, Mama prayers and our 40-minute evening prayer soon stretched into an hour plus. On this day, mama added another item again and when prayers were over, we raised the issue.

Surprisingly, my father concurred. Mama was stunned. “Towewe?” (Even you, or more like et tu, Brute?), she exclaimed. She was surprised because they never took sides with the children against each other; their lives were intertwined, nobody could come between them. So the incident was an aberration. But there were to be two more such aberrations.

Christmas of 1986 fell on a Friday. At this time, mama had stopped eating meat on Fridays in deference to Christ who died on a Friday. But my siblings and I argued that this Friday should be an exception since it was Christmas day.

With this we attacked the Christmas chicken. She grudgingly ignored us, but when my father also started eating the chicken, mama lost

it: “So you are also eating meat with the children on a Friday?” To which my father responded: “Paulina, the children are right this time.”

Whether it was the thought of not eating chicken on Christmas day or our

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section of Christendom celebrates Mother ’s Day tomorrow, and I crave your indulgence to pay tribute to my mother. I have known mama since the 60s when children called their mothers mama; mummy and mumsie were nonexistent then. By the time I was conscious of my surroundings, my father was already off to the University of Lagos for further studies, so mama was the only parent I grew up seeing every day. I was close to her and followed her everywhere. I was called her hand bag. We loved her and she lavished love on her children. That is why, as a child, I could not understand why she allowed medical personnel to inflict so much pain on me (injections) while she watched.

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 —47

much that you noticed her beautiful teeth? He felt I had looked at the newscaster lustfully and so committed adultery. “Please leave my son alone,” mama shot back to my surprise and delight, “you are taking this your piety too far.”

The irony was that the newscaster was single, even though she was a very senior babe.

That I can speak Urhobo fluently is courtesy of mama.

In the early 70s, mama prohibited the speaking of English in the house. She reasoned that we would learn to speak English and Isoko (the local dialect in Ozoro where we were resident) in school, but we would not have

That I can speak Urhobo fluently is courtesy of mama

argument that swayed my dad, I do not know, but he certainly broke mama’s heart that day.

The third incident happened a year later. This time the table was turned. I had just come back to Warri from Lagos where I did my internship with The Punch Newspaper.

I regaled my parents with my Lagos experience.

Somewhere along the line I told them about an NTA newscaster and said she had the best set of teeth I had ever seen. Then my father thundered: “How come you looked at a married woman so

,

the opportunity to learn or speak Urhobo elsewhere. How prophetic. That was exactly what happened; we not only spoke Urhobo at home, we spoke our Ewu dialect even though some of us had never been to our village then. Even prayers were conducted entirely in Urhobo. Today, I am struggling to teach my children to speak Urhobo; just any Urhobo dialect will do, but I have not achieved 10 per cent of mama’s success.

Mama is also mainly responsible for the bond among her children. Even as

little children, he drummed into our heads with parables that we are one and kept reiterating it as we grew older.

Mama used proverbs to carry out much of the character formation and bonding of her children. On our oneness, she kept reminding us that even though the two components that constitute the male genitals (penis and scrotal sack) were different, you cannot draw the dividing line.

That was easy for us to understand because we were all boys

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ver the years, as I grapple with the upbringing and character formation of my own children, my love and respect for mama have grown. Many times, I just sit and wonder how she managed to successfully raise eight boys. Sometimes I call her for advice when I come on short. Like old wine, she has grown in wisdom over the years. At over 80 years, she is still mentally alert, no iota of senile decay; all forms of ageing are physical.

This Mother ’s Day gives everyone born of a woman an opportunity to reminisce on their own story — the love and heroic sacrifices of great and super mothers. We must always be thankful for the gift of motherhood. To Mama Paulina Powder Ewherido and all the wonderful mothers out there, Happy Mother ’s Day. I love you all.

(Text Only)

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1. The Locust Benefits: he practice of this Asana fenders the spine supple and elastic. It

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relieves back-ache or strain on the spine caused by the hard work, etc. It also tones up the muscles at the back and the intestinal organs in the abdominal region and relieves pain in the lumbar as well.

2. Raised Body Pose Technique: ie face down with the hands straight ahead of you. Keep the legs also straight behind you. Inhale deeply and raise the hands, chest, and legs off the floor. Breathe normally in this position for 5 to 7 seconds. Rest and repeat.

Benefits: The Raised Body Pose strengthens the entire

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musculature.

Practiced regularly, it enhances vitality.

3. The Twist Over Technique: ying flat on your back with feet together and arms spread out at shoulder level, place your right foot on top of your left thigh. Now, bring your left hand to hold your right knee and gently press the left leg down. In all of this, try to keep your back flat down on the floor. Hold the position for some 10 to 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

the spine with suppleness and the digestive organs and kidneys get gentle but effective massage.

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Benefits: The Twist Over endows

Yoga Classes 3

STARTED @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

Policeman,suspected pipeline vandal killed in Lagos •Residents send SOS to Federal, state government over activities of vandals in Iba

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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ictory Estate in Iba local Council Development Area of Lagos State was last Friday shaken to its very foundation following sporadic gunshots later discovered to be between pipeline vandals and policemen.

Before the incident, the residents had reportedly been living in fear as a result of activities of pipeline vandals, even in a broad day light.

The amazing discovery as reliably gathered, was the alleged involvement of policemen and officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, mandated to •The route through which pipeline vandals come into Victory estate to siphon fuel. check the menace.

It was gathered that out of the estate. came with trucks which these security agents siphoned product into The vandals, they loaded the siphoned vehicles and allegedly assisted thier sometimes, reportedly products, with the security vandals to carry the sometimes escort them agents accused of looking the other way.

At the end of each successful exercise, the Policemen and Civil Defence officials would allegedly be given an undisclosed amount for aiding the vandals’ illegal activities.

This was usually the routine until last Friday, when things fell apart for all parties, leading to a gun battle between a team of policemen and vandals.

Reason?

It was gathered that in spite of the alleged monetary tips, different teams of policemen under the Area ‘E’ Command, Festac, suddenly began to effect the arrest of vandals while in the act.

Eye witnesses told Crime Guard that normal life activities was distorted penultimate Friday, as the vandals numbering over 20(dressed like militants) stormed the area,and reportedly opened fire on a team of policemen around the canal whom they accused of apprehending their colleagues.

The policemen said to have been taken unawares, according to eye witnesses, fled, with one of them abandoning his r i f f l e .

The sporadic gun shots said to have lasted close to one hour, between the vandals and a reinforcement teams, reportedly left a policeman from Adorf division and one of the

vandals dead.

But the dead vandal was said to have been dragged into his coleagues speed boats when it became apparent that the policemen were having an upper hand.

When Crime Guard visited the area Wednesday, it looked a shadow of its self as some of the residents had fled their homes for fear of the unknown, owing to what they described as regular raids and subsequent arrest of innocent persons by policemen under Area E Command.

A bout ten landlords w e r e reportedly arrested but later released while others, majority of who were youths were still in police custody.

Some of the residents who mustered courage to remain, declined speaking with Crime Guard . However, those who spoke did so on condition of anonymity.

Narrating what happened, one of them said: “ You needed to have been here last Friday.

This place was like a theater of war. The vandals’ apparels were similar to those worn by Niger-Delta militants.

They tied their heads with red clothes. They came through the swamp via boats. They had a misunderstanding with police over payment issue. They said they were tired of paying different teams of policemen who usually stormed the place.

We were told that some of the policemen arrested their men even after collecting money from them.

“Since the unfortunate incident, policemen kept coming to arrest people,consequently shops have been closed.

People can’t go about their normal businesses for fear of being arrested.

Innocent law- abiding landlords and tenants who were going on their normal business activities were arrested,including the estate lawyer “ Steps taken Activities of vandals according to one of the landlords, was first noticed in the area two years ago. Asked what step was taken to arrest the situation, the landlord who would not want his

name mentioned in prints, said: “ When we noticed their activities, the Association of Landlord wrote a letter to Adolf Police station and copied Iba and Ojo divisions including the Area E Command , Festac.

Unfortunately, only the Police at Adolf acknowledged receipt but nothing was done to check the menace. Rather than acting, the policemen started romancing the vandals.

For instance, policemen from Iba division will come as they are leaving, those from Adolf will appear, including those from Area E Command, to collect revenues from the vandals.

Over 400 gallons of 50 liters jerricans loaded with petroleum product were carried out by these vandals daily. Initially, they used to come at midnight but later started coming during day time.

But for this incident, you would have seen the vandals with motorcycles riding to and fro with at least six gallons of petrol on each motorbike.

“When nothing was done by relevant authorities to address the issue,we sensitized residents, landlords and tenants not to participate in the activities so that when the bubble burst, we won’t be accused of indulgence. We do not even know where the pipes are laid let alone to know how to go about siphoning the product”.

The residents therefore, called on the relevant authorities, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to come to their aid to put an end the activities of vandals which they feared might resume.

Crime Guard also visited the Iba Local Council Development Area,to get the reaction of the council boss, Princess Ramota Oseni Adeyemi on the issue. She simply stated that she was neither aware of last Friday ’s incident nor activities of vandals in Victory Estate.

However Police sources at Area E Command Festac , said the raid was part of measures put in place to checkmate activities of pipeline vandals ,describing claims that policemen were aiding the vandals as untrue.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 —

49

U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!

Cyber crime turns diabolic!

•I withdrew when I was asked to kill my girlfriend for yahoo plus — suspected internet fraudster

By EVELYN USMAN

T

he war against Cyber crime otherwise known as yahoo yahoo, by security agents in Nigeria may take a long time to be won, if the confession of a 25-year-old alleged internet fraudster is anything to go by.

The suspect who simply gave his name as Chidi, disclosed that what people used to know as yahoo yahoo, a term used to defraud unsuspecting and gullible persons,especially foreigners, through the internet, has gone beyond mere conversation and emotional chat.

He disclosed that yahoo plus is the trend in cybercrime world today, as operators have resorted to using fetish means to hypnotize their victims in order to get what they want from them.

In this interview with Crime Guard, Chidi said he ventured into cyber crime eight years ago, after several attempts to gain admission into the university failed.

Rather than venting his frustration on the appropriate chan-

•IGP, M.D. Abubakar nel, he chosed rather, to unleash it on undeserving individuals,by defrauding them of their hard earned money.

Unfortunately, five years

down the line, he said he could only get himself a Nigerian used vehicle.

As you read this piece, Chidi

said he had turned a new leaf ,begging those he had defrauded to forgive him.

His sudden change of mind according to him, followed a startling discovery that human parts were being used to prepare concoction that would hypnotise victims.

Hear him: “ You may not believe me but it is true. Those who are into yahoo plus use charm to hypnotize their victims. This is because the ordinary yahoo no longer yield the desired result. Our targets are getting wiser and no longer fall prey .

“When I noticed that I was not making any headway in yahoo business, I decided to inquire from some of my friends who were in same business but were living better off.

To my surprise, I was made to understand that the in-thing was yahoo plus. I decided to embark on a journey to Benin Republic in the company of Chuks, Odinakachukwu and Chionye. There,we met a herbalist who told us to buy three live cocks and other items which he used to prepare some concoction for us. After that, we were asked to stand in front of the shrine,while the herbalist chanted incantations that would enhance our success in yahoo plus.

“As we left for Nigeria, we were given some concoction which the herbalist said were prepared with hu-

Why I stole my boss’ Honda SUV — Suspect

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

T

he Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FEDSARS, Adeniji-Adele, Lagos, recently paraded some suspects allegedly involved in different c r i m e s : r o b b e r y, diversion of goods and receiving of stolen goods within Lagos, Oyo, Ondo and Ogun states. Among the suspects was a 39-yearold technician and driver, Adeleke Ayodele. Adeleke’s exploits in the criminal world was blown open on February 24, 2014, after the dragnet of the operatives caught up with him for stealing a Honda Sports Utility, SUV, belonging to his employer. The father of two told Crime Guard during an interview that his plight began immediately he took up appointment as a driver to Mr. Iseoluwa Elkanah. According to him, “I worked under

•The suspect Mr. Elkanah as a driver.

On my first day at work, I drove my boss and his friends to Okitipupa in Ondo State for a burial ceremony. While we were there, I stole the car and came back to Lagos instead of waiting for them.

How he went into hiding “When I came back to Lagos, I started using the car as my personal vehicle. I was driving it around town. I used the car from December till February,2014, before I was eventually arrested;and before I

•The recovered SUV was arrested I hid from my boss because he knows where I live,even though I was aware that I would be arrested one day .Each time they came to the house, I would hide,instructing my wife to tell them I was not at home. They visited several times and kept telling my wife to advise me to come and see them.

They were unable to arrest me all that time because my wife was always feeding me with information each time they were around. I usually left the house very early in the

morning and returned late in the night to evade arrest. I was also using the vehicle for transportation and to show off to firends.

“When I stole the car, it had no plate number. I later saw the number under the vehicle and attached it , without registering the vehicle.

I also bought a Navy tag, which I placed in front of the vehicle so that police and road safety officials will not stop me on the way. At a point after they were unable to apprehend me, My boss called me on phone and

asked me what I wanted to do with the car. He asked if I wanted to buy the car since I didn’t want to return it. I told him I wanted to buy it.But he never gave me time to pay because that was the week I was arrested” “Honestly, I feel bad now, I don’t know what led me into stealing the vehicle. All my life I have never been in police custody . And to think that the first time I am a guest at the station is as a result of crime is disappointing.

It was after I committed the crime that the consequences of what I had done dawned on me.

All I know is that I stole the vehicle because I wanted to be using it but I feel bad now that I have been arrested.

Acquisition of Navy tag Asked where he got the navy tag from, he replied“I bought the tag from Navy barracks along Ijora area . I placed the tag in front of

man parts. We were asked to put the concoction in our mouths whenever we wanted to type or discuss with our victims.

But when I got home, I became restive. I remembered my mum’s admonition never to go into anything fetish but to serve the almighty God. I kept the concoction away and watched as events unfolded.

Three months later, one of us Chuks, made 3000 dollars .But Odinakachuckwu lost his younger brother who went to use his laptop. The instruction of the herbalist was that no one except him, should use his laptop. Just as we were smarting from that, Chionye lost his girlfriend.

“I decided to quit at that point because I did not want anyone to die on my account. I am therefore appealing to those I have defrauded through yahoo yahoo to forgive me”, he stated.

When operatives of the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police were contacted, they described Chidi’s claim as untrue , saying the law does not believe in vodoo.

An operative who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Unit had arrested several internet fraudsters,with their loot refunded to victims.

the car’s windscreen to prevent law enforcement agents like LASTMA, VIO, and police from stopping me on the way while driving. ; I bought it N500.”

How he was apprehended On the day of my arrest, I had gone round my normal business. I was on my way to Obalende, from Mile 12, when I was accosted by some policemen along third mainland bridge.

On that day, I was carrying 300 tubers of yams owned by a customer who had paid me N3000.00. I was conveying the tubers of yam to the customer.

I usually do this whenever I don’t have money to buy fuel . I used the car to carry load for people and also pick passengers going towards my direction.

The only advice I have for people stealing cars is to repent and change their ways because the end result is better imagined than experienced,” he said.

50—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014

Opportunities in interior décor very rewarding—Onuoha W

hat makes a building thick is not only in the outward beauty and architectural design. Often times, the interior decoration distinguishes a house as a palace, mansion or even a heaven on earth.

In this chat with Saturday Vanguard Business, the Chairman/CEO of Canon Continental Limited, Mr Chidi Onuoha, throws more light on the interior decoration business in Nigeria describing it as a sector with enormous potentials waiting to be fully tapped. Excerpts: Being the Chairman/CEO,Canon Continental, how did it all start?

Just like most Nigerians, the journey to the labour market started after my secondary school education. I worked with Royal Exchange Assurance Co. Ltd in Kano, and later moved to Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State. I finally came down to Lagos for greener pastures, but it was not easy as I spent several years looking for job.

In the course of searching for job, I came across some friends that were into interior decoration business which I noticed was giving them some handsome pay. I picked interest in the business and joined one of such companies in Surulere where I honestly learnt a lot about interior décor beyond the ordinary understanding.

Armed with this knowledge and counselling of one of my well known and successful cousins based here in Lagos that one is better off working for himself than putting a good number of years in another man’s business only to be eventually sacked.

That got me thinking about the future as that philosophy of his made sense to me.

I moved to more firms gathering more experience and connections while the philosophy of working for oneself was still ringing loud into my ears. We did a lot of jobs during the banking consolidation era when they expanded and opened more branches all over the country. The jobs took me to several banks and cities across Nigeria.

Beside the banking sector, we did a lot of

public and private jobs in various states of the country.

Finally, I moved to an Isreali interior decoration company based in Apapa, Lagos. Quite frankly speaking, it was in this company that I saw ‘What the business of interior decoration was all about’, both in terms of size/scope, investment and profitability.

However, while working with an Isreali company, I came to discover that their doors, ceilings and kitchen system, just name it, all are unique in every aspect. I then decided to go full swing on my own and the incorporation of the company in March 2002. I specialize in ceiling and acoustical insulations. Since then, we have been involved in fantastic projects like the Kakanfo Hotels in Ibadan, the installation of glass wool in Punch plaza, ShopRite in old Polo Park Enugu, Ibeto Hotels in Apo, Abuja; National Population Commission (NPC); the list is endless.

Why did you settle for interior décor?

Why not! I laugh when people ask me if not interior decoration what else would you have done? This is because I feel they don’t really understand what the business is all about. Lets take the modern ceiling for instance. This has shifted from the ordinary ceiling slates we used to know to a more modern and sophisticated technology. A dropped metal clip ceiling is often a secondary ceiling, hung

Onuoha below the main (structural) ceiling.

A typical dropped ceiling (often a secondary ceiling, hung below the main structural ceiling) consists of a grid-work of metal channels in the shape of an upside-down “T”, suspended on galvanised suspension from the overhead structure. These channels snap together in a regularly spaced pattern – typically a 2×2 or 2×4 foot grid in the US, or 600×600 mm grid in Europe (this is the modular size of the grid, the tiles are actually 595mm x 595mm or 595mm x 1195mm). Currently, there is the metal strip ceiling which is now in the Nigerian market.

I don’t think there could have been any other thing that could have caught my fancy than it going by the level of joy, peace of mind and fulfillment the business has given(and is still) giving me. The business has taken me virtually round the country, meeting people that matter in the society which ordinarily, I couldn’t have met in my life.

Besides, something good is coming out of it in general terms and I give the good Lord the glory for He has helped me

through this road in my lifetime.

Placing a value on interior décor business in the country The truth is that, interior decoration potentials are yet to be tapped fully in the country. My son, your son etc, will like to build and this goes on. As stated earlier, for ordinary Nigerians, when you talk about ceiling they think asbestos or the ordinary ceiling board. But for the modern ones, the thinking goes to things like perforated metal clips that could cost as much as N7300 per square metre (m2), the likes of grid installations and the list goes on. These are highly fire rated materials with unique in outlook to the extent that roof leakages don’t affect them.

So the value is so much to be estimated. The ceilings of ten years ago are no longer in vogue. Plaster of Paris (POP) that reigned about ten years ago is no longer in vogue. It is now being replaced by other ceiling technologies like the plaster board. The window blinds have gone from fabrics to metal window blinds like venetian and wooden blinds of various shapes and sizes for offices and homes.

The value and potentials are very huge.

Challenges Energy. The public power supply system is very poor and weak. We require a lot of electrical energy to install the ceiling materials at site and had to rely on own generation and this is costly. Again, transportation from the place of purchase to the installation point is an issue. The bad roads pose a lot of challenges for movement and security of the material.

By this I mean getting the ceiling material to the point of installation without damages. Dumping (influx) of substandard ceiling materials in the country is also a real challenge. Because of the price of the original ones, people ignorantly compare them with the substandard products.

Bef ore the ttobacco obacco bill ttak ak es ef Before akes efffect

By Princewill Ekwujuru

C

hoice they say is sa cred and at the same time has its consequences.

One person’s choice of activity may not appeal to a certain group, even when he is exercising his own legal rights.

The perceived and often documented harmful effects of cigarettes do not have uniform effects on all smokers, just in the same way alcohol does not have the same effect on people. One major killer, often with its own documented effects on health, equally with the same magnitude of myriad effects is sugar, fat and cholesterol. While this alone is up for a lot of debate, it is quite clear from huge amounts of empirical data, studies and patient records that the health complications from consuming sugars causes death. It has also been established that excessive consumption of alcohol leads to sickness and death. In the case of fatty foods, there is the same consensus. Heart ailments, cholesterol, clogged arteries, cancer exposure and high risk, and then death.

If all these indulgements

of modern lifestyles cause grievous bodily harm, with the information so well known, analysed and documented, it seems a form of institutional hypocrisy just to pick on one industry as the poster boy for marginalising and limiting that freedom of choice.

The alcohol industry still advertises its death dealing potions of alcoholic drinks, where in most cases, alcohol is consumed recreationally. Direct deaths related to alcohol consumption, sometimes even within hours of ingestion, far outweigh those of tobacco.

Related deaths such as alcohol related domestic violence, accidents, and drunk driving accidents, all within hours of intoxication, far outweigh those of tobacco, whose effects appear years, and as the norm is, decades after consumption. Even then, it must be stated that it is after a regular regimen of consumption over years do these symptoms become manifest.

Take the so-called junk food phenomenon. No restriction is placed legislatively on what food should

be consumed however, fatty foods and their effects on health create direct costs to healthcare and patients in the same manner as smoking does, over the long term.

Till date, there has not been any crackdown, restriction, ban or other such activity on high cholesterol, fatty and high sugar foods.

On his part, Ahmed Mustpha, a tractor owner who earns his living from tilling tobacco farms, said it is even far more worrying when you consider that these products contribute to the economy in terms of creating alternative avenues of development for the local economy through its ecosystem; jobs through advertising, distribution, sales and manufacturing. These additions to value of services and goods are what we need to keep local service based industries running, and tobacco has paid its dues in that respect, not even to mention all the excise taxes that are charged at the highest premiums for tobacco based products.

According to Mr. Emmanuel Egbeyale, a tobacco farmer in Oke-Ogun,

Iseyin, Oyo State said: “The tobacco industry does not deserve this kind of discrimination. The tobacco industry is ruled purely by recreation and choice, and consumer information in a free country is what drives choice. Whereas information on retail packs is dominated by warnings, it is counter to the effort therefore if tobacco advertising is so restricted. Legal limits as to the definition of places to smoke, especially where it does not inconvenience non-smokers is discriminatory on the smoker’s right to exercise his liberties without endangering others.”

Imoh Odiaka, a tobacco distributor, in his opinion said that tobacco has already suffered the sins for all kinds of accusations.

Limiting the freedom of smokers is the last straw.

Limiting their right to choice by stripping advertisements will not stop people smoking. The allure of the activity appeals still to some. They are part of our society, and are as law abiding as us all. They indulge, knowingly in an activity

that causes them harm, just like drinking sugar-heavy fizzy drinks puts us in peril, just like consuming hard liquor puts us in peril.

In the statement of Justin Akunba, Managing Director of Akunba and Sons, he said that governments and

lawmakers should know this, and be humane to the smoker, and the industry he relies on to enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life. Democracy means the free will to choose. Let the smoker be allowed his freedom.

Fayemi addresses women direct or erence director orss conf conference The Co-founder, African Women Development Funds (AWDF) and First Lady, Ekiti State of Nigeria, Erelu Bisi Fayemi will be addressing top level women directors and Technocrats in Lagos on Tuesday April 1st 2014.

The 2014 Institute of Directors Women Conference will discuss; Women as leaders: Discovering authentic leadership; Challenges of entrepreneurship among others.

According to the statement signed by the acting Director General of Institute of Directors (IOD) Nigeria, Dr. Tony Fadaka, other distinguished speakers at the event are Barr. (Mrs) Margaret Orakwusi, the first female President, Nigerian

Trawlers Owners Association (NTOA); Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Chief Executive, Famfa Oil and Rose of Sharon Group and Iyalode Alaba Lawson, renowned Educationist and Chairman, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. Other speakers are Ms. Benedikter Molokwu, past President, Institute of Directors Nigeria; Dr. Florence Seriki, Chief Executive, Omatek Technology Limited and Dr. Yinka Olaniyan, former Head, Gynae Department National Hospital, Abuja.

Top class companies will be supporting the institute of Directors as partners and sponsors of the conference.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

CONFAB:

By Henry Umoru

Brig. Gen. Don Idada- Ikponmwen Rtd:

Our expectations—Brig.

Idada-Ikponmwen

B

rigadier General Idada Don Ikponmwen was the Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army. He is also the leader of a non- partisan group called the Edo Think Group, which membership is drawn from the three senatorial districts of Edo State and presently a delegate to the on- going National Conference holding in Abuja representing Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers, RANAO Association of Nigeria.

In this interview, he urged his fellow delegates to be patriotic, objective and reasonable; stressing the need to excuse and reject sentiments based on primordial considerations.

You are one of those representing the Armed Forces and by implication, representing Nigeria. We have seen that the National Conference

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014—51

Brigadier General Idada Don Ikponmwen has become a conference of adjournments, how would you react to the current situation and developments here?

Well, I will tell you very frankly. When you gather 492 people from different backgrounds, different ethnic groups, differ-

ent religions, different languages to discuss issues some of which are quite sensitive, there will be hot arguments and debates and even quarrels. I think these things are normal but we will overcome them. The president has already told us that we must rethink Nigeria and reframe, re-organize and reposition Nigeria. It requires new thinking, it requires new sacrifices, it requires new creativity, it requires understanding, give and take. These are the things that will make this country move forward.

By the time we move into committees to discuss the

delegates on this voting system?

I pray so. I think that some of us who have gathered here in representative capacity will rethink with the chairman to be able to come out with something reasonable; they are all matured people, reasonable people. I think they will resolve this. I think so and I pray they do.

You talked about the president’s advice to delegates to rethink Nigeria, but what we are seeing here is that they have divided themselves along ethnic lines, some from the South and some from the North wanting two-third or three-quarter, what do you think of this?

Now, let me tell you, I have told you before that there are many things that will form a man’s inspiration on everything.

Sometimes, we are governed by primordial considerations. We must admit that there are people here who believe that the choice and nominations were lopsided. I am not saying I believe it, but some people are saying so. And maybe, some of these people are saying that the president has positioned everything so that he will have a walkover or whatever he wants.

I want to say that those who are suspicious and feeling sensitive about some of these things are not completely wrong. I

There are times that you go for consensus, for example the meeting that is going on now, we didn’t elect people who will go and represent us there nitty gritty, more people will have time to contribute. Meanwhile, what we are seeing is normal. I want to also say that some of the issues are contentious and therefore, we must proceed on some valid procedural rules. We don’t agree on those rules, we have no pedestal on which to m o v e .

Are you optimistic that when you reconvene, there will be a final and acceptable decision by

believe that the president has done a wonderful thing for Nigeria, that he has been able to convoke this gathering of Nigerians, coming across various backgrounds, whether you like it or not, we represent Nigerian interest. Representation is not only by election.

Those of you who know more about the politics and the game of leadership know that at times, people can emerge from election, but there are times you don’t even do election, you will simply

say we have picked these people to represent us.

There are times that you go for consensus, for example the meeting that is going on now, we didn’t elect people who will go and represent us there, but we have acquiesced, by not opposing their presence, we have acquiesced their being there and they are therefore deliberate representation of us. In the same way, whether there was election to bring us here or not, some of us went through, we didn’t lobby.

Some of us came here surprised that our names are here, we were chosen by our groups-the Armed Forced Retired Army and Naval Officers. I didn’t know I would be picked, but they picked me. My friend from labour told me the same thing that he was picked on merit and so there are many other people here. Ethnic nationalities have representations here, traditional institutions have their representations here, and professional bodies have their representations here.

So I think this body represents Nigeria, whether they were elected or picked by their various sections, they represent Nigeria and it is better than nothing. And the president has told us that we need to reposition this country, that is the cardinal thing. He has done his job. The rest is for us.We are not bound to be dogmatic, saying if the president said it should be three-quarter, we must be bound. No. Here in this gathering, we have rejected the idea of the chairman appointing committee chairmen.

I moved that motion and I argued it, that if the president has chosen the chairman, let the committees choose their leaders.

That accords more with democracy, otherwise we might as well wait and the final report will be written by the presidency and we will be compelled to sign. I believe very strongly that this body is legitimate, that this body can make its own rules and that this body can arrive at decisions some of which may not be the same as what the president has given us.

Against the backdrop of what you said, what message do you have for your colleagues?

To be patriotic, objective, reasonable and to excuse and reject sentiments based on primordial considerations.

52 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2014 — 53

54—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014

Q/finalists emerge for 2014 NNPC/Shell Cup T

HE zonal prelimi naries of the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship for the 2014 NNPC/Shell Cup were concluded last Wednesday in nine cities across the country with quarter finalists emerging from each of the centers.

Brightville College, Ibadan emerged the winner of the Osogbo zone at the expense of other schools from Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states while St. Thomas Basic Secondary School, Benin booked the quarter final ticket at Ado Ekiti where 2012 champions, Kwara Football Academy Secondary School, Ilorin also participated.

Randolph Comprehensive College, Port Harcourt also qualified for

the quarter finals after engaging their counterparts from Ekiti, Delta and Bayelsa states.

The zonal preliminaries in Enugu produced Anglican Secondary School, Makurdi as the quarter finalist after defeating their counterparts from Anambra, Imo and Cross River states.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom state representatives in the championship, Etinan Community Secondary school, Etinan emerged the winner of the preliminaries in Yenegoa at the expense of Government College, Umuahia and Government Secondary School, Nsukka just as Plateau state champions, Government secondary school, KopyalBokos also secured a quarter

finals ticket from Lokojacentre.

In Jalingo, the zonal preliminary matches produced Government Day Secondary School, Gwandu, Gombe state as the quarter finalist while at the Kefficentre, Government Model School, Kontagora, Niger state emerged winner of the zone.

The last 2 qualifiers for the quarter finals are Government Day Secondary School, Dange and Dangogo Secondary school, Bungudu representing Sokoto and Zamfara states respectively.

The quarter final matches will be played in four cities namely Shagamu, Port Harcourt, Minna and Kaduna from April 12 to14, 2014

*St. Thomas Basic secondary school, Benin (Purple) took on Progress Comprensive High School, Modakeke, Osun state at the Ado Ekiti zone during the preliminaries. St. Thomas qualified for the quarter finals.

Don’t neglect athletics, Ngerem tells Danagogo that ORMER Athletics Nigerians will know F Federation of Niwhat was happening. geria, AFN president, president, Solomon Ogba “Some of those runDan Ngerem has called on the new sports minister, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo to give realistic support to athletics unlike his predecessor, who paid ‘lip service’ support to the federation.

This is just as the AFN is presently shopping for funds to run its programmes for the 2014 season. Athletes are supposed to go into second phase camping for the Commonwealth Games and the golden league, the flagship event of the AFN is in dire need of funding as the AFN

and other board members have borne the brunt.

“I still maintain that we have had only ‘ministers of football’ to the almost total negligence of other sports. We hope and pray that the new Minister that has just come will not be confused and deceived to the same self defeating line of his predecessor,” Ngerem stated.

He enjoined members of the federation to ignore their political or social affiliation and speak the truth about the true position of the sport so

ning AFN maybe politicians or supporting politicians and ministers from their nuclear area.

“But they should not toy with the true picture of our sports and, they should not sacrifice the welfare of the athletes on the altar of their selfish personal agenda.”

But it seems Dr. Danagogo has already caught the football fever. He was on his way on Wednesday to Cost Rica to watch the Nigeria’s U-17 team at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

*Motion... Amaechi Cris Morton one of the Nigerian-born athletes in the USA.

Amodu leads top dignitaries to Only the best of ‘Americans’ will Iuleha Football Festival clubs have registered to represent Nigeria —Coach take part in the competiTHLETICS Federa who can make world and the federation will Sponsor of the football tion which kicked off on LL roads will today A tion of Nigeria has standard in no distance make contact with those A lead to Uzebba in festival and vice chair- Monday March 24, who can produce podiembarked on a drive to future will be enlisted.

Edo State as the 3rd edi- man of the Edo state 2014, he added that “it tion of the Iuleha Football Festival with former Super Eagles Chief Coach, Shabu Amodu leading top dignitaries including the Secretary to the Edo state government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere who is the Special Guest of Honour.

Football Association, Frank Ilaboya said the competition which will hold at the Uzebba Grammar School football pitch today is his own “contribution to youth empowerment in our community.”

Disclosing that eight

Fun, excitement as Avi-Cenna marks inter-house sports tourney

I

T was a festival of physical fitness at Avi-Cenna International School, Ikeja, Lagos recently when the students competed in various events lined up for the school’s Sport Day held at the sports centre of the Yaba College of Technology.

The students, who were organized into four different groups of Antelope

(Red), Dolphin (Blue), Eagle (Green) and Tiger (Yellow) houses thrilled the large spectators, including their parents and the highly exited students and staff of the Yaba College, as they scrambled to outdo one another in the events, eliciting intermittent applause from the spectators.

Continues on Page 55

is my wish that this championship will produce players for Nigeria in no distant future.”

Ilaboya disclosed that the Okumagbe of Iuleha, HRH Ayo Omo Bare (11) will be the Royal Father of the Day while the Edo state sports commissioner, Chris Okaeben, the Majority Leader in the Edo state House of Assembly, Phillip Shaibu, Chairman House Committee on sports, Edo state House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto as well as Coach Godwin Izilein, among other coaches are expected to attend.

“A special recognition award will be given to Amodu, Prof Ihonvbere and the Okumagbe of Iuleha for their contributions to youth empowerment in the state,” he said.

recruit American athletes of Nigerian descent, but according to coach Gabriel Opuana who is scouting for the federation, only those athletes

Opuana, a former national hammer throw champion, hinted that that there were many athletes of Nigerian parentage around the world

We’ve seen the best of Bolt, says Johnson later. The 27-year-old

T

RACK legend, Michael Johnson suspects the best has already come from Usain Bolt – but feels the Jamaican can still break 19 seconds in the 200m if he brushes up on his technique and works harder in training.

Bolt beat Johnson’s 12year record of 19.32secs on his way to a second gold medal at the 2008 Olympics before lowering his mark of 19.30secs to 19.19secs at the World Championships a year

has since failed to match that astonishing standard and Johnson suspects he will need to make adjustments to his running style if he is to ever better his past times.

Johnson said: “If I had to guess and go out there and say, “Have we seen the best of him?” I would say probably but you never know with him. “As a sprinter gets older, you are not going to get faster. Probably it becomes harder to stay healthy which makes it more difficult.

um performance.

“We are looking around to see that we have the best of Nigerian-born athletes in the diaspora. But we will not bring those who cannot even match up with the home-based athletes.

“Already we have Stephen Mozia who recently broke the national shot put record. He was also at the World Indoor in Sopot, Poland.

“There is also another b o y, C h u k w u e b u k a Enekwechi in the hammer throw. He has committed to Nigeria and he recently did 67.31 on March 21, which is the new national record, if ratified by the AFN,” said US-based Opuana He added that the youngsters and others whom he has contacted will be home for the national trials in June.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014 — 55

Think twice on Uche, Osaze, Siasia tells Keshi Basketball: Islanders’ captain delighted at club’s success

T

HE Captain of Lagos Islanders Basketball Club, Seun Akinwale, has expressed delight at the club’s success in the ongoing Dstv/NBBF League which began on March 7. Islanders currently lead the Atlantic Conference with six points having recorded victories in all the three matches it had played so far in the league. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Islanders’ recent win was the 62-45 surprise trouncing of former champions, Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt, last weekend in Lagos.

The victory has kept the Is-

landers on top of the conference league log. Akinwale told NAN in Lagos that Islanders’ current form resulted from hard work, teamwork and cohesion among teammates.

“We are playing well and having a fine run in the league because we work very hard and try to keep our heads in the game plans.

At this early stage of the league, we cannot allow any slackness, but should remain focused to sustain the momentum. “We are blessed with young and energetic new players. They are a perfect blend,” Akinwale said.

Fun, excitement as Avi-Cenna marks inter-house sports tourney Continued from Page 54 For about four hours, the students, boys and girls, were locked in competition for victory in 111 race-dominated events, including relay, sack, low hurdle, hoop, band, egg and spoon, 3-legged, high steppers, bead bag and bouncers. The parents and teachers were not left out as they ran their relay races separately to the excitement of the specta-

Continued from Back Page 24 hours. I showed Keshi the query, I replied it and gave him (Keshi) a copy.

They said they queried me for insubordination, for reporting them to Ekeji, an outsider. I want to say that I am a contractor and not a civil servant, because they were quoting civil service rules in the query they gave me. For example, if Julius Berger is building a road for you and you don’t pay, if they know someone they can complain to, to help them get their money, they would do it. That was exactly what I did, looking for somebody to plead to the NFF on my behalf so I could get my money.

On Ekeji, why would they call him an outsider, a former national team player who was one time an assistant captain of the national team. Ekeji was in a position where he liaises with different sports bodies including the NFF. Also we (all the coaches and top NFF officials like Barrister Green, Musa Amadu, Maigari, the minister himself and Ekeji) had held meetings together but none of them stood up to say Ekeji was an outsider and should not be part of it. If he was truly an outsider, how come we were having meetings with him, discussing how we could move the national team forward. The same Ekeji was detailed to monitor what we

tors. The Principal of the AviCenna School, Mr. David Ogburn, said the yearly event is in keeping with the mission of the school to build a total child that will be mentally and physically fit, noting that physical fitness is fundamental to building an intellectually sound child.

At the end of the events, Eagle (Green) House was declared the winner and presented the trophy.

Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has said that his predecessor, Stephen Keshi will need the experience of Ike Uche and Peter Osaze Odemwingie at the 2014 World Cup. Keshi has ruled out Uche from his World Cup squad despite being the top scorer at his club Villarreal. His reason being that Uche is not disciplined and often negates team tactics. On Osaze, Keshi said that Osaze has potential to be a bad influence on his team, even as Keshi said his mind was not made up whether to invite him or not.

Speaking on the issue Siasia who was sacked after he failed to pick qualification for the 2012 Nations Cup, stated that Keshi might have his reasons for blacklisting Uche, however, he found no wrong with the player during his spell as coach.

“If Keshi says Ike Uche is stubborn or undisciplined, well, he has played under me before and I’ve never seen him do something that would make me tag him that way.

“But maybe he has done something under Keshi that is wrong, because Keshi wouldn’t just say something like that about a young man doing well in his club.

“I just feel Keshi needs Ike Uche to complement what Emmanuel Emenike does on the pitch. Emenike can’t do it alone upfront, but the choice

*Odemwingie is Keshi’s. Osaze has done lots of crazy things but I think he has calmed down down.

“If he is doing well and they have talked to him and he de-

NFF had hand in my mother’s death —Okpala were doing in camp and he visited us about three times.

Then Maigari did not complain that Ekeji was an outsider, Green and Amadu did not complain either, nobody from the NFF complained. When it came to my match bonus, they were now asking me why I took the mater to Ekeji. Apart from that, Ekeji was my team-mate while we were playing.

When I called Barrister Green, he blamed me for the problem I was facing, stressing that I had no godfather in the system. He said I was his brother (from the same section of the country) but that I was not coming to tell him happenings in our camp. He said (Dan) Amokachi goes to Maigari to gossip about things in the camp, quote me. It is left for Maigari to know whether it is true or false, for me I don’t know.. He also said that (Ike) Shorunmu also goes to the then minister to tell him things but that I, who is his brother, refused to to come to him to tell him things happening in the team. I asked him what he expected me to come and tell him. I asked him whether we were not winning our matches or whether I should tell him something about Keshi. To me, Keshi is a good coach, so what do you want me to say?. We (the coaches) ere working closely

and in a good atmosphere, so I don’t have anything to tell you. He then said that was why he didn’t like me. He said Amokachi was always coming to gossip about me and I told him that if it was true, whatever he said about me was false because whenever we (coaches) were discussing, Keshi was always around.

I remember asking Keshi whether he has ever heard when I criticised Maigari. I asked him if I was not the one always preaching peace between the coaches and the NFF and Keshi said yes. Then I said, if I didn’t say it where the coaches were gathered, where else did I say it or who else did I discuss such things with. For the minister, in one of our meetings with him, he told us to play cool, that we should not talk about winning the Nations Cup. Maigari and Green accepted but Ekeji stood up and said he should be counted out it, that the only thing he supported was winning the Nations Cup. They caused a lot of confusion during the Nations Cup in South Africa. They had almost employed a coach who would have taken over from Keshi. I was to go with Keshi while Amokach and Shorunmu were to work with the new coach.

To make it look like they

were not after Keshi, they wanted me out so they planted a story of how I slapped Vincent Enyeama and Efe Ambrose, thinking that we would not qualify from our group. If we didn’t qualify, Keshi would have gone while I would be thrown out on the ground that I slapped two players. It was a journalist they had told the lie who came to tell Keshi and I what was going on. Keshi was surprised and asked the journalist which team he was talking about and where the assault took place.

There was nothing they didn’t do to for us not win the the Nations Cup but despite all, we went ahead and won the Nations Cup. In April, they wrote to say they had no money to maintain a 17-man technical/backroom staff for the Super Eagles and were disengaging me from the team. Why was I the only one affected? The truth is that they have the right to hire and fire even if it is 100 coaches but they have one obligation, that is to pay off anyone they sack. If he has a 3-year contract but stays for only one month, they have to pay him off his three year contract or sit with him and negotiate how to pay this money.

WE need to go to the next level for our football to really grow. Somebody cannot just

cides to be responsible for the first time in his life, then I think he should be included in the team because we all make mistakes,” Siasia said. wake up from the NFF and write a letter to you without consultation with the legal department of the organisation.

My lawyer wrote the NFF, asking them to call me back or pay me off but they didn’t reply him. That is why I had to take my case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports to seek justice.

Let me tell you the last why I am so angry with the NFF. It is about my mother. When she heard that I was sacked, she asked what happened and I told her it was about my bonus which they slashed, paying me only 50% and paying the rest theirs in full. She didn’t believe and said that I should tell her the truth. I repeated that it was about my money they slashed which I demanded an explanation for.

This made her sad and surprised. She said that I was among the most brilliant children she had and wanted me to study law but I chose to play football. She wondered that after playing for Nigeria and serving her well, the same Nigeria is now saying they don’t have money to pay her son.

She felt really bad and wondered how the people (NFF) could be so wicked to refuse to pay me. From there she developed stroke and never recovered from it. She died in August last year. What I am saying here indirectly is that the NFF killed my mother.

That is my story.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2014

TODAY’S MATCHES ZENITH BANK BASKETBALL First Deep Water v Sunshine Angels GT-2000 v Oluyole Babes Delta Force v IGP Queens Taraba Hurricane v Immigration Dolphins v FCT Angels Plateau Rocks v First Bank AHIP Queens v Customs Coal City v Benue Queens

PREMIERSHIP Man Utd v Aston Villa Crystal v Chelsea S’hampton v Newcastle Stoke City v Hull City Swansea v Norwich West Brom v Cardiff City Arsenal v Man City

NFF had hand in my mother’s death —Okpala *Says NFF wanted Keshi out of Eagles *Maigari boasted President Jonathan dared not remove him

*Sylvanus Okpala

BY PATRICK OMORODION

I

T all started with the very first game during the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa. I was paid fifty percent of my match bonus.

The contract I have with the NFF says that I am entitled to 150 % of the amount paid the players of the Super Eagles.

So if they get N100, I’m entitled to N150.

So when I received half of the money I was supposed to get, I called members of the NFF Board. I called Chief (Mike) Umeh, (Emeka) Inyama and (Alhaji Aminu) Maigari to ask why. Maigari told them that the money (the NFF had) was not enough and they told him that in that case it has to cut across board, not singling out one or two persons. But Maigari said he was not going to pay me.

I then called (Chief) Ekeji (who was then Director General of the National Sports Commission) to tell him what was going on and pleaded with him to help me call the NFF to know why I wasn’t paid in full.

I never knew that Ekeji had called Maigari so when I called Maigari again to ask about my money, he said I reported him to the government and to Ekeji and that he told Ekeji that he was not going to pay me. And he didn’t pay. He also said that if I like I should as well go and report him to the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, stressing,

“even if the president calls me to pay you, I will not pay, after all I am not under the Federal Republic of Nigeria but under FIFA. If anything happens to me, FIFA will ban Nigeria.”

That was what he told me, I am quoting him. He then warned me to stop calling his line and hung the phone on me and since then I have not called him. The money he is talking about was given to him by the same president. When the president gave him that money, he did not tell him to pay Okpala only 50%.

You see, what I am trying to establish here is that when Keshi said there was problem in the Super Eagles, there was truly a problem.

They (NFF) never supported us during the Nations Cup. How could you come in the middle of the game to slash a coach’s bonus, automatically you don’t want that team to win.

Because as an insider, I could as well have used my position to sabotage the team but I didn’t do that. Instead I called Keshi and told him not to worry about my problem, that I was with him 100%. Keshi them asked what we could do and I replied that the only way we could prove a point was to go ahead and win the Nations Cup. Keshi said he believed so too.

This complaint (about the slash of my bonus) was made

*Tamuno Danagogo

*Aminu Maigari

to the then minister (Bolaji Abdullahi) but he did not do anything. Keshi called him and told him about the problem but he did not do anything about it and they continued to slash my match bonus but I kept quiet and was praying to God for us to win the Nations Cup. Suddenly after we defeated Ivory Coast, we were preparing to play Mali in the semi final and very early one morning, two days to the match, at 6 a.m., they (NFF) knocked on my door and gave me a query to answer in Continues on Page 55

1.45 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 6.30 pm

CAF Confed Cup:

Bayelsa lay mines for How Mine

B

AYELSA United are aim ing for all spoils as they play visiting How Mine FC of Zimbabwe in a CAF Confederation Cup second leg match in Sapele this afternoon.

Bayelsa are 2-1 down from the first leg and they need just a goal to move on to the next round of matches and according to the club’s first choice goalkeeper Gideon Gambo the team will focus on keeping a clean sheet, while probing the visitors for goals.

“We are going for a total victory where we won’t concede any goal,” he promised.

“We in the defence line will do our best not to concede goals, while our attackers will do the damage with goals.

“We expect tough opposition, but we will win and progress to the next stage.”

Bayelsa skipper Salomon Junior said they would have at least recorded a draw in Zimbabwe but for a dubious penalty awarded the home team in the dying moments of the game. The Yenagoa outfit will be without star striker Peter Ebimobowei, who has suffered a hamstring injury, and defender Fortune Chukwudi, who is still out with an ankle injury.

Ebimobowei scored in the frist round against Kondzo of Congo and was the team’s top scorer in the league last season with nine goals.

DSTV Basketball *Musa Amadu

Across

Down

1 Minister of Lands & Housing, Mrs. Akon – (8) 5 Muslim Cleric – (4 7 Vehicle – (3) 8 Botswana Currency – (4) 9 State in Nigeria Known as “The Gateway State”? – (4) 10 Kano Pillars Striker, Mannir – (5) 12 L.G.A in Kano State – (9) 16 Mali National President, Ibrahim Boubacar – (5) 18 Delta State Capital – (5) 20 Liverpool Midfielder, Jordan – (9) 23 Fenerbahce SK Coach, Ersun – (5) 26 France “Ligue I” Clubside – (4) 27 Adamawa State Capital – (4) 28 Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (3) 29 First Man on Earth – (4) 30 Imo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Eze – (8)

1 Traditional Ruler of Nupe – (4 2 State in Nigeria Known as “God’s Own State”? – (4) 3 Tunisian Premiership Club-Side – (9) 4 L.G.A in Kogi State – (5) 5 Former CBN Governor, Mr. Clement – (5) 6 Liberian Capital City – (8) 11 Insect – (3) 13 Super Eagles Winger, Victor – (5) 14 Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin – (9) 15 Anambra State Capital – (4) 16 Former Borno State Governor, Mala – (8) 17 Country in Asia – (4) 19 Venomous Snake – (3) 21 Fabric – (5) 22 L.G.A in Plateau State – (5) 24 Africa’s Longest River – (4) 25 Togolese Capital City – (4)

Royal Hoopers Union Bank

63 68

SOLUTION on page 15

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