AS INSURGENTS KILL 13 IN BAUCHI: Bombers dress in military uniform

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Uncle Sam’s mother’s burial reception

Faces at the reception to round off the burial of the late Mrs. Ariteshoma Abeji Amuka-Pemu , mother of the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers , Mr. Sam Amuka, held in Sapele, yesterday.

Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor; Akpokona Omafuaire, Bamidele Lamidi, Bunmi Azeez, and Nath Onojake

Mrs Oyindamola Amuka and Mrs Rita Amuka

From left: Senator Roland Owie; Mrs Helen Owie; Alhaji Usman Abdulahi; Prince Segun Adesegun, Deputy Governor of Ogun State; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Former Governor of Lagos State; Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Dele Alake, former Commissioner of Information, Lagos State; Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Governor of Edo State and Chief Adams Otimeyin.

From left: Chief Yemi Oritsejafor, the Iyeloma Ede of Warri; Chief Brown Mene and Chief Emma Jones

From right: Senator Ben Obi representing President Goodluck Jonathan; Prof Sam Oyovbaire, a former Minister of Information and his wife

From left: Chief John Oyegun, National Chairman, APC and Senator Ben Obi

From left: Prince Segun Adesegun, Deputy Governor of Ogun State; Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper; Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria; Mrs Helen Owie; Senator Roland Owie and Pastor Tony Oritse Pemu, President, Charity Christian Centre

From left: Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Senator Roland Owie; his wife, Helen Owie; Mr Dele Alake, a former Commissioner of Information, Lagos State and Sir Pius Akinyelure.

From left: Mrs Maureen Adekoya; Mrs Bolajoko Adediji Adedoyin; Mr Sam Amuka; Mrs Olaide Akinlagun; Mrs Olutue Lucky and Mrs Maria Anyoka-Ukachukwu.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014 — PAGE 5

AS INSURGENTS KILL 13 IN BAUCHI...

Bombers dress in military uniform

*Let’s radicalise youths against Boko Haram —Ex Police Minister

BY SUZAN EDEH

T

HE wave of bomb ings by suspected Boko Haram insurgents across the country continued at the weekend after 13 persons were killed in an attack in Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State.

34 others were injured in the blast, according to Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Mallam Lawal Shehu.

Shehu disclosed that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the attack.

The Bauchi bombing came on the heels of the Abuja plaza attack on Wednesday which claimed 21 lives.

Also at the weekend, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, called for the radicalisation of youths against Boko Haram.

“Deliberate efforts should be made to energize the youths to work, it is their tomorrow that is being endangered not ours because we are already old. You will be amazed that when young people are empowered, they can betray some of their people in the Islamist group. As they recruit beggars, we too should recruit beggars.

Radicalize the youths positively, the market associations; the youths should actually patrol the streets, let it be a mass movement thing, that is the only way out”, Bozimo told Sunday Vanguard in an interview.

Yesterday’s bombing occurred in the red light district of Bayan Garin, specifically an hotel allegedly thronged by prostitutes, on Friday night.

The area also has a large Christian population.

An improvised explosive device (IED) was believed to have been planted in the hotel. A report quoted a survivor as saying the attackers wore military uniform.

Sunday Vanguard learnt

that the blast in the hotel was the second in two years.

A source said the first bombing in the hotel took place in 2012 and left several people injured.

The incident, which happened around 9.50pm, threw residents of the state capital into panic as traders and Okada riders abandoned their businesses and took cover.

Confirming the blast, the state Commissioner of Police, Shehu, said efforts were being intensified to arrest other fleeing suspects. ”From the investigation conducted by the police, some suspected hoodlums were seen loitering around the brothel and the next thing that happened was an explosion”, he said. ”The area has been cordoned off and the scene secured by the Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD). ”The victims were rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU) for treatment and corpses evacuated to the m o r t u a r y ” .

The police boss advised members of the public to always be security conscious by paying attention to persons and objects, particularly at motor parks, market places, schools, places of worship, shopping malls, eateries and hotels.

“The police have put in place strategies to fight insurgency in Bauchi State by intensifying surveillance, intelligence gathering and working in collaboration with sister security agents to secure lives and propert y . ” Speaking on the bombing, yesterday, Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Malami, said 34 injured victims were taken to hospital in the late hours of Friday out of which 17 with minor injuries were treated and discharged. ”There are 17 others with varying degree of injuries who are still on admission,

but we are hoping that many of them would be discharged today (yesterday), while a few victims will have to go to the theatre because of the seriousness of their injuries”, Malami told journalists. . ”Unfortunately, 13 people were, so far, confirmed dead. 10 bodies were brought to hospital yesterday (Friday) night and three more victims died in the hospital.

He explained that some victims rushed to clinics in Bauchi were transferred to the ATBUTH for proper attention.

According to him, Bauchi is a peaceful state but

quite unfortunate that the bombing happened. ”We are really shattered and heartbroken that this incident happened in Bauchi and pray that it will not happen again”, the commissioner said.

‘Shooting at random’

Meanwhile, a survivor, Ahmed Maidoki, told the News Agency of Nigeria that five persons in military uniform carried out the attack by detonating explosives and shooting at random.

“We were just sitting down, watching highlights

of the ongoing FIFA world cup at the viewing centre located in between the two story building of the hotel when five men dressed in military uniform strolled in”, he narrated..

“We thought they were security personnel, who came to relax as well. I noticed they all positioned themselves at the four corners of the hall.

“The next thing I heard was an explosion, after which the arena was covered with thick smoke. Shivering, my friends and I sprawled on the ground.

“We were trying to get out when the five men started shooting sporadically at

any one who tried to stand up, and in the process, killing many of the survivors of the blast,” he said.

Another witness, Usman Hassan, said he was just about to enter the hotel when the blast occurred and immediately ran away from the scene.

“As soon as I was a bit far from the scene, I heard gun-shots. Few minutes later, a white Toyota Hilux vehicle zoomed out of the hotel on high speed with men wearing army uniforms”, he said.

Read Bozimo’s interview on page 19-20.

From left: The Bagbile of Egbaland, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Otunba Jonson Fasawe, during the condolence visit by Obasanjo to the family of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Alao Arisekola, in Ibadan,yesterday

ABUJA PLAZA BOMBING

How we stopped second bomber – Security forces *Role of vigilant by-standers B

UT for the quick intervention of men of the security agencies, the bombers, who detonated the explosives that destroyed parts of EMAB plaza causing the loss of over 20 people, may have planned to set off another explosion in another part of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Sunday Vanguard can reveal authoritatively.

In fact, one of the suspected bombers still had another bomb in a bag he was carrying before their next move was

aborted.

Very dependable security sources disclosed the events that led to the arrest of the detained suspected bomber yesterday.

According to the source, who preferred not to be named, “there were two suspects who took off on a bike immediately after the explosion”.

“You know, because of the alert that had gone out earlier in anticipation of and possible foiling of any attempted bombing within Abuja, the securi-

ty agencies had been on red alert and had placed policemen and men of the Department of State Services, DSS, at very strategic and busy shopping complexes within the federal capital.

“Unfortunately, the bombers found a way around before being caught on their act of terror; two of the suspects attempted to take off on a power bike immediately after the bomb went off.

“Suspecting their

moves, men of the security forces on the scene attempted to stop them while cordoning off the scene of the explosion but the two men refused to stop”, the source revealed.

Continuing, the source explained that because of the way they refused to obey police order and their suspicious movement, they were shot as

Continues on page 8

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

Confab: Compensate my people, Bakassi,Ita-Giwa begs FG placed priority if the isBY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

S

enator Florence Ita Giwa, a delegate at the ongoing National Conference and Chairman, Conference Committee on the Environment, has pleaded with the Federal Government to compensate her people. Ita-Giwa while contributing to the report of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters, said the ceding arrangement which was ordered by the International Court of Justice in the Hague and carried out by Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration was just to show to the world that two countries could settle a dispute without necessarily losing blood or staying perpetually in court.

According to Ita-Giwa, it would have been a mis-

sue of ceding Bakassi to Cameroun led to war between both countries, adding that all the people needed to be placated was better settlement through compensation.

She appealed to other stakeholders to prevail on the Federal Government to adequately compensate the people of Bakassi even though they have been relocated.

Commenting on the Green Tree Agreement, she said that Nigeria after the end of the military intervention, subjected herself to that jurisdiction in the Hague.

“Nigeria was obliged to abide by that ruling as we were told that by being obliged to that ruling, we used Bakassi as a litmus test to show to the world that two countries can settle a dispute without loss of blood and without staying forever in court,” she said.

Why I didn’t believe Arisekola is dead—Obasanjo

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, saying the vacuum he left behind would be difficult to fill.

He explained he could not visit the family earlier because Arisekola’s death did not look real to him as he spoke with him four days before the news of his death filtered in.

The ex-president, who visited Arisekola’s graveside to pay his last respect, arrived the Oluwokekere residence of the deceased at 10:28am where several people were waiting for him.

When he arrived, in the company of the Commissioner for National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Lateef Gbadamosi, a former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, and the former

chairman of Ibadan North East Local Government Mr. Gbenga Adewusi, he said the death of the business giant should serve as a lesson to all.

Obasanjo said, “When the news of his death broke in Ibadan, I was around but I could not believe it because I spoke with him four days before he travelled?”.

To him, Arisekola remained a humble man and a man of many parts. ”He was a community leader, a state leader, and a national leader. He appreciated what God had given him both in material terms and used it to benefit mankind”. He also described him as a philanthropist of note.

Earlier, ex-military leader, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd), who paid a separate visit to the family, wrote in the condolence register: “I have lost a dear friend, brother and a confidant, Aare. You were too good to me and my family. May Allah grant you eternal rest.

May Allah bless whatever you left behind”.

LG top loading washer

L

G electronics has in troduced top-loading washing machines, equipped with powerful heaters that enable warm-washing for germfree clothes.

Speaking at the launching, the general manager, LG Electronics Home Appliance Division in West Africa, Mr. Hyunwoo Jung, stated: “Having examined the

effect of environmental pollution on clothes in Nigeria, LG designed these new top-loaders with the consumers’ needs in mind, making sure they provided greater hygiene and a bigger capacity.” The top-loading machine, according to Jung, contains a jet spray, which reduces water usage during rinsing.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014 , PAGE 7

Ramadan: Jonathan calls for prayers in the country,” spair, but to remain for peace lenges they should rededicate steadfast in the firm conBY BEN AGANDE, Abuja

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Mozez Praiz of Multichoice with some of the 60 lucky winners of ‘DSTV Let's Go to Brazil’ promo at a send-off party held in Lagos.

resident Goodluck Jonathan has called on Muslims in the country to offer special prayers during the Ramadan period for greater peace and security in the nation.

In a statement, Jonathan said that, as Muslim faithful worldwide undergo the “strictures and spiritual purification of the annual Ramadan fast against the background of security chal-

themselves to the virtues of the religion.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in the statement, said “The President seizes the opportunity of the commencement of the Ramadan fast to reassure the entire nation that the Federal Government continues to work tirelessly to curb insurgency, terrorism and other criminal acts which have caused insecurity in parts of the country. ”He urges Nigerians not to succumb to de-

More tributes for Mama Abeji Amuka-Pemu

BY INNOCENT ANABA, FESTUS AHON, EGUFE YAFUGBORHI AND GODWIN OGHRE

I

t was a roll call of ‘ who is who’ in Nigeria, yesterday, at the reception held by Vanguard Newspapers Publisher, Mr Sam Amuka, after the burial of his late mother, Mama Ariteshoma Abeji Amuka-Pemu (Nee Okoro), on Friday, in Sapele, Delta State.

Governor Adams Oshiohmole of Edo State electrified the audience, when he took out time to dance to some traditional drummers’ tune as he entered the Athletic Club, Sapele, venue, of the reception. Minutes later, the entry of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State drew loud ovation, as guests tried to shake hands with him..

Different cultural groups treated guests to good tunes, in addition to acrobatic displays.

Meanwhile, encomiums continued to pour in, yesterday, for the late Mama Amuka-Pemu with Chief Kenneth Gba-

gi, a former Minister of State for Education, saying “the life mama lived is exemplified with the life her son, Sam.” He added: “A good egg will always produce a good chicken. Mama was a good person and produced Sam Amuka, a very good person.”

Chief Andrew Oru, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, said: “Mama lived a life of fulfillment full with the grace of God and lived at peace with herself until her last day on earth.”

Chief Miller Uloho, Mr. Sam Amuka’s junior in Government College, Ughelli, Delta State and a long standing friend, said: “The life mama lived is a reflection of the respectable life the children are living.” Vice President, Sapele Boma Boys Club, Mr Egerton Uvieghara, said: “Mama lived a humble and Christ-like life. She prayed for everyone she came across and that was why she was popularly called Mama Sapele.”

Ejaife Odebala, a former Delta State House of Assembly member,

said: “Mama was an icon, a great woman who was well loved and cared for by the children.”

Mr Austin Ayemidejo, Special Project Director, Asaba Airport Project, said: “I give thanks to God for the glorious life mama lived. Mama was as a blessing to Sapele and Delta at large.”

Mr Charles Emetulu, Delta Commissioner for Power and Energy, said: “It is the dream of every man/ woman on earth to be buried by his or her children.

Mama lived successfully and fulfilled that dream in a grand style, living to be buried at 109 years. We give kudos to her children and may her soul rest in peace.”

Sir Patrick Ferife, Commissioner Survey and Urban Development, Delta State, said: “Mama brought good children into the world. I commend the successful life she lived.”

ROLL CALL Dignitaries at the event include a former Lagos State governor, Sen. Bola Tinubu; Chief Olusegun Osoba, a

former Ogun State governor; Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, President; Sen. Roland Owie; Mr. Ovuzuorie Macaulay, Secretary to

Armed men invade Bayelsa community

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

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rmed men suspect ed to be militants from Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa reportedly invaded Zion community in the same council area and carted away N1m among other valuables. The armed attack on the serene riverside settlement, sources told Sunday Vanguard, triggered panic in the area as gunshots from the invaders rented the air causing terrified natives to flee their homes.The hoodlums, it was learnt, harassed, took money and other items from their victims before escaping.

Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Cen-

Oshodi-Apapa Expressway 65% completed

T

he engineer in charge of the reconstruction of the Oshodi/ Apapa Expressway, Lagos, Mrs Adigom-Vivienne Aniagoh, yesterday, said that the project had reached 65 per cent completion.

Aniagoh said that the contractor, Julius Berger, was working on various sections of the project simultaneously to facilitate completion.

“We are working on various sections at the same time; we do that to manage traffic properly.

“We can work on four, five, six locations or more at the same time because we have daily different work sched-

ules. “We are also doing some access culverts in about two locations; we tackle different work items in the contract at the same time.

“We are doing the drains; we are working

from the end of the project at Cele Bus Stop, from the beginning at Beach Land. “We are also working in the Mile 2 area; we are working in Sanya; so, we are working in different sections,”

she said. She explained that milling, stone base laying, construction of drainage channels, asphalting, grading, sand cement stabilisation and other works were going on concurrently.

DELTA LG POLLS: New aspirant emerges In Ughelli South the love of my people at for a very long-time. “My

M

r. Godwin Oko poroko has declared his intention to join the race for the Ughelli South LGA chairmanship position in Delta State.

Okporoko, while announcing his candidacy, said: “As a man who has

heart, I want to ensure that they enjoy the dividends of democracy through various empowerment programme, employment, infrastructural development among others”.

Okporoko said he has been working in the PDP

Delta State Government; Sir Edward Gbragada, the leader of Itsekiri in Sapele; and Mrs. Betty Efekhoda, Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs.

viction that with courage, determination, focus, decisiveness and collective support for the Armed Forces and security agencies, the country will ultimately overcome the evil agents of sectionalism, sectarianism and international terrorism who seek to disunite the nation. ”As they observe the Ramadan, President Jonathan also calls on Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves in fuller measure to the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, honesty, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Holy month promotes. ”The President joins all people of faith in praying that God Almighty will grant Nigeria greater peace, security, unity and national harmony.”

people are in bondage; so I have come to deliver my people from the shackles of poverty.

Young people should be given the opportunity to serve. That is why I have taken it as a pain in my heart to deliver my people,” he added.

tre of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, Lt. Col Mustapha Anka, while confirming the invasion, said the armed men also intercepted and diverted two passenger boats and abducted passengers on board.

He said: “One of the boats, which had a technician working with a giant communication company, was on assignment to effect repairs on a faulty community communication mast. ”The gang also carted away N1 million, belonging to the staff of the company. Troops of the JTF are currently on the trail of the criminals.”

In another development, the JTF Commander, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, has warned owners of vessels, barges and tankers used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta to withdraw such services from oil thieves and illegal oil bunkerers or have them blown up.

He frowned at the criminalities perpetrated by vessels and trucks owners by way of renting them to the oil thieves who use them to siphon/convey stolen crude oil in the region. The JTF boss, threatened to blow up any such vessels found in the act of illegal oil bunkering or related criminality.

10 drown after downpour in Ibadan

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan No fewer than 10 people were said to have been drowned during a downpour in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday. It happened at Apete area of Ibadan after the rain fell endlessly. According to a source, many people were struggling to cross a makeshift bridge when they reportedly fell into the over-flowing river.

The source claimed he was in the rescue team that tried to save the drowning people.

Since heavy rains started in the past few days,

the flowing river had covered major part of the make shift bridge.

The source said, “It was around 6.30 pm that it happened, we just heard cries of people who fell into the river and I decided to join the rescue team and we eventually succeeded in rescuing about six people while not less than 10 people were washed away.”

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPR0), SP Olabisi Ilobanafor, could not confirm the incident immediately because she was not a w a r e .

She explained that she was on casual leave.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

Lagos car blast: Fashola urges vigilance • Celebrates 51 years birthday with visually impaired students

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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O V E R N O R B a b a t u n d e Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, celebrated his 51 st birthday, urging residents to be vigilant and engage any stranger in their neighborhood, to know the reason for his visit to the community.

This came barely days after a car bomb explosion occurred at the Apapa axis of the state, killing about four persons and injuring others.

Fashola made the appeal at the commissioning of the ‘Fountain of Life Church’ main auditorium, owned by Pastor Taiwo Odukoya in Ilupeju axis of the state, which also had in attendance the minister for communication and technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, Bishop David Oyedepo and others.

Speaking after receiving a birthday gift from the church, the governor said that if Lagosians are vigilant and adaptive to their community, the challenges of insecurity would end.

“We will overcome the challenges by been vigilant and adaptive. By asking questions of things that are not normal. Things that failed to follow the

original conduct of human behavior. By asking question from people who are strangers in our mist seeking to know where they came from and what their purpose was among us,” he said.

“We must no longer keep quite. I am sure that if we do these simple things, all will be well with us.”

Fashola however tasked residents to continue to live in peace and harmony irrespective of what whatever happens.

His words, “By our action we will show that we have voted to live together; to live in peace and to respect one another’s choices. And it is from that respect that we can earn trust of one another and keep this state together.”

The governor advocated that religious organization should partner the government in eradicating poverty in the country, saying “constructing and engaging residents, are good means of reducing employment.”

He added, “This is the partnership that must exist between the government and the people of different faiths.

Religious organization in other advanced countries own business to support their government to provide job and keep the economy going.”

ON HIS BIRTHDAY While celebrating his 51th birthday with students of the Nigerian Society for the Blind, Oshodi, Fashola said “As I was planning what to do today, I remembered that I have an unfinished business here: the promises I made earlier, to assist the visually impaired. I was not forced to make them.”

He noted that this was why the state government committed about N51 million into the construction of the vocational centre for residents who are visually impaired.

Kaduna villages attacks death toll hits 200

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

D

EFYING soldiers and policemen stationed in strategic Ninzom villages in Sanga Local Government Area, LGA, in southern Kaduna, allegedly besieged by Fulani militia, 40 more persons were killed between Thursday and Friday in the area, according to the National President of Ninzom Progressive Youths, NPY,

Kidnappers threatened to cut my mother’s head, send it to me — Bayelsa Commissioner

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

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AYELSA State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Furoebi Akene, yesterday, described as ‘unsettling’ the continued search for his aged mother, Madam Patimi Akene, abducted, penultimate week, by gunmen at Fonibiri in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

Akene said the kidnappers, who initially demanded his resignation, later demanded N30m ransom which they reduced to N10m.

He described as worrisome the kidnappers threat to cut off the head of his mother over his refusal to accede to the ransom demand.

Akene spoke in Yenagoa when a group of journalists, politicians and other professionals, under the aegis of The Parliament, called at his residence.

He said though the threat was made on telephone, he was not going to be intimidated. ”One of the kidnappers, who claimed to be the leader of the gang, threatened to kill my mother. He said he will cut

•Madam Patimi Akene off her head and deliver it to my house at INEC Road and the body at the village.

Because of the difficulty at getting me to agree with their demand, they have stopped calling me to discuss ransom,” he said.

Akene noted that because of his uncompromising stance, the kidnappers have started calling his younger sister to demand the ransom.

He reported that the younger sister pleaded that they collect a million naira but the kidnappers declined insisting that such sum is not enough for fuel and feeding of the k i d n a p p e d septuagenarian.

Akene recalled that when the news of the abduction got to him, he abandoned the World Surveyors Conference he was attending in Malaysia. ”When they demanded that I resigned from the

From Left;Mr Shina Atilola;Group Head Strategy and Communications Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Gbenga Adegoke,Group Head Retail Product Sterling Bank Plc And Mr Frank Aigbogun,Publisher/CEO Businessday Newspaper.During the 2014 Businessday Annual Banking Awards held at Civic Centre Victorial Island Lagos.PHOTO BY AKEEM SALAU

present administration as the condition for my mother ’s release, I told them that I am not a man out to sacrifice his mother for position,” he recalled.

According to him, they allowed him to speak with her as a proof that they were holding her. ”They allowed me speak with her twice. The first time, she told me she was okay and I asked her if the kidnappers are Ijaws, she confirmed that they are. On the second occasion, they made my mother cry as a means to convince me of their seriousness. She was crying and begged me to secure her release and give them the money. ”They asked me to pay them the ransom. I told him I will not pay as I am not owing them. The last text I received was, ‘You have lost your mother ’.

Madam Patimi Akene, was abducted without any gunshot and whisked away by armed men numbering about six from her home close to the Ofonibiri community waterside at about 12 am penultimate Saturday.

The Bayelsa State Police Command, through its image maker, Alex Akhigbe, DSP, assured that they were on the trail of the gunmen but declined further comment.

Mr Bezard Wuyah.

About 160 people were said to have been killed by suspected Fulani fighters in the villages between Monday and Tuesday in coordinated attacks.

The latest alleged attacks brought the death toll to 200.

The Chairman, Sanga LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Adamu, confirmed the violence, but said he could not put a figure to it.

But, on Thursday, he said 110 bodies were given mass burial, after many other families took away the corpses of their loves ones for burial.

However, Kaduna State Police spokesman, DSP Aminu Lawan, denied that any other attack took place after Tuesday in the

area.

Meanwhile, reports said virtually all Ninzom villages, including Gwantu, the LGA headquarters of Sanga, have been deserted as the natives fled to nearby towns and neighboring states.

Wuyah, who spoke to our Kaduna correspondent, yesterday, on phone said: “Right now, we have been touring some of the villages affected. Last night (Friday), Ambie, a village of about 5,000 people, was ransacked. We lost 30 people, and I am told that there are more corpses in the bushes.

“Paa, a village close to Gwantu, was attacked around 10 this morning (Saturday) till this

afternoon. Ten people were killed. The town was also burnt down. The entire villages are now empty. I am now in Gwantu, with Kaduna State Commissioner of Water Resources, Mr. Audu Dogo.

He can testify to what I am saying.”

When Sunday Vanguard put a call to Dogo, around 5pm, yesterday, he said: “We are now in the Gwantu Police Station, because they are now attacking one village, called Tarri. We are with the DPO. And he is mobilizing his people to go there. The problem is that when there is an attack here, and the security men go, there will be another one somewhere. There is lack of personnel. But there is an attack on Tarri going on now.”

How we stopped second bomber – Security forces Continued from page 5 they tried to speed away.

“Fortunately for the security forces, impact of the bullet on the suspect sitting on the rear seat caused him to destabilize the bike which was already in motion, causing the two men to fall.

“Coincidentally, an Anti-bomb Squad vehicle was coming in the opposite direction and as it got closer to the point where the two suspects were being apprehended, the alarm about the presence of a possible explosive device went off in the bus.

“This further propelled the curiosity of the security men who were trying to apprehend the suspects.

“In the melee that fol-

lowed, the rider of the bike escaped into the crowd within the scene of the bombing that was still being cordoned off.

“Fortunately, sympathizers at the scene were alert and they suspected that somebody was being chased and had attempted to mingle with the crowd.

“Four people were rounded up by the crowd.

“It was the injured, dying suspect who identified his colleague from among the four persons that had been rounded up”.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the shot suspect later died.

His colleague is, according to sources, providing useful information to security forces.

It was later discovered, based on information provided by security sources, that the bombers were “heading for another part of town when one of them was shot”.

The shot suspect, it was learnt, had an explosive device in the bag he was carrying.

Upon his apprehension, it was also discovered that he had a stop watch on him – possibly to be used for the explosive device in his possession.

Explaining to Sunday Vanguard the role of vigilant Nigerians at the scene of the EMAB Plaza bombing, the source admitted that “but for vigilant Nigerians in the crowd, it may have been difficult to apprehend the suspect”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 9

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

Need to overcome Boko Haram with love Dear Sir,

A

T a time like this, we need to over come evil with good, by extending our hands of love to Boko Haram.

As a people we need to spring into reverse and opposite action to the activities of Boko Haram. Collectively, we can check the power of Boko Haram with our power to do good works and bring healing to all that they have hurt and injured. We herein have an opportunity to let Boko Haram see us put genuine love into action.

As according Edward Burke, “All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” So far, the good men (and women) of Nigeria have done nothing to halt the triumph of Boko Haram evils in our land. If we are truly serious about ending the violence of Boko Haram or any other violent groups in this land, Nigeria’s good men (and women) must not continue to do “nothing” in the face of all this evil.

We must “…not be overcome by evil”; but must “overcome evil with good” (“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21).

Let our love actions begin with the immediate and rapid rebuilding of the burnt churches and pay compensation to victims of these Boko Haram acts of terrorism. There are more of us good people of Nigeria than there are bad people called terrorists. Supposedly, we good people control more resources than they do. So why have we surrendered to the forces of evil and willingly allow them to take us captive in our own country, neighborhoods and homes, anticipating, waiting for and fearing their imminent invasion?

Let the good men and women of Nigeria arise and ‘invade’ the environments that have seen Boko Haram activity and collectively begin the processes of re-building the lives, houses, churches and other structures destroyed or damaged by Boko Haram. We must no longer surrender any inch of our country to the forces of evil, foreign or domestic.

The silence of the larger Nigerian community; the denials of complicity, support and sympathy with the terrorists must now

be tested with this call. All who really love God and this Nigeria need to rise up and stand together for us to overcome this evil of terrorism with our show of love. This is a call for us good people to rebuild the burnt churches and other structures, providing security and compensation to victims and the environments devastated by the destructive terrorist acts.

As much as we condemn their activities, we must with equal strength and resolve show the love that Jesus Christ has shown to us by His example. We are instructed to show love to all who hate us and despitefully use and abuse us. These are the Master ’s own words: – “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44) Coming from our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, these words are not suggestions but moral imperatives with the transforming force of divinity behind them.

If indeed Boko Haram is not on a wellarticulated agenda of religious and ethnic cleansing; if indeed Boko Haram is not acting out a script of a larger group that is choosing to remain in the shadows, then our collective response to this call will demonstrate to the whole world at large, and to Boko Haram in particular, that Nigeria is indeed “Good People, Great Nation”.

The larger Nigerian society must be unanimous, not just in verbal condemnations of Boko Haram, but take very deliberate and decisive actions that will clearly signal to Boko Haram that Nigeria is not and will not habour terrorists neither allow the Nigerian citizenry to be terrorized with impunity.

As per the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria is a secular and not a religious state and any attempts by any segments of our society to make Nigeria a religious state must be resisted by all persons who cherish freedom, democracy and fundamental human rights.

Nigeria is not, will not and must not be

made a religious state.

Reportedly, Boko Haram is made up of young impressionable minds. They were not born to hate; neither were they born to kill. They have been taught to hate and taught to kill. These seemingly remotely controlled young minds do not know why they are killing their fellow Nigerians. It appears that they have been born and bred with the aim of turning them into killers.

That is why no serious efforts were ever made to get them properly educated outside of religious indoctrination.

We are instructed by scripture to “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Today’s Boko Haram is the consequence of our collective failures to train up our children not to kill We can defeat this hate with our love. It is written, “Love covers a multitude of sins” and if we do the above, we’ll win because, Pastor Matthew PastorMatthew43in1@yahoo.com 4 Bimkol Crescent, GRA II, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

An appeal to President Jonathan to swap Chibok girls Dear Sir,

P

lease, we wish to use your pop ular medium to appeal to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take an extraordinary decision as it affects the kidnapped Nigerian Chibok girls by the Boko Haram.

A revolution is not actually a procedural method of changing a society, but some revolutions have changed some societies from backwardness to progress. Revolution may be of the physical and also of the mind, all

geared toward the change of society.

Our stand therefore is to implore you to do the avowed swap of the girls with the members of the Boko Haram in detention. Your decision here would be revolutionary. Many oppositions would want to interpret it to suit them by saying that you lacked the ability to free the girls from their dungeon.

But more passionate and perspective persons would hail you if that would bring the girls back to “life.” Even the Western world would like to castigate and intimidate you but don’t forget that the lives of the innocent girls are more precious and important than individ-

ual pride.

We implore you to have a deep thought over the swap option and take a bold step. Being “macho” in this matter cannot save the girls and history would remember and reward you as a passionate and fatherly president.

If you don’t do the swap and the girls are wasted, those who are now advising you against the swap would be the ones that would turn round tomorrow to say that you were not binded by their advice. As the Yankees say, the bucks stop at your table.

Sam Anagbo Temianor writes in from Sapele

PAGE 10 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

Congrats Fayose; Lesson for Fayemi and APC

This country deserves good news "The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need.

Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong." -Basil the Great ong may the Eagles soar?

May I extend my absolute delight that the Nigerian team made it to the knock out stage? It was a joyous occasion especially when we all were rooting for One Nigeria team.

How much is our vote worth?

The Ekiti people have spoken and they have voted for Ayodele Fayose for governor of the state. It does leave a bitter taste (pardon the pun), when one knows that both main candidates did give raw and cooked rice to the people in the state prior to the election. Long after the rice have finished would it be worth their

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votes, I wonder. Call me a cynic, but this is not a proper way to conduct a free and fair election, it taints the result, which by the way, was largely a safe and trouble free by Nigerian standards.

If this stunt becomes the trend next year, then Nigerian voters are being taken for a ride and politicians are insulting the populace by indicating that everyone can be bought. I hear that one politician said that if you are given gifts by the political parties, by all means take it but vote for who you really want. Such sound advice. The state was battle-ready with over 30,790 policemen, soldiers and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in attendance.

It is interesting to know who picks the tab and whose instructions these armed personnel were following.

How I wish they could deploy such numbers to Chibok and its environs.

The outgoing governor has being magnanimous in accepting the result and wishing the governor-elect his best wishes. Governor

“When all think alike; no one thinks very much.” Walter Lippmann, 1889-1974. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 245).

For once, the APC (ACN) was so thoroughly thrashed; there was no chance for anybody to claim the election was rigged. Even the excuse of intimidation of voters sounds puerile as to leave observers wondering if these “progressives” intend to learn from their mistakes

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It got to the point when all everybody had to do was to wait for directions from “the Leader”. Even the media organizations established to support the political movement suffered from the same fate. Individually brilliant, all the columnists were forced to tow the line. Once you read the heading, you know what the conclusion would be.

The APC and its leader

traveled to Ekiti State at least six times. Half of those trips invariably involve passing through the state capital – Ado-Ekiti. The last three years and nine months were not different in that respect. Thus, in 2012, I was in Ekiti for five days, on three occasions, on fact finding for a potential investor in that state. It was a very good opportunity to discover how people in various communities felt about

Fayemi in a broadcast in Ado -Ekiti, said he has no option than to accept the result of the election and congratulate Fayose "if indeed the outcome of the election is the will of the Ekiti people".

This is very reassuring and only wish this was the attitude many will take in the face of political defeat.

Being in politics is not a do-or-die and our politicians should know that the gravy train cannot go on forever. In most countries, you go into politics to help shape the lives of the people for the better and to represent the people you serve.

that we belong to each other." -- Mother Teresa The young girls have been missing for over 70 days and still more abductions, killings and bombings continue in and around the same area. The government spokesmen have been telling the people that they should go about their daily lives and they (the government and security agency) are actively waging war on BH. They say this from the safety of their fortified garrisons.

I do not think people can rely on the thinly veiled reassurances, not when people have become sitting

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which the losing candidate lost in every Local Government – including his own. For once, the APC (ACN) was so thoroughly thrashed; there was no chance for anybody to claim the election was rigged. Even the excuse of intimidation of voters sounds puerile as to leave observers wondering if these “progressives” intend to learn from their mistakes. They have lost three contests in a row – Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti.

The obvious question is: what went wrong? Let me start with a personal experience with regard to the debacle at Ekiti State to provide some of the answers from which APC and Fayemi (he still has a political future despite this loss) might learn.

The first and most obvious weakness of the “progressives” in the South West is the almost total domination of the party by one person. In fact, it had reached a stage when it could be regarded as hero-worship of the worst kind.

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“The “Yes-man” is the enemy; your best friend will argue with you…”

Aleksander Solzhenitysn, Russian author and human rights activist. t was like a thunder bolt. I supported Fayemi; but, I had reasons to believe that he might not win the election. Still, I was prepared for a very close contest.

The result, confirming the overwhelming preference of the people of Ekiti State for Fayose, was stunning and totally unexpected. So, let me start by extending my congratulations to Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose - whose election has, at least, blown away one long-held myth. We now know that the people of Ekiti State don’t respect scholarship any more than other Nigerians. Here, we were living witnesses to a mere HND holder taking two PhD holders, one of them a Professor, to the cleaners. It was not just a victory for Fayose; it was an emphatic rejection of Fayemi. I cannot remember an election in

are always right and PDP and Jonathan are always wrong. Shockingly, some of the people writing the nonsense are also PhD holders and even professors.

Group-think, as this phenomenon is called, had largely contributed to the delusions which led to the Ekiti disaster; and it may not be the last such embarrassment APC will suffer in the South West or beyond. But, let me now point out how this political culture had undermined Fayemi in Ekiti – because I was involved.

There has not been a single year in the last thirty during which I have not

For the politicians, you cannot throw money on this problem.

We need security, better lives for our young and good standard of living. Piece meal and empty pronouncement just won't cut it.

At the end of the day, if the lives of the people that voted for the individual does not change for the better, then the voters are equally to blame for the way they voted. We have to consider also that people with criminal records or a dubious past should not shoe in and or hold public office, that like getting the cat to watch the meat!

"An empty stomach is not a good political adviser." -Albert Einstein Remember Chibok Girls "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten

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ducks and their lives decimated and traumatised by tragedy and wanton brutality. Nigeria, where is the compassion?

This week alone, Abuja was rocked by explosions with several fatalities and causalities. Over 60 women were hijacked and forcefully taken away by the terrorists, among those abducted are children between the ages of three and 12.

The Damboa local government officials said they were afraid to speak out

their governor. What I found out was disturbing; very disturbing. Contrary to the propaganda which the party’s media organs and their best and brightest columnists were feeding the public, there was an almost total disconnect between the government and most of the people. Ekiti is a one industry state; and that industry is GOVERNMENT. Within that “conglomerate” teachers can be regarded as first among equals within the government establishment. Once teachers rightly or wrongly feel aggrieved, the government is in trouble. Somehow, in his desire to upgrade teaching services, Fayemi had antagonized the teachers and they were waiting to take their pound of flesh.

On reaching Lagos I sent a letter to Fayemi through one of his top officials requesting for an appointment. After a week a call came through telling me the Governor was out of the country but I will be contacted later. Till today, nothing happened. Undaunted, I sought out a mutual friend who was/is very close to Fayemi. One day the mutual friend invited me to a wedding where he was sure Governor Fayemi would be present and a meeting would be arranged. It was perhaps the worst day for me to go out of my house.

With arthritis on my right arm killing me and severe gout on my left wrist hurting like hell, on a day with heavy downpour and no driver, I still went to the venue of the reception at UNILAG – all in a bid to warn Fayemi that he was not being told the whole truth. Unfortunately, the

Governor, at the last minute, after church service, departed for Ado-Ekiti.

It was the most painful outing ever in my life; it was all in vain.

Meanwhile the “Yesmen”, including my friend who turned his formerly interesting column to a series of Ekiti/Fayemi propaganda pieces, kept on peddling the things which must have been music to Fayemi’s ears – while keeping from him the unpleasant truths he should have known at least a year or two ago. If Fayemi is in search of reasons, he should look his “friends” in the face and tell them off.

Four months ago, on another visit to Ekiti, I was stunned by how what started as mild resentment had congealed into outright rejection of Fayemi’s second term quest. By then, I had also concluded that I will still support him for reasons I mentioned about four weeks ago; but, it was clear to me that the people had turned against him. I still strongly believe for the wrong reasons. I also believe that two years from now, if not sooner, the people of Ekiti will wake up and wonder if they were under a spell for voting out Fayemi.

Fayemi, I hope, has also learnt a lesson. Court jesters and praise singers do more harm to public officials than his opponents. Flatterers never tell the whole truth.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

because of the controversy surrounding the Chibok abductions, with Nigeria's government coming under heavy criticism for its slow response.

The newly appointed religious leader, the Emir of Kano, former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the attack had "traumatised every one of us" while visiting the wounded in hospital. Yes, those who know feel it but who do they turn to their grief and anguish to? The government do not think it is their bag.

In April, Abuja bombings killed 120 people. In May, twin car bombs in the central city of Jos left more than 130 people dead, and a car bomb at a bus station killed 24 people in the Christian quarter of Kano, a Muslim city.

This Monday, bomb exploded at a medical college in Kano killed at eight people. Last week, at least 14 died in a bomb blast at a World Cup viewing site in Damaturu, a state capital in the north-east An explosion shook Apapa in Lagos last Wednesday.

The twin blast which affected four buildings, including two banks has reportedly claimed five lives. Bomb experts and security operatives have yet to prove that indeed a bomb was detonated.

The Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the explosion was caused by gas cylinders. And that people should not be unduly con-

cerned. No people are convinced, they are on hyper vigilance mode and this has a physical and mental health consequence on the lives of our people. We will continue to pray for the return of the girls and when they do, in whatever state they are in. They and their family will need a lot of support and intervention.

For the politicians, you cannot throw money on this problem. We need security, better lives for our young and good standard of living. Piece meal and empty pronouncement just won't cut it.

Dear Madam, RE: NO IFS, NO BUTS ONLY MERIT WILL DO Your article in the Sunday Vanguard of yesterday (June 22, 2014) was a breath of fresh air. Indeed, you hit the nail on its head; you identified the hydraheaded monster that has and still is preventing us as a nation from meaningful progress. The issue at stake here is at the core of ALL our problems in Nigeria.

We threw merit away long, long ago and we have nothing but retrogression to show for it. It can be said that not doing things on the basis of merit is the very foundation of corruption.

Nobody makes the right democratic choice by looking at issues through the coloured spectacles of ethnic and religious bias. We would have a truly great nation built on strong democratic values only when we stop allowing ethnic, religious or other prejudices from determining who leads us.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, — PAGE 11

be behind the problem is a northern based Islamic group. This puts our Northern Elders in the best position to find ways of reconciling the sect with the rest of the nation. Instead, the elders have kept distancing themselves from the problem by telling the world that the sect was breaching some of the tenets of Islam.

What is the relevance of ech-

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HE agonies of resi dents of Nigeria’s federal capital city and its environs especially the impact of two consecutive bomb blasts in Nyanya a few weeks back were yet to subside when another bomb blast occurred again last Wednesday in Wuse, Abuja. On the basis of vicarious liability which in law, refers to the blame a leader bears on behalf of his team, it is rational to blame our numerous security challenges on our over-all leader, President Goodluck Jonathan. But since the security challenges are getting more severe and spreading as well as biting harder by the day, the direction of the blame game is probably too simplistic and narrow. A more realistic analysis of the unending nature of our current insecurity, is likely to show that there are many other leaders that are blame worthy concerning the subject Let us start from the home base of today’s problem.

The Boko Haram sect that is generally understood to

earlier better handled under an amnesty programme. But when the militants were causing insecurity, critics accused leaders of the Niger Delta area of doing nothing to call their people to order. So, if today’s blame game is properly situated, our northern elders cannot escape blame for being unable to call to order those causing insecurity in their part of the country.

In the South, some overzealous Christians were among the first to dissuade

Religion being a personal matter, government ought to abolish all Pilgrims Welfare Commissions and stop sponsoring citizens who occasionally travel to other people’s territory which they call holy land just to pray

oing such a sermon when more people are dying daily especially in the North as a result of the insecurity posed by the sect’s operations? Some of the leaders are also engaged in rationalizing the situation by reminding us that another aggrieved group - the Niger Delta Militants - were

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government from using dialogue to solve the current anarchy when it was just starting. Their philosophy was that no one negotiates with criminals. Which pays the nation better, negotiating to halt further damage or keeping to a philosophy that sees several citizens becoming daily victims of

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Notes on the origin and nature of religion (1)

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IGERIANS are among the most religious people in the world. But most of them hardly spend time to reflect on the origin and nature of religious worship.

Moreover, they accept the doctrines of Christianity and Islam uncritically, and hardly deviate from the religions of their parents or of the society to which they belong. Given the recurrent problem of religious intolerance and recrudescence of fundamentalist violence in Nigeria and in different parts of the world presently, it is important that believers should periodically reflect on the essence of their faiths. This is because such reflection can lead to better understanding of the purpose of religion as a means of attaining spiritual enlightenment leading to a better practice of life. To trigger the much-needed reflection is the major objective of this paper.

Now, the ubiquity of religion globally probably indicates a deep-seated need for self-transcendence, for reaching "towards the beyond," in human beings.

Similarly, archaeological discoveries in different parts of the world establish that pre-historic humans engaged in religion. It follows that religion is an important aspect of human

existence on earth, because it ministers to some basic human psychological and spiritual needs. At any rate, despite the antiquity of religion, scholars are still debating fundamental issues connected to human proclivity to worship a transcendental creator of the universe believed to exist.

For example, questions about the meaning, origin and nature of religion are yet to be settled, just as the ontological status of the beings postulated by different religions and epistemological queries with respect to religious claims continue to generate controversies in academic circles.

Like most words that denote a complex phenomenon or complicated human practice, theologians, philosophers and other scholars interested in the subject have defined 'religion' in various ways. Sometimes, religion is defined as whatever anybody believes in strongly, with the implication that everybody has a religion, because each person has entrenched beliefs.

Such a reductionist definition of religion is unacceptable. As J.I. Omoregbe correctly points out, it would mean that atheists and agnostics have their own religion, since they strongly believe that God does not exist or that evidence either for the existence or nonex-

istence God is inconclusive, a conclusion that is at odds with the dogmatic nature of religion.

Another erroneous conception of religion equates it with morality. According to proponents of this view, morality is inseparable from religion; morality cannot exist without religion. However, the fact that religions embody some moral teachings does not entail the inseparability of religion and morality.

This follows from the fact that there are atheists and agnostics of high moral quality who profess no religion, and countless believers of low moral worth.

Indeed, religion needs morality, and not the other way round. Of course, adherence to a particular religion can induce one to live a morally upright life. Yet, a non-believer can be highly moral based on philosophical, secular and humanistic considerations.

A useful approach to the problem of defining religion is by analysing the etymological roots of the word itself. 'Religion,' according to Omoregbe, evolved from three Latin words, namely, ligare (to bind), relegere (to unite or link), and religio, (rendered in English as 'relationship').

Omoregbe argues, from the foregoing, that religion indicates a relationship be-

that “The Government of the federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion”.

Religion being a personal matter, government ought to abolish all Pilgrims Welfare Commissions and stop sponsoring citizens who occasionally travel to other people’s territory which they call holy land just to pray. Obviously, religious extremists who perpetrate disturbances in the nation will not relent because they are over pampered by government. Of course, to remain in the favour of government they would endorse every government policy while refusing to frown at what goes wrong. This posture has been an alibi for public officials to engage in several somersaults in government policies. For example when government first set up a committee to dialogue with Boko Haram, the Chairman of the Committee, Usman Galtimari reportedly called on the leadership of the sect to embrace dialogue with the assurance that all their rights and privileges would be granted.

But when the committee was eventually inaugurated, government warned it not to negotiate with the sect but “to create a forum whereby every person who has suggestions on a way forward will, without restriction, reach out to the committee with ease".

Some sycophants had helped government to argue that it could not negotiate with a faceless sect. If

so, with whom were we refusing to exchange some detained crime suspects with our precious Chibok girls? Put differently, is the popular perception across the globe that former President Obasanjo has held meetings with some Boko Haram negotiators a fairy tale? Again, was Youth Development Minister Boni Haram dreaming when he called on Boko Haram members to embrace a “non-existent” amnesty package so as to enjoy the “series of integration programmes lined up for those who surrender their arms and embrace peace”?

Long ago, a former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, opined that the spate of violence being unleashed on the country would abate when government engaged the sect in meaningful dialogue. He was supported by President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire, who suggested that the activities of Boko Haram should be addressed with utmost caution adding that the only solution to the problem was dialogue. This position appears superior to that of check points which keeps traumatized citizens in several traffic hold-ups in certain locations where there had been bomb blasts. Painfully this can only exacerbate the people’s sense of insecurity. For God’s sake, when will this trauma end when our main opposition party is playing politics with the delicate subject?

tween at least two persons, which are the human person and the divine person or God who is believed to exist. Thus, religion links human beings to a divine transcendent spiritual being. In the relationship, God or the Supreme Being is the originator and sustainer of the universe and all its contents, including humans, whereas it is the duty of believers to worship the Supreme Being.

Monotheism, belief in one God, evolved at different times in different communities. There is good evidence that polytheism, the belief in more than one God, antedated monotheism. Now, polytheism is declining steadily globally: more than half of the world's population are Christians and Muslims, which are monotheistic in

original version of Buddhism founded by Siddhartha Gautama was fundamentally atheistic. This contradicts the theory that belief in God is a basic requirement in religion; it also indicates that such a belief is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for categorising systems of beliefs and practices as a religion.

At the barest minimum, any system of beliefs can be called a religion if it postulates a non-empirical transcendental world or state of being generally considered superior in some sense to what obtains in this life. It must also involve belief in afterlife and special modes of behaviour and practices, including prayers and worship, that help believers tap into the supernatural realm and gain access to the tran-

why scholars have sought to penetrate the surface and probe deep to uncover what might be called the essence of religion.

Of the numerous theories on the origin and purpose of religion, six of them are predominant. The first one we shall consider is the anthropological theory posited by Ludwig Feuerbach in his book, The Essence of Christianity. According to the theory, religion is nothing other than the worship of human nature. God is the projection of everything of value in human nature.

Feuerbach argues that In the process of inventing the idea of God, human beings alienate themselves from their very nature. All the divine qualities attributed to the divine being are human qualities projected into an imaginary being called God. Hence, "the yearning of man after something above himself is nothing else than the longing after the perfect type of his nature, the yearning to be free ... from the limits and defects of his individuality." The Christian doctrine of Incarnation, in which God became man (Jesus) so that man might become God, agrees with Feuerbach's anthropological theory.

To a large extent, Feuerbach is correct in that all the qualities ascribed to God are usually the superlative of positive attributes of humans - wisdom, intelligence, justice, mercy, justice, power, creativity etc.

The main problem with Feuerbach's theory is that it concentrates too much on the idea of God and paid little attention to other important features of religion that cannot be easily explained as projections of human nature.

TO BE CONTINUED.

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Why insecurity persists in Nigeria

bomb blasts and abductions? The greatest pain is that the philosophy which the leaders canvass is only designed to show them as loyalists thereby keeping them in the good books of government. In other words, the pro-establishment stance of different religious leaders is purely for materialistic gains. This is also true of members of traditional institutions particularly those who pay frequent solidarity visits to government. Alas, the solidarity visits have not stopped the daily killings of our people.

This column remains as convinced as it was some two years back when it argued that the religious undertone in our polity is caused by the undue patronage which Christian and Muslim leaders get from government. To stop religion from being a tool of dismemberment, the nation needs to revert to a secular status in accordance with our constitution. This is because the current notion in government circles that secularity means being fair to the so-called two main religious groupings is wrong. To say Christian and Muslim prayers at the beginning and end of every public event lacks secularity. To build churches and mosques in government houses and offices is not part of secularity but merely a sign that the two religions are being made official in breach of the clear demand of Section 10 of our constitution which says

Of course, adherence to a particular religion can induce one to live a morally upright life. Yet, a nonbeliever can be highly moral based on philosophical, secular and humanistic considerations

nature, although the concept of trinity complicates the picture of God in Christianity. Traditional African religions embody what might be called diffuse or soft monotheism, in the sense that the Supreme Being is considered so remote from human beings that it has to be propitiated through intermediaries or lesser Gods and Goddesses.

It must be remarked that, although majority of the religions practiced by human beings since the dawn of civilisation contain belief in God or lesser deities as an article of faith, the

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scendental state we alluded to earlier especially after death. Hence, virtually every religion contains an eschatology or doctrine of the final or last events, particularly in the purported afterlife.

Differences in religious beliefs and observances stem from the incredible mix of contingent sociocultural, historical, geographical, economic, political and biographical factors that determine their form and content. Yet, despite these differences, there are similarities that unite them and justify classifying them as 'religion.' That is

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

The Fayemi example

Them and us fools paradise is a A reality that is beautiful and perfect, supporting

values and beliefs that project an illusion of peace; it is tailor made to suit the dreams and aspirations of its owner, it has one fatal flaw; its not real. Almost a decade ago I was accused of living in a fools paradise by a friend on a visit to my home back then. He liked the harmony we enjoyed but felt there was way too much familiarity between me and my domestic staff; “there is a line of authority that you are letting them cross and I am sure you will someday regret it”. I had explained that I didn’t hold any supremacist values and that I believed that save for grace and a lottery of birth we were all one and the same, at least before God. In stark contrast to my very informal setting my friend who was married to another friend of mine kept a house that was in my view very regimented. All members of staff were

required to wear uniforms, lived in staff quarters, ate different meals and didn’t mix with the family. We had similar staff strength, paid same salaries but ran completely different homes.

They were not in any way unkind to their staff, they just kept them in their place as do almost everyone else I know. To quote my friend “Nothing you do will ever make them see you as one of them; they are not here for love, they would not stay if you didn’t pay and they will band together against you; truth is “there is them and there is Us”.

The brotherhood of men is a myth if our class, religion or other artificial lines separate us and I was brought up in a household that’s identical to mine.

Looking back I would say it was almost a commune as there really was no difference between us and the domestic staff. We all had chores, we all cleaned and cooked. We ate the same and pretty much were

reins, and he laughed and said, “It was the bulldozer.”

The plutocratic Generals, under the watch of the doeeyed Abdulsalami Abubakar, sweating from an overdose of ill-acquired wealth, sought to protect their stakes in the futures market of Nigerian democracy. They bulldozed Obasanjo to power fresh from the mean quarters of prison. What took place in 1998 was hardly an election. In many parts of Nigeria, stuffed ballot boxes,

spect I may have had for Adams Oshiomhole, who was the only person, against the will of the workers that he represented, who stood by Obasanjo at his second inauguration on May 29, 2003. The point of this is that elections in Nigeria since 1998 had taken

sacredness of the ballot, but a sense of trust for the ballot. The elections last week in Ekiti is clear evidence that something utterly, and confoundingly wonderful may be happening in Nigerian democracy. Politicians are now debating; working hard; and may no longer take the voter for granted.

They will earn their mandates or lose it. But the great hero of last week’s election in Ekiti is my friend, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the incumbent governor and candidate for the APC, who was defeated quite roundly by his PDP opponent, Peter Ayodele Fayose in the Ekiti elections.

As the results came in, Dr. Fayemi bowed to the will of the Ekiti, congratulated his opponent for a hardwon election, and conceded. In his concession, he pledged to continue to work for the good of the public.

It was amazing grace. But of course, Kayode Fayemi is a gracious and sophisticated man, and has given Ayo Fayose, who was equally gracious in victory, something to think about. He knows that he will now be measured by Kayode’s action. It is no longer do-ordie. It is service and humility. Kayode Fayemi is still intact. I think the University of Lagos, or Ibadan, of Nigeria, would do very well to appoint him to their professoriate as a distinguished Professor of Security and Strategic Studies, and betterstill, from there, he must continue to serve Nigeria, if President Jonathan has the good sense to use Kayode Fayemi’s expertise and appoint him to the President’s National Security Advisory Board.

16 years ago . Very rarely do I loose staff or even fire anyone, though I have zero tolerance for stealing and will dismiss on the spot those caught in the act. I hold the belief that everyone is teachable, I love to cook, so I don’t mind investing hours teaching even professionals how to do it my way, I like a clean environment and I like things compartmentalised and off the floor. I respect people’s right to their emotional baggage and try to understand and make allowances for staff, especially when they first

refused to see it.

A while back my housekeeper was eased out of her position because she posed a threat to security and while I initially genuinely liked her, there was no hiding the fact that if care was not taken I would pay a a dear price for such carelessness. She put a plan in motion to frustrate fellow household staff out of their jobs and it was only after one person left that we caught on to her plan. Like my mom, I try to help staff start something of their own when they leave and we did same for her. As usual, in-

had never quite understood my lack of structure and considered me way too liberal in my outlook but he figured I probably had a rhyme to my reason so he kept out of it. I told him what I had found out and he understood that I was hurt that people I trusted sensed danger and failed to warn me but reminded me that my trusting nature left me open to such occurrences. He agreed there was always a “Them and Us” its the way of the world; you just have to accept that.

So what does one do in the face of an unpalatable reality, how does one treat people with detachment? I was brought up to care for and about others and I am having to learn to curtail my natural emotions in favour of a more regimented structure in my interactions. It took a while to not be openly hostile to some of my staff but I have made my peace with the reality that they know their place, I just have to learn mine. I still don’t believe in uniforms and I think its safer for everyone to eat the same thing (less chance of getting poisoned) but I now accept that people who are forced by circumstances into servitude don’t necessarily feel they belong in any family no matter the intentions or projections of their hosts/employers. The simple truth is that there was always and there will always be a “Them and Us”...

Kayode Fayemi is a gracious and sophisticated man, and has given Ayo Fayose, who was equally gracious in victory, something to think about. He knows that he will now be measured

by Kayode’s action. It is no longer door-die. It is service and humility

,

recording hundred percent voter participation, and in some instances, over-participation, all went to Obasanjo. The protests about the elections were muffled, because Nigerians just wanted to move on, whatever it took, from the rule of soldiers. The period be-

the same; the life I live now is the life I know. My house was always fun, it was full of people and laughter and everyone loved to visit; most of my friends preferred to be in my house than theirs.

Putting staff in uniform feels like slavery to me and I doubt I could ever do it. If I look back realistically the informal nature of my house created challenges and that is understating the fact. I personally hated the invasion of my private space, the loss of the countless number of stuff that was stolen and the permanent drama that was the nature of so many personalities that seemed to always run riot in the house. In my own home, I guarded my privacy from outsiders but my structures and boundaries lacked definition on the inside and lately I am slowly coming round to the reality of structure and recognition of the realistic divide between “Them and Us”.

I get lauded for the longevity of staff in my employ, I have people still in active employment who have been with me for 18 years, my driver came 15 or

,

to contest election in a field in which certain key interests were at stake. As I have noted at some point, I was inside the Jos Stadium that 1998, sitting right next to Bamanga Tukur and the late Chuba Okadigbo, during the inaugural PDP convention that nominated Obasanjo as its presidential candidate. I, in fact, took the call from the American CNN and handed it to Bamanga Tukur from whom they wanted confirmation of an Obasanjo nomination and an analysis of the terrain and mood going forward. I was witness to something which has since proved malignant in the attempts at the political transformation of Nigeria, from that moment, when Aniete Okon, formerly a senator, announced the nomination of Obasanjo as the PDP candidate. The corruption of the political process in this current phase of Nigeria’s democratic rule began with the process that produced Obasanjo in Jos. It gave me a particular chill. Once in 2010 in Dallas at the 80th birthday party for C.C. Momah, I asked the former Senator Zik Obi, in whose Law offices in Western House, Broad Street, Lagos, the PDP was literally formed, how the horses had fled from their

,

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emocracy is a sys tem of social or ganization in which profoundly conflicting interests clash, and are resolved in a ballot in which the highest number take precedence. But that’s not all of it: it is also a habit of the mind willing to accept the sacred results of the ballot. The ballot in a democracy is the Holy Grail; sacred because it is the expression of the highest will of the most important factor in the social contract: the governed.

The willingness to cede momentarily, individual power, and invest it collectively in a public system of representative government, by which those we elect through the democratic practice act in our names and resolve is the material difference between tyranny and freedom; between chaos and order. The struggle for democracy in modern Nigeria began with the anti-colonial nationalist struggles, and the later struggle against military rule, the last of which culminated in the emergence of this fourth republic.

From 1998, Nigeria’s transition to a new democratic society commenced with the election of the former General Olusegun Obasanjo who had been literally sprung from prison

the form of “do-or-die” politics, in which all the demons of rage and violence are unleashed to counter and dismantle the electoral will and aspiration of the public.

Nigerians began to lose confidence in the sacredness of the ballot and in the value of democracy. In 2007, the late Yar Adua publicly acknowledged the profound flaws of the election that brought him to office, and vowed to use his term in office to carry out electoral reforms that would make for a more transparent process. Mr. Yar Ardua, many Nigerians believe, had his heart in the right place. If that heart had not given up too quickly while he was in office, the late president, many Nigerians still believe, would have taken Nigeria to a new place.

He had the makings of a great president. But he died in office, and in his place, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan came, and also pledged to make elections and the democratic process more open and transparent. He appointed Professor Mahmud Jega, Political scientist, past President of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, and Professor of Politics at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as the Executive Chairman of the National Elections Commission, (INEC). By all accounts, the Jega-led Electoral commission has brought, from the evidence of the elections conducted under his watch, some new sense of sanity and transparency to the electoral process in Nigeria. Increasingly, the Nigerian electorate is beginning to feel, not only the

tween 2000 and 2004, saw the highest number of political assassinations and kidnappings in Nigeria than at any other moment of its life. These were public and prominent people killed publicly and prominently.

Nothing of that nature had happened in Nigeria before; not even under the Abacha dictatorship. More people in opposition were killed or disappeared under the PDP government of General Obasanjo from 2000-2004 than at any other time in Nigeria’s history.

The mood leading to the second election in 2003 was remarkably edgy and dangerous. In that election, even Jimmy Carter, Obasanjo’s longstanding friend, was just too embarrassed by its conduct and result that he quietly left Nigeria as an election observer without comment. It was the “do-ordie election.” I lost any re-

The brotherhood of men is a myth if our class, religion or other artificial lines separate us and I was brought up in a household that’s identical to mine

get employed. I have had my share of the good, the bad and very ugly or should I say evil but I am always open to giving everyone a chance. Lately however I am beginning to see that while I am blessed with some very good and loyal staff, their is very much a “Them and Us” mentality on their part and I may have been the dumbo who just didn’t or should I say

,

formation started to filter in after her departure and I came to know that other members of staff had realised she posed a threat long before I did, even those I considered part of the family kept quiet and just protected their own interests. I was quietly mulling over this new realisation when I was prodded to share my thoughts by my nearest and dearest. I should say that he

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 13

BY JIDE AJANI

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ecause he doesn’t want to displease some people, he continues to displease and annoy everybody. That is President Goodluck Jonathan for you.

For a Presidency that appears to have mastered the art of saying the useful things but goes ahead to do the useless things, it is becoming inescapably decipherable why terror is gradually settling-in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

It may not matter that Aso Rock Presidential Villa is a fortress.

It may not matter that most of the leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, (and the larger group of Nigerian elite) domiciled in Abuja also live in fortresses of their own, rationing police posting among each other and depriving the Nigerian public the needed security men to carry out proper surveillance and reconnaissance activities.

It may not also matter because the number of fatalities almost always recorded during each terror attack in Nigeria represents mere statistics - statistics that are at sea and which do not in the remotest way affect the owners of the country.

Perhaps, it may not even matter that members of the public living in guilt-byindifference no longer feel so much pain when deaths are recorded in the aftermath of terror attacks in their 10s because the psyche has now been conditioned to appreciate loss of lives in their scores.

Yet, after all said and done, it should matter because members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati walJihad, which in English means, “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, and otherwise known as Boko Haram, appear to be running away with the impression that all is well with its campaign of terror.

It should be of immense concern to all those who have painted the insurgency with a tar of opposition agenda that those who were killed in the Bannex/Emap Plaza bombing did not carry any identification labeling them as either PDP or APC of APGA or LP members.

It should also matter to all right-thinking Nigerians that the present insurgency has put the country on the global stage, albeit, in a very

C M Y K

STATE OF THE NATION

A Presidency in Denial

•Why Jonathan must crush insurgency

*President Goodluck Jonathan uncomplimentary manner.

It should matter, in the most egregious of ways, that some of the over two hundred CHIBOK girls may have been carrying pregnancies at different stages of protrusion.

It should be disturbing that whereas President Jonathan told CNN mid-last year that in six months he would reappear on the cable channel to tell them that BOKO HARAM has been defeated, the reality is that stories of Nigeria and Boko Haram on CNN are stories determined by and predicated on the exploits of the terror group.

Now, therefore, is it not time for some serious soulsearching by those who like to be described as opinion leaders, movers and shakers in northern Nigeria?

This question is very germane in the face of how the insurgency is being executed.

Firstly - and without prejudice to the shambling

It is either BOKO HARAM has keyed into the agenda of those who want Jonathan out of power or those who have threatened that over their ‘dead-body’ should he remain President post-2015, may have inadvertently or even one way or another keyed into the agenda of the terrorists

approach of President Jonathan and his seemingly clueless disposition in recent times - last week was supposed to be a week Jonathan and his men are celebrating the victory of their party - the PDP -in Ekiti State gubernatorial election.

But the week is being used to cope with the many acts of terror across the country Kaduna, Kano, Adamawa and Borno.

It is for this reason that some people continue to insist that whereas Boko Haram operates as a terror group, it is either it has keyed into the agenda of those who want Jonathan out of power by 2015; or those who have threatened that over their ‘dead-body’ would he remain President post2015, may have inadvertently or even one way or another keyed into the agenda of the terrorists.

So, the wisest thing to do now for a President, who is becoming ashamed of what is

going on, is to device a better means of not only smoking out the insurgents but also crushing them. True, there are those who would argue that an attempt to crush the insurgents would only further harden them and may come with collateral damage.

Pray, what other collateral damage would be crazier than a situation where the insurgents appear to be winning?

Worse still, some over 200 girls are still missing.

Weekly, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen continue to kill and maim. The citizens live in fear. Would the energy being dissipated on newspaper vendors and distributors not be better channeled to crushing the insurgency? If President Jonathan is seen as weak, shouldn’t he at least,for his sake, his family’s sake and the sake of millions of Nigerians who elected him stand up and act? Enough of the joke about an asymmetrical warfare.

PAGE 14— SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

Abuja, Boko Haram attacks and the elusive $470 million CCTV cameras

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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rom the 2010 Independence Day car bombing at the Eagles Square to the daring attack on Police Headquarters in 2011, down to the strike on the United Nations building, not forgetting the deadly ThisDay Newspapers’ building attack in 2012, the Nyanya bomb explosion and, of course, Wednesday’s devastating attacks on Emab Plaza in Abuja, acts of terrorism appear to have permeated the polity, leaving everyone and every place completely vulnerable. Read the accounts of the blasts and the seemingly defeated efforts to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV), cameras in the major cities of the country.

He was more concerned with reeling out the casualty figures. Deadline was fast beckoning in various media houses and a horde of journalists at the scene had been placed on tenterhooks as they anxiously waited for official statement of the casualty rate from the authorities to authenticate their stories.

Behind him were cars, vehicles and other items which had been reduced to debris. The targeted plaza mainly escaped the attack but not before having some part torched.

Just then, he mounted the culvert in the middle of the road, backing the scene of the deadly bomb blast which smelt like hell to disclose the much awaited information.

Accompanied by Mr. Bala Mohammed, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory( FCT), he read: “The casualty figure for now is 21 persons and 17 persons injured. If there is any change later on, we will gladly inform you.

There are also 17 vehicles that were burnt in the incident. It is also heart warming to note that an arrest has been made and the security agencies will be following up with that arrest.”

With the information, Mr. Frank Mba, the Nigeria Police public relations officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, felt his job at that point had been done. But he was seemingly oblivious of one thing more: that Emab and Banex Plazas where the dastardly act occurred on Wednesday evening were just two out of the plethora of shopping malls that liter Abuja, meaning that other could be vulnerable if left insecure.

It was not until a journalist put the question of police preparedness to secure other shopping malls across the city that Mba said that surveillance would be extended C M Y K

to all plazas and other public places in Abuja to forestall a similar misfortune. Well, that is precisely what the public was expecting to hear and Mba had done his job.

Done, the FCT Minister, Mohammed, took the stage. ”Our security protocol that is being established is to make sure that some minimal security infrastructures are provided in all our public areas. In fact, it is showing from here that they are being enforced but there are certain incidences that may not be avoided and they are so unfortunate,” he stated.

To Nigerians who have been following the trend of events, the statement of the two government officials were palatable but not new. In any case, they remained cosmetic in the light of many promises that had trailed similar attacks in the past. Almost, always, government and, indeed, the entire security apparatus assure Nigerians of adequate protection of their lives and property especially in the event of any crisis. Yet, little or no effort is made to realize that. At least, this is the conviction the ordinary Nigerians have.

In effect, the bombs keep going off every now and then and,, in most cases, there had been no narrowed traces of the perpetrators. Yet again, the principal responsibility of government is to ensure the welfare and security of life property of the citizenry.

At each occurrence, attention would be shifted for a while. There would a cordon off marked with police crime tapes. Heavy police/military presence would be seen. There

*Last week's Abuja attack scene. Inset: A CCTV camera would be suspension of business activities and vehicular movements, some times, as if the attacker would stage a come back to the scene.

In any case, they had done so before even with an increased surveillance: Remember the second Nyanya bomb explosion on May 1, 2014. Yes, when these attacks come fresh, debates of intensified security surveillance would gain acceleration, attempting to reach a crescendo. But that is the sermonisation. Only at the time. When calm eventually returns, life continues until another

recorded. From Mba to Mohammed down to Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the reassurances go on. The National Assembly, religious bodies, the EU, UN, foreign missions domiciled in Nigeria and in fact most known private and public institutions have condemned the attack. Of course, who would not. Life was involved.

Meanwhile, the chief of all the reassurance at the time of filing this report emanated from Vice President Namadi Sambo

The closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera project, billed for installation in Abuja and Lagos, which was started by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s regime and inherited by the present administration, is yet to see the light of day after a large chunk of $470m had been sunk into it bomber strikes. That is Nigeria.

But in any fairest sense, Mba and Mohammed were not alone in the reassurance sermon.

Since last week’s bombing, an avalanche of glowing condemnations, tributes, reassurances and reiterations have been

who inspected the scene on Thursday.

Leaving an impression of usual rhetorics, he:”This cowardly and unjust act will be defeated-evil can never be sustained, Insha Allah. This administration and Mr. President will not leave any stone unturned until we defeat these terrorists. Terrorism

cannot survive in Nigeria or in any part of this world.”

Retrospectively, the Wednesday attack on Emab Plaza at the high brow area of Wuse 11, Abuja jerks a push into a chronology of bomb explosions that had rocked Abuja in the last four years and unfulfilled tales of promises by government to halt them.

More annoying is the fact that the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera project, billed for installation in Abuja and Lagos, which was started by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s regime and inherited by the present administration, is yet to see the light of day after a large chunk of $470m had been sunk into it.

In fact, the completion time was supposed to be July, 2011 but, as at the last time Sunday Vanguard checked, nothing substantial was heard. *Chronology of Abuja bombings, deaths, nonfatal injuries, condemnations and unrealized promises of prevention.

The 2010 Independence Day bomb attack Bomb attacks were apparently alien to the residents of Abuja until October 1, 2010 Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration. That year ’s

ceremony was very unique. It was the country’s golden Jubilee and so, the event was loud at the Eagles square, the venue of the event with most dignitaries of the world in attendance.

More so, President Goodluck Jonathan had just taken over the mantle of governance a few months before.

While the crowd milled at the venue, a car bomb exploded some meters away, killing 12 persons with the record of 17 nonfatal injuries. Later, it was heard that the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, led

by Mr. Henry Okah was behind the attack. But even though President Jonathan was quick to controversially exonerate MEND whose leader was eventually found guilty and sentenced in South Africa, there were however promises to checkmate and nib the act in the bud.

Force Headquarters bomb attack Nigerians were still waiting for government to fulfill its promise when another bomb attack was meted out to the Police Headquarters in Abuja on June 16, 2011. This time suicide bombing. The explosion claimed 6 lives.

Sunni Islamist group of Boko Haram later claimed

Continues on page 15

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 15

Continued from page 14 responsibility. Yet again, the government made more promises to stamp out terrorists.

Abuja UN building bombing Perhaps, one dastardly bomb attack that got the government and, indeed, the world most rattled was the one supposedly the most secure United Nations building in Abuja, on Friday, August 26, 2011. This came barely two months after the Police Headquarters was attacked. Twenty-one deaths were recorded in the UN building strike while 73 non-fatal injuries occurred.

Hear the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri: “This is not an attack on Nigeria but on the global community. An attack on the world.”

Similarly, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, described the attack as an ‘assault on those who devote themselves to helping others”.

In a statement by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan sent his condolences to Mr. Ban Kimoon and all those who lost loved ones in the bomb blast.

“President Jonathan reaffirms the Federal Government’s total commitment to vigorously combat the incursion of all forms of terrorism into Nigeria, and wishes to reassure all Nigerians and the international community that his Administration will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement said.

Suspected perpetrators were members of Boko Haram. Government said it was on top of the situation.

ThisDay Newspapers attack Hardly had the year 2012 left its first quarter than a bomb ripped through ThisDay newspapers bureau in Abuja. Six persons died while several others were injured.

According to ThisDay’s Editorial Board Chairman, Olusegun Adeniyi, “The suicide bomber came in a jeep and security guards opened the gate for him. The guy drove in through the gate and rammed into the building and exploded.

Two of our security men died, and obviously the suicide bomber died too.”

Boko Haram claimed responsibility just as government reiterated its promise to curb the situation.

between the Boko Haram sect and the Nigerian military. He told Sunday Vanguard that Nigeria must shun politics and tackle the insurgents head on.

Nyanya 1 and 2 bomb blasts Indeed, it appeared that the Federal Government did something very unusual that in the whole of 2013, no known terror attacks were recorded in Abuja. But on April 14, 2014, bombers resurfaced at Nyanya, a suburb of the FCT. At the peak period on that Monday morning, they planted a bomb at the popular ElRufai bus terminal. Over 90 persons were killed while non-fatal injuries figure was put at 200 persons.

On the heels of the incident, Jonathan increased surveillance at the place.

The president’s spokesman said: “The president was saddened by loss of lives in Nyanya bombing.

President Jonathan has ordered heightened security in Abuja following Nyanya bombing.

President Jonathan extends his heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. President Jonathan directs the medical services to do their very best to save the lives of those injured in Nyanya bombing,” But the defilement of the security surveillance came again on May 1, 2014, when another coordinated bomb explosion ripped through the same area, killing 12 and leaving 30 injured.

Analysts said it was meant to stop the hosting of the World Economic Forum(WEFA) which eventually held between May 7 and 9.

Emab Plaza hit Since the last Nyanya blasts, there has been, understandably, an increase in the security systems. It would be recalled that a security alert recently prompted the temporary closure of the major markets in Abuja. But the Wednesday, June 25, 2014 attack on Emab shopping malls where 21 lives were lost and 17 persons seriously wounded has once again put residents on their toes.

Resumed talks on CCTV Apart from the attacks at Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja, others attacks occurred at various places within the heart of the FCT. This has resurrected concerns about the state of the CCTV cameras in the FCT. Being the seat of power and one of the fastest growing capital cities in the world, not a few Nigerians had expected some security sophistication that would resist terror attacks and also reduce criminalities. But in words and deed, such is

Hon. Abudlrahman Terab

”It is really very unfortuate and my heart goes out to all those who have lost their lives during the incident. Of course, this raises a lot of questions about the nature of our security system and apparatus not only in Abuja but in all urban areas and the reality that is dawning on us that the security threat we are facing is becoming real.

People like us who are from the north east specifically from Borno State; my constituency is one of the worst hit, it has almost become business as usual. People are trying to live with it and then you can only imagine when you find yourself in a very helpless situation.

But as some who has been

whether it was not completed. So, I think there is a reason now. You see, this is the issue. When things happen where you are, Nigerians tend to only think about the environment they live and that is all. We should think about all Nigerians. If this thing is happening right in the heart of Abuja, what happens in other places.

So, the fact of the matter is that we have to rise up to the realities on the ground. When you declare a state of emergency, it is expected that you abandon everything other thing and concentrate on that matter which you have declared emergency on. There is every need for that. Forget about everything and get the security right. In any case, that is the fundamental principle of government. I may not say here that the government has failed but the truth of the matter is that we have not done the needful.”

The elusive CCTV cameras

Investigations revealed that about 1,000 CCTV cameras each have been installed in strategic locations in Abuja and Lagos, but they are yet to come alive

evidently lacking. But government allegedly paid 470 million dollars to execute the project which was awarded under the National Public Service Communication System, NPSCS. The Federal Government, in August 2010, awarded the contract to a Chinese firm for the installation of 2,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Lagos and Abuja with a central control unit at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The project was supposed to be have been completed

by July 2011. Investigations revealed that about 1,000 CCTV cameras each have been installed in strategic locations in Abuja and Lagos, but they are yet to come alive. In any case, a case of vandalization of over 130 of the units in Abuja was alleged to have been established.

We are not serious on the fight against terrorism —Federal lawmaker Hon. Abudlrahman Terab is the member representing Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives. Like Abuja where he also lives, his constituency is the theater of the conflict

•Abuja bomb attack scene under police cordon. Inset: A CCTV camera fully involved in this, the reality is that a lot security infrastructure that need to be put in place is now real that we don’t have it. Let’s wake up to the truth. Forget about the politics. Let’s take ourselves the truth and do what is required now. And it is not now, I am sorry, it may be too late. So, the fact of the matter that today is that security in this time and age is all about intelligence gathering and of course the ability to prevent it. And when you look at these kinds of attacks, they are attacks that can only be avoided by prevention. Once, they have occurred, there is nothing you can do about it. ”I understand CCTV cameras were installed in all the nooks and crannies of Abuja at a point.

We saw physical things but it now calls to question whether they were working or not. And I think at a point in time, the issue was raised on the floor of the house that they actually considered not to be working and there was the issue about

Bottomline Investigations by Sunday Vanguard in the wake of the Wednesday’s attack revealed a downward curve in the confidence Abuja residents, nay Nigerians have in the security systems of the country, at least at the moment. There is apprehension in the air with no one knowing when and where the next explosives would be detonated.

Analysts agree that though government is not taking any rest in the fight against insurgency in the country, it may not have done enough to protect the citizenry. One of its failures is the noncompletion of the CCTV, four years counting. May be, if it is completed, there would be less trips to bomb blast scenes, cemeteries and hospitals just the same way observation of one minutesilence in the honour of the departed, the condemnations, dirges and tributes will cease from pouring in.

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PAGE 16— SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

EKITI POLL AND THE POLITY

The new lessons

*Outgoing Gov Fayemi in the eyes of the people *The roadmap to Osun election, by Ben Obi, presidential advisor

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & DAPO AKINREFON

The Ekiti governorship election may have come and gone with the winner still basking in the euphoria of victory and the losers taking stock but the lessons remain. The peaceful and seamless conduct of the poll raises the hope that the Osun State gubernatorial election scheduled for August 9 and the 2015 elections would be credible, if useful lessons learnt from the exercise were utilised. Mr Ayodele Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won the election, beating the incumbent and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor Kayode Fayemi, among others.

Leading contenders for the Ekiti election bickered so intensely to the extent that violence hallmarked the campaigns. Indeed, Ekiti Commissioner of Police, Felix Uyanna, at a stakeholders’ forum, said the APC, PDP and LP were the parties fomenting trouble and marshaled out plans to check them during the election.

Following accusations and counter-accusations among the candidates, allegations of bias against the police and the INEC as well as the pedigree of Ekiti electorate in protesting rigged polls, there was anxiety that the bubble might burst.

However, to the contrary, nothing untoward happened.

Ekiti witnessed a free and fair and credible election with the chief loser, Fayemi, accepting the outcome and congratulating the winner. Thus, for the first time in a long while, the election petition tribunal may be jobless after a keenly contested governorship election.

In essence, if the INEC is unbiased, the security agencies did their work diligently, voters refuse to be intimidated as they vote and protect their C M Y K

operatives.

Osun

Ekiti

votes and politicians shun the do-ordie attitude and embrace politics without bitterness like Fayemi did, our future polls will violence-free and credible as we witnessed in Ekiti.

We must make Osun poll credible – Ben Obi

Commenting on the Ekiti election, Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, urged stakeholders to also make the August governorship election in Osun rancourfree and credible.

Obi conducted a stakeholders’ workshop in Ekiti three weeks to the poll where the candidates and other stakeholders including INEC and the police promised to conduct a credible election. He earlier conducted similar workshops in Edo, Ondo and Anambra and the elections in these states were peaceful.

Asked if he would repeat the workshop in Osun, he told Sunday Vanguard on phone that all hands must be on deck to make our elections violence-free.

He disclosed that he has started speaking with the

stakeholders in Osun to make the poll better than that of Ekiti.

A peep into how the Ekiti election was conducted reveals a process that can be copied and replicated.

Tight security Prior the election, tension was high in the course of the electioneering campaigns.

Senator Ben Obi

The frontline political parties – APC, PDP and LP — engaged in accusations and counteraccusations over attacks on their supporters.

However, on election day, not one gun shot was fired. The heavy security presence sent shivers down the spines of trouble makers.

Those in the business of fomenting ? trouble found it difficult to carry out their trade as the fear of soldiers was the beginning of wisdom.

On the day of the election, vehicles were frisked at every road block mounted by security

Trekking to vote Due to the long distance to respective polling units, voters had to take long walks to cast their votes.

Movement restriction caused voters to hang around polling units to monitor INEC officials and adhoc staff, who, before now, had been perceived to be prone to being compromised during elections.

Ballot boxes were also closely monitored by youths who were determined to “protect their votes”.

Mood of the people before and after Many people did envisage that the outcome of the election would go the way it went.

It was expected that performance would count for Fayemi, the incumbent and APC candidate, but it was not to be.

Indeed, 24 hours to the?

Gov Kayode Fayemi

election, many students traveled to their hometowns to engage in last-minute mobilization for their candidates.

Also the APC-led government, in an attempt to curry favour from civil servants and students, paid bursary and served promotion notice to civil servants due for promotion.

But this did not perform the magic as students and civil servants embraced the PDP candidate, Fayose.

Soon after the votes had been counted, wild jubilations erupted in each of the polling units as shouts of ‘power’, ‘up PDP’ and ‘ victory for Fayose’ rented the air.

In Afao-Ekiti, the PDP candidate’s hometown, there were shouts of joy as residents poured into the streets to celebrate.

Lessons from the election The election has shown that performance alone will not do the trick in securing victory at any elections.

Though Fayemi’s administration achieved some developmental strides, they were not enough to secure a second term for him.

Also, the outcome of the exercise further shows that people want politicians and political parties that would identify with them at the grassroots.

This informed Fayose’s choice because the lower class viewed him as ‘one of their own’.

Some analysts propound that despite their education, the people in Ekiti were not enlightened on the issues on the ground.

They hold the view that belly politics rather than issue-based politics is now playing out in areas where poverty remains the order of the day.

Large crowds, little votes Another vital lesson to be learnt from the election is the fact that large turn out at campaign rallies does not translate to votes on the day of election.

In the course of the electioneering campaigns, the frontline political parties experienced large turn out of people, who thronged their rallies.

But the experience showed that large crowd at these rallies does no mean that supporters or admirers would cast their votes? or support a particular political party or candidate on election day.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 17

Fayose’s victory:

Events leading to the election negate the principles of a free, fair and credible election – Lai Muhammed

With thousands of armed troops, police, state security and civil defense personnel deployed to Ekiti, the state, during the June 21 gubernatorial election, was simply under lock down, according to the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while faulting the process that led to the outcome of the poll won by Mr Ayodele Fayose of the PDP and the APC candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi, lost. “We believe that the police and the civil defense indeed have a role to play in providing the necessary security for the election, but we do not see why soldiers who were armed to the teeth needed to be deployed to a non-belligerent situation like an election, especially at a time that their services are more needed elsewhere to turn around a slow motion war that is daily claiming the lives of our compatriots”, he said. Excerpts of interview:

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

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hat is your take on the Ekiti election that favoured the PDP candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose?

Our candidate, Gov. Kayode Fayemi, has shown rare sportsmanship by conceding defeat and congratulating the winner, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

We are very proud of his conduct and comportment before, during and after the election, and we hail him as a true democrat in the true spirit of the APC’s belief that election is never a do-or-die affair, and that Nigerians must always be free to elect those to govern them. After all, it is said that the powers of governments are derived from the consent of the governed.

How do you describe what transpired during and after the election?

Election is a process, and whatever happens on the voting day is only an integral part of that process. What happens before, during and after the voting day completes the process.

If we view the justconcluded election in Ekiti as a process, then we can confidently say that while the events of the voting day itself may have led many to believe that the election was free and fair, the same cannot be said of the events before, during and after the election.

We believe that we owe it a duty to the continuous improvement of our electoral system and indeed the sustainability of our democracy to x-ray this election within the context that we have outlined above and draw the necessary lessons.

motion war that is daily claiming the lives of our compatriots. The questions to ask are: Who ordered the deployments of the troops and for what purpose? Who gave the order to stop Gov. Rotimi Amaechi from reaching Ado-Ekiti, as the army captain who stopped and threatened to shoot him said he was acting under ‘’orders from above’’?

It is worth mentioning that the physical prevention of Gov. Amaechi from joining his colleagues at the final campaign rally of Gov. Fayemi in Ekiti is a direct function of the unnecessary deployment of troops to Ekiti for the election. This event will go down as the biggest affront to democracy in our country in recent times.

Also worth mentioning is the flagrant abuse of national institutions that led to the country’s aviation authorities shutting down airports in Akure and elsewhere on the same day that our party had its last campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti. This act of impunity was targeted solely at the opposition, and it runs against global standards.

Lest we forget on the same day the helicopter ferrying Governor Adams Oshiomhole from Benin Airport to Akure en route Ekiti for that final rally was prevented from taking off. Airports are never shut without the issuance of a NOTAM - Notice to Airmen. Again, who gave the orders for the closure of the airports?

While still on this, it was widely reported that two aircraft made a total of three flights to Akure Airport ferrying what is suspected to be raw cash for use in the Ekiti election. This was neither denied nor investigated, just like no one investigated the police attack on our peaceful supporters during a peaceful procession in Ado-Ekiti on June 8 that led to the death of one person; the teargassing of Gov. Fayemi when he intervened to save the situation; the interception of over 200 boxes of electoral materials by security agents.

While voting on election day may not have been characterized by the usual brigandage and violence, we submit that the entire process was everything but free and fair

How do you describe the occurrence before election day?

We believe the events leading to the D-Day in Ekiti negate the principles of a free, fair and credible election. From the militarization of the election to the police attack on our supporters, arrest and detention of our leaders across the state and the use of huge funds to induce voters, the federal authorities skewed everything in favour of the PDP. With thousands of armed troops, police, state security and civil defense personnel deployed to Ekiti, the state was simply under total lock down. We believe that the police and the civil defense indeed have a role to play in providing the necessary security for the election, but we do not see why soldiers who were armed to the teeth needed to be deployed to a non-belligerent situation like an election, especially at a time that their services were more needed elsewhere to turn around a slow

What actually happened on election day?

On the eve of the election and on election day, without any reason, security personnel arrested APC leaders and supporters across Ekiti, ferrying them far away from where they could vote or monitor the election.

This is an attestation to the fact that the security operatives were in the state more for a sinister motive than just to provide security for the election.

In fact, the compromise by the security operatives became more obvious when a so-called Special Task Force comprising of military, police, SSS and NDLEA officers were summoned to a meeting Friday afternoon

•Alhaji Lai Mohammed - a day before the election, near the Tantaliser fast food eatery at Ado-Ekiti.

The case of the Campaign Manager of Gov. Fayemi, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, was particularly traumatic and saddening. His fiancee and aged father were harassed by armed soldiers who invaded his country home in the middle of the night, with guns being pointed at them as if they were common criminals. The Campaign Manager himself, an honourable member of the House of Representatives, was hounded into an unknown place by soldiers all this because of an election!

Also on the receiving end of the brutality by security agents were accredited journalists, some of whom were ‘’deported’’, so to say, to neighbouring Kwara State by paid agents of state who turned themselves to enforcers for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

While our leaders and supporters were being harassed and arrested across Ekiti during and after the voting, some PDP ministers and PDP stalwarts were moving around freely, with armed escort, even with a restriction on movement in place. What business did these Ministers and their cohorts have in Ekiti during the election? What was their role in the election? These are questions begging for answers.

If you recall in a press conference addressed by our newly elected Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, on June 20, we warned that our democracy was in clear danger from anti-democratic forces who are bent on winning elections, especially in the South-west, at all costs.

Today, we restate that warning and call for a reversal of the incidents that made sure a level-playing ground was not provided for all the candidates at the just concluded election in Ekiti.

While voting on election day may not have been characterized by the usual brigandage and violence, we submit that the entire process was everything but free and fair. If an integral part of the process was badly tainted as we have clearly and fully demonstrated above, then the entire process cannot but be tainted.

Voting in Ekiti may have been free of the usual violence or manipulation at the collation centres, but the entire electoral process in the state was neither free, fair nor credible.

Therefore, in order to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti, especially the militarization of the process, harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition, the party has decided to challenge in court the role of the military in policing elections. We will also encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated to seek the enforcement of their constitutionallyguaranteed fundamental rights that were recklessly abridged by the security agencies, especially soldiers.

Our decision to act is not only to ensure that these irresponsible and unconstitutional acts are not repeated

PAGE 18—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29 , 2014

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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enator Ayo Arise is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State. In this interview, he commends Governor Kayode Fayemi’s magnanimity in conceding to the winner of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti, Mr Ayodele Fayose. He also boasts that the development will ensure the PDP winning future elections in the South-west states. Excerpts: Prior the governorship election in Ekiti state, tension was high as it was believed that violence would characterize the poll. But all went well. What does that say about our electoral system?

Well, I like to say that the Federal Government moved in to maintain law and order, the police was neutral and the people had resolved to have a free and fair election. They came out in droves, voted their conscience and who they wanted in the Government House in Ekiti.

We should be looking more for staggered elections in Nigeria so that there would be adequate security though we can hold the general elections the same day throughout the country. For us, this is a good example, I see prospects in the future that when the atmosphere is conducive, our people will express their choice of preference in governance and that is what we did.

But concerns were raised over the heavy security presence on the day of the election. Do you think it was proper?

It does not matter how small a place is, the concern of everyone is to have a free and fair election. Many of us have had elections under Fayemi.

Throughout the 2011 elections, we were under siege by the state police and SARS so much so that during my did not do but he certainly acted election (into the Senate), there was smarter and he won the election. intimidation. We were so sure that So, I called him and congratulated under a peaceful atmosphere, the him, he was shocked. I also had to people of Ekiti would not want congratulate Fayemi for seizing the Fayemi. opportunity to act like a civilized man It does not mean that in the future because the result of this election is he cannot come back but the people beyond any question. of Ekiti have expressed their choice And so, the most dignified thing for willingly and fully. This is the freest him to do, was to call Fayose early election in this country and we have and expressed the fact that he to give kudos to INEC because there accepted the result of the election. was no room for manipulation. Every It is cheaper for him and it will give vote counted and the choice is very him a lot of leverage as a civilized clear. person and it is going to save him a How do see Fayemi’s conceding to lot of money; otherwise, lawyers will defeat? just be tossing him up and down; at When I ran the election against Olu the end of the day, he will be paying Adetunmbi 2011, on the day of the so much money and he would have election, I called him to congratulate gotten nothing. him. I felt maybe there was So, I salute him, I salute his something I should have done that I courage; I am impressed that he has

We’re satisfied with the election —Omole, Ekiti LP chairman

BY DAPO AKINREFON Mr. Akin Omole is the chairman of the Labour Party, LP, in Ekiti State. Omole expresses satisfaction with the conduct of the governorship election in the state. He says his party would not go to court to contest the outcome of the poll.

I salute Gov Fayemi —Sen Arise followed my footstep and that is the way we expect politics to be.

What do you think should be the focus of the governor-elect?

Well, the governor-elect is a product of destiny. He knows God has favored him and I think he would use that opportunity to disabuse the minds of the people.

It is a wonderful opportunity for him because it is not every time that somebody is given a second chance, he has been able to do that. I think he will do a fine job and do the best.

Do you see this development leading to the come back of the PDP in the South-west?

Certainly, we are going to defeat all these actors. We are moving to Osun State next and we are optimistic that we will drive all these people out of the South- west.

COREN holds 23rd Assembly in Abuja

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HE 23rd Council for the Regula tion of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Assembly, with the theme “Commercialization of Engineering: An Imperative for National Development” slated for 18 to 20 of August, 2014 is billed to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

According to a statement by Engr. Ben Ozobome, Publicity Sec-

retary of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Warri Branch, registration for the conference by Engineers, Technologist.

Craftsmen and Techni continues till 18 July and late registration starts from 19 July, 2014 Ozobeme also hinted that a World Engineering Conference would hold later in November 2014 at Abuja Transcorp Hilton and the International Centre.

From left: Mr Henry Igbian, member of the Lifetouch team, Mr Kayode Ayoola of Career Plus, Tutor General of Education district III, represented by Mrs Bakare, Awele Chukwuedo O., Executive Director Lifetouch Africa, Ms Envera Selimovic National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre and Teddy Celestine, member of the Lifetouch team, during the official launch of Mentor-G Project in Lagos organised by Lifetouch Africa in partnership with United Nations Information Center, JB farms, 7up Bottling Company, and Golden Penny Company.

What lesson do you think can be learnt from the outcome of the Ekiti State governorship election?

All I just know is that the conduct of the election is better than the previous ones. Even the celebrated June 12, 1993 election was not better than this. There was no rigging though there was widespread use of money. On the part of INEC, they did well; the security agencies also did their best but my fear is that I do not think that the security men will be enough if elections were to be conducted ?throughout the federation in one day as in general elections, because most of the security men were brought from other states.

So, the election was okay and the star players should accept the outcome of the reality. To us, in Labour Party, we are satisfied and we are looking ahead to what the future holds for us.

It means your party is not contesting the result in court?

We are not going to court.

How do you see Dr Kayode Fayemi’s conceding to defeat?

In this situation, what would he gain in court? There was no rigging, what would he be going to court to do? You see, one does not go to court just for the sake of going to court. Our court should not be used as a theater for the entertainment of frivolities. He has discovered that there was no reason for him to go to court, it will be wrong for him to go to court. I know him (Fayemi) if he has clear evidence of manipulations or rigging, he will go to court.

The governor-elect, Mr Fayose, has promised to form an all inclusive government. Will your party be participating in the government if invited?

The answer to that is better given by the candidate of our party.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 19

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laowei Broderick Bozimo was Minister of Police Affairs during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. In this interview, he is worried over the persistent attacks by Boko Haram, particularly the Wednesday bombing of a shopping mall in Abuja. He urges government at all levels and shop owners to recruit youths to patrol communities and shops, warning that the military and the police alone cannot fight the Islamist group.

The chieftain of the PDP also says the Boko Haram attacks will not deter President Goodluck Jonathan from running for second term, just as he cautions the people of the Niger Delta will not fold their arms and allow any body to intimidate the President from seeking reelection.

Excerpts:

SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY You were at helm of affairs at the Ministry of Police Affairs some time ago. How do you feel about the recent bombings in Abuja and what can be done to stop these terrorists? t is obvious that the only way we can defeat these people is to involve the communities, the youths.

We should be extra vigilant. You will find that in Abuja where we call no man’s land because it is metropolitan, these wicked people will excel with their wicked activities if we don’t take time. Vigilante groups should be raised in the FCT and possible targets in our towns and cities; the police and army cannot do it alone. We are aware that Boko Haram has recruited beggars and orange sellers; let us also recruit these people into our vigilante groups .We need to energise the youths and market associations must provide gates in their shops, let them be alert, let them instal CCTV cameras all over their facilities to monitor movements of people so that if anything happens, the cameras will aid investigation.

It is not police that will go round every nook and cranny of Abuja to find bombs but the youths and the people we call beggars, they can be made useful to us. Even among the youths, we have those who can catch these people with are scoring, they will be entheir bare hands and deal couraged to believe that they with them. Deliberate efforts will take over Abuja and should be made to energise other states. That is what is the youths to work; it is their happening in Iraq, we must tomorrow that is being endan- be tough in this situation. It gered not ours because we are is not talk now we need but already old. You will be action. We must support the amazed that when young peo- security agencies in the pracple are empowered, they can tical efforts to gather intellibetray some of their people in gence. If anybody thinks that the Islamist group. As they this type of thing will stop us recruit beggars, we too should from backing Jonathan, that recruit beggars. Radicalize person is making a mistake the youths positively, the mar- because the only way for eqket associations; the youths uity and justice to prevail is should actually patrol the to allow Jonathan run for secstreets, let it be a mass move- ond term. If you cut short ment thing, that is the only Jonathan’s tenure, we will not fold our hands in the Niger way.

We must rise and take up Delta, there will be no end to the challenge, as long as they this insecurity. So it is impor-

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FIGHT TO THE FINISH AFTER ABUJA BLAST

Let us radicalise the people against Boko Haram – Ex-Police

Affairs Minister Bozimo

•2015: ‘Jonathan must declare intention now’ As they recruit beggars, we too should recruit beggars.

Radicalize the youths positively, the market associations tant we recognize the right of every Nigerian so that there will be peace.

But some youths in Borno State are already being used to curb the terrorists? ne is gratified that those suggestions are taken into consideration when it has to do with decisions on

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the areas Boko Haram is troubling our people. I think the Federal Government is doing its best, but they should pursue that option, empower the youths and train them. We are at war. I also believe that we, as a nation, are under policed. In those days, the UN recommendation is that one

policeman would be policing about 400 people; that would put the police strength to about 150,000 if you do the simple arithmetic. But we all know that the entire police strength is not directed at addressing our general security needs. In this country, we have public officers going around with so many policemen, even business men. I think we need to increase the police population and I don’t think it will be bad if we go as far as 800 policemen and, of course, if you just recruit them without training, it is going to be counterproduc-

Continues on Page 20

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

Continued from Page 19 tive. We need to train and retrain, spend money on our police and equip them properly, then there will be enthusiasm and commitment from our policemen. We know how many policemen we lose on daily basis. We know how many widows and fatherless children we have to contend with. And I think we must address that. And, of course, the crisis has gone beyond policing alone but it is an area I want to leave for the experts to address; we need to increase the strength of the armed forces apart from the vigilante group that we need to absorb into the armed forces. We should be pro-active. We should not wait until this madness spread all over the country before we consider engaging vigilante group at every level. Even the areas that we don’t have this problem now like the South, we should identify them and begin to get our youths to learn how to defend the nation. In that way unemployment will be reduced and the nation will be better off.

More kidnapping in Borno he Boko Haram phenom enon is deeper than all of us thought it was, that is only all kinds of things are happening. I read the other day that an attempt to repatriate the suspect in Nyanya bombing was being frustrated by elements within this nation who wield influences, that is why across the border. This is what one read and it is a serious matter. In order words the phenomenon is eating deep, not only into our security forces, but also into the populace.

That is why I say that if our youths are now brought into fight them, radicalization should not be limited to the extremists, we too can radicalize our youths into understanding that it is better to defend our nation. When you fight for your nation, or defend your nation, employment will come for the youths, the nation will grow and everybody will be happy. It is meaningless dreamers that will believe that when you go out bombing people, then you go to heaven; for a Christian, you will end up in hell certainly.

So I don’t think that it is easy to assess for now the extent to which successes has been achieved in the fight against Boko Haram. I think government also is being careful. At one time, one felt over zealous and loquacious officials were already giving away a lot. Governance at this level must be done not in the pub-

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in government to know that there is huge development going on in this country. Look at the roads; in those days, you could go to Lagos due to bad roads but all that are changing today. Even the East West Road that was a no-go area, it is not complete yet but at least you drive on it today. The only area where we have problem now is security and it is selfinflicted. People who are determined to make life uncomfortable so that Jonathan will not contest are the problem.

That is why I am saying that the President should declare for presidency because some of us believe that he will win.

His records are there to give him victory.

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*Bozimo

’Jonathan must declare re-election intention now’ against Boko Haram lic but quietly so that you don’t give away your trump card to the opposition. I believe the less top officers talk about whether the strategies are working or not, the better for all of us. Having said that, I also believe that the Americans and others member of the international community that are coming to help are well intentioned and we must encourage them. But we must be careful too because we wear the shoe and we know where it pinches more than them.

A lot of them may be posturing and trying to claim that they care for Nigeria, but outsiders cannot care for us more than we care for ourselves. So I believe the elders of the affected areas should be more committed into addressing this problem of insurgency.

I do not like to compare South-south elders with the northern elders, but, clearly, if they will not go about it the way the South- south elders addressed their problems, they should device their own unique method to address the insurgency because all we want is for peace to reign and I don’t think they are doing enough. Let us look at it, if there is a group going around to say Western education is useless and that everywhere should be Islamized, the Nigerian Constitution already provides for the practice of customary laws and behaviours as well as Sharia. In

Ekiti election am a PDP person. What happened in Ekiti is like the PDP National Chairman, who is referred to as Mr Game Changer. And I think Ekiti is truly a game changer. I was truly proud when Fayemi came to accept defeat. This is an educated young man who said he will compile the irregularities and send to the relevant authorities. That is how it should be. And luckily Fayose himself has said we should learn from Ekiti.

To me after Fayose who won the man of the match is Fayemi. He will go places in Nigeria; some day if that young man wants to contest for President I will vote for him.

He is among the solid young men that we want in politics.

From day one, we all knew the APC idea was good, we believe we need a viable opposition that will keep the ruling party on check so that the nation can move forward. But from the word go I knew that the APC will not go very far because it seems to be built around politicians who don’t like President Jonathan. You don’t build on bitterness or frustration, they should ignore PDP or the President and sell their programmes to Nigerians.

If you notice the Rivers State governor, Nyako and my good friend Kwankwaso, their days are not made unless they abuse the President. I understand a lot of it is politics, otherwise they are fine gentlemen. But I think they should focus on their programmes; with that they can challenge the PDP. Honestly, I believe President Jonathan will have a smooth sail, the PDP train is in the South-West now, only God knows what will happen there in 2015.

The only area where we have problem now is security and it is selfinflicted Zamfara, they are already practicing Sharia, so you cannot ram that into every body’s throat and, you know, some throats in the South are so narrow that you cannot succeed in doing that. So it is pious dream to think that you can Islamize Nigeria.

And that is why I will urge our President to come out and declare his intention for reelection; all of us are committed to the Jonathan project to seek second term. Ofcourse, everybody cannot speak with one voice, I know of some professors who don’t believe that President Jonathan should contest. That is their opinion but majority of our people believe that the man should contest again. The more he delays the more this impunity persists. If Boko Haram wants to negotiate, let the President take his position and tell the world that he wants to contest before we talk about negotiation. o you honestly feel that northern leaders are sponsoring Boko Haram to

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stop Jonathan?

There was this position taken by some of these northern leaders when Jonathan won the 2011 election; they cried that Nigeria will be made ungovernable and all of that. Initially it may well be that the crisis was fuelled to stop Jonathan, but right now I don’t think that is so. I personally feel that a lot of them did not know that the thing will go the way it has gone and it is difficult now to put out the fire that it is turning into conflagration.

That is where we are now. And I believe that the right thing for all of us to do is to work together and put out this fire, otherwise, it will start from burning those who put the fire and those of us in the South, we will dive into the river before it gets to this place.

Jonathan is our hope have persistent said so, it is not because Jonathan is an Ijaw man. I was in government. I know where we left it and I know where we are today. But you don’t have to be

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SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 21

The Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ashraf Salama, speaks on how his home country is collaborating with his host nation to combat the Boko Haram insurgency. He also explains Egypt’s ‘baby democracy’ under President Sisi and the administration’s battle against Muslim Brotherhood and deposed President Morsi.

From Egypt, the battle against Boko Haram, by Ambassador Salama •‘Our problem with deposed President Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood’ •Speaks on how Sisi is coping with country’s ‘baby democracy’

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hat are the imme diate challenges before the new government in Egypt?

The challenge facing us is how to develop and promote our country which has been in crisis for almost a decade.

This task is not one to be undertaken by the government alone but also involves everyone. In terms of population, we are the second largest in Africa after Nigeria with 92 million people and everybody has to work together for the progress of this country and this is the promise upon which the choice of the president was based. The president ahead of the election presented issues based on reality rather than fabricating a make-believe story and was elected by the people to lead them. As a result of the love of the people for their leader, we are sure of achieving positive results by promoting ourselves to another level.

The Muslim Brotherhood ousted from power is feeling isolated. With the new elected president, do you call this democracy?

They are not isolated, the Muslim Brotherhood didn’t start two years ago, they have been around but their operations have been underground. The Brotherhood wasn’t a political group in the light, when we had our 25th general revolution memorial, they were already a brotherhood. They were an underground group and never a sector of government, they were a sector of pollution that never declared if they are Christians or Muslims or members of any religious sect, they are a sector that has special ideology for themselves who try to promote this ideology to influence others.

We can’t say we are all from this sector because it was just an ideology that you want people to take to power and when we had the 25th general revolution memorial, it was a revolution about what we need to do because people were getting tired and saying we need to be free. For the first time in the political history of Egypt, there was no leader and this prompted the people to come out en masse to reject the person presented to them.

Unfortunately, the vacuum

•Ashraf Salama ... Egypt is Niggeria close friend

When things happen in Mali and Chad, when weapons are smuggled, they go to Nigeria and Egypt too created by the absence of a leader paved the way for the Muslim Brotherhood to jump in and take advantage of the situation and because they were a small organised group, well funded, to address the ravaging poverty by distributing bread, not even money, to buy people and promising them a better life, they had an upper hand.

So, if you look at the pattern during the election of the past president,, you will find about 21 or 22 million people going to vote for the Muslim Brotherhood and the remaining population of about 11 million or 12 million for the other candidate who was proMubarak and 12 million out of almost a 100 million

people is not a majority.

Many people including myself didn’t vote because I didn’t know who to choose, I didn’t want to escalate the problem and also didn’t want to cheat. They (Muslim Brotherhood) were funded and the others weren’t; so it was a very strange competition but we were willing to give them a chance saying maybe there will be an agenda for development but unfortunately our debts doubled. During Mubarak’s time, we had an external debt of about 30 billion dollars; that means a billion every year , but in one year of Morsi, the country’s external debt was 15 billion dollars. The people didn’t

see any improvement because they (Muslim Brotherhood) had a feeling of being unpatriotic. We are Egyptians and we are very patriotic, we love our country. The Brotherhood had connections everywhere, they had a lot of conspiracies going on everywhere.

Can you mention some of the conspiracies and connections they had in the region?

It is glaring. Every country has problems; in Libya there are problems, Tunisia has problems, there are problems in many places but there are so many countries rejoicing that Islamic brotherhood didn’t continue because it wasn’t in favour of the people.

Still on the Muslim Brotherhood, some months ago, protesters were taken to court and also sentenced to death for demonstrating against Morsi’s arrest. Does your government have room for freedom of expression?

We have over 50 independent satellite channels and several newspapers and social media that are owned by individuals, so you can’t control the freedom of the people. You can see people making fun of the president and government and talking about the things going on in the country all the time, we even tried to tell them to stop for the safety of the people. If I say this is good for you, some channels may say it is not good for them, this is the freedom of speech we are talking about, but it gets to a point when it hurts the people due to distortions. We have a baby democracy; so you have to be very sincere and honest to give out the right things to elicit understanding from one stand point. We are organizing our house by addressing a lot of issues; there are dramatic changes in Egypt that we need to address. What you hear are instigated remarks to destroy the country, our image. An example is the case of Nigeria officials going to Egypt where they saw in Al Jazeera Television reports that the streets were full of demonstrators but, in reality, there were no demonstrations. Last April, there was a new development in our country when we had election . The election was

overwhelming to the candidates and, for the first time ever, we had a very high turnout for the polls. A lot of regional groups who came to monitor the election witnessed the efficiency of the arrangements and we are very proud to have had Nigeria present. The head of Nigeria’s Electoral Commission, Professor Jega, was invited to attend. He told me that transparency was the key to a free and fair election, an opinion I respect.

Nigeria was the first country that congratulated us after the election and gave us support.

Let me bring you back to Nigeria. In what way is Egypt assisting Nigeria to tackle its problem with insurgency?

Egypt has always been a very close friend of Nigeria.

Since the time of Biafra, Egypt has always supported Nigeria. And we have offered assistance to Nigeria on many occasions to fight terrorism because Nigeria is a strategic country and vice versa. The continent is small; what separates Nigeria from Egypt is just Chad; so we are not far away from each other.

When things happen in Mali and Chad, when weapons are smuggled, they go to Nigeria and Egypt too. So there is a lot of things we need to tackle together and both countries are very much ready to cooperate on a lot of issues especially security.

Do you agree with the statement by the Nigerian president that Boko Haram is an affiliate of Al Qaeda?

The Deputy General was here and he said Boko Haram is a dangerous, terrorist group that doesn’t relate to Islam. I am a Muslim and we don’t accept what they do to others because it is not in our principle. First of all, Islam is a religion that is spiritual and not about bloodshed, Islam is all about tolerance, it is not about committing sin, being peaceful to others and regarding God before you make any decision. If I lie or rape or kill, am I being true to God’s teachings? No! In our religion, there is a punishment for adultery, lying, stealing, we have really strong ethics for abuse against humanity.

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

BY DAYO JOHNSON, AKURE

6

0-year-old Alfa Iliasu Waheed, a traditional doctor, woke up, last Tuesday, without any premonition that death was lurking around the corner of a bungalow he used as a psychiatric home in Idanre area of Ondo State.

Every morning, minutes before his morning Fajr (Muslim prayers) with patients in his psychiatric home, he would unchain the patients hands leaving their leg chains to administer herbal concoction on them through their hands. But on that illfated Tuesday, Waheed forgot to chain the hands of one of them after their morning medication.

Alfa was popular in Idanre because he was a specialist in healing psychiatric patients and this attracted customers from across the country to his ‘clinic’ located at No 9, Isanwo Ijigbokin Street.

He was said to have taken over from his deceased father whose name rings a bell in Idanre when it comes to healing mentally derailed persons.

Alfa had, since his father ’s death, made a living out of treating insane people and his treatment proved effective.

Reports had it that Waheed, a native of Osogbo, Osun State but married to a woman in Ondo State, about a year ago, decided to quit the job.

He, however, returned to his first love when he could no longer meet his financial obligations to his wife and children from an Okada business he ventured into.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the deceased Alfa still did not suspect danger when he noticed that a 24year-old-patient Ijisakin Ayoola, brought from Lagos by his parents for treatment, was not chained in his hands.

Ayoola’s attempt to light a match stick was said to have attracted the deceased’s attention who, at that time, was reportedly attending to another patient.

Alfa forcefully removed the match stick and box from the patient, a development that did not go down well with Ayoola.

The patient was said to have stormed out of the room after he was rebuked by his doctor that he wanted to raze the building.

Although Waheed knew that his action infuriated Ayoola, he underestimated his reaction which later cost him his life.

After ensuring that the match stick had been removed from the patient and placed where he could not lay hold of it anymore, he reportedly shifted his attention to the other patient not knowing that Ayoola was angry with him.

The traditional doctor, according to one of the relations of one of the patients in the clinic, Mrs Bilikisu Adedeji, complained that if he was not there, Ayoola would have set the whole house ablaze.

Ayoola was said to have left the room only to return with a broken bottle which he used to stab Waheed on the neck from behind while attending to the other patient.

MURDERED ON DUTY!

Psychiatric herbalist stabbed to death by own patient The eye witness narrated that Alfa was backing Ayoola when he returned to the room armed with the broken bottle which he drove deep inside the neck of his doctor in front of other patients who watched helplessly as Waheed wriggled in pain on the floor bleeding profusely and crying for help.

They (patients), according to reports, joined their doctor to cry oblivious of the gravity of what had happened to

DPO, SP Martins Ohalete, dispatched a team to the scene of crime where policemen met the deceased in a pool of his own blood and was consequently rushed to hospital but gave up the ghost before any medical treatment could be administered on him.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, Ondo State police image maker, Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the

The eye witness narrated that Alfa was backing Ayoola when he returned to the room armed with the broken bottle which he drove deep inside the neck of his doctor Waheed.

The cry for help by the Alfa and the unusual cries from the inmates attracted the relations of patients in the other rooms within the clinic but, before help could come, Waheed was said to have bled profusely and became so weak only to die before he got to hospital for medical attention.

A source said that following a report lodged at Idanre police station, the

murder, said the suspect tried to escape after committing the crime but was apprehended.

Ogodo said the suspect was among the patients the deceased was treating for mental disorder in his clinic.

According to him, the suspect was being detained at the State Criminal Department(SCID) while detectives are probing the immediate cause of the death.

Ondo State Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke All other patients in the clinic have been evacuated by their relations for fear of police arrest.

Waheed’s bungalow with large compound has been sealed off by detectives from the state police command.

Meanwhile, an Akure Chief Magistrate Court has ordered that the suspect, Ayoola, be remanded in police custody.

Ayoola pleaded guilty to murder charge after being arraigned.

The court adjourned the case to July 23, 2014.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 23

08112662589

Taken for a ride by a sex-starved cougar!

T

IMI’S obsession with body-build ing has definitely paid off, giving him an impressive body to die for - all well-toned six-pack and budging biceps. And he knows how to get his girls - and his cougars!

“The cougar thing is relatively new;’ he admitted, “A group of us were on the prowl for quick fun with the girls when one of us suggested we came along with him to a society wedding-reception of a close relative. We all agreed. Receptions are fertile grounds to pick women of all shapes and sizes. If you want women of your age, the bridesmaids and their friends come in handy. If you want a cougar, you head for an all female table and play the gentleman.

“What we usually do is plunk ourselves on tables crammed with rich older women and play on their mother-instinct.

If they ’re waiting to be served,. you spring to your feet and virtually drag a waiter or two on to their tables. As the food arrives, so would wellchilled bottles of red wine and champagne. You then proceed to serve these women, and of course look after yourself. Mind you, you have to dress the part of a well-groomed gent1eman with an im-

peccable manner. Your gear must be up-to-date and expensive. On an average day, you get good food and booze. On a good day, as you help a woman you fancy cart all her give-away memorabilia to her car, you asked if you could cage a life off her. If she said yes, you forget the friends you came with and pray for good luck.

“I’d had a bit of luck with older women but nothing to write home about So when I ran into Dora at a 40th no-holdsbared birthday, I latched unto her. She was in her forties too and very friendly, knocking back glass after glass of champagne and eyeing me with interesting eyes. She obviously liked what she saw.

When I offered to see her to her car clutching some gift-items on her table, she seemed very pleased. She was the one who not only offered me a ride but casually asked me to see her to her door. As I clambered out of her posh jeep and made for the gift items, she told me not to bother with those and asked the driver to give them to his wife.

“Her house was really impressive - a stunning building with different types of plants and trees.

‘What a lovely house’, I croaked,. almost lost for words. She showed me around each of the enormous bedrooms, all complete with king-size beds. The kitchen looked like something out of a posh restaurant.

“Like a lamb to the slaughter, she led me to this wonderful bedroom.

As she lay seductively sprawled on the bed,. I felt nervous. She was almost 20 years older and wasn’t like any of the girls I’d met before - this was a real hot woman!

She saw my anxiety and quickly took control. Despite being almost twice my age, she had a great body and we had amaz-

ing wild sex. I couldn’t believe my luck.

“As I got ready to leave the next day, she threw a fancy jewellery box at me. `1 want you to have this’, she purred. As I opened the box, I gasped. It was a new expensive watch that looked back at me.

‘Thanks,’ I stammered, really overwhelmed by her generous gesture when I saw the make. `This is really expensive,’ I said again, not knowing what to really say to her. `It’s nothing’, she shrugged. ‘I enjoy treating my friends’. As I said my goodbye, she told the driver to take me home and was keen to set up another date.

“My friends were green with envy when 1 told them what happened and how she’d arranged for us to fly to a neighbouring country for a weekend She checked us into a very expensive suite and conducted a business meeting in the sitting room whilst I waited patiently for her in the master-bedroom, surrounded with exotic food and drinks. By the time she joined me in the bedroom, she had nothing but lust in her eyes. The sex lasted hours as she told me exactly what she wanted done to her. Her appetite was insatiable but I was generously compensated. She took me on a huge shopping spree, splurging on designer jeans, T-shirts and some skin belts. I felt as if I was in a fantasy world. And it didn’t end there. When we got back, she arranged for me to have a get-together at her place with my friends. They were all for it. As we mingled with middle-aged women atrociously garbed in young clothes, we danced as if we did this all the time.

“My good luck lasted a few more weeks until she called to tell me she had to go away to her home town - her mother was ill.

She didn’t know when she’d be back but would

call me as soon as she could. I didn’t hear anything from her and when I called her mobile, it was switched off. I was getting really worried as I’d grown accustomed to her and her lavish lifestyle. Then one of our friends told me his family bad a private party a few days ago and Dora was there with her husband! Her husband? Was he sure? As far as I knew, Dora was a single woman with children away in England. I never thought she was still in a relationship, let alone married.

“It was weeks before she finally switched back her phone. She sounded a bit irritated when she realised it was me. She was trying to brush me off when I asked after her husband. ‘I’m glad you knew he’s back. Obviously, we can’t see each other for now. I’ll call you when I’m free. .. ‘ Clearly, I’d been used and dumped! I was really annoyed at her nonchalance, but thankfu1ly, the experience didn’t put me off women - but it’s definitely made me wary of them. I thought I was having fun with a classy millionairess. In reality, I was being taken for a ride by a sex-mad cougar!”

08052201867(Text Only)

Stretch for health

T

HE muscles of the body must have strength; they must have stamma but never at the expense of flexibility. When the body is strong and yet supple we do not easily strain muscles and the body does not tire easily.

Cramps take a lot longer to set in, allowing us to do more and stay livelier longer.

We shall consider two stretch exercises and the gains we make from their regular practice.

Let’s take the cat stretch first.

Technique: Lying down on the belly, place the palms on the floor at the level of the shoulders, keep the elbows up and toes inverted. Take in a deep breath and as you learn on the palms, raise the head, shoulders and

belly up from the floor till the elbows have straightened.

Holding your breath stay in this position for say 3 seconds. Then,

* Cat Stretch pose

breathe out as you get into a kneeling position.

Keep the palms where they are on the floor.

Now, with the thighs

pressed against the belly and the forehead touching the floor rest the buttocks on the heels.

Retain this position for a while as you hold your breath. Then, exhale and raise the big tocks from the heels, bringing the body forward, still main-

taining the position of the palms till you’re back in the previous position of learning on the palms with raised head, shoulders and belly. Stay in this position for a while holding your breath. Then, breathing out get back into the kneeling position again.

Repeat this for three to four times and forgetting to do the breathing properly.

Benefits: With this exercise the spine, wrists, arms, chest and throat are strengthened. The part of the exercise that finds you kneeling ensures that the thighs massage the abdomen as they press against it. The arms and shoulders also get a good stretch. The back and forth movements will enable you achieve better elimination and also re-

duce the girth. Our second posture is the Upturned hands.

Technique: As you settle the buttocks on the heels interlock the fingers of both hands.

Now, as you take in a deed breath raise the hands overhead with the palms turned upwards.

Retain the breath as you hold high the hands for a count to five. And as you exhale bring down the hands. Breathe in again and raise the up turned hands again. Do this about 4 times.

Benefits: The upturned hands posture helps in expanding the chest. Problems of the knees and ankles are sorted out and the thighs muscles are well worked out.

This posture is said to lead to an increase in height.

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

P AGE 24—SUND AY Vanguard , JUNE 29 , 2014 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Is your spouse having an affair? It happens, get over it!

T

HE number of marriages that survive infidelity is on the increase. Recently, I met with three women who had openly been unfaithful to their husbands and are still committed to their marriage. They have committed the one sin that is widely believed to ruin a relationship beyond repair and got away with it. Which makes one wonder: did these women get it wrong? Or have the rest of us? Is infidelity really the death-knell for a marriage? These three women’s cases might tempt you to think not!

Halimat is now in her early 50s, a successful entrepreneur and a mother of two grown-up children. Her husband of 25 years suffered a stroke two years ago and is now house-bound. “It’s bad to watch him struggle to enjoy a semblance of health he’d once had and the reason I keep up my punishing publishing schedule at my age is to pay for round-the-clock care for Patrick. Thanks to the cash my work brings in, my husband can stay at home where he belongs to enjoy the care he needs”, she said.

Halimat’s dedication is precisely what you might expect from any happilymarried couple; people who enter the commitment of marriage with gusto and stick to it forsaking all others until death do them part. Yet Halimat is not one of such people. Far from it.

Her marriage took a hard blow when, 15 years ago, Patrick was found to have kept a mistress for a full five years - before the mistress went to town in an effort to make Patrick ‘comit’ to their relationship. Halimat was devastated by her husband’s betrayal but was powerless to kick him out. A few months to their society wedding 25 years ago, Halimat fooled

herself she was madly in love with another man and happily had an affair with him. So careless was she that, Patrick, her fiance then found them in a compromising position. ‘The wedding is off ’ sneered Patrick as he stormed out of Halimat’s room.

“I knew he loved me,” Halimat said, “and I was bent on making him change his mind. I used all the tricks in the book to apologise to the point of shedding enough crocodile tears for him to just open his arms and agree we should try again. So, who was I to raise any dust when he later strayed? I have never tried to underestimate the pain of infidelity, someone, somewhere always gets hurt. It might be one of the couple - usually, but not always the ‘ wronged’ party. It might also be the other woman or man in the triangle - it’s too simplistic to dismiss them all as gold-diggers or gigolos. Some are simply naive people who love those whom they should not have loved.

Shirly, a psychiatrist nurse got married over 30 years ago to a man she met on one of the hospital wards. “He’d been in a motor accident,” she said, “and as soon as I realised he was from Nigeria, I looked out for him more than I ought. He had throngs of visitors and it was plain to see he was a spoilt brat - a loveable one. It was easy to fall in love with him and his generosity knew no bounds. His parents were rich and he was a junior manager in a good bank.

“He was also heavily into drugs. Five years after we got married, I accidentally stumbled into a secret stash of drugs in one of his drawers and realised that contrary to his claim he was

Y

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

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

My everything!

We'll never know ourselves unless we find people who can listen, who can enable us to emerge, to come

an occasional user, he was obviously an addict.

Thankfully, he accepted help and I used my medical connection to get him dried out. But his love for women never abetted. I might have turned more blind eyes to his affairs than most women could imagine, but I did so in full memory that in our early years together, I’d cheated with one of his colleagues but he overlooked it simply because I lied I was forced. He must have been too high on drugs to fish out the truth.”

The question still remains: wrong as infidelity might be - is it really the deal-breaker we have always believed it is? “If you raise sexual infidelity to a level of such importance that it becomes the only misdemeanor beyond the boundaries of forgiveness, are you not also making sex the most important thing about a marriage?” asked Sharon, a marriage counsellor. “What about respect and honour? What about help and support?

What about comfort and compassion? There are so many worse things that some couples do to one another. The relentless bickering over details too scant to mention;

the put-downs in public, badly masked by frozen smiles, the meals in restaurants, picked out in deafening silence of nothing left to say.”

She then recounted her encounter with a couple, married for 30 years. “He is, to be blunt;a lascivious rogue. I once had to fly on a business trip with him, and at the end of a 90-minute flight he had arranged a date at our destination with the woman sitting next to him... AND a date with the stewardess. But when his wife is with him? A different man appears; a man pulsing with adoration so genuine it lights the space around them.

When she walks into the room, any room, he stands. Yes, After 30 years. He will chat animatedly to old friends but pause, should she tell a little joke, the better to let others hear and to join his uproarious laughter at the end. Her wine glass never, ever, falls empty; the tiny touch to her arm tells her, constantly, how lovely she looks.

“Does she know about the other women? Probably. She might feel jealousy. But fear? No chance. This man is going nowhere. While I do not applaud his tom-

out of ourselves to discover who we are; someone who's close enough to sense when fears and tears need to be shared. Because it's only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eyes. I know that I'll never have to ask God for everything, because with you I know I've got everything I ever wanted. Love is meant to make you feel good about yourself. Foverever shall be your days of light-heartedness & joy. You're Loved!

Brainz Henry jarulelah@yahoo.com 8036304266

Seed of love

I have searched for the meaning of the word love to no avail. It is only you and you alone that truly

catting, I do feel - yes a sneaking envy for what they have and for what they have still to come.”

The Width Of A Woman’s Hips Reveals Her Appetite For Sexl HIPS may provide clues to a woman’s sexual appetite, scientists said recently. They found that curvaceous women tend to have more sexual partners as well as more one-night stands. The researchers suggested that women with larger hips may be less restrained because their anatomy makes it safer for them to have a baby. The scientists recruited 148 women aged between 18 and 26 from the streets of Leeds. Chosen because they were a variety of shapes, the subjects were measured in the city ’s university and quizzed on their sexual history.

The results revealed a link between hip width the distance between the bones that jut out at the top of the pelvis - and number of partners. The difference between a generous hip width of 14.2 inches and above and one of 12.2 inches or below was particularly clear. Researcher Colin Hendrie said: ‘We found that smaller women

tended to have a couple of sexual partners, which were mainly in the context of relationships.

The wider-hipped women also had a couple of relationships but they tended to have many more one-night stands.

‘So they had a couple of relationships and maybe six, seven or eight onenight stands as well.’

The study found that if one night stands accounted for at least three quarters of a woman’s sexual partners, she tended to have hips at least 0.8 inches wider than a woman who mainly had long-term relationships. Waist size was found to be less important than hip size. Dr. Hendrie said that - because women decide when to have sex - the findings cannot be explained away by men finding large hips more attractive. Instead, he thinks that women with narrower hips are innately more cautious because childbirth is more dangerous for them.

Childbirth is quite traumatic, particularly if you are smaller,’ he said. ‘The theory is that these women won’t be having wild parties but have sex in relationships, so that if they do get pregnant, they have someone there to offer assistance and support.’ He was writing in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour. Separate research has found that a typical woman needs four dates to assess a new boyfriend. During that time they will tick off a ten-point checklist to judge qualities such as their potential lover ’s trustworthiness, sense of humour and whether they ‘click’ together. Not until the fifth date will the average single woman consider having more intimate relations, according to the study for Singles247.com, a dating website.

defines love to my heart and gave it a meaning. You have indeed planted and nourished a giant seed of love in my heart.

Akachukwu Ferdinand.

08063819314

Dear Blessing

I Will REMEMBER you not as the one who BROKE my Heart BUT as the one who TAUGHT me How to LIVE with broken Heart. STILL.... Love YOU sweet heart Emma Mine Delta State mine4christ@gmail.com 0705103774

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 25

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

... And the doctor killed my new born baby —Queen Esther Paul *A tale of the abuse suffered by mothers, children In an attempt to convey much of the physical, mental and spiritual pain suffered by African mothers and children, Queen Esther Paul, Director of ROOT Sisters International, a woman rights NGO and initiator of Women of Galilee Outreach (WOGO), published a book, entitled, ‘A Cry For Help: The Ordeals of the African Mother & Child’.

The book offers an insight into how tradition, government indifference, poverty and other social plaques have contributed to the neglect and abuse of the African mother and child. Paul speaks on the book in this interview.

BY OLAYINKA LATONA ‘A Cry for Help: The Ordeals of the African Mother & Child’, what is it all about?

I felt compelled to publish the book because of the incessant abuses encountered by female folks and children in our society and other developing countries.

I decided to tie the ordeals of the mother and the child together because these they have so much in common. The mother is the host of the embryo and later the fetus which becomes the child.

During her pregnancy, her life is closely tied to the child in the sense that most of the things that happen to the mother will advertently affect the child.

Hence the burden of nursing the child becomes a strengthening bond between the mother and child.

The world is moving at a jet speed and almost everything has changed- architecture, automobile, entertainment, dressing pattern even food but in the midst of all these swift changes, there is this obsolete tradition, culture, terrible crimes that are being committed on a daily basis against the mother and child all over Africa.

In Nigeria and other African countries that are not at war, the epidemic of mother and child abuse is on the increase.

Nigeria is said to be the giant of Africa but the issue of mother and child abuse is not receiving the required attention. Many mothers and their children have lost their lives as a result of different forms of abuses meted out to them. Government has not done enough to protect these endangered species. Legislation banning violence against woman exists in Lagos and very few other states, but the implementation of the law is rather poor.

The doctrine and principles of some religion and tradition are also allies in the business of mother and child abuse.

This book covers almost all forms of abuse against the African mother and child as well as some poetic verses to express

the pain in my heart.

The worst plague that has been living with most Nigerians is poor medical care; most Nigerians have lost their lives in minor cases that could have been treated in good hospitals. 90 percent of those who suffer the deplorable situation in our hospitals and incessant strikes by the medical personnel are mothers and their children Have you ever had any personal experience?

I was one of the victims of one of the longest strikes engaged by doctors in Lagos University Teaching Hospitals in the last quarter of 2010. I lost my baby boy a day after delivery due to poor medical attention occasioned by the absence of qualified doctors to attend to the baby.

My delivery labour began on October 6, 2010 and I was rushed to one hospital. I was in labour for four days at the hospital, induced three times by the doctor. I cannot explain the traumatic pain I went through but the baby was not coming. I was later referred to another hospital where I was operated on and the baby boy weighing 4.9 kg was brought out whereas the former doctor told me the baby was not big.

After passing through the ordeal, I deemed it necessary to tell the world my story, join other voices to solicit for African mother and child through my book, ‘A Cry for Help’ The death of my boy opened my eyes more to the ordeal that women and their children pass through because of lack of good medical care. One can imagine the number of women and children that must have lost their lives during that prolonged strike.

Women’s role in national development It is important to enable women to participate in economic activities. It is one of the ways for any country in the world to

accelerate development and to eliminate poverty as women will invest their incomes in their children’s health, nutrition and education that will, in turn, improve their families’s living condition However, I want Nigerians to know that every successful nation places great importance on their women and children because the role of these two cannot be undermined if we want to achieve a sustainable nation.

The role of women and the society to curb violence against women Women and the society in general must join hands to work together to stop violence against women. All hands must be on deck for zero tolerance on violence against women.

We must know that injustice to one is injustice to all and collectively we must fight to stop it. There is a high level of poverty

and frustration hence husbands vent their aggression on their wives.

The death of my boy opened my eyes more to the ordeal that women and their children pass through because of lack of good medical care

Clarion call to government The effects of violence can remain with women and children for a lifetime, and can pass from one generation to another.

Studies show that children who have witnessed, or been subjected to violence are more likely to become abusers themselves.

There is urgent need for African government to stand right and pass bills to protect the mother and child. Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities, nations and societies.

If left unaddressed, these human rights violations pose serious consequences for current and future generations and for the efforts to ensure peace and security, to reduce poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

*Indigenes picking what remained of their belongings after the latest demolition

The battle for Abuja

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU and RETNA TOHOMDET

T

he last appears not to have been heard about the incessant demolition carried out by the Federal Capital Development Administration, FCDA, as Gbagyi indigenes have warned they would lay down their lives for their ancestral homes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking to Sunday Vanguard in Abuja, the youth leader of Lungu village, Sarki Luka Sanya, who had to pull out from a community meeting, said the village was still collating the number of houses demolished by the Development Control Department of the FCDA. Sanya said government had taken over 95 per cent of the farmland belonging to Abuja indigenes without compensation, adding that Gbagyi youths would stake their lives to resist further land takeover.

According to him, the community had instituted a suit against the FCDA at an Abuja High Court restraining it from carrying out demolition of its houses.

The youth leader stated that government did not make provision for the resettlement of Abuja indigenes whose land was taken over, stressing that the demolition of Gbagyi ancestral homes would lead to loss of roots and the identity of the people.

“Ninety five per cent of Gbagyi farmlands have been taken away and government is not satisfied, they still want to take away our ancestral lands and allocate them to private developers,” he added.

Community head of Lungu village, Mr Sanya Zakka, in an interview, was honest enough to disclose that there was no death recorded in the latest demolition.

“What we heard was that they demolished a house with a child inside. When that happened, the mother was said to have picked either a knife or a bottle and killed herself and her relations were called to take her to the hospital”, the community head said.

“So, we decided to go and see. When we got to the hospital, we were referred to different places but we did not see any dead body. We said if

Ninety five per cent of Gbagyi farmlands have been taken away and government is not satisfied, they still want to take away our ancestral lands and allocate them to private developers indeed there was a death, we should know so we can fight the case but we did not see anything”.

Zakka said Gbagyi indigenes were angered by the impromptu demolition and apparent attempt by the administration to send them out of the FCT. “You know people were terribly provoked because we are being cheated.

When our farm lands were collected, we did not talk; now they have come over to our houses to leave us homeless”, he lamented.

*Lungu village head, Mr Sanya Easy Zakka “This is too much to bear hence the youths decided to protest. FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, sent a delegation, led by his Special Adviser on Security, which told us that the Minister was not aware of the demolition.

“We have been living here for over 100 years before the FCT came. This place is our father ’s’ land. If the FCT Administration wants, they should come and kill us rather than displace us from our ancestral homes.”

The Gbagyi indigenes protest caused chaos on the Kubwa express road as they barricaded the 10-lane road to condemn the demolition of their houses by the FCDA. The action caused severe hardship to commuters who

were stranded for more than three hours as the expressway was blocked with blocks. The protesters also made bonfires on the road.

Attempts by many motorists to make a detour and return to the city centre worsened the traffic situation.

A woman was seen weeping helplessly when her sick husband who was on life – support in a cab was trapped in the gridlock.

A victim of the demolition, Mr Danladi Yundabo, who said his four-bed room flat building was flattened, said the FCDA did not give the victims time to evacuate their belongings.

Yundabo, who sustained injuries on his right arm, said he was injured in the process of trying to salvage his belongings.

“There was no information, no notice whatsoever. I was struggling with them so my house won’t go down. As the owner of the house, you have to struggle. I got injured in the process”.

The spokesman of the FCDA Development Control, Mr. Kalu Emetu, said officials only removed illegal settlements on a plot meant for estate development.

“Squatter-settlers encroached on Plot 64, Kafe District, in Lungu Village, which was meant for an estate”, he said.

According to him, a total of 54 illegal structures were demolished, including 17 shanties, five shops and one church.

“Development Control marked the area for demolition since March 2014 and the villagers went to court; the court finally struck out the case”, he stated.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 27

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

T

he protest by a section of Southern Kaduna indi genes against the peace pact signed by the National President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Dr. Ephraim Goje, and Fulani herdsmen in April, seems justified.

Between last Monday night and Tuesday, not less than 160 people in seven Ninzom villages, in Sanga Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna State, were killed while some of the villages razed.

About 123 people were feared killed on Tuesday alone in Kobin, near Gwantu, the headquarters of Sanga LGA. The Chairman of the LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Adamu, on Tuesday told Sunday Vanguard on phone: “They (assailants) came around 10 last night (Monday night) and started killing people in Nandu village. They killed 19 people there. We first thought they were unknown gun men only to later discover that they were Fulani.

The youths were able to capture two of the attackers. One of them is dead, while the one alive has been taken to a hospital in Jos. Then around 2am, they attacked Karshi village, close to Gwantu, our LGA headquarters. I was informed that 21 people were killed. Many were injured, I cannot tell you the number now, but I have directed that the victims should be treated in good hospitals in Jos”.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, was the first to condemn the killings, calling on residents of Kaduna State to respect the sanctity of lives.

CAN said that the CAN leadership in Sanga put the death toll at over 100, The police, on Tuesday, said they had arrested three of the suspected assailants, and recovered from them three AK47 rifles and 158 rounds of ammunition.

The killings took place while an international conference on security and development challenges of pastoralism in West and Central Africa was holding in Kaduna. President Goodluck Jonathan was billed to declare the conference open, but was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo. Nigeria’s security bigwigs and their counterparts from ac4ross the said region attended the event.

‘Terrible things’ The Secretary, CAN, Kaduna State branch, Mr. Sunday Ibrahim, at a press conference in Kaduna after the Tuesday bloodbath, said: “Reports reaching me from our Sanga branch reveals that terrible things happened to our members there. We were told that over 100 people were killed yesterday (Monday). This is very sad.

Residents of Kaduna State must learn to respect the sanctity of human lives. No religion preaches murder. The villages attacked are Dogon Daji, Kobin, Naidu, Kabamu-Karshi, Hayin Kwanta, Kabani and Gani. ”Some people have been arrested among the attackers and were identified as Fulani men. I believe they are terrorists.

KADUNA FULANI FIRE SURVIVORS’ TALES

‘They came from different directions, killing villagers’ Because the Fulani that we live with can not do this thing.”

Govt to blame - Ninzom youths The National President of Ninzom Progressive Youth, NPY, Mr Bezard Wuyah, told Sunday Vangaurd on phone, that the mortuary in Gwantu was filled with corpses and hundreds of injured persons taken for

On its part, the Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progressive Forum, SKIPFO, said the killings in Sanga had justified further its effort to drag Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State to the International Criminal Court, ICC, in the Haque. ”The governor was adequately briefed about this doom when it was pending but did nothing to stopped it. We believe it was a

”It was a well planned attack because they invaded the communities at the same time.

They were spread across the local government area and that made it more difficult for the communities to give each other a helping hand treatment.”We have lost at least 120 people, going by the fact that we are still picking corpse from the bushes. This morning, we picked five death bodies in another village. ”The Fulani wrote a letter to our chief in Gwantu early this month warning that they will come and massacre our people. We took the threat seriously and took copies of the letter to government. But no arrangement was put in place to protect vulnerable places. This is the third, but most wicked of the attacks on us. We want our youths to wait and see how government will act on this before we take our next action”, he said.

Our taking Yero to ICC justified —SKIPFO

deliberate act to depopulate Southern Kaduna, ahead of 2015 since we will not vote for him. If it were Zaria, where he comes from that these series of killings are coming from, he would have since found a solution to it.

SKIPFO holds him responsible, and we are surely going to take justice to him at the ICC”, said Major George Asake (rtd), Chairman of SKIPFO, in a press statement.

Declare state of emergency now —Danfulani The Dr. John Danfulani-led Concerned Realists of Southern Kaduna, , CRSK, called for a state of emergency over Kaduna State.

Yero condemns killings But, Yero, in a statement by his Director General, Media and Publicity, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, condemned the violence and sued for calm. The statement read: “The Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has condemned the attack at Fadan Karshi village, Sanga LGA describing the act as a provocative attempt by some unpatriotic people to cause confusion and unrest”.

`Attacks were coordinated’ Hon. Shehu Ajetu, the councillor representing Gwantum ward, Sanga LGA spoke on the killings: “I cannot give a definite number of people that have been killed because in some of the villages that were attacked, it is difficult bring out corpses from the villages to Gwantu. Some were killed when they were running into the bush. Besides everybody is afraid of being ambushed. ”In Kobin village alone, 37 people were killed. We believe that the figure of death is more than this because a lot of people are still missing in Kobin. ”Hundreds of people from the villages have relocated to Gwantu and are staying in refugee camps. The refugee camps are at Gwantu Primary school and the Divisional Police Station. ”Soldiers and police were deployed to control the situation. Unfortunately, because the rural communities

are not easily accessible, it was difficult for the security agents to stop the killings. ”The Fulani were well armed with AK 47 rifles; villagers were very helpless. They didn’t have anything to defend themselves apart from sticks and machetes.

The Fulanis will invade a village and within five minutes, they inflict massive destruction; that is why people in the villages had to run out to Gwantu, the local government headquarters. ”It was a well planned attack because they invaded the communities at the same time.

They were spread across the local government area and that made it more difficult for the communities to give each other a helping hand. ”Before this attack, all the Fulanis had asked their people in Sanga local government to leave the area. All their people left before they now came for the attack. Some months ago, there was an issue concerning the Fulani and the Numana chiefdom which was being investigated by security agents. The Fulani notified all their people to leave Sanga local government. So all the Fulanis with their cows left. ”They even gave a notice that they will strike, but nobody knew when they will strike. We were thinking that they will strike in the area where they had problem, so everybody was taken by surprise when they decided to attack many communities” But one Christopher Chisom, a local vigilante leader from Gwantu, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said, his members had given him the casualty figure. ”They killed 38 in Kobin, 21 in Dogon Daji and burnt almost all the houses. In Naidu, 16 people were killed while, in Kabamu, we lost 30. About 10 were shot dead in Kabani and nine in Gani. The victims were mostly women and children,” he said.

Sunday Vanguard could not verify this figures, as the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alh. Shehu Umar, and Kaduna State Police spokesman did not pick their calls. But, on Teusday, CP Shehu Umar said : “I can confirm the death of 18 persons and several others wounded, we have also arrested three persons in connection with the crisis, they were arrested with three AK47 and about 158 rounds of ammunition.

“We have deployed more security personnel to the area and the situation in under control”.

110 given mass burial On Thursday, 110 of the victims were given mass burial, the Chairman of Sanga LGA, Adamu, told our correspondent. ”We have just finished giving 110 people mass burial this afternoon. We had no choice because the corpses were going bad as a result of poor facilities to hold them in hospital”, he said. ”But it was not all the dead that we gave mass burial. Some families were able to identify their loved ones, so they were allowed to pick the bodies to go and bury more decently. I cannot tell the number now, but quite a number were taken away by their families. ”All those that are injured will be treated on the bill of Sanga Local Government Council”.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

By SAM EYOBOKA

A

COMBINATION of two occurrences, one natural and the other human, almost marred the much advertised groundbreaking ceremony of the Eagle Heights University scheduled for last Tuesday in the sleepy town of Omadino in Warri South local government area of Delta State. The first was the torrential rains of Monday night in Warri which rendered the only road to the site of the university that the state government and other stakeholders had prepared for the historic occasion marshy.

The second element was the rumor that made the rounds as early as 6.00 a.m. Tuesday morning that President Goodluck Jonathan, chief guest of honour slated to perform the groundbreaking ceremony had cancelled the trip at the last moment making residents of Ughoton and Omadino who had lined the route to catch a glimpse of their President initially disappointed.

But, as early as 5.30 a.m, combat-ready security personnel, dressed in green, took positions directing vehicular movements along the traffic-prone stretch of road from Warri through Okpe local government to Omadino raising the hope of the citizens of the area. Similarly, desperate efforts were made by church workers assisted by the natives to recreate stands for all the different traditional dance troupes that spent sleepless nights rehearsing for the epoch making event.

Omadino is sandwiched between thick forests and the Warri River. As soon as choppers started circling the venue, the environment became electric as everybody turned towards the entrance in anticipation. Not long after Jonathan, with several members of his cabinet, emerged waving to the mammoth crowd of persons who had assembled. He was also accompanied by two eminent traditional rulers from the area: the Olu of Warri, Atuwatse II and the Ovie of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I. The initial unfriendly weather had given way to a bright day,. The one they call The Elegant Stallion, Onyeka Onwenu’s sterling performance and that of Sammie Okposo had to be stopped for the business of the day.

In his opening remarks, the CAN president and the visioner, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, explained that 42 years earlier, he had received a divine mandate: “Building and equipping the people who build the nation,” and building the people goes beyond spirituality, to include

From left:President Goodluck Jonathan; Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; his wife, Helen; and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II

The Warri university and Delta’s triangle of development *The benefits of religious varsities, by Jonathan building physically, economically, educationally and socially. He noted that the mandate has given birth to the establishment of Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank, Eagle Health Medical Centre, Eagle Hand Foundation for orphans and the less privileged, The International School of Ministry and the Eagle Heights International Schools, EHIS (Nursery, Primary and Secondary) amongst many others.

The Eagle Heights University, EHU, he continued, was a new but unique world class Christian university committed to serving God and humanity in Warri, and the world through leadership in high quality education and professional training, community development, character building, advancing research and knowledge, and utilizing state-of-the-art information and communication technology. The university, according to him, is set to be at the forefront of the academic transformation of Africa and Nigeria in particular Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, welcoming the president and his entourage to the state for the second time in 23 days, said “A few weeks ago, you were in Gbaramatu of formally flag off gthe marine the Maritime University. We know that in a few weeks’ time, you will be back to flag off the Gas City at Ogidigben, in

One advantage of universities owned by religious bodies is discipline and moral education

between, you are here today to flag off this Eagle Height’s University; a private university of the Word of Life Bible Church. Mr. President, you are sitting right in the land of Omadino in Warri South local government, there’s a connection between this land and the Maritime University and the Gas City.

“The three places form a triangle, and from my eyes of development, it’ll be the future triangle of development in this country, because from Omadino here, a road is being designed; it was originally designed, but the design is being changed by NDDC. That road will over N150 billion. It’ll connect Omadino with Gbaramatu and the Escravos axis. The road will service the Maritime University and also service

the Gas City. The future of this area is very very bright”.

According to the President, the university will mark the beginning of a great Omadino that will surely play a key role in the history of this country.

He therefore congratulated the Omadino people, “because this is the beginning of real development that will come to this part of this great state and indeed the Niger Delta and Nigeria”. Jonathan continued: `I’m also pleased, just like the governor mentioned, I was in Delta state not too long ago to lay a foundation stone for the Maritime University. Delta is blessed to have two specialized universities; University of Petroleum and of course the Maritime University.”

The President hinted that Delta State would even be greater because “the biggest petro-chemical hub in Africa will be sited in the state. The governor mentioned that in a couple of weeks or so, we are coming back to Delta state to flag off that ceremony. The target is that we must add value to the gas we produce, we cannot continue to export raw materials; we export raw crude oil, we export raw gas with the condensate and so on and so forth.

“When you export raw materials, you create jobs offshore, but when you add value to your materials, you create jobs within your country. We must add value to

the gas we produce before sending it out, and where it will happen will be in this great Delta.

“The road project, because if government is siting such major projects; Maritime University, the petro-chemical complex, that place must be accessible by road. It may not happen overnight, but we’ll drive to that place not too far away. We thank all of you for your cooperation.” Returning to the business of the day, he thanked Oritsejafor and his wife as well as members of Word of Life Bible Church, for establishing the university..

“I love the motto of the university: ‘Building and equipping the people who build the nation’. That has always been my philosophy that you have to build the people to build the nation.

Without building people, we cannot build a nation. You cannot give what you don’t have. You can’t go to the university and study biology then go and teach engineering or go and build bridges. You must give out what you have. And if we don’t put something into our children, they’ll have nothing to bring out to develop the country.

He stressed the need to invest in the younger generation because, according to him, sometimes people die and don’t even know where their money is, but the quality of their children, the quality of the younger ones that are coming will determine the level of their success in life.

“Today we have to thank Ayo because I’ve seen that without the private sector, government alone; both federal and state, would not be able to create university spaces for our children. Government is trying, within this period I’ve been here, we are talking about 14 universities, and still you have so many Nigerians, infact Nigerians are almost taking over Ghanaian universities. So without the private sector coming in to assist, we cannot provide enough spaces for our children, and that’s why government is quite passionate about universities by the private sector especially religious bodies.

“One advantage of universities owned by religious bodies is discipline and moral education. And you are what you are because of the background training you have, not just the academic training. The non-formal education, which is quite weak in conventional schools owned by government, is available in universities owned by religious bodies.

You cannot be a lecturer in a university here and you talk about sexual harassment. That word will not exist here because there’ll be no space for it.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 29

Bisi Akande honoured by kinsmen

L-R: Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC Publicity Secretary; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Chief John Oyegun, APC National Chairman; Rev Dr Humphrey Olumakaiye; Gen Muhammadu Buhari; and Chief & Chief Mrs Bisi Akande.

F

ormer governor of Osun State and erstwhile National Chairman of All Progessives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, returned to his home town of Ila Orangun last Sunday to a hero’s welcome when the Diocese of Osun North,Church of Nigeria ( Anglican Communion) held a thanksgiving reception for him and honoured him with an award for his examplary leadership Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Olejeme steals the show at PDP Delta Central rallies Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dr Ngozi Olejeme, was the toast of the masses when PDP held rallies across Delta Central local government areas.

Dr Ngozi Olejeme acknowledging cheers from supporters

L-R:Chief John Oyegun; Chief Bisi Akande; Hajia Ramatu Aliyu, North Women Leader, APC; and Chief Mrs Omowunmi Akande

L-R: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

Enter the new priests

The ordination of new priests was held at Christ Holy Church International by the Most Rev Daniel Okoh at Ndoni, Rivers State.

A cross section of party supporters

Youths displaying in support of Olejeme.

The Most Rev. (Dr.) Daniel Okoh anointing the new priests

The Sylvester and Ime nuptial

The new priests praying during the consecration

Sylvester Antonbrapagha Unwana Ukut of Zenith Bank Head Office bid bye to bachelorhood as he took former Miss Ime Ette Okon to the altar. The wedding took place at Qua Iboe Church, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Uyo Akwa Ibom State.

Burial of the late Mrs. Lara Olowookere

L-R: Kemi Omisore, Yinka Olowookere, Elder 'Remi Olowookere, Ayo Olowookere and Leke Olowookere during the burial of the late Mrs Lara Olowookere.

PAGE 30—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014—PAGE 31

PAGE 32— SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

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Who sexually assaulted two-yr-old Precious in school? *Parents accuse police of stalling investigation

By Funmi Ajumobi, Abel Kolawole and Charity Ukaegbu

M

ay 21, 2014 certainly is a bad day in a family (names withheld) in Ikotun, Lagos. That was the day they alleged their two-and-a-half year-old daughter, simply identified as Precious, was sexually assaulted by an unknown person in school (names withheld) located in Adediran Emiloju Way, Abaranje – Ikotun. Precious was a KG 1 pupil of the school. Two separate tests carried out on the infant, according to the father, confirmed the defilement.

The school, however, denied responsibility, prompting the question, ‘Who sexually assaulted Precious?’, especially as the alleged defilement was carried out while the infant was supposed to be in school.

To make matters worse, the police to whom the case was reported are said to be delaying investigation under the guise that the tests on Precious were not carried out in a government hospital. The police, according to the family, would have preferred the tests conducted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). But the parents argued that the tests were conducted in another government owned hospital, Igando

General Hospital, Lagos, and hence ought to be acceptable to the police. Investigation into the alleged sexual assault of Precious, as it were, appears stalled. Narrating the story, the father, frustrated and dejected, said the baby was dropped off in school that morning by her mother, hale and hearty.

He said Precious would not allow anyone to carry her on her way to and fro school as she preferred to walk on her own. However, on that day, while returning from school, she was clinging to her mother to carry her and refused to walk by herself. This action made her mother to be inquisitive but the girl was too withdrawn to say anything. It

Akwa Ibom group to aid Boko Haram victims A

figh Iwaad Ekid, the umbrella organization for youths in Ekid nation of Akwa Ibom State, has charged the Federal Government to intensify intra-states border security control to combat terrorism in the country.

The public relations officer of the organization, Mr Joe Etukudo, disclosed the position of the organization while speaking with journalists after the swearing-in of new executive officers of Afigh Iwaad Ekid at Eket.

Etukudo, who has been serving in various capacities of image making of the organization, acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to check insurgency in the North, believing that the armed forces, working in collaboration with the international community, will succeed in crushing Boko Haram.The spokesman sympathised with the parents of the over 200 students abducted by Boko Haram at Chibok, in Borno State, calling

was when they got home and her mother wanted to bath her that she noticed that Precious was holding back from allowing her to wash her vagina. In the process of checking her, the mother was said to have noticed a deep scratch on her neck. At that juncture, she became worried and when the husband returned from office, they decided to take a good look at her when she would have slept. This they did and, to their surprise, Precious’ private part was believed to have been tampered with. The following morning, the father said they reported the case to the school authorities which denied the alleged sexual assault happened while

on youth organizations to cooperate with security agencies by reporting the activities of strange persons and groups in their areas.

Etukudo lamented that Boko Haram has done incalculable damage to the nation, appealing to youths particularly the girl child whose education has been affected not be discouraged or lose hope but take a cue from Malala the Pakistani girl and pursue their education to a logical conclusion.

The spokesman disclosed that Afigh Iwaad Ekid would commence a fund raising programme in aid of Boko Haram victims. “We shall also embark on effective enlightenment campaign in collaboration with other youth groups of the Niger Delta States to redirect the mind set of those in the South-south states, especially the youths to be on the watch out against

Precious was in school “as such a case had not happened there before” but the school admitted that the deep scratch on the infant’s neck could have been inflicted by her classmate when they were playing. On the side of Precious, when asked about what happened to her buttocks, his father said she could only mention ‘uncle’.

The father said she took the baby to the police station in Ikotun to report the case after running a test in a private hospital confirming that Precious has been defiled but the police advised him to go to a General Hospital for a medical report which they did at Igando General Hospital.

The medical report, later obtained from Igando General Hospital after tests were carried out on Precious, read: “Parent seen. Case of suspected sexual assault. Child noticed to have been feeling pain and crying while urinating by the father after being picked up from school. Examination reveals a young girl (21/2 years old), with scratch marks on the face, bruises and redness around the eyes, cervical female external genitalia with an obviously breached hymen and wide vagina.”

The report, dated May 30, 2014, was signed by a medical officer at the General Hospital.

The case was said to have been subsequently referred to Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba. The father’s worry now is that after a month that the case had been under investigation, the police in Yaba are telling the family that the tests on the baby should have been done at LASUTH as that is the only hospital which tests are acceptable despite the result from a qualified doctor from Igando General Hospital.

the infiltration of dangerous sects from other regions of Nigerian states. Meanwhile, the leadership of Afiigh Iwaad Ekid, has been urged to draw from the experience of past leaders in their desire for community and state building.

This was stated by the first grand patron of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Gen. Anthony Etukudo (rtd), during a `thank you’ visit by the vice president, Mr Etiene Bob, and other executive members to his residence at Afaha Eket in Eket LGA. Etukudo commended the new executives for exhibiting maturity throughout the period of campaigns ahead of their election, adding that it was a true reflection of the cultural qualities of the people of Eket federal constituency.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 33

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WOMAN, CHILD BURIED ALIVE BY HERBALIST

How 30-yr-old search for baby tragically claimed ex-Custom’s big wig, adopted daughter!

BY EVELYN USMAN One of the prayers rendered to the newly wed is for them to be blessed with children. But some end up spending years before having children to call their own. The years of waiting can be so traumatizing and is usually characterized by anxiety.

This was the case of the late Mrs Angela Kerry, the 68-year-old retired Assistant Controller of Customs who was buried alive with her ten year-old adopted daughter by a herbalist in Ajuwon area of Ogun State.

The deceased, described by a member of her family as an amiable fellow, was married for over 30 years . She reportedly went into marriage with the hope of raising children of her ’s but never lived to see her dream come true.

Her relative, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard, stated that the deceased was, on several occasions, advised to adopt a child ,while hoping to have one of her own but refused. She was said to have, however, yielded about seven years ago , by adopting a girlchild-whom she named Obralulum.

Except for close relatives, every other person concluded the child was her ’s, judging from their striking resemblance. The late Kerry was said to have dated on her ‘child’ whom she fondly called ‘Angel’. She was said to have gone everywhere with the child, no wonder they suffered same fate even in death.

All seemed to be going well for the deceased until she came across her assailant, a herbalist. No one could tell exactly when their paths crossed but the herbalist, Alhaji Olatunji Azeez, claimed he knew her five years ago, through one of

*Mother and child... killed together his clients whom he identified simply as Lizzy.

Azzez further stated that the deceased was never in good terms with members of her family. “ She said they were after her because of her wealth. She said they wanted to kill her and that she intended staying away from them. I have saved her twice from deadly spiritual attacks since she was introduced to me by one of my clients who is also her friend”, the herbalist, accused of killing the retired Customs’ bigwig and her adopted child by burying them alive, said.

But one of the lie relatives of the deceased who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described Azeez’s claim as false. She could, however, not give Sunday Vanguard vital details on the deceased, saying: “ everyone is aggrieved. No one can talk at the moment because this is unheard of. It is not in my place to speak with journalists, or I will be sanctioned. The only thing I can say is that she was a

Left: The hole the victims were buried in; right: The frontage of the herbalist’s shrine good person.

“For her killer to say that she was running away from her family was a big lie. This is because she confided in a family member that she was going out on May 10, 2014, the day she disappeared and obviously killed alongside her adopted daughter.

It was a relative that raised the alarm when her phone was not going. She called to find out if she was back and when she could not reach her, she decided to check on her at her Oko-Oba home,

only to discover that her house was under lock and key. It was at that point that we called in the police”.

Information at Sunday Vanguard’s disposal revealed that the suspect told his three wives and five children to leave the house on the day he was to perpetrate the dastardly act.

It was also discovered that the shallow grave he dug behind his building was constructed within that period. Police sources told Sunday Vanguard that after

digging the shallow grave, he erected a make shift building to cover it apparently to avoid prying eyes.

On that fateful day, Mrs Kerry was said to have gone to demand for her money which she alleged the herbalist collected from her , to aid her in getting pregnant after 30-years marriage, only to be buried alive in the grave alongside her adopted child.

Narrating how mother and child were killed, 64 year-old Azeez said: “Three years ago, she revealed that she had not been able to give birth and had not been pregnant for one day. I told her it would be impossible since she had reached menopause but she objected, saying many prophets had told her God could do it.

“Along the line, she said she wanted to sell her property at Omole Estate, that she wanted to travel abroad in order to be away from her family. After selling the property, I discovered so many pastors started coming around her to get a share from the money realised. In fact she told me that she paid N15 million to some pastors to pray for her to get a child.

“Then I told myself that if I did not act fast, the pastors will collect everything from her. So, I called her and told her to bring N10 million with which to prepare some concoction that would make her pregnant, even though I knew it was impossible for her to get pregnant.

Trouble “She paid in bits about N9 million. But after nine months, she came back saying nothing happened and demanded a refund.

That was when trouble started. I managed to pay her N 3.5 million and begged her to be patient for the balance. “ On May 16, 2014, she charged into my temple demanding the balance. I told her I won’t pay her and that if she had gone to the hospital and the treatment failed, could she demand a refund? She threatened to deal with me if I did not pay her, saying she would show me she was in the force.

“I told myself that this is war because I remembered she once showed me a gun at her apartment. I knew it was not a mere threat because she said she would kill me and nothing would happen. That threat provoked me. I knew that when Continues on page 34

PAGE 34 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

08116759757

Regalo expands offerings with Cape Cobra

T

o further boost its operations in Nigeria, Regalo, leading African luxury store says it has secured an exclusive partnership with Cape Cobra to be its number one exotic luxury leather producers in Africa, producing for luxury brands in Europe, and the United States as the sole partner in West Africa.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, founder of Regalo, and General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Funmi Onajide, said the inspiration for Regalo and the reasons for its success includes, “My love and belief in Africa and in the potential of African craftsmanship has been strengthened by the quality of artisanship that I have seen across the continent, which is largely tapped by foreign buyers.” While explaining what informed her decision to open a branch in Lagos.

She said “the excellence in quality and design of our local products has the capacity to position this continent in a very positive light. Uniquely African should not necessarily mean

rustic. It should mean elegance and quality. It is for this reason Regalo was established; to bring the very best of Africa to our clients.”

Speaking further Onajide expressed optimism that Africa can develop into a credible producer of luxury goods as opposed to just being a growing consumer of international luxury brands.

According to Onajide, “Africa has the potential and Regalo is working hard to make this a reality”.

Also, she noted that “Africa is known the world over for its craftsmanship – primarily ethnocentric sculptures, carvings, masks, figurines, bronzes, textiles, beading and the like each of which in their own right are compelling artistic depictions of either factual or fictional narratives of its rich tradition. However beyond these characteristic exports of African artistry is a growing thrust for the production of African made goods that exude exceptional quality, sophistication and have international appeal while still preserving its

African essence.”

On his part, Brand and Marketing Manager for Cape Cobra Leathercraft, Aoife Kelly de Klerk, who highlighted the uniqueness of African ingenuity said “We believe that Africa has all the ingredients to compete in the luxury sectors of the market; especially in the exotic leather goods sector. We have the raw materials, the finishing capacities and excellent design and

WOMAN, CHILD BURIED ALIVE BY HERBALIST’

How 30-yr-old search for baby tragically claimed ex-Cust om’s big wig, adopt ed daught er! x-Custom’s adopted daughter!

Continued from page 33 two people are fighting, the first to attack will emerge winner. “So, I decided to act fast. I told to come back the next day for the money.

When leaving, I told her not to come with the daughter. When she left, I told my wives and children to leave for my home town in Oyo the next day being Saturday that I would come and join them. I did not explain why.

“After they left, I went to a building at the back of my shrine where I dug a hole. I spread a mat on the hole and laid a white cloth on it, exactly the way it looks in my shrine.

When she came I told her to go inside the building that we needed to pray before we talk about the money. She asked if the prayer was for the pregnancy and I told her it was for fortification”.

When Sunday Vanguard asked him how possible was it for a woman who had come for her money to agree to go into prayer it him, he disclosed that he hypnotized her.

Azeez said :”I know what to do to get people to do my biddibg. As she was about entering, I told her to tell her daughter to stay behind but she refused. On getting inside the building, I asked her to stand on the white cloth and immediately she did, she fell inside the hole and landed on her buttocks. All I heard when she fell was ‘yeh’! When she fell, I

said to have led to the killing of Mrs Kerry and her adopted child.

The suspect confirmed that he bought one of the properties and even changed the documents to reflects his name. “ Yes, one of the properties has my name on it. It was her idea. She said she did not want her family to know”, Azzez said. Unfortunately, the only person that would have ascertained the claim is lying six feet below .

*Azeez, the suspect told myself that I had seen the end of my enemy.

“The daughter did not say a word.

She just stood watching. I had to cover the hole with about 60 buckets of sand.

“Later, I asked myself what I would do with the little girl. I left the room, locked it from outside. When I came back at about 6.30pm, I met her on the sand. She had fallen asleep.

I quickly removed my jacket and poured about 30 buckets of sand to cover her. Next day, i went to get two bricklayers to cement the place.”

There is, however, the claim that the herbalist earlier collected documents of three properties belonging to the deceased , saying he wanted to pray on them, only to sell them for N375m. His action was

production facilities.”

Interestingly, Cape Cobra Leathercraft entered into partnership with Regalo in 2013, based on their common belief in African artisanship and Internationally recognized.

Cape Cobra is an elite following which produces for top international design houses and labels which sees them worn in the hands of Sandra Bullock, Debra Messing, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.

Explaining how the suspect was arrested, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, said after committing the crime, the suspect took the deceased’s Toyota Camry vehicle to a dealer’s workshop to sell.

But the bubble burst when the victim’s relatives reported at New Oko-Oba Police Station that Mrs Kerry was missing. Policemen, he said, traced the victim’s car to the dealer’s workshop where two persons were arrested, adding that their statements led to the suspect’s arrest.

“We have been able to recover the decomposed bodies and the victim’s travelling bag containing her personal effects and that of her daughter from the shallow grave he buried them in,” Manko said.

PDP: FESTAC mobilizes 1000 youths Ahead of the fourth-coming general election, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, FESTAC chapter, recently staged a campaign tagged, 1000 youths for PDP, which aims at mobilizing 1000 youths for the party.

Speaking at the event, the Youth President of the party, Comrade Stanley Azubuike, said that the reason behind the move is because, the youth of the area are tired of the can led state administration. “ We are so tired of the can led Lagos state administration. These are people who are tired of the harassment in the state. They are tired of people’s houses being uprooted. Mostly, motorcyclists re so tired of their motorcycles being ceased. They are sick and tired of everything that is happening and they need a change and the only change that they need is PDP. We choose this place so that people will see what is happening here. We aim at moving the state forward,” he said.

In the same vain, the convener of the event who also, is the House of Representative aspirant of Amuwo-Odofin, Hon Oghene Egoh,said that he felt there is need for a change in the state. “ we are happy that our youths are ready to work with PDP. They have seen that their future is in PDP and not APC. All the programs of Jonathan have being of a very big benefit to the people. Within his 6 years in office, Nigeria has become the richest country in Africa in terms of GDP. We are happy that a thousand youth is joining us and the party is getting stronger and stronger,” he said.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29 2014, PAGE 35

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

Women hold the key to Africa's growth — Elisha, Founder, African Women in

Leadership Organisation •Says it's not a man's world the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Women are gradually understanding that we're not in a man's world. In 2011, Ghana’s parliament was filled up with women and in fact, they got a female Speaker. The impact of this conference has been enormous in all the countries whose women have been part of it.Today, I’m proud because I’ve seen AWLO grown from strength to strength and I’m seeing women come out of their shells. I believe women have so much to offer.

*Elisha

I

t is quite soothing to know that the era of women struggling for recognition is waning in Africa, especially with the the likes of Nigerian-born Elisha Attai. The founder of African Women in Leadership Organisation, AWLO, Elisha vehemently believes Africa’s hope for advancement can only be achieved when its women are embraced as partners in progress. Hence, he has since 2009 devoted his life to positioning African women through his annual AWLO conference whose 2010 edition hosted in Nigeria planted the seed for Women for Change Initiative. This year's edition slated for August in Atlanta is holding in partnership with American female parliamentarians. In this interview, Elisha who is the CEO of Studio 115 Integrated Services, an international media consulting firm, tells us more.

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

O

ther men try hard to convince women that it’s a man’s world; why are you mobilising women for leadership in Africa?

I was consulting for Ghana High Commission and we had issues way back in 2008 when some Ghanaians started feeling bad about Nigerian businesses killing their own businesses in Ghana. Though we tried to cover up the protest by managing the publicity, some young Ghanaians started maiming Nigerians in Ghana.

We began to look for solution and I suggested the need to bring together women parliamentarians from Nigeria and Ghana under one platform, to restore peace. That conference held in 2009 in Accra and at the the end, that crisis cooled-off.

It dawned on me that there

I’m proud seeing women come out of their shells. I believe women have so much to offer. was need for more platforms for women to come together to move Africa forward because I have so much belief in the ability of women.

Sadly, over the years, womenfolk have not really had sustainable platforms for mentoring.

How did you go beyond Nigeria and Ghana?

Women from Guinea heard about the conference and approached us, advising that the conference be made a West-African. That way, we

started West-African Women in Leadership Organisation in 2010. That conference held in Abuja and was chaired by Dame Patience Jonathan. It was a successful gathering of women leaders from across West-Africa. The United Nations also came as observers. It was after the conference that they approached us and recommended that we made the conference Africa, instead of West-Africa. So, from 2011, African Women in Leadership Conference, AWLC, began,

which signified that we’re going global. Now, we’re taking AWLC to the US. I thought your focus was on Africa; what's your business with the US? We’re going global because from 2011, Senator Donzella James, our host for this year in Atlanta, started having interest in what we’re doing.

She suggested partnership and that partnership will also benefit African women leaders resident in America and desire platforms for interacting with other women leaders from Africa to canvass the way forward for the continent. The Council of Female Senators volunteered to host us in Atlanta and that’s why AWLC 2014 is being taken there. It’s holding from the 20th to 23rd of August with the theme 'Harnessing our strengths: Growing in all spheres'. We’re also using this opportunity to inaugurate the US Chapter of AWLO. Five years into this annual conference, what impact would you say it has had on African women?

Let me start with Nigeria.

Before AWLC in 2010, we had very few women in leadership positions. It was our 2010 conference that gave birth to the Women for Change Initiative you now hear of, whose agenda is to have more women in decision-making positions.

That was the work of my coordinator, Chidimma, and

What gains await African women from this partnership with the United States women parliamentarians?

They’ve gone through what African women are passing through and they’ve come out victorious. How did they get there? The whole essence of this year’s conference is to find answers to that question.

The AWLC and the State Senate of Atlanta, Georgia, is bringing African women achievers together, to rub minds, share ideas, learn and take critical steps forward in relation to personal, social and community development.

The Special Guest of Honour is the wife of the US President, Michelle Obama.

By coming together to hone vital leadership competencies and achieve new levels of confidence and success, African women will continue to act, grow and lead in the 21st century.

We’re going to have a lot of sessions and speakers from Africa, America, and other countries, including the Caribbean. Almas Jiwani, President at the United Nations Women NC Canada, will be the Keynote Speaker.

It’s a good platform that will definitely transform the continent. This year, we are also introducing what we call the Youth Session for young people aspiring to be like these successful women. We also believe women can play a huge role in achieving peace in the continent. So, the conference is making peacebuilding in Africa one of its major focus this time.

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

Myths and facts about sex and sexuality

By Yetunde Arebi

M

ost of us would have heard a few of these myths about sex and related subjects at one point or another in the course of growing up. When myths are not debunked, they may be taken as truth and therefore become misleading information. Unfortunately, even some adults have been known to peddle some of these stuff as gospel truth to their children and wards, sometimes under the illusion that they are protecting them.

Today, I have compiled a couple of sex and sexual related myths just to test our knowledge of the true state of things. Younger readers may benefit immensely from this edition too. Here we go:

Myth: Guys who drink alcohol and use drugs have bettersex.

Fact: Getting drunk or high makes you incapable of making sound decisions about sex. Most people have admitted doing things they otherwise would not have done, if they were not under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Having sex under the influence means that you are not likely to practice safe sex and could end up with something much worse than a hangover.

Myth: A girl can’t get pregnant or a guy can’t get a girl pregnant if: you have sex standing up; the girl is on top; you have sex in a hot tub or a swimming pool; you jump up and down immediately

after sex; the girl douches, takes a bath, or urinates immediately after sex; it’s your first time; you’re both virgins; the guy pulls out before he ejaculates or if he doesn’t go all the way in; the girl doesn’t have an orgasm; the guy and the girl don’t orgasm at the same time; the girl pushes really hard on her belly button after sex; or the girl makes herself sneeze for fifteen minutes after sex; if a girl is having a period; or she has never had a period; if the girl or guy drinks lemon based sodas,

partner to have contracted an STI, even if they have not had penile-vagina sex, but do engage in oral or anal sex with an infected person. Don’t forget that Herpes and HPV infections are passed through skin-to-skin contact even though no penetration might have taken place.

Myth: Baby oil and Vaseline are okay to use as lubricants with latex condoms.

Fact: Oil-based lubricants (like baby oil, Vaseline, hand creams) can break down latex and allow

It is common to feel sexually attracted towards more than one person at a time, particularly if you are a young, single adult. For those in a committed relationship, restraint is advisable to avoid relationship problems Fact: Please forget you have ever heard these stories. You can get pregnant anytime you participate in sex, with or without full penetration; sitting, kneeling or standing up, no matter the gallons of Soda you consume. The only 100 percent way to prevent pregnancy is abstinence.

Myth: You can get an STI from a toilet seat. (Toilet disease?)

Fact: You get STIs by having sex (vaginal, oral or anal) or by skinto-skin touching and not from toilet seats.

Myth: You can’t get an STI if your partner is a virgin.

Fact: Definition of virginity varies depending on personality and orientation. It is possible for your

STDs/STIs to pass through. Instead, use only water soluble lubricants like K-Y Jelly, Glide or Aqualube. Most contraceptive jellies, saliva, or even plain water are also good lubricants to use with condoms.

Myth: Most women can have an orgasm through vaginal sex o n l y .

Fact: Only about 25-30% of women reach orgasm through vaginal sex only. The other 70% need more manual or oral stimulation to achieve orgasms.

Myth: The average penis size is about 5 to 6 inches.

Fact: According to the Kinsey Institute, the average erect (hard) penis length is between 5 to 6

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08109935722 Searching Male

inches, and average flaccid (not erect, or soft) penis length ranges between 1 and 4 inches.

Myth: The stock of semen in the body is limited so if you waste it by masturbating, you will soon run out of semen.

Fact: This is simply not true because semen is not stocked but produced in the body throughout a man’s life. It will continue to be produced as long as the reproductive organs are working and in good, health condition.

Myth: Men need or want sex more often than women.

Fact: Not true. Sexual drive varies from person to person in both men and women.

Myth: Only homosexuals have anal sex.

Fact: Some heterosexual (male and female) couples also have anal sex.

Myth: Oral sex is a perversion.

Fact: No. Oral sex is a matter of choice. If your partner is willing, there is no harm in having oral s e x .

Myth: Vasectomy makes a man i m p o t e n t .

Fact: Vasectomy makes a man sterile, meaning that his semen does not contain sperms any more, and therefore is unable to impregnate a woman. However, he can still achieve full erection and have a pleasurable and fulfilling sex l i f e .

Myth: Losing one drop of semen is equal to losing about 40 drops of blood Fact: Semen is not made of blood and so losing semen cannot affect your blood.

Myth: Having sex with a virgin will cure a man of his venereal disease.

Fact: This is a baseless, harmful and dangerous misconception. A

•Michael, 30, dark in complexion, handsome and from Delta state, but resides in PH, needs a God fearing lady, who is employed or self employed, for a serious relationNetworking/ Sponsorship ship, aged 35-40. 08161854273 •David, a student, needs any man •Ifenna, 25, caring, cool, fair in or woman, who can adopt him complexion, a student and resides and take him as their son and in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 17also provide some of his 28, for a relationship. needs.07064609967 08188865331, 07067853230 •Lilywhite, 18, an up coming mu•Chuma, 37, tall, a doctor and sic artist, needs a manager and a dark in complexion, needs a depromoter, in Lagos. cent girl, for a relationship that can 08142765115, 08145210323 lead to marriage, preferably •Cletus, from Benin, an upcomIgbo.07061090051 ing artist with tracks of good •A guy, 30, 5 feet tall, from Delta songs in the studio needs finanstate, needs a girl, for a serious recial help to be able to release lationship, that will lead to marthem. 07034682593 riage not a game player 08063970629,08054111966 Links •Akim, good looking, needs girl, •Nelson Iyamah, wishes to link for a good relationship, aged 16up with Dr. Austin Nweze, of the 20.08146676131 pan African University.

•Arnold, 35, a graduate and em08170116860 ployed, needs a lady, aged 27-31, who is employed and is ready to Friends settle down, for a serious relationSearching Females ship. 08164114946 Lovers •Cyndy, 16, beautiful on low cut Searching Female •Dan, 32, a driver, dark in comand resides in Lagos, needs male •Angela, 24, sexy and a student, plexion, tall and resides in Anamand female friends, aged 17-25. needs a sexy, strong and fun lovbra state, needs a very dark in 08140896458 complexion lady, who is busty, ing young man, for a relationwithin Anambra for a meaningful relationship. 08162650385 36, 5.10ft tall, cute and fun Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in •Smith, to be with and employed, needs a or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does fat lady, who is God fearing, aged so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

22-34, for a relationship that will Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of lead to marriage.08061284214 requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore •Edoje, 46, employed and resides request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to in Lagos, needs a lady, who is also enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For employed and resides in Lagos, for a relationship. 07034654010 enquiries, text or call 08026651636 •Benjamin, single and resides in

DISCLAIMER!

man with a venereal disease will only pass is on to the virgin.

Medicine has a cure for almost every STIs and the few without have adequate treatment and management.

Myth: Masturbation leads to psychological problems.

Fact: Only anxiety and fear caused by myths about masturbation can cause psychological problems, not masturbation itself.

Myth: Nocturnal orgasms (wet dreams) occur only in men.

Fact: Women also experience nocturnal orgasms.

Myth: It is abnormal or immoral to feel sexually attracted towards more than one person at a time.

Fact: It is common to feel sexually attracted towards more than one person at a time, particularly if you are a young, single adult.

For those in a committed relationship, restraint is advisable to avoid relationship problems.

Myth: Menopause is the end of a woman’s sex life.

Fact: Though women cannot conceive after menopause, they can continue to have a normal sex life.

Myth: Sex education leads to promiscuity in young adults.

Fact: This is certainly not a scientifically sound opinion. Sex education can help young people have safe and responsible sex.

Lack of information from correct channels fuels curiosity and makes them experiment with sex in the wrong manner.

Don’t forget that you may reach me via the e-mail address: inthelovezone@yahoo.com for advice on any of your sex and relationship questions. Cheers!

Ibadan, needs a lady, aged 25-32, for a serious relationship .08091111413, 08147935477 •John, 35, from Abuja, needs an employed lady in Abuja for a serious relationship. 08036207298 •Nyerohwo, 22, a student, tall, handsome and resides in Warri, needs a fair or chocolate in complexion, lady, who is employed, for a serious relationship.08138093951.

•Christopher, 25, dark in complexion and resides in Benin, needs a kind and caring lady, aged 19-20, for a relationship.08182235000 •Samuel, 25, employed and resides in Ekpoma Edo state, needs a girl for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.08108424539, 08054290088 •Iyke, 36, needs a responsible Christian lady, aged 28-35, for marriage.08162121554, 08034552908 •Williams, 31, resides in Benin, needs a busty and sexy girl, of any age or size for a fun-filled relationship, in Benin City.

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 37

Why some hot Nigerian divas as opt opted ed ffor or div whitee husbands Whit husbands

BY JULIET EBIRIM

T

here is a saying that different things work for different people differently.

While some black women cannot contemplate marrying a white husband, some actually dream of it and when their dreams come true, they revel in it. Though some have agreed it is a bit of a challenge, yet there is a general acquiscence among these divas that it has been worth it.

My husband is m myy best friend — Oluchi luchi Orlandi is a popular Nigerian international supermodel. She won O the Face of Africa in 1998 and has also

He just laughs when he sees my nude pictures

appeared on the cover of a lot of renowned magazines such as Vogue, Elle and Sports Illustrated for a record four times. Oluchi, 32 is happily married to a 53-year-old popular Italian fashion photographer, Luca Orlandi since August 2005. The happy union has produced two sons. She is in the top list of celebrities who have sustained interracial marriages.

On how she copes, the dark and beautiful model maintains that her marriage has been wonderful because she married her best friend even though it is an interracial marriage. She said “I have been married since 2005. I think it is just marrying your best friend more than anything. A man that will understand you, a man that will support you in good and bad times.

My husband is my best friend”.

— Maheeda

R

aunchy and

He has a good heart

— Ufuoma Ejenobor t’s been four years since actress and model, Ufuoma Ejenobor Itheand her husband Steven McDermott tied the knots. Today, proud parents are gradually building a family after the birth of their baby boy, christened, Isio Jared McDermott.

While happily recalling how they met and fell in love, charming Ufuoma said,“We have a mutual friend; they both work as advertisers. We hung out, became friends, started spending time and started feeling very comfortable with each other. It wasn’t anything planned, it just happened and I’m glad it did because my husband is a wonderful person. He has a good heart and that is the most important thing for me.”

For the Delta State born actress, coping with her in-laws and adjusting to foreign culture were much easier than she had thought and made to believe.

He has been in Nigeria for over 10 years but there are still some things he is trying to adjust to. I cannot honestly tell you that we’ve broken down every barrier of culture shock, but somehow we’ve tried to find our own meeting point to make sure that everything is balanced out.”

The couple has been living happily ever since.

•Ufuoma Ejenobor

controversial singer, Caroline Sam, popularly known as Maheeda, met and wedded her Dutch husband, Robert in 2012, and he moved her and her teenage daughter to the Netherlands.

Remember she once said if he wasn’t so rich, she wouldn’t have married him. Not only does she have a millionaire husband (as she says)but a beautiful daughter she conceived during her teenage years, though her hubby isn’t the biological dad.

In a recent interview, she talked about her husband and how he handles her controversial lifestyle, “ I am married and my husband is Dutch. What I am doing is not alien to him or his family and he understands. I met him at a bar when he just came to Nigeria. We are happily married. Even before we got married, he understood my kind of person. He was aware of my vision. He has always been supportive. He just laughs whenever he comes across any of my pictures. It’s in Africa that we attach much importance to such things and consider it sacrilegious”. she said.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

My marriage is the type an oman anyy w woman would dream of – Chioma Toplis

I am attracted by his openness – Anita Hogan

O

P

recisely on October 18, 2006, few friends and family members of Anita Hogan, Nigerian actress and former Gulder Ultimate Search contestant, gathered at the registry of Eti Osa Local Government Area in Ikoyi, Lagos for her wedding. Indeed, it was a great turning point for the dark-skinned actress amid the nude pictures scandal that almost cost her life.

Fortunately for her, Ted Mark, the man at the centre of the scandalous pictures eventually walked her down the aisle. Although, Mr. Ted Mark had once dabbled into marriage, which produced three grown up kids, it wasn’t a hitch for the talented actress who also had gone ahead to make a beautiful family with her Dutch husband with two lovely kids.

Wondering how she copes being married to a foreigner who is almost twice her age? She disclosed in an interview, “I have learnt to speak Dutch. I never believed I would end up with a white guy. It just happened. I am attracted to his openness and the fact that he is a very rugged man. We started as friends, then got closer and we later got married. He is also a very amazing father, I admire the way he cares for his kids. I am very grateful to God for him. He was once married and the union produced three children who are all grown up now”.

•Anita Hogan

nce upon a time, the media was awash with the rumour that the marriage of Nollywood busty actress and model, Chioma Toplis was heading for the rocks. Since the Abia State born actress came to limelight after settling down with Andrew Toplis, a UK born engineer, she has been battling with allegations of unstable marriage.

But the big, bold and beautiful mother of three (two girls and a boy) with a towering height is never tired of defending her home, which she described as the type any woman would dream of. She debunked the incessant rumours trailing her marriage during a recent exclusive interview when she said, “My husband doesn’t have that kind of time. Anybody that is bringing my family into any controversy is just wasting his or her time. I am just an easy going person and it has nothing to do with my marriage. My marriage is a type any woman would dream of ”.

I don’t see colour in our marriage

— Michelle Ashionye

N •Chioma Akuezue

He lo er and lovves m myy daught daughter cares so much for her — Chioma Akuezue

M

odel and ex- Koko mansion housemate, Chioma Akuezue secretly got married to the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria, Mr. Walter Von Den Driesch recently.

Their marriage may come as a surprise to many close watchers of the entertainment industry who thought marriage was not on the agenda for the ambitious pretty-looking entertainer who has a nine year old daughter. “It’s been great finding love with someone I love and admire. I have learned and am still learning a lot from my husband, he’s the best thing that has happened to me, and he adores me a lot, has so much respect for me and, most importantly, he loves my daughter and cares so much for her. They both crack crazy jokes and laugh a lot. My daughter wasted no time in warming up to him”.

Chioma is relatively unknown in some circles but was in the spotlight years back as one of the housemates of the one-off reality TV show, Koko Mansion. Her slender frame later lured her into modeling, a profession she is also passionate about.

ollywood actress Michelle Ashionye who married a foreigner has revealed the cute face of her husband, Mr Carl Raccah, an Italian, whom she met in Nigeria. The couple have a 3-year-old son together.

In an interview she granted few years back, the actress said her hubby was born in Kano and speaks Hausa fluently. “You might see my husband as a white man, but I don’t see him that way. After all, my husband was born in Kano and he speaks Hausa fluently. He’s a Nigerian as much as you are a Nigerian too.

I don’t see •Michelle colour in our marraige”.

•Chioma Toplis

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 39

What are Chiwetalu Agu, Angel Ufuoma up to?

6

0-year old veteran actor, comedian and producer, Chiwetalu Agu and twentysomething budding actress, Angel Ufuoma aren’t exactly in the same age group but their make-believe business is such that could get them together, even in the most compromising positions imaginable.

Both of them were recently on location for a film and had to up their acts to accommodate each other, with Angel having to open up her legs to allow Pa Chiwetalu a comfortable sit-in. How much of make-believe is believable anyway?

•Angel Ufuoma and Chiwetalu Agu.

Epic Empress dazzles in new film N

The Chidinma new look

A

fropop sensation and Kedike crooner is arguably the most desired diva in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Many actors and musicians have expressed open love for the petite beauty who has been able to keep the wolves off her door. But Chidinma doesn’t seem to be helping matters as she tantalises her admirers with different seductive looks.

Recently, she took to Instagram with different selfies in different hair-styles and asked her fans which one suits her best. Many of her fans voted and voted with all sorts of juicy comments but it was this her selfie (self picture) in short haitstyle that won the contest. “So the #shorthair has the highest vote!!sticking to it then...thanks guys” she thanked her fans.

Sandra Ank obiah Ankobiah

Comedian A Y, AY wife adopt Brazilian kids?

O

pampers self with Porsche Macan S hana’s foremost TV host and lawyer, Sandra Ankobiah is certainly a lady who knows how G to live and she makes no pretence about it when

she pampered herself with latest Porsche Macan S. She posted pictures of the car on Instagram, saying that there are only two of it in West Africa and that it makes her feel so blessed.

o longer controversial, Empress Njamah is busier these days with organising charity works or doing philanthropic deeds with her House of Empress Foundation to be embroiled in any kind of controversy.

At least she told Potpourri recently “ I don’t have time for the little things anymore.

I am more concerned with bringing smiles on the faces of the deprived”.

But it would seem Empress hasn’t forgotten that what really brings food to her table is acting and she recently used a selfie display picture of herself on location of a new epic movie. Anyway, if the Chief Executive of House of Empress is keeping much under wraps, her sexy curves and bounties are as loud as ever.

•Sandra

ne never know when ace comedian Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY is joking or serious. The guy, who is currently taking time off in Brazil to be part of the World Cup fiesta with his better-half, Mabel, has been making series of Instagram picture posts, either making light of Super Eagles’ outing in the Mundial or just being AY. Days back he posted a picture of himself and that of his wife with two Brazilian kids with a rather obnoxious post “Time to make some Brazilian babies to produce some free hair for my wife.

Lol. #bringhomesomehair”. Fans have been asking whether he is going to adopt the kids for their Brazilian hair or just have them skinned for the hair.

PAGE 40 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

Some people think I am abnormal — Donna Diva

BY KEHINDE AJOSE

R

ecognized for her unique outfits, energetic performance and passion for her craft, Donna Adja , known as Donna Diva in the Nigerian music terrain, is a multitalented singing sensation determined to make her mark in the entertainment scene. The Afro-pop artiste, in a chat with Potpourri, opens up on the craziest thing she has ever heard about herself, why she wore a leaf dress to an event, her definition of a sexy woman and many more.

H

ow did you get started in showbiz?

I started showbiz officially like six years ago when I came to Lagos.

I started by doing backups in the studio and from there I moved on to doing live bands and then after four five years of live band, I started to come out with my own singles because a lot of people were telling me to stop hiding behind a small crowd.

What inspired your song ‘Gaga’?

I like to dance and just wanted to do something on dancehall .Go Gaga is just a dance track focused on having fun after the day’s job. The response for Go Gaga video was strong and I got both negative and positive comments as expected from anything you do in life.

to free yourself, be happy , and do what is right.

Was there a particular time a comment got to you and you had to cry?

Never! I always laugh at them.

Do you read all the comments?

Sometimes I read them. Like if they post anything on Linda Ikeji’s blog, I go through it and read what people are saying about it. It doesn’t bother me

I can’t quit music .I will always have something to do with music .I can be writing or directing, but I can’t quit How do you handle negative comments?

I don’t allow those comments to get to me. I need the comments, it makes the business grow. I want to stand out and I try as much as possible to make what I do unique. People must talk even if you try to please them. The most important thing is

.You know what? Lots of the people who write those comments are jobless really .No matter what you do they will criticize and run you down. That is why I did a song called ’Shut Up’. No matter what you do , some people will never see the creativity in it. If Beyonce had done that thing they will say

things like:’This girl is sexy’, but we like running ourselves down.

It’s only the strong that survives in this our country .If we can try and support each other once in a while, it will be good .I never get bad feelings from all that.

What are the challenges of being in showbiz in Nigeria?

The number one challenge is basically being heard. You work , you meet a lot of wrong people , you spend a lot of money and your work still doesn’t get done .There are lots of negative people in the industry, we have just a few positive ones .It’s just for you to meet with the right people and be heard. Once you are heard, once they can recognize your song and recognize you have a talent, then the sky is your limit.

I read an interview you granted where you said demand for sex made you leave Nollywood.

How true is that?

Those people misinterpreted what I said. It wasn’t really what I said. This is what females go through in the industry .A lot of people want to do one or two things with you .It’s not that it’s bad for you to like a girl, but it’s when you want to start using it to blackmail her that’s where the problem begins. Normally if you see a fine girl, and want to have something to do with her, if you come the right way it’s not a bad thing to do because we are all humans. When some people

make it very plain that this is what it will take for me to have something to do with you, then it becomes a blackmail.

What came first for you?

Acting or music?

Acting actually came first. My reason for coming to Lagos was to be an actress. The competition and some other factors which I am not ready to go into made me let it go.

Can you quit music for your relationship?

I can’t. Any guy that really loves you will love what you do. If you love a guy enough, you won’t go cheating on him. I don’t know what to call a man that wants you to quit your career? Love or pure jealousy. If he gives me something better to do I can quit doing it What do you mean by something better?

What I am trying to say is that if he gives you something reasonable that can make you happy like a good business, one can consider that. I can’t quit music fully. I will always have something to do with music. I can be writing or directing, but I can’t quit music fully.

What is the craziest thing you have heard about yourself?

Some people think I am abnormal, saying stuffs like she is trying to be the Lady Gaga of Nigeria I don’t know if that is crazy though.

Can you go naked in a music video?

No, I can’t.

What if the concept you want to adopt warrants it?

I can’t go nude for the concept or for whatever. The best I can do is wear pant and bra and to me that is not nudity. We use bikinis to swim at the beach all the time, so if I wear it in my video you can’t call it nudity because it’s a normal thing I will use to swim at the beach. I can’t go completely naked When you wore the leaf dress to that event years back what were you thinking?

I was thinking of doing something crazy .I wanted to be different. I wanted to be really different like crazily different.

So were you able to achieve that?

I did. A lot of people called me.

Someone called me from the U.K saying stuffs like ’Donna Diva are you okay? You have nerves wearing such an outfit to the red carpet.’

What did that act do to your brand? Did it get you much attention?

I can’t say, but I think it did get me attention.

What is your definition of a sexy woman?

For me a sexy woman is someone who has a good body .A beautiful face is part of it though, but a good body comes first for me. Everybody has their definition of who a sexy woman is, but for me it’s a good body that makes a sexy woman.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 41

The odds against small and medium scale businesses, by ex-NGC chief

BY UDEME CLEMENT The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have been facing enormous challenges ranging from lack of infrastructure to over regulation. As a result, many SMEs suffered cash crunch and closed shop, while others still in business are shrinking by the day. Mr. Adegoke Okunlola, a former Production Manager, Nigerian German Chemicals (NGC) and the Chief Executive Officer, Shagoya Nigeria Limited, the manufacturer of Elena brand in Nigeria, speaks on the urgent need for the Federal Government to ensure adequate funding of regulatory agencies, to prevent them from exploiting SMEs.

In terms of economic growth and development, we must look at the reality. How can we say our economy is growing with the high level of unemployment and abject poverty across the nation?

A

s a manufacturer, how do you describe the sector now, compared to your first experience 30 years ago?

To start with, I am 79 years. I

started with Nigerian German Chemicals (NGC), formerly known as Hoechst. I worked there for over 13 years. That time, Hoechst was the number one chemical company in the world.

Later, it was bought over and the name changed from Hoechst to NGC as we know it today. I started there in 1971, as a Sales Engineer, and rose to the position of Production Manager. I took interest in manufacturing because I got Federal Government’s scholarship to study Chemical Engineering, in Russia. While in Russia, I was trained in the use of different chemicals for manufacturing.

The industrial sector 30 years ago was better than what we have now. The reason being that, many companies that employed thousands of people, which ought to have expanded over the years, rather went under, while others moved their operations from Nigeria to neighbouring countries. Now we are celebrating 15 years of democratic rule, while our economy, especially productivity in the manufacturing sector has declined drastically. Some manufacturing firms today prefer doing their production in neighbouring countries and importing the finished goods to Nigeria for us to buy at a higher rate. For example, we had big textile companies and tyres manufacturing firms that are no where to be found in Nigeria today.

What are those things militating against the growth of industries, notwithstanding policies and programmes designed by government to revamp the sector?

There are many constraints making the industrial sector inactive in Nigeria. For instance, manufacturing contributes only 6.86 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is quite small for an economy like Nigeria. Another issue is that some members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) allow multi-nationals to detect to MAN on how they operate, and some activities of these mega

Mr. Adegoke Okunlola

companies are detrimental to smaller firms. Another thing is about the policies of government that are indirectly working against the growth of the sector, withstanding efforts made so far to enhance tangible development.

How could you say that the policies of government are working against the sector, when the same government is also trying to resuscitate local industries?

What I mean here is that, often the multi-nationals influence our government to formulate industrial policies in their favour, even when such policies do not encourage a level playing ground for operators of SMEs. A typical example is the policy on regulation of SMEs, which is also working against the growth of the sub-sector. Why should Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), be regulating SMEs when National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is doing the same thing? Does it make any economic sense? This is a clear case of multiplication of roles and a deliberate attempt by these regulators to kill SMEs, as they make money from them. That is why we are saying that the regulatory agencies are killing SMEs in Nigeria.

At present, the Pharmaceuticals and Food sub-sectors, are not subjected to the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification by SON but Cosmetics are subjected to it, while also being regulated by NAFDAC. Why should SMEs in Cosmetics be regulated by NAFDAC and SON at the same time? This is a heavy financial burden for such SMEs, because every regulation comes with a huge cost. How do these regulators want the SMEs to improve their margin to remain in business when

they are indirectly killing them with over regulation?

What do you think is the way out ?

The solution is simple. NAFDAC is already regulating chemicals, let SON focus on its core duty of regulating tyres, batteries and other solid materials and stop putting heavy financial burden on SMEs in Cosmetics sub-sector. Today, there are so many fake solid materials in the local market but SON, saddled with the primary responsibility of regulating these products is running after chemicals, which is the primary duty of NAFDAC. You can see the confusion in the system. For example, recently, I bought a battery that worked for only three days and stopped. I went to the seller and he refused to change the battery. Immediately I threatened to report to SON, he decided to speak out. Unfortunately, I discovered that the man is also a victim of substandard products. He bought 400 of those fake batteries from another dealer, meaning 400 people are likely going to buy these fake batteries. If SON focuses on its primary assignment instead of going after chemicals, the agency will detect more fake products in the markets.

I am advising government to ensure adequate funding of these regulatory agencies to prevent them from exploiting SMEs. The manner these agencies harass industries seem some of them are also depending on SMEs for funding. If nothing is done, unemployment situation in Nigeria will worsen. Where will the jobs come from, if SMEs are not allowed to thrive? In advanced countries, SMEs are creating thousands of jobs but in Nigeria, the industries are going under.

These regulatory agencies belong to the Federal Government. Have you taken this complaint to the attention of the appropriate authority?

Yes, we have been talking about the issue of over regulation of SMEs and we are not

going to relent, until the right thing is done. For example, during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, we wrote to government on how NAFDAC suppressed SMEs in the country.

That was when Mrs. Dora Akunyili, was the Director General of NAFDAC. At a time, she was compelled to carry the SMEs along, rather than throwing them out of business.

Another issue is the policy of Differential Tariff for SMEs. Could you give us more insight into what you mean by Differential Tariff?

This is a policy that paves the way for multi-nationals to pay lower tariff while SMEs pay bigger tariff. Can you see how government is indirectly killing SMEs with harsh economic policy? Is it right for Multi-nationals operating on a larger scale to pay lower tariff, while operators of small businesses are compelled to pay higher tariff? This is exactly what we are saying. We have been advocating for the abolition of Differential Tariff, because this is one of polices hindering growth of SMEs in this country.

So far, what is the level of success in your advocacy?

Well, we are gradually moving towards getting the same tariff for all players in the industrial sector. In the chemicals sub-sector for instance, we have Pharmaceuticals, Food as well as Toiletries and Cosmetics. The Pharmaceuticals are now paying 5 per cent without Value Added Tax (VAT), whereas, Chemicals pay 20 per cent with VAT. The reason being that, some products they import could be used for Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, which is not favourable to Cosmetics. This is an issue that MAN should address. We belong to the same chemicals sub-sector and should be given a level playing field. A situation where some companies are treated well and others are not, is not helping our economy in terms of creation of jobs and revenue generation.

How would you reconcile the current 70 percent unemployment rate and poverty rate of 24 per cent to the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s nominal GDP, which shows a rapid increase from $285. 56 billion to $509.9 billion?

In terms of economic growth and development, we must look at the reality. How can we say our economy is growing with the high level of unemployment and abject poverty across the nation?

Despite that rebasing, the manufacturing sector, which ought to be the engine room of the economy, contributes only 6.81 percent to the GDP. On the other hand, the manufacturing sector in Austria contributions about 19 per cent to the GDP, Thailand contributes 34 percent, South Africa, 12 percent and Iran, 13 percent.

Also, lending rate, which is very high in Nigeria, is not the same in other countries. For instance, interest rate here is about 25 per cent while in South Africa, is about 9 percent.

This shows that the manufacturing sector must be encouraged to thrive for us to achieve the much talked about transformation agenda.

Resource Centre: NSE seeks NGC, others’ Support.

T

HE Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), War ri Branch, has appealed to the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) Warri to assist in building its Engineering Resource Centre located in the Warri Business Industrial Park, promising that supporting companies’ names would be crested on the part of the centre built.

Chairman of the NSE Warri Branch, Engr. Joseph Oderohwo Eghwrudje, made the request during address by the Society in a courtesy visit, recently, to the Managing Director of NGC, Mr. Dafe Sejebor.

He also explained that the NSE was prepared to “give some area of the land to estate developers to develop and run for given length of time before it takes full charge”.

Eghwurudje said the cour-

tesy visit by the NSE was “aimed at intimating the NGC on the need for collaboration in the areas of engineering manpower development, solutions to engineering challenges and areas where the Branch can be of assistance to engineers in your organisation”.

Areas of collaboration, the NSE chairman hinted, could be on assisting engineers in NGC to be corporate members of the Society as well as upgrading members to Fellowship grade of the Society.

Mrs. Juliet David-West, General Manager, Finance of NGC who stood in for the MD, said the appeals of the NSE would be conveyed to the MD just as she assured that as an engineering company, the NGC “ would want to partner with the NSE”.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE

29 , 2014

Understanding entrepreneurship — Tunde Makun

BY ANINO AGANBI Tunde Makun is CEO, Purpose, Power & Life Design International Ltd, an organization created to deploy creativity and organizational skills, supporting and empowering people to happily pursue their life’s ambitions. He is a chemical engineering graduate from University of Ife. He also has MBA. An entrepreneur and a certified life and business coach, he has trained thousands through his Transformational Life and Business Training program called ‘Power Up”. In this interview, he tells his story.

A

s a successful entrepre neur and lifestyle coach, what are the secrets of your achievements?

Firstly, without vision, you cannot hit a target. Courage enables you to succeed in all endeavors because there will be road blocks.

Nothing of great significance is ever easy; some days could be rough, so you need courage to go far. Another thing that works for me is faith. Without it, a lot could

happen in a twinkle of an eye.

You cannot live life alone; service holds a strong key in humanity. Every single big business the world over was built by more than one person. If you look at Microsoft, Google and face book , you’d discover the people who started these companies didn’t do it alone.

Sometimes when I get assignments I can’t handle, I give out to my friends with the right expertise to do. They may see something I didn’t see. The second factor is integrity. this is not only about honesty but also about delivering. One thing that works for me is the fact that I impact positively in the lives of people around me and I make them understand that they must also be responsible.

How do you describe your experience as a certified business and life coach?

Giving or sowing promotes peace of mind. You can’t have peace of mind when you lack forgiveness or you are a miser .Again you can’t serve people

Tunde Makun and go unrewarded because you may not even know where your reward will come from. You will be richer on account of feeding the less privileged in the society. Assisting the poor makes life simple. I am not afraid of tomorrow; I know that things will work for my good. I am committed to making sure I add value to people. I cannot be everything to everybody; so we appreciate and share ideas together.

Can you identity your core values as against your other competitors?

Creativity and service are critical

Courage enables you to succeed in all endeavors because there will be road blocks. Nothing of great significance is ever easy; some days could be rough, so you need courage to go far because when you work with me, you must first of all recognize yourself as a customer in this business. Fun is a core value for us; we must enjoy what we do and celebrate achievements. Have passion for what you do because without it you’d just be wasting time.

What inspired you to establish this organization?

I don’t know how I came about it but I agree I was bored and needed a creative outlet. Before now, I was doing business that I had

solutions to. I have done business with some sets of people and enjoyed what I did. I like to create my own ideas and build multinational global brands. So I went to the internet without knowing what I was doing. I was fired up to ask what was next for me, that was when I saw a program on how to find a perfect business. It attracted me; I realized that the transition from employee to employer wasn’t easy. Entrepreneurship to me is defined as finding profitable solution to human problems which blew me up.

What was your most challenging experience?

My most challenging experience has been leading corporate change. What struck me more is how people resist change for fear of rejection. I noticed that people who have are usually ready to give because they didn’t pay to get what they have.

Are you back to the society?

In our little way we are not there yet, but we are working with churches and NGOs, training teachers, equipping schools and helping the less privileged. Generally we make donations that would make life easier.

Smugglers attack Customs officers, destroy patrol vehicle

BY UDEME CLEMENT

T

HE Deputy Comptrol ler o f Customs, Shal

langwa Hassan Sule, the Co-ordinator, Customs headquarters Anti-smuggling Taskforce, has condemned the brutal attack carried out by suspected smugglers, who also mobilised the youths from Kishi and Igbeti communities of Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), against Customs officers on duty.

Sule, said this during his visit to the Command. He stressed that the smugglers descended on officers of the Customs Taskforce performing their legitimate duty, adding that the brutality, which left some officers bleeding on the spot and their patrol vehicle destroyed may be connected with Customs effort to curtail illegal border trades in the region.

He said, “Task-force team had in the past weeks made it very difficult for smugglers in that axis to carry out their nefarious activities, hence they resorted to violence. This is with a view to intimidating the officers from carrying out their legitimate duty, but we want to assure them that we cannot be intimidated by these acts of violence. We shall continue to vigorously perform our duty and also restrain from the use of arms with respect to the sanctity of human lives. But I must warn that we shall not condone further acts of hooliganism to distract our operations”.

He added, “I want to state here for records that this team, which was constituted by the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, is a special Anti smuggling unit that is compact, fully kitted and staffed with highly trained and experienced officers. Their duty is to compliment the Anti-smuggling effort of the border Commands in the face of challenging security situation in the country. The impact of this special Task-force have been felt in all areas of operations by the high profile sei-

zures of contraband goods intercepted in the region.”

He went on, “Let me use this opportunity to assure the trading community in the State that, as long as they engage in legitimate trade, they have nothing to fear. But those who think they can make profit through compromising our economy, health and national security have everything to fear, because we must always bring them to justice. I wish to appreciate the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Mr. Richard Oteri, for giving the team maximum cooperation, and partnering other security agencies in the Command for the fight against smuggling.”

In his remarks, Oteri, ex-

The shattered patrol vehicle One of the Customs officers in the Task-force team, attacked by smugglers in Oyo/ Osun Command.

plained that between January and June 2014, the Command has recorded 105 seizures, with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N99.8million, and 6 suspects

standing trial for economic sabotage. The goods, he said, had been deposited at the government warehouse in Ibadan.

The items inspected in the warehouse include 1,508 bags of foreign rice, 71 bales of second hand clothes, 45 bales of textile materials, 13 used vehicles, used in

conveying contraband goods, 21 vehicles used in conveying contraband goods, 744 tokunbo tyres and many general merchandise goods.

Honey to earn foreign exchange

BY FUNMI AJUMOBI

T

he Minister of Agricul ture, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, has formally launched Sehai Honey, a special product manufactured by Sehai Foods Limited, a fully Nigerian agro-allied food processing company operating in Lagos, stating that honey can earn Nigeria foreign exchange.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Minister stressed that Sehai product, is 100 per cent natural honey, and was introduced into the local market during the just concluded AGRIKEXPO, which took place at Eko Hotel between June 2 and 4, 2014. He commended the innovation of the company in manufacturing a unique product, which is good for export into the international market and contributing tangibly to the growth of agriculture in Nigeria. “Aside from producing for the domestic market,

The Minister of Agric, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, surrounded by the management team of Sehai Foods Limited , during the launching of the firm’s product by the Minister in Lagos.

Sehai products have demonstrated demand in the export market, as the company has concluded plans to export Beeswax, a by-product of honey, to the international market”, he said.

Also speaking, one of the founders of Sehai Foods, Bassey-Eyo, revealed that Sehai product, is a natural sweet honey locally sourced from a number of co-operative farms established in Nigeria by the

company. He added that, sustainable and safe bees keeping methods are encouraged in the co-operatives and supported by the company through training.

He said, “Quality control is the keyword in bee-keeping and harvesting to ensure that only the best honey reaches our facility. The honey comes in three SKUs of 350g bottle, 25g plastic tub for

consumption, 15g sachet for onthe-go-consumption and can be used in baking, cooking and sweetening of beverages. The company has helped greatly in creation of jobs for many Nigerians, especially youths, who work with various co-operative farms established by the Sehai, as well as the highly trained researchers and professionals, who work in the processing factory.”

On how the company, which is registered by NAFDAC as fully indigenous firm was established, he said, “Sehai was founded by two experienced Nigerians with a passion for start-ups, agriculture development and provision of job creation. Both founders have combined over 30 years of experience in various sectors of the nation’s economy, such as consumer durables, educational services, technology and energy to arrive at the model that is known as Sehai today.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 43

Nigeria must embrace the business side of fashion —Merit Gordon

BY YETUNDE AREBI

D

r. (Mrs) Merit Gordon Obua is not your reg ular run of the mill fashion personality, nor does she frequently appear on the pages of fashion magazines.

A successful and astute business woman, with a Masters Degree in Business Administration, she sits atop Branzuk Gold, the umbrella name for a couple of blue chip companies which includes oil and gas. However, recognition for her sense of style and love for selfless service through her Branzuk Ikuli Center for Social Rehabilitation (BICSR), an NGO she uses to give back to the society and a platform that earned her an appointment as a Patron on the Board of the World Fashion Organisation. Her achievement in the spate of one year has earned Nigeria not only the privilege of hosting the African Fashion Reception which comes up in Abuja on3rd to 5th of July,2014 but also the honour of being chosen as the site for the first fashion University on the African continent. She spoke in Abuja on the project and her views on Nigeria’s fashion industry, emphasising that Nigeria must invest in the business aspect of fashion.

Excerpts: From your background as a business woman and consumer of fashion, how would you rate the Nigerian fashion industry?

Nigerian designers are doing perfectly well. They are creative but what is holding us back is that we are not yet introduced into the global market where our designers will be accepted globally. Those in the global market produce with special machines. Their finishing is way better than ours. Those Nigerian designers that have perfect finishing are usually those who traveled out to study fashion. Though, we have fashion schools, they are not many and lack international standards. Now, for us to be embraced, government has a major role to play. We should start having garment manufacturing industries. This would make us have accuracy in designs and in perfect finishing. Because these are industries that use 3D machines while we still work on paper.

In Nigeria, you will see our designers using biro to sketch while in the advanced countries, you will just design your style and send to the factory.

It is the factory that cuts out the style and pattern, every area of a cloth is being specially done by someone. Here in Nigeria, you see the designer doing the cutting, sewing and ironing. One person produces the cloth. In the advanced countries, top designers don’t operate that way.

Dr. (Mrs) Merit Gordon Obua They have special people that do every aspect of sewing, such as joining of fabric to even those who specialize in fixing buttons. Somebody that irons is different from the person in charge of packaging.

And it is not something an individual designer will do. .

You mentioned government, where does government come in?

Government is supposed to build the garment manufacturing industries that I have spoken about. Those garment manufacturing industries would be where designers would take their fabric to, book for time, insert their designs into the system and send it for production. When that is done, designers produce more.

Right now, we are limited to what we consume. For instance, a designer can only work with limited pieces of designs when working alone and might not be able to give that piece too much attention because he has other pieces to design. But with the garment manufacturing industry, you can accomplish more because you’ll be producing en-mass for the populace. Nigerian designers do not do mass production. The fashion industry is a money spinning industry that we need to tap into. Indonesia has oil but they do not

The university would not just be on creative fashion but about fashion as a business.

Models will be trained, make-up artistes also and every other aspect of fashion rely on oil alone. They have taken fashion as a secondary trade and it is really working well with them. In India, 4% of their GDP comes from fashion. So if Nigeria will embrace it, we’ll do better because we are fashionable and our styles are more elegant. For instance, Gucci is not from China but the fabrics used are produced in China because of their garment manufacturing plant.

They left China and started producing in Indonesia and Thailand because those places have lots of garment manufacturing organizations. Two years ago, Indonesia was like Nigeria. They had oil and their fashion line were just producing for themselves. But then, they went into fashion using a different plan and all the top designers in the world left

China and started producing in these places. Very soon, they will get tired because Africa is virgin land. They want to capture Africa, and they want to use Nigeria as their base. So there is need for Nigerian government to seize this opportunity and I am glad that they have already responded possitively.

So, what does Nigeria stand to gain from the African Fashion Reception?

African Fashion Reception will unveil different aspects of fashion. It will tutor our youths with different aspects of fashion and sensitize us on how to embrace our fabric. After the event, Nigerian fabrics will be officially unveiled into the big market in Paris and Montreal in October. That is why we said three in one event. An-

other thing that came up is the training of designers. I have discovered that there is no fashion university all over the world, they only have institutions. Our system cannot absorb those we train because we are not expanding, so, we only train and dump. With the establishment of a fashion university with the help of the World Fashion Organisation, it will serve as a major entrepreneur institution where you don’t produce graduates that will sit down and wait for white collar jobs. Every graduate of this institution is already a businessman because a package is waiting for you.

It is a university that as you are graduating, the big market is already waiting to absorb you. In fact, the plan is that in the final year before graduation, you will be sent outside Nigeria for a one year course where you will be introduced into the big market.

The university would not just be on creative fashion but about fashion as a business.

Models will be trained, makeup artistes also and every other aspect of fashion. When you graduate and are being introduced into the big market, you will definitely work with someone. If you are working alone you will sign contracts and so even lawyers will benefit. It will be a university that has normal curriculum found in other universities with textile and fashion courses. Now, one other thing in fashion is that the fashion market uses one currency. If you are displaying your designs and a buyer comes from outside the country, he will not buy with Naira but in Dollars. This way, our designers have better chances of making more money.

This is a very laudable idea, how did you conceptualize this?

Originally, the World Fashion Organization had the desire to build six universities within the six continents. The one meant for Africa is what is being brought to Nigeria. I have about six African countries dragging this project with me. They were actually on before I joined last year but I got it. I pray that Nigerian government will support our youths and women because there is no business you do without the government. The program is meant to take women and youths off the street.

When someone is busy, he will never be seen in the wrong places because all you’ll be thinking about is how to take care of your family. But when one is idle, you will think of so many things which is where the devil comes into play. With this university every youth will have something to benefit. This university is expected to be unveiled during the Africa Fashion Receptions and the design is nearing completion soon.

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

EDO: Warring lawmakers to be recalled — Hon. Inegbeneki a result the leaders have commenced the process to recall him because he does not have our mandate to fight the governor. Ebea is on his own. The Esan people passed a vote of confidence on the governor because he has touched our lives in Esan land in many ways. The governor never hates Esan as they are lying; he married an Esan woman, he is our brother and son.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

C

hief Francis Inegbene ki is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. He reacts, in this interview, on the crisis in the state House of Assembly, saying the leadership of the party in Edo Central will commence the processing of recalling the suspended Speaker, Festus Ebea, for going against Governor Adams Oshiomhole who is their inlaw. He also speaks on the defection of some APC members in the state to the PDP, and expresses the confidence that they will return to the APC before the 2016 governorship election in Edo. Excerpts: Some members of your party (APC) recently defected to the PDP. Why were you leaders unble to solve the problem?

We did all we could to solve the problem including the governor begging them without us knowing that they had their own agenda. We did not expect that the disagreement will go this far. It all started during the congress when some members who lost out cried out. We, the leaders, thought it was just a misunderstanding, and the leaders made efforts to speak to all parties but we discovered that those who lost the congress were vehement, addressing press conferences, giving the governor ultimatum. Some people were fueling it, but the issue is that, if you lose today, you can win tomorrow. But in this case, these people never saw it that way, it is like they had another agenda. The crisis is normal in any political party but it is over now. It is obvious they left the party because of their agenda, but let us see how they can make it in future.

But are you people not going to miss Pastor Ize-Iyamu?

Ize-Iyamu is a politician that we respect, he worked for the APC. As our friend and brother, we miss him but his exit will not affect the fortunes of the APC in Edo. If you observe properly, most of his followers did not go with him because some of them believe that the Comrade Governor is working for the Edo people and that is the major issue, not the ambition of a few. But the way he handled it is not good considering his relationship with the governor. Yes, we lost some members to the PDP, but some C M Y K

• Chief Francis Inegbeneki

PDP members are also joining APC. There are people who left APC for PDP because of Ize-Iyamu and, today, we see those people also coming back to APC because they believe they cannot work together.

Politics is about alignment and re-alignment. However, IzeIyamu is my friend, he should put ego aside and come back home before the doors will be shut. He was part and parcel of this party, he knows that the people in PDP will not welcome him. They only want to use him and dump him. He knows that the PDP will never give him the governorship ticket, they will not even allow him to call leadership meeting. There is already a crack now in PDP with his coming into the party because the PDP god father in Edo Central is not happy with the way another godfather from Edo South brought Ize-Iyamu into the PDP. My advice is that Ize-Iyamu should not be ashamed to come back home.

Edo Assembly crisis Frankly speaking, I see what is happening in the House of Assembly as a show of shame.

I see it as the ant trying to challenge the elephant. We were in this state when members suspended erring lawmakers and the lawmakers accepted the suspension. We are surprised that the lawmakers who were suspended refused to play by the rules. The crisis is

Frankly speaking, I see what is happening in the House of Assembly as a show of shame. I see it as the ant trying to challenge the elephant.

We were in this state when members suspended erring lawmakers and the lawmakers accepted the suspension being fueled from Abuja. They must abide by the court ruling because they went to court to pray it not to suspend or declare their seats vacant. The court granted that their seats should not be declared vacant but rejected the prayer that they should not be suspended. The court declared that it is within the powers of the House to suspend and based on that they were suspended but they still refused to obey the High Court order after the House obeyed the Federal High Court order by not declaring their seats vacant. I am bothered that the Deputy Speaker who is from our place is involved in this and he forgot that he was not the one that gave himself the office but the Esan people. The Deputy Speaker did not consult with

the leaders and people before he defected to PDP, leading the rebellion against Oshiomhole. Before he was made Deputy Speaker, the leaders and traditional rulers from Esan met with the governor where we pleaded that Edo Central should produce the Speaker. But the governor explained that there is a law existing already which says that a first timer cannot be Speaker otherwise Ebea would have been Speaker. So the governor gave him Deputy Speaker but when he got it he started fighting the governor. As a leader from Edo Central we do not support what he is doing, we in Edo Central don’t have problem with the governor because he is our in-law.

Ebea’s actions has made us to lose Deputy Speakership. As

Edo 2016 Between now and 2016 the people will know the truth.

What the PDP is doing now is to deceive our people, promising what they will not do, just to get the people to join the party. But when they get there they will discover that nothing is there to grab. It is all about politics of stomach but by the time these people who are joining the PDP discover that there is no gold there, they will come back to the APC before the 2016 governorship election. Some are crying that they have not benefited from any contract; how do you benefit when you are not a contractor? So do you want Oshiomhole to just give you money for a job that you cannot execute? Oshiomhole will not do that. We are happy with his developmental strides. And I want to appeal to APC leaders, let us think about the state and not our own interestS. What should be of concern to us is that Oshiomhole must continue in developing Edo as he is doing and not what we can get from him. The man is working.

Ekiti Election A lot of things went wrong, our national chairman, Odigie Oyegun, said before the election that the PDP was planning to rig the election. Of course, you saw the build up to the election. The police, army and Civil Defence are agents of the PDP and of course when you deploy them to that area, the voters will feel intimidated. That deployment of soldiers was an attempt to intimidate the APC people in the state and that gave room for manipulations by the PDP. If you look at the number of votes and the original voters list in Ekiti, you will find that a lot of people were disenfranchised and that was what APC suffered. APC supporters were scared of coming out because some of them were earmarked for elimination or arrest, so what is the free and fair thing in that election?

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE — 45

Life after office: Emodi’s bourgeoning goodwill

BY DR. FABIAN OKORO ONE major challenge of postpolitical office life in Nigeria is the sharp drop in patronage and goodwill. Given the politics of “eye-service” and fair weather friends that come with political positions, most office holders overrate themselves while it lasts.

They build new houses with expansive waiting and living rooms to accommodate their new social status and retinue of visitors.

Sadly, the realities dawn on them once they leave office. A political office holder who is used to seeing swarm of visitors, many of who fawn and genuflect as they seek one favours, wakes up a day after leaving office to meet virtually empty living and waiting rooms. Multiple phones that used to ring almost every minute thins out drastically.

Many people that they thought owed them gratitude wouldn’t even pick, let alone return their calls. The fair-weather associates have all been blown away by the exigent wind of political and economic survival to where it is now happening. Their events no longer pull quality crowds. Even Governors who single-handedly installed purported stooges as successors soon find out that they certainly can’t continue to call the shots, oaths or no oaths.

In fact, old good times are passed away. Behold all things are new as life in socio-political Siberia begins. These the reasons many suffer from post-public life traumas, while the clever ones, not knowing what to do with their lives, become emergency activists and others set up NGOs in search of relevance.

Each time I see a former Minister now turned good governance and Chibok Girls activist whom chaired the infamous Administrative Panel on Corrupt Politicians, which OBJ nearly used to scuttle the 2007 polls by barring his perceived enemies across the country, starting with Atiku Abubakar, from contesting elections, I just laugh. How time changes things and people.

However, for the former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator (Dr.) Joy Emodi, she obviously doesn’t need to beg for goodwill or strain herself to remain relevant. She radiates in public and if you have the opportunity to interact with her, all you see is a contented amazon at peace with herself.

Just about six months after national dailies reported how Onitsha was turned to a political

•From right: Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Joy Emodi, Senator Khairat Gwadabe and Amina Wada at the wedding of Senator Emodi’s daughter in Abuja.

Mecca during the traditional marriage of her last daughter, Chibuogu, to Chijioke Ilozue, the recent white wedding of the duo in Abuja, further confirmed that goodwill can actually follow one even after leaving office, if such a person has been able to cultivate the requisite character, integrity, humility, and grace to truly earn and keep it.

Also names also have a way of following people as Senator Joy Emodi radiated with joy in every sense of it. Anyone who attended the wedding would readily agree that the ambience and exoticness of the reception venue bore the imprimaturs of both opulence and exceptional taste and style.

Yet, more importantly, that wedding made a loud statement on her worth- in or outside of government. It was a roll call of whois-who in the Nigerian political and business circles as the Thisday Dome was virtually busting with quality crowd.

For instance, the legislature, which is her primary constituency, proved that the Anambraborn educationist and lawyer is still the Joy of the Senate, and as the Speaker of the House of Representatives once christened her in 2013, the “Joy of the NASS and Villa”.

It is not at every day that you enjoy the company of over 99 serving and former members of the National Assembly. Led by the Senate President, Senator David Mark; the House Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; and House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, the presence of

her former colleagues like Senator Iya Abubakar, Senator and Hajiya Sanusi Daggash, Senator Udo Udoma, Senator Stella Omu, Senator and Mrs. Emmanuel Azu-Agboti, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Effiong Bob, to name just a few, was a statement on its own.

Even the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Muktar

Jonathan was not only represented by the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, Alh. Mohammed Shata, and were among serving and former Ministers I personally sighted, while the Anambra political family turned the event to a carnival of sort. Chiefs Chris Uba, Joseph Okonkwo (Ofiadiulu), Celestine Tagbo, and Uchenna Emodi were very much on ground. The CBN Deputy Governor, Kingsley Moghalu and wife were not left out.

Emodi further made a statement as to why she was the first woman to be elected Senator from the South East and indeed from Anambra State, one of the toughest political terrains in Nigeria. The wife of Nigeria’s first President, Prof. Uche Azikiwe; wife of the former Vice Presidents, Mrs. Ifeoma Ekwueme and Mrs. Titi Abubakar; wife of the former Senate President, Mrs. Vivian Enwerem; Mrs. Ireti Kingibe; First Lady of Kogi State, Hajia Farida Wada; PDP National Woman Leader, Amb. Kema Chikwe; Secretary of Sure-P, Hajia Halima Alfa; Acting DG of PENCOM, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, and Dr. Ngozi Etolue

Given the politics of “eye-service” and fair weather friends that come with political positions, most office holders overrate themselves while it lasts. They build new houses with expansive waiting and living rooms to accommodate their new social status and retinue of visitors whose presence at social events occurs far and in-between like the eclipse of the sun showed her deep respect for the woman. She led an entourage of serving and retired justices, including Hon. Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, Hon. Justice Olufunlola Adekeye (Retd), Hon. Justice James Ogebe (Retd) all of the Supreme Court to show solidarity. Hon. Justice Monica Dongban Mensen of the Appeal Court and Justices Ngozi Ume and Peace Otti of the Anambra State High Court were among the numerous others.

The First Lady, Dame Patience

of the Federal Civil Service Commission were among the numerous women of substance that made the hall thick.

The business community was not also left out. The likes of Dr. A.B.C. Orjiakor, Dr. Stella Okoli, Chief Patrick Chidolue, Chief Fabian Nwora, and Chief A.C. Okocha, Arc. Fifi Ejindu, Mrs. Christy Mark-Okoye, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, Lady Ngozi Ekeoma, and Dr. Virgy Anohu, were among many that made the role call.

Another thing that was striking was the presence of former Gov-

Delta community leaders charged on development

N

ewly elected district officers of Amukpe community have been charged to render selfless service and be in harmony with the indigenes so as to achieve the noble objective of raising the district to a lofty height that will attract socioeconomic and political development to the area as well as other forms of empowering the people consulting with those in government and corporate bodies in the local government.

The Duke of Amukpe District, Chief Peter Asagba, who gave the charge while swearing-in

new officers to run the affairs of the community for three years, advised that for the officers to succeed, they must eschew all forms of misgiving and bitterness against one another and rather work in an assiduous manner towards achieving a common goal and also tasked the officers to effect glaring radical changes for positive development in their environment. The swearing in ceremony which has as its chairman, Sapele Local Government Council Transition Chairman, Hon. Julius Egbedi, represented by councilor Mr. Kenneth Eyeregba

saw the emergence of fourteen new officers saddled with affairs of the community for the period of 2014-2016.

Those who assume the leadership role in the Amukpe District and selected to represent the zones were, the PresidentGeneral- Mr. Peter Akpovwiaghuo Smart, Vice –President Mr. Joseph Urhue, SecretaryMr. Godday Okpako, Treasurer –Mr. Happy Asagba, Assistant Secretary-Mr. John Adede, Financial Secretary –Mr. Nigeria Olokpa and Assistant Financial Secretary- Hon Dennis Odebala. Others were:Senior spokesman –Mr.

Sampson Makpameku , Auditor –Mr. David Okoro , P.R.O Pastor Elijah Ajela, Litigation Officer-Hon Paul Umukoro , Organizing Secretary – Comrade Venture Kagbude and Welfare Officer- Mr. Love Douglas. Representatives of the four zones of Amukpe District as nominated by the Duke of Amukpe were Sir, Godfrey Komori, Sir Thomas Ogbimi, Mr. Charles Okoro and Mr. Godwin Akponajivi known as ambassadors and to play the role of sheriffs in their respective Zones for the overall development of the District. In his valedictory, the outgoing

ernors/Deputy Governors such as Chief & Mrs. Achike Udenwa (sponsors of the couple), Chief & Mrs. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief & Mrs. Jim Nwobodo, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Chief Mrs. Pallen Tallen, Mrs. Ada Okwuonu, Chief and Hon. Justice Okwy Nwodo, and Mrs Stella Odife, etc. I will explain.

These guests cut across political, ethnic, and religious divides as well as political generations.

This does not come as a surprise given her long years in national politics. Not many still remember that unlike the current National Conference, which delegates were appointed, Senator Joy Emodi contested and won election to the 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference. She once occupied the highest Political Party Offices ever to be attained by any female politician in Nigeria as the National Legal Adviser and later the Deputy National Chairman of the Congress for National Consensus (CNC).

She represented the Federal Government in at the 1995 World Women Conference in Beijing China, aka Beijing Conference.

Once described then USAID Country Director as “one of the most dynamic and influential women in Nigeria today” during the visit of then US First Lady, Laura Bush, Emodi was recognised by UNESCO as its Focal Person in Nigerian Parliament. In fact, the former Permanent Delegate/Ambassador of Nigeria to UNESCO, Professor Michael Omolewa, once described her as “radiating the passion and genuine commitment to pushing forward the education agenda for development.” It suffices to add that but for the crash of the Abacha Transition Programme, she was on her way to becoming the first female Governor in Nigeria at the time. Yet in the midst of Anambra’s political cabals, she remains insuppressible and a cat with more than nine lives because her politics is grassrootsdriven.

With the recent wedding event, Emodi has proved that public office is about touching lives of both the high and the low in a way that make you valued for whom you are, not the office you occupy. It is not about primitive acquisition of property and fat accounts, but attracting and keeping genuine goodwill, friendship, and respect that last a lifetime.

•Okoro lives in Abuja

President-General Mr. Alaba Ojoh while commending the efforts of the Duke, Chief Asagba and the planning committee for a smooth handingover.

In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn in President –General, Mr. Peter Smart solicited the cooperation of every Amukpe indigenes for meaningful development.

Speaking to Journalists, the Duke of Amukpe District, Chief Peter Asagba observed that the new officers have been challenged to make a clear departure from the inadequacies of the past administration which he pointed out was characterized by ignorance, greed and arrogance, a situation.

PAGE 46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

How values in schools disappeared, by Adesuyi •‘We are restoring Ekiti Parapo College’s old glory’

BY WALE AKINOLA

M

r. Lanre Adesuyi, a li brarian, archivist

and entrepreneur, is President of the National Association of Ekiti Parapo College Old Students. He speaks, in this interview, on issues that include the role of alumni associations in the resuscitation and management of education in Nigeria.

What’s your perception of the state of education in Nigeria today?

In those days, education was a culture; an instrument of life in the sense that you could not go to school until your were six years old when you were expected to have attained a certain level of maturity. It was a time you had to stretch your right hand over your head to touch your left ear. What this means is that your parents must have imparted some knowledge into your life from birth, especially in terms of understanding cultural norms like greetings, personal hygiene and respect for elders. Primary schools then were a set up of serious concerns in which teachers saw themselves as professionals. Teaching, then, was one of the best professions; it was more widely known than engineering, pharmacy or medicine and one’s headmaster was like a mini-god. The teachers were dedicated and, naturally, the students were very serious. This was the learning that one took to secondary school, where the teachers were mostly foreigners. Things were done right. Though these were public schools, the curriculum was straight forward. If you failed, you would be caned. That was enough fear built in for a student to concentrate on his studies. Generally, education was taken seriously.

Now, in these days of nursery school, children are forced to go to school too early because parents have to work. Parental guidance is limited, issues of culture are relegated to the background and children began to see themselves as really independent from about age three. A lot of laxity arise because of peer group influence. To now concentrate and face studies have also become more difficult because of external influences like radio, TV, music, movies and now, technology, the internet and GSM telephony.

Shortly before the war in 1967, people began to move back to their regions because of the political problems of the time. This affected education because of the lack of continuity that further confused young pupils. The future was not clear after the war. The values in schools disappeared.

Then about 1973, government took over schools, meaning that nobody now owned the schools, which government could even not properly manage. All schools, community-owned, churchowned or Moslem-owned, were

•Lanre Adesuyi ... Problems stunt the growth of education taken over and, like the case of the man with many wives, the school system suffered because no one really now ‘owned’ the schools. That was the beginning of the problem we face today because policy somersaults by successive administrations made it difficult to know who really owned what.

The advent of private schools also brought its own set of problems. How much did we pay for education in those days? These days, school fees are exorbitant yet the quality of knowledge acquired by products of these schools is nothing to write home about. We are yet to even measure the impact of the contribution of these schools within the context of total education development in Nigeria.

Statistics are also not representative of reality on ground because they are not updated, so planning is really a big problem.

One key fall-out of this is that education is also grossly underfunded in spite of huge budget allocations, year-on-year. Half of the money allocated to the sector are not disbursed, so corruption thrives in the sector.

These problems have combined to stunt the development and growth of education in Nigeria.

How can these problems be solved?

First, there has to be the will to truly transform the sector in Nigeria. Schools should be returned to their original owners, if they are still interested in having them back. Some of these schools, particularly those owned by faithbased organisations, can still thrive. Ownership is crucial because it will make a lot of difference in the quality of progress made. The curriculum is crucial, too. You hardly can find vulcanisers at every point that you want them or any artisan because education in Nigeria is geared towards theory and, therefore, white collar jobs. In advanced nations, if you required the services of artisans, you must be ready to pay appropriate fees. Here, we undervalue and underpay artisans, who, in turn, are not encouraged to be more professional. We do not

Half of the money allocated to the sector are not disbursed, so corruption thrives in the sector train our people to be able to create wealth for themselves; we train them to look for paid employment in air conditioned offices. So our people are not creative and, therefore, cannot produce anything.

The problem of oil has also turned the country upside down.

Oil is now like a curse because all our other natural resources like cocoa, groundnut, grains and oil palm are all virtually gone. We need to restructure the educational curriculum; if it is geared towards production and export, the country would be the better for it.

Significance of Ekiti Parapo College in Ekitiland Ekiti Parapo College, which was founded in 1954, was the only school in Ekitiland then that was established by concerned educationists. The school trained so many of us who, today, have been successful in many professions.

The school came to be because the people Ekiti needed to have their own school, apart from the one set up by the Anglican missionaries in Ado Ekiti in the 1930s. The Ekiti National Association (ENA) and Ekiti Progressive Union (EPU), among others, came together to start the school, which had Chief Ade Akomolafe as pioneer Principal. ENA and EPU were com-

munity movements of Ekiti indigenes, so the name, Ekiti Parapo, was derived from the union of Ekiti indigenes.

What plans to celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary?

We have a grand plan to celebrate the school’s landmark anniversary starting from November 24 - 30, 2014, although the school was established in January, 1954. The goal of our celebration is for us, young and old, to come together for a reunion after more than half a century of the founding of the school.

A number of schools the same age as ours have actually folded up. Beyond the celebration, we want to raise funds to help us restore our alma mater, academically and physically.

I became President a little over a year ago. We have branches across the world. We have been trying to fix a whole lot of things in the school because we believe that the school must be returned to its old glory or come near enough to the standard that we were used to in our days in school. Being President has given me the opportunity to visit the school and see things for myself. The intervention by the past and present executive committees of the Association in the last few years has yielded some positive results both from old students and from government. The academic area has been restored to some extent but the boarding house and teachers quarters are still in bad shape. Going forward, we want to seize the opportunity of the celebration of the school’s 60th anniversary to create public awareness and get government to recognise that there are still many challenges ahead. The old students association, too, will play its part in the reconstruction of the college. We are trying to bring back the boarding system and we want the teachers and non-teaching staff to be housed.

For the long term, we shall institute trustees to ensure sustenance of the momentum of progress that we are able to record in terms of academics and the physical development of the school. We believe

that our efforts will spur government to take more than a passing interest in the well-being of the school and its students. We have been lucky to have very dedicated Principals one of whom ensured that the school is not tainted by incidents of cheating that had become rampant in a number of institutions because teachers wanted their schools to have good results at all cost. Our association is comfortable with every effort made at keeping faith with the culture of discipline, hard work and excellence, which was the foundation upon which the school was founded.

How do you hope to restore the old glory of the school?

We want to partner with government, which is the owner of the school, so that everything that is put into the system is properly defined. Government’s role will need to be properly defined, just as the responsibilities of other stakeholders need to be well defined. We want to ensure adherence to the highest standard of education in the country. We want to ensure that future intakes into the school would be qualified, serious students that we can groom to become first class students.

They must, like us old students, be able to beat their chest and declare themselves as proud old students of Ekiti Parapo College, which should reflect in their morals as well as academic, sports and other extra-curricula attainments. Ekiti Parapo College was Number One in dramatic presentations in the days of old, we plan to return the school to that peak.

We also will handle infrastructure issues.

We will not achieve these in one fell swoop but we shall do so in stages, for which we shall have a rolling plan that we would be able to appraise year-on-year, say, over a five-year period to give us a snap shot of achievements and areas needing improvement.

To what extent has government been supportive of your plans?

We must thank the government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi under whose watch the school’s academic section received some attention in terms of renovation and provision of computers. But there is still room for more.

The alumni association has complemented government’s efforts in terms of the renovation of laboratories and the school library. One of our members was instrumental to securing corporate support for the provision of potable water through a borehole that was built and is still being maintained by the donor company.

Donation: LG boss lauds Okowa

T

HE Transition Committe Chairman, Oshimili South Local Government Council, Hon. Chinwe Olarewaju, has expressed the Council's appreciation to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for the donation of a brand new medically equipped ambulance for use at the Oshimili South Primary Health-Care unit.

In a letter of appreciation, the Council boss described the gesture as an "unprecedented generosity and show of love towards humanity". She said, the donation of the ambulance is in line with Senator Okowa's avowed commitment towards health related issues in the country.

While, assuring him that the Council will use the ambulance judiciously, Hon Olarewaju said, this wonderful feat will remain indelible in the minds of the people of the area.

Similarly, the Acting Provost College of Education, Agbor, Dr. Josephine Konyeme, has also on behalf of the College, lauded Senator Okowa's effort to boost teaching and learning in the area through the donation of 110 laptops to the School.

In a statement, she described Senator Okowa as " a lover of education," saying the school will remain grateful for the assistance.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014, — Page 47

Tambuwal as victim of 'order from above' VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The humiliation of the Reps Speaker by soldiers

T

HE recent incident dur ing which soldiers on guard duty at a hotel in Kaduna insisted on searching the official vehicle of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, as he arrived for a high profile international conference at the venue has once again thrust into the limelight the frosty relationship between the Speaker on the one hand and the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the other. It also underscored the extent to which the dreaded ‘order from above’ that was one of the nightmarish features of Nigeria’s better forgotten era of military dictatorship is once again running loose in the streets of democratic Nigeria. This must be a source of great concern to patriotic Nigerians worried about the state and direction of our democratic experiment.

Incidentally, Speaker Tambuwal is himself a member of the PDP, and a very high ranking member at that. But this fact does not seem to weigh too heavily on the minds of those who for reasons best known to them are hell-bent on meting out to him the ‘special’ treatment they usually reserve for their perceived enemies and opponents. That

there are influential elements in the ruling party and the government who prefer to see Tambuwal as an enemy to be neutralized instead of a vital member and key asset to be cultivated and celebrated speaks volumes of the murkiness of the minds of certain elements that influence and dictate events in Nigeria’s corridors of power. Little wonder Nigeria is in such dire straits.

Perhaps it is time for Nigerians to take the government high-handed treatment of Tambuwal as a cue to take a very good look at the Speaker and ask ourselves why this government continues to feel so threatened by this man.

Perhaps, as William Shakespeare’s Macbeth said of his fellow general Banquo whom he later proceeded to murder, “before him my genius is rebuked”. Put in another way, Tambuwal must be making these people feel inadequate.

Perhaps he possesses something they lack and wish they had. Perhaps they have perceived a glimmer of his light and are determined to snuff out the light before Nigerians see the full glow. Perhaps they see an eagle about to soar and are determined to clip its wings. Whatever is their agenda, their efforts appear destined for futility.

Unfortunately, however, the shabby treatment of Tambuwal by soldiers in Kaduna on Monday, June 23 represents more than an attempt to humiliate one man. It was an as-

,

VIEWPOINT

BY KENNEDY JONES UDALOR

Unfortunately, however, the shabby treatment of Tambuwal by soldiers in Kaduna on Monday, June 23 represents more than an attempt to humiliate one man

,

sault on an exalted office. The office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the highest positions in the hierarchy of Nigeria’s democratic leadership. Indeed the Speaker is fourth in hierarchy of Nigeria, coming only after the President, the Vice President and the President of the Senate. I cannot readily recall any incident in any other democracy where a government official of such exalted rank, the leader of the legislative branch of the government no less, has been subjected to such an unseemly treatment by agents of another branch of government, the Executive Branch.

It is time for all Nigerians to rise above the fog of blind ethnic, sectarian and partisan loy-

alty to begin to take an objective stance on issues that threaten our fragile democracy regardless of the personalities involved. If the soldiers on duty at that hotel in Kaduna, acting on orders from above, insisted on a search of the official of the Speaker, the instruction issued to them from above must have been based on the suspicion that the Speaker ’s official vehicle, indeed Tambuwal himself, constituted a security risk. Nigerian must ask the government to reveal the facts upon which their suspicion was based.

Their suspicion that necessitated their action must have been so strong that they could not afford to take the risk of letting the Speaker go unsearched.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Nigeria’s current security challenges are being seized upon by the government as an excuse to inflict a black eye on its opponents, real or imagined.

Whether it is clamping down on a section of the media, infringing on the constitutional right of Nigerians to freedom of assembly, infringing on the constitutional right of opposition party State governors to freedom of movement, or desecrating the person and official vehicle of the Speaker of the House of Representatives (and who is to say they will not soon enough go so far as to invade his official residence?), the ready excuse by the agents of the government is always that they are acting

Fresh war against intellectual property theft

BY EMEKA AGINAM

W

hile software piracy and related offenses are still on the increase causing more economic harm than good despite regulations, panelists at the just concluded Current Issues in Information and Communication Technology conference held in Lagos recently have called for immediate review of the Nigeria intellectual and trademark laws.

The panelists at the event organized by Microsoft Nigeria noted that there was need for government to review the IP laws and put in place stronger IP protections and enforcement mechanisms.

Strong protection of IP: This is even as Microsoft at the World Intellectual Property Day held last April called for strong protections for IP as central to facilitating a culture of innovation that can spur economic growth and create jobs.

At the capacity building event that discussed current trends in ICT the panelists in the panel discussion on fostering innovation in Nigeria, intellectual property rights protection and enforcement agreed that if IP was

adequately protected, local software developers will be encouraged to innovate and Nigerian companies would stop paying heavily for foreign jobs and content Capital flight: The DG of NOTAP, Dr. Bindir lamented that huge sums of money were paid to foreign companies for use on their Intellectual Property by Nigerian companies on a monthly basis.

Enforcement: He challenged Nigerians to innovate and patent appropriately so that their IP will not be infringed on.

For Bindir, enforcement was paramount, even as he called for a review of the Nigeria patent laws and trademark laws as they were outdated.

He stressed that if IP was adequately protected, local software developers will be encouraged to innovate and Nigerian companies would stop paying heavily for foreign jobs and content.

Current laws outdated: “This is necessary because the current laws are outdated and the personnel handling the regulatory aspects are not as dynamically trained to handle the many bits the IP system repre-

sents.

In his contribution, Pius Okigbo, Jnr. Who lamented that his software was infringed on said that, “My source code was lifted, re-branded, sold and in use by over five share registrars in

Nigeria.”

He expressed his concerns with the legal system as the case has progressed for five years with no logical conclusion in sight.

Legal situations like this, according to him discourages software firms from innovating.

on ‘orders from the above’, and the ready defence of the government by its apologists is always that the security situation in the country warrants extraordinary measures. It does not.

It has been thoroughly litigated and firmly settled in other democratic nations that have undergone similar or even worse security challenges than Nigeria is currently confronted with, that the choice between national security and civil liberty is a false choice, because national security does not have to be protected at the expense of basic decency or at the detriment of the established constitutional order. This is an established fact that the Nigerian government and the security forces under its control must accept.

More importantly, it is a fact that the Nigerian people must not allow the government to forget. But Nigerians are not fooled. We know that this new culture of shabby treatment of those whom the government perceives to be its opponents and this sudden flood of ‘orders from above’ have nothing to do with national security. Nigerians know it is all about the 2015 elections, and Nigerians have a sacred duty to stand up and condemn those who would sacrifice Nigeria’s hard won constitutional rights and democratic principles on the altar of their personal political ambitions.

•Udalor, a kegal practitioner, is based in Lagos.

“This is simply because legal redress is extremely slow" he said.

He called for the strengthening and enforcement of the intellectual property laws as well as sensitization of the Judiciary in IP issues EFCC’s commitment to IP: Also speaking, Head, Advanced Fee Fraud Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdul, Chukkol told the audience that all hands must be on deck if IP must be protected and enforced.

He informed that a lot of IP cases have been prosecuted, assuring that EFCC was committed to bring to book, IP culprits .

Microsoft devices group brings Nokia X2 to market

C

ommitted to secondgenerationion innova tive devices and software platform, Microsoft devices group has annouced the introduction of Nokia X2, the newest addition to the expanding Nokia X family of affordable smart phones.

To be available as a dual-SIM device globally next month, the product was designed to introduce the “next billion” people to the mobile Internet and cloud services.

The new product which debuts the next-generation Nokia X Software Platform 2.0 and major enhancements to the user interface, represents the rapid evolution of the Nokia X family, delivering an enhanced experience across apps,

hardware and the user interface.

“The Nokia X family is going from strength to strength, with the Nokia X smartphone achieving top-selling status in Pakistan, Russia, Kenya and Nigeria, while earning the third-best-selling smartphone spot in India,” Timo Toikkanen, head of Mobile Phones, Microsoft Devices Group., explained , adding that, “The Nokia X2 elevates the Nokia X experience with a stellar new design, ease of use and new Microsoft experiences. We’re proud to continue to bring smartphone innovation to lower and lower price points.”

The new product offers stunning design, a more visually striking Fastlane, more Microsoft services, and upgraded specifica-

tions including a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display and 5MP rear camera with autofocus and flash.

At a suggested retail price of just 99 euros, the Nokia X2 which will be available at launch in glossy orange, black and green, with glossy yellow, white and matte dark grey is a compelling choice for a new generation of smartphone buyers.

Like the Nokia X, the new product provides access to a world of Android apps and popular Microsoft services, which allow users to switch between their favorite apps with the Fastlane feature.

The new device delivers an even more intuitive, smoother user experience powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor featuring a dual core 1.2Ghz CPU and 1 GB of RAM.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

We must declare the Wonders of God, says The Preacherman E

MMANUEL Oje Ehimika, popularly known as The Preacherman, is the founder and President of Fruits Integrated, an all encompassing network of ministries with headquarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He is the Apostle of “The Jesus Dream”, vision which is today, one of the most unifying Christian experience worldwide since Pentecost. In this interview with newsmen, The Preacherman explains why the world must understand the significance of Africa in the ministry of Jesus; "When he needed to live, Africa gave Him shelter and when He needed to die an African helped him to carry the instrument for his death."

Excerpts.

What is The Jesus Dream, TJD? Before Jesus died, He prayed over and over again concerning unity of his disciples(the Church), because that was His passion for God to be able to dwell on earth. This is because without unity of the body, God cannot dwell on earth.

When shed His blood and died, the unity was accomplished. He had prayed that the world would see us as one. (John 17:23). TJD is the manifestation of the oneness that we are in Christ, for the world to see. It is observed by a one hour worship session by Christians all over the world, declaring the wonders of God just like the first thing that was done by the early church, on the day of Pentecost. Christians in all countries of the world will, at the same hour declare the wonders of God on June 30 every year.

Who are the participants?

The Bible says whoever says Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit enables him/her to say it: All who confess Jesus as Lord are the participants of TJD. At that hour there are no Catholics, Orthodox, Pentecostals etc. but Christians.

Where is the venue?

TJD is observed anywhere you are in the world; in the church, schools, prisons, hotels, hospitals, offices, sea, air, homes, etc. “Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the SEA, and all that is therein: the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing; let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord and declare his praise in the Islands. (Isaiah 42:10-12. As a family man/woman, God expects you to gather your family to observe the praise hour; or as a pastor organize it in your church. Others can likewise gather Christians in their respective communities; even on the streets, estates, etc. to observe TJD. Why June 30?

June 30 is the center of the year and it also signifies stability. Six months on the right and six months to the left equally. Similarly, God dwells in-between cherubs over and above the Ark of covenant. Even Jesus was hung between two thieves on the cross.

What is the benefit of declaring the wonders of God? Since man was created to worship God. (Isaiah 43:21, I Peter 2:9), when we undertake to declare God’s wonders in praise, we only return to the original purpose for man. God then is committed to “in all things make things work out for good to those who are called of Him and are in His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). For that day, there are spiritual benefits. First, we are no longer in our local assembly or denomination spiritually, but in the Great Assembly. That’s why David said he will worship God in the Great Assembly (Ps 35:18). We become parts of the great spiritual building of God. Second, as we declare God’s wonders we attract wonders into our

lives, because it’s what you behold that you become. (II Cor. 3:18) How do you sponsor this global event financially?

I do not have a church or a secular business. I had a church, but God instructed me to close it down. I started two different businesses as well and God told me to shut them down too. So I now depend on freewill offerings from those whose eyes are opened to the greater need of the larger church. A lot of Christians are ignorant of what exactly constitutes the Body of Christ because in their local assemblies, very few pastors teach about unity of the entire body. They end up supporting only their local assembly leaving the larger body, which Christ died to unite to suffer. I thank God that a new awareness is being created now and the number of givers are increasing.

We are trusting God to raise people who on a regular monthly basis will give to TJD financially no matter how small.

This will enable us to go on radio nationally and internationally and also to organize seminars to teach people and sensitize them on the fact that while we do not support the unity of Christ’s body

Emmanuel Oje Ehimika we only build cathedrals for ourselves but refuse to “build” the spiritual house in which God wants to dwell among men.

God told us to take nations for Him. So, when you give to TJD and we spread the vision in several other nations of the world, then such a Christian is taking the nations for God. How will advanced nations react to this African initiative?

God chose where Jesus Christ was to be born and He also chose where to hide him when, as a child, Herod wanted to kill him. That was in Egypt (Matt 2:13) in Africa.

Also when He carried the heavy cross and was tired, an African named Simon, from Cyrene near Libya, helped Him: follow the pattern: When he needed to

live, Africa gave Him shelter. When he needed to die an Africa helped him to carry the instrument for his death. Now concerning His greatest passion---unity, He has chosen Africa again. Clearly, in these deep spiritual moves, no human being has choice other than to accept heaven’s decisions.

Why declaring God’s wonders?

The original purpose of man when God created him was to praise God, not to pray. Before Adam sinned, there was no need for him to pray; but to praise God who had made everything good and available. In the book of Hosea 14:2, it says “… Forgive us our sins so that we can praise you.” Which means if there is no sin praise is the next thing.

When sin is forgiven the first thing to do is to praise God. That is why on the day of Pentecost after Christ had forgiven us our sins the first thing the disciples did was to declare the wonders of God when the Holy Spirit arrived.

Why is the 2014 edition the foundation laying edition?

This is the fifth edition of The Jesus Dream event and from this edition onward we will be doing the same thing year after year, declaring the WONDERS OF GOD. In the last four editions it was prayer for the unity of ministers of God, unity of the entire Body of Christ and thanking God for reconciling us to Himself.

How was the 2013 TJD edition?

First, it could be termed the most advertised Christian event in Nigeria so far. God raised people especially the media to support. We saw some churches streamline the event in Ghana, another African country. In America some churches extended their church service.

In other foreign countries, some preachers used their radio programmes to announce TJD. There were miracles like a 48-year old lady who had never had a suitor, after she prayed TJD on the next day her would-be husband showed up.

Ramadan: Why moon-sighting announcement was delayed – Sultan

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

Y

ESTERDAY marked the com mencement of 1435AH Ra madan fast across Nigeria.

The announcement, which heralded the commencement, was not without hitches as it came at midnight.

But the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islam Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, in an exclusive session with Sunday Vanguard in his palace in Sokoto, yesterday, said it was a little unusual development that should not cause disaffection among the adherents of Islam in the country.

In a chat which lasted almost an hour, the Sultan said leaders of the Muslim community in the country, including the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; the Baba Adini of Lagos, Sheikh Hafis Abou; and the Secretary-General, NSCIA, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made efforts to ensure hitch-free consultations.

“We have an understanding among us that, once it is 9am and no information about moon being sighted

anywhere, we shall conclude our consultations and announce that Sha’aban be counted to 30 days, which was what we did,” he said, adding that the information that changed the earlier position generally agreed upon came at about 10pm.

“I heard people talking about Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate and North America not having sighted the new moon and thereby declaring commencement of fast to be on Sunday. If you ask me, I would say we should follow Saudi Arabia in the matter of moon-sighting being that it is the home of Islam in the world and it determines the month and day of Hajj and Arafat. But this is Islam and the religion has laid down rules that guide how Muslims should practise it.

Even Saudi Arabia had declared new moonsighting, about three times, and keep were wrong. They then said later that people should fast one day to pay back.

“I think the issue of yesterday (Friday) bordered on miscommunication and by the time the information came, which was already later than we had expected, we had to start the process afresh which led the committee that had earlier closed process to re-sitting, screening and, thereafter, I asked the Chairman of the National Moon Sighting Committee, Professor Sambo Wali, to brief the press. Even the Emir of

Bauchi called me and said until he heard my voice he would not believe in what he was hearing after we had agreed and when I told him Professor Wali that spoke to the press spoke on my behalf, he agreed and promised to comply.

“It was the first time it was happening in four years. We had to start calling the Emir of Kano, the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Ilorin, who conveys information to the people of the Southwest, the Baba Adini of Lagos and other leaders before we sat again and then spoke to the press. That was it.

So, I would urge Muslims all over Nigeria not to allow it to affect their commitment to the leadership because it was nothing done out of negligence but out of the carefulness to ensure that no avoidable mistakes occurred.”

He said all that happened pointed to the fact that Muslim leaders in Nigeria would need to sit down and decide which means to use in determining the beginning of fast. Abubakar III regretted that the late announcement, which resulted from miscommunication by people that sighted the moon, had dragged the Ummah back to square one because, according to him, Muslims in the North and South of Nigeria had moonsighting announcement not later than NTA network news period in the last four years.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 49

ON the Mount of Transfiguration, God the Father counsels that, henceforth, we should only listen to Jesus. He puts this to dramatic effect by having Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets, appear to speak to Jesus. A bright cloud overshadows them and when it clears, only Jesus remains. Then a voice comes from heaven, saying: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mark 9:7).

Let me take the liberty to paraphrase what God declares in this live parable.

He says: “Jesus is my Son: Moses and Elijah are not.

Listen to my Son. Don’t bother to listen to Moses and Elijah anymore.” In short, Jesus the Son is God’s only true and faithful witness. (Revelation 1:5). Listen only to him.

Jesus himself cautions that, as the Son of God, he is the only one who truly knows the Father. (Matthew 11:27). He maintains servants are fundamentally ignorant about the master’s affairs. (John 15:15).

Moses, Elijah and others like them are only servants of God. Nevertheless, Christians have this tendency to listen to everybody but Jesus.

House of prayer When we listen to Jesus, we discover he would never offer any sacrifice for sins because he insists sacrifices are useless. Jesus starts and ends his ministry by scattering the sacrificial implements in the Temple. He overturns the tables of the money-changers and drives out those selling doves for the sacrifices. Then he declares: “It

JESUS CAN NEVER BE A SACRIFICE FOR SINS (2) is written, ‘my house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:13).

Jesus will not offer to God the sacrifices he insists will not prevent people from perishingBy quoting Jeremiah 7:11, Jesus validates the prophet’s position that the sacrificial system is not of God. Jeremiah writes: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat.

For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.’”

(Jeremiah 7:21-22).

Like Jeremiah before him, Jesus maintains the Temple is “a house of prayer;” as opposed to “a house of sacrifices.” Indeed, the Temple was the only place where sacrifices could be offered.

However, even at its dedication, Solomon says nothing about sacrifices. Instead, he emphasises the need for repentance prayers. He maintains that in order to receive forgiveness, all that is needed is to repent and pray towards the Temple to God. (1 Kings 8:33-52).

He repeats this principle in Proverbs: “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for.” (Proverbs 16:6).

“To do what is right and just

Jesus will not offer to God the sacrifices he insists will not prevent people from perishing is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”

(Proverbs 21:3). This position is repeated time-andagain in the prophets: “Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to him, "Forgive all our sins; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.” (Hosea 14:2).

The psalmist concurs: “The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18).

Jesus’ ministry Accordingly, Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), maintains sacrifices are not the means to salvation. He says: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

(Matthew 9:12-13). In order to be saved, Jesus insists we have to repent of sin. Therefore, his ministry is devoted to calling sinners to repentance.

David has long declared this in the psalms. He says to God in repenting for his adultery with Bathsheba: “You do not desire sacrifice,

or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart- these, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17).

However, God despises sacrifices. He says: “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?” (Psalm 50:9-13).

Micah is equally scathing about the sacrificial system: “Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to

walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:7-8).

Repent or perish While some Galileans were offering sacrifices, Herod killed them all.

Many found this confusing. They wondered why God did not protect them, seeing that they were offering the sacrifices to God. The presumptive answer was that their sins must have been particularly great. So they brought the matter to Jesus. But Jesus insisted their sins were no greater than those of others. Their mistake was in offering useless sacrifices instead of repenting of their sins. When we ignore the will of God and insist on our own counsels, we cannot expect protection from God. Jesus then enunciates a great salvation principle: “Repent or perish.” He says to them: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:23). If we sacrifice, we will perish. If we repent, we will not.

Therefore, it is ludicrous to maintain Jesus is a sacrifice for sins. Jesus will not offer to God the sacrifices

he insists will not prevent people from perishing.

This position is affirmed in David’s messianic psalm: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, ‘Here I am, I have come- it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

(Psalm 40:6-8).

Christian dilemma The same mistake these Galileans made is that which Christians are making today. Quoting Isaiah 29:13-14; Jesus says of the Jews: “In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9).

Similarly, Christians today are still relying on sacrifices in order to obtain salvation, when we should focus on repentance. But now our fallacy is even more heinous: we are relying on the sacrifice of a human-being.

Jesus sent his disciples to go and preach everywhere. When they preached, they said absolutely nothing about the need for sacrifices. Instead, “They went out and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:12).

When Jesus rose from the dead, this did not change.

He gave the same mandate to his disciples: “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:4647).

Catholic Church, Army celebrate exit of Africa’s oldest priest The Catholic Church as well as retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Army recently gathered in Lagos to celebrate the exit of Africa’s oldest Catholic Priest and retired military officer in Nigeria, Monsignor (Col.) Pedro Ayodele Martins, OON, who died on Saturday May 17, 2014 at the age of 103.

The four-day funeral programme for the late Msgr.

Martins began with a farewell Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 1004 Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday June 5, 2004. This was followed by a farewell celebration by the Army Chaplaincy on Friday, June 6, at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Tamandu Barracks, Apapa.

The wake and vigil masses for the departed soul were held on Monday, June 9 through Tuesday, June 10 at St. Gregory’s College, S.W. Ikoyi.

Priests, retired senior military officers as well as

Catholic lay faithful from across Lagos Archdiocese and beyond were at the funeral Mass held at the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral on Mission Street Lagos, in which Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos was the Chief celebrant, while Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job gave the homily.

In his sermon, Most Rev. Alaba Job eulogised the Stirling qualities of the Late “Baba” Martins, whom he described as a very devoted Priest and disciplined army officer who served the church and his country diligently. He described Baba Martins’ exit as a well-deserved home call by the Creator after a life well spent in the service of God and humanity.

Dignitaries who took part in the funeral programme included former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Chief of Army Staff and military

governor of defunct MidWest State, General David Ejoor (Rtd.), Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubumi Okogie, senior retired army officers and a host of other dignitaries.

Msgr. Ayodele Martins was born in Lagos on November 16, 1910. He was ordained a Catholic Priest on August 8, 1943. The first indigene of Lagos to be so ordained and one of the first eleven indigenous Nigerian Priests.

Baba Martins lived a distinguished life as a Priest and soldier with an enviable record of service in various capacities which include: Chaplain to the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations Peace-keeping Mission to the Congo; key proponent of the Post-Civil war Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction programme of the Federal Government under the administration of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd);

member of the Justice Aguda Committee on the creation of a new Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) 1975 – 1976; Chairman of the Corrective Review Panel on Mass Retirement in the Federal Civil Service

in 1976; member, Constitution Drafting Committee, 1978; first Nigerian Catholic Chaplain of the Nigerian Army and first Nigerian Director of the Nigerian Armed forces Chaplaincy Services.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins performing the dust to dust ceremony for the late Monsignor (Col.) Pedro Ayodele Martins while other men of God and military officers watch.

TWOREM holds anointing service

T

HE Way of Recon ciliation Evange listic Ministries (TWOREM) a.k.a. Prophetic & Solution Chapel, Lagos will hold another anointing night with a theme: “Oh Lord, Remember Me” at MAPO Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State at 10p.m, on Friday, July 4, 2014.

Ministering is Rev. Oladipupo FunmiladeJoel (Baba Sekunderin) among other speakers.

Music by Evang. Joy Oluwaseun, TWOREM Ibadan Mass Choir among others.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

WS80: Zmirage, Ogun, others roll out drums N

obel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka will on July 13 join the club of the octogenarians, and because of the personality of Kongi whose career trajectory and contribution to public intellectual in the complex society, Zmirage Multimedia Limited, organisers of Project WS/ICE with the support by the Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Rivers state governments have mapped out plans to celebrate the quintessential artiste in a special way.

As usual,the Open Door Series of the Project WS (Wole Soyinka) and International Cultural Exchange (ICE) which was initiated five years ago by the chief executive of Zmirage, Teju Wasee Kareem provided the platform for this great celebration.

Explaining the various reasons and the activities for celebrating the landmark age, which have since commenced in April, to newsmen at a media briefing at Soyinka’s Kemta, Idi Aba home in Abeokuta last week, The Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, who represented the governor said that Kongi was worth celebrating because he had put the name of the state positively on the world map and that he had achieved a significant feat by joining the octogenarian class, having lived as a non-conformist. “For a man who has led a non-conformist life to live to be 80 years is a significant feat.

It is worth celebrating,” he said.

Other speakers who expressed their views of what to expect were, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Yewande Amusan, Kareem and the producer, Lillian Amah-Aluko and others.

Commissioner for Culture and Tour-

ism , Yewande Amusan, on her part explained that the state government was not supporting the celebration because Soyinka is an illustrious son of Ogun but because “he has been an untiring fighter for social justice.”

She added that the celebration “symbolises a continuation of the life of an inspirational man who has fought and is still fighting for the dignity of man, the rights of individuals, unity and security of his country.”

On his part, Teju Kareem expressed happiness that organisers have begun to realise some of the objectives of the WS/ICE project. He listed the essay competition among secondary school students from all over Nigeria, children’s creative and cultural presentation, tours of landmark places, conferences on national life and state of Africa, poetry per-

,

By JAPHET ALAKM CELEBRATION

•Prof. Wole Soyinka this year include the WS80/ICE Exhibition tour around Nigeria. Abeokuta, Osogbo, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Jos and

The celebration symbolises a continuation of the life of an inspirational man who has fought and is still fighting for the dignity of man, the rights of individuals, unity and security of his country

formances and plays as some of the programs that will happen.

Kareem added that this year’s celebration has an international slant as representatives from Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Belgium, UK and the US will all be in Nigeria to honour Soyinka.

Amah-Aluko, who gave an overview of the project, disclosed that the 80-day countdown to July 13 has since started.

Some of the programmes holding

,

Igbale Aiye, Republic of Benin are some of the designated places. The tour will happen in Port Harcourt from June 27 to 29, Freedom Park in Lagos from July 1 through 7, Terra Kulture, Lagos on July 9, Ibadan from July 15 to August 15, Jos on July 19 and Igbale Aiye from August 17 to September 17.

A number of Soyinka’s plays will also be presented. ‘Alapata Apata’ directed

by Tunde Awosanmi will be staged on July 9 at Akin Olugbade Centre in Abeokuta, ‘Death and the King’s

Horseman’ on July 10 at the University of Lagos, ‘Lanke Omu’ on July 12 at June 12 Cultural Centre, ‘Oba Koso’ on July 12 and‘Madmen and Specialists’ on July 19. he performance of Soyinka’s po litical satire, ‘Dance of the Forest’, will be the icing on the cake. It will be performed on July 14 at a yet to be disclosed venue (forest).

80 spoken word performers including Mutabaruka from Jamaica, Javon Johnson from the US, Efe Paul Azino and Jumoke Verrisimo amongst others will feature at ‘The Soyinka Impulse and Education-Path to Freedom and the Future’ conference at Freedom Park on July 10 while the essay writing competition will hold in the morning of July 13.

A visit to Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and spoken word performances and a stage play will end the celebration on July 14.

T

Omenka opens season with Evolving through waste O

MENKA Gallery is one of the lead ing art galleries in Nigeria committed to the promotion of Nigerian art and artists. Located at 24 Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi, Victoria Island. The gallery which is run

by Oliver Enwonwu, son of the foremost artist, Ben Enwonwu is always beehive of activities as it is either hosting one event or the other. But since the beginning of the year, the gallery has been quite, until recently when notable art collectors, patrons, scholars, students and many others converged at the gallery for her first exhibition of the year tagged Evolving Through Waste, an exhibition of recent work by the renowned Nigerian artist, Raqib Bashorun.

While visitors and art lovers were busy going through the works, Vanguard Art caught the attention of the CEO/Curator Oliver Enwonwu on why it took the gallery so long to host an exhibition this year. But he was quick to respond that “it is not like we have been quiet, we have been busy representing Nigeria in most of the major international art fairs. At the beginning of the year, we had a couple of major international

the material whilst raising questions of environmental sustainability. “Its been successful, it tried to look at waste and how you can recircle waste and make it to be useful again. For the artist, he is very ingenious, very hard working, very prolific and brilliant artist. There are more to come from him.” He addded.

For the works “Bashorun reconstructs pre-existing materials, reinterprets and ultimately repurposes them as reIts not that we have been quiet, we’ve art. been busy representing Nigeria in most cycled “The crea- *Greed, one of the works exhibited tion of of the major international art fairs wasteful lifestyles that Nigerians have something come to be characterized with, says positive from the inherent negativity of that he chose to embark on the jour(SNA),this exhibition is the first exhiwaste, and the reaction of surprise, the ney to advance, through works probition of the year tagged Evolving materials inevitably draw from the ob- duced, the gospel of cleansing all asThrough Waste, an exhibition of recent server, are the key factors in Bashorun’s pects of this cancerous attitude from work by the renowned Nigerian artist art.”

by Raqib Bashorun. The exhibition our lives.

The lecturer and woodwork artist, aims to raise our awareness to forms “Believe it or not, we waste just about Raqib Bashorun evoking a sense of everything in this country; spiritual, of waste whilst highlighting the impreserving the environment, tries to material, manpower, lives, energy, portance of recycling, it featured 18 turn the fortunes of our degrading en- time, mind, money and words – the list works in wood, aluminium and plastic vironment around with the exhibition. in inexhaustible,” the artiste says. which confront the viewers with the In it, touched by an indifference to need to focus on the history around

events especially as Nigeria have not been represented there, so we taught it wise to be there to represent Nigeria. We were at Art14, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, both in London, Cape Town Art fair and others. Nigeria needs to be represented in these fairs so we taught it wise to be there to project most of the Nigerian artists and their works to the world.”

According to Oliver, who is the president of Society of Nigerian Artists

,

By JAPHET ALAKM VISUAL

,

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014—PAGE 51 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Family to immortalise Ogunde’s legacy with movie T

WENTY four years after late Hubert Adedeji Ogunde , a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician died, his heir has begun moves to resuscitate the legacy he left behind.

The moves, according to one of the children, David Adekunle Ogunde, a film maker, would gulp one million pounds. Adekunle who disclosed how his dad died in 1990 said the late founder of Nollywood clung the Bible on his chest, died with that and was buried with that Bible on his chest.

Addressing newsmen at the Ososa estate of the late playwright shortly after two scenes of the movie, snare, were shot within the complex, Ogunde who commended his late dad for the equipment he acquired 30 years ago which he said were still up to date said a global inclined movie titled the “Snare”, was being shot with world class actors and actresses both in Nigeria and overseas..

Ogunde who attended National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield in England and mastered in Avid Editing System and all other editing systems and editing effects said,”we have a number of people that are involved. We have about four Hollywood actors – Steven Baldwin, Phil Tan who has been involved in over 250 films (he has worked with Mel Gibson on Lethal Weapon, Passion of the Christ, he was a personal trainer for Angelina Jolie), my unit production manager, Randy Thoroughw, is the visual effect supervisor for the movie, Titanic and also Star Ship Troopers.”

“We have Carl Cameron and Branston Cosby (from the illustrious acting family of Bill Cosby). Somebody like Kristina Linda who was trained in Hollywood as actor. We believe that the time has come that we should all merge together, not just by doing African-based films, but also to introduce African culture into the Western world and to blend it together, so that in a way it is easier for them.”

While speaking about the plan of the family to resuscitate the legacy of their late father, Ogunde who spoke in the presence of his brothers and sisters among other dignitaries including Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, said that the project is something that is kind of different from the common.

“I wrote the script for this project and the reason is because in the last moment of my dad, I was a child that was beside his bed in his last mo-

ment. And what happened at that last moment was a unique experience that I will never forget in my life because my dad said we should buy him a Bible. We bought him a Bible and he clung that Bible on his chest and he died with that and he was buried with that Bible on his chest. And we were praying with him and he too was praying until quarter to 5, April 4th when he breathed his last. “ It was a great way for a man to leave this planet, to call upon his Creator and to prepare the way for where he is going in the world beyond. I will never forget that experience and that inspired me to write a story that *L-R: Gospel musician, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, film director, David Ogunde, Apola has to do with the Bible and King and a costumier of the movie that is what this production is ers, there is blood everywhere. At bert Ogunde, has done, ologists tell us no, it’s just a social cirabout. that time, the eagle is in hiding somebody told me that he cle, things will run back again but

,

By DAUD OLATUNJI FILM

for a long time, he would stay

We believe that the time has come for all to merge, not just by doing African-based films, but also to introduce African culture into the Western world and blend it together

“There has been so much talk about what is Ogunde’s children doing, have they been able to do anything, what have they done? You know there is a reality in the life of an eagle. A time comes when you don’t find the eagle soaring around, the eagle mounts to the highest peak and hides itself, and then he plucks out all

the old wings, all the old feath-

,

there until new wings grow and when he soars out, then he is very

strong. That’s what we have done.

“People think maybe nothing is going to happen there. But what they don’t know is that the eagle is growing new wings and the new wings that we are growing is that, we are not just talking – we thank God for what our father, Chief Hu-

took film production to a height that is hard to reach.

Well, I want to say yes and no because from where he left off, we are going to take it over and we are going to take it even to a higher realm. God helping us, we’ve been working very hard.

About the movie, Ogunde said “it’s based on the book of Daniel and part of the Book of Revelation and talks about what is going on in the world. When we look at the world today, people are wondering, even economists are telling us that things would change very soon and we wait and things are still the same. And soci-

Writers relive experience in military Junta at Authors’ Talk

By PRISCA SAM-DURU LITERATURE

D

evelopments in Nigerian literature within the context of democratic rule was the subject of discussion at a recent “Authors’ Talk”, a regular programme held

by Goethe Institut. Lagos.

Writers; Lola Shoneyin and Kunle Ajibade were on a panel moderated by Toyin Akinosho at the event and deliberated on the topic, “15 years of democracy in Nigeria—How do Writers Respond”.

Beginning with a rather lengthy introduction, Akinosho threw the discussion open. It was followed by Lola Shoneyin who first read ‘Song of the Confined’, a poem she wrote in 1997. The poem was dedicated to three journalists; Ogaga Ifowodo, Akin Adesokan and Kunle Ajibade who were at the time, imprisoned by the military.

In Song of the Confined, the narrator drew parallels between sounds heard in jail and those recalled from freedom.“We were living in a climate of fear,” she said after reading, “the clever thing to do was to hide protest in humour and harmonies.”

In response to the poem dedicated to him, Ajibade agreed with Shoneyin’s poem adding that, “in prison, sounds were signifiers, as the distant sound of birds chirping and

*Writer, Lola Shoneyen with Toyin Akinosho

dogs barking indicated time of day.”

Ajibade recalled deaths of political rivals and activists at the time: Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane, Ken Saro Wiwa. In order to prevent debate over his manuscript’s content, with thoughts that death may occur before publication of the book, Kunle Ajibade decided to write legibly.

Fortunately for the writer, he lived to see his notes published as “Jailed for Life: A Reporters Prison Notes” came to light in 2003. It was followed by “What A Country!” published in 2008.

Responding to the question about lack of an ideology in his first work, Ajibade explained that “I was interested only in telling stories.

The reader could introduce interpretation to the events recounted in the book. Even my second

things keep getting worse.

A

nd we begin to say, are all these things coincidence? No, we believe they are not coincidence because the Bible tells us they are not coincidence and because of that, we decided to write something around that and that is what the movie is about.

“The title is “Snare.” It’s actually based on a couple, particularly one gentleman, an African who is brilliant, who is lured because of the flaw in his character, even though he wants to change the society. He looks at the society as poor and also full of diseases and sicknesses, so he decided that he wanted to change that. But he has a flaw in his character and that flaw is greed, love of money.

book was written to tell a story using “avatars of the struggle.”

“Let us just tell the stories, we can leave the interpretation to the critics,” he said, and “then claimed Salman Rushdie, Gunther Grass and Soyinka were of that mould—inadvertently claiming a few purveyors of fiction as heroes for his nonfiction enterprise.”

Shoneyin concurred, noting that she was usually unconcerned with ideology while writing. She further read an excerpt from her novel “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives”. The portion was where heavy rains exhume body parts because of shallow interment and explained that “municipal authorities ought to be troubled reading that passage as it was based on experience.”

In response to Akinosho’s demand for audience participation, the Marxist critic and filmmaker Didi Cheeka noted that, “too many writers today are confused after the army left.” French author Pierre Cherruau, added that “If you bring too much ideology into your book, it could be boring.”

Confused or not, the quality and quantity of works by Nigerian authors show that writers have since the exit of military, been impacting positively to society through their literary prowess.

PAGE 52, SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

Musa, Emenike, Odemwingie’s pace and power worry France

F

T

HE pace and power of the Super Eagles attack will give France’s defense its biggest test of the World Cup so far when they meet in Monday’s round of 16 match.

Although France kept two clean sheets in the group stage — against Honduras and Ecuador — the variety in the African champion’s forward line offers a much stiffer proposition, and it has already caused problems for bigger teams than France.

Winger Ahmed Musa will be closely marked after scoring both goals in a 3-2 loss to Argentina. His speed was a constant threat and he will look to expose the space behind France’s fullbacks — who are given license to push up in coach Didier Deschamps’ attack-minded team.

Emmanuel Emenike is a bustling, powerful striker, and forward Peter Osaze Odemwingie has the technical ability to unlock defenses and has shown in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion and Stoke that he is also a sharp finisher.

“They’re a good team, they caused Argentina problems.

They are powerful, quick up front and hardworking in midfield,” said France midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who is set to return to the side following suspension. “They play with a lot of energy.”

It will be Nigeria’s first knockout game at a World Cup since

riday marked the first off day since the World Cup started two weeks ago, and it has been a wild ride so far with 48 games in the books. We’ve seen favorites fall, stars step up, the bite seen around the world and a record-setting number of goals. The knockout stage kicks off Saturday with a pair of matches featuring a quartet of South American powerhouses with Brazil vs. Chile and Colombia vs. Uruguay. Before we get to the single elimination part of the tournament, let’s look back at some of the winners and losers from the group stage of the 2014 World Cup. WINNERS Lionel Messi- The four-time Player of the Year entered the tournament with the weight of a country on his shoulders.

He scored only one goal in his previous two World Cup tournaments and remains in the shadow of Argentinian soccer demigod Maradona when it comes to the national team. Messi carried Argentina into the knockout stage by sweeping its three matches in Group F and netting four goals, which tied for the most so far by any player.

Jurgen Klinsmann/U.S. Team -Klinsmann opened himself to criticism by leaving U.S. stalwart Landon Donovan off the squad, but made all of the right moves in leading the U.S. out of the “Group of Death” even with an injury to forward Jozy Altidore in the opening match.

Chasing Contest... Peter Osaze Odemwingie taking on Lionel Messi during the their group F match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil...

1998 — the year France won the tournament as host — and preparations have hardly been ideal, with Thursday’s training session canceled amid reports of a pay dispute. But the players were back on training terms on Friday evening and they

AFN’s recruitment of untested athletes causes stir

BY BEN EFE

A

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria’s recruitment of athletes who are not in the world top ten in their respective events has received knocks from former Nigerian internationals who felt that there are far better talents in Nigeria who could be trained and nurtured to stardom.

At last weekend’s All Nigeria/ Cross River Championships, some American born athletes made good their intention to represent Nigeria after they were “approached” by the AFN top shots. These athletes include Mark Jelks who won the men 100m with 10.23 seconds, Tyron Akins who won the men’s 110m hurdles with 13.66 and Dominic Duncan who was placed sixth with 11.98 seconds in the women 100m. She also placed third 23.91 in the 200m.

Speaking on the development in Calabar, former national 400m champion, Dr. Bruce Ijirigho stated that it doesn’t make sense recruiting athletes who are unable to produce podium performance for Nigeria.

“If the argument is that our

Group Stage Winners and Losers

Poster Boy... Mark Jelks new face of Nigerian men sprint athletes are going to other countries and so we must also recruit. Does it mean that we should just taking in athletes who are not in the top 20 of world athletics? If other countries are taking our best athletes why can’t we go for the very best of other countries as well?”

USA based former hepathlete; Patience Itanyi was more concerned about the legibility of the recruited athletes. She submitted that the IAAF regulations concerning change of nationality must be followed; otherwise Nigeria may just be sanctioned.

look ready to play.

Four years ago, it was France that was in turmoil before its final group game after going on strike at training.

The official line for why Nigeria didn’t turn up for the practice was that a team meeting ran too long, but reports said players were demanding bonuses owed to them. Fellow West African teams Cameroon and Ghana both had their campaigns disrupted by pay disputes.

Bacary Sagna is battling with Mathieu Debuchy for the right back slot and center half Mamadou Sakho is struggling for fitness with a left hamstring injury. If he fails to recover, Laurent Koscielny will replace him at center half alongside Raphael Varane. But they have started only a handful of games together and Nigeria has enough attacking threat to expose that inexperienced partnership.

France likes to dictate play, but given Nigeria’s propensity to throw players forward, Deschamps may pick his team with quick counterattacks in mind.

He has yet to truly decide what his favored lineup is, making surprise selections in all three group games so far.

Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann are challenging for a starting spot alongside Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena in France’s three-pronged attack, while Paul Pogba and Moussa Sissoko are contesting a place in midfield.

Griezmann and Sissoko are quicker players and better suited to playing on the break than Giroud and Pogba.

Robin van Persie-The Dutch captain had the goal of the tournament with his flying header against Spain.

Netherlands, which was the 2010 runner-up, was the only team to score 10 goals in the group stage.

Guillermo Ochoa...The Mexican goalie made a name for himself with a handful of spectacular saves in Mexico’s 00 draw against Brazil. He only let in one goal during Mexico’s first three matches. Ochoa is a free agent and will draw widespread interest after his performance this month.

Algeria/Nigeria... A 1-1 draw with Russia pushed Algeria into the Round of 16 for the first time. With Nigeria also moving on, Africa will have two teams in the knockout stage for the first time.

Thomas Mueller...The 24-year-old Bayern Munich forward picked up where he left off in the 2010 World Cup when he won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top goal scorer.

He netted a hat-trick in Germany’s opening round game against Portugal and knocked in the only goal in Germany’s win over the U.S. Mueller is tied for the most goals scored after the group stage.

LOSERS Luis Suarez...The Liverpool star’s many talents were on display when after missing Uruguay’s first game, he returned to score twice in his team’s 2-1 win over England.

But Suarez the biter emerged in Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Italy. Suarez bit Italian defender Chiellini and was subsequently banned from competition for four months and nine games by FIFA. Sponsor Adidas announced it would stand by Suarez, but another partner, 888poker, dropped the reigning English Premier League player of the year.

Europe... Spain, Portugal, Italy and England all ranked among FIFA’s top ten teams entering the World Cup and failed to emerge from the group stage. Germany, France and the Netherlands remain among the favorites, along with Brazil and Argentina, but the knockout stage will be missing some of the sport’s biggest and highest-paid stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Asia...Not only did none of the Asian Football Confederation teams make it out of the group stage, but the four that qualified for the World Cup failed to win a single game. It was the time since 1990 that the AFC left the World Cup winless.

Defense...The Group Stage featured a record 136 goals or six more than Korea/Japan 2002.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014, PAGE 53

I did not bite Chielline on purpose — Suarez L

UIS Suarez told FIFA’s disciplinary panel that he did not deliberately bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. The Uruguay striker’s defense that he lost balance and fell on his opponent will now be presented to FIFA’s appeal panel, after his national federation notified FIFA late Friday it would challenge the nine-match, four-month ban. ‘’In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite,’’ Suarez wrote in Spanish in a letter dated June 25.

The player’s defense is in paragraph 6 of FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruling, which has been seen by The Associated Press. ‘’After the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent,’’ Suarez wrote in his submission to the panel which met Wednesday, one day after Uruguay beat Italy 1-

I’m a Father not a Biter... Luis Suarez back home to play with his kids in Montevideo, Uruguay after being banned for four months by FIFA from all football activities. Suarez bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during the last group match between Uruguay and Italy.

0 in a decisive groupstage match. ‘’At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on

my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth,’’ Suarez said.

However, the seven-man panel which met on

Wednesday evening dismissed the argument.

The bite was ‘’deliberate, intentional and without provocation,’’ the ruling

stated in paragraph No. 26 of the panel’s conclusions.

Suarez was banned for nine Uruguay matches and four months from all football. He was also fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

The panel, chaired by former Switzerland international Claudio Sulser, included members from the Cook Islands, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Panama, South Africa and Singapore.

On Saturday, FIFA confirmed that formal proceedings had begun to challenge the longest ban for a World Cup player in 20 years. ‘’We have a declaration that they are planning to appeal,’’ FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said.

The Uruguay federation now has seven days to submit written grounds for the appeal.

Back in Montevideo, Suarez has been welcomed home as a hero by Uruguay fans.

‘’I’m writing this message to express thanks for the outpouring of support and affection that I’m getting. Both me and my family really appreciate it,’’ Suarez said Saturday on his Twitter account. ‘’Thank you very much for being on my side and I want all of us to support our teammates today in the match against Colombia,’’ he wrote, ahead of Uruguay’s Round of 16 match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

FIFA’s disciplinary ruling confirmed that Suarez’s bite was missed by referee Marco Rodriguez of Mexico, who acknowledged the oversight in his match report. So did his two assistants and the fourth official. ‘’I haven’t seen the incident because the ball was in another sector of the pitch,’’ Rodriguez writes in paragraph No. 4 of witness submissions in the 11page document.

PAGE 54, SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014

Keshi: Eagles will fly over France S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has declared that his team has no option than to win against France when they clash in the round of 16 on Monday.

Though the Eagles are the underdogs, Keshi stated before they left Campinas for Brasilia that his team’s mentality is strong and for them, it has always been nothing but a win each time they are out to play a game.

“I said before the tournament that our mentality must be strong. Our approach to every match has always been the same: to win.

“Whether we are playing against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup or playing against Liberia in a friendly match, I always tell the boys that victory is non– negotiable.

“For us, we will go into Monday ’s match aiming to win. But as I also said before the competition, we take it one match at a time.

“We don’t even want to think of who might be lurking in the quarter finals if we win; we are not bothered. All we know is that we must win on Monday.”

France top group E with seven points and they have played some excellent football unlike in 2010 where they were dumped in the preliminaries. With their arrays of stars in all departments they have left no one in doubt that they are candidates for the trophy.

But all that will to win the world cup will be put to test when they face the

UPER Eagles’ fans S that missed last Wednes-day’s encoun-

MARKED DOWN... Super Eagles defender, Keneth Omuero ensures that Argentine forward Sergio Aguero caused no damage during their last Group F match.

Eagles at the 72, 000 capacity Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, the second biggest stadium in Brazil.

The clash between Nige-

ria and France will be like a reunification of Premier League stars as six Nigeria players Joseph Yobo, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, John Obi Mikel, Kenneth

HIS will be only the second international meeting between France and Nigeria. The Super Eagles won the previous meeting 1-0 in Saint-Etienne back in June 2009.

Les Blues have lost two of their last three World Cup matches against African nations (2002 v Senegal and 2010 v South Africa). They beat Togo between these two defeats, in 2006.

Nigeria have scored a goal in all but one of their previous 10 World Cup finals matches against European sides.

The Super Eagles are aiming to become just the fourth African side to make the quarter finals of a World

Omeruo, Shola Ameobi and Victor Moses will face the likes Patrice Evra, Hugo Lloris, Mathieu Debuchy, Loic Remy, Moussa Sissoko, Laurent Ko-

scielny, Bacary Sagna, Olivier Giroud Arsena) and Mamadou Sakho Liverpool all who play in the EPL.

CAF wishes Nigeria, Algeria good-luck

C

ONFEDERATION of Africa Football (CAF) believes its decision to move the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations from even to odd years is partly responsible

for the qualification of two Africa teams, Nigeria and Algeria to the round of 16 at the on-going World cup in Brazil.

Brazil 2014 is the first

France v Nigeria match facts

T

Wakanow compensates Nigerian fans in Brazil

Cup tournament (after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010).

Nigeria have only won one of their last 11 World Cup matches.

Nigeria have lost both of their previous World Cup second round ties - 1-2 v Italy in 1994 and 1-4 v Denmark in 1998.

All of France’s goals during this World Cup have come from inside the box.

France have won all three of their previous second round ties at the World Cup (2-0 v Italy in 1986, 1-0 v Paraguay in 1998 and 3-1 v Spain in 2006).

Les Blues attempted more shots at goal (50; excl.

blocked) than any other side during the 2014 World Cup group stages.

Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper during the 2013-14 French Ligue 1 season for Lille.

On the last five occasions that France have progressed past round 1 in the World Cup, they have reached the semifinal stage (1958, 1982, 1986, 1998 and 2006).

Karim Benzema has scored nine goals in his last nine appearances for France, including three goals in his three appearances at this World Cup.

World cup to be played after CAF took the decision in respect to concerns from fitness expert who are of the opinion that it’s hard for a player to peak twice in such a short time as the Nations cup is usually five months away from the World cup.

Also the Africa Nations Cup distract teams who used it as a yard stick to judge their handlers and sometimes fire their coaches just months before the Mundial leaving the new man in charge with little or no time to prepare his team properly.

But all of those are now in the past and CAF secretary general Hicham El Amrani is off the opinion that Nigeria and Algeria progression is down to moving the Cup of Nations to odd years.

“Playing the Nations cup same year as the World Cup, makes it impossible for African players to have two major events to play in the space of six months.”

“The fact that two teams made it through is a combination of various factors, one of which is Caf’s decision to change the Nations Cup from even to odd years,” He also attributed the

team’s progressions to their “preparations, talent and skills” as well as the “overall progress and development of the African game”.

El Amrani also confirmed that Caf President Issa Hayatou has contacted both federations to pass on his congratulations as well as wishing them the best for the next phase of the competition.

“We wish the best of luck to Algeria and Nigeria as the entire African continent is behind them,” said El Amrani.

•Yobo

ter bet-ween Nigeria and Argentina in Porto Alegre, Brazil have been offered compensations by Wakanow.com, the official travel partner to the Nigeria Football Federation. The company was unable to airlift many of the fans to the match venue from Sao Paulo.

Many fans that travelled to Brazil to see the Eagles’ last World Cup group encounter could not make the trip from Sao Paulo because Brazilian aviation authorities refused to allow a Boeing 767 200 plane chartered by Wakanow.com to land in Brazil from the United States of America. The plane was slated to ferry the fans to Porto Alegre. The travel company had to resort to purchasing commercial carriage for the fans at the last minute and seats could not be gotten for a majority of the fans.

As recompense, the fans were offered an extension of their stay to enable them watch the Eagles’ second round match against France on Monday or flight tickets to a number of international destinations including London, Australia and China or monetary compensation. Many of the fans have accepted the offers of compensation.

Wakanow.com’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Obinna Ekezie, who led the company’s team to Brazil, apologised for the company’s inability to move the fans to the match venue.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 29, 2014 PAGE — 55

Uchebo’s reggae football and the Victor Moses issue *INSIDE EAGLES CAMP

•Uchebo

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE, just back from Brazil

E

ver seen a Reggae musician without the dreadlocks?

Only Jimmy Cliff, you could probably say.

Reggae musicians are always wearing dreadlocks.

And they are always deep in their Rastafarian beliefs.

It is some spirit that makes them produce such great melodies but which also makes them easily lose control of their dance steps.

They are always on the high. And that’s probably why you find them dancing out of the tunes of their music. They are not usually good dancers but their Rastaman vibration (God bless Bob Marley) matters.

It thrills.

Okechukwu Uchebo, who, in the 66th minute, replaced Michael Babatunde (another Nigerian out of the World Cup) in the match against Argentina Wednesday was wearing his dreadlocks. And few seconds after he came in, his rhythm was not in consonance with that of his team mates. He thronged and thumped more like a Reggae musician than a footballer, funny if not awful. A Nigerian sitting near us yelled “where is this one from? Tony Nezianya of News Agency of Nigeria

•Moses laughed mischievously and said “from the land of musicians but he is a Nigerian, playing in Belgium.”

Uchebo just didn’t fit in. It was either that he just didn’t deserve to be in the World Cup team or that the occasion overwhelmed him and that he could later get integrated and strike a better rhythm with time. But this is the World Cup and there may not be enough time for any player not well disposed to it. By his second touch on the ball he was still struggling and Toyin Ibitoye of Channels reminded us that he is fondly called Flavour, the name

•Emenike of a top Nigerian musician whose track, Adanma, is a hit.

His introduction into the match raised many questions among Nigerians on what is happening to Victor Moses. Couldn’t he have come in for Babatunde? This may look a technical matter since Moses plays wide on the left but also can attack from the right. Can he play in the middle? He may but it is left for the coaches to decide.

And can he play for the team rather than for himself? This has seen him warming the bench in Brazil. Moses was killing the pace of the team by unnec-

essarily holding on to the ball and even failing to pass when his team mates were opening up opponents with runs in the pre-World Cup friendlies. He reenacted this in the first match against Iran. It got so bad that Emmanuel Amenike vehemently protested against his style and Mikel Obi reportedly backed his Chelsea teammate, who is on loan to Liverpool where he sits more on the bench too. Even with his individual tendencies he did well at the last Nations Cup. However, his game has dropped and he seems to be the cause and not the loss of form. He would not release the ball in time and would easily lose it while making runs.

Certainly, he has a talent that he is not utilising for the general interest of the team. It showed in the match against Iran. It was said to have angered Emenike who incidentally has also displayed the same character in some ways, although he deserves kudos for his power game that saw Nigeria beat Bosnia 1-0 when he powered past a defender to lay a perfect assist to Osaze who finished brilliantly. Emenike will be a better player if he adds some tact to his brute force.

He reportedly frowned at Moses.

Coach Stephen Keshi, reportedly intervened to bring peace among the players and they are in good terms now. But can Moses change his game and have a

chance to play against France? This is pertinent going by the injuries that have hit Michael Babatunde and other Nigerians like Godfrey Obaobona, Gabriel Ruben and the fact that Uchebo may be more interested in transforming to a Nwankwo Kanu than being his natural self and playing his own game.

Everybody says he tries to play like Kanu . Is that helping his game? In trying to move and play like the Papilo of Nigerian football, the young man loses balance and in his struggle to get his rhythm, he strike the chime of a Reggae musician. Did I hear somebody say Ayaga yago yoo?

Uchebo could be stronger, faster and more direct than trying to be deceitful with the ball like Kanu naturally did excellently, for that was his endowment. Just as Keshi may be telling Moses to change and be more of a team player, he could also be telling Uchebo to be more direct and forceful for us to play better. I say this for I know how limited we are on the bench going by the injuries that have hit our team and the absence of the likes of Sunday Mba, Nosa Igiebor and Ikechukwu Uche. And a good bench goes a long way to determine how well a team could be. So far, Keshi has done a pretty good job and needs to be commended for leading Nigeria this far.

“I dedicate our qualification to African coaches,”he said after the match with Argentina that Eagles lost 3-2 but qualified after Bosnia beat Iran 3-1. Eagles were gallant in that defeat.

“I don’t have anything against European coaches coming to work in Africa.

But African administrators should go for good ones, the top class ones and not those, who have no pedigree.” He said exactly the same thing after winning the Nations Cup in South Africa.

Suarez needs help —FIFA Sec-Gen F IFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has called on Luis Suarez to seek treatment after being found guilty of biting an opponent for a third time.

Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Italy on Tuesday and has been banned from all footballrelated activity for four months by world football’s governing body.

“He should go for treatment,” Valcke said.

“It’s definitely wrong.

“The first time, it’s an incident. More than once, it is not.” International players’ union FIFPro called for Suarez to “receive all the support he needs”.

“The focus should be on the rehabilitation and serious treatment of the player. FIFPro believes that treatment must be a part of any sanction,” a statement read.

FIFPro said Suarez’s prolonged absence from the game “must be

Bite Man... Luis Suarez after he sank his teeth on Giorgio Chiellini of Italy. addressed as it directly 10 matches for biting infringes his right to work”. Chelsea’s Branislav Suarez was banned for Ivanovic in April 2013.

Algeria eye another

German upset

C

OACH Vahid Halilhodzic insists Algeria have not forgotten the furore around their 1982 World Cup exit as they prepare to meet Germany in the last 16.

A 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday earned Halilhodzic’s side a place in the knockout stages for the first time.

West Germany ’s controversial victory over Austria 32 years ago allowed both teams to progress at Algeria’s expense.

“We have not forgotten,” Halilhodzic said. “Everybody has been talking about Algeria and Germany from 1982.”

Algeria competed at the World Cup finals for the first time in Spain in 1982, and caused an upset in their opening group game with a 2-1 win over West Germany then the European champions.

They finished with two wins and a defeat from their three matches, which they completed before West Germany and Austria met in the final group game.

A 1-0 win for the Germans would take both sides through at the expense of Algeria, and that was how the match turned out.

Algerian officials launched a protest, claiming the match was fixed, but the allegations were never proved and the result stood. However, as a result of the controversy, the final round of World Cup group fixtures now kick-off at the same time.

Halilhodzic said.

“Thirty-two years ago is a long time. I am very proud of what we have achieved tonight and we deserve to be here.

“I think Algeria played a heroic match and our qualification for the second round is perfectly deserved.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 29, 2014

Enyeama factor fears France W

Chile make Brazil shiver ...Neymar to the rescue H

OSTS Brazil escaped de feat by the whiskers after they were stretched by Chile in 120 minutes of football that produced tension and equal amount of drama. And in the ensuring shoot-out, it was Brazil that triumphed winning the match 3-2 penalty in Belo Horizonte Brazil got off on bright note with David Luiz’s 18th minute goal after Thiago Silva deflected Neymar’s corner kick toward the far post. Luiz was given the goal but Chile defender Gonzalo Jara may have touched the ball before it went in.

Chile equalized in the 32nd minute after Eduardo Vargas intercepted Hulk’s pass and found Alexis Sanchez, who scored from the right side of the penalty area with a shot toward the far post.

It proved a frantic first half with chances at both ends, and while Brazil, and Neymar in particular, had the lion’s share, they were unable to find the killer touch required to restore their advantage. Fred passed up perhaps the best chance on 40 minutes, blazing over with the goal gaping after a loose ball had fallen into his path.

Hulk thought he put Brazil ahead 10 minutes into the second half but referee Howard Webb disallowed the goal, ruling that Hulk took down a long pass with his arm. He had earlier denied Hulk a penalty.

The game went to extra time, but the pattern of the match changed little, with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men on the front foot for the most part but struggling to carve out clear chances.

La Roja came close to snatching it in the dying seconds of extra time when Mauricio Pinilla crashed a shot against the crossbar, but the match was de-

TOTAL BLOCKADE ... Chile’s midfielder Francisco Silva vie for the ball in the Round of 16 football match between Brazil and Chile at The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.

cided by a shootout and the hosts made it through for their seventh successive quarterfinal.

Julio Cesar saved from both Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez either side of a Willian miss to put Brazil in charge, but Claudio Bravo blocked Hulk’s effort. However, after Neymar had converted, Gonzalo Jara hit the post with the final penalty to send the hosts through.

TODAY’S MATCHES Holland Costa Rica Result Brazil Colombia

v v 3 2

ITH Vincent Enyeama in goal for the Super Eagles, the French team players are a bit intimidated by his credentials ahead of their round of 16 clash on Monday.

Enyeama who plays for Lille, this season went 11 games (1066 minutes) unbeaten in the Franch league 1 and was almost breaking the long time record of former Bordeaux keeper Gaëtan Huard (1176 minutes).

His experience of French football will come to play on Monday. Enyeama said that he is ready for the match.

“We do not fear anyone.

France is the favorite but it is football, anything can happen.

“They are easier than playing a South American team.”

French midfielder Yohan Cabaye said on Saturday that French players must resist falling into the trap of becoming arrogant otherwise it will present enormous problems for them.

However, Cabaye said such assumptions were counter productive. “We have come a long way considering we almost didn’t make it to Brazil, so we should not get ahead of ourselves.

“I respect Nigeria, though we can beat them, but to say we are going to win the World Cup one has to be careful.

There is still a long way to go.”

Mexico Greece Chile Uruguay

5.00 pm 9.pm 2 (penalty) 0

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Taraba capital (7) 4.Exchanges (5) 6.Crest (5) 7.Speared (7) 9.Fashion (5) 10.Weird (5) 11.Donor (5) 13.Domain (5) 17.Crestfallen (3) 19.Face (8) 20.Pianos (6) 21.Much (6) 23.Stayed (8) 24.Frozen water (3) 25.Snake (5) 27.Own up (5) 30. Arise (5) 31. Evade (5) 32. Dotted (7) 34. Lariat (5) 35. Moves like a horse (5) 36.Sowed (7)

DOWN 1. Incarcerates (5) 2. Nothing (3) 3. Command (5) 4. Cue (5) 5. Vapour (5) 8. Dog (3) 12. Nigerian state (6) 14. Ovum (3) 15. Connected (6) 16. Cooked (6) 17. Glare (5) 18. Ill-fated (6) 22. Maiden name (3) 25. Revise accounts (5) 26. Staggers (5) 27. Old fable writer (5) 28. Child (3) 29. Gave in (5) 33. Benin chieftain (3)

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