As Bus rams into Gov's car.... OSHIOMHOLE ESCAPES DEATH

C M Y K

2 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE — 3

C M Y K

4 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013 — PAGE 5

Oshiomhole escapes death!

Continued from page 1 vehicle damaged beyond repairs.

The governor was said to be returning from his Iyamho village when the crash occurred around 9.45 a.m.

This is the second time within a year that Oshiomhole’s convoy will be involved in an accident.

The first time, a tipper rammed into his car and another vehicle conveying the media crew in his convoy, killing some journalists.

Yesterday’s incident was said to have happened when a Peugeot J5 bus, marked XB 355 Fugar, conveying tomatoes and plantains, lost control while trying to overtake an articulated vehicle and crashed directly into the governor’s flag car, a BMW bullet proof vehicle, before ending in a ditch.

Three vehicles in the convoy were reportedly in front of the governor’s flag car and had passed the Peugeot J5 bus before it crashed into the flag car which had the governor, his ADC and driver inside.

Oshiomhole’s car was said to have been damaged beyond repairs but no injuries were sustained in the accident.

The governor, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard on telephone, thanked God for his life, saying: “The almighty God is always on the throne and will surely protect his people.

I thank God; we are all fine. Glory be to Jesus and honour to Mary”.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Prince Kassim Afegbua, narrated the incident.

Afegbua said: “The Peugeot J5 bus was following a truck that was descending the Ewu slope

when it suddenly veered off into the governor ’s lane from the opposite direction and directly impacted on the governor ’s vehicle, apparently because of brake failure.

“The good story is that nobody sustained injuries in both vehicles.

The comrade governor is hale and hearty; his ADC and other occupants of the Peugeot J5 are also in good condition.

“The incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Station at Ewu for further investigation.

This is to assure all good people of Edo State that there is no cause for alarm.

“Their loving comrade governor is fine, hale and hearty as well as other occupants of the other affected vehicle. The comrade governor is wishing everyone a prosperous new year ahead”.

From left: Chief (Mrs) Bola Obasanjo and former President Olusegun Obasanjo,Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Suraj Ishola Adekunbi, and a member of Ogun State House of Assembly representing Ifo II, Hon Olakunle Oluomo, at the 2013 Ibogun Olaogun Day held in Ibogun, Ifo local government area of Ogun State, yesterday.

PHOTO BY WUMI AKINOLA.

Benue boat mishap: 17 bodies recovered

BY PETER DURU

T

WO days after the Boxing Day boat mishap that claimed the lives of over 40 persons at River Buruku, in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, the state Police Command says it has recovered 17 bodies from the river.

The State police public relations officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Daniel Ezeala, who spoke yesterday in a telephone interview in Makurdi ,said search and rescue operation was still going on at the scene of the disaster.

His words, “We have so

SOLUTION

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (2nd right), winner, male category, Waheed Shogbamu (right), Commissioner for Youth, Sports & Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi (2nd left), and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Mrs. Abiola Awonuga (left), during the 5th Governor’s Belt Edition and 48th Monthly Boxing Show organized by the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre (Rowe Park), Yaba, Lagos.

far recovered 17 bodies from the river but we are still continuing with the search and rescue operation until we are convinced that there are no survivors or bodies in the river. ”I can also assure you that we have commenced investigations into the matter with a view to finding the immediate and remote causes of the tragedy.”

Meantime, Buruku has been in a somber mood since the tragedy occured. Many families were yet to come to

terms with the Boxing Day disaster that claimed the lives of young men and women of the area.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that families of the deceased have been making frantic efforts to identify the remains of their loved ones who have so far been recovered from the scene of the accident.

However, those who had not seen their children since the tragedy have continually besieged the Buruku police station to make inquiries.

Speaking to Sunday

Vanguard, James Ajor, who said he lost two of his friends to the disaster, wept uncontrollably as he disclosed that the duo were part of the committee of friends who recently supported him to solemnize his wedding. ”This is a major tragedy in our state because most families in the area have been directly or indirectly touched by this disaster. It is even more painful when one realizes that people are daily ferried across the river without life jackets and the authorities did not

deem it fit to call the ferry operators to order ”, Ajor said.. ”I lost two of my very close friends in this dis a s t e r. T h e y w e r e young promising men who were full of life and contributed immensely to the success of my wedding ceremony. ”That is the more reason we will continue to urge the federal government to construct a bridge across River Buruku in order to avert further loss of lives there.”

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

‘Nigeria should learn from past mistakes’

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

W

•Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, distributing gift items to children during the 2013 Christmas Kiddies Party she organised for children from the 20 local government areas of the state at Assembly Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

ORRIED by the high level of insecurity in Nigeria, Ichie Ugochukwutubelu I of Ichida, High Chief R.U Ezemedolu has called on country’s leadership to be conscious of their actions and to learn from their past mistakes and shortcomings so as to move the nation forward.

Iche Ugochukwu, who disclosed this in Lagos, warned that the state of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming worrisome considering the high rate at which innocent people fall to the guns of criminals stressing that no

12 Christmas fun seekers killed as boats collide in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa T least 12 persons among them four undergraduates were killed in a boat mishap along the Ikoli River at Ayama in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State leaving two others with fatal injuries.

The injured persons are in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.

The tragic incident, Sunday Vanguard learnt, occurred on Christmas Day at about 8.25 pm when a passenger speedboat collided with a local cargo boat.

While the driver of the speedboat and 11 of his passengers were killed in the deadly collision, two others were said to have sustained fatal injuries and were in critical condition.

Those who lost their lives in the boat mishap include a lecturer in one of the higher institutions in the state, some students of Niger Delta University and University of Calabar.

As at press time, eight

A

corpses had been recovered by local divers, who are still combing the bed of the river for other missing bodies.

The decomposing corpses of the accident victims, it was learnt, were, yesterday, deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

The passengers, including men and women, mostly students, were said to be fun seekers heading for Otuabula for a beach party to celebrate Christmas.

The incident reportedly occurred when the boat had taken passengers aboard and was heading back to Onuegbum when it collided with a wooden boat around Ayama on the Ikoli River.

A source from the riverine enclave, who blamed the accident on poor visibility, lamented that “the two boats involved in the accident had no light and were sailing blindly when they collided.”

Also, a member of Bayelsa State chapter of

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Lloyd Sese, who confirmed the accident, expressed sadness, saying the incident happened at night on Christmas Day. Boat drivers, he noted, are barred from operating at night due to the windy and treacherous nature of the rivers and creeks so as to avert avoidable mis-

hap.

Contacted, the state police public relations officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident but said information at his disposal was sketchy.

He however promised to avail our correspondent the details of the tragic accident after being briefed by the DPO in charge of Ogbia Division.

New Lisa of Ondo

C

HIEF Simeon Oguntimehin is the new Lisa of Ondo.

A letter by the Osemawe-In-Council conveyed the appointment.

The letter reads: “ We write to inform you that His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo. Jilo III, the Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom has approved your appointment as High Chief Lisa of Ondo Kingdom.

“Your selection was made possible because of

your good character.

Consideration was also given to the selfless services you have been rendering to our community and the nation in general. Above all, your ability and willingness to perform all the traditional duties attached to the chieftaincy stool as well as your undertaking to continue to attend regularly the traditional Ugha meeting.

“The traditional “Efun Oye” rite will be performed on you on an agreed date.”

week passes without report of unknown gunmen taking human lives in the streets.

The Igbo leader, based in Lagos, said the clamour for unity and peace in Nigeria would amount to flogging a dead horse in a country where corruption, greed and injustice is now the order of the day.

He noted that the three years of Nigeria-Biafra civil war cost Igbos and the

entire country a lot of losses in terms of human and material resources and warned nation of dangers of undergoing similar experience in the nearest future because of reckless leadership mistakes’ and weakness.

The Igbo leader advised President Goodluck Jonathan to commence the immediate restructuring of Nigeria to give every ethnic group a sense of belonging.

2015: Oyo sure for PDP —Ex LG chairmen

I

N spite of the g r o w i n g pessimism trailing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country, the national leadership of the party has been assured that Oyo State remains available and fertile for PDP as efforts by the elders and the youths towards rejuvenating the party in state are yielding great results.

A statement in Ibadan yesterday by the Forum of Past Local Government Chairmen in the state, made up of the local government chairmen (from Oyo State) that won the best results for PDP in the South- west in the 2011 general elections, disclosed that the internal squabbles that led to the marginal loss of PDP in the state have been virtually resolved.

Resultant from the rejuvenation, the statement said, erstwhile sworn estranged members of the party are now working together, strategizing for the progress of PDP in the state.

The forum, at the end of its annual retreat where a comprehensive

stock taking of the activities and prospects of the party was objectively done, declared that the party was still the best in Oyo State in terms of popularity, acceptance, reach, structure and control; MAKING IT THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE OF THE MASSES AND THE PEOPLE FRIENDLY ELITES OF THE STATE. In the statement jointly issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Omilabu Gandhi and Agba Akin Kehinde Olaosebikan respectively, the forum explained that PDP was still the only party that has visible presence and strong structures in all the 319 wards of the state in addition to a membership spread in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

On government programs and activities, the forum boasted that PDP governments at state and local government levels have impacted meaningfully in the lives of the greatest number of people across the 33 local government areas of the state, so far in the present democracy.

Senator Ashafa preaches love at Yuletide

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

HE Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has enjoined Nigerians to see the Yuletide period as another opportunity to show love and unity to one another.

Meantime, Ashafa, will today be hosting a grand end of the year party for children at Eleko Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos as part of his social responsibility and development of the youths.

Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District at the Senate,

said: “Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry making. It is a time for the contemplation on eternal activities. ”It is the spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God”.

While wishing all Christian faithful happy Yuletide celebration, Ashafa, added: “If all can jettison religious rivalry, our nation will no doubt be a peaceful one that will attract rapid development in terms of basic amenities for the general masses”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE — 7

C M Y K

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

LAST WEEK IN BRIEF

Police foil ATM robbery in Abeokuta

Rivers Speaker denies plot to impeach Amaechi

DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

D

AYS after Ogun State Police Command rescued the former head of the Anglican Communion Church of Nigeria, Primate Peter Jasper Akinola, and his daughter from kidnappers den, the command said it foiled an automated teller machine (ATM) robber y in Abeokuta.

The police public relations officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said policemen operating an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) posted to Rounder Point in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State received a call from the security department of the Crescent University Abeokuta that some armed men were operating at the ATM Machine Room, property of a new generation bank, located within the premises of the institution around 1.30 a.m. yesterday.

“The policemen responded promptly and met five university security guards on duty tied by the armed men while the robbers escaped through the fence of the school”, Adejobi said.

“However, the armed robbers could not have access to the ATM Strong Room but damaged the main security door to the ATM Room and tampered with some gadgets therein.

“Their instruments for breaking the ATM machine, including two cylinders containing methane gas, two sledge hammers, pliers, screw drivers, lighters, etc, were left behind because of police presence and recovered by the police for further investigation.

“One Abdulliahi Tunde,20yrs, a welder by profession, has been arrested around the university when he was making suspicious calls on phone about 1: 10 pm while policemen on surveillance were combing the bush around the school; and he has been transferred to Special Anti Robbery Squad for thorough investigation.

“The command therefore wishes to advise the general public particularly those dealing with liquid cash, like owners of cold rooms, petrol stations, shopping malls etc to be more security conscious during this Yuletide season and beyond as the hoodlums have been barred from banks in Ogun State by the police”.

By Mariam Eko

R

IVER State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Evans Bipi, has denied the purported plan to impeach Governor Rotimi Amachi, saying he had no reason to instigate impeachment proceedings against the governor.

He explained the visit of the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, to her home state, adding that she has every right to do so, and it will be a disservice to her for anyone to assume her as intensifying the plan to impeach the governor.

Senate President stops 10 PDP lawmakers from defecting to APC

S

L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; her husband, Governor Kayode Fayemi; with some aides, serving some elderly citizens in the ‘Soup Kitchen’ initiative of the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) in Itapa Ekiti... at the weekend.

ENATE President David Mark was able to stop 10 lawmaker from defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The lawmakers had perfected a plot to defect to the APC last week.

However, the Senate President is under intense pressure from the Presidency as well as the PDP leadership to do all he can to make sure the lawmakers remain in the party even if it means offering them automatic ticket in 2015.

Mark asked them not to rush into action as it was done in the lower chamber, adding that they should use the holiday period to have a re-think on their plan.

Boat capsizes in Benue

B

URUKU Local Government Area of Benue State had no fewer than 50 persons feared dead and other missing in a boat mishap.

The boat capsized some minutes after starting its journey. The circumstance of the tragedy was yet to be ascertained. Benue State police command PRO DSP Daniel Ezealu said investigation into the incident was on-going. Ezealu said 15 corpses had been recovered, adding that no survivor was found.

Borno attack records 50 insurgents killed, 20 vehicles destroyed

O

•The Chief Medical Director and Dr Nwachukwu, Seplat GM Corporate Affairs, handing out gifts to pregnant women, as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.

Awoniyi to Kogi people: Expect the best from Wada in 2014

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

T

HE coming year holds so much for the people of Kogi State especially in terms of infrastructural development if only they can collectively work with Governor Idris Wada’s administration.

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi,

stated this while addressing newsmen at the First Baptist Church, Ileteju, Mopa, in Mopamuro LGA. Awoniyi, who lauded the efforts of Wada in completing all inherited projects, disclosed of plans to begin several new projects in 2014.

The deputy governor described the Kogi 2014 Budget of Reality current-

ly before the state House of Assembly as one that has the propensity to turn around the fortunes of the state and urged for its speedy passage by the parliament.

He described the state administration as purposeful and focused, saying it is committed to meeting the targets it has set for itself.

Jose Foundation, at 10, collaborates with varsity

BY THEODORE OPARA

A

S Jose Foundation, an international non-governmental organisation with bias for Africa and the less privileged, marks its tenth anniversary, it has lined up activities to commemorate the milestone.

The President of the Foundation, Prince Martins Abhulimhen, revealed that the body has concluded plans to make its contribution in youth development felt through sports as well as to appre-

ciate the efforts being made by President Goodluck Jonathan in the area of maintaining peace in the country.

According to Abhulimhen, collaboration meeting was held with representatives from Universita La Sapienza, Rome, Mr. Stefano Catteddu and Mr. Ian Smith, “at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London on 14 December, 2013 to celebrate our 10th year anniversary”.

The meeting, he stated, was sequel to the decision

of the university to bestow an honourary doctorate degree in political science on Jonathan and his wife, as well as sponsor talented Nigerian kids between 5-16 years from all the states of the country in football development.

Abhulimhen added: “Our Foundation is working with the university and the football academy in Rome, as Jose Foundation is dedicated to ensure that talented kids get the needed sponsorship and exposure they need through this collaboration”.

VER 50 insurgents were killed and 20 vehicles destroyed in an operation carried out by the military. A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen Chris Olu-Kolade, said the operation was done to track insurgents who carried out the Friday attacks on Mohammed Kur Barracks in Bama Local Government are of Borno State.

He said the vehicles destroyed were the ones used during the attack and was sited through air surveillance as the terrorists were trying to cross the borders.

Over 50 of them,according to the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) spokesmen, died while some were arrested and others escaped with bullets wounds.

He added that 15 soldiers were lost during the attack while some died in the pursuit. The cordon and search operatives were out to fish out insurgents moving around the communities, while families affected by the attack were relocated to other military locations.

Terrorists bury arms in Abuja cemetary

C

HIEF of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihe jirika, has quoted suspects as saying arms and ammunition were buried at the Apo cemetary, Abuja

by Boko Haram members.

He disclosed that security agents were yet to locate where the weapons were hidden as the mastermind escaped. According to the COAS, the suspects arrested made the confession that the arms and ammunition hidden at Apo cemetary were to be used in a planned attack on Abuja.

PR guru Ogunro killed by assassins in Lagos

T

HE Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eminent Communications Limited, Mr Sesan Ogunro, was asassinated by unknown gunmen in Lagos. Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was among those that called at the residence of the deceased to condole the family, expressed shock at the killing and urged security agencies to work hard to bring the perpetrators to book.

He added that Ogunro’s qualities inspired his administration to appoint him as the Chairman of the Ekiti Broadcasting Service and he turned around the fortunes of the corporation within his short period in office.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, 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

That Obasanjo's letter to President Dear Sir,

P

LEASE permit me to refer to the write up of DEJI ADEMOLA (CONCERNED SOUTH WEST YOUTHS) comparing OBASANJO with Jonathan on moral values and also the The true. Incredible story of Obasanjo and Jonathan written by Jide Ajani both published in your Sunday Vanguard of December 15th 2013, Iwant to add one important missing information which Apostle Hayford Alile slightly touched on WHY OIL GIANTS WONT INVEST IN NIGERIA STOCK EXCHANGE published in your same aforesaid newspapers and that was the handling of CASH CALLS made by oil giants during the tenure of Obasanjo. During the tenure of Late General Abacha, he stopped the CASH CALLS from the oil giants and ordered NNPC to reconcile accounts with all JOINT VENTURE partners in oil industry. This action perhaps showed the good side of Late President Abacha to forestall further capital flight and to bring sanity into the operation system. But when Obasanjo came into power, he immediately jettisoned the process and completely took over the portfolio of Petroleum ministry without any appreciable improvement in Oil industry and joint venture operation. He should have initiated the Petroleum Industry Bill which is now being done by Jonathan administration.

Obasanjo increased pump prices of gasoline three times or more during his tenure, thereby made life miserable for Nigerians and whilst enriching his boys who engaged in oil importations.

My advice to President Jonathan is as follows – Ensure that the ultimate goal of

proposed National Conference is to put governance of our country on true FEDERALISM, so that he would be the last President to preside over QUASIFEDERALISM that is being practiced now. It is an opportunity to correct our foundational defects. The decisions of National Conference may be thrown to a referendum for final assent.

Complete privatisation of power generation, transmission and distribution system.

Through NIGERIA ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (NERC)

ensure the electricity improves by at least 80 percent before end of 2014.

To step aside in 2015 but ensure the election is conducted on the basis that he is a President of Nigeria and not that of PEOPLE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP). He should not follow the footstep of BABA IYABO who believes in DO- OR-DIE election for PDP. So INEC must be made to conduct true, fair and credible elections If he could make up his mind not to stand for presidential election in 2015, he would be able to wage decisive war against corruption and the money bags

would have no chance or think to bank roll any election for him. Also there would be no role for kingmakers Ensure the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed by the National Assembly during his tenure.

If President GEJ could put up courage to carry out the aforesaid actions, ,he would become the MADIBA and TATA of Nigeria.

B.A. BAKARE, 6 AKINWALE STREET, OGBA, IKEJA. LAGOS. E-mail bilbak12@yahoo.com

Hon. Bolomope 2011: ‘Whoever betrays Ladoja remains accursed’ Dear Sir,

I

MMEDIATELY after the elections of 2011, when Hon. Ibrahim Bolomope went to Ondo Street, Bodija, the Ibadan home of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to show appreciation for the opportunity given to him, he was quite emphatic. Without mincing words, he said he was told (by then ACN and PDP people) that he was a son of a nobody and that he was grateful to Senator Ladoja, who gave him the financial and political support to defeat the sons of nobles in Ibadanland. He went on to say that he would forever remain loyal to Senator Ladoja.

He even went on to swear (even though Senator Ladoja dissuaded him from swearing) that whoever amongst them that would betray Senator Ladoja would forever remain accursed. At the occasion, witnesses all said "Amen". We can all see how Mr. Bolomope has shown his "gratitude".

In the last two years, the attitude of

Honorable Ibrahim Bolomope towards the Accord Party through whose platform he got into the Oyo State House of Assembly has been as clear as the Ogunpa canal. He turned his back on his benefactor-party long before the House started official work, for filthy lucre. With his recent decampment, he has demonstrated that a Pearl is not fitting for a swine. Therefore, it was no surprise when he announced that he was leaving the party to align with a group that is home to people of low integrity and promise breakers. Bolomope’s continual stay in Accord had become a liability to the party.

So much so that his exit is considered to be "good riddance to bad rubbish."

By the way, who was Mr. Ibrahim Bolomope before the 2011 elections? He was a unionist with no political savvy whatsoever. He got the Accord Party ticket because the party thought that, being a Labour unionist, he would defend any

injustice meted out to his colleagues. Alas!

He forgot why he got the ticket and when teachers were sacked in their thousands recently, he stood in applause to the disappointment of his primary constituency and the electorate.

Mr. Bolomope has never given back to his constituency for voting him into the State Assembly. While his counterparts regularly embarked on programmes to uplift the Accord Party, he was singing the praises of the opposition to high heavens.

Would Bolomope have gotten the mandate to contest for the House of Assembly seat in 2011 under the party he just sold? What is left of the credibility he had? He is a good example of a man who God blessed with a gift but who later went to the devil to seek powers to protect that which God freely gave to him. *Amubikanhun A. is a secondary school teacher resident in Egbeda, Ibadan

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

“While receiving the 4000-page report of the committee from [Senator] Okuroumu, President Goodluck ….said the national conference would hold early next year…The President then added that he had already directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to make adequate financial provisions for the smooth take-off of the conference”.

SUNDAY PUNCH, December 22, 2013.

D

R Okurounmu and I share at least one thing in common. We were both recipients of American government scholarship in the 1960s which enabled us to attend universities in America. It is quite possible we also share in common taking a course in Speed Reading, which enables the individual to read lots of text materials at five to ten times that of an average person and still get the facts right. That speed reading ability paid off for me four years ago when I was engaged by clients to go through the PIB which the Federal Government was trying to force through the National Assembly and stop its passage. I must be one of very few Nigerians who read the 892

page document page by page, word for word. But, even for me a 4,000-page behemoth will constitute a challenge. Is President Jonathan supposed to read that stuff? I hope not. Meanwhile, the President of Nigeria, acting with good intentions, might discover that early next year might not be realistic and finance might not even be the major constraint facing us in this venture.

In the previous two articles, I had pointed to the problems Yoruba and Igbo might face in the event of a break-up as some are advocating. Let me once again reiterate that I stand for unity – it is easier than anything else we can contemplate.

Now, we move to the South South and we are immediately confronted with the same complexities as we find in Nigeria as a whole.

“0803-344-1684 I think the correct list of ethnic nationalities should be based & guided by a reference definition of what constitutes an ethnic nationality..Sunday 0803-429-7372 Takad or Attakar people ..in Kaduna and Plateau States should not be forgotten.

From my own research my readers should please add the following.

A d a m a w a State:Bachama,

The Paralysis of low expectations If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. ~ Andy McIntyre

T

HE saying goes: “Give me a child until he is seven, and I will give you the man”, the memo obviously got lost in transit prior to getting to Nigeria. If we cannot mould and prepare our young for the future then how can we then prepare them for adulthood or mould them into useful and productive citizens?

What we have instead, is perpetually feeding them a diet that lacks formal and informal training. For that we have produced a country full of capricious young adults who are ill equipped and cannot make any discernible contribution to Nigeria’s future. The state and federal government have not provided funds in real terms for equipment, technology and libraries to schools. Our country has failed miserably to invest in our young to give them a quality education that will

set them up for the rest of their lives. This persistent neglect is robbing our young of any potential to grow, develop and improve their lot and most importantly lift most out of poverty.

We have got so embroiled in our daily greed, survival and hustle mode that we can’t see the woods for the trees. There is no easy way out, we will all suffer from this wanton neglect as Nigeria languishes in the doldrums and our young people are denied a useful and sustainable future. How can we complain of a country overran by murderers, vacuous individuals, renta-mob hoodlums, thieves and half-baked scammers?

That’s what the country gets when it fails to educate its young.

The quality of a country’s educational system should be an effective indicator of the country’s progress, industrious and technological might. Above all, a good education breeds stable, rounded individuals,

,

Thoughts on the National Conference – 4

Bata,Mbulai Fulani, Nuigudo?, Kilba, Mumuye; Bayelsa State: Okoroma, Nembe, Ogbia; Cross River State: Utempa, Kunov, Bebi, Obudu, Beleteku, Amana, Belinge, Becheve.

At the last count, the following “ethnic” groups have been discovered. I put the word ethnic in inverted comas because of the legitimate question raised by the text message above. I do

more nationalities to be brought to my attention soon. But, already we have over two dozen ethnic nationalities in the zone. Lacking a census figure, but based on my travels through the zone, I would imagine that the three largest ethnic groups in that zone are: Ijaw, Urhobo and Ibibio in that order. To say that Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri, in Delta State, barely tolerate each other is to be economical with the truth; the mutual hostility is legendary. A zonal confederating unit including those three ethnic groups will hardly be peaceful. The first battle

What would be the basis for representation by the various ethnic nationalities? Will the Ijaws, Urhobos and Ibibio be regarded as equal to the Ibilo, Yakurr and Ika? If not what will be the formula for representation?

,

not pretend to be an authority on the subject. I am only, for now pointing at the complexities involved in selecting candidates to the conference based on ethnicity. The SS list includes, but is not limited to: Afenmai, Ishan, Bini, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko, Efik, Anang, Oron, Ibibio, Ika, Kalabari, Okrika, Ibilo, Aniocha, Ukwuani, Ogba, Egbema, Ndokwa, Yakurr, Okoroma, Nembe, Ogbia, Utempa, Kunov, Bebi, Obudu, Beleteku, Amana, Belinge, Becheve etc etc, I expect

will be over the capital.

In fact, only the Federal might holds all the ethnic nationalities in the zone together – and that barely. In the end, the questions which must be urgently answered before Okonjo-Iweala opens the money spigot remain: what would be the basis for representation by the various ethnic nationalities? Will the Ijaws, Urhobos and Ibibio be regarded as equal to the Ibilo, Yakurr and Ika? If not what will be the formula for representation?

forward thinking, and a better standard of living for a progressive and civilized citizens and nation.

Recently, a head of a Lagos State secondary school, Ikeja Grammar School, was suspended for exposing the pitiful condition of students in her care; students were shown sitting on windows and concrete blocks in a classroom no

ernment needs to look across Osun State; if they can do it, so can every state up and down the country.

What our young people need is a quality assured educational system; up to date, an incentive bursary for trainee teachers and a good retention package for brilliant teachers, open and transparent examination and admissions of students to local schools.

Performance linked salary to retain exceptional head teachers, effective class size, efficient teaching and learning environment, standardized curriculum, satisfactory equipment and furniture, an independent school inspectoral body and most importantly, a free and accessible education to all young people regardless of class, religion and tribe.

About time!

Our people have a sense of displacement when it comes to reason. Edo State government recently sacked 836 teachers, I was astounded by the comments that followed; many were concerned about the timing of the sacking and not the fact that some teachers were not fully trained and have falsified their credentials, was not the main concern but that they should not have been sacked because they have lived a lie for so long! When something is wrong no matter who does it, it is wrong. The verification indicated that many of the

,

The quality of a country’s educational system should be an effective indicator of the country’s progress

,

better than a shed. Of course, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education was quick to defend the indefensible; that her ministry was aware of the issue of the bad furniture in the school. She quipped that the school will be supplied with furniture, this did not happen. She should have been sacked and her ministry summarily culled for their appalling treatment of students and schools.

This is the norm and rather than the exception. Well, the federal and other state gov-

It goes without saying that no independent nation can emerge from that assemblage of ethnic groups different from the Nigeria we are all kicking against. Large nationalities will still dominate the smaller ones and God forbid the oil should be in the minorities’ territories.

If the South South already frightens you, then follow me to the real “Tower of Babel” – the North Central where almost forty percent of our ethnic nationalities make their homes.

AKWA IBOM 2015 JONATHAN VERSUS AKPABIO -- 1

“Men make history, but not as they please”. Karl Marx, 1818-1883.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 93).

They are the closest of political allies and friends within the PDP at the moment. In fact, reliable sources, inside the Presidency inform us that President Jonathan considers Governor Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State as his closest confidant.

Godswilll Akpabio, it must be admitted had done all anybody can possibly do to demonstrate total loyalty to the President. More than the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BOT, and the Chairman of the PDP, Akpabio had stood by Jonathan resolutely as no other Nigerian, without exception, had done. He was the most trustworthy of all Jonathan’s supporters.

“It lies not in our power to love or hate; for will in us is over-ruled by Fate.” Christopher Marlowe, 1544-1593. (BOOK teachers were not accredited to teach and you wonder why the quality of education is abysmal. Many I read that had over stayed and should have retired others years ago, there were some who were physically and psychologically unwell. Teaching is not an easy profession that is for sure.

The state commissioner for basic education, Patrick Aguinede, who confirmed the sack stated, “Those that have over-stayed in service gave a scenario that the state government could not recruit new teachers. “The teachers were found to have stayed above 35 years.

Some were physically blind; some manipulated their results and age which later showed they finished school before they were born.” Only in Nigeria!

A change in the right direction for Kano Governor Kwankwaso of Kano State has announced that "the commencement of the free education for all Kano State indigenes from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions starting from the new academic session in 2014.” And he added that “this is in addition to sponsoring of Kano indigenes to pursue their various degree programmes locally and internationally”. If this is truly above board and well-intended then it is very promising indeed. The governor has ear-marked the education sector the largest share of

OF QUOTATIONS p 57).

But, Fate, cruel fate has placed the two closest allies in contemporary Nigerian politics on a collision course which none of the two, or, for that matter anybody else could have foreseen. It is quite possible that even they themselves are not aware of the dangers ahead which could force both of them to resort to the first law of nature – self preservation.

Before you think this is either a false alarm or a paid job, let me assure you that it will come as a thunderbolt to my closest friend in Akwa Ibom, H.E. Obong Victor Attah.

He will be reading this article perhaps after many others who read on line and who wake up very early on Sundays would have read it. Certainly, we will discourse it. But, I didn’t want any intervention in an article which has grave consequences for our country.

“What on earth can separate Goodluck Jonathan from Godswill Akpabio?”

You must be asking yourself. The simple answer is: “The same ingredients of Nigerian politics – ethnicity, zoning, group and personal interests – which brought them together in the first place.

Now where do we start from? It matters very little whether we begin from Jonathan’s point of view or from Akpabio’s .

The end result remains the same – there is potential conflict of interests between the two. So, let me start at the top; meaning from Jonathan.

(CONTINUES NEXT WEEK) V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com the sectoral allocation with over N20billion with Ministry of Education N15.22billion; while its ministry for Higher Education counterpart got N5.61billion and other policy programme in 2014 fiscal year under education include, N6.5 billion for the continuation work at Schools for Islamic Studies in each of the 44 LGAs. Here is looking forward to 2014 for Kano State.

Now ASUU can go back to teaching our institutions of learning In the UK, the economists calculate every day lost in terms of strike in actual and potential loss of earnings.

But how do you begin to calculate the costs of the lost months of students and teachers of strike in Nigeria? I cannot begin to wonder how it must have been for those affected by the protracted strike. No one is the winner in fact, everyone lost out as result of this period. It means that it has set back families and students learning and earning by months and the country ’s economy by years.

And human misery is incalculable. I applaud ASUU for standing up to the FD bully and the state of mediocrity of expectations by our people and our leaders. Sometimes I wonder if the quality of education that we received in past has not been lost on these narrow minded kleptomaniacs.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 11

Obasanjo, Jonathan, better than other Nigerian leaders

If so, did they come across the aspect where the man

said the letter in issue was not his first to GEJ? Why then, is this particular one special-is it because it was made public? Did OBJ not impute that it was because the previous ones were not responded to? Did those who argued that an informal chat between the two leaders would have been a better option not comprehend OBJ’s allegation that access to oral communica-

,

T

HE end to the last long drawn-out uni versity teachers’ strike means that students are set to return to school.

On the basis of their experiences during the strike, they are likely to once again, face the reality of a wide gap between theory and practice. In the area of mass communication for instance, many students may have to grapple with the real meaning and nature of communication.

Having learnt that written communication is generally superior to other forms such as oral communication and body language, they would not easily comprehend why the choice of writing as a channel of communication by former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) elicited so much anger from some people. Did the many angry commentators read OBJ’s letter about which they made pedestrian comments?

public to believe, the letter was no doubt useful to GEJ, his government and people of Nigeria. This is because it articulated inaccuracies/ half- truths, false alarms, rumours, gossips, as well as publicly held allegations into a package for more robust handling. OBJ thus served as a channel to the people’s leader to have firsthand knowledge of the popular grapevine so as to nib

Obasanjo and Jonathan’s letters appear better for democracy, because while silence which creates vacuum destroys, information empowers

,

tion had become tedious?

Again, why were people wasting their energies on who leaked the letter- can a letter whose author wanted to make his feelings public be described as leaked?

Even if OBJ’s motive was as mischievous as his detractors would want the

public dissatisfaction in the bud. Here, other national leaders fell below.

Another great leader that this season of letters has thrown up is President GEJ himself. His reactions to the former President’s letter repackaged him as a humble leader. Many African

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

08116759758

How religion underdeveloped Nigeria (2) pernatural beings. In virtually every community, each version of ATR has no recognised founder; but there is a priestly class with the responsibility of ensuring that members of the community lived according to stipulations of the religion in each area. The fundamental doctrines and injunctions of ATR were not embodied in a purported revealed holy book.

Rather, they exist as a living and lived reality in the minds and hearts of indigenous peoples, being an integral component of their culture, customs, and lifestyles. Compared to the Abrahamic religions, the degree of tolerance and pragmatism in ATR is remarkable. To illustrate, in a typical village setting, it was commonplace to find a husband and wife propitiating different divinities and yet living in peace and harmony. Moreover, if a particular God or Goddess responsible for a specific need of the community (fertility and bumper harvest for example) failed to perform up to expectation, the villagers would gather the physical symbols of that divinity outside the village and destroy them. However, like other religions ATR is conservative, and permitted some inhuman practices. It did not encourage the spirit of free critical inquiry, which is fundamental to social transformation and scientific progress.

As time went on, widespread acceptance of Islam and Christianity caused marginalisation of indigenous religions, to the extent that the threat of extinction in future is a real possibility. One of the most significant events in the history of Nigeria was the spread of Islam. When the rulers of ancient Kanem-Bornu accepted the religion in the 11th century, and centuries later Fulani immigrants spearheaded by Usman

,

I

N-BETWEEN are the complex cultural practices associated with religious worship. Of course, human beings exist, but the question concerning the existence of a supernatural being called God is yet to be settled finally one way or the other since no definitive proof is available on each side of the debate.

Therefore, acceptance of the reality of God is a matter of belief and faith, leaving open the tantalising possibility that the supreme object of religious worship might be imaginary, although I think that the reasons for rejecting the existence of the God of religion are far stronger than arguments for belief. Before the advent of Christianity and Islam into the various indigenous communities that eventually became Nigeria, the various peoples had evolved what is generally referred to as African Traditional Religion (ATR).

The autochthonous belief systems that constitute ATR, which emerged from intimate blending of existential realities in different culture areas, were relevant to the lifestyles and experiences of the inhabitants as an instrument for coping with the complexities of human existence in a largely agrarian setting. Essential to ATR is belief in the existence of a Supreme Being or Force, a pantheon of divinities, sacrifices, rituals and festivities for propitiating the su-

leaders including OBJ may not have been that tolerant.

GEJ’s first reaction was reportedly an order to his aides to say nothing but to assure the nation that he would personally respond appropriately which he has since done. He in fact took time to explain the rational for joining issues with OBJ. By his general demeanour, our President with the awful powers at his disposal behaved in line with an adage in my clime which says a great leader is that man of colossal strength who hardly fights.

As usual, some people did not see his response as good enough. Such critics were not impressed with the argument that many societal ills were created before the era of Jonathan-they expected him to solve them so as to justify the people’s confidence in him. They also felt he should have frontally dealt with the issues of his own time like the armoured car scandal.

Some other persons are however happy with the response which they believed has turned the initial tempo of fear and anxiety which followed OBJ’s letter into mere national discourse. In particular, people were relieved that the alleged political watch-list was categorically refuted. As for the electoral issues contained in the letter, many Nigerians are wise enough on the basis of our convoluted political system not to believe either the allegation or the denial. In short, Nigerians reason is not due to the inherent superiority or higher spiritual merit of Christianity and Islam. Indeed, in some essential respects, particularly its nonproselytising character and accommodation of other faiths, ATR is preferable to Islam and Christianity.

Both religions are inherently proselytising and have a voracious appetite for new converts.

Numerous passages In The Holy Koran and The Holy Bible encourage believers to convert nonbelievers, with promises of fantastic reward in the hereafter. Islam explicitly recommends jihad or holy war as a legitimate, Allahapproved means of bringing infidels into Islam, whereas Christianity wholeheartedly endorses door-to-door preaching to woo non-Christians, al-

Of course, the two religions provided a somewhat attractive eschatology, moral code and worldviews, which enable millions of Nigerians to organise their daily lives and prepare mentally for the future decent lives

Dan Fodio launched a jihad that established the Sokoto Caliphate in 1812, Nigeria as a single geopolitical and economic unity did not exist.

Similarly, Christianity predated Nigeria. It is interesting to note that two the foreign Abrahamic religions mentioned above within a relatively short period dislodged traditional religions, which had existed for thousands of years and were rooted in the cultures and traditions of the people. In my opinion, the

,

though its adherents sometimes employ crude force to achieve religious ends.

Additionally, in any community where the ruling elite accept Islam or Christianity, the leaders use both persuasion and coercion to instil the religion in the population. Therefore, the two foreign religions are dominant in Nigeria not because they are better than the religions of our ancestors but principally because of their domineering, aggressive and missionary character. Without

have lost nothing because letters were written and replied. The letters have indeed not deprived written communication of its value of being a qualitative mode of transmission of messages. Unlike body language which can easily be misread, written communication gives room for opinions and responses to be well considered and constructed. Again, unlike oral communication which can easily be subjected to several versions, written communication is a permanent source of record which is difficult to deny. For example, if the controversial agreement on one term tenure between the President and some governors was written, the disputations on it would not have arisen.

Under certain circumstances however, written communication is ill-advisable. They include the writing of a letter to the blind or an illiterate person or when a man wants to communicate with his wife in their bedroom on a purely private matter that is not of public interest. African culture probably provides another example-abomination; where a child chooses to publicly abuse his parent. But when the subject is a matter of public interest, to write is no harm. It is by far better than to act like many statesmen in Nigeria who always play the ‘good guy ’ by doing nothing to upset the person who for the time being is in any scintilla of doubt, Christianity and Islam have had tremendous impact on individuals and on the country generally. For instance, introduction of modern education by Christian missionaries, which constituted an integral part of British colonisation of Nigeria, was critical to the evolution of Nigeria as we know it today.

Thus, it is virtually impossible to overrate the centrality of Western-style formal education in all aspects of Nigerian history since the establishment of C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos, in 1859.

Furthermore, Christian missionaries contributed immensely in bringing improved healthcare to the people. Acceptance of Islam and Christianity led to the gradual abandonment of some harmful cultural practices like human sacrifice, killing of twins, and burial of kings and other dignitaries with living human beings. Of course, the two religions provided a somewhat attractive eschatology, moral code and worldviews, which enable millions of Nigerians to organise their daily lives and prepare mentally for the future. Perhaps, the threat of everlasting hellfire and promise of eternal bliss in heaven might have helped some believers to lead decent lives.

On the economic front, brazen commercialisation and expansion of religion, especially Christianity, provides employment for thousands of unemployed Nigerians. Yet, inspite of all this, I am convinced that overall Islam and Christianity are detrimental to the emergence of a strong, virile and morally decent Nigerian society. To begin with, the widespread belief

power even if to so act does not favour the nation. At the same time, some other leaders who cautioned OBJ against letter writing only sent a dangerous signal perhaps inadvertently because what their caution suggests is that the content of OBJ’s letter is correct but it should not have been sent through a letter.

It would have been a different ball game if those who condemned the letter had said clearly that having had the opportunity to discuss the issues canvassed in the letter with the President, they were sure OBJ’s letter was mere false alarm.

Put in question form, why did the leaders not controvert OBJ instead of faulting mere methodology? Amusingly, some other leaders took the former President’s letter to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black as if that means that the kettle is not black.

In all, Obasanjo and Jonathan’s letters appear better for democracy, because while silence which creates vacuum destroys, information empowers. So, people especially statesmen should learn to speak-out on national issues which can keep the nation in good stead all the time. If as the saying goes: those who speak will die and those who do not speak will also die, it means those who do not speak before they die will die without speaking to help humanity

among Christians and Muslims that strict adherence to their various faiths can solve Nigeria's hydra headed problems is a dangerous mistake arising from fear of divine punishment. It misleads people whose thinking might otherwise be fruitful and, as a result, stands in the way of reasonable solutions to our developmental problems.

Consider the fact that there are churches and mosques in all government houses throughout the country, including Aso Rock villa, and still our leaders have continued to perform far below expectation. Hence, the question arises: to what extent has the obvious religiosity of Nigerian leaders manifested positively in their activities while in office? The answer is simple - negligible.

Since the civil war ended in January 1970 until date, the quality of political leadership has dwindled to the extent that Nigeria has become the Jerusalem of corruption. All the military dictators and civilians that have ruled Nigeria are Muslims and Christians.

Still, despite their public show of piety, with the possible exception of Muhammadu Buhari, they exploited the opportunity for selfenrichment with impunity.

Clearly, President Goodfluck Jonathan is a devout Christian, and his recent pilgrimage to Jerusalem is a ringing testimony that he does not joke with his faith.

However, I wonder whether his personal conduct and the behaviour of members of his family and cabinet really exemplify the kind of healthy disdain for material possessions that Jesus of Nazareth extolled and practiced, according to the gospel narratives. To be continued.

C M Y K

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Notes towards the National Conference (1) nor-General as the legal representative of the crown – something indeed like a Proconsul – to full power as the Head of an independent and free Republic under a constitutional government. By and large, the parliament of the land became the supreme arbiter of power.

As a federal republic, Nigeria basical-

,

N

IGERIA is the successor state to all the pre-existing powers – the old, exhausted, crumbling and defeated empires, kingdoms, sultanates, and republican aristocracies and the city states that once reigned prior to amalgamation in 1914. It is the modern nation forged out of the colonial contact. From 1914 – 1963, this modern nation was a “British possession,” which means that if fell under the economic and political control of the British Empire. It had been granted self-governing status or independence by the British Empire on October 1, 1960, with the inauguration of the Prime Minister as head of its parliament under the British Commonwealth.

However, on November 16, 1963, on the exact birthday and installation of its first and founding president of the Republic, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria declared itself a full Federal republic, established by its Act of the Republic, and thus freed legally and politically from the authority of the head of the English commonwealth. The Act of the Republic is important in that it “vested all executive power in the President” of the Federal Republic who was to be elected by an electoral college of the bi-cameral House. According to the provisions of the Charter of the Republic, three institutions constituted the supreme parliament of the land: “the office of the president, the House of Representatives, and the Senate” of the Republic.

It simply moved Nigeria from a “constitutional monarchy” with the Gover-

There is a tendency among Nigerians today to regress to nativism rather than sail under the modern ship of state, which in many a mind, is moving towards the precipice under the infirm hands of strange helmsmen

,

ly established its rule of laws under a representative and democratic government which has no recourse to any other structure of power – a monarchy, an oligarchy, or a Theocracy.

It established itself after various agreements as a republic to be governed by a system of representative government. The evolution of modern Nigeria rests on three dominant groups which came to be the three legs, with the agglomeration of the vast minority groups, forming collectively, the fourth leg on which the nation rests. It is a

culturally diverse entity, and the process of its civilization into an organic nation has faced significant bumps. The crisis of the Nigerian state has led to a lot of disillusion, and to significant interrogation. The suspension of the charter of the republic following the military putsch of 1966 led to a tragic civil war and an extended military emergency rule from 1966 -79 and then following the second chain of putsches between 1983 and 1985, a second suspension of the charter of the Republic restored in 1979. It led to the tyrannical rule of military oligarchs from 1983 to 1999. Military rule thus accounts for much of the control of the postcolonial life of Nigeria as a nation. The general effect has been a hiatus in the evolution of democratic and civic culture: corruption, alienation, the suspension of parliament and the rule of law, and the weakening of the courts, the judicial systems, and the system of adjudication and enforcement.

These distortions have led to what I call an inchoate authority system, what Chinweizu once described as the “noyau state,” which in itself has given rise to a systemic disorder or a distortion of the meaning of a republic and a republican state. It has also led to citizens distrust of the state, and created a doubling of affiliation – a double-faced, double-voiced, and ambivalent relationship with the entity of the Nigerian state. Today, most Nigerians have greater loyalty to the “traditional ruler” than to the constitution of the Republic under which they are granted notional citizenship. Nigeria is an iffy nation because it is now in competition with the authority centers that continue to feed the passionate claim of those who see Nigeria increasingly as a burden to their cultural self-expression.

There is a tendency among Nigerians today to regress to nativism rather than sail under the modern ship of state, which in many a mind, is moving towards the precipice under the infirm hands of strange helmsmen with whom they neither connect nor feel a

common destiny. This feeling is the greatest threat to the Nigerian state, the presence of subversive undercurrents of affiliation that undermine the status of the nation as a historical system of affiliation. The question of course is, is Nigeria a nation? Is it a Federal Republic? Why does Nigeria, in spite of its claim to being a Republic with power devolving to its current 36 states under federalism, still maintain desiccated Kingdoms and empires? The institution of the Obi of Onitsha or the Sultan of Sokoto or the Alaafin of Oyo or the Tor Tiv, and all such other pretenders to the throne are anachronistic distractions in the emergence of a true Federal Republic. It is in the interest of Nigeria thus to abolish these hereditary institutions, particularly because, they are contending, even if dormant authorities. There cannot be two authorities within a republic other than the established parliament of the land.

Under a Republic all citizens are granted equal status.

These “royal highnesses” usurp the authority of the constitution by their own claims. The new nation emerging out of the proposed National conference must strive to abolish all real, imagined, and invented office of the “traditional rulers” because it contradicts the principle of equal citizenship under a republic. Nigeria should learn something from India which in 1975 abolished all such hereditary titles as a way of establishing a modern Indian nation under a democracy.

Indian monarchies were of longer and more storied significance than any Nigerian pseudo-monarchy, and yet they had to go. What the 1975 Act did was to create the principle of citizenship and equality in a modern republic. This first step, the abolition of the “traditional rulers” will establish true freedom and grant true equality to those Nigerians who have been forced to double and slippery loyalties. If this nation is to survive, the primary loyalty should be to the constitution that grants us all equality before the law under a republican constitution.

‘Defection of five governors inconsequential to PDP’

BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

G

RASSROOTS Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, GCGJ, yesterday described the defection of five People Democratic Party(PDP) governors to the All Progressive Congress, APC, as inconsequential to the political fortunes of the PDP. While describing their exit from the party as good riddance to bad rubbish, the group, in a statement by its National President, Mr Gabriel Akpude, and National Secretary, Mr Levi Okoronkwo, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for not yielding to the governors demands.

The group said: “We applauded Mr. President’s refusal to accede to the demands of the defected governors together with their backers.” On Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, the group said: “Here is an amazon, elegant, hardworking, beautiful and charming woman that gave the sun reason to shine in the aviation industry.

“She initiated the BASA agreement with the Jewish state of Israel that past aviation ministers could not achieve, hence they envy her. The Committee on Aviation in the House of Representatives, dominated by a supposedly PDP members who are suspected to be acting as opposition agents, was meant to indict her at all costs”.

Alhaji Abiodoyin Amosun presenting a tricycle to Mr Musibau Ismai, one of the beneficiaries while Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs and wife look on during the Kokumo Oladipo Memorial Foundation Empowerment in Sagamu.

Monarch charges Lagos govt on General Hospital

BY ALADE AROMASHODU

T

he Onijankin of Ijanikin, Oba Momodu Afolabi Asafa, has appealed to Lagos State Government to establish a General Hospital in his domain. He said this at his 40 th coronation anniversary marked in his palace. According to him, his first decade (1973-1983) on the throne has been very challenging. “With the commissioning of the Lagos-Badagry

expressway, the same day my staff of office was handed over to me, Ijanikin town was exposed to rapid development and civilisation from Lagos and other countries,”the monach said. He went on: “This act warranted more sophisticated methods in handling security matters.

My first concern was the safety of life and property of the people living in my domain. Thereafter, a police post was established in 1987 which later developed into a police station.”

Asafa spoke on his struggles to obtain qualitative education, which made him lay more emphasis on the establishment of highly comprehensive educational institutions for his people. He donated 200 acres of land for the establishment of Federal Government College, Lagos (FGCL) and Lagos State Secondary School respectively.

“The second decade of my reign, 1983 – 1993, witnessed a more rapid and, at the same time, peaceful development.

By this time, my people had come to

realise that they need to move with civilisation so that they are not completely left out of growth and development. Encouragements were giving to people to set up private schools and small scale industries.

Many people saw Ijanikin as a fertile ground for the growth of private institutions, industries and religious establishment. The gains of the first decade were carefully solidified and both state and federal governments were attracted to Ijanikin,”he said.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 13

AS APC, PDP AND PRESIDENCY OVERHEAT THE POLITY

Gun duel between Obasanjo and Jonathan? zHow both leaders can resolve their differences! zThe landmines ahead for president

I

C M Y K

n the interest of peace, stability and national security, it would, perhaps, be interesting to have a throwback to the United States of America’s July 11, 1804, when a former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and a sitting Vice President, Aaron Burr, engaged in a gun duel to settle their political differences. Just as former President Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo wrote an open letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan accusing him of sundry charges, so did Hamilton launch assault on Burr through a letter, defaming the latter; manipulated the

House of Representatives to vote Thomas Jefferson as president over Burr. And at a time in America when some states in the north were outlawing gun duel, both men took to the Heights of Weehawken in New Jersey, a popular dueling ground.

Burr mortally wounded Hamilton who died the following day. In today’s Nigeria, the contest for the presidency in 2015 has pitched a sitting President Jonathan, who is constitutionally guaranteed to seek re-election, against some members and leaders of his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who insist that he should not run. It all came to a head, penultimate week, with an open letter to Jonathan by Obasanjo – the animosity between Hamilton and Burr also came to a head

because of the former’s derogatory remarks about the latter. Hamilton and Burr settled their matter via a gun duel. Would it not be nice if Obasanjo and Jonathan settle their problem via a gun duel?

No matter. The problems confronting Nigeria today go beyond the visceral outburst of two leaders. The two men can resolve their problems if they allow good sense to prevail. Just as was suggested on these pages in 2005 when Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar were at each other’s throat, the continued animosity between Jonathan and his mentor would lead both men to ends with unintended consequences.

Therefore, to save their party and whatever is left of their political life, they must learn to bury the hatchet and relate

,,

BY JIDE AJANI

The problem generated

by Obasanjo’s open letter is that it has divided the polity – those for Obasanjo and those for Jonathan

with one another as they did when they started their romance.

However, for President Jonathan, there are landmines ahead. Some have been placed there by his detractors while he is also responsible for laying some.

Would it not be better for the former president and his protégé to settle their problems now, even if it means employing the

instrumentality of a gun duel, cool off rather than suffer the consequences ahead for both men and the polity if they continue on this path of attrition.

IN THE BEGINNING hat Sunday evening after the presidential contest of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, then Continues on page 14

T

PAGE 14 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Gun duel between Obasanjo and Jonathan?

Continued from page 13 President Olusegun Obasanjo summoned Goodluck Jonathan to Aso Rock Presidential Villa. It was to inform him of his choice as running mate to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the party’s candidate who emerged earlier in the morning. Jonathan did not see it coming. Just before the contest, Obasanjo had invited Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, to the Villa for breakfast and morning prayers. After the prayers, Obasanjo compelled Odili to drop his presidential ambition insisting he pays a visit to Yar’Adua. Odili obliged. At Eagle Square where the contest held, the initial arrangement was that Odili would be picked as running mate to Yar’Adua whose path had been cleared

OBJ and Jonathn...war of words

by Obasanjo – it needs mentioning here that all these, after bruising heads and breaking limbs in the

process. But Odili again became a victim of highwire, dirty manipulation Therefore, that evening when

Obasanjo summoned Jonathan, it was to inform him that he would be the running mate to Yar’Adua.

AN EVOLVING AMERICAN NATION (July 11, 1804)

Vice President kills former Secretary of the Treasury

Representatives caused Thomas Jefferson to be named president and Burr vice-president. In 1800, the Philadelphia Aurora printed extracts from a pamphlet Hamilton had earlier published, “Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States,” a document highly critical of Adams which had actually been written by Hamilton but intended only for private circulation. Some have claimed that Burr leaked the document, but there is no clear evidence for this, nor that

OBASANJO’S PLOT unday Vanguard had reported in March that Obasanjo was already revving up his campaign against Jonathan’s second term bid by holding series of meetings with some northern leaders.

What we can report now is that whereas Obasanjo had privately attempted to dissuade Jonathan from seeking a second term, his open letter of penultimate week was meant to demonstrate to a section of Nigeria that since private discussions were not yielding results, a frontal attack would jolt the Presidency. It did.

Jonathan has since responded. There have been mixed reactions to the tone and language of the response from the presidency. Consultations are on-going regarding the agenda to ensure that Jonathan does not secure a second term.

But Obasanjo’s manipulative involvement in the political ascendancy of Jonathan should not become a magna charter for the former to engage in malicious and demagogic domination of the latter’s political space.

Continues on page 16

Continues on page 15

*The story of Vice President Aaron Burr and Secretary Alexander Hamilton

By Jide Ajani

T

here are many accounts of this event of July 11, 1804, some 209 years ago. But some basic facts remain incontrovertible: That Aaron Burr, a sitting American vice president, challenged Alexander Hamilton, a former Secretary of the Treasury, to a gun duel which claimed the life of the latter. Their animosity towards each other got to a head via a letter written by Hamilton casting aspersions on Burr who had seen the former as a dangerous political enemy.

Were President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and former President Olusegun Obasanjo to transport themselves to America’s 1804, perhaps, a gun duel would have come in handy to settle their political differences.

Just last Monday, the inventor of AK47, the assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, died and was laid to rest. Taking a cue from how Obasanjo feels strongly on issues, he would have wanted an AK-47 for the duel (but the assault weapon was not invented as at that time).

Jonathan, who hails from the land of militancy, would have wanted something simpler, may be supported by native power (mind you, Obasanjo

Aaron Burr is no stranger to African magic).

Seriously, this is the story of Burr and Hamilton as captured by Wikipedia: The duel was the final skirmish of a long conflict between DemocraticRepublicans and Federalists. The conflict began in 1791 when Burr captured a United States Senate seat from Philip Schuyler, Hamilton’s father-in-law, who would have supported Federalist policies.

(Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury at the time.) When the Electoral College deadlocked in the election of 1800, Hamilton’s maneuvering in the House of

Mind you, Obasanjo had, in mid-February 1999, defied his party by unilaterally picking Atiku Abubakar as his own running mate while consultations were still on.

Therefore, picking Jonathan was not new.

What was, however, new, was that Obasanjo wanted Jonathan to be a ‘Yes Man’.

Revelations since after the ailment of Yar’Adua got worse in 2009 and, which led to his death, suggest that Obasanjo foresaw a situation whereby Jonathan would finish the tenure of Yar’Adua, contrary to Obasanjo’s repeated denial that he deliberately foisted an ‘invalid on the nation as president’.

For Jonathan, who, initially in the third quarter of 2005, neither believed that he would become Bayelsa State governor, nor, in January 2007, conceived of the possibility of becoming Nigeria’s vice president and then president, he still appears overwhelmed by the reality of leading a very complex and complicated country like Nigeria.

Between the two leaders, something gave at some point.

Alexander Hamilton

S

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 15

Continued from page 14 Therefore, rather than create unnecessary heat for the system and in the system, those opposed to Jonathan’s second term should simply mobilize Nigerians and ensure that they vote massively against him. That way, the votes of Nigerians would determine who would be elected president in 2015.

The open letter from Obasanjo is just one in a series of plots. The visit, penultimate Saturday, of the leadership of the APC to Obasanjo’s Abeokuta residence was another. The former president is also said to be intensifying his consultations with political and religious leaders in the country.

POLITICAL SPACE ENDANGERED ecause politicians refuse to learn from other peoples’ mistake, they serially commit the same mistake as those before them.

When Sunday Vanguard broke the story on the crisis of loyalty between Obasanjo and Atiku, his deputy, in August 2002, while also warning of the consequences of such a confrontation, it was waved aside. The effect was that, from that moment until 2007 when Obasanjo’s tenure was completed, Nigeria’s political space suffered from undue overheating. As reported last week, whenever Obasanjo openly confronts a sitting leader, consequences arise.

What makes the present circumstance less dangerous for Jonathan, an Aso Rock insider told Sunday Vanguard, “is that the governors who defected from our party have only cleared the coast for Mr. President to seek reelection”.

The insider added, “Mr President is as good as having the party’s ticket. The president has also been consulting widely and is relating to developments with keen attention”.

The problem generated by Obasanjo’s open letter is that it has divided the polity – those for Obasanjo and those for Jonathan.

As the months roll by before the 2015 contest, sympathizers and supporters alike would dig in and become more entrenched in their positions.

Perhaps the most damaging aspect of Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan was the allegation that a sniper squad was being trained. According to Obasanjo, “Allegation of

B

OBJ and Jonathan...When the going was good

Gun duel between Obasanjo and Jonathan? keeping over 1,000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for political purposes like Abacha and

is most unfortunate and regrettable. I do not even impose party officials in my home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone in this country where I have imposed officials. So why would I do so in the Southwest? Baba, in the light of Buruji’s detailed public

,,

Between Obasanjo and Jonathan, can they spare Nigerians the hostility they have brewed? Already, any support for Obasanjo’s confrontation is inversely termed to be an act of aggression against Jonathan

training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the nation, the government and the people of Nigeria”.

Obasanjo also alleged that Jonathan was not a trustworthy leader. Well, the president’s response had its own fair share of vitriol and vituperation.

For instance, Jonathan said Obasanjo lied barefacedly: The president’s words: “The issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of those lies that should not be associated with a former president. The allegation that I am imposing Kashamu on the South-west

response to your “open letter”, it will be charitable for you to render an apology to Nigerians and I. In closing, let me state that you have done me grave injustice with your public letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills”.

Meanwhile, as the All Progressive Congress, APC, chided the Villa for engaging in a show of shame by the tone of the response to Obasanjo, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF,

added its voice by accusing the Presidency of shirking in its responsibility of judicially dealing with its accusations against the Obasanjo regime.

JONATHAN’S GAMBIT hereas calling Obasanjo’s bluff may not entirely amount to political sagacity on the part of Jonathan, relying solely on the same Nigerian politicians he has warned not to assume that they own Nigeria for his own survival may also not work for him.

While those in the Jonathan administration can claim to be making steady progress, the massive gambit that they have chosen to undertake is the disconnection with the average Nigerian.

There is the perception that Jonathan is disconnected from the masses of Nigeria just as his PDP continues to issue statements that suggest that the grouse of the governors who defected is true.

What all these translate into is that Nigerians may not really matter. For, were Nigerians to matter, the primary concern of leaders of PDP would be the urgent need to win the confidence of the people more and dwell less on the distraction of the bitter politics that it has needlessly created for itself.

A clear example of this was the six-month industrial

W

action by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU. Before ASUU embarked on the action, notices were given.

During the strike, malady set in on the part of government with the provocative threat to sack tens of thousands of lecturers. The government was forced to eat a humble pie. Already, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Union, NUPENG, have issued an ultimatum to government that they would work against the proposed privatization of the nation’s refineries. They plan to go on strike and ground the economy to make their case.

Before the ink on the paper of the statement of the two main unions in the oil sector dried, Jonathan set up a committee to engage the process of selling the refineries. Meanwhile, barring any last-minute negotiations, Nigerians would again be in for a new year’s crisis should the strike go ahead – just as it happened in January 2012.

Yet, here was a president who enjoyed massive goodwill between February 2010 and October 2011. His rating, if truth be told, is plummeting fast.

Continues on page 16

PAGE 16— SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Gun duel between Obasanjo and Jonathan?

Continued from page 15 Still, rather than package a set of peoplefriendly initiatives that can buy back some of the lost goodwill, the bitter politics and quest for 2015 is the only news. Conversely, there are those who insist that the conduct and carriage of the band of opportunists around and inside the Presidential Villa should be interrogated vigorously lest they reduce as they are doing - the administration of Jonathan to one that celebrates tokenism and cluelessness as standard practice of political administration.

THE GUN DUEL TO COME etween Obasanjo and Jonathan, can they spare Nigerians the hostility they have brewed?

Already, any support for Obasanjo’s confrontation is inversely termed to be an

B

act of aggression against Jonathan.

Therefore, the hemlock that is being tended in the political space is enough to replicate a Guyana tragedy – in a manner of speaking. Nigeria’s law forbids a gun duel. Even the gun duel that saw the killing of Hamilton was in the process of being outlawed in America by 1804 when it happened (see box).

The civilized gun duel that would serve Nigeria in the present circumstance would be for Jonathan to woo Nigerians afresh with people-friendly initiatives while, for Obasanjo, he should mobilize campaigners against the president’s second term. That way, the needless overheating of the polity would be laid to rest – as was the bitterness between the former Secretary of the Treasury and the sitting Vice President of America in 1804.

Jonathan and Obasanjo

AN EVOLVING AMERICAN NATION (July 11, 1804)

Vice President kills former Secretary of the Treasury time between the shots. It was common for both principals in a duel to fire a shot at the ground to exemplify courage, and then the duel could come to an end. Hamilton apparently fired first, and into the air, though it is not clear whether this was intentional, much less that Burr perceived him to be “throwing away his fire” (as it did not follow the standard protocol). Burr returned fire and hit Hamilton in the lower

Continued from page 14

Thomas Jefferson popular dueling ground below the towering cliffs of the Palisades.

Hamilton and Burr agreed to take the duel to Weehawken because although dueling had been prohibited in both states, New York more aggressively prosecuted the crime (the same site was used for 18 known duels between 1700 and 1845). In an attempt to prevent the participants from being prosecuted, procedures were implemented to give all witnesses plausible deniability. For example, the pistols were transported to the island in a portmanteau, enabling the rowers (who also stood with their backs to the duelists) to say under oath that they had not seen any pistols. Burr, William P. Van Ness, (his second), Matthew L. Davis, and another (often identified as Samuel Swartwout) plus their rowers reached the site

,,

Hamilton held him responsible.

Hamilton’s animosity toward Burr was severe and welldocumented in personal letters to his friend and compatriot James McHenry.

The following quotation from one of these letters on January 4, 1801, exemplifies his bitterness: “Nothing has given me so much chagrin as the Intelligence that the Federal party were thinking seriously of supporting Mr. Burr for president. I should consider the execution of the plan as devoting the country and signing their own death warrant.

Mr. Burr will probably make stipulations, but he will laugh in his sleeve while he makes them and will break them the first moment it may serve his purpose.”

In a more extensive letter written shortly afterward, Hamilton details the many charges he has against Burr, calling him a “profligate, a voluptuary in the extreme”, that he corruptly served the views of the Holland Land Company while a member of Legislature, criticized Burr’s military commission and accused him of resigning under false pretenses, and many more serious accusation.

In the early morning hours of July 11, 1804, Burr and Hamilton departed by separate boats from Manhattan and rowed across the Hudson River to a spot known as the Heights of Weehawken in New Jersey a

first at half past six, whereupon Burr and Van Ness started to clear the underbrush from the dueling ground. Hamilton, Judge Nathaniel Pendleton, (his second), and Dr. David Hosack arrived a few minutes before seven. Lots were cast for the choice of position and which second should start the duel, both of which were won by Hamilton’s second who chose the upper edge of the ledge (which faced the city) for Hamilton. However, according to historian and author Joseph Ellis, since Hamilton had been challenged, he had choice of both weapon and position.

Under this account, it was Hamilton himself who chose the upstream or north side position.

All first-hand accounts of the duel agree that two shots were fired; however, Hamilton and Burr’s seconds disagreed on the intervening

It is entirely uncertain which principal fired first, as both seconds’ backs were to the duel in accordance with the pre-arranged regulations of the duel (and also so the men could later testify that they “saw no fire”). After much research to determine the actual events of the duel, historian Joseph J. Ellis gives his best guess: Hamilton did fire his weapon intentionally, and he fired first. But he aimed to miss Burr, sending his ball into

It is entirely uncertain which principal fired first, as both seconds’ backs were to the duel in accordance with the pre-arranged regulations of the duel (and also so the men could later testify that they “saw no fire”)

abdomen above the right hip.

The musket ball ricocheted off. Hamilton’s second or third false rib – fracturing it and caused considerable damage to his internal organs, particularly his liver and diaphragm before becoming lodged in his first or second lumbar vertebra.

According to Pendleton’s account, Hamilton collapsed immediately, dropping the pistol involuntarily, and Burr moved toward Hamilton in a speechless manner (which Pendleton deemed to be indicative of regret) before being hustled away behind an umbrella by Van Ness because Hosack and the rowers were already approaching.

the tree above and behind Burr’s location. In so doing, he did not withhold his shot, but he did waste it, thereby honoring his pre-duel pledge.

Meanwhile, Burr, who did not know about the pledge, did know that a projectile from Hamilton’s gun had whizzed past him and crashed into the tree to his rear. According to the principles of the code duello, Burr was perfectly justified in taking deadly aim at Hamilton and firing to kill.

But did he? What is possible, but beyond the reach of the available evidence, is that Burr really missed his target, too, that his own fatal shot, in fact, was accidental.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 17

2015

I see danger ahead

A

s the world celebrated Boxing Day, National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, played host two Niger Delta governors, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Obong Godswill Akpabio, among others at the 8th edition of Word of Life Bible Church/Eagle Flight Micro-Finance Bank poverty reduction programme where he gave out six brand new cars, 15 tricycles and 100 grinding machines. Impressed by the gesture, the two governors and Mr. Erhuani Godbless donated the sum of N30 million to assist the next poverty alleviation programme.

While Akpabio gave N250,000 each to the first four persons who won cars, Uduaghan opted to buy fuel

for the six persons who won cars in a process described as a free and fair election. Before the programme that took place on Ajamimogha Road, Warri, the CAN President spoke on the essence of Christmas and some national issues. Our SAM EYOBOKA was there. Excerpts: This is Christmas, a season of love, giving and the rest. What is the essence of the season?

The most powerful verse in the Holy Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life”. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.

Basically, Christmas is about giving.

God gave His son to man, that’s why Jesus came. He came on a mission to rescue man from obvious

,,

— Oritsejafor

•’My grouse against northern governors’

So if you are going to celebrate Christmas properly, we must put in focus the main issue about Christmas, and it’s giving. So, first of all, He gave His son so that we may be saved and know that heaven is secure

destruction. Man had fallen, now God wanted to restore man. But in restoring man, He didn’t just say He wanted to rescue man, He set a precedence—He gave.

So if you are going to celebrate Christmas properly, we must put in

focus the main issue about Christmas, and it’s giving. So, first of all, He gave His son so that we may be saved and know that heaven is secure. But while we are in this

Continues on page 18

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Continued from page 17 world, how do we genuinely celebrate what God gave? Wise men came and they also gave. So if we are wise today, what we must do is to give; give to the less privileged, give especially to those who will never be able to probably give back to you.

To me, that is the giving that touches God most. When you give to people who don’t have the capacity to give you back; it shows that you believe that, first of all, what you are doing is right, also you know that it’s only God that can reward you.

It’s very painful and pathetic for me to see what Christmas has become, but that must not stop us from celebrating. It’s sad, because it has become a commercial venture, where people sell this and that.

The worst of it is not just even the selling, it’s the killing and the maiming and destruction. People get drunk and do all kinds of crazy stuff in the name of Christmas. Yesterday, Christmas day, some people died; they didn’t die because they were sick, they died because they were stupid.

In the name of Christmas, people get drunk and have accidents that take their lives. In my own opinion, 99 per cent of people in this world, either they don’t understand what Christmas is, or they don’t want to understand what Christmas is, because when you see the way people do certain things, the extent which they go....People literally don’t go to church on Christmas day. It’s surprising to me that the person you are celebrating is the Church Himself, and yet you won’t go to Church on Christmas day, so what exactly are you celebrating?

The essence of living is to touch lives, and this is an incredible opportunity and season to do just that, and that is why we do what we do every December 26, apart from all what we do throughout the year.

The painful thing sometimes is that, Nigeria does not know what we do; I still open newspapers and read where people are saying Pastor Ayo doesn’t care about anybody. I ask myself, are these people normal?

‘My grouse against northern governors’

• Oritsejafor

,,

Marginalisation For example, two weeks ago, the Christian Association of Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, led by Rtd Gen Piko, visited me in Abuja on a solidarity visit. I didn’t even know they existed, and in the spirit of Christmas, when they shared how pathetic their situation is today in Nigeria, I wept. I had to look for two million naira to give to them to start something like a revolving loan.

Some things that certain people do appear on front pages, but 99 per cent of Nigerians don’t even know what happened.

These people came from Jigawa, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara.

They are the real core northerners that we are talking about. They lamented that the Federal Government is spending huge sums establishing Almajiri schools across the North, asking what about our own children? ‘Our children can’t go to those schools. We are more marginalized than anybody else, we are seen as Fulanis, we are seen as

When I say things like this, people say ‘oh he hates Muslims’ , no! I don’t hate Muslims, but I hate this discrimination which started long before Boko Haram

Hausas, Kanuris, but we are not treated as such; even by our own people, just for the single reason that we are Christians’.

And I asked a question, ‘ where are the civil rights groups in this country?’ Where are all these groups in Nigeria? What is their mission?

Because, sometimes, when I see them go after certain issues, forgive me but sometimes I feel like these are paid events that they do.

‘Bauchi govt illegally altered LGA’ Five days ago, the Sarawa nation, an ethnic nationality from Bauchi State, in the Tafawa Balewa Bogoro local government area, also paid me a solidarity visit. They have chosen their paramount ruler, but the governor refused to give him a staff of office. Why? Because they are Christians.

The headquarters of their local government was removed. That should not be because, according to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, nobody except the National Assembly can alter local government

headquarters. Bauchi State government did it. They moved it.

The only girl secondary school in their area was closed down by the governor and Muslim girls were moved to other schools, but Christian girls were left to roam the streets.

People are celebrating Nelson Mandela, do they tell the full story of Mandela? They say Mandela was a man of peace, a man of forgiveness, that’s wonderful. Is that all that Mandela represented?

Mandela didn’t go to jail because he was shaking the hands of white men! Mandela went to jail for exactly the reason I’m explaining here now.

Mandela was, at a point, labeled a terrorist. Mandela, at a point, refused to dialogue with these people because he said anybody who doesn’t see him as a human being, he would not sit and discuss with him. He did what I would rather not do; he took up arms.

There was division in his ANC, but his own side opted to take up arms and he did and he was arrested and jailed for treason and other things.

He stayed in jail for 27 years. Why did he stay in jail? Because he was fighting for the freedom of the marginalized, persecuted, dehumanized people. Mandela would never have come out of prison if apartheid did not stop. It was because apartheid came to an end that he accepted to come out of jail, if not; he would have stayed in prison. But when he came out of prison, he forgave. Why? His forgiveness shows that what he was doing, he was not doing it because he hated the white man, but because he hated what they were doing.

Discrimination When I say things like this, people say ‘oh he hates Muslims’ , no! I don’t hate Muslims, but I hate this discrimination which started long before Boko Haram.

I gave the Sarawa people N2.5

million. Bishop John Praise was there when they visited and he added N500,000 to make it N3 million that we gave to start a revolving loan scheme. You can go to the states where these people are, the governors will spend N300 million to build mosques and yet churches are destroyed, and they will not pay compensation or rebuild the church buildings or help rehabilitate lives; widows, orphans.

These governors squander huge sums of money on different things and don’t really care about these indigenous people. These are voiceless people; I have a calling to be a voice for these people who no one else will hear or even know that they exist. The first step to their liberation is recognition. This nation must recognize that these people do exist all over the North. Yes we have in the South, but its a serious issue in the North. These are people who nobody cares about. As we speak, there are people who are refugees in Cameroon and they are from Gwarzo in Borno State. What is the governor doing? Why can’t he bring them back? Why can’t he rehabilitate them and take care of them? Just because they are Christians.

There are few who are Muslims, but about 80 per cent of them are Christians. They are in camps. I was told that there are some government officials who were even denying that they existed, and yet United Nations are doing their best, going to some of these people and trying to give them helping hands.

Yes, the Federal Government must get involved, but it is in Abuja. There is no voice, nobody is saying anything. I am doing my best to say something but they are drowning my voice! Certain persons want to divert attention by making it look like I’m wining and dining with government and that’s why I sleep in Aso Rock, that is my home.

‘Where are the govs’?

Let’s get back to the topic, this is a season of giving and I’m doing my little best. Now I’m helping Gov. Yuguda to take care of his people, I’m not a state governor. How much do I have? I’m helping Borno State governor to take care of his people.

If you know how much I’ve sent to those refugee camps. I bought grains for them about a month ago worth N1 million; two weeks ago, I gave out money to buy them things for Christmas in four different camps.

There was a group that was displaced from Yobe State who are now being camped in Jos as we speak for at least two years. They had to run for their lives. They are in one abandoned hotel. Somebody appealed to me, so I’m trying to look for something to send to them for Christmas. Where is the governor of Yobe State? Does he care? Because they are Christians. So nobody will do or say anything. It’s pathetic. We are doing our best to try and touch people and change lives. This is that season.

You spend so much money every year for this empowerment program. Year in year out, you have refused to disclose how much you spend. What are you giving out this

Continues on page 19

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 19

Oritsejafor: Elected public officials can forgo half of their salaries Continued from page 18 year?

Well, we are giving out six brand new cars, that people who get them will use as taxi. Yesterday, at the Christmas service, a couple came to me and gave me a gift. The young lady said she was the first lady that won a car a few years back. And here she was with her husband, coming to give me Christmas gift. What that tells you is that their lives have changed. I was so touched that tears came to my eyes. I said to myself, it’s worth it. And she kept saying ‘I was the first person that won a car’, now she’s married and their lives have changed, they are living like human beings, because, through that one car, they have been able to do other things. But, basically, they are able to have an income; things are going very well for them now. I am hoping again that six persons lives will be changed today. Then we have 15 tricycles. Then we have about 100 grinding machines. We have people whose lives have been transformed through ordinary grinding machine.

Some of those who won’t be able to get these things, I might be able to share about 100 bags of rice as well.

Some people who couldn’t get anything naturally will feel a bit depressed. I can’t help everybody.

We have a hundred bags here; probably we’ll share into two, two to one bag, that gives you about 200 people who will be able to share 100 bags just at least to give them some hope and joy that at least they got something out of the process. These are some of the things we are doing today.

It is obvious you are so passionate about the plight of the less privileged. In your interactions with the president of Nigeria and the governor of this state, for instance, do you try to let them know what the people are going through?

I do. I don’t speak for government but I noticed that they have tagged

the federal budget of 2014 as budget of employment. I don’t know whether it’s for some of the things that some of us keep saying that has led to this, because the situation is really bad.

People are hungry and are suffering.

I think, apart from education, unemployment is probably a major challenge in this country today.

People need to be gainfully employed.

I threw a challenge at the October 1 service held on September 28 or 29 or thereabouts at the National Christian Center with several state governors and the president were seated. I said I would like a situation where all elected and appointed office holders in Nigeria across the board, from local government to the Presidency, forfeit half of their salaries for one year, and such money should be put into a dedicated account, to be manged by credible Nigerians. The money should be used to create employment.

D

o you know it didn’t appear in any newspaper the next day? I’m the only one that has been brave enough to make such a statement but nobody carried it. I wonder sometimes what the media really wants to report. Do you know that if that thing was carried, it becomes an editorial issue, and there was a lot of pressure from the press, public, everywhere, probably by now it would have materialized? Do you know how much that would amount to? It would run into billions and that could be helpful on one side that could be used to establish medium scale industries across the country that would create employment for a lot of young people.

Since no paper carried it the next day, the story ended, because it’s coming from Pastor Ayo. It’s like the press has made a pledge that anything I say or do that will benefit

,,

• Oritsejafor

the ordinary people must not be carried. But when they perceive or think that this will put him in bad light, they put it on front page. I’m just giving you an example of what I did publicly, not even privately.

Would you therefore say you are disappointed by the attitude of government to the plight of the ordinary Nigerian citizens, because there’s no reason why the Delta State government, for instance, should not collaborate with you?

There is no reason they should not.

But a few years ago, the governor gave us N10 million to assist in what we were doing. This was about three or four years ago. I don’t want to sound like I’m pulling people down, I want to encourage them to be able to do as much as possible, but there’s a lot they can help us to do, especially those of us who have the heart to do some of these things. I have discovered that government alone can’t do these things, they need private partnership. I think there should be a partnership between the private sector and the public sector, the government and philanthropic organizations, genuine NGOs. A lot of NGOs are fake. But I think there should be a partnership so that government can be relieved of certain things so they can concentrate on other things. And they can take credit for a lot of it too, because they can finance some of those things and it will go a long way to help the average Nigerian. So government can do more, much more than what they are doing. I’m hoping and believing that 2014 will be better, because I’ve heard a lot from government. So lets wait and see. They need to do something and they need to do it fast.

We are moving into 2014, the

heal people, because they will be able to speak their minds.

Anything that is bottled in will either implode or explode. But when you are able to say it, you are relieved. In the process of saying it, you’ll really know what is on my mind and I’ll know what’s in your mind and we can agree or disagree.

I think we have reached the point where just a group of people should not determine the destiny of the nation; I think Nigerians should decide what they want and how they want it. In my own opinion, it is a part of the democratic process and we must do it very quickly. I’m glad I hear that it’s going to take place in February; that, to me, is one of the legacies of Jonathan’s administration and he should make sure it is guided properly so that it takes place in a wide atmosphere for people to really speak their mind. I think it’s the right step in the right direction.

If you look at what is going on in the polity today, there is a kind of gang-up between the Muslim Southwest and the North-west that is predominantly Muslims ahead of 2015. What is your concern? Do you think they are up to something?

To be honest with you, I’m very troubled. They don’t like people like us saying certain things. At the end of the day, they look at us and say ‘ you are the one that is heating up the polity’, but it is strange because all we do is react to the reactions of other people. What you have just described is exactly what some of us are seeing that is very frightening.

Are we aligning along religious line?

Because if that is what is happening, it is very dangerous for Nigeria.

Obviously, it is not all of the Southwest, it is like the Muslim South-w est, the far North Muslims. It is very

They look at us and say ‘you are the one that is heating up the polity’, but it is strange because all we do is react to the reactions of other people. What you have just described is exactly what some of us are seeing that is very frightening. Are we aligning along religious line? Because if that is what is happening, it is very dangerous for Nigeria

centenary anniversary of the nation’s amalgamation, and there has been issues concerning this amalgamation, whether we should continue as one. From your own point of view, what do you think?

I think from all what you are saying, that’s the more reason the national conference is extremely necessary. You could call it any name you want. Let me go to the extreme to say if even what is done or said is not adopted anywhere, but it will give Nigerians an opportunity to talk. We need to talk. In my own opinion, the level of impunity, pride by certain group of people, some almost feel like they own Nigeria, all kinds of things are going on. So I think that is the more reason the national conference is absolutely necessary, because, as far as I’m concerned, at the national conference, everything should be on the table, nothing should be left out.

One of the things it will do, it will

frightening, it shouldn’t be, and they shouldn’t pretend about this, they should come out and tell the truth because that’s what we see here. I don’t want to comment on political parties because I’m not a politician, I’m not going to that extent, but we should not do that. We should please allow Nigeria be and allow the people to decide what they want. It’s a very dangerous direction if we go that way. The body language we see is not good for this nation, and I think the media must help us to get the message across that this is very dangerous for the unity of this nation and I pray that it shouldn’t go that way so that we can come today and not try to divide this nation. I’m being very selective in my words. I wish Nigeria well. I believe that 2013 was a year of discovery, 2014 for me is a year of recovery. I see Nigeria being able to recover. We have an incredible opportunity to recover and I hope and pray and believe God for recovery.

PAGE 20— SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013 Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com (08054650907- SMS only)

2013 in the eyes of women

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

hopes and aspirations, everyone into entered 2013 363 W days ago. Now, as the year wraps up, it’s only natural to take stock as we gaze with optimism into the New Year. But how exactly ITH

has the year 2013 been? Women comprise the larger chunk of Nigeria’s population, so, through their eyes, Feminista looks back into the year as we also wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Less of pull-down syndrome —Hon.Elizabeth Ativie,

Member, Edo State House of Assembly

PULL-down syndrome amongst women drastically reduced in the year 2013. Women have been very supportive, unlike in the past. I give kudos to non-governmental organisations for their continuous sensitization.

Come 2014, I look forward to a level-playing ground for female politicians, particularly at party levels because we cannot contest elections without having victory at the primary level. I look forward to more chances because a lot of parties have promised internal democracy. I hope to see this promise manifest itself in primary elections in 2014. If women can enjoy level-playing field at the primary level, then they can go to the polls and gain elective positions.

In terms of appointive positions, the *Elizabeth Presidency has been faithful to its promise and we could see more women getting positions. State governments too have taken a cue.

High in gender-based violence

—Ada Agina-Ude, Executive Director, Gender and Development Action, GADA

I

T has been a year of prospects based on the Constitution Review and the forthcoming National Conference but only time will tell if the opportunities will translate to advantages for women and girls. The sack of five female ministers at a go was a bitter pill to swallow. I however want to admit that the special Youwin programme for women was very empowering.

Also the fact that some states such as Ekiti and Anambra passed gender equality laws is something to celebrate.

The Federal Government on it part reformed the Family Law and engendered aspects of the Criminal Law. It’s sad that despite all the good laws, violence against women rose to an alarming height this year. My organisation is a not- for- profit one and it was affected more by the policies of donor countries and agencies. However the tendency these days for donors to work more with government instead of NGOs means we *Ada are deepening partnership with governments, and of course this has its own limitations. Specifically, I expect that early next year the legislature will expunge section 29:4(b) of the constitution that endorses girl-child marriage.

T

My business affected by unrest in Turkey—

Rosemary Akaette Duamlong, CEO, Gren Business Dimensions

T

HE year 2013 was interesting but filled uncertainties in terms of government, policies, business and finance. For the first time, there was unrest in Turkey which affected business largely for people like myself who are into business *Rosemary tourism. Turkey is very significant in that it serves as a gateway to Europe, Middle East and the UK. Hence, the unrest affected business flow in these other regions.However, the need for new innovations and the search for new horizons topped request lists in my field. An example is with China. Before now, people jumped at every opportunity to explore China for business. But towards the end of 2013, most people began craving for somewhere different.

In terms of reforms, the latest Central Bank FOREX reform has affected business negatively. It was too sudden and very inappropriate for our economy where everything is now imported. In the long term, it might pay off, anyway.

But for now, it has driven the $ from N155 to N172 in just 1month. All we are doing is ‘ watch and see’ how things will unfold in 2014.

Primary healthcare a disgrace

—Dr.Alero Roberts, Expert, Maternal/ Child Health

HERE were still so many missed opportunities for changing the picture and improving the chances of survival for mothers and children. The Polio statistics show that we are slipping up with coverage. The number of Primary Health Care Clinics that are non-functional is a disgrace to the nation. The country still cannot explain why the mortality statistics are poorer than even post-conflict countries.

Come 2014, the way forward should start with an equitable distribution of funds, first to the health sector. Specifically to staff recruitment, retention, retraining and remuneration.

Making universal access to affordable effective healthcare an achievable priority and not merely a buzz word; ensuring every woman and child has insurance coverage through the use of the Personal Health Records which the country adopted as part of the laudable Midwives Service Scheme should be prioritised. It is difficult to reconcile the mortality statistics with the news of budgeting N1.6bn for residences of four people!

*Alero

Too poor in ICT—Martha Omoekpen Alade, President, Women in Technology in Nigeria

N

IGERIA ranking 113 out of 144 countries in the Network Readiness Index, NRI clearly shows that the country is still behind globally in terms of ICT. The gender digital divide is still very wide. However, the Communication Technology Ministry is making intense effort to bridge this gender digital divide in 2014 by taking ICT to grassroots amongst girls in secondary schools through her Girls in ICT Clubs which will be launched in secondary schools next year.

Good in legal practice—Barrister Chigoziri Ojiaka, ex-Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Lagos

*Chigoziri

2

013 has been a very successful year with many innovative activities. Legal practice has been interesting with a tremendous reduction in sharp practices. Many more women are in active practice, were elevated to the higher and lower bench and made Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

For 2014, there is however room for improvement in the area of court decongestion and use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR. Lagos State is blazing the trail but other States like Imo and others are far from the use of ADR.

*Martha

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013,

PAGE 21

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com (08054650907- SMS only)

Why penalties for domestic violence appear cheap — Hon Funmilayo Tejuosho

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

Representing Mushin Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon.Funmilayo Tejuosho, in 2007, sponsored the passage of the State’s Domestic Violence Law. Six years down the line, at an encounter in an event organised in Lagos by the International Inner Wheel Club of Isolo to celebrate women, Tejuosho explained why the penalties accompanying domestic violence appear lenient, especially as calls for stiffer penalties become almost unavoidable. She also recommended mentoring and advised on available options in cases of reoccurring violence. Excerpts: familiar persons. How can women help themselves?

First of all, they have to know what their rights are.

They must understand that even when they get married, they are not giving up their rights to be treated as human beings because the fundamental human rights entrenched in the constitution governs all of us- both rich and poor, male and female. I however want to aver that when it comes to domestic violence, the problem is the abuser; not the abused. That’s why women must stop seeing themselves as the cause. Now we know as women the problems we have and why we should not tolerate people harassing or abusing us in any form.

But how potent is the Domestic Violence Law towards tackling violence?

There are many steps to tackling violence. Apart from the Domestic Violence Law, we have the Matrimonial Causes Law, Criminal Law and other laws that can also help. The characteristic beauty about the domestic violence law however, is that, it lets you hear the matter in private and hearing the matter in private helps to keep the marriage intact. The penalties are however several. For example, orders

•Hon.Funmilayo Tejuosho

,,

V

iolence against women has refused to ebb despite the Domestic Violence Law; what further measures are being employed to strengthen the law?

We know that violence against women is a problem not just in Nigeria but all over the world. That was why as soon as the law was enacted in 2007, the Lagos state government set up a centre to help solve some of the problems tied to violence in the home. One of such is the fact that sometimes, people have to get away from the scene of violence so that both parties can reorganise their thoughts. The centre is a temporary abode, anyway.

Apart from the centre, the government has also simplified the Domestic Violence Law and translated it in the three major languages in Nigeria- Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo. Sensitization measures are also in place to ensure people are aware of the law and are able to take advantage of it. Counselling centres with counsellors are also present in all the local government councils in the state, to counsel aggrieved couples.

Self-help tips might be essential since this is largely a conflict between two

As a matter of fact, your wealth and success are measured by your wife’s physical look and welfare. Above all, we have to keep teaching religion because it teaches us to love one another.

like the restraining order can be granted by the court to restrain the abuser from going to certain areas around the woman or abusing her. If those orders are breached, the abuser will then be arrested and prosecuted. The law will take its cause based on the offence, this time using the Criminal Law. The good thing about the Domestic Violence Law is that penalties are the last resort.

Meanwhile, other laws like the Matrimonial Causes Law

have instant penalties whether you like it or not. The Matrimonial Causes Law for example requires you to go through a divorce proceeding or have a separation order in place for you to get a restraining order against the man or woman. Meanwhile, the Domestic Violence Law does not require divorce to tackle violence. All you just need to do is make it clear you want the violence to stop and then the law helps you get what you want.

But crime is crime, no matter where it is committed; why can’t the Domestic Violence Law attract tough penalties without dilly-dallying?

It is not as strict as other laws because we are trying to guard against breaking marriages. But of course, if you have a case that requires stiffer penalties, there are other laws to help do so. For example, you can sue under the Criminal Law. But of course, when it involves murder, the case automatically becomes a state issue and there’s not much anyone can do about pleading. To me, I think what we need is mentoring; not tough laws. We need to orientate our people to understand because we don’t want all our husbands to be in jail but want them to change. So, we need mentors that can help them change.

While I was doing my research during my Masters in Law, there was a young man who was always abusing and battering his wife. Do you know all it took to stop him from that act was just a big and popularlyfeared man in the society whom he realised was treating his wife at home like a queen? Everybody literarily shakes when that man passes but he still treats his wife like a queen! So, you see, a man can still be a man without oppressing his woman. As a matter of fact, your wealth and success are measured by your wife’s physical look and welfare.

Above all, we have to keep teaching religion because it teaches us to love one another. Respect is earned and not forced, so, a loving husband will be genuinely respected and loved by his wife.

A

s a longstanding legislator, what loopholes can you finger in our approach to domestic violence?

Nigeria has to be up and doing. If we need to amend the law or put things in place, let us do so. For example, the Domestic Violence Law requires the police to provide alternative shelter but we know it might be difficult for them to do so when they have none. So, these are things government at all levels have to work together as a unit to make sure that those that are required to give help to victims of domestic violence are comfortable enough to give help.

P AGE 22—SUND AY Vanguard , DECEMBER 29 , 2013 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Why a lousy marriage is better than an affair HE average-woman, desperate for a relaT tionship by settling for a

married man, soon finds out that such men often cling to their wives. The truth really is that men don’t change as far as their emotions go, and they seldom respect a woman who goes to bed with them when they have a wife. Let’s face it, all they want is mischief outside the matrimonial home. As a result, no matter what kind of story they give how the wife is a wife in name only, or that they have separate bedrooms or an arrangement - you better believe that the night they don’t see you and have to go home, they’re still going to sleep with their wives, even if it’s love-making with concession.

And they still respect their wives because of their guilt. In fact, these wives almost get to be worshipped by such husbands.

And the better and the more emotionally satisfying their current affair, the more guilt they feel towards their wives. “Some fifteen years ago,” said Felicia, whom I recently ran into at a friend’s flat, “I met a married man after my divorce. At the time, my only child was six years old and I didn’t want her to be an only child. In time, I established a relationship with my lover and saw him as a quasi-husband. We met three times a week and phoned almost everyday.

When I broached the subject of another child with him, he was all for it and I later had a son. I was settled in the relationship in spite of his wife and other children.

“Then his mother was seriously ill and had to live with my man’s family. She was with him for almost five years, but he kept on assuring me that when she eventuailly died, we would have a traditional marriage. In the meantime, we carried on as we were to the extent that he made it a routine to sleep over twice a week at my place. He didn’t have that much money, but he was better than most

philanderers of his age. He showed commitment and a semblance of responsibility.

“When his mother eventually passed on, he said he was too old and emotionally drained to go through the hassle of a second marriage. He is now 62 and I am 49. After giving him over 15 years of my life, marriage has never been mentioned again. In fact, when his mother died, it really tore his heart. Instead of turning to me for comfort, he turned to his wife whom he commended for nursing his mother through a difficult illness. I am heartbroken and feel shutout. We were so close. Now it’s over between us though he’s taking full responsibility for our son. As things are now, I seldom eat well.

When push came to shove, he showed that his emotional commitment is to his wife.

I don’t sleep well and where I once felt love, I feel a lot of pain while he’s being pampered by his wife!

It’s bad enough when split couples are unmarried, but when your longterm married lover splits with you, you believe everybody is laughing at your complacency in thinking such a relationship was made in heaven.

“The misery and selfdoubt, the churning every time you catch sight of “him or find yourself somewhere you used to go together, the shame and embarrassment as you glibly lied to your son about why ‘daddy ’ doesn’t come around often any more ... ; are enough to make you contemplate suicide. Even celebrities, for all their money and fame, have found themselves caught in the married-men web only to be plunged into a painful end to such relationships. And the wives? For them, as things stand today, the rules have changed slightly.

In the past, lots of injured wives vent their hurt feelings in public with as much venom as possible. These days, it is pleasant to see

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"

Being in relationship

Being in a relationship, it's not about the labels or becoming official. It's about getting to know some-

most of them play the role of a patient dog - their behaviour, often a blue-print for how to take the average husband’s philandering gracefully on the chin until such husbands rush home tearfully after their burnt fingers. The long-suffering wives would have then forgiven every wrong provided the prodigal husbands promise it would never happen again.

Only, whilst such wives wait patiently and play the role of the wronged wives, they’re not exactly weeping into their pillows.

A few years ago at one of these popular eateries that do local dishes, a fairly wellknown lady walked in with a couple of friends. A hiss of derision greeted the arrival - it was from a bloke on my table. “Shameless woman,” he said, obviously referring to the woman. “She’s supposed to be married but her sexual appetite is insatiable! She’s gone round a few of my friends and I refused to have anything to do with her ... “ In spite of my kicking and nudging him, he went on with his tirade. Unknown to him, this woman’s poor husband was sitting within hearing distance from us. He visibly went cold as his wife made her way to his table. “She’s obviously caught another moomoo,” hollard this thoughtless man.

I had to whisper furiously into his ears that the “catch” was the woman’s husband! We would never know what hell the husband gave his wife when they got home or how she wriggled out of ‘our thoughtless friend’s commen-

tary. The cheering news is that they ’re still very much married! Which goes to show you can,forgive any wrong provided there’s still a bit of a spark left in the relationship!

Menopausal Symptoms No One Warns You About!

The menopause has always been the bane of the average middle-aged woman. Hot flushes, weight gain and a diminished sex drive are all well-known symptoms of the dreaded menopause.

But research now confirms what women have long suspected that it can affect the body and mind in many other ways.

Tanith Carey takes a professional look at what you can do to tackle these surprising side-effects ...

You start snoring: For years, you’ve been complaining that your partner’s snoring keeps you awake. Now the menopause is setting in, he could well be pointing the finger at you. Many women start snoring more seriously once they hit the change of life which is 51 on average.

The onset of snoring is partly due to falling levels of female sex hormone oestrogen, which - as well as regulating the menstrual cycle - also plays a role in keeping the muscles and soft tissues around the wind-pipe strong. When these become more lax, the tissues

one well enough to develop genuine feelings for them. It's about being understanding & forgiving when situations are at their worst. It's about loving someone, not for what they have to offer but who they are. It's never about blaming your significant to others for not treating you like how you want to be treated, it's about how hard they try to keep you around! I love you.

Emma Mine 07051037749 Delta State

LIFE

Life is all about being thankful for nights that turned into mornings...

collapse - and women can’t breathe as easily when they sleep.’

In the most serious cases, it can lead to sleep apnoea, where the airways become partially or totally obstructed for up to ten seconds at a time, forcing the brain to wake up - even though the sleeper may not be aware of it. A study by the University of Toronto found that 47 per cent of post-menopausal women suffer with the condition compared to 21 per cent of younger women. Because the quality of sleep is impaired by the constant waking, side-effects can include tiredness, anxiety and forgetfulness.

How to fight back: Try buying a pillow designed to make you sleep on your back - or with your head and throat in alignment so your airways stay open as you sleep. For women with serious cases of sleep apnoea, there are masks, called CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), which blow air into the throat to keep breathing easier.

You’re Lost For Words: Word on the tip of your tongue you just can’t recall?

Forgetting an old friend’s name? It could be another symptom of the menopause. In one study, 40 per cent of women aged 40 - 55 said they had trouble remembering things, even when their other thought processes remained as strong as ever. Studies have shown that when oestrogen levels dip it is more difficult to build connections between brain cells, and to store and recall memories.

How to fight back: The good news is that, in most cases, it’s a phase which will have passed a year after your last period, according to neuro-psychiatrist Miriam Weber. During this time, women have to face up to the fact that they need to do more to make sure information sinks in.

She says: “You shouldn’t expect to be able to remember everything after hearing it just once. Repeat it out loud, or say it back to the

person to confirm it - it will help you hold on to that information far longer.” A study at Durham University also found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can rejuvenate the brain.

The research found it took years off a woman’s mental age because HRT helped the left and right sides of the brain to work better together. “ You crave sugary Treats: There’s a reason that cupcakes and deserts look more tempting than they used to. Studies have found women develop a sweeter tooth as they go through the menopause. A study at Turkey’s Ankara University found that 35 per cent of women said their palate was not as sensitive during the change of life, and that they craved stronger, sweeter tastes. At the same time, as levels of the oestrogen and the other female sex hormone, progesterone drop, women become more prone to insulin resistance - where the body’s cells don’t respond as well to insulin, making sugar cravings soar.

How to fight back: To beat your sweet tooth, eat smaller, more regular meals containing lean proteins, which absorbed more slowly into the blood stream. As our sensitivity to sugar drops - and we may not taste the sweetness - it’s more important than ever to read food labels. Dr. Marilyn Glenville, author of Healthy Eating For The Menopause , says: “You may decide to take less sugar in your tea - but,it is the hidden added sugar in products that can be the major culprit.” It has been calculated that we could be taking in up to 46 teaspoons of added sugar in a day in the foods and drinks we consume.” Swap sugarfree brands of tomato ketchup of spaghetti sauce.

You can replace sugar with xylitol, which is naturally found in fruits and berries and has a low glycaemic index (a measure of how fast blood sugar levels rise after eating) To be concluded.

Meeting the same people but making new conversations...Walking through old roads but discovering something new...

Realising that you've grown a day older but still feeling young at heart...

Meeting busy schedules but still finding time to smile...

Being nostalgic about by-gone days but looking foward to better days to come...Merry Xmas & a Prosperous New year in advance.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.Chris Onunaku dekris4real@gmail.com 08032988826/08184844015.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 23

08112662589

He calls it love she calls it convenience!

O matter how liber N ated society is about sex and how you go about

making the most of the opportunities you have, at the end of the day, you have to face the decision you make and account for your recklessness. The bandwagon effect seldom bodes well for everybody as Ruki recently found out.

According to her: “I’ve been on my own since splitting with my boyfriend last year. He was the one who left and I was so gutted I didn’t want male company for a while. But all that changed when I started work at a telecoms company at the beginning of the year. It was a dream job and the line manager was a dreamboat. ‘We often shared the same table at the staff canteen and I became strongly attracted to him. I could sense a lot of sexual tension between us. The problem was that relationships between staff members are forbidden and flirting was risky.

However, at the last office party, I got talking to him. I knew he had a girlfriend but I didn’t care, I still made a play for him. It started off as harmless flirting but things got serious. He told me he and his girlfriend liked to experiment, so I lied that I did too. I didn’t want him to think I was a prude.

He then asked if I fancied a threesome with him and his girl.

“I was a bit taken aback, but then I thought, why not?

Men have often told me I’m good in bed and I saw this as an opportunity to price him away from his girlfriend. A few weeks later, I received a text from him saying, ‘If you’re still up for it, how about tonight?’ I replied that I was game but was really nervous when I turned up at his flat. I relaxed when I noticed his girlfriend wasn’t as pretty or as slim as me.

She was friendly and chatty though, and after a lot of wine, I started to loosen up. His girlfriend was the one to start by stroking my face and taking my clothes off - it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Slowly, she too got undressed. -”Quickly, he started stripping off and when I saw his toned muscular body, it really turned me on, and I forgot my nerves. We ended up having the most amazing wild night of sex. It was pure pleasure from start to finish, and from the way he was all over me, I felt sure it was more than just a sex thing for him. You can then imagine how stunned I was the next time I saw him at work and he just nodded at me and didn’t say a word!

“He’s been avoiding me ever since. I feel so hurt and angry. I thought he fancied me and we’d end up together, not knowing that all he wanted was to use me. I feel so hurt that I might just make a complaint about him to the MD. See how

smug he’ll feel when he loses his job”.

I was really amused by Ruki’s antics and I told her so. She was an adult who willingly took part in a threesome with her immediate boss. If she made any complaint, I told her, her boss might either deny or both of them could get fired if the firm is that strict about staff relationships.

Not only that, the whole office-might even get to know the hot sexual exploits of the two of them. Wow! Ruki is only angry because she failed in her attempt to steal the man away from his girlfriend. Sadly, trying to hook someone you hardly know using sex as a bait is bound to fail.

Chris said, he found this out when it was almost too

late. He was still single a few years ago when he ran into Toks who was almost ten years his senior. “We met at a seminar,”he recalled "and she was very friendly. The very first day, she invited me to her room.

When she opened the door to let me in, it was obvious she was waiting for me. I sat on the big bed and we made some silly comments about the seminar. I knew what she wanted - the atmosphere was so charged that I quickly grabbed a drink from the minibar. As I sipped my drink, she disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared in her bathrobe. She told me cheekily she didn’t have anything fancy enough to let me undress and that her naked body in a see -

through robe was the best turn-on she could offer.

“I was already stripped to my boxers anyway, so I pulled her onto the bed. As we kissed, I removed the robe and grabbed her boobs - she was all over me as we made love with a lot of passion. She was really amazing as she clambered on top and straddled me. We made love two more times before I sneaked back to my room.

The rest of the seminar was a blur as we made love as often as we could. As we left for our various stations, we exchanged phone numbers.

She told me she was married but separated from her husband. That she was glad she found me to fill the emptiness.

“I was on cloud nine as I visited her in her office. She didn’t encourage me to come to her house yet because of the kids. Technically she was still married to her husband and until the divorce, it wouldn’t be right to bring me home. At least that was the reason she gave. I invited her to my place instead and she cooked for me, made wild love to me and even spent the odd night. I was in love with her and would have gladly married her in spite of the age difference. Unfortunately, I was brought crashing down from my euphoric state a few months after we met when she told me her husband had been making moves to rekindle their dead marriage. She didn’t tell me of this recon-

ciliation move before because she was sure she never wanted anything to do with him. But pressure was put on her by his relatives and hers to give the marriage a second chance because of the kids. The kids too were all for it and the idea didn’t seem so bad after she’d given it a thought.

“I was shocked. What about me? What about us?

She was really patient as she explained she would always cherish what we had. That thanks to me, she didn’t go mad when she thought she didn’t have a marriage. But she’d been married to her husband for 15 years and wanted to make things work for her three children, so, as to give them a more grounded life.

“I missed her so much it hurts. Later, I learnt from a friend she was never separated from her husband, that he was banged up in a foreign jail far credit card fraud and had just been released. In other words, I came in handy for those lonely night’s he wasn’t around to make love to her! That didn’t make my pain any less bearable. Despite my grief, I still stay awake nights thinking of her and the urges that still burn. I feel I’m dying with frustration and it’s going to take a long time to get over the fact that I fell for a woman who wanted me only for the sex”.

08052201867(Text Only)

Checking excess body fat at Yuletide

F

AT is a neces compo sary

nent of the human organism. It serves as a source of ene rgy; you

need it to maintain proper body heat when the surrounding atmosphere takes a dip in temperature; it serves as a carrier of Vitamin A, D, E

and K and it is also a source of energy.

It is the excess of fat that is dangerous. With too much of fat there obtains the situation where there is not enough skin area for the body to regain its optimum temperature when there has been some vigorous activity.

The fatter the person the quicker it takes for the body’s temperature to rise and the longer it takes it to cool off.

While the lean individual can race up a flight of stairs with very little effort, the same activity at the same pace will almost kill a fat

C M Y K

person.

A fat person pants too quickly in the body’s attempt to maintain the correct body heat.

The action of the lungs is tied to that of the heart.

When you have to breathe faster, the heart naturally beats faster. Too fast a heart rate, and the heart itself is denied of enough oxygenated blood for its own upkeep.

The picture is clearer now as to why the fatter the person, the worse a state his heart will be in.

Now, you think you need to cut down on the amount of fat you’re carrying around. Good.

But the problem must be approached with caution. You must have a weight loss programme that your body can tolerate. Too great a pace and the attendant exhaustion might discourage you from trying anymore.

The sensible thing to do is to modify the diet and introduce the kind of regimen that the body can take and not leave you feeling totally wiped out, as it were.

As far as diet goes, I favour a breakfast of fruit and a lunch and dinner that has a lot of vegeta-

The triangle posture

bles.

Fruit being predigested, leaves very little residue in the system.

When you eat fruit, you save enough energy, that way your body has enough power of its own to start dealing with all the toxins that have come about on account of an improper eating pattern.

The practice of deep breathing will enable you cut down on a runaway appetite.

When the appetite is unbridled, you can almost eat or feast to death. Come to think of it the human being is about the only animal on earth that does not wait to be hungry before eating.

Little wonder, we seem to be the only creatures with a weight problem. Animals fare much better as regards food. They only seem to have problems when we domesticate them, turn them into pets. That way we spoil them and soon they become affected with all kinds of conditions.

We should heed Hippocrates advice that our food should be our medicine.

So, you have resolved to deal with your excess fat. In that case, here are some exercises that will really help you achieve your goals of a sleek and efficient machinery of a body.

The Triangle: Technique: Standing with

feet about 3 feet apart, bend the left knee to the same level with your hip.

Keep the right leg straight with the foot placed horizontally to the left foot which is facing leftward.

Leave the left hand open and placed next to the left foot. Straighten the right hand and bring it down so that your bicep touches lightly your right ear.

Stay in the posture for some 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The triangle posture firms the thighs. It reduces fat on the sides and upper arms The Single Leg Raise: Technique: Lying flat on your belly, place the hands by your side. With your chin on the floor, raise up the left leg to an angle of about 90 degrees from the floor. Hold the posture for about 10 - 15 seconds. Change legs and repeat.

Benefits: This posture tones up the muscle of the legs. It firms the buttocks by

reducing excess fat.

Compliments of the season.

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

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

BRAND NIGERIA

National Economic Planning & The Imperatives For Global Competitiveness

Nigeria is a brand, and her resources must be profitably invested for the interest of all Nigerians (and for their equity participation).

BRAND NIGERIA topic is planned to run in a series.

What we have done so far is in the area of introduction to the more engaging issues. So far, we have engaged the more and more people in the treatment of BRAND NIGERIA with a more purposeful engagement, at least considering the reactions we have had so far. We shall continue to engage all discerning stake-holders outside the political sphere. It is rather interesting.

Georgie Umunna says to me “A BRAND IS A PERSONAE” and should not be seen as a personality - rather technical in the deeper sense. That sounds very interesting to us at MC&A DIGEST as it adds to the intellectual excitement of this topic.

That the brand is A PERSONA brings into involvement the inner person of the brand, involving the soul of the brand. We did rationalize our classification of the brand’s PERSONALITY by drawing on its physical attributes and characteristics, putting in focus those physical references in support of its PERSONALITY; these identity aids come to play at periods of differentiation from among competition. These are aids for manifestation of any brand’s individuality, in support of its ME position.

My Oga’s position is that this issue is too serious to be treated at its surface level, and so he wants us to dig deeper...and so we shall do.

We have also put him on notice (and stand-by) for his support, as we continue.

As a brand in the realm of a (PERSONAE), Nigeria is challenged in selfidentification and realisation.

From the perspective of political history, the concept of nation-hood was placed beyond HER comprehension (this can also be said of many other post colonial nationstates in sub-Sahara Africa), partly due to illiteracy. With the gradual build-up of political awareness, in the face of illiteracy, the haste for political independence was confused with economic gains and freedom. The order of anticipation and the less than

,

O

UR last effort at profiling Nigeria as a brand, we focused on the definition of a brand, pointing to those fundamentals that must be considered. The questions we raised in that piece were drawn along the line of an inquest, in some form, and as an effort towards setting agenda, in some other dimension. To the extent that we sought a think-through of some of the assumptions we make of Nigeria as a brand, and the posture and position we take in our position on the issue of nation-building, as a brand, we do think the message was sent.

However, so many of our readers reacted in varying and interesting ways, to that article in mention. Broadly, the overriding position is that of ‘asking for more’; as over 78% of the responses we got on account of that article, ask that we drive the argument much further. To this group of respondents, the issues are much bigger and inclusive than we touched on. It was like we scratched on the surface, and so the position is that we should look further.

Some of the readers pointedly asked that we look at the issue of the component parts of this nation-brand, as a key factor instrumental in its performance measurement.

Truth is, Nigerians care for this nation as individuals, not minding the anger in their utterances in the public. This assertion may be driven by selfish desires, as noted by a commentator at an event, but vexation they parade at public discuss could be excused if we are face-to-face with the frustrations the majority of Nigerians suffer, on account of the poor performance of ‘their BRAND’.

I specially thank my mentor and one of my sources of mental and intellectual energy, Georgie Umunna (I call him a Prof!), for his painstaking involvement in our weekly write-ups. It amazes me how he finds the time to be so steadfastly concerned about what we do on this platform. Apart from taking his time to read through, he, as a duty makes notes and follows up with calls, to deliver make comments, give advice and direct our strategic planning, weekly. This IGWE of Brands Management, Advertising & marketing Communication, reacted to our article in reference.

Oga Umunna took me to task on this issue, saying “ you’ve got to look at this issue rather more comprehensively, towards a more impactful ending”.

To all of our readers, we like to say we know the task is enormous, and we shall try to drive the ‘discourse’ further in a manner that will help achieve the objective of impacting on the value appreciation of the nation in the manner of a brand, competitive and focused on return-oninvestment for stake-holders:

“reasons-why”! That explains the in-fighting among the political leadership at the early years, post-independence, the military interventions and now the strange happenings within the political space - especially in Nigeria.

Looking back, the colonial masters did not help matters, but our position is that we cannot go on blaming our wrong attitude on the past, because we are sufficiently exposed to new insights to make amends. If we now have the opportunity of competing with those other nations who colonised Africa, at the global

We must make deliberate effort to achieve our desired BRAND image what the nation should be known for.

As a brand, it must manifest its inner soul for competitive advantage(s). Our values and personality traits must be seen in our population

communal interests brought forth some anarchy and rivalry, even among those who should have been collective and communal in their quest and struggle.

Consequently, instead of ‘equity participation’ we had individual-focused survival struggle.

Commonality gave way to individualism, leaving out community building.

Unlike BRANDS that are built on given values, setobjectives, competitive advantages, promise, return on investment (equity participation), competitive advantages, and target market...the emerging African nation-states were not even as much as clear on their

,

community, do we really need to complain of the past as much as we do today? We appreciate the set-back in pace of intellectual or educational development, privileges and competences, but what about values and value appreciation? What of resource management, value appreciation and investment?

What about financial liberalisation, etc? The ingredients and fundamentals are same for all nations in today’s global community. The difference in rate and extent of economic development in today world is attitude and value appreciation.

We need to align our nation building efforts with prevalent

global trend. We at MC&A DIGEST have always pushed for global competitiveness, based on economic development (economic growth indicators have since replaced military might in global competitiveness).

Nations have continually grown competitive in resource appreciation for enduring investment gains - in the order of BRAND MANAGEMENT. Nations must be seen and managed as brands in the new world order.

For Nigeria, we must start by defining the nation - by means of established character and personality traits. We must make deliberate effort to achieve our desired BRAND image - what the nation should be known for. As a brand, it must manifest its inner soul for competitive advantage(s). Our values and personality traits must be seen in our population. It must make certain promise(s) in demonstration of its distinct properties, etc.

On resource management, for instance, do we as a nation know our population as a resource? What is Nigeria doing with her youth population? Do we appreciate the and identify with the youthful population we have?

Our educational policies and institution can simply be described as confusing, unproductive. In this IT-driven age, how much of support is given to deepen compliance among our youth population, for competitive advantage?

What value are we placing on creativity and innovativeness as investable value? Do we drive our investment opportunities through sports, much enough for quantifiable gains? If China is presently redesigning her cities and towns for economic gains and development, shouldn’t we begin to revalue our resources far from the obvious such as crude oil?

The constraints are glaring.

However, the following are imperatives for our urgent consideration, if we must record economic growth and development: • Ethnicity • Internal communication • Re-evaluation of economic structures & infrastructures •Human resource profiling, evaluation, appreciation and investment • Economic-driven political leadership • National character distillation and manifestation Nigeria is a BRAND and must be properly managed as such, for profitable returns on our collective investment.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 25

08116759757

SKULLS IN ONITSHA HOTEL ROOM

My story — Citizen Mokwe *’Life in detention for 88 days’

BY JOY OBOMASE

C

ommercial activities at Old Market Road, Odoakp, Onit sha, Anambra State commenced like every other day on August 1, 2013 when, all of a sudden, some stern looking policemen arrived.

The policemen, in a commando-like manner, stormed Upper Class Hotel, located on number eight. The question on the lips of curious persons around was later answered, following the news of alleged discovery of human skulls and arms in one of the hotel rooms.

The alleged discovery led to the arrest of the owner of the hotel, Mr Bonaventure Mokwe, and some of his staff , who were whisked into the operatives waiting van which zoomed off , leaving a haze of confusion in the air.

Controversy trailed the arrest and detention of Mokwe and his staff at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, an action that allegedly did not only violate the suspects rights but also described as not following due process. Anambra State government later joined the fray, directing the demolition of the hotel.

However, Mokwe was later granted bail by the court, but not after spending 88 days in police custody.

Describing his arrest and demolition of his hotel as a set up, the business man in the eye of the storm , during an interview with Sunday Vanguard, alleged that his ordeal could not have been unconnected with a motor park dispute between him and some Onitsha natives.

*The hotel being demolished. Inset: Mokwe

,,

ORIGIN Recalling the incident of August 1, 2013, Mokwe said, “ Prior to the day I was arrested and my hotel demolished on the directive of Anambra State governor , I was involved in a motor park dispute with some Onitsha natives.

“Within the period , I wrote the Obi of Onitsha three times asking him to intervene and call the natives to order but he remained understandably silent. When that failed, I wrote a petition to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police which he minuted to the Onitsha Area Commander who in turn assigned an Inspector to investigate. But these efforts ended as soon as they started”.

He narrated further: “When that failed again, I went to court and obtained an order which was served on the palace of Obi of Onitsha, the police and leaders of the Onitsha natives antagonising me. Soon after some bus drivers started loading in my park and all hell broke loose, as threats of all dimension started coming from the Onitsha natives which culminated in the planting of the exhibits in my hotel. The human skulls and magazines were parked in a sac and planted in the wardrobe

I drove into my office around 7am that fateful day because I had a land transaction.

Before I could settle down, my hotel was

surrounded by the police numbering over 100

at my hotel lodging room number 102. “ I drove into my office around 7am that fateful day because I had a land transaction. Before I could settle down, my hotel was surrounded by the police numbering over 100. As I made my way towards my office entrance, some of them were already in the passage. I was taken into my office and shown a search warrant. “ In the process, one police officer betrayed the whole adventure when he shouted at one of my staff to be shown room 102. It did not make sense to me then. The first thing I saw when the door of the room was opened was an unsealed traveling bag on the floor. Some polythene bags were inside the bag and two on the bed. Nothing was found in the toilet and under the bed. The police then opened the wardrobe of the room and brought out one single Bagco sac, in which were two rotten skulls, two A.K 47 riffles that looked unserviceable and two loaded magazines.

“The mock search exercise started and ended after five minutes or thereabouts at the door of room 102 . Incidentally the lodger locked the room and left with the key around 6.30am, following which the police showed up.

“The manager informed the police that the room was sold to one Mr John Obi, in the evening of 31st of July, 2013. The receptionist brought the duplicate of the lodging receipt in addition to the hotel guest manifest and both reflected John Obi as the occupant at room 102. It is important to point out that the hotel guest manifest had earlier been submitted at the police station before the arrival of the policemen to the hotel. This has been the routine for some time now.

I was immediately handcuffed and taken outside the corridor of the hotel, where I was told to sit next to the exhibits while they took pictures. Soon after that, I, alongside my staff, was taken to the police Area Command Onitsha and paraded before the public and journalists.

CONFESSION “We were subsequently taken to SARS Awkuzu, along with my wife who is a lawyer, and detained. At SARS, the identity of the person that lodged in my hotel room number 102 on the very day the police came searching was unmasked. Though he gave his name as John Obi, his true identity was that of a native of Umudie village. His picture was smuggled and shown to the receptionist who identified him as the person he gave the receipt of room 102 that fateful day. It was him who planted the exhibits in the hotel room wardrobe.

“I almost died in the first two to three days at SARS. Any confessional statement emanating from SARS Awkuzu is a function of an individual’s pain threshold. In effect, an innocent person can be a casualty of any sort. While informants are very important in police work, being able to know when a particular informant collects money to set-up another person’s rival as in this case of mine is also critical.

IDENTITY “When the identity of the people that orchestrated my hotel set-up became

known even by the general public, a petition was written by my lawyer to the Inspector-General of Police, listing their names. But the police sat on it because arresting them would have meant releasing me and that would have meant a state financial liability and embarrassment for the state government.

With the police under pressure from the media , most especially by NIPPRON, I, along with three of my staff, was arraigned in court on the 17th of October 2013 and a murder charge along with possession of human skulls and fire arms were heaped on us and we were subsequently remanded in prison till 4th of November 2014 when we were granted bail. I spent a total of two months and seventeen days at SARS Awkuzu.

ROTTEN SKULLS “A week after I arrived from SARs, it became increasingly clear that the incident was a set-up. Matters were not helped by what occurred when the police first took me to the grave of one Mr Nwonye Akas, a native of Nkwuele Ezinaka Itite village, who died in 1972 when I was still running around naked, only for them to say I killed and buried the man at the place.

“What is my business with rotten skulls?

The police has some questions to answer; why did they not make attempt to arrest the person that lodged in the room, despite the fact that guests manifesto was sent to them? If it was real, the person who stayed in the hotel room should have been apprehended. It would then be for him to reveal who gave him the thing because there is no way he could have slept in that room with all those things without knowing.

“Again, the true reason my hotel was speedily demolished within hours of my arrest by the state government without informing the police command is also in custody of my lawyers. All these will be made public when the need arises .

My hotel demolition had nothing to do with fighting crime, as it was sold to the general public. Till date, there is no complaint irrespective of police efforts in manufacturing one in their bid to cover up for the Anambra State government from its self-inflicted liability.

Details of how the murder charged was framed was blown in the prison including a tape recording of it.

“When I was bailed, a legal officer with Anambra State government begged my cousin to tell me to lie low until after the elections. I obeyed. So you can see that it’s not all about justice, it’s about what they can gain from it. They told me to lie low that after electioneering campaign, something would be done to address the issue, but till date nothing has been done.

JUSTICE The state government should sit with my lawyer or appoint someone to sit with my lawyer and agree on how to pay for the damages. You don’t beat somebody and tell him not to cry. Secondly, this matter is impossible to wish away. No amount of prayer will wish it away. I must be paid everything. Everything I had was destroyed, including my Green Card, in that hotel building.

Those fabricated charges should be cancelled because they are mere damage control charges intended to fill in the blanks, they have no bearing on me because they were manufactured. You don’t charge one for possession when you didn’t see anything on him. Also , you don’t charge someone for murder when investigation has not been done.”

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

08116759757

My problem with killer-birth attendants, by Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON, AKURE

G

OVERNOR Oluseg un Mimiko is blam ing traditional birth attendants in Ondo State over maternal mortality. While reading riot act to them, Mimiko said the state government will empower them to do other businesses so that they don’t continue to endanger the lives of pregnant women who patronise them.

Meanwhile, the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Death in Ondo State (CEMDOS), which submitted its annual report, showed that the state recorded 114 deaths out of the 45, 000 deliveries in the last one year. The Coordinator of CEMDOS, Dr. Olawale Oyeneyin, reading the report,

Mimiko said maternal mortality had reduced by 45 per cent and was planning to improve on

the statistics in the next one year.

Oyeniyi stated, “It was discovered that two major things namely excessive bleeding and severe hypertension were responsible for deaths of women during deliver y.

Mimiko, while speaking at the presentation of the report and a meeting with traditional rulers, noted that traditional birth attendants had no role to play again in the system.

The governor said government was planning alternative means of livelihood for them because of the havoc they are causing pregnant women.

According to him, the “state government was ready to register the people, train them in other areas of living and empower them to begin new businesses.”

Our case on Amnesty Programme Phase Three —Ex-militants

BY FESTUS AHON ‘GENERAL’ Kingsley Muturu is the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of Phase Two of Amnesty Programme.

In this interview, he speaks on the Amnesty Programme among other issues.

Excerpts: 2015 elections are around the corner and five governors have left the PDP to join the opposition APC. What do you think this portends for the PDP and the re-election quest of President Goodluck Jonathan?

Freedom of association is guaranteed in the Constitution of this country, so nobody can question their decision to leave the PDP to join forces with the APC, but I can assure you that their action will have no negative impact on the PDP. The PDP as the biggest party in the country will continue to wax stronger with or without them.

The grouse of those governors, particularly those from the North, ever since President Goodluck Jonathan came on board, is that somebody from the South-south and not a northerner is the president of Nigeria. Rather than give him their support to succeed in taking the country to the next level, they have been going about orchestrating their campaign of calumny against Jonathan.

Of the 53 years of Nigeria’s independence, the north has ruled for at least 39 years and it is not on record that any South-south or the people of the

Muturu region have done anything to destabilize or their administration or carry out any campaign of calumny. We have always supported all the successive administrations. This is a geo-political zone on whose resources the country have been depending to survive and, for the very first time, one of its indigenes is the president and some people are say saying no? This is preposterous.

Despite provisions of the Constitution that one is entitled to contest for the presidency for two tenures, some people came out in the name of G7 Governors to challenge the president’s right to contest.

What we are saying is that President

He lamented that their actions were causing negative effects on pregnant women. ”In Ondo State today, we have enough hands and we don’t need traditional birth attendants again. We will organise a reliable and lasting exit package for them to enable them have enough means of livelihood after leaving the business of birth attendant,”Mimiko stated. ”Research has shown that nine out of 10 women that die during childbirth didn’t go to hospital and unfortunately many women that go to hospital for ante-natal don’t go to hospital for delivery and this is causing a lot of problem for the system”.

The governor said the state would begin full implementation of the law on CEMDOS

Goodluck Jonathan has the right to contest and nobody, no or any group of individuals, no matter how hard they try can take that away from him.

Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State is not from the north. He is from the south-south and he is among the governors who have left the PDP to join APC. What is your view on this?

Rotimi Ameachi is wasting his time.

It will dawn on him sooner or later that he has made a great mistake. If he thinks he is going to control Rivers State, he will be surprised to realize that it will be a different ball game when the chips are down. The people of Rivers State know that the President is from that area and they will want him to continue till 2019.

It is clear that Rotimi Ameachi has the ambition of vying for the position of vice president in 2015, but what we in the South-south want at this time of our political life is not the vice president. The aspiration of the people of the South-south is for President Goodluck Jonathan to be re-elected for a second tenure.

Recently, the leaders of the Phase Two of the Amnesty Programme were complaining about their exclusion in the award of the pipeline surveillance contracts. What exactly was the problem?

Our grouse was that when the pipeline surveillance contracts were first awarded, they were diverted and we in Phase Two were not considered for reasons that were unknown to us.

Somewhere along the line, the contracts were terminated and the reawarding process is ongoing. What we are saying is that we are also ex-militant leaders but the Federal Government is not looking in our direction in the area of the pipeline surveillance contracts.

We are entitled to our fair share of the contracts, because we have been playing our role in the maintenance

as people who fail to report maternal death would be prosecuted.

Mimiko said there would be no punishment against anybody that discloses death during birth, adding the only non disclosure could lead to prosecution.

He advised pregnant women to always visit government facilities for their deliveries.

The governor noted that many of those things that kill women during childbirth are things that could be solved in five minutes by qualified medical personnel.

Health Commissioner, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said the state had moved from being the worst state in the South-west of the country to the best in Africa in terms of reduction of maternal mortality.

of peace in the Niger Delta. So we are calling on the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to give us our share of the pipeline surveillance contracts.

There have been pockets of complaints by some ex-militant leaders, particularly those in Phase Three of the Amnesty Programme that they are not being carried along by the Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku. What do you have to say on this?

Ex-militants are over 30,000 and Kingsley Kuku has been doing his best to ensure that every one is carried along. You know it is ex-militants he is dealing with, and sometimes some of them say he is not doing well.

Sometimes people find it difficult to control members of their own family and, when disagreements arise, they seek the intervention of outsiders to resolve settle their disputes.

Kuku is dealing with over 30,000 exmilitants for crying out loud. You see, it is easier for two herdsmen to control a hundred cows than for two leaders to control 50 persons without some of them trying to generate problems.

The problem with Phase Three is not Kuku’s making. Most of the Phase Three ex-militants are accusing Kuku of not giving them enough slots, but the truth is that it was not Kuku that allocated the slots; it was the Federal Government. Besides, the 3,600 slots given to Phase Three are not enough to accommodate the ex-militants in that phase. For instance, the number of slots allocated to Phase One was over 19,000 and phase two over 6,000, so you can see that 3,600 slots for Phase Three are grossly on the low side; so that is why we have been calling on the Federal Government to revisit the issue of Phase Three by way of providing more slots.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 27

08116759757

BED-RIDDEN CRASH VICTIM

'My bride abandoned me tw o months tto o our w edding' two wedding' Three people died and several injured.

Emeka had spinal cord injury and, since then, he has been bed ridden. or Emeka Francis, 37,who hails from Unubi,Nnewi south His bride abandoned him while Emeka’s mother, Mrs Agnes Francis, who had been local government area of pratically involved in taking him around Anambra State, Friday, February hospitals and medical homes since the 1,2008 will remain indelible in his incident happened, died on September memory.

20,2013 as a result of the accumulated Fair skinned and full of life, Emeka would have passed for a show business stress and psychological problem.

Narrating his ordeal to Sunday Vanguard man if not for the tragedy that befell in his residence in Ilorin,Emeka, who him. When Sunday Vanguard visited had only primary education, said after him in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, completing four years apprenticeship,his aside the fact that he couldn’t stand, master gave him a large sum of money to two pipes were seen from his body, one to pass out urine and the other for set up his own business. faeces since he couldn’t on his own do He said he started a shop along Opo Malu, Ilorin where he sold cosmetic any of the two because of the impact materials and was doing very well before of the auto crash. the tragedy struck.

On that fateful day, Emeka, a business man based in Ilorin, had set Emeka, who now lives in a one-room out on a journey to Lagos to purchase apartment, had, before the tragedy, completed arrangements to rent a threehis wedding materials which was bedroom apartment because of the then planned to take place in Ilorin on forthcoming wedding ceremony.

March 28 and 29, 2008.

Now left with his aged father and siblings, The commercial vehicle he boarded who take care of him, the victim hopes to had barely left Ogbomosho when it live his dream again only if help could was involved in a fatal crash.

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI,ILORIN

F

Emeka Francis

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

n this interview, a member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Saka Fafunmi, explains the reason behind failed roads in the country and the way forward.

How we are resolving Lagos road problems, by Hon Fafunmi

*’Why govt is buying back Lekki – Epe road project’

How do you assess Lagos roads?

Lagos roads generally are averagely okay compared to what is obtainable in other climes. It is pathetic that in Lagos, we have about 9,100 roads out of which 25 are federal, 454 are state while the remaining belong to local government roads. What percentage of the state roads have been tarred let alone other roads. The only transformation we have experienced was during the time of former governor of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who constructed the Ojota/Oregun link road and most of the major roads within Ikeja metropolis and Governor Babatunde Fashola improved upon on the situation by building more arterial roads to complement the inner roads built by Tinubu’s regime. I do not have the figure of the total roads that we have built in Lagos but I believe that we have done over 40 percent. The local governments that were expected to build most of these inner roads don’t have the financial muscle to confront the needs. In essence, we need to see how more money can be made available from the federal account to local government so that most of the roads that are under them can be maintained. In Nigeria, we keep talking of dust while there is no dust in other climes of the world, it is a function of not greening our environment and having everywhere paved. If all the roads are tarred and are in good condition, we will not be where we are today as a nation and commuting will be easier. By and large, I would say that this administration has in-

Fafunmi vested a sizable amount of money into infrastructure and the result is what we are seeing today.

I believe you will agree with me that

there are lots of bad roads in Lagos state which has contributed to the increase in accident rates and loss of lives...

When you say bad road, it is relative and that is why I started by classifying the roads: Federal, state and local government roads.

The responsibility of Lagos government transcend meeting Lagos State roads alone.

Lagos State government has built more than 454 roads earmarked as state roads. Lagos has gone ahead to fix and build roads that are federal roads like the Badagry Express road. Lekki road is being done through public private partnership, PPP, but the state gov-

ernment is making effort to buy it over so that the people living around that corridor will have no need to pay toll. And if they would have to, they will know that the money is going to the state which can further be used to develop the area or other parts of the state. It will come in as revenue to the state government and that is why is trying to buy back the Lekki/Epe expressway.

Sub-standard materials are used in building some of the roads. A good case is the Mushin/Isolo Road. How do you react to this and also ensure that there is uniformity in infrastructural development in the state?

To a large extent, I would tell you that there is no part of Lagos that has not benefited from the resources of this state. I know that, as a matter of fact, resources of the state are not limited to areas where revenues are generated. Even areas with low revenues including Ikorodu and Epe are now experiencing infrastructural development. It might not be at the same pace with Victoria Island, Surulere, Ikeja among others. But, I think, lots of people might find it difficult to understand the developmental efforts of Lagos State.

Former Governor Tinubu built lots of inner street roads and this present administration is concentrating on building arterial roads. It has built many networks of roads that would serve as bypass when there is traffic so as to make way for free flow of traffic. And that is what the ministry of infrastructure puts into consideration when it was designing the road. It is not by design that some areas should develop at the expense of others.

come from public-spirited Nigerians.

According to him,”Everything I have worked for in life has been expended on this treatment and still no cure. I was taken to Baptist Hospital Ogbomosho immediately after the accident occurred and later to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and then to a private hospital, all to no avail. In the course of the problem, my mother, who has been taking me around, died in September”.

He also explained how his church members and community associations tried to raise funds for him. Emeka however hopes to walk again based on a physiotheraphist friend who told him of a similar case that was successfully treated abroad. ”The victim I’m talking about is walking today and living a normal life”,he said.

Showing e-mails between him and the hospital,Emeka said he needs at least N4 million for self treatment and travelling expenses of two persons who will accompany him.

Public-spirited people wishing to help Emeka can do so through Sunday Vanguard or contact him on phone numbers 08038512046 and 08183885910 while his bank details are Emeka Francis Mathew: Access Bank account no 0020859219

What is your view on tolling of roads?

The issue of tol especially on Lekki/ Epe expressway is understandable because the project was built through PPP and they are expected to generate funds from the toll collected on that road but Ikoyi Road built by the state government is still a subject of debate. And Lagos State House of Assembly has not taken a position on it.

There are some major roads in Lagos that are in deplorable state including Isolo/Ikotun road, Awoyaya among others...

If it is maintenance of road, it is public works corporation that is saddled with such responsibility to maintain existing roads. If the road in question is so terrible, it is important to make it known to the corporation. They have hotline which people can report any bad road and that is why I feel we should concentrate on maintaining the roads that are in terrible state and see how government can meet the needs of the people in this area. Recently, the government built two additional asphalt plants including Imota and Badagry and by the time the plants become operational in the new year, there is assurance that more roads will be attended to.

How do you think we can overcome the problem of failed roads especially as the former chairman on works and

infrastructure?

Federal Government has no business having roads. Most of the federal roads in Lagos ought to have been handed over to the state government except the ones exiting Lagos. Federal Government should also allocate more resources to the state irrespective of their political affiliation. Federal Government should be more interested in solving the problem of Lagos because it is home to all Nigerians respective of tribe.

Lagos should be given a special status considering the population and percentage of Nigeria living in Lagos.

C M Y K

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Blissful beginning for TTobi obi & George

O

The couple: Mr. George Osemwengie Agbonlahor Jnr. and his wife, Oluwatobi Ajoke.

luwatobi Ajoke Ajao, daughter of the late Engr.

Omotoriola and Mrs. Beauty Ederhovwo Ajao, and George Osemwengie Agbonlahor (Jnr.), son of Chief George Osemwengie Agbonlahor, began a new chapter in their lives on Saturday, December 21, 2013 when they were joined as man and wife.

The couple exchanged their matrimonial vows at the Living Water Unlimited Church, Anthony Village, Lagos before a large crowd of family and friends. Reception of guests took place at Tafawa Balewa Square(TBS), Onikan, also in Lagos. Photos

by Bunmi Azeez

Faces at the J.K. Randle memorial ser vice service

T

hanksgiving service in honour of the late Chief J . K . Randle took place at the Christ Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos recently. It was a parade dignitaries from various fields of human endeavours. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

Bashorun J. K. Randle and wife, Folashade.

Mrs. Rita Amuka (left) and Yeye Rewane.

L-R: Chief George Osemwengie Agbonlahor, groom's father, Mrs. Josephine Agbonlahor, groom's mother, Mrs. Asabi Ajani, representing bride's mother and Mr. Oluwatosin Ajao, representing bride's father.

Akintola Williams (left) and Dr Michael Omolayole.

From left: Mrs. Oladepe Amuka, George Osemwengie Agbonlahor Jnr, his wife, Oluwatobi Ajoke and Mr. Eyituoyo Amuka

Cross section of Benin chiefs.

Vict oria K umuyi Ediba Union launches Victoria Kumuyi celebrates 70 new constitution

T

he 70th birthday ceremony of Chief (Mrs) Victoria Kikelomo Kumuyi took place at her Mende, Maryland residence in Lagos last weekend. Her children, relations and friends were on hand to celebrate with her. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

From left: Mr Ben Kumuyi, Tope Kumuyi, Chief (Mrs) Victoria Kumuyi, celebrant, Wale Kumuyi and Mrs Ronke Samuel.

C M Y K

U

nveiling of Ediba Union and launch of the Union constitution was done by Elder Bolaji Anani, Peoples Democratic Party Financial Secretary on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at Festac Town, Lagos.

Elder Bolaji Akpan Anani, the Nat. Fin.Sec of PDP, presenting the new constitution of the Ediba community,to Mr. Jerry Robinson Riman, International Coordinating Chairman of Ediba Day

From left: Mrs Seline Akinyanju, Princess Adewunmi Karunwi and Chief Ajibola Ogunshola.

From left: Prof. Abisogun Leigh, Prof. Ade Elebute, Otunba Adeoye Tugbobo and wife, Adeyinka.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 29

Go es 64 Govv Ajimobi celebrat celebrates

G From left: Senior Chief Lateef Oyelade, Iba of Keshi, Oba Moshood Oyekola Lawal and Chief Lamidi Ajadi.

ov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday when he celebrated his 64th birthday at Lekan Salami Sports Complex.

T h e occasion was preceded by thanksgiving services at the Government House Chapel and Government House mosque, where special prayers were offered by Christian and Islamic clerics.

Among eminent personalities who witnessed the occasion were the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, Chief Kola Daisi, politicians and religious leaders across the state.

Photos by Shola Oyelese

L-R: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez AlaoArisekola.

From left: Dep. Gov of Oyo State, Hon. Moses Alake Adeyemo and wife , Ajimobi, his wife, Florence, and Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sumonu.

Dinner ffor or Bisi Omo Omoyyeni

F

riends of Bisi Omoyeni, a f o r m e r Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of WEMA Bank, came together penultimate Friday to organise a fundraising dinner to boost his campaign drive for the 2014 Ekiti State gubernatorial election under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Omoyeni, who hails from Ekiti South Senatorial District, has tagged his campaign outfit ‘BOFER’, meaning Bisi Omoyeni for Ekiti Revival. Many chieftains of the PDP graced the occasion. Photos by Diran Oshe L- R: Otunba D. Olarewaju,Mr Feyi Ogoji, Senior Speacial Assistant for Public Affairs to the President, Dr Doyin Okupe,Chief Kenny Martins and Omoyeni.

L-R: Interim Chairman, Oyo State APC, Chief Akin Oke, Otun Olubadan, Chief Omowale Kuye, and representative of Shoun of Ogbomoso, High Chief S.F. Olatorin.

Hon. A de hes Ade deyyemi launc launches empowerment programme

M

any dignitaries gathered at NUD Primary School, Olose Ifo, penultimate Saturday, to lend their support to the Hon. Kunle Adeyemi empowerment programme which saw many people from the community benefiting with wide range of life-enhancing packages. Photo by Wumi Akinola

L-R: Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Hon Adekunle Adeyemi and Prince Segun Adesegun, Deputy Governor, Ogun State.

NIPR FFello ello ws ellows

Yomi Badejo-Okusanya and Nkechi Ali-Balogun recently became Fellows of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

L-R: Mr Yemi Akinbode, Otunba D. Olarewaju and Mr Adelugba.

Badejo-Okusanya (left) with Nkechi Ali-Balogun

L-R: Badejo-Okusanya (first left) and Nkechi Alind Balogun (2 right) flanked by Joe Okonmah and Olalekan during the conferment ceremony

PAGE 30— SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 31

C M Y K

PAGE 32— SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

In this concluding part of the interview by LEKAN BILESANMI, former police commissioner, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Babankowa, recounts how the police raided Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Kalakuta Republic. He also speaks on issues concerning the National Conference, among others.

Excerpts: S there any need for the National Conference being spearheaded by the Federal Government?

I share the belief of those that say it is not necessary. It is absolutely unnecessary.

Whatever that comes out of the conference will eventually return to the National Assembly for ratification otherwise you have done nothing.

It is like constitutional amendment. In Nigeria today, we are living on a fake and false foundation.

The Constitution is supposed to be the supreme law guiding this country, but the Constitution we have now is not a people- oriented one; it was foisted on us by the

I

We raided Fela’s Kalakuta Republic in search of missing girls

— Babankowa, ex-police chief

z’Abacha’s draft Constitution better than National Confab’ military. If you remember; during the Sani Abacha era between 1994 and 1995; there was a constitutional conference which saw members being elected by the grassroots and were in the conference for months and produced a Constitution. The members were people of honour, people of impeccable character. The members were housed in the present Apo Legislative Quarters then. It

has been sold out now I am told. They produced the document which was supposed to be our Constitution. After that tedious exercise, there were some grey areas and people advised the government of the day that there should be constitutional review committee to look at the draft again and iron out the grey areas. One person from each state was taken; aside that, eight people were taken

from the constitutional conference, four each from the South and the North to join the review committee. And the reason was simply because the eight were party to the drafting of the Constitution from the beginning and if there was anything that probably was not clear to the review committee members, these eight could be of help. And so the Constitution was produced. I was a member of that review

committee representing Jigawa State. The report was submitted to General Abacha.

Four days to signing the draft, he passed on.

The government of Abdusalami Abubakar came and, instead of looking at it and if need be get another committee to look into it again, it threw it into the dustbin. I think that action was a terrible one. Not only that, he now organised a committee of not more than 10 to 15 people to draft a new one…(loud laughter) and that is the 1999 Constitution we now operate. That is why I said we are operating on a false foundation. What I would have expected this government to do was just to bring out the draft Constitution of the Abacha era and take a look at it again because there is nothing that can ever be discussed that you cannot find in that draft Constitution. And this is why I am of the opinion that this action of government is of no use. We are just dancing round the circles.

Continues on page 33

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 33

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

With this merger, do you see the strength of the ruling party reduced?

Even if it is one governor…….. Let us take Kano State, if it is only Kwankwaso who will be moving his people into APC, it will definitely affect the PDP not to talk of when you have five governors. In Kwara State, I was watching on television where the chairman of the PDP was saying the whole of the party in the state has merged with APC, will that not greatly reduce the strength of the party in the state? So I think this is the first danger they are going to face in the last 15 years.

How true is the claim that APC is mostly populated by Muslims and are more influential in the party?

I don’t think that is true. I don’t know why we always like to play the religious card in politics. It is damaging to our democracy. I think what we should be talking about is who has the capability to move the country forward. Whether he is a Christian, pagan or Muslim should really not matter. We should be more concerned about what he is bringing to the

zBabankowa

There’s nothing new to discuss at Jonathan’s national conference What I would have expected this government to do was just to bring out the draft Constitution of the Abacha era and take a look at it again because there is nothing that can ever be discussed that you cannot find in that draft Constitution

,,

Continued from page 32 This conference is of no use.

So you will rather go for that 1994 draft Constitution rather than the new one they are contemplating now.

Yes. I will go for the 1994 draft because it was done by all Nigerians. We are just about wasting resources, time and man power in this exercise. This one has already been done, reviewed and amended, all you need to do is, especially if you need to review it again, form another committee and let it look at the areas you feel may not be necessary.

What is your take on the defection of some PDP governors to the APC? I think it is a good thing that the PDP governors are merging with the APC. This will narrow the problems of politicking in the country. It will now be just two major parties in the country like you have in the U.S and the U.K. But let us wait and see because you can never totally rely on Nigerian politicians.

Why did you say so?

You find out that someone is in a political party today, tomorrow he is in another party, the next day, he returns to his previous party. Another time, he goes to form his own political party. It is only in Nigeria that you see this happening. You don’t find it elsewhere. I think once you say you are a member of a political party, the normal thing for you is to stick to that party like it is done in other climes. Where did you hear that a Conservative has joined Labour in the UK? It is unheard of. So let us wait so that time can be the judge of all the decisions taken so far.

table. This sentiment of religion or ethnic colouration should not be brought to the table because these sentiments, on the long run, is one of the reasons why we are where are presently. If we have a pagan or even an atheist who can do the job of taking us to the next level, why not try him? General Gowon a Christian ruled this country for eight years. He is from the North but nobody raised any alarm because he was doing the job. I schooled in America where you can abuse an individual, call him a monkey or donkey, he might not be bothered, but say something negative about his country, America, and see what happens to you. That is the kind of value they place on their country. So we should put our country before any other thing; not

ourselves, tribes or religion before our country. We are always marching backward instead of moving forward.

You met the late Fela Anikulapo in the course of your job.

Yes I did. I must say the man was extremely talented, very talented indeed except that he was using his talent in a way that I don’t think was right. He was said to be harbouring all sorts of girls including daughters of highly placed people. I liked him as a person.

And you led the team that raided his house then.

Oh yes. I led the team. I was in Mushin Division then.

Kalakuta Republic was located within the division. I was asked to lead the team to

Fela’s house by the IG. Isa Adeju was the commissioner of police. The IG through Adeju asked me to lead the team. Kam Salem was the IG then.

What was the basis for the raid as explained to you by your bosses then?

The information received by the police was that there were children particularly girls who ran away from their parents and were living with him. That was the allegation. It was said that there were High Court judges daughters among those living in his house. They made complaints to the IG and that is why we raided the house in order to rescue the girls and also to arrest Fela for harbouring them.

I thought that arrest had more political undertone than criminal?

Not at all. Forget about his songs which were political.

That was not the reason for which he was arrested. He was arrested mainly because of the reason given earlier. He was in his usual pants when we arrested him. We took him to Alagbon.

Which of the events during your career would say was the toughest?

The first of them was the Tiv riot where six of my colleagues were beheaded. This was 1964

or 65. The second was the Tafawa Balewa sight. What I saw that day was terrible. The third was the Maitasine riot in Kano during the Shagari era.

We discovered a mass grave.

Do you have any regret?

Not at all. I have served my country. I have satisfaction of that service rendered. If every policeman would put as much as I have done, Nigeria would not have been what it is now.

People are no longer working to help the country; all they are after is money. Everything in this country has been devalued.

The level of corruption in our country today is something else.

Corruption has become a fashion, but I know it will not continue like this because there will be change somehow.

This change you are talking about, is it the one APC is talking about?

Yes. By the grace of God, they will change this country. They have good intentions for Nigeria.

The late Abacha was your friend.

No, he was not really my friend. He was my junior in secondary school. He respected me highly just as I did to him as well. You see the noise about Abacha being corrupt, I tell you, it is because he is not alive. If he were alive, I can tell you, there won’t be anybody talking about this. Like the corrupt leaders we have in this country presently who have done more atrocities even worse than Abacha, they are alive and nobody is saying anything about them. They can say anything about Abacha because he is not alive. If you take one of the leaders, I don’t have to mention any body’s name, and you open him up and see the kind of damage he has done to this country, it will triple what Abacha has done. The way the country is run now, if you are not corrupt you cannot go anywhere. That is the way things are done now. I have two things which I thank God for. I have patience. Whatever you do to me I will leave you to God, no matter how bad it may be. I have contentment. I stay within the limit of my resources. That is why I am always happy. I have no fear of somebody coming here to come and kill me. I used to have a policeman at my gate, I asked him to go.

Are you fulfilled.

100%. If I pass on today I will die a fulfilled person. I have no regret in life.

Are you ready to die here and now I swear to God, if it comes now, I am ready. What am I looking for again? Money?

What am going to do with it?

House? Wife? Whatever that is being done with money in life I have done it in my own small way. That is why I said I am contented. God has blessed me with age and good health and kept me alive and upright. I have trained all my children to the university level. What else am I waiting for? Let me die now if death would come.

PAGE 34 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

Unlike senators of our time, today’s lawmakers are greedy — Elder statesman Spanner Okpozo influenced •‘How Awolowo inf luenced us with education’

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN-CITY

S

enator Spanner Okpozo is a Second Republic senator and Niger Delta leader who does not need much introduction. In this interview, Okpozo goes down memory lane, speaking

Home training

on the pre-independence and post-independence days. He also gives a perspective on the proposed National Dialogue and life as a politician. Excerpts:

Today, we have several challenges such as kidnapping, corruption, terrorism among others. Can you tell us how the nation was while you were growing up. Was it this turbulent?

What was most paramount then was agriculture; from the colonial era down to independence, every household was looking forward to what it could get from its farms. No much attention was paid to government involvement.

Those days, the first establishment was local government and those councils were not set up to sustain the local communities.

They were set up for administrative purposes. We had local police, there was no army in any local government except at the national level because we were under British rulership which recruited only few soldiers who were just there to defend the center. The police were only there to maintain law and order and they were very few. Like when I grew up in Benin, we had local policemen, so also in my village in Isoko. They will arrest and take you to customary court for trial but they were not involved in going to houses to extort people. There was discipline.

And because we had local policemen, crime was very rare because they will also know a criminal. But Nigeria, from 1960 to 1963, after fighting for independence, went for national police, what we have today as Nigeria Police Force. The leaders felt that their experiences with some African nations may lead to break down of law and order, there may be inter-tribal

that was why you find out that Yoruba are educationally better than most ethnic groups. That is why the first broadcasting house came from that area, Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, it was from cocoa money that they built it. But the North was relatively poor due to the size of the area and the resources that were available.

In the East, there was less concentration on education even though Zik was there.

But what is significant those days was that local government councils were there to keep the environment neat. They were selfsustaining, they were not there to collect money from the Federal Government for development purposes. Local resources were available, they were not in charge of schools until Awolowo came to say that local governments should be spending some fraction of their money on primary schools.

Okpozo wars, wars between nations, and on that basis, they enlarged the Nigerian Army.

Then we had Azikiwe, Sadauna of Sokoto, Awolowo, these people were running the nation very well. But things started changing in Nigeria due to the intervention of the military in our politics. There were coups and counter coups and the people were suffering, the economy was being destroyed and poverty started. When the civilian government came in 1999, things were not too good because there was corruption everywhere.

Obasanjo’s administration was better than that of Babangida in terms of corruption. Corruption was embedded in every nook and cranny of Nigeria during the administration of Babangida.

Family

So when my mother died, her friend, that is my wife’s mother, said ‘this boy must marry my daughter’ Yar Adua came and tried to do his best but he died in office.

Then Jonathan came now, there is still massive corruption in the country.

In our days, families were very large because then there was no restriction on the number of children one could have or how many wives one had to marry. Then if you marry many it means you have a large farmland and if you marry one you will be incapable of producing enough to take care of your family. The only problem we had then was education.

Education was really poor then because government was not spending money on education until Awolowo came and brought free education and people started pushing their children to school. It was much more pronounced during the time of Awolowo, he did a lot in the West and

Whether you are a man or a woman you must have basic home training. In our days, marriage was not open to everybody, it was by mutual knowledge. If you were a man, you must know the home where you wanted to marry from very well, the same thing applied to the woman. In my case, I was a good servant to my in-laws because in our days it was difficult for people to come from the riverine area. My wife lived in the riverine area with her parents. Besides, my wife’s mother was a close friend of my mother. So when my mother died, her friend, that is my wife’s mother, said ‘this boy must marry my daughter’. I will go to the bank of River Nun to wait for my wife who must have trekked for almost six or seven hours before getting to that place. Then I will use my bicycle and hire more bicycles to go and pick them and take them to our village in Ozoro.

This was during Christmas time because they always came to our area once a year.

And I was doing all that not knowing that she will be my wife. We never discussed the issue of being together because we were already a family before we got married.

It was when I concluded my education and was working that my father called me and said, ‘ your mother is dead now, you need to get a wife’.

Incidentally, when I got home, my wife’s parents visited us and my mother inlaw has always liked me, she took me like her son due to

her closeness to my mother.

So one day I decided that since my mother and her mother were very close, it is better for me to marry this woman. That was how we became husband and wife. We did not go to any corner to discuss marriage. The parents

Continues on page 35

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 35

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES Continued frompage 34 were totally in agreement that that relationship has to be kept and we kept it up till now. Today, if I tell my wife to sit down, she will sit down or she will say ‘I will not sit down, I have something to tell you’. We have that understanding. My in-laws and my parents were very close and that is also how we operate today. Any of my children who puts to bed, my wife must go there and stay for a while. So we have good families then, marriages were not contracted by air.

Nowadays people look at women’s pictures and fix marriages, such marriages don’t last because they were not genuinely contracted.

These days you see girls flaunting themselves, they bear children without control.

Some of them become pregnant without knowing who impregnated them because they have met a lot of men. In our days it was not so. You cannot sleep with a woman until you get married to her. Parents must go and perform the necessary marriage rites. The family of the woman and that of the man must investigate the type of person their son or daughter is getting married to. But today things have changed, it is unfortunate and that is why you see a lot of divorces and family crisis.

Joining politics After I finished secondary school and took my education to a level, I applied to the civil service and the Civil Service Commission directed the Ministry of Health to do recruitment of some of us who were eligible. I succeeded, that was the time of Chief Dennis Osadebey, in 1964. I served mostly in the Ministry of Health, I worked in Sapele, Isoko,Ughelli and Benin. This house that we are in is where I started running my family. I retired from the service when they said if you have served for 13 years you should retire.

I seized the opportunity to retire and went into private business. I was doing very well working with construction companies. There were a lot of young men and women from my place that needed jobs and the company that we brought was run by some Greek. They were doing jobs in Bayelsa, and the old Bendel State. When the time of election came and because of the way I was able to assist my people by giving many of them jobs in the construction company and other areas, when politics started in 19771979, our people came from home to call me. I did not apply to be a politician; they said that in appreciation of what I did for our people, they will vote for me. So I went home, there was NPN and UPN, and then I asked my people which of the parties we should join. But of course I pointed out that Awolowo’s UPN built schools

and gave our people free education. We all agreed to join UPN and we went for election and my opponent lost woefully. That is how I went to the then Bendel State House of Assembly. I performed very well in the House and the members elected me Deputy Speaker.

Our salary then was about N3,000 or N4,000 and for us that was a big money. We were given quarters to stay but I rejected mine because I already had my building in Benin. We were there until the army came in 1984. In 1992, my people including the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko, because I was very popular amongst them, all agreed that I should go to the Senate. In that election my opponent lost woefully too. Those years when I was in politics, I used to visit my people every Friday, asking about their welfare and what they wanted me to do. My house then was like a house of the Isoko people and I cherished them because they were patriotic and that is why when this new generation comes and talk about politics, I always laugh at them because they don’t know what it means to be a politician. It means service to the people but they think it is service to make money. I was paid N5, 000 per month with some allowances and car when I was in the Senate. When I was made the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment, I was given a car, so I gave my friend, who was a judge in those days, Azinke, my own because he had none. So I was in the Senate without a vehicle other than the one I had before joining the Senate.

when they are given contracts, they award the contracts to themselves.

Allowances that we had were not more than one million per annum.

We had poor senators during my time There were some senators who were poor depending on the area they came from but we were working as brothers.

We did not struggle for individual wealth, we didn’t fight in the Senate because of money, we didn’t accuse the executive of stealing because we were very meticulous in looking at what they were doing, so we could correct them. But now when corruption is going on, legislators are part of it because they want money at all costs from the executive and that is why the executive is always escaping fraud charges.

President’s decision on the

other and that may be the end. However, our people have told the committee set up by the President what they want. The local government should be autonomous. We also have told them that whoever in this country wants to maintain a small entity, allow him to maintain it.

Revenue formula must be reviewed. May be the conference would not have been necessary if we had a vibrant National Assembly because you find out that this National Assembly, when we have serious national issues they will say they are going on break. This is unlike those days, if we had a matter at hand, we will not go on recess until we finish it. President Jonathan knows Nigerians want a change and i believe that is why he decided to set up the committee so that they will go round and feel the pulse of the people.

Jonathan’s anti corruption

It was a Peugeot 505 they gave me and I had another Peugeot 505. I now said ‘why should I have two when my brother doesn’t have any?’ We were not in the Senate for contracts and throughout my stay in the Senate there was no contract,

‘Poor senators, poor judges!’

no constituency allowance, no night vigil allowance, no travelling allowance, no girls allowance.

We go to the Senate at 9am, leave at 3pm; around 4 we go back for constituency matters and plan agenda for the next day. And sometimes we would stay there till about 1 am; our sleeping period was very short and we didn’t ask government to bring money we are travelling by air because we didn’t travel by air. We used our vehicles travelling to our constituencies from Abuja and vice versa. Today, a senator has 4 to 5 vehicles, it is appalling. You do not know what they are doing with their constituency allowances and

National Confab To some extent, the President is trying to reform the system, and, to that extent, he has to be congratulated because he is embarking on an experiment but what worries people is that he has done so many experiments without good results. Look back to eight years, how many experiments of this kind have succeeded; they are either abandoned half way or reaching almost to the end before they are abandoned. So the fear of this confab is that they will do it to a level, then the National Assembly will cause confusion by accusing the President one way or the

We used our vehicles travelling to our constituencies from Abuja and vice versa. Today, a senator has 4 to 5 vehicles, it is appalling

policy I am not convinced that Jonathan is fighting corruption; if he is serious he has various organs to use to do

so. He cannot say he is fighting corruption when those in his government are stealing from left to right without EFCC doing anything. Many ministers under Jonathan are corrupt. When corrupt men are in your house, how do you check corruption in the house of another person?

During Awolowo’s time as UPN leader, no governor dared travel abroad. It was the law. Today, governors don’t even travel by road, they are using private jets to fly around and you know how much it costs to travel in private jet.

So until widespread corruption is checked, there will be no stable government.

People accused of stealing should be relieved of their duties and put on trial. If it is possible to set up a special tribunal to probe these people, things will be be better for us.

How can a minister buy two bullet proof cars with such amount of money? Are we fighting a war? Yet she is still in this administration; it is shameful.

South-south people and Confab South-south has its own back ground because what an Edo man wants, a Delta man might not like it; so we are fundamentally different and there will be no unanimity on what we want. In that regard, to say South-south is going to have one decision on all the issues at the confab is not true.

However, we are all unanimous when it comes to true federalism which is resource control because we have suffered so much in an attempt to make Nigeria a united nation. But other issues from their background will be different. You cannot impose the will of the Federal Government on the local government. On police, there will be no united decision because a lot of people want local government police; others will say Federal Government police should stay. On the army, they will agree that there should be one army, there will be one currency and a unanimous decision on external affairs. Most of the things in the exclusive list should go to the concurrent. Let the debate commence but if corrupt men are sent to the debate we will go back to square one.

How delegates should be chosen The nationalities should agree on what they want; after that they should go to the states and then the center. I am suggesting that every nationality must have two or three representatives. Delegates for the conference must be people with integrity who have distinguished themselves in many endeavours. Every senatorial district should nominate three persons so that the selection of delegates will not be cumbersome. We suggest that the total number of delegates should be about 450 members.

PAGE 36— SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

‘Tourism is Nigeria’s neglected money spinner’

BY SAM ANOKAM

Bayelsa State has been organising international events and still counting. The latest is the Bayelsa International Jazz Festival.

Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, Director General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, in this interview, gives an insight into why the state administration has decided to promote massive tourism in the state.

She also speaks about other issues affecting the sector.

H

OW has it been since you assumed office as DG? I would say interesting and vigorous. It’s a new terrain, it’s a new job. There has been a lot of learning, a lot of things to do. I want to believe that we are already settled now.

What have you achieved so far in the tourism industry in Bayelsa State ?

We came on board 13 months ago. Since we came, it was first the case of trying to see what is already on ground, what we could find and actually there was barely nothing in this sector on ground. So most of what we have done has been new. A whole lot of time researching and looking into what was available and what we could do.

In February this year, we had the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), though its an old event that the state has always backed but we added a completely new angle to it because it was an opportunity to display a lot of our cultural heritage which we did and I think it was an interesting event. After that, we anchored the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), and it was another opportunity to showcase what we have in the state. We took the girls around Bayelsa. They visited Brass. They visited Oloibiri where the first oil well was dug.

In Brass, you had the graves of men who died in their kassa raid, a lot of old relics; the first health centre Nigeria ever had and a whole lot of other things. And of course, it was a boat ride all the way through the creeks to Brass and back again. They actually spent two weeks here before the main event. It was an exciting opportunity I would think to also get good ambassadors for our state, going out to tell the story what it was like for them whilst they were here. And I think that has given us a tremendous mileage because you now find people eager wanting to come.

For the MBGN, we had a full house, people coming in from other states and we even had no seats for them. So that has made us quite bold to say that we can have this major events knowing that we would have patronage not even just within Bayelsa but all around us. hy is Bayelsa State hosting a whole lot of W national and international

events?

That is the way we want it to be. The state government has invested in a lot of new hotels and we do believe that it’s only

responsible to pre-empt these hotels come into being by ensuring that people actually have reason to want to visit. In the past we had a reputation which wasn’t the best but I think now the mind set is changing.

Hopefully, by the time the hotels become operational next year, we would not be looking for guests because automatically we would constantly have guests as the tourism events will continue.

We are going to have a jam packed calendar next year. We would be having conference, sports events to other kind of tourism events, hopefully, we would have a full house.

its not very weighty on the state government and as time goes on, we hope to be able to work in the blue and move away from the red.

We hope to be able to generate much more income from all of these that we are doing. We shouldn’t even look at it directly from what we sell from tickets. If we look at the larger picture from the perspective of the fact that the individuals who come into town would lodge in hotels, of course they would buy our tickets for the show, they would eat-all that is revenue coming into the state rather than an exodus which is what we had prior to this government. We are hoping to build a situation where we now have people coming in to spend.

If we had a general turnover, lets assume what we have today is one billion, five years from today we would be talking as much as N10b

hat exactly is unique W about Bayelsa State ?

Our terrain is unique. Very

difficult terrain on the one perspective, not for the lilylivered I would say but believe it or not, it’s a lovely experience. In places like Lagos , you pay so much to go out on a boat ride, for us we don’t have a choice. We want to go home and it’s a boat ride to most local villages and even when you are not taking a boat ride to the local villages, your scenery is always water and so I think it’s a unique environment we find ourselves in.

It is an environment that all around the world, people who find themselves in such areas, one of their greatest means of revenue is tourism. I think it is an excellent idea that the present administration has chosen that we have such a beautiful thing to sell and so we should do everything we can to ensure that Bayelsa reputation improves, becomes a fantastic one and we have much more people coming into Bayelsa. alking about reputation, T what are you doing to deal with the negative perception of

the state?

The present administration has done wonders where that is concerned. Like in every great cities of the world like New York and the rest, the hazards are there. But believe it or not, I find it safer to live in Bayelsa than Lagos at the moment. I am not saying that we haven’t had what I would call epileptic incidences of kidnapping and things like that but none of it in the city of Yenagoa . The security in Yenagoa is well controlled. The government has instituted a security that the response time from when you call them is less than two minutes. I think that is excellent for any standard you can find anywhere in the world.

That makes the criminals know that there is actually no space for them inside Yenagoa city and I know there are plans to expand the work that the security people have been doing beyond Yenagoa. bviously there is no O tourism without assuring people that they are coming to a

safe and secure terrain. We do ensure that all our guests come in safely and go back safely and so far that has been the case and it will always be the case. While we do our work organising events, we also have the security

Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown people by our side working with us to ensure that they are aware of everything we are planning and that the town will be safe and secure for everybody coming. I would like to use this medium to assure people that they can visit.

A year ago, we have had international guests and they are coming again this year. The likes of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Baroness Valerie Amos, among others have visited and would still come again this year. We had had a lot of prominent people come into town and its all been safe. Not only the prominent

sector, so you want to hit the ground running. You want to get it done immediately. That is what we are used to. I have successfully come up with a team that has been wonderful even though half of us are from the civil service and they have come to understand that this boss is different. I am happy with the situation I have in my agency.

Five years from now, how do you want to see the tourism industry in Bayelsa State ?

We have worked with our hoteliers. We have better hotels in town. The government hotels

When it comes to awareness, we need to change our attitude to understand that it is ours if we are proud of it and if we sell it better, it will sell better. And so we get an improved tourism and hospitality attitude ones even the unknown because I know we have had visitors on each and every of our events and they have come and gone back.

Girls were safe passing through our creeks and all that. I want to assure people that its been tested, its not like we are just saying in this case, so that can be well assured that the government of Bayelsa has put a lot in place to ensure the safety of its citizens and our visitors alike.

I live here. I don’t have any security patrol. hat are the challenges of W your job?

Like every other job, it is not

like a walk through a rose garden to put it that way but it’s not bad.

I wouldn’t like the job if it was any less challenging. I will be bored out of my mind. I am naturally a hard working person.

I thrive when it’s challenging and when it’s not challenging, I would probably want to go more or less.

I am coming from the private

are all in place, they are five star hotels of international standards. These events that we have started off are now internationally renowned events.

I’d like to see a situation of somebody from New Orleans attending the forthcoming Bayelsa Jazz festival. We have a large group of creative youths in Bayelsa. I want to see them attain an international status that is beyond the level of shows for the local crowd to being able to pull shows that we would all be proud of and I think with the experience they are going to be getting with all the events we are organising, that obviously would be one of our achievement in the next five years. ow much do you hope to H make in terms of revenue?

This time, it’s a beginning, we might be spending more than comes in but we hope to have a lot of corporate supports so that

hat is your impression W about the Nigerian tourism as a whole?

There is still so much to do.

When it comes to awareness, we need to change our attitude to understand that it is ours if we are proud of it and if we sell it better, it will sell better. And so we get an improved tourism and hospitality attitude. We need that as Nigerians. We should also understand that around the world, one of the greatest areas where you can make the greatest amount of money is tourism and it is the greatest source of revenue in the world at the moment. If we move away from thinking oil, we need to understand that so much can be made through tourism as well. And it’s not a business that just concerns government alone, it’s a business that every individual can partake of in one little way once we have encouraged it to grow to the maximum that is available to us.

Africa is being seen as the next tourism destination. f Nigeria can tap into it and I develop what we have to that level whereby the average

American or British person wants to travel and would choose to come to Nigeria, it will be better for us because that way, you can imagine, instead of our Naira going out, we would now start

having dollars coming in.

Automatically, it is better income for this country and we would improve our standards tremendously. Like I said, each and everyone of us has a part to play. Even if it is just helping security to make the place more secure, we can be our neighbours keepers. We can ensure that everybody in my neighbourhood understands that we want a safe and secure atmosphere.

And we all have a part to play in ensuring that. I want pray that five years from now, we can boast of all these. We understand that even if I am just a Coca Cola dealer, I can sell more coca cola when my town is safe, secure and more beautiful.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 37

THREE DAYS TO NEW YEAR

Much ado about fish import ban

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

M

ANY Nigerians may have been put at the receiving end of a policy decision by the Federal Government as the deadline for the ban on fish importation into the country approaches in the New Year.

It is believed in many quarters that the directive by the Federal Government to ban fish importation, unfolded through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, is a ploy to deny the poor masses their only cheap source of protein.

Stakeholders say the policy means a hike in the price of fish ahead of the ban which takes effect by month end.

Adesina had made the pronouncem ent a few weeks ago during the launch of the Special Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme intended to boost local aquaculture production through the Aquaculture Value Chain initiative.

This was a follow-up to the directive by the Federal Government in a letter, dated October 29, 2013, to fish importers asking them to ensure that all Bills of Lading carried dates not later than October 2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) arrived the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.

The net effect of this is that the price of fish in Lagos and other parts of the country is going up.

As at last week, a carton of Titus was selling for N13, 500, up from N10, 500 while Kotenow went for N10, 200 from N7, 500.

To justify the GES/AVC initiative, the minister claimed the aquaculture value chain would produce 400,000 tons of fish, generate extra 250,000 of table fish and 100,000 tons of value added fish. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO’s the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report 2012, Nigeria produced 200,535 tons of aquaculture fish, representing 15.57 per cent of global production in 2010, but had an annual consumption requirement of 1.2 million metric tons based on a population figure of 100 million and per capital consumption of 12 kg per annum regarded as adequate for a normal healthy growth. These figures reveal that even if the ambitious objectives put forward

by Adesina are achieved, there will still be a significant shortfall in fish availability for consumption, not to talk of if importation was banned outright as is currently the case, as estimated production tonnages are projections and not achievable in the short term.

Some dealers disclosed that the price escalation was being driven by the anticipated ban effective month end and will last over the next four years.

The nation’s fish industry reacted sharply to the government p r o n o u n c e m e n t .

Fish.... Scarcity imminent?

Locally, we are not producing enough fish because of several reasons. One of the major reasons is that our waters have been devastated by oil pollution. Fish farmers are supposed to use a particular kind of net that should pick the specific type of fish they are looking for A lecturer at Lagos State University, Dr. Tosin Olarinmoye, noted that government should not be in a hurry to ban fish import since it has not made provision for alternative source of cheap protein for the poor.

He said, “It doesn’t make sense to ban fish when you are not producing enough locally. In Nigeria, fish is the cheapest form of protein people use to supplement their protein requirements in food. Locally, we are not producing enough fish because of several reasons. One of the major reasons is that our waters have been devastated by oil pollution. Fish farmers are supposed to use a particular kind of net that should pick the specific type of fish they are looking for. But because they are not regulated, they catch all the fish, both mature and immature; they are supposed to throw back into the water into the water, but they sell them.

“As a result of over fishing, when our local fishermen go on water, they can’t even see fish of big size to catch.”

He pointed out that instead of total ban, government should work with local fish suppliers through the ministry of agriculture’s extension service

and designate some areas not to be operated for some time so that the fish in the areas could be produced in big and adequate quantities. The university don added that even after that period, they should continue to monitor the conservation areas to ensure strict compliance over a particular time.

“Let me tell give you an example of the Arugungu Fishing Festival. Because fishing is restricted in that water, every year, they must catch fish of big sizes.

This is because they have ensured that in the intervening year before the festival, nobody fishes in that river. Can’t that be done?

Now we are not producing enough and we want to ban fish that people buy for N150 to N250 per kilo to eat. I think it is a bad policy and Nigerians will kick against it,” he added.

Olarinmoye posited that beyond conservation, private operators in the industry need a friendly environment to operate.

He also advised the Federal Government to encourage local fishermen by giving them low interest rate finances and inputs.

According to him, “If government does what I call government nursery where they

can give fish farmers loans at subsidized rate, more Nigerians would be encouraged to go into the business.That is the kind of thing they should be doing and not to ban fish importation outrightly.

“I suggest that government should first of all do a stock taking programme to determine which species we have, how many we have; which areas do we find them and what is the local demand for them? When that is done, then, we can designate areas that need to be protected over a period of time. If that is done over a period of five years and the private sector is encouraged to increase the production of aquaculture,then, ultimately, in another 10-15 years, the number of fish import would drop to almost half.

“There is no country that doesn’t import fish because no country has enough stock to meet local demand, and not all the fish that

your citizens want that you can find in your water. So, there will always be some importation of fish. That is the truth.”

Also speaking on the issue, a nutritionist, Dr. Amarachi Okonkwo, said though the policy in itself has merit, the shotgun approach being applied by government in this case, as in many other such developmental agendas and policies, was inappropriate. He said that since local production was inadequate due to a number of reasons, which the government itself acknowledged at the inauguration of its GES project, a situation which and will persist for a long time to come, government should have applied a phased approach to the implementation of this policy, as was attempted through the failed Fadama project in the case of r i c e .

Okonkwo said, “Phased increment agendas to maximize local production, artisanal and aquaculture, while reducing imports gradually, would be a more workable option in the mid to long term. This is to be done in tandem with fish stock enumerations, designation of protected fishing areas, and species, strict monitoring and enforcement of fishing quotas by trawlers in local waters to reduce, and possibly eradicate the menace of overfishing, a factor militating against artisanal fisher folk and their livelihoods.”

He added that in the light of growing public trepidation and fear of the effects of the fish ban on the affordability of at least a minimal protein quota on the part of the consumers, and a loss of business for importers and bulk sellers, government would do well to reassess this controversial policy and use the Fadama project as a backdrop for arguments for a phased approach to the implementation of same.

The timing of the ban also seems particularly insensitive considering the fast approaching year end festivities. In keeping with the government directive, major shipping lines have reportedly stopped the transportation of frozen fish.

18,180 cartons of frozen poultry products, worth N103.5 million, seized along Orile /Lugun in Ido area by the Oyo/ Osun Customs Command being destroyed.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

‘Odds against Sino-Nigeria relations’

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFUAND MARKAKPA JNR.(BEIJING)

N

IGERIAN businessmen in China are bitter over the absence of a consulate in Guangzhou, the commercial nerve centre of China, mostly populated by Africans.

In a telephone conversation, the coordinator of Good Governance Initiatives, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, spokesperson for Nigerian businessmen in Guangzhou, revealed that Nigerians in China had pleaded with the Senate Committee on Diaspora Affairs and the Federal Government to build a consulate in Guangzhou.

“Opening a consulate in Guangzhou is a matter of

A scene from Guangzhou urgency now, and I implore the Federal Government to intervene,”Mbisiogu said.

“Let us put politics and ethnic sentiments aside, I do not need to tell you what Nigerian government is losing by neglecting Nigerians in Guangzhou and situating a consulate here. Aside the economic importance of this city, many of China’s manufacturing base and the kind of investors Nigerian government are always shopping for are based in south China city of Guangdong.”

He further stated that the Chinese in Nigeria have the embassy in Abuja and a consulate in Lagos, because they do not underestimate the importance of Lagos commercial linkage.

“Without a Nigerian consulate operating here in the city of Guangzhou to see to the affairs of Nigerians on the spot, I am afraid the Chinese government will continue to heighten the woes of Nigerians, who are struggling to survive under very harsh law conditions,”the spokesperson said.

“The 24 hours’ drive away

• Trade and Investment Minister Aganga

consulate from Guangzhou is responsible for the continuous victimization and chasing around of many Nigerians for alleged illegal immigration paper work.

There are scenes where arrested victims are stripped half nude and bounded straight to detention centers for daring to transact businesses without valid permits.”

According to him, the cat and mouse relationship between Chinese security forces and Nigerians in Guangzhou had resulted in loss of lives of Nigerian young men, as was the case on October 30, 2013 when a middle aged Nigerian was killed by a vehicle during a police raid on the streets of the city.

Speaking also, Mr. Agbo Michael, who claimed to have legally lived in Guangzhou for 10 years, stated that the “Nigerian government is responsible for the plight of Nigerians in China.”

He went on: “Could one imagine that the Nigerian embassy authorities rarely come here and when you go to visit them in Beijing for any problem, the kind of treatment you get sometimes makes you regret being a Nigerian?

• Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala

“We are not asking the Nigerian government to bring their embassy in Beijing to Guangzhou.

No! All we ask is a Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou in order to save us the stress of travelling all the way to Beijing just to receive consular services.

“I do not blame the Chinese, or have any grudge against their actions towards Nigerians here, because on occasions when they even try to contact our embassy for clarification on any problem involving a Nigerian, they are met with careless dispositions.

“Sunday Vanguard gathered that the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, in one of his foreign investment drive meetings in China, visited Guangzhou and

would be social disorder, mistrust and misplaced grudges that could possibly fuel the anger of both recipients of the media hyped economic cooperation to a burning hatred between Nigerians and Chinese, as Nigerian immigrants, who are trapped in the Nigerian government politics of vain promises to establish a consulate in the city of Guangzhou, would stop at nothing to ensure that the era of neglect and victimization, is eradicated,” lamented another Nigerian-China based businessman.

He said the unfulfilled promise of building a Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou would detach Nigerians from the gains of a growing SinoNigeria relations.

Without a Nigerian consulate operating here in the city of Guangzhou to see to the affairs of Nigerians on the spot, I am afraid the Chinese government will continue to heighten the woes of Nigerians saw why a consulate should be established there. he minister promised to intervene.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, also visited Guangzhou to a rousing ovation, and, after assessment of Nigerians activities and the height of active participation of Nigerians in growing small scale businesses in China, which, in turn, boosts NigeriaChina economic and trade relations, she made same promise which is yet to be fulfilled.

“Without recourse to the overbeaten Sino-Nigeria economic cooperation, there

T

The Nigerian factor Sunday Vanguard gathered that a consul general, Mr. Anozie, was appointed for the proposed consulate.

He was said to have reported in China but there was no office for him to operate from, and unable to visit Guangzhou or even have a glimpse of the Nigerian community whose plight he had been sent to oversee, based on the fact that his visa status did not accord him the privilege to stay in China beyond a month, he returned to Nigeria, otherwise, he would have to face penalties.

A source said Nigerians in

Guangzhou represent the bulk of China-Nigeria trade and that both countries cooperation in many instances are measured by the active participation of Nigerians SME operators in Guangzhou.

He said, “In all aspects, Nigerians in Guangzhou have organized trade unions and have been very active in building a community of Africans that creates a platform for every African immigrant in China”.

Reacting to the issue of lawlessness among Nigerians in Guangzhou, a visiting Nigerian businessman, Mr. Silvanus Ocherome, angrily, stated: “How do you control this mixed group of young people from travelling in anguish in a 24-hour train ride to an embassy office far away in Beijing?

“Those of them, who are privileged to travel by air, spend not less than three hours from Guangzhou to Beijing, just to receive consular services. We have also not added the cost of these travels.”

He explained that Nigerians who have a pressing need to return home due to heightened frustrations and anxieties are compelled to embark on Herculean journeys to Beijing to queue for what is called Emergency Travel Certificate (TC).

“On many occasions young Nigerian parents are compelled by the Chinese unfriendly laws to produce international passport, within a short period of one month for their new born babies and, on this issue, the parents are subjected to travel to Beijing, under very severe weather conditions, just to procure the required documentation. This is outrageous.

“Besides, all these, the refusal to build a consulate in Guangzhou portrays Nigeria as a country that is governed by a bunch of irresponsible and unreliable individuals who only are interested in enriching themselves at the expense of the governed.

“The immigration authorities in a prison on many occasions have had to send requests to the Nigerian embassy in Beijing to release a document known as TC to enable them facilitate release procedure for a detained Nigerian to no avail.

“On several occasions, a Nigerian would be detained for months at any the China prison underground, for alleged invalid travel documentation and the Nigerian embassy would feign ignorance. This is unpatriotic!”

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 39

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

Three dangerous marriages to avoid – Pastor Ekeh C

hris Ekeh presides over the Words and Spirit Assembly Church located in Satelite Town area of Lagos. He got married to his wife, Chioma, about eleven years ago and the marriage has been blessed two kids. The couple shares the secret behind the success of their marriage.

How I spend my leisure times try to draft my programme so as to allocate time to everything. I have time to read newspapers, time to watch the television and, basically, time for everything. We don’t have much time in a day, once you wake up in the morning, before you know it, it is noon.

Having time for my family My family is number one. As a matter of fact, my family comes before my ministry because that is my first ministry.

If they are not happy, I can’t function.

Hanging out with her That’s a must. Sometimes after a hectic day or Sunday service, I come home to take them out. If they want to go and swim, I take them there.

If they want to go to the beach, I take them there.

Causes of breakup of marriages There is no clear and good understanding and, sometimes, people don’t define what they want in a marriage.

Before you step into marriage, do you really know your spouse? What attracted you to him or her? We have three different kinds of marriage that are dangerous . They include marriage by mistake, marriage by force and marriage by sentiment. You find out that someone marries another person due to that person’s physical features; fair in complexion, tall, slim and so on. Another person might love someone else simply because that person is always taking her to the eatery. This is sentiment. Let people learn to spell out what they want from the beginning and also build up their love without reservation and sentiment. Some people also lie a lot and you don’t go into marriage lying to each other.

When the truth is eventually revealed, it brings about distrust and gradually things will take a turn for the worse.

Secret behind the success of our marriage The secret is openness, truth

I

and love. Love is not by mouth.

Sometimes, you see some men talking to their wives on phone: ‘Darling, I love you’.

But they can’t buy a pair of shoes or dress for her. I can tell my wife I love her by getting something special for her, taking her out, giving her surprises or playing with her. I know some men who have cars and their wives cannot drive them. They believe that the man is superior to the woman.

The woman is as important as the man. The kitchen is as important as the bedroom. So, both must flow. My wife has access to anything I have.

When you are open, you find out that love will always increase.

What attracted me to her he attraction was the sim plicity. She was so simple, so unique and she loves God a lot. Beauty is in the eye

T

of the beholder. I know what attracted me but sometimes, you don’t know how to express it. I know that thing is a good thing (laughs).

Challenges of marriage The truth is anybody can be faced with challenges in marriage. Some people are able to overcome their challenges, while some allow the challenges to overwhelm them. But we shouldn’t forget the fact that a man of God is also a human being. That your marriage is working doesn’t make you a champion. It is God’s grace. Everything on earth is about God’s grace and mercy.

I I know someone who is a specialist in marriage, he preaches and delivers talks on marriage. But, his own marriage did not last. There is a

I was staying with my sister.

Then I was teaching in school.

He was living nearby, and so he usually saw me whenever I was going to school. One day, he approached me and made his intention known to me. One thing led to another and here we are today.

Accepting his proposal Initially, I didn’t but when I looked at him, I saw in him, a young man that had a bright future. I decided to accept his proposal.

Becoming a man of God Yes, he was already a servant of God when I met him. He had this kind of inter-denominational fellowship where Christians from different churches came together to worship. From there, the church started.

,,

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

I have a personal relationship with God, I love God so much that even my wife sometimes says my heart is what makes God to prove himself around me

time when what you know cannot help you except the grace of God. Anointing of God I have a personal relationship with God, I love God so much that even my wife sometimes says my heart is what makes God to prove himself around me. If you are a man of God and your wife believes in your anointing, then you are a man of God. There are men of God whose wives and children don’t believe in their anointing. Sometimes, when I minister, my wife removes her jewelry and offers it as a sacrifice at the altar and she understands that we don’t eat sacrifices here.

I saw in him a man with a bright future—wife How I met him Our marriage was 11 years in November. I met him while

Believe in him Like I said earlier, I saw a promising young man. Right from the beginning, I have always believed in him. Through the eyes of the spirit, I knew that he was going some where.

Lesson to learn from my marriage I want people to learn that marriage is something you embrace with all your heart; pray over it and learn to believe in your man. Appearance counts a lot in marriage, and the way your talk. Try to find out whether he is a man that talks with wisdom. Don’t believe all that glitter is not gold Attraction Apart from being a handsome man, the attraction is that we were destined to be husband and wife.

PAGE 40, SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 41

C M Y K

PAGE 42, SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Tenure Elongation:

Ekweremadu and his agenda F

ATE has been kind to Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee. He start-

ed off as a local government chairman in his Aninri Council of Enugu State, later became the Chief of Staff to former governor Chimaroke Nnamani who also made him his Secretary to the State Government. It was from here he went to the Senate where he is today.

At the onset, Ekweremadu seemed to be the loyal, noiseless deputy. He lurked behind the shadows of the President of the Senate, David Mark. But not anymore! Today, he is the cynosure, by his deed or misdeeds. He courts controversies and has turned the constitution review exercise, quite needlessly and heedlessly, into a theatre of scorn and hate.

It still baffles many minds why Ekweremadu decided to spark the recent raging political debate by renewing his earlier discredited and futile campaign for single terms for elected executives or tenure elongation as his current postulation prescribes.

For emphasis and clarity, let us pause and listen to Ekweremadu, the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District: “I believe that one way it could work is…now people have been elected for four years, now let everybody complete the four-year tenure for which they have been elected and we can through the doctrine of necessity do some kind of transition of two years in which case those who are now present occupants like the president and the governors who are finishing their term, could now do another two years that will end in 2017… of course, we don’t have much problem with the legislative positions, we can go ahead and hold the legislative elections in 2015.”

Expectedly, the attacks against this proposition have been persistent and not out of place. Some newspapers have done editorials on it, asking questions as to what now motivated the latest offensive idea. Other columnists and political heavyweights have continued to insinuate other motives of tenure elongation by proxy.

The unfortunate aftermath is that most people tend to suspect that Ekweremadu was reading another man’s script. Of course, the major suspect is President Goodluck Jonathan. Opposition chieftains are crying out loud that this is tenure tampering under a crooked guise.

But this is where I differ. I do not hold brief for the president or the Presidency. I just do not see how Jonathan or his Presidency will embrace such a dance of death by engaging in a fruitless task to alter Sections 136 and 180 of the Constitution (1999 as amended) which guarantee two maximum terms of four years for elected executives.

One, such an idea which was earlier mooted by Ekweremadu was shot dead on arrival even within the National Assembly. No government would, therefore, in not too distant time, revisit such a vexed issue whose result needs no special gift of divination to predict. In any case, why would the president settle for two years when the constitution guarantees him four years if and when he wins the next election?

It does not just add up. It is just unfortunate that Ekweremadu’s self-serving gambit is putting the President on the spot.

Besides, Ekweremadu had earlier asked both the president and gover-

,,

BY OKEKE EZE

•Senator Ike Ekweremadu

•President Goodluck Jonathan

mittee who should talk less on matters on his table. While he superintends over an assignment as sensitive and crucial as this, he must learn to keep some of his desires to himself.

It amazes why this man has chosen to over-reach himself so recklessly.

These days, if he is not talking about why states cannot be created, he is conversely assuring another group on a courtesy visit that state creation is still a possibility. Much of leadership is also being consistent on issues.

Such double-speak does him no good.

The other day, Ekweremadu’s aide took a full page advertorial where he alleged that the governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime was planning to sabotage the federal projects which the former attracted to the South-east state. There was no concrete evidence as to how the governor was plotting to sabotage the projects or what specific projects were the targets of such a plot.

Other media reports have now revealed that such a reckless accusation has its roots in the 2015 elections. Most of the reports pointed to the fact that the lawmaker and the governor are at daggers drawn because the latter insisted that Enugu North Senatorial District should produce his successor based on justice and

selfish, not national agenda is the case of the Enugu West Senatorial District.

Though he has volunteered no word, it is speculated that there are pressures on Chime to vie for the seat.

Meanwhile, Ekweremadu, the present occupant also wants to return to the Senate if the governorship position is not feasible. The scenario is a situation where we may have the two men scrambling for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). By all accounts, the governor has the upper hand, judging by the structures on ground.

Therefore, it is not too difficult to see why Ekweremadu has decided to instigate this political storm. Like Thomas Hardy, the English novelist and poet said, “some folk(s) want their bread buttered.” Now consider this scenario: if Ekweremadu’s tenure elongation for the president and governors sails through, it then means that Chime will automatically benefit from it and cannot contest the senatorial seat again even if he were to bow to pressures. Remember that Ekweremadu says that “ we don’t have much problem with the legislative positions, we can go ahead and hold the legislative elections in 2015!”

The implication therein is that in the event of Ekweremadu’s tenure elongation (call it single term if you like) being accepted, then the coast will be clear for him. By the time Chime’s stay ends in 2017, the legislative elections would have been held two years earlier and whoever had won would be there till 2019.

My conclusion is that Ekweremadu is simply pushing the agenda of tenure elongation for some selfish reasons.

Therefore, we must leave Jonathan alone and place the blame for all the brouhaha arising from this self-serving recommendation at Ekweremadu’s doorstep. If the presidency appreciates that it has enough headaches already, all it can do is either quietly call him to order or publicly distant itself from him. But Nigerians must not lose sleep over such sterile self-seeking gambit.

It still baffles many minds why Ekweremadu decided to spark the recent raging political debate by renewing his earlier discredited and futile campaign for single terms for elected executives or tenure elongation as his current postulation prescribes

nors to make sacrifices and do six straight years without re-contesting.

Who was he to ask Mr. president and other governors to make such a sacrifice? Why restrict the President and governors to single terms against the prescription of the constitution? Again, that idea was killed.

True, he has a right to his personal fantasies but liberty is no license to arouse anger and hate in the land. The trouble really is that he is the chairman of the Constitution Review Com-

equity.

The Deputy President of the Senate, who hails from the same district as the governor, was eyeing the seat. So, Chime’s view contrasted with his ambition. The truth is that no law bars Ekweremadu from contesting and if his party and Enugu State people choose him in the primary and the general elections, he becomes the governor. It is this simple!

But what makes discerning minds to believe that the senator is pursuing a

•Eze is resident in Enugu

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 43

Delta 2015: Why PDP will win — Ugbomah

BY DAPO AKINREFON Chief George Ugbomah is the political adviser to the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan. In this interview, he says that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, will continue to win elections in the state. Excerpts:

C

RITICS of President Goodluck Jonathan have flayed him for allegedly encouraging corruption, do you think this is apt?

I do not think so because there is no empirical evidence to show that the president is encouraging corruption. Until we have empirical facts to that effect, one cannot lay credence to the fact that the president is encouraging corruption.

The APC is trying to make inroad by going round to woo notable leaders in the country and to the South- south geo political zone. Are you not bothered that the party poses a threat to the PDP especially in Delta State?

In Delta State, the APC stands no chance.

If you look at well. The APC is not based on any ideology. In Delta state, we do not have a conflict of interest to the extent that it will have any effect. We have pockets of ill feelings here and there but we are one in Delta state and I do not see anything that will make Delta state to be affected.

Governor Uduaghan is the leader of the party in Delta state and he is on top of the

•Ugbomah party, he has a very good approach in bringing everybody together. That could be seen on the last Senatorial elections we had when we wanted to choose our senator.

People thought a lot of things will go wrong but he brought everybody together. He took a common position and more so, he has performed well to make everybody happy. So, the APC cannot come to polarize the PDP in Delta state because the PDP is a formidable front.

But critics of the governor have said that the construction of the Asaba in-

ternational airport is an alleged avenue to siphon funds. How do you react ?

That is not true. The international airport we have in Asaba is visionary in ramifications and we are all happy about it. The airport services not only Delta state but the entire country. It is increasingly encouraging commercial activities and it is also generating revenue for the state.

In no distant time, we will begin to have international flights and it is not attempt to siphon funds. More importantly, if you do a comparative costing in terms of some of other airports that have been constructed, you will find out that Delta state has been very prudent in that endeavour. We do not spend money indiscriminately, anybody who cares can do a study of construction of airports and come out with concrete facts and not be speculative on the pages of newspapers because they want to fend their malice which is not necessary on people oriented programmes.

They could go ahead and do some research on airports that have been constructed and it is only that point that they can state their facts. From my vantage point, it has been a marvelous project that the governor has put in place and it is one of the best airports you can see around in recent times.

It was done at a very minimal cost and so, those who make such assertions, are just been envious and they are not progressives.

They are very unscientific, they do not have base to make such assertion. Before you say someone is siphoning money, you should have your facts and figures. Conclusions are drawn from empirical facts and not abstractions. We are not distracted about that and the governor is marching ahead. Very soon, international flights will resume at the airport.

Do you think the governor will deliver the state for the PDP in 2015 because of

the perceived threat the APC poses?

Delta has its own political history, we have had our trying times when we had some internal disagreement that led to some polarization. But we have passed that stage because the governor has been matured, sophisticated and he took a bold step with the party under the leadership of Chief Peter Nwaboshi, to bring everybody together in Delta state. As far as the PDP is concerned we united that ever. So, the question of another party coming on board does not arise. PDP will continue to be the government of the day in Delta state, I can tell you that.

The reason why this question came up is because of the fact that some aspirants, who may feel aggrieved of not made the PDP flag bearer i. 2015, may end up leaving the party. Don’t you foresee this situation?

Having as many aspirants, for me, shows how sophisticated the state is. It shows that the state has enough man power, people who are capable of occupying that seat. Everybody will express his or her opinion, it is a reflection of the qualitative nature of the state and not just quantitative.

We also know that we are in a family in the PDP. PDP has its own approach to ensure that democracy prevails and at the end of the day, nobody understand the will of the people but we subscribe to the decision of our party. Once our candidate emerges, through democratic practice, we go all out.

It is a good thing that we have lots of aspirants because no aspirant is aspiring on his or her own but aspiring within the logics of the party. We have a high level of party discipline in Delta PDP. So, PDP will always win Delta state anytime.

OBJ’s letter is good for our democracy — Okhue Dr Okhue Iboi is a trado medical doctor, National Co-ordinator and spokesman, White Witches and Wizard Association of Nigeria (WITZAN). In this interview, he reveals that Nigerians should be very prayerful ahead of 2015 because of looming crisis, but, no matter what, President Jonathan is the man for the job.

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

O

N the death of Nel son Mandela.

He was a good man. He reminded me of Awolowo.

I wish Nigeria had a leader like him, things could have been different. The world lost one of the true giants of the past century.

Nelson Mandela was a man of incomparable honor, unconquerable strength, a saint to many, a hero to all who treasure liberty, freedom and the dignity of humankind. Let us, in his memory, not just reflect on how far we’ve come, but on how far we have to go. Madiba may no longer be with us, but his journey continues with all of us.

On Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan The letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President C M Y K

Goodluck Jonathan was not a bad thing, it is good for the nation’s democracy. Nigerians should not undermine the issues raised in the letter by the former president. Obasanjo is like a father to Jonathan or if your son is not doing things right, you call him and advise him.

Where I fault the former president is that he should have met with Jonathan and explains all these things to him instead of making it public. That was not good. He had his time as president; what did he do? Some of the issues in that letter, like corruption, are just pathetic. Obasanjo forgot that during his administration, there was corruption. Corruption did not start with Jonathan’s administration. He should not be pointing accusing fingers at Jonathan because corruption is a national thing. I was expecting Jonathan to respond, to silence his critics and it was timely but also very cautious in a democracy that is still not solid. His response assured the people that all is well with Nigeria and that things will change very soon.

Do you think Jonathan govt is encouraging corruption No government will en-

courage corruption.

Jonathan is trying to stop corruption in all facets of the country but, according to an African proverb, ‘A leader without good advisers is like a blind man being led by a child. ‘The people working with him are not sincere, they are not telling him the truth; government institutions need to be transparent in their dealings.

My journey to Tanzania As a trado-medical doctor, people call me from different parts of the world to come and treat various kinds of diseases, like asthma, barrenness, stroke, epilepsy among others. I was in Tanzania for two reasons: a client invited me to treat his friend and I was also there to know if I could open an office in that country. I met with the authorities of Tanzania and they were helpful in trying to make sure that I get a resident and work permit before I could start practicing. The most interesting thing in Tanzania is that Tanzanians are organized and I ask myself, why can’t Nigeria, my own country, be as organized and things done right.

On the proposed National Conference?

I see it as a process of finding solutions to the prob-

lems in the country. So, there is nothing wrong in it. My only fear is, will it be successful? But I believe Goodluck Jonathan is doing his best, so I pray for its success. We just cannot continue to criticize and condemn without making an effort to proffer solution. You will agree with me that the president is making efforts to solve many problems. We should encourage him and pray for him so that the problems will be solved and also the outcome of the confer-

•Dr Okhue Iboi ence should be implemented.

On the purportedly missing $50bn oil money When I first heard it, I was shocked. The CBN governor got it wrong. You make enquirers from relevant authorities before jumping into conclusion. His expla-

nation raises critical questions. Since Sanusi and his team have been in charge at the CBN, how come he was not aware of the operational structure? This structure has been in place for years. Was there any variation in the way the NNPC remitted revenue ac-

cretion to the Federation Account in the period in question from what it used to be? What effort did CBN make to cross check with the NNPC before firing .

The right thing the apex bank’s governor should have done was to seek clarification from relevant agencies before rushing to President Jonathan . In fact, the president ought not to have come into this at all.

Defection of PDP House of Reps members to APC. What is your take?

Some of them will come back to PDP. There will be quarrel in APC; so some will come back to PDP. I am telling from the aspect of the white witches.

On 2015 Jonathan will still be the president in 2015. He will win the next election. But we have to pray. Next year will be better. President Jonathan will surprise Nigerians, he will do things Nigerians will not forget in a hurry. And Nigerian, need serious prayer because if we fail to pray, the military might decide to take over. In our recent meeting in the Kano, we prayed for seven days for Africa and Nigeria. He will touch every sector in Nigeria. We should pray so that there won’t be crisis in Nigeria because the military might take advantage of it.

PAGE 44, SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

GKS hoists her banners at Feast of Tabernacles

By LAJA THOMAS

F

OR one week the economic, social and spiritual life of Warri, the oil city gets an uplift due to the annual celebration of the Christian Feast of Tabernacles by the God’s Kingdom Society. Thousands of people flock into the city, hotel facilities were stretched to the limits, roads were jammed with vehicles of every make, transporters reaping windfall gains as traders had a field day transacting brisk business in various items, from foodstuff to shoes and clothes and so on The celebration of the Feast in Salem City, Warri started on Sunday, December 15, with processions of Feast celebrants from four points in Warri to Salem City. The zones were accompanied by dancing/choral groups who sang and danced in praise of God using the vehicle of their own cultures such as Igbo, Yoruba, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw among others. The groups included SuileAghogho Group, GKS Warri, Edo Choral Group, Edjeba Choral Group, Itsekiri Choral Group, Chidi-Ebere Choral Group, Okpe Choral Group, Yoruba Choral Group, Umueze Choral Group, Yoruba Choral Group, Ijaw Choral Group, Isoko Orchestra, Ukoko Ejiroghene Choral Group, Uvwie Choral Group, Yoruba Choral Group, GKS Effurun, Aladja Choral Group, Ovwian Choral Group, Okwagbe Choral Group, Urhobo Choral Group, GKS DSC-Orhuwhorun, Udje Dancers and GKS Emadadja.

Each day a choir from each of the church branches led the singing of hymns while at least four groups performed. The chairman of the Executive Board of GKS officiated in all the assemblies.

In the discourses, the ministers explained why Christians should celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, citing the example of Jesus Christ and the prophet command in Zechariah 14:16-19, among other points. They pointed out that God had promised to set His kingdom in these last days and that it would continue to grow until devil and his host are exterminated from the earth. The fact that seven world empires had ended their rule and that the League of Nations was set up and now had come up as the United Nations are signs that people should search for the Kingdom, which the minister said, is represented by the GKS in this part of the world. The doctrine of Trinity came under intense scrutiny as the church maintained that God is not equal to Jesus Christ in that a father cannot be equal with His son. Christ was in fact created. (Revelation 3:14; Proverbs 8:22-30; John 5:26) The Holy Spirit is not a person but the power of God which He uses for righteous purposes; it emanates from the Father. After creating man, God gave him the faculty of knowing what is right and what is wrong according to His laws. When one listens to his conscience he will do what is right or

*Publicity Secretary, GKS, Bro Benedict Hart (l) and Chairman, Executive Board, GKS, Bro Godwin Ifeacho, at a briefing heralding the Christian Feast of Tabernacles just concluded at Salem City, Warri, Delta State last Sunday.

Photos: LAJA THOMAS.

*God's Kingdom Society, GKS, Mass Choir performing at the 2013 Christian Feast of Tabernacles at the Salem City, Warri, Delta State. amend his ways where he had sinned. But unfortunately, some people do not pay heed to their consciences, believing that it does not matter, as nothing will happen to them for doing evil. This situation is worse in the last days in which Apostle Paul said some people’s conscience would be dead, “seared as if with a hot iron”. (I Timothy 4:1-2).

Such ones should know that they can never escape the fiery punishment from God. They should therefore repent now before it is too late.

Secretary of the Executive Board, Brother Michael Ekiseowei spoke on “Maintaining Our Faith In Times Of Tribulations” while the Vice Chairman addressed the congregation on “Unless We Repent, Our Sins Shall Search Us Out.” Brother Ekiseowei stated in his talk that all those who will get life must continue steadfast, faithfully until the end, citing Hebrews 10:38-39 and Luke 9:62. He said that today many people are carrying heavy burdens, due to sickness, childlessness lack of marital partners. “There are those who have terminal illness and are just waiting to die because the doctor has said they cannot cure them. There are those who are jobless, those whose children are giving them problems.

There are those whose faith is failing them.”

He said there are those who are environmental hazards, pointing out that many sicknesses that are said to have been conquered by modern science are coming back with vengeance. “Whatever may be our troubles we should not run to false prophets or juju priests for help. We should maintain our faith until the end so that we may obtain eternal life by the grace of God in the end” he said as he made reference to the tribulations faced by St. Paul and other servants of God. The Vice Chairman Executive Board, GKS, Brother Felix Adedokun, who spoke on “Unless we repent, our sins shall search us out” drawn from Isaiah 59:12 stated that although we are conceived in sin, we should not glory in it but amend our ways and refrain from committing such sins, else such sins would be made manifest in due course and could be the undoing of such a person.

He cited the case of Achan who violated the law that no one should take any of the things from Jericho.

For this act, the children of Israel died for this sin. “Unless we confess our sins, trouble is there to meet us. He highlighted the vile act of the youths who conspired and killed Miss Cynthia Osokogu. They had killed other people at other times secretly but they were exposed shortly after

the case of the 24-year old young woman whom they lured through Facebook from Abuja to Lagos. There are those who take advantage of their access to customers' accounts to defraud such customers.

There was also a Children Assembly where children between the ages of five and 15 gathered to sing, dance, do recitations and discourse Bible subjects. They were also addressed by a minister of the church, Brother Alfred Nwabuikwu, assistant station minister, GKS, Port Harcourt zone, who spoke on “The Reward of Obedience”.

But the biggest spectacle of that Saturday was the Christian Women procession in which thousands of GKS Women dressed in wine-coloured wrapper danced and sang through the streets of Warri in praise of God. They were accompanied by no fewer than 20 trucks conveying various gifts to the Lord’s Ministry of GKS. Earlier, there was the Christian Women Assembly in which Sister Sarah Okotie, chairperson of GKS Women Fellowship, Okota branch addressed them on "The Virtues of a True Christian Woman" and Sister Ore Enyen, Vice Chairperson, Lord's Ministry Sisters' Committee, GKS who spoke on “Remember Lot's Wife.”

On Friday there was a Christian Music Festival, one of the spectacles of the Feast which featured 14 different groups including Izon Orchestra, Yenagoa; Otu-Ifunanya Dancing Group, Nara, Shogunle Orchestra, Umu Alaeze Choral Group Amaokpara, Rivers Orchestra, Warri, Ilesha Choral Group, Ilesha, Ughelli Orchestra, Ughelli, Alheri Dancing Group Group, Suleja, Ethnic Dancers, Emohua, Edo Choral Group, GKS Benin City, Yoruba Orchestra, Lagos Island, Aba Kingdomite Orchestra, Aba, Boma Nume Orchestra, SuileAghogho Group, Warri. The music festival lasted for about two hours and put on parade the cultures of various parts of Nigeria, North and South.

The last procession for the Feast was the Last And Great Day procession held in the morning of last Sunday.

There were so many vehicles loaded with musical equipment, singers, a generator accompanying delegates from about 100 branches who processed through some streets in Warri and back to Salem City. It was indeed a moving sight and many observers could not but join in the dance.

There was the address of the chairman of the Executive Board GKS, Brother Godwin Ifeacho entitled “Righteousness Exalteth A Nation” in which he warned the leaders and the led to cultivate righteous attitudes without which they cannot make progress. Those who preferred to do evil will continue to remain at the bottom of the ladder. He expatiated on the words of Solomon the prophet in Proverbs 14:34 which says: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34).

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE45

T

hanks to Jesus, God can no longer be accused of being indifferent to the human condition. In order to appreciate our plight fully, God became a man in Christ Jesus. What manner of man was he? God was a righteous, sinless man who went about doing good works.

Thereby, he showed us what manner of man he created man to be. Jesus became the quintessential man.

The God man When Balaam took up his oracle, he declared: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). According to Balaam, man is a liar by nature, while God is true. Therefore, he insists that God is not a man.

But I have news for Balaam. Man can no longer be said to be a liar. Jesus is a man and he never tells a lie.

Thanks to Jesus, God is now a man and a man is now God. That is the outcome of our atonement with God in Christ Jesus. Today, a man is seated on God’s throne in heaven and his name is Jesus. This man is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. Jesus is our brother in the family of God. But God did not just become one of us; he became our brother in adversity. He was despised and rejected by

DOES GOD NOT CARE THAT WE ARE SUFFERING? (2) men. Jesus was a man of sorrows. Thereby, he became intimately acquainted with our grief.

(Isaiah 53:3).

Doctor Jesus God took everything about us on himself. He entered into our pain and our sorrows. As our physician, Jesus did not merely prescribe a cure for our sicknesses. He decided to catch our diseases first, the better to understand our aliments: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” (Matthew 8:17). Indeed, Isaiah gives a graphic portrait of Christ in his passion: “Many people were shocked when they saw him; he was so disfigured that he hardly looked human.” (Isaiah 52:14).

Therefore with Jesus, we can no longer say God is indifferent to human suffering. God not only cares, he does not separate himself from our pains. In our affliction, God became afflicted, and the angel of his presence in Christ came to our rescue: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one

Jesus provides the answer of peace to every storm of our troublesome life who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).

God cares so much he even validated our weaknesses. In the Garden of Gethsemane, God, in the person of Jesus Christ, did not thank God confidently for the opportunity to lay down his life for us. Instead, he prayed: “Father, if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me.

Not my will, however, but your will be done.” (Luke 22:42). Thereby, Jesus validated our weaknesses in the flesh. This teaches us to glory in our infirmities, for when we are weak; then God’s strength can be perfected in us.

Through Jesus, God entered into a brotherhood with man. Thanks to Jesus, we now know that God can relate to our sufferings. Today, God is the very last person we can ever accuse of being indifferent to our plight.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16). Jesus affirms this again and again. He says: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” (John 15:13).

God himself is our shepherd who gives his life as a ransom for us.

Amazing love But why would God go to such lengths just for us? Dumbfounded, the psalmist asks the Lord: “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?” (Psalm 8:4). Indeed, what did we do to deserve this great love of God? It is not about us: it is all about God. God cannot help but be himself; and he is love. Many waters cannot quench the love of God. Neither can the floods drown it. Not even our sins, as black as they are, have been able to restrain his love. Our blackest sins are just a cry of repentance away from forgiveness and redemption. Even at the climax of the heinous crime of the crucifixion, Jesus still prayed earnestly for humanity: “Fa-

ther, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

They feared the boat would capsize. But Jesus woke up and proclaimed peace on the storm. They mourned that he had been killed at Calvary. But three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and declared peace unto his disciples. Jesus provides the answer of peace to every storm of our troublesome life. He rose again from the dead never to die again. He rose again, bringing mankind into a mystical union with the Godhead.

Thanks to the God-man Christ Jesus, we are now heirs of God. God himself is the inheritance of the believer.

The resurrected life The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ironclad insurance and guarantee of God’s determination that the believer will never perish. It attests conclusively that death is not the end, but the beginning, of the true disciple. The life we have in Christ is therefore ultimately more powerful than death.

That is why the gospel is very good news indeed. It is the good report of being born again

after the death of sin. It is the good report of being born again to a living hope; to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for us. The death and resurrection of Jesus demonstrates conclusively that: “(God’s) anger is but for a moment, his favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5).

Sin is like a mosquito bite that infects one with deadly malaria. The sting of sin is death. But thanks be to God. With the resurrection, death is swallowed up in victory.

Our captivity became captive. Christ pursued our implacable adversaries, overtook them and recovered all our losses.

He ransomed us from the bondage of sin and Satan.

The resurrection of Jesus is the revealed glory of the crosses of our discipleship. It is the revealed glory of all our pain and suffering here on earth.

“I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” (Revelation 21:35).

Imo community marks 100 years of Christianity

By SAM EYOBOKA

A

WEEK long ac tivities marking the centenary celebration of 100 years of Christianity in EzeokeNsu in Ehime-Mbano Local Government of Imo State which started with rallies, expositions, workshops, life transforming testimonies, music and lots more with Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, the Rt. Rev. David Onuoha as the chief host.

It is expected to end with a thanksgiving service on Sunday.

A statement by the chairman of the Centenary Anniversary Committee, Mr. Emeka Ekedebe gave reasons why the community opted to cel-

ebrate the centenary, saying: “This is in appreciation of the fact that some few individuals suffered and paid for what we have today as Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Ezeoke-Nsu. We salute the resilience and visionary spirit of our forbearers. Ezeoke-Nsu will go agog for the centenary celebration of the advent of Christianity in the land.

“It will serve as a home coming for all Ezeoke sons and daughters. A lot of communities have unarguably benefitted from Anglicanism which started from Ezeoke so it is expected that in-laws, well wishers, friends, past bishops, priests, top government officials, cap-

tains of industry, notable personalities will converge in Ezeoke to honour this 100 years of Christian faith in EzeokeNsu,” he explained.

Narrating the advent of Christianity in Ezeoke, the chairman said: “In 2 Kings 5, God used a slave damsel under captivity and bondage in the land of Aram, an aborigine of Israel to introduce God of Israel to a powerful valiant Aramean soldier and a king, who subjected the people of God under servitude and bondage. The Advent of Christianity in Ezeoke-Nsu shares a close similarity with that of Aram in the Bible.

“In the case of EzeokeNsu, one Madam Nwangborie Iwundu

born on Orie day, the second market day in Igbo land was renowned as a woman who God used to introduce and advance Christianity in Ezeoke land and neighbouring towns. She was sold into slavery, waiting to be transported to the western world to serve in tobacco and sugar cane plantations,” he stated.

As history has it, he continued, men from EzeokeNsu notably oil merchants but nicknamed “Ndi Potokiri” (Ekeoba, Duru Ochie etc) travelled to Arochukwu to sell palm oil to the Portuguese; while these men were in the market, they came in contact with a woman called Nwangborie who spoke Igbo with Nsu ac-

cent. Through some interrogations, these men discovered that Nwangborie Iwundu was a native of Umuezeala-Nsu, a neighbouring town to Ezeoke-Nsu. She narrated that, she was sold into slavery by her own people as she then resided in the king’s palace as one of the king’s concubines.

Consequently, the men from Ezeoke-Nsu informed Madam Nwangborie that slavery had been abolished in their land and Madam Nwangborie showed immense interest to return home and settle with her people. She was given directions on how to locate home.

Madam Nwangborie in

her discussions with her brothers, Duruoshie and Ekeoba, told them about how the people of Arochukwu worshipped a heavenly God (Obasi bi nelu).

The return of Madam Nwangborie to Umuezeala–Nsu was received with mixed feelings as her people queried the foreign religion she brought to their land. She was not deterred though.

She rather convened her people, brought in the village heads and enlightened them on her new found religion--Christianity; that where she was coming from, the religion has given them development, education, peace etc.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Still on Obasanjo's letter

BY IFEANYI NWABUGU IN BRIEF The pitfalls in a former president’s letter

T

AKING a second look and very critical exposé of former Presi dent Olusegun Obasanjo letter to President Goodluck Jonathan is the covert or I may say, overt indictment of the judiciary in the ill-fated letter.

This is because the said letter seems to suggest that the government under Jonathan may have unwittingly facilitated or influenced the release of some supposed criminals, apparently referring to Mustapha and co to feather its political nest especially as 2015 approaches.

Quoting him precisely, he said, “assisting criminals to evade justice cannot be part of a job of the president ” .

This remark no doubt has cast aspersion on the entire justice system in the country, putting it in the dock and making it to look as grossly incompetent, corrupt and willing tool in the hands of power brokers. It also suggests that whatever judgment or judicial pronouncement from the high revered institution has either been negotiated or paid for by one of the parties or a proxy who has a shared interest. It is not only curious but very ridiculous that such statement will be coming from a former president who has a history of abuse of court judgment and human rights in Nigeria.

Obasanjo vituperation ought to have

,

VIEWPOINT

Without being modest about the Jonathan government, at least the country has not in the recent years witnessed high profile assassination just as it has not also abused court judgment unlike Obasanjo who decided which judgment to honour and which to ignore

,

been ignored but given the weighty issues he raised and his precedence as former head of state of unparalleled record of eleven years in the country, it will not be out of place to remind him of his sordid moral past, especially how he related with the judiciary during his tenure. In September 2005, an online media on September 5, 2011, quoted former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad Uwais, as lamenting his harrowing experiences under Obasanjo and I would like to quote the report verbatim here: “A just released Wikileaks cable said that Nigeria’s former Chief Justice, Muhammadu Uwais, was so highly fearful of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interference with the judiciary that, in 2005, he sought a meeting

with the new American Ambassador, Mr. John Campbell, so that “someone knows what is happening here” in case something happened to him.

Uwais told Campbell that he and other Supreme Court justices were experiencing “pressure and harassment” from President Obasanjo because the Presidency was concerned that the court might not “do his bidding” beginning with complicated effort of James Ibori, the Delta State governor to run for the governorship again in 2003 against the background of his alleged conviction for stealing roofing materials years earlier.

He reportedly said the Ibori case had been followed by attempts to deposit large sums of money into his bank account in order to implicate him.

As the legal challenge against Obasanjo by the ANPP’s General Muhammadu Buhari over abuse of security forces, lapses in voting procedures and other elements in the severely flawed 2003 election drew to a close in 2005 with the Supreme Court gearing up to announce its decision, pressure on the judiciary and other participants mounted. Uwais was quoted as telling Campbell that attempts had been made to bribe, blackmail, intimidate and threaten him.

Despite that, the Chief Justice stressed he would see the process through and that he had never considered walking away from the challenge.

Uwais characterized Obasanjo as “mean, insincere and not trustworthy,” a man who would turn on anyone for petty personal reasons,” saying Obasanjo was “increasingly addicted to the

office of the Presidency.” This is just one out of countless cases of threat and intimidation of the judiciary that occurred during his tenure and if this was the fear of the chief law officer of the country, what about his subordinates? I think your guess is as good as mine. One is not trying to absolve the judiciary of corruption and untoward behavior but that such sermon shouldn’t have come from someone who was neck deep and a beneficiary of what he is now raising the alarm on. One cannot forget in a hurry how Obasanjo turned down the Supreme Court judgment ordering him to release local government funds that was unlawfully withheld by the government of Obasanjo where the then Lagos State Governor Ahmed Tinubu went to court and obtained a judgment in his favour .

Suffice to say that it is also on record that Obasanjo championed the selective prosecution of political opponents.

Without being modest about the Jonathan government, at least the country has not in the recent years witnessed high profile assassination just as it has not also abused court judgment unlike Obasanjo who decided which judgment to honour and which to ignore. As former Senate President Emeh Ebute rightly observed in his recent treatise of Obasanjo letter that given the destructive tendencies that characterized Obasanjo rule which period human right abuses and defiance of law, we all are at loss to unravel the import of the Obasanjo letter. *Nwabugu is a Lagos-based media consultant.

Night time encounter with President Jonathan

BY JUMMAI CALEBS IN BRIEF

Fantasizing an imaginary encounter with the President

I

T was the occasion of my uncle’s birthday party, which President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan honoured in person. I had the good fortune of being the one asked to serve him. His security detail scanned me with some device before they allowed me to approach him. While attending to him, I noticed the look in his eyes.

At that point, something happened to me that made me become somewhat unconscious of my environment for some seconds.

Gosh, he’s got the sexiest eyes I have ever seen. And when you talk about a man being good-looking, sweet, and gentle, then you are referring to my one and only heartthrob, GEJ. There’s really something about my President that keeps me thinking about him all the time. I just can’t put it in words but I know there’s this unexplainable feeling I have for him. I often wonder if anyone else feels same

,

VIEWPOINT

way about him.

Back at my uncle’s party I guess he noticed I was kind of lost, so he said, “ young lady, hope all is well,” and I managed to reply “ yes” and I immediately left for my bedroom.

Since then, every night when I go to sleep, I dream about him. All day long, I think about him. There’s nothing that thrills me more than his smile.

Whenever he smiles, I feel something spark inside of me.

He’s got all a woman would ever desire in a man. Is it his height or his sexy eyes? Oh my! Everything about him is so appealing and to sum it up, he is the president of a great nation, Nigeria, the giant of Africa.

Of course, he is way older than me, but I just can’t explain why I have this special feeling for him. He is 56 years old and I’m 23, but like they say, ‘love is blind’ and I guess that blindness has caught up with me and I just can’t help it.

I think something I just can’t explain happened between me and Mr President during my first encounter with him and ever since then the feeling increased.

Later on, the night of my uncle’s birthday, I was in my room, unable to stop thinking of how I made a fool of

There’s really something about my President that keeps me thinking about him all the time. I just can’t put it in words but I know there’s this unexplainable feeling I have for him

,

myself and possibly embarrassed my uncle-if at all he had noticed what had transpired. In the middle of my thoughts, I got a call from an unknown number. I picked the call; someone with a rather stern voice, more or less, ordered me to hurry up and come towards the gate where Mr President’s convoy was parked. I did so.

On getting there, lo and behold, it was Mr President that had sent for me through one of his SSS agents. Mr President stepped aside from his guards and asked if I was okay, I replied that I was. Then he told me to feel free, that he isn’t a demi-god. I guess he thought I was scared or feeling inferior before him which wasn’t the case.

I summoned courage and replied it was nothing close to that. With a look of curiosity, he asked me to tell him what it was then. I told him that his eyes caught my attention and sort of mesmerised me. He smiled and signalled to one of his guards who gave me a card and told me the specific time I could call. I was restless until that time came and I dialled the number.

While the phone was ringing, I had a call which woke me up from a very beautiful sleep. I then realised I had been dreaming all the while.

Well, I don’t mind dreaming so long it’s about Mr President. I just love it when I have such dreams. Sometimes I wish he was as young as I am, or that I was a bit older so that I could have him as mine for the rest of my life. But I guess I just keep dreaming and dreaming and dreaming...

•Calebs writes in from Abuja, Jummaicalebs72@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 47

BY SOYOMBOOPEYEMI IN BRIEF

New lease of life for property owners

I

T is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a citizen to secure a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in any public establishment. There are bottlenecks, official and man-made, created to make dealing with government (officials) a frustrating experience. Worse of these is the syndrome: The official is not on seat, come back tomorrow.

That is after you must have wasted the whole day waiting for the same official. Then you finally meet the government man, you are told to bring this,

bring that, visit this agency or that establishment, where you repeat the cycle of time-wasting. Indeed, there is pervasive culture of time-wasting in Nigeria; of course, you waste money and energy as well. In a clime where time is money, development is easily attainable. I am yet to know of a country that develops without time maximization. Time is money. Indeed, time is life!

Since the inauguration of the Senator IbikunleAmosun administration in May, 2011, emphasis has been on drastic reduction, if not complete elimination, of all bottlenecks in the interface between the public and government (officials). For instance, the culture of e-payment is gradually taking root, thus reducing drastically time-wasting and racket usually associated with the manual method. Harmonization of company taxes and levies (Haulage of raw materials and finished goods) has significantly been achieved and with a Consolidated Emblem, your vehicle is free to move anywhere on the roads without hassles.The citizenry is the richer for all these initi-

The free ‘C of O’ in Ogun atives as billions of naira that would otherwise have been lost is now in the government coffers for development. When you recall that Ogun State lost close to 30 billion naira in the Bureau of Lands alone before the advent of the current government, then the picture here becomes clearer.

Amosun is a technocrat-politicianwith wide experience in finance management. This plays a major role in the financial sanitation going on in Ogun State. And the results are visible to the eyes; even the blind can see!

It is in the same spirit of reduction/ elimination of bottlenecks that the governor, during the launch of the Homeowners’ Charter on Monday, December 16, 2013, declared that “the normal process to obtain these documents (Survey, Building Plan Approval and Certificate of Occupancy) would require multiple visits to agencies such as the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, Bureau of Lands, Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, among others. Under the Homeowners’ Charter, we have created a simple, seamless process with a one-stopshop in each area. You only need to visit the Homeowners’ Charter Centre in your area and all the relevant ministries will be available there.”

Life made easy, you would say. What a huge burden that has been lifted off the shoulders of our people. What a relief! I certainly expect a scramble as people rush to take advantage of what would otherwise have been thought impossible in Nigeria - but then there are many Homeowners’ Centres spread across the state.

A Certificate of Occupancy, according to Wikipedia online, is evidence that the building complies substantially with the plans and specifi-

cations that have been submitted to, and approved by, the local authority. It complements a building permit - a document that must be filed by the applicant with the local authority before construction to indicate that the proposed construction will adhere to ordinances, codes and laws.

I laugh! How many homeowners in Nigeria have Building Plan Approval let alone C

,

VIEWPOINT

Those who have houses and truly wish to be called landlords in the eye of the law in Mowe, Ibafo, Akute, etc now have a life-time window to key into the Homeowners’ Charter without further delay. And here is the lifeline provided by the Amosun administration

,

of O? There is simply no respect for Town Planning Laws in the country. That’s why houses are built haphazardly thus making planning extremely difficult. In the words of the governor, “Not only are the properties so constructed illegal but the uncontrolled development of properties create unplanned areas devoid of essential infrastructure such as water, schools, health facilities and road services.”

Where then do we go from here? The alternative is grim.

The fourth cardinal programme of the Amosun administration is Housing and Urban Renewal. Mowe/ Ibafo axis, for example, is a prime

land in view of its proximity to Lagos. But 95 per cent of the structures there have no Building Plan Approval. This reminds one of the former Maroko in Lagos State. And I shudder to imagine what happened to Maroko dwellers some decades ago repeating itself in this axis!

Armed with the law, Ogun State government can level the entire area for proper planning. Well, you built illegally anyway, so the law must take its due course! The same fate would befall Akute and, indeed, all other areas, where people build structures without government approval.

This is a hard choice that confronted the The Moderniser, Senator IbikunleAmosun.

Look at Abeokuta, for instance. It’s speedily changing from the status of an ancient city to a modern city. When last did you visit Abeokuta?

Look at the international standard roads adoring the city, the street lights, pedestrian walkways, overhead bridges, etc. But the price of such transformation has been high, even to the governor as well because his family home was also demolished. Even higher will be the price to pay in the border towns, especially.

However, Amosun is a welfarist. He is an apostle of development with human face.

So it is better to first allow owners of properties to regularise their ownership by obtaining the C of O. Development of the areas, according to experts, can then come at a minimal price. Those who have houses and truly wish to be called landlords in the eye of the law in Mowe, Ibafo, Akute, etc now have a life-time window to key into the Homeowners’ Charter without further delay. And here is the lifeline provided by the Amosun administration:

“The Homeowners’ Charter presents an opportunity for all those who have built on private land without obtaining Building Plan Approval and who are therefore unable to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy to regularise their status at a huge discount on what they would normally be required to pay. Also, those who have built illegally on lands that belong to OgunState Government, OPIC and Housing Corporation and who, for years, have lived with uncertainty about whether government would eventually repossess the lands, are being afforded an opportunity to formalize their ownership, also at a huge discount.

All the normal conditions required to obtain Building Plan Approval and C of O, including the requirement to obtain a three-year tax clearance have been waived. We have also waived the penalties for building without approval, which are ten times the normal price. All we ask in return for this once-in-a-life time opportunity is that for every property, the owners will be required to provide us with full enumeration data of each and every resident to enable us to develop an accurate residents’ database to support our future planning. We have maximized the discounts and are charging just enough to cover the costs of delivering the programme. For example, a single bungalow with up to 4 bedrooms built on private land in our urban areas would normally pay N430, 000 to obtain Survey, Building Plan Approval and Certificate of Occupancy. Under Homeowners’ Charter, the cost is just N95, 000 and this can be paid in instalments…”

Has C of O not, essentially, become free in Ogun? What then will be anybody’s excuse for not taking by the forelock this very rare opportunity?

Soyombo, Special Assistant on Media to the Ogun State governor, writes via densityshow@yahoo.com

Our projects speak for us —Bayelsa Works Commissioner *State pays N3.4 b compensation for projects

BY SONI DANIEL

B

AYELSA State Com missioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, says the legacy projects being implemented across the state

by Governor Seriake Dickson will speak for the administration now and in the future.

Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard, pointed out that the administration was focused on delivering dividends of democracy rather than engaging in undue publicity about its achievements.

“We are focused and committed to changing the land-

Hon. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

scape of Bayelsa State and making the people to see and feel the impact of the new administration so that they themselves can testify about what the Dickson administration,”

the commissioner said.

Ewhrudjakpo also said that the huge expenditure in developing infrastructure in Bayelsa was aimed at transforming the state and attracting local and foreign investments to it and boasting the economy.

According to him, the state has paid out N3.4 billion as compensation to land and property owners to enable it secure right of way for development projects.

He pointed out that Bayelsa was committing N1.2 billion to paying landlords whose property had been affected by the construction of two major flyovers to pave the way for an orderly traffic flow in Yenagoa,

the state capital.

The commissioner said, “The investment infrastructural development is intended to attract investments while the social infrastructural investment development is undertaken as a duty and obligation of government, which has a duty to provide social amenities to the people of the state.

“In terms of preparation, I think the necessary foundation has been laid in the past one year by the governor and we are building on that foundation. I believe that in the next two years given the speed that the governor is going in his silent revolution in infrastructural development, a new

Dubai would have emerged in Bayelsa State.”

Ewhrudjakpo, who has masters degrees in business management, international law and change management, has been assisting the governor in providing the vital infrastructure and laying a solid foundation for economic and social transformation of the state.

The commissioner, who is known for regular unscheduled visits to ongoing project sites even at odds hours, defended the governor for turning the state into a ‘construction site’, saying the aggressive implementation of such projects was meant to give the people a new lease of life.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER, 29, 2013

H

South east but resides in Abuja, for serious relationship, that can lead to marriage.08081471390 •Simclair, 41, from Delta state, needs a God fearing, educat-

girl, aged 18-24, for a relationship.

08138720642 •Numan, 37, 5. 8ft tall, fair in complexion, a graduate and employed, needs a lady, aged 22-30, who is either fair, or chocolate in complexion, sexy, beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, romantic, with a good sense of humour and ready to settle down immediately, for a relationship.08084304455 •Maurice, 36, handsome and financially ok, needs cute and sexually active lady for an affair, aged 21-30, in Lagos.

08084455865, 07063310761 •Chucks, 50, needs a sincere,

ed, tall and busty, lady, aged 28-34, from either Edo or Delta state, for marriage.

08039419898, 08025152808 •A guy, needs a God fearing, tall, slim lady, who is a graduate and resides in Lagos, aged 25-35, for a sincere relationship that would lead to marriage. 08037874624 •Dk, 33, a businessman from Delta state, needs a lady, aged 27-37, for a serious relationship that can lead to marriage.

08101970072, 08101970086 •Chiboy, 28, needs an honest, caring, faithful, trustworthy, kind, humble, merciful, jovial, patient, persevering, understanding, educated and a strong catholic lady, aged 1830, who resides in Kaduna, for a relationship. 08108509782 •Frank, 43, a single father, employed and resides in Abuja, needs a lady, aged 38-40, for a serious relationship, my number is 07 066032545, 08071316466 •Sebastian, handsome and a student, needs a sexy lady, aged 3050, for a relationship.

07067132625 •Ejiro, 30, resides in Benin, needs a lovely lady for a wife, aged 2229. 08139775316 •Max, 40, a graduate and resides in Delta state, needs an independent and emotionally lonely lady, aged 40-50, who resides in Delta or neighboring states, for companionship. 08080491212 •A guy, 24, fair in complexion and average in height, needs a lady, who resides in Port Harcourt, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.07035299928 •Emmanuel, 45, a businessman, from Edo state, needs a lady, aged 35-45, for marriage. 08032694909 •Femi, 35, a businessman, needs a serious lady that is ready to settle down, aged 28t-38. 08066690807 •Bewis, 21, from Benin, needs a

rich, employed or business lady, aged 30-50, for a relationship.

08052801662, 07064571155 •Henry, 6 ft tall and resides in Benin, needs an employed lady, aged 25, who is 6ft tall and resides in Benin.

08097025126 •Tommy, needs a lovely girl.08132046727 •Samuel, 32, employed, needs a tall, good looking and employed lady, aged 24-30, for a serious relationship. 08063327507 •Saint, needs a graduate, slim and fair in complexion lady, aged 25- 30, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.

07066655133 •Su,38, cute, eloquent and from Delta sgtate, needs a beautiful and well mannered Christian lady, for marriage, either a nurse, banker or a business lady, aged, 25-35.

08165139338 •Emma, 24, resides in Edo state, need a girl for a serious relationship. 07062043024 •A guy, resides in Benin, needs a pretty, slim, fair in complexion, busty Ibo and a catholic lady, aged 20-28, without tattoo for marriage.

07035749992 •Bob, 50, 6ft tall, a businessman in Abuja, needs a matured lady, who is tall, busty, and God fearing for a fruitful relationship.

08121531270 •Pat, 43, tall, handsome, fair in complexion and resides in Enugu, needs a kind and generous lady, from the east for a relationship.

08123301120, 08168440700, email patto2013@yahoo.com •Kel, 30, employed and resides in Calabar, needs a girl who is chocolate in complexion, for a serious affair. 08169604823 •Humphrey, 30, resides in Port Harcourt, needs a simple

Love

People no longer believe in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight. They are beginning to believe that a very few times in your life if you were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you.

Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together. Cheers! i,

Lovers Searching Female

•Ogechi, 24, sexy, pretty and very busty undergraduate needs a kind and generous sugar daddy for a sexual relationship. 08105650856 •Debbie, 24, sweet, matured, nice, pretty, calm and calculated, full pointed breast needs a loving and caring man for a sweet relationship.08097174566 •Eunice, 23, student dark, average height, beautiful, bursty and full broad hips needs an elderly romantic man aged 45 and above for a sexual relationship.07015172916 •Prof, 33, a graduate, tall, chocolate in complexion, slim, a sickle cell employed, from Delta Igbo and resides in Asaba, needs a lady with genotype AA, Plump, pretty, nice, open minded, truthful, trustworthy, understanding, caring and loving, a graduate, employed, hardworking and brilliant, aged 24-30, who is also Igbo from Aniocha North South of Delta for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.07062651210 •Godwin, 36, needs a lady, who is humble, lovely and God fearing aged 22-28, either 5.5ft or 5.7ft tall and ready for marriage.08035172721 •Nelson, handsome and resides in Warri, needs a beautiful, sexy and God fearing girl, aged 18-28, for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. 08039353317, 08022215840 •Lbru, from Delta state, needs a lady, aged 22-27. 08109793710 •Martins, from Delta state, needs a sweet, pretty active lady, from Delta state, for a relationship.08137187094 •Owen,30,averagesizeandheight, resides in Benin, needs a fat lady, aged 25-55, for a relationship 08135588429, 08074261392 •Oluwaseun, 38, a businessman, in Lagos, needs a fat lady, aged 28-42 for marriage. 08082797713, BB pin 23107c27 •Elves, 21, tall, dark, in complexion and resides in Asaba, needs a sincere and well off chubby girl who that resides in Asaba, for a relationship. 08148087338 •Godwin, 28, from Delta self employed and needs a beautiful, intelligent, honest, humble and understanding lady, for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage, aged 18-25. 08159974750 •Chidu, 48, needs a lady who is born again, tall, aged 30 and from

DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

and humble girl, aged 20-25, for a serious relationship.

08189456962 •Eddy, 33, needs a lady for a relationship.

08148062786 •Idowu, 38, a business man, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 28-38 for marriage.

08083480561 •Lin, 54, a businessman and a divorcee, without any child in Lagos, needs a Christian lady, who is educated and employed, aged 3643, 5.3ft tall or above for marriage, single mothers with only one child are also welcomed.

08057002189, 07065557964 •Emeka, 37, from Abia state, but resides in Benin, needs a matured lady, aged 25-32, for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. 08061263605 •A guy, 40, needs a responsible lady, aged 25-35, who is ready to settle down.

08189992949 •Ola, 35, dark in complexion and resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 23-37, who resides in Lagos for a relationship.

08111486150 •Ufuoma, 25,needs an employed lady, aged 25, who is a graduate, sexy and beautiful,for serious relationship. 08160196438 •Odarh, 40, from Delta state, needs a tall, born again university graduate lady, who is busty, aged 2834, from Edo or Delta state, for marriage.08039419898, 08025152808 •Matins, 38, tall, dark in complexion and resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 22-28 who is ready to settle down 08096834130, 08146280928 •Sámi, 27, needs a cool and sincere girl, for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage aged 18-25.07035121244 •Bassey, needs a well cultured African lady, for marriage.08054320974, 08060948607 •Gbolahan, 38, a single father of one and a makeup Artist, needs a God fearing lady, from any part of the country for marriage.08102262495 •Akin, 38, resides in Ogun state, needs an employed lady , with good character, for a relationship.08053871003 •Danimaria, 30, from Delta state but resides in Edo state needs a good and decent job and a caring lady for a relationship.08184903188 •Ehis, 66, tall and needs a matured lady, for a relationship.08162369931 •Godswill, 37, employed, from Delta state, needs a hardworking lady, either a tailor or hairdresser for marriage. 08160048726, 07085306409,08159904930 •Dennis, 35, dark in complexion, average height, employed and resides in Yenagoa, needs a beautiful and chubby lady, aged 2731,for a serious relationship that may lead to marriage.

08069462417 •Ikechukwu, 36, needs a responsible Ibo lady, aged 28-35, for marriage.08034552908 •Abiodun, 33, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 35-45 who is lonely and needs a companion, for a relationship. 08162633314 •Joe, 25, employed and resides in Warri, needs an honest, neat and understanding Edo lady, aged 1822, for a serious relationship.

08034609408 •Su, 38, cute, eloquent and from Delta state, needs a beautiful and well mannered Christian lady, either a nurse, a banker or a business lady, aged, 25-35.

08165139338 •Azuby, 48, from Imo state, needs an employed lady, for a

serious relationship.

07033895871 •Destiny 50, resides in Abuja, needs a matured, financially comfortable and highly connected lady, aged 35-65, who resides in Abuja, for a confidential affair.

07014043979, •07065802403 Efe, 34, from Warri, needs a single lady, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage.

08082641762 •Imo, 49, from Edo state, employed and needs an employed or businesswoman, who is either single or divorcee, aged 40-46, who is a Christian, for a romantic relationship.

07030584314 •Emeka, 26, from Anambra state, needs a lady, aged 2025, for a serious relationship.

08178097330 •Clair, 40, from Delta state, needs a tall, born again and university graduate lady, who is busty, aged 29-34, from either Edo or Delta state, for marriage.

08039419898 08025152808 •Hope, 24, form Delta state, needs a beautiful, sexy, God fearing, caring and loving lady, aged 18-30, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.07087760216 •Cy, 21, from Benin, needs a lady, for a serious relationship, aged 1922, who is also from Benin.08164864367 •Daniel, 22, handsome and light in complexion, needs a sexy, mature and God fearing lady, aged 30-40, for a relationship.08137425433, 08108803199 •Oghenefegor, from Delta state, needs a sexy, beautiful and matured lady, aged 30-40, for a serious relationship in Delta state.08023561769, 08036313687 •Richard, 28, handsome, a graduate and resides in Edo state, needs an honest, faithful and caring lady, for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage, aged1930.07031272355, 08094176602 •Victor, 48, employed and resides in Ph, needs a lady who is a Christian and of Igbo extraction within Imo or Rivers, for a serious relationship. 08030971960 •Joseph, 28, cool, loving and caring, needs a beautiful and loving lady, who resides in Lagos, for a serious relationship.07032516963 •Oluwaseun, 44, fair in complexion, 5.7fit tall, employed and from Ondo state, but resides in Lagos, needs a God fearing, truthful and caring lady, aged 30 and above, for a serious relationship.08181769i93, 07038145366,07086048181 •Ibrahim, 33, a business man, from South Africa, but resides in Lagos, needs a nice and decent Nigerian lady, for a relationship.08022814848, 07067745355 •Amos, 34, fair in complexion 5.11ft tall, a business man, from Imo state, but resides in Lagos, needs a lady, for a serious relationship that can lead to marriage.

08167943374 •Donvic, resides in Lagos, needs a decent and slim lady, for marriage, aged20-30. 07046218353, 07062598496 •Stephen, 26, resides in Delta state, needs a good lady, for a serious relationship aged 18-25.

08134644688, 08071806254 •Michael, 25, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 18-27, who also resides in Lagos, for a relationship.07069316924.

•Adeyemi, 42, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a serious lady from any part of Nigeria.

08168005147 •Hillary, 22, from Delta state, needs a sexy lady, from Warri, for a romantic relationship.

08134079517, 08058021486

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 49

21 dead in Syrian airstrike

A

Syrian government airstrike on a crowded market in the northern city of Aleppo has killed at least 21 people, activists say.

Videos uploaded by activists showed extensive damage to the market and corpses being pulled from cars.

Many more were reported wounded in the strike.

Government forces are reported to have killed about 400 people since beginning an aerial offensive in and around Aleppo two weeks ago.

Syrian authorities say they are targeting “terrorists”, a term the government uses to describe all opposition.

The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, said earlier this week it would not attend a peace conference planned to take place next month in Geneva if the air campaign continued.

Human rights groups have condemned the Syrian air force’s use of so-called barrel bombs - oil drums or cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel - saying the targeting is indiscriminate and that the attacks are therefore unlawful.

The bombs have hit residential and shopping areas, often killing dozens of civilians, either missing possible military targets or with

little indication of any intended military objective, they say.

City divided The Syrian conflict began as a peaceful uprising against the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, but then became a civil war after a violent government crackdown.

The UN says more than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far.

Aleppo became a major front in the war in mid-2012. The city, Syria’s largest and its commercial capital, is now divided between government and rebel-held areas, with large parts of it heavily damaged by the conflict.

Also on Saturday, a Norwegian frigate expected to accompany cargo vessels collecting chemical weapons from Syria left the Cypriot port of Limassol.

The weapons are due to be

taken to the Syrian port of Latakia before being shipped abroad.

They will be taken to Italy and then loaded on to a US Navy ship and taken out into international waters, where they will be destroyed in a specially created titanium tank on board.

Syria agreed to abandon its chemical arsenal to avert potential US military action after a sarin nerve gas attack in August.

The frigate will sail along the Cypriot coast to carry out military drills while it awaits the order to sail to Syria.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the international body overseeing the destruction of the weapons, said today that it does not expect to meet the 31 December deadline for shipping out the “most critical” chemicals.

Student dies, Cairo campus buildings torched amid protest

A

student has been killed in Egypt as supporters of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood clashed with police and university buildings were set on fire.

State TV blamed protesters for the fire at al-Azhar University’s business faculty, where exams had to be postponed, and the agriculture faculty.

The Brotherhood said police were “fabricating” the charges.

The crackdown on the group began when President Mohammed Morsi, who belongs to it, was deposed by the army in July.

The campus fires had been brought under control by Saturday afternoon, and some 60 people had been arrested,

reports said.

The Brotherhood, which had been banned since September from all activity, was declared a terrorist group on Wednesday following a suicide bombing of a police

headquarters in the Nile Delta.

The government said the Brotherhood was behind the attack - a charge it strongly denied.

It is the latest measure taken

against the group, which is being targeted by the militarybacked interim government.

Thousands of Brotherhood members, including its leadership, have been arrested and many put on trial.

South Sudan: Thousands of pro-rebel youths march on Bor

T

HOUSANDS of youths loyal to South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar are marching on the strategic town of Bor. Government troops are currently in control of Bor, the capital of Jonglei state they had taken from the rebels.

The government has offered to cease hostilities, but an army spokesman told the BBC that his

forces were still battling over oilfields in the north.

More than 121,600 have fled their homes and at least 1,000 people killed since fighting broke out earlier this month.

What began as a power struggle between Mr Machar and President Salva Kiir has taken on overtones of a tribal conflict, with the Dinka, to which Mr Kiir belongs, pitted against the Nuer,

from which Mr Machar hails.

Tens of thousands of civilians have sought refugee in UN camps and reinforcements have been arriving to give them extra protection.

The youths now marching on the town are part of an ethnic Nuer militia known as the White Army, because of the white ash they put on their skin to protect them from insects.

Community commends oil firm over projects

T

HE people of Iw evbo, an oil producing community in Orhiowvon local government area, Edo State, have commended the management of Newscross Petroleum Limited, for the renovation of six classrooms block with standard facilities.

Leaders of the community, Chief Sunday Atavwigho, Chief Ojo Adjene and Mrs. Tina Osodi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, also used the medium to deny any protest by women of the community against the oil firm as published in the media.

“Our attention has been drawn to a malicious publication dated 19 th December, 2013 and credited to some self-styled mischiefmakers, who are out to

disrupt the smooth operations of Newscross Petroleum Limited operating in Iwevbo community as the said women who carried out the protest were not from the community” They also maintained that the community has not in any way or whatsoever given power of attorney to any person to represent the community, and urged the general public and management of Newscross Petroleum to discountenance the report.

According to them, the people of Iwevbo are enjoying a cordial relationship with management of Newscross Petroleum, especially in the area of corporate social responsibility and would continue to sustain same.

Achalla monarch congratulates Obiano

P

aramount Ruler and Uthokp Na Eze Achalla, Igwe Ezeoba Alex Nwokedi, has congratulated the Governor-elect of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, on his recent victory at the Anambra State governorship election.

He said the banker turnedpolitician should emerge tall in victory and ensure that he

does not let the people of the state down on all his campaign promises when he assumes office in February 2014. The monarch also called on Nigerian people to cooperate more with the government and other operators of the state in ensuring that the country becomes better for all and sundry.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Secretary, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Ishaq Oloyede (right) and Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, at the opening ceremony of the 96th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) of the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN), B Zone, Ibadan/Lagos Expressway, Imolisa Village, Ogun State, yesterday.

From left: Master Brand Manager, MTN, Funmi Olaogun , Nollywood Actor, Norbert Young, Winner Grand Prize in MTN Cash Smash Promo, Johnson Abanulor and the representative of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Seun Atte at the first prize presentation in the ongoing MTN Cash Smash Promo in Lagos

C M Y K

PAGE 50, SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013 japhdave@yahoo.com 08056402376

Global celebration for Achebe’s Arrow of God at 50 begins

O

ne of the lines of a song by Ira D. Sankey read “Fading away like the stars of the morning......Only remembered by what we have done.”

Achebe was one of Africa’s best novelists and story teller, though he joined his ancestors last year but his footprints are still here and would live forever. It is in line with the above that Late literary icon, Albert Chinuanulumogu Achebe will once again take the centre stage as the literary community all over the world gets set to celebrate him and one of his classic novels Arrow of God as it clocks 50 next year.

The book, his third novel after Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease was first published by HEBN in 1964.

And due to the fact that they share similar settings and themes, the three books are sometimes referred to as The African Trilogy. The novel is adjudged as one of the most widely read novel in modern African literature, a feat that has given it a place in the world literary table.

Addressing the media in preparations for the planned golden jubilee celebration of the book, chairman, Organising Committee of the Nigeria end of the international celebration of Arrow of God at 50, Dr. Wale Okediran, explained the importance of the book and the author, and in that regards disclosed that series of activities have been lined up for the global celebration slated for 2014.

According to him, there will be an international Colloquium with the theme: Arrow of God@50: Literature, Leadership, and National Unity which is proposed to hold between April 23 and May 3, 2014 in seven cities. The cities include Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Sokoto, Awka, Ogidi with the grand finale at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

It will involve other number of activities ranging from Symposia to a Children’s Carnival, Writing Competition, Stage Presentations of Arrow of God as well as a grand finale with a Night Of Tributes.

At Ogidi, Achebe’s home town, the committee plans to hold ‘A Day with the Master’ on May 1, a programme where Achebe’s typewriter, study table, cap among others would be displayed for the world to see.

C M Y K

The committee said collaborations will be done with ANA at the national level and through its local branches where the events are billed to hold as well as tertiary institutions such as University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Abuja, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka as well as the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Interestingly, Arrow of God has been adapted into stage plays by some Nigerian playwrights and these adaptations will be performed during the celebration. The three stage plays for the event include Ezeulu by Isaac Ogezi to be performed in Lagos on

If you don’t celebrate this in a fabulous way, others would and if you don’t show them the way, it will be unfortunate

volve a quiz, reading comprehension and one-act dramatic enactment by participating schools of any part of the book that exemplifies the main conflicts of the narrative world of the book.

,

April 21; Harvest of Ants by Kalu Uka , April 23 at Ibadan while Emeka Nwabueze’s adaptation When The Arrow Rebounds will be performed on April 30 in Awka.

Dr. Wale Okediran, who was

Late Prof. Chinua Achebe also the general secretary of the Achebe Transition Committee disclosed that his team with the backing of Achebe Foundation and the consent of his (Achebe) family will carry all stakeholders along as it is not meant to celebrate only Achebe but literature as a whole.

The novel centers around Ezeulu, the chief priest of several villages in South Eastern Nigeria, who confronts adversaries to his office, colonial powers and Christian missionaries in the 1920s.

Set in Eastern Nigeria in the early twentieth century, Arrow of God is a political and cultural novel that captured the clash of two cultures and their

inability to contend peaceably with their differences.

Speaking at the briefing, Executive editor, The News, Kunle Ajibade called for a fabulous celebration in Nigeria. “If you don’t celebrate this in a fabulous way, others would. If you don’t show them the way, it will be unfortunate,” he said.

Award winning author and lecturer, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo assured that writers would celebrate the colloquium in a unique way. “Those of us in Lagos would do our best for the celebration.

We are lucky to have had Achebe.

He remained a patriot as he contributed to global leadership. His legacy will endure forever,” she said, appealing to everyone to support the vision.

Bank fetes children at Christmas youth carnival

By JAPHET ALAKAM CARNIVAL

I

n the spirit of the season and as part of its strategic corporate social responsibility aimed at supporting the development and education of the Nigerian child, Zenith bank Nigeria Plc, last week treated children from different schools in Lagos to another elaborate feast during this year’s Christmas youth carnival.

Tagged Build the child, Build the nation , the event which was held at the corporate headquarters Ajose Adeogun street, Victoria Island brought children from many schools together, unlike previous editions that involved only children from the Island.

The youth carnival which is in its 8th edition is designed on one hand to occupy the youths meaningfully during the yuletide season through funfair and youth development activities. And as it turned out to be this year’s carnival lived up to its bidding as children were entertained and some talents dis-

covered during the dancing competition.

The entire street of Ajose was barricaded on a Sunday morning, and as early as 9am, staff, school pupils, the young and old dressed in colourful Christmas costumes or branded Zenith T-shirts lined up raising high their schools’ banners for the commencement of the annual carnival.

They paraded the length of Ajose Adeogun back and forth.

There were lots of ice-cream, bottled water, packed juice and oranges placed in strategic places along their route while music blared from some

,

LITERATURE

The committee assured that prominent foreign and local writers and scholars would be invited to present papers and give talks at the various centres on the theme: Literature, Leadership and National Unity. It also plans to compile all the papers into a book form.

Odediran also explained that there will be a literary competition among selected secondary school students in Nigeria is intended to revive the fading reading culture. 10 private and 10 public schools would be selected from each chapter of ANA for the competition.

Copies of Arrow of God will be given to the students to read for one month before the day of the literary competition.

The competition will also in-

,

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

A cultural performance at the Zenith Bank youth carnival phone by Chief Felix. While music maestro Olumide added colour to the day with a scintillating performance that drew

This is our opportunity to partner with you and encourage you great men and women of tomorrow

of the floats that accompanied the parade.

There were cultural displays

by Obitun dance, Swange dance, Itshekiri dance, Samba dance, Zulu dance, Stunt dance by body language, Ekombi and masquerade dance, Slsa/Chacha, Xylo-

,

applause from the audience.

The event eventually kicked off with a rendition of the national anthem by children of Little Saints Orphanage, and after that the Zulu dance group ushered in the managing director, Godwin Emefuele who declared it open.

In his speech, Godwin Emefiele,who was the chief host of the occasion thanked the children for coming. “We are delighted to have all of you here. I say thank you for coming. This is our own way of partnering with the children, who are the future of tomorrow. This is our opportunity to partner with you and encourage you great men and women of tomorrow.”

The managing director further explained that the carnival was in partnership with the youths and the old who work in the bank so that both groups could interact and draw inspiration from one another.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 51 japhdave@yahoo.com 08056402376

Satisfying quest for spiritual power

Crossing Archives ends historical Photo exhibition

By PRISCA SAM DURU BOOK REVIEW

By PRISCA SAM-DURU& VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

VISUAL

he cross cultural and historical exhibition titled “Voyage Retour” organised by the Goethe-Institut Lagos, in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, recently came to a resounding close with a colloquium titled “Crossing Archives”.

“Crossing Archives”, which featured historical images by African and European photographers, focused on African Photography archives from geographical reference areas on the African continent with internationally renowned art historians, artists and curators discussing on the issue with particular reference to Nigeria.

The Crossing Archives conference had eminent art curators, historians and specialists such as Okwui Enwezor, director of Munich-based Haus der Kunst, art historian at Princeto University and Bisi Silva, Director Centre for Contemporary Art Lagos.

Crossing Archives held three panel discussions that addressed the photographic archives of various geopolitical areas in African countries south of the Sahara. Aside from discussions tackling the larger picture, there were specific thematic focus on the situation in Nigeria. This was addressed and complemented with presentations drawn from archival and conservatorial practice in state institutions as well as private initiatives.

J.D. Okhai Ojeikere, Sister Bushwell at the Trade Fair, Lagos, 1961 The “Voyage Retour” exhibition was opened by MarcAndré Schmachtel, director of the Goethe-Institut Lagos, Mrs. Dorothee JanetzkeWenzel, German Ambassador in Nigeria, and representatives of the Museum Folkwang at the Federal Government Press building, Broad

,

T

T

and his works were at the opening reception for the exhibition on November 16 and turned out stars of that exhibition Ojeikere’s archive, it was noted now covers a period of about 60 years, while his pictures are like those of the other photographers featured in the

The exhibition was designed with a particular eye on the conditions that pertain to the African countries south of Sahara

Street in Lagos, courtesy of Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany.

Internationally renowned Nigerian photographer Pa J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere (Collecting Culture and History), Malick Sidibe (Emancipation and social awakening), Robert Lebeck (Africa, Year Zero), Germaine Kroll (Propaganda and information), Wolgang Weber (Adventure and Mysticism), and Rolf Gillhausen (Political representation and perspective) were among veterans whose works were on display during the photography exhibition.

The Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Michael Derus, said Ojeikere

,

exhibition. The pictures ac-

cording to Derus, tell of an Africa in the euphoria of independence. “But there is also a portrayal of post independent confusion that manifested in military coups and whatnot.

From Nigeria to Mali, Guinea, Togo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Senegal, among others, the pictures, presented in black and white, are the same and yet different.

Voyage/Retour it was explained, created an effective space of cross-connections from which new discussions emerged. The exhibition was designed with a particular eye to the specific conditions that pertain to the African countries south of the Sahara.

Centenary: FG declares 100 heritage sites national monument

BY CALEB ANYANSINA CULTURE

T

he Federal Govern ment has said that it had identified 100 heritage sites across the federation to be declared national monument in commemoration of the country’s centenary celebration.

The Director General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) Malam Yusuf Usman, who revealed this when he received a delegation of curators from the North Eastern museums led by the Curator, Yola Museum, Mr Inuwa Babantata, in Abuja noted that those selected were related to amalgamation and colonial

era.

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan would make the declaration during the celebration in 2014.

He noted that the commission was currently studying some artefacts to determine their conservative status, in order to enhance the declaration that would be used to foster national unity in the country.

“100 heritage sites have been identified as National Monuments across the country especially those related to the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, our colonial past and other things that relates to Nigeria.

“These 100 sites have been documented and the process of stakeholder’s consultation has

been done. All the communities where the sites are located have been contacted and we are hopeful that after giving out notices in newspapers which is part of the conditions to be fulfilled, then it will be declared,” Usman said. arlier, the leader of the delegation, Inuwa Babantata, said they were in the commission to felicitate with DG on his re-appointment to steer the affairs of the commission for another four years.

He lauded the DG for his pro-activeness, innovation and determination to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of the commission.

E

he quest for power has never been the problem but the nature of such power and most importantly, the means through which individuals go about trying to obtain power.

It is sad that many Christians today have been overtaken by teachings on prosperity by some over zealous preachers, that they no longer pay attention to living a life of holiness and righteousness.

While many others, spend all available time, fighting satan in what is termed spiritual warfare, which is often done without proper knowledge, they leave out rendering soul inspiring praises in which the Bible records, is where the Almighty God inhabits and of course, which also, move him to action.

The quest or hunger for spiritual power to engage in spiritual warfare especially, which has lured many into satan’s kingdom, is the main thrust of “The Hunger for Spiritual Power”, a 128 page book, written by Henry Nwachukwu.

The author attempts in this spiritual exercise under review, which he organises into five chapters, to help individuals focus on the need to hunger for genuine power which actually, is more like the grace to move mountain which only the supreme God offers to those who diligently seek Him. The author begins with acknowledgments of the existence of one and only true God- the Supreme God who alone, created all things and controls and directs every activity in the world. He attempts further to defend his knowledge of God’s identity by quoting from Genesis to Revelation, all nomenclatures that prove the supremacy of God. his opening chapter progresses with an expose on the enemy which is satan who has since he lost his glory, been in opposition with the people of God. Henry notes at this juncture, that it is the devil who gives counterfeit powers so as to

T

imitate genuine powers that come from God. Most importantly, this chapter records that “No matter the gods in operation, be it the devil, his agents, idols, shrines, deities, or altars of worship to unknown gods, Christians have a God that is above them all.

The book records notable distinctions between good and evil as well as their battlefield which is the world, where there is continuous struggling to overcome each other.

Chapter four which shares same title as the book, maintains that the first step towards having access to spiritual

The Hunger for Spiritual Power; Henry Nwachukwu I. ;DIGN Prints Publication, Lagos, PP 128, 2013.

power is to be born again. In defense, the author states that the moment a person receives the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Personal Saviour, such individual is initiated and incubated with a glorious power to live an undefeated life.

P

rayer as an important as pect of Christain life is discussed in Chapter five which is the last chapter. And rather than stop at that, Henry emphasises here that there is greater need for fervent prayer. He posits that while prayer can make things happen, fervent prayer on the other hand, can make greater things take place. Examples of men and women of God in the likes of Prophet Elijah, Hannah, Queen Esther, etc, who did greater exploits and or called down the mercy of God through earnest prayers are enumerated in this chapter.

The book will be highly beneficial to young Christians to enable them not to derail in their walk with God and thus, recommended.

There are however, some typographic errors, omissions and grammatical errors which nevertheless, didn’t do harm to Henry’s efforts.

Arrow of God at 50: Call for papers

T

he organising committee for 50 years of Arrow of God: International Colloguium on Literature , Leadership and National unity call for papers from scholars and writers, home and abroad, on the theme: 50 Years of Arrow of God: Literature, Leadership and National Unity.

Abstracts, which should not be more than 250 words for individual papers are to be sent to the email address: achebesarrow@yahoo.com by February 15, 2014.

C M Y K

PAGE 52, SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

FIFA: 13 moments that defined 2013 football •Messi, Mba get mention Football has provided countless breathtaking and unforgettable moments over the course of 2013. Here, FIFA.com singles out 13 occasions that helped make this a year to remember in the beautiful game.

Messi eclipses icons 7 January Having scored 91 goals in 69 appearances during 2012, Lionel Messi’s reward came at the start of this year with a record-breaking fourth successive FIFA Ballon d’Or. The little Argentinian duly superseded Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff and achieved a feat he described as “just too great for words”.

Robben’s redemption

Mba sends Eagles soaring

Galo’s comeback kids crowned

Lippi, Evergrande make history

25 May

10 February

9 November

Having been the villain in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, when he missed an extra-time penalty against Chelsea, Arjen Robben made spectacular amends in the 2013 decider. The Dutchman emerged as the key player in the all- German Wembley showpiece, setting up the first and then scoring an 89thminute winner as Borussia Dortmund were beaten 2-1.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match, and Sunday Mba’s CAF Africa Cup of Nationswinning strike brought joy and relief to an entire nation.

Nigeria had not won a major trophy in 17 years going into the continental showpiece, but despite the best efforts of debutant finalists Burkina Faso, Mba’s precise volley – after flicking the ball over his opponent’s head – proved sufficient to secure the African crown.

24 July Atletico Mineiro maintained Brazil’s recent stranglehold on the Copa Libertadores, but they did it the hard way. In both the semi-final and final against Newell’s Old Boys and Olimpia respectively, they recovered from 2-0 first-leg defeats by winning the second legs by an identical margin – and triumphing in the resultant penalty shootouts. In the decider, Matias Gimenez’s decisive miss from the spot handed O Galo the first South American crown of their 105year history.

No Chinese team had ever won the AFC Champions League before Guangzhou Evergrande rewrote the records last month with a nervy 1-1 draw with FC Seoul that secured the title on away goals. The tense triumph also saw Evergrande’s coach, Marcello Lippi, become the first man to win the Asian club title, the European equivalent and the FIFA World Cup.

Wambach surpasses Hamm 21 June

Turkish delight for France

Like every women’s footballer of her generation, Abby Wambach grew up idolising Mia Hamm, and was in awe of the iconic forward when the two played together. In June, however, the current USA talisman eclipsed her legendary predecessor by moving beyond Hamm’s world-record goal tally of 158 by striking four times in a 5-0 victory over Korea Republic.

Brazil’s Maracana Bale breaks the bank marvels 30 June A FIFA Confederations Cup final between hosts Brazil and Spain, reigning European and world champions, promised to be a veritable battle of the titans. In fact, it was something of a mismatch, with A Seleção laying down a marker for 2014 with a resounding and thoroughly merited 3-0 triumph in front of raucous and delirious Maracana crowd.

1 September

The longest-running transfer saga of the European summer was finally concluded on deadline day, when Gareth Bale moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid on a six-year deal. The fee was never made public and remains the subject of conjecture, with Spurs claiming a record-breaking €100m and Real suggesting the price was €91m – short of the record set by Bale’s team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

Beyond doubt is the fact that it was, by some distance, 2013’s biggest transfer.

13 July

Barça pass the baton 1 May The trophies would come later, but arguably the defining match of Bayern Munich’s remarkable year came in the UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Camp Nou, where – already four goals up from the first leg – they cruised to a stunning 3-0 victory. It was Barcelona’s record defeat in continental competition, and symbolised in spectacular fashion the Catalans’ replacement by Bayern as Europe’s supreme footballing force.

Fergie’s farewell 8 May Seventeen days after securing the 13th league championship of his tenure as Manchester United manager, and 27 years after first taking the job, Sir Alex Ferguson stunned everyone by announcing his retirement. He bid a fond farewell to the club’s fans four days later in his 1500th and final match in charge, admitting that he had fulfilled his ambition of “going out a winner”.

C M Y K

The emergence of an exciting new generation of French players, led by player of the tournament Paul Pogba, was capped by victory in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. This Bleuets team proved that they had the mental steel to match their technical skills by emerging triumphant from a decisive penalty shootout against Uruguay, in which goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was the hero with two crucial saves.

Angerer to the rescue 28 July Germany ’s latest UEFA Women’s EURO title might have been their sixth in succession, but it was heavily indebted to one player. Veteran goalkeeper Nadine Angerer maintained her nation’s grip on the trophy by saving from the penalty spot not once, but twice, in a tight 1-0 final win over Norway.

Ronaldo caps qualifiers 19 November While there was drama across the various play-offs that brought an end to qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, there was no debate over the star performer.

Cristiano Ronaldo, having struck the only goal of the first leg against Sweden, settled his all-star duel with Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a stunning hat-trick in Stockholm and reaffirmed his status as one of this generation’s truly great players.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 53

Boxing: Oriyomi’s first female Governor’s Belt champ A

LAGOS State boxer, Aishat Oriyomi has made history as the first female to win the annual Governor ’s Belt since its inception in 2009.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oriyomi made the feat on Thursday at the 48th monthly Saturday Boxing Show tagged: “Governor ’s Belt,’’ edition.

The last show for the year was usually tagged Governor’s Belt, which was held on Thursday, a public holiday, instead of the usual Saturday.

The show, held at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba, was witnessed by many boxing enthusiasts and top government functionaries, including the state governor, Babatunde Fashola.

The previously held four editions were won by male boxers with Rasheed Lawal as the maiden champion in 2009.

Taiwo Agbaje won the second and third editions in 2010 and 2011 while Olaide Fijabi won the fourth edition in 2012.

Oriyomi, 25, was adjudged the best boxer for the year 2013 when she defeated her Ogun State counterpart, Onome Odion 2-1 in the pulsating 54kg category.

A gold medalist at the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, Oriyomi also won silver at the 18th edition

Nigeria’s Rasheed Lawal (right) in a boxing duel with and English boxer at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He was the the maiden champion of the Governor’s Belt Boxing championship in 2009. of the festival in Lagos in 2012.

The champion, who expressed appreciation to the organisers of the event, attributed her victory to regular training and hard work.

“Above all, I give glory to God Almighty for His support for me to make history as the first female Governor ’s Belt champion.

“The history will forever

remain indelible and will also boost my career in boxing.

“I can also assure that my victory would also psyche up my other female colleagues to put in more efforts and also make history in this career,’’ Oriyomi said.

In the other bouts of the day, Taiwo Agbaje of Lagos defeated Abiodun Sanusi of Ogun 2-1 in 56kg, Kazeen Shoyoye defeated Olanre-

waju Olokode of Lagos 2-1 in the 60kg category.

The 64kg was won by Wahab Shogbesan of Ogun who defeated Kazeem Saka of Lagos 3-0.

Fashola, while presenting the belt to Oriyomi commended her for putting in all her best to be victorious at the show.

“Her performance should encourage her other female

colleagues to also put in their best in this game they desired most,’’ Fashola said.

According to Fashola, Lagos State will continue to produce world class boxers to replace ageing ones. “The effort of this administration of discovering talents from the grassroots is paying off as more talented athletes are being discovered yearly,’’ he said. The governor recalled that the state boxers distinguished themselves at the previously held festivals and also defeated British amateur boxers at an international encounter in London last August.

“Lagos now have more talented young boxers and the rate at which they are going right now, they are bracing for the world title.

“I thanked our coaches, referees especially Mr Wale Edun, the Chairman, Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame (LSBHF) on the platform on which these boxers were discovered,’’ Fashola said.

Edun in his remarks promised to sustain the competition for the discovery of more boxers not only in Lagos but nationwide.

The chairman then appealed to corporate organisations to partner with the show in its quest to promote boxing in the state and to make the competition a world class standard.

Eagles, Eaglets, Okagbare top breakthroughs in 2013 2

showed her class as she won a silver medal in the women long jump and a bronze medal in the 200m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia. She also holds the African record in 100m sprint.

By reason of honors and awards bestowed on her by the government and accolades from other quarters, it was evident she had captured both a golden silver and bronze for the country.

BY EDDIEAKALONU

013 brought a mixed bag of result for the country but the high points of sports far subsist over the low points.

Super Eagles Fly high at AFCON 2013

Super Eagles, unarguably one of the most feared and flamboyant side in Africa opened the year on a positive note by reclaiming the African Cup of Nations in South Africa after a nineteen year wait.

Nigerians saw that gift as awesome but it was the tonic to a blistering performance in sports in the out-going year.

Stephen Keshi not only handled the Eagles to a resounding victory, but he has also set the bar high as the first local coach to do so but also won who has won the competition as captain.

The victory has also uplifted the profile of home based players following the contributions of Godfrey

Eaglets remain Golden

Godfrey Oboabana, one of the players who flew high with the Eagles in South Africa Oboabona and Sunday Mbah.

Okagbare cuts the difference

Following the football experience, Blessing Okagbare

National under-17 side Golden Eaglets proved their mettle when they outclassed others to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates to give Nigeria her fourth hold on the trophy. This feat follows those achieved in China in 1985, Japan in 1993 and South Korea in 2007. The competition in threw up players regarded as future materials for the senior national teams.

Kelechi Iheanacho and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu already have in the Eagles squad bound for the African Nations Championship, CHAN in South

The brand manager Heineken, Mrs. Kehinde Kadiri (m) with the winners of Heineken ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ promo recently in Lagos.

Africa in early 2014.

Others

There were other top class performances some being Nigerian wrestlers who proved themselves at the Commonwealth Champion-ships in South Africa and weightlifters who won medals at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Malaysia. Nigerian athletes

continued their surge to the zenith of the continental when they won the African Championships title in Port Novo, Benin Republic.

Dearth of competitions for athletes almost in all the sports and elections into national federations that have many still enmeshed in disputes were some of the low points of the year.

PAGE 54, SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Use sports to unite Nigeria, Mark charges administrators S

ENATE President David Mark on Friday in Otukpo, Benue urged Nigerian sports administrators and stakeholders to use sports to unite the nation.

Mark made the call while declaring open this year’s ‘Mark D Ball’ Basketball Tournament and Sports Beauty Pageant organised by the Mark Sports Foundation.

The Senate President, who was represented by his wife Helen Mark, said sports had the power to change and inspire the world.

“Sports has the power to unite the people and speak to the youths in a language they understand. You must agree with me that our nation is in a critical stage where tolerance and teamwork are very necessary. The time has come now for us to utilise various sports to change our world,” he said.

Gbenga Elegbeleye,

*As Umar assures on basketball tourney the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), said in his goodwill message that the initiative would help develop the game of basketball at the grassroots.

“We hope that in the next few years we will see young stars in Nigeria coming out of this programme to become national basketball players. Some of them will become future stars of basketball that will probably play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S.,” he said.

Also, Malam Tijani Umar, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), assured that the ‘Mark D Ball’

identifying talents for the country for participation in international competitions.

“For me, what is being done now in the past few years is going to be entrenched in our national basketball calendar. We are going to put the over 500 kids that are present at this programme through the basics of bas-

Ageless Anelka nets double as West Brom hold West Ham

W

•Senator David Mark basketball initiative would be entrenched in the national basketball

calendar.

He said this would facilitate the process of

EST Ham United wasted a perfect opportunity to ease their relegation fears yesterday when they were held to a 3-3 draw in the Premier League by drop zone rivals West Bromwich Albion.

Wenger charges wards to win at Newcastle

A

RSENE Wenger has challenged Arsenal to keep the critics off their backs by win-

ketball.

The best among them will be made to be part of development programmes of the Nigerian basketball body. The NBBF is going to keep an eye on every outcome of this tournament so that we can work together to make it a successful investment,” Umar said.

ning at Newcastle on Sunday to end the year as English Premier League leaders. Though

the Gunners still haven’t won a trophy for eight years, 2013 will nevertheless go down as one of their more successful years in recent memory.

Their points tally of 79 for the calendar year is the best in the Premier League and no rival can surpass that even if Newcastle win at St James’ Park. Arsenal regained pole position in the table from Liverpool on Boxing Day thanks to a 3-1 win at West Ham that saw them come back from 1-0 down.

Wenger believes the comeback at West Ham was further proof that Arsenal finally possess the ingredients to go on and win the title for the first time since 2004.

“That was a kind of game that many people would have questioned us had we not won and even more if we had lost,” he said. “We have another good game now on Sunday at Newcastle, who are in full confidence as well, so that will be another test. The team wants to do well and the character is great. The concentration is top.”

Wenger acknowledged fellow Frenchman Loic Remy poses Newcastle’s biggest threat to his defence, which could see Laurent Koscielny return following a knee injury.

Remy, who is on-loan from Queens Park Rangers, has scored ten goals so far and this fixture has often been a high-scor-

ing one, with Arsenal winning 7-3 at home a year ago and the two sides sharing a 4-4 draw on Tyneside in 2011 when Newcastle came back from 4-0 down.

“Remy is a very good striker and he is very quick and makes very good runs. We have to keep him quiet,” said Wenger, who will be without Aaron Ramsey through injury but welcomes back fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere from suspension.

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker admits Wenger still needs to strengthen in order to last the distance in the title race. Ramsey limped off with a thigh strain against West Ham which will see the Wales international miss the remaining festive fixtures and Mertesacker would like to see some new arrivals in the January transfer window.

“We need the right additions. We said that a lot in the summer then Mesut Ozil came, but at this time, in a very special period that only happens in England, you need to get the right additions with players who come back from injury,” Mertesacker said.

“We lost Aaron Ramsey so a good player is maybe out for two or three weeks, so we need the right additions now. We have a good squad and that is going to be vital in the next couple of weeks.”

Despite leading and enjoying dominant spells in the opening half, West Ham were booed off the pitch at the final whistle and are now without a win in six games while managerless Albion were happy with a well-earned point.

In a thrilling clash at Upton Park, the Hammers took an early lead through former England forward Joe Cole, but were hit by two goals in five minutes by French striker Nicolas Anelka just before the interval.

The halftime introduction of Mali striker Modibo Maiga enlivened West Ham again and, after striking an equaliser in the 65th minute, he helped set up Kevin Nolan two minutes later as the home team went ahead again.

But West Ham were unable to hang on to their lead and the visitors’ substitute striker Saido Berahino equalised with a fine diagonal left-foot shot after 69 minutes. He also hit the post with an 82nd minute free-kick, but West Ham hung on to avoid defeat.

The result extended a grim sequence for West Ham who have won only once in 12 league games since winning 3-0 at Tottenham Hotspur on October 6. They remained 19th with 15 points while West Brom stayed 15th.

•Wenger

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 55

2014 World Cup: Cameroon scouts for talents in Europe F

OLLOWING the fluctuating fortune of the country’s football, a Cameroonian delegation will go to Europe in a bid to convince players of Cameroonian origin to make themselves available for the Indomitable Lions.

The hunt for new talent comes as Cameroon gear up for next year ’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Cameroon’s football federation - Fecafoot said their focus for the time being was on four players plying their trade in France.

The quartet comprises three 20-year-olds - Axel Ngando at Ligue 2 club Auxerre, Samuel Umtiti at Lyon and Jean-Christophe Behebeck at Valenciennes.

Another Auxerre player Paul-Georges Ntep de Madiba, 21, is also a target as Cameroon seek to strengthen their squad for Brazil.

“We want to convince them to play for Cameroon, notably in the World Cup but also in the

UR elders say that a dog destined to die ignores the whistle of the hunter while a hunter that chases two games at the same time may end up not catching any. That is the true position of Golden Eaglets hero Kelechi Iheanacho, his father James Iheanacho and his unnamed agent.

Since the player shot into limelight, his father and the agent in particular have displayed their hunger for money at the expense of the boy ’s career which should be uppermost in their mind.

The young lad announced his arrival at the world stage the moment he netted four goals past Iraq in his match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE last August. He ended up becoming the Most Valuable Player of the competition as well as the second highest goal scorer. Kelechi and his

J

against Ronaldo and Gareth Bale during the Bianconeri’s clash with Madrid in the group stages of the Champions League and he discussed the difficulties in trying to keep the former Manchester United man under wraps. He added: “It wasn’t easy. That game was my first even playing at full-back. It wasn’t easy because these are players who have got speed and are very skilfull and know how to shoot. “The smallest chance you give them they’ll punish you.

With them I have learnt something out of it because with these players the more you play with them the more you learn something out of it too.”

•The Copa Lagos ended recently at the Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island with the Nigerian team retaining the trophy for the third time. From left Head, High Value Events & Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Ebi Atawodi, MVP of the tournament, Abu Azeez (from Nigeria) and Manager, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Idiare Atimomo, during the trophy presentation ceremony.

U V E N T U S midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah has tipped Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2013 Ballon d’Or. The Real Madrid forward has been named on a three-man shortlist to lift the prize, alongside Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery on the back of his efforts over the past 12 months.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a staggering year of personal success after scoring a record 69 times for los Blancos, making him the most prolific hitman in European club football in 2013, and Asamoah believes the Portuguese simply has to be awarded the trophy.

“In my opinion it will be Ronaldo,” the ex-Udinese midfielder said upon receiving the Goal Ghana Player of the Year 2013 Award.

“He did so well last season and this season he is continuing from where he left off and has been consistent, so he deserves it.”

Asamoah, 25, came up

know, from Kelechi’s coaches like Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Amuneke and ex player of note, Victor Ikpeba, advised that the boy should not be rushed into Europe, especially to Manchester City football club but allowed to hone his skills in lesser clubs in either Belgium or Holland and the senior Iheanacho and the agent would have none of it.

Keshi magnanimously invited Iheanacho and two of his team-mates, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu and Taiwo Awoniyi into the Super Eagles Team B preparing for the CAF African Nations Championship, CHAN holding in South Africa in January and they were already warming their way into Keshi’s with their mature display at training.

Suddenly this desperate agent sauntered into the Eagles camp to ask for the release of the football prodigy, a request Keshi turned down but the agent’s accomplice, Kelechi’s father, we were told, put a call to Keshi, ordering him to release his son to the agent. And Keshi did.

Today, the desperation to get Kelechi fasttracked into Manchester City is gradually turning sour in their mouth. First the news came that Man

City wanted to send him to an Academy it is affiliated to in Ghana, a decision most Nigerian fans frowned at, asking if the England club has no Academy of its own in Manchester.

Then came another clause attached to the whole arrangement. That is the club would not release any dime to Kelechi, his father nor the agent until the boy turns a full adult as the laws of England does not allow an under-17 to be paid salary, I guess.

This is reported not to have gone down well with the senior Iheanacho and the agent who feel that they can’t afford to wait until late 2014 or early 2015 to start earning the big bucks, from the sweat of the innocent player, whose career is seriously being threatened now by the desperation of two adults.

I ask, why would Kelechi’s father want to collect some percentage from the contract? As father of the player, will he not get a piece of the boy’s earnings when it eventually start rolling in? He should have learnt from the parents of other young players who became bread winners of their families after they hit it big in Europe by taking their time to grow.

The list of desperate young players who

wanted to run before they walk is too long to be put down here and their experience should have guided Kelechi’s agent and his father to be patient as the reward would surely come.

They should also have allowed Kelechi to participate in the CHAN were he would most probably have put up a display that will help raise his profile more because clubs would see that he could also make an impact in a senior team. But as it is now, if misses the Man City deal, can Keshi still accommodate him in his CHAN plans? I doubt.

It is still not too late for them to have a change of heart and listen to Amuneke, Ikpeba, Maigari, the sports minister and our own Paul Bassey who at various times offered a piece of advice. If Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma, Jonathan Akpoborie, Joseph Yobo, Mikel Obi as well as a host of others had been too desperate to run to big clubs because of fat bucks, may be they would have been gnashing their teeth like a whole lot of others now stranded in Europe playing Sunday-Sunday street football or washing dishes in some obscure restaurants and too ashamed to return home.

So be wise Kelechi, talk to your father and his agent friend.

future,” Fecafoot said in a statement.

“The idea is to clarify their status and then

seek Fifa permission to change their nationality.” Cameroon will be competing at their sev-

Iheanacho: Greed of a father and an agent

O

Asamoah tips Ronaldo for Ballon d’Or

team-mates from the beginning of the competition to the end stunned the world with their mastery of the game making Nigerians to now see them as the future backbones of the new Eagles Stephen Keshi was helping to mould.

This prompted the NFF and the sports minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi announce that the boys would be groomed to becoming great materials for the senior national team by ensuring they don’t jump into wrong hands masquerading as agents of clubs around the world.

However, signs that some parents of the players would mislead the boys because of their greed came to the fore in a hilarious chat the NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the sports minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi had with one of the parents which veteran sports journalist and CAF/FIFA match commissioner, Paul

Bassey published in his column in the Vanguard recently.

Every plea to the parent that his child would be guided to stardom so that the money he is earnestly yearning for will roll in effortlessly fell on deaf ears as he was interested in how much the various governments, local, State and Federal as well as companies and individuals were ready to splash on the players, because as he claimed, he spent a fortune preparing his son to be the good player he turned out to be for the benefit of the country.

Then came the supposed ‘scramble’ for Kelechi and the swiftness with which his father turned a football coach, agent and manager. It is not on record that he had ever done those jobs to be an expert in offering a positive advice to his son.

Those who should

enth World Cup and have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Brazil, Croatia and Mexico.

•Ronaldo

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 29, 2013

Ali scores athletics high in 2013

CHAN: I’ll carry on without Mba — Keshi •As player heads to France S

UPER Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi has allowed Sunday Mba to leave the team’s training camp for the African Nations Champion-ship (CHAN) to finalise a move to French side CA Bastia with an affirmation that he will carry on without the player.

Nigerian side Warri Wolves rejected a bid from the French Ligue 2 club in September, for the man who scored the Africa Cup of Nations winner.

The Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was philosophical about losing Mba for January ’s CHAN finals in South Africa.

“The CHAN team will have to move on,” Keshi told BBC Sport.

“There have been other players who have left [the CHAN squad] before Mba.” It means that Keshi will now have to find a replacement for Nigeria’s debut appearance at the finals of the tournament for locallybased players only.

“We would have loved to have him with us but we can only wish him well and hope this will enable him stay in great shape,” Keshi added.

“When he told us he was leaving, all we did was wish him well and grant him permission to leave the camp.”

The news comes just weeks after Keshi lamented his struggle to raise a formidable squad for the CHAN after several key players moved overseas.

And assistant coach Daniel Amokachi says they are keen to strengthen their squad in the absence of the Nations Cup hero.

“We have resigned ourselves to fate and working hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes”

•Okagbare

A

“I think generally it was a N Olympian, Yusuf Ali, on Friday in Lagos described wonderful year for athletics. Our 2013 as successful for athletics athletes performed well as we won both at continental and global the African junior and senior levels. Ali also said that championships. Okagbare also competent coaches should be gave us reasons to cheer with the engaged now to train athletes if silver and bronze medals she the gains made in the outgoing won at the IAAF World Athletics year were to be sustained in Championships.

“And we must not forget the fact 2014. that we had not won a medal in Ali told the News Agency of the past 14 years at the Nigeria (NAN) that the country’s before athletes did well following their championships dominance of the African scene Okagbare’s feat,” Ali said.

Ali said that if the country was as well as Blessing Okagbare’s hoping to surpass its 2013 “exceptional” performances.

The Delta-born athlete won a performance in the coming year, silver medal in long jump and a competent coaches must be bronze in the 200m at the appointed to enhance the International Association of technicality of athletes.

He noted that an adequate Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in working relationship must be developed between adminisMoscow, Russia.

The country’s athletes also trators and athletes to bridge the gap between them. clinched the African ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS Athletics 3 West Brom 3 Championships West Ham 1 Swansea 1 both at the Aston Villa Hull City 6 Fulham 0 RUNNING TO FRANCE.... Africa Nations Cup hero, Sunday Mba senior and Man City 1 Crystal 0 who Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi had banked on to join the j u n i o r Norwich 0 Man Utd. 1 new players to make another history in South Africa next month is levels.

Cardiff 2 Sunderland 2 on his way to France to begin a professional career.

Amokachi explained.

Nigeria begin their CHAN campaign against Mali on 11 January before taking on Mozambique and finally hosts South Africa Group A. The final will be played on 1 February at the Cape Town Stadium. The inaugural CHAN tournament was held in Ivory Coast in 2009, with the second edition staged in Sudan two years later.

TODAY’S MATCHES Everton Newcastle Chelsea Tottenham

v v v v

S’hampton Arsenal Liverpool Stoke City

2.30 pm 2.30 pm 5 pm 5 pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

1

2

3

7

4

5

6

8 9

10 11

12

17

18

22 23

27

28

15 16

19

20

24

25

29

33

21

26

30 31 34

35

37

13 14

36

38

SOLUTION on page 5

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa.

Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01- 4707189; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com.

Internet: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

32