We saw hell in the house of God

PAGE 2, SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 3

PAGE 4, SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014 — PAGE 5

SURVIVORS RELIVE KANO BLASTS

Babangida Hamisu: I thought I was dead

‘We saw hell in the house of God’ *Nowhere is safe – Primate Okoh *Nigerians must unite against terror – APC *Blame it on Jonathan - Saraki

By Abdulsalam Muhammad, Demola Akinyemi and Caleb Ayansina

F

OR the first time in the 400-year histo ry of the Kano Central Mosque, Muslim faithful abandoned prayers mid-way.

Yesterday, survivors of the Friday carnage, the death toll of which is believed to be well over 200, recounted what happened and how they escaped death.

Even on their hospital beds and suffering varying degrees of pain, they painted a very grim and frightening account of what happened.

Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State visited hospitals in the city, yesterday, to commiserate with, as well as give words of encouragement to families of the deceased at mortuaries on the one hand and survivors on the other hand.

To Alarama Muhammadu Inuwa, a 70-year-old cleric, the multiple blasts that ripped through the Jumat prayers in Kano further strengthened his belief in the omnipotence of God in whom he believes, even though he occasionally looked blank as he narrated how he escaped.

Inuwa told Sunday Vanguard at his Naibawa residence how he escaped the madness that enveloped the Kano Central Mosque after what looked like coordinated terror attacks on the largest congregational prayers - over 1,500 were reportedly injured.

The Chief Imam of Masalacin Nakuka of Naibawa Quarters said that his 32-year-old son, Ahmadu Inuwa, and a neighbor, Malam Mai Tasi, “were seated two rows away from my position”.

The revered cleric revealed that for a period spanning five decades, “I observed my Friday prayers at the city ’s mosque” but said for two years now, “I had ceased going there until last Friday”.

Speaking further, he said, “I got to the mosque early enough and sat beside some friends that I had always sat with inside the dome for five decades. We exchanged pleasantries, and I explained to them the reason for my absence in the last two years.

“Everything went on smoothly until about five seconds into the prayers when we had a deafening noise behind us followed by twin-blasts that occurred simultaneously right inside the mosque”.

Prayers were immediately abandoned as faithful scampered in different directions.

Bowels Continuing with the graphic details of the blasts, he said: “The Chief Imam, who led the aborted Jumat prayers, betrayed emotion after the first blast, and the twin blasts right inside the mosque because everyone, including the Chief Imam ran for dear lives”.

He explained: “You cannot believe it. While I made my way out of the

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

EMPTYING YOURSELF—3

By Richard Eromonsele

… Yes, you are met to be a solution provider and not a liability to the world. If you are presently a liability, that means there is something that is just not adding up in your life. And what is it? Many thousand years ago a great teacher came and told a story christened the parable of the Talent. Some call it the parable of multiplication but I call it the principle and practice of compound interest. The story goes like this: Three servants were given 1, 2 and 5 talents respectively. The five talents earned five more by trading with his, the second gained extra two by also trading with his two. But the one talent lost everything because he refused to trade with even the one he was given…

chaos, I never knew that a six-year old boy who was perhaps caught in the madness tenaciously hung on to me until I got to a safe zone. It was hell inside there.

“How I escaped is still a subject of mystery, and it has also strengthened my faith that Allah is alive and in total control of events and happenings in this sinful world”.

Ahmad Inuwa, 32, in tears, while reliving his ordeal in the house of God, narrated: “A large number of worshippers recovered from the initial shock of the blasts and stood their ground when it became obvious it was an attack; we needed to defend ourselves.

“I partook in the efforts to rescue the injured and remove the mangled bodies of children. I saw people’s bowels.

“I also saw how worshippers confronted the gunmen, picked them one after the other and set them alight.

One of the ironies was this young man I suspected should be in his midtwenties who begged for mercy after he had killed innocent civilians.

“I lost my Muslim brothers, but the soothing thing was that all the five gunmen lost their lives, at least we have sent a message.”

God; but I remain grateful that I am alive to tell the story”.

Farouk: I smoking van

saw

13-year-old Farouk told his own story: “I was in the mosque with my elder brothers when the blasts occurred.

“I saw one of the suicide bombers alighting from a smoking Sienna van. A quarrel ensued between him and worshipers who surrounded him because they suspected that the way he waded dangerously through the crowd was unusual.

“The suicide bomber was also armed with a very big gun; but before I could make sense out of the developing event, I heard a deafening sound that sent me to the ground.

“It was later in hospital that doctors told me that I was brought in from the scene of the blasts in a pool of blood.

“I want you to tell the governor about my predicament. I was told that two pallets of bullet were lodged in my tummy and no one has done anything to remove them. I don’t want to die now; please tell the governor”.

He revealed that his two brothers were still unaccounted for.

Babangida Hamisu, who escaped death by the whiskers, explained that the loud bang snuffed life out of some worshipers within close proximity of the blasts.

Hamisu, whose body was riddled with bullets, stated: “I thought I was dead but I’m surprised I survived”.

He explained that after surviving the blasts, he tried to escape from the scene only for a gunman to target and hit me; I hit him. “I hit the floor instantly”, he said.

10-year old Yusuf Sada: I became unconscious Sada was also hit by the terrorists’ bullets on his chest and leg.

“I became unconscious; I was later conveyed to hospital”, he said.

Another victim, Isa Muhammad, 6, was still lying unconscious in hospital.

His father, Malam Muhammad Sada, told Sunday Vanguard that the boy went to the mosque in company of his brother, adding, “My two other children returned home safely”.

Nigerians must unite against terror - APC Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned, in the strongest terms possible, the Friday “senseless attack on innocent worshipers at a mosque in Kano”, saying terrorism will never prevail no matter how long it takes.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the attack again confirmed what it (APC) has always believed: That terrorism is an attack on our nationhood and the way we live.

Continues on page 16

*Worshiper’s shoes left behind

Sani Abdulkadir: I was hit on the chest Another victim of the blasts, Sani Abdulkadir, told Sunday Vanguard: “I came to the mosque a bit late, and walked into the confusion. While trying to escape I was hit by bullet directly on my chest and fell face flat on the ground but before hitting the ground, as I turned, another bullet hit me directed on my thigh.

“But I saw one of the gunmen clearly; he was on top of the perimeter fence of the mosque; he was a young man I suspect should be under 20years.

This is all I could remember; I was told I went into coma and brought to hospital in a pool of blood”.

*Sada *Alarama Inuwa

Kabiru Ibrahim: I hid among the dead Ibrahim, also a victim, said: “The blast sent him sprawling on the floor as he realised that blood was oozing out of his chest as a result of sharp objects that hit him.

“I hid among the dead to escape the gunman shooting sporadically from a height,”he said.

“The good thing was that angry worshipers took the bull by the horn and went after him and brought him to the ground and administered instant justice”.

He added that the rescue team found him alive among the dead and brought him to hospital.

“I saw hell; I sniffed death and slept among the dead in the house of

*Ibrahim

*Farouk

6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Worries as ’10 girls are raped in Plateau’

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

P

LATEAU State Com missioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Sarah Yusuf, has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of rape of minors in the state and appealed to parents of victims to stop covering it up as rape is a criminal offence.

Mrs. Yusuf, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard through the Ministry’s Director of Child Welfare, Mr. Gwamfar Kannap, said it was alarming the increase in the rape of minors by old men.

The Commissioner, who attributed the increase to drunkenness, rituals and other factors, further lamented the unwillingness of parents and relations of victims to come forward with timely information due to fear of stigmatization, ignorance and shame despite series of sensitization campaign.

She stated that in recent months, the ministry received reports of over 10 cases involving girls between the ages of five and 15 with the suspected rapists being between the ages of 30 and 70.

Mrs. Yusuf added that it was worrisome that the nefarious act was not limited to tribe or religion.

“It is alarming the rate of reported cases of rape of minor in the state in recent weeks. We never really have this problem in the past, this is a new phenomenon and it is becoming a problem for us.

“Many factors are contributing to it. The issue of traditional medicine, some believe that if you have HIV and you sleep with a girl that is a virgin, you will be cured. Some see that as a way of advancing their political ambitions. There are the issues of poverty and drugs we need to also be addressed”, the commis-

sioner said.

Meanwhile, she stressed: “So far, one person has been successfully prosecuted and jailed, seven cases are pending in various courts and three persons are currently in detention.”

Plateau State Police Command, through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abuh Emmanuel, confirmed there has been increase in the reports of rape cases from across the state.

Madam EdemaOfoluwa dies at 91

M

ADAM Margaret Lokpe EdemaOfoluwa of Agbarho, Delta State, is dead. She was aged 91 According to the funeral arrangements by the family, there will be service of songs at St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church, Oviri, Agbarho, Warri, Delta State on Thursday, November 4, while funeral mass takes place at the same church on Friday November 5 Interment follows immediately mass with reception holding at LA Primary School, OrhoAgbarho, Delta State.

She is survived by children and grandchildren.

Late Madam EdemaOfoluwa

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 7

PDP HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES

Upsets as guber aspirants, lawmakers lose in Delta, Edo, Bayelsa •Confusion in Ogun, stalemate in Adamawa, parallel election in Ondo

By Our reporters HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries to elect its candidates for the House of Assembly election in 2015, held, yesterday, across the country, were characterised by upsets.

No fewer than 15 lawmakers lost their tickets to return to parliament in two states – Edo and Bayelsa.

The breakdown showed that 13 of the Bayelsa lawmakers will not make it back to the legislature while two were denied the tickets in Edo. In Delta State, three gubernatorial aspirants were humbled when their candidate lost the election.

The exercise was stalemated in Adamawa while, in Ogun, there was confusion over alleged cancellation of the primaries.

Parallel primaries took place in Ondo State by the two factions of the PDP in the state.

Bayelsa: Trouble as 13 lawmakers suffer defeat Reports from Bayelsa showed that about two third of the members of state House of Assembly may not return to parliament after the 2015 general elections.

13 of them were said to have lost the PDP primaries held in the 24 constituencies of the state.

The primaries, though peaceful, was characterized by alleged hijack of materials and imposition of candidates on the delegates.

Some youths besieged the state party secetariat along the D.S.P Alamieyeseigha Way, early yesterday, threatening to set the complex on fire if the materials for the exercise are not evenly distributed.

The primaries for Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area was reportedly cancelled and postponed to avert violence among rival supporters.

In Yenagoa, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology, Parkinson Macmanuel, a new entrant, emerged as PDP candidate for Yenagoa constituency 1 while the incumbent member represent Yenagoa constituency 3, Hon Gentle Emelah, emerged winner to fly the party’s flag at the 2015 polls.

At Ogbia council, a former Commissioner who served under the Seriake Dickson administration, Dr. Anapurere Awoli, lost to the member representing Ogbia Constituency 2, Hon. Obedient Emoto.

The Bayelsa State Assembly Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson, representing Southern Ijaw 1V constituency, according to sources, allegedly forced his way into the state party secretariat with his

T

supporters.

But his media aide, Mr. Priye Kiyaramo, dismissed the claim as untrue.

He said the primaries for constituency IV of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council took place in Yenagoa at the State Sports complex and was peaceful.

“The Speaker won the constituency 4 primaries with 33 votes,” he said.

At Nembe, the state deputy governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), was among the delegates who voted and witnessed the declaration of Ebi Ban Ololo as the flag bearer of the PDP in Nembe constituency 1.

Ololo scored 31 votes to defeat other aspirants including the former state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Chris Erewai.

Governor Seriake Dickson took part in the primary election at Constituency 1 of Sagbama local government council which returned the Majority Leader of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Pastor Peter Akpe, with 23 votes as against his opponent’s one.

Also returned in Constituency 2 was the former Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Bernard Kenebai, and a former education commissioner, Salo Adikumor, as flag bearer of the party in Sagbama Constituency 3.

Edo: Two lose tickets In Edo State, the primaries were devoid of crisis in the 24 constituencies across the state.

PDP lawmakers including Hon Emma Okoduwa and Kingsley Ehigiamusor, however, lost their tickets to return to parliament.

However, factional Speaker of the PDP in the state Assembly, Hon Festus Ebea (Esan South East Constituency), and Hon Patrick Iluobe (Esan North East I), were returned unopposed as their opponents stepped down.

The primary election was, however, not held in Esan Central Constituency as the number of delegates was said to be more than the ballot papers, thereby necessitating the postponement of the primaries to Sunday (today) while election had not started in Etsako West Constituency I as at the time of this report.

In Etsako West II, Dr Sylvanus Eruaga defeated four others to win the PDP ticket while Tijani Abubakar beat three others to win the nomination of his party in Etsako Central Local Government Constituency.

In Akoko Edo Constituency I, Pastor Johnson Momoh defeated Ernest Akpaja, Henry Ekundayo, Segun Bello and Emmanuel Agbaje to secure the nod of the delegates.

In Akoko Edo Constitueny II, Barrister Bisi Idaomi polled 12 votes to defeat Don Umoru, who scored 10 and Kamarudeen Coker.

In Oredo West, Uyi Ogbemudia, daughter of a former two-time governor of the defunct Mid-West State, General Sam Ogbemudia (rtd), defeated other contenders to pick the PDP ticket.

In Oredo East Constituency, Sunday Osadebamwen emerged winner of the primaries.

In Esan North East Constituency II, Igbas Ezehi scored 20 votes as against 16 scored by Okoduwa, the incumbent lawmaker representing the zone and four others to win the primaries.

Hon Friday Itulah, who was Hon Okoduwa’s agent commended the exercise, describing it as free, fair and acceptable to them.

In Igueben Constituency, incumbent lawmaker, Ehigiamusor, lost to Odiana Iriata, while Barrister Nosa, currently being remanded in prison for alleged alleged attempted murder, won the PDP primaries conducted in Egor Constituency.

In Orhionmwon Constituency I, incumbent legislator, Hon Friday Ogieriakhi, defeated Osahon Ahumwan and Austin Osawaru to pick the PDP ticket.

DELTA:Three governorship aspirants humiliated Reports from Delta said three PDP gubernatorial aspirants in the state were humiliated as their candidate lost the primary election. The aspirants, Prof Sylvester Monye, Ndudi Elumelu and Victor Ochei, were said to have lined up behind one of the House Assembly contenders, Engr Emmanuel Emeka Nwaobi. However, at the end of voting, the election was won by Mr U Idabor who had 24 votes. Second was Mr O.C. Okocha who had 17 votes and Engr Nwaobi h who scored 11 votes.

The PDP secretariat in Sapele was also said to have declared Chief Felix Anirah as the winner of the primaries by polling 33 votes as against Chief Ayomanor ’s 11 votes while Chief Monday Igbuya got 6 votes.

Stalemate in Adamawa as governor, stakeholders reject list The process was stalemated in Adamawa State.

It was gathered that the logjam was as a result of the rejection of the list of delegates sent to the state by the national secretariat of the party by Governor Bala James Ngilari and majority of the stakeholders of the party in the state.

According to them, the list was in sharp contrast to the list agreed to by all stakeholders of the party in the state.

Ngilari was said to have told the committee sent to conduct the primaries

Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left), congratulating the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Akpe (right), after emerging winner of the PDP primary election at Ebedebiri/Angiama Ward 5 in Sagbama Local Government Area of the State at Ebedebiri, while the Leader of Ward 4 Ofoni, Hon. Osusu O Osusu (centre), looks on. Photo by Lucky Francis that the delegates list had been doctored and therefore unknown to the PDP in Adamawa.

Controversy in Ogun Reports from Ogun State said the exercise sparked controversy following alleged cancellation of the congress by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

The Chairman of the PDP Electoral Committee for the exercise in the state, Akeem Animasaun, who was absent at the primaries, said the exercise had been cancelled.

But, a member of the committee, Muyiwa Bolaji, supervised the primaries, saying he was not aware of the cancellation and that he would write his report and send it to the national leaders of the party that appointed him.

Also, the Chairman of the party in Ogun, Chief Bayo Dayo, faulted the cancellation claim, saying there was no such announcement.

The party held the congress across the state and announced the results of the primaries for the 26 seats in the assembly.

According to Dayo, the NWC approved the congress and sent the delegates list to me and the primaries went on peacefully.

Ondo: Parallel primaries Parallel primaries were held, yesterday, by the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State to produce candidates for the House of Assembly election due to hold next year despite the court judgement which said the Working Committee should remain till next when its tenure expires.

One faction was led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko while the other was led by the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi.

But the two factions were able to harmonise the primaries in Idanre, Ondo East, Ondo West and Ese Odo council areas of the state.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that INEC officials in the state shunned the primaries conducted by both factions ostensible due to the conflicting reports about the Friday judgement.

Leaders of both factionsAlabi for the old PDP, and the Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Eyitayo Jegede, and his Coop-

erative and Community Development counterpart, Clement Faboyede, for the governor ’s faction were seen at the INEC office in Akure to complain about the failure of its staff to witness their Primaries.

But security operatives were present at the venue of the primaries of the factions. The exercise were peacefully conducted across the state.

Meanwhile, the state Information Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade, said INEC officials were present during the primaries held in Idanre. In a related development, the Chairman of the PDP Electoral Committee for Ondo State, Ayoka Lawani, commended members of the party in the state for the peaceful conduct of the primaries.

Lawani, who was accompanied by other members of the committee set up by the PDP National Working Committees (NWC) in Abuja to conduct the election, described the exercise as peaceful.

Other members of the committee include Hajia Hauwa Safana, Hon. Sheu Kagara, Hon. Mustapha Mohammed and Hon. Kunmi Adesina who is the Secretary.

Kagara attributed the peaceful conduct of the primaries to good homework of the PDP leaders in Ondo.

Speaking in the same vein, Mimiko, while fielding questions from newsmen after monitoring the primaries in Akure South constituencies 1 and 2, expressed satisfaction with the exercise.

Plateau: Physically challenged aspirant wins The primaries were peaceful in Plateau State.

Sunday Vanguard monitored the exercise in Plateau North and Central zones where it was observed that the exercise was orderly.

Among the candidates who emerged at the primaries was a physically challenged lawyer, Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, who is seeking to represent Mangu North in the state House of Assembly.

Gufwan expressed appreciation to the delegates who believed in him, saying, “There is ability in disability. Physically challenged people should not shy away from coming out to impact the society positively.

Niger: ‘No imposition’

In Niger State, Governor Muazu Babangida said the state PDP will not impose candidates on the electorate as the leadership will be determined by the people.

The governor made the declaration shortly after casting his vote at the PDP House of Assembly primaries in Minna, adding that neither himself nor the party will stop any aspirant from contesting any political post.

Reports at press time indicated that the exercise went on smoothly in all the local government areas.

Truce in Enugu In Enugu State, there were strong indications that the PDP faction led by Mr. Ikeje Asogwa and the recognized leader of the party, Mr. David Ajah, participated in the primaries.

The delegates elected during the November 1 ward congress participated in the exercise held at the 24 state legislative constituencies in the state.

Although speculation of a reported truce between the Governor Sullivan Chime faction, led by Asogwa, and that of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, recognized by the National Working Committe,NWC, of the party was said to be effective, residents were apprehensive over the validity of the exercise.

Sunday Vanguard spoke with the Publicity Secretary of the Asogwa-led faction,Mr. Okey Ezeh, who confirmed the smooth conduct of exercise: “The House of Assembly primaries are going on smoothly.

“The five-man Electoral Panel arrived at the party secretariat No 1, Chime Avenue, Enugu by 12 noon.

All materials for the exercise have been distributed to the designated 24 consistencies of the state”, Ezeh said.

Ebonyi: No postponement The exercise, according to reports, was peacefully conducted across Ebonyi State.

The election, supervised by the PDP Electoral Committee from the national secretariat of the party, was held amidst tight security in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ben Collins Ndu, debunked the claim in some quarters that the election was postponed.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

11 feared killed in Rivers gun attack

By Jimitota Onoyume BOUT eleven persons were feared dead in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area of Rivers State, following a shooting spree by gunmen who stormed the area Friday night and yesterday afternoon.

Community sources told Sunday Vanguard that the gunmen, who wore masks, shot indiscriminately for several hours on Friday night, adding that they later fled when men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, engaged them in a shootout. The gun were said to have regrouped, yesterday afternoon, to continue the shooting at the market.

Sources feared the shooting may not be unconnected with plans by some politicians to

A

•From left: Bursar of Igbinedion University, Mr Nosa Edogiawerie; Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen (left); and deputy VC of Igbinedion University, Okada, Professor Alexander Odaibo (right); during the 12th convocation ceremony of the university, yesterday.

63 escape death as plane crash lands in Ilorin

By Demola Akinyemi 9 passengers and four crew members aboard an Overland Airlines plane escaped death, yesterday, in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, when the jet crash landed.

The aircraft, with registration number, 051175/1176, was said to be on its way to Ibadan when it developed fault.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that no casualty was recorded in the incident that happened around 5.30pm at the Ilorin International Airport.

Some passengers on board the aircraft commended the pilot who they claimed averted what they

5

believed could have been a fatal accident.

One of the passengers,Mr Samuel Ajala, however, complained about the

Jonathan playing politics with lives — Oshiomhole •As ex-minister, 20 chiefs, 2,000

By Simon Ebegbulem OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has killed many of his indigenes due to its alleged refusal to give ecological funds to areas devastated by erosion in the state and many other All Progressives Congress, APC, states.

He regretted that the

G

Adeboye storms Vanguard again

By Sam Eyoboka ENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has accepted to be the Guest of Honour at Vanguard Newspapers Media Fellowship’s end of the year thanksgiving service.

The programme holds on Thursday, December 18, 2014, less than one week after the RCCG’s Holy Ghost Congress.

A statement by the Fellowship said Adeboye will speak on the theme, ‘Divine Success and Prophetic Breakthrough,’ with inspiration from II Chronicles 20:20.

The General Overseer’s first visit to Vanguard Media Limited, Apapa was four years ago, precisely December 2010.

At that occasion, he preached on the topic, ‘The Storm Is Over ’, charging the media to be at the vanguard of rebranding the nation. He said: “It is not the government who will rebrand Nigeria, it is the

G

lackadaisical attitude of the staff of the airline to their plight as they were said to have been left unattended to after the incident.

media.”

Adeboye, who said Vanguard was one of three newspapers he read daily, lauded the media house for excellence.

He said: “Somebody asked me the other day, ‘how many Nigerian newspapers do you read?’

I replied, ‘I read three Nigerian newspapers and Vanguard is one of them.’

This is because if there is any news worth reading at all, you find it in the Vanguard. Thank God for Vanguard Newspapers.

Vanguard will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

others dump PDP for APC

President would play partisan politics with the lives of Nigerians and Edo people in particularly despite the 95 per cent votes he enjoyed in the state in 2011, vowing that he and his party, the PDP, would be voted out come 2015. Oshiomhole also lampooned the Federal Government austerity measures due to falling prices of oil, saying: “What did they do with our money when oil was N108 per barrel. They said we should tighten our belt but they gave us no belt, that is anti people”.

The governor spoke at the traditional Urhokpota Ground Ring Road BeninCity, where he received a former Minister of State for Works and PDP chieftain, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, and over 2,000 of his supporters into the APC. About 20 palace chiefs, led by Chief Jackson Igbinoba, and different PDP groups, one of them led by Chief Arala Osula, dumped the PDP for the APC. Ogiemwonyi said he decided to dump the PDP after what he described as

the failure of the PDP to fix both the economic, security and other problems bedevilling the nation. He added that O s h i o m h o l e ’ s developmental strides in Edo and the achievements of other APC governors convinced him that the party means well for the Edo people and Nigerians in general.

Oshiomhole, who received the decampees into the APC, gave reasons Nigerians must vote the PDP-led Federal Government out. His words, “What is buried in the name of PDP can never resurrect because the Bible says, he who dies in sin shall perish and languish in hell. And because PDP died in sin, they killed, they embezzled our money, they dehumanized our people, they enveloped Benin with flood, converted our young ones to prostitution and reduced Edo from the heart beat to a part of the country that was now remembered only by reference to very negative headlines.’’

hijack the collection of Permanent Voter Cards which commenced in the area on Friday.

Among those killed, sources said, was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was simply identified as Godspower.

The Chairman of the local government area, Mr Austin Ayamadu, who condemned the incident, appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring that security men had taken charge of the area.

Ayamadu said the gunmen went from one street to the other shooting before security men swung into action.

The Chairman, who could not confirm the death toll, said some persons died in the incident.

“Unknown gunmen invaded Omoku and started by killing an elder of the APC and some other people were also killed. The figure I cannot immediately say because of the security situation, but it is more than five”, he said.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, who confirmed the development, said it was a clash between rival cult groups, stressing that security men were on top of the situation.

‘Foster care system to generate 3.5 million jobs’

By Victoria Ojeme non-governmental organisation, Oneness Foundation, says about 17.5 million orphans and 25.5million persons are living with disability in the country.

The President , Princess Tabitha Price, said the body had concluded plans to provide over 3.5 million jobs within the next one year.

Price made this known yesterday in Abuja.

She said, it was about time Nigeria joined the rest of the world to embrace a system that targets the well-being of the down trodden.

“There are 17.5 million orphans and 25.5million persons living with disability in the country who deserve to be drawn into the comfort of homes rather than left at institutions to suffer neglect and seclusion,” the group leader said.

The foundation has concluded plans to provide jobs for over 3.5 million people within the next one year, by engaging families to take in orphans and cater for them while their services are paid for by us in addition to the medical and educational fees of each child.”

She explained that in addition to the foster parents, social workers

A

would be trained and incorporated to monitor the families paid to care for the orphans to ensure they carry out their duties diligently.

Grandpa of TAN ex-CEO passes on

•The late Pa Iwuh ATRICK Enyeribe Iwuh, the grandfather of Dr. Paschal Iwuh, the cofounder and former CEO of The African Network (TAN) is dead. Age 75, Iwuh, a Knight of St John (KSJ), who passed on to eternal glory, on Sunday, November 9, is survived by his wife, Lady Paulina Iwuh (Nee Aririguzo), ten children and 26 grandchildren.

He will be buried on Friday, December 12 at his ancestral home, Umuonyeoka Umueze Ihitteafoukwu in Ekwerazu of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Imo State.

P

Ex-Foreign Minister Ashiru dies

BENGA Ashiru, a ICT experts clamour for digital rights, freedom bill Gformer Minister of Foreign Affairs, has died in

group of information communication technology, ICT, experts, under the auspices of NETRightsNG, are advocating digital rights and freedom bill to protect Nigerians using the internet and other information technology based devices.

This was contained in an

A

address delivered at a press conference under the theme, ‘Digital Rights and Freedom Bill’, by the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, PIN, Gbenga Sesan, represented by Eni Stella, who stressed that the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill had become imperative due to abuse of rights of internet users

and incessant cyber crimes that had tarnished the country ’s image abroad.

Sesan stated that the proposed bill will secure the country’s digital future and provide a reliable legal framework, serve as a tool for education of Nigerians, useful to law enforcement agents and assist the judiciary.

He said: “We want to create ample awareness as part of the grand campaign process aimed at bringing the proposed Digital Rights and Freedom Bill to limelight. It is interesting to note that this Bill when finally passed into law could be the most comprehensive single legal framework in the world as far as ICT regulation is concerned.’’

a South African hospital after a long battle with illness.

The career diplomat, credited with reenergising Nigeria’s presence in international diplomacy in the postOlusegun Obasanjo era, died, yesterday, according to TheCable which said he had been battling with brain tumour for a while.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 9 multitude of defects; if “Voice from above” must know; like the skull shaped like the Zumo Rock; for instance.

That was truth as direct as can be. “Thank you, I will tell him to start wearing suits. May be he will look better.” Years ago, in a contest for the “Ugliest Guy on Campus”, I was the first runner up. The winner was a guy so ugly they had to get a zoologist to certify he was not an orangutan. So, I know my interviewer was telling the truth. The Palm Wine Tapper cap hides a

1873-1914. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 49).

NOTE: Most of what follows is in my book PDP: C O R R U P T I O N INCORPORATED. Last week, the first part of this series designed to explain how the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Nigeria at the moment, got

itself, and the rest of us, into the sorry situation in which we find ended by the reference to the Founding Fathers of the party – led

by Dr Alex Ekwueme, the former Vice-President. The G-34, in addition to Ekwueme, included the following people: Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Sunday Awoliyi, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Chief Solomon Lar, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Dr Tunji Otegbeye, Professor Jerry Gana, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dr Iyorcha Ayu, Alhaji Lawal Keita, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd), Professor Ango Abdullahi, Alhaki Mohammed Arzika, Alhaji Suleiman Kumo, Alhaji Lawal Danbanzau, Malam Iro Dan Musa, Alhaji Farouk Abdulazeez, Alhaji Musa Yakubu, Mr Steve Achema, Chief Godwin UmeEzeoke, Chief Onyeabo Obi, Chief Francis Ellah, Chief Emeka Echeruo, Maj-Gen. Zamani Lekworth (rtd), Mr Basil Ukaegbu, Mr Isaac Sha’ahu, Malam Mahmud Waziri, Mr Dangana Nfayako, Dr Usman Bugake and Obong Victor Attah.

At least eighteen of those courageous men who confronted Abacha openly insisting on return to democratic rule are still alive today. They later gathered around them thousands of individuals to form a broad-based political party which would take care of all interests.

Finally, they proceeded to write a party constitution which could have been a model for good governance

unavoidably expected to do. We saw manifold, human made socioeconomic and political problems eroding the human dignity of our people and we responded with the requisite solutions.”

I think the Ogbeni is modest here. Not many other leaders have responded like he had done.

It was a magnificent turnaround and a different mind-set.

He led by example and I believe he has inspired many of the people to follow suit.

Osun declared a work free day to commemorate the inauguration of the Governor so as to make the people partake in what it described as the “Triumph of the people’s will.” I couldn’t agree more. No doubt the people of the state deserve more. The governor said, “We have offered ourselves for service for the good of the people,” and he continued that, “as often repeated , the best way to pursue our objectives about governance is to run the whole hub of the mandate provided by the constitution that will give us enough time to meet our aspirations for the people.”

Addressing audiences at the Oshogbo Township stadium, the governor

urged the people of the state to pray for continued peace and sustainable development of the state as the current administration enters its second phase. He also called for the civil servants to reflect on their commitment to duty, and he promises that his administration is determined to drive the state to a prosperous heights.

In true oriki fashion, he said, “We are Omoluabi,

the dawn has come at last.”

I have no doubt that this determined man will continue to excel and Osun will prosper. Of course, people in their right minds would want progress, better quality of life, better schooling, better health care, improved security and employment prospect for the young people. What the administration has done is to give the people a strong sense of

Dressed in borrowed robes: My own transformation agenda

So, I hope you will understand if the suit does not quite fit. There was another mild drama, on the way to the studio. None of my neighbours greeted me

Second term for Ogbeni “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything" -George Bernard Shaw

T

hose who are familiar with this column know that I avidly follow what goes on in Osun State.

So, as usual, here is my disclaimer: This is not a party politics and I am not from Osun (although I wish I was, much to my father’s chagrin) neither do I have a vested interest in any political party other than a gushing admiration for innovation and excellence and that is what Ogbeni has done.

The people of Osun State spoke and voted solidly with their conscience. They voted for more of the same as the first term of his administration, they wanted continuity, safe and capable hand of Governor Aregbesola. Of this he said, “Let me assure you, the overwhelming majority of the people of the state voted for us because we

have represented them well in our first term, we have been accountable to them and we have served them with passion and integrity.”

I know that is what the Osun people are going to continue to get. His administration has been tried and tested and has proved to be transparent and accountable. The children of the state are taken care of in terms of schooling, health, welfare and opportunities.

The investment is going to pay so much dividend in future as many of the young people are going to school than ever before.

I am sure that his administration has got more innovation up their sleeves and in time, they will unfurl another marvel and inspire others once more and perhaps they too can follow suit.

Ogbeni said, “What we have done in Osun since we assumed office is what anyone entrusted with power is

when going and I thought that was strange. Coming back very quickly, because Giraffe and Hippo were waiting for their apparels, one of them timidly approached me and quietly asked. “Are you related to Baba Dele Sobowale?” I replied with a question.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you are not as ugly as he is in your suit.”

REQUIEM FOR EKWUEME’S BABY – PDP (2) “Every great enterprise starts off with enthusiasm for an exalted aim and ends up bogged down in petty politics.” Charles Peguy,

I don’t give damn whether you like it or not. Now I am ready to do more battle with officials dressed in their designer suits - starting with the nonsense called “Austerity Measures”

,

I

was warned by Tusser and by the Yoruba adage about borrowing clothes. But, what can a guy do when a call came “from above” that the VC (Emeritus) of UniJankara who had bested virtually the best economists in government, by being so accurate in his predictions, can no longer be allowed to have the picture of a “Palm Wine Tapper” at the top of his columns. “Go get a suit” said the voice “from above”.

That was easier said than done. I had no suit to get.

I gave away my last suit eight years ago – together with the ties, shirts and shoes. I reached into a corner of the wardrobe and came up with a lot of dust and cobwebs under which was the only shirt left.

Meanwhile, the Editor who was asked to put my transformation agenda into effect would not even allow me to go to the “Bend down” place to get a “Tokunbo” suit. So, I went a-borrowing. What else could I do?

For the suit, the only friend, call him Giraffe, who would lend me his own was a fellow so thin he would make a broomstick appear overfed and his arms were as long as windmills. No choice but to take the suit from Giraffe.

The only shirt, not on anybody’s back, on which a tie can hang, was owned by “Hippo” – whose neck would make a Sumo wrestler appear undernourished. It took five pins stuck to the collar and my neck, to make it “fit”. The tie should have been easy. I once gave my wife a lovely tie, Yves St Laurent, when I noticed how she struggled with her wrapper whenever she pounded yam.

Fortunately, she was pounding yam again. But, I needed the tie. So, I took it. She was sore as hell.

When I returned from the “Wait-and-Get studio” later she pointed to cold yam on the stove as my share. Well, I have only one pounded yam to sacrifice for my country.

,

“He who goes aborrowing; Goes asorrowing..T. Tusser, 15241580.

I could not wait to get out of the outfit; it felt so strange. But, for whatever it is worth; I have unveiled my own transformation agenda. And I don’t give damn whether you like it or not. Now I am ready to do more battle with officials dressed in their designer suits - starting with the nonsense called “Austerity Measures”.

,

People in their right minds would want progress, better quality of life, better schooling, better health care, improved security and employment prospect for the young people

the offsprings of the giant, ancient man of valour, culture and knowledge. Our ancestry is traceable to the builders of the pyramid and such other wonders of the world. Let us continue our ascent to greatness by making poverty history in our lifetime, thus, achieving the lofty objectives of our last hero, Chief Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo made “freedom for all, life more abundant” the credo of Action Group in 1952, yet

,

pride, knowing full well that they have been listened to.

Flexing the FG muscles Nothing surprises me anymore about the way this present government behaves and it is alarming the way it abuses power to intimidate the opposition. This is not the normal way of conducting the affairs of the state. It seems that anything goes and meanwhile the Nigerian

even in Plato’s Republic.

I DON’T GIVE A DAMN –2 I don’t give a damn if Mamangida has become the head of the household and goes off everywhere like a cow in a China shop; or if the Governors have my b-lls in the palm of their hands; or if Senators also want to push me around like a wheel barrow; or if Ministers spend public funds like drunkards (drunk with Sapele water naturally), or if the economy is going to blazes.

Damn it! I just want to be re-elected.

REQUIEM FOR DR EKWUEME’S BABY – PDPD (3) Unfortunately, the composition of the group and the principles enunciated could, at best, be regarded as a “salad bowl of illusions” (apologies George Santayana) prepared by too many cooks…

To begin with the original 34 included individuals who should not ordinarily walk together in the dark.

The highly principled people, Ekwueme, Ige, Adebanjo, Balarabe Musa, Ango Abdullahi, for instance, went into bed with opportunists (AGIP, Any Government in Power) like Professor Gana. It was a disaster waiting to happen…

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com , w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / biolasobowale or Follow on Twitter @DrDeleSobowale

has to grin and bear it as always. This is not sustainable and healthy for a big nation like ours.

So the operatives of the DSS and personnel of the anti-crime squad raided and ransacked the APC centre in Ikeja at dawn. The state agents arrested twenty five party workers, 25 data agents and three security guards. This tactic is old hat but if we tolerate this then who will be next?

There are certain procedures that need to be adhered to and it simply looks like modus operandi. We have used it time and again during the run up to election.

Unless the Federal Government acts by the law that governs everyone (and I mean every one), they will be seen as abusing the law and the power entrusted to them by the people of Nigeria. If it is like this now, how will it be living in Nigeria if they expect people to vote them in, next year? The mind boggles.

We are all Nigerians and we either make it together or we fall together spectacularly.

We are fond of getting irrationally insane when we do not get our way and do the most infantile thing by departing all the progress we have made.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

before Akpabio. Painfully, no one has bothered to find out the cost of any of his acclaimed uncommon projects The Akwa Ibom Stadium website suggests $96 million as the cost of the project meaning that the value of the stadium is a far cry from that of the over $400million ‘Allianz Arena’ in Germany after which it was modelled.

Could it be that Akpabio

,

G

odswill Akpabio has been in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom since 2007.

He has since then done quite a lot for which he will be remembered in the history of the State. When compared with governors of other states and other Akwa Ibom governors before him, it is likely that he would stand taller than many in the pace of state development. Akwa Ibom International Stadium can probably be described as the last of the most grandiose projects he undertook. Perhaps that explains why he always advertises his work with the title “uncommon transformation”. Looking back to the works of a visionary leader like Obafemi Awolowo, who built the magnificent Liberty Stadium Ibadan as far back as 1960, can we earnestly describe any stadium thereafter as uncommon? May be what makes the Akwa Ibom Stadium uncommon rests in the belief that in the part of the nation where it is located, the people were like Stone Age inhabitants

Many of our states squander millions of naira daily on frivolous projects

“judiciously ” spent one quarter of what the Germans squandered on their stadium to build his?

If so, then his qualifies as uncommon. But is that grandiose stadium what the Ibom people desire at this point of their development? If not, the

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Jonathan and the 2015 presidential elections (2)

T

HE people who drafted the constitution apparently did not envisage that a VicePresident who takes over after a President had died in office and who subsequently gets elected on his own merit might wish to contest for a second term. Otherwise, they would have inserted a provision that either limits such a person to only one term of four years in addition to the period he or she held office to complete the unexpired term of the predecessor, or made it explicit that serving out the remaining term of the last occupant does not prevent the successor from going for two terms of office.

Hence, since the 1999 constitution does not explicitly exclude someone in Goodluck Jonathan's situation from seeking reelection, it would be sheer waste of time and effort for the opposition to go to court on this matter.

Having argued in the preceding paragraphs that based on the 1999 constitution President Jonathan can still contest the upcoming presidential elections, it is appropriate at this point to consider whether he deserves to be re-elected or not. This issue can only be properly decided after an objective assessment of his

uncommon transformer has failed to appreciate the difference between the needs and the wants of his people. Akwa Ibom leaders particularly the successors of Akpabio must go back to the old philosophy of the famous scholar, Abraham Maslow who argued that basic needs should first be met before higher needs.

Akwa Ibom people will do better with food, clothing

performance in the last five years. The fundamental duty of any government is provision of adequate security for everyone living in the country. In this allimportant aspect of governance, Jonathan's government has performed below average. This is because armed robbery, kidnapping and brutalisation of ordinary citizens by soldiers and police personnel have increased dramatically since 2010. But the greatest security challenge to President Jonathan and the security agencies now is the Boko Haram phenomenon.

A lot has been said and written on the hideous atrocities of the Islamic fundamentalist sect.

However, the increasing audacity of Boko Haram in unleashing violence and anguish on Nigerians, epitomised in the kidnap of hundreds of female secondary students at Chibok about two hundred and thirty days ago, is a ringing indictment of Nigeria's security forces. Of course, decay in the security apparatuses of government began even before independence in October 1, 1960.

Nevertheless, in recent years the situation seems to have grown worse. Aside from corruption, inadequate funding,

,

and shelter before stadium. They may not be able to speak out on the subject but they are not fools.

This point reminds me of an encounter I had many years back with some friends who at a social spot showed so much nepotism, and preference of mediocrity over merit in recruitment and promotion, there is high-level sabotage of federal government's efforts to defeat Boko Haram by few disgruntled members of the Northern establishment to frustrate Jonathan's administration.

Unfortunately, at the beginning President Jonathan, like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, underrated the security threat posed by Boko Haram, which explains the sluggish and haphazard response of government to it. Presently the problem has worsened considerably. Without equivocation, therefore, we can say that on the issue of security, the President's performance is not encouraging.

The next criterion is the economy - has our economy improved since Goodluck Jonathan became President? It would take several large textbooks to answer that question adequately. But certain indicators seem to suggest that the economy has not been moving in the right direction since 2010 despite its rebasing by government, which appears to project a robust economy bigger than that of South Africa. One, Nigeria still relies heavily on export of crude oil, a trend that began in the 1970s, which makes the country vulnerable to the vagaries of crude oil prices in the international market.

Inspite of President Jonathan's modest achievements in agriculture and exploration of the economic potentials of solid minerals, the nonpetroleum sectors of Nigeria's economy remain

Rauf Aregbesola of planning to spend as much as N700 million on his 2 nd inauguration as governor of the state last Thursday. Although the gover nor ’s aides countered the allegation, we are free to believe it because those who made the allegation are known for doing same when the roles are reversed. At the same time, such bogus expenditures are not new in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that before Governor Segun Mimiko decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Ondo State branch of the party had accused him of spending over N1 billion for his second term inauguration. In a statement in Akure by the party ’s Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, the PDP questioned why such an amount was spent on such an event at a time when Mimiko’s election was still being challenged at the Election Petitions Tribunal. The nation is not likely to hear any such negative remarks now that the Governor has returned to the PDP and no one including the fiery civil society groups and the media would followup on the subject. The truth however is that i n a u g u r a t i o n / commissioning activities in Nigeria are so elaborate that speculated expenditures on them may not be far from the truth.

For example it was fun some three weeks ago when two of my friends questioned each other ’s

sincerity to one another.

The bone of contention was; who of the two had been more favoured? One had just returned from what the other regarded as a juicy assignment and had expected some gifts from the so called favoured one. The latter insisted that the allowance he got from the assignment was too meagre to be talked about. When the rest of us insisted on knowing the assignment, we gathered that the aggrieved friend was talking about a special committee to which his friend had been appointed- a committee set up to arrange the President’s declaration of intention to contest the 2015 election. Our friend belonged to the medical sub-committee! Haba, did our ruling party envisage the need to attend to anyone what might faint during the declaration?

Of course, there must have been several committees set up just to appease the crowd of supporters looking for a piece of the “uncommon” action.

Anyone who travels regularly like this writer must have observed a new trend in government expenditures on travels.

Originally, it used to be several vehicles, plenty of fuel money and a quantum of night allowances. That has changed to air travels which have also changed to chartered flights.

Somebody needs to tell us if they are all expenditures on uncommon projects and how much they amount to.

underdeveloped and rudimentary.

The manufacturing sector, stymied by decades of epileptic electricity and shambolic policy formulation and implementation, is not expanding as it should for the actualisation of growth targets set by the federal government to meet the millennium development goals. The problem of erratic power supply nationwide remains a sore point against Mr. President.

While some experts claim

were elected in 2011, a situation that has almost crippled the movement of people and goods within the zone. Nigeria's railway system is still chronically outdated, and the waterways are underutilised.

Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the economy as a whole has been tottering: for most ordinary Nigerians the suffering continues. In my view, the President and his economic team have not managed our economy with the appropriate degree of discipline and bold creative imagination that can make a positive difference in the lives of Nigerians.

The President has not done enough to discourage official corruption in the country - indeed his actions sometimes seem to downplay its significance as the deepest single cause of our underdevelopment.

Many Nigerians strongly believe that corruption is thriving under Jonathan's presidency, and that Mr. President himself does not project an image of a leader who really wants to end the culture of financial imprudence and rascality in governance.

As a corollary, President Jonathan is wedded to the obnoxious practice of running a bloated government. At a time when Nigeria needs to invest her financial resources wisely, maximising every kobo that accrues to the federation account, the President maintains an oversized cabinet that, collectively, does not add commensurate value to the system. As a paradigm example of a wasteful

leader, he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with a retinue of aides to pray and seek divine intervention for the country's mounting problems. If Nigeria had a National Assembly that takes it job seriously, it would demand to know how much was spent on that wasteful and ridiculous jamboree. But Nigerians know it would be much easier for an elephant to pass through the eye of a needle than for members of the National Assembly to insist on accountability from the President, because our democracy is Animal Farm democracy.

Limitations of space prevent us from using other criteria to assess the President's suitability for reelection next year. But from our brief analysis thus far, the most reasonable conclusion is that, based on performance, the President should not be re-elected.

Without a doubt, his administration has recorded some modest achievements; yet they are not enough to secure him a second term of office. Now the question is, does the main opposition party offer a better alternative? My candid answer is - No. The most viable candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, had lost the presidential elections three times and, as I argued sometime ago, contradictions surrounding his fourth attempt vitiate his electability. Even with all the money at his disposal, Atiku Abubakar just does not have enough charisma and political capital to neutralise the incumbency factor on the side of Jonathan.

Concluded

,

What is the cost of Nigeria’s uncommon transformation?

vehemence over a project introduced to their town by one of their leading stars in faraway Abuja.

The bigman had used his office to influence the project- a teaching hospital to his provincial town. Luckily for him, it was during the military era; otherwise it would have been treated as an impeachable offence for which the Taraba State House of Assembly impeached their Deputy Governor. The teaching hospital was unacceptable to the people because they understood that if they had had pipe borne water which they didn’t; recourse to any hospital would be little. Similarly, how to get to the stadium and watch star footballers and how to get back home is probably a more basic problem for Akwa Ibom people.

Spending what is needed to provide thousands of housing units for the people to prosecute the commissioning of the stadium is obviously a worse uncommon expenditure.

Other states are not better than Akwa Ibom when it comes to egoistic projects that have little to do with the people; it is just that other selfacclaimed transformers do not describe what everyone does as uncommon. Many of our states squander millions of naira daily on frivolous projects. Only a few days ago, some Osun opposition politicians accused their governor,

The President and his economic team have not managed our economy with the appropriate degree of discipline and bold creative imagination that can make a positive difference

,

that recent reforms by government in the power sector are steps in the right direction, since Jonathan became President Nigeria has never generated up to six thousand megawatts of electricity, whereas the country needs at least about twenty thousand megawatts to meet her energy needs.

In the transport sector, there is some improvement in federal airports and road infrastructure; yet the southeast still has the worst network of federal roads in Nigeria inspite of the promise by Jonathan to address the problem if he

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 11

By Charles Kumolu

W

HAT is your assessment of the build-up to the PDP governorship primaries in your state, particularly the manner the aspirants have conducted themselves so far?

Most of us are not really happy about some things that are happening in the buildup to the primaries because every true Delta Northerner, desire that our son emerges the party ’s candidate. We have qualified persons who have indicated interest in the race in both PDP and APC. Such as Prof Pat Utomi and Sir Fidelix Tilije of APC and Sir Tony Obuh, Chief Obieluem, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Rt Hon Victor Ochei, Chief Ndudi Elumelu, Chief Ngozi Olejeme, Prof Monye and many others in PDP who have indicated interest. They are all very qualified. But as it is today in PDP, if somebody is a frontrunner and the rest begins to gang up against that person, it does not make sense. Because they are going against a systemic process. It is not a very good thing to do. For us, who desire that our son becomes the governor, the gang up is something we all frown at. What they are doing might backfire and we may lose the opportunity of producing the governor. They are acting as if they want to disorganize the process since they are trailing the leading aspirant. We know they are all very qualified, but Obuh is eminently qualified from all aspects of training and management he had undergone.

A man who attained the position of a permanent secretary, has been exposed to all aspects of governance. Such a man will do well as a governor. It is a good thing that he emerged as a leading aspirant in the race, because we don’t want anyone with baggage. He is coming in with clean hands, [FRESH AIR].

And the systemic process has been fair to all. We have information from the party chairman that the delegates list was a product of the leaders and stakeholders. Leaders from every party of the zone had inputs. So in my thinking the popularity that Obuh is gaining is divine. As Obuh came out from the blues and got the attraction and attention of the people. And Obuh’ name is spreading like wild fire. Also he is coming in with the requisite experience as a retired civil servant. Obuh is a man who has seen power as a permanent secretary, and was very humble and simple, so the thinking that his humility might change when he becomes governor, should not arise. By his nature he is gentle and amiable.

So our people should sheath their sword and support him because we still have people from Delta South and Delta Central, who are also participating. If aspirants from Delta North fail to unite, our dreams may not come true. I am happy that some people, whose name were included in the communique against the governor, have come out to disown this gang up. It is good that some of them are beginning to retrace their steps.

However, we are appealing to others to sheathe their swords so

PDP PRIMARIES: Why Delta North aspirants should participate with one voice — Odikpo •Says Obuh is in the race with clean hands that we can posses this opportunity that God has given to us.

But the aspirants have dismissed the allegation of gang up against the governor, stating that all they demanded was a levelplaying field?

The level playing field has been provided by the party leadership in the state. And the governor has so far maintained a natural stand on the issue of successor. What we are seeing in Obuh, is a divine work in progress. That is why it makes him look like a favoured child.

That is why we can describe what other aspirants are doing as rivalry or competitive jealousy or admiration. That any one of them pray to enjoy. But we are still appealing to them to play according to the rules because it is only one man that can be governor. If one person is elected the governor, others will be carried along because Delta State belongs to all of us. If you know the civil service and how people are trained, you will envy them.

Some of us in the private sector also envy them. The military, civil service and oil company workers, are always well trained. They never deviate from procedures or systems. Looking at him, I don’t see him becoming a rubber stamp of anybody. He will work according to the rules of governance. Obuh to me does not look like someone who will be pushed around. His training and experience will not allow that. He has the training and experience to be an independent administrator of persons and materials. And I am sure that those who worked with him before now can attest to that. And since the incumbent governor wants to finish strong or strongest, Obuh becomes the right option to continue on that loud note, that Uduaghan will finish his tenure.

Are you saying all these because you are from Delta North or you are being driven by patriotism?

I like equity and fairness. I can say this for any party of the state if the governorship position shifts to that zone. Since other senatorial districts have produced the governor, it behooves me to speak for Delta North in the spirit of equity and fairness. As they head for the primaries, I expect all aspirants from Delta North to harmonise their interest and ensure that Obuh who has become the leading aspirant emerges, because he is a breadth of fresh air. Any of them could have been the favoured child today, but since Obuh is the one, we should support him because he is a clean aspirant. Some of these aspirants have been favoured in the past by the system. They are all party of the system. They should not fight the system now that the tide does not seem to be for them. I don’t see

A former senatorial candidate in Delta State and Secretary BOT, Delta Concerned Patriots, Dr. Iyke Odikpo, in this interview, wants other governorship aspirants in the state to sheath their sword and support the ambition of Sir Tony Obuh, adding that Obuh has come into the race with no baggage.

•Dr. Odikpo any thing wrong, if most people in the system are supportive of Obuh because he has a reliable personality. As a concern patriot and deltan, I feel it is imperative I caution these aspirants against conspiring against the party.

Having been in active politics since 1999, my knowledge of who the state desires now, should not be in doubt. In 2007 I was a pioneered member in setting up

of the PDP Delta State Elders, leaders and stakeholders Forum and a stakeholder from Aniocha North Local government under the National Leadership of Chief E.K Clark.In 2010/2011 I was among the political class that formed Delta Coalition for Change with some notable politicians to press for change in politics of delta state. DCC joined forces with then DPP but all that

is for history. Also was Delta state coordination for Move Nigeria Project for Goodluck 2011 presidential campaign.

On the agenda for incoming governor The foundation of the state is not well defined to some of us outside government.

For instance, Akwa Ibom is what it is today because its former governor is an architect who made a master plan. Luckily enough, Akpabio is following the template his former boss created. In Lagos State, Tinubu had a plan of where he was taking the state to.

That why why Fashola followed that pattern when he came. My advice for Obuh is to work according to the master plan of the state. If there is no master plan, he should create and develop it. The Delta Beyond Oil policy is good. It is Uduaghan vision and he is following it, my advice for Obuh is to key into the vision and ensure that all ongoing projects are completed, then he can initiate new ones.

Obuh needs to create a lot of activities in other sectors of the economy, so as to improve the internally generated revenue.

There should also be urban renewal in all the principal towns in the state. All these would galvanize every sector towards efficiency and self sustenance without oil.

2015: Shape political discourse around ideology, not identity and religion — Fayemi

By Emmanuel Asuquo

A

former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. K ayode Fayemi, wants Nigerians to channel their political discourse as we approach the 2015 polls around ideology, not identity and religion.

“Our challenge as civil society and enlightened citizens as we approach the 2015 elections is to shape political discourse around ideology rather than identity, so that candidates will be judged much more by how they intend to address our challenges not by where they hail from or what faith they practice”, he said. Fayemi made the call while delivering his paper at the GLEEHD Foundation’s ThinkTank Series, held under the theme “2015 elections: What has faith got to do with it?” in Lagos.

He accused the ruling PDP of poor performance and for stoking ethno-religious sentiments and pushing the country to the brink of crisis

as a way of retaining power in 2015. “This can be deciphered from the ethnic jingoists who brazenly threaten fire and brimstone if President Jonathan is not returned in 2015, as well as the predilection of our President to stage manage visits to influential spiritual leaders and exploit their goodwill to masquerade as the anointed candidate of people of a particular faith”, the former governor stated.

Speaking on the same faith ticket, he observed that the issue is being reduced to discussions about viability of a ticket that features presidential and vicepresidential candidates of the same faith. According to him, it is not absolute for all parties in serious contention to ensure both the Muslim and Christian faiths are represented as either presidential or vicepresidential candidates. “This unfortunately skirts around the main issue and does not address the substance of how

we want to get out of the mess we currently find ourselves in”, Fayemi stressed.

He expressed fear on the 2015 elections: “We are going into the 2015 elections a deeply divided people, with the elections being a potential source of polarization”. In forestalling the unforeseen, he called on all civil societies and individuals to push for peace and national cohesion to the top of the agenda as the single most important factor in determining who the next president of Nigeria should be.

The former governor advocated for the harmonious co-operation of Politics and Religion in bringing out the best that is in man, as the 2015 elections is a great opportunity to redefine Nigeria as a peaceful and prosperous secular state with functional citizens of different tribes and tongues, working together to make Nigeria the greatest country in the world.

PAGE 12 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

By Dapo Akinrefon

M

r Kayode Akinmade is the Commissioner for Information in Ondo State. In this interview, Akinmade says the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will bring good fortunes to the people of the state.

The defection of Governor Mimiko to the PDP did not come as a surprise to many, yet people want to know what informed his decision to defect from the Labour Party?

I can confidently tell you that the decision of Dr. Mimiko to move to the PDP is a popular one and accepted by major stakeholders in the state. Recall that before the formal declaration, Mr Governor consulted widely and the movement was eventually made, and in the interest of the state. It was a collective decision. There is also one unique thing about the movement of Mr Governor to the PDP. He laid out the philosophical underpinning and the practical dimensions of his action in the speech he read while declaring his decision to rejoin the ruling party in Abuja. It is also significant that virtually all political office holders with which he worked in the Labour Party in Ondo were present at the

Beyond Mimiko’s third force experiment in politics, by Kayode Akinmade declaration and this amplified, in no small measure, the popularity of the decision. The governor made it clear that having worked on the possibility of throwing up a third force on the political landscape, which manifested in the activities of the LP in some states of the federation, he has come to the conclusion that it is a very expensive enterprise. More importantly, the basis for a third force in Nigeria has no historical antecedent. The trend in Nigeria’s political turf had always been in the direction of a two-party dominance system.

He also based his argument on the efforts of President Jonathan at ensuring the success of the current political experiment by ensuring fair and transparent elections. Four years on, and with at least four governorship elections held, it is evident that Mr. President has shown fidelity to his solemn commitment on free and fair elections. Notwithstanding the fact that his party was always a strong contender in all of the gubernatorial elections conducted under his watch, President Jonathan has kept his words.

Governor Mimiko mentioned at the declaration that any doubt

•Kayode Akinmade about the President’s democratic credentials has been sufficiently erased with the recent Osun State governorship election in which he noted that though the stakes were considered to be quite high, Mr. President, against all temptations, chose not to influence the process.

He chose to keep his words. Thus, even when the President’s party lost the election, Jonathan, as he is wont to do, was quick to congratulate the winner – a deliberate effort at entrenching a democratic culture. It was such

profound a statement of commitment to democracy that Mr Governor insists that we cannot and should not wish away even in the face of tempting partisan pressures. The governor also did mention that while it was attractive to remain in a small place and be king, he will rather be a subject in a larger formation in the interest of the state and our democracy and for our state to achieve its aim in the country. Mr Governor provided evidence based argument to demonstrate that President Jonathan has demonstrated uncommon commitment to internal party democracy since he was elected in 2011. The governor also based his argument on the INEC timetable for the 2015 polls which has both the presidential and National Assembly elections holding on the same day. He said he had always supported the Jonathan presidential project. With his teeming followers in 2011, even from the LP platform, he endorsed, worked for and the people of the state voted massively for President Jonathan. Like Mr Governor also pointed out, the difference in platform did not prevent us for working for LP candidates where

it fielded candidates and in subsequent polls. However ,with the 2015 INEC time-table, which put presidential and National Assembly elections on the same day, it has become obvious that the type of support we need to give President Jonathan without creating conflict of interest is better galvanized through the President’s political party, the PDP. And, no doubt, Governor Mimiko’s coming to the PDP is value added and would definitely deliver Ondo to PDP in the coming elections.

What do you make of the claim that the governor is no longer popular with the people of Ondo?

Who are the people making the claim? May be when you mention where such claim emanates from, then I will know how to address that. But the truth is that the popularity of the governor is soaring by the day.Anyway, talk is cheap. Anybody can say whatever he or she likes. But you will agree with me that politics is a game of number and it is unfortunate that those who can not even win their wards are masquerading as politicians of affluence.

Delta 2015: Our problem with Abuja aspirants —Ejogharado MR Princewill Ejogharado is the pioneer Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

He is one of the foundation members of the PDP in the state and has been very consistent in his political ideas. In this interview, he speaks on the 2015 Delta governorship and the much talked about zoning. Excerpts: 015 is here and we have many aspirants gunning for the governorship of Delta State. What is your take on it?

Everyone who has indicated interest as far as I am concerned is qualified to contest for the governorship of the state, having attained the age and educational qualification, but some don’t have the moral qualification to contest the election and they know it. They are just exploiting the gullibility of the electorate; if not, deep inside them, they know they don’t have the moral right to contest because of their history.

What do you mean by moral right?

If you look at the aspirants, many of them have, at one time or the other, been saddled with one responsibility or the other either privately or publicly. But have they examined themselves to know if they really have the moral justification to come out for the position they are seeking? Some have been commissioners, SSGs, etc. Does the history of their performance when they were in these offices really qualify them?.

They are just exploiting the gullibility of the electorate.

But if an apparition is made available for the electorate and those seeking political positions

2

MR Princewill Ejogharado to know the comments of those who spoke well of them a while ago when they were not there, some of them will go and bury themselves in shame. It is an unfortunate thing. They have been in positions, but, by their own judgement, nobody should judge them. How have they managed those privileged positions that God gave to them?

If they are now told to conscientiously mark their own paper, how much have they impacted on the people? Some of them are below five percent. But it is unfortunate that this is where we have found ourselves in Delta State. This aspirant is doing declaration today; the same crowed you see there will be the same crowd you see when another aspirant is declaring tomorrow.

All you need to do is to go to different local government areas and give out N5,000 to each person to enter the bus and it is the same people everywhere.

Nobody is for anybody; the same crowd. So, they are exploiting the hunger, the gullibility of the

people. They have so drained the people mentally that our conscience is now thrown to the winds. How can a hungry man be conscientious? That is the problem we find ourselves right now in the state. It is most unfortunate.

Going by what you have said, what are your expectations of the governorship aspirant of your dream?

As a matter of fact, in Delta State, we have a forum for former local government party chairmen. Before the new guideline that removed us as automatic delegates, everybody in Delta knows that we are the most organized political body in the state. And as the Chairman of the forum, we took our time to screen all the aspirants. It would have been most wonderful if we had not been dropped as automatic delegates to the election. We had already decided to give Delta State the best governor that will work for the people. We had carefully looked at all the aspirants. We were already zeroing down to some few persons and we would have made our findings known with verifiable facts. There are few among them who have impacted greatly on their constituencies.

There were some who were positioned with the state as their constituency, they failed. Some were given privileges and their immediate constituency was their local government but they failed, some were given privileges and responsibilities to represent their people at their federal constituencies, they failed, some performed exceedingly well, some were given privileges as senators, they failed woefully.

So what were some of the criteria you used in assessing

these governorship aspirants in your forum?

Many of them that came to see us in our forum will tell you about their Abuja connection. At a point, we were jokingly saying if everybody has captured Abuja when they have not captured Delta State, Abuja has now become Delta. They all want to flaunt their relationship with Abuja and the stuff like that, but we took time and on our own we put up a committee to screen everybody. If this man says he was

,

BY FESTUS AHON

Nobody has zoned governorship at any time, I make bold to say it. I am not an apostle of zoning. If there was zoning, when Ibori contested twice, was it only Urhobo people that contested the election?

,

a commissioner, go and investigate how he used his position to impact on the ministry; if an aspirant says he was a senator, go to his senatorial district and investigate how much he impacted on the people. If he says he is from the House of Representatives, go and investigate how he impacted on his federal constituency. Those were the perimeters we used to investigate them and you will be shocked by our findings. Some of them were a total mess, but there were one or two of them who did well and such persons should be

encouraged. My advice is that they should all be subjected to public debate. If you say you want to be governor of Delta because you know the state is oil rich, let us ask them to tell us how much they used their past opportunities to impact on the people and you will see many of them will not come for the debate.

There has been so much noise about the governorship position being zoned to Delta North. As a one-time party Chairman, is it true that it is zoned to Delta North?

I have been there since the beginning, even though the system has not favoured me economically, because people’s successes are judged by how much they have stolen or how much wealth they have amassed, not by how much conscience they have or how much they have genuinely worked for the system.

There was a time some persons were saying this was zoned, that was zoned, some were in other parties when the party was formed but they are the ones now telling us what happened at the birth of PDP. The truth of the matter is that a day will come when I will tell Deltans how PDP was born, the inauguration of PDP at PTI, how it moved from PTI to Palm Grove Hotel in Warri where the first executives of the party were put in place.

Was the governorship zoned at any time?

Nobody has zoned governorship at any time, I make bold to say it. I am not an apostle of zoning. If there was zoning, when Ibori contested twice, was it only Urhobo people that contested the election? Some of those that contested with Ibori were from other senatorial districts.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 13

Delta 2015: I know nothing about zoning —Utuama, dep. gov.

Deputy governor of Delta State and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, reveals why he wants to succeed his boss.

,

•Says he is the best man to succeed Uduaghan

By Charles Kumolu

Y

OU entered the race rather quietly and some people even considered it somewhat late.

What are your chances?

My chances are very bright. I can say, with all sense of modesty, that I am known across the state.

I have been here and have firsthand experience of the workings of government. First, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, I held that portfolio for two consecutive terms of four years each. That makes it a total of eight years.

Then, in 2007, I returned as the Deputy Governor of the state and I have held that position up till now. I am very familiar with the proce4ss of policy formulation and implementation. Most of the delegates to the primary election which will take place on December 8, 2014, know me and my capacity for hard work and transparent service delivery. They are the ones who will hand the ticket to the person who will fly the party’s flag. I know very well that these people want the best candidate for the state. They want a man who is dependable, a man with capacity to deliver, a man with character, a person who is tested and trusted. A man they know and I fit this mould. So, my chances are very bright. As for the timing, as long as it was not in breach of the timetable set by my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is fine by me. Don’t forget that it is a marathon. Those who initiated the idea, the Peoples Network for Utuama, did a considerable consultation; they weighed all available options very carefully before they settled for me. Then

,

•Utuama

as an individual too, I had to also seek the face of God. I was waiting for God’s call because without God I cannot be where I am today. With the conviction that God is on our side we launched out.

Tell us exactly why you think you are the best choice for Delta State going forward.

I am the most properly positioned to take the state higher.

From what I have stated earlier, I have the requisite experience, I have the exposure, the education and practical knowledge of the workings of the system. You can’t buy experience, it is what makes the difference. I represent a purposeful and exemplary leadership; I represent a visionary, transparent, integrity-driven and people oriented administration that will serve the best interest of all Deltans both at home and in the Diaspora. Look, given the outstanding performance of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State

needs a Governor with proven ability to perform and the vision to transform dreams into reality.

Our dear state, at this time in our history, needs a Governor who will accelerate to new frontiers the ground breaking works of Chief James Ibori and the developmental strides of Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON. Our state needs a Governor who will be able to unite Delta State further and who will respect its diverse interests. Our state needs a Governor who has every corner of the State in his heart and who can pursue a broad development agenda that will serve the interest of all Deltans irrespective of where you are coming from. I believe I fit best, the bill of the kind of governor Delta State desires at this moment.

There has been so much talk about an alleged zoning arrangement in the state. What

Ogoni divided over emergence of Dakuku Peterside as APC guber candidate

By Jimitota Onoyume

T

HE Ogoni appear divided in their response to the emergence of Hon. Dakuku Peterside as consensus gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State.

President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, Mr Legborsi Pyagbara, in a statement, said it was regrettable that the party did not concede its gubernatorial ticket to an Ogoni, adding that the process that threw up Peterside was an indication that there was no internal democracy in the APC. While calling for a reversal of the action of the caucus of the party on the governorship C M Y K

I challenge anybody who claims there is a zoning arrangement to prove that at a particular election in the past in this state, all aspirants and candidates were all from only one zone

ticket, the umbrella body of MOSOP condemned the development.

The MOSOP president, who spoke through his media aide, Mr Bariaria Kpalep, further enjoined Ogoni to remain calm.

“We condemn, in strong terms, this disappointedly appalling action of the APC reportedly influenced by the leader of the party in the state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The process, besides being a sham, has rubbished the party ’s trumpeted respect and commitment to internal democracy and it demonstrably smacks of the highest level of impunity’’, he said.

“We are aware that the motto of the APC includes justice and equity. We do not see how this action of the party, which is not

in sync with transparency, accountability, fairness and justice, promotes its motto aforesaid and declared commitment to internal democracy. We consider this action of the party and its leader as an expression of rejection, display of hatred and humiliation of the Ogoni ethnic nationality”.

“We therefore call on the party to reverse this position in the interest of justice, fairness and equity”.

Meantime, a former militant Commander, Chief Solomon Ndigbara, and the family of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, in separate statements, lauded the emergence of Peterside as the flag bearer of the APC in the state.

“The APC by this action has

is your position on it?

I don’t know of any zoning arrangement. We all have been here since 1999, I challenge anybody who claims there is a zoning arrangement to prove that at a particular election in the past in this state, all aspirants and candidates were all from only one zone. Of course there is none.

If at all there is zoning, it has been honoured more in breach than in observance. For the good of this state, we must emphasis those things that unite us and make us act as a family and not fan the primordial ember of division based on ethnicity or district. Our state is one and belongs to all.

What would be your appeal to the delegates as you go into the primaries on December 8, 2014?

Thank you very much for that question. My appeal to our honourable delegates is that they must see themselves as the people who will show the direction of our state in the next four years. As respected and responsible delegates, I know they are very much aware of the fact that the politics of our state has changed from that of mere ethnic and moral sentiments driven by personal gains to the politics of issues that

is focused on development, progress, job creation, food security, security of lives and property, industrialization, shelter, health, education and other good things of life for all.

To get these things for our people, we need somebody who has experience, credibility, capability, somebody who is dependable, somebody who is politically humane and effcticve to harness our state’s great potential for the good of all. I joined this race not for any personal gain but with one purpose in mind – to truly provide and care for all Deltans from Anioma to Kwale, from Isoko to Ijaw, and from Itsekiri to Urhobo.

I believe I am properly positioned to lead all Deltans to dream, turn those dreams to reality and benefits of democracy for the improved well being of all Deltans.

I joined the gubernatorial race with one message and one expectation. The expectation is that, I am going to consolidate the gains of democracy since 1999 till date, add to it, and move Delta State forward for the good of all.

Anything good that has happened in Delta State will be consolidated, for the good of all, irrespective of your background and tribe, because I am a Deltan. So I appeal to them to please vote for me.

Delta Beyond Oil has come to represent a major policy thrust of this state. There are fears in some quarters that it may be jettisoned if a politician and not a technocrat takes over from the incumbent. What have you to say to this line of argument?

To start with, I think the policy of Delta Beyond Oil has come to stay and nobody who loves Delta State will reverse it or abolish it.

Not with the way crude oil price is tumbling in global market and other recent economic developments across Africa and the globe. It is the way to go. One can improve on its policy implementation. And I don’t see the next governor of the state doing that be he a politician or a technocrat, to use your word. The determination to sustain the policy of Delta Beyond Oil will not be because somebody is a technocrat or a politician.

shown that it is sensitive to the yearnings and desires of the Ogoni people,” Ndigbara said.

“Dr. Dakuku Peterside is a true son and friend of Ogoni land who not only grew up in Ogoni land but was involved in the MOSOP struggle through his relationship with the Wiwa family where he is a son.”

•Peterside Chief Loveday Wiwa and Elder Harry Wiwa, in a and give thanks to God statement released on their Almighty,” they said.

“Our happiness knows no behalf by Keira Porobo, expressed happiness with the bound because Dakuku spent emergence of Peterside as the most of December holidays in the Wiwa family house at Bane.

APC guber candidate.

“We find it hard to contain our But more than anything else, overwhelming excitement at the Dakuku’s association with our good news that Dr. Dakuku family made him to actively Peterside is on his way to identify with the Ogoni struggle becoming the governor of led by our great legend, late Rivers State; we are truly elated Kenule Saro-Wiwa.”

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Logistics guide to the 2015 polls

By Wale Ogunade

N

IGERIA is conducting an electioneering process ahead of 2015. We need to remove everything that may hinder a free and fair process.

Logistics planning is essential so that equipment, staff, and communications methods are in place for the successful operation.

To this end, INEC needs a strong strategy in place.

To ensure effective movement of electioneering materials, I propose that the following steps be followed.

I. Personnel a. Recruitment This is the time INEC should start recruitment of staff including the ad-hoc personnel for the polls.

The personnel should be trained on the use of communication gadgets as well as the materials they will use. b. Logistics Logistics must be in place in in terms of accommodation and transportation for electoral officers irrespective of status at least 48 hours before election.

Taking into consideration that the country is shut down on election day, it is very important that this issue is addressed to avoid late take off of election. c. Allowance INEC should pay the allowances of polling officials, particularly the ad-hoc staff to avoid any face-off. d.

Politicians and government officials These people have been known to be the bane of electoral successes because of their status. They are an interested party in the polls and so should not be allowed access to On Duty tags which allows them to move around on election day and in the process perpetrating encouraging electoral malpractices.

II. Materials a. Distribution Effective distribution of materials and equipment requires: · Detailed planning of delivery and retrieval schedules, methods of transport to be used and routes · Efficient means of splitting bulk deliveries of supplies into separate shipments for each voting location, avoiding wastage, yet ensuring that all voting units have sufficient supplies to service the voters. · Adequate security for the specific environment. · Storage appropriate for maintaining stocks for election

materials and equipment in good condition. · Comprehensive tracking of the movements of all election materials and equipment as they go through the distribution and return chain.

Accountability and probity considerations, as well as operational needs about the state of readiness for voting, and later of the successful retrieval of supplies, must be served by carefully tracking all shipping and distribution of supplies.

III. Communications Communications during the election period requires that a thorough assessment be made of communication needs. Apart from the heightened flow of information within the election management body ’s offices and the need to provide facilities for communication with voters, political parties, security forces, and other government agencies, there will be a large number of dispersed voting centers that will need to be in communication with their supervisors and other such officers.

IV Observers Foreign and local observers must be taken into consideration.

V. Transportation Provision of transportation that is reliable, secure and on time is critical to ensuring that voting units are fully prepared before the commencement of voting, during and after voting to ensure proper monitoring and supplies of materials if there will be any shortfall as well as that accountable and valuable election supplies are retrieved expeditiously and safely.

Planning of transportation is a highly complex operation that needs to be completed well in advance of the election.

The management resources needed to support an efficient election supplies transportation operation should not be underestimated, particularly where large geographic areas are involved and a wide range of transportation means need to be employed. Transportation plans need to be fully integrated with packaging plans and be flexible enough to respond to emergencies.

Planning the retrieval of supplies from voting units is as important as planning the initial supply. Ensuring that all accountable materials are returned to secure storage is an essential guarantee of election integrity. Loss of accountable materials at this stage will immediately raise public suspicions about the

validity of voting and counts.

Methods Methods of transportation will depend on the terrain, weather conditions, time available for supply, and distances over which materials and equipment have to be transported. Whether direct distribution from a central store, or staged distribution from central to regional warehouses and then to voting units, is used will partially depend on transportation infrastructure and distances to be covered.

It may be efficient to enlist the assistance of other state agencies in the delivery and retrieval of voting unit supplies in the short time frames available. However, public trust and confidence in their use must be considered.

V Controls Strict controls need to be applied, particularly for accountable voting materials and valuable supplies. A full audit trail of delivery and receipt documentation for accountable materials, from the time that supplies leave the manufacturer to their return to electoral management body stores following voting day, must be available.

Records of the locations of all supplies at any time must be rigorously maintained and personal accountability for their safekeeping enforced.

Pick-up of Materials These arrangements can be more complex than delivery of materials to the voting unit and less likely to follow a pre-

The ballot papers which is the most sensitive of all the electoral material must be given serious and adequate attention in terms of logistics

•INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

arranged timetable. Actual pick-up times from voting units will be affected by how quickly close of voting activities are completed (there may be long delays if large numbers of voters are in the voting unit at the time of close of voting), accounting and other records completed, and materials packaged. At the end of a long day, this may not be accomplished quickly.

Clear pick-up instructions must be conveyed to electoral officers and the importance of the rollback of election resources must be adhered to.

Pick-up schedules should allow for this. Most important is that there is liaison between the electoral officers at the field and the office, so that progress can be monitored and any adjustments to pick-up scheduling relayed to drivers.

Checking Retur n of Materials The most important issue to check immediately on return of materials is that all accountable voting materials and equipment have been returned. The delivery and receipt audit trail maintained for materials delivery should be used to control returns.

Particular care needs to be taken that all ballots have been returned, that all ballot accounting records have been correctly completed, and that portable equipment (mobile phones and personal radios especially) are returned.

Wherever possible, it is preferable that a schedule officer be present when materials are returned and checked into storage. Any missing accountable materials or equipment may be more readily traced with the assistance of the schedule officer at this stage.

Storage prior to voting Materials and equipment for voting day are likely to be produced over a period of several weeks or even months.

Suitable storage facilities for such material and equipment should be put in place. It is important that the premises used for storage are both accessible and secure.

Security in particular is of the

utmost importance as this builds the confidence of the electorate and political parties in the election process.

Security To secure the materials, it is advised that local government and state capitals are used where the terrain will not allow for easy distribution on the eve of the election.

Ballot Paper The ballot papers which is the most sensitive of all the electoral material must be given serious and adequate attention in terms of logistics and this is where the professionals in this area should be involved, because if the logistics of the ballot papers is not gotten right, definitely the election cannot be right and, for this reason, the distribution system of the ballot papers must be up on time, handled professionally and well secured.

Voting Unit Management It is preferable to appoint a person to be responsible for all operations at a polling unit called the polling unit officer, whose duty is to ensure that all procedures are followed in the conduct of election as laid down by the electoral management body. He is the presiding officer; in fact, the chief executive officer for the voting unit.

CONCLUSION The 2015 elections are a very important event. As such, they should not be handled with levity. INEC should co-opt the services of professionals to help it design and execute this project as Nigerians will not take any excuse this time around. _________________________________________________________________________ * OGUNADE, a constitutional lawyer, human rights activist and President, Voters Awareness Initiative, delivered this piece titled, ‘The impact of effective logistics movement and material distribution in an electioneering process and achieving success in national transition’, International Logistics and Administration’s National Conference and Fellow’s Investiture 2014.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 15

By Okwudili Edeh

A

LTHOUGH Governor Sullivan Chime, who is getting much more than he bargained for in Enugu State PDP’s political debacle, tried to sound conciliatory in Sunday Vanguard of November 23, 2014, entitled, “Chime on 2015: I Have No Personal Squabbles with Anybody; We Simply Want Proper Things Done”, it is clear that sound judgement and true sober reflections are yet to prevail. The publication, which is a transcript of the governor’s address during a recent meeting with Enugu PDP stakeholders loyal to him, is sadly fraught with the usual tales by moonlight, blame trading, chest thumping, and harvest of lies.

It was a highly diluted version devoid of Chime’s widely talked about biles at the meeting.

For instance, defending his “consensus arrangement” (twin brother of imposition) for all elective positions, he reportedly claimed, rather sarcastically, that what he was doing in Enugu PDP was not different from what happened in Abuja where the red carpet was, according to him, rolled out to coronate one man as PDP’s sole presidential candidate.

Hoping and nursing the illusion at the time that the PDP would annul the Enugu PDP ward congresses like other states on that same day, he further boasted that it was a lie that he agreed at a meeting with President Jonathan not to run for the Enugu West senatorial district. He insisted that Enugu was for Enugu people and Bayelsa for Bayelsans.

Two, I do not agree with Chime that he is fighting godfatherism in Enugu politics or that he had conducted four local council elections where he had allowed the people to choose their leaders. To start with, Chime is a product of godfatherism. It is common knowledge that he became governor in 2007, not because he had the open ambition let alone the structure or clouts, but simply because former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani anointed him. He cannot therefore wish away the fact that he is the political godson of Ebeano.

Meanwhile, even the last local councils (s)election (2013) was the worst since 1999 because numerous chairmanship aspirants were allowed to pay various fees, only for the governor and party executives to sit in the Enugu Government House to list names, which were sent to the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for a mere confirmation exercise called election.

I also disagree with Chime that “ we’re having similar challenges today like it happened in 2010/2011 because some of our brothers and sisters (in the National Assembly) now want to go contrary to the agreements we had earlier (on

Chime’s peace with cudgel in hand

•Ekweremadu

zoning and distribution of elective positions)”. What agreements? Is that the Enugu West senatorial seat should be zoned from Greater Awgu to Udi/Ezeagu to bring it closer home for his grab? Is it that the Udi/Ezeagu House of Reps seat must leave Ezeagu to Udi (his home) so that his son-in-law (husband of his first daughter) could grab it, while Ezeagu people go empty-handed like Aaron? Is it that the Enugu East senatorial seat must be dashed to his former Chief of Staff and his clan’s sister married to Nkanu man, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo? Or is it his efforts to replace the House of Reps member representing Enugu South/North (Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo) with his cousin, Chime Oji? Is it about his design to replace Hon. Kingsley Ebenyi of Enugu East/ Isiuzo Federal Constituency

•Chime

with his brother-in-law, Prince Cornelius Nnaji.

There was never a time that it was agreed that all ranking members of the National Assembly from Enugu State must retire to make way for Chime and his men.

It is important to sound it that Chime’s return to the negotiation table with the Ekweremadu’s camp was because he was boxed to a corner. If he was disposed to peace, he would not have repeatedly sought to impose Ikeje Asogwa as the Acting Chairman of the Enugu PDP against the party’s constitution, the PDP national leadership’s

Chime’s last-minute desperation to get Jonathan to reactivate the peace process after he breached the initial pacts and lost on all fronts is pure blackmail, especially knowing that he would never have allowed anybody near the sharing table if he had had his way. Nevertheless, while it will be discourteous for Ekweremadu’s camp not to listen to the President and be magnanimous in victory, they had better be careful in dealing with a man who talks peace with a cudgel in hand. 2015 is still a long way.

•Edeh writes from Enugu

2015: ‘People’s Network’ endorses Jonathan, Elumelu

By Providence Obuh

A

There was never a time that it was agreed that all ranking members of the National Assembly from Enugu State must retire to make way for Chime and his men

directives, and subsisting court rulings. He would not have queued behind an imposed Chairman for the ward congresses, only to turn back to claim there were no ward congresses on November 1, 2014. Indeed, he would not have backed out of the initial peace efforts brokered by the President to seek to undo the ward congresses and undermine Elder David Aja as Acting Chairman, only to return to the negotiation table like the prodigal son after he has been dazed by the Ekweremadu camp in various courts. Pray, what man makes peace with a cudgel in his hand?

group, United People’s Network, DUPN, has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan and Honorable Ndudi Elumelu for the presidential and Delta State governorship elections come 2015.

According to the president of the group, Comrade Collins Aburime (a k.a.Gabalushi), “Elumelu stands out as the best candidate with the pedigree and experience needed to steer the ship of the state. Delta does not need a green horn or a learner at the moment.

Elumelu’s record of accomplishment is second to none.”

While stating the reasons for supporting Elumelu, the group said that the lawmaker has proven to be “a dynamic politician with influence in the state and at the federal level, just like Jonathan has proved to Nigerians nay the world that he is a President whom all true lovers of democracy will like to

go back to Aso Rock for his second tenure to continue from where he stopped because his mandate has a date with destiny.”

The group noted that Elumelu’s aspiration for the governorship seat has continued to receive a boost with his wide consultations across the state to be a close associate of Governor Uduaghan and the power brokers in the presidency.

Declaring his intention in the state capital, Asaba, Elumelu promised to prioritize the welfare of the people of Delta if given the opportunity to lead them.

Before contesting for election, he has been a member of several important committees in the House including: Committee Membership, Diaspora, Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Interior Affairs National security and intelligence and the House Committee of Power and Energy, where he served as

Chairman which enhanced his relationship with the President.

His aspiration for the governorship seat has continued to receive a boost with his wide consultations across the state to be a close associate of Dr Uduaghan and the power brokers in the presidency.

In Aniocha –Oshimili, he performed his duty by keying into Uduaghan’s three-point agenda of human capital development, infrastructural development and security.

Rather than empower thugs, he empowered youths and women The grassroots politician has created the enabling environment through which he mingles with those at the grassroots, letting him know what their problems are and tackle them headlong. That explains why rather than converting whatever money he gets for constituency projects to his personal use, he comes home to better the live of his people with such monies.

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Chris Ogiemwonyi’s declaration for APC A former Minister of State for Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi , yesterday, declared for All Progressives Congress, APC, at Urhokpota, Kingsquare, Benin-City. Photos by Barnabas Uzosike

From left: Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and his wife, Mrs. Joy Ogiemwonyi; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State Governor; and Hon. Anslem Ojezua, Chairman, APC, Edo State Chapter.

From left: Hon. Anslem Ojezua, Chairman of APC in Edo State; Hon. Osaro Idah, Secretary, APC, Edo State; and Hon. Charles Idahosa.

From left: Hon. Anslem Ojezua, Mrs. Joy Ogiemwonyi, Hon. Osaro Idah and Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi.

A cross section of Bini chiefs who joined APC

‘We saw hell in the house of God’ Continued from page 5 ‘’Every attack against innocent people, including women and children, or those who are performing or pursuing their commitment to their God or faith, is a cowardly and senseless victimization and exploitation of vulnerability,”the party said. ‘’APC stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Kano and all the affected families at this difficult time. We pray that God will grant repose to the soul of those who were killed in the blast, while also wishing all those who were injured in the attack a speedy recovery. We urge all citizens to demonstrate the Nigerian spirit of compassion and strength of character by providing succor and support to one another.’’

APC also commended the security agencies for their continued sacrifice in confronting the insurgency, despite the fact that they are working in very difficult circumstances, characterized by insufficient equipment and support that could serve as a great morale booster. ‘’We want you to know that your work and sacrifices secure our nation and, for that, you will never be forgotten. Together we will get through this,’’ the party told the security agencies.

It restated its resolve to work with the Federal Government, in a bipartisan manner, in all genuine efforts to fight terrorism, to better secure our nation and to provide support and succour for the longsuffering people of Nigeria.”

Nowhere is safe – Primate Okoh The Primate of Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, also, yesterday, called on Nigerians to unite against terrorism.

The Primate’s call came on the heels of the Kano blasts.

Okoh was speaking at the Carnival For Christ (C4C), a celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the Diocese of Abuja, held under the theme: ‘Celebrating the Faithfulness of God’, in Abuja.

“With the Kano blasts, it is clear to us that nowhere is safe in the country. They have bombed churches, they have bombed mosques. So, we must all us unite and present a common front against terrorism”, he said.

Okoh further maintained that Nigerians and Nigeria were more important than any political agenda, saying the leaders and the led should desist from playing politics with “our national security.”

He added: “If we don’t play politics with

our national security, then we will be able to defeat terrorism. We should not allow anybody to give any colouration to terrorism. Evil is evil; and if we don’t look at it from our own party politics angle, we will be able to defeat terrorists.

“Our national security is more important than politics, more important than election; human lives cannot be equated with any political agenda. Therefore, I call on all of us to rise and be mindful of our security.”

Blame it on Jonathan - Saraki Also yesterday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, and senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, condemned the attacks.

He blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for the continued insurgency in the country.

He said.”My heart goes to the families

and friends of those who died and sustained injuries; the Almighty Allah will console them. But t he bottom line is that when you are on the seat of power, it is your responsibility to provide security for everybody and if you have not done that, you have failed and I think as Nigerians, we must say it as it is: the present administration still has some months to go and I believe they can make some difference.

But to say that we should accept it or that they should be blaming the opposition would not be acceptable.

“There is nothing we all gain being in opposition and seeing Nigerians dying like this. The number of those that have died is as high as those that have died in Afghanistan and Syria and Nigeria should not be compared with these countries.

“The Jonathan administration should stop the resurgence and if they cannot stop it, we should say it the way it is. “

2015: Buhari will tame corruption — Moses Iloh

BY ABIODUN ALADE

S

OCIAL activist, Dr Moses Iloh, says former military ruler and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is the politician capable of taming corruption if elected in 2015.

The cleric argued that the country is in need of a disciplined man to arrest its depreciating state, stressing that Nigeria is getting worse by the day. Iloh who noted that he grew up in a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria where love and brotherhood was the hallmark, noted that the country is divided along ethnicity and religion by those benefiting from it. “ It is sad that on a daily basis, impunity and corruption is on the increase and the president seems to encourage such acts by his silence. Can you imagine seven lawmakers sacking 19 lawmakers in Ekiti

while they also purportedly impeached the Speaker. It is a disgrace to this country.

You can imagine the global shame that the country would have been subjected to if those honourable members did not scale

the fence of the National Assembly because the few PDP members inside the chamber would have impeached Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House, “ he said.

Terrorists will be held accountable — Jonathan

By Festus Ahon, ASABA

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday, commissioned the Federal High Court complex, Asaba, saying perpetrators of terrorist acts in the country would be held accountable.

The establishment of the Federal High Court in virtually every state of the federation, according to Jonathan, was a good development as it would bring justice closer to the people, stating: “This is in tandem with this administration’s determined

efforts to expand access to justice for the people and ensure that Nigerian’s from all nooks and crannies are able to access the courts for the purposes of resolving their disputes”.

The President, who spoke through the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, commended the “Chief Judge and other Justices of this court for their hard work and immeasurable support for this administration’s resolve to hold accountable all the perpetrators of terrorist acts across the country”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 17

bb pin: 20C37A25

I believe in the leadership of Aremo Olusegun Osoba – Bukky Wright L marginalization of women in Ogun politics. The governor and deputy are men, the three senators are men, and the nine House of Representative members are men as well. It is a big slap on the faces of all women as it negates the United Nations 30% affirmative action and inclusion of all women in politics. My people have called me and the voice of the people is the voice of God, so it is important that I yield to their call”, she answered.

Adding: “Secondly is to participate in the law-making process to attain peace and security or peaceful coexistence and good governance. For equal and effective representation for my people in my constituency not to be marginalised at the federal level and claim the constituency right for them at the federal level by being their voice. Thirdly, is to engage in checkmating the activities of the executives through the MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) for the purpose of ensuring transparency and accountability.

AST week, Potpourri served you brewing hot comments and mission statements from entertainers who are suspending the make-believe world to join the jostling world of politics. But one important name was missing from the list and that name is none other than Bukky Wright, a woman many described as the shining light of Yoruba movies. It was not an intentional omission but one that was circumstantial because at press time last week the beautiful thespian was yet to make her intent public.

Now that Bukky has joined the 2015 race there has been a bit of a buzz in and around Nollywood. Every actor in both Yoruba and English sectors are trending her poster on social media as if they were expecting a tsunami of sort. But Potpourri’s question is; why would a woman who has everything going for her dabble into the untamed waters of politics?

“My most cogent reason is the

There were times my performance wasn’t the best – Kafui Danku

G •Deji Bakare

HANA’S reigning queen of the big screen, Kafui Danku looks every inch the girl in the magazine many men would want to have under their lockers for a glimpse now and then, either for motivation or

turn. Until he met Fountaingate Media “The issue of finding like minds to run the business posed a challenge, in that they lack the desire to educate but rather were more interested in what comes into their pockets. I had nobody to trust until I met my present team” he said.

Pains of setting up modeling academy – Deji Bakare

F

ORMER Mr. Nigeria, Deji Bakare is a man on a mission.

Since coming back from Canada the charismatic former face of Nigeria has been looking to set up his own modeling academy where Nigerian models can learn the rudiments of the art of modeling. His search to look for a partner has hit stone wall at every C M Y K

“Perhaps the most pronounced pains in setting up the Modeling Academy is the acquisition of Knowledge and knowing the appropriate centre of knowledge. It was not easy. In the industry, there are numerous scams both in institutions and the players – Model Scouts, Modeling Agent, and Advertisement Agents. Etc. My gain is essentially seeing Nigerian Youths gainfully employed after several years of education. This unemployment

stimulation. But the bad news is that the curvy, almond eyes, ebony beauty is taken. She’s been sentenced to a lifetime of bliss in another man’s arms and she seems to like it- very much.

“I mentioned earlier that my husband is a perfect gentleman; I don’t think anything will make us part ways. We’ll be together forever ” she once told Potpourri in a chat.

Isn’t that rich in view of the fact that celebrity marriages hardly ever survive.

She has done her share of good movies and her latest effort Happy Deathday starring Nigeria’s Alex Ekubo, Ghana’s James Gardiner, Elikem Kumordzie of Big Brother Africa Fame and others, has enjoyed positive reviews from movie buffs and critics. Though the actress said the movie brought out the best in her but she confessed that her best hasn’t always come off being the best or even good enough.

“Yes, there are times I feel my performance wasn’t the best.

Sometimes, I feel embarrassed either by the role or the way I interpreted the role. I sincerely must accept that roles were not put across perfectly ” she confessed to Potpourri.

•Kafui Danku

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Music of old versus music of today I

n simplest terms, music is the combination of lyrics and beats. Where any one of these major ingredients is missing,the music may be

deemed tasteless or even described as bad music. Nigerian musicians of today have been criticised severally for producing more of the

beat while their music is lacking in lyrical content. One observer captured today’s music as ‘a lot of lyrical nonsense and danceable beats’.

A school of thought believes Nigeria has seen the best of music, good lyrical content spruced with ecstatic beat, in the past and thus condemned today’s music as nothing but mere sound to dance to. It claims today’s music lacks message, meaning and substance of evergreen quality.

As good as this opinion sounds, it doesn’t appear to have nailed the issue right on the head. For one, many have questioned why today’s musicians are apparently more affluent than those of old. One could still remember the labour it entailed to make it as a musician in the days of old while just one track could catapult today’s musician into the millionaires club.

Furthermore, today’s music has more claims to success because our music has become more internationalised than ever, just as it has been accepted almost 100% by the local population.

Potpourri’s quest is what today’s musicians consider as good music and how they rate their music in comparison to the music of old:

A f r i c an m ar k e t t a h t c i s u m n o thrives e c n a d u o y s e k a m – Emma Nyra

E

Today’s musicians are getting it right – Ruggedman

MMA Chukwugoziam Obi known as Emma Nyra shot into fame in the music industry after the song Your Waist, which she did with her label mate, Iyanya. After that she has gone on to record several successes, which keep her in high demand for shows across the African continent and beyond. She has also collaborated with many popular artistes.

“I agree that nowadays music lacks lyrical content especially commercial music because that’s what sells. The African market as a whole thrives on music that makes you dance but lyrical content is still appreciated” she explained to Potpourri.

Adding, “Music should not be all about beats but at the same time, as a musician it is important to focus on your market and to give the people what they like to hear” On the issue of difference in affluence between the old and the new; Emma Nyra

C M Y K

wouldn’t take sides, instead she asserted that it was the musician of old that paved the way for the younger ones.

“I believe that the musicians of the past have paved the way for musicians like me to have structure within the industry which allocates funds to be generated indefinitely for us. My idea of good music is music that is evergreen.

No lyrical content because people just want to dance – Falz

M

ICHAEL Stevens known as Ruggedman is one of the most popular musicians of today. Unlike most of today’s musicians whose claim to fame is a handful of singles, Ruggedy Baba as he is called has produced four albums. One in 2004, another 2007, 2010 and 2012.

He was one of the artistes that talked to Vanguard on the issue of ‘ a lot of lyrical nonsense and danceable beats’.

Hear him: “I agree with Vanguard about the beat and no lyrical content part, but it is not all the music of today that falls in that category. We still have artists who have messages in their songs, though they are being overshadowed. Music is an art form that is used to entertain and at the same time pass messages. So it definitely should not be all about beat and shallow lyrics” he explained.

On whether today’s musicians are more successful or not than musicians of old, the ever opinionated rapper toed the cautious line and explained why we have more affluent singers today.

“Depends on what you mean by poor. If you are talking finances, I think the today’s successful musicians are getting it good. Old Nigerian musicians did not have the influx of corporate bodies coming in with fat wallets and endorsements today’s musicians are enjoying. My idea of a good song/ music is solely determined by the listener and the listener’s choice of music. A good dance track is one where the artist is able to find the balance between a good beat and message and still get people singing along and dancing”.

•Emma Nyra

•Falz

Folarin Falana called Falz the Badhguy is a son of the legal giant, Femi Falana. Like his father, he is also a lawyer. While his father found passion in the courtrooms, fighting legal battles, the son’s passion lies in the studio, churning out songs to entertain people.

Since coming on board the country’s music ship Falz has found his own reins and looking for his own harbour to berth as one of the country’s greats. Just last week he shot the video of his hit single ‘Marry Me’ with Yemi Alade and Poe. The video shoot which was a big success had a Yoruba traditional marriage as the plot.

To him, Nigerian music of today truly lacks content but he posited that it hardly the fault of the musician as the Nigerian public nowadays just want to dance.

“That is not entirely true. It is correct to say that a lot of artists nowadays are not particularly concerned about lyrical content because they know that the Nigerian people just want to dance.

However a few Musicians still pay attention to lyrical content. I personally pay a lot of attention to that. Music shouldn’t be only about the beat. Good music is a good blend of everything, good beats, good lyrics/message and nice melodies” he put in.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014PAGE — 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

There’s audience for any type of music as long as it has good sound – Saeon

S

•Saeon

EUN Oni known as Saeon to fans in the music industry is looking to finding her feet on the scene. With her ‘Boogle Down’ hit single that featured Wizkid, Saeon is looking more like the egg that would make nothing but omelet.

Beautiful and sexy, Saeon is as confident as they come and isn’t at all worked up to air her views.

“I think music is freedom, freedom to create. There would always be an audience for any type of music as long as it has a g o o d sound. It could be a good balance of both, lyrics and beats. However we live in a world where the norm hardly applies” she observed “Good music for me is any music that has an indescribable frenzy between my ears and its sound once both come in contact.

•Yinka Ayefele

Nigerian artistes have taken the music industry to the next level – Yinka Ayefele Gospel Juju musician Yinka Ayefele has been around long enough to know what good music entails. With millions of fans scattered around the globe Ayefele is a musician enjoying both fame and fortune.

Explaining what his own idea of good music

We’re better than those old people - Runtown

D

OUGLAS Jack Agu popularly known by his stage name Runtown has proven that he is not just a one -hit wonder like so many artistes in his time. His chart topping hit Gallardo featuring Davido got him an award for Best Collaboration of The Year 2014 at the NEA awards which held in New York. He has also released other hit songs including Domot, Party like it’s 1980 to name a few.

Unlike his peers who contributed to this issue, toeing the cautious line, Runtown threw caution onto the wind, reeling out what he believes it is the situation. Call him a rebel or whatever. Runtown believes they, musicians of this era are far better than musicians of old.

“We’re better than those people, we are fresher. I think then, they had more lyrical content but their sound production was poor.

Past musicians didn’t dwell on generic sounds and generic names; we had a lot of great songs especially from the 80s. They’re the ones that inspired us, people like Fela, not just their music but their lifestyle too. Fela is a human activist so even if you’re not a musician, you learn a lot of stuff from Fela.

•Runtown

is, Ayefele said it depends on the artiste. “ We have seen a situation whereby some artists prefer to express themselves with beat alone but when you look at successful artistes, they create beats and compose good lyrics that can become an instant street anthem. I believe Nigerian artistes are trying and have really taken the music industry to the next level, although there are still rooms for improvement. Good music is all about good beats and inspiring lyrics. While the beat will be the blood, good lyrical composition will be the oxygen to transport it through your veins so the two are essential components of a good music.

A good music needs no advertisement.

Music is like a spirit, you don’t need anybody to invite you before you contact the virus; it moves and when it hits you, you can’t resist it even if you hate the artiste singing. When you listen to a song and you have that burning desires in you to play it again and again then, it means the song has all the elements of being a good music. “ he said.

On the matter of affluence and success, Ayefele said the new musicians are definitely better off, but for a number of reasons not associated with quality of music they make.

“Not all Nigerian musicians are rich, but compared to the olden days I’ll say things have really improved. Thank God we now have multinational companies who give us endorsement deal and expose us to the world.

C M Y K

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Day students stoned me at University of Abuja – Senator, comedian B

ethel Njoku popularly known as Senator is a comedian and actor who has built for himself a unique style. He is also a father of one. At the University of Jos where he studied theatre arts, he won many showbiz awards at different levels which paved the way for him into the entertainment inustry. Bethel Njoku is one of the fast rising comedians Nigeria has produced and in this intriguing interview, he talks about many issues you will not want to miss.

By ADERONKE ADEYERI

How has the journey been since 2006? he road has not been too smooth just like many roads in Lagos (smiles) but I will get to my destination just like other Lagosians. Nevertheless, I thank God because there are many people in the industry who are just hovering in a place.

How did you come about your stage name?

The name Senator was inspired by my desire to be a representative of humor and laughter. I coined the name at a time Nigeria was leaving the military era for democracy.

Senators were seen everywhere representing different constituencies. My own constituency is comedy.

My brand of comedy is analytical and intellectual. I work with a lot of corporate brands,and I need a name that will have a corporate outlook, hence I chose Senator. My brand is simple yet sophisticated.

What is the difference between a comedian and a joker?

A joker is someone who says something and people around at that time laughs but a comedian is someone who has the responsibility to say reasonable things that will make people laugh. A joker only has a sense of humor which is God given but a comedian has to be trained and well groomed. The major thing that differentiates a comedian from a joker is the level of consciousness. Comedy is a conscious act while a joker says something on impulse.

You once tongue lashed your colleagues over recycling your jokes. Don’t you think some may feel you are being pompous ?

I am not pompous but I was only being myself. I have suffered this injustice for a long time and kept mute about it. I never meant my jokes should not be used by other

T

C M Y K

comedians but I think they should make reference to me while using it. Most times when I use these jokes some people feel I am copying those who used the jokes I created and I can not continue like that. Many of them use these jokes and even put them on CDs. There was a time Ali Baba gave me a joke and after using the joke on stage, I told the audience who the originator was. I did the same thing when Emeka Smith gave me a joke in America. That does not mean I was short of jokes or I was not funny. It also did not stop the joke from been hilarious, in fact, it was one of the most applauded jokes of the night.

Did the issue affect your relationship with other colleagues?

To the best of my knowledge, no, but personal opinions differ. I am a blunt person and care less when I am saying how I feel.

What brought about your comedy skit, “I am a painter”? was in America when a group of Nigerian boys called wawwaw boys who were comedians and also see me as a mentor called me to see their skit. I worked on the skit and it came out very good. After this, I also invited them to help me shoot my own skit too in America and I came back to release it here in Nigeria. “I am a painter” was a skit I intended giving to television stations to use as programme fillers but has opened many doors for me. At the moment, I have a contract with one of the leading companies in Nigeria but I am still keeping this in the dark .

Almost every profession has an organization. Why is comedy different and as an ambassador of humor, what are you doing about it?

It’s a two-way thing. It could be an advantage if the comedy industry has an association to guide its activities. It could

I

It’s a two-way thing. It could be an advantage if the comedy industry has an association to guide its activities.

help curtail the emergence of marabouts in the business and possibly create some more attention from the government and society at large. But then, again, we know the history of associations in Nigeria, where everyone wants to be relevant, or protect their own interests.

I don’t want to mention names, but “people wey dey act film go explain better”. So, having an association might not just be ideal for now. At least, comedians have respect for Ali Baba, who has always played the fatherly role of correcting situations, so also do comedians have respect for Ay, Gbenga Adeyinka, Julius Agwu, Tee A, Basketmouth and others. This has made it easy for all of us.

What has been the worst thing ever written about you?

It was a gossip that was never close to the truth. It was when I did Star Trek with Nigeria Breweries in 2010.

And shortly after the show, I bought a car and it went viral that Nigeria Breweries gave

me N10 million. So I am still wondering where I kept the money.

So, how much were you given?

It was not more than N2 million and most times is like the media forgets that armed robbers too read these stories.

I do not like that side of the media, “ you people” blow things beyond proportion.

So,what measure did you take to correct the ill information?

Ah !If I am to do that I will become the media’s enemy and you know entertainers and the media should maintain a good relationship for showbiz to grow.

You don’t appear much on stand-up comedy concerts, except the ones organized by Julius Agwu. Why? That’s not true. Certain shows do not meet up with my demand or expectation so I just bow out of the agreement.

I will not grace an event that does not add value to me in any form. It was such shows

that I use to attend in the past where my jokes were hijacked.

I was on the bill of the last AY Live but I couldn’t make it because I was in the States to unite with my wife who just delivered a baby boy. So, I wasn’t in the state of mind to perform. However, I can’t be on every show, that will again make me valueless.

Has there been anytime you went blank on stage, if yes. what did you do?

Yes. It happened to me at the University of Abuja in 2002. I was invited to be an MC for their event and the sound system was faulty. When I moved to the right, some people would hear me and when I moved to the left, some people would not hear me. The students went mad and started stoning me with cans of drinks and pure water. To cover my shame, I called the next thing on the agenda and left the stage. Years later, I went to that school and I took pictures like I have never done before. I was so much celebrated.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 21

L

AST Tuesday, November 25, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate 2014 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness to the plight of women who are subject to various forms of violence around the world. The date also marks the beginning of a "16 Days of Activism" that ushers in commemoration of the annual Human Rights Day on December 10. Violence against women has been described as gender based crimes impacting on women's physical, emotional and psychological health. Because most of these crimes are perpetuated against women by the people known to them and/ or are related to them, most commonly recorded violence against women are called domestic violence. Domestic violence is abuse by one person in a relationship to control or manipulate the other person and it can take very dangerous and unhealthy forms in many cases, including emotional and psychological abuse, even though people generally think of violence as beating or hitting a partner. According to Helpguide.org, a non profit resource on its website against abuse, emotional and psychological abuse oftentimes pose more danger to the abused partner and may also eventually lead to violence. Unfortunately, these two forms of abuse are not easily recognised and most abused partners often do not know they are being abused.

Many simply think they are unhappy with their partner's behaviour while some others believe it is a way of life and the accepted practice or societal

Networking/ Sponsorship •Kens, a graduate, from Delta state, needs well meaning man or woman to help in sponsoring his food production business and school establishment.

08074614417 •Autry, 68, needs an honest person to sponsor him in opening a chemist. 07083301232 •Ifeanyi Chineye, from Asaba Delta state, needs someone to buy him a lap top. Account name Nnaemeka Emmanuel.

2037668189 UBA Bank.

08039470164 •Peter, 26, a graduate, needs someone to sponsor his ICT training programme.

08130865806 •Ibinye, 27, from PortHarcurt, needs a good spirited individual that can sponsor his bill for correctional surgery in India.

08038069907 •Godfery, a writer and publisher, needs someone to sponsor his writing career, based on agreement.07086306762, 08142756753 Links •Eric Ike, wants to link up with

Are you being abused? norm, so they just stay there and bear it out. Unfortunately too, many abusers do not know they are abusers. Abuse or violence in relationship or marriage may destroy a person's self-worth, confidence and wellbeing, causing depression, loneliness and helplessness. So, how do you know you are in an abusive relationship? Let's check out

yourself, you do not have to devalue yourself or your effort if you know you have done your best. If it is a common pattern, then your partner needs to be told. Abusers, especially emotional and mental abusers often do not realise it themselves. *Do you believe that you deserve to be hurt or

Partners must celebrate and help to improve each other in every sphere of their lives. It is not in all situations that a man must be the successful or famous of the partners these few tips and if you can try to answer the questions truthfully, you should be able to tell: *Do you feel afraid of your partner most of the time? If you have to constantly think of how your partner will react to something? If you have to constantly walk on eggshells around them, minding what you say or do so as to avoid a confrontation, then you are in an abusive relationship. *Do you feel that you can't do anything right for your partner?

If you are put down by your partner no matter how much effort you have put into trying to please them or do right by them, then you really need to evaluate yourself or the relationship. In evaluating

Charles Egbuonu, who is from Ojoto, in Anambra state, they were together at Holy Ghost College in Owerri, he once lived at Katako area in Jos. 08033264316 •Matthias, wants to link up with Augustina, from Ora Edo state, who he met in 2002, while she was living at Ikeja military cantonment.08144994452, 07013275859 Friends Searching Female •Nkemamaka, 22, from Anambra state, needs decent male and female friends. 07033004885, 08184066376 Searching Male •David, 23, from Anambra state, needs a female friend, aged 1721.08066626103,08031145875

mistreated? Abused persons may sometimes feel responsible for the way their partners treat them, especially when abuse becomes a pattern.

The abused person feels guilty and blames herself for the vile treatment. *Do you feel emotionally numb or helpless? Many factors contribute to this. Where there is no support i.e. family, friends and community or law enforcement agents, then victims of abuse may feel there is nothing they can do but adapt and learn to live with their situation. Another common factor is lack of financial independence. *Does your partner see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person? Sex is a given

mentally matured and an employed guy who is genuine, for a relationship that can lead to marriage.08026138543 •Princess, 24, sexy, pretty and very bursty young girl needs a kind and generous older man for a hot sexual relationship.

08102362446 •Laura, 25, a student, needs a matured man,aged 38-45, who is caring and financially stable for a romantic relationship.

08069404887 •Ngozi, 54, a nurse, from Imo state and a dedicated catholic, needs a widower who is nice, caring, a good catholic, employed or in to business and also from Imo state, aged 55, for marriage.08179014151 •Vikian, 24, sexy and energetic, needs a hot and romantic guy for an erotic and hot affair.s 08107310599

between partners in relationships. However, this must be of mutual benefit and enjoyment for the two. If your partner insist on having sex, with or without your consent; is disrespectful about the style and type of sex and insists on having his way all the time, then you are in a sexually abusive relationship. *Does your partner blame you for their own abusive behaviour?

It is one of the strategies abusers use to shift blame and responsibility for their actions or behaviours on their partners. You might hear excuses such as these; "You see what you have made me done to you"? "Why do you always argue with me when I talk"? "If you don't do this, then I will not have to do that to you". Always remember that you are only responsible for your own actions and not that of your partner.

Look at it this way: If someone else does that to him, would he react in the same way? Abusers can behave better and have only picked you out to abuse simply because they can and you have also allowed them to continue doing it to you. *Does your partner ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments? Partners must celebrate and help to improve each other in every sphere of their lives. It is not in all situations that a man must be the successful or famous of the partners. Being a man does not also mean that he is more intelligent or has the best answers and solutions to all things. Most times, an abuser will do this out of selfishness,

aged 25-30.08061246485 •Samuel, 30, handsome, dark in complexion, God fearing and resides in Ebonyi state, needs a God fearing lady, aged 25-30.

08167295841, 08024528744 •Chudi, employed and resides in Enugu, needs a God fearing wife. 08056741425, 08035410176 •Jerry, 23, needs a chocolate in complexion and romantic lady, for a serious relationship, in Delta or Benin.08069200324 •Goodluck, 42, educated, comfortable, romantic and a good Christian, from Edo state, needs a plump, educated, busty and employed Christian lady.

08057913002 •Iyke, 36, needs a responsible Christian lady, aged 28-35, for marriage.08162121554, 08034552908

Sugar Cares Searching Male •Olawale, 31 needs a sugar Searching Male •Adio, 58, needs a busty and mummy that can take care of him, mature lady, who is neat and aged 40-50 08029054014. rich, aged 55-70, for a •Franklin 25, handsome, energetic and resides in Lagos, needs a frelationship.08086712724 •Emmy, needs a lovely, sugar mummy. 07061982889 romantic, honest, respectful, nickyfrank@ymail.com pretty and sexy graduate lady, •Jeff, 30, tall, chocolate in who is slim, for a relationship, complexion, married and sexually active needs a sugar mummy.08038033960 •Joe, 32, resides in Lagos, needs Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in a sexy and carrying sugar mummy, who resides in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does Lagos,aged35-45. 08022033228 so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

•Akpor, 48, from Ughelli Delta Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of state, needs a beautiful sugar 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 mummy, aged 50-55, for a enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For relationship.07063715571 •Mike, 20, dark in complexion, enquiries, text or call 08026651636 Lovers Searching Female •A lady, dark in complexion average height and from East needs a ma, aged 40 and above, who resides in Abuja or Lagos for a serious relationship.

08114579927 •Ugochi, 23, fair complexion, slim, and employed, needs a caring, loving, responsible,

DISCLAIMER!

envy, pride and bitterness at their own shortcoming or failure. Partners must learn to lift each other and not play God. *Does your partner treat you so badly that you are humiliated or embarrassed for your friends or family to see? Does he criticize you and put you down?

Does he humiliate or yell at you at every little thing? An Indian lady early this year was granted divorce by the court because her husband raped her in front of her children. Another, a few weeks back finally got the attention of the court to seek permission to drag her husband to court. She was not only seeking divorce but justice from the court against her husband, a family friend and her brothers-in-law for gang raping her. Because of her sharp tongue and disrespect towards him, her husband had invited these other men to their home to help teach his wife a lesson!

Does your partner have a bad and unpredictable temper?

Hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you? Threaten to take your children away or harm them?

Threaten to commit suicide or harm himself if you leave?

Destroy your belongings at any opportunity? Act excessively jealous and possessive? Control where you go or what you do?

Keep you from seeing your friends or family? Limit your access to money, the phone, or the car? Constantly check up on you?

Then, you are systematically being abused and you need to sit down and talk things through. However, do bear in mind that there is a thin line between being abusive and protective and you will need to figure this out rationally on your own. Do have a lovely Sunday!

resides in Ph, needs a sugar mummy, for a serious relationship. 08161854273 •Maxwell, 30, resides in Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 50-60, on Delta state, for a romantic relstionship.

08039361804 •Ayo, 28, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy. 08065960483 •Solomon, 25, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy.

08133070080 •Kelvin, from Imo but resides in Aba, needs a sugar mummy in Aba, Owerri and PH, who will assist him financially.

08188989613 •Prince, 33, needs a sugar mummy, who is rich and resides in Lagos, aged 35 and above.

08160263996 •Prudent, 26, chocolate in complexion needs a sugar mummy who will take care of him.08064613433 •Richy, 29, needs a sugar mummy that can take care of him.08033942484 •Kelvin, 28, needs a sugar mummy who can take care of him, for friendship, aged 30-60.

08166392962 •Mikel, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, aged 45-55, who is a divorcee or a widow.

08068553322, 08032928402 •Martin, 27, from Delta state, needs a rich and caring sugar mummy for a lasting relationship.

08130821078 P•rince, 28, an undergraduate needs a God fearing sugar mummy for serious relationship, aged 28-60.

08102589675

PAGE 22— SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

Organisers unveil contestants for Queen Nigeria 2014

By Josephine Agbonkhese

W

omen have over the years proved to be indispensable and veritable agents of world growth and development, and Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has not done otherwise.

Little wonder the massive outpour of eulogies that have accompanied her election as President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, last Thursday, at the 166th General Meeting of the body in Vienna, Austria.

This makes her the first woman to have occupied that seat in the international organisation whose mandate is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers.

Including, ensuring a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.

What clear, undeniable proof of excellence and competence for Nigerian women! Jinx breakers, you might also choose to call them.

Working career Right from her days at Charles Szoradi Architects where she began her working career as a young graduate, moving through jobs in construction and facilities management, Diezani’s résumé has only known progress.

In 1992, she joined Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Nigeria as the Head of the Project Unit of the Estate Development Division in Lagos. She later moved to the External Affairs Directorate as Head of the newly instituted Corporate Issues Identification and Management Department.

Beautiful and always gorgeous-looking despite her preference for simplicity when it comes to fashion, in 2002, the epitome of intelligence was awarded the prestigious British Foreign and Commonwealth Chevening Scholarship, hence she proceeded to the Judge Business Institute, Cambridge University UK, where she obtained an MBA in 2003.

Diezani’s many other firsts In 2006, in recognition of her track record of excellence, Diezani was appointed the first female director to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited, as External

By Josephine Agbonkhese

O

— Adetokunbo Tobun Agbesanwa, Lagos guber aspirant

Diezani

Diezani Alison-Madueke:

A woman of many firsts

Diezani was appointed the first female director to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited, as External Affairs Director, making her the first female to be so appointed

Affairs Director, making her the first female to be so appointed in 70 years of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s business practice in Nigeria.

Since 2007, she has held three significant federal cabinet positions in Nigeria: Honourable Minister of Transportation, 2007-2008; Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development 2008- 2010; and Nigeria’s first female Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources, a position she still holds against all odds since 2010, which could be taken as a hallmark of efficiency.

Diezani historically became, and still is, the first and only woman to lead a country’s delegation to the OPEC conference in Vienna, Austria, in 2010.

She was also the first woman to be awarded an Honourary Doctorate Degree in Management Sciences by Nigeria's premier defence college, the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, on 17 September, 2011.

Background Diezani was born on 6th December, 1960, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to the family of His Royal Majesty, late Frederick Abiye and Chief (Mrs) Beatrice Agama from Bayelsa State. She completed her early education in Nigeria and then proceeded to the United Kingdom and then the United States where she studied Architecture at Howard University.

She is married with children and grandchildren to Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (rtd).

rganisers of the Queen Nigeria pageant have finally unveiled contestants who will compete for the Queen Nigeria crown on Saturday December 6 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the spokesperson and Chaperone of the pageant, Tokunbo Ifaturoti, the project, as organized by Famford Enterprises Limited in collaboration with TV Enterprise (TVE) a subsidiary of NTA, is created to shift the boundaries which limit the true definition of a Nigerian beauty Queen.

This will be achieved by identifying and embracing Nigerian cultural and moral values which are symbolic of what a Nigerian beauty Queen needs to radiate.

Having carried out screenings across major states in the country, the organisers emerged with 17 contestants to represent 17 states at the 2014 edition of the Queen Nigeria pageant tagged “Beyond Beauty.”

Boot Camp for the selected contestants, according to the organisers, will entail talent competition, cooking competition in a traditional setting, traditional and contemporary dance sessions, empowerment workshops, community visits which will see the girls carry out hand on duties in the community such as environmental sanitation activities and many other activities.

The winner of contest will walk home with a brand new Renault Logan, 1.5 million naira cash, an ambassadorial role for the African continent, and a chance to represent Nigeria at international events amongst other fantastic prizes.

The CEO of Famford Enterprises Limited, Segun Famodimu, added that for the Queen Nigeria 2014 to emerge, contestants would be judged through SMS voting by the public. The final process is examines etiquette, composure and beauty.

Some of the partners of the projects are Renault Nigeria, Dana Airlines, Startimes, Nina Fabulous, Vas2nets Technologies, Wilson’s Drinks, Osuare Egbuonu, LH Resources Ltd, Pz Cussons, Mamador Cooking Oil, Orchid Hotels and Events Center.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 23

08112662589

When It’s your Dad who snatched your girlfriend!

E

DWIN sat relaxed in his London flat. He was on a business trip and he’d arranged for his girlfriend to move in for the five days he would be around. With his thickrimmed glasses and balding head, he wasn’t exactly God’s gift to women. But he has a fit body with sophisticated moves on the dance floor.

“I can dance any of these young things off the floor if I feel like it”, he often boasts. When Toks, the girlfriend arrived, she served the meal she’d cooked from home for both of them. It was this cozy atmosphere that greeted Taofeek, Edwin’s son when he strolled into the flat. His jaw nearly hit the floor at the spectacle that greeted him – his respectable dad and his girlfriend of nine months having dinner together!

“I didn’t know there was anything between them even though I suspected that dad fancied Toks”, Taofeek said. “I’d brought her to the flat a few times when he was around but on our last visit, dad tried to show off his dancing moves. It was as if his bum, which was still pert,

had a life of its own – wriggling provocatively in the tight blue jeans he’d been able to pour himself in … It was embarrassing to say the lest but Toks seemed to be impressed – especially when dad insisted we should join in. I declined, leaving both of them on the dance floor. Dad looked really comical trying to prove he was as good as Toks if not better.

“When next he called he would be arriving the UK soon, we made arrangements to meet at his flat the next day as I had a meeting in the office that could run for hours. The meeting was postponed till the next day at the last minute and I decided to spend the evening with dad. I had a key to the flat and decided to just chill out waiting for him in case he’d gone out. He scarcely allowed the grass to grow under his feet on his brief visits – a sort of break from my mum and siblings – and I often marveled at how he was more of a friend than dad whenever he visited. I’d met a few of his girlfriends over the years. Some slept over

and most of them out-did each other feeding him.

But Toks? Because, low and behold, there she was alone with my dad!

“Dad was mildly surprised when I showed up but he quickly got his wits back. Toks didn’t say a word – it was as if the nights we spent together never happened. I was determined to embarrass the two of them for as long as I could. I had some of the supper they

were having even though the food nearly stuck in my throat! Toks was obviously hoping to be seduced – or had she been seduced already?

Instead of her usual Tshirts and jeans, she flaunted herself in a fetching short skirt and low-cup top, her often pretty and fresh face now plastered in make-up. It was odd. Did she really need to go to such length to impress dad who was

minutes later and caught both of them with their arms wrapped round each other. I coughed and they sprang apart Toks started at the floor but dad glared at me, eyes blazing. “What’s going on dad?” I asked. `Tok’s upset’, he said, `I was just comforting her’. He barged past, cool as a cucumber – certainly not as if I’d just caught him with my girlfriend.

“At this stage, I knew I had to leave. Dad is a very generous man but dangerous to cross.

There was no way I would jeopardise my relationship with him over a girl who had no qualms sleeping with father and son. I was really sad that I had to experience such a betrayal. Though Toks wasn’t the love of my life, she was my current girlfriend when dad snatched her. To this day, we hadn’t discussed Toks and I only ran into her once.

In fairness to her, she never insulted my intelligence by trying to phone `to explain’ and I didn’t bother flogging a dead horse either”

then 54? Toks was a mere 23!

“After supper, dad shamelessly put on the seduction techniques he’d used with previous victims – like the sexy look he gave his preys, the haunting love songs he was playing – and I was really on edge. Then Toks went to the kitchen to get some ice and dad quickly followed. This must have bitten him real bad! I followed a few

08052201867(Text Only)

Forever in fighting form

O

VERWEIGHT may not be your problem, but, then, that’s not the only reason for exercising.

On account, life can rather be hectic, we all need to have a little bit more energy than we already possess. Practising relaxation techniques help us relieve stress brought on by everyday living. That way, we get quick results from exercise characterised by great energy and wonderful well-being.

Of course, it won't do to do all the right exercises and ignore to eat properly. Quality aside, we must be modest in the quantity of food we eat.

Eating great quantities of food means almost all of our energies go to digesting the food leaving us feeling lethargic. One of the good things about exercise is the fact that we tend to eat less. The less active we become, the more food we tend to put C M Y K

away. Now, this is why: With exercise or increased physical load, you call forth reserves of sugars from your liver and muscles for a dip in blood sugar levels.

When you don’t exercise, you tend only to experience a high in blood sugar with meals.

And, as soon as the energy from the food is stored by the help of the hormone insulin produced by the pancreases, yawning and malaise takes over - there’s a false alarm of hunger.

In such a case, all you need do is whip up a bit of sweat,’ a bit of a work out and presto, your fallen blood sugar levels stabilise, doing away with your false hunger and all.

It’s now an established fact that flexibility exercise which can be practised daily are best suited for relieving physical stress.

Let’s consider flexibility postures and a re-

The Twist laxation technique.

YOGA MUDRA Technique: Sit on your heels and interlace your fingers at your back.

Bend forward the trunk and rest the forehead on the floor and turn the arms forward and then downward.

Benefits: The Yoga Mudra limbers the whole trunk and the thighs get toned. The stiffness is got

rid of in the knee and ankle joints. Like other forward bending postures, it has a calming effect.

THE SPREAD EAGLE Technique: Sit down and spread out the legs as wide apart as possible. Bend down the trunk and with the left hand hold the left foot from the inside with the left elbow touching the floor. Bring

the right hand over the side of the head and hold the left foot from the outside. Keep your breathing normal. Retain the position for 10-15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The Spread Eagle stretches both hamstrings and inner thigh muscles. The flanks get a good workout leading to fat reduction about the waistline.

THE TWIST Technique: Sit with both legs extended in front of you. Bend the right knee placing the foot flat down with heel touching the left buttock.

Then, bend the left knee, placing the left foot on the outside of the right knee. Bring the right hand across the right thigh and clutch the right knee. Turn the head and trunk leftwards raising up the left hand with the elbow locked.

Breathe deeply, retain the pose for 10 seconds and

changing hands and legs, repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The Twist massages the abdominal organs improving digestion and elimination.

It expands and strengthens the chest. It also increases flexibility in the hip and knee joints.

THE DEAD POSE Lie flat on your back.

Keep the hands a bit away from the body. Let the feet ‘fall’ side ways.

Relax every strand of muscle in the body. Fix the attention on the breathing or some soothing music.

Lie completely still for 10-20 minutes before getting up. Practised properly, it gives a most calming effect-my favourite de-stresser technique.

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

PAGE 24 — SUNDAY Vanguard , NOVEMBER 30, 2014

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

Why today’s career women are more at risk of breast cancer

D

ORIS worked hard and played hard. As one of the executive directors of a bank, and obviously one of those people that thrived on the adrenaline, she did long hours at work and was constantly thinking about deadlines. The fact that most of the staff hated her guts didn’t bother her as long as they continued jumping when she barked. She always had a full house on her birthdays, but the one th she had after her 50 was a shocker. She was not only half her size, she looked so emaciated you could almost see the veins on her face. What happened to her, was the hushed question nobody got an answer to.

The fact she wasn’t knocking back the booze as she often did got most guests worried.

Three months after, words were out she had the fast-growing breast cancer. She died a few months later. Anyone told they have a serious illness will instinctively look for a reason. Often, there is none. But in the case of breast cancer, research is increasingly showing that one particular group is at more risk – professional women. The latest findings published last year in the journal Social Science and Medicine, are dramatic.

Researchers analysed data from about 4,000 woman over a 55-year period and found that women in professional jobs were nearly 70 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer than housewives or women in ‘lower-status occupations’.

So why are high achieving women such a high risk group? Might ‘having it all’ also unfortunately include breast cancer?

According to the report, putting off having babies to forge a career may be

one factor. Breast cancer is commonly driven by the hormone oestrogen, and it is known that having children, and breast-feeding before the age of 30, offer natural protection because they reduce the total number of menstrual cycles a woman has, lowering her oestrogen levels.

And women in demanding careers are the group most likely of all to put off having children or not having them at all. They also have smaller families.

“There is no doubt professional women are more likely to get breast cancer”, says Lester Barr, consultant breast surgeon at South Manchester University.

“There’s definitely a link and it’s probably a combination of factors.

First, professional women tend to have fewer children, they have them later in life and they may breast-feed for less time, all of which are risk factors for breast cancer because of its relationship with oestrogen cycle”.

Mr. Barr adds that alcohol – which has also been linked to breast cancer – is another factor and published figures showed professional middle-aged women were drinking more than

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"

Honey Pie! Thanks for being there when I needed a

teenagers for the first time, downing 9.1 units a week on the average.

“Women are drinking twice as much as they did and professional women tend to have a glass of wine every day to relax”, he says.

“Another drive may be more use of the contraceptive pill, and more use of HRT to avoid menopausal symptoms in a high pressure job.

Both the pill and HRT change oestrogen levels in women and so may encourage cancer to develop.

A latest study offered another explanation for professional women’s susceptibility to breastcancer; stress. The researchers said that lifestyle and hormonal factors could not fully explain the increased incidence of tumours amongst this age-group, and believe the pressure of entering a maledominated working place also had a role.

“Women who entered managerial occupations in the 1970s experienced prejudice and discrimination due to prevailing cultural attitudes that men made better leaders than women”, said Dr. Tetyana Pudrovska who led the study.

“Exercising job authority

was particularly stressful for women … We believe women are still facing the same kind of stresses, and therefore, the increased risk is likely to be there today. The longer the women held a job, the greater the risk of cancer, and that being in authority over others was a risk factor. And this is just the latest evidence to suggest a relationship between stress and cancer.

A few years ago, a study of 36,000 Swedish working women, aged 30 to 50 found those who felt stressed at work were 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who felt in control of things. So could too many deadlines contribute to a tumour? The theory that stress causes cancer is still controversial.

Analysis of 12 trials in six countries published in the British Medical Journal, found no link between work-related stress levels and cancer.

One problem is that stress is notoriously difficult to define. For this reason, Dr. Pudrovska’s paper has been criticised by some expe4rts. “What one person considers stressful might be enjoyable to another ”, says once of them. “The

shoulder to lean on, for patiently listening to my personal problems. Baby, I just want you to know how happy am I to have you in my life and I thank God for that. Thank you for the love and the joy you bring. You've changed my life, Baby Gal! CENT OBAMA +2348061379003

My ideal one There was a time I thought I could live on my own.But then I met the woman who has changed my opinion.

She is the most wonderful girl for me, she has changed my life completely. I am not the same anymore, everybody can see.

I am the happiest man in the world, because I had

researchers didn’t ask the women what their stress levels were.

“Whether highachieving women are putting themselves under s much pressure it’s making them ill may be open to debate. But it ofte4n takes something as serious as cancer to get us to reassess our priorities.

When you’ve always been in the fast lane, you have to learn how to get yourself back into the middle lane”.

How to have fun when all the kids have left home Do you feel lost and lonely now that your children have flown the nest? Are you strangely missing the piles of dirty washing and the blaring of music or are you too busy turning a grotty bedroom into a cozy study, where you can relax in the afternoon with refreshments and a magazine? Or are you thinking of letting part of the house for some easy cash?

New research has revealed that in order to cope with empty-nest syndrome, many parents are giving their homes a make over soon after their youngsters move out.

Almost 30 percent start renovating within two months of their children leaving, according to a survey carried out by Zurich Insurance, a third redecorate their child’s old room, while the same number go further and transform it into a study or holiday room.

Some even revamp the whole house.

So what makes people quick to reach for their paintbrushes once their kids go off to university or set up home with friends or a partner?

More than half of those who took part in the survey said they wanted to reflect the change in family life. Experts

agree that after years of children drawing on the walls and leaving dirty plates under beds, many parents are happy to have the chance to make their homes their own again. “Children may well bully their parents into letting them redecorate their own rooms and even other parts of the house”, says Philliop Hodon, a c o u n s e l i n g psychotherapist.

So parents lose part of their identities. They have to wait a long time to get their house back. Then they can make it smarter.

Renovating can help parents rediscover their identities.

Once a child’s bedroom is yours again, it’s natural to want to mark your territory. There’s an itch to get in there and sort it all out. It’s like moving into a new house. Even if it’s been beautifully decorated, you still want to change things to make it yours.

However, in some cases, there may be another reason why parents get the urge to decorate. You may be trying to fill time because you’re missing the children. But what if your son or daughter wants to move back in?

Will they be happy to sleep in the couch because their room is now for worship?

“Children are likely to feel disappointed when the house is not their childhood home any more”. Says Hodson: “They might feel a bit hurt and pushed out and think that you couldn’t wait to be rid of them.

Does that mean you should restrain yourself from covering the black walls in your son’s bedroom with brighter paint? Not really. As parents, you have to get on with your own lives, so you shouldn’t be sentimental. When your child moves out, explain that there will always be a room for them.- but it will be the guest room”.

the luck to find my dream woman. With her I want to spend the rest of my life, I am sure. My feelings for her are true, honest, deep and pure.

Innocent Oluku profprof2010@yahoo.com

Every where I go Every where I go I feel your loving presence. And nothing boost my Joy than thinking about you,for no human language can adequately convey the deep sentiment of my love for you. My dear Favour, just like a diamond, you are forever in my heart. I will forever love and cherish you with all my heart, body and soul.

Akachukwu Ferdinand.

08063819314

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 25

Mad cow paralyses man, 31, for 11 years • Needs a lifeline; sends SOS to C-River Gov. Imoke, public-spirited Nigerians

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

M

ad cow disease or

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE, is a transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative, and fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle.

Researchers believe the infectious agent that causes mad cow disease is an abnormal version of a protein normally found on cell surfaces, called prion. For reasons still unknown, this protein becomes altered and destroys nervous system tissue such as the brain and spinal cord. The disease causes a cow to act strangely and lose control of its ability to do normal things. During such madness, the cow attacks anything that comes its way including human beings.

Daniel Imo Emori, 31, was attacked by a mad cow at Fegge, near the River Niger Head Bridge in Anambra State, on October 10, 2003, where he had gone to work to raise money to further his education after his SSCE in his home state, Cross River. Daniel was working in a pharmaceutical company as a delivery van driver, after undergoing six months training. He was on duty that fateful day when he disembarked from his truck in Fegge to attend to a company’s client when a mad cow emerged from nowhere, knocked him to the ground and dragged him some meters before it let him go. That was the beginning of his travail. He has been bedridden now for the past 11 years having been diagnosed with cervical spine, a neck injury leading to the weakness of the limbs and parts of the body from the waist downwards paralysed.

Even his fingers are lifeless. Daniel believes God has plans for him to still be alive in his sorry state. “I even wonder why I am still alive because half of my body is totally cold, just like a dead body,” the victim told Sunday Vanguard.

“Perhaps God has a reason for keeping me alive all these years, and that is why I refuse to question Him, much as I am tempted to do so every single day of my 11 years in this situation.” He was 20 years when the incident happened eleven years ago but, today, Daniel is cocooned in a small room in Dutse Makatanta, a suburb of the FCT, Abuja, lying virtually motionless.

Anyone would think Daniel has AIDs at the sight of him. His skin is dry. Lying face-up in his confinement with only a piece of loincloth to cover his waist, the 31year-old from Adadama in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State can hardly couple a sentence together as he struggled to narrate his pathetic story with tearful eyes.

His story “It was after my SSCE in 2000 that I travelled to Onitsha, Anambra State in search of a job. I worked in a pharmaceutical company. The fateful, October 10, 2003, I was sent to deliver some goods to a customer at Fegge, close to River Niger Bridge Head, who had paid for a large quantity

of goods. On arrival, we spent three hours waiting, but when she did not show up, I spoke to the three truck attendants that instead of spending the whole day waiting for the woman, it was better for us to go and deliver some goods to another customer before coming back to her.

“While reversing the truck, another customer approached us to say he needed some of the drugs.

So, I stopped the vehicle and jumped down to attend to him. It was at that point that a cow emerged from nowhere and ran towards me. Before I could close the door of the vehicle, it lifted me with the horns and ran some distance carrying me. As people were shouting, the cow knocked me on the ground hard and that was the beginning of this problem.

I was rushed to a nearby clinic, but the doctor in charge referred us to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, the following Saturday.

“On arrival at the hospital, I was not attended to until the following Monday, when a consultant saw me. He told me that I had internal injuries and needed to undergo surgery. He requested for an emergency fee of N75, 000 before I could be treated. I could not afford the fee, so I was there for five months without being operated upon, from October 12, 2003 to March 13, 2004 when I requested that I should be discharged. I was given a bill of about N100, 000 for bed space and drugs, but the operation was not done due to the emergency fee which I could not afford.

“I could still not afford the bill until one of the matrons from my state stood surety for me with an undertaking that the hospital should be deducting the money from her salary. That was how I left the hospital by first week of April for my village, Adadama in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

“During this agonizing period in that hospital, my employer, RICOL Pharmaceutical Company, never acted like I was in their company

He has been bed-ridden now for the past 11 years having been diagnosed with cervical spine, a neck injury leading to the weakness of the limbs and parts of the body from the waist downwards paralysed even though a casual worker who got into the trouble in line of his duty. “They sent somebody to visit me in the hospital. But after the bill was presented to him, he never showed up again.

“During my stay in the village, I had an encounter with a journalist who posted my story on Facebook narrating my plight. It was through his report that a non governmental organization, NGO, Damaris Mailer Foundation came to visit me in my village.

“The Foundation is based in Adamawa State under the supervision of Rev. Charles Munso Asiedu of LifeLink Outreach Ministry. They took me from there and brought me to Primus Hospital, Karu where I was admitted and operated upon after paying an initial emergency fee of N150, 000. They also paid N200, 000 for cervical spine surgery and other money for urethra repair and surgery amounting to N1.6million.

“The surgery was done on February 10, 2013 and I was discharged on June 3 this year. It is the Foundation which rented this apartment where I live now at N150, 000 per annum. They also employed a caregiver for me, Emmanuel Michael, and placed him on a monthly allowance of N12,000, while, on my part, they pay me N22,000 every month as upkeep and maintenance

allowance”.

Daniel winced in agony as he continued his story.

“I am the fifth child from a family of eight. I lost my father who could no longer bear the heart shattering condition of his son some years after the incident. “My father retired from the civil service to take care of me. But he died when he could no longer stand it.

He was a mechanic and driver.

Now I am left with an aged mother and my brothers who are not in a position to assist me.”

Confirming the victim’s story, the spokesperson for the NGO, Rev. Charles Asiedu, a Senior Pastor with World Life Link Outreach Ministry, said Daniel’s case was pathetic and the foundation was touched by his plight and decided to offer a helping hand. “The NGO, Damaris Mailer Foundation, based in Adamawa State, got information about Daniel on Facebook and decided to intervene,” he told Sunday Vanguard Asiedu said on phone, “The NGO is based in Adamawa State and has been reaching out to orphans, widows and the less privileged in the past seven years”.

He, however, said the Foundation can no longer foot Daniel’s bill.

Asiedu had paid the fees for Daniel’s treatment to Optimal Health Centre, Wuse, Abuja which

the hospital claimed was heavily discounted.

The treatment, according to the hospital, was to prevent further complications that may arise due to immobility; to strengthen weakened limbs, restore normal physiologic anatomic properties of the muscle and joints, break contractures; retrain sitting, standing walking and generally restore functional abilities.

The hospital, in a letter titled, ‘To whom it may concern’ dated October 12, 2014, signed by the General Manger, Mr Dan Udoji, said Daniel needs over N5million for it to continue the young man’s treatment for one year.

The letter, with reference No OHCIL/GM/DI-001/141017, reads, “As part of our corporate social responsibility, Optimal Health Centre Int’l has offered him physical rehabilitation at a heavily discounted rate. However, Mr Emori Daniel will need to raise the same of N5,184,000.00 (Five Million, One Hundred and EightyFour thousand Naira) to be able to continue this treatment for the next one year”.

Daniel said he wrote to his state governor, Liyel Imoke, on which Cross River State Ministry of Health acted through the directive of the Commissioner of Health but with a clause. The letter, with reference No CRS/MH/MD/144/ vol. 111/ 65, dated 26th March 2009 signed by one Dr Chris E. Ita, insists on a medical report from a teaching or General Hospital.

It reads, “With reference to your letter, dated February 8 , 2009, to His Excellency, I have the directive from the Commissioner for Health that you should forward to this office a medical report from a Teaching Hospital or a General Hospital for further action” Since then, according to Daniel, there has not been any action from the state government save the governor’s wife, Mrs Obioma Liyel Imoke, who, through her Personal Assistant, sends him N10,000 and sometimes recharges his phone.

Daniel’s medical report issued by the medical superintendent and Head, Medical Services of Primus Hospital, Dr. E.O Emod,i reads: “Neck injury leading to weakness of all four limbs. He also presented with pressure sores and ulcer on his penis. He underwent cervical spine surgery and urethra repair on October 2, 2013. He was discharged on June 3, 2014 in stable condition. He has been on regular follow-up and he is advised physiotherapy and medication”.

After undergoing successful surgeries, the doctors said he could walk again if he continues with physiotherapy and medications.

Here is a chance for kindhearted Nigerians to make a difference in this young man’s life.

The doctors assured that though Daniel has been in this sorry state for 11years, he chances of walking again are very bright if only he gets adequate and continued medical attention which requires money.

Daniel Imo Emori’ s account details are as follows: Fidelity Bank account number 6160829205. He can be reached on his mobile phone numbers 08098929156 & 08086387108.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

By Francis Igattah, Enugu

A

top government official of the cabinet rank in Enugu State and an official of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (names withheld) are at the centre of a brewing scandal.

An aspirant for election into the House of Representatives (UdiEzeagu Federal Constituency), Mr Chinedu Ani, accused them of collecting N15 million from him under the pretext of helping him to secure the PDP ticket for the poll without delivering.

The officials, when contacted at the weekend on the allegation, however, declined comments.

Ani, also the Executive Director, African Thinkers Community of Inquiry College of Education, ATCICE, and hails from Ukana, Udi LGA, Enugu State, narrated his story to Sunday Vanguard. Crest fallen, he said: “I have come to narrate my ordeal to show what is going on in the state.

My ambition to contest for the House of Representatives for Udi/ Ezeagu Federal Constituency dates back to 2007, when I bought the forms to vie for the office. I was approached by an official of the state PDP who told me that they could help me get the ticket to become the party’s flag bearer. She said I should provide them with N3.5 million which I provided. I took the money to a top government official’s house at Independent Layout, Enugu as directed by the party official. After about 2-3 weeks,one Ndubuisi called me and said I should bring another N7million for them to anoint me as the party’s candidate. I said no, that if they wanted me to give them the money, they should first of all get me the ticket being

ENUGU 2015 ELECTION NOMINATION SCANDAL

How top govt, party officials swindled me – Aspirant Ani *Accused persons keep mum that they pretended to be close to the governor who listens to them and takes advice from them too. That was how everything ended in 2007. There was no ticket and I heard from the grapevine that the same group allegedly collected a lot of money from the incumbent to return him to the House which I do not have any problem with.

During this period PDP was selling nomination and expression of interest forms, the top government official again approached me after playing golf at Enugu Sports Club, asking me if I was still interested in my political ambition. I said yes, but that I needed to be clear of what was happening. Shortly after, I got a call from the party official inviting me to her house. I went to her house and she asked me if I was still interested in the House of Representatives especially since the governor has said it has been zoned to Udi and that it has to be Udi-north were I hail from which gives me a lot of chances. She requested for N1 million consultation fee which I gave her. She

•Chinedu said she wanted to work for me to emerge the party’s flag bearer. I told her that we needed to be clear over this Udi/Ezeagu issue. So we started the matter again. The government official also called me to demand consultation fee. I gave him N1 million. He now said he was going to back me up for the election. So I bought the nomination and expression of interest forms for the House of Representatives. I informed both top government and party officials that I had bought the form. Last week, the council Chairman of Udi invited me for an exercise meant to prune the number of aspirants from Udi because we were about 10

persons contesting from Udi. I emerged with one Mr. Dennis Amadi from the exercise. That same day, the party official called me and said I should come to the top government official’s house.

I went. The party official told me that for them to support my political career, they wanted money. I said okay, but I needed to be sure that what happened the last time will not repeat itself. She assured me that this time, the slot has been narrowed down to my area and they will prevail on PDP officials to ensure that I emerged the party’s flag bearer. The next morning she called and said I should come to her house. I went. She said I should bring N20 million. I said I

TETFUND denies private varsities grant *Ade-Ojo says research is key to devt Dayo Johnson Akure

T

HE proprietor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Chief Michael AdeOjo, says the country’s tertiary education system needs to connect its academic breakthrough in research and innovation with local relevance to form the catalyst for development in all the areas of human needs.

Ade-Ojo said this will enable the country to record growth in the quest for technology advancement and economic growth.

He said this at the 8th

International Conference of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) held at the university.

The theme of the conference was, “Enhancing University-GovernmentIndustry Research and Innovations Partnerships for Local Relevance and Global Competitiveness”.

The proprietor said that rather than limiting involvement of academics on research to “career progression as it has been in many cases in our tertiary institutions in this country”, there should be connectivity in what is being done and

technological advancement of the country.

Ade-Ojo requested government give financial support through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to private universities “so that the institutions can continue to be partners with government in the provision of access to education in our country.”

The Vice- Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Valentine Aletor, said the institution was committed to the promotion of excellence and uniqueness in both pedagogy and systematic impartation of knowledge, strategic building of good

will give them N10 million and balance later. She called the top government official who insisted on N20 million before they will work for my emergence. The party official later told me to bring N15 million pay out. That even when I am elected into the House, I should not remember anybody. On Thursday last week, I gave the PDP official N10 million.

They promised that they will buy all the stakeholders needed for me to emerge as the party’s flag bearer. They said it might result to voting between me and Dennis Amadi who got the same three votes I got when the Council Chairman called the 10 aspirants to prune the number to two from Udi. Based on my contract with them, I left everything in their hands. Behold, on that same day, when we got to Government House, I and Amadi could not agree; so it went into a vote. The top government official told people to vote for Amadi during the exercise which made me lose at the end. I do not have any problem with Amadi’s emergence because it is politics. Now, I am demanding my N10 million back from the party official. She was the person I gave the money to. The top party official also should refund the N3.5 million I gave him in 2007 and the N1million he called consultation fee. Why I took the issue to the media is to expose this scam going on in Enugu State. They do this thing because they feel they have government backing and see themselves as untouchables” .

Officials keep mute Sunday Vanguard contacted the officials named by Ani for their reaction. They promised to call back but never did. They also neither responded to text messages at the time of filling this report.

IYC congratulates Ekiyo, Omolubi

F

character and production of all-round graduates.

However, the TETFUND’s Executive Secretary, Professor Sulaiman Bogoro, in response to Ade-Ojo’s request for funding of private universities by TETFUND, said, “By our law, we cannot fund private tertiary institutions but the institutions can partner public ones to benefit from the fund. “ What government do all over the world is to provide enabling environment for private universities to strive and not to fund them.”

ORMER transition chairman of Patani lo cal government, Dr. Chris Ekiyo has been congratulated on his recent appointment as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western zone, in a statement in Warri, by its Information Officer, Comrade Napoleon Kenerekedi, also commended Governor Uduaghan for appointing Comrade Omolubi G. Newiwumi as Commissioner for Youth Development. “ We pray that God will give Ekiyo the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the ministry, as we are very confident that he will transform the ministry to the benefit of the people of Delta State.

“We urge the governor to empower more youths in the state”.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 27

BY RICHARD AKINNOLA

I

“

n the long term, we can hope that religion will change the nature of man

and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this respect. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars”- Richard Nixon Richard Nixon was being futuristic when he made this statement several years ago.

He apparently never knew that there would come a time in the history of one country called Nigeria, where political actors, buoyed by some of their friends in cassock, would be fanning the embers of religious war.

I am not, by any stretch of imagination, discounting the several human and material losses of Christians in several sectarian crises in the northern part of the country over the years, accentuated by the Boko Haram insurgency which, unfortunately, have been used to misinform people as being programmed against President Jonathan, being a Christian.

Boko Haram did not start under Jonathan. As a matter of fact, the late President Musa Yar’Adua had a running battle with this bunch of demented terrorists. The insurgency actually gained prominence with the killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, by security forces in 2009 under the government of Yar’Adua. In 2009, following various assaults in Yobe, Bauchi and Borno states, security forces killed over 1,000 of the insurgents. It would, therefore, be false to claim that Boko Haram insurgency is as a result of Nigeria having a Christian president. As l have always argued, Boko Haram’s variant of Islam is antithetical to the mainstream Islamic teachings, just like the Uganda’s terrorist group called the Lords Resistance Army, purporting to be fighting for my Jehovah God, cannot be representative of Christians. There is this CD that is being well-circulated among Christians in various churches. It was a political message by a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, where he launched into an Islamophobic tirade against Muslims and the All Progressives Congress (APC) which, he declared as the Islamic Brotherhood of Nigeria.

The General Overseer of Redeemed Church, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has denounced this divisive message and directed his church members to discountenance it.

Unfortunately, the message has gone viral. It was a soap-box rhetoric, using the pulpit as a campaign platform for Jonathan, urging Christians to vote for Christian candidates.

Using the pulpit to campaign for either PDP or APC or any other party for that matter is an abuse of the pulpit. We need to be careful and circumspect, particularly religious leaders in their association with politicians. Religious politics is dangerous, like Roger Ebert once said: “Lebanon was at one

•Chief John Oyegun

•Pastor Bosun Emmanuel

•Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu

Pastor Bosun Emmanuel:

The political red herring time known as a nation that rose above sectarian hatred; Beirut was known as the Paris of the Middle East. All that was blown apart by senseless religious wars, financed and exploited in part by those who sought power and wealth”.

Over the years in the SouthWest, religious politics had never been an issue. When Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola was the governor of Osun State, Erelu Olusola Obada, a fellow Christian was his deputy, in a state that has a preponderance of Muslims. In Edo State, both Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, are both Christians in a state where there is a substantial percentage of Muslims, particularly in Edo North. But because religion has never been an issue in electoral contests in Edo, it was difficult for anyone to make a political capital of a phantom marginalisation of a religious group in the state.

Due to its cosmopolitan nature and its level of political awareness, Lagosians have never really bothered about the religious faith of their governors, until the politics of 2015 crept in. Yes, in fairness to the proponents of this move, there has been the preponderance of elected Muslim governors in Lagos State. However, my take is that l would rather prefer good governance, bolstered by a didactic leadership, than pander to religious sentiments.

And l say this with due respect to the proponents of Christian governor. Come to think of it, if we look at it from the time of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, till now, with the exception of the lack lustre government of ‘Baba go slow’, Chief Michael Otedola (a Christian) of blessed memory, the state has

Using the pulpit to campaign for either PDP or APC or any other party for that matter is an abuse of the pulpit

witnessed remarkable developments and giant strides. And this has nothing to do with the religious persuasion of Tinubu and Fashola but a product of good leadership. The current magnificent edifice of TREM headquarters at Anthony, Lagos would not have been today if not for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, who overruled his Ministry of Environment which had wanted to stop the construction based on the discovery that the property stood in the path of a major drainage.

Hijab in schools Interestingly, it’s another Muslim governor, Raji Fashola, that banned the use of hijab in Lagos public schools, a move that irked the Muslim faithful who dragged the governor to court on the issue but the court ruled in favour of the state government. And this is despite the fact that both the governor and the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, are both Muslims. Of what use is you having a Christian governor while it is possible to have a Muslim-dominated state House of Assembly, which, if it wants to push for Islamicinclined laws, can easily do it and the Christian governor would have no choice but to implement? Since the time of Tinubu as governor till date,

Lagos State’s annual thanksgiving service, organised by the governor every January, has always been anchored by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. Yet, Tinubu and Fashola are Muslims. Pastor Emmanuel, uncharitably, branded APC as ‘Islamic Brotherhood of Nigeria’. I am not a member of APC. But by using the pulpit to preach hateful politics, he removed whatever credibility that may be attached to his said message. I would have taken the same position if he had used the pulpit to promote APC and demonise PDP. And his premise for labelling APC an Islamic party was so puerile, disingenuous and downright illogical. He went on to authoritatively state that the Chairman and all other officers of APC are Muslims. Let’s pause a bit and look at the following names who are part of the APC Executive. When did John Oyegun, the APC Chairman, Chief Segun Oni, Deputy National Chairman(South), Chief Pius Akinyelure (Vice Chairman, South West, and others like Orji Ugofa, Comrade Timi Frank, Tempe Adigwe, George Moghalu, Senator Osita Izunazo, Paul Chukwuma, among others, become Muslims overnight? If we assume for the purpose of argument that APC is a

Muslim party, are we then to assume that PDP is a Christian party led by an Alhaji Muazu, a Muslim. Isn’t that preposterous? I ask because Pastor Emmanuel said that in 2015, Lagos Christians should vote for a Christian candidate as governor but with a caveat that they should not vote for a Christian candidate from an Islamic party!

Leadership deficit We are playing a very dangerous religious game here. That was how the Hutus and Tutsis pogrom in Rwanda started in 1994, leading to the extermination of over 800,000 Rwandans, to the extent that even the priests became victims- massacred by fellow Christians inside the church.

According to Pastor Emmanuel, there is an Islamisation agenda in Nigeria.

Let us assume that it is true for the purpose of argument.

Then, what stops Christians from aggressive evangelism, which is their own counterpoise? Afterall, every religion is trying to market its products.

How many Christian leaders, particularly the rich ones, support mission endeavours?

How many of them key into Pastor Ladi Thompson’s wonderful Macedonian initiative, which is meant to cater for our brethren up North who are victims of religious extremism? Rather, many are comfortable erecting multimillion naira cathedrals as if they are in competition with one another. When Sanusi Lamido was the CBN Governor and the controversy of Islamic banking, with zero loan interest was raging, what stops the super- rich Christian leaders also setting up their own microfinance banks with zero loan interest? And you are complaining of Islamisation.

PAGE 28 , SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014,

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA

S

even years ago, precisely on November 28, 2007, Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, CON, a man of strong moral standard, passed on. Until his demise, Awoniyi was the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

A man whose career blossomed in the Northern Nigeria Region administrative service between 1962 and 1966, he served as Secretary, Provincial Secretary and Under Secretary amongst other appointments.

Between 1968 and 1975, Awoniyi was Permanent Secretary in several ministries. Born on April 30, 1932, he was a student of Holy Trinity School, Lokoja from 1945 to 1946 and Provincial Middle School, Okene from 1947 to 1949. He proceeded to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, now Ahmadu Bello University, from 1951 to 1956; University College, now University of Ibadan, from 1956 to 1959 and the Imperial Defence College, now Royal College of Defence Studies from 1970 to 1971.

Awoniyi passed on to glory on November 28, 2007, at the age of 75 in a London hospital, ten days after he had an accident on Kaduna – Abuja expressway. His funeral, held at Mopa on December 15, 2007, drew men and women from all walks of life. Every one present at the funeral and those who were at the fifth remembrance of the late icon, equally spoke about his life and times as worthy of emulation. Seven years after the political icon passed on, his great works, his life of simplicity, his thoughts, ideals on excellence, counsel on good governance and putting the people first, irrespective of social standing as the cornerstone of representation, are the political realities which come to mind and call for sober reflection.

Sadly, there is not effort to celebrate the ideals and principles this great Nigerian stood for.

And the spirit of the moment makes it inappropriate for any gettogether in view of the challenges of insecurity, poverty, heightened political atmosphere and others too

Seven years after, Nigeria’s politics without Sunday Awoniyi

•Chief Awoniyi ..nothing is wrong with democracy

numerous to mention that characterize the nation’s democracy. Remembering Awoniyi at this time when politicians, especially those in the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP (a party he joined others to form) and other political parties, would be electing candidates at all levels for the 2015 general elections, makes his seventh year remembrance a food for thought and for politicians and their parties to play by the rule.

The late elder statesman, in a lecture he delivered in 2000 at the Arewa House during the 5th annual lecture on Ahmadu Bello’s style of leadership, quoted Shehu Usman Dan Fodio, “One of the swiftest ways of destroying a kingdom is to give preference to a particular tribe over another, or show favour to one group

Nigerians can only make the seventh year anniversary of the death of this public administrator par excellence worthwhile only if we elect leaders based on standards of behavior not below the ones he set of people over another, or draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near. “The death of a thousand good men of high rank is less serious for the survival of the state than one man of low rank being elevated above the station he is fitted for … States decline through giving preference to men of low rank”.He equally quoted from the Scriptures on Jethro and Moses, his son-

in-law, saying, “ … choose able men from all the people, such as fear God, men who are trustworthy and who hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens”.

The Scriptures quoted by Awoniyi call for deep reflection. The essence is that men with talent, honest, good and committed to the cause of good governance, irrespective of tribe,

religion, financial muscle, as it is said in the Nigerian context, should be elected.

It is rather unfortunate in Nigeria that rather than have a political space that allows all who are competent to aspire, the reverse is the case, a struggle that until it is won, wrong men will continue to dominate leadership positions by reasons of imposition, money politics and godfatherism.

I am also of the opinion that in view of our diversity, the weak should be given the opportunity through rotation to also aspire to leadership position.

Awoniyi, a politician of Okun descent from Mopa, Kogi State, was, during the Third Republic, a member of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He was elected to the Senate to represent Kogi West District. He believed that the nation would be the giant it ought to be with the right leadership.

According to the late elder statesman, nothing is wrong with democracy. What the country needs more than ever before, he opined, are leaders who are magnanimous and Godfearing. If good governance is about the people, as Awoniyi believed, then there will be no fear of disintegration, political violence, religious and ethnic disharmony that currently pervades the political sphere as the country prepares for election next year.

Nigerians can only make the seventh year anniversary of the death of this public administrator par excellence worthwhile only if we elect leaders based on standards of behavior not below the ones he set.

Habits of self denial by our leaders that will inspire discipline, especially by followers. * OBAHOPO works in Vanguard (boluwajiobahopo@gmail.com)

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 29

C M Y K

PAGE 30 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE — 31

C M Y K

PAGE 32 — PAGE 35SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014,

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, — PAGE 33

PAGE 34 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 35

I

n this concluding part of the riveting Bianca Ojukwu interview (I was told Sunday Vanguard, last week, sold out – because of the second part and that it was difficult for people to get copies) and, as the events marking the fourth anniversary of the passing of Dim Emeka Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi, get underway, this week, with lectures and other festivities, leading to a grand finale on December 10, we pray for the continuous repose of his life, there is no better way to celebrate his memory than a story of love, passion and companionship as told here by his widow, Bianca.

What manner of a lover was your late husband, Dim Emeka Ojukwu ?

He was extremely romantic; to him, companionship was extremely important. He loved to go to the theatre, to the opera; he loved classical music, and he always insisted on us going together. A lot of our evenings we spent on our patio, having tea and brandy and playing scrabble. Essentially, he was rooted in companionship.

He always wanted to do things in a romantically dramatic manner. For instance, he never replicated any gift for the years we spent together; he always gave me a different gift each time we celebrated our anniversary. He would choose the gift himself and, if it meant traveling to procure it, he would do so; he could never bear to see me look miserable. If I ever C M Y K

The Bianca Story (3)

‘Ojukwu was irredeemably romantic’ was upset about anything, he would tell me,’come let me drive you around’. I would protest by saying that he had been driven by drivers all his life and that he shouldn’t do it.

He would tell me he wanted to do it, make all the mistakes and have me tell him he was a bad driver. He just wanted us to be together, make me laugh, because he didn’t want me to wear a sad face.

He would sometimes arrange a vacation for us abroad, and he would pick ice cream on the street- just mundane things- he was an incredibly romantic person. He would come into my bedroom, for instance, if we were planning to go to an occasion and I would tell him to

Essentially, he was rooted in companionship. He always wanted to do things in a romantically dramatic manner leave, that he was distracting me. And he would tell me, ‘Well, I can help you tie your headscarf, at least, I used to help my mother tie her’s’. And,

of course, you knew he couldn’t, and he would come and try and fail, and we would laugh about it- I mean he was an extraordinarily romantic man.

His greatest charm really was his ability to make you laugh, to bring hope in an otherwise abysmal situation. He told so many jokes, sang so many ridiculous boyhood songs, but he was so charitable, he was so plain in a way that was childlike. But when a situation that demanded action came up, he would assume a different persona, the transformation was amazing- he was able to dominate his environment. One other thing I found very intriguing about him was that he was totally and absolutely fearless. He would be in a panic-inducing situation that would otherwise have rattled others, but he would remain calm and steely. He was always very rational. His presence was very reassuring. I could travel with dozens of policemen in a car, and I would still feel insecure, without him by my side. We on two occasions encountered armed robbers, and when they recognized he was the one, they saluted him, and used their vehicles to escort him to the house- he was that loved and adored. He was an amazing man.

Can any man ever fill the role he played in your life?

No, he gave me the best 23 years of my life and I have always said that any woman blessed to be with him for, let’s say two years, should consider herself lucky. And so, for me to have been lucky to have had him for those years, I think I am truly blessed and I am not looking for any replacement.

What’s your advice to younger women who may be in a situation you found yourself?

Situations are different. You may marry your contemporary and it lasts for six months or less. So, everything depends on how you handle your situation.

You were there when my affair with my late husband started, and I knew I had found love, and was not bothered what the society thought about us, and I am glad I did. Given the same scenario, I will marry the same man hundred percent.

Essentially, once you get over the initial trauma, you develop a thick skin, your skin becomes like a turtle back, and I went through that induction process in my early twenties; everything else was a breeze. God gave me the best man any woman could ever hope for, and I will continue to celebrate and treasure those amazing 23 years that we were together.

Next week: Explosive details on why top actress Ini Edo’s marriage collapsed.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

C

hris Osa Ogienwonyi, a petroleum engineer, is a former Minister of State for Works. Ogienwonyi dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

In this interview, he speaks on his experience as minister under President Goodluck Jonathan, the mess in the oil industry and why he left the PDP. He posits that the PDPled Federal Government is the greatest problem militating against the oil industry,declaring that he decided to join the APC due to the positive changes the Oshiomhole administration has brought to Edo State.

Excerpts: Background I schooled in Benin-City at Igbesanwan Primary School. I did my secondary school at Western Boys High School, went to University of Benin.

Incidentally, we were the first set at UNIBEN in 1970 which I left in 1974. I did my National Service after which I joined the Federal Civil Service in 1975, worked for 34 years, and retired from the NNPC in 2009. While at the NNPC, I headed three SBUs, namely, NAPIMS, NPDC in Benin-City and NGC, and later became Group Executive Director, Upstream. I joined the Federal Executive Council in 2010 and was there for one year. After I left the NNPC, I floated a company. Today, I am in the oil and gas sector consulting, as well as into farming.

Growing up I came from a very big polygamous home. With 33 children, my father had about six wives. Every mother had to direct the affairs of her children. Growing up as a child, I owe most of my attributes to my late mother who put in me the core values which I still cherish today. So, growing up was beautiful; lovely parents, brothers and sisters.

I wanted to join the military I did applied physics in the university. I wanted to do a Ph.D in military science. My intention was actually to join the military. I recall when we were leaving UNIBEN in 1974, in those days, the Federal Public Commission would visit the universities.

When they came to UNIBEN, we were 14 graduating. I faced the Commission’s panel and my first choice was army, second choice was air force, third choice was navy. The then Chairman of the Commission, Sir Manuwa of blessed memory, asked me why military? The answer I gave him I won’t disclose, but he changed my destiny. He gave me another form and asked me to fill petroleum engineer-intraining. I did, though I contested that in-training. I thought with my B.Sc in applied physics, I was on top

of the world. As a father, he convinced me to accept that with petroleum engineer-intraining, I was going back to Ibadan and, while at Ibadan, I will be receiving extra money.

He used that to convince me.

He said, ‘If you go to Ibadan, you will be earning your salary with allowances, you will be almost on level ten? So I accepted. As a matter of fact, I bless his soul wherever he is today; he changed the course of my life from going to the military to petroleum engineering and I found myself in petroleum. And looking back today, I express my appreciation to him for what he did; today I am one of the world class petroleum engineers this nation has ever produced.

•Osa Ogienwonyi

Lessons life taught him Coming from my back ground of polygamous home, being able to navigate

I was underutilised as Minister — Osa Ogienwonyi •‘How Sir Manuwa altered the course of my life’ my way through life, life has taught me that you need to be very humble because, through humility, there is so much you gain from people. People talk about vanity, you have so many things you don’t need, which is greed. So I have learnt contentment; whatever you may have, don’t look for those things you don’t need. I don’t look for those things I don’t need. I am satisfied with what God has done for me in life.

‘I never knew my dad was rich’ One will expect that with such large number of children, there will be times your father will say no to your requests.

But I think I had a different father. I recall that after my Youth Service, I went back home after resuming for work in the public service in Lagos.

My father, a stark illiterate, convinced me on the need to marry early because I lost my mother when I was in the university. He said I needed to marry early so that my wife could be the mother to my brothers and sisters. And I did.

My surprise was the role my father played thereafter. I got a

We have seen some countries building refineries within two years but our case is quite different

house in Lagos. In those days they ask you to pay two years rent in advance. I just joined the service, I had no money.

When I went back to Benin to tell him about the situation, he just pulled out his drawer, and asked me how much I needed.

I told him I had to buy bed, fan and a few other things. My father gave me the money cash. I was shocked. I never knew my father had money because when we were growing up, we saw his vehicles on which were inscribed, “God is above”,but that was the first time he showed me he had money. My father was really nice to

everybody especially those of us who were serious with our studies.

Problem with the oil industry On the oil industry where I spent 34 years, the call for diversification is valid. But before we talk about diversification, we must look at the management and the international oil and gas companies (IOCs), who are here on joint venture with Nigeria. The production sharing contract with companies equally working with government in partnership, I think we need effective monitoring. We need

to be more steadfast in doing that so that the cost of our operation will be within what we expect. The cost of contracting, the contract in circle, we need to address it because if you don’t approve these contracts in time, there will be problem. On diversifying, it is imperative.

We have seen some countries building refineries within two years but our case is quite different. Our refining capacity is there, but the issue of vandalism is still a problem. So it is a matter of trying to address the issue holistically and let those who are very experienced drive the industry.

I think we can do better to manage the oil industry. We have inexperienced people manning the oil industry today.

Govt interference in the NNPC It is not the best thing. I always pride the NNPC staff as competent; we should give them the enabling environment to operate, there is too much interference from the top. Talking about more refineries, if that will happen, then we must deregulate. Let market forces prevail, today the market is controlled. When investors see that you can guarantee their investment, they will come to invest.

People feel that if we deregulate,the price of petroleum products will be Continues on page 37

SUNDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 37

‘An encounter with federal service boss changed my life’ Continued from page 36 higher, but I tell you the problem is that we are subsidizing products to neighbouring countries. Our borders are very porous. To do it right, we should go for deregulation, let market forces dictate the price and then we block the leakages in our operations, in our importation; a lot of things go wrong at that level (importation).

Experience as Minister I was Minister of State for Works for one year. And my recommendation when I was leaving was to give the Minister of State as well as the senior Minister their respective job descriptions. In a situation where the Minister of State operates at the whims and caprices of the senior Minister, in most cases, the Minister of State is really doing nothing or doing very little. My experience in the one year I spent, I can confidently tell you that I was underutilized compared to where I was coming from, the NNPC, where I was head of an establishment. I did not shy away from this discussion when I was a Minister. I remember I told Mr President that subsequent Ministers of State, it will be nice they have job descriptions.

We can talk about roads from now till tomorrow and there will be no improvement. Before I went in as a Minister, I had a different perception from reality. One common problem facing many of these projects we talk about like the East West Road, the contract award process is not faulty. But when you award a contract of say, N30 billion, you pay 25 percent mobilization.

Subsequently, every year, you put N2billion into that contract.

If care is not taken, that contract will last for ten years which is not ideal. So the major issue facing most of those contracts is funding and I think we must start thinking outside the box to see how we can fund our key projects. You talk about roads, we have issues in the health sector, our universities,various services are contending with the limited resources at the center. But the East West Road is a little bit different. I understand that it was alleged that there was no design One thing we did in the Ministry of Works during the period we were there was to advise that the design for a particular road should be unique and not generic. What we applied when I was there with Daggash was to say you must design as per that road because two roads are never the same. The terrains differ from place to place because, within one mile, you can see a variation in the strength of the

•Osa Ogienwonyi ... the problem with Nigeria roads complex ground so you cannot use the design here in Benin where we have firm soil for a place like Bayelsa that is water logged.

How did you feel when you were appointed Minister of State for Works?

I was shocked because looking at the CVs of all the Ministers, there was none close to mine when you talk about oil and gas operations. But I later learnt that you don’t have to be a petroleum engineer to work in the NNPC in Nigeria. In other places, Ministers are supposed to add value to governance. If you are Secretary for Energy in the US, you must have been a senior Vice President in Exxon Mobil, big oil companies, but it tells you how we do things here.

Here in Nigeria I am told that Ministers are not supposed to know the business, it is the civil servants who will advise them.

But I see it differently. The leader must be good, but here in Nigeria, you see an architect in the Ministry of Health and that is why we are not making any improvement in many areas.

Edo politics When I was Minister of State for Works, I was thinking of running for the governorship of Edo State. But when I noticed the leadership style of those driving the PDP in the state, I pulled back to re-strategize. In my profession, we always believe that one plus one is two, but I realized that what I was seeing here was quite different. I came from a system where you use your best eleven, where competence is key. But I realized that in the PDP in Edo, their preference is loyalty and I pulled out. I did a lot for the PDP during the 2011 general elections because I remember the President asking us, Ministers, to go back home and work. He asked Ministers from PDP controlled states to go and work under their governors but states where you had non-PDP governors, the

In a situation where the Minister of State operates at the whims and caprices of the senior Minister, in most cases, the Minister of State is really doing nothing or doing very little Ministers from there were supposed to take the leadership. As the Minister from Edo then, I was supposed to take charge but the state was quite peculiar because you have very strong leaders who are very domineering, they are not prepared to allow you as Minister to play your role. I was not prepared to be confrontational with these people. I just felt the best thing was to allow them to do what they know best which is politics and I went back to my business. But from all indications, their politics have led them nowhere; they are gnashing their teeth for all they have done to Edo people. Our people have embraced change.

PDP leaders are not used to change, they are clueless.

Dumping PDP for APC My decision to move from the PDP to APC was based on some factors, notably the leadership style of Governor Oshiomhole. I always believe that once the head is good, there is the probability that the body will be good. But once the head is not straight, there is the probability that the body will not perform. I am pleased with the type of leadership that I see in the APC people. I see very refined people. I see Oshiomhole doing what he speaks, no double standard, hardworking, focused, smart.

And at the center, look at the National Chairman of the APC, a former super permanent secretary. I see in

APC people I can work with. I see people who are sincerely working for change due to the decadence we have observed in Nigeria and caused by the PDP government. I give you one example. Before I left the NNPC, I was driving this gas to power project. I promised that we will deliver 6,000 megawatts by December 2009.

That was in January 2009. At that time I was pushing the IOCs, pushing the NNPC,pushing Pan Ocean to deliver, we were at about 3,400 megawatts. Where are we today after almost six years? I hear we have about 3,200megawatts. But if you look at the APC governors, you will see they are committed to change. Look at what Fashola is doing in Lagos. Look at Edo and see what Oshiomhole is doing. Roads they said before were going nowhere, today they are going some where.

Today we have red roof schools.

The first thing you give to a people is education because once you are educated they can diversify. If you see what APC governors are doing, you will say these people are focused, they know what they are driving at. And if you give them the opportunity to lead Nigeria, you will see growth.

And that is the reason I say I want to be a progressive.

Guber ambition People will always speculate.

Edo guber race is 2016. From 2015 we still have 365 days.

That you go to bed and wake

up is by the grace of God. Let us wait and see. If God says I will, He will give me the enablement, He will give me good health and the people of Edo will decide who will be their governor. And if it is the will of God that I will be, one day it will surely come to pass.

I believe in destiny, I believe in what God has ordained. I am declaring for APC now to go and work for the party. So if the people believe that I have the capacity, if they believe they can trust me, then I will go for it. Governance is not for children, you must have the capacity, you must have the experience, you must have done something similar. It is not where you go and learn, it is for people who are focused.

But when we get to the bridge, we will cross it; it is still too early to talk about 2016because that will be distractive to the laudable government headed

by Governor Oshiomhole, who has done Edo people proud.

PDP’s boast of winning Edo Our people are not stupid.

People like to do comparative analysis. PDP was in Edo for ten years and APC is here now for six years. The boy in University of Benin or Ekpoma will compare when PDP was here and what they are seeing today. We are no more fools, nobody can come here and talk about using the federal might to rig, the people of Edo will decide. You are not coming to force anything down our throat.

Time has passed when one man will decide who becomes what in Edo. We are all giving support to Oshiomhole because of what he is doing; our people can see the difference. Look at our roads with six lanes. Look at the Benin water storm project; flood no longer sacks our people. If not for the bad situation Oshiomhole met this state, we would have been comparing Edo to Lagos. Edo people will vote APC come 2015 and 2016; there is no doubt about that.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

POWER TUSSLE IN BENUE

Gov. Suswan moves to sack Senator Gemade! *’You can’t remove me’

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

A

s political activities continue to gather momentum across the country, Benue State has not been left out in the schemings ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Of major interest to many political watchers is the drama playing out in Benue North East senatorial district where Governor Gabriel Suswam is locked in a battle of supremacy with the PDP senator representing the area at the National Assembly, Chief Barnabas Gemade.

The election in that constituency remains the major attraction because its outcome would invariably decide the political future of the two major gladiators in the race for the coveted seat.

Suswam is determined and confident that he would dethrone Gemade while the latter remains dogged in his bid to retain his seat.

They have both deployed their political machineries to outdo each other, though the governor seems to have taken the lead in the somewhat heated battle.

In the build up to the unfolding drama, the two contenders had taken steps to consolidate their quest for the position.

Suswam had made the deft move for the position by visiting the major political stakeholders and paramount rulers of the old Kwande political block, comprising Kwande and Ushongo local government areas, where the senatorial seat has been zoned to by the ruling PDP. On that occasion, he led three paramount rulers of the “Sankera political block” to lobby the two paramount rulers and stakeholders of the area.

Addressing the gathering on the purpose of their visit, the Ter Katsina-Ala, Chief Fezanga Wombo, who spoke on behalf of the governor-led

delegation, said they were in the palace of the Ter Kwande to intimate them with the intention of Suswan to contest the 2015 senatorial election.

After several hours of deliberations, the Council of Chiefs and political stakeholders, led by the Ter Kwande and Ushongo, conceded the position to Sankera.

Speaking thereafter, the Ter Kwande, Chief Hilary Ikima, stated that “since none of our subjects had

Suswan

Gemade

indicated interest to contest the seat and given that Governor Suswam is the first to ask for it we will loan the seat to Sankera”.

Also speaking, the Ter Ushongo, Chief Ambrose Iortyer, said his people would rally round the governor to enable him realize his dream, saying

Suswam of hijacking the process while the governor also accused the senator of acquiring and distributing fake delegates forms to his supporters in order to subvert the process to his own advantage.

It’s been a ding-dong affair in the zone, but speaking recently at Agbeede

Suswam is determined and confident that he would dethrone Gemade while the latter remains dogged in his bid to retain his seat their decision was in consonance with the ancient practices of the Tiv people.

But Gemade vowed to weather the storm, insisting that he is rightfully entitled to two terms of eight years in the Senate which he said would terminate in 2019.

At the last ward congresses of the PDP in the area, the senator accused

Gaav, in Konshisha local government area, at the inauguration of vehicles donated to the Suswam campaign organisation by Mr. Julius Attorogh, the immediate past senator representing the zone, Senator Joseph Akaagerger advised Gemade to jettison his second term ambition.

Akaagerger explained that

political positions are zoned to communities and areas and not to individuals.

Reacting to the tussle, PDP stalwart and Secretary General of the Suswam senatorial campaign organization, Mr. Terfa Abuur, said the people of the district, in agreement with all major political stakeholders, supported and voted Gemade in 2011 based on a single term agreement.

“When in 2007, the Senate position was zoned to Jerchira, where Chief Gemade comes from, Senator Joseph Akaagerger won it and did the first term while Senator Gemade took over in 2011 to complete their turn in 2015,”Abuur said.

“I vividly recall that in 2010, while literally begging round the seven local governments that make up the North-East senatorial district, and especially, in Kwande

Local Government, Senator Gemade promised to do only a term at the National Assembly in order to complete their turn though the people expressed fears.

“Unfortunately, the fear of the people of Kwande whose turn it is to produce the next senatorial candidate, which they loaned to Governor Suswam, has been confirmed today with Senator Gemade’s ambition which is heating up the polity.

“We will advise that the senator should respect the letters of that agreement and also the will, wishes and aspiration of the people in the interest of fair play, but failing, our people would certainly reject his candidacy in the coming PDP primaries.”

In his reaction, Gemade denied entering into a single term agreement with the constituents, advising anyone with any proof to that effect to make it public.

He accused Suswam of using his position as governor to skew the process leading to the PDP primaries and vowed to resist it.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 39

Insurgency in North-east could have been worse —Hon. Gujbawu

Kaka Kyari Gujbawu

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

H

onourable Kaka Kyari Gujbawu, representing Maiduguri in the House of Representatives, is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Borno State. In this interview, he speaks on the request for the extension of emergency rule in three North-east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe by President Goodluck Jonathan, declaring that the issue should not be politicised.

Excerpts: What makes you feel you can govern Borno State?

It is going to be an onerous task to become a governor. If elected, one, you need to rebuild the battered socioeconomic life of the people of this state. You need to work on the psyche of the traumatised people of the state.

Anybody who sits somewhere and tells you ‘this is what I want to do to fix Borno State in the next two or three years’ will be dreaming.

Borno today is acutely sick. You need to diagnose it. As a doctor, when patients come, you need to thoroughly diagnose them so as to avail yourself of the sickness before you come up with an effective treatment. Borno is sick. All the symptoms of a body that is terribly sick are showing everywhere.

So, first of all, if I become the governor of the state by Allah’s grace, my initial task is to diagnose it, look at the depth and spread of the destruction brought about by the insurgency, study the remote and immediate causes of the crises. And, finally bring on the table the experience and sagacity of our elders, the vigour and vibrancy of our youths and the intellectual acumen of our

scholars. Everybody’s hand got to be on deck. Some of the critical and nagging challenges of Borno even prior to the state we are in now is the appalling data whereby we have 7 out of 10 children of school age not attending schools.

Where the Tsangaya education system which accommodates the larger chunk of school-age students is neglected and falls outside the purview of government legislation and developmental plans. We got to address this fundamental challenge squarely.

No community , and indeed, no nation will have any meaningful development where the institutions that mould the greatest percentage of her youth who are its foundation and future, are woefully and entirely neglected.

Agriculture, which is the mainstay of the economy is still practiced almost the same way it was practiced a thousand years ago whereby farmers employ crude method of employing hoe to till their farmland, and more than 90% of these farmers who constitute more than 70% of the total population are still engaged in subsistence farming method..

So, we need to revolutionize farming profession to evolve from subsistence to a rewarding business enterprise by availing farmers means of affordable mechanization and modern farming technologies as well as aggressive and holistic value chain development. We Leverage on the opportunities that the Almighty has blessed us with such as promoting massive production of wheat in the arable and most conducive land in the chad basin

belt so as to partake in the large wheat consumption market of Nigeria where more than N630 billion is expended yearly in the import of wheat into the country.

Again, we will also reinvigorate and develop the hitherto enviable position of Borno as a thriving transSaharan trade route where at present, the State is positioned as a trade route interconnecting other markets in the country to various markets in mainland Africa via the three border posts of Cameroon, Niger , and Chad.

Borno has been for almost a thousand years not only a centre of learning, but also served as an international inland market port and route.

President Jonathan has sought for the extension of the state of emergency in your area. As a stakeholder, do you support that, considering the fact that the insurgency still persists?

As a legislator, whatever opinion I should be offering should be based on the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is no lacuna in our constitution as far as such measures are concerned. Section 305 of the constitution has made clear provisions under which circumstances the president can proclaim a state of emergency.

Section 305, sub-section (d) says ‘the president can proclaim a state of emergency if there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the federation or any part thereof requiring extra-ordinary measures to avert such danger.’ This is about the third time the president is seeking the constitutional six months state of emergency extension.

Yes, the State of emergency has arrested the escalation of the insurgency campaign in a way. That is to say, hypothetically, the state of the insecurity in the affected states could have been worst had it not been for employing the additional tool of ‘state of emergency’. Or, exploring in a rhetorical perspective, we may ask ourselves “ what could have been the level of the insecurity if the State of emergency were not applied? But has it finally solved it? No. Again, does it impede the counter-insurgency campaign? Certainly NO. So, to me, if the security agencies feel that they require this tool, then, to deny them will be preposterous.

Whereas, some of the actions by instituted authorities that are truly counter-productive to the counterinsurgency campaign is the attempt by some state governments and political parties to have the effrontery of politicising the entire insurgency

campaign. There are records to back that. This is seriously impeding a focused and articulated programme of the security agencies to achieve an effective counter-insurgency campaign.

For instance, the abhorrent attempt at persuading the civilian JTF or vigilante groups to involve in political activities is not only negating the counterinsurgency campaign, but will end up complicating the entire security situation. As responsible leaders and politicians, we should collectively desist from such immoral acts so that the patriotic citizens should focus on being part and parcel of the solution, and not become part of the problem.

You said some state governments were trying to politicise the issue. But there are also allegations that some vested interests in Abuja are doing the same thing. What’s your take on that?

Let them bring the facts. I have the facts. Let us present them before Nigerians. It is unfortunate that the insurgents do not have a party, maybe it is a BHP, Boko Haram Party. To them, whether you’re PDP or the All Progressives Congress (APC), you’re the same. I’m calling those in the APC and whoever is in the PDP to be on the same page when it comes to this. We should not politicise it. This crises started from a little point. It is now taking over an entire region of a country. It is a truism that everybody wants to see an end to this.

What implications will the emergency extension have for the 2015 elections in the affected states?

We’re talking about peace, lives, orderliness. I believe peace is a sine qua non to elections.

Despite the emergency rule, the insurgents continue to capture several towns and villages in the three states.

Why have we not invited Super Powers to come and flush them out?

It does require Super Powers for the insurgents to be flushed out of Maiduguri and Mubi. I do not think the Super Powers will bring the final solution to this.

What do you think is the solution then?

I’ve always advocated, it should be a community-based approach. It is now becoming glaringly true and practically so that for us to restore peace and order in that part of the country, we have to involve the community people.

We’ve tried this in my own constituency of Maiduguri. These youths came together across party lines to restore peace. But now, as I mentioned earlier, it is sad that there are subtle, persistent and ominous attempt to politicise them.

Obviously, for us to have solution, the communities have to be involved.

Are the civilian JTF men being carried along by the security agencies?

Yes. I believe they are actively collaborating with them.

So much money has been expended on security. Are we really seeing the output on ground?

I’m not in the committee on army or security. Since, my oversight functions and invariably my I indepth knowledge are limited to the committees that I am part of, I can hardly proffer answer to this question.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Unveiling Nigeria’s Top 100 Companies

Some of the top 100 ranked companies in Nigeria

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE names that made the list of Nigeria’s top 100 companies command such power and wealth such that the initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan has come to define the country ’s business operations.

Dangote Group, First Bank, Chevron and Elizade are among the top 100 companies.

MTN, Globacom, Chi Group, Nigerian Breweries, Nigeria Flour Mills, UAC, APN Terminal, Eko Supreme, Mamuda Industries, Dolphin Foods, Wemco, Bolawaole Enterprises and Indorama are also recognised.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, described the Top 100 Businesses Initiative as a bold effort to celebrate major investors and companies that are contributing to the development of the economy.

In selecting the top businesses, Aganga said the country adopted similar criteria as Fortune 500 in the US, hence it is objective and verifiable. “We want to make it absolutely clear that it has integrity. Coincidentally, it is happening in the year of our centenary. But we will in 120 years, in 150 years, in 200 years go back to the Centenary City, we will see the emblem of these companies as a Top 100 companies in the year Nigeria had its centenary,” he stated.

The Minister went on: “We are proud of these achievements because it is investors that create jobs for our people, wealth, facilitate economic growth and generate

income for the government.

“We intend to use this Top 100 Businesses Presidential Award Dinner to say big thank you to those companies for their firm commitment and belief in our economy and to charge them to do more by bringing more investments to Nigeria.

“It is also aimed at creating a platform for public-private sector interactions on Nigerian economic policies.

“The Top 100 list is already showing diversity in our economy which is good news.

They cut across sectors including oil and gas, telecommunications, manufacturing, financial services, construction, fast moving consumables, food manufacturers, logistics, among others.

“This process has, once again, demonstrated that there are many reputable companies in Nigeria. It is a tough job finalising this list.

Nigeria is gifted with winners, great investors, great companies and, of course, the opportunities in Nigeria are huge.

“That is why we are organising the Top 100 event in this country for the first time. We are identifying the top 100 companies in Nigeria and recognising these companies for believing strongly and investing in this economy. Those companies have built considerable skills in Nigerians and continued to show strong commitments.

“In Nigeria of today ’s business world, the companies that make up the top first 100 and subsequent ones, wield enormous power and influence government policy on a regular basis.

“Behind Nigeria’s economic

We intend to use this Top 100 Businesses Presidential Award Dinner to say big thank you to those companies for their firm commitment and belief in our economy and to charge them to do more success, are real companies that do business everyday.

Those companies invest, employ our people and they keep our economy growing.

This administration is aware that it is private companies that are driving our economy.

Government is here to provide enabling environment. it is

the private sector that will help Nigeria achieve its economic goals.”

Like the America’s Fortune 500, the Minister said the Top 100 Businesses Assessment Committee gleaned information from public companies’ annual reports, Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, as well as reports from private companies that publish revenue figures, to decide the winners.

The committee was headed by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee.

Other members were DirectorGeneral, Industrial Training Fund, Mrs. Juliet Onaeko; Managing Director, Bank of Industries, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; Executive Secretary, Sugar Council, Dr. Lateef Busari; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Kabir Mashi; and Managing Director, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr. Gbenga Kuye.

Also in the committee were the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Salatu Umar; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo; CEO, Jake Riley Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue; a Director from MITI, Bambo Kunle-Salami, and representatives of the Minister.

Nigeria’s economic devt takes centre stage in UK

N

IGERIAN-BORN international lawyer and scholar, Dr. Felix O. Okpe, has successfully defended his PhD thesis in international investment law and international arbitration at the School of Law, University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom with Nigeria’s economic development as its focus.

In a statement, the research on Okpe’s PhD thesis titled, “Foreign Direct Investment and Investment Treaty Arbitration with reference to Nigeria”, was carried out from the perspective of a developing country using Nigeria as case study where mechanism of investor-state arbitration can award costs and damages that are, in most cases, greater than the Gross Domestic Product of some host states.

Okpe’s research challenged the jurisprudence of arbitral tribunals constituted under the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on the relegation of the economic development element of the definition of ‘investment’ in view of the omission to define ‘investment’ in the ICSID Convention.

Against this background, the

Dr. Felix O. Okpe research investigated Nigeria’s international investment regime that comprises the NIPC Act and its network of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), revealing an amorphous definition of ‘investment’ in the context of the ICSID Convention exists under Nigeria’s international investment regime.

Okpe articulated, successfully, that this defect that could be associated with the Nigerian international investment regime, creates a legal cloud over the realization of contribution to economic development as Nigeria’s legitimate expectation in the conduct of foreign direct investment.

Okpe’s research revealed that, because of Nigeria’s open offer of ICSID arbitration evident in the NIPC Act, foreign investors in

investor-State arbitration could challenge the economic development gains recorded by Nigeria as a result of the implementation of the local content legislation.

According to Okpe, “the exclusive consideration principle of the local content legislation contradicts Nigeria’s international obligations towards foreign investors. These international obligations in the context of investment law and investor-State arbitration are inherent in the NIPC Act and most Nigeria BITs in force.”

Okpe recommended that an economic development exception is required for Nigeria to consolidate on the progress of the local content legislation particularly in the oil and gas industry. The learned international lawyer and scholar also called for a review of the definition of ‘investment’ in the NIPC Act and Nigeria’s BITs network. He argued that an effective definition of ‘investment’ must show that Nigeria has a legitimate expectation that FDI should contribute to economic development in the context of investor-State arbitration.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 41

Financial Products

REVIEW

with Dave Baro-Thomas

davebaro_thomas@yahoo.com 08023405055

More indigenes benefit from the Edo Govt/Bank of Industry micro credit scheme

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

E

DO State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr.

Macdonald Obasuke, says more beneficiaries have emerged from the Edo State Government Bank of Industry Micro Credit Scheme.

Aside the 102 who have benefited earlier from the scheme, 19 persons recently benefited from the over N343million so far disbursed for the beneficiaries, making the total number of beneficiaries 121 persons.

It would be recalled that the Governor Adams Oshiomhole led government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the BOI, where the Scheme was funded with the sum of N500,000,000 which was contributed by both parties.

The Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, B a r r. M a c d o n a l d Obasuke, who disclosed this during a chat with some of the beneficiaries, explained that the scheme is meant for corporate bodies such as registered Cooperative Societies, enterprises and limited liability companies that are into manufacturing

and processing.

According to him, “the interest rate is very minimal because our Comrade Governor decided to waive the state government own portion of interest while the BOI charges only 5 per cent on its own portion of the fund.

C

hundred and twenty people have benefited from the funds disbursed so far, and we are happy that those who have benefitted are complying. We are focusing on people with skills so that they will be encouraged”.

EGCDF renders stewardship at AGM

Some members of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, during its Annual General Meeting, AGM, at Warri.

T

HE Egbema G b a r a m a t u C o m m u n i t i e s Development Foundation, EGCDF, comprising of some Ijaw communities in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State, has held its Annual General Meeting with a promise to focus on projects that will impact positively on the people of Egbema and Gbaramatu

‘Chevron committed to quality education in host communities’ HAIRMAN and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Clay Neff has assured that Chevron will continue to promote quality education in all its host communities and areas of operations.

Neff, gave the assurance at the 2014 Awokoya Memorial Chemistry competition and Award ceremony, held at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State The Chevron boss, who was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Trust Enigba, also called for joint efforts by governments, parents and stakeholders to uplift the standard of education in the society.

Neff noted that the annual Awokoya Chemistry competition was being supported by Chevron to promote the study and teaching of Chemistry subject in Schools.

Also, the chairman of Chemical Society of Nigeria, Delta State chapter, Mr. Alexander Okoroji, in his welcome speech, commended

Infact from our own records, the Edo state Micro Credit scheme as operated with the BOI has the least interest rate across the country because of the interest waiver give to the beneficiaries by the state government.

“As we speak, over one

Chevron for funding the competition and promised to manage the funds judiciously.

He lamented that the performance at the competition shows that standard of education has fallen below acceptable level and there is need for drastic and collective efforts by all stakeholders to urgently correct the pitiable situation.

kingdoms. Speaking during the ceremony held in Effurun, in Uvwie Local Government Area, the Executive Chairman, Chief Michael Johnny, stated that the Foundation embarked on 91 infrastructural projects from 2007 till date, saying the focus of his administration will now be on empowerment projects.

Johnny said the projects executed cut across health, education, transportation, hospitality, micro credit scheme and housing, adding that 74 of the projects had been completed and commissioned.

He explained that of the 18 inherited projects at various stages of completion, and, in line with the EGCDF’s policy of zero tolerance for abandoned projects, 13 have been completed while five were revoked and to be re-awarded. He said, “The Foundation held meetings with all GMoU communities in Egbema

La Casera at Lagos International Trade Fair

T

HE La Casera Company recently reinvigorates the brand presence in an exciting manner at the just concluded 2014 Lagos International Trade Fair.

The company made the trade fair a memorable one for its ever growing consumers by delighting them with gift items, sampling opportunities and compelling side attractions at the Trade Fair held at Tafawa Belawa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos.

Speaking at the trade fair,

the General Manager of The La Casera Company Marketing wing, Mr. Peter Candlish disclosed that, the company’s participation at this year ’s trade fair was aimed at thrilling, exciting and more importantly getting connected with the company ’s ever fast growing consumers.

“Whenever anyone hears La Casera Apple, they say: ‘I love this drink’. Lagos Trade fair was therefore a great opportunity for the company to say thank you to our loyal consumers for their continuous

and Gbaramatu kingdoms to address the rising menace of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism around Chevron Nigeria Limited facilities.

Our administration was able to renovate and furnish to taste the EGCDF secretariat; acquired a land space for future expansion of the secretariat; purchased two Toyota Prado Jeeps for our two monarchs;procured two 200hp Passport 19 speed boats to ease movement on the waterways. We also embarked on noninfrastructural projects such as scholarship scheme for secon dary, first degree, master ’s degree and doctorate degree; educational incentives for NYSC and private teachers to boost educational standard of c o m m u n i t y schools;micro-credit scheme to alleviate the suffering of rural dwellers and employment for indigenes of the GMoU communities”. On his part, EGCDF General Secretary, Mr. Jude Ukori, said the AGM was organized with the core values of the Foundation as well as international best practices to afford them the opportunity to render account of their stewardship. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Community Affairs, Vincent Omorie, said he supported the GMoU process because EGCDF has continued to make giant strides in implementing projects in the communities.

The Zenith eaZymoney enith Bank is reputed Z to be one of the Nigerian banks with a knack for engaging and deploying first-class technology in its operation and service delivery. This perception has gained currency giving the strategic alignment of the bank over time but has this truly translated to a basket of foolproof financial products that have enriched a n d deepened customers’ experiences, as the current political hegemony m a k e s steady but s u r e progress in her quest for a cashless economy?

A careful X-ray of eaZymoney reveals a product that comes very handy and is relevant to easing financial transactions and indeed fast-tracking the processes.

An upgrade from its previous product, Zmobile, which was also a deviation from its predecessors the Mobile Link, eaZymoney is a secure, fast and flexible financial payment system/product that offers subscribers the platform to carry out various banking and payment transactions on their mobile phones thus transforming ones phone into an e-wallet and the phone number becoming the account number. eaZymoney is regarded as a more superior product that holds enhanced services and efficiency for the Nigerian public such that one need not have an account with Zenith Bank to be able to access and use the product. All you simply need is a mobile phone while registration is absolutely free.

This product touted by the bank as one of the most secured model of data transmission encryption on the e-Commerce platform enables subscribers to carry out a broad range of financial transactions such as: •Store funds •Pay for goods and services •Pay bills •Transfer money to any mobile phone or bank account in Nigeria •Receive money from other mobile money users From the comforts of one’s home and no matter the location, with the

eaZymoney, financial transactions can be done with just a finger on the buttons of the mobile phones thus eliminating long queues in the banking hall, saving man-hours and most importantly, getting customers’ transactions done efficiently and in the most secured manner. It is also worth mentioning that the usage of eaZymoney is not limited to subscribers in the country alone but could be deployed anywhere in the world provided the customer can roam with his or her phone.

This brings us to the critical element of the eaZymoney package; the subscriber ’s phone. To be able to deploy the package, the subscriber must have the application installed in his/her phone.

For Visafone and Etisalat subscribers, the application is already pre-installed on their SIM card, but if otherwise, the network providers could easily be contacted. However, for subscribers with phones that have access to the internet, one can either download the application on his/her phone by simply login into the eaZymoney website After successful installation, the eaZymoney application will be located on the phone menu or stored in the ‘downloads’ folder. One can also get assistance installing the app from any eaZymoney agent or Zenith Bank branch. With this product, Zenith Bank puts financial possibilities in the hands of Nigerians and the funds in ones eaZymoney account are safe and secure as long as the subscriber PIN is protected. However, where the subscriber phone is stolen or misplaced, a quick call to the eaZymoney Contact Centre is very important so that the account can be blocked.

Zenith Bank remains one of Nigeria’s frontline financial institution and a stickler for state-of-the- art technology hence the bank offers a wide variety of firstclass technology-driven financial products that Nigerians will find very useful as the nation pushes the frontier in her drive towards a true cashless society.

FEEDBACK Please are you sure the Skye Global account is effective, transparent and COT free as published in Sunday Vanguard (page 8). Please, Head of Marketing Management, give more details to this number (08073999931). From- TEIWEI, BSc. MSc. NIM, CIB, Academic Staff.

Page 42 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

VIEWPOINT

BY TONY ODIADI

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The best man for the job is a woman

T

HOSE who know Princess Stella Oduah speak of her as a consummate workaholic, one who sets her eyes on a project, pushes so hard and always gets the job done. The Goodluck Jonathan administration has made ‘Transformation’ its signature tune, so as the administration talks about attaining goals in Vision 20: 2020 and infrastructure development, as has been the case in the last four years of the current administration, no one best exemplifies the transformation both as a political and developmental creed than this woman who took the aviation sector from the doldrums and the backwaters it was relegated, to the heights of national and international recognition.

It is no surprise therefore that as soon as this lady of enterprise left the office of Minister of Aviation few months back, her people of Anambra North pressed her to come forward and be their senator. The reception organized for this Amazon by the

Stella Oduah's senatorial bid entire Ogbaru people of Anambra North was quite instructive and remarkable as it demonstrated the love and acceptance of her people for her.

Much of that showed that Oduah is a woman with a lot of grassroots support. Same reception by the larger Anambra and Igbo communities as well as several professional groups have gone on in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu.

There has been no better way to acknowledge the accomplishments in so short a time of this woman of substance.

To become the senator quite frankly therefore is a natural course of things. The idea being that she can, through a proactive and functional representation, replicate the same visionary, dynamic and courageous leadership she showed as minister which saw to the whole scale reconstruction, expansion and remodeling of 22 airports across Nigeria in a seamless comprehensive manner. The entire Aviation sector (FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NIMET, AIB, etc) came to full operational standards with organizational retooling, equipment, facility and manpower support and infusion Who better then to bring vision

and vibrancy to a constituency covering the Onitsha megacity and environ that is, without doubt, the financial, commercial and industrial nerve centre of the entire old Eastern Nigeria with reaches across the rest of the country into west and central Africa? Onitsha as a business hub is truly a national a national resource as such. The city suffers severe infrastructural challenges that continues to keep that vast territory from realizing or attaining its full commercial and business potentials in the Nigerian economic scheme of things.

With the situation in the constituency, only a person with a vast array of network within the federal and state system and indeed internationally can bring the push and pull to bear and deliver the much needed development and positioning of the city as the focal point for economic growth. This is where Oduah towers above very other contestant for the coveted Senate seat. From a solid private sector business background, she is not new to the temper and temperament of the business community.

Her experience in government

at the federal level gives her a good handle and network to interface with the executive arm, to network with key officials at that level that can deliver on her already well articulated development initiatives for the constituency, state as a whole and the region at large. Only recently, in a setting quite fitting she laid the foundation stone of the School of Aviation and Marine Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Oko located in Akili Ozizor Ogbaru LGA brought through her direct effort.

This Senate seat, true was the turf of the famous politician and Senate President, the memorable Senator Chuba Okadigbo who brought verve and panache in the representation of Anambra North. Such lofty standards have long gone with the sad demise of the that very much accomplished Senator. The gap and the vacuum has remained waiting to be filled by a more capable hand. In the Nigerian manner of things, whereas the Okadigbos- Chuba/ Margery-Joy Emordi, Emma Anosike and Alphonsus Igbeke have all taken turns on the seat for Oyi, Anyamelum, Onitsha South and North respectively, only Ogbaru is yet to be offered

Lagos PDP: The Tokunbo Kamson factor VIEWPOINT

By Onyema Dike VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The third force in gubernatorial race OLITICS is a funny game and the electorate can be unpredictable which is why they say it’s not really over until the last ballot is counted.

The Lagos gubernatorial election is looking like it will throw up some surprises. A few months ago, one would have surmised that it was firmly in the grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu seemed to have it all under control as everyone was

P

VIEWPOINT

BY INWALOMHE DONALD

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Giant strides at Ambrose Alli University

M

ention the name Professor Cordelia Agbebaku and people‘s minds go to one of the best Vice Chancellors of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. A recipient of over 118 honours and awards because of her purpose – driven administration, she also has 120 publications and membership of 20 learned societies to her credit .Her tenure has brought to an end a period of strife among members of the university community.

Her agenda to stabilize the

aware that he had an anointed candidate, Akinwumi Ambode.

There was opposition as some trusted lieutenants and APC stalwarts were making their intentions known and ambitions apparent by picking the guber forms and displaying posters.

This piece is however not about the APC. It is more about the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its plan to wrest Lagos from the APC something which seemed like a tall order some two months ago considering the APC’s stranglehold on Lagos as well as Fashola’s oft cited unassailable score card as governor.

But with all things politics, the political permutations have changed and the field has nar-

rowed; the PDP appears to be gaining ground and it is increasingly looking like a threehorse race between Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, Mr JK Agbaje and Ambassador Tokunbo Kamson.

Kamson, the third force, is regarded by many as the least controversial of the lot and the candidate most likely to provide a unifying platform for PDP to realise its ambition of pushing the APC out of the Lagos State House.

The aspirant, like others, has grassroots appeal having run twice before. A PDP stalwart, he trained as an engineer and was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica with concurrent accreditation to Haiti, Belize and Dominican Republic. He is also a techno-

The Ekpoma agenda system was all-encompassing; it left no stone unturned to reconcile all groups in the university community and put an end to communal mistrust.

Today, the slogan in the institution is Agbebaku’s “let us come together as members of a family “.

The Vice Chancellor ’s infrastructural revolution at the university has repositioned it as one of the best universities in Nigeria.

Academic excellence, transparency and accountability are her watchwords.

As an administrator with zero tolerance for criminal activities, she exudes an

unwavering determination to rid the system of corrupt practices and criminal tendencies. She made it clear on assumption of office that it would no longer be business as usual and has remained faithful to that policy. There is no secrecy in her administration as she runs an open door policy, encouraging all staff to be open and diligent in their work. This is why some staff found to have engaged sharp practices have been dealt with according to rules, while others are facing disciplinary measures.

Agbebaku came, saw and conquered as AAU VC. To crown it all, it is on record that

crat with many years of meritorious service in both the public and private sectors and was at one time Head of World Bank Assisted Projects in Lagos as well as member of Nigeria’s negotiating team on the financing of Lagos Drainage and Sanitation project.

Kamson has also served on the boards of three financial institutions as member and Vice Chairman.

His resume speaks of experience and learning from professional affiliations to courses at Harvard all of which speak of a man at home in politics and policy, something none of the other contenders can boast of.

Kamson’s wide ranging national and international experience may well be what La-

she is the first product of AAU to occupy the exalted position after almost 30 years of its existence.

Does such a worthy daughter not deserve the honour that is due to her? Rather, mischief makers who fall victim of her zero tolerance for criminal activities have resorted to smearing her image and great achievements using the media.

But those who know about the VC’s academic pedigree, professional experience, exposure and desire to always be an agent of positive change are not surprised by her promises of yesterday which have become the reality of today.

The TETFUND projects which Agbebaku has attracted

the opportunity. In the light of that, all the stakeholders on the principles of equity and rotation have come to agree that Ogbaru’s turn has come.

Even at that, in her own superb pedigree, Oduah remains one of Nigeria’s most recognized women today. Intelligent and supremely articulate, she can be quite persuasive in making her case in serious businesslike manner. These are qualities that comes as assets in the parliamentary environment and from her presidential campaign days she has learnt the art and necessity of building bridges. She was the Head of Administration and Finance in the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2010-2011 where she superintended the general administration of the campaign activities and raising of money from donors and personal sources.

For the woman who is known to accomplish every task and assignment creditably, the move to the Senate will bring a new dawn to the people of Anambra North and indeed to Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole.

•Odiadi lives in Asaba.

gos needs as a vibrant and sprawling megapolis with urgent infrastructural challenges because Kamson, as an engineer, is used to building and fixing things and as a technocrat who has had dealings with international multilateral institutions, he understands the language of international finance and his long term membership of the PDP and committed political activities makes him conversant with the man on the street and grassroots political machinations.

But above all else, his noncontroversial stance, his nonaffiliation with any of the wrangling parties may well be stands him out as the unifying voice and maybe gamechanger for the PDP in Lagos.

•Dike, a public affairs analyst, is resident in Lagos.

to AAU include a 3-in-1, 300 capacity lecture theatre at the permanent site and the Faculty of Social Sciences building complex also at the permanent site.

There is still more to be done in order to make the university one of the best in Africa. Her words: “We still have to build on what we have on ground.

We have to do more researches and contribute more to our national industrial development, the management, staff, students, government and even the parents have different roles to play so that AAU can continue to achieve its mandate.”

•Donald is of Justice Research Centre, Benin-City, Edo State.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014,

VIEWPOINT

By Constance Shumba VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Growing demand for medical qualifications

N

IGERIA recently over took South Africa to become the continent’s biggest economy, hosting the World Economic Forum in May 2014 and showcasing the potential of the country. While commentators and locals alike celebrate the recent growth, many remain pragmatic about the journey Nigeria must take to sustain it – including ensuring the basics such as education, health and infrastructure are in good order.

Many health professionals have recognised the challenges facing health services in Nigeria as well as other African nations, stemming primarily from a lack of awareness of common public health issues as well what kind of help and care is available to them.

Strong, passionate and dedicated health professionals are needed to address these overwhelming challenges, especially those who have a strong understanding and a desire to take a new approach to public health across sub-Saharan Africa.

In the past, public health

Page 43

Boosting Healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa has been considered a specialised field staffed only by medical professionals. Now, more people from other sectors (such as business and education) have started to understand the multi-disciplinary nature of public health, the need for collaboration and the role that a diverse range of professionals can play in developing a 21st-century public health system in Nigeria that is truly fit for purpose. The University of Roehampton recently launched a new online programme, a Master of Public Health (MPH), for those currently embarking on a public health career as well as for other professionals who are showing a growing interest in what is an important field emerging in the country.

The online MPH programme increases access to those who want to make a difference in their country and learn best practices from others around the world without having to leave their city or country. In addition, the diverse expertise of people from different professions and different countries helps broaden the way public health issues are assessed and provides the op-

portunity for others to suggest new solutions to old problems.

Increasing the number of public health professionals in the country will significantly improve its ability to review important public health issues and tackle new challenges in a timely and appropriate manner as they arise, such as the growing threat of Ebola currently in West Africa.

This would be good news for the people of the Nigeria,

Increasing the number of public health professionals in the country will significantly improve its ability to review important public health issues

many of whom are often misdiagnosed. Many Nigerians also succumb to common health conditions each year, like malnutrition, malaria, HIV and AIDS and tuberculosis. With proper health education, promotion, programme design, implementation and evaluation from public health professionals, these common health issues could be better controlled.

Only a couple months ago, the Public Library of Science (PLOS) published a report showing that the growing influence of westernisation could mean a new wave of public health issues for Nigeria. By becoming wealthier, better educated and more urbanised, regions of Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries are gaining the attributes that would more commonly be associated with western societies – non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension as well as injuries – requiring the skills and knowledge of a much more diverse public health department than ever needed before.

However, the future of health care looks promising if the right support from govern-

ment and partnerships with non-traditional groups in the private sector are secured. In a sector where morale has been traditionally low for a number of reasons, there is every opportunity for new employees coming through the ranks to effect a change, champion the cause and help make Nigeria and other African countries a healthier, flourishing place to live and prosper.

Education will play an important role here, not only in aiding public health workers in their quest to prevent disease and combat poor quality of life, but also in raising awareness of the field itself, demystifying the profession, and encouraging a stronger uptake of programmes and careers related to public health. The influx of new people into this crucial profession is quite literally the shot in the arm that health care in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa needs to continue its positive momentum.

•Shumba is faculty member for the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme at the University of Roehampton, London Online

Delta 2015: Ochei’s bouquet of developmental governance VIEWPOINT

By Nkem Osu VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The strenghts of a guber aspirant

R

T. Hon. Victor Ochei, a frontline gubernatorial aspirant in Delta State, is potentially considered a paragon of pragmatic approach to governance, considering his realistic and holistic programme, articulated for the provision of a veritable panacea and enshrining developmental governance in the polity.

Naturally, no lofty project can thrive in the absence of security and law enforcement. Little wonder that this crucial element in developmental governance proposal was considered as essentially strategic to the faithful implementation of his programme. To this end, education and enlightenment were posited as purveyors of peace sustenance, through fairness, justice and equity in government’s conduct, especially in the distribution of government projects and positions, in addition to strengthening the law enforcement agencies with equipment, finance and procedures for the reduction of crime rate in the state.

This comprehensive blue print

ranges from highest quality, speedy delivery of fair and evenly spread projects, the provision of free qualitative education under conducive environment, training the trainers in line with the best practises globally, to the vigorous implementation of rapid industrialisation within the state as insignia of meaningful development.

Job creation, skill acquisition and women empowerment, which had been recurring decimals in various governments’ programmes are adequately

Health, agriculture and food security, as well as transportation are necessities for the sustenance of any society

captured, as according to him, “one of the immediate effects of our investments in infrastructural development, will be the creation of thousands of jobs in the building and construction industry in the state, without prejudice to youth and women empowerment through the building of skill acquisition centres all over the state”.

The exquisiteness of this blueprint finds anchorage on the provision of amenities, germane to human existence. For example, there is the idea of developing a public sector housing programme aimed at delivering several thousands of houses to citizens according to their housing needs, rent, lease or outright buying, irrespective of profession, tribe or political affiliation, and, of course not excluding the private sector housing developers, who will be encouraged by incentives like very low interest and long term repayment plans.

The importance of water to human existence cannot be overemphasised, considering its usefulness in virtually all human endeavours. Sadly though, the provision of this precious natural mineral has remained a major challenge to successive governments, especially in the upland areas of the state with very low ground water levels. To ameliorate this

plight, Rt Hon Ochei has pledged to deploy resources in building modern water supply systems, as well as modernising and resuscitating the old water works in the major cities of the state.

Arguably there could be no shorter route to entrepreneurial and artisanal excellence without constant and adequate supply of energy by means of electricity. Ochei posited: “The government I will lead will make it an urgent priority to provide electricity to every part of the state by collaborating with the relevant agencies and companies”.

Health, agriculture and food security, as well as transportation are necessities for the sustenance of any society. On health, the cliché “health is wealth” reinforces its indispensability to human survival, which informs Ochei’s resolve to continue providing funding, equipment and finance for the efficient running of our general hospitals and health centres for the benefit of the young, elderly and pregnant women.

Agriculture’s three core areas of animal husbandry, fishery and crop farming will expectedly form the bedrock of making the practise of agriculture attractive, Ochei aspires to build on the successes recorded, especially by strengthening the

capacity of the relevant agencies to attain greater heights.

Sports is a veritable tool for engaging the youth as a means of discouraging truancy, and, in fact, encouraging sound health, as well as providing means of livelihood. Consequently, a world-class stadium commensurate with Delta State’s attainment in sports will be built as well as more mini-stadia will in addition to resuscitating the already existing ones.

The faithful implementation of this lofty programme depends on a leader endowed with resolute, futuristic and focussed proficiency back-grounded on a robust pedigree of impressive track record, who had demonstrated a desirable competence in cost-efficient, qualitative and quantitative service delivery, active and functional peace promotion and multi-dimensional inclusiveness, while carrying all stakeholders along.

Ochei, the immediate past Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, the youngest Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a financial management expert, a law graduate, a Harvard trained educationist, a philanthropist and a frontline gubernatorial aspirant, can effectively translate these words into action.

•Osu is based in Asaba

PAGE 44— SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

DIASPORA

Africa clinches 880m in mobile subscriptions in Q3 2014- Ericsson

Winning recklessly in the war against terror

By EMEKA AGINAM

S the proliferation of mobile technology continues grow in geometric progression, latest comprehensive update on mobile trends leveraging big data from live networks worldwide

by Ericsson Mobility has revealed that Africa has topped 880 million in mobile subscriptions for third quarter of 2014.

According to the report, whilst 90 percent of the world’s population over six years old is predicted to have a mobile phone by 2020, 26 million new subscriptions were added in Q3 2014 across Africa.

This is even as the report further revealed that Mobile video traffic would increase tenfold.

Predicting that 85 percent of Middle East and Africa mobile subscriptions will be 3G/ 4G by 2020., the report also revealed that 2020 smartphone subscriptions are expected to top 6.1 billion.

Highlighting details of the new report, Fredrik Jejdling, President & Regional Head of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, said that , “The increased availability of low-cost smartphones in subSaharan Africa will lead to a rapid increase of smartphone subscriptions in the region. However, GSM/EDGE-only subscriptions will remain the most common subscription type for the next five years due to the high numbers of lower income consumers using2G-enabled handsets.”

The Ericsson Mobility

A

T

HESE past weeks witnessed so many events like no other week in recent times.

While one or two of the events brought a little bit of smiles to our faces, some called out our reasoning abilities so as to reorder a few priorities around the world.

•Fredrik Jejdling, President & Regional Head of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa. report informed that smartphone growth continued as 65 to 70 percent of all phones sold in the third quarter of 2014 were smartphones, compared with 55 percent in the same quarter for 2013.

But despite the increased rate of sales, which will see the addition of an estimated 800 million new smartphone subscriptions by the end of 2014, the report revealed that there was still room for growth in the sector.

M e a n w h i l e , smartphones currently account for just 37 percent of all mobile phone subscriptions, meaning that many users have yet to make the switch to the more featurerich, internet-friendly option.

The report also predicted a strong uptake in the coming years as the

number rises from 2.7 billion smartphone subscriptions today to the forecasted6.1 billion in 2020.

Video , fastest growing segment of mobile data traffic While video continues to dominate mobile networks in 4Gdominatednetworks, according to the report, it currently constitutes 45-55 percent of mobile traffic, driven largely by increased usage of video streaming and improvements in the mobile video experience.

Video is increasingly appearing as part of other online applications such as news and adverts, and on social media platforms.

At the same time, growth in video streaming is being driven by access to over-the-top (OT T) services and content, such as those provided by YouTube.

SMEDAN signs MoU with CWG to provide ICT for SMEs

I

N a bid to ensure the growth of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Computer Warehouse Group CWG Plc. The objective of the MoU is to provide an ICT technology platform for MSMEs at very little cost.

Accordingly, this would also avail them the services of an Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) platform called Small and Medium Enterprise Resource Planning (SMERP).

This platform would

allow the MSMEs to manage their business operations and provides functionalities such as accounting management, inventory management, sales and order tracking.

Part of the objective is to provide an e-commerce platform that enables MSMEs to sell their goods and services online by creating a virtual store for each SME on the internet.

In his remark at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of SMEDAN Alhaji Bature Umar Masari lamented the major issues affecting MSMEs, including access to finance and markets. He said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

between SMEDAN and the Computer Warehouse Group will effectively ameliorate these challenges.

Alhaji Masari noted that the challenges facing the country today would be a thing of the past if the potentials of the MSME sub sector of the economy is fully realised. He said the development of the MSME sector is key to poverty alleviation adding that the collaboration with CWG Plc is crucial to the development of MSMEs in the country.

Responding, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, of CWG Mr. Austin Okere said that the SMEDAN/CWG collaboration would boost the development of MSMEs in the country.

EBOLA IN FOCUS For once, in recent times, the Ebola scourge in West Africa was pushed from the forefront of news.

Not that it disappeared altogether though. However, rather than what was obtained in previous weeks whereby we were regaled with pictures and videos of dying Africans, we got a bright side to it.

Last week, the Band Aid 30, led by Bob Geldof, released the remake of the single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to help raise money for the treatment of the disease. It is indeed a charitable gesture as we all know the “ world” is struggling getting money together to fight this modern-day disease that is ravaging the western part of Africa, with over 10,000 people reportedly infected. Within minutes of its release, over over one million pounds was raised from the sales and also had a number one spot on the UK music chart.

According to Geldof, he was inspired to do a remake by the call from the United Nations that more still needed to be done across board to fight this deadly disease. Where are the promises of aids and donations from the “ world leaders”? Should we not be grateful to Sir Geldof? He has always been in the forefront of campaigns against deadly diseases. His legendary role in the 1984 making of the track to fight AIDS is still unmatched.

Well done. We hope the money raised will go down to where it is really needed.

‘RUN, HIDE AND TELL’ Yes, that the new antiterror initiative in the United Kingdom. As the members of the inquiry into the killing of Drummer Lee Rugby were dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, Home Secretary Theressa May announced to the world that UK terrorism threat is at the level of the 9/11 in the United States. We all sighed.

“Hell, no, not again”.

Hence, instinctively after the news, the next “tube” journey was with “caution”. You play detective and scan the “tube” for any commuter with a

“dodgy ” r ucksack or a bearded fellow reading a book or magazine that has the word “bomb” in it.

But, seriously, everybody is concerned, most especially with the activities of a few Britons going to fight alongside extremists in Syria and Iraq.

These deluded and “carefree” Muslim Britons are dusting up their passports and buying £20 tickets to fly to Turkey on “religious missions.” To Theresa May, these are also big concerns. Since becoming Home Secretary in 2010, she revealed that over 40 terrorist plots have been prevented by security operatives including an attack on the stock exchange in London. In the same same period, 753 people were arrested for terrorist-related activities, 212 charged and 148 convicted with 138 behind bars and 13 deported.

You wonder who are these evil people. If, however, you see one, remember, Run, Hide and Tell. Do not do it the other way round please.

FACEBOOK FAILED US Do you ever know Facebook could have prevented the death of Drummer Lee Rigby? Yes. If only the social media site had alerted Mi5 that one of the demented Michaels had boasted online months earlier on that he would kill a serving soldier.

The inquiry into the killing believed if Facebook had reported this to Mi5, the two British citizens born of Nigerian parents would not have been able to carry the threat on innocent Lee. Do I hear

The anger against the policing system in the country is understandable, as it is believed that the system is a “set up against the blacks” you ask, “Is Facebook not more interested in making money than national security?”

RECKLESS’ DECISION PAID OFF When Mark Reckless decided to walk away from his old friends in the Conservative Party, not few of them hid their “disgust” for his decision to join the United Kingdom Independent Party (UKIP). They openly castigated him and called him names. He, on the other hand, did not behave recklessly. He kept his cool as he campaigned for the by-election into Rochester and Strood’s constituency which

became vacant as a result of his stepping down as MP on his defection.

Not minding the jeers from his former party, Reckless put the past behind him. This paid off.

He was announced the winner of the election penultimate Friday, thereby putting the noses of his former friends in the mud. Congratulations Mark. I hope one day you will one day come over to Nigeria and teach the political defectors how it is done.

US BLACK TEEN KILLER COP HAS NO CASE Is it not surprising that the police office who shot the black unarmed teen Michael Brown in Fergusson, Missouri on August 9 will not be prosecuted, according to the jury? Cop Darren Wilson has no case to answer.

The parents of Brown are outraged. So also is the black community.

They are demanding for justice and calling the grand jury process as “unfair and broken”.

There have been protests in the city denouncing the jury decision.

This brings back to memory the riots that followed the killing of Michael Brown in August. Despite the presence of over National Guard officers, there is still no peace in Fergusson. Looting, arson, and riots continue. You ask yourself, will there ever be peace until Brown and his family get justice?

One good we should take out of all these is the fact that black Americans are now more vociferous on police (mis)treatment. The anger against the policing system in the country is understandable, as it is believed that the system is a “set up against the blacks”.

You are bound to agree with this. The blacks are sad, angry and have no confidence in the system that treat them as “statistics” rather than human beings. One of the protesters was quoted by a newspapers as lamenting, “the system wasn’t made to protect us (blacks), (so) to get justice, the people themselves must be justice”. With this in mind, you can understand why the protests in Fergusson are going on. It is because the black population is fed up with the system that has treated it so unfairly. These are not feelings. These are realities.

Vanguard, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 45

Invasion of NASS: IGP turns interpreter of the law

•Tambuwal

•Suleiman

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

L

AST Thursday in the history of the 7th Assembly is one day members of the House of Representatives will not be in a hurry to forget.

The previous Thursday, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, had ordered his men to seal off the National Assembly Complex under the guise that he received intelligence report of likely breakdown of law and order.

The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, and many other lawmakers were teargassed as they made to enter the complex.

The IGP at a public hearing, last Thursday, did not defend himself on the incident; rather he chose to interpret the law to the shocked lawmakers.

The House Committee on Police Affairs, headed by

His reference to Tambuwal as “Alhaji” infuriated some of the lawmakers who immediately demanded that Abba should withdraw what he said and address the Speaker appropriately

Hon Usman Kumho, had summoned the IGP to answer questions relating to the invasion. The IGP sent his deputy, Mr Sotonoye Nwakama, who was advised to produce his boss or there would be no deal. Abba finally showed up that Thursday and stunned the world when he declared Tambuwal’s seat vacant without any court pronouncement.

The public hearing started at about 2.30pm when five Deputy Inspectors General of Police accompanied Abba into Committee Room 1.07 for the public hearing.

The Chairman of the Committee gave the IGP ample opportunity to defend himself but he,in his opening remarks, addressed the number 4 citizen as “Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.”

“And at the gate there, a

tear gas exploded when “Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal” was being asked to identify himself. We still don’t know the circumstances surrounding the explosion and we are investigating it”, Abba told the lawmakers.

His reference to Tambuwal as “Alhaji” infuriated some of the lawmakers who immediately demanded that Abba should withdraw what he said and address the Speaker appropriately.

Hon Akeem Muniru, APC, Lagos, said: “If the IGP can’t withdraw what he just said by addressing the Speaker accordingly, then this meeting is illegal.

“The IGP must retract his statement calling the Speaker, ‘Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal’ or I take my leave as I would deem this sitting as illegal. Because I can’t participate in a hearing where the office of the Speaker through whose

authority we are having this meeting is not even recognised by an appointee of the Executive”.

Other lawmakers wanted to take the IGP up, but the Committee Chairman calmed them. Continuing, Abba said,” My deep sympathy goes to those who sustained injuries in what happened on the 20th of November and let me say here that it hurts my own person as the events of that day traumatised me.

“What transpired on that day was unprecedented world wide as policemen were disobeyed, beaten and many things followed.

“In the process of safeguarding the security of the National Assembly on that day, we collaborated with the Sergeant-at-Arms according to laid down procedures where members were being asked to identify themselves before they could be allowed into the premises.

“Considering what happened in Burkina Faso on the 30th of October where the presidency palace was invaded, we had no choice than to go for reinforcement to curb the situation”. The IGP insisted that there were reports that those who scaled the fence on that day were thugs who came with some of the lawmakers.

On whether the alleged thugs include the lawmakers who resorted to scaling the fence after being locked out by the police, he said that actions taken were based on the need to forestall breakdown of law and order as witnessed in Bukina Faso. “We acted on credible information about suspected thugs who wanted to invade the Assembly, and, because we didn’t want what happened in Bukina Faso to repeat itself here, we had to take stringent security measures”, Abba said.

Kumho explained to the IGP that until a court of law had declared Tambuwal’s office vacant, he couldn’t be referred to simply as ‘Alhaji’.

But Abba stood his ground saying”the matter was in court and anything I say now will be subjudice.”

The Committee Chair told his colleagues that he would report back to the House what transpired and therefore adjourned the hearing sine die.

PAGE 46 — Vanguard, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

DavidMark

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

N

igerians were bewildered watching the event of Thursday, November 20, 2014, when the police barricaded the National Assembly Complex, preventing some lawmakers from having access to their offices under the pretext that there was an ‘intelligence report’ that some ‘hoodlums’ planned to invade the complex.

Since the incident happened, there have been questions begging for answers. Do the police have the right to stop lawmakers from having access to their offices? Should the National Assembly be invaded without the knowledge of its Chairman, the Senate President? Can the police take such action without the knowledge of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic? The action of the invaders, was it political? If it was, has the law enforcement agency become an arm of a political party or group of people? At what point did lawmakers turn to hoodlums? And was the action of the police throwing tear gas within the assembly complex justified?

Watching from the sidelines or on television the incident, one would think it was one of the Hollywood films playing out. Before it happened, many had described the National Assembly, especially the Senate, as an extension of the executive arm of government while the House of Representatives members were described as juveniles, hooligans and rascals because of their seemingly

Ndoma Egba

Ningi

Rage in the Senate over police invasion of National Assembly independent mindedness in their relationship with the executive.

Besides, some political watchers frowned at the position of the lawmakers who consider national issues from the angle of partisanship. Most of the issues on the floor of the Senate or the House are debated from the angle of ethnicity or political affiliation irrespective of the consequences on the common populace.

It was also argued in some quarters that one of the problems Nigerians are facing today is as a result of the peoples’ docility and the tendency to applaud those in authority irrespective of the atrocities they commit.

Before the November 20 incident, a cold war had been insinuated between the senators, especially those elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the presidency over the congresses of the party.

The presidency was accused of working in collaboration with the National Working Committee of the PDP to undermine the senators.

However, the Senators, while commenting on the invasion of the National

Only a few members of the red chambre, especially Senator Heinekin Lokpobiri, suggested they didn’t see anything wrong with the siege

Assembly, were almost unanimous in condemning the action of the police. Only a few members of the red chambre, especially Senator Heinekin Lokpobiri, suggested they didn’t see anything wrong with the siege.

The sponsor of the motion and Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, had drawn the attention of senators to what he described as a regrettable situation where some ‘Honourable’ members were scaling the fence to gain access to the National Assembly and the freely use of tear gas on

lawmakers.

He noted that the Senate President, Senator David Mark, was a victim of the tear gas, as well as the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, among others.

He called on the Senate do condemn the action of the police, set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the incidence and report back to the parliament within seven days.

First to support the motion was the Senate Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, who described the incident as a coup attempt by the police

against the parliament and democracy, adding that if the Leader of the Senate had not brought the matter for discussion, it would have amounted to ‘a tragedy of monumental proportion.’

He said, “What happened last week at the National Assembly was a coup attempt by the Nigeria Police against the parliament. It is a coup attempt against the institution of the National Assembly and, of course, it is a coup attempt against democracy.

“At moment like this, it requires all people of good will to stand up and be counted to condemn this act.

In the last fifteen years in the life of this administration, nothing of this nature has happened. Therefore, when things like this happen, people should not fear, people should not go into silence because it involves the police.

“The police is a constituted authority, so also is the National Assembly. A lot of people are not aware that in the National Assembly, we have what is called legislative power and privileges which made this National Assembly and its premises immune to any police action, immune to any attack, immune to any arrest.

“If they could do this in the National Assembly, what will make them not to do the same in the Villa? Is the Villa more important than the National Assembly? They are created by law. For anyone to attempt this, it is a matter of time before they do same in the Villa. It is important we do not make this issue partisan. I call all of us to rally round this motion.”

In the same vein, Senator Continues on page 47

Vanguard, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 47

The police assault on the National Assembly

A

S the law permits, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal remains Speaker of the National House of Representatives, until the House convenes and the Majority Leader in the House musters the whip to get enough votes to elect a new speaker. It is fairly clear that the Job of the Speaker of the House is dependent largely on the privileges of the Majority party in Parliament or a governing coalition. In the order of state protocol in Nigeria, the Speaker of the National House is fourth in line to the presidency. In other words, were anything to happen to the President, his Vice and the President of the Senate on a given day, the power of the state falls squarely on the shoulders of the Speaker for the continuity of the National government.

That line of succession makes it imperative, therefore, that a ruling party or majority coalition in parliament does not cede the office to the opposition. In the event that the opposition, as it sometimes happens in the Presidential system, has control of the Parliamentary Majority, even though the Executive offices are won and held by another party, the opposition elect the leaders of parliament, and a powerbalancing act, and greater, more nuanced forms of negotiations takes place between the Executive and the Legislature. It takes the parliament to fund the government; to approve spendings by the executive, and through the Ways and Means committees of the bicameral legislature in the case of Nigeria, audit the fiduciary

commitments of the Executive branch. I have made this assertion countless times that the failure of government in Nigeria happens, and particularly, the vexed questions of brazen corruption, administrative incompetence, inefficiency, lack of transparency and impunity persist in Nigeria because (a) the Nigerian Legislature has failed, since the transition to this republic, to rise to its constitutional duties to represent the public will and provide the oversight, and the checks and balances necessary to keep the executive authority on the straight and narrow.

Very often, the National Assembly has been complicit in the corruption of successive administrations; and (b) the collapse of the National Civil service – the statutory thinking and executive arm of the state has undermined the integrity of the state.

There could never be corruption at any sector of the nation without the participation and connivance of the Civil servants. The Civil Service Commission as an independent institution of state administration both in its recruitment, training and orientation of the service has made the public service turgid, incapable of innovation, and a willing tool of corrupt and transient politicians. In the years of my own father ’s generation in the civil service, when the General Orders (GO) was the bible of the service, accountability and tenure were central to the actions of the public servant. To divert or bloat accounts, either for public works or procurement or emolument,

was rare, but often came to light, and always before the disciplinary tribunal of the Civil Service Commission – the only arm of the state permitted to recruit, discipline, and punish civil servants. The collapse of the system began very gradually between 1975 and 1985, but by the mid nineties, all institutional capacities to administer the nation in a civil system had been damaged almost irretrievably by the military governments. Today, you have Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the Service who cannot communicate effectively in the English language; who have very little conceptual capacities, and very little backbones to advise, and steer their ministers away from deleterious policies and official actions. The reporting system

powerful force of the land is not the president, but an elected National Assembly, which has the power to audit, fund, and if it finds it necessary, impeach the head of the Executive Branch, the president. Although the president is endowed with the highest executive power in the land, he is by law subject to the countermand of the National Assembly to whom he goes for the approval of every money to be spent, and to whom he reports all the moneys accruing to the nation by tax and trade, and how each dime is spent by his administration in the interest of the public.

By law, if the president fails to provide these accounts, he may become subject to extensive inquiry, impeachment, and litigation. This fact is principally why I insist that those who call this president corrupt must push the National Assembly to begin an investigation of his presidency, and must do it by organizing and pushing their representatives in the National Assembly to act in the public interest. Fathomless innuendos against the president are simply not enough. But it brings me back to Tambuwal: every

Members of the National Assembly are anything but politicians, and over the years, particularly in this republic, the legislature has seen itself, and often acted mostly, as an appendage to the presidency between the National Parliament and the Federal Civil service is broken. We have a very broken public system, and a broken civil service is good for politicians. Members of the National Assembly are anything but politicians, and over the years, particularly in this republic, the legislature has seen itself, and often acted mostly, as an appendage to the presidency.

Perhaps the point is that Nigerians have failed to elect capable Legislators who are yet to understand that the most

incumbent President relies on a powerful alliance with the leaders of Parliament to push through legislative agenda; including financial laws on which the President must operate.

When Aminu Tambuwal resigned his membership of the PDP, the party on whose platform he stood to be Speaker of the HoR, he made forfeit his rights to be Speaker. If Aminu Tambuwal were truly honorable, his resignation from the PDP should have come only after he

had officially handed in his resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives. But Tambuwal in the drama that followed seemed to want to have his Cake and eat it too. He wanted to leave the PDP and keep the Speakership. It cast him in the public mind as damaged goods – a careerist politician whose interests were more complicated than service to the nation.

The police withdrew his personal security detail, and they were right to do. It is a privilege not a right to have security details. Besides, it is already an aberration that the Speaker of the HoR will need more than his police orderly, and was assigned that array of personal security service and number of vehicles all on tax payers account. This is scandalous! But that said, whereas Tambuwal insists on being speaker, he continues to be speaker until his peers, following a muster of votes by the Majority whip removes him by a simple up and down vote. He has not resigned his position. That vote needs to happen. That said, the drama of the police invasion of the National Assembly last week amounts to treasonable conduct.

Who ordered the assault of the House of Parliaments? The president has denied issuing the orders. The National Security Adviser equally denied ordering anybody’s arrest. In any case the office of the NSA has no power under the law to order or even conduct the arrest of any citizen.

The power to order the arrest

of anyone rests with the Courts in Nigeria, and the power to execute such an arrest rests only with the Police by leave of the president. The InspectorGeneral must be compelled to resign for this travesty – because the action itself takes a first step towards infamy – which strictly speaking is a coup de’tat. Any attempt to use armed force to close down and occupy the parliament of a nation and arrest her legislators is an attempt to dismantle the constitution, and the foundation of the republic, and rule by fiat. This is a dangerous development.

Rage in the Senate over police invasion of National Assembly Continued from page 46 Kabiru Gaya, Kano South, said the police were supposed to be the protectors of law and order but unfortunately, they were breaching it. He even said that when the Senate Deputy Leader called the Inspector-General of Police (Suleiman Abba) as the incident was taking place, the IGP directed him to talk to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in NASS. He further lamented, “When governors were having a meeting, a police officer was sent to stop it and nothing was done. I think we have to find out who ever is involved, we should not allow this to continue, if not, one day it will escalate.”

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also condemned the incident and described it as a desecration of the NASS,” the temple of democracy.”

He picked holes in the comment made by President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who said

the police were trying to enforce a court judgment.

“The fairest thing we can do is to get to the root of the matter. I suggest a public hearing so that Nigerians will know what happened. I do not want to begin to apportion blame; we must hear the other side as elders.

We should investigate all that happened and hear out the actors, including the security agencies that were meant to protect NASS,” he stated.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, in his contribution, said that, on that fateful day, he was at the gate where there was barricade but he was allowed in and perhaps for a purpose.

He said he had never heard of the parliament being assaulted by the police and that the founders of the presidential system of government decided, in their wisdom, to allocate functions to all arms of government.

“They gave us the system for checks and balance.

Where power is not

Those who are thinking their personal interest must override national interest are making a big mistake controlled, there is bound to be anarchy. That act was unconstitutional, deliberate.

It is to tell us that we can reduce you to any level and there is nothing you can do,”Akume said.

“Those who are thinking their personal interest must override national interest are making a big mistake. Can this action be contemplated in Ghana, South Africa, Mali, even Cameroon? It is not the issue of partisanship, it is impunity. The Speaker was at the gate they barricaded.

“Where is our honour? If yesterday it was the Speaker, tomorrow, it could be Mr. President. Are we building

democracy? We are gradually sliding into dictatorship. The police have no powers to do what they did, misinterpretation of the law by the police, impunity by the police.”

The Senate Chief Whip, Bello Gwarzo, noted that the Legislative Act Section 14:1 prohibited the invasion of the National Assembly and that Section 16 also said if any visitor obstructs a lawmaker in carrying out its duty, it is criminal. Senator Ahmed Makarfi described the invasion as an assault on the legislature and emphasized the need to devolve power to ensure checks and balances.

However, Senator Ita

Enang, Akwa Ibom, said what happened was an opportunity for the National Assembly to rise up to its responsibility.

Senate Ali Ndume said the incident was a wake-up call for the lawmakers to look at the laws that established and guard the sanctity of the National Assembly. He expressed disappointed that the Senate President should reconvene the Senate about four days after the invasion and accused him of bending too much to the extent that he was tear gassed.

But Lokpobiri from Bayelsa State had a different position from his colleagues. Though he said he was willing to do anything to protect the National Assembly, he warned that sentiments should not be injected into the matter.

He said, “We created the police and gave them a job to do and on several occasion blamed the police for not gathering enough intelligence. We should investigate why the police did not just prevent the hoodlums.

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY, Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

NTA GM gives out daughter in wedlock

T

.

The couple, Mr & Mrs Adedotun Adewusi, with the bridal train.

he families of Mr Remi Daramola, General Manager, NTA, and Prof Steve Adewusi came together as one family when their children, Olufisayo Titilope and Adedotun Ajibade were joined as man and, wife.

The couple took their nuptial vows at Foursquare Gospel Church, Agbado, Ogun State before friends and their families.

Photos by Diran Oshe

For the Chairman, the Inner Wheel rolls to 70 It was a day of joy for the entire household of Mrs Josephine Anifowoshe, past Chairman Inner Wheel Club, Ibadan when she celebrated her 70th birthday.

The event which was graced by her friends, family, club members and hubby’s close friends kicked off with a thanksgiving mass at the Catholic of the Ascension, Bodija, Ibadan and concluded with a deluxe reception at Emeritus Prof. T.O. Ogunlesi Multipurpose Hall, UCH, also in Ibadan. Photos

by Dare Fasube

R-L: Celebrant , Mrs Josephine Anifowoshe being assisted by her husband Col. Mohammed Anifowoshe (rtd) to cut her 70th Birthday Cake.

L- R:Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard, HRM Oba Ademola Ademiluyi, the Lawarikan of Apoje ( Ife), HRM Oba Adesiyan Mayowa, the Eyenla of Amula -Ife and the Sooko - Laekun of Ile- Ife, Kabiyesi Adebayo Sijuwade.

L- R: Deaconess Olusola Adewusi, groom mother, Mr Remi Daramola (GM) NTA, father of the bride , Prof.Steve Adewusi, father of the groom and bride's mother, Mrs G. F. Daramola.

Spectacular marital bliss for Olamiposi and Olanrewaju

L-R: Mrs Oladayo Popola, Col. Taiwo Popola (Rtd) and Gen. Oladayo Popola (Rtd).

T

he spectacular wedding between Basirat Olamiposi Akanbi and Monsuru Olanrewaju Shekoni took place in Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State on November 22, 2014 and was indeed talk of the town.

Many high-networth individuals graced the occasion

L-R:Mr Pat Enebeli and Pham. Paul Osogbe Enebeli, member, NAFAC Governing Council.

A wedding made in Lekki

The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Olanrewaju Shekoni with bride’s parents.

The couple Mr. and Mrs. Olanrewaju Shekoni with groom’s parents.

Wedding between Miss Pamela Obiri and Ehidiamen Okojie took place at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church Lekki, Lagos.

The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Olanrewaju Shekoni cutting the wedding cake.

The couple, Mr. and Mrs Okojie with bride’s parents

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014---PAGE 49

sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

08023145567 (sms only)

2015 polls not do-or-die affairs, says Odedeji

By OLAYINKA LATONA

A

Pentecostal bishops in a group photograph after their meeting in Lagos. Pix: BOSE ADELAJA

NGLICAN Bishop of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. James Olusola Odedeji has urged Nigerian politicians who are currently jostling for advantage in preparation for next year's election, not to see the crucial 2015 election as a door-die affair.

Speaking during the church thanksgiving and Holy Communion service for the 15th anniversary of the diocese held at the Arch-bishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, Odedeji posited that politicians should rather emphasise qualitative service to the electorate.

In his words: “Politics is not a do or die affair. I pray that God’s candidate will emerge. Lagosians will ever be grateful for whosoever picked and elected Mr. Babatunde Fashlola as the governor of Lagos. Governor Fashola also have stake in the matter and that is why he must endure that his predecessor is a man of vision who will continue the good work in Lagos state”.

Odedeji further stressed the need for the election of credible, committed and patriotic leaders in 2015.

The cleric also urged the Independent National Elect-oral Commission (INEC) to use the opportunity of the next general elections to prove that it was committed to cond-ucting hitchfree polls. He added that the Federal Gover-nment should ensure that all electoral rules are enforced.

He also urged Christians in politics to be a shining example, stand for the truth, holiness, shun materialism and act according to biblical principles.

"If Christians in Nigeria can be strong, be true children of God, then we will not be where we are today," he argued.

Earlier in his sermon, the bishop of Kebbi Diocese, Most Rev. Edmund Akanya described the 15th anniversary thanksgiving as a time of stocktaking for the diocese and challenged members to do more in evangelism and soul winning.

Prison Fellowship changes lives

A

The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, (middle) flanked from left by Rev. Iyke Osuji, chairman, Planning Committee of 25th TREM Kingdom Life World Conference; Maxwell Gbinije; Helen and Douglass Atagana, winners of brand new cars in the TREM KLWC conference promo during the closing ceremony of the conference held at the church headquarters, Anthony, Lagos on Sunday.

PHOTO: LAMIDI BAMIDELE

2015: Nigeria won't break up, says Kumuyi I

BYDEMOLAAKINYEMI LORIN---GENERAL Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi has assured Nigerians that the nation would not break as a result of the outcome of the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

The man of God also cautioned Nigerians against criticizing their leaders for what they have not done, but be objective to appreciate the achievements that have been recorded by the political leaders over the years.

Pastor Kumuyi said this in Ilorin at Eiyen Nkorin Camp ground of the Church at an interactive session with journalists ahead of a three-

day crusade.

"Nigeria, will not break,that is what God told me and i believe HIM.The consequences of the disintegration of the country is enormous and we should not contemplate it.All the regions would eventually breakup for one reason or the other so we should not envisage it..’’ Pastor Kumuyi said.

He also said, ’’Let me also say this,its true that our leaders travel over the world for one reason or the other to the developed countries ,but we should also appreciate what they have done over the decades. We should be constructive in our criticisms, to enable them do more. We should not just be criticising

our leaders as if they have not done anything. What if they don’t have the grace to travel overseas what can anybody do, nothing’’ Kumuyi also urged Nigerians to keep praying for the politicians to enable them have change of hearts and do what is right for the masses.

The man of God who recalled that he had been in kwara state many years ago with many life changing miracles then explained that hes more energized with the powers of God between then and now stressing that the crusade is not for Deeper Life Church members alone but for all Nigerians who desire positive changes in their lives.

CTIVITIES of Prison Fellowship Nigeria in the areas of evangelism and care for inmates across the nation have brought about positive changes in the lives of inmates, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Chairman, Board of Trustees of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Mrs. Dorcas Din stated this during the launching of Green Ribbon campaign held at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos recently.

Mrs. Din said the fellowship's prison outreach programmes were informed by the fellowship's belief that both prison inmates and ex-prisoners deserved God’s love.

On the green ribbon campaign, the organisation BOT chairman said: “Green Ribbon Campaign” is the Fellowship’s social and corporate mobilization platform, for canvassing attitudinal change towards prisoners, ex-prisoners and victims of crime, in ways that promote rehabilitation and reintegration, victim validation, support and reparation coupled with restoration of communal harmony, security and safety.

Explaining the programme, known as the Onesimus Project, an initiative of the PFN in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, she revealed that the programme has matriculated over 120 male and female inmates and graduated over 90 of them, most of whom have left prison.

She urged the public to have compassion for prisoners, insisting that experience had shown that repentant prisoners had been useful in the spread of the gospel and prevention of crimes.

The executive director, PFN, Mr. Benson Ngozi Iwuagwu who has been on the crusade for restorative justice as an integral part of our criminal justice administration, maintained that the country’s criminal law is adversarial, technical and impersonal without cognisance for the victim or even for the society.

He said: “The primary intent of our criminal law is to punish the offender as deterrence to other would be offenders. Restorative justice on the other hand, views crime differently, aims to heal the harms and hurts caused by the offender; give him opportunity to account for his or her actions, take responsibility and in conference with the victim and community and agree on how to make up for his or her actions.

“Restorative justice is not a demonisation of our extant criminal justice system, but it does provide a viable complement and option worthy of serious engagement,” he explained.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 3O, 2014

J

Boastful exceptions God despises the boastful. The psalmist says to God: “The boastful shall not stand in your sight.” (Psalm 5:5). Paul acknowledges this. He maintains it is ungodly to boast. He says: “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.” (Romans 3:27). Accordingly, he rebukes the Corinthians: “Who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?

Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul says: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31). He says furthermore: “Let no one boast in men.” (1 Corinthians 3:21). But, by the time he wrote his second letter to the same Corinthians, Paul had forgotten his own command. He says to them: “We are your boast as you also are ours.”

(2 Corinthians 1:14). He then goes on to contradict his earlier injunction not to boast in men, saying: “I boast of you to the Macedonians.” (2 Corinthians 9:2).

By Galatians, Paul’s position has changed again. He now says we should boast in ourselves and not in others: “Let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself

DOUBLE-MINDED PAUL

,

ESUS says: “Beware of these Pharisees and the w ay they pretend to be good when they aren't. But such hypocrisy cannot be hidden forever. It will become as evident as yeast in dough.” (Luke 12:12).

Paul remained a Pharisee even after his conversion to Christianity. He declared to the Sanhedrin: “I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee.” (Acts 23:6). Moreover, with the compilation of his epistles into the bible, Paul’s hypocrisy is no longer hidden. It is now abundantly clear.

,

Those who insist Paul’s word is the word of God might need to explain his hypocritical doctrinal somersaults.

alone and not in his neighbor.”

(Galatians 6:4).

Hypocritical boasts Those who insist Paul’s word is the word of God might need to explain these hypocritical doctrinal somersaults. Surely, it is not God who keeps changing his mind: it is Paul. Soon, the forbidden boasting becomes conveniently permissible; the only caveat is that it must be done in moderation. Paul says: “We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us- a sphere which especially includes you.” (2 Corinthians 10:13).

But, even after this, Paul still finds it necessary to create further expedient exceptions to his no boasting rule. He tells the Corinthians: “If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” (2 Corinthians 11:30). And yet, these selfserving modifications are coming from the same man who says boasting is categorically excluded by an inscrutable “law of faith.”

Inevitably, Paul ends up by doing what he initially enjoins us not to do; boasting considerably about himself. Paul witnesses

about himself, saying: “This is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with frankness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom.” (2 Corinthians 1:12).

Boastful Paul As a matter of fact, Paul declares the right to boast in himself as his inalienable right. He maintains he preaches the gospel free of charge without asking for payment; and insists: “I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.” (1 Corinthians 9:14-15). He no longer has any qualms about boasting, but says: “Even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed.” (2 Corinthians 10:8).

With dubious self-deprecation, Paul says: “I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle.” (1 Corinthians 15:9). However, green with envy, he compares himself with those who walked with Jesus and boasts he is equal to them: “I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.” (2 Corinthians 11:5).

He justifies his double standards

by reference to others: “Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.” (2 Corinthians 11:18).

He then launches into one of his most self-promoting boasts: “What anyone else dares to boast about- I am speaking as a foolI also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.” (2 Corinthians 11:21-23).

Contradictory Paul Only God knows where Paul got the proof that he is in a class all by himself. And yet, this is the same Paul who says those who “compare themselves among themselves are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12). It is the same Paul who says: “Love… does not boast, it is not proud.”

(1 Corinthians 13:4). It is the same Paul who says: “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 6:14). Paul says one thing here; then con-

Baptist Seminary appoints Oluwole as registrar NIGERIAN Baptist Theological Seminary, (NBTS), Ogbomosho, has appointed Dr. David Bamidele Oluwole as the registrar of the institut-ion.

Oluwole attended the Oyo State College of Education Oyo State before proceeding to the University of Ilorin where he bagged a Bachelors of Arts in Education.

He also obtained a Bachelors of Theology degree from the Nigerian Baptist Theological

Seminary, Ogbomosho and M.A. (Arts) degree in Christ-ian Studies from the Lagos State University.

He also obtained a Ph.D in Christian Studies with specialization in the New Testament from the Lagos State University.

Prior to his present appointment, Oluwole served as the registrar of the Baptist College of Theology, Lagos.

A prolific writer, and author,

Fountain of Life holds market place/family fun festival

C

OME December 2014, the Fountain of Life Church will be hosting its second annual marketplace and family fun festival.

The event billed to hold from December 6-7, 2014, is with the theme, “Coming together to make a difference,” at the Fountain Gardens shall play host to over 100 exhibitors and the focus shall be on three main elements namely; service level, excellence and value proposition.

There would be side attractions like children’s annual end of year party and a talent hunt for young and budding singers. The winner of the talent hunt shall be signed on by a record label. There are other exciting freebies such as a return ticket to Dubai, donated by church members.

The annual market place event specifically targets Christian entrepreneurs by providing them a platform to showcase their businesses and at the same time learn new trends for emerging and sustainable businesses with reputation while also equipping them with skills to reach and connect with potential markets.

To achieve this goal, the Business Fellowship of the Fountain of Life Church works with charitable organisations and sponsors as well as generous individuals while the church provides the ambience and main support for exhibitors.

The event will be officially flagged off by the Senior Pastor of the church, Taiwo Daniel Odukoya, on Saturday.

Oluwole has authored several books and his scholarly contributions have featured in several academic journals. Some of his published books include: Pathway to Victory (gleaning from the book of Esther), Turning your shame to fame and several other books.

A seasoned educational administrator, Oluwole is a member of several profession-al bodies such as Internat-ional Council For Higher Education

(ICHE) West Africa, Nigerian Association for Biblical Studies (NABIS), Nigeria Expository Preaching Initiative, Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria (CIPMN) and the Teacher ’s Registration Council Of Nigeria (TRCN) He is a recipient of several awards due to his academic brilliance, administrative and managerial acumen.

Winners emerge at school Bible quiz

T

HE annual National Secondary School Bible Quiz organised by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), ended last weekend at The Apostolic Church, PalmGrove Assembly, Lagos, with Prestige Educational Center, Port Harcourt, Rivers State emerg-ing winner, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Prestige Educational Center came first with 130 points followed

by Mary Summer Juniorate, Okpofe, with 120 points and Kishi Community Grammar School, Oke Ogun was placed third with 110 points.

Participants were drawn from Kishi Community Grammar School, Oke Ogun, Oyo State; Mary Summer Juniorate, Okpofe, Imo State and Prestige Educational Center, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and

questions were drawn from the books of Isaiah and Revelation.

In a welcome address, Rev. Dare Ajiboye, the General Secretary of BSN represented by the Assistant General Secretary, Publishing, Pastor Victor Damilare, explained that the quiz serves as a platform for the students to interact and also have a deep knowledge of the Word of God. He urged the participating schools to look beyond the prize but endeavour to study the bible, internalise its teachings and allow it to shape their future.

Enumerating the role of parents in the lives of the child, Damilare said the father has the larger responsibility of inculcating right attitude and teaching the children in the way of the Lord.

Chairman of the occasion, Mrs. Igbinike Taiwo, admon-ished the students to be obedient to God’s word, serve Him diligently.

tradicts it elsewhere.

He says: “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast.” (2 Corinthians 12:1). Nevertheless, he goes right ahead to boast: “I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 12:1). The trick he uses here is to boast of himself as if he were boasting about someone else.

Paul says: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows- such a one was caught up to the third heaven… Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-5).

Who is the man Paul is boasting about here who was allegedly caught up to heaven? It is none other than Paul himself. Thus, Paul still manages to boast about himself even while saying he will not. And even after boasting, he continues to insist that he is not boasting at all: “For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth.” (2 Corinthians 12:6). For Paul, such outright lie is the truth.

Double-tongued Paul What are we to make of Paul who knows it is ungodly to be boastful, but still ends up boasting while excusing his boastfulness? James calls someone like Paul: “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8). One thing is clear, it is ludicrous to insist the word of a man like Paul is the word of God. Paul bears little resemblance to God. God “does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).

Nevertheless, many Christians are besotted with Paul, even calling him Jesus’ greatest apostle.

But the truth of the matter is that Jesus is as different from Paul as cheese is from chalk.

Jesus is not a double-tongued.

He lived exactly what he preached. His message is without hypocrisy. Jesus says: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14).

Laf f 4 Change holds Dec 7

BENJY

B

ENJY D’ Joke, a Christian comedian together with his friends in the entertainment industry will thrill the people of Lagos with Laff 4 Change at The Redeemed Christian Church, Cornerstone parish, Okota.

The season four of Laff 4 Change which takes place on Sunday, December 7, by 5pm is expected to feature notable comedians and a Christian musician, Buchi. Some of them are: D -Don, Yaw, Omobaba, Shakara, Senator, Elenu, Akpororo among others, with Julius, the genius Agwu featuring as special guest appearance.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 51

NIGERIA ON THE BRINK OF ECONOMIC DOOM?

A catastrophe foretold! *Can the nation pull back? *How downturn may affect you, your business, everything!

T

his report examines the duplicitous com plicity of handlers of Nigeria’s economy in the emerging economic crisis occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil. It then concludes that Nigerian must prepare for a long night of hardship because some of the measures being put in place to restore confidence would come with much pain and less gain “ Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.” Brewer Stock, VANGUARD BOOK p 202.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS An accident is what happens unexpectedly; a disaster foretold and without those likely to be the victims taking preemptive steps to mitigate the impacts of the unavoidable turn of events is totally indefensible. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was correct when she said she was not responsible for the devaluation of the Naira. That the devaluation would have happened irrespective of what was done and when. Her role C M Y K

in what will follow from now can be characterised as benign neglect of her duties as the nation’s chief fiscal policy manager and procrastination; the latter for political reasons.

All the signs were there, that crude oil as foreign exchange earner, for Nigeria, was already on its way out – just as copper ’s decline spelt doom for Zambia in the 1980s.

The Age of Silicon brought to an end the Age of Copper and Chile,as well as Zambia as both countries found their economies in turmoil. For Nigeria, the Age of Oil is coming to an end and the sooner we faced that reality the better for us. Instead of the bold and radical departure required, the Federal Government had been operating as if this is just another cyclical downturn for crude – after which it would bounce back and return to $110 per barrel.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Let us examine the evidence.

Four major developments account for this transformation. They are: • Loss of best customer, The

All the signs were there, that crude oil as foreign exchange earner, for Nigeria, was already on its way out – just as copper’s decline spelt doom for Zambia in the 1980s

United States of America, US, which also morphed into a competitor • Intensified competition; loss of market share • Slowing global economy • Domestic economic terrorism At one point the US was buying close to one third of our global crude oil export.

The loss of that market was not only devastating by itself, no other country could take up the same volume – not even India. More catastrophic still, the US became an oil exporting country. In plain language, it became a competi-

tor – but one with a mission.

And that mission is to dominate the global oil trade. A look at the long term plans of the US companies, now exporting finished and crude petroleum products, would convince any doubters about their intention to be in the market for as long as possible. That cannot be less than a generation – defined as 30 years. So we are faced with a long term problem – totally unprepared.

The US, however, is not the only competitor we have to contend with. Oil, apparently, is more widely distributed

than previously assumed. In Africa, Ghana and Angola, not oil producers, even as late as 2000, are now oil producers. Angola, meanwhile, has overtaken Nigeria in crude oil output. Intensified competition, at a time global demand dips, will certainly further depress prices. Things will get worse before they get better – if ever there is a return to the good old days.

Slower global economic growth, with the exception of the US, which is experiencing robust growth, is already reducing aggregate demand for crude worldwide. Unfortunately, crude suppliers are behaving exactly the way any oligopoly – a market characterised by few producers who know what each is doing – each nation is cutting price in order to retain its share of the universal market. Too many of the countries have survived on crude and they have no ready substitute for it in their financial plans. Crude oil has become the opium of the oil producers. Weaning them, including Nigeria, from it Continues on page 52

PAGE 52—SUNDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

A catastrophe foretold!

Continued from page 51 would be as difficult as getting drug addicts to kick the habit.

While all the oil producers have most of the same problems, Nigeria has one that is uniquely its own – economic terrorism. Some of its features include oil theft, deliberate and inadvertent damage to pipelines, under-cutting of official selling prices and denial of revenue to the country – including tax evasion. Several syndicates have become established for all of these. And because appetite grows with eating, they want more – even if the nation receives less. It will amount to grand illusion to expect they will curtail their activities – now that Nigeria needs more revenue.

WHAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HAVE DONE The federal and state governments, acting through the Council of State, should have approved a global study to assess the enormity of the threats to our crude oil sales. The most noticeable thing is the absence of joint responsibility to examine the dangers developing worldwide and which had combined to bring us now to the brink of economic catastrophe. One former governor of an oil producing state, in the Niger Delta, suspecting that tankers were being overloaded, hired detectives to track a shipment of crude to Europe. His worst fears were confirmed. The shipment declared in Nigeria was less than the volume in the European terminal – where governments don’t condone corruption.

More importantly, the President, the governors, the federal and state legislatures should have collectively downsized long ago. The presidential system is inherently very expensive – even when there is a great deal of transparency and accountability. Where corruption is high, it becomes totally ruinous.

Here again, the Federal Government should have led by example. President Goodluck Jonathan set up the Danjuma Committee to advise on what to do earlier on. Another committee was established to appraise the public service. Both recommended downsizing. Nigeria with a population of 170 million operates with 44 Ministers and uncountable Advisers; China, with 1.2 billion people and larger landmass and GDP is managed by less than 20 Ministers. The difference is clear.

Tax evasion among the wealthy, collecting close to 90 per cent of income, duty waivers granted to some of the same tax evaders and politisation of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, have ensured that optimum revenue collection evades the country.

Finally, import restriction should have been imposed at least a year ago. Who, in Nigeria, actually needs fruits, toothpicks and eggs on which we spend billions of dollars?

WORSE TO COME The devaluation of the currency, just announced, certainly too late, will bring with it the same set of hardships associated with it. Devaluation ordinarily makes imports more expensive while promoting exports. But, it only works if the nation has a basket of exportable products. Where there is no demonstrable surplus of any product to export and the nation is import dependent, devaluation visits all the pains without any gains to compensate.

Among the pains are inflation (higher prices), reduced aggregate demand; declining capacity, factory closures, bad debts and more unemployment. Nothing

done by government will avert all these.

Granted, devaluation will increase the Naira supply to government, helping them to pay salaries, but the pervasive price increases will nullify any benefits to public servants. Pensioners, the unemployed and those on fixed income will find their purchasing power reduced considerably.

Banks face more bad debts or non-performing loans and they too will be forced to retrench workers.

BELATED AUSTERITY MEASURES The series of measures rolled out by the Minister of Finance, two weeks ago, cannot possibly solve the deep problems adequately. Procrastination has robbed them of any value they might have had. It is unfortunate, for the Jonathan administration and Okonjo-Iweala, that events beyond their control are shaping the future of our economy. The Minister, like most professional and seasoned economists, knows that these measures should have been taken several months ago. But, the consequences of those policy initiatives would have negatively affected the President’s re-election bid. Even the Central Bank, which reluctantly devalued the currency, last week, knew that it should have acted long before currency speculators started to target the Naira for attack.

•Ekiti House of crisis.

The official devaluation of the currency has merely reduced the rate at which the Naira is going down. At the parallel market, it is sold at N183/$1 instead of N168.

Chances are, it will go down more.

It is understandable that the newly ap-

pointed CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele bent over backwards ro continue to accommodate the Federal Government whose fiscal policies were wrecking the economy. The CBN adopted a wait and see attitude, while the external reserves rapidly declined. Last week, Emefiele, wisely, decided he could wait no longer – because he had seen enough. There is a slight rebuke in that step for the Finance Minister.

South Africa spent to increase power supply by 8,000MW. This government came into office making the familiar promises, which are becoming like biscuits – made to be broken. Nothing of significance has occurred.

So, it is not surprising that the current downturn in the price of crude oil leaves us on familiar spot.

The list of missed opportunities is almost endless.

ONCE UPON A COUNTRY As usual, Nigeria is going through the same process of managing a rapid rise or fall in the price of crude oil. From the first sudden rise in 1973, which ended with Shagari in 1982, to the slow down from 1982 till Abacha’s government in 1998, when it started rising again, every government had promised to promote diversification of the economy to reduce our dependence on the commodity. None had fulfilled that promise. Every upturn in the price of crude had resulted in policy somersault. Like all addicts, governments quickly return to their profligate habits, forget policy options embraced when price of crude was low and go on a spending spree. The Babangida administration introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, when crude was under $10 per barrel. It lavished N40 billion (equivalent of N2.4 trillion today) on the election which was annulled after June 12, 1993. Till today, nobody knows precisely what happened to the $13-$16bn which former President Olusegun Obasanjo spent on power. That was less money than

EFFECT ON GOVERNMENTS The Excess Crude Account, ECA, and the external reserves, which had been used to shield the three tiers of government from reality, are getting depleted. Very soon, government, all over the country, will face the stark reality that they cannot adequately fund their budget for the balance of this year. Furthermore, those who already sent their 2015 budgets to the legislators will have to recall them for urgent review.

The truth is, this is not going to be a short-term downturn. It will last quite a while and there is nothing in the austerity measures recently announced to prevent major financial problems nationwide.

IMPACT ON NIGERIANS The wealthy will probably weather the storm better than others. Some might even get richer. But, for the vast majority of Nigerians, 2015 is a year to dread. It will be the first of several years of additional hardship.

Only God knows when the end will come.

SUNDAY

CBN’S DESPERATE MEASURES

Nigerians should not face desperate times — Atiku F

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar and APC presidential aspirant, in this piece, analyses the measures taken by the authorities to save the economy The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria rose from its meeting of 25th November, 2014 to announce a string of measures ostensibly to reduce pressure on the Naira and achieve macroeconomic stability. The committee considered vulnerabilities in the domestic as well as the exposure to changes in the global economies.

In the communiqué issued by the committee, it claimed that “the domestic economy is strong and resilient in the face of strong global head winds”. The bank also projected a 7 per cent overall growth of the economy in 2014, a figure better than the 5.5% recorded in 2013. The committee equally noted that “the robust expansion in domestic output in the third quarter of 2014 against tepid growth in the global economy was anchored by the improved performance in services, agriculture, trade and industry”.

These are contradictions that are not consistent with the prevailing realities on ground and neither can this be the true premise for justify the drastic panic measures being taken.

The committee claimed that a total of 600,000 jobs were created in the second and third quarters of 2014 and that most of these jobs were created in the informal sector. In reality, most of these jobs are mere hand-outs based on fanciful schemes with attractive acronyms. They add very little to the National Productivity Index and have been designed for cosmetic political intentions.

The claim by the CBN that under the 200million Naira Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, 166,790 jobs have been created since 2009 is despicable. This amounts to creating 33,000 jobs per year at the cost of 1.2million Naira per each creation. This is probably the most expensive way of creating jobs in agriculture anywhere in the world.

The point that I am trying to make is that the managers of our economy should be sincere with themselves and be sincere with Nigerians. Hiding under the umbrella of international economic development trend to justify our current predicament is misleading and deceitful.

The economy is not as strong as they make us believe and the “global head winds” cannot fully explain our dilemma.

Key vulnerabilities in the economy have been noticed a long time ago.

Months ago, I warned that that the economy was headed for hard times if changes were not made immediately. My position was informed by a number of reasons which I observed at that time namely: I. Uncontrolled spending and lack of discipline in budgetary implementation both of which propelled the nation into foreign and domestic debt portfolios.

Foreign debt ($3.9 billion in 2007 to $9.3 billion now).

Domestic borrowing (now N8.9 trillion).

II. Rapid depletion of our external

reserves at a height of $68 billion under Yar’Adua in 2008 to as low as $36.75 billion at the end of October 2014.

III. Misapplication of the Excess Crude Account which stood at $22 billion in 2008 but now as low as $470m with nothing much to show for it in terms of investment with recoverable revenues IV. Sluggish effort at diversifying into other non-oil sectors of the Nigerian economy with the attendant exposure to the vagaries of global economy.

V. The unacceptable cost of governance in which a disproportionate percentage of the budget is being allocated to recurrent expenditures.

Sleep-walk into austerity I warned that the trend will leave our economy undiversified and make us sleep-walk into austerity.

Nigeria used to have, in 2008, a Foreign Exchange Import Cover of up to 24 months but now have less than 7 months cover despite experiencing nearly six years of oil boom. This administration has been engaged in frivolous spending, careless borrowing and poor savings. This extravagance and inability to put enough away to absorb and cushion potential shocks in global oil price fluctuations shows a high level of negligence and lack of vision.

Excessive government borrowing and higher bond repayment prices with higher interest rates have also significantly contributed to the present problem.

It is also alarming that the committee admitted in the communiqué that the depletion of the foreign exchange “does not seem to have any bearing on the genuine foreign exchange need of the country”. This is probably the most sincere admission of the Bank to its incapacity to discharge a critical aspect of its mandate.

The bank needs to fine-tune its policies such that while targeting currency speculators on the one hand, we can boost investors’ confidence on the other to forestall dreadful capital flight.

Most importantly, we need to deliberately intervene for SMEs whose operations require Foreign Expenditure so as to ensure that people can keep their jobs. We cannot afford to worsen the already bad unemployment rate. There is need to suspend all non-essential business regulations that will hamper the growth and sustenance of small businesses until such time that the ECA reaches a certain threshold.

Unfortunately, there has been poor disclosure of true state of the country’s finances. This has made it difficult for anybody with good intention to diagnose and prescribe corrective measures. This has also led to constant mistrust and constant squabbles between the Federal government and the states at FAAC meetings resulting from haphazard and arbitrary allocation of funds to states.

It is gratifying that the Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN has now resolved

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 53

is already too high and this needs to be reviewed. We should no longer continue to build our castle in the air when other countries have reduced their benchmark to below $70. Planning on a benchmark of $78 will make a nonsense of the 2015 Budget from day 1 unless we resort to borrowing again.

We should retain only those regulations whose social benefits clearly outweigh their cost.

Creating an export o r i e n t e d agricultural market is the best way to improve productivity, strengthen farmers income, ease •Atiku ... Businesses may have to cut jobs r u r a l unemployment, r e d u c e poverty and forestall rural-urban migration. We should now be realistic with genuine development in Agriculture by setting up an Agricultural Pre-export Financing Facility such that farmers will have a real choice as to whom they will sell their produce under competitive pricing.

It is also about time to consider realistic opportunities to reduce the cost of governance. It is not too late to re-evaluate the application of the ECA and channel some part of the account to act as a “Global Oil Price Equalization Fund”. This will act to offset the possible future losses from downward oil price fluctuations.

I have always advocated for and I believe it is critical to have a truly independent Central Bank of Nigeria, which will adequately intervene without recourse to the Federal Government in a timely and efficient manner.

The Debt Management Office also needs to be strengthened and equipped to play its oversight role rather than being used as a mere rubberstamp for executive borrowing.

In the near future, we may need to consider hedging global oil price fluctuations using “Crude Oil Futures”.

This is an internationally adopted commodity exchange instrument, which to take some measures. The reality is that seeks to lock future prices of oil to avoid these actions may have come too late. losses from reduced prices. This, however, The increase in CRR (from 15% to 20%) can only be effectively accomplished and MPR (from 12% to 13%) will obviously through the strengthening and increase the cost of borrowing. This will modernization of our Commodity affect small and medium businesses and Exchange reduce their capacity to expand and create Corruption, nepotism jobs. While the banks and speculators are Whatever measures are recommended legitimate primary targets of the CBN and put in place by the CBN, as long as action, the challenge of protecting small the fundamental issues underpinning the scale businesses must be equally development of a robust economy is not addressed. comprehensively addressed, it will all The movement of the mid-point of the amount to chasing shadows. Government critical window of the Foreign Exchange policies should focus on the provision of Market from N155 to N168/ US$ has adequate infrastructure which are officially devalued the Naira. In essence, necessary for economic growth. the Naira has depreciated by 45% within Government should address the security a space of 6 years. The CBN’s action is challenges to ensure national cohesion, only a first move. The Naira may have to social and political stability, all of which be further devalued as stated in the CBN are required to boost investor confidence communiqué which claimed that “unlike and grow the economy. in previous episodes the current If we p r o m o t e g o v e r n m e n t t o g downturn in oil prices is not transitory o v e r n m e n t ( G 2 G ) partnership and but appears to be permanent” devolve responsibilities and resources to The continued volatility of the Naira can where it can best be utilized for the only spell disaster for the economy. The common good, we will have opened a Naira already trades outside the new pathway to reduce the cost of governance. band, meaning that all Nigerians will Developing accountable institutions for suffer. Small and medium businesses who efficient service delivery will forestall were already starved of funds will now leakages through corruption, have even more difficulties accessing mismanagement and misapplication of funds. This leads to less revenues for public funds. businesses, and less revenues means less Above all, we must drastically sanction potential for job creation. corruption and nepotism and create High benchmark competitive services that will stimulate the Businesses may now have to cut jobs to growth of a private sector driven economy. balance their books. This is the last thing Even though the economy is in a Nigeria needs when we should be creating desperate situation that warrants desperate more jobs. We are facing a potential measures, Nigerians should not be made economic crisis and the Federal to face desperate times without hope for a Government needs to change its ways. better tomorrow.

The proposed crude benchmark of $78

I warned that the trend will leave our economy undiversified and make us sleep-walk into austerity

PAGE 54—SUNDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

We don’t need austerity measures – Issa Aremu, Labour leader The United Nations General Assembly declared November 20 every year since 1990 as Africa Industrialisation Day. The 2014 commemoration of the day took place under the theme: ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development: Africa Agro Industry for Food Security’ .Comrade Issa Aremu, General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), spoke on the occasion.

Extracts from his speech: AFRICA INDUSTRIALIZATION DAY frica Industrialization Day is commemorated on November 20 every year. It is a day set aside annually “to stimulate the international community’s commitment to the industrialization of Africa”. It offers an ample time when governments and other critical stakeholders like trade unions in many African countries consider various ways to refine and deepen Africa’s industrialization process. The whole idea is for all the stakeholders to see the need to industrialise the continent.

A

HISTORY In the past five years, some select industrial unions in Nigeria that currently belong to IndustriALL Global Union have been observing the day with activities. Sustainable industrial development is one of the primary focuses of IndustriALL Global Union. IndustriALL lays emphasis on beneficiation. Africa is endowed with raw materials but not adding value to them. Africa should stop being exporter of raw materials and jobs but producer of manufacturing goods and retainer of jobs.

Two years ago, the trilateral meeting between the NLC, COSATU and Ghana TUC emphasized commitment to the Africa Industrialisation Day. However, since the past three years, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) has been partnering with the Nigeria trade unions to organize roundtable to mark the day.

As part of the activities in

Nigeria to observe the “Africa Industrialization Day”, the Nigeria trade unions notably a select group of private sector trade unions from the Textile, Construction, Agricultural, Chemical and Non-Allied, Steel and Engineering, Petroleum and Natural Gas in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) is focusing on the privatization of PHCN and to x-ray the recently launched Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) by the Federal Government.

The programme is the third in the series of roundtables organized in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) to mark Africa Industrialisation Day. ACHIEVEMENTS · Critical achievements recorded within this past four years of our advocacy include: i) Official recognition that we must produce what we consume and consume what we produce. ii) Launching of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) focusing on 10 critical sectors that include textiles, food and beverages, chemical, automobile, petroleum sector among others. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the full implementation of the NIRP. Labour will partner with government to make sure we realize the vision of NIRP. To this extent, Labour should serve in the presidential advisory council of the NIRP. iii.

Intervention Fund for Textile Industry which has helped to address the problem of financing in the industry. iv. iv) New policy shift in the automobile industry which puts restriction on importation of different cars to the country. v. v) Power sector reforms – there cannot be industrialization without electrification. vi) Backward Integration in sub-sectors of the economy especially in agric, cement and sugar production. vii) Ministry of Industry commitment to Africa Industrialization Day.

Issa Aremu ... advocates accelerated industrial revolution plan

As significant as these achievements are, the current reality is that Africa’s share of world GDP is still less than 1 per cent.

Nigerian manufacturing sector has failed to undergo the critical structural transformation necessary for it to play a leading role in economic growth and development. The sector is structurally weak and basic industries such as iron and steel are not fully in place. The technological base for manufacturing is lacking in many sectors.

The skilled manpower necessary to guarantee competitiveness in today’s dynamic and globalized world is insufficient. Systemic issues of infrastructure, mostly related to power and transport have led to escalating costs and non competitive operations.

Consequently, the sector is

Capacity utilization is still very low due to low patronage of goods, power supply crisis among other problems.

Nigeria is still having jobless growth. Growth is not driven by manufacturing. Dumping, Counterfeiting and unfair trade practices are still on.

Even with all the efforts in the agric sector, our import bill though has reduced but still high. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has disclosed that Nigeria’s food importation bill has reduced

by N906 billion from the initial N2.3 trillion. In spite of this commendable reduction, import Bill is still unacceptably high given the capacity of Nigeria for food production and food processing.

Which makes the theme of this year ’s Africa Industrialisation Day ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development; Africa Agro Industry for Food Security’ quite timely.

The announcement of austerity measures by the Finance Minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, shows Nigeria’s dependence on oil instead of non- oil sector unable to attract the necessary investment for economic growth and remains a small player in the economy.

In recent years, the sectors share of GDP has remained less than 4 per cent, contributions to foreign exchange earnings have been minimal, and the share of employment and government revenue generated have been low. Significant as these achievements are, however the current reality is;

AUSTERITY MEASURES The announcement of austerity measures by the Finance Minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, shows Nigeria’s dependence on oil instead of non- oil sector. Nigeria suffers the problem of resource curse such that a drop in the crude oil price has totally altered the parameters of the annual budget.

What we need is not austerity measure but accelerated

implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan to grow the non- oil sector. We should build on the strengths of Nigeria’s raw materials, large market and abundant and minimize the weaknesses of policy inconsistency and weak infrastructure to grow the non- oil sector.

SALUTE We identify with the investment patriotism and pan Africanism of the President/ Chief Executive of Dangote Group of industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON. Africa is a resource rich continent yet it has low levels of industrialization, with materials being exported in its raw form. Labour is excited that Dangote Group of industries is changing the narrative of the continent from that of ‘resource curse’ to resource beneficiation, value addition and mass employment through industrialization and internal articulation of African economy.

Aliko Dangote is said to be the richest man in Africa. But what is significant for us is that his wealth is based on value adding manufacturing activities ranging from production of cement, sugar and flour among others. The unprecedented investment of $9billion in oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria by Dangote Group is also highly commendable.

We also recognize and commend the efforts at the state level particularly of states like Osun with the establishment of Omoluabi Garment Factory and Kano State where Governor Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso is setting up garment factories in the 44 local government areas of the state. Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has also demonstrated commitment to patronize local tailors in the state for sewing of school uniforms as well as setting up of a garment institute in Imo State.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 55

‘The structure of the economy must change’

BY UDEME CLEMENT

Being the concluding part of the interview on austerity measures with Akpan Ekpo, a professor of economics and Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM).

VENTS have happened in quick succession on the economic front over the past few weeks. Oil price fell, austerity measures were announced, the CBN devalued the Naira from N155 official exchange rate to N168 per dollar.

What are the implications for Nigeria?

The CBN is using monetary policy to address the seeming economic crisis in the country as a result of dwindling oil prices.

The problem is that the measures appear too many and are to be implemented at the same time. The fiscal side of the story though not under the purview of the CBN is not clear.

However, the Ministry of Finance is a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), hence the fiscal variable should be in the CBN’s reaction function. In this scenario, we need proper co-ordination of both monetary and fiscal policy.

The measures portray a panic situation in an environment of increased risks and uncertainties. In an economy that relies heavily on neo-liberal economic policy, the CBN cannot do otherwise.

E

The measures are not only short-term but would bring untold hardship to almost all sectors of the economy. We are told that there are long-term gains. How long is the long-run!

In the long-run, we are all dead though not all at the same time.

Reserves are dwindling due to declining oil revenues, elections are around the corner and the economy is heavily importdependent. Hence, the CBN increases the Marginal Policy Rate (MPR) in anticipation of inflationary pressures. The Excess Crude Account (ECA) is no longer there because if it was available, the economy would rely on it in the short-term. These measures to bail a dependent primitive capitalist economy may have short-term positive effects but would not change the structure of the economy.

Increase in lending rates would further kill the real sector. You cannot stop speculation in a market economy. It is a casino economy with the major stakeholders as gamblers. Yes, the Foreign Direct Investment (DFI), whose major component is portfolio investment would decline because the investors speculate, watch the market and as soon as things are bearish, they pick-up their portfolio and move on. How many of the foreign investors have physically built new factories in the country to employ a sizeable work-force?

Consequently, the CBN with all its competent experts cannot go beyond the economic framework implemented by the State. It may

Prof. Akpan Ekpo ... Economy not in recession for now

The devaluation would favour foreign investors who would bring in foreign currency and change to millions of Naira and invest in the service sectors of the economy

shape the framework but it cannot go outside it.

How do you explain the effect on the Naira to a common man?

The local currency has been devalued in an attempt to manage the exchange rate. The official rate is now N168 to the Dollar from N155, with a band of +/- 5 per cent. The black market rate would increase if oil revenues continue to decline because there would not be enough Dollars to back the Naira, prices would increase, which may worsen the inflationary situation if it persists. Normally, you devalue to earn more revenue for government because your goods would be cheaper. But in this case, our major export is crude oil, we have no control of both the price and output. Oil is an exogenous source of revenue.

The structure of our economy must change in favour of production, manufacturing must contribute about 25 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the economy must be industrialised. We must produce and export finished or semifinished goods in sphere of production. The devaluation would favour foreign investors who would bring in foreign currency and change to millions

of Naira and invest in the service sectors of the economy.

The CBN also increased lending rate from 12 to 13 percent. What would be the effect on borrowers and can the situation get better or worse?

The lending rates would increase above the current 25 per cent, hence small-scale investors would find it extremely difficult to borrow and invest.

The unemployment situation may worsen. Banks would struggle for funds to shore up their balance sheets. There is no doubt that declining oil revenue would have adverse effect on the economy. For the government to contemplate austerity measures signifies the seriousness of the matter.

The government can no longer rely on ECA because the account itself needs to be replenished with revenue from oil. It may become difficult to back the Naira. If greater weight is placed on the market to determine the exchange rate, that is, floating the currencies then prices would rise. Imports would be affected, foreign exchange is needed to pay for imports of goods and services and the Nigeria’s economy is heavily import depended.

This is the time to think outside the box. It calls for economic self-reliance but the process must start now. The neo-liberal economic framework must be abandoned in favour of economic nationalism. The liberal framework deepens dependency. History is repeating itself, from austerity measures to stabilisation, to structural adjustment. This negative shock is another warning signal on how not to rely on exogenous source of revenue to finance development and drive the economy.

Is Nigeria’s economy in recession?

The economy is not in recession for now. Government data show that the economy is growing at about 6 per cent and inflation is single-digit. The relevant macroeconomic fundamentals are moving in the right direction for now. For how long remains a challenge. The unemployment rate of almost 30 per cent makes mockery of macro -economic stability.

Though the economy is not in a recession, the “misery index” has been rising. General economic performance is poor.

Have we ever experienced recession in Nigeria?

Yes of course. Every market economy goes through the business cycle. A dependent capitalist economy like Nigeria cannot escape recession or depression. It is a recurring decimal in such economies. If nothing else, Nigeria’s economy would experience recession as a client based on the dependent and periphery nature of its system. A depression is a prolonged recession. No two of them are alike. The economy experienced recession in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The global economic crisis of 2007/ 2008 also affected Nigeria. If any known market economy would have escaped from recession, it would be the USA economy. Despite the better management of the economy, it experiences periodic recessions and the last global economic recession was triggered by the collapse of the sub-mortgage sector in the USA. Could government have handled the situation better and what effect would it have on fuel subsidy?

Within the context of the neoliberal economic framework, the government would remove subsidy. However, subsidy is not bad. It depends whether you are subsidising consumption or production. In addition, can you properly target the population you want to subsidise? There is nothing wrong in assisting investors who wish to build refineries in the country because the advantages are too numerous to mention.

Election year is when the economy experiences excessive spending. What measures would you advise government to put in place in order to prevent rising inflation?

The ministry of finance is

responsible for fiscal matters, but because fiscal and monetary policies need to be coordinated, the CBN has a role to play. When there is excessive spending in the economy the CBN can use monetary policy to ensure that inflation is checked. So, the monetary authority can use monetary policy to reduce money supply in the economy in order to curtail inflation. We need the inter-play of fiscal and monetary policies to ensure that the economy does not deviate so much from its potential like relative full employment output, if that exists in an economy like Nigeria. We hope that the minister of finance would be able to handle the fiscal side to ensure stability now and even after election year.

Looking at the economy generally, what is the state of inflation now?

At present, inflation rate in Nigeria’s economy is single digit, which is about 8.7 percent.

But it is not a big deal in the sense that an economy can have 12 per cent inflation rate and still be doing well, once it is not runaway inflation. For example, there are countries with high inflation rate that are doing well. What is more important is to know your threshold, which is at what rate inflation becomes a problem in the economy. For Nigeria, if there is employment and we go up to 14 per cent there is nothing wrong. The rich can always draw from their savings to deal with high prices but the poor would be the most affected.

So, maintaining price stability is very important in an economy.

The single digit inflation shows that the variable is moving in the right direction, because it is one of the major maco-economic fundamentals.

Aside from inflation, what is giving serious problems to our economy is high rate of unemployment, which is almost 30 per cent now and still rising, especially among the youths.

Every year, thousands are thrown into the labour market. The rising unemployment is worrisome due to output loss and social problems it creates in the society. That is why one wonders why the economy is growing but not creating jobs.

What is the economic implication of rising unemployment in a growing economy like Nigeria?

It means the real sector has not been revamped. The real sector that is very crucial to development is still very weak.

The questions here are, what are the real problems? Why are the entrepreneurs not accessing various intervention funds from government? In reality, the small entrepreneurs are not benefiting from intervention funds approved by government to resuscitate the real sector, and we are being told that billions are there for them to access.

Many of them lament of unnecessary bureaucracy and stringent conditions of collateral that they cannot meet.

PAGE 56—SUNDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

A

s the price of oil in the in ternational market con tinues its downward trend, the Federal Government announced austerity measures to cushion its effect on the economy . The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also announced the devaluation of the Naira by N13.

The CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele explained that under the new arrangement, the Naira would now exchange for N168 instead of the old official rate of N155 to the U.S. Dollar.

Chief Martins Onovo, a petroleum engineer, in this interview, says the measures taken by the Federal Government are long overdue and superficial.

Reactions have continued to trail the austerity measures announced by the Federal Government in response to the falling price of crude oil, a major revenue earner for the country.

What is your view on that?

We must first acknowledge the intolerable level of waste and corruption in Nigeria. We must also restate that the dip in oil price has been expected since the last two years and that an effective government could have developed a response much earlier. The measures taken by the Federal Government are long overdue and superficial. With the level of underdevelopment in Nigeria, any responsible government could have taken these steps many years back. Considering the technological advancements in alternative energy and the production of shale oil, international oil demand was very clearly expected to drop and drag prices down.

The government in power must control its wastefulness and ostentatious taste. In addition, a robust anti-corruption program must be implemented immediately. Appropriate austerity

The Naira today in 2014 has lost over 99.5 percent of its value in 1979.

Further devaluation will further impoverish the people, cause macroeconomic instability and distort the economy especially since the Nigerian economy is import dependent Chief Martins Onovo

Austerity measures long overdue — Onovo measures applied to waste and to the benefits of political office holders, in addition to a serious anti-corruption program can effectively reduce the impact of the drop in oil prices. Many wasteful cost items are loaded in our recurrent expenditure. Some of these include: the size of the presidential fleet, cost of medical tourism, the number of personal staff maintained by public officials, the size of official convoys, and the use of chartered private jets by public offi-

cials etc.

Prioritization of capital projects and optimization of project costs may be very expedient.

It may be appropriate to ask ourselves in what way the high oil prices of the last six years benefited the people of Nigeria.

It is paradoxical that we built the 2nd Port Harcourt refinery when the price of our oil was less than $18 per barrel and our production 1.2 million barrels per day.

With oil prices over $100 in the last six years and our production

of 2.4 million barrels per day, we could not build any new refinery and we could not even maintain the existing refineries. We could not even maintain the Port Harcourt – Enugu expressway or the Benin - Sagamu expressway. The waste and corruption in governance in Nigeria is simply fiendish.

Some financial experts have applauded Naira devaluation

by CBN as a crucial step to check the worrisome trend, Do you share their view?

In 1979,$1 exchanged for N0.75. Now 2014,$1 exchanges for N176.00. Arithmetically, the 2014 value of the Naira is only 0.44 percent (less than1%) of its 1979 value. The Naira today in 2014 has lost over 99.5 percent of its value in 1979. Further devaluation will further impoverish the people, cause macro-economic instability and distort the economy especially since the Nigerian economy is import dependent contrary to the constitutional imperative for self-reliance. Devaluation is not positive but may be necessary now as a consequence of corruption, waste and inappropriate policies. We would not have had any need to consider devaluation if we had just maintained the lowest level of responsibility and patriotism.

Looking at the current state of the economy, what do you think is the way forward?

The economy is clearly in ruins considering the level of corruption, directionless,inflation, Infrastructure gap, poverty, unemployment rate, waste, sabotage, pressure on our Naira, our phenomenal national debt and the looming debt crisis. The way forward may seem simple but the political rulers clearly seem to be determined to destroy the economy with corruption and waste. The basis of the way forward is the need for increased domestic productivity. Increased domestic productivity requires integrity in public life, improved work ethics, proper planning, appropriate and complementary policies, improved power, improved Infrastructure, robust public security. These can never be achieved without a legitimate, ethical and effective government. Therefore, we must focus on getting ethical,visionary, competent and patriotic persons into political offices.

How to effectively respond to changing global economy, by TEXEM These Executive Minds (TEXEM) proffers the way forward amid Nigeria’s latest economic crisis

N

othing is more critical to harnessing the signif icant growth potential of Africa than being able to respond quickly to change in this era of globalisation and socioeconomic development. Given the rapid economic, commerce and social developments in subSaharan Africa over the past few years, this is particularly true for African organisations. Organisations operating in Africa must evolve in line with increasing investor interest, an expanding middle class, and accelerated economic growth, among other major trends - the forthcoming programme at the University of Oxford would help organisations to achieve this feat in a sustainable way.

A major challenge for many African countries, including Nigeria, is the inadequate infrastructure. Many sub-Saharan African countries lack a stable electrical grid, creating the need for scarce resources to be expended on fuel and generators.

Some organisations will expend up to 25 per cent of the revenue for these basic needs. Rail networks for the transportation of goods and people are either moribund or ineffective in most African countries. The health care system is limited and unreliable, often resulting in quality

health care being available only to those with financial or political influence. The large Gini coefficient (the gap between haves and have not) in many African countries contributes to political and personal insecurities.

There is a significant divergence between planning and actual implementation. While Nigeria’s 2014 budget is 4.962 trillion Naira, a lar0ge portion of those funds will be earmarked for projects that will never be implemented or are rife with mismanagement upon completion. The approval and disbursement system of the national budget is inconsistent and often delayed. All the above mentioned challenges reveal that poor leadership is the bane of African countries’ development.

An example of the dearth of leadership is exemplified by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s inability over three consecutive years to find a creditable former African president upon which to confer its award for outstanding leadership and governance. It is not that African leaders are evil people, but often they lack the leadership training and skills to deal with the critical issues facing the continent. Africa has a bright future with the potential for impressive growth

In order for Nigeria to become one of the world’s top economies in years to come, Nigerian executives will need to globalise their expertise and knowledge and a real chance to improve the lives of the people. However, for that to happen, there is an urgent need to provide the training that will lead to better leadership to take advantage of these opportunities? Once we get the leadership quotient right, Nigeria will be on the path to greatness. To be more competitive and sustainable, Nigerian organisations need to develop a knowledge-driven economy. More attention is needed for human resource management (including employee reward systems and talent development) that values the individual. Corruption is a negative drag on the economy and needs to be eliminated if the

long-term viability of the organisation is to be ensured. Nigerian organisations need to develop their competitive advantage and become more sustainable.

Creativity needs to be encouraged to harness the new ideas, innovations, and technologies that are rapidly being deployed in today ’s global knowledgedriven economy. This can best be accomplished by carrying out more research, managing the external environment, and developing learning organisations via capacity development.

In order for Nigeria to become one of the world’s top economies in years to come, Nigerian executives will need to globalise their expertise and knowledge in two key areas: Entrepreneurship and strategy. The Nigerian economy has historically been dependent on oil, which has now made the economy of the nation to be exposed to shocks due to the drop in the global price of crude which would have far reaching consequences on the value of the Naira, the price of imported goods and service and could lead to a potential budget deficit and balance of payment shortfall.

Therefore, it is essential for executives to gain knowledge on how to access new markets in order to diversify economic activity and exploit new opportu-

nities. A study by the World Bank in the past decade showed evidence that sound investment in infrastructure such as electricity will be able to increase the competitive advantage of a Nigerian based organisation by at least 30%. In fact, in spite of the poor power supply, the country is now the largest economy in Africa. The question to ask is, how large would the economy be once the power sector is fully revamped?

In line with the challenges outlined above, TEXEM (These Executive Minds) has partnered with the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment to deliver a programme on Strategy and Performance for Sustainability.

This programme is designed for senior executives from both the public and private sector who are keen to learn more about how sustainability can increase organisational performance.

Our executive development programme is specifically tailored for Chairpersons and Members of Boards, CEOS, Managing Directors, Executive and Non-Executive Directors, Vice-Chancellors, Permanent Secretaries, Directors General, Chief Financial Officers, and Chief Operating Officers just to mention a few roles.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 57 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Mirage, Adeola Balogun’s visual voice to Chibok girls saga ByJAPHET ALAKAM VISUAL

B

arely few months after his return from residency in the UAE, sculptor and lecturer at Yaba College of Technology, Adeola Balogun is back to the exhibition hall again with another solo exhibition titled Mirage; an exhibition of sculptures and drawings. The exhibition which focuses on his experimental encounters in recent times in some areas he visited and other issues that has happened in Nigeria, especially, the case of the abducted Chibok girls which has caused a lot of damage to the image of Nigeria and the expectations of the people towards their release opened yesterday at Quintessence gallery, Admiralty way, Lekki, Lagos and is expected to run till December 12, 2014 .

Balogun who is imbued with the idea born out of the need to give meaning to items and objects that have lost their primary purpose, like tyres, mesh, iron sponge, aluminiun plates, charcoal etc is presenting over 30 works that he did recently to the world, 22 drawings and 8 sculptures.

Speaking on the title, Balogun disclosed that he is using the works as a metaphor to reflect on the

some issues in Nigeria especially the missing girls and what the federal government are doing about it.

To him, the days has gone to weeks, months and no one prays it goes to years, but on the surface with what is going on it is like it has become a mirage, which no one prays it will.

In this exhibition, Balogun who is noted for his sculptural pieces is presenting about 22 drawings compared to 8 sculptures, something that can be seen as a departure from from his previous shows.

Making reference to folklores and legend and the lessons thereof, for example using the Aladin and the magic lamp story, Balogun tried to connect man to the universe, pointing out that life is just a matter of attracting whatsoever we think.

These he reflected in some of t h e sculptural pieces.

I n another group, the artists highlights some of

the ills in the society especially corruption in some of the works like Through her heart, a metal work depicting what happens in our hearts. Hiding place,a 2d piece made with tyre and aluminium. In it he says that there is always a hiding place in Nigeria and that is why many evils thrive, while Protective Ring, a metaphor that •Veiled and Through our heart, some of the works by Balogun connotes the fact that the evil doers are known expectant that may be the but nothing happens to them. girls will be back. There is The desire to articulate my In the last group featuring also a picture of a woman in perception and conception in a drawings like tangible format is a constant Mirage 1-3, Veiled celebration mood, a nudge in my creative impulse. series, the artist situation many look up to I leverage on accessible material takes a visual look when the girls finally comes to connect and distil my visual at the trauma of the back.

In his artistic statement, encounters.” parents of the Continuing, he stated that, Balogun said, “My works Chibok girls are “My charcoal drawing serves as are reflective of either a facing, the a spontaneous exercise and challenges faced spontaneous engagement or channel through which the real long contemplation on my by the female folk and surreal coalesce to reference and why much visual encounters which are my multiple cultural interactions usually transient but attention is not in recent time. The spontaneity given to women memorable. I often engage in my rhythmic and crossand others. One of in resuscitation of seemingly hatched lines with varied the images depicts ‘dead’ discarded objects by thicknesses with dramatic a mother that is redirecting the inherent rendering alludes to the notion people’s divergent perplexed with the energy in order to offer them of situation at hand a new lease of life imbued perspective and opinion on a or viewed as a with fresh multilayered particular issue which is often mother who is meaning pertinent to my determined by numerous sensibilities.

My works are reflective of either a spontaneous engagement or a long contemplation on my visual encounters

Violence against women: Poets lend voice ByPRISCA SAM DURU READING

P

oets recently at the United States Consulate, Lagos, rose unanimously against violence metted out on women all over the world. The platform was ReaditLoud, a reading programme designed by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Consulate for writers to read and discuss their writing with fellow writers, with the view to making positive impact on the society.

The November edition focused on “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women/ 16 Days Campaign.” This programme was as interesting as it was sensitising due to its theme which in no less a manner, elicited an urgent need to redress issues negatively affecting women around the globe.

Through poems which either chronicles the ill treatments women and the girl child receive or those written in defense of the female folks, were read to the admiration of the audience.

My Pride by Omoteleola Vera-Cruz, A letter to Suzzie by Olalekan Alao, Happiness Is The Name They Call Me by

•Some of the participants during the reading Eugenia Agbakwuru, and many more, were the poems employed to send distress call to Nigeria, Africa and the entire world to stop every form of violence a g a i n s t women. It was emphasised that people should be mindful of the fact that whatever touches the women, touches the society negatively.

The Director,

Whitney M Young Information Resource Center PAS, US Consulate General, Samuel Eyitayo, stated that the essence of the theme was to see how “As a nation, we can stop violence against women” On the issue of domestic violence, advised y o u n g individuals

The reading event presented yet another opportunity to call for the unconditional release of the abducted Chibok girls

hoping to go into marriage some day, to ensure they avoid looking at the ephemeral but go into the process of marriage according to laid down instruction by God who created the institution of marriage.

That way he explained, they would have successful marriages. In as much as some cultures give men the audacity to lord things over their women leading to domestic violence, Eyitayo advised men to see their partners as precious beings who deserve to be loved and appreciated. Commitment, understanding and love are what he prescribed for vibrant homes.

On their part, the writers regretted that inspite of modernisation, some cultural practices such as girl child marriage, education of only male children and worse of them all, girl child circumcision are still being

practiced.

NGOs they opined, should be reorientated to be responsible and responsive to their duty towards addressing the plight of women. Some of the participants lamented that 80% of NGOs in the country are inactive. The Poets accused them of just idling, waiting for donor ’s fund before taking action or rendering voice to the oppressed. They however called on all NGOs to be united in a common course to make positive impact on the society.

The writers who harped on girl child education which was noted as the foundation for a brighter future of children, called on the government to ensure that relevant laws are put in place and offenders in cases such as rape, battering etc, are brought to book.

The reading event presented yet another opportunity to call for the unconditional release of the over 200 school girls abducted from a school in Chibok community, Borno State.

Regarding this issue, the poets regretted that while people appear tired of asking for the release of the school girls, more and more are being abducted and maimed by Boko Haram sect.

PAGE 58—SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

MBA: Fears as new generation writers emerge

By UDUMA KALU LITERATURE

W

hen is a generation? Is there a new Nigerian generation, the fourth? What defines this new writing? Who are its writers and leaders?

Does this signify a new nation? And as patrons of Nigerian literature, Niger state’s governor Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and Rivers governor Chibike Amaechi may exit next year, will the MBA colloquium and Port Harcourt Literary Festival survive?

These questions and more agitated the minds of those that attended the 4th MBA International Colloquium held from Nov 10-12 at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference, Minna.

Themed ‘Leadership and National Development and Post Centenary Nigeria: New Literatures, New Leaders and New Nation’, the event featured former Mozambique leader Sir Joaquim Chissano (Colloquium), and Prof. Pius Adesanmi (Pre Colloquium) as key speakers.

Other speakers were Ms. Unoma Azuah, Chiedu Ezeanah, Sumaila Umaisha, Chinyere Obi Obasi and Denja Abdullahi. Prof Ibrahim Gambari was billed to chair the event Was absent and so Adesanmi sat in his place.

And there were school children too being lured into the literary world and leadership.

Indeed, Adesanmi had set the leadership tone in his keynote speech from a generational stand point.

He therefore spent a considerable time on this, insisting with Chinua Achebe that “the writer cannot be expected to be excused from the task of nation building and other socio-political debts to his society.” He noted Soyinka’s wasted generation quote and Femi Osofisan’s lecture in University of Leeds on Nigeria as a failed utopia.

Adesanmi’s generation, like the other two, also engaged Nigeria as it was not satisfied with the Nigerian project.

Itemising his generation’s attempt at revamping

By CALEB AYANSINA HERITAGE

Onyekachi Peter Onuoha, Rosemary Ede, Saddiq M. Dzukogi.

However, the major concern for the organisers of the MBA colloquium was the sustainability of the literary confab.

Though Speaker of the State House of Assembly hoped the colloquium would continue, and Niger state being the first in the country to sign into law a bill that establishes a book agency empowered to handle book and literary issues, Mallam BM Dzukogi, Director General of the agency told •Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu(R) receiving Vanguard in his Minna copies of the Nigerian Writers Series publication from ANA office that in spite of the new vice President Denja Abdulahi law, there are rumours that the 2015 budget may approve generation as they took their Nigerian literature, Adesanmi only N20m for the agency. koboko and went after us.” gave insights into the definers Wondering what he could Adesanmi pointed out of the new writers who he said achieve with such sum as it that this new generation seem to be questioning the exile could not even organise the include: Richard Ali, Tolu option of the Adesanmi’s colloquium, the DG expressed Ogunlesi, Paul Liam, generation. fears that just when the Olisakwe Ukamaka Evelyn, Ali and his group had indicted governor is about to depart, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, his mainly exiled group of there are already attempts to Okwui Obu, A. Igoni “‘absence and emptiness where stifle the new agency of funds.

Barrett, Ifedigbo Nze Sylva, we had been or ought to be.

Yet, the writers had a Jumoke Verissimo, Where are they? What happened festive event, with readings Chinyere Obi-Obasi, to this generation, Richard Ali and dramatic performances.

Egbosa Imasuen, Uche queried. I dare not tell you the And the gathering was not Peter Umez, Su’eddie discussion that ensued among just national but international.

Vershima Agema, members of Richard’s The joy was the presentation

of 10 new books sponsored by the state government for the kick off of the Nigerian Writers Series, NWS. The presentation was done with Ghanian poet and president of Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) Prof Kofi Anyidoho.

The key note speech was presented by President Joaquim Chissano.

Blaming foreign ideas of leadership for Africa’s political problems, Chissano said, “I share the view that the roots of effective leadership lie in simple things, one of which is listening. Listening to someone demonstrates respect; it shows that you value their ideas and are willing to hear them with due attention and consideration.

“There are times in this harumscarum world when figuring out the right thing to do is quite simple, but doing the right thing is simply impossible. That is why I would like to suggest that leadership is a constant struggle, not exempt from errors and mistakes, to achieve set goals, and when the challenge is national

development, leadership is essentially about keeping all stakeholders united and committed in solving the multiple and increasingly complex problems our countries are faced with,” he stated.

National Troupe ends tour of three states

By JAPHET ALAKAM DRAMA

T

he National Troupe of Nigeria drew the curtains on its tour of Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara on Monday with a performance at the University of Ilorin. A drama workshop for students of the department of theatre arts of the University conducted by the Director in charge of Drama of the National Troupe Ms. Josephine Igberaese and the Head of Music Mr. Mike Anyanwu preceded the staging of ‘Ajoyo’ (Celebration), a dance drama, which highlights the need for unity, love and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

The Troupe had earlier performed in Lokoja and at the Igbo Community Hall in Kabba, Kogi State on Thursday and Friday respectively. They equally put up a show stopping performance in Ado Ekiti and in

•A scene from ajoyo44 Iyin Ekiti last Saturday and Sunday.

At each point of performance, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NTN Mr. Akin Adejuwon reiterated that apart from being his first major foot forward within his vision of making the Troupe current,

relevant and responsive, the tour, which is planned to cover the 36 states of the country is a way of showing that there is so much that the performing arts can contribute to nation building. ‘’Part of what I have also used this tour to do is to talk to our youths especially those interested in the performing arts on the various

empowerment programme that the transformative administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has provided that they can take advantage of to empower themselves. There is the YouWin programme of the Federal government, which they can access to properly establish their troupes and there is the new scheme I am starting at the National Troupe, which will provide free training and exposure to deserving and outstanding performing arts companies around the country.

We have created a section on our website-www.ntn.com.ng where they can register and then we can reach out to them” the Artistic Director said.

Meanwhile the National Troupe performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 edition of the Abuja Carnival.

NCMM signs pack with private bodies over 115 heritage sites

T

he National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with First Entertainment and Power Biker Association of Nigeria to re-discover over 115 Nigeria heritage sites.

The Director General of the NCMM, Alhaji Yusuf Usman disclosed that no viewer than 113 National Museums and Monuments including two heritage sites in the country were in bad condition.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, Usman said the pack was to re-discover Nigeria heritage tour project.

He maintained that “Our heritage sites can provide long lasting experience but unfortunately

decadence have hampered it”, rolling out three areas where the MoU would focus.

“Firstly, they (Power Bikers Association) will help to draw attention of Nigerian to heritage sites; secondly, to provide resources for maintenance of all those heritage sites; lastly to promote unity among Nigerians.

“The bikers and their entourage shall visit first lady in various states because it is believed that their influence will bring enduring interest in women, children for culture and tourism,” Usman said.

According to him, everywhere in the world, culture and its promotion is the concern of government, corporate bodies and private individual.

The DG decried a situation whereby people desire “to visit other lands for cultural tourism purposes, when in fact, in Nigeria there are wonder to behold.

”But it is sad and painful to confess that many of these monuments and sites are in bad shape. Indeed, these are 65 National Museums, 48 National Monuments, including two heritage sites are crying for attention in term of visitor’s facilities and infrastructures that will enhance visitor ’s experience. “It was on this backdrop, we in the NCMM are therefore, concerned with ways to get funds to maintain the museums, monument and sites, where these wonders repose, so that people we expect to visit can keep fond memories of these places for long.

“The idea of re-discovery Nigeria came at a very apt time. Through a concept championed by the first entertainment group and supported by power bikes riders, as a collective shall be touring our Museums and Monuments sites nationwide, in an effort to promote culture, tourism and encourage youths to visit museums, heritage sites and monuments.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 59 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Dr. Stephen Olusoji: The historian using the raw materials of classical music potential readers. But that barrier has been largely removed by the author ’s effort in recording the performances of the pieces contained in the volume and attaching the audio CD to the book.

So, even if one cannot read music, one can enjoy the masterpieces by listening to the audio CD. Besides the audio CD, the b a c k g r o u n d information and analysis at the Melo-rhythmic pieces for beginning of each musical instruments (Vol. 1); Dr. piece creatively written Stephen Olusoji;Marvic Concept by the author is a rich Synergy Ltd. source of aesthetic enjoyment for the reader and listener.

By OSA AMADI However, the greatest REVIEW beneficiaries of this exceptional musical labour of Musical literacy is a barrier Olusoji are the between a book like Dr. Dr. instrumentalists who can read Stephen Olusoji’s Melomusical scores – music rhythmic pieces for musical students, music teachers, and instruments and millions of its

other music lovers who have been tutored in the art of reading and writing music.

As has already been revealed by the title of this review, Dr. Olusoji is a complete historian who uses classical music idiom as his raw material. More than in any other piece in this volume, he proved it with the composition titled Wa-zo-bia.

Wa-zo-bia means come in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo –the three main Nigerian languages. Here, Dr. Olusoji, born a Yoruba, attended university (UNN) in Igboland, and did his National Youth Service in Hausaland, draws from the experiences he gathered about the lifestyles of these people during his sojourns with them. He tells the story of Nigeria, as would a historian, taking a sample of the entire population as a social scientist would in a survey, and coming across to the audience in the language of classical music.

The Yoruba are stately and

The greatest beneficiaries of this exceptional musical labour of Dr. Olusoji are the instrumentalists who can read musical scores-music students, music teachers, and other music lovers who have been tutored in the art of reading and writing music majestic in movement. The northerners employ call and response in their music as well as yodeling, while the Igbos are war-like people who play and dance fast and vigorous rhythms. Please get this wonderful book and discover how Dr. Stephen Olusoji captured the socio-cultural

lifestyles of these three main parts of Nigeria in this composition.

Other compositions grouped under Solo/mixed ensemble pieces include Theme and Variations on Yoruba school song, Ipade Ilu (Village meeting), Tiwa-n-Tiwa (Ethnomusicology), Meri Lomo Agutan Kekere Kan (Mary had a little lamb), and Ojo maa ro.

Under orchestral pieces, we have Melo-rhythmic Nigeriana, premiered at the 9th annual international chamber music festival of the department of music/ conservatorium, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, on July 7, 2012; Waka, Sakara, Nike Nike, Amazing Grace, Jesus a Child of time (for Christmas) and the Nigerian National Anthem.

The book is fore-worded by Tunji Vidal, professor of music and musicology, Lagos State University. With this book, Dr. Olusoji has made a substantial contribution to knowledge and music creativity.

When darkness shines brighter than light The Caucasian, Philip Carter’s love for teaching and social work brings him to Africa, to Obodo Ogwari to be precise, not just to settle but to naturalise. He finds true love in Ngozi and after he becomes a traditional title holder, Ugoabata (the eagle has landed) and a member of the umu Ifeadigo clan, marries Ngozi. His

By Prisca Sam-Duru REVIEW

W

HEN darkness shines brighter than light and lie is fabricated such that it turns into reality, overshadowing truth, men get lost in the pool of ignorance. Little wonder the Bible says “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”

The lies, deception, mystery, betrayals and secrets kept within secrets, dishonesty and crave for personal interest where patriotism should have ruled, are believed to make up factors responsible for the underdevelopment of the most populous black nation in the world.

In So Bright A Darkness a 261page book, with a total of 34 interesting chapters, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III of Obosi, Anambra State, a writer per excellence, chronicles in a fictional prose style, the gullibility of the led while exposing how leaders control the people through fear and deception.

Iweka’s book is a compelling, suspense-filled narrative, technically woven with so much suspense presenting the author as one endowed with the magic to paint darkness in such a way it shines brighter than light.

Readers are awed by the author’s incredible ability to fuse science, magic and traditions together as though the novel was birthed out of real life experience.

Moreso, the title is a captivating salute to irony and oxymoron.

Set in the Eastern part of Nigeria in a fictitious land, Obodo Ogwari, an ancient town adorned with rules, secrets, customs and traditions, the novel interrogates the complacency of the masses in the face of authoritarianism. The author in this suspense-filled narrative, critically examines the irony of a community which enjoyed bastion of peace, justice and security but yearning for change from idolatrous practices that are

So Bright A Darkness by Chidubem Iweka. Published

by Kraft Books Limited.

Pages 261, 2014. inimical to its development.

The book also exposes limitations of traditions which the people see as the only answer to teeming problems. It chronicles the resistance put up by Ogwariland against civilisation with the erroneous belief that any attempt at accepting modernisation, would lead to bastardisation of culture and destruction of peace experienced by the people.

Tough, mean and arrogant sergeant Okelue Okafor who spends most part of his life in exile as a result of his father ’s banishment, gets promoted to the rank of a captain after his exploits during the war between government forces and militant guerrilla. Subsequently, Okafor is honoured for rendering a meritorious service to his country and masterminding the government’s triumph. He is recalled from exile together with many other indigenes exiled for diverse offences, at his request.

The author in this suspense-filled narrative, critically examines the irony of a community which enjoyed bastion of peace, justice and security but yearning for change from idolatrous practices that are inimical to its development attempt to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in Obodo Ogwari, attracts the visit of the dreaded Ideamala bird as a warning.

At first, the characters and scenes appear unconnected but the arrest and detention of the 6th keeper of Ideamala Igo, during his visit to the Works Minister’s office in Abuja to stop the construction of expressway through the cave of Ideamala, brings the major acts; Okafor, Igo, Carter, Emodi and the military, together. The dots begin to connect as the author weaves the story masterfully connecting the characters including the 6 keepers of Ideamala (priests who reside in the Ogwari cave and have the final say in Ogwariland), the soldiers as well as contractors assigned to construct the express road.

The truth about the great Ideamala bird, the cave and reason Ogwariland appears better without civilisation, is

finally brought to the open when the minister insists on carrying on with the road construction in spite of heavy resistance put up by the keepers. The minister, Hon. Jibril and officers refuse to bow to pressure emanating from Igo’s magic which he employs subtly to pose a stumbling block to the road construction. The book further unveils a cascade of torment that befall invaders of the Ogwari cave while story climaxes in the death of the 5th keeper, Nji who becomes a renegade. Readers will find the content of the cave incredibly hard to believe. It is a world in sharp contrast with the Ogwariland it professes to be protecting for years.

Good narrative technique, captivating power of description spiced up with corresponding figurative languages contribute to making So Bright A Darkness, a masterpiece.

When the story was becoming tensed up with events of war and detention saga, coupled with display of magic and spiritism, the author in pages 148 – 150, flaunts his ingenuity with the introduction of romantic scene involving Ugoabata and his betrothed. Though the romance is short-lived, it is a huge source of relief.

In the book which is well designed with clear distinction between light and darkness, the author portrays himself as a craftsman well aware of the demands of storytelling as he interlards the narrative with realism, science fiction and fantasy, holding the reader spellbound.

Employing elements of flashback where necessary and sound narrative technique, the author creatively presents So Bright A Darkness in such classical manner that makes the novel un-put-down-able.

As interesting and easy to assimilate as the book is, nonIgbo language users may not find the use of some Igbo words without explanations funny.

Instances are seen on pages 147, onye aka ebe meaning witness, white coloured nzu and red ufie, 193, ukwa (breadfruit), there is also nkwu enu (palmwine), and many others. In spite of the above, So Bright A Darkness is a musthave-book for every Nigerian both young and old.

VC flaunts DELSU’s low fee

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

V

ICE Chancellor of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Prof Eric Arubayi,says the institute is proud of the status of being the Nigerian university with the lowest tuition fee.

The VC, who bows out of office this week after five years in charge, said this, yesterday, while unveiling his achievements at a press briefing in Abraka.

He said, “In spite of the overbearing cost of running a full fledged university, we charge between 22,000 and 23’000 per session and in the past five years I have been in charge, we have never adjusted the rates because upward adjustments could be very volatile most times.

“On top of that we have grown tremendously in terms of provision of infrastructure and staff welfare and development. We have also introduced the Work Study Programme which pays indigent students monthly stipends for minor community services within the school while studying.”

The idea of sustaining the lowest tuition, he noted, is to obviously encourage as many persons to gain higher education without the limitation of finance.

Aside the provision of several new lecture halls, new Senate and governing council chambers, a DELSU fuel station among other achievements, Arubayi also felt fulfilled that he took over DELSU in debts and leaving with all the debts cleared.

PAGE 60, SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Fabregas happy with Chelsea role

C

Don’t toy with Aguero, Koeman warns Southampton players S

OUTHAMPTON manager Ronald Koeman has challenged his defence to outwit Sergio Aguero after likening him to Brazil great Romario.

The Argentina striker has been in sensational form for Manchester City so far this season and he leads the Premier League scoring charts with 12 goals from as many games.

Aguero, 26, has also proven decisive in the UEFA Champions League, with last Tuesday’s hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Bayern Munich keeping City’s hopes alive in the competition and taking his tally this term to five.

And Koeman, whose Southampton side host City today afternoon, has joined Aguero’s lost list of admirers, comparing him to former Brazil and Barcelona star Romario.

“The best player to compare to Aguero is Romario,” he told reporters. “I played with him [Romario]. Sometimes you think he’s sleeping, then in one split second he’s scoring.

It’s a big quality.

“That means a lot of concentration for defenders.

He’s always fast, always on the line of sight. That’s his best quality.

“That’s the nicest part of football; you can’t do everything to stop a player. It’s one of the best players, the player who makes the difference between winning

Bayern boss eyes Barca glory

D

•Unstoppable... Sergio Aguero digging for goals for Manchester City and not winning for City.

“They have a strong squad, good players, but in the last few games Aguero makes the difference, scoring and

creating. He’s creating opportunities by himself. We have a strong defence; it’s a nice challenge for our defenders to keep the zero

EAL Madrid have removed the cross from their club crest as part of a lucrative three-year deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

It is believed the European champions’ new crest, minus the Christian cross, was created so as not to offend Muslim sensibilities in the

behind.

“You can’t give them one second, no attention. You need that attention during 9095 minutes.”

Ballon d’ Or not good for football, says Mourinho J

•Mourinho

OSE Mourinho has mocked individual awards in football, following the announcement of the shortlist for Fifa’s Ballon d’ Or, comparing the campaigns that some players launch to win these sort of accolades to the American presidential race for the White House.

Real ‘sacrifice cross’ for Arab money R

ESC Fàbregas told the official Chelsea website that he feels more comfortable with the way the Blues are using him compared to his role at Barça. “Sometimes in the last three or four years with the national team and Barcelona I was playing like nearly [a] No.9 and I have to do it for the team and I enjoy [it] and it is all good, but here where I am playing is where I enjoy it the most”, the ex-Arsenal midfielder noted.

The Catalan went on to state that he can exert greater influence in the middle of the park: “I feel more in control of the game.

I touch the ball all the time and I feel happy… I feel free and confident and I am in control, and that is what I like the most in football”.

United Arab Emirates, where a marketing drive will take place. Club president Florentino Perez labelled the deal as a “strategic alliance with one of the most prestigious institutions in the world”.

But the redesigning of the famous club badge shows, according to Spanish sports

paper Marca, how far top clubs are willing to go, including sacrificing part of their f a m o u s identity, to generate new r e v e n u e streams.

Money Talking... Gareth Bale and Cristiano A new credit card, which Ronaldo sweating for Real money.

doubles as a Real Madrid membership card, was paraded by Perez where the new design is clearly seen.

The 10-times European Cup winners, revealed the new design with no fanfare, with images only emerging now, despite the “strategic alliance” being signed off in September.

“I know that the local people experience every match in a special way and that our links with the UAE are constantly growing stronger,” Perez said recently.

“This agreement will help the club to keep conquering the hearts of followers in the United Arab Emirates.”

The original logo, which will still be used in Europe, is pictured, left, complete with the tiny Christian cross on the top.

Thibaut Courtois, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are on the 23-man shortlist for the Fifa Ballon d’Or award while Mourinho himself is on the coach of the year list.

Various Chelsea players have also been nominated in their position in the ‘team of the year ’ but Mourinho looked faintly disgusted on Friday when he was asked whether it was good recognition for Chelsea.

“This kind of trophy is not good for football,” he said.

“This is why I don’t care about it. Sometimes it looks like we are looking for stars, we are looking for some people to be more important than others.

“In some cases, it looks like we are doing a political campaign. It looks like you open the television and radios and newspapers and, I have to say, in England we have the soft ones in that campaign. In other countries, it looks like Obama is fighting again for the White House. And this is not the culture we want in this club. The mentality here is not to be worried about that. Even less being obsessed with that.”

ESPITE Bayern Munich’s roaring form, the club’s board continues to demand more, namely a consistent run of European glory of the sort that Barça managed a few years ago. “I want to win the Champions League another time. Barcelona have always been an example for me because they won the Champions League a number of times within just a few years”, the Bavarian giants’ CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, told Bild.

Though no one has ever retained the Champions League in its current format, Barcelona claimed three of their four crowns between 2006 and 2011 - two of which came under Pep Guardiola, who is now in charge at Bayern. On the other hand, interludes of 25 and 12 years separated the German club’s triumphs in the competition, hence Rummenigge’s comment that it’s one of his “dreams to shorten the gap between our Champions League wins”.

Headbutt lands player in jail

B

ASTIA forward Brandão has been jailed for one month for a headbutt on Paris St-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta.

The 34-year-old, who won the French league with Marseille in 2010, had already received a six-month ban for the incident in PSG’s 2-0 home win on August 16.

CCTV cameras at the Parc des Princes showed Brandão attacking Italy’s Motta and then fleeing to the Bastia changing room, leaving the stunned midfielder with a broken nose.

The Brazilian striker will serve a month behind bars but the President of the Paris court suggested he could benefit from a reduced sentence.

, SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, Page 61

W

HAT, in your opinion, caused the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations?

The problem with Nigerian football is that nobody cares to look at the workings of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation. The committee is supposed to know which part of the team needed to be strengthened or if the entire team needed total overhauling.

The technical committee’s duties are enormous. It is not a place for people who are not sound in the technicalities of the game.

They should be held responsible, not Jonathan, as some people are insinuating.

Apart from the incompetence of the technical committee, the other major reason for the team’s failure was indiscipline. The coach and his players lacked discipline. The national team demands people who are committed, people who are patriotic and are ready to die for the nation. But from what we saw of this Super Eagles, they lacked all these traits.

Having failed to qualify for he 2015 Afcon, the focus would shift to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Should Keshi be retained for that task?

Just as it is said, ‘you don’t change a winning team’, in this context, it can also be said, you don’t retain a losing side.

Keshi’s time is gone. Anyone talking about Keshi now is wasting his time. I am advising Keshi to take a walk because if I were in his shoes, I would walk away.

There is this theory that Keshi who won the 2013 Afcon trophy in South Africa was sabotaged.

You share that belief?

I don’t believe in the theory of sabotage. The players he used were not disciplined. They played for Keshi and not for Nigeria. There are very many good players out there. Why did he not call them? The team that played Italy 2-2 before the World Cup was good. He should have retained that team instead of experimenting with new faces every time ...up to the World Cup, Keshi was still experimenting.

In our days, late NFA Chairman, Sunday Dankoro would ask his coaches, can I see your winning formula. That was when Dan Anyiam and Father Tiko were in charge of the national team and J. K. Tandoh was head of the technical Committee. Now all people talk about is money...money and money. That is why the technical committee cannot operate.

Now, what is the way forward?

We have to get a very disciplined coach and a functional technical committee.

We have to start afresh.

From where should NFF go for the next coach. Foreign or local coach?

A very good question. For now, Nigerian coaches have shown that they are not capable of

•Prince Odua

•Keshi

Keshi should take a walk — Prince Odua Prince Isidore Odua has been in the Nigerian football scene for decades. He was a former member of the Nigeria Football Association(now Federation) and former Vice Chairman of Anambra State Football Association. He has worked in various committees, including the defunct Local Organising Committee for the 1995 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which eventually, Nigeria did not host. In this interview with Jacob Ajom, the experienced administrator bares his mind on the Super Eagles and Coach Stephen Keshi.

Excerpts handling the national team.

They have lost credibility. We have to get a foreign coach. If they insist on a local coach, then there must be a foreigner to supervise him. I have no trust in our local coaches again.

But Keshi won the Nations Cup? Keshi wanted to prove a point.

He wanted victory and he did everything to achieve it. The players we have now are like

mercenaries. They no longer believe in handshake. They believe in instant payment: If you give us $10,000, we give you $10,000 play. Money was the motivation.

Unfortunately, we cannot

defend the title in 2015 It is painful. If there is anybody it pains most, it is the President.

He spent sleepless nights to ensure we won that trophy. Now we have thrown it away without a fight. It’s a shame.

How to save Rovers from extinction —Etta Egbe E

TTA Egbe is the former number one goalkeeper of Rovers Football Club of Calabar. He rose to become a member of the national team and retired in 1986. He is in the technical crew of the national U-15 football team.

Egbe speaks with Jacob Ajom on his childhood club, Rovers and the state of football in Cross River State.

What is the state of football in Cross River State?

Deplorable. Calabar Rovers have been relegated because the right thing is not being done.

Why? We require government action. Government should come in and take over the club.

Unicem, which has been the long standing sponsor don’t seem to be interested any longer. I would recommend immediate takeover of the club

•Gov Imoke by government. Once that is done, the team should be put under the supervision of the Deputy Governor’s office. The club can come back in no time.

Look back and tell us how it was playing for Rovers Between 1978 and 1985 Rovers was among the top 5 clubs in Nigeria. The set of players we had then were among the best in the country.

Players like Isong Isang, Paul

Sun Pg 61A

Atila, Egan Adat, Uwem Ekarika (now late), and Etim Esin who came at the tail end of my stay with the club. Rovers was a great club.

Football then was seen as a game for dropouts, or for children from the suburbs.

Through school sports, talents were discovered. But today, most people run into the game for what they stand to benefit from it. Even ministers buy boots for their children to play football.

So sports is no longer a pastime for dropouts.

How can Cross River State reposition itself among the best football states in the country?

Proper hands should be in place to run the affairs of football in the state. The state Football Association should be blamed for the present state of football in the state because if one looks at the result – like Rovers going into relegation – that means everybody has failed.

29/ 11/ 2014

What is the way forward?

We need total change. And there is hope because the Cross River State FA election comes up in February. There is hope in the horizon.

From the field of intending contestants, do you really have hope?

The coast is not clear yet so we do not know those that are coming. However, there is that feeling that a change will come.

We expect change.

The state is hosting the National Sports Festival in 2015, you think the state football team can win gold in the football event?

We have a very strong development programme in place. Imoke administration has done well in terms of sports development at the grassroots level. The state has won schools sports festival back to back and I believe they will do well.

PAGE 62, SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014,

I’ve had enough injuries, Anichebe cries out

NPA Tennis Open Championship debuts

O

NE hundred players from across the country have converge on Abuja for the maiden Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Tennis Open Championship.

The tournament was made possible following the four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between NPA and the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to stage the annual tournament.

The partnership will afford NPA the opportunity to bankroll the tournament while NTF will provide the technical and administrative support during the oneweek championship.

Managing Director of NPA, Habibi Abdullahi said, supporting tennis was part of the company’s efforts to encourage sports

W

EST Bromwich Albion striker Victor Anichebe admits he paid his own way to a performance camp in LA over the summer.

Anichebe is desperate to reach his potential with the Baggies.

“I’ve had enough injuries that I know how to manage my body now,” he told the Daily Express. “When I was with my former club, Everton, we went out to the performance camp in Los Angeles and then one of their guys came over to us every season.

“I’m familiar with them and it’s getting away from an environment here, where I’ve been physically injured and mentally a bit down, to come back refreshed.

“It wasn’t a holiday, I was training twice a day and West Brom were keeping tabs on me with a heart rate monitor.

“I paid for the trip myself.

It’s myself managing myself.

To pay for something like that, it’s a small price in the grand scheme of things if it can help me to feel better.

“When you are going out to play and you don’t feel great, it brings you down. People just think you are injured and then you are fit. It’s not like that.

“You are waking up and you are thinking ‘oh, I’ve got a pain here’ it gets you down. I am very honest with people about it. To get yourself right mentally is important.”

Lawal Continued from backpage match against South Africa in Uyo. But according to Lawal, Keshi simply lost his dressing room and that was why Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations billed for Equatorial Guinea.

“The moment you lose the dressing room, I believe you have gotten it wrong and there is no way you can fix it. So if your dressing room is good, then you’re fine. If the dressing room is bad and if you cannot control your dressing room, then forget it, you will get it wrong,” Lawal said.

Lawal who was appointed as Super Eagles co-ordinator, but was rejected by Keshi said a new coach will do well with the team.

“Another coach could come and give new players the chance to play and do well while another coach could come in and use the same set of players and succeed, it all depends on how you take them on and how you talk to them.”

development in the country.

Abdullahi, who was former chairman of the defunct NPA Football Club explained. “This MOU is important because this is another milestone for us at NPA and we believe that through this we can contribute our quota to the development of sports just like we have done in the past.”

President, NTF, Sani Ndanusa, said the one-week competition would serve off yesterday in Abuja with 100 players starting their campaigns from the preliminary stage. “We want to thank the management of NPA for their resolve to partner with NTF to be organizing annual tournament and we are hoping that this will grow to become an international tournament”

CBN Gov’s golf tourney tees off

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Anichebe (r) avoids a sliding tackle from an opponent

A

RMATURE golfers from the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) and members of the IBB

FirstBank set to groom next generation golfers — Onasanya

T

HE 53rd edition of the old est and the most prestigious amateur open golf tournament ended last Sunday with the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, the sponsor of the Championship, Bisi Onasanya revealing that the company’s sponsorship of the 2014 (53rd) edition of the Lagos amateur open golf tournament was borne out of a strong partnership committed to discover and groom talents to excel in the game.

A player from Ikoyi Golf Club,

venue of the championship, twenty-three years old Monday Eze emerged winner. Eze who came close to winning last year had a total gross of 152 to beat Milo Ajah of the Ikeja Golf Club to the second place. Ajah’s total gross was 155; Uche Eze of Ibadan Golf Club with a gross of 155 came third. The championship ended with a dinner party where winners in all categories were presented with beautiful prizes.

About 100 amateur golfers from all the nook and crannies of Nigeria participated in the

championship.

About the oldest and most prestigious golf tournaments in West Africa, this edition like the previous ones was preceded by a coaching clinic on Saturday for children above the ages of 14years and adults interested in improving their skills. They were tutored by the duo of Joakim Rasik and Bjorn Pettersson, both, PGA members.

Onasanya applauded Ikoyi club 1938 for ensuring excellent maintenance of the golf course, “we are pleased with the partnership between First Bank and Ikoyi club 1938, which has blossomed over many decades.

L-R: Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Wale Doherty; Wife of GMD/CEO, FirstBank, Mrs. Helen Onasanya; GMD/CEO FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya; Winner, Best Gross, Mr. Monday Eze; and Captain, Golf Section, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Ted Iwere at the 53rd FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship Banquet and Awards Dinner held in Lagos recently.

Sun pg 62A

29/11/2014

Golf and Country Club are now gunning for honours at the 8th edition of CBN Governor’s Golf Tournament which began yesterday at the club.

Addressing a pre-tournament press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Director Corporate Communications of the CBN, Ibrahim Mu’azu said that due to the consistency of the apex bank in sponsoring the tourney, it has become an important feature in the calendar of the IBB Golf Club.

Mu’azu further revealed that the CBN has contributed immensely to the development of sports in the country through the annual sponsorship of events.

“In the CBN Junior Tennis Championship, Miss Marylove Edwards, the 10-year old Tennis sensation, was discovered.

She performed remarkably well at the last two tournaments, winning laurels in her age category, just to mention as an example”.

According to him, the CBN Golf Tournament will among others create a relaxed and recreational atmosphere for distinguished personalities both in government and the organized private sector, elder statesmen and members of the diplomatic corps.

The one day event will attract trophies and prizes to be won in various categories including; Men’s Category 1 (Handicap 014); Men’s Category 11 (Handicap 15-28); Gross (Men); Ladies’ Category 11 (Handicap 2136).

Others are; Veterans Category for men and ladies; and auxiliary prizes for Nearest to Pin for Ladies, Men and CBN staff; Longest Drive for Ladies, Men and CBN staff. The overall winner will cart away the Best Nett Prize.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, PAGE 63

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Welbeck fires Gunners to crucial victory

T

HE dark clouds that have hovered over Arsenal are slowly drifting away.

Their second win in four days, courtesy of Danny Welbeck’s winner at the Hawthorns, eased the pressure on

the Gunners manager.

There was no such luck for West Brom manager Irvine, though; his own supporters turned against him as they suffered a fourth defeat in five games.

Wenger, however, still isn’t out of the woods. Certainly not with a section of the club’s support.

Even as they celebrated victory, supporters made their feeling towards Wenger crystal clear.

MATCH FIXING: Ike Uche to face trial in Spain

Siasia decamps 10 over age discrepancies

S

N

PANISH prosecutors have said they will now file charges against Super Eagles striker, Ikechukwu Uche and Manchester United defender, Ander Herrera, and their team mates in the Real Zaragoza side of the 2010-2011 season.

Both players were in the Real Zaragoza team that is being probed over match-fixing allegations and illegal payments in Spain.

If found guilty, both could face a ban or even jail.

A subsequent investigation by Spanish anti-corruption authorities has reportedly uncovered payments to players’ bank accounts, with former Zaragoza president Agapito Iglesias’ role under the microscope, as well as that of two club directors.

The papers are expected to be presented in Valencia early next week, accusing all 28 players who took to the field for the match on May 21, 2011 – including Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero – of being part of the alleged fix.

Three players who did not take the field are also implicated, crucially including reserve keeper Antonio Doblas, the evidence against whom the prosecution considers damning.

Uche played 55 minutes in that game before he was taken off, Herrera was on the pitch for 72 minutes

Keshi should take a walk — Prince Odua Pg 62

•Ike Uche

Keshi not the right man for Eagles — Lawal J

UST as the Nigeria Foot ball Federation is set to renew coach Stephen Keshi’s contract amidst public displeasure over his performance,

former Super Eagles’ combative midfielder Garba Lawal has hinted that his former captain may not be the best man for the job.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE 1

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)

2

3

7

4

5

6

Lawal argued that Keshi failed with the team because he lost the confidence of his key players, adding that overhauling the team will not guarantee good results in future.

There have been insinuations that some players failed to show commitment in the Super Eagles’ last qualification

9 12

17

18

22 23

27

13 14

28

20

25

29

30 31

38

See solution on page 5

21

26

34 35

37

R E S U LT S 15 16

19

24

33

•Siasia

Continues on page 62

8

10 11

IGERIA Under-23 head coach, Samson Siasia, has sent home 10 players owing to issues over their age.

Siasia screening is currently ongoing in Abuja, the second phase of his search for players for the Under-23 team involving players drawn from the clubs from the Nigerian Premier League.

It was gathered that the players were decamped on Friday after the League Management Company (LMC) sent the age on the players league license to the team handlers.

In all the cases, their ages didn’t correspond with the one on their licenses, leading to them being sent packing from the camp.

However, the dropped players argued that their ages were wrongly computed by their various team secretaries, a situation which a source told SL10.ng is common with Nigerian clubs.

“I pity the players as most of them look quite young, we have a system where club secretaries in the past ruin league player’s National team careers by computing wrong ages on their license,” he said.

“We advised them to go back sort the issue and we also pleaded with the LMC to correct the cases of those who have strong cases, but overall our league clubs need to know what they are doing.”

36

32

West Brom Burnley Liverpool Man Utd QPR Swansea Sunderland West Ham Bayer Hertha Berlin Schalke

0 1 1 3 3 1 0 1 5 0 4

Arsenal Aston Villa Stoke City Hull City EPL Leicester RESULTS City Crystal Palace Chelsea Newcastle FC Cologne Bayern Munich Mainz

1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 1

Today’s Matches Southampton Tottenham

V V

Man City Everton

2.30pm 5.00pm

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01-4544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. Email 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. 08111813023 All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K