JONATHAN NOT IJAW PRESIDENT: PDP warns Clark, Tompolo, Dokubo over war threat

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PDP warns Clark, Tompolo and Dokubo over war threat •Says Jonathan not Ijaw president

By Emma Amaize, Henry Umoru and Jimitota Onoyume, Abuja

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HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday asked the former federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid Asari- Dokubo, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo and other Niger Delta militants to be mindful of what they say at this period of the nation’s political history.

The PDP also warned other support groups, organisations, professional bodies and associations rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan to be careful with their utterances to ensure decency in the polity.

This was even as exMEND Commanders in the Niger Delta, gave General Theophilus Danjuma seven days ultimatum to apologize over his call for the arrest of Asari Dokubo,Tompolo for threatening that Nigeria would break up if President Jonathan lost the February Presidential election. The ex-militants said that war would follow in Nigeria if Jonathan lost the election. Chief Clark and the ex-militants blasted General Danjuma in their reaction, saying that his remarks were disappo-inting. At a meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday, the former militant commanders in the region condemned the call for the arrest of front line freedom fighters in the region, Alhaji Mujahideen Asari Dokubo and Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, saying that the call amounted to a declaration of war against the Niger Delta region.

Former MEND Commander, Victor Ebikabowei Ben, alias General Boyloaf, also asked General Danjuma to apologise and hide his head in shame or face humiliation.

However, speaking with newsmen in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh noted that although the party appreciated the support of all Nigerians, it was disturbed over the provocative statements of

some people which could provoke other parts of the country, warning that Jonathan was not an Ijaw President or that of the South South geo- political zone of the country alone but the president of all Nigerians.

Metuh said, “we want to stress and state publicly, that whilst we have noted the interest, zeal and enthusiasms of individuals, various groups, support groups and organisations, that are supporting the president with statements, adverts, documentaries and TV programmes; we appeal to them to be guided by the noble ideals and the visions of the founding fathers of our party.

“We are not in agreement with their statements and we are cautioning them to mind what they say. No individuals own the party.

The President could be more loved in Anambra than Ijaw area. He has support in Adamawa than in Bayelsa States...

“Well, we have noted that whilst we are not responsible for the utterances, statements of some of our support individuals, groups and organizations; we are cautioning them to be mindful of what they say.

“Ours is a national party.

We cover all zones, all local governments.

No individual owns our party, no group, no people, no zone owns our party. And being a national party, we caution some of our people, some of our supporters to be mindful of the zeal that they exhibit.

Let the wrong impression not be given.

“President Jonathan could even be more loved in Anambra than in the Ijaw area. He could even be more loved in Zamfara than in the Ijaw area. He could even have more support and more votes from Adamawa than in Ijaw. And to buttress this, yesterday in the campaign, Mr President informed all that the Adamawa people gave him twice the number of votes that he got from Bayelsa. So the president is not the president of Ijaw, he is not president of Bayelsa; he is not president of South South, he is the president of the entire Nigeria and he has the support of the entire country.” On PDP’s anticipated victory, Metuh said, “We are rounding up next week. So we have

done over 70 percent of our campaign.

Alhaji Asari- Dokubo had threatened that “ exmilitants would return to their old ways should President Jonathan lose the election,” at a meeting last week in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Reacting to the issue, the former Minister of Defence, General Theophilous Danjuma called for the arrest of Dokubo and other former Niger Delta Militants for threatening to rock the boat should President Jonathan lose the February 14 election.

Danjuma who described the statements as reckless, had said, “those are very reckless statements made by irresponsible individuals and they should be condemned. In fact, they should be arrested.’’

But responding to Danjuma, Chief Edwin Clark, Tompolo, Dokubo, others tongue lashed the former Minister, accusing him of sponsoring attacks on Jonathan and that the government should arrest him rather than the exmilitants. Clark who said he was disappointed at the call by Danjuma for the arrest of the Ex- Militants, stressed that he (Danjuma) ought to have condemned the attacks on Jonathan in several states in the North.

Meanwhile, ex militant

Peter and Paul Okoye, popularly called P-Square and their siblings have buried their father, Pa Moses Okoye in Anambra State yesterday.

Commanders in the Niger Delta region have asked General Danjuma to apologise over his call for the arrest of front line freedom fighters in the region or face problems.

‘General’ Reuben Wilson aka Pastor who handed the ultimatum on behalf of other commanders of Defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND in Port Harcourt said Danjuma had by his call for arrest of Niger delta crusaders called for war against the region. Wilson who is now president Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative said Danjuma was among northern leaders that had richly benefited from the oil resource in the region.

“Our attention has been drawn to publications credited to T.Y.Danjuma, a

former defence minister, calling for the arrest of former Niger Delta freedom fighters, including our frontline selfless leader and hero, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo.

“As much as he has the right to free speech, Danjuma ought to know that the oil money he is enjoying today, through his ownership of oil blocs, came from our sacrifices and blood. We staked our life to fight for the development of our country. We fought for freedom for our land and it pains us that people like Danjuma who have reaped bountifully from the Niger Delta, can wake up to insult our sensibilities.

“For Danjuma to call for the arrest of Asari Dokubo, then he has walked on the tail of the serpent. The

much we know is that we the ex militants who decided to drop our guns to join forces with the federal government to develop the country, especially the Niger Delta have never said anything or taken any action that would warrant such explosives from Danjuma,’’ he said and reaffirmed the support of ex militant commanders for the second term bid of Jonathan. “All we have said overtime is that our brother, President Jonathan, is a true son of the Niger Delta, and deserves to enjoy the two terms in office provided for in the constitution. We stand by this right and we will do everything legal and legitimate to make sure that he is not denied that right, not by a thousand Danjumas.

Feb polls: Buhari is on rescue mission —Tinubu

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Gbenga Oke and Monsur Olowoopejo

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S the February 14th Presidential election draws near, National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, said the party leadership begged the Presidential Candidate of the party, General Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2015 election inoder to rescue the country from the present challenges.

According to Tinubu while addressing the mammoth party supporters at the Mega presidential rally held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Tinubu, “the choice was meant to rescue the country from the crisis that has bedevilled its development.” He noted that

the prayer of everyone before was that the country will get better and “We will not need a man like him to rule the nation. But today, we are in a great crisis. We are facing a lot of challenges.”

Tinubu, explaining the strategies adopted by those great nations in the past, said “When South Africa was facing a serious challenge, they called on late Nelson Mandella, and he

was 74 years old then. And he used his wisdom to save that country.

“When America was in economic depression, they called on 73-year-old Ronald Reegan, to save their economy because he was prudent.

“Also, when Britain had problem, they called on 73years-old Winston Churchill to rescue them and he did.

“We are calling on Buhari

at this moment to rescue the nation from the crisis that has bedeviled its development.” Speaking on the merger of the three political parties that formed APC, the APC National leader stated that when “We started about three years ago, they taught that the merger of ACN, CPC and ANPP is impossible. I told them that there is a positive storm coming to change the nation.”

Tears, as Psquare buries dad

By Benjamin Njoku

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MOTIONS flow free ly yesterday as the remains of Chief Moses Okoye, the father of Peter and Paul Okoye of PSquare fame who died in November, last year were laid to rest at his hometown, in Ifitedunu, Anambra State.

His final journey home started on Thursday with a Service of Songs. After the event, P-Square paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of their town.

On Friday, the burial mass was held at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Ifitedunu amidst tight security. Security for the event was marshalled by Gold-

en Events Solution team led by Mambo Adeniyi, PSquare’s official bodyguard. Pa Okoye’s remains were later committed to mother earth at this compound. The atmosphere was one of solemnity. The Okoye brothers took turn to pay their last respects to their loving father.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

Buhari tasks Jonathan on railway: Show us the proof •As Akiolu warns Mbu, other security officials on Feb polls

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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RESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, faulted claims by the Federal Government of revamping the Nigerian Railways, saying “despite the noise made, there was nothing on ground.”

Meantime, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, has urged the new Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Mr. Joseph Mbu and other security officials in Lagos state to be above board in their duties during and after the general elections.

The duo made the remarks when the APC Presidential team took advantage of the presidential rally in the state to pay a courtesy visit to Akiolu in his palace at Lagos Island of the state.

Buhari said: “A lot of noise is being made about Nigerian Railways, but there is nothing on ground.

Kabiyesi, these are some of the problems—insecurity, economy imbalance and corruption—identified by the APC. “These problems have virtually denied Nigeria the opportunity to improve other social services like education and healthcare.”

Buhari continued, “Infrastructure is another structure that helps to bring industries back that will create employment. And if elected, we will complete the LagosIbadan Expressway to Ilorin.

“The monies we realised from anti-corruption campaign will be adequately used to improve education in the country.

“One of the legacies we can leave for this generation is good education, if that is done most people will look after themselves.”

On Lagos infrastructure Reacting to concerns raised by residents of Lagos, he lamented that “all the responsibilities that should have been catered for by the Federal Government have been left to the state government.

“The state was left with enormous decayed infrastructure which should have been for their own interest. Lagos state has been keeping and maintaining them, but the Federal Government has not been sympathetic enough to take the responsibility of what they left behind.

“We assure you that the APC will study this situation and make as much compensation as possible to Lagos State.

Akiolu on Mbu Apparently reacting to the recent redeployment of Mbu

and others police officers in the state, Akiolu said: “Recently, I have heard some comments over the posting of police in the country.

Posting of policemen is normal when election is approaching, and should not be made a political issue.

“But if anyone comes into Lagos with any sinister motive, by the grace of God, he will have himself to blame. Some people have done it before even to the person who was the IG when I left the job at that time.

“Posting comes normally, Lagos is not Port Harcourt.

No one should express any fear. And the man they did it to in Port Harcourt is able and capable to do what he should do.”

The monarch further

warned that if they tried any illegal act, “It is then I will show them who I am. Some people have been saying it is not so. It is that time that I will prove it to them.”

Urging the security officials, he said, “I want to sound it as a note of warning to all the security officials in the state. Politicians don’t quarrel but they can disagree often. Don’t allow anyone to use you for illegal things.” Recalling the incident between former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Akiolu said. “I spoke to him in a friendly manner. And at the end of the day, the man who used him was the one who sent him to jail.”

Postponement of Feb polls’ll be disastrous—Prof. Nwabueze

BY FRANCIS IGATA

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HE Chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, and constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze yesterday warned the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, not to postpone the next months general elections as it will spell doom for the country.

The legal luminary tasked INEC to stay the course of the election insisting that call for a shift of the election on account of insecurity will plunge the country into a political chaos.

The ILT Chairman stated this during a press conference saying,”We believe that the best interest of Ndigbo would be better served by our people supporting the re-election of President Jonathan come February 14.

Ogbomoso youths endorse Akande-Adeola, urge indigenes to vote right

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youth group, Ogbomoso Youth and Development Forum, OYDF, has stressed the need for every registered voter in the ancient town to vote and ‘’vote right’’ as the general elections inch nearer.

The group also endorsed the return of Mrs Mulikat Akande-Adeola to the House of Representatives, urging support for her.

In a press release by its national coordinator, Mr. Akin Ogunlola, the forum said the people of the town must bear in mind that the election presents the opportunity for their voices to be heard and it gives them the chance to hold their representatives accountable.

According to Ogunlola; ‘’Our people in Ogbomoso must realise that their votes represent their voices as Nigerians, and voting in this election is their opportunity to hold elective office holders accountable for their decisions.

More important reason to vote, is the fact that this election gives us the opportunity to have a say in important national and local issues affecting our community. It’s a golden opportunity for Ogbomoso to choose progress over stagnation.’’

Why PDP lifted suspension on Tukur—Metuh

BY HENRY UMORU

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ATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP disclosed yesterday that the party lifted the suspension of its former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur because of his total loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan and his commitment to the growth and development of PDP. Answering questions from journalists yesterday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said, “What informed that decision beside the facts that suspensions are for specific periods, 30 days in the first instance which was not renewed, in spite of that we have to make it public, as a mark of honour to the former chairman, where he has displayed undue restrain, respect for constituted authority.

“He has shown loyalty, he has shown his commitment, he has shown his dedication to our party, our programmes, our policies and to the President who is the leader of the party, he has been campaigning and he has shown complete loyalty to Mr President. So we are happy, we believe he remains a father figure in our party and we admire that in him.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015 — 7

BRIEFS Four die in auto crash in Oyo

APC warns over use of sponsored N protests to force polls shift T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the reported plan by the advocates of the postponement of next month’s general elections to sponsor protests across the country against INEC as a way of forcing the commission to shift the elections, scheduled for Feb. 14th and 28th.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those pushing for the elections to be shifted are also seeking to instigate the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who will serve as part of the ad-hoc staff for INEC during the polls to say they do not feel safe to be part of the elections in certain parts of the country.

It said even if the NYSC members refuse to participate in the elections in certain parts of the country, which will be within their right, there will be no shortage of those willing to serve as ad-hoc staff ‘’It has also come to our notice that these electionshift proponents are holding clandestine meetings with various groups, including a section of the media, to recruit them for their dubious campaigns to force a postponement of the election,’’ APC said, adding, however, that all the shenanigans of the election-shift advocates will fail, as Nigerians have seen through them and have stepped up their collection of PVCs in readiness for the elections. ‘’The assurances by INEC, that 65 million PVCs are now ready and that the remaining 3.8 million will be ready in due course have heightened the belief among Nigerians that the electoral umpire is indeed ready, willing and able to conduct the elections as scheduled. ‘’That is why we are surprised that instead of encouraging Nigerians who have not done so to go and collect their PVCs, instead of heeding the advice for the declaration of a three-day public holidays to enable working class people to collect their PVCs, all they are interested in is how to sponsor various dubious individuals and groups to stage protests against INEC.

‘’The PDP has variously said it is ready for the elections as scheduled, but not once has it urged Nigerians to go and collect their PVCs, knowing full well that the problem now is more of collection than anything else. The Presidency has also not made any effort to encourage Nigerians to collect their PVCs. Instead, it has been openly pushing

for the elections to be shifted on the basis of inadequate PVC distribution, as shown by the call in London recently by the National Security Adviser. ‘’Undoubtedly, public funds have been deployed to sponsor ‘talking heads’ to make the TV rounds to parrot the lies that over 30 million voters have yet to collect their PVCs, when INEC has said 42.7 million

out of 68.8 million PVCs have been collected, and that it will distribute PVCs until the eve of the polls These anti-election antics are too glaring for Nigerians not to notice. The dirty tricks point to one and one thing only: The PDP and the Presidency are mortally terrified of the elections being held as scheduled, because they know they will surely lose,’’ APC said.

BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN

O fewer than four persons were killed in a ghastly auto crash that happened on the outskirts of Ibadan yesterday.

The crash happened at Iroko area, just about 17 km to Ibadan.

The accident also left 14 people seriously injured.

According to an impeccable source from the Federal Road Safety Corps who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, the injured included 14 male adults and one female adult.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the accident happened about 10am on Ibadan-Oyo road.

Lawyers storm Ilorin for Buhari

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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AWYERS in their hundreds stormed the major streets of Ilorin, Kwara state capital yesterday morningtodrumsupportfor thepresidentialticketofGeneral Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN oftheAllProgressivesCongressintheFebruary14elections.

The lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers For Change in a long convoy of cars, with banners, and posters went round the town explaining to the residents, in the markets, shops, offices and on the streets the benefits accrued to Nigeria from the ticket of Muhammadu Buhari/Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN urging them to vote for the All progressives Congress presidential candidates.

LBS adopts GMAT as full-time MBA entrance exam

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From right, Mrs Grace Ukala, Professor Sam Ukala, 2014 Winner of the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature;Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, NLNG GM;Mr Babs Omotowa, MD, Nigeria LNG Limited; Professor Ayo Banjo and Deputy MD, Isa Inuwa during the presentation of the awards in Lago yesterday.

Alleged plot to postpone elections unfounded — Presidency •Says APC undermining Abuja Peace Accord

BY HENRY UMORU

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HE Presidency has denied plans to postpone next month’s general elections as alleged by the All Progressives Congress, APC. In a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, the Presidency accused the APC that through its members and supporters, it has been doing everything possible to frustrate the conduct of a free and fair electoral process and not the PDP and the presidency as alleged by the opposition.

The Political Adviser who noted that APC has been breaching the Abuja Peace Accord which all the presidential candidates subscribed to with impunity, however emphasised that Presisednt Goodluck Jonathan has been receiving unprecedented support since he embarked on the nationwide campaign and he was fully

AGOS Business School has officially adopted GMAT as the only form of written assessment prequalifying applicants for its full-time MBA programme. This development, driven by the School’s efforts to boost the local and international competitiveness of its students, is a departure from the earlier model giving candidates the option to either write GMAT or the LBS entrance examination.

The official GMAT exam, accepted by over 6000 schools globally, measures candidates’ analytical skills and determines their preparedness for the business school classroom.

Fifteen years after, Agbede water scheme resuscitated

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

prepared for the election with the PDP. Alkali in the statement said, “The attempt to denigrate the Presidency of Nigeria and drag it down the cesspit of vile propaganda and rumour mongering is unfortunate and signpost the APC’s disregard for our revered institutions.

“Nigerians have seen President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan criss-cross the length and breadth of the country in the last one month to rousing receptions everywhere. This certainly is not the sign of someone who is frightened about elections

or unprepared for same.

“From our tours and the unprecedented outpour of goodwill, we are confident of a wider margin of victory than ever before. We are ready and fully prepared for this election.’’

“We wish to draw the attention of Nigerians to the fact that it is the APC and their unruly supporters that have been doing everything possible to frustrate the conduct of a free and fair electoral process. They have consistently violated the Abuja Peace Accord through violent conducts in Katsina, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Plateau States.

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HE re-constructed Agbede water scheme facilitated by Abubakar Momoh, a member of the House of Representatives from Etsako has been commissioned by Oba of Agbede, HRH M.S. Momodu, in Agbede, Etsako West LGA of Edo State.

Momoh who also is the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the Edo North Senatorial District said the project will ease the problem of water faced by the people of the area, years back.

The Agebde water scheme before it became comatose 15 years ago served water to the entire Agbede community.

Speaking at the occasion which turned out to be an SDP campaign rally, the Oba of Agbede who was represented byaPalaceChief,AlhajiSuleAbdulahi,pouredencomiums on Hon. Abubakar Momoh, and Hon. Rasak Momoh of the Edo State House of Assembly representing the community for rescuing the community from the hands of water merchants who exploited them by selling water at exorbitant rates for the last 15 years.

Ozoro Union to host Egbabor, Ovie monarch in Lagos

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AGOS State branch of Ozoro Progress Union, OPU, will hold its annual prayer session and reception for Mr. Emma-nuel Egbabor, Chairman, Isoko council, Delta State, today. HRM, King Anthony Ovietobore Ogbogbo, Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom; Chief Paul Odhomo, Lagos businessman, and Col Ogunde (retd), will be in attendance, with Mr. Solomon Opithe, President of Lagos OPU, as host.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

BRIEFS

INEC declares 14,000 PVCs missing in Rivers A

By Jimitota Onoyume

BOUT 14,000 Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs have been declared missing by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Rivers state.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs Gesila Khan who disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt, said some of the missing cards were stolen at the local government collection centers where they were kept to be distributed.

While appealing to those with the cards to return them, the state INEC boss said there was no way they could be of use to those holding them illegally. According to her, the electoral body was going to use a new device called card readers to identify owners of PVC before they can be used to vote.

Continuing, she said the number of missing PVCs in Rivers was the highest in the country. “ Am appealing to Rivers people because we have lost a lot of cards. We have lost more than 14,000 PVCs and it’s one of the highest figures in the federation”.

All the cards that are being snatched are useless and meaningless because we are going to use a new system called card readers.

Your card readers are just like ATM cards. You take it there and they slot it into the card reader to confirm if it is yours before you are allowed to vote”.

So, if you go there with another person’s voter’s card, it is meaningless. So, I am advising those of you with other peoples’ cards to return them to the local gov-

RESIDENT Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan yesterday commissioned the multi-billion 6.8 kilometres Airport By-pass road with an interchange bridge named after the President in Calabar.

Speaking at the brief ceremony prior to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the President eulogized Governor Liyel Imoke for his leadership style, saying that he was an iconic symbol of good representation of the party.

By Victoria Ojeme

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President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd left) assisted by his Vice, Namadi Sambo (L) PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, Cross River State Governor, Sen. Liyel Imoke, Mr. Peter Obi, and Senate Leader, Sen. Victor NdomaEgba (R) at the commissioning of the multi-billion naira Goodluck Jonathan Bypass in Calabar, yesterday.

ernment offices so that the rightful owners can collect them so that they can participate in the general election.

“Polling officer will on the presentation of the PVC by an electorate be slotted into

the card reader to confirm if it belongs to you. The next stage is the confirmation of your finger prints by the card reader before you are allowed to vote.”

If you go to the polling booth with someone else’s

voters’ card, you would not be able to vote because each card is unique and can only be authenticated by the real owner. The PVC’s are meaningless to those who have stolen them”.

Why I sacrificed my senatorial ambition— Uduaghan

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O V E R N O R Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, opened up on the real reasons he relinquished his senatorial ambition, saying it was because he did not want to leave office in a crisis situation, especially with intelligence information that guns would boom in Warri after his victory.

Uduaghan, who spoke to journalists in Warri, said it was a similar scenario that there would be bloodshed between the Ijaw and Itsekiri if President Goodluck Jonathan had performed the

groundbreakingceremonyof the $16 billion Delta Gas City at Ogidigben, last year. The need for peace, he said, led to postponement of the ceremony.

On his role during the December 8, 2014, governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, that produced Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as the party’s governorship candidate, he said the full story of what happened at the primaries would be told at the appropriate time.

His words, “There was heavy build-up most

Jonathan commissions Calabar’s first flyover

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Indonesia: Fate of 12 Nigerians uncertain

According to Jonathan, “This is a great story which symbolizes the vision of PDP, to create environment that will stimulate and help people in commerce, industry and social integration. For the government and people to notice that they need a bypass from the airport to divert traffic and decongest the city is indeed an exhibition of visionary leadership.

“On behalf of my party, the PDP we thank you very sincerely for representing us well here in the state. Let me at this

point assure you that we will work with the state to ensure that more of this kind of amenities are attracted to the state.”

On the naming of the road after him, the President said: “I want to thank you very sincerely for immortalizing me with the naming of this all important road after me. I pray that the day I will leave office, I will leave enough footprints that people will use in remembering me.”

He described Cross River as Nigeria’s tourism centre.

especially Delta South Senatorial elections and I asked myself, what would I be doing in the Senate if the process leading to that election would lead to another crisis in Warri.?”

“I am sure you will have more to report as journalists, but you will also not feel comfortable if there is no peace in the city. We are enjoying some freedom and peace now. There is no curfew. I have the strong belief that if I had gone for the PDP senate primary, by now there would have been curfew in Warri,” he asserted. Probably for the sake of peace, too, he did not want to expatiate and name those spoiling for war in the area.

The governor stated, “I do not want to leave office in a crisis situation. That is the reason I had to drop my senatorial ambition. I believe we do not have to go to the extent we go sometimes to seek power. We do not have to go to the extent of causing war or chaos.”

He said he felt justified on his position when President Jonathan, after perusing security information, also postponed the EPZ groundbreaking ceremony, maintaining that peace and security of the people remained paramount. He said he was against people exploiting the political ambition of somebody to foment crisis in the state.

S Nigerian government battles to save the lives of the 12 Nigerians still on the death row in Indonesia, a retired ambassador, Suleiman Dahiru, has said that the fate of the convicts cannot be guaranteed by anyone.

12 Nigerians are currently on the death row besides the two, who were executed in Indonesia over alleged drug trafficking recently.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja, Dahiru, who had served the country as envoy in Brazil, Angola, the United States of America, Poland, Pakistan, among others, said law is no respecter of anybody.

“In Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Thailand and I think Singapore, if you are caught with drugs, you will die. In the case of Indonesia, even when you collect your visa application form, it is clearly stated that ‘don’t carry drugs, if you carry drugs, you will die.’ So you were warned before you even submitted your passport for visa.

“And when you get to the airport, I have been to their airport in Jakarta; you see signs warning people carrying drugs that the penalty is death. But unfortunately, some people think that they can beat the system. But the issue is that if today, you have succeeded in beating the system, you may not succeed tomorrow.

4,000 APC faithful hold mock campaign in Sapele

By Godwin Oghre, Sapele

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HE All Progressives Congress in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of the State, in preparation towards holding what it described as “Mother of all campaigns,” by next week Monday, February 2, 2015, across the Council Area, yesterday held what it described as “mock campaign” in Sapele and environs, which it says was meant to determine the acceptability of the party and its candidates, and to sensitise and prepare the people of the area towards the grand campaign.

Wife of APC candidate in the forthcoming Delta State House of Assembly Sapele Constituency election, Mrs Eunice Anirah, who led over four thousand APC faithful in the campaign said, “This mock campaign is a huge success, particularly as it witnessed a handful of decampees from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. There shall be more decampees at the party’s Monday grand campaign in Sapele and environs.

From what everyone can see today (yesterday), this party (APC) and its candidates at the various levels of the election, has a very high acceptability in Sapele and environs because the people are fed up with the ruling PDP government at various levels.”

Dr. B. Briggs is dead

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R. Benoni Ciunna Briggs passed away on Sunday morning on January 11,2015inPortHarcourt City, Rivers State.

He was the Group General Manager (GGM) Corporate Secretariat and Legal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,beforehisretirement in 1995.

He also served at various times as the Director, Physical PlanningDepartment of the National Universities Commission (NUC). Prior to this, he was a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (N.I.S.E.R), Ibadan.

A brilliant economist, he was a Rockefeller scholar, and an alumni of the Universities of Ibadan and London. He devoted his later yearstoyouthdevelopment,

especially in the area of Church Music.

His love for Church music was legendary. Dr Benoni Briggs was born on theApril 12, 1940.Heissurvivedbyawife,children,numerous grandchildren, siblings, and other relatives.

•Late Dr. Brigss

SA TURD AY V anguard ARY 31 SATURD TURDA Vanguard anguard,, JANU JANUARY 31, 2015 — 9

12 persons feared dead as Fulani herdsmen sack five villages in Benue

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

N

O fewer than 12 persons were feared dead, Friday morning, with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries, after suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded and sacked five villages in Logo local government area of Benue state.

The lasted attack is coming on the heels of recent efforts by the state government and the leadership of the Mayyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, to find lasting solution to the protracted crisis.

Saturday Vanguard gathered from a reliable source in one of the affected communities that the marauders who razed over 150 huts, houses and barns also destroyed economic trees and farmlands in the besieged communities.

According to the source, the villages affected in the latest attack included Chembe, TseMue, Ifer, Mgbakpa and Oragbai all in Ukemberagya council ward which was not less than four kilometres from Anyiin, headquarters of the local government council.

“They invaded our villages at about 5am, shooting sporadically for several hours and burning down our houses and huts without resistance.

“The situation on ground now is that over

12 persons have been killed, many yet unaccounted for while hundreds of people have been rendered homeless and many more fleeing their homes for fear of being killed.”

Speaking on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Joseph Anawah, who is an indigene of the area confirmed that the insurgents numbering about 100, used different routes to invade the affected villages.

ENAGOA—KALABA community, one of the six communities of Okordia clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has again been hit by oil spill from a Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, facility.

Though the cause of the spill, which was noticed two weeks ago, could not be immediately ascertained, sources told Vanguard that the

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

P

OOR feeding condi tion and acute malnutrition is reported to kill no fewer than 500,000 Nigerian children, under the age of five, annually,

community also suffered similar fate last September, when it recorded two spills within three weeks.

The management of Agip, the source added, had been informed of the spill but the company has not been able to contain it.

“We informed some management and staff of Agip when the spill was noticed and pleaded with the company to

FEB POLLS: Ika stands still for Okowa

A

SABA — THE campaign train of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Wednesday, brought socio-economic activities to a standstill in Agbor and Owa-Oyibu, headquarters of Ika South and Ika North-East Local Government Areas of the state, respectively.

The campaign train, which left Agbor at 1p.m., for the headquarters of Okowa's home council, Owa-Oyibu, caused traffic gridlock, as vehicular movement was brought to a stands

By Chris Ochayi

T

HE United Progressive Party (UPP) presidential candidate, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has said that refusal by All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari to participate in the scheduled debate was a great disappointment.

Okorie, however advised Buhari to jettison his advisors’ voices and participate in the scheduled debate being organized by the Nigeria Election Debate Group, NEDG. Speaking through his campaign organisation, Okorie argued that, the scheduled presidential debate between all 14 presidential candidates and their running mates is one such event in the current development of democracy in Nigeria that should not be boycotted.

He said, “The news that the APC presidential candidate, General Buhari, will not participate in the scheduled debate is a great disappointment.”

Malnutrition kills half a million Nigerian Elections: Catholic Church to children annually out of the over one million of them that suffer the condition every year.

Deputy Director and Head of the Nutrition Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu disclosed this weekend, at

Oil spill ravages Bayelsa community

Y

Anawah said that the attackers caught up and killed some farmers in their farms, lamenting that some of the victims of Friday ’s attack included homeless victims of last year’s communal crisis in the affected areas.

“Some of the victims of this attack were people who were rendered homeless as a result of last year ’s attacks on their communities by the herdsmen but managed to return to their villages to cultivate their farmlands.”

BRIEFS Buhari’s refusal to participate in debate disappointing — Okorie

still for several hours, while indigenes from the neighbouring villages thronged the Owa-Oyibu township stadium to catch a glimpse of the campaign team of their son, Senator Okowa, and hear him speak.

Addressing the crowd of supporters from within and outside the council, Okowa told his kinsmen to reach out to all their friends and relations in the state to cast their votes for him and the PDP candidates, including President Goodluck Jonathan, who are standing for the February general elections.

promptly mobilize to site for clamping before more harm is done.

Even though Agip responded that information had been received earlier about the spill, it was surprising that Agip failed to take any positive remedial action until the spill point increased and crude oil spewed into the environment,” the source lamented.

Paramount ruler of the community, Chief Roman Orukali, who spoke to ERA team led

by Morris Alagoa, yesterday, lamented the spill, describing it as unfortunate.

He said: “The spill occurred on January 12, and Agip was promptly informed same day. The company came to see the spill point the next day, January 13, but it is surprising to see that Agip has failed to return and stop the spill while crude oil has continued to spread in the environment.

“Agip should know that the environment is our life, health and wealth. In this regard, I wish to urge Agip to help us protect our environment by stopping the spill and carrying our immediate cleanup.’’

the 31st. National Scientific Conference organized by the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Quoting figures from the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Isokpunwu who is also Nigeria’s Focal Person for Scale Up Nutrition, SUN, Movement, said malnutrition had become a major challenge that required decisive action to tackle in the country.

According to him, “almost 30 percent of Nigerian children are underweight, meaning they don’t weigh enough for their ages”, adding that, “the percentage of children who are wasted or too thin for their heights has also steadily increased.

“Over the last decade, it has risen from 11 percent in 2003 to 18 percent in 2013; we are indeed faced with a national challenge.” he stated Dr. Isokpunwu regretted that the challenge was worsened by the fact that nearly four out of five Nigerian children do not meet the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.

He said, “the main indicator of childhood malnutrition is stunting, when children are too short for their ages. Stunted children have poor physical growth and brain development, preventing them from thriving and living up to their full potentials.

“Adequate nutrition during a child’s first 1,000 days, known as the window period, can avert malnutrition, ensuring that the child has the best possible opportunity to grow, learn and also rise out of poverty.”

deploy 4,889 observers in 23 states

By Caleb Ayansina

T

HE Catholic Church said it would deploy no fewer than 4,889 observers in 23 states of the country, who would stay back to observe the forthcoming general elections till the end.

The Executive Secretary of Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, who made this disclosure yesterday at a press briefing on the forthcoming general election, in Abuja, expressed fears of possible outbreak of violence, due to predetermined minds of some people, who are drumming war no matter how free and fair the poll is.

According to him, “From our discussions with our partners in some parts of the country, the certain towns and cities are already so charged that potential lives and properties are not safe, depending on the outcome of the elections.

“It does appear that a predetermined outcome for the elections is demanded by some groups that no matter how free and fair it is, if it does not suit them, they would resort to violence that could lead to loss of lives.”

To this end, the Foundation suggested that “Church and Mosque leaders should intensify sensitization of their members to avoid violence whatever the outcome of the elections.”

Ekhomu calls for postponement of elections in North-East

R

ENOWNED Security Expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has called on the Federal Government to postpone the February 2015 elections in the North Eastern States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in order to allow the military complete counter-terrorism operations in the zone and reduce the loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.

Reacting to the declaration by the European Union Election Observer mission that they will keep off the Northeast conflict zone, he said: “it is obvious that the three North Eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe are not secured enough for citizens to exercise their right to vote. Politicians must not ignore the obvious grave threat that terrorism poses to Nigerian Citizens in their quest to gain political power. If the North-East zone is not safe enough for EU observers, then it is not safe for free and fair elections,” he added.

President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Ekhomu said that 75% of the Local governments in Borno State (that is 20 out of 27) was under the control of BokoHaram terrorists. “Rather than conduct a “fraudulent” poll in the remaining seven local government areas of the state, all efforts must be made to flush out the terrorists from Borno State, the security expert said.

10—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

LESS than 14 days to the presidential election, a number of states are emerging as votes swinging blocs that will shape the outcome of the polls.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

ITH just two weeks to the 2015 presidential election, there is no doubt that votes in states with high density registered voters, would most likely determine who wins the contest.

Unlike other states, Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Delta, Benue and Bauchi are expected to be prioritised by the campaign organisations of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC. An in depth analysis of the emerging electoral map, showed that these states have 30, 015, 291 registered voters, representing nearly 43 percent of the total number of registered voters across the country which the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC pegged at 70,383,427.

In the 2011 presidential elections,

C M Y K

PRESIDENTIAL POLLS:

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, retd, who was the candidate of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change, CPC, won in five of these states – Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Niger President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP also won in five – Lagos, Rivers, Plateau, Benue and Delta.

In spite of the fact that Nigeria’s electoral map is continuously undergoing transmutation, occasioned by the sustained updating of voters register and rate of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collection, these areas remain pivotal in deciding how far any of the candidates can go.

Since a good number of the states are being controlled by the PDP, it may not be wrong to assume that the party would have an edge over the APC in those areas, but that may not totally be the case as a result of many factors.

Prominent among the reasons are the issues of religion, ethnicity, changing alliances and party loyalty, which are deciding factors

Continues on page 11

States that may determine the winner

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—11

Continues from page 10 in these hotbeds.

The foregoing, analysts argued, highlight the challenges that Jonathan and Buhari may face in framing arguments that would attract votes in these battle grounds.

Further probe into the electoral map showed that much as the states offer reasons for hope, there are so many reasons for the APC and PDP to be apprehensive.

LAGOS:

With a voting strength of 5,905,852 Lagos is known to have the highest number of registered voters in the country.

Out of this number about 2,2 67,039 people have collected their PVCs, while about 1.8 million PVCs are yet to be collected.

Vanguard gathered that INEC in the state has so far received about four million PVCs. Though Lagos is the stronghold of the APC, it could as well be described as a swing state given its heterogeneous nature which cuts across party leanings. It is for this reason that pundits are undivided about the likely direction of the pendulum.

To them, it is neither here nor there, hence the circumspection against concluding on the possible winner of the presidential race in the state. Instructively, President Jonathan scored 1,281,688 votes against Buhari’s 189, 983 in 2011.

Whether the 2011 voting pattern would play out in Africa’s most populous city, is likely to be determined by the unusual audacious outing the opposition is having this time.

KANO

Kano is officially the most populous state in Nigeria. With a population of about 11 million people, the state has 44 local government areas, LGAs, making it very crucial in political calculations in the country’s multiparty system.

So important is the numerical edge of the state that the fate of presidential aspirants are, to a large extent, often determined by the support of Kano delegates during party primaries.

Like other core northern states, the voting pattern in Kano, usually toe along ethno religious lines.

In 2011, the religious cleavages in the system were prevalent, resulting in the lean number of votes the PDP recorded in the state.

The CPC candidate scored 1,624,543 votes while the PDP had 440, 666. Though the state is currently being governed by the APC, analysts believe that the voting pattern would further influence how far any of the leading presidential candidates can go.

The state has 4,975,701 registered voters, making it the second after Lagos. Unfortunately, over 40 percent of these eligible voters may not vote as a result of the low collection rate of PVCs. As at the time of filing this report, only 2,612,400 PVCs have been distributed across the 44 local councils of the state.

KATSINA The cruciality of Katsina is pegged on three key factors: it is the home state of Buhari, has many registered voters and 79 per cent of the would-be-voters have collected the PVC These three elements would be so pivotal in the race C M Y K

•Buhari

•Jonathan

PRESIDENTIAL POLLS: States that may determine the winner given that they might shape the voting pattern. Considering the fact that the twin issues of religion and ethnicity, had in the past, played pivotal role in the voting pattern in Katsina, predicting a repeat of history may not be difficult.

It is expected that 2,245, 303 voters representing the number of PVCs collected would vote on the Election Day out of 2,827,943 registered voters.

KADUNA

With latest report ranking Kaduna as the state with the highest rate of PVCs collection, the state is certainly a battle ground. Aside leading in PVCs collection rate, Kaduna is the home state of Vice President Namadi Sambo and also a melting pot with high number of indigenous Christians.

In 2011, Buhari and Jonathan ran a tight race in Kaduna, which Buhari narrowly won. Buhari scored 1,334, 244 votes while Jonathan had 1,190,179 votes, which reconfirmed the unpredictable voting pattern of the state. Out of 3,407,222 registered voters, 2,976,628 people have collected their PVCs, indicating a 62 percent collection rate.

NIGER

More than half of the entire 3,950,249 population of Niger State were registered during the various voters’ registration exercises in the state.

At the moment, Niger has 2,014,317 registered voters and 62 two percent of this population are in possession of their PVCs. Specifically, 1,250,379 PVCs have been collected.

Incidentally, Niger which is the home state of former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd, and Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), giving it a very crucial space in the country’s

Accordingly, Jonathan had 1, 029,865 votes, while Buhari scored 356,551 votes.

The number of registered voters in Plataea is 2, 001,825 while 1,141,260 people have so far collected their PVCs.

electoral map.These leaders are known to have large followership across the country, considering the various roles they had played in the country’s political evolution.

Already, Babangida, in a move seen as having sweeping implications in the race, recently declared his support for Buhari, in the upcoming elections.

The 2011 election results showed that Jonathan had 321,429 votes while Buhari won with 652,574 votes.

BAUCHI

Apart from having 2,054,125 registered voters, Bauchi has so far, recorded nearly 85 per cent PVCs distribution rate.

Another feature that stands Bauchi out as a possible battleground is the fact that the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, hails from there.

Muazu, a former governor of the state, is expected to deliver the state for his party.

Already, the state is already making the headlines for alleged anti-Jonathan activities, occasioned by the stoning of the President’s convoy.

Bauchi is among the states where the PDP had a poor outing in the 2011 presidential election.

President Jonathan had 258,404 votes in that exercise while Buhari won with 1,315, 209 votes.

Barring any downward or upward change in the number of PVCs distributed, about 1, 745, 441 voters would vote in next month’s election.

PLATEAU

The violence ravaged state, is among the few places in the North were the President won in 2011 presidential election.

The result of that election, to a large extent, conformed to arguments that the Christian/ Muslim dichotomy played a decisive role in the exercise.

Since a good number of the states are being controlled by the PDP, it may not be wrong to assume that the party would have an edge over the APC in those areas, but that may not totally be the case as a result of many factors

RIVERS Known for its usual block votes for the PDP since 1999 the state would undoubtedly be a battleground considering the gains the APC has made as a result of the defection of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

The likely voting pattern in the presidential election, will for a long time dominate most post-election discourse. The number of registered voters in Rivers is 2,537,590, but a lower percentage of that figure would vote in the election. The development is not unconnected with the fact that only 1, 253,606 PVCs have been distributed by INEC. Against that backdrop, the state that gave President Jonathan 1,817,762 votes in 2011, may not record up to 50 percent participation in the race.

DELTA

With 2, 275,264 registered voters, Delta is the second most numerically strong state in the South-South geo-political zone.

Even though over one million of these voters would not vote in the polls, about 1,422,595 votes are up for grabs.

The state voted massively for President Jonathan in 2011 with 1, 378, 851 votes.

BENUE

In Benue, 1, 132,187 votes are for up grabs. This figure represents the number of PVCs distributed in the state out the 2,015,452 registered voters.

In 2011, President Jonathan garnered 694, 776 votes while Buhari got 109,680 votes.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

Nigerian Lottery Scam

call he’d been waiting for – the cash was ready to go if he could just find an extra $6,900 for “travel costs and to rent trunks to ship the money”.

The final contact between Rempel and the scammers was when they called to say they’d arrived at the airport in New York. However, there was a slight snag – security had stopped them and they needed $12,500 for a bribe.

Rempel, still none the wiser but substantially lighter in the wallet, told them: “No way, I’m cleaned out.”

In one last desperate act, Rempel drove to the airport with his parents and 10-year-old brother, but found no trace of his friends or the money. They then went home and called the police.

The final cost of Rempel’s mix of greed and remarkable stupidity was $55,000 from his uncle in Mexico, $60,000 from his parents to “cover fees for transferring $12.8 million into his name”, plus the money he personally lost – a total of $150,000.

He said: “They’re in it now because of me. If it wasn’t for me, nobody would be in this mess.

You think things will work out, but it doesn’t. It’s a very bad feeling. I had lots of friends. I never get calls anymore from my friends. You know, a bad reputation. I really thought in my heart this was true.”

A scam too big

This is the concluding part of the story on Advance Fee Fraud we published last week

A Canadian story

I

n 2009, a Canadian man in a well celebrated scam lost $150,000 to Nigerian Lottery Scam. John Rempel of Leamington, Ontario, got an email way back in July, 2007 from someone claiming to be a lawyer with a client named David Rempel who died in a 2005 bomb attack in London, England, and left behind $12.8 million dollars. The scammer said it was a long-lost relative of the victim, or the deceased millionaire had no relatives so they sought someone who shared the same last name.

The unidentified lawyer said his client had no family but wanted to leave the money to a Rempel. It was John’s lucky day.

“It sounded all good so I called him,” said John. “He sounded very happy and said God bless you. But, then the Advance Fee Fraud came in.”

The man told him he had to pay $2,500 to transfer the money into his name. He then had to stump for several more documents some of which cost $5,000. The scammer told Rempel he had to open a bank account in London, with a minimum $5,000 deposit. He

said some of the money had been transferred into the account for “safe keeping”.

The scammers then upped the ante, sending an email from a “government department” claiming he owed $250,000 tax on his inheritance. Rempel’s contact assured him he’d “negotiated the fee down to $25,0003 .

Rempel decided to travel to London to check that the deal was legit. He made his way to Mexico, where his uncle who owned a farm gave him cash and money for a plane ticket.

He said: “I had $10,000 in cash in my pocket and my uncle sent another $25,000 when I was over there.”

Once in London, Rempel met “some people” and handed over the $10k. The next day, the 419ers showed their target a suitcase they said contained $10.6m in shrink-wrapped US bills. Rempel demanded further proof, at which point one scammer extracted a bill and “cleansed” it with a liquid “formula” which “washed off some kind of stamp”. The process converted the cash into “legal tender”, Rempel was told.

Rempel said: “I was like holy crap, is that mine? They said ‘ yes sir, it’s yours.’ It all

sounded legit.

Rempel went back to his hotel room with the magic formula to wait for the 419ers “so they could cleanse all his money”. They, of course, disappeared, later claiming they’d “been held up”.

The victim then managed to drop the bottle containing the formula, breaking it. He rang his contact who said he’d get further supplies. Rempel flew back to Leamington and waited several weeks until a call which confirmed more formula was available for $120,000. Rempel said: “I thought, ‘let’s work on it, nothing is impossible.’”

The 419ers told Rempel they “were willing to meet associates in different countries to get cash for the formula”, but that they’d need several plane tickets, at $6,000 a person.

The scammers subsequently confirmed they’d collected $100,000, but were still $20,000 short. Apparently, there was “a guy in Nigeria who had it, but another plane ticket was required”. The contact then insisted he could only get $15,000 of the balance and “begged” Rempel for the remaining $5,000.

Rempel obliged, borrowing the money and defaulting on his credit card and car payments.

A week later, Rempel got the

The Nigerians, in a 419 plan, came up with a fake contract to build an airport in Abuja.

They promised Nelson Tetsuo Sakaguchi a big commission in exchange for funding the contract

But what was described to be the biggest scam ever by the former chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu involved Banco Noroeste S.A. a Brazilian bank which recorded the “single biggest advanced fee fraud case in the whole world”. Between May 1995 and February 1998, a total of US$242 million was reportedly stolen from the Banco Noroeste S. A. through offshore banks in the Cayman islands.

The money was allegedly remitted by swift transfers through various banks to accounts controlled by Nigerian nationals. The authorisation for all the transfers was done by Nelson Tetsuo Sakaguchi, a senior official at the bank. The Nigerians, in a 419 plan, came up with a fake contract to build an airport in Abuja. They promised Nelson Tetsuo Sakaguchi a big commission in exchange for funding the contract.

The fraud was detected in February 1998 while Sakaguchi was on vacation, in the process of auditing carried out in readiness for the intended sale of the Bank Noroeste to Spanish banking group Banco Santander. Inquiry revealed discrepancies in the bank’s books, with at least US$242 million missing. Of this sum, US$190 million had been transferred directly to accounts controlled by the Nigerians or Continues on page 13

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—13

The love scam Continues from page 12 through unlawful money changing operations conducted

by Naresh Asnani (a British subject of Indian descent resident in Nigeria) and another Nigerian businessman resident in Enugu.

Following the discoveries, civil actions aimed at recovering the money were commenced in Brazil, Switzerland, Hong Kong, the United States of America and in Nigeria. In addition to the civil actions, criminal complaints were laid in Brazil, Switzerland, USA, Hong Kong and Nigeria.

The accused persons and companies were charged with obtaining by false pretence $190 million from one of the directors of Banco Noroeste Bank.

In prosecution, the Nigerian nationals pleaded guilty to numerous crimes and forfeited $121.5 million dollars in assets.

The woman amongst them too pleaded guilty and received a two and half-year sentence after agreeing to give back $48.5 million.

Investigators acting for the bank’s shareholders persuaded Sakaguchi to visit New York, ostensibly for a meeting with the shareholders, where he was arrested on an international warrant issued by the Swiss government and extradited to Switzerland to answer money laundering charges. He admitted involvement in the C M Y K

fraud. In December 2002, Naresh Asnani was arrested in Miami, while en route to a meeting with lawyers acting for the shareholders, on an international warrant issued by the Swiss Government. He was extradited to Switzerland to answer similar charges of money-laundering. On October 31 2003, he too admitted involvement in the fraud.

The love scam

Besides the strictly business fraud, there were also many reported love scams. The sweetheart swindle scam, also known as the Nigerian romance scam is the worst.

This one focuses on manipulating the emotions of a person who is seeking love online. These scam artists meet unsuspecting women (and also men) on dating sites. They know exactly what to say to make the victim fall in love with them and trust them completely. Once the scammer has caught his victim in his trap, he begins to ask for small amounts of money to assist him on daily expenses. Over time, these amounts become more.

He needs money to pay his medical bills after falling ill, he needs help because he was mugged, he needs your help buying a plane ticket so the two of you can finally be joined together.

There was a story of one

particular scammer who conned countless women since 2007. He was Roy Innocent Moore and he is a professional Nigerian Romance Scammer.

Roy Innocent Moore concocted a persona that was complex and varied slightly from victim to victim. Certain things always remained the same however.

His mother was from the UK and he was born in Jamaica.

After the death of his father, his family relocated back to the UK and he attended Bradford University for Art. He eventually moved to New York City, married and had a daughter. Depending on which of his victims you speak to, Moore was either a widower or recently divorced. A victim’s relative told a US tabloid: “I first came to hear of his name three years ago when he met a family member of mine on a popular dating website.

They were in love almost instantly. Each day, he sent her poetry, and romantic emails filled with promises of their future together. He was staying in Nigeria at the time because he had a contract with the “National Museum” in Lagos.

“As time went by and her love for him deepened, he began to have financial troubles. She was more than willing to assist him, knowing that any money she sent him would be returned to her when he came home to America. He still has not shown up on her doorstep though she

Besides the strictly business fraud, there were also many reported love scams. The sweetheart swindle scam, also known as the Nigerian romance scam is the worst.

This one focuses on manipulating the emotions of a person who is seeking love online

has sent him thousands in order to bring him here.

“Though he swears his devotion, she is not his only “love.” Several women also came forward and shared their stories. The love they feel for him is real, however he is not.

Nigerian romance scammers steal personal photos of people that they claim to be them. They are more than happy to send these to their victims. This results in damage not only to the victim but to the individual who truly is in the photographs.

“The problem with this particular scam is that it is so prevalent. When I reported him to my local FBI headquarters, they expressed sympathy but also said that with this scam it is extremely hard for them to catch the criminal. All information that the scammer provides the victim was fake and therefore difficult to track.

These women have lost thousands of dollars to this man, and been manipulated into theft and fraud, and they may never truly know justice, and they will never see that money again.

“I know “Roy Innocent Moore” will more than likely never be caught and prosecuted for his many crimes, but that does not stop me from telling my story. It is my hope, not that he gets thrown in jail, but that by putting out information about him on the internet, it will stop any future victims from falling prey to this criminal.”

In another scam, a Nigerian tabloid reported on November 19 2012, how a Nigerian gospel artiste was jailed for defrauding online lovers of 120,000 UK Pounds.

The gospel singer, Oluwamayowa Ajayi, reportedly fleeced four American women he met on the internet dating site of over 120,000 dollars and was jailed for six and a half years at Snakesbrook Crown Court in East London.

Ajayi, 31, who performed under the stage name “Malo Joe” pretended to be an American fighter pilot, a grieving widower and an oil executive to the women he fleeced before the long arms of the law caught up with him.

The crown prosecutor summed up his argument stating how Ajayi lived off the women by lying among others. In one instance, he claimed that he had been held hostage by Niger Delta militants and therefore, his captors needed some ransom before he could be released,otherwise, they would kill him.

Despite the pleas for mercy, it was inevitable that he would be caged. The Judge detailing the seven- count charge ruled that

Continues on page 14

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

Even students are in it

Saheed Bakare and informed her that her ‘fiancé,’ Benson Lawson had an accident and needed money for his treatment. The love-struck woman sent some money.

“Two weeks after the convict called the victim and thanked her profusely for her kindness. He now told her that he would like to visit her in Australia so that they could consummate their relationship. He demanded for money for air ticket, police and customs clearances and all sorts. “At the end of the day he duped the woman to the tuned of $47,000 before his arrest and arraignment by EFCC.”

A prevailing problem

Continues from page 13 Ajayi had been found guilty by the jury who had found him guilty four days earlier.

In one instance,he tricked and lied to one of his victims who parted with over $100, 000 that he was a businessman who was short of cash and therefore, needed a loan. The woman used some of the money on her credit card and also borrowed from family members to raise the funds.

In another, Ajayi claimed he was in the hands of Niger Delta militants and they would kill him within 20 hours if the woman didn’t do anything about the ransom they asked her to pay. She hurriedly sent $500 through Moneygram to Nigeria, where he then cashed the money.

According to the Judge, “all the four women were embarrassed” when each discovered.

Just recently, Kudirat Jose of a Lagos High Court convicted and sentenced Promise Ntuen Ekemini to one year imprisonment for hijacking the e-mail of a lawful owner of a property, located in Western Australia valued at $800,000( Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), and attempting to sell the property. Ntuen Ekemini was arraigned in April, 2014 on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy to C M Y K

defraud, attempt to obtain money by false pretences and forgery. Justice Jose found him guilty of all the charges and convicted him.

Ekemini got into trouble by impersonating Brian Roderick Daniel, owner of a property located at No. 143, Sprinaway Parade, Falcon, Western Australia and offering his property to buyers on the internet without the consent of the owner. The Australian Police alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to monitor a controlled delivery of some documents related to the transactions to Ekemini. He was arrested at the point of collection of the documents.

Even students are in it The scam stories are not the prerequisite of just a few. Even university undergraduates are into it. In 2007, for instance, a final year student of the Department of Survey and GeoInformatics Engineering, University of Lagos, Lawal Adekunle Nurudeen, was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment for obtaining $27,900.91 from an Australian woman, Pee Loo Rosalind Summer.

The convict was arraigned before Justice M.O Obadina of Ikeja High Court on 19-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.

He was found guilty on all the counts and consequently sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on each count.

The convict was also ordered to pay the sums of $5,900, N526, 117.15 and any

interest standing to his credit in his savings account with the Ikorodu Branch of a new generation bank, to the victim.

In addition, the convict was asked to pay $250 monthly to the victim until the total sum fraudulently obtained by him was liquidated. His two plots of land lying and situated at Mowo Kekere Ikorodu bought from the proceeds of the crime, were sold and the money realised remitted to the victim.

The Honda prelude car recovered by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the convict was also sold and its proceeds remitted to the victim.

A statement signed by the then EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, said the convict who was an undergraduate of UNILAG met the victim on the internet and introduced himself as Engineer Benson Lawson, a Briton working with a multi-national company in Nigeria. “Along the line the victim, a 56year old woman from Australia told the convict that she wanted a husband and all the men she had met always disappointed her. The convict, who is married with

three children instantly applied and told the victim that she had met her Mr. Right.

“To convince his prey, he told the woman that he was a 57 -year old widower and that few years back, his wife and their only child died in a ghastly motor accident in Lagos. He sent the picture of a white man to the victim to foreclose any suspicions. The victim accepted his proposal and that gave room for the next stage of the 419 heist.” Few weeks later, he called the woman to introduce himself as Dr.

The scam stories are not the prerequisite of just a few.

Even university undergraduates are into it

Despite Nigeria’s efforts, the schemes have reached “epidemic proportions. A publication by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said the agency received more than fifty-five thousand complaints about them last year, nearly six times as many as in 2001.

The increase is due in part to the Internet, which makes it easy for scammers to reach potential marks in wealthier countries. “If we educate the public to the point where nobody falls for it, then they’ll go out of business,” Eric Zahren, a spokesman for the Secret Service, the lead U.S. agency in investigating advance-fee frauds, says.

The agency estimates that 419 swindlers gross hundreds of millions of dollars a year, not including losses by victims too embarrassed to complain.

Robert B. Reich, the former Labor Secretary, who has studied the psychology of market behaviour, says, “American culture is uniquely prone to the ‘too good to miss’ fallacy.

‘Opportunity’ is our favourite word. What may seem reckless and feckless and hapless to people in many parts of the world seems a justifiable risk to Americans.”

The mind-set was best explained by the linguist David W. Maurer in his classic 1940 book, “The Big

Con”: “As the lust for large and easy profits is fanned into a hot flame, the mark puts all his scruples behind him. He closes out his bank account, liquidates his property, borrows from his friends, embezzles from his employer or his clients. In the mad frenzy of cheating someone else, he is unaware of the fact that he is the real victim, carefully selected and fatted for the kill. Thus arises the trite but none the less sage maxim: ‘You can’t cheat an honest man.’ “

SA TURD A Y Vanguard SATURD TURDA anguard,, JANUARY 31, 2015—15

By Dr UGOJI EGBUJO

Birds eat grasshoppers , yet Igbos say any grasshopper that meets its death at the hands of an okpoko (a particularly noisy bird) must be deaf.

I

•Voting scene in Nigeria

2015 elections and the “GATES OF HELL” the podium and sought to impress the president with the verbal savagery he probably unleashed on his behalf to demonise his opponent. If you cant fetch him votes, wield cudgels on his opponents, it appeared.

That minister labeled Buhari, the opposition leader, “enemy of the Yoruba people”. There, was a federal minister playing dangerous tribal politics publicly.

He linked Buhari to the death of Awolowo. And the crowd cheered. The crowd would always cheer. In Central African Republic, they cheer as people are roasted and decapitated in the religious strife that has consumed Bangui.

The president came on the stage moments later, no worries over the hate-gospel. I guess only votes matter now.

So he lionized Fayose, calling him Oshokomole repeatedly , literally endorsing his tactics .

In the face of what had happened before he began his speech , a jocular reminder to all to avoid violence and maintain decorum would have revealed maturity. If Fayose was impudent then the president, in condoning him, was politically imprudent.

And those inflammatory rhetorics perhaps fueled Fayose’s next move which was

to adorn front page of a national daily with advertorial that seemingly suggested Buhari would die in office if elected President. Sometimes Fayose is so tragically comical he should be disregarded but a man with a penchant for viciousness and violence must never be ignored.

The fear of large scale post election conflict and violence is not alarmist . In 2011 many, including innocent youth corp members were killed following some post election violence in parts of the north. It is expected that since there are now two evenly matched parties, the presidential contest would be the fiercest in Nigeria’s history. The National security adviser has said that much.

The parties have signed a peace accord. But what is the accord worth? Political tensions have risen since the accord .

The visit of the US secretary of states to Nigeria to discuss the imperative of non violence approach speaks volumes of international concern.

The contestants are morally culpable for political and moral atrocities perpetrated or instigated by their campaign teams and parties. And their campaign teams have fanned the embers.

Could it be the that president Jonathan’s team has been at

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f Biafra and its aftermath and its lessons are too distant to caution Nigerians, then Rwanda, and its graphic elaboration of the limitless boundaries of human depravity, a manifestation of a strain of spontaneous but highly contagious affliction of a compulsive obsession to hate and kill, must always jolt.

The virulence of that affliction in comparison to Ebola virus disease is made clear in the death toll of over 100,000 in just 100 days while Ebola with all its dreadfulness has killed about 8000 throughout this epidemic that has lasted more than a year now.

Some would say that Rwanda was not particularly about elections but it was about power struggle accentuated by ethnic rivalries. Rwanda should serve enough horror to deter those who have, out of desperation or ignorance, chosen to inflame divisive passions. That notorious picture of stacked skulls of thousands who were killed should never be forgotten.

In Kenya , Rwanda and the like, we have our fault lines, divisions and animosities deliberately accentuated and bequeathed to us by colonialists which our political leaders, neo colonialists in every sense, have continued to manipulate.

The electioneering campaigns have been full of sound and fury.

Shakespeare must have many idiots here.

Who doubts that divisive political speeches portend grave danger in any volatile polity?

Kenya’s election crisis in 2007 could address any such doubts.

Politicians in Kenya made inflammable speeches prior to the fiercely contested elections.

Minutes after the disputed results were announced , the opposition leader Raila Odinga rejected the results and violence exploded.

Odinga had been the champion for the poor but when killing and maiming started ethnic rivalry inflamed it. Over a thousand died in a couple of days and over 250,000 where internally displaced and the country’s economy was shut down. Kenya lost big time. All the killings happened in the slums. Kibaki and Odinga and the other political elites later gathered to share power and everything else.

Kenya was lucky in a sense.

Governor Fayose was on the podium the other day. In a display of characteristic indiscretion he exalted impunity by bragging about the futility of much vaunted anti corruption capability of the opposition party.

“Am I not still here, did they not try (prosecute) me “ he mocked.

Fayose hadn’t quite finished that day when a minister mounted

Some would say that Rwanda was not particularly about elections but it was about power struggle accentuated by ethnic rivalries.

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the receiving end of physical attacks ? Can that explain why The president’s team has been the more aggressive?

There have been acts of political violence in a few places.

The PDPs campaign team was attacked in Jos in a part of Jos that is Pro Buhari. APCs offices in Okrika and Ndoni were bombed and a second attack against APC again in Okrika destroyed structures they erected for campaign. Okrika is the hometown of The president’s wife who is at daggers drawn with Gov Amaechi who leads Buhari’s campaign and so the implications of these attacks must not be lost on anyone.

Governor Sule Lamido has raised an alarm. No one openly supports Jonathan in the north now without being hounded. He referred to his experience in 1983 when he decamped from Aminu Kano’s PRP to ZIK’s led NPP and was branded a pagan and vilified. His speech gave expression to the prevailing situation in the northern part of Nigeria where any public identification with or promotion of Jonathan is almost an anathema. And that is Dangerous. If clandestine meetings are held and messages are spread to the effect that Jonathan must not be supported because he is ‘not our own’, that is a recipe for disaster. And if

Continues on page 16

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C M Y K

•President Goodluck Jonathan

•Attahiru Jega, INEC boss

•Muhammadu Buhari

2015 elections and the “GATES OF HELL”

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Continues from page 15 any support for him is a taboo, then national unity is in jeopardy. We understand ethnic politics but we know when it has taken a dangerous dimension Let’s make no mistake, Jonathan and his people aren’t being persecuted in the north for religious reasons as some would like to propagate. He is loathed now principally in response to a certain unfortunate narrative that has gained traction amongst the ordinary people to the effect that he is in a sense responsible for the atrocities of Boko haram. Either for acts of commission or omission, they blame him for the decimation of the north by the sect. Any objective observer would find that assumption preposterous and plainly mischievous.

Many northerners subscribe to that narrative , that fallacy, and see Jonathan as an enemy. If you reinforce that attitude with their passion for a reputedly morally upright Buhari then the general understanding that any Jonathan’s supporter is literally a traitor can be explained but not accepted.

Jonathan’s team was pelted with stones in Katsina and these actions are condemnable. These reactions need to stop because we are, by our structure, vulnerable.

Many clerics have cast aside caution and dabbled into partisan politics .

Mbaka’s excursion into the politics of endorsements has been condemned by many but as objectionable as any such attempt may be, it serves national unity better if a Christian cleric endorses a Muslim candidate than for a Muslim cleric endorsing a Muslim candidate, and vice versa. So perhaps ethically , Mbaka fares better than Oyedepo.

Pastor Oyedepo must remember that there is no difference between a pastor who sees a Muslim as a heathen who is unfit to rule over the country and an ‘almajiri’ who refers to the Igbo trader as an infidel and by such a spiritual justification, in a moment of confusion, to eliminate him in the name of God . I respect Bishop Oyedepo deeply . But is tit for tat a Christian way?

The vice president has not been idle. He was hardly seen on the campaign trail in the south, he was perhaps writing his inflammatory speech which he delivered in Hausa, perhaps for added poignancy, in Jigawa. He was reported to have labeled professor Osinbajo a Christian crusader who presides over 5000 churches and whose ulterior ambition is to wreck

The ruling party has become a victim of their devious political ploy in the north

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Islam by ‘Christianising’ the country.

He couldn’t be more divisive.

Many of our leaders are puerile and aloof but they are letting out so much from hell already as they fiddle its gates.

Violence, as we learnt from the holocaust and Rwanda, is nourished not just by false propaganda but the passivity and failure to defend the truth and justice by many others. The Buhari’s certificate imbroglio is a veritable example. Buhari should have submitted a certificate ab initio . He would have saved us a lot of stress.

However, the handling of the fallout of that procedural lapse by the president’s team has been pedestrian , mendacious and vexatious. The PDP presidential campaign has two relevant persons with very contrasting characters. Fani Kayode and Gov Shema.

Fani has a reputation for good elocution and for careless talk. He insists Buhari has no certificate and is not qualified and he labels the statement of result released by the Katsina school as forged. Ffk, as he is fondly called, by implication , accuses Katsina state government of forging Buhari’s result since the authenticity of that result has not been refuted by Katsina state’s ministry of education that runs the issuing school. And Shema has been quiet, yet that school is indirectly supervised by him. Is that acceptable? Yet FFK speaks for the presidential campaign committee to which same Shema belongs.

FFK rants and rants but does not involve the police to investigate the forgery?

The president’s campaign director recently, made inflammatory remarks when he associated northern Muslims with Boko Haram.

Standing up for the truth to dispel false and malicious information is a moral and patriotic duty. But it is something politicians find difficult to do. Many were shocked when PDP’s

Gov Yuguda of Bauchi debunked allegations that APC attacked president Jonathan in Bauchi , blaming squabbles within his party for the incident.

It is good Yuguda spoke up.

What about Abba Moro, minister for internal affairs? A man who supervised an employment exercise that claimed lives of our people, a man who, ordinarily in atonement to man and God, must flee from lies, took the stage in Makurdi to state that the statement of result released

by Buhari’s katsina school was fake had the effrontery to point accusing fingers at others? “ Mr president I can tell you, as a teacher, that that result was forged,” he said in Markurdi.

Moro owes the president so much that such clownishness must be read as a public expression of gratitude for the contempt shown Nigerians by the president in retaining him.

The president, disappointed many by literally trampling on the sensibilities of Nigerians in keeping Moro. Moro, who is yet to be probed for the scam that claimed lives claimed that the principal of Katsina state government was guilty of forgery.

The ruling party has become a victim of their devious political ploy in the north. They had sought to absolve the government of ineptitude in the handling Book Haram by declaring that the insurgency was the

handiwork of political opponents particularly Buhari and his sympathisers. So without any tangible evidence and despite their control of organs of investigation and coercion , they demonized apparently innocent opponents.

Anyone who believed the government’s position on Boko Haram and had faith in their theory would have been stupefied by the grand welcome given Ali Modu Sheriff, the erstwhile suspected master mind of the sect, into the inner recesses of federal power.

Even after that government officials have continued to label APC Boko Haram party.

Our leaders must come out and defuse political tension and make their supporters understand violence is not an option regardless of the outcome of the elections.

Ivory coast must interest our leaders and those fiddling with the gates of hell. If this fiercely contested presidential election ends inconclusively or in dispute, the seeds they have sown may sprout and what may follow is better imagined than said here.

But they should give peace a chance for we have the right to live. Violence must not be our way.

Dr UGOJI EGBUJO wrote from Lagos.

SA TURD AY Vanguard —17 SATURD TURDA anguard,, JANUARY 31, 2015 2015—17

2015: Go and work together, Jonathan tells Mimiko, Oke, Jimoh Ibrahim In the last three weeks, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC have engaged each other in war of words in a bid to canvass for votes in the February general elections.

Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan led other party stalwarts to Akure, the Ondo State capital to campaign for votes.

The event which was earlier scheduled for last week, but for the defection of some PDP leaders following some irreconcilable differences especially against the backdrop of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party, LP who returned to his former PDP, had to be rescheduled for last Wednesday.

Speaking at the rally after former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; governor Mimiko; Director- General, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PCO, Dr. Ahmadu Ali; the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku; the Chief of Staff to the President; former PDP Governorship candidate and exNational Legal Adviser of PDP, Chief Olusola Oke; Vice President Namadi Sambo; PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu had spoken, President Goodluck Jonathan stressed the need for all the stakeholders, leaders in Ondo state to bury the hatchet in the interest of the party.

The President who urged them

to drop their personal agenda for the overall interest of the state, and the party, said state has the record of providing progressive leadership in the person of late governor Michael Ajasin, activists like late Gani Fayehinmi, SAN, among others.

President Jonathan who told the mammoth crowd that although there were issues but was optimistic that they would be nipped in the bud ahead of next month’s general election. He stated that all party members must be prepared to sacrifice personal interest for the interest of the state, just as he pleaded with business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim and Chief Olusola Oke to work in unison with governor Mimiko irrrespective of the grievances and differences.

According to him, “for the PDP family, I use this platform to state that we have to work hard to make sure that Jimoh Ibrahim and the governor join hands together in the interest of the state.

“Mimiko, Ibrahim and Oke, three of them must sit down to discuss the development of the state. They must not sit down to discuss personal things or individual interests. They must work together to make sure that collectively, we attain the development of the state and the nation at large,” he said.

Also speaking with some Journalists on the need for peace and support for President Jonathan, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, disclosed that President Jonathan has assured the Afenifere leaders that the recommendations of the National Conference would be implemented and that peace had returned to the party with leaders, stakeholders ready to bury the hatchet to ensure the victory of the President and the PDP next month, adding that some corrections must be made where the original members of

He warned that all party members must be prepared to sacrifice personal interest for the interest of the state

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PDP before Governor Mimiko returned, must be carried along if there must be true and genuine reconciliation.

He boasted that his blood, everything was for the re-election of President Jonathan and ready to sacrifice anything at his disposal, even as he was very much optimistic that the president will win the election landslide.

Kuku said, “For me, my ultimate goal is the development of this state and the ultimate ultimate is Jonathan, I can give him and I have given him everything except my life.”

On the crisis in the party in the state, he said, “The President has assured the leaders who feel aggrieved that after the victory, he will not forget them. We all agreed that there are some of our leaders that the coming of the governor has affected their political calculations.”

On the peace move, he said, “The peace process I have been leading is meant to benefit all of us including Mimiko. Most fears being entertained are based on life after election. We know that the integration is truly very difficult and it is difficult from the angle of the old PDP but we are moving and we will be there. The governor has agreed to open up his government to accommodate the old PDP members even up to the level of the State Executive Council. We cannot be tired.

We must beg them and quickly move some of those that have left the party back. The party is strong and it can only be stronger.

“The last meeting which I hosted saw our party faithful agreeing that they are not leaving the party for anybody. The only politician we have lost in the old PDP is Victor Olabimtan. Femi Agagu and others do not have political relevance.

But there is no doubt that the coming of the governor has added value to PDP,” he stated.

Speaking on the appointment of Campaign Coordinator in Ondo state,

Kuku said: “it is normal for Mimiko to appoint an old PDP man as the state coordinator of Jonathan Campaign, it would have been an opportunity to further integrate the people.

The person that was appointed, Tokunbo Modupe is my friend and I have told him to reject it, the governor should remove him and give additional hope to the old PDP. Give it to either our former state chairman, Ebenezer Alabi, who had to resign for peace to reign in the party or Chief Olusola Oke. The appointment negates the spirit of reconciliation. But if that is not done, we will still go ahead to work for our party.”

On the candidacy, he said, “INEC has published names of candidates and we have some people in court, but my stand is that the two groups should work for the party to ensure that the party wins. You don’t work for the candidates of other parties out of anger, if at the end of the day, the other party wins and those that work for them in anger are eventually recognised by law, then they will have nobody to replace. Mimiko came with about 70 percent of the old LP and we have 80 per cent of the old PDP, it is a good omen, the only problem is that the defection of the governor came too close to election period, if he had come earlier, the integration would have been smoother. This will not affect the chances of the president in the state, all we plan for is to ensure that the APC does not have 25 percent of the total votes in Ondo State.”

Jonathan’s aides not helping him

BY JULIET EBIRIM

J

imi Disu, a veteran journalist with print and electronic media experience, Thursday added his voice to the condemnation of the statements credited to former Niger Delta militants who warned that there would be war if President Jonathan lost next month’s Presidential election. Always the guest at Classic FM’s Front Page News, a daily review of newspapers, Disu has always been commended for his objective analysis on national issues. These were his words on the threat by ex militants: “They threatened to declare war on the nation if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the February 14 election. This threat came up at a meeting that was attended by Governor Dickson and Chief Kuku, an SA to the president. I consider all these quite unfortunate. It is sad that we have gotten to this point.

Their statement was that ‘The Niger-Delta militants will declare war if the president loses the election’. How does that sound to you? If they’re going to declare war if the president loses, why don’t they just come out and say there should be no election and let’s have a selection. I consider this very unfortunate, because overtime, the president has not come out to contend with these people specifically. I have a feeling that the president has the power to rein them in and ask them to stop all

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BY HENRY UMORU, Assistant Political Editor

– Jimi Disu

JIMI DISU these, but that hasn’t happened.

We ask ourselves, ‘could this threat be real?’ As irresponsible and incredible as it sounds, could it be real? I maintain that if for any reason President Jonathan loses this election, he shouldn’t hold anyone responsible but his aides.

Look at the attack on Buhari for example, they attacked the man up to the point that they even talked about his daughter who died of sickle cell and it is running on a TV station. The more they attacked him on that same TV station, the more the polls shot up from 70% to 79% in his favour, because in the first instance, it attracted sympathy to him. But in the second instance, it’s the most callous thing. I’ve never seen such desperation for power in my life.

Why some people believe they

must bring the country down because they want one man elected is something I can’t live with. It was the same Nigerians that voted President Jonathan four years ago.

When the likes of Dele Momodu and the rest of them risked their lives to go to Aso Rock, were they from the Niger Delta? When the likes of Pastor Tunde Bakare fought that he must be made president, were they members of the Niger-Delta? So why should there be war now if he doesn’t win? The election will go on and it’s going to be free and fair and there shall be peace and whoever wins, wins!

There’s nothing in the constitution that says anything(Presidency) should be turn by turn. It’s all about competence. Those who have the responsibility to nip this thing in the

bud have not said anything.

I don’t see the reason why some people will have the nerves to come out and make such a threat...?

It’s because Nigeria has gradually become a corporate jungle. We’re almost becoming animals in the zoo. I don’t know what’s wrong – I don’t know if it is in our DNA or in something that we eat.

Look at the response of the APC to Soludo and look at the response of Okonjo-Iweala to him as well. The first four paragraphs were to run him down, rather than go straight to the point and face issues.

Let me quickly add something, this Asari Dokubo is a militant fighting for the liberation of his people. The bulk of his business is in the Republic of Benin and he has opened a school and university there. What does that tell you?

The Afenifere Renewal Group has declared that it’s not a party to the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid as misrepresented in the first media report....

The level of mischief and misrepresentation of people and all sorts of dubious things going on is appalling. There are some adverts we see on newspapers that are as bad a Fayose’s advert. All these just because we want someone to be president, why do we do these things this way? If you want to see what a decent campaign is like see the election campaigns going on in the UK. Let’s call a spade a spade. If anyone says publicly that he’s going to declare war if his candidate loses, he should be arrested, because it’s a matter of national security. What could be worse than that?

18—SA TURD A Y Vanguard 18—SATURD TURDA anguard,, JANUARY 31, 2015

BY HOPE EJU

Only Jonathan can guarantee free and fair election The principal question is, will the 2015 elections be truly free,

ELECTIONS 2015:

MONEY, RIGGING, JUSTICE & VIOLENCE

•Nigerians...In search of violence -free polls

fair and credible? The only person who can answer this question is President Goodluck Jonathan who is also a contestant. He has promised such but beyond mere platitudes, can he guarantee it? Will he really deliver on that promise?

Many believe he is a gentleman but in the all consuming contest for power where winner takes it all, how desperate is he to win? What role shall the Police, the DSS and other security agencies play in the elections? Will they be professional and nonpartisan as demanded by the constitution or shall they be procured to provide official protection for subterranean manipulations and malfeasances before and during the elections? If the Police and the DSS can be so brazen in intimidating, harassing and arresting key leaders of the main opposition party before and during the Ekiti and Osun Gubernatorial elections in which the President was not a contestant, can anyone reasonably expect them to be neutral in the presidential elections in which their commander-in-chief is a principal contestant? The Inspector General of police may well be a fine officer, but can anyone reasonably expect

the police to be non-partisan during the elections considering his recent public actions and pronouncements?

What are the SURE-P boys being trained for in Lagos and other states? Do the Niger Delta warlords, who have profited handsomely and become so powerful during this dispensation, have any role during the elections or campaigns? Why are they involved in clandestine procurement of arms? Are the arms truly meant for the military? We remember all too well where the Niger Delta militants and the Boko Haram insurgents started from. Shall we see more hooded men in the elections? Are the hooded men really Niger Delta militants as alleged?

What role shall money play in the elections? Where did the humongous sums of money, as declared by latter – day billionaires and undeclared by known real deep pocket friends of power, come from? Any links with the alleged missing funds from the NNPC and the Excess Crude accounts? Or the Fuel Subsidy scam of blessed memory? Any links with the mind boggling amounts supposedly used to “renovate” our airports? The reckless executive extortionism going on at the

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A

t last, the much anticipated 2015 is here, and the elections are just a few days away. Shall they be the birth of a glorious new dawn or apocalyptic doom and gloom as long predicted by some? The whistle has been blown and the gladiators let loose.

There is palpable trepidation across the land and more than a few are worried about what February 2015 has in its underbelly.

February 14, 2015. St. Valentine’s day. A day of love.

Rather than look forward to it with unbridled joy, many are worried.

And for good reasons. The stakes have never been higher, and the competition never this fierce. The competitors, though familiar old foes, have never been this awesome. For once, the incumbent, with all the powers at his disposal is not too sure of his staying power while the perennial principal challenger seems to smell something different for a change.

Anything is possible.

Prominent Nigerians have publicly expressed fears not about the results but about the reactions to the results. Painful memories of 2011 still subsist.

The scars are still very visible.

Shall 2015 witness another macabre dance of deranged mayhem? Many expect it, no matter which way the pendulum of victory swings. It sure promises to be a season of the long knives. Are we in a MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) situation?

To avoid looming disaster, a renowned professor proffered some pro-active suggestions.

Prominent among these are the constitution of a pre-election committee of eminent Nigerians and the signing of a pre-election undertaking by the two main contenders to compel their supporters to accept the results of the elections .Whether fair or foul? The learned Professor may mean well but on this score, he is far off the mark. First, some of the persons recommended for the committee have become part of the problem. Secondly, no undertaking can prevent spontaneous negative reactions in the circumstances that presently confront us. We saw it in 1963 and 1993. We did not see it in 1999 and 2007 because both contestants in the two elections were from the same zone. It is too simplistic and self-serving to attribute the condemnable post 2011 violence to the utterances of any individual. It goes far deeper than that. If we must avert a re-occurrence in 2015, we must sincerely identify the real causes and ensure they are not repeated this time around.

Essentially , the electorate must ask some serious but salient questions.

Why can’t every ballot paper have a counterfoil with the same serial number to be kept by every voter?

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ports in the name of auto policy? The authorized exploitation in the power sector particularly the unjustifiable monthly fixed charge even without power supply for months? The ludicrous allocations in the 2015 budget?

What is all that money for? Is it for bribes? Is it to buy voter ’s card? To buy the voters? Or even to buy the elections?

Why can’t every ballot paper have a counterfoil with the same serial number to be kept by every voter?

What role shall INEC play overtly and covertly? How efficient has INEC been so far in the electoral process? Have all willing eligible voters been registered? How credible is the voters’ register? How many registered voters have collected their Permanent Voters’ card (PVC)? How practicable is it for voters to collect their cards from the Local Government Headquarters? What will happen to registered voters who cannot collect their PVCs? What happens to the uncollected PVCs? Are they being warehoused for wholesale delivery to privileged parties as alleged? Are the PVCs really tamper-proof as claimed? Why are politicians still buying the PVCs? Shall the declared results reflect real votes of real

Continues on page 19

SA TURD AY Vanguard —19 SATURD TURDA anguard,, JANUARY 31, 2015 2015—19

Continues from page 18

HOW TO AVOID VIOLENCE The one sure way to avoid violence after the elections is for the elections to be manifestly free, fair and credible. The president has promised to ensure this but can we now go to sleep blissfully? Unfortunately, the president does not have the best public perception of someone who keeps his promises. His party does not have a reputation for electoral purity. His predecessor publicly repudiated the election that brought him to power. The president recently disclosed that all elections before 2011 were anything but free or fair. Not everyone agrees that even the 2011 elections were above board.

Even if the president means his words, some of his close associates are nationally acclaimed grandmasters in “fixing” elections. Some habits become addictive.

Particularly with a Governor

•The electorate...votes must count

ELECTIONS 2015:

MONEY TICE & VIOLENCE MONEY,, RIGGING, JUS JUSTICE

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voters? Or shall the results be rigged at source? In this age of technology, you do not need thugs and hooded men to hijack ballot boxes.

Rigging, if intended, is preprogrammed and perpetrated in the confines of air-conditioned offices.

Can INEC be trusted? How can the real quantity of ballot papers printed and distributed for the elections be verified? If the ballot papers are serialized, why can’t every ballot paper also have a counterfoil with the same serial number to be kept by every voter?

What role shall the judiciary play in postelection challenges in court? Can the judiciary be trusted to be fair arbiters?

A major cause of the horrendous violence in 2011 was the perceived lack of confidence in the judiciary to do real justice to electoral disputes. A common denominator in previous elections was the inflation of the voters register upon which favoured candidates were allocated ridiculous margins of “victory” while the opponent is compelled to go to court where contestable votes are deducted, leaving the supposed winner with more than enough “votes” to legitimize his heist. Has confidence been substantially established in the judiciary?

What about the insurgency in the North East? Why has it been so intractable? Why is it escalating even as the elections approach? Will elections hold in the North East? Is anyone profiting from it financially or politically? Is there any truth in allegations that there is a deliberate design to neutralize that zone electorally?

The price for free, fair and credible elections in 2015 is eternal vigilance

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recently declaring that there is no morality in politics and that the end always justifies the means. Very many of the president’s men would do anything to help the president to win. Not because they love the president but because that is the only way they can continue to enjoy their present positions, privileges and patronages. The pronouncements of some Governor’s and candidates of the ruling party that they have already “won” even during the campaigns, with unresolved deep disaffections of their party members arising from their primaries, do not portend positively .

Disconcertingly, the signs for a free and fair contest are not encouraging. Long before the whistle was officially blown, various organizations were freely campaigning for the president, publicly supported by high ranking public office holders. Would they have been allowed if they were campaigning against the president? Would INEC be disinterested in the stupendous funds declared(and undeclared) by the ruling party if they were to be for an opposition party? Could there be other reasons for the catastrophic distribution of the permanent voters cards and the curious collection rates in various parts of the country? Why are the security agencies and the ruling party accusing responsible members of the opposition party ,with no history of violence, or treason for saying they would form a parallel government( God forbid) if the elections are rigged while playing deaf and dumb to decidedly dangerous declarations of a professional merchant of violence to set the country ablaze if the president is not re-elected . By means fair or foul? Does it mean the elections will be rigged? What was the real motive of the yet unjustified raid by the DSS of an opposition data centre?

Was it to have access to their membership register to deactivate some PVCs and make them unreadable by the card readers during the elections?

Very often, public statements from the DSS could be mistaken for statements issued by the publicity secretary of the ruling party. while there was transparency and general acceptance of the primaries of the main opposition party, all you hear from the ruling party across the country are unceasing cries of exclusions, manipulations and impositions . If there can be such widespread brazen subversion of the processes within their “family” primaries, what is to be expected in the main contests ?

Only the president and perhaps some of his strategists truly know what is being packaged for the 2015 elections. Perhaps the opposition parties should adopt the fundamental approach for practical human endeavours. Expect the best but prepare for the worst. They should expect that INEC shall be above board but assume that INEC is already irredeemably compromised.

They should believe the assurances but assume that 2007 was perfect compared to 2015.They should expect that the police and other security agents shall be non-partisan and professional but assume that their roles in Ekiti and Osun were mere practice sessions. The lessons of the Ekiti and Osun elections are still very fresh. Many believe that the difference in the outcomes of the

elections in Ekiti and Osun states is because while the incumbent Governor in Ekiti State expected the best, his counterpart in Osun State prepared for the worst. Can an unwilling woman be lured to bed twice? Today, while there is peace and order in Osun State, governance in Ekiti State has become an embarrassing spectacle of the absurd.

Many believe that the president has done well and deserves re-election. Some believe that his main challenger would do a better job. We are told that those who are for the president are more than those against him. Only a truly free, fair and credible election can confirm or disprove this. That is the essence of democracy. The price for free, fair and credible elections in 2015 is eternal vigilance. By all. Only that can guarantee real peace and progress for the country after the elections, irrespective of the winner.

All true patriots should pray that God, who has been extremely benevolent to the President, by his own admission, shall empower him sufficiently to resist every temptation to manipulate the elections in any way despite being a contestant. It shall determine his place in history. Let all Nigerians also pray that our dear President Jonathan has the Patience that loves Nigeria more Goodluck. We pray O Lord. God bless Nigeria.

Hope Eju, a concerned citizen wrote in from Benin

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

BY COL. KEMI PETERS (RETD)

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ur nation is at crossroads! Many doomsday forecasters have said or insinuated that our nation will disintegrate after the elections on February 14th 2014.The latest of such declarations came from the so-called retired Niger Delta militants. It was reported that the militants had threatened to take up arms again if President Goodluck Jonathan failed to win the presidential election. This utterance would not have been taken seriously if not that the threat was made in the presence of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who hosted the militants. One of the militants was reported to have said that ‘We are Nigerians but not one Nigeria in that what brings us together is oil. The North wants to use insecurity excuse to push out our own’.

This is highly inciting, irresponsible, arrogant and unnecessary. Are we no more running a democratic system of governance? Do they smell defeat already for their ‘oga at the top ?’. We must give democracy a chance to grow in our country. We must remember that no one group has the monopoly of violence.

Recently, these shortsighted and selfish characters have been flying a kite with the suggestion for the enactment of an Interim Government.

Then just recently President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) came out openly to canvass for the postponement of the elections for three months. These develpoments are not in the best interest of our fledgling democracy. Is it because the polls seem to make the opposition candidate, General Muhamadu Buhari the leading candidate? Recently we have seen ruling governments voted out of power because the citizenry wanted a new beginning.

Where sitting leaders insist on clinging on to power through manipulations of the electoral process like postponing the election date, the result is usually disastrous for the country. We must not allow our election process to degenerate into chaos and anarchy.

It will do no one any good. INEC should be careful and be firm to avoid being manipulated to accept this postponement argument.

AS General David Jemibewon (Rtd) is quoted to have said, ‘We are being guided by the constitution of this country.

Certainly, there is no provision for postponement of elections’ There are many things that make a new beginning inevitable in our nation. The first is the palpable desperation in our land.

Poverty has so eaten into the fabric of our society that anything goes for everyone.

Nigeria needs a new beginning To survive is the most important thing for every Nigerian. As commentators have asserted, this more than any other factor gave rise to the swollen ranks of insurgents known as Boko Haram. Kidnappings, ritual sacrifices of human beings, political murders to mention a few are on the increase.

Today, there is so much suffering in the land, which has resulted in fear and uncertainty. The rich even cannot sleep because the poor are hungry and constantly agitating for a slice of the national cake. This is a dangerous phenomenon for it means the society is sitting on a ‘time bomb’ which could consume everyone. What is the answer? We must restructure the society, seriously, tackle the issue of corruption, diversify the economy with measures that will reduce our dependence on oil and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths, to mention a few.

The second point is the issue of insurgency ravaging the North East part of the country. Hardly any day passes without Boko Haram killing scores of people. It has come to be taken as the norm.

We hardly feel any pain.

Recently over hundreds of people, including women and children, were slaughtered by the insurgents. In a report recently, General Abdusalami Abubakar, GCFR, former head of State stressed that it was

During the Second World War, the Japanese forces routed the United States Forces stationed in Philippines under the command of General Douglas McArthur. The US troops had to abandon their position and flee to Australia. No one was put on trial, instead they went back to the drawing board, retrained and soon after, the same General McArthur returned to the Philippines with the same troops and routed the Japanese forces stationed there and retook the Philippines

important for government to re-emphasise its capability to stop the insurgents.

Apparently the government has not shown enough political or military will to put down the insurgency. It has not rallied the citizenry to support the fight the way it did in the war against Ebola.

The fighting capability of our troops has been seriously compromised by the lack of appropriate equipment. The result of this is that Boko Haram routs the Nigerian troops who abandon their positions in the face of superior fire power.

Unfortunately government is making a ‘scapegoat’ of these men. Whereas the correct position should have been to find out what happened, why it happened and how the losses can be reversed and the insurgents stopped. It is not one, two or three units that abandoned their positions, showing clearly that there are some fundamental things wrong which must be addressed. It most likely has nothing to do with the fighting ability of the men. If the men do not have the right equipment to prosecute the war and meet a superior fire power, then we are asking them to commit suicide by waiting and confronting the enemy.

When whole units abandon positions, this should not necessarily call for trials of the men as is happening now. History teaches us that

we cannot write off units that have been routed and which abandon their positions.

During the Second World War, the Japanese forces routed the United States Forces stationed in Philippines under the command of General Douglas McArthur. The US troops had to abandon their position and flee to Australia. No one was put on trial, instead they went back to the drawing board, retrained and soon after, the same General McArthur returned to the Philippines with the same troops and routed the Japanese forces stationed there and retook the Philippines. The right thing for government to do now is to stop the trials of these men, equip them properly and send them back to fight the insurgents. These trials could lower the morale of the fighting men.

General Abdusalam Abubakar underscored this point recently when he opined that government should ensure its military and security forces are sufficiently equipped. He also called on government to consider the mobilization and re-absorption of all retired able-bodied security personnel.

These are far-reaching suggestions. Obviously, he was pointing out that modern weaponry is required to fight these insurgents who seem well armed with more sophisticated weapons. Even the best fighters in the world cannot confront a ravaging well armed group if they are not adequately trained and properly equipped for the type of warfare going on.

They will invariably abandon their positions. Suggesting mobilization and re-absorption is obviously saying that the Commander-in-Chief should take another look at the military high command, its strategy and tactics for fighting the insurgents. It is obviously an indictment on the military high command. The General went short of asking them to be sacked. We must fight the insurgents with all our strength as a nation. The entire citizenry must be mobilized. We must view it as something touching the whole nation not just the North East. The National Assembly should get more involved and ask questions from the government. We must show sympathy to the displaced persons. We must show sympathy and appreciation to the families of deceased and injured soldiers.

We therefore need a new beginning. We need a change. We need someone who can put our economy on the right footing. We need someone who has the ability to confront the insurgents.

We need someone who is firm and committed to this country. We need someone who can give us back our dignity as a nation. Can President Goodluck Jonathan do it? Or is it former Head of State General Muhamadu Buhari? The time for a new beginning is now.

Col Olukemi Peters (Rtd), wrote from Abuja, Nigeria

SATURDAY

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nterestingly, as a registered Democrat I have voted in many American elections, but only once in Nigeria. This was during the second republic, with Shehu Shagari at the helm, before he was overthrown by a Major General Buhari-led military coup.

Even then in the 1979 vote that ushered in the second republic I was too young and naïve to understand the significance of attending a campaign before getting out my vote. And so many years after registering as an 18 year old to vote in my first elections, I finally got to attend my first-ever campaign in Nigeria last weekend, albeit as a neutral observer.

And what a great and revealing experience it turned out to be at two APC rallies in Edo North, that attracted party heavyweights including the state governor and his deputy.

The campaigns –in Afuze and Sabon Gida Ora, deep in the heartland of Edo State, afforded me an opportunity not only to see how politics plays out at the grassroots level but also a chance to get a pulse on the dominant issues as the elections approach on February 14 and 28.

The day began by mingling with patrons to chow down some pounded yam with egusi (melon seed) soup at Madam Lucy’s across the street from the Michael Imuodu center where the SabonGida Ora rally was held.

The place was bustling with party faithful, all passionately engaged in speculations and theories about the elections, as they tried to pass time for an event billed to start at 12 noon.

Off course in a gathering dominated

by APC stalwarts, any opinion to the contrary was drowned out. “If you vote for change I will buy your next drink,” promised the owner of the place as she attended to a group of men and women at one table. It was not clear what kind of change she was advocating for.

As we later (after a brief stop in one of the candidate’s house) joined the crowd of approximately 5,000 I wondered why the politicos would advertise a 12 noon start time (for the SabonGida Ora rally) when they knew it was impossible to fulfill. Still the crowd waited patiently in the sweltering heat.

The Framework of a Grassroots Campaign

•Gov Oshiomole Of course there was plenty of water and entertainment to keep everyone occupied one way or the other. From blank stares in the crowd, animated pockets of discussion, cultural dances and a hired clown everyone including the old, the young and the infirm, all seemed to find a way to connect with what was going on at the center, named after one of Nigeria’s most famous labor leaders, the late Michael Imoudu, who is from the area.

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ISHOP Simeon Okah, an anticorruption crusader is the presiding Patriarch of the Flock of Christ Mission International, Effurun, near Warri, Delta State. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard in Warri, Delta State, he speaks on why he does not trust the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and his concerns about People’s Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

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“Today the problem of Nigeria is that the roof is leaking. We can’t even defend the country. That’s not the promise of Independence,” he told the crowd, adding that “next month will be time for a great decision that will determine the quality of life for this great nation.”

As the governor spoke on the podium, surrounded by party big wigs, the electric atmosphere from the stage reverberated throughout the arena. But the party stalwarts obviously forgot to factor the women into their line-up of speakers.

I noticed that the local women’s leader of the party was never given a chance to speak to the audience, which had more women than men. Halfway through the rally in Afuze, she stepped down from the podium to join other women in the covered area for a feast of rice and stew. I think it was just her way of saying I am tired of waiting for these men to include me in their plan. May be it was the locale, but I think the party has to do better if it wants to carry its women along as it is done in other climes.

For instance at the 2012 Charlotte, NC convention to nominate Barack Obama as the DNC Presidential candidate, the women were well represented, and they included Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Caroline Kennedy, actress Eva Longoria and even a University student named Sandra Fluke.

Obviously, a primary objective of the rally was to introduce one state and one federal legislator, campaigning on the APC platform, to the gathering. And I think the governor did well in that regard as he asked for one elongated gbossa (or salute) for the two candidates from the area, who I got to meet earlier over a feast of rice and stew in a convivial atmosphere complete with a pastor who appeared after they all disappeared for a meeting to prepare for the governor’s arrival.

Really, I could not understand how I ended up waiting for a political rally with a pastor in tow. But I guess faith is also a factor in these rallies and the local political landscape.

My fear on Buhari and concern over Jonathan

EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South

What is your opinion on the intrigues between the PDP and APC ahead of the February 14 presidential election?

I am one of the pastors who sought God’s face in prayers to give us another party that will be a real opposition to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, because at a time, PDP was boasting that it could rule the country for 60 years, that it is the largest party in Africa and all that. But there are some things I am seeing that are frustrating me because democracy is not democracy without many parties and it was like we had only one party. We fasted and prayed, not only me, other men of God like Bishop Mike Okonkwo to give birth to another party to checkmate PDP. We were praying to God to raise another party, you saw how APC came overnight, but what surprised us was that it is now the people in PDP, who now started spearheading it. It was then some of us knew that it was just APC, the medicine used to cure headache many years ago.

We, however, saw that this APC would not even cure headache, not to talk of people, because the same bad eggs, who could not manipulate their way or find their grounds in PDP are the key

But the long wait was still irksome for some. “ If he say 12 pm let it be 12. Most of them here never chop since morning,” said one fellow in obvious irritation as the crowd waited for the governor.

As we all patiently waited I decided to randomly poll the crowd to see how many had collected their PVCs. Out of seven eligible voters that I asked, only three were able to confirm that they had received their PVCs. When the governor Adams Oshiomole finally arrived around 4:50 pm (after a stop in Akoko Edo) his energetic deliverance obviously made up for the long wait, from the way the crowd responded to his speech.

Before Oshiomole spoke, the lineup of speakers focused on everything ranging from the controversy over Buhari’s certificate, Boko Haram, Corruption, the Chibok Girls and the worsening powersupply situation. And of course as the opposition party they had a field day trying to make the incumbent political party look bad. “ We go rescue Nigeria from the precipice. Other countries don dey abuse us,” said Oshiomole, who is obviously one of the best off the cuff speakers in Nigeria.

As he spoke further, Oshiomole tried to run a thread of disillusionment with the ruling party, in his speech. His promise was that Buhari will provide a panacea to the nation’s myriad problems.

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—21

—Simeon Okah person than him. Then, Buhari, whether he accepts it or not, is religious extremist.

BISHOP SIMEON OKAH people in APC. Nothing different from PDP To me, in terms of ideology, they have nothing different from PDP. It is from there that we said this was not what we prayed for. The broom they carry, where in this world do you see an emblem of a party to be a broom.

Broom itself is a weapon, if now they want to fight, they have something in their hands, there is so much negative aura in APC and I pray that God will help them to change.

Buhari But talking about Buhari, it is painful that in this country, we do not look back and anybody who does not look back cannot look forward. Now Buhari is saying they will fight insurgency, that he will use

the army. When he was a general in the army and a Head of State he could not stop a coup. Is it not coup that sacked him? If he was a general and a commanderin- chief - why did that happen?

Religious extremist The number two reason why I cannot trust Buhari is this: How many times has he said that he would not contest again after losing elections? How can I trust him? I will have difficulty to trust him. Number three is that Buhari is an old man, let him go and sit down. At his age, Buhari will not communicate with the young ones. He will not feel what they feel. I prefer a younger

But talking about Buhari, it is painful that in this country, we do not look back and anybody who does not look back cannot look forward

Mystical Jonathan On Jonathan, I will still express the same regret. If we, Nigerians can know how to look at our back and see clearly where we are going, Jonathan is a son of circumstance, and you will agree with me that he has never fought for anything in life. In my experience with magic, I don’t like calling anyone Goodluck because the word goodluck is a magic word. That is why from Genesis to Revelation, you will not see the word, goodluck, particularly in the old King James.

Because of this name, Goodluck, I started to change my mind about him because his own goodluck is really goodluck. When he became a deputy governor in Bayelsa state, which he did not labor for, he had not even sat down, he became governor. I don’t want to talk about what happened go his governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Again, he had not sat down properly to be a governor, Obasanjo nominated him to become vice president. All these we know he did not fight for and clearly, his deity would have been following him like God following Joseph. As he hit Aso Rock, the other man fell, former president, the late Umaru Yar’Adua fell sick.

The man died and left the coast for Jonathan.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUARY 31, 2015

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he writings of Peter Enahoro who turned 80 recently played a part in my taking to journalism. I interviewed him in 1979 when he came back from a 13-year self –imposed exile. I also interviewed him in 1981 when he launched ‘Africa Now’, a pan African news magazine. These two interviews reveal a bit about his person and his craft. I have taken excerpts from them as my tribute to this icon of African journalism. Enjoy!

A lot about Peter Pan has changed over the years.

He is heavier and slightly less gregarious. But his wit and humour coupled with his clarity of thought

TRIBUTE:

My life has been a series of accidents — Peter (PAN) Enahoro remained in it simply because I was too lazy to learn anything else. Here, I must pay a tribute to the memory of my late father because he instilled one thing in us in conformity with his motto which was ‘Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well’. I have come to realise that my full scope as a journalist could not be attained unless I took the bull by the horns and founded my own magazine.

going into the unknown was not easy. For an African journalist in 1966 to do what I did was almost professionally suicidal. I had to rebuild myself without reducing myself to selling tickets at the underground stations.

My employers in the Daily Times wrote that they preferred to give me a year’s leave if I wanted but I didn’t reply them. So in a sense, I had burnt my boat behind

To answer your question, I can say that I moved on because I was not given the best opportunity to do the best I could.’

At 30, he was already the Editor-In–Chief of the Daily Times, Africa’s largest daily newspaper with a house he had just built and two cars in the garage. Yet he left all that behind to start all over again.

'Going into exile, leaving all the material comforts, abandoning all the things you had acquired at a young age, abandoning your friends and

me.‘I made my decision to leave the country over a weekend when some of my best friends, people I went to school with, got killed.

I drove to Ghana and from there took a plane to Paris and London.

My first job was in Germany. I was asked to give a lecture in a small town and among those who came were the bosses of Deutsche Weller (German equivalent of BBC) who learnt I had left Nigeria and offered me a job. ’His first accommodation was in a hostel. ‘The Catholic Mission in Germany offered me accommodation in a student’s

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and expression—the ingredients that got him to the top at such a young age—are still very much with him.

A conversation with Peter Pan is anything but boring.

The way he switches from serious issues to banalities is so smooth that it is almost imperceptible. And when he is in a happy mood, you have to hold your sides to prevent your stomach from bursting.

Peter Pan was in one of those happy moods last Friday. And he had every cause to be. For the first time in over 20 years of active journalism, his own publication was launched at the Federal Palace Hotel before the cream, the Nigerian press and society.

After an enviable, if checkered career, it is hoped that this talented but restless journalist has now finally found a place to lay his head and his resources with the birth of ‘Africa Now’.

This is the third of three London based magazines dealing with African affairs.

It is also the third of three magazines that Peter Enahoro has edited. What kept him moving on?‘I have often said that my life has been a series of accidents. I came into journalism accidentally and I have

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When he is in a happy mood, you have to hold your sides to prevent your stomach from bursting

hostel. Picture the scene. Here was a former Editor-In-Chief with a house which many considered luxurious now living in a student’s hostel. A friend promised to take me out of there but like a true Nigerian, he forgot. I was so frustrated and depressed at a time that I cried.

Another moment of self-pity was when the German police rough handled me. I thought what the hell was I doing there.

If it was in Nigeria I’d have gone straight to the top to lodge my protest. ’On what he learnt professionally and emotionally during his sojourn he said ‘Professionally, I have internationalised myself. I say with all modesty that I have joined the ranks of international journalists. My contacts are far and wide.

When I go to Kenya, I meet people who almost hold me responsible for not talking about their problems the same way that Nigerians would have done some years ago. When I arrive in Freetown, the press welcome me on the same scale.

In Ghana, I was interviewed on the local conditions as if I

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God pr omises shall be accomplished promises Mary and Martha? Satan lied to them that their brother was dead and could not be raised up again so that they can give up in life. But again the truth manifested His glory to destroy the lies of Satan by raising up Lazarus who was dead.

I pray that the power of Satan’s lies be broken in your life in Jesus name.

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od is a God of integrity. He can never lie. I tell people always that even if God tries to lie, he cannot lie. It is not His nature. The one that lies is Satan. The bible calls Satan the father of all liars (John 8:44).

Since Satan is the father of all liars, it obviously means that Satan cannot be the father of truth. So you can see now that the enemy has been lying to you and not God. The book of John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. Can you hear this in your spirit?

God’s word is truth. What word are you holding unto? Is it the lie of the devil that says it is not possible, for it is too late or is it the truth of God that says all things are possible to him that believeth, for that which is impossible with man is possible with God. You see, with God it is never too late.

Satan lied to Abraham and Sarah that it was not possible for them to have the promised child and that it was already too late. But God showed that it was possible for them to have His promised child even at old age. It was not too late. At the end of the day, who told the truth?

It is God. Who lied? It is the devil. What about

Receive the light of God’s word in your life that will enable you break free and enter into God’s rest in Jesus name. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent: hath He said, and shall he not do it? Or hath He spoken and shall He not

You will overcome the enemy through his son Jesus Christ who causes us to triumph always

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make it good?” Anything that God has said or spoken can be trusted.

He will always fulfill it.

There is no power that can stop its manifestation. Lets look at Genesis 28:12-15; “And he dreamed and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father and the God of Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to they seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and thou shall spread abroad to the west and to the

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

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was a Ghanaian. ‘Emotionally, I have this satisfaction of having been the man I would like to be. In spite of the scathing remarks, even denigration that I came across during years of exile, I came through and never lost my sense of humour.

For me, I have enjoyed myself, and in doing so, I have honoured myself. I have a wider vision of life now. I will never again be a Nigeria Nigerian’.

For a man who got to the top of his chosen profession at such an incredibly young age, Peter Pan had the Nigerian world as his oyster. Did he ever ask himself what he would have achieved if he had not left?

‘Not so much more in the profession if I must be frank.

But there were times the thought did cross my mind that if I hadn’t left Nigeria, I would have been this or that. But it's wishful thinking. I might not have been anything. ’‘You see, success came to me too rapidly in Nigeria. I became known wherever I went. I enjoyed myself but I don’t remember any nostalgia.

In Germany, I was a nobody.

I had an anonymity and it was fabulous. I enjoyed the freedom. By nature I am a very shy person, but people don’t believe that. For example, I never went to a cocktail party in Nigeria without first having a drink.

‘You know what I would very much like to do? I would very much like to retire to a fishing village where you have access to everything. ’’Here is wishing you a belated happy birthday wherever you are. I hope It’s near a fishing village.Top of Form Bottom of FormTop of Form

east and to the north and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places wither thou goest and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of ”.

From the text, I want you to know that God was not just talking rather he was declaring what he was going to do. He fulfilled His promise to Jacob and would also fulfill His promise concerning you. Please know that God is Alpha and Omega. He knows the end from the beginning. This means that He knows about all the things that will contend with you but still He says “For I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of ”.

God is not moved by battles.

You will overcome the enemy through his son Jesus Christ who causes us to triumph always.

Do you want to experience fruitfulness of God in your life? Then you must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Pray this simple prayer. Father, you said that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. I call on the name Jesus. Thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life. I praise you and give you all the glory.

For your praise report, prayer requests, testimonies and financial support, you can contact us through our contact details below. God shall surely change your situation and make you to experience His realities.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—23

I’ve been trained not to be moved by pretty women — Adasa Cookey familiar to ht not sound too ig m ey ok Co a reball Media he name Adas the CEO of Squa is he t bu , ns ia e to Party,’ by some Niger ic videos like ‘Lik us m e m so nd hi e your Rozzay, and the brain be ’Prince; ‘Show m D by rg’ ba dy oo waves in the ente Burma Boy; ‘G that are making rs he ot t gs on am

by Kechup, right now. deos and tainment industry shooting music vi of ss ne si bu e th t Adasa speaks abou to the profession. in ay w s hi d te ar what ch

T

By IYABO AINA What’s behind the name PH Boy? am from Rivers State, I grew up in Port Harcourt and I’m now doing business in Lagos. I spent most of my life in Port Harcourt. So, I think that’s where the nickname ‘PH Boy’ came from. My name is actually Adasa Cookey; I work for Squareball Media. I’m a music video director, film director, I do documentaries and I also do commercials for companies.

I

Any current project?

There are several things we are working on at Squareball Media. We are actually working on a couple of music videos and corporate films, and it is generally media production based.

Your journey into cinematography?

My journey into cinematography actually started four years ago, and since then I have been studying how to light, how to film, how to put together high quality visuals for different kinds of projects.

What really inspired you?

I’ve actually spent half of my life in entertainment and I wanted a means of income that will align with my passion, so I decided that the best way to go about it was to turn what I would normally do in my spare time to a full time business.

huge chance of success.

How many music videos have you done so far?

I’ve actually done several music videos that I’ve lost count.

But I can remember some - ‘Like to Party,’

by Burma Boy; ‘Goody bag’

by D’Prince; ‘Show me your Rozzay,

by Kechup, amongst others. So there are lots of good works that people must have seen that were directed by me.

How has the journey been so far in the industry?

It has been good, challenging and interesting. Also, the experience has been great because we’ve always done this with quality in mind, knowing that if you deliver high quality work you will get clients and if you keep delivering high quality, you will get noticed. We’ve also experienced ups and downs.

However, the journey has been good just like any other business or profession

Your experience working with these top artistes?

Every job has its unique experience, both bad and good.

What is common among them is that every single job, no matter how big or small, the artiste puts more pressure on you. So you will always want to do something good, something fresh that can make them sell, knowing that they paid you well for it. The payment is an investment on their part, so you would want to do something that will get them returns. It is just like you are holding a bit of their lives in your hands. Working with these artistes is a lot of pressure and at the same time it has a lot of excitement. There had also been a time where we had misunderstandings. There was even a time where I had to fire a client and excused myself from the job because I felt the client was being unreasonable.

What has actually kept you going?

I think it is sheer doggedness. I believe that failure is when you stop trying to succeed. Until you stop trying, you have not failed. And as long as you keep trying, there is a

Any plan of doing music?

Funny enough, at some point I did music, but I dropped it because I could not afford to shoot the video, that was nine years ago. But for now it is not for me, my role is

to push people into limelight.

Why did you leave music recording for directing?

I dropped music because while others said I was good, I just did not see it as what I could do for long. It was just a spur of the moment thing.

Your marital status?

I’ve been married for five years and I have two kids.

How do you treat your female fans as a married star?

Personally, I’m a very friendly person, but once you get out of line I’m very strict because in one second I can go from laughing with you to yelling at you and we’ve been exposed enough not to be moved by the sight of pretty ladies.

You just resist something that is a temptation and if it is not a temptation to you, you don’t have to resist it.

Which of your works would you say brought you to limelight?

I have several stages of coming into limelight; initially it was a long time ago when I did something for an artiste called Mr. 2kay in Port Harcourt, who is currently doing well internationally.

But recently, the work I would say brought me into limelight was when I did ‘Like to Party’ for Burna Boy, that was in 2012, and I got a lot of calls the day it came out. I was shocked I could not even handle the inflow of inquiries that I had to put my phone off. And after then, all that has happened has been consolidation, people got to know that there is actually somebody who can do this kind of work and all I had to do was keep proving that it was not a fluke.

What do you charge to direct a good music video?

I may not be able to disclose that, but what I would say is that the cost of production in Nigeria is going up every day, as people get more aware. Location owners tend to want more. Maybe out of greed, equipment owners also tend to want more and because of hardship too, cast and crew members also tend to want more payment. So the cost is currently going up. Anybody that wants to have a good, decent video production that will get to the top needs to budget at least N1.5 million. And I’ve heard music videos shot in Nigeria by Nigerians for N6 million. But there are international artistes who still shoot videos worth 100,000 dollars and we still try to make sure that we meet the same level with them without charging much.

The only thing that can be done to reduce the cost of production is to stamp out piracy completely

24 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015 —25

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

Wande Coal to release album soon

By Bartholomew Madukwe

P

opular hip-hop Nigerian artist, Wande Coal, a.k.a.

Black Diamond of Africa, has assured his fans that his album would be out soon.

The artist described the forthcoming album as a long awaited one by his fans, and called on the government to support the music industry.

He said: “I have dropped about four singles and I just dropped a single last year. I did the video of “Baby Hello” with Flavour. So this year, it is just my album coming out.

It is a long awaited album.

“For now, I have not seen anything that the government has done for the music industry. But I hope that they will help facilitate the music industry.”

Speaking on his achievement in the music industry, Wande posited that apart from having his own record label known as “Black Diamond Entertainment,” he has stepped up the music career of many youths in the country.

“My advice to upcoming musicians in the industry, especially youth, is this: don’t give up. When I started, people told me music was not

for me; people do not want to talk to musicians. They should just pass the message across and positively affect the lives of the people,” he added.

Big Star Records named next rated label of the year

BY JULIET EBIRIM

F

•Rymez C M Y K

ast rising music and entertainment outfit, Big Star Records and Entertainment Limited, has just been named the Next Rated Label of the year at the prestigious Festac Music and Entertainment Awards (FMEA).

The record label grabbed the award following its consistent promotion and support of young music talents from across the country in less than two years of inception.

According to Frenzy Media, organizers of the award, Big Star Records has displayed great patriotism in ensuring that youths are diverted from dangerous social vices by encouraging most of them who have music talents.

“This young entertainment outfit, within just two years of existence, has displayed great patriotism considering the number

of youths it has nursed from scratch who have grown to become leading lights of tomorrow ’s Nigerian entertainment sector.”

“Most of these youths, who would have been roaming the streets and perhaps engaging in unwholesome acts, are musicians today who would produce tomorrow’s tunes for everyone’s pleasure. That is why we recognise the outfit as the Next Rated Record Label of the year. We believe that this award would encourage them to do more,” said the organizers.

Meanwhile, an artiste on the label, Ahmed Adeola, a.k.a Rymez, also grabbed the Rookie of the Year award, making it two awards for the record label in one day. Rymez whose single track ‘One Parole’ is enjoying massive airplay in the eastern and western parts of the country was rewarded for his maverick performance and sonorous voice which sets him out from his peers.

Wande Coal

Although Rymez is not new to awards, having won the Next Rated Artiste of the Year award from Cruizin Records last year, the Oyo state born 17 year old R&B/Afro Pop singer said the award particularly is fulfilling, having been nominated in three categories.

Receiving both awards, he said: “ I am not surprised that Big Star Records received this recognition tonight. Within few months of signing on the label, everything about me changed for good. I feel as if I am just beginning this business because the label taught me a lot of new things about entertainment. I can now proudly compete in the world without fear because the foundation is solid. I dedicate the awards to God and the entire Big Star crew who are working tirelessly to see that the Nigerian entertainment industry continues to take its pride of place in the scheme of things around the globe.”

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

D

electable actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde who marked her 20th anniversary in the entertainment industry by paying a visit to Stella Maris College, in Abuja last weekend, surely has come of age : a respected actress, singer and writer of great repute.

In the past 20 years, Omotola has enjoyed a smooth journey to stardom. While most of her contemporaries are nowhere to be found today, the famous actress has sustained the tempo, standing tall, even in the midst of despair and unfriendly working environment. As one of the shining stars of the Nigerian movie industry, her sojourn in the world of make-believe has indeed brought her more blessings than woes and regrets. Hitting the limelight after starring in that critically acclaimed movie, “ Mortal Inheritancee" in 1995, Omotola can live to recall some of the moments that helped to shape and reshape her career as an entertainer spanning 20 years. She set out to conquer the screen at the age of 16, and finding herself in a position where she assisted her widowed mother to provide for their family remains one moment she would hardly forget as long as she lives. As she has flagged off her tour of 20 cities across the world as part of the programme outlined for the celebration of her 20 years as an entertainer, we take a look at the moments that helped to shape her career.

According to her, "Starting a career as a young girl of 16, all I wanted was to help my widowed mother provide for our young family. I stumbled on the opportunity to model freely, and by fate, I was invited to a movie casting. Who knew as frightened and vulnerable as I was then, that I was starting the journey of my destiny? 20 years later, not only did I provide for my now late widowed mother, I also helped train two younger ones and earned myself a career in Nollywood." amed one of the most influential N people in the world Omosexy, as she is fondly called by her

fans, also would live to remember the very year(2013) she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine. It was an honour well deserving as she was the first Nollywood actor to make the exclusive list. By making the list, Omotola was ranked among music’s most influential couple, Jay Z and Beyonce, First Lady of The United States Michelle Obama, former Malawian President Joyce Banda, Frank Ocean, Christina Aguilera and others who made the influential list. It was one moment that would remain indelible in her mind.

Also, recently, Yahoo UK listed this screen goddess as one of the World’s Highest Grossing Movie Stars You’ve Probably Never Heard Of. Omotola happens to be the only Nigerian, and indeed, African, on the list as well as being one of the two women that made the list. Another milestone was when she C M Y K

20 years in the showbiz industry:

Omotola’s most cherished moments

was presented with the prestigious Ebony Vanguard Award for her long standing achievements in acting, in Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2013, in the presence of leading British filmmakers.

Omotola as a singer As a versatile entertainer, Omosexy delved into music in 2005, to connect with her huge fan base on a more personal level. Her debut album titled GBA, featured the singles, “Naija Lowa” and “The Things You Do To Me.” Her sophomore album, “Me, Myself, and Eyes” brought in production from Paul Play and Del B, featuring the songs, “Feel Alright” ft. Harry Song and “Through the Fire” ft. Uche.

Unfortunately, her music career could fly.

But as many rightly observed, Omotola has made a statement with her music.

Commendation from Amnesty International If there is any event that would remain evergreen in Omotola’s mind, it is the

letter she got from the Secretary-General of Amnesty International, Mr Salil Shotty. The letter dated November 4, 2014, commended Omotola for taking injustice personally and for her ongoing support for Amnesty International and its efforts to strengthen human rights in Africa and around the world. “You have been a staunch advocate for Amnesty International’s campaigns and I am personally grateful for your commitment and willingness to associate your name and public success with our cause,”reads the letter. Omotola, however, described the letter as one of the major highs of her career. “Getting a personal letter from the Secretary-General of Amnesty international has to be one of the major highs in my career,” she confessed.

Attending Grammy Awards Another memorable event was when she was invited in 2011, to attend the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, CA in recognition of her work with Amnesty International and her song “Barren

Land,” which was featured in a public service announcement, addressing the Shell Oil spill in the Niger Delta. The year 2012 marked another career high for the actress. On October 27, she was awarded “The Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts BEFFTA Icon Award’, an exclusive honorary award for her outstanding contributions to the global film industry. Omotola acknowledged the recognition as an extremely special moment for her, stating, “this is the best award I have received on a global level.” Since late 2012, Omotola has been starring in her very own reality TV-show airing on Africa’s most popular network, Africa magic TV. The show, called “Omotola: The Real me,” has become the most viewed television series in Africa as well as making Omotola the first Nigerian to ever have a reality television show. In February 2013, Omotola’s popularity was still rising when it was announced that she had passed the one million likes mark on Facebook, the world’s most visited social network site.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015 —27

By Emmanuel Elebeke

I am rich, but not arr ogant —Harrysong arrogant

Aki turns football promoter

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F

tar-actor, Chinedu Ikedieze (MFR), recently donated a trophy to his hometown, Bende, in Abia State, to further promote peaceful co-existence among indigenes of the state. The football competition was named Uzuakoli Peace Cup. Speaking on why he donated the trophy, Aki said, “I donated the cup to my community to promote peace and unity.

It was named Uzuakoli Peace Cup. This was part of activities preceding my one month vacation.” At the end of the competition, a winner emerged. The actor, who was present at the trophy presentation described the camaraderie the competition brought to his community as a solid foundation for lasting peace. “When young people work and play together, love grows, there is also peace in that society. That was why I decided to sponsor that mini competition while I was on vacation. I had to fly back home for the trophy presentation and return to my family. Next year, we will strive to make the competition take a larger scope by involving the entire Local Government Council. We just pray that we get the required funds to do that,” Aki said.

•Chinedu Ikedieze

ive Star music singer and writer, Harrison Tare Okiri, popularly known as Harrysong is currently enjoying the rewards of his sheer hard work and consistency in the music industry. The Delta State -born singer is basking in the euphoria of blessings that have been coming his way since he teamed up with Kcee’s Five Star record label.

Harrysong was signed to Five Star record label few years back, though his breakthrough did not happen immediately. He admitted that he has endured some difficult moments in his music career as well as personal life. He disclosed that though his career has assumed an enviable dimension in the last two years, insisting that he was working hard day and night to sustain the tempo.

Since the big break came his way, some of his fans alleged that the singer does not relate well with them as he used to do. But reacting to the allegation, Mr Songz, as he’s fondly called by his fans, said nothing has changed about him since he became a superstar.

“I have been hearing people saying I am this or that now, but I want to tell you that it is not true. I have not changed my number. I still pick my calls. I am as humble as anything you can think of. I am rich but not arrogant”. Harrysong, towards the end of 2014, pampered himself with 2009 Hummer SUV, with a customised plate number, Mr Songz. He said, he bought the car because he could afford it.

... as Nigerian Idol rocks Abuja I

*Moses Obi-Adigwe

t was an overflow of energetic and enthusiastic youths at Bolton White Hotel over the weekend, as the 5th season of Etisalat-sponsored hit music reality show; Nigerian Idol had the 3rd leg of its auditions at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Music filled the air as the eager but slightly tense contestants strung chords on their instruments and tested their vocals in preparation to meet the judges and fight for a spot in the next stage of the competition. Returning contestant, Temidayo Martins, who auditioned for the fourth season arrived at the venue with more zeal and determination. “I was unable to impress the judges last year, so I could not proceed beyond the selection stage. I have taken all the corrections and I am ready to fight for a space in the Top 12 with everything I have”, she said.

Giving feedback about the auditions in Abuja, Head Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Daniel, noted that Abuja has always been a city to look forward to for its exceptional talents. The Abuja auditions featured performances by winners of Nigerian Idol Seasons 2, 3 and 4, Moses ObiAdigwe, Mercy Chinwo and Evelyn “Evelle” Zibili. The next audition takes place in Ibadan at Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ring road on January 31st. The final auditions will hold in Lagos at Dream Studios, Ojodu Berger on February 8th and 9th.

Nollywood: FG splashes another N2bn fund

*Mr President with Nollywood practitioners

By Emmanuel Elebeke

F

our years after President Goodluck Jonathan released N3 billion intervention fund to support the Nigerian movie industry, the federal government has launched another laudable

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project geared towards boosting the industry.

Tagged, “Project ACT Nollywood”, it’s the presidential intervention programme set up to improve technical and professional capacity in the value chain of the Nigerian movie industry. The project is expected to tackle the major challenge working against the optimum development of the sector – a poor distribution system and menace of piracy. To achieve this ambitious objective, the federal government last week launched N2 billion Innovation Distribution Fund, IDF, aimed at improving the distribution of audio-visual content, cut down on piracy, and to better protect intellectual property in the industry.

The IDF is targeted at the businesses that operate or plan to operate in the film distribution space. The ultimate objective is to make pirated copies of Nollywood movies unattractive to consumers by ensuring that genuine products are easily available at a multiplicity of accessible points.

This is to ensure that those who put their efforts into film production are properly rewarded.

The core plan is a market driven approach which will boost the number and quality of distribution options through strategic cofinancing of new channels and supporting the expansion of available ones.

These could include technology-based solutions such as digital streaming, enablers of effective distribution, movie exhibition infrastructure and physical distribution.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser, Media to CME, Mr. Paul C Nwabuikwu, applications for the distribution fund are welcome through the Project ACT online web portal which will be operational for a two month period starting January 19, 2015.

28—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

“All lumps are guilty until proven cancer free”

Lifeline

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n estimated 20,000 breast cancer cases are recorded in Nigeria annually. Only annual screening guarantees prevention of untimely death.

Today, more Nigerian women are aware of their breast health and breast cancer; however, some damaging myths exist that misinform on the benefits of early detection and seeking prompt care. In commemoration of the World Cancer Day, Sebbeccly Cancer Care is dispelling common myths around the disease by promoting breast awareness, and helping people understand the benefits of early detection and treatment.

It is a death sentence Truth: Being diagnosed with breast cancer is not a death sentence. With the scientific and social progress in breast cancer care, more women are surviving breast cancer in Nigeria and worldwide. A lot of Nigerian women after treatment are able to resume work and normal activities, get pregnant, have children and live a happy life. Mortality rate in Nigeria is high because of the late stage at presentation, survivorship barriers (affordability, accessibility and availability of cancer care) and the aggressive biology of breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected early, the chance of surviving the disease is high.

It is contagious Truth: No way, breast cancer is not contagious; it doesn’t spread from one person to person. You can hold hands, hug, sit and talk together with someone living with breast cancer.

No one in my family has breast cancer therefore I’m not at risk Truth: Every woman has some risk of developing breast cancer. Majority (70-80 percent) of women who have breast cancer do not have a known family history or an identifiable risk factor. Even if no one in your family has ever been diagnosed, that’s no excuse to skip your yearly mammogram. It’s important all women over 40 years old be screened for breast cancer. A few women have a family history where at least two relatives such as a mother, aunt or male relative have been diagnosed with breast cancer: such women have an increased risk of breast cancer and they should visit their doctors to discuss risk reduction and intervention.

There is nothing I can do about breast cancer control C M Y K

Truth: There is a lot that you can do at an individual, community and policy level to help women be breast aware and support access to cancer care. As an individual, being informed, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating right, getting enough exercise, and getting appropriate cancer screening tests can all make a significant difference.

I don’t have the right to cancer care Truth: All people have the right to access proven and effective cancer treatments and services on equal terms, and without suffering hardship as a consequence. Before starting treatment, do your research, ensure your hospital is equipped and you have the right health care professionals (breast surgeon, surgical and radiation oncologists).

Sebeccly Cancer Care is committed to improving cancer care.

•Breast cancer screening

Breast cancer surgery could cause death and makes the cancer to spread Truth: This myth may have started many decades ago when patients with cancer already had advanced stages of the disease by the time they sought medical care. Doctors who operated to diagnose the illness may have found advanced cancer that could not be treated successfully, so when patients died a short time later, observers claimed surgery caused the spread of cancer cells, ultimately killing the patient.

Breast surgeons/surgical oncologists are doctors highly trained in the intricacies of cancer surgery and anatomy. Patients and their loved ones should not delay or refuse surgery, which is an effective treatment.

Government hospitals are not equipped to treat cancer, most patients die there Truth: While the Government hospitals have their challenges, currently they are amongst the best places for patients

•Breast cancer screening to receive care because of the specialists and facilities available there. It is common for patients who have received care in various places with no success to present to the Government hospitals as a last resort and in these situations; the option of treating with intent to cure is low.

Painful breast lumps are not breast cancer Truth: Generally breast cancer lumps are painless,

but pain alone cannot rule out cancer. Some women also believe that a painless lump must not be cancer. This is not true. There’s no correlation between whether the lump is painful and whether it’s cancerous. There is a popular saying amongst cancer specialists ‘All lumps are guilty, until proven otherwise’ therefore it doesn’t matter if the lump is painful or not or that you are in your 20’s; if you notice a breast lump, visit your doctor immediately.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—29

Diet doctor:

As you age, avoid these problem foods G

rapefruit

Foods can affect how your medicine works. That’s why it’s always best to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should avoid any foods. For example, if you take medicine for high blood pressure, anxiety, or insomnia, grapefruit juice may interact with your drugs. Don’t miss out on the vitamin C and potassium that grapefruit holds.

Instead, enjoy other citrus fruits like oranges and limes.

Raw vegetables If you have sensitive, decayed, or missing teeth, raw vegetables may be high on your list of foods to avoid. But don’t miss out on the vitamins and fibre. Instead, try cooking vegetables until they are softer. Or use pureed vegetables—such as carrots, pumpkins, and beets—in soups or stews.

Beans Some people avoid beans because of the gas and stomach pain they can cause. But if you’ve banned beans from your diet, you may want to reconsider. An excellent source of fibre, beans are also high in protein and iron and low in fat. The trick is to add beans to your diet slowly. Start by having a small serving a few times a week.

Alcohol

it’s often a less nutritious choice. It can contain 20% to 30% fat. Instead, look for lean ground beef with no more than 10 percent fat. Or for a healthier protein source that’s easy to chew, try fish.

High-salt foods If you’re over 40 or in a high-risk group, the CDC recommends you get no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium each day. Too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and put you at higher risk for heart attack and stroke. Avoid processed foods, such as frozen foods, snack foods, salad dressings, and lunch meats.

Cruciferous vegetables Do you avoid cruciferous vegetables because of problems with gas?

•You may have trouble digesting milk

Moderate drinking may reduce your risk of heart attack and some types of strokes. But as you age, alcohol may affect you differently, even if you’re used to a glass of wine with dinner or a beer with TV. Alcohol disrupts sleep and can raise your blood pressure, too. Alcohol can also cause hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. It even affects the way medicines work.

Dairy You may have trouble digesting milk or dairy products as you age. But you may not have to give up all dairy products and the calcium and protein they provide. Many people can have small amounts of dairy with no stomach upset. Some dairy products are better tolerated than others..

Caffeine Although caffeine may not be a problem for everyone, it can make some people feel anxious or jittery. Caffeine can also increase your heart rate and cause sleeping problems. If you’re trying to cut back, be sure to taper off slowly. Stopping caffeine too quickly may cause headaches, nausea, or vomiting. Slowly replace caffeinated drinks with water, herbal tea, or decaf.

Caffeine can also cause sleeping problems

Meats Some of the healthiest cuts of meat, such as lean steak, can be the most difficult to chew. While hamburger is much easier on the teeth,

Cruciferous vegetables — broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale, for example —are high in vitamin C, betacarotene, fibre, calcium, iron, and folate. Some studies have shown they may also reduce your cancer risk. Don’t avoid

these vegetables. Just add them to meals gradually, in smaller servings.

Fruit Fresh fruits contain an abundance of vitamins, fibre, and other

important nutrients. But it may be hard to eat your “apple a day” if you have trouble chewing. Instead, try canned fruits with no added sugar or syrup, or eat softer fruits, such as berries, bananas, and melons.

30—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 31, 2015

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Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2015—31

Put your best forward

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he place of accessory in dressing up can’t be over emphasized.

Shoes particularly, play a big role in a woman’s total outlook. As with clothes, there is a variety to choose from depending on the occasion. While the every-day outing may require you to wear flats, mules or brogues, a more formal event will not be complete without a pair of high heels. They give you gait and help carry the outfit well, as you sashay down the red carpet.

So which one of these would you pick for today’s event?

Make your choice and put your best foot forward.

Natures Gentle Touch provides solutions to women’s hair challenges

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ecare Limited manufacturers of personal style brand, Natures Gentle Touch, recently took a select group of journalists and bloggers to the classroom to educate them on the use of its products and to proferr solutions to the problems of breakage often experienced

by Africans women.

The one day interactive roundtable which took place at Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute in Victoria Island, Lagos, was aimed at bridging the knowledge gap between manufacturer and end users.

In a welcome address, CEO, Recare Limited, Mr. Ramesh Hullur said Nature’s Gentle Touch products are made from natural ingredients sourced locally to help men and women achieve beautiful hair and to embrace their unique sense of style. He assured Nigerian women of its promise to deliver hair care solutions that will keep their hair

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healthy and beautiful.

Delivering his lecture on “Ethnic Hair and challenges”, Field education manager, Mr. Daniel Komlan, said the coarse nature of the African hair often compounded by harsh environmental factors is the reason why women experience dr yness and breakage. He pointed out that it s for this reason that Recare makes it products with strong oils that will protect and provide a sealing barrier to hold moisture and keep hair soft and manageable.

He said to avoid hair breakage, women should stay away from frequent flatthonging of their hair as damaged hair cannot be cured but managed.

On the way out of damaged hair, he advocated that women should start by scanning and subscribe to deep conditioning at least twice a month with accelerator and once a week

using body temperature.

In his contribution, Production Manager, Recare Limited, Mr. Daniel Appiah, while recommending products under the brand as they are created bearing in mind Nigerian climate condition, called on women

to use relaxers with minimum irritation. He added that the company will continue to introduce more products that will help every woman maintain her natural hair and help repair damaged hair.

Participants also had the opportunity to have free

consultation and hair analysis with in-house Trichologist.

Recare with three brands, Natures Gentle Touch, Hairsavvy and Non-stop, consistently seeks to develop world-class solutions that deliver on the beauty needs of Africans.

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

Upcoming actresses actresse themselves up for harassment

— Angela Philips Says “ I am sing searching”

BY JULIET EBIRIM

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usty and beautiful Angela Philips has seen quite a few things as far as the Nigerian movie industry is concerned. Her run of good streaks began as ‘Efe’ in the popular but rested soap opera ‘Behind the Clouds’, then she reaffirmed her presence on the scene with a highly celebrated comedy ‘Osofiason’ and later went on to stamp her name as one of the leading ladies of the tube in ‘Domino’, another soap that lit households across the country in the early 2000s.

Born to a Lagosian father and an Imo State-born mother, Angela has an hybrid genes in her that allows her to deliver multi-ethnic roles with effortless gusto. But in spite of her enviable profile she is yet to find the man of her dream. In this encounter with Showtime Celebrity she opens up on her love life, career, the industry and lots more: C M Y K

What have you been up to lately?

I’ve been away for a while doing a couple of things, but I’m fully back to doing movies.

Going down memory lane, what movie brought you to limelight?

I can’t really say, but I think it was Peacemaker, Pure Love, Confidence, Lust of the Flesh and the soap opera, Domino.

Having done movies and soap operas, which would you say is more challenging?

They both have their challenges but I think soap operas involve a lot of technicalities.

Having been in the industry for a long while as an actress, do you have plans to produce your own movie?

Of course, I’m coming out with something very soon.

You are a beautiful lady by all

standards but you are yet to tie the knots, why is it so?

I guess it’s because the right man hasn’t come, but he’s around the corner.

When I did my first film, Osuofiason, I was treated like a young sister by the likes of Nkem Owoh, Tony One Week, Mr. Ibu among others

What are those qualities you look for in a man?

He has to be God- fearing and must be willing to accept me for who I am.

I don’t want to go into marriage today and come out of it tomorrow. I really want someone who would understand me.

What’s your take on the spate of celebrity broken marriages?

It’s getting worse by the day. I just pray that people will take out time to understand what marriage is about.

Divorce is becoming rampant everywhere not just in the industry.

It’s sad and so you find out that most singles don’t even want to get married.

When choosing your man, what do you consider, his looks or his pocket?

Everything is important – the looks

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—33

the industry, there was discipline, strictness and ethics. God will help all of us.

s set r sexual

How would you compare the earlier days and now?

Those days, we had respect for our seniors and those we met in the industry. We were one big happy family. Those days, when we finished shooting and you were leaving, the people you were

regard?

I’ve never been sexually harassed.

If you go for an audition half naked, what do you expect?

Besides, most actresses are very desperate for movie roles, they are willing to do anything to act in a movie. So, it isn’t about being harassed, it is about you.

If you set up yourself for harassment you would be harassed . Most upcoming actresses set themselves up for harassment.

e lavn ig behind would start crying.

Now, it’s all business, no close relationship.

When I did my first film, Osuofiason, I was treated like a young sister by the likes of Nkem Owoh, Tony One Week, Mr. Ibu among others.

Now, everyone is hustling on their own.

Have you ever regretted doing a particular movie?

Not at all.

gle and

Can you remember the most challenging role you’ve played?

I think it was in the movie ‘Pure Love’. I was much younger then and I had to play the role of a blind girl. I acted alongside Desmond Elliot and it was a Fidelis Duker film. Everyday, my eyeballs would have to roll up and my eyes were always open. My Grandma saw the movie and started weeping because she thought I had actually gone blind. People had to make her understand that it was make-believe.

Would you mind getting married

Most actresses are very desperate for movie roles, they are willing to do anything to act in a movie. So, it isn’t about being harassed, it is about you. If you set up yourself for harassment you would be harassed .

Most upcoming actresses set themselves up for harassment. and money. The most important thing is getting someone who will love you for who you are. I don’t believe money can buy love.

Can you mention some difficulties you’ve encountered in the course of your career?

Those days, when we started acting, when you told people you were an actress, they looked at you as if you were a prostitute. I think people are now beginning to accept acting like any other profession.

Some of the new and upcoming actresses usually complain about sexual harassment in the industry, what’s your experience in that

to a colleague in the industry?

What really matters is the understanding. One’s husband can come from anywhere. Where he comes from is not the issue, what matters is the love you both share.

There’s been increase in the infusion of nudity and sexually explicit scenes in our movies these days...

That’s what the public want to see, so why are they complaining? They shouldn’t complain. If you shoot a movie where everyone is well dressed and covered from head to toe, nobody will buy it. They want to see nude girls. Nigerians should

stop pretendn ig.

That’s what we like and those are the things that sell.

Look at the musicians for instance, how many gospel songs sell?

But you

when look at the secular music, you’ll realise they’re making waves.

Look at our music videos.

Everybody likes nudity, be it in movies or music, so they should stop complaining.

Is there anything you would love to change in the industry?

I just pray that we get united because that’s the only way things will work out.

There’s a lot of disagreement, people forming different groups and all that. We are supposed to be one body.

What’s your relationship with your colleagues like?

I’m friends with everybody. I don’t have an enemy and I don’t have a special friend.

How do you see the crop of young upcoming actresses in the industry?

I don’t even understand them at all.

Unlike those days when we got into

Do you think being wellendowed, especially your boobs, has opened doors for you?

I don’t know. To others it might, but I don’t think it has contributed to where I am today. You might give me a role because I’m well endowed, but if you didn’t tell me that was why I was given the role I wouldn’t know. I only know I was given the role as me.

Are you in a relationship at the moment?

Let’s not go there please, so you don’t drive people away (Laughs). I’m still searching o.

What should fans expect from you?

They should expect a better me. I’m fully back to the industry and I’m not going anywhere. I’ve come to stay.

Is there any role you’d turn down?

I can’t be nude in a film, so I would turn down that role. No matter the amount of money involved, it’s not possible.

C M Y K

34 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

BY IYABO AINA

JWoww reveals she got her boobs done again after giving birth •Rihanna and Paul and Kanye

Rihanna goes acoustic with Paul McCartney and Kanye West

R

IHANNA, who has topped the charts with a pop-driven R&B sound, has unveiled a new acoustic song in collaboration with Beatles legend Paul McCartney.

The music diva unexpectedly last Saturday released the new single, “FourFiveSeconds,” which features the Barbados-born singer ’s signature robust voice but has a minimal backdrop of McCartney ’s guitar strumming without percussion or electronic elements. The song also features verses sung by

rapper Kanye West.

The track is the latest collaboration between West and McCartney, who unexpectedly released a song on New Year’s Day after the two stars met each other in Los Angeles.

According to Rihanna,”FourFiveSeconds” is a song about personal travails and confusion,we got three more days ‘til Friday / I’m just trying to make it back home by Monday morning.”

The song could offer hints at the directions of both Rihanna and West who are separately expected to unveil new albums this year.

Lil Wayne’s feud F with Birdman gets messier

A

MERICAN Television personality Jennifer Lynn, who is popularly known as “Jwoww” has finally opened up about the secret of her good looks after giving birth.

Access Hollywood on Monday, made public what the actress told them in a chat about motherhood.

The MTV star revealed she’s had some work done on herself since welcoming her daughter Meilani with fiance Roger Matthews in November.

“I haven’t worked out because I’m so obsessed with her, so I can’t get to the gym,” she said but added she has since worked on her boobs. “I actually just got my boobs re-done, so it won’t go down,” she confessed.”They’re the same size, I just kind of switched them out from breastfeeding,”.

OLLOWING reports that Lil Wayne is planning to sue Birdman in order to be released from his contract and claims that he owed him $8 million advance for the yetto-be released ‘Tha Carter V’ Weezy is demanding he leaves Cash Money Records with all Young Money Entertainment artists.

According to information gathered through TMZ, Lil Wayne plans to keep Young Money artists that includes Drake, Nicki Minaj, Christina Milian, Lil Twist and Mack Maine under his label, since they’re under contract. .

A possible setback in Lil Wayne’s plan may be that the Young Money artists have distribution deals with Cash Money, which may have to be resolved in court.

But recall that Birdman has played a big role in the majority, if not all, of the Young Money artists careers.

“I’ve gotten so much closer to Wayne lately. Wayne is his own person. He’s a businessman and whatever decision Wayne makes, I would never in my life speak against it publicly even if I didn’t agree,” Nicki Minaj told Power 106 LA in December, when speaking on Lil Wayne and Birdman’s beef.

“Lil has always been one of my best friends in the game. And I know that they love each other; that’s family.”

•Lil Wayne and Birdman C M Y K

•JWoww

Usher, Pharrell, John Legend, others to perform at Grammys A

S Music’s biggest night is getting closer, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Common, John Legend, and Sam Smith have joined the lineup for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

Eight-time Grammy winner and fourtime nominee this year, Usher, will return to the Grammy stage, while Sam Smith makes his Grammy debut.

Pharrell, who has six nominations of his own, will bring some sunshine to the stage with his Grammy-nominated album ‘G I R L’. Fresh off their Oscar nomination, Common and John Legend will team up

to perform “Glory” from the film Selma. Common is up for Best Rap/ Song Collaboration for “Blak Majik” and Best Rap Album for Nobody’s Smiling, while Legend is nominated twice.

They join other performers including Madonna, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Miranda Lambert, AC/DC, and Eric Church.

LL Cool J will return to host the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, which will air live on Sunday, Feb. 8th from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—35

A brief encounter like no other I

n the face of sub-zero temperatures and freezing winds, New Yorkers braved the cold and went bare-legged for the annual ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ on Sunday.

Wearing hats, scarves and thick coats on their top halves, boarded trains

at stations across the city surrounded by bemused travellers.

Scantily-clad riders also took part in places including London, Milan, Bucharest, Berlin and Mexico City - all joined in as part of the ‘celebration of silliness’.

It started off as a prank by comedy group Improv Everywhere in 2002, bemusing a few embarrassed commuters, but has since grown into a global phenomenon.

The rules of the event, which is in its 14th year, are fairly straightforward.

Underpants must be worn and, although flashy designs are allowed, organisers prefer those involved to look - at least

08 116759 759 081 6759759 from the waist-up - as though they are going about their daily lives. This is to increase the impact the participants have on the unaware bystanders. In the inaugural event ago only seven people took part, but now thousands in major capital cities around the globe participate in what organisers call a ‘celebration of silliness’.

Uniforms and business suits are encouraged to amplify the lower-half effect as are props - bicycles, prams, shopping bags or a briefcase.

Participants are also forbidden from speaking to one another and are instructed to bring ‘any activity you might normally perform on the train: newspaper, book, sewing kit.’

Transit cops visit the baby they helped deliver on a subway on Christmas

T

he two Philadelphia transit officers who delivered a baby boy in a train carriage on Christmas day have gone to visit the mother in hospital and the little boy they brought into the world.

SEPTA Police Sgt. Daniel Caban and Officer Darrell James responded to a call around 5.50pm on Thursday and when they climbed on the train, they could already see the baby ’s head, they said.

A group of riders had formed a circle around the mother to give her some privacy as she went into labor on the Market-Frankford Line, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The officers, who both have children of their own, donned their gloves and Caban knelt down to catch the baby boy as he was born at the 15th Street station.

The officers, who both have children of their own, went to visit the mother and baby - who are both healthy - at

Hahnemann Hospital on Friday morning.

During the visit, the mom, Yanjin Li, told the officers she had decided to call the little boy Chris, considering he was born on Christmas, according to NBC Philadelphia.

It was a happy reunion for all involved,

Baby born without EYES T

he parents of a baby who was born without eyes are hopeful their son will one day be able to see.

Staff at Arizona’s Banner Desert Medical Center initially thought baby Richie’s face was swollen at birth. But they were stunned to discover the reason his eyelids would not open was because he did not have eyes - an extremely rare condition,

C M Y K

called Anophthalmia.

Richie’s mother Kelly Lopez, who had a normal pregnancy, became worried after almost two weeks went by and her son hadn’t opened his eyes. An MRI scan 13 days after he was born showed he had been born without eyes.

She told KTLA: ‘By the time we left, I think every single nurse had cried with us.’ But she and her husband, from Mesa,

Arizona, are optimistic that science will progress enough to help Richie, who does have an optic nerve, see in his lifetime. The three-month-old had surgery to be fitted with expanders in his sockets, so that can grow enough to hold a prosthetic eyeball in the future. But after rubbing his eyes, the expanders fell out and only one remains after his mother was able to place it back in. She described her husband’s encouragement as he held their son while she struggled to insert the expander, adding: ‘I got it in and then I just cried’.

Mrs Lopez said: ‘I do hold out hope. I know that researchers are testing it and doing what they can, but I do hope that, one day, they’ll be able to grow an eye or transplant an eye.’

But for now, the couple are helping their son with special toys and development programs.

considering the last time they had seen each other, the officers were scrambling for a sweater to wrap little Chris in following the impromptu birth.

They found a generous passenger, wrapped up the baby, and then put him into his mother ’s arms for

the first time.

‘The mother was at peace with the baby,’ Caban told the Inquirer.

The youngster ’s umbilical cord was slightly tangled around his neck, but they were able to free him.

Apart from that it was a healthy birth.

An ambulance took

the two to hospital.

Surveillance footage taken inside the carriage showed a medic smiling as he held the healthy newborn.

‘It was such a joy to see a baby born on a train, you’re not expecting that,’ passenger Loreta McNeil told ABC6.

Woman orders sweet tea and chicken sandwich at Burger King and gets bag full of teadd instea 1 in cash ins $2,6331

A

New Hampshire woman got a surprise at a Burger King drive-thru: a bag full of cash instead of food. Janelle Jones says she discovered on the way home that the bag did not contain the sweet tea and junior spicy chicken sandwich that she had ordered Friday afternoon at the Rochester fast-food restaurant.

Foster ’s Daily Democrat reports that Jones called her husband and they decided to return the $2,631, which was a Burger King bank deposit.

Matthew Jones says the couple briefly considered keeping the money, which they certainly could have used. But he says he and his

wife are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and that ‘Jehovah sees everything.’

They said the money was split between two deposit bags, with a loose $100 bill as well.

The couple returned the money to the restaurant about an hour later and were met with extremely thankful employees.

The newspaper reports that the restaurant confirmed the couple’s

account but had no comment on it.

‘One person said “they were going to get fired” so it felt good knowing we helped them keep their jobs,’ Janelle told the paper in an email. ‘A manager told me they would give me five free meals,’ Janelle added. ‘The manager said he talked to the corporate office and they said to tell me “thank you.”’

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

•Rita Dominic

BY MORENIKE TAIRE

R

ita Dominic: Rita Dominic’s heavenly skin is even more famous than her luscious lips, getlost eyes and sweet voice and acting ability. Once asked the secret, she replies:”Bright skin?. I’ve always been called silky skin and you even used to call me that. I thank my parents for my skin. I’ve been using the same cream for years now. Four years ago, I added a few things to my beauty regimen.

What Rita knows: Exercise According to dermatologists, we tend to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of physical activity, and those are important. But anything that promotes healthy circulation also helps keep your skin healthy and vibrant.

Going to the spa more frequently to detox, steam, get body scrubs and massages.

Links between massage and skin beauty has been controversial, at best; but at least it has worked for Rita, alongside body scrubs and other popular spa routines we are always to busy to get.

C M Y K

•Ini Edo

•Kate Henshaw

DO IT LIKE NOLLYWOOD:

Get skin like Rita, body like Ini Edo and legs like Kate

Drink about 13 glasses of water a day Everyone has testified to this one. Water is skin’s best friend, dryness its worst enemy.

Stay away from the sun.

With all the location shoots and red carpets, can Rita really stay out of the sun?

Well, she says she does by all means and you’d better believe her. Her skin says it’s true.

Kate Henshaw Nuttal: She has not been able to

live down the girl-next-door mien. Yet, Kate Henshaw Nuttal is now best known as the sexiest member of the 40s club in Nollywood thanks to her eternally youthful long, lithe body.

Lately, she appears to have just realized the value of her legs and is using them to advantage.

whatever. Run up the stairs if you must.

What Kate knows: Use the stairs Ever seen Kate in her elements? She’s flying all over the place like a teenager. Call it joie de vive,

Never, ever shave If you look closely- really, really closely- you will find hairs on Kate’s legs too.

They never get noticeable because she never shaves

Use lotion, not creams If possible, find lotions specifically for legs but whatever the case, use lotions, not creams, on the legs. Slather one layer, wait for five minutes, then slather another.

them.

Ini Edo: Ini is really hot and her curves and the proportional body are obviously God’s precious gift. She has given a dozen interviews yet Ini aint spilling about the secret of her body.

What Ini knows: Mix Aerobics with weights Personal trainers however attribute it to loads and loads of time at the gym doing a little aerobics as well as plenty of weights training.

Caution: do not try this at home, weights training only works with expert supervision Plenty of Water Ini’s tight body is rippling with muscles, though you can’t see them under her glorious skin. Most people don’t know that training with weights is useless without loads and loads of water.

Muscles cannot grow without it.

Diet rich in protein, calcium and iron Train from now till Timbuktoo, but without proper nourishment, it is impossible to get Ini’s level of tone without a diet rich in fish, chicken, seafood and molluscs. The carbs just have to go.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—37

Business unusual

Oil & Gas:

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE & ANINO AGANBI

Folorunso Alakija

W

E’RE past the notion that women can’t do hard labour. All around the world these days, women are not just working in conventional jobs but going all out to be who they want to be.

They are also not afraid to try out new things.

Nigerian women aren’t disappointing either.

They have, over the years, flourished in careers that would have been considered beyond them many years ago.

Here, we celebrate five women who have flourished in ‘unusual’ careers that are notably men’s terrain.

•Engineer Sandra

•Dr Abolarinwa

Auto Mechanic:

Engineer Sandra Aguebor-Ekperouh

Engineer Sandra Ekperouh is the founder of Lady Mechanic Initiative of Nigeria. She has broken a major yoke by becoming the first women to join the auto mechanic profession in a society where nobody could ever visualize a woman going under a car to fix it.

The Lady Mechanic Initiative of Nigeria today consists of over 3,000 women working as mechanics.

Sandra’s bold step began as a dream when she was barely 13year-old. She had attended Ivbiotor Primary School, BeninCity, before proceeding to St. Maria Goretti Girls Secondary School where she started her mechanic job. After that, she went to the Benin Technical College where she studied automobile in the automobile department vocational studies for three years.

Urological Surgery:

Dr Abimbola Abolarinwa

Dr. Abimbola Ayodeji Abolarinwa is Nigeria’s first female Consultant Urological Surgeon, a specialty which deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract and the sex organs in male. She works at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Lagos.

Abimbola who is in her late 30s was born in the UK and is married with lovely kids. She had studied Medicine at the

to a woman driver. Rabiatu actually went to Lagos all by herself, bought the vehicle and drove it all the way from Lagos to Kano, where they constructed its body. She has since been in the industry for over 13 years and has been honoured on several occasions by prestigious institutions.

Although many others abound, no woman readily comes to mind as a trail blazer in this sector than the world’s richest black woman, Mrs Folorunso Alakija. A fashion designer turned world-class oil mogul, Folorunso is the Executive Director at FAMFA Oil, an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production company.

Folorunso has always been on top of her game. Even as a designer, she emerged best designer in the country in 1986, just a year after establishing Supreme Stitches, her fashion outfit.

With her hands of gold, she turned into a goldmine a rejected oil bloc which no one wanted for several reasons.

Having seen that the bloc had potentials because Folorunso and her team had turned it around, in late 1996, they were approached by the then oil giant Texaco for ‘real’ business. Later, Texaco became Chevron and they struck oil in commercial quantity.

Building Construction:

Angela Jagun, Builder

•Folorunso Alakija University of Ibadan where she graduated in 2004. The former tomboy got qualified as Urologist in 2013.

“Actually I originally wanted to be an Orthopaedic surgeon right from Medical School. But when I started my Pre Part 1 rotations in WASC, I suddenly lost interest in Orthopaedics. I decided to do General Surgery as a default. Then I did the Urology rotation and got hooked literally. I realized it was interesting, cuts across being a physician and surgeon and not too populated. We have a high volume and turnover of Urology patients at LASUTH and there was a structured training programme in Urology developed by Prof Julius Esho.

I saw Urology first hand,” she said in an interview.

Trailer Driving:

Hajiya Rabi’atu Abubakar Mashi

Hajiya Rabi’atu Abubakar Mashi, from Katsina State, is

•Hajiya Rabi’atu

•Angela Jagun the first female trailer driver from the northern region. She is a trailer driver with Dangote Cement Company in Obajana in Kogi State, transporting cement to Lagos and other faraway locations.

“I’d never seen any woman driving trailers. My curiosity pushed me to try the profession.

As it is, I have a passion for driving. So, driving heavy duty vehicles became a reality and

I’ve been doing it for twelve years now,” she said in an interview.

Hajiya grew up in the palace of the Emir of Daura under the care of his wife, Hajiya Halima Bukar, who eventually supported her dream by buying her a ten-tyre truck when she wanted to fully join the business. This was because it was almost unlikely for any man to invest in a trailer and hand it

As feminine as she looks, Angela Jagun is a thorough bred when it comes to building. She is a totally different person on site. This woman who is Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, has been a builder for over 20 and is unreservedly committed to her profession.

She is the CEO of Burwood Construction Limited with headquarters in Lagos.

Jagun doubles as the Director of Jagun Consult Limited, an outfit which undertakes training for effective supervision skills for construction professionals and Microsoft office project as a construction programming tool.

The key to success in the industry, according to her, is “to be smart, work two times as hard as the male, seek knowledge constantly, respect yourself and others and insist on respect being shown to you”.

A graduate of building from the University of Jos, Jagun came out with Second Class Upper Division in 1991and also holds a postgraduate degree in construction.

Currently, she is studying for a doctorate in construction management at the University of Salford, Manchester in Britain.

C M Y K

38— SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

he first time a woman came to us with a complaint that T her husband was sexually abusing their three children—two girls and a boy—I told her: “Madam, two

”

things, either you are mad to accuse your husband of such heinous deeds or your husband is mad to lay his hands on his own children.” Incest, specifically father-daughter liaison, has been with humankind for a long time. Lot not only slept with but deflowered his two daughters (please leave the drunkenness details for another day. Deflowering two virgins in two successive days without being conscious of are between ages three and the act must be one of the six, but can stretch much mysteries in the Bible) longer in some cases. But Electra complex cannot be Genesis 19: 32-35. responsible for many of the I have till date avoided cases we read about because writing on this topic because many of the daughters were it gives me a sick feeling. But actually raped by their new cases are being fathers. There are very few reported, mostly forced, occasions where such incest because many of the girls are is consensual or initiated by minors. So we are not just the daughters. In the 80s I dealing with incest, we are read the story of a girl who also dealing with rape and claimed that she and the pedophilia. Daughters are no father were lovers and longer safe with their fathers. anytime the mother travelled One married woman actually abroad on her numerous confessed that while growing business trips, they got busy. up she was so scared of her In her words, while mum father that she never stayed home alone with him. The man allegedly slept with his nieces, friends’ wives, house helps and just about anything in skirts he could get hold of.

He even changed his religion to legitimise his marriage to thought she was leaving myriad of women! father and daughter at home, But why will a father sleep she was actually leaving with the product of his loins? lovers. I screamed and While in the university, the attracted the attention of a electives I took made me to female school mate sitting develop interest in nearby. I told her what I just psychology, especially read. Her response shocked Freudian psychology. That me the more: “So what is the was how I came across the big deal?” “You mean you can term, Electra complex. In a do it”, I asked. “If my father lay human’s language, it asks for it, I’ll give it to him.” means daughters getting These were her exact words; sexually attracted to their they still ring in my head fathers, usually when they about 29 years later.

Supreme betrayal”

Some cases of incest result from “daddy’s girl” taken too far. It is okay for daughters to be close to their fathers, but fathers, especially as the more mature party, must know when this relationship is going beyond limit and draw a line. Sometimes it is thought that some men try to relive the long lost younger days of their wives and sleep with their daughters who look like

Daughters are no longer safe with their fathers

,

their wives in those younger days. Some men who commit incest with their daughters are in troubled marriages.

Instead of confronting their problems they shift attention from their wives to their daughters. Before they realize it, things boil over; the handshake has gone far beyond elbow to the shoulder.

Some divorced men or widowers who live,

sometimes alone, with their daughters have also been known to commit incest with their daughters. There was a particular case on national television where the girl raised an alarm when she could not take it anymore. The father initially denied, then said it only happened once. When her daughter contradicted him, he blamed his actions on, you guessed right, the devil. Some men simply sleep with their daughters for diabolical reasons.

Studies show that some victims of father-daughter incest are usually “severely conflictladen, experience rage and ongoing hostility to both parents, and hold all women in contempt.” Some of them lose their appetite for marriage and generally have issues with intimacy. For some victims, all men are vampires and so they lapse into lesbianism. Some victims also experience sexual dysfunction like “desire disorder, orgasmic disorder, pain during sex, and frequency and satisfaction difficulty.”

Sorting out father-daughter incestuous relationship is not easy. If it were a niece, sister-

in-law, cousin or other relatives, you can send her away, discourage indecent dressing around the house, ensure you are not home alone or reduce interactions, among others. But with your daughter, it is different. Your home is her home and how do you perform your legitimate parental responsibilities without interaction or when you avoid her? You simply need help; you need therapy, counseling and plenty of prayers. Do not be too proud or shy to share your problem with people who are discreet and in a position to help.

Sorting out the problem is a molehill compared to the act and the spiritual and social mess it creates. You also need to find the will power from wherever to help yourself. Coming down on your own daughter remains inexplicable, inexcusable and unjustifiable? Not even the Lot kind of situation can be justified, because it is actually within your power to avoid getting drunk and losing your senses. Just wondering; wouldn’t you rather you were impotent, instead of sleeping with your daughter? That way the offending and offensive weapon would be disabled and you will be spared this abominable and unimaginable act.

Incest is more rampant than we imagine. Uncles abuse their nieces, aunts abuse their nephews, cousins engage in either consensual or forced sex; it just goes on and on.

,

(Text Only)

F

or most people over 30, the abdominal region gets to be the least toned set of muscles of the body. We work with our hands and walk with our feet, therefore, somehow, those parts are almost always in better shape than the abdominal wall.

A trim waistline doesn’t only look impressive aesthetically... it also speaks volumes of the state of health of the individual.

Reduce the girth and presto!

You instantly look youthful.

You will begin to digest your food and absorb it more efficiently.

Once the belly is shrunk appreciably, we can then learn

•Legs-raise.

C M Y K

Tightening the abdominals to perform certain exercises which can help the system achieve better bowel action — a veritable way of eliminating toxins.

As regards exercise, there are countless ways to deal with the bulge of the belly.

Some get results from practising dit-ups,the Rocking,others from Leg-raises as depicted below ....

But there are some less familiar practices that deal with flabby stomach a lot more thoroughly.

Besides strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, some of these practices can be used for purification purposes along with drinking large quantities of salt water. The following exercise will help trim the waist and keep it so, forever.

All it takes is diligence. Lets consider the leg-raises among others.We can look at others next....

Technique: Sit on the floor with the legs outstretched in front of you,place the hands behind waist level and a little away from the body.

Inhale and raise both legs up diagonally,forming a 'V'

with the trunk;and breathe normally.Retain the position 5 to 7 seconds,rest and repeat a few more times.

Benefits:The the legraises tighten and toughen the abdominal walls,muscles and the digestive organs are promptly stimulated to achieve wonderful healthy results.Besides abdominal tautness,the Leg Raise strengthens the quadricepts—the muscles of the front of the thighs,and the shoulders and neck region are not isolated in the tremendous healthy benefits.

The Abdominal Lift Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot apart, breathe in deeply and exhale forcefully. Now, with the breath out, draw in the muscles of the abdomen until you have a hollow forming beneath the ribs.

The hands should be placed

on the thighs and the knees bent a little. Keep the trunk a bit tipped forward but don’t lower it.

Maintain the retraction of the diaphragm by keeping both hands firmly pressed against the thighs as you lean on them.

Keep the position for as long as can be without breathing.

Then, ease up, stand erect and begin to breathe normally.

Repeat only once more if you’re just starting this exercise. As regards this very exercise, Indra Devi advises gradually bringing it up to seven times adding one time each week.

Warning: People with a weak heart or serious abdominal or circulatory problems should refrain from this exercise.

•The Abdominal Lift Yoga Classes •Leg-raise

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

SA TURD AY Vanguard, JANU ARY 31, 2015—39 SATURD TURDA JANUARY

NL C Vice President mar ks bir thda NLC marks birthda thdayy

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Okowa Mandate on sensitisation drive

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ice President he Okowa Mandate sensitizes members on Nigerian Labour the need to canvass supports for Okowa/ Congress, NLC Otuaro in Uvwie Local Government Area last and the General Monday. Here are Photos by Akpokona Omafuaire Secretary, National from the event.

Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers Of Nigeria NUTGTWN added a year recently and decided to mark it with a number of activities which include book presentation, a keep fit cycling race amongst others. The celebration which had many prominent Nigerians in attendance held in Ilorin, Kwara State. Photos by L-R: wife of celebrant, Hajiya Hamdallat Aremu, Head of Service, Kwara Olu Ajayi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed , celebrant, Comrade Issa Aremu with Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Justice Mustapha Akanbi.

L-R:Celebrant Comrade Issa Aremu with Head of Service, Kwara“State, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed and Balogun Fulani, Ilorin, Alhaji“Mahmoud Atiku.

Celebrant Comrade Issa Aremu [M] with, President NUTGTWN“Comrade Oladele Hunsu and other cyclists, in ' Cycling Race To Keep“Fit as part of the ceremony.

The President, NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele Hunsu with another guest at the book launch.

Celebrant's children; Gogo and Siblings, reading daddy's biography.

Ayok unmi and Ola wale seal lo okunmi Olaw lovve

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yokunmi Yetunde and Olawale John Olaitan consummated their union recently in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Their families and friends were there to witness the blissful union.

Bride mother, Mrs Biodun Adewunmi, bride, Mrs Ayokunmi Yetunde Otaitan, groom, Mr. Olawale John Olaitan and Alhaji Mustapha Abayomi, bride's uncle.

C M Y K

Mr and Mrs Olawale John Olaitan

Comrade Paul Bebenimibo in warm handshake with Barr. Kingsley Otuaro.

R-L: Secretary of the Okowa Mandate, Mr. Morris Agbofodo, Mr. Sunny Ofobo, Mr. Terry Obieh, FinSec of the Okowa Mandate,Comrade Ashaka and others.

Comrade Paul Bebenimibo (4th left) making a remark while Barr.Kingsley Otuaro (2nd right) , Mr. Matthew Itsekure, Ughujohowo Kevwe,Mr. Godspower Enerho(3rd-1st left).

Boniface and Uduak Boniface and Uduak Edet Patrick got married recently.

Boniface and Uduak Edet Patrick during their Wedding Ceremony.

40—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 31, 2015

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

I’m in love with two guys Dear Julie, I have a serious problem . I’m kind of in love with two different guys. One of the guys is quite a looker, he is absolutely a feast for the eyes. He is exactly my “type.”

He always says hello to me when he sees me or stops for a minute, and he’s always smiling at me which I am told he doesn’t do for everybody. I also know that he’s currently seeing somebody but not seriously. On one hand, I don’t want to seem like just another girl fawning all over him; on the other I want to let him know I’m interested without

offending his Christianity.

The other guy I love is absolutely at the other end of the spectrum. He’s short and dorky, but when I met him, I fell for his personality. He seemed like such a nice guy: quiet, and smart, and funny. Now I do like him a lot and do find myself attracted to him, but I definitely don’t want to marry him .

I’m not into one night stands but I would like to be his friend. I know he’s attracted to me, but I’d prefer something easygoing over something complicated. What do I do with this one?

Diane, Abuja

Dear Diane, It’s great to be attracted to a wide range of people. The more varied the guys that catch your eye, the more opportunities you’ll have to meet different types of people. It also appears that your problem here is not necessarily how to choose between two types, but how to proceed with each of them.

In both cases you could probably benefit from taking things slowly and getting to know the guys for who they are beneath their caricatures of “the looker and the bookworm”.

Cultivating friendships with each of these men will give you a chance to observe what it is about them that attracts you. Are they opposite poles of your own dynamic personality?

Do they embody qualities that you’d like to develop in yourself? Knowing yourself better, and understanding why you are attracted to certain people, can result in deeper, more meaningful and honest relationships with yourself and with others. While dating is exciting and fun, it can also be scary and frustrating. It involves taking risks, putting your emotions out there, and possibly being disappointed.

For the looker, talk to him when he says hi to you in passing. Make yourself not just another “fawning girl” but an actual person who’s interested in getting to know him.

Maybe ask him out just as friends, so

He’s jealous and insecure Aunty Julie, I ‘ve have been dating someone who seems to be a very insecure guy. He is very jealous, and is always accusing me of wanting to break up with him or of having another man. I thought maybe he was trying to tell me that he indeed wanted to break up, but when I confronted him, he said he never wanted to break up with me. I am a little tired of all of it, but I really like this guy. Can you give me any advice on how to stop this game he plays? Thank you.

Joanna, Edo Dear Joanna, I think I have seen this question before but with a different name.

I will tell you exactly what I said before too. Your guy has one of two things going on. Either he is very insecure indeed and is asking for reassurance, or he is trying to build up his self-esteem by demanding that you declare your faithfulness and affection for him on a regular basis.

Take a look at the rest of his life. If he is timid and hesitant, needing lots of reassurance in general, then he really is just insecure.

Insecurity is annoying to deal with, but there are worse things and it can get better with time

the rest of his life, then he is using you to build up or keep up his self-esteem. This is more problematic, but it can still be dealt with effectively.

I’m not confident anymore Naturally, I’m a very confident guy but it seems I’m beginning to lose that. I started a romantic relationship with my next-door neighbour. We are very fond of each other. We were friends a couple of months before we started kissing. Now we are getting close to having sex. I am completely love-sick. I was so confident, but now that I have feelings for her, I feel insecure. I know we could have a great relationship. How can I get past this insecure feeling and let this relationship flourish?

David, Lagos Hello David, The feeling of insecurity comes from over-investing in how your relationship partner perceives you. In other words, what the woman you are dating thinks about you has become too

Babe-raham Lincoln An older man wearing a stovepipe hat, a waistcoat and a phony beard sat down at a bar and ordered a drink. As the bartender set it down, he asked, “Going to a party?”

“Yeah, a costume party,” the man answered, “I’m supposed to come dressed as my love life.”

“But you look like Abe Lincoln.” protested the barkeep.

“That’s right. My last four scores were C M Y K

and some help.

On the other hand, if he seems more self-centered and selfish in

he doesn’t feel his religious values or current relationship is being threatened. Learn more about what he likes to do and how he feels about his religion.

Don’t rush it, especially if he’s made it clear he’s dating someone.

For the bookworm: talk to him too! Don’t let your friends play intermediaries. Tell him that you’ve enjoyed spending time with him and that you would like to be his friend. Hopefully this will allay any relationship fears or commitment issues he might be experiencing that would make him afraid to continue hanging out.

After you get to know these men better and feel more comfortable with them, you can try to date one, both, or neither of them. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ask them out or express your interest. If you’d rather wait to be asked out, be open and available to see what happens.

No matter what the outcome, dating can also teach you a lot about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner. And any experience that results in greater self-knowledge is usually well-worth any confusion it can stir up. In fact, you might find that the confusion can be half the fun.

important to you. The other possible explanation for the feeling of insecurity is that you are spending too much time with her. Often in relationships, people tend to get too close and do not give each other enough space. As a result they begin to feel lost. That’s what the feeling of insecurity is telling you , you are losing yourself.

To get over the feeling of insecurity you need to return to yourself. You need to always remember to keep a balance between returning to yourself on a regular basis, while also investing in the relationship.

Spend time away from her on a regular basis, focusing on what’s important to you. Make sure that during that time, you force yourself to focus on what you are doing or whom you are with, instead of thinking about her.

Spend time with guy friends

C O C K - T A L E S seven years ago.”

The wishing well A couple comes up to a wishing well. The guy leans over, makes a wish, and throws in a penny.

His wife decides to make a wish, too, but she leans over too far, falls into the well, and drowns.

The guy says, “Wow, it really works.”

Who wants to be a millionaire

weekly. This is very good for men in general, and will return you right back to who you are, diminishing the feelings of insecurity.

Also make sure that you are pursuing things in your life that matter to you, such as career goals or hobbies. Investing time and energy in what’s important to you will return you back to yourself. Do be sure to tell her very gently that the time away from her does not mean anything about her or the relationship. Tell her you need time and space to tend to yourself. Make sure she knows you are not abandoning her. Also be sure that you do not give in to the longing to be together during the time you decided to devote to yourself. Put the longing in the background and focus on you. If you able to do this, you will restore yourself, which will return your confidence and allow you to be in love without being love-sick.

A husband and wife are watching “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire,” and the husband winks and says, “Honey, let’s go upstairs…”

The wife says no, so the husband asks again. Again she says no.

So the husband says, “Is that your final answer?” The wife says yes.

The husband says, “Well, can I phone a friend?”

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

C M Y K

Vanguard, JANU ARY 31 JANUARY 31,, 2015—41

42 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN LAGOS PIX BY JOE AKINTOLA, LAMIDI BAMIDELE AND BUNMI AZEEZ

From right, APC Presidential Candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, his wife, Aisha Buhari, wife of the Vice Presidential Candidate, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo and APC Vice-Presidential Candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the APC Lagos Presidential campaign rsally held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere yesterday in Lagos.

From left, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa , Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora and APC Women Leader, South West, Mrs. Kemi Nelson.

From right: Olamide, musician singing for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National leader of APC, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Mr. Lai Mohammed, during the All Progressives Congress APC Presidential campaign rally at Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos State.

The large crowd at the APC Lagos Presidential Campaign Rally in Lagos

PDP PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN CALABAR PIX ABAYOMI ADESHINA & STATE HOUSE

President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo and the National Chairman PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu (4r) while Governor Lyel Imoke of Cross River State (3r); Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (r).

Supporters and members during the presidential campaign rally in Calabar.

From left, Senate leader, Sen. Ndoma Egba, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Gov. Seriake Dickson and Comrade Uche Secondus, PDP's Deputy National Chairman.

Cross section of community leaders watch as President Goodluck Jonathan cuts the tape to commission the 6.7 kilometre Goodluck Jonathan bye-pass ahead of the campaign in Calabar, Cross River State.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015 — 43

44 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—45

YETUNDE AREBI

The apple and the tree

M

y first reaction was shock when I first read this story you are also about to read. My second read brought tears to my eyes at the traumatic sexual experience this girl had to endure in the name of a relationship. The story reminded me of another about two years ago on Investigation Discovery Channel, on the abduction of a 16 year old high school girl by an older male neighbour who turned her into a sex slave and prostitute before she was rescued by one of the men she was pimped to and finally returned to her grandmother. As expected, this guy was caught and is presently serving a prison term in the United States of America. However, this story which I assumed was written by the girl and narrated in a conversation on Twitter between her and a friend did not end with the good news of a prison term, nor any hope that an arrest will likely be made anytime soon. For, names listed as perpetrators of this gross abuse are the children of the rich and famous in the Nigerian society. Her friend could only sympathise and encourage, asking that she should put all that had happened behind her and pray that God will avenge her ordeal. (Hmm! How convenient. God does everything for the Nigerian). While I cannot attest to the veracity of this story, I still need to share it because this does happen in our world. Daily, the rape culture and violent sexual abuse of women are being redefined across the world and silence is no longer acceptable.

According to the story, this young girl met her Waterloo at age 17 when she went for a holiday job at a high brow company in Abuja. I used other words where she used the F--- word. Her story: I met Mustapha and his friends when I was seventeen. I had just graduated at Loyola and took a year to work before coming here for school. I lived in Abuja and had just got my first ever real world job as an intern at this tech company called (given). I met Mustapha there. I was the youngest person in the company and he sort of took me under his wing and was nice to me. I had none to eat lunch with so he would take me out to get lunch with him on our lunch break periods etc. I developed a crush on him. I was 17, he was 25.

He started asking me to hang out with him after work and my curfew was midnight. At first it was pretty innocent, but then he started touching me in his car and it progressed into sex. He would use me in his car after work almost every day. His dad owned this huge hotel in Abuja and one day he took me there and did it to me the whole day. Then he started taking me to his house where he and his family lived. He has seven brothers and one sister.

He asked once if I would be okay with a threesome.

I told him I didn't want to but the next time I was at his place, his two best friends Tunji and Abdul were

there too. I didn't want to get naked or have sex while they were there and that was the first time he hit me. He pulled my hair hard and forced me to take off my clothes with them watching. Then he held my hands behind my back while they touched me and then he held me while they took turns on me from behind. He would choke me while he was doing it. I cried and begged him but he would get angry and say I was ruining it for him. When I didn't do what he wanted or what his friends wanted he would hit me and drag me by my hair. So I learned to be obedient. He used to bring new friends every couple of times. But Tunji and Abdul were always there. Sometimes, his brothers joined in. Sometimes other people. If I didn't want to do something, he would drag me into the bathroom and beat me then he'd bring me out and say 'she's decided to behave now. He mostly hit me or was so rough with me I would be bruised. He only used his belt once. He did other unpleasant things like burn me and hold my head under water while his friends took turns on me. But that was only once or twice. I was in love with him and inside I kept hoping he didn't mean it, and if I was obedient enough, he would go back to being the sweet guy I met. He knew and he would ask me while he was on me so hard and made me cry "do you still love me?"

Sometimes he would be doing it to other women in front of me while Abdul would be on me from behind and holding my arms to make me watch. Then he'd say "you want this to be you, don't you? You want me to touch you and do it like this?" because he knew I was jealous. It took forever for me to be okay after I got away from him. Somewhere inside, I am still scared of him and scared of running into him. I don't think I was a person to him. I was a toy that he shared with his friends. They did it to other girls younger than I was, some, older. Sometimes all of us together at the same time. There was no one I could tell or ask for help. People always ask (when she tells them her story) "why didn't you report it?" There wasn't anyone who could help me. His dad was a governor and Abdul's dad was a top army officer. I just tried to forget what they did to me.

What's the dudes name again?

(She listed the names of eight guys and attached their photographs to the conversation.

"I don't know the names of the others but I know their faces". (You will need to log on to the link for the full text and pictures of these people.)

Thank God, the world is now a global hamlet, and not village again. Technology has finally removed the veil from the

temple!

I know there will be several doubting Thomases out there who will readily dismiss this poor girls story as a ploy designed to tarnish the image of the listed big boys as perpetrators. Those who will readily condemn her as a wayward, greedy girl, who got consumed in her quest to rub shoulders with the high and mighty, a social climber, a wanna be big girl and gold digger. In fact, with our dwindling moral social standards as a nation, I will not be surprised if some people decide to start a campaign of their own against this girl.

These are the days of sponsored campaigns anyway. There will also be those who will insist that this young lady had consensual sex with these guys and so cannot cry wolf after the deed had been done. All these might be true, but we should be mindful of our comments, lest we be seen to encourage and condone violent sexual acts and crimes against women and children.

Remember that this lady is someone's daughter, sister or niece and perhaps, some day, somebody's mother. What has happened to her may happen to anyone. The fact that this girl was only 17 years old at the time all these happened to her makes it a rape case and therefore a crime, whether consensual or not.

The Child Right Act classified anyone below the age of 18 as a child and minor, therefore, a 25 year old guy ought to have no business of a sexual nature with a 17 year old. But this is Nigeria, where old men prey on young girls for all sorts of immoral and criminal sexual activities by taking advantage of the awful economic and socio-cultural circumstances. We have those who swore on oath to protect the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians take turns to rape and abuse our little girls under the guise of archaic religious practices and beliefs. This is where the laws mean nothing and can be manipulated by anyone for any reason. My heart bleeds for this girl, no matter what it is she might have been guilty of to put her in that situation.

Again, this calls for questioning the kind of parenting this young lady received. I might be wrong, since I don't know this family up-close, but a parent that can afford to send their child to Loyola (living in Abuja, I presume this must be Jesuit) would hardly have an excuse to send their 17 year old daughter out into this wicked world, except to gather experience for building a Curriculum Vitae (C.V). And what experience are we talking about anyway, in a country where children of the rich, famous and powerful have everything laid out at their feet? Most people I know who can afford to send their children to such prestigious schools will not send their young daughters out to work at that impressionable age. Besides, what type of parents give a curfew of 12 midnight to a 17 year old girl simply for the sake of gathering experience? How do they monitor her movement and well being? Or talk to her to find out what is happening in her life and help her chart a course for her journey into life? Our problem in this part of the world is that we have children because that is what is expected of us at some point in our lives. This girl's parents have simply failed. My guess is that they probably knew about the relationship and encouraged her to make a success of it, believing this guy a good catch and hoping that it would be their daughter's gateway to Eldorado, and their opportunity to join the circle of the rich, creme-de-la-crème as they say!

As for these guys, I believe they are some of the monsters our society has quietly and subconsciously created over the years especially through our lawlessness and corrupt practices. While they may have several arguments in their favour since it is established that the girl was not forced and even kept going back on her own volition to be abused, the fact as I said still remains that she was a minor at the time and this makes them culpable in the eye of the law. Though the girl has not expressed any desire to seek redress, I am also not optimistic of any

favourable decision being taken in her favour should she or anyone decide to pursue her case on her behalf. A couple of weeks back, the social media went viral with the news and photographs that another of our former governors, who incidentally is allegedly named as the man that sired some of these guys, has joined the league of distinguished paedophiles of Nigeria, by taking his own 14 year old trophy bide. It would appear that indeed, the apple does not fall too far from the tree! Do have a wonderful weekend!

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JANU ARY 31 JANUARY 31,, 2015

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

The indecent methods some men use to ravish their dates!

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here can be nothing more embarrassing than one of your husband’s friends, and a good family friend, witness your man’s weakness for the bottle. Seki, a usually bubbly mother of two is a social friend I enjoy touching base with from time to time.

She’s always struck me as a discontent woman in spite of her happy disposition. In one of our usual chin-wags, she let it slip that her husband was a chronic alcoholic. “Better than a wife-batterer, I tried to console her. But she quickly reminded me that most violent men were at their worst when they’d too much to drink. She’d confessed that Arthur, her husband, had always loved a tipple in their courting days: “And I was his good companion,” she continued. “We were all young and carefree then. It is just that, as I and all our friends grew

wouldn’t listen’, he said.

‘How have you put up with him all these years? he asked. I shrugged. It was none of his business and I wasn’t ready to discuss my

Proximity is often a death knell to fidelity

,

older and settled down, Arthur didn’t want to.

“On the two occasions I was pregnant, he’d happily left me alone at home so he could do the round of the clubs. That was when I realised just what alcohol meant to him...” She finally had to face the fact that Arthur was a now a chronic alcoholic when he blew their house-rent on booze. “The landlord kept on pestering us to pay and I was livid,” she said. “I felt sorry for him in the end because he was genuinely contrite. He managed to raise the money but that left pretty little for the festive periods and the gettogether we had planned, so we invited a few friends over and asked them to bring whatever items they wanted to contribute to the party. Most of them brought booze and the way Arthur eyed the bottles, he looked like a kid in a candy bar! A few hours later, he was urging everybody to drink and be merry as he started on his first drink.

“The problem was that whilst others sipped theirs, he gulped his. By the time the last but one guest left, he was crashed out unconscious on the sofa. Amechi, the only guest left and a childhood friend of his looked embarrassed as he watched Arthur lying undignifying on the sofa, snoring. ‘I tried to warn him to slow down but he

,

matrimonial problems with any of Arthur ’s friends.

“But Amechi hung around to help me clear up. As I started stashing mugs and plates in the sink, he came and stood behind me. He was so close I couldn’t even turn round ‘if I were married to a lovely girl like you, I wouldn’t swap her for a bottle of beer, not to talk of falling asleep on you’. I couldn’t say a word as I felt his breath on my neck, then we were in each others’ arms, kissing. Guiltily, I realised where I was and what I was doing—I was kissing my husband’s childhood friend with him just a room away. But we’d both reached a point of no return.

Sensing the urgency of the moment, he lifted me up onto the kitchen table and hitched my knickers to a side. My legs were round his waist, crossing them at the ankles, as we made fast and furious love. It was a long time Arthur and I had had any intimacy and the frustration showed.

“I kept my eyes open because I was facing the door, terrified Arthur would come in any minute. Only he didn’t — we virtually got away with murder! When we got back to the living room, Arthur was still snoring, oblivious of what just happened! We should do that again soon’, Amechi

smirked. But that wasn’t the answer. As incredible as our romp had been — dangerous, erotic—he was no substitute to my husband’s love. We’ve had a few romps more since then but I’ve told him it had to stop. Somehow. I have to find a way of whining my husband off the bottle...”

Easier said than done, but I wished her luck. I’ve often said it that proximity is often a death knell to fidelity. The closer your partner’s friend is to the family, the easier for them to spot your vulnerability and zero in. A most hilarious incident happened some few months ago. Fola a close friend was dead keen on Veronica who is a regular visitor to my

flat. Both of them were married but it was an open secret that none of the marriages was faithful. Fola put much pressure on me that I eventually agreed for both of them to meet at my place.

They seemed to be getting on real fine as I made an excuse to dash down to get a few items before the shops closed. ‘No hanky panky’, I warned as I left them! My bedroom door was firmly bolted and the house-help was left at their beck and call. I was a bit surprised when I saw the help coming to the house, clutching some inconsequential items.

‘Auntie and her friend said I should get these for them’, he said. What was going on?

As I rushed in, I met the pair watching the box and chatting away like old friends. “That friend of yours is a rough-neck,” Veronica said, when I picked her call the next day. My ears perked up. “As soon as you left”, she continued, “he was all over me kissing me urgently and mauling me.

Before, I knew what hit me, he’d pinned me down on the sofa and had his way with me. When he sent your house help on a wild goose chase, I thought it was to allow us to at least kiss and cuddle and get to know each other better—not knowing I was left alone with a rapist!”

I didn’t know what to make of her tirade. Promising to get to the bottom of things, I called Fola, my friend. He

was in an up-beat mood, “ you were the one who planted the idea of a quickie in my head,” he accused. “I meant to be a gentleman but when you warned there should be no hankypanky, I realized there was the possibility. As soon as the coast was clear, I went in for the kill...” But don’t you think you were a bit uncouth...” “Oh, cut it out. We’re both married, surely, we weren’t expecting any courtship or anything? So, I moved in too fast. But I intend to give her a romantic dinner or an expensive present soon if those would make me look more of a gentleman. At least we had fun downing the nice bottle of wine I brought with me.”

“Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse?”, I asked him. “Don’t think so,” he said, smugly.

“Whatever her grouse, I’d scored with her.”

That really got my goat.

Was he still living in the dark ages? The days when sleeping with a woman as a sort of conquest is gone. These days, women are as predatory as their male counterparts. Ravishing a date at the slightest opportunity, so you could put notch on your bedpost is just not it!

Could fflir lir ting be in yyour our blood? lirting

F

lirting is an act that gives your morale a lot of boost if you know how to do it right. Some people are natural flirts while some would rather melt into a wall than flaunt whatever it is they’ve got. Fancy yourself a flirt? Millicent Browers, a sociologist gives these dos and donts tips on successful flirting.

“Do decide that flirting is a positive activity that will help you meet people. Don’t think negative feelings about it.

Do be yourself and emphasise all your good points. Don’t be a phony, projecting an image that’s not the real you—most people will recognise a

put-on like that immediately.

Respond to a person who’s interested in you by nodding or smiling.

Don’t panic when the other person responds to your flirting. Instead try to ask: “You see something you like?”

Keep the conversation light and lively by bringing up topics like a person’s job, hobbies or sports they find interesting. Don’t get into heavy controversial subjects like politics.

Project a light upbeat attitude and don’t act unhappy by dredging up past romances that failed or your personal problems. Encouraged the

other person to open up and talk about whatever they love and don’t just talk about yourself. Look graceful and relaxed.

Don’t appear stiff. If you are tensed, walk around until your tension disappears. Accept any compliments you get on your appearance and don’t apologise or make excuse for the way you look.

Finally, keep an open mind about the type of person you want to meet. Don’t have a mental image of what kind of person you’re looking for. You might overlook a fine person who simply doesn’t meet all your requirements.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—47

Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa

is s ri is c s ri e c ik h ik e h fe U A S L Whhyy r… over… m oov from faarr fro mighhtt be ffar

BY LAJU IREN

I

t is often said that the adage, ‘whatever goes up must come down,’ does not apply in Nigeria.

This is especially true when it comes to increase in the prices of goods and services. So when the Lagos State University, LASU, had its three-year long fee hike reversed from as high as N350, 000 to the previous amount of N25, 000, it caused jubilation for students and parents alike.

The fight to reverse the increase in fees was not an easy one. Some dropped out of school because they could not afford to pay. Many who considered studying in the University did not even bother to choose LASU. There were protests both within and outside the school campus. The media- newspapers, radio stations, television and even new media-was awash with comments and campaigns. The University was shut down on a few occasions. It took all these and more for the state government to finally relent.

But since last November, there has been massive outcry from some quarters in the LASU environment from individuals who say that they are now being victimized for their role in compelling the State Government to reverse the exorbitant fees.

The Chairman of the LASU Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Adekunle Idris is one of such people who were vocal during the three-year struggle.

Soon after Gov. Babatunde Fashola

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the LASU fees were reversed, his doctoral certificate was also reversed. Prof. Tunde Fatunde, who wrote and published an open letter to Gov. Babatunde Fashola concerning the then exorbitant fees was placed on interdiction and is now being paid half his salary. Although the university claims to have other reasons for its actions, these individuals, and the unions that represent them, say that they are being victimized by the school management.

Idris told SSL: “My PhD thesis was adjudged one of the best in my class, that is why this does not make any sense. The laws of the University are very clear on withdrawal of certificates.

Senate can only withdraw certificates if it is found after a proper investigation, that the holder of the certificate behaved dishonourably. In this case, they withdrew the certificates of fourteen of us before a panel was even set up. As far as I know, eleven of the fourteen have had their cases reversed, so it is remaining two others and I. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa should not bring disrepute to the image of the university simply because he wants to get back at one person.

The certificate, especially the PhD certificate is the bedrock of any university. If you withdraw it without due process, you will cause people not to have respect for the LASU certificate. The Lagos state government should please call Obafunwa to order. It seems that we have someone who does not have the time to run the University in the way that it should be run because he is too busy in his other position as Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos state. This same VC told us that we should go to court if we like, but that we would be in court for ten years. That is why we want to make sure we try our case in the court of public opinion.”

In an earlier report, the VC had said he was neither responsible for the award nor the withdrawal of the certificate, since it was normally the university senate that handles such matters. He said the university, in 2004, approved three Ph.D programmes in Business Administration, Management, and International Business. He said Dr Adekunle Idris’s

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

John Obafunwa should not bring disrepute to the image of the university simply because he wants to get back at one person

Ph.D was withdrawn because it bears ‘Ph.D Business Administration (Marketing)’, whereas ‘Marketing’ was never approved by the senate. However, at a press briefing last year, Idris insisted that he was admitted for Ph.D Business Administration, saying “Marketing is a specialised field under Business Administration.” He also said when the school decided to offer him a certificate that bears Ph.D Business Administration (Marketing), it was not in his place to protest, especially since such certificates had been awarded to some lecturers before him.

“They cut my salary to half, if that is not victimization, tell me what it is?” These were the words of Prof. Fatunde when he was asked if he could think of any other reason why he would be placed on interdiction.

According to him, the university’s defense for its punitive measures is a seven year old memo. He said: “Seven years ago, as Chairman of Information and Communication Technology, I was copied in a memo about a project by an architect. The project was one that never took off. It was a project proposal to build a five star ICT hotel in the university. I responded to the memo then. ICT is under the office of the Vice Chancellor, so the memo and the responses to it are still in the archives of the VC. At that time, the VC was Prof. Lateef Hussein. Soon after I published that article in the papers, and the fee hike issue was resolved, I got a memo from the current VC asking me to reply to that seven-year old memo. I simply replied telling him that I had responded at that time and the response was in the archives of the VC’s office. After that, the VC got the Registrar to say that I had been rude to him, and should be put on interdiction.

Interdiction implies a criminal charge. It implies that such a person has committed a criminal offence within or outside the university. I have done no such thing.”

Students now pay N25, 000 as fees at LASU. Soon, they might forget that there was ever an astronomical rise in fees. But for these persons, it might take a much longer time to forget.

48—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 31, 2015

A

s part of activities lined up for the 2015 edition of its biennial US trade mission, the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) will seek improved bilateral trade relations between Nigerian business interests and US based companies in the areas of agriculture, healthcare and construction, among others.

The NACC will for the first time organise Award/Gala Night in Atlanta, USA. National President of NACC, Chief Olabintan Famutimi, who made this disclosure at the 2015 Trade Mission,said aside providing members the opportunities of connecting with potential American partners, this year’s trade mission will target Nigerian residents in US. He said the exercise was aimed at persuading them to invest in their father land, having discovered that a lot of Nigerian businesses in US are successful but don’t know how to go about investing in their country.

Chief Famutimi also revealed NACC plans to establish chapters in the US that will exist as focal points for all of its activities just like we have a chapter of the Chamber in Nigeria. The NACC President stated this will enable us identify places where there are high concentration of Nigerian communities such as Washington, Maryland, Georgia, New York among other cities. These chapters he also said will boost the promotion of bilateral trade between Nigeria and US.” On the choice of Washington DC, Chicago

Glo dangles record deal N5m cash gift for subscribers s part of efforts to make this year’s Valentine Season A memorable, the National Telecommunications Company, Globacom has designed a new promo for its

2015 NACC Trade Mission targets key sectors of economy

L-R; Mr Olanipekun Ojo, Executive Secretary; Mr Emmanuel Efuntayo, National Treasurer; Dr. Mary Ade-Fosudo, Board Member; Chief Olabintan Famutimi, National President; Alh. Abayomi Adigun, Vice President and Chief KingsleyOzobia, Chairman Sponsorship and Award; all of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, at a Press Conference announcing activities for the 2015 edition of the Chamber’s US Trade Mission, held at the Chamber’s secretariat in Lagos.

and Atlanta as destination points for the trade mission, Vice President of NACC and Chairman of the organising committee, Alhaji Abayomi Adigun, said, the states were strategically selected in alignment with the sectors under focus for this year’s trade mission.

“Washington DC is the seat of

government of the United States and it houses all government ministries including offices of diplomats. Chicago also is known as the hub of the agricultural business so we are going there to attract more investment opportunities in that regard,” he said.

Speaking on the awards, he enthused that it aims at recognising the efforts of both Nigerian and American business interests operating in Nigeria.

subscribers a grand prize of N5 million and several consolation prizes, including a golden opportunity to sing with their favourite Glo Ambassadors in a recording contract.

Tagged “Say it Loud - Say it with Love, the promo is a mega Interactive Voice Response (IVR) contest that allows subscribers to sing a song, recite a poem or tell a joke, all dedicated to their family in 45 seconds.

For participation, subscribers are urged to dial a short code 54887 to record and upload their 45-second song, poem or a joke for N50 on the portal. The subscriber will then receive an SMS with his individual ID number (54888xxxxx). This number could be dialed to vote for the participant. N20 is charged per vote.

To vote for any participant in general one can dial 54888, listen to the song, poem or joke and vote for the content.

The promo which commenced on January 23 will last for 100 days. Apart from the star prize of N5 million, three winners will each take home N2.5m monthly, 14 winners will receive N1m each in prizes weekly and there will be 3,600 hourly prizes of N2,500 in airtime and 200 daily prizes of N25,000 in cash.

In addition to these, ten subscribers will sign a contract to have their songs as Caller Ring Back Tunes and composers of the top three songs will have the opportunity to record a remix of their entries with a Glo Ambassador, thus making them rich and famous.

In a statement signed by the company’s Head of Value Added Services (VAS), Mr. Nagasai Viswanath, lucky subscribers whose songs are selected as caller tunes on the Globacom network, will enjoy the rare opportunity to earn revenue from every chosen song downloaded by subscribers as ring back tune.

The statement explained that all subscribers’ entries of songs, poems and jokes will be uploaded on the portal for the public to listen to and vote. To vote, subscribers should simply dial 54888.

It added that two random voters would be picked as winners every hour, while one participant would be picked as random winner everyday and the highest weekly and monthly votes would be recorded and rewarded.

He listed the award categories to include: Commerce and Industry, Leadership, Life Achievement, Media and Culture, Entertainment (Music and Movies), Enterprise and Sports.

On preparation for the trade mission billed for US, Assistant Chairperson of the organising committee, Dr Mary Fosudo, disclosed that the Chamber has already commenced

screening of delegates for the mission, adding, “We intend to take 40 delegates that cut across the sectors under focus. Non-members are also welcome to join the delegation.

However, this years trade mission has the following sectors in focus; Agriculture, ICT/Telecoms, Healthcare, Financial Services, Construction, Logistics and Power (Renewable Energy).

PIG FARMING: A money spinning venture t is estimated that in the year 2050, there will be an increase in world’s population I with 2 billion. This means there will be increase in food demand all over the world especially in developing countries like Nigeria. In order to meet up with the high demand for food, there is an urgent to make

farming more attractable, efficient and sustainable. Hence investing in agriculture will help in reducing hunger in the land and as well safeguard food supplies in the future.

Animal Farm Consultant/Managing Director, Jovana Farms, Prince Onnebuna said Pig farming remains one of those livestocks would boost food supply and with a corresponding increase in daily income. There was a time in Nigeria Pig rearing was not popular because as a monogastric animal it was seen as a dirty animal and a secondary host for tapeworm which might be transmitted to humans,” he said. However, studies have shown that these problems occurred when the freerange system of rearing is

BUSINESS GUIDE

adopted in pig farming. Nowadays the intensive pig rearing is clean and attractive. Under the extensive system, pigs are allowed to wander about and fend for themselves in dirty marshy areas, eating any waste materials and rubbish they can find. With that they’re therefore exposed to and infested by endoparasites, which results in high mortality of the piglets. But, the modern intensive pig farming system on the other hand, prevents them from many diseases and infestation because they are denied the freedom to go out and eat rubbish.

“So, Pig farming is one of the most profitable livestock ventures one could undertake.

One of the major achievements in pig production in the past decade has been the considerable improvement in sow reproductive performance. Indeed, in several countries it is not uncommon to wean 30-35 piglets per sow per year. This has been achieved through genetic selection for hyper prolificacy as well as a better understanding of the biology of the pig, including its nutrient requirements and development o f appropriate feeding strategies.

T h e gestation period in pig is 115days; so they reproduce regularly to provide income for the farmer.

The business requires patience.

Anyone who wishes to go into pig farming must have passion for the business. Feeding pigs takes a period of 7-months before they mature for selling.

You need to start with the weaners and they go for about N7, 000 while pregnant pigs are sold for N40, 000. Those who don’t have good knowledge of the business can end up feeding their pigs for 11-months and get just 50kg. But if you really understand the nitty-gritty of piggery, at 7-months after weaning, you can get 90kg to 120kg. Pigs are sold according to their weight. If a pig weighs 100kg that means it will be sold for N30, 000 at the rate of N300 per kilograms.

As the pig industry turns to prosperity, farmers are making steady progress and maximizing profitability. Pig farming can be a very lucrative source of income when your pigs are taken care of in high quality conditions, using only quality materials for its nutrition. In any phase of pig’s life, proper nutrition will improve profit.

Despite the huge profitability of Pig farming, many Nigerians are still overlooking this goldmine because of ignorance of how it really works. While some don’t just get the fact that it is a money spinner- many who engage in it do it as part time business but if you can engage in this business fully, you will make millions of naira profit.

Attend Jovana Farms seminars nearest to you and discover the essential steps on how to raise Pigs easily.

Visit us at www.jovanafarms.com, Email:jovanafarms@gmail.com

SATURDAY

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Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015 — 49

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, JAUNARY 31, 2015

'I confessed to our pastor after every robbery operation'

BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULA 29-year David Chineye was among eight suspected members of a trans-border robbery gang arrested by the Lagos State Police Command last week. The Imo State-born suspect who claimed to be married to a Benin Republicbased Togolese, gave a startling confession on the gang’s operation in Benin and Mali, during an exclusive interview with Crime Guard.

Chineye who admitted to be the gang’s informant, revealed that his union with his wife, made it easy for him to study the terrain in Cotonou, Benin Republic, thereby facilitating the gang’s entry into the country.

Members of his gang reportedly stormed a micro finance bank in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, last November, from where they carted away the equivalent of N100 million.

Chineye who gave his operational name as Ishola, said he masterminded the robbery operation at the financial institute, adding that it took him two days to study the terrain before inviting other members of the gang over. He further told Crime Guard that the gang was planning to extend its operations to Togo when they were arrested.

I go for confession after each operation The father of one who was full of remorse said that his pastor and members of his church, whose name he gave as Christ Ascension Church, Benin Republic branch, would be shocked beyond imagination when news of his arrest reach them.

According to him: “ I am a dedicated church worker.

Nobody knew I was an armed robber. Every time I returned from any operation, my conscience would prick me.

Thereafter, I would go to church for confession but would never disclose the exact sin I committed.

My wife didn't know I was a

robber either. This is because I stay in Benin Republic where she is permanently based for two months, before returning to Nigeria, where she believed I was working. I usually visited Benin Republic when we wanted to rob and would leave after investing my loot. This is to allow me get hints on the outcome of the operation, in terms of Police investigation.”

Frustration led me into robbery At a point, he burst into tears, begging for his wife’s forgiveness when she hears about his involvement in crime. He stated that he never envisaged to go into robbery but that frustration forced him into it.

“It all started after my apprenticeship in a pharmaceutical store, back in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

My master refused to pay me off. Rather, he claimed that the money he ought to have settled me with was spent on the treatment of my ailing brother few months back. I left in anger and worked as a bus conductor until the engine of the bus got knocked.

I was idle for some months, during which I met my wife who was visiting Nigeria for the first time. I went to Benin Republic with her, where I met some friends who introduced me into robbery. I started by breaking into peoples' apartments, but it was not lucrative because at times, I won’t get anything from the houses".

I graduated into Trans- border robbery In his desperation to eke a living, he returned back to Nigeria last year, where he reportedly met members of another robbery gang. He confessed that he went on operation twice with the new gang but only got between N20,000 and N50,000 , an amount he said was not enough to meet his needs.

Continuing, he said : “During one of our meetings, I told my members that we should step up by going to operate in Benin Republic,

since their Police were not as effective as ours.

The first operation was in a filling station in Benin Republic. It took me two days to survey the place before I invited members of the gang. At the end of the operation, we lodged in a hotel there for two days, shared the loot before others left,while I stayed back. Three weeks later, as I was driving around Porto Novo, I saw a micro-finance bank. I studied the terrain that day and came back the next day to continue. I observed that policemen were not stationed there and that only unarmed private guards were there.

Quickly, I came to Nigeria to inform my members and left back for Benin Republic.

Three days later, we struck at the bank and made away with N100 million equivalent.

During operation, we don't use our real names. For instance, my operational name is Ishola. We have names like Mensah, Koffi, Messiah, master, etc. This is to give our victims the impression that we were from Benin Republic.

Premonition “ Joining a robbery gang is the worst mistake of my life. Had I known, I would have listened to my wife.

Three days before I was nabbed, she told me she dreamed that I was arrested alongside other people for robbery and that I was killed in the process. Since then, she has been fasting and praying against sudden death.

But I assured her all was well and that I was not into any dirty deal. If I had known I would have returned to Benin Republic , instead of remaining here in Nigeria.”

I lost everything Another suspected member of the gang, Ifeanacho Igwe (35), told Crime Guard that he was forced into robbery by one Nnamdi, whom he said invited him over after he requested financial assistance from him.

The invitation according to Igwe, turned out to be his worst nightmare.

According to him: “ As a

David Chineye

Nobody knew I was an armed robber.

Every time I returned from any operation, my conscience would prick me.

Thereafter, I would go to church for confession but would never disclose the exact sin I committed

commercial motorcyclist, Nnamdi invited me to take him to a location, promising to give me some money I earlier requested for.

That was in 2011 But on reaching the location at Alakija bus-stop, it turned out to be a robbery operation scene. I couldn’t turn back because it was late and I was afraid they could kill me. I had no option than to play along.

They succeeded in collecting N85 million from a victim and at the end I got N25 million. Since then, I cut off totally from them.

I lost everything I used that money on; I bought a new truck for N14 million and a commercial bus , including a sports utility vehicle for my personal use. I used the rest to renovate my mother’s house and support my siblings' education.

Since that robbery operation my entire life has gone from bad to worse. I gave the truck out to a driver to use for transportation purpose.

While on a business trip to the eastern part of the country, it rammed over someone before it somersaulted into a river, with goods worth several millions of naira. As if that was not enough, I am in the police net for a crime committed four years ago. My past sins have caught up with me,” he stated in an emotionladen voice.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JAUNARY 31, 2015—51

I turned to robbery after govt demolished my shop — robbery suspect

•Reveals how they formed their gang

•SUSPECTS... Jolly Abienekpen and Olalekan Olumide

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA “We formed our gang at an Indian Hemp joint under the Ijora Bridge.”

This was the statement that greeted these reporters , as they approached two suspected members of a robbery gang who were arrested by the Police in Lagos recently.

The suspects; Jolly Abienekpen, (30); and Olalekan Olumide (21) were reportedly arrested by policemen attached to Iponri Division on January 4, 2015, while dispossessing their victims who were returning from the National Theatre in Iganmu area of the state, of cash and other valuables.

Recovered from them were a locally made cut-to- size gun with four live cartridges.

In this interview with Crime Guard, Jolly Abienekpen, blamed his indulgence in crime to the demolition of his shop by the state government, an action he

said made it difficult for him to fend for his wife and sixmonth -old child.

According to him: “ My friend Olumide and I went to the National Theatre to rob people of their phones and cash. We only succeeded in robbing two persons when the Police swooped on us.

Olumide managed to escape while I was arrested. I later led the Police to Olumide’s place.

“Before my arrest, I have participated in house -tohouse robbery in Ketu and Mushin areas of Lagos and several other robbery operations.

How the gang was formed “I was introduced into robbery by a friend named Shitta. I met him under the bridge at Ijora where we usually go to smoke Indian hemp. During one of the meetings, Shitta introduced me to Oyo and Aluma . He sold the idea of robbery to us and we keyed into it. Right there, the four-man gang was

formed. “When they noticed I was lilly- livered, they told me to be holding the bag,where loots are kept during operation. I usually stood outside during operation, to alert other members of Police presence or any intruder while the rest would be inside.

We made use of two guns which were handled by Oyo and Aluma.

“But I was always cheated because they didn’t give me any reasonable amount at the end of any successful operation. I only got between N4, 000 to N7,000 after an operation, an amount they advised me to use to keep body and soul together until I became hardened”.

Continuing, the Edo state born suspect said: “ The gun that was recovered from me during operation was given to me by one young man called Bassey, who was just released from prison. I also met him at the India hemp joint” Demolition of shop “I never planned to be a robber.

I joined out of frustration. I was once a barber. Then, I made N1000 to N1500 every day, out of which I delivered between N500 and N700 to the shop owner and used the rest to feed my family. I stopped barbing last year after government demolished our shops in NPA quarter, Victoria Island. To make ends meet I started pushing cart in Iddo, that was what I used to cater for myself and my family.

But for peer pressure I would have continued with my cart pushing. I was enticed by the way Shitta spent spent money.

That was why when he sold the idea to me, I jumped at it, with the hope to raise about N30, 000 to establish another barbing saloon shop”.On his part, Olalekan Olumide who just finished serving a jail term in July last year, expressed regrets over his indulgence, likening himself to a dog that would

always go back to its vomit.

Looking remorseful, the Osun state born said: “ I was arrested because I went with Jolly on a robbery operation. I knew Jolly at Iddo, where I worked as a cart pusher. The most painful aspect is that this is the first robbery operation I have participated in since I left the prison six months ago. I decided to go with them because I needed money to take care of some pressing issues. I was not promised any amount. The assurance I got was that they would share the loot equally at the end of the operation.

When asked who stabbed the deceased, Samuel Michael, burst into tears, wishing the hand of the clock could be turned back to that day in order to amend his ways

Journey to jail “I was thrown into the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, for vandalising, stealing and selling government property. I stole some copper wire from Apagbon and sold it for N70, 000. I used the money to rent an apartment .

After serving my jail term, I promised never to indulge in any crime that will take me to prison .

But from the look of things, I may be heading for the prison again and I wonder how long I will be there”.

Explaining how they were arrested, the Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP told Crime Guard that a team of Policemen attached to Iponri Division who were on a routine patrol at National Theatre Iganmu Lagos, “arrested one Jolly Abienekpen of no fixed address while robbing innocent citizens of their belongings.

Other members of the gang took to their heels on sighting the policemen. He confessed to the crime and was transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS for further investigation and the police are still working towards apprehending some other members of the gang who are currently at large”.

52 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

I

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUARY 31, 2015—53

mo State is one state where anyone who passes by would definitely ask questions. I am interested in one major question and that is: who is at the helm of affairs here? As simple as the question seems, it is indeed overloaded. I want to say, one would want to know the person or persons who are responsible for the developments or non-developments in the state.

Should I say that I have asked the question, times without number; even though I think I know the answer. Before I continue, let me quickly remind any interested person of the statement made by the African American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. that if one is a street sweeper, one should sweep the street so well, so that everybody would know that there was a street sweeper (paraphrased). In of corn by mere sight; one does not have to other words, one needs to touch nor open the cob. make a mark in the sands of The spectacle of the Convention Center, time in his place. I am saying the openings within and the belt lines in essence, that it is not easy (roads), which double wraps Owerri, the for anyone to go through Imo decorative “round-abouts,” fences and State without asking who the gates etc, are interesting developments. In governor is. This is basically fact, there have been a lot of changes in because of the obvious the physical structure of Owerri. Now that transformations that the state I have made this observation; I also want has experienced so far. to say that I am partially aware of the other I am not going to spend aspects. If one walks out by the time schools time to enumerate the get off, for the day; one would see children elements contained within the file out of school. They look neat and metamorphoses of Imo State, somehow, happy; they have been provided especially, Owerri, the capital with books and other amenities and given territory, but let me indicate, decent wears by the government and their like the typical Owerri man parents have been employed with a would say, that one knows the minimum wage, at a shoulder, slightly ripe and “due to harvest” cob higher than their peers in other states; I

This political rrace ace and def initions: Imo ssttat definitions: atee in view

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mean the minimum wage in Imo is about two thousand Naira more than the average. These are impressive.

Since this is the case in Imo, the people’s verdict as the election draws near should be predictable. But only on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, the All Progressive Grand Alliance governorship candidate, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho launched his campaign and I discerned a major issue in his speech. I watched part of that but it was clear to me that he wanted the people of Imo State and the entire Nigerians to revisit the polity. I am not partisan but I agree with him. I therefore want to bent backwards and ask for definitions of all that we are told and all that are paraded before us.

Everyone knows that not all that glitter is gold, so for this reason, we ask to be told,

in clear terms, what and how things are.

Let me get to the much orchestrated free education, at all levels, in Imo state. How can anyone define it? My idea of free education is in general terms, a qualitative formal learning system that is all inclusive and sustainable (forgive me if I fail to meet your standard); it is just an operational definition. From this premise, is there actually free education in Imo State? I was in Owerri and I asked questions. I got mixed reactions to this particular issue. While some believe there is, because, to them, for the first time, they are getting to “enjoy” some form

of nonpayment of tuition and other fees for their children; for others, there is no free education. Reason is that an act of political benevolence does not translate into a government policy. For instance, if there is a policy of free education, where is the report of the process; let’s say, in terms of statistics?

How many Imo children are there in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools and in the tertiary institutions? Let me not even go too far, how many schools are there in Imo State? There is a secondary school in front of my family compound in my home in Imo (by the way, I was born an Imo indigene), and it has been a pathetic sight for some time now.

Right now, I am thinking of mobilizing my people and former students for an intervention. So, I suppose, are very many others. Do these schools fall within the global consideration of facilities for free education? If free education is for children to attend school without payment of tuition fees, and also without facilities to learn with, then we need a redefinition of that.

So far about that, let me go to healthcare. I asked questions on how health centres have been developed for the people at the local government areas and I am still waiting for a report that will indicate that adequate hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been provided. I have a lot of terms to beam on the wall for “proper definitions,” so forgive me if I appear somehow hasty.

By far the most interesting areas where there is a need for definitions will be in the development of human beings; infrastructure and other public facilities. First I see an establishment labeled “School of Professional Studies” and I wonder what that could be and who benefit from it. I also learnt of a controversy on the proper location or relocation of Imo State University and or the establishment of more Universities in the State. I do not have any concrete information on Secondary School development, both in terms of quality and quantity but from what I see of the school in my community, things are not in proper shape.

Then I hear jobs created by the previous government (though more or less a monumental act of deceit) were abrogated and new ones promised, are still in the pipeline. The government of the incumbent Okorocha claims to have constructed roads, public houses, school buildings, gates, parks and gardens and “roundabouts.”

It also insinuated that all these have contributed in the upgrade of the entire shape of the state.

Why I consider all these interesting is because we need to have a proper definition of the terms; for instance, what a “constructed road” is, and what an opening for movement is. Why I say this is because, even the colonial administrators built what they referred to as roads but we know those were mere channels opened for a little ease of movement. What a school should be; what an employment ought to be etc. moreover, since the breakdown of the original water project of Governor Sam Mbakwe, there has not been any other effort to centralize water distribution system.

Now, the new campaign promises are moving towards youth empowerment, industrialization and job creation. Please, it would help, if these issues are properly defined. This measure will help to eliminate doubts on the part of the electorate.

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

BY GEORGE UGBELAKA

T

he President of a country could be rated by the promises he made during his campaign and is judged by his performance while in office.

In 2014 at the wake of the Presidential campaign, Goodluck Jonathan promised uninterrupted power supply by the end of 2014. Today, not only did he fail to keep his promise it is clear that steady power supply is not in sight. Yet he has come out to tell Nigerians he wants to do a second term.

Before 2011 he had vowed and in fact told some notable Nigerians he was going to do only one term as he was reported to have said that it was just what he needed to turn Nigeria around. Not only has he reneged on that promise he has, also, with impunity, taken Nigerians for a ride by campaigning vigorously for a second term in “I don’t give a damn” manner. Jonathan promised that the Boko Haram insurgency would be crushed in six months. Today the insurgency has taken a toll of innocent Nigerians including women and children. The fate of the Chibok girls has become permanently uncertain.

Jonathan promised food, shelter and employment yet there is hunger, unemployment and a huge shelter deficit in Nigeria. Jonathan pledged early completion of the East West road and the dredging of the River Niger. All these projects are still far away in our dream. The economy under Jonathan’s watch has suffered severe battering with the naira being pounded into an unrecognizable size. The naira now exchanges for over N200 to the dollar while our foreign reserves have dipped to an all

Jonathan, not the President we need I don’t give a damn” manner.

Jonathan promised that the Boko Haram insurgency would be crushed in six months. Today the insurgency has taken a toll of innocent Nigerians including women and children

time low. Our Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) has been depleted to a dangerous level. The situation is so bad that most states are unable to pay workers salaries as at when due. The reduction in fuel pump price from N97 to N87 appears to be a mere tokenism compared to the international market price of crude oil. Even

President Goodluck Jonathan at that, where is President Jonathan going to make up for the N10 shortfall since the budget has been presented?

It is ludicrous that at a time when subsidy has become an obsolete economic index, Nigeria is still practicing an archaic subsidy regime believing that a reduction of N10 in the pump price of fuel could cushion the harsh economic realities on ground. Nigerians cannot be taken for fools because the subsidy regime has been known by all Nigerians as a drain pipe in the nation’s corruption industry.

What moral right has President Jonathan to come to Nigerians to ask for support for his 2015 Presidential bid? Does the President not have honour in his sleeves? Does he not care about what he should be remembered for after he has left office except maybe the Shoeless Otuoke boy who trekked several kilometers to school?

Who will salvage Nigeria?

Looking at the two major Presidential candidates of APC and PDP, Gen Mohammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari appears to be our hope.

He has been Head of State and has held sensitive positions like Minister of Petroleum, Chairman of Special Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and he is said to have impeccable records.

As Head of State he instilled discipline in our national life through the War against Indiscipline (WAI) programme and gave an early signal that he was going to have a zero tolerance for corruption. It is in recognition of what Buhari stands for that he is today being invited to be the voice of the down trodden. Some Nigerians have expressed doubt that Buhari does not possess sufficient democratic credentials. Others point to his alleged extreme religious views.

These views are canvassed by those who do not know him.

When he was Head of State

majority of his state military administrators were Christians just as majority of his personal aides were also Christians.

Twice now, Buhari is the only presidential candidate till date that has chosen practicing Christians and pastors as his running mate. What other proof does one need to show that Buhari is not a religious bigot.

Besides, what Nigeria needs now is not just a president but a leader. The massive followership being currently enjoyed by General Buhari across the length and breadth of the country portrays him as a man with a mass appeal, a charismatic leader who has sufficient moral credentials to pull us out of the doldrums.

With notable Nigerians decamping from the PDP to the APC because of Buhari’s sterling qualities it is clear that the days of PDP are numbered.

The crass opportunism and disdain of the common man displayed for 16 years by PDP is destined to come to an abrupt end.

The time for change in Nigeria has come and it is sweeping ferociously like tsunami and nobody can stop it.

Buhari is detribalized and loves Nigeria with a passion. As a man who fought for the unity of this country he knows the value of keeping Nigeria one. It is in this light that I ask all Nigerians who desire progress to take advantage of this wind of change and vote in Buhari to continue his war against indiscipline and corruption and restore Nigeria to its former pride of place in the international community.

Comr. George Ugbelaka is Chairman, Delta Renaissance Group 07035406623

Election violence: Fear grips Ndigbo, South South indigenes in North

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

s the general elections draw nearer, there is increasing fear, apprehension and tension of post election violence in some parts of the country, especially, in the three geo-political zones of the North. This has made Nigerians that are not of Northern extraction to start relocating from the North especially, North East and North West where there have been increasing wave of insurgency.

To avoid being caught unawares indigenes of South East, South-South extraction living in the 19 states of the north have started relocating to the Federal Capital territory, FCT, Abuja and the Eastern part of the country. .In the past few weeks, some of the motor parks in the northern states have witnessed increasing traffic of passengers leaving in droves to the East and some stopping at the FCT with their property.

The fleeing people are those living in the North East where there is the Boko Haram onslaught on innocent Nigerians and they have claimed that despite their efforts to help in developing their host communiC M Y K

At the centre in black cap is the speaker, King A.J Turner, on his left is the Convener, Sir Ferdinand Anikwe, D.G, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) flanked by traditional rulers and some of the Igbo traditional rulers from the 19 Northern States ties, they are always targets of any attack.

One of them who gave his name as Cyril Aboh living in Kano told Saturday Vanguard that many of them especially those from the South East geo-political zone decided to leave the state in order not to be caught unawares, alleging that in any election violence in the North, Igbos were always the target of attack.

Aboh said that although, Eze Ndigbo in the 19 Northern states have assured them to remain

where they are, some of them decided to take precautionary measure because of past experiences and also bearing in mind that the Federal Government had not been able to curtail the Boko Haram onslaught in the North East. He also said there has not been any concrete evidence on ground indicating government readiness to guarantee their safety.

But Saturday Vanguard was told that Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State had recently held meeting with some of the leaders of

non indigenes in the state and assured them that they would be safe and should not entertain any fears.

The Special Assistant to Governor Yuguda on Community Relations Chief Ben Ezirim who represented Ezeigbo Bauchi, Eze Jude Mesika in an a meeting in Abuja in an interview described the governor as an action governor.

Chief Ezirim said, “He (Governor Yuguda) has never disappointed non indigenes. In a recent development, the Igbo Community in Bauchi went to him to ask him whether we should go or stay, fortunately, with a heart full of joy and confidence he told them that they should stay.

“He assured that the Bauchi state Government will use all security measures within its reach to make sure that lives and property of the people are protected. The Governor of Bauchi believes 100% in Goodluck Jonathan; and all the members of his cabinet are all for Jonathan. So, we are not in doubt of Jonathan's victory in the election.

“Also, we have confidence in the Emir of Bauchi state, His Royal Highness, Eri 1 Adamu. He is another wonderful man; one of the best Emirs we have in the North.

He has always embraced all the non indigenes. He reaches us

always through relevant offices so as to hear from us how we feel and how we are coping with life”.

“He has an open door policy.

Any time the Ezeigbo goes to him or sends any of his envoys he gives them prompt and warm reception.

He is not a tribalist. He sees everybody as one. He has equally assured Igbo people that they should not go as a result of the forthcoming general elections.”

The Eze Ndigbo in the 19 Northern States after a three-day meeting in Abuja where they xrayed the political situation in the country admonished Igbo indigenes against mass relocation.

The traditional rulers known as ‘Ogbako Ndi Eze n’uzo ije’ told their subjects to remain calm and not to fear as the Federal Government was making every efforts to ensure safety of non indigenes in every state of the federation, from South South to the North. In the meeting convened by the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, Ferdinand Anikwe, Igbo monarchs in the Diaspora, maintained that Ndigbo should remain where they reside and cast their votes during the general elections.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—55

PDP yet to fulfill their promises to the South-East •APC on why Igbos may not vote for Jonathan PDP has been miss-directed. And that was why they did the presidential primaries the way they did it. But for the APC, everything was clear. Nobody can accuse Alex Ekwueme of being a member of APC. AS an elder, he is looking at Nigeria under Jonathan sliding into a failed state. What are the factors of a failed state? A failed state is one where there is no trust between the leader and the led, that is an irretrievable break down of trust. In this case, the people start suspecting the institution of the government such as the judiciary, lacking trust in the police force and then resorting to self help.

The Igbo people know that Fr. Mbaka and Dr. Alex Ekwueme are not incredible people. Other people in the country have, in different ways, said that this government has failed.

Osita Okechukwu

BY FRANCIS IGATA

A

head of next months general elections, the electorates are burning their fingers to grasp issues from the two main political parties, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, that will inform their choice of whom to cast their ballots for. In this interview, SouthEast Spokesperson of the APC, Osita Okechukwu bares his mind on a wide range of nagging issues.

Excerpts...

Would you not say that PDP has done well in South East especially with the construction of international wing of Akanu-Ibiam International Airport?

Our position is basically fundamental. We have nothing against the budget process or all that PDP had attempted to do for the past sixteen years. But what we discovered was that year in year out, they make budget for all these projects, but because of corruption, the funding of the projects, the release of the funds for the projects is crippled. The Enugu Airport for instance, has been on budget to make it an international Airport since 1999. What is the problem?

And right now it is not yet completed. The problem has been misappropriation. Not

that it is not in the federal budget or that they don’t know that it is a hub. But at any rate, we also say that even if you build it like the JFK in New York, it cannot attract major Airlines like the Lufthansa, the British Airline because you have left what made Enugu, Enugu.

Enugu is called coal city because it is coal that created the town. And since after the war, when we came back to democracy, we thought that the PDP government would find it worthwhile to revive the coal industry. We have also discovered that there are minerals in certain areas that can convert these areas to modern towns. If you do not do that, no matter what you build in that Enugu Airport, it cannot be an international Airport. One thing is to subsidize Ethiopia Airline to come, another thing is to continue. For how long? Now that the Nigerian Federal Government has not been fully resourced, for how long will you continue to subsidize? The same thing that happened to that Airport also happened to all the federal roads such as EnuguOnitsha expressway or EnuguPort-Harcourt. These roads are death traps, yet billions of money have been squandered. But for us in the APC, we want to close the taps, the leakages. That is the first step we want to take.

People are saying that we are not different from others. But I have a presidential candidate that if he wins, will focus on public interest. And as it

stands, everything is falling in place. For instance, Rev. Fr. Mbaka, out of his own inspiration, said something important. In fact, he started his homily by saying that people should not attack the messenger but the message.

Fr. Mbaka more than any of us in APC has summarized the situation better than we did.

He said that Mr. President lacked the political will to either fight corruption or fight insecurity. It is not all about going to Maiduguri; for me, his trip to Maiduguri was election motivated. All this while the mayhem has been ravaging, the Chibok girls, the killings in Baga, Mubi and all that, he was never there. In fact, Gov. Shettima of Borno state once said that the Nigerian Army was not well funded and that they were under equipped.

He stated that insurgents were better equipped. But they took him to the cleaners.

Has he not been vindicated?

PDP had a hug rally in Enugu. Does it not indicate total victory for them?

I refer to Fr. Mbaka’s speech.

As a professional journalist, you know what his speech means in public opinion.

Not only that, there was another interview from an elder statesman – the formal Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme where he stated that the vision of the founding fathers of the

A failed state is one where there is no trust between the leader and the led, that is an irretrievable break down of trust

Looking at the apex Igbo sociocultural group, the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, recently the group was torn apart because they could not select their leader. What is your take in this issue?

Ans: Am not sure they were torn apart. The thing is that we must commend the Ohaneze ndi Igbo.

They have resisted intense monetized pressure. So it is all about a crack. Earlier on Nov. 9 2014 in a meeting, they tabled a vote that President Jonathan should be endorsed. It was rejected on the floor. Rejecting on the floor does not mean there is a division.

This is all about democracy; it is a debate. At the end, the Ohaneze ndi Igbo did not endorse anybody.

Then Chekwas Okoye agitated.

He is presently the presidential candidate of DPP. And then between the major contenders, it won’t be rational to endorse anybody.

More so, President Jonathan has failed woefully. Look at the second Niger Bridge. It is not in the federal budget. They intend to recoup from toll gates. Our children will continue to pay till ages.

Going by the records, that second Niger bridge will be the only Federal government bridge that will have toll gates. How can President Jonathan that the Igbos gave their votes be so nonchalant about the Igbos? He took the Igbos for granted.

56 — SATURDAY

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Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 24, 2015—57

Day Owerri Bishop preached his ideology to Buhari

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Rochas Okorocha and Rotimi Amaechi of Imo and Rivers States, as well as formers governors of Lagos, Anambra and Abia States, Bola Tinubu, Dr. Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, were recently in Owerri on campaign.

These chieftains and other notable figures of the APC took some time off their schedule and paid a courtesy call on the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna. Vintage Obinna exploited the opportunity to tell his guests his Nigerian story.

Speaking earlier, Gen. Buhari appealed to everybody to go for their permanent voters cards, as well as vote according to the dictate of their conscience.

“We are going round to tell Nigerians to get their permanent voters cards ready, to go out and vote and to make sure that it counts. He said that there has been continued dilapidation of the country’s infrastructure, education, health care and the most serious among this is power.

“Millions of Dollars, not Naira, have been spent but nothing to show for it”, Buhari told Archbishop Obinna.

In his own short remark, the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, pleaded with the Archbishop to beg politicians to stop playing politics with religion, stressing that no nation that passed through this lane survived.

“Poverty has no religious or tribal mark. Some people, who fail in many areas try to hide under religion. The clergy should continue to discourage politicians from playing politics with religion”, Tinubu said.

For Senator Chris Ngige, Nigeria is on the verge of vanishing and the church has a role to play in promoting good leadership.

Lending his voice during the visit, the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed that APC is committed to good governance, adding that the party will ensure that everyone elected abides by this. He finally appealed that APC should be given a chance to execute their programmes.

ARCHBISHOP OBINNA RESPONDS “When I heard you (Buhari) were coming, I went back to my PhD thesis, which I defended in January 1984, and I want to read a part of what I wrote just a few days after the coup d’état of December 31, 1983.

“In 1960, the British colonial government relinquished the administration of Nigeria. On January 15, 1966, a military coup d’état ended the rule of the Nigerian leadership, which took over from the British. Corruption was the declared reason for the coup.

This coup then led to a three-year civil war, 1967-1970.

“A military coup d’état in 1975 ended the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon, a military head of state. In 1979, the military handed back power to a civilian regime. As I was putting finishing touches to this study, the news of another military coup came. In effect, President Shehu Shagari and the civilian leadership were overthrown on charges of the same ineptness and corruption, which he had earlier decried and in the face of which he had called for an ethical

revolution. A new military head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, now presides over Nigeria. Where we go from here is yet uncertain. ..

“On December 31st 1983, a moral crisis in Nigeria gave way to a military coup d’état. In his broadcast to the nation on the reasons for the coup, which toppled the civilian government presided over by Shagari, the new military leader of the nation, Muhammadu Buhari, said that the army seized power in order to put an end to the serious economic predicament and the crisis of confidence now afflicting our nation.

“Corruption had attended unprecedented heights under Shagari”, said Buhari, dismissing as rigged, the August election that gave Shagari a second four-year term.

“There is ample evidence that rigging and thuggery were relative to the resources available to each of the country’s now banned six political parties”.

Buhari added that his government would not operate kick backs, manipulated contracts or over-invoicing, nor would it condone forgery, fraud and embezzlement.

After reading a portion of his doctoral thesis, the Archbishop then asked his visitors: “Have we moved forward or backwards from this point?”

“I spent a lot of time thinking of Nigeria. My study was with a view to finding a modus vivendi for all Nigerians and I ended up with an ideology for Nigeria, which I called life enhancement.

Enhancing the life of every Nigerian on the basis of equal value of every Nigerian. On the other side, I talked about one concept, live and let live. I found one concept to hold live and let live together, which is Convivial, the Convivial of the variety instead of the fittest. So, this is African democratic ideology, Convivialism.

“I ask your Excellency, can we live together as one people, one nation, in Nigeria? Can we, wit the multiplicity of our religions, of our ethnic groups, of our class structure, with the multiplicity of our conflicts, stick together as one country? I keep asking myself.

Can we forge one nation, one national consciousness, through which every Nigerian, whether from Yoruba land, from Itsekiri, from Oyo or from Sokoto can live together?

“Right now, we are sitting on a keg of gun powder. We have known war. I was a prisoner of war at the end of the civil war. I was imprisoned in the military camp. So, I come from a background of having survived through the war and have been detained and escaped from prison. God allowed me to be alive till today!

“Well, before I knew you (Buhari), your name has been in my doctoral dissertation, published in 1984, and we are yet

trying to forge a nation,one people, one mind.

“Do we have one God or many gods? This is part of the problem. If we have one God, we should have one humanity, one national family, but we have many gods, then we have multiple humanity.

“This is a very important issue at the apex level. So, the real issue for now is not PDP or APC, but our belonging together as one family, one nation, so that I can move freely from here (Owerri) to any part of the country, as I did in 1985, when I came back from the United States of America. At that time, I was able to travel through Nigeria without any harassment. But today, it is difficult to drive through Nigeria. It is unfortunate because Nigeria is such a lovely and a wonderful place.

“Whether it is the PDP or APC ruling the nation, our concern is how do we become fellow sons and daughters of God and respect and treat one another as such, without the feeling that you are inferior or that I am superior. This is part of my mission to equalize and or equilibrate the perfection of us Nigerians.

“We see each other not just as brothers and sisters but as sons and daughters, giving each person his due recognition as son and daughter. So, let everybody humble himself.

Some people are suffering from a disease of pomposity, a form of psychosis.

“It is a pity that you are being brought back to 1984, when you should have moved on and rested comfortably after having served the nation. This is part of the predicament of Nigeria. If things had been better shaped, it would have been a different thing. Some of the countries that have had things better shaped are doing better. Even the small nations of Asia that were coming to us, including Malaysia that came to borrow palm fruits here, they are now super power in that area.

Countries like Korea and Japan have become the Asian Tigers.

“Your Excellency, you will do well to address the issue of

•Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna

r e l i g i o n . See how you can actually transcend the polarization that we see at various levels. Since this nation is multi- religious and multi-ethnic in nature and content it requires something that will hold everybody together. That has been my concern. If we start talking of Christianizing everybody, you create a problem. If anybody talks about Islamization, it will create problems.

That’s why there is a need for a certain transcendent that will guide whoever is at the apex of Nigeria.

“I think that during the time of Shagari, there was a certain accommodation at that time. There wasn’t too much emphasis on Christianity or Islam as part of any official policy. Efforts should be made to prevent sectarian apostles from manipulating either Islam or Christianity.

Let us emphasize those things that are for the welfare of the people: education, health, electricity, because everybody needs these things, whether Muslim or Christian. If there is earthquake here (Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri), all of us, whether Christian or Muslim, will fall in. If there is an accident, all of us will go in. So, there is a certain humanistic strain.

“We shouldn’t buy into Western secularization.

Definitely, Muslims, Christians and Africanists, we agree on certain humanistic values. That was why it was easy to fight the issue of homosexuality and lesbianism. We don’t tolerate those, whether as Africans, Muslims or Christians.

“The Vatican and the Islamic heads of state have been able to fight secular forces, materialistic forces that are trying to trivialize many things. But again, we have the danger of religious violence. It can come from Christians.

It can come from Muslims. We need eliminate it in our body politic.

“Here in Imo State, if not for the work of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission, JDPC, and our other education management, this man (pointing at Governor Okorocha) would not have become Governor in Imo State. We sustained our prayer for upright voting, accurate counting and martial announcement of election results and we are praying up till this moment.

“There was a revolution in 2011 here in Imo State, under APGA. We insisted that people should cast their votes and remain there until the votes were counted and announced. That was how the votes were secured. The votes were not secured by the politicians. So, we are not new to the political process.

“I am a Christian to the core but humanistic in my drives. As a lecturer for 17 years, the values I reeled out were life enhancement principles and they are neither Christian nor Muslim. This is from African Anthropology - Ndubuisi - life is supreme, Chinwendu - God is the owner of life. This was the basis on which I developed my thesis, not so much on Islam or Christianity, although I studied the various currents in Nigeria, with a view to finding a common ideological framework that will guide us, that will shape our attitude, evaluate us on the basis of which we can operate. So, what is being said here is the ideology of faith and harmony, which can be incarnated within the Nigerian political framework and we will be all the better for it.

58—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

BY SHEDDY OZOENE

T

he outset of the process for nominating the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Enugu state, had produced a motley crowd of aspirants. The prediction then was that, if not properly managed, the entire exercise was bound to be rancorous, considering the weight of the major gladiators.

The decision to go for a consensus candidate was therefore the best option to minimize friction and perhaps, factionalization. The state PDP Caucus, in seeking the ideal candidate, keyed into Governor Sullivan Chime’s preference for a candidate who would unite the party and sustain his administration’s development strides. They found in Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi a man who can do both, and even more. His popular choice ensured that the primaries ended up as a mere formality, the pocket of protestations notwithstanding.

Ugwuanyi’s candidacy has so far, lived up to the billing; he has succeeded in rallying all the political tendencies in the state behind his candidature. He also kick-started his quest for Enugu state governorship by pledging to follow in the footsteps of the incumbent governor. While delivering his address at the rally that drew an unprecedented crowd of party faithful in Ikem, Isi-Uzo LGA last week, he had declared that he would run his administration on a mantra of 3Cs: continuity, consistency and consolidation.

From Governor Sullivan Chime to the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, from Representative Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi to Senator Gil Nnaji, all the major gladiators including the winners and losers in the last primaries have all closed ranks.

All the LGA so far visited have found space to share the platform in a symbolic gesture of unity and attesting to Ugwuanyi’s good character. The most shining of them all was the character testimony in Awgu where Ekweremadu said “Ugwuanyi is a man of impeccable character, hardworking bridge-builder and one politician with a large heart who feels what the rich as well as the poor, feel”.

Beyond that, Governor Chime has also received praises for his political sagacity, his steadfast support for Ugwuanyi and the sacrifice he made for the unity of the party in Enugu state. It was Governor Chime who put the prevailing camaraderie in perspective at the campaign stop in Nkwo Nike: “the trend within the PDP chapters across the country, is that the selection of governorship candidates ends up tearing the party apart with many losers decamping or forming parallel structures... but in our C M Y K

Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Hon Cecelia Ezeilo acknowledges cheers from the crowd during a rally in Ezeagu

Ugwuanyi and the wind of reconciliation in Enugu own case, the reverse is the case: the election of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has acted as a catalyst to galvanize unity and support among the members of PDP in Enugu state”. Chime should know; he had earlier stepped down for Ekweremadu to run again for Enugu West Senatorial seat in a rare show of statesmanship.

It was Senator Gil Nnaji (Enugu East) and Ekweremadu who opened the floodgates in Nkwo Nike. While attributing their primary election successes to the governor, they praised him for bringing a new attitude to politics, which has greatly tempered the erstwhile anger and malice associated with politics and elections in the state. Ekweremadu who extolled the virtues of Gov. Chime, pledged that even if he steps down as governor, he will continue to be the leader of the state PDP. He also used the occasion of the campaign visit to his native Aninri, to unveil a Development Masterplan for Enugu West and which will involve all the

The election of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has acted as a catalyst to galvanize unity and support among the members of PDP in Enugu state

LGAs and communities in the zone. The proposal has since been endorsed by Ugwuanyi who promised to integrate it into the state’s 4-point Agenda.

At every stop, the crowd has been tumultuous while many who had earlier taken the back seat in the state’s politics are reemerging to be part of the Ugwuanyi success story.

The visit to Udi, the governor’s home town last Tuesday was particularly memorable as it witnessed the open solidarity of Senator Fidelis Okoro who once represented Enugu North, Chief Ramzey Onyia and Amb. Dubem Onyia, one-time Minister of State, Foreign Affairs. It was a gathering in which an impressed Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, outgoing member of the Federal House, declared that every shade of political persuasion within Enugu PDP has collapsed into the Ugwuanyi aspiration. It is a trend that will continue as the campaign trail moves from one area to another.

For the governorship candidate who has vowed not to deviate from the development trajectory

envisioned by Gov. Chime, his speech at Udi was indeed short. All he did was to thank a governor who has taken the state to an all-time high and who has succeeded in drafting him to step into his oversized shoes. In extolling his Four-Point Agenda, namely Physical Infrastructure, Economic Expansion and Employment, Rural Development and Service Delivery, he has consistently praised Chime for boldly confronting the challenges of development and political leadership in the state.

Both Chime and Ugwuanyi are unanimous in rallying Ndigbo behind President Goodluck Jonathan for another term for giving Ndigbo a sense of belonging in the affairs of this nation. Not only did the Jonathan administration make the age-long quest for an international airport in the South East possible, the Onitsha Seaport, which Ugwuanyi as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Transport was privileged to be part of its realization, is another landmark, just like the ongoing construction of the Second Niger Bridge and the revival of Port Harcourt – Enugu railway service.

In Ugwuanyi’s candidature, the PDP Enugu state has blazed many trails. Not only is the party for the first time nominating a candidate for the governorship from the Northern axis of the state, the choice of a woman as Ugwuanyi’s running mate, is another first. If elected next month, Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, the member representing Ezeagu constituency in the state House of Assembly, will become the state’s first female deputy governor.

Her candidature is a big boost for the Ugwuanyi ticket which has drawn plaudits across the state.

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60 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

SATURDAY

Ahead of February 28 governorship election nationwide, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's campaign train traversing the length and breath of the state has left business operators smiling to the banks.

Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015—61

Ezeagu shut down for Ugwuanyi's campaign Chime's road networks have dropped prices of food item —Prof. Anibeze

BY FRANCIS IGATA

T

he commencement of Ugwuanyi's campaign on January 19, at Ikem,council headquarters of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area was a testament to his blistering popularity following the tremendous turn-out of party members,solidarity groups,traditional rulers, students,market women, road unions,clerics amongst others who besieged the venue to identify and support his ambition as governor of the state.

Ugwuanyi who represents Udenu/Igbo-Eze South Federal constituency at the House of Representatives emerged the party's flag bearer during the December 8, primaries which he won by over 900 votes out of 1,008 ballots cast by the delegates.

His emergence had swept through the firmament, permeating all households, an indication of general acceptance.

The impressive crowd that attended the campaign rally at Ezeagu council area on January 29, provided avenues for craftsmen,

BY OCHUKO MEJIRE

T

he Delta central 2015 senatorial Election is divinely positioned to produce the best candidate for the coveted senatorial seat. The late charismatic Senator, Pius Akpor Ewherido had set a high benchmark for the evaluation of those to occupy that seat.

It is for this reason that Ewherido’s successor, Emmanuel Agwariavwodo could hardly make any impact in his brief but

uneventful stint in the senate.

The Senatorial contest in 2015 is principally between Chief Ighoyota Amori and Hon. Halim Agoda.

Unfortunately for Amori he has had a repeated history of defeat in his attempt to occupy the hallowed chambers of the senate.

In 2011 he was thoroughly crippled politically by Ewherido only to lose out to Agwariawodo in the senatorial primaries of 2013. One reason why Amori is often rejected by his people at the polls is that he does not possess an electoral worth.

During the administration of James Ibori we could recall that he played the role of a king maker and became so powerful that he was a

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi raising the hand of his running mate Cecelia Ezeilo in the Ezeagu rally Thursday. With them are Governor Sullivan Chime, Ike Ekweremadu and others. Photo; francis Igata tailors,bid-makers, printers, hoteliers, hospitality providers, transporters amongst others to engage in brisk businesses while stashing their gains in anticipation of his emergence as governor.

The Ezeagu campaign rally which had the trapping of a carnival given its colourful ambience became a rallying point for party faithful to throw their weight behind one of the most popular candidates of the party witnessed since 1999. And to further ignite excitement a woman in the person of Cecelia Ezeilo emerged Ugwuanyi's running mate. Ezeilo is the widow of late Malachy Okugo Ezeilo who was until last year the Igwe of Ezeagu people.

That, coupled with the popularity of Ugwuanyi accounted for the number of billboards,posters, goodwill messages, formation of innumerable support groups towards the actualization of Ugwuanyi's candidature.

Ugwuanyi assured Ezeagu people of his resolve to continue with the good work of Governor Sullivan Chime if elected the governor of the state.

He explained that he has adopted,"Continuity and Consolidation" as the theme of his manifesto to the people of the state because,"It will be wrong to deviate from the tempo of development already set by the Chime administration."

Ugwuanyi said that the fact that the state has witnessed uncommon transformation and massive development of infrastructure under Governor Chime has made his own campaign much easier.

"Our party has performed well in Enugu state and that is why it's easier for us to convince the people that we will do even more.

"It is easier for us to come back for more support. We are grateful to the governor because of the tremendous

goodwill he has brought to the state. The best we can do is to continue from where he stopped. I can assure you that we will have seamless continuity.

Reacting, an academic and indigene of the area, Prof. Chike Anibeze of the faculty of Basic Sciences, Enugu State Univeristy of Science and Technology,ESUT, eulogised the administration of Governor Sullivan Chime, noting that the road networks constructed by his administration has reduced the prices of food items in the area and its environs and enjoined all to support Ugwuanyi to continue the good work of Chime.

He said,"the mammoth crowd you saw at the rally shows that the party is accepted fully in the area.

The incoming governor should consolidate on the good works of Chime and ensure continuity as he has elaborated in his manifesto."

THE 20 15 DEL ATORIAL ELECTION 201 DELTTA CENTRAL SEN SENA

The tricky choice between Ighoyota Amori and Halim Agoda Deltans are looking for vibrant personalities that would give them quality representation in every Political sphere decider of fate and fortunes during elections.

Unfortunately he squandered all his goodwill because of love of lucre. When therefore he got tired of appointive

positions and opted to go for the more prestigious but equally cumbersome elective position Deltans, especially those whose toes he had stepped on felt this was payback time.

What do you expect of a man who has been commissioner in several ministries, political adviser to James Ibori and senior political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He has stayed too long in the executive arm of government as to lose touch with the electorate.

To dabble into the murky waters of the Senate is to go into an unfamiliar turf that can potentially confound if not confuse his sensibilities. On the other hand Halim Agoda has had legislative experience as a pioneer member of the Delta State House of Assembly and later a member of the Federal House of Representatives. Since that time Agoda has maintained a dignified distance and

refused to meddle with executive positions, neither has he been lobbying for state contracts. Agoda therefore is the man to beat in the Delta central senatorial election.

Ewherido performed well in the Senate because of his experience as a revered member of the Delta State house of Assembly for many years.

The senate is not for green hounds like Ighoyota Amori and he should summarily look elsewhere to ventilate his energy on a contest that would further expose and embarrass him a permanently fatal election loser. Besides, it has been proven that the character of Delta central electorate is such that they don’t vote parties, they vote personalities. It would be wishful thinking that Amori, being the PDP Delta central Senatorial Flagbearer, his victory at the polls is a fait accompli. That era is gone in Delta State Politics and nobody is willing to waste a

vote on someone who is already a spent political warhorse.

Deltans are looking for vibrant personalities that would give them quality representation in every Political sphere. Apart from Senators Fred Brume and Pius Ewherido, the Delta Central has not been quite lucky with quality representation at the senate.

The senate stint of others were so lackluster that no one felt their presence in the senate and may be responsible for the long marginalization of the Urhobo Nation by the Federal Government in terms of Political patronage and attraction of Federal projects.

Nobody wants a repeat of those dark moments for the Urhobo race. The Urhobos now need, not only a Senator but also a trusted leader who enjoys impeccable and unblemished political records.

This is, therefore, the time to choose wisely as no one is quite ready to tolerate a

Senator who goes to the senate to sleep rather than make laws and attract the dividends of democracy to his constituency.

Ochuko Mejire Asaba, Delta State.

62 — SATURDAY

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Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 31, 2015—63

Garba fears for Flying Eagles F

LYING Eagles coach, Manu Garba has admitted that his players are gradually burning out after playing three games in five days

Agbonavbare died a poor man

By John Egbokhan

D

•Agbonavbare

ESPITE the fame and fortune he supposedly made playing for the Super Eagles and Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish top-flight, it has emerged that the late Wilfred Agbonavbare died a porter at the Madrid Barajas airport.

The former New Nigeria Bank of Benin goalkeeper, died of cancer on Tuesday morning at a Spanish hospital. He was 48 years old.

He joined Rayo Vallecano in 1990 and retired at the end of the 1996 season.

His footballing career

actually started at New Nigeria Bank and after a stint at Brentford FC in England, before crossing over to Rayo Vallecano. In 1996, he signed for Écija Balompie, where he stayed for a year.

Agbonavbare was an international for Nigeria, beginning with the Flying Eagles squad to the FIFA U-20 World Championship in Mexico and the Super Eagles team that won the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia 1994. In that same year, he also featured at the USA World Cup as Peter Rufai’s substitute.

Their performance still ranks as Nigeria’s best

at the World Cup, losing 2-1 to a Roberto Baggiopropelled Italian side in the seconds.

But despite all these heroics, the late Agbonavbare’s last official job in Spain, where he lived after retiring from playing football was at the Madrid Barajas airport, where he worked as a porter, to carry luggage and other loads. Despite being a hard job, the deceased had to take up this job as he had expended all his money on footing the bills of his wife, who was then suffering from breast cancer, but regrettably, she succumbed to the dreaded disease.

Keshi takes charge in Warri O

UT of contract Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi has opted to be in charge of the clash between Delta/ Edo Ex-internationals and the rest of Nigeria tomorrow at the Warri City Stadium.

The match was put together by friends of Okowa to showcase the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa while veteran Goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala will take over as Coach of the rest of Nigerians.

In a release made available by the Chairman, Publicity Committee, Moses Etu, Keshi has made his intention known to handle Delta/ Edo players made up Harry Blackson, Mobosa Brodericks, Duke Udi, Samson Ozogula, Sam Okpodu, Edema Fuludu, Prince Afejukwu,Sam Sodje, Humphery Jebba and Davidson Owumi.

Others in the Delta/ Edo side include Austin Popo, Tosan Blackson,Kenneth Nwomucha, Lucky Sunday, Joshua Kator, Sam Otis, Joseph Cole and Sebastine Okoh.

Those who will feature for Coach Emmanuel Okala and who have confirmed their participation are Peter Rufai, Mutiu Adepoju, Jay Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West, Emmanuel Amunike, Uche Okechukwu, Nduka Ugbade, FridayEkpo and Emeka Ezeugo. “ Stephen Keshi has sent words that he would like to handle the Delta/ Edo side of Ex-Internationals and with that, the onus to Coach the rest of the Country fell on Emmanuel Okala.”

at the ongoing Super 6 tournament in Abuja.

“I think fatigue is gradually setting in because we only have one day in between to rest but it takes at least 48 hours for the body to recover after a game.

“It showed in our game against Warri Wolves because we were not as fast as we normally are, but we have to keep going,” Manu said.

•Garba

Congolese go to war

O

F the four Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals set to take place this weekend, the one likely to capture to imagination of the continent’s football fraternity the most is the fixture between the Democratic Repubic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville in Bata today.

The fixture between these two countries is often loosely referred to as an African derby and the intensity of the existing rivalry has been most apparent in recent years.

Both football nations are alike in dignity, having both conquered Africa before and now have a one-in-eight chance of doing it again.

When all is said and done in Bata on Saturday night, one of these teams will have their tournament dreams dashed. With just hours remaining before kickoff, it would appear that

•Leroy.... Congo coach the odds are stacked heavily in Congo’s favour.

Primarily because the DRC team is without the services of veteran Youssuf Mulumbu, who has sustained a hamstring injury this month, and Yannick Bolasie, who is currently grappling with a calf injury and is only expected to return to football in mid-February.

AFCON: No mercy for E/ Guinea —Tunisian coach

C

•Keshi

Chelsea confront City •Continues from BP provides City ’s first chance to respond to last weekend’s FA Cup elimination at the hands of Championship side Middlesbrough, with Chelsea also rebuilding confidence after a stunning 4-2 defeat by Bradford City.

Manuel Pellegrini has his own star striker, Sergio Aguero, fit and firing after a knee injury, although Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge is another talking-point.

Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer joined City in in the summer and scored City ’s equaliser in September ’s 1-1 draw between the sides at the Etihad Stadium.

Lampard was regardless handed a warm reception by

Chelsea’s fans that day, with another generous welcome expected on his return to west London – which could come from the start in City’s midfield.

Any hopes Pellegrini may have held of having Yaya Toure back in his midfield were dashed on Wednesday

by Ivory Coast’s progression in the Africa Cup of Nations, but the City manager is philosophical about the midfielder’s absence.

“It is up to other players to demonstrate what they can do,” he said on Friday. “Yaya is a very important player for us but I was not decided if he was eliminated from the African Cup to come and play here two days after because I do not think it is the correct

way to do it.

“We played without Yaya in Rome and qualified and against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. So he is a very important player. The same for Diego Costa but I don’t think they decide that both teams depend on just those players.”

However, Samir Nasri could return to the bench following a calf injury while City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala also faces a fitness test after picking up a shoulder problem. Winger Scot Sinclair, meanwhile, is no longer at the club after completing a loan move to Aston Villa on Friday.

Mourinho, meanwhile, also has concerns in his defence with Filipe Luis (calf) and match-winner Branislav Ivanovic (foot) sustaining injuries in midweek.

OACH Georges Leekens says Tunisia’s quality will overcome Equatorial Guinea’s home advantage in today ’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.

The match was switched to the 35,000capacity Bata Stadium from the 5,000-capacity

Ebebeyin Stadium, and it will be packed with passionate locals.

“With the public behind them, they are in heaven,” Leekens said.

“Nothing can hold them - except that Tunisia also want to qualify, and we can do that with our football.”

“Djokovic will defeat Murray”

FRIENDS TO FOES... Djokovic and Murray

A

NDY Murray against Novak Djokovic in Sunday ’s Australian Open final will be “another classic”, believes Barry Cowan.

“Both are strong and I think the winner will be

whoever is more courageous and whoever doesn’t have that dip.

“Tactics in every match play a part and I feel Djokovic has an edge”, added the Sky Sports expert.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 31, 2015 Today’s Fixtures EPL Hull v Newcastle 1:45pm Crystal Pal v Everton 4pm Liverpool v West Ham 4pm Man Utd v Leicester 4pm Stoke v QPR 4pm Sunderlan v Burnley 4pm W Brom v Tottenham 4pm Chelsea v Man City 6:30pm AFCON Q-final Congo v D.R Congo 5pm Tunisia v E. Guinea 8:30pm LA LIGA R. Madrid v R. Sociedad 4pm Eibar v A. Madrid 6pm Granada v Elche 8pm Celta Vigo v Cordoba 10pm SERIE A Atalanta v Cagliari 3pm Genoa v Fiorentina 6pm Roma v Empoli 8:45pm BUNDESLIGA Hamburg v Cologne 3:30pm Mainz v SC Paderborn 3:30pm SC Freiburg v Frankfurt 3:30pm Schalke v Hannover 3:30pm Stuttgart v M’gladbach 3:30pm Leverkusen v Dortmund 6:30pm

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helsea striker Diego Costa has been ruled out of today’s top-ofthe-table contest with Manchester City after receiving a three-match ban by The Football Association, while creator-in-chief Cesc Fabregas is in doubt.

Costa was charged with violent conduct for an apparent stamp on Emre Can during Chelsea’s Capital One Cup semi-final win over Liverpool on Tuesday, a charge wihich the Spain forward denied, and on Friday The FA announced that the case against him was found proven.

The 26-year-old will also miss the forthcoming BPL matches against Aston Villa and Everton.

Blues midfielder Fabregas is also a doubt for the Man City fixture after limping out of the Liverpool match with a hamstring injury.

Chelsea sit five points above City at the Barclays Premier League summit, with the champions having drawn at Everton and lost to Arsenal after pulling level with Jose Mourinho’s side with a strong run of festive results.

The late kick-off at Stamford Bridge

Continues on page 63

P.63

FRENCH LIGUE I Marseille v Evian 4:30pm Lorient v Montpellier 8pm Metz v Nice 8pm Nantes v Lille 8pm Lens v Bastia 8pm Toulouse v Reims 8pm

Keshi takes charge in Warri P.63

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

AFCON:

No mercy for E/Guinea —Tunisia

P.63

Congolese go to war P.63

Across 1 Corps Marshall, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRC), Mr. Boboye – (7) 5 Secretary-General, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Ekpe – (5) 8 Trap – (3) 9 Feline Mammal – (7) 10 Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (5) 11 Number – (3) 12 Former Super Eagles Striker, Ekhigo – (7) 16 Portuguese Premiership Club – (4) 17 Linear Measurement Unit – (5) 19 L.G.A in Lagos State – (3,3) 22 Greece Capital City – (6 25 Shell-Fish – (4) 27 L.G.A in Niger State – (5) 28 Former Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Larry – (7) 32 Circuit – (3) 33 Delta State Capital – (5) 34 Veteran Nigerian Actor, Peter – (7) 35 Fish – (3) 36 Niger Republic’s First President, Mr. Hamani – (5) 37 L.G.A in Oyo State – (7)

Down 1 Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lelma – (5) 2 Former Delta State Governor, Mr. James – (5) 3 Former United States President, Mr. Quincy – (5) 4 L.G.A in rivers State – (6) 5 Former Cross-River State Governor, Mr. Donald – (7) 6 Warri Wolves Striker, Isiaka – (7) 7 Spain “La Liga” Club-Side – (7) 13 Headgear –n (3) 14 State in Nigeria Known as “The Pace Setter State”? – (3) 15 CBN Director of Currency Operations, Mr. Shamsudeen – (4) 18 Ethnic Group in Kenya – (4) 19 Country in Europe – (7) 20 L.G.A in Ogun State – (7) 21 Brazil National Coach, Luiz Felipe – (7) 23 Female Fowl – (3) 24 Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo – (3) 26 Heartland FC Goalkeeper, Daniel – (6) 31 Ibo Girl’s Name – (5)

on page 22 SolutionSolution on page 19

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