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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Premier League: West Ham 3 Chelsea 1


West Ham United came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 at home on Saturday, piling the pressure on interim manager Rafael Bentiez.'You're getting sacked in the morning' came the taunts from all sides of Upton Park towards Benitez after his side let slip the one-goal lead given to them by Juan Mata in a first-half they completely controlled.

West Ham hit back after the break as Sam Allardyce introduced Mohamed Diame, who scored the decisive second goal for the hosts four minutes from time, in between strikes from Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga.

The result leaves Chelsea without a win in their last seven league fixtures while West Ham move to within four points off their beaten London rivals.

It seemed an unlikely result after a first half dominated by the visitors, but they were unable to find a second goal and tired after the break, perhaps an early sign of the fatigue in the squad that has worried Benitez as he prepares for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Benitez made two changes from the side that drew with Fulham in midweek, recalling Mata and Gary Cahill, with Brazilian playmaker Oscar dropping to the bench.

West Ham were dealt a pre-match blow with the news Andy Carroll will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a knee injury, so Allardyce selected Cole for the lone striker role.

Benitez would probably have been grateful to get away from the soulless, bitter atmosphere in which he has found himself at Stamford Bridge, not that it stopped the away fans from hailing former manager Roberto Di Matteo in the 16th minute, as has become customary.

By that point, the European champions were dominant and already ahead thanks to Mata's 13th-minute strike.

Fernando Torres may be woefully off form in front of goal - he has now gone more than 12 hours without scoring - but the 50 million-pound striker played a decisive role in the opener.

After making a sharp run down the right side of the penalty area, Torres had the vision and alertness to cut the ball back for Mata to sidefoot effortlessly into the far corner from 12 yards out.

Torres should have doubled the score after being set up by Ramires following a swift counterattack, but the Spaniard's finish was horribly off target, indicating his lack of confidence.

Eden Hazard fired just over the crossbar, then Mata forced a superb save from West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after being set up by Victor Moses.

Yet the second goal would not come, and the fragility of a one-goal lead was highlighted just before the break when Kevin Nolan forced a full-stretch save from Petr Cech with a powerful header from seven yards.

The Hammers started the second half with far more energy as Allardyce made a double substitution at the break, bringing on Matt Taylor and Diame for James Tomkins and Gary O'Neil.

West Ham played with far more energy after the re-start and in the 63rd minute, the hosts found the equaliser with a goal typical of so many Allardyce teams.

Matt Jarvis whipped in a cross that hit Gary Cahill's head and looped high into the air. It became a straight contest between Cole and Ivanovic and the West Ham striker wanted it more, heading into the bottom corner from five yards.

Chelsea's almost responded immediately, Jaaskelainen making a double save to deny Hazard and then Torres, but was motionless as he watched Mata's stunning free-kick from 30 yards curl over the wall and rattle against the post.

At the other end, Jarvis raced on to Mark Noble's pass and forced Cech into a fingertip save, before Ashley Cole diverted Winston Reid's header off the line from the resulting corner.

Four minutes from time, the Hammers did find the net. Carlton Cole received a throw-in and teed up Diame, who lashed home low and hard past Cech to send the home fans into raptures.

There was still time for a third. Ashley Cole conceded possession with a terrible pass and Maiga was on hand to finish after Taylor's initial shot was saved by Cech.









Source: http://www.soccerway.com/news/2012/December/01/premier-league-west-ham-3-chelsea-1/

Ojukwu’s Will tears family apart

Widow of late Biaf-ran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odu-megwu Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and her children were said to have been more favoured than their other relations in the sharing of their father’s property as Ojukwu’s Will was read at the Enugu High Court yesterday.

The Will which was expected to have brought peace to the family now wrangling over who should control the assets left behind by the late Ikemba Nnewi since his demise on November 26, last year, has however been rejected by some of the beneficiaries through Emeka Ojukwu jnr.

In rejecting the Will which was read at the High Court by the Chief Registrar, Enugu Judiciary and Probate, Mr Dennis Ekoh, Ojukwu jnr called it a ruse.

They accused Bianca and her lawyer of allegedly causing trouble with the issue.
*Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu


"What I have to say about the Will is my position on it. It is Bianca and the lawyer that are doing what they are doing. We are waiting for the Will to be read; then I can make a statement on it. For the Will to be read, all of us, my brothers and all the beneficiaries would have to be present. And if the Will does not reflect the wish of my father, which we all know, we shall go to court,’’ he said.

Earlier, Bianca and her two sons had dragged Ojukwu’s brothers before the Lagos High Court over the control of Ojukwu Transport Limited’s, OTL’s, property situated at No. 29 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi,Lagos, where Ojukwu once resided. The Will which was read by Mr. Ekoh also threw up some surprises when an ‘unknown’ name Tenny Harman was mentioned as number one among the late Ojukwu’s children.

There were to be more shockers as the name of Sylvester Ojukwu popularly called “Dede” was conspicuously omitted from the list endorsed by Ojukwu himself as his children just as Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr) only got a property in Umudim Nnewi, Ojukwu’s hometown as his entitlement.

After appointing Bianca, the late Igwe of Oraukwu, Emeka Ojukwu and James Chukwuneme as trustees and executors of the will the names of the children were next; and the late Ikemba stated that only the eight listed and no other person should be regarded as his children.

The eight children listed are Tenny Harman, Emeka Ojukwu, Mmegha, Okigbo, Ebele, Chineme, Afam, and Nwachukwu.

Bianca who arrived the Enugu High Court premises in a black Prado Jeep at about 8:30 could not hide her surprise when the strange name of Tenny was mentioned among Ojukwu’s children as she started whispering with family members in the registrar’s office with her.

Apart from Bianca, other family members who were in court to listen to the Chief Registrar included Mr. Mike Ezemba and Mr Val Nwosu; Ojukwu’s first cousin. They however declined comments on the matter as they left in different vehicles that brought them to the court premises.

Bianca, who is currently Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain would be all smiles later as the will awarded her Ojukwu’s Enugu mansion ‘Casabianca’ located at No: 7 Forest Crescent GRA, which the late Ikemba Nnewi had named after her. She is to also replace Ojukwu on the board of the Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, or appoint a representative in the management board.

Bianca heaved a sigh of relief as the Will clearly gave her a stake in the controversial OTL. The company was founded by Ojukwu’s father, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu who died in 1966, but left several assets behind for his children especially inLagosunder the OTL.

Ojukwu transferred his interest in the company to his widow and children in the Will which reads inter alia, “Bianca and her children should take over my place at my transport…she may also wish to appoint somebody to represent her at the board…”

Bianca also got two properties located at plot 20 Jabi Abuja, with Certificate of Occupancy number 4405, as well as another property located at Kuje,Abuja.

The late Eze-Igbo also willed all his personal effects, monies and cars for Bianca and her children’s upkeep.

He also allotted to Bianca two hectares of land at Umuezeani Umudim Nnewi, ‘’If she does not remarry.’’

Ojukwu’s strange daughter Tenny, who was said to be unknown to members of the family before now, was allotted Jubilee Hotels,Zaria; but when the will was read it was observed that the hotel had been sold thus she would receive the proceeds from the sale.

For the former Commissioner inAnambraState, Emeka Ojukwu, who was generally regarded as Ojukwu’s first son, it was not a fair deal as he got only a house in Umudim Nnewi. Ojukwu further willed a hectare of land each to all his daughters but directed that his Nnewi property is “to remain a binding legacy to us for generations to come.“







Source: Vanguard News

The faces of Nigerian gays

One after the other, Nigerians who indulged in homosexuality with impunity narrate how they eventually opted for this illicit romantic escapade CHARLES ADINGUPU writes that as the government tries to clip their wings, they hid under veil of fundamental human right.

James Onuoha (real names withheld) a banker, is a product of both Western influences and the traditional cultures of Nigeria. Academically, he’s a Western, having acquired his first and second degrees in financial management in an American university at his prime. But emotionally, he is swayed by age old superstition and the traditions of his people.

When the time comes for him to get married, James bowed to family pressures, and chooses a girl from among his own Ibos, leaving his mistress of many years behind in Lagos. But the lucky bride, Obiagali, whom he finally chooses, is tied to the apron string of the primitive curse of the village gods. Undeterred by this chilling discovery, James, together with his wife to be, agreed to go through a curious and sinister ritual to secure her release so that they can marry. Ironically, at the climax of the purification exercise to extricate Obiagali from the grip of the village gods, she died in a mysterious circumstance.

Gay Pastor, Rowland Olajide Macaulay,


Disappointed at the tragic death of his heart-throb, James was thrown into pensive mood. Two days after, he left the village unannounced to resume his work in Lagos. All appeal by his parents and kinsmen to take another girl in the village as replacement for a wife fell on deaf ear, rather, James opted to remain a bachelor. He ignores emissaries sent by his parents to rescind his decision to remain single despite the enormous wealth at his disposal.

Events happen so quickly in James’ new life. Just one day, he chances upon an old friend. After exchange of pleasantries, which revealed their new status, the friend invited James to a club party – gay club which he obliged.

That party changed James’ life as he gave in to overtures made at him by men lovers. Right from then on, James has a man lover, perhaps as an escape route to bury his ugly past.

Bad news, they say, spreads faster than disease. James has defined a life style for himself. He’s a gay – married to a fellow man. A kinsman who visited the village from Laos broke the news to James’ father.

“Have you heard?” he questions James’ father rhetorically.

“What is it, my son?”

“Your son, James is now married to a man in Lagos. He leaves with him in his house. Though, he tells people and neighbours that the young man is a friend. But he was kind enough to disclose the truth to me,” he said.

“Abomination!” the old man exclaimed in disbelief.

“So the story is true. For sometime now, my son, James has become a song for drunkards and a subject of whispering gossips at both the village square and beer parlour. See what city life has done to my son,” he lamented.

But James is just one of most Nigerians who indulged in this abysmal practice of homosexuality with impunity.

The story of Chinwe, a Nigerian lesbian based in Britain who flew into Nigeria to advocate the legalisation of homosexuality is still fresh in our minds. At the public hearing in Benin, Edo State, the self confessed Lesbian (Chinwe) wept profusely before the gathering why homosexuality should be enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution as a way of life and an infringement of their (homosexuals) fundamental human rights if their agitation is treated with levity.

Nigerians marvelled at the impudence and shamelessness of her face saving remarks. They variably winced under the biting sarcasm her comments elicited. But the last sentence, they found very exasperating as villianeous tongues of women in the vicinity lashed out with a sting that was too painful for her to bear.

Chinwe who was sandwiched by armed police officers, was taunted and teased but stood her ground.

Also, a male popular Nigerian musician was reportedly caught in the act with a renowned male entertainer. Though, the musician refuted the story, threatened to sue the newspaper for defamation of character, however, buried his head in shame when photographs, showing his clandestine affair were published days after the story was reported. That singular publication, however, sealed the lips of the musician and hairy entertainer lover.

John Amaechi, a basketball player in the NBA made a revelation of the plight of gay athletes in major league sports. In his book, titled, Man in the middle, Amaechi exposes the institutionalised homophobia inherent in the hyper-masculine world by American professional athletes.
Though, his exposure was greeted with avalanche of criticisms, but Ameachi was undeterred as he went ahead to openly discussed LGBT issues as well as encouraging other gay athletes to pursue their dreams irrespective of their shameful life-style.

These days, Nigerians who indulged in the illicit practice no longer operate under cover. They make bold to demonstrate their gayness by trying to initiate unsuspecting Nigerians into their fold.

Reverend Rowland Olajide Macaulay is a Nigerian Apostle of gay. His nefarious activities and a gay church was exclusively reported by Saturday Vanguard barely a month ago.

His church called House of Rainbow, was located at No. 36/36 Yakoyo Street, Ojodu Berger, Lagos and has become an abode for established gays and initiates.

According to the gay man of God, “my church is a voice of the younger generation of citizens, activists and diaspora, and our collective belief in a more progressive Nigeria. They are afraid of our growing influence as we gather allies not just from the West, a people that are not afraid but powerful and resilient.”

“Religion,” he observed, is a backbone to life in Nigeria, so, we all want to go to church. But we don’t want to lie to God about who we are.”

Macaulay who established his House of Rainbow in 2006 where he openly held Sunday services in an hotel hall in Lagos, decorated in rainbow colours however abandoned the church after a public backslash which culminated in manhandling of his members. He fled to the UK after he received death threats from unknown persons.

But Saturday Vanguard’s investigation shows that the man is back on the trenches. This year, he has recruited a small team which includes among others his local leaders in Lagos.

But for Mrs Josephine Adebayo being a lesbian was a choice she made following the neglect of her husband’s nonchalant attitude towards her.

Narrating her ordeal to Saturday Vanguard at her Victoria Island residence, Mrs Adebayo said lesbianism has offered her the romance the husband denies her.

“You may not belief it except you try it, lesbianism is more intriguing than most people thought. Though, I was hesitant to accept it when one of my good friends initially talked me into it. But today, I’ve every course to be grateful to her. Besides, my lover woman is so good at it,” she confesses.

A 21 year-old man, Adisa was almost lynched recently at Amukoko, a suburb in Lagos for sodomising teenagers for rituals. According to residents in the area, Adisa who was reverend as a man of God was caught in the act with one of the teenage boys in the area but he escaped through his back door. Also, a Nigerian gay was reported in one of the social medias as being married to a German lawyer and later divorced him.

Okechukwu, another Nigerian gay is currently operating a gay entertainment company in Abia State. Okechukwu however, disclosed that the main preoccupation of his company is to provide gay dancers and entertainment services for private parties and business functions.

But Anthonia Okorodudu (not real names) said she was introduced into lesbianism in a girls’ `, secondary school in Ughelli, Delta State.

According to her, the senior students usually had them as bunk-mates only to start fumbling with them when night falls. “At a time, the exercise was disgusting. First, I can’t imagine a fellow woman kissing and dipping her finger into my virgina as well as fumbling with my breast,” she said.

Today, Anthonia who later graduated in lesbianism has become mistress in the game.

“I’ve introduced many other notable women who suffer marital problems into the game. I must confess that they are enjoying it. Though, it’s a personal life style, hence the identities of such persons cannot be easily disclosed,” she said.

But Ethel who also attended an only girls secondary school in Enugu attested to this fact.

According to Ethel, “sometimes, your lover can ditch and abandons you in the cold. Under such circumstance, we insert candle into our virgina to get the desired erotic satisfaction. “You know, the edge of a candle stick looks more like a male’s organ. But there is a way of going about this,” Ethel reveals.

Similarly, Andrew Adewusi who attended an only Boys Secondary School in the North, said boys indulged in all manners of acts to derive erotic maximum satisfaction.

Till date, most of those boys who were caught in the act of gay in school refused to dump the illicit act. They are already neck deep in it,” he said.


Common features of homosexuals

Though they are not easy to be identified but they possess peculiar traits which set them apart from ordinary persons.

Just like gigoloes, men who indulge in the act are generally fashionable and possess the carriage of a woman.

They are usually meticulous of their looks. Some of them wear ear-rings, fanciful plaited wrist watch and some finger rings.

Also, some of them use make-up as eye pencil and even apply lip-sticks.

They use feminine voice (emotional) whenever they are making overtures.

What thrills them in the fellow men, is guys with robust back side.

For Lesbians

Some of them prefer to look like a Tom-Boy. They dress like men but at the same time, stay away from men. Often times, they go in pairs and belong to one social club or the other.

They are usually society women who are into big time business. Musicians and politicians fall prey to such advances.








Source - Vanguard News

PDP barks, as Nyako challenges party’s supremacy

THE embattled governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako yesterday stormed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and boasted that there was no going back on the action he took.

The governor who was summoned by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee, NWC to explain what the party termed his unethical behaviour told the leadership of the party that the local government election conducted in his state on Saturday 24th of November stands.

Nyako who told the NWC members that the result of the election was not determined by the party, said, “Of course the election stands. The result of the election is not determined by the party. It is determined by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).”

The governor was drilled by members of the NWC with the Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja presiding for more than two hours.

His coming to the National Secretariat yesterday followed his invitation by the leadership of the party to explain why disciplinary action should not be carried out against him for subverting the party directive for conducting local government primary in the state.

Answering questions from Journalists after the meeting on the harmonized list which was presently generating controversy between the governor and the party, Nyako said, “What ever we had to do was done in the best interest of the party.

”I can assure you that it will not become problem when we want to do it, because whatever we had to do have to be in the best interest of the party and our state.”

When asked further why he was at the party’s national secretariat, the governor asked, “is it any thing wrong in attending a family meeting. The big family of PDP will like to put their heads together.”







Source: Vanguard News

Brazil handed tricky Confed Cup draw

Hosts Brazil have been drawn alongside Italy, Japan and Mexico in the tougher of the two groups for next year's Confederations Cup.With Italy having impressed on their way to second at the European Championships, Brazil will have a genuine threat to finishing top in Group A, while Japan and Mexico have the ability to shock the hosts and qualify for the semi-finals at the Confederations Cup.

In Saturday's draw, Spain were placed alongside Copa America champions Uruguay and shock Oceania Cup winners Tahiti in Group B, with those countries to be joined by the winner of next year's African Cup of Nations.

But Brazil, who have yet to convince in the lead-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, will need a strong performance at the Confederations Cup to get their demanding fans onside.

New Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari knows his side will face a tough task in their group.

Japan, who won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, made the round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, although a 4-0 loss to Brazil in October shows they still have some work to do before they face the South American heavyweights in the opening match on June 15, 2013.

Reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup champions Mexico should have plenty of confidence against Brazil having defeated them 2-1 in the final of this year's men's Olympic football tournament.

While that competition is predominantly for Under-23 players, Brazil's senior squad is generally built around their Olympic side, potentially giving Mexico the upper hand ahead of the Confederations Cup.






Source:  http://www.soccerway.com/news/2012/December/01/brazil-handed-tricky-confed-cup-draw/

Call to sack workers: CBN gov incurs Nigerians’ wrathCall to sack workers: CBN gov incurs Nigerians’ wrath

The governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is under fire to resign his position for calling for the sack of 50 percent of civil servants within the federal government employ.

Saturday Vanguard’s JOHN BULUS in this special report takes a look at the debilitating situation

Again, he is stuck into another web of controversy. Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will never stop talking. Even though he is expected by some quarters as an Accountant or Economist to conform to the traditional style of maintaining quietude while he goes about his job, he has rather, seemingly seen reasons not to restrict himself within the immediate corridors of his professional practice.
On the contrary, his guts and convictions have continued to compel him to always harp on issues that bother on politics and the economy after all, he superintends over a vital social institution that plays a major role in the monetary and financial regulations. But he would not go about it subtly.

He would rather pull strings from all spheres, almost always drawing the ire of one segment of the society or another. Presently, he has stirred up another round of controversy that is beginning to cast aspersion on his exalted office. Consequently, this has necessitated a chronology of his actions and inactions since he assumed office as the CBN governor. Here they are:

The controversy before:

Recall his N100 million donation to the victims of Boko Haram bomb tragedy in Kano early this year. The donation drew a consternation of rash condemnations. Many questioned the powers of a CBN governor to unilaterally handout such a whooping sum and wondered when CBN became either a money making venture or personal investment. Also, on another plank, many also alleged ethnic biases on the gesture by the CBN governor, saying that such largesse was prompted by his sectarian inclinations.

The argument was that there was a plethora of others victims from across other sites of similar tragedy who hadn’t got help from the CBN governor.

That was the stand of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization.

The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Mr. Ralph Ndigwe, demanded explanation from Sanusi on why CBN had not extended similar gestures to hundreds of Igbo who were victims of violent attacks by Boko Haram in the north and so, threatened that Ohanaeze would champion his removal as CBN governor if he fails to explain the rationale behind the donation to Kano victims only.

According to him, as someone who occupies the seat of a Governor of the Nation’s apex bank, Sanusi’s interest should go beyond being parochial.

He said: “We want Sanusi to tell us what CBN has done for hundreds of Igbo who were victims of Boko Haram violent attacks in various parts of the north. If Sanusi fails to give us explanation for CBN’s selective donation of N100 million to victims of Kano attack, we will not hesitate to push for his removal from office as CBN governor”.

Hardly had the dust generated by the controversial donation settled down than another rumpus broke out. Yet again, Sanusi in September this year startled Nigerians when he mouthed it to the mountain tops that the Central Bank had concluded plans to introduce a novel 5000 bank note and convert the existing lower denominations of N5, 10, and N20 notes to coins.

The reactions that trailed the development were legions. It was such that apart form the a few individuals who inclined to the Presidency on the matter, the rest of Nigerian populace indeed poised for a showdown with both Sanusi and the Federal Government had CBN chosen to go defiant to the people’s yearnings.

Current Controversy:

The CBN governor appears unperturbed by any apparent criticisms. In fact, he is becoming more audacious and loquacious. In a world of stark unemployment and ubiquitous poverty, Alhaji Sanusi, like a gad fly, early this week, precisely on Tuesday November 27, 2012 provoked another controversial thought. He called for the sack of 50 percent of Federal workers in the civil service system. He had attended the Second Annual Capital Market Committee Retreat in Warri, Delta State where he made a presentation. Defiling every reasonable argument, Sanusi went crackers, saying that the nation’s infrastructural woes would be subdued only when 50 percent of the civil service workforce
is fired.

Along side the unsolicited suggestion, the apex bank governor also lamented the over-bloated National Assembly, submitting that the Nation has no business paying the salaries and allowances of 109 Senators and 360 members of House of Representatives who populate the Upper and Lower Chambers of the National Assembly. In his opinion, the members live in opulence and affluence to the detriment of infrastructural development the country yearns for.

Similarly, the CBN governor had in a lecture last year claimed that 25 per cent of the overheads of the Federal Government budget went to the National Assembly.
He said: “Twenty five per cent of the overhead of the Federal Government budget goes to National Assembly. I have figures from the office of budget for the year 2010. Total government overhead is N536, 268,49, 280. Total overhead of the National Assembly is N136, 259,768, 112 which is exactly 25.1 per cent of Federal Government overhead.

The overhead of the National Assembly as a percentage of the Federal Government budget in 2009 was 19. 87 and in 2008 was 14.19”.

Hear his Warri lecture: “At the moment 70 per cent of Federal Government’s revenue goes for payment of salaries and entitlement of civil servants, leaving 30 per cent for development of 167 million

Nigerians. That means that for every naira government earns, 70 kobo is consumed by civil servants. You have to fire half of the civil service because the revenue of the government is supposed to be for 167 million Nigerians. Any society where government spends 70 per cent of its revenue on its civil service has a problem. It is unsustainable.

The various tiers of government should cut down their
recurrent expenditure and use the fund to provide basic infrastructure like schools, hospital, etc.

“How can we be using the proceeds from our major source of revenue to service recurrent expenditure, by paying salaries, allowances, etc.

The country should be thinking of enhancing its productivity base
rather than spending on things that cannot create wealth.”

Sanusi also would bat an eyelid as he went down to the grass-root, querying why the there should be 774 local government areas which also draw milk from the body of the federal government to maintain their Chairmen and Councilors

He said: “Do we need 774 LGAs? Do we need 36 states some of which are not viable? Why not just remove them and have only state governments?,” he asked rhetorically

A galaxy of reactions:

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State who was present at the occasion was the first to react to Sanusi.
Gov Uduaghan


Much as he agreed that there is need to crash the expenditure rate, he did not however subscribe to Sanusi’s hypothesis of sacking workers without alternatives. Uduaghan: “If we must do that, then we should provide alternatives where the sacked workers can become economically viable.

The reason why we are asking the Federal Government to provide basic
infrastructure and enabling environment for private investors to invest is because they can employ workers who will be disengaged from public sector. Therefore, I don’t agree with the CBN governor that we should sack our workers to reduce the recurrent expenditure in our budget without providing alternatives.”

Nigeria Labour

Congress and Trade Union Congress react:

“It is obvious Sanusi was never qualified for the office of the CBN governor in the first instance, and he must be asked to leave the office as he has shown more than enough incompetence and contempt for the Nigerian people.“Sanusi’s only understanding of governance is simply about saving money and not saving lives as his proposals are repeatedly devoid of human content and without consideration for the implications on larger society.

“The burden that will come with mass sack as high as 50 per cent of civil servants, in addition to the already saturated unemployment market can better be imagined. Governance is about improving the quality of the lives of the people and not destruction of productive lives.

“Today, there are countless probe reports with names of those who swindled our country of several trillions of both naira and foreign currencies still living in Nigeria either walking freely around the
corridors of power or directly holding public or political offices rather than being in jail.

“The truth, which Sanusi is running away from, is that corruption has become a real burden on the economy and it should be the only priority item on the table of any serious government. Even if you sack all the workers in Nigeria, any amount saved from that will be stolen and the culprit will walk in freedom.

“To show how unknowledgeable he is as a public office holder, Sanusi also called for the scrapping of local governments in Nigeria, a country that runs a federal system, no matter how inefficient the system is.

“Local government is an important tier of government in a federal system and what we need is to strengthen the system to enable it to deliver good governance to the people as it is the closest to the grass roots and rather than removing the tier as proposed by Mallam Sanusi, the local governments require more funding to enable them to function properly as required under a federal system,” a statement credited to the NLC President, Comrade Abduwaheed Omar in Abuja on Wednesday said.







Source - Vanguard News

Okolo wins Miss University Nigeria beauty pageant

Abuja – Miss Winfrey Okolo, a student of the University of Benin, has won the 2012 Miss University Nigeria (MUN) beauty pageant.

Okolo emerged the winner by beating 48 other contestants in Abuja on Friday night.

The beauty queen received a star prize of a Nissan Sony car and one million naira.

In an interview after her installation, Okolo said that the event marked her first participation at a beauty contest, thanking God for enabling her to excel at the competition.

She, however, pledged to make good use of her position to affect the lives of Nigerian youths.

“I will try to stimulate a change in the Nigerian university system; I will endeavour to promote modesty, hard work and a lot of things that will bring out the students’ confidence,’’ Okolo said.

NAN reports that the competition was a “no-bikini pageant’’ that was particularly aimed at promoting the African culture and discouraging indecent dressing among the youth.

Mr Taylor Nazzal, the President of MUN Organisation, said that he was happy to touch the lives of many young Nigerians.

“We can always inspire women out there to be better leaders of tomorrow. They are all potential wives and if you groom them well, you’ve succeeded in grooming the men and the whole world,’’ he said.

Nazzal said that the new beauty queen would be Nigeria’s student ambassador to the United Nations (UN), adding that she would also be engaged to carry out charity assignments.

He also noted that Okolo would represent Nigeria at the Miss University Africa pageant involving 53 countries in South Africa and the Miss United Nations pageant in New York next year.

In her remark, the FCT Minister of State, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, said that the pageant was also promoting the government’s vision for the youth.

The minister, who was represented by Dr Geoffrey Chukwuemeka, a Director in FCT Administration (FCTA), noted that the beauty contest also created an avenue for the contestants to exhibit their talents because it was not about beauty alone.

Akinjide said that the pageant also reinforced the FCTA’s goal of promoting national unity and peace.

“It also supports our plans aimed at discovering the potential of our female youth, protection of our female youth and discouragement of indecent dressing, prostitution and other social vices among young ladies,’’ she said.

The `non-bikini’ beauty pageant began in 2007 and its 2011 edition was won by Miss Temitope Olowoniyan of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. (NAN)