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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Prostate cancer: Know the facts

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide and ranked second as the cause of death in cancer-related diseases. About 20,000 men die of prostate cancer every year in Nigeria. On daily basis, at least 14 men die in the country.

Men with prostate cancer do not always experience symptoms

Most of the time, men don’t have symptoms. Some men, however, do experience changes in urinary or sexual function, including frequent nighttime urination, painful or burning urination, difficulty getting or maintain an erection or a dull pain in the lower pelvic area.

There’s no one-size-fits-all screening recommendation

Men of average risk are often advised to consider screening earlier at age 40 to establish a baseline. Every man needs to learn what makes the most sense for their personal health risks and lifestyle.

Screening is to detect prostate cancer at its earliest stages, before any symptoms have developed. That’s when the cancer can be treated most effectively. Screening may include a Prostate-Specific Antigen, PSA, blood test, with or without a Digital Rectal Examination, DRE.

File photo
File photo
Dietary supplements do not prevent prostate cancer There’s no good scientific data to support the use of supplements. Men are far better off leading a healthy lifestyle, managing weight, exercising and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Elevated PSA levels do not always mean cancer

Only about 30 percent of the time does an elevated PSA indicate cancer. Other conditions that can raise PSA include an enlarged prostate due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (which can affect ability to pass urine), prostatitis (an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland), or even injury or recent ejaculation (which can raise PSA)

African American men are at higher risk than others.

Though scientists aren’t sure why, African American men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at a later stage and are more than twice as likely as Caucasian men to die.

A vasectomy does not increase risk for prostate cancer

There’s no evidence of a link with vasectomy and prostate cancer.

Most prostate cancers are diagnosed in older men

Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than age 40. In fact, more than 65 percent of prostate cancer is diagnosed in men older than 65.

That’s why it’s important for men to pay attention to any changes in their sexual or urinary health.

Early treatment prevents death

If caught early, prostate cancer has 95 percent survival rate.

Purpose of screening is to detect prostate cancer at its earliest stages, before any symptoms have developed.

That’s when the cancer can be treated most effectively. There are two easy tests that can be done at the doctor’s office: the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test and the digital rectal examination, DRE.







Source - Vanguard news

Abacha’s son still on trial in Switzerland — Hodel


Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Hans-Rudolf Hodel
In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Hans-Rudolf Hodel, speaks about improvements in the Swiss financial system, the infamous Abacha loot and efforts of his home government in the international fight against global terrorism financing.

The Swiss banking system is famous for its secrecy. Some have argued that this has given rise to various forms of abuse, what is the situation today?

Our banking secrecy protects the privacy of bank clients, but it is not unlimited. If there are suspicions of criminal activities such as terrorism, organised crime, money laundering or tax fraud, it is lifted and authorities are given access to banking information. Banking secrecy is not a Swiss peculiarity; it exists in many other countries. No anonymous accounts exist in Switzerland (today). The bank is obliged to know the identity of the accounts holder and of the actual financial beneficiary.

What about the issue of money laundering?

Highly-developed financial centres run the risk of being misused to launder money and to finance terrorism. Money laundering has been recognised as an offence in the Swiss Criminal Code since 1990 and our Money Laundering Act of 1998 introduced due diligence obligations, particularly the obligation to report suspicious transactions. These apply to all financial intermediaries, not just banks, but also insurance companies, independent asset managers and so on. On February 1, 2009, various improvements in Switzerland’s anti-money-laundering arsenal entered into force, enabling Switzerland to stay abreast of the more sophisticated international standards. Switzerland’s legislation in this field is as rigorous as any in the world.

Money laundering and terrorism are linked in a lot of ways, what specifically is your home government doing in concert with the rest of the world to deal with this issue?

We are an active member of the Financial Action Force against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. At the international level, Switzerland has been at the front line of the fight against financial criminality. It is a founding member of FATF and has since been very active in contributing to strengthening its standards and their implementation. Important progress has been achieved by the revision of the FATF standards earlier this year. It will now be important that jurisdictions implement them effectively. As for Switzerland, we are currently in the process of analysing and implementing the changes to the Swiss regime of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing that might become necessary. The Federal Council appointed an interdepartmental working group to draw up recommendations on implementing the revised recommendations of the FATF by the first quarter of 2013.

Can you shed some light on your country’s efforts at ensuring that countries get back funds illegally taken from them, especially by leaders and organised criminals?

Switzerland has a fundamental interest in ensuring that assets of criminal origin are not invested in the Swiss financial centre. Swiss laws and procedures to combat money laundering, corruption and financing of terrorism are effective means of keeping out illicit funds of politically exposed persons.

What in specific terms have been your achievements in this area?

Together with the states concerned, Switzerland seeks ways of returning assets of illicit origin to their rightful owners. In the last 15 years, Switzerland has returned around CHF 1.7b (about the same amount in USD) to their countries of origin, which is more than any other financial centre.

Can you be more specific about some of these cases?

Individual cases attract considerable publicity on account of the high profile of the people and amounts of money involved. Examples include the Montesinos case, Peru, 2002; the Marcos case, the Philippines, 2003; the Angolese assets case, Angola, 2005 and of course the Abacha case, Nigeria in 2005.

The Abacha case is of particular interest to Nigerians, can you please elaborate?

I am glad to quickly elaborate on it. In December 1999, Nigeria presented to Switzerland a formal request for mutual legal assistance involving the former Head of State, Sani Abacha. Switzerland and Nigeria agreed to ask the World Bank to participate in the review of the use of the funds- in the framework of the budget-control process of various welfare projects. Additionally, Switzerland funded a project of an NGO network which monitored the use of the recovered funds in the various development projects.

How much of these funds were returned to Nigeria?

Through this mechanism, the entire $700m blocked in Swiss bank accounts have been returned to Nigeria. In the same context, proceedings for support of a criminal organisation are still pending in Geneva against Abba Abacha, the son of the former Nigerian Head of State. As this is an ongoing case, we can give no further information.

Apart from assistance in the arena of curbing financial crimes, in what other area is your country and Nigeria collaborating?

Swiss-Nigerian relationships have developed very dynamically over the last few years. We concluded a migration partnership in 2011 and have jointly started to initiate innovative projects such as a project enabling Nigerian expatriates in Switzerland to teach young people in Nigeria in the field of automotive engineering. We also have a “Swiss Scholarship” for young Nigerian technicians to get specialised training at NestlĂ© Nigeria. Thanks to a pilot project on police cooperation, inaugurated in 2011, several members of the Nigerian police visited Switzerland to enhance operational co-operation with selected cantonal authorities in the fight against drug trafficking. Additional activities such as the capacity-building of the Nigeria immigration authorities, the support for Nigeria in the implementation of a protection policy for internally displaced persons, or for cooperation in the multilateral dialogue and development are also taking place. In 2011, both governments agreed to hold regular human rights consultations and to engage in joint project work regarding human rights and policing. More thematic priorities were discussed and further projects are in the pipeline.

With regards to trade and economy, we are working together to make the Nigerian market known to increasingly interested Swiss businesses. Nigeria is Switzerland’s second most important export market in sub-Sahara Africa. Nigeria is importing mainly machinery, chemicals, pharmaceutical products and textiles from Switzerland. Switzerland is mainly importing crude oil from Nigeria. At the end of 2010, Swiss business invested 255.5m CHF into the Nigerian market, up from 201.7m CHF in 2009. Swiss companies in Nigeria employ about 4000 people.










Source - Punch news

2012 in retrospect: Any respite from bombings in 2013?

THE year 2012 may have come and gone. But it left in its wake the death of several persons;both young and old, no thanks to series of terrorists attacks in some northern parts of the country. Sadly,several women turned widow and children orphaned, with several families still displaced , as their houses were blown into shreds by bombs.

Although the history of bomb blasts in the country could be traced to 1986, when the founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, Mr Dele Giwa, was killed by a mail bomb in his home in Ikeja, Lagos, followed by pockets of explosions in some parts of the country.

But none, was targeted at the majority of Nigerians,with a terrorist group laying claim to the act until March 15, 2010, in Warri, Delta state, during an Amnesty Dialogue sponsored by Vanguard Media Limited, with a group of Niger Delta militants claiming responsibility. The group also claimed responsibility for the October 1, 2010 bomb explosion that rocked the Eagle sqare,during Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations in Abuja.

However, a worrisome dimension was introduced to the incidence of bomb explosions in the country, following series of blasts by the Boko Haram sect which has led to the loss of over 1,000 lives since 2011 to date.

The first bomb explosion that signalled catastrophe ahead for the country, occurred on January 1, 2011, at an Abuja Army Barracks Mammy market,another on April 8, 2011 in Maiduguri, Borno State, on May 29, 2011,also at an Army barracks in Bauchi.

What can be regarded as the highpoint of the blast occurred on June 16, 2011, when the terrorists threw caution to the dogs and targeted the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, with the then Inspector-General of Police Hafeez Ringim escaping narrowly. Barely one month later, 50 persons were reported killed in a bomb attack in Maiduguri .

Not satisfied with the devastating national impact of its attacks, the sect went ahead to blow up the United Nations Building in Abuja on August 26, 2011, which claimed twenty-three lives.

To round off year 2011, it gave another devastating Christmas package to the country, by attacking churches in Abuja, Jos and Yobe states, where families who gathered to pray and celebrate a day which symbolizes harmony and good will towards others, were torn apart.

151 explosions in 2012

The list is endless in year 2012. Not even the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan whom the sect reportedly asked to resign, before it would cease fire was spared, as two explosions rocked Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital on January 21, 2012.. During the year under review, 58 persons reportedly lost their lives in Kaduna and Makurdi blasts on August 22.

*The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters' suicide bomb attack
*The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters’ suicide bomb attack
One of the bomb blasts that would linger in the memory of Nigerians, was the one in Kano state,where an electronic media journalist with Channels Television, Eneche Akogwu was killed while covering the scene of a bomb explosion.

Military and Police formations as well as Prisons and Immigration facilities, were not spared by the rampaging terrorists. Same was the fate of Churches, Mosques, eateries and residential apartments, thereby sending innocent and helpless Nigerians to their unprepared graves,for just no cause, while several families were thrown into eternal mourning.

Crime Guard can authoritatively state that between March and December 2012, there were a total of 535 IED threats. But out of this figure, a total of 151 explosions succeeded while 384 cases were averted by the Police Anti Bomb Explosive Ordnance Department EOD, with some of the discoveries made in Akwa-Ibom, Basyelsa, Ondo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

Information made available to Crime Guard, revealed that most of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED); both exploded and unexploded, were concealed in bottles; fire extinguishers; buckets with steel balls and detonators, vehicles with timing remote controlled devices with a Q-link receiver.

Some of them were also discovered to be concealed inside non-alcoholic drinks and vegetable oil For instance the IED explosion at a Military check point in Bauchi on March 14, 2012 was concealed in a Lucozade bottle, Vegetable oil and Viju Milk containers. The one that exploded at the Prison Service, Konduga, Maiduguri, on March 2012, was contained in a 380 ml Peak Milk tin,while that on Shguwa Police Division in Adamawa State on February 2012, was packed in four cans of Star and Amstel Malta.

Spokesman for Police Anti Bomb Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD,) Mr. Gbolahan Folorunsho when contacted, attributed the command’s achievement to intensified intelligence, security consciousness and public enlightenment lectures. According to Folorunsho, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, “during the period under review; the command sensitized members of the public, Corporate organizations, religious groups , sister security agencies, ministries and government establishments on the method of identification of basic IED components and bomb threat response techniques”.

The command he further stated, embarked on series of explosives escorts across the country from manufacturers/marketers magazines to various end users storage facilities. This he explained, was to ensure that the materials were not diverted to wrong users, adding that the officers adhered strictly to standard explosive movement procedures as approved by the IGP.

ASP Folorunsho, said other measures put in place by EOD, included the inspection of explosives Magazines and supervision of existing and functional Quarries sites. “ EOD operatives also monitor the handling, storage , usage of explosives and allied materials by end users nationwide”, noting that so far, no incident of theft or mishap was reported at explosives magazines and quarry stores across the country.

But he was quick to add that the synergy between the Police and the Military also helped to achieve the feat. “ In the immediate past, the personnel in our Units encountered arrest by the Military during the process of escorting explosives and its allied materials from Ports of entry to dealers magazines. But when the present Inspector-General of Police came on board, this problem was the first he tackled and he was able to fashion out a better modus oparandi for EOD operations in escorting explosives from point to points as stipulated in the Explosives Acts and Regulations. This strengthens our operational ability and has produced dividend in the fight against terrorism.

Police Anti Bomb EOD command through our units across the country,, regularly embark on Joint search Operations with the Joint Task Force JTF to carry out raids and good successes of recovery of items suspected to be IEDs were made in several cases.”.

Preparation for 2013

In preparation for year 2013,the command held its first EOD workshop two weeks ago, with the theme’ ‘ Establishment of Explosives and Allied materials Database in Nigeria Police and measures in Ensuring Control over illegal use and proliferation of Explosives materials’. The workshop according to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Folusho Adebanjo, was to brainstorm and adopt measures which would make its activities less cumbersome this year.

Other areas of preparedness he said, was in the area of training and research development for the personnel to be professionally ready to combat any act of insurgency in the country, disclosing that over 500 police officers and men approved by the IG,had been trained as Bomb technicians and investigators across the units.

It is therefore expected that with the preparation on ground , coupled with those from other security agencies, Nigerians, particularly those in the northern parts of the country will heave sighs of relief this year.







Source - Vanguard news

EFCC, ICPC probe 12 governors for massive fraud


EFCC Chairman, Lamorde
NO fewer than 12 governors are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for massive fraud and misappropriation of public funds in their states, a SUNDAY PUNCH investigation has revealed.

Our correspondent learnt that the discreet investigations commenced after the anti-graft agencies received several petitions against the 12 governors.

While the EFCC is investigating eight governors, the ICPC is probing four.

It was gathered that most of the petitions were received after the said governors had celebrated their first year in office.

A senior official of the EFCC, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our correspondent that the number of the petitions against each of the governor was so huge that the agency could not ignore them.

The official added that though the commission did not have the powers to prosecute the governors because of the immunity they enjoy, it would continue with the probe.

According to the source, nearly all the governors were aware that there were petitions against them but they did not know that investigations had begun.

He said, “We won’t wait until they finish their tenure before we start our work. Moreover, we are not talking about one or two petitions against the governors, the petitions are in huge numbers and we have a duty to act. Of course, not all the allegations in the petition will be true but we have to find out first.

“Once they finish their tenure, we will be sending out invitations and making arrests. We have a minimum of two years to finish our investigations on them. When they finish ruling, we will be ready.”

When pressed by SUNDAY PUNCH to divulge the identity of the governors, the source refused. The official expressed fears that the governors could scuttle the investigations by bringing political pressure to bear on the agency and its investigators.

He, however, identified Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State as being on the probe list.

“Both of them are aware of the investigations but others are not. If we give you their names, they will start intense lobbying and manoeuvrings which won’t aid our investigations,” the source added.

Last year, the sacked chairmen of the 27 local governments in Imo State had told the EFCC that Okorocha misappropriated funds from a N13.5bn bond raised by his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria also alleged that since June 2011, the Joint Accounts Committee in Imo State had not functioned and all statutory allocations due to the local governments totaling over N80bn had been misappropriated by Okorocha.

Following the ALGON petition, among others, operatives of the EFCC visited Imo in October and commenced probes into the operations of the state joint account with the local government as well as the financial records of the state under former Governor Ikedi Ohakim.

However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, had said, “The investigation of the state finances is a welcome development because the EFCC is finally making efforts to investigate and hopefully recover billions of Naira spent on phantom Internet-based projects.

“Okorocha was the first sitting governor to have called on the EFCC to set up a unit in every governor’s office to pre-empt and prevent corruption rather than launching investigations after the funds go missing. He runs the most transparent administration in the country and has nothing to hide.”

SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that Uduaghan was being investigated for the “suspicious award of Asaba International Airport contracts and other projects.”

“The petitions against the Delta State governor and some of his officials queried the way they have been awarding contracts and questionable projects. We have gone to the state and invited some of the officials. They have told us what they know but we are not satisfied so we will keep at it,” the source added.

Confirming the petitions against the governors, the Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said, “We have petitions against some of the sitting governors and we are making some enquiries about the petitions. I cannot tell you the governors being investigated even though the public is aware of some. Yes, the governors enjoy immunity but it won’t deter us.”

Similarly, ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the agency was probing four governors.

He said, “I can’t give you their names and I can’t tell you how far we have gone but we are investigating four governors. The governors enjoy immunity but the people they use to pilfer public funds don’t. We are interrogating their men and when we are done, we will charge them to court.”










Source - Punch news

INEC gives conditions for opposition parties’ merger


INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega
Independent National Electoral Commission has said opposition parties considering a merger must meet the conditions stipulated in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act before they can be registered as a new party.

Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said any party that planned to contest an election must have been on INEC’s record long before the commission issues a notice on the election.

Idowu however said the law did not stipulate how long the party must have been registered before the commission issues the notice.

He said, “The constitution has stated clearly how parties should be registered. The law also provides for when INEC must serve notice of elections. Section 25 of the Electoral Act says INEC should issue a notice of election 90 days before an election.

“If a political party is to participate in an election, the party has to be on INEC’s register before INEC issues such notice. If a party is not on INEC’s register by the time the commission issues a notice, such political party cannot contest in that same election.”

He added that under Sections 222 to 225 of the 1999 Constitution, political parties cannot approach the commission for re-registration or registration as another party.

He said, “If political parties want to form a merger and they coalesce into an association, they would come to INEC with the identity of that association they have coalesced into not with their individual identities.

“The constitution stipulates the conditions that associations must meet before they can be registered as political parties. Once they meet the conditions, they are eligible for registration.”

Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution states that, “No association by whatever name called shall function as a party, unless the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping.

“A copy of its constitution is registered in the principal office of the INEC in such form as may be prescribed by the INEC; any alteration in its registered constitution is also registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission within 30 days of the making of such alteration

“The name of the association, its symbol or logo does not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that the activities of the association are confined to a part only of the geographical area of Nigeria; and the headquarters of the association is situated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

The major opposition parties, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, and the Congress for Progressive Change, are nursing a merger plan in order to tackle the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general elections.










Source - Punch news

2015: Atiku’s loyalists regroup in C-River

CALABAR—POLITICAL associates and loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Cross River State have started consultations towards the realization of the presidential ambition of the Turakin Adamawa.

Coordinator of Atiku Presidential Campaign in 2007, Mr. Ernest Irek, who disclosed this to Vanguard in Calabar, said machinery had been put in motion in the South-South geo-political zone, where all stakeholders are involved in the project of ensuring that Atiku emerges president in 2015.

 *Atiku Abubakar
*Atiku Abubakar
He said: “We are going to put ourselves together. All chieftains will be accommodated and we are going to open offices in every district.”

When reminded that the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, is from South-South and may want to re-contest for the office, he said that it was a matter of interest and that the administration of Jonathan had not benefitted the region he comes from.

He said many things the president should have done for the people of his zone had not been done, while poverty and epileptic power supply had continued unchecked.

Irek also said that going by the zoning formula of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the office of the president was supposed to be occupied by somebody from the North, adding that the zoning formula will be religiously adhered to in the 2015 general elections and after the North had completed its tenure, power could go to the South East.

He said he was privy to Atiku’s blueprint when he met Senator Ben Obi and that the blueprint would make the country great and more united if implemented.







Source - Vanguard news

Everyone thought I’ll fail – Udeme Ufot, SO&U boss

Remember that popular Guinness TV commercial “My friend Udeme is a great man”? Until I spent over an hour with this innovative middle-aged man who actually produced that ad, I couldn’t grasp why he had to adjudge ‘Udeme’ great. Mr.Udeme Ufot is the Group Managing Director of SO&U, one of Nigeria’s most influential advertising agencies, affiliated to Saatchi & Saatchi, a global advertising agency. ‘A great seat!’, you might exclaim, but believe me, that isn’t the reason our friend Udeme is a “great man”. In 1990, Udeme Ufot had resigned his rewarding employment with a foremost advertising firm, Insight Communications, and had ventured into private practice relying solely on his creativity and dynamism, knowing well that the field was highly manipulated by the “bigger and older practitioners”. He seemed too brave and almost everyone thought it won’t be long before he crumbled, but it’s over 23 years on and Udeme Ufot is still making great strides in the world of advertising, even to the extent of winning the Fate Model Entrepreneur Award 2012. We had an inspiring session with him in Lagos.

Courageous beginning

When 23 years ago he became restless about venturing into private practice, Udeme Ufot did not have the ideal prerequisites for setting up an advertising firm. But today, Udeme is a great man. He had studied industrial design and specialised in graphic design at the Ahmadu Bello University where he graduated and then worked for several years with Insight Communications as a creative artist. That knowledge was of course not enough to run a successful advertising business considering the presence of people who had perhaps studied advertising and managed frontline seats in the industry. “What a disadvantage!, one would ordinarily think. But Udeme was smart and decided to rely on the main substance visible in advertising- creativity, and within 18 months, the agency was named the most creative in the country.

NaĂŻve team

“Getting started was not easy. We had a bunch of very green, naĂŻve young people. SO&U is an acronym for Gbemi Sajay, Julia Oko and Ufot. We used to be among the backroom guys who get things done in the advertising industry. I have a creative background, Sagay was an art director and Oko was a copywriter. So, in the first instance, setting out to establish such business was an anomaly in the industry. This made people laugh at us. But what have seen us through are resilience, determination and focus. We said to ourselves that we’ll go by a very simple strategy- nobody can deny seeing a good thing when he or she has seen it. What was important to us was to ensure that we very quickly make a mark in our calling”, Udeme reveals.

“Therefore, we agreed that any work we found to do, we must do it differently and well. We rendered outstanding services above what we were paid for! We put our people through intensive training, and we virtually turned the agency into a school. We gradually turned our entire agency into an environment for continuous improvement and learning”.

*Udeme Ufot
*Udeme Ufot
Gift of creativity


Udeme didn’t just stumble into the creative world of advertising- he had dreamed of it as a teenager! He co-incidentally discovered he had the skills and made conscious efforts towards improvement. Being the son of the Registrar of the University of Calabar at that time, he had access to the university library and read voraciously. While studying a journal on advertising and marketing one day though he had wanted to be a political scientist, he came across an illustration of an impressive looking fellow, and the caption under that illustration read: “A Trendy Art Director”. Immediately, Udeme fell in love with the art director and his work and began dreaming and working towards becoming one someday. That was between 1975 and 76.

He adds: “What helped me was that I was talented creatively. Right from my primary school, I could draw very well, I could act in plays and I was very good in literature. In fact, when I sat back and analysed myself, I saw that I had the relevant skills. That’s why I always tell people that it is easier to succeed when you’re doing what you enjoy doing”.

Between passion and success

To Udeme, the relevance of passion to success was invaluable. Having been in business for 23 years, and with a clientele comprising conglomerates and the banking sector, you cannot but wonder how he became one of the few doyens of the industry. “Passion makes the difference! It drives everything. It’s one thing to have the talent and resources, but you must have the drive, and that drive comes from the passion to succeed. Because we had nothing when we set up SO&U, everyone told me and my team we’ll fail.

For the first six months, we couldn’t afford a telephone in the agency, not even curtains. The first furniture we had was my dining table in my own house. We all sat round that table to do our work! The first furniture in my office as MD was a sofa I brought from my house. I didn’t have a worktable, so, I would write my notes on my thighs. Of course, these lacks aren’t the things that will make one fail, unlike what many think. I believe it’s about knowing what you lack and being able to improvise. But when you have the passion and drive to succeed, nothing can stop you. That passion drove us and every income we made, we invested in ourselves to acquire knowledge and upgrade our skills. We invested in our business too to furnish the office, buy computers and make ourselves more efficient because we had the vision of where we were taking our agency. If you lack passion, you’ll sit back and lament about what you don’t have: ‘I don’t have a godfather, I don’t have money, I can’t find clients because I’ve not worked with clients before…’, but when you’re being fired up by passion, nothing will stop you”.

Financial barrier

True to his word, not even financial constraints could make him jettison his aspiration of going into private practice 23 years ago. “This company was started with N60,000 of my life savings in 1990”, Udeme was quick to add. He had started the business in the guestroom of his house, and when in the third month he found an office in Apapa that would cost him a hundred thousand naira rent, not even his age-long bank was willing to loan him N60,000 to augment what he had. A childhood friend came to his rescue and in less than two years after SO&U took off, because he had become influential in the industry, a delegation from the same bank came to woo him to bank with them!








Source - Vanguard news

Accra agog as Ghana prepares to swear in new president

The Ghanaian capital, Accra, is wearing a new look as the West African country prepares to swear in President John Dramani Mahama after winning the keenly contested presidential election in December which the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) rejected as being fraught with fraud.

But opposition political party, which has filed papers to challenge the result of the election at the Ghanaian supreme, is sharply divided as some elements in the party, led by former Ghanaian President John Kufour, have indicated interest to attend the swearing-in of Mahama while the other faction, led by the youth wing, has vowed to resist the participation of its members in the ceremony.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to join at least ten other African leaders and the representatives of key world powers including the United States of America to attend the ceremony, seen as the celebration of Ghana’s sterling electoral performance in a region that is notorious for flawed elections.

File photo: Supporters of the ruling National Democratic Party celebrate on December 9, 2012 in Accra the re-election of incumbent John Dramani Mahama .
File photo: Supporters of the ruling National Democratic Party celebrate on December 9, 2012 in Accra the re-election of incumbent John Dramani Mahama .
An opinion poll of a cross section of Ghanaians showed that they were evenly divided on the support and opposition to the outcome of the election result.

A report in the Daily Graphic newspapers yesterday quoted the spokesman of Kufour as saying “his presence at the inauguration will be without prejudice to his party, the NPP’s stance to boycott the ceremony or of his full support for the party’s petition at the Supreme Court impugning the declaration of the December 2012 elections as announced by the Electoral Commission”.







Source - Vanguard news

Soldiers intercept alleged illegal oil bunkering vessel in Delta

Men of 19 Battalion of Nigerian Army, Koko, Warri North, Delta State, yesterday, intercepted and arrested a Lagos bound vessel, MV RAAF, with 15 crew members arrested onboard, at the Escravos high sea.

The commander of the squard, Lt Col. Peter Okoye, said the vessel was carrying 200 metric tons of illegally refined diesel, which he said, the crew members siphoned from an oil installation in a creek, near Escravos, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state, adding that the suspects, who were arrested with different items, including pliers, cutting machines, and other tools, had attempted to bribe the soldiers with N2 million with a promise to double the amount on getting to Lagos State, but the move was rebuffed by the soldiers.

The 15 crew members, who were paraded before newsmen, said they hailed from Lagos State, from where they came to Delta State, for their illegal bunkering mission. They confessed that it was not their first trip, and that it was what they do for a living. They also claimed that they were sponsored by a top businessman, who also resides in Lagos.

Lt Col. Okoye said the vessel was intercepted following a tip- off by his men at the Escravos high sea, and was taken to the Army headquarters in Koko, where it was subsequently set ablaze by the soldiers.







Source - Vanguard news

Revolution looming in Nigeria — Makinde


Malala waves to employees at the hospital
In this interview with LEKE BAIYEWU, the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, speaks on the planned levy on religious organisations and leadership in Nigeria.

What’s your reaction to the recent calls for taxation of religious organisations?

People calling for the taxation of churches are like people calling for the sale of their mother. The Christian church is the architect and the mother of Nigeria’s achievments. I don’t know what Nigeria would have become without Christianity; we brought civilisation, education, even publication – the first publication started in Abeokuta by the CMS. We brought hospitals. Those who fought Church Missionary Society for the independence of Nigeria were products of missionary schools.

So, those who are making the call for taxation are saying, “Sell my mother, I don’t care.” And it’s an action that is impossible. I am re-emphasising it, it is an impossible task. Those who fight the church are fighting God. The first leprosy centre in Nigeria was established by the Methodist Church Nigeria, followed by the Catholic Church. The killing of twins was stopped by Mary Slessor of the Presbyterian Church in Calabar.

There is an exception - We have the Wesley House in Lagos built for commercial purposes. If you want to tax that, it is good. If we are getting an income from it, as we put tenants there, it is taxable. We are paying tax on the commercial buildings we have. But if you want to tax our tithes and Sunday collections, you cannot because the church is not for commercial purpose. And we plough what we have back into the society.

The churches are in partnership with the government. For example the hospitals and schools built by the Methodist, Catholic, Anglican, Seventh Day Adventists, etc, are a way we plough our money back into the societ.

They think we were making profits in our schools; it started with Lateef Jakande in Lagos, they took over our schools and destroyed everything. Products of those schools are the armed robbers of today; they are the area boys, the militants and the ‘Boko Harams’ because they were given education without morality and the fear of God. It serves us right because we are lying on the bed we spread.

But critics argue that missionary schools are too expensive and out of the reach of a common man.

If knowledge is expensive, try ignorance. The one they (government) are doing is not free. Education is not free, somebody is subsidising. We are now establishing our universities where there is no cultism and no strikes. When it is four years, it is four years. But look at our government-owned universities, they are glorified secondary schools. You can’t compare them with mission universities. I know a cousin who went to the Lagos State University and spent eight years for a degree because of strikes. Even with the argument that our school fees are high, we are still subsidising.

Where did the country get it wrong that people refer to the independence era as better years?

We are the architect of our problems. One, there is no fear of God again in the land, and the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Islam preaches fear of God, Christianity preaches fear of God but there is no fear of God anywhere again. When there is no fear of God, there will be no love. Once there is no love, corruption sets in.

The love between the Hausa and the Yoruba; the Yoruba and the Igbo; the majority and the minority are orchestrated and counterfeit love. We have politicised everything. And the root of all of these is corruption.

In the sixties, when people took contracts to construct roads and other infrastructure, they didn’t give or take percentage (bribes). The Ibadan-Ijebu Road, which was constructed by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, is still solid because bribes were not given. When you award contracts and you take percentages, the works will not be solid. It is not a spiritual problem; it is a physical problem that boils down to corruption and lack of the fear of God. People no longer work with conscience. And conscience is the inner voice of God in you. Most Nigerians don’t have conscience again; their conscience is dead. And when your conscience is dead, you do wrong things. I served this country for about 40 years and I retired with no pension or gratuity, and you want me to die for Nigeria? I can’t.

Some people have said a revolution is looming. Do you agree?

I agree seven times. When you keep people unemployed for a long time, you are asking for a revolution. And let me tell you, Boko Haram has become a revolution; they don’t kill only Christians again, they kill Muslims now. They go into their homes while they are praying and shoot them. They are going beyond religion and it is becoming a revolution. The Niger Delta militancy case is a revolution. You can’t take resources from our place and develop the North, while you neglect us. A councillor is earning more than a vice-chancellor of a university or a professor and you say there will be no revolution. There will be revolution.

Nigeria is bleeding. We must try as much as possible not to make it anaemic. Everyone is guilty; don’t apportion blames to the politicians alone. The church is guilty because some people have commercialised religion and that is why some say churches should be taxed – because they see religious leaders living above their means. When you are too flamboyant as a man of God, people will talk. But we cannot use isolated cases to judge the church. The judiciary is not left out, in fact, it has disgraced the nation. What about the police? They are licensed to kill through accidental discharge. Everybody is almost lawless in this country.

Those who are calling for a revolution have also faulted the 1914 amalgamation, saying the regions should go their separate ways. Do you support this?

Revolution can come but it cannot lead to a division. The revolution will not be restricted to any region because we have all got it wrong. I will not advocate fa break-up. Going our separate ways is not the answer to our problems. Getting it right and returning to God is the answer. The spirit of those who died during the civil war will not forgive us if we divide as a nation. Let me emphasise this: the spirit of those who died, the innocent ones, during the civil war will not forgive us if Nigeria divides. To jaw-jaw is better than to war-war.

There is nothing President Goodluck Jonathan can do, except we pray for him. We are insatiable; nobody can satisfy Nigerians. I pity him as a leader. I am a leader and I know what leadership means. He cannot satisfy everybody. Even those who are not as knowledgeable as he is are condemning him. It is easier to condemn than to offer advice. This is the right time for all of us to pray for our country, our leaders and offer constructive criticism and have good political leaders.

What baffles me in Nigeria today is that the enemies of Nigeria are in the same party. Those who criticise the Peoples Democratic Party bitterly are the members of the party. Most of those who do not see anything good in Jonathan are members of the PDP. The party is a house that is divided against itself and cannot stand. What I want is a formidable opposition, not to gang up. What I want is a party with discipline; a party with manifesto. The only way out is for politics to be less lucrative. We are not civilised and experienced enough in politics to run a presidential system of government. It is too expensive; our economy is not good and we depend on only crude oil. All the local councils and states go to Abuja for federal allocation. How can we grow? States cannot generate funds for themselves and they think they can generate funds to run their states through taxation of churches. They are deceiving themselves. We will pray and they will collapse because God can fight for himself. Let them diversify. I am praying to God to let oil dry up even during my lifetime so that we will learn a lesson of not putting all our eggs in one basket. We have a long way to go and that is why I say it is a general failure, not Jonathan’s failure. I pity him. Jonathan is suffering from the penalty of leadership. To me, it is a collective failure. We are all making Nigeria to bleed. We all need attitudinal change.










Source - Punch news

13% oil derivation will cause another round of crisis in N-Delta – Senator Okpozo

Francis Okpozo is a Second Republic senator and a Niger-Delta leader. He is one of those in the forefront of the agitation that the 13 percent derivation must go straight to oil producing communities and not the state governors. In this interview, he warns that the agitation may snowball into another round of crisis in the Niger-Delta if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to take urgent steps towards addressing the issue. He also speaks on the 2015 presidency, just as he calls on the old brigade politicians to quit politics and allow the younger generation of Nigerians take the mantle of leadership. Excerpts:

Looking at the events of last year and style of leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, how will you rate his performance so far?

Jonathan has been trying to quell the Boko Haram insurgency. And he has equally tried to solve the Niger Delta youth restiveness which has helped in oil production in the country. The issues involved in the agitations by the Niger Delta militants and the Boko Haram sect are fundamentally different. Not because I come from the Niger Delta where the militants operated, but they operated because of their demand for better conditions. And these militants did not hide their identity, they came out openly to tell the world how they were being oppressed, therefore they wanted to have a share of the proceeds from oil.

They did not agitate to take all the proceeds from oil, but a portion of it due to the pollution, unemployment and suffering of the people of the Niger Delta. So the Federal Government gave them amnesty and gave a lot of them jobs. The then President Yar’Adua and Jonathan made that possible. But the case of Boko Haram, what are they agitating about? We do not know them and you can only negotiate with people you see physically. You don’t know them, their needs are not specified, so the question, is what do they actually want?

They are not even fighting the Federal Government, they are only killing innocent people, burning churches and killing their own people in mosques. So, any one who is comparing Boko Haram to the Niger Delta crisis is making a big mistake. I commend the action of the President to send the military there to curb their excesses. But I want to inform the people involved in this crisis in the North that they cannot fight the government and I urge the northern leaders to come together and fight these people destroying their own people.
...Okpozo
…Okpozo


But are you sure that the northern leaders are not be behind the Boko Haram sect for political reasons?

When you are talking of 2015, we have not reached there and Jonathan has not come to say he will be running for a second term in 2015. If he is constitutionally qualified, yes he can run but it is now left for Nigerians to either elect him or reject him in the polls. If the actions of the Boko Haram are politically motivated, that means they are making a mistake because they are not known to be members of a particular political party.

If their actions are actually politically motivated, then they should join a political party and fight Jonathan in 2015 and stop killing innocent people. People should not be masquerading under Boko Haram to cause trouble, if any northern leader is not happy with Jonathan, the person should come out and speak out so that we will know how to solve the problem. Killing innocent people will not find solution to their political needs.

13 per cent oil derivation agitation


The agitation of the people of the oil producing communities for the total take over of the 13 per cent derivation from the federal allocation is well intended. You could remember that there was a meeting of coastal states about six years ago when Obasanjo was in power. The issue of 13 per cent was the subject matter.

All the South- South governors were in attendance, all the military heads in the country were there. When the issue came up, I was the first person Obasanjo recognized to speak and I told him of the failure of his government. I told him why going to take money from allocation B and use it to develop allocation F. Why not spend the money accurately in the areas to which it was allocated.

I told him that the state governments are squandering the money. I spoke of the local governments being made idle because the funds are not going to them directly, the governors are pocketing the money and manipulating the local councils. Then I came to the issue of derivation and I told him that there is a law that established the payment of derivation. The 1999 section 162, sub section 2, clearly states that the money belongs to the oil producing communities, but Obasanjo and his predecessors mismanaged the money. When they saw the decision of the Supreme in 1981, as regards derivation, I was in the government of the then Bendel State then.

Justice Atake, my self and other leaders of the then UPN, took the Federal Government to court, we were led by Chief O.N,Rewane and Alfred Rewane. And we obtained judgment through Rotimi Williams that derivation fund was meant for the oil producing communities. Then the 1999 constitution stated clearly in section 162 that the money is for the oil producing communities. Even when they are talking about joint account, joint account does not affect derivation.

It is between the state and Federal Governments. Because the law did not specify that they should pay this to the oil producing communities, it created a vacuum for the revenue allocation and Fiscal Commission to mismanage the sharing formula of that fund. The 13 per cent is supposed to be given straight to the oil producing communities. It was an arrangement between the governors and the Presidency to share that money to the detriment of the people of the oil producing communities. Obasanjo made it clear at the meeting at Aso Villa that ‘you governors, give 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation to the oil producing communities’.

That was not what took us there, but the governors went behind to use their state Houses of Assembly to make another law on how to manage the derivation fund excluding the leadership of the oil producing communities. We had no input. The governors disburse the funds the way they liked and that is why the derivation fund is not felt by the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta. We want our money directly as stipulated by law and nobody will change us from that agitation. If care is not taken, the trouble that will arise as a result of this matter will be very devastating. And we have over N7trillion of that money which Obasanjo’s government, Jonathan and others have to account for.

And in order to maintain peace temporarily in the Niger Delta, let them tell the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to stop allocating that money to any other organ other than a body that will be created through the recommendation of the oil producing communities known as the Derivation Board; that Board will manage the money at the grassroots, spend the money for the development of the devastated oil producing communities. If oil is discovered in any area, let them apply the same yardstick to satisfy the area. It is not a battle between oil producing communities and Nigeria, it is a battle for what accrues to oil producing communities and nobody must tamper with it.

You predicted victory for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole prior to the July 14, 2012 governorship election. Are you surprised with the decision of the PDP candidate, Gen.Airhiavbere, to go to court?

I am not surprised because he is trying to make himself relevant. Apart from what Oshiomhole has done in the state in the past four years, can Airhiavbere match his records of achievements? He just joined the PDP three months before the election and he has no political experience, his community even said they didn’t know him and rejected him before the election, so who told him he will even win a ward?

The man would have gone back to his house to sleep, he made a fundamental mistake to have even gone to run for the election in the first place. Let him go and rest, Oshiomhole has done marvelously well and anybody fighting him or trying to destroy his name is making a mistake. What are the resources of Edo State that people will say they cannot reward Oshiomhole for what he has done in the past four years? That election of July 2012 is a reward for Oshiomhole for his good work. I don’t think going to court will help Airhiavbere, the problem is the people of Edo State. Even if he wins the court case which he cannot, can he convince the people of Edo State? The answer is no.

Drums have started beating for the 2015 presidency. As a South South leader, will you support Jonathan for a second term?

I will not say any thing until he comes out to declare his intention. If he decides to come out and inform us, we will work for him if he considers us relevant. But before he dcides to run for second term, he should please his people at home. Those who supported him before, he should pacify them, especially in Delta State where I come from. He should please the people of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo, because there are lots of infrastructure wasting in the region. Lots of projects such as the East West Road have been abandoned.

And my advice for him in this new year is that he must unite Nigerians, create jobs for the youths, ensure cordial relationship with the National Assembly. He must ensure that the judiciary is truly independent and he should abstain from any decision that will go contrary to the genuine wish of the people of Nigeria. He should spend money judiciously. He must ensure steady power supply. I have also noticed that employment into local governments under his administration has been marred with irregularities.

Those who don’t have connection don’t get the jobs and it is not good for his name. He should look into that, he should remember that it was Nigerians that voted him into office and not his PDP members. Again, he should reduce the cost of governance, how can lawmakers be earning millions every month; when I was there, my salary was N5,000 a month. Why are our lawmakers stealing every day, taking all the contracts available because they are party leaders? Local governments should be made autonomous, let their elections be done by INEC, not the state governments.




 


Source - Vanguard news

Attack on SARS Headquarters: IGP orders decentralisation of federal, states sars

…DIG FCID takes over federal SARS…CPS take over states SARS
Aftermath of last November 2012 deadly attack by gunmen on the headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the FCT, resulting in the death of some Police officers and some of the gunmen, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has ordered the decentralization of SARS all over the country.

Consequently, the Inspector General has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigations Department at Force headquarters, to take over the operations of the Federal SARS (Adeniji Adele) in Lagos .

MD Abubakar, Police IG
MD Abubakar, Police IG
Also, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in the States, are to be taken over by the Commissioners of police in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja . Saturday Vanguard was told that the IG’s directive takes immediate effect.

In addition, it was gathered that the IG directed that henceforth, all operatives of SARS in any part of the country, be they federal SARS or SARS in the states, are to stop putting on plain cloths. They are to revert to wearing their Police uniforms, to avert a situation whereby civilians with ulterior motives can mix freely and pretend to be personnel of SARS as was discovered in the Abuja attack.

Recall that there was a public outcry over the attack by the gunmen at the most secured Police facility in the FCT and the fact that some suspects were freed, resulting in the Police boss instructing the setting up of an investigation team to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the early morning attack.

During an assessment visit to the headquarters of the FCT Command to ascertain things for himself after the attack, the IG had warned that heads will roll over the incident after the investigation report had been submitted to Force headquarters.

Before the new directive of the IGP decentralizing the operations of SARS, the outfit which had some level of independence, was controlled at the federal level, by a Senior Commissioner of Police with office in Adeniji Adele, Lagos while those in the states were controlled by senior Chief Superintendents of Police and in some cases, Assistant Commissioners of Police.

Under the new dispensation, Saturday Vanguard was told that allegations of human rights abuses, illegal detention, and other unlawful actions which the IGP has been preaching against, would be checkmated because he will be directly in tune with what happens in SARS.








Source - Vanguard news

I am not hunted by police – Iyanya

Iyanya has denied reports police officers were looking for him, muttering on phone “Don’t mind them, I am

in Abuja.”
Iyanya-2
*Iyanya


Reigning Afro hip hop act, Iyanya is allegedly wanted by the Nigerian Police, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, in connection with the case of fraud brought against him by popular show organiser, Opa Williams.

Already, Iyanya’s manager, Ubi-Franklin Ekpong is said to be currently under arrest at Mile 3 Police Division,in the Garden city.

Opa Williams,the producer of Nigeria’s foremost comedy show, ‘Nite of a Thousand Laughs’ reported Iyanya to the police for allegedly collecting N1.7 million from him being payment for the singer’s performance at ‘Nite of a Thousand Laughs’ shows which held in Benin and Port Harcourt few days ago. Unfortunately, the Kukere crooner never showed up at any of the shows.

According to our sources, what infuriated Williams was the fact that Iyanya actually arrived Port Harcourt ahead of the show on that fateful day(Monday)only for him to disappear minutes later with his cell phones permanently switched off.

“He has caused me a lot of embarrassment, as people who paid to come and watch him went home disappointed. For 17 years, we have been organizing Nite of A Thousand Laughs and we have built a large followership, I will not allow anybody to destroy the credibility we have as people who deliver on their promises. That’ why we are going to pursue this case (legally) to a logical conclusion and ensure this is the last time Iyanya would do this to anybody.” Williams stated.

Adding, he said ,“When Iyanya failed to show up at Benin edition, which held on December 26, he called to apologise, promising however to make it up with the Port-Harcourt and Bonny shows. But again, he did not keep to his word.”

Showtime gathered that Iyanya shunned Opa Williams’ event, but performed earlier at another show which held the same day in Port-Harcourt and featured Timaya.

Confirming the buzz, Williams’ media Company, Media Image Managers, said, “We are aware of the issue between Opa Williams and hip hop act, Iyanya. The parties are at the moment at Mile 3 Police Division in Port Harcourt. Our client has informed us he is seeking redress in court. However, there are moves to resolve the matter amicably. It is sad that Iyanya would behave in such an unprofessional manner, but then, the police are handling the matter well.”







Source - Vanguard news

Jonathan’s posters of controversy


Like a thief in the night If there is one thing that the Jonathan administration has in abundance, it is its unfailing penchant for sometimes doing itself in to surprise Nigerians, particularly on New Year Day. Like a bond keeper, the administration has faithfully lived up to its billing in giving the nation regular doses of unpleasant surprises.

On the first day of 2012, Nigerians woke up to meet a rattling fuel pump price jerk that has halted the economic progress of most Nigerians and stunted their comfort level till date. Now, and perhaps, as a New Year gift, troubled Nigerians who are managing to cope with the myriads of economic woes foisted on them by a government that appears not to have gotten it right after more than a year on the saddle, some mischievous campaign posters purporting to solicit support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 welcome Nigerians to the New Year.

The glossy posters with Jonathan’s portrait boldly inscribed came with a bang. It was loaded with variegated and serious messages even though it was not signed as a complete advertisement with an identified sponsor. First, it warned those angling for the prized post to steer clear of Aso Rock, the nation’s power base, that ‘there is no vacancy’ there, apparently trying to ruffle the opposition, which is battling to put it acts together with a view to giving Jonathan a good fight in the next presidential election. The campaign material also made a spirited attempt to eulogise Jonathan for ‘doing well’ as a president and called for continuous support for him in the 2015. “One good turn deserves another,” the sponsors of the dubious posters, wrote.

Like a bad product, it came with defects

But like a bad product, the promoters of the vile communication, could only find space on refuse bins (for effect), newspaper stands and any available roadside medium to paste the posters perhaps in the night, apparently to avoid being identified. From the way the posters were displayed, Nigerians could have mistaken them for one of those religious publicity materials, which have become a regular feature of roads in the FCT but Mr. President’s glossy pictures typified by his unmistakable traditional Ijaw shirt and hat to match, effectively drew attention to what was on offer.

By daybreak on New Year, the posters were already catching fire like a cracker. From the first gate of the Presidential Villa to Yakubu Gowon Crescent and AYA and the surroundings of ECOWAS in Asokoro District, men, women and youths were scrambling for space to catch a glimpse of the posters displayed on any available space.

Outrage and indifference over the message
As curious Nigerians decoded the messages embedded in the posters, some were outraged over the method adopted by hawks to begin another round of campaign for the President, who has repeatedly stated that he will not want to be distracted by the 2015 politics so as to have enough time to concentrate on fixing the mounting problems in Nigeria.

Right-thinking Nigerians are apparently amused by the import of the posters, since according to them, nothing has changed in the land apart from unending rhetoric being churned out by top government officials on where the administration is heading and how the country is achieving conceptual economic boom and employment generation and while young Nigerian graduates roam the streets in search of elusive jobs.

Jonathan had during his campaign for the 2011 election promised to ‘breathe fresh air’ on the nation. It was the same man, who vowed to end endemic corruption and instill a new wave of sanity in the nation’s polity. As it has turned out, almost two years down the line, the monster of graft has taken a deeper root in the corridors of power, devouring honest Nigerians and throwing up more corrupt men with itchy fingers.

The startling revelations coming from the subsidy funds management indicating that the huge sums were swallowed up by mandarins with strong tentacles in the same government, who are almost above the capacity of existing anti-corruption agencies to handle, have made a mockery of any claim by the administration to be confronting graft. It is not surprising therefore why Nigerians have become very skeptical about Jonathan’s promises and the situation may remain so for some time to come until he becomes more serious about redeeming the various promises, some of which the government might have forgotten.

Jonathan-poster-cartoon
Even the claim that the power sector has witnessed tremendous improvement in recent times is suspect because in the major cities some areas remain in perpetual darkness for days and no explanation is given. That, coupled with the inexplicable jerk in energy tariff thereby giving average Nigerian families a nightmare, may remain a sore point for the administration. Nigerians may not be interested in knowing what amount of electricity is generated by the government but will see and feel the change in the generation and transmission of power once there is constant power supply to their homes.

All the President’s Men’s Denial
The Presidency rose at once to disown not only the placement of the message but its timing. Like a well rehearsed orchestra, the President’s men – Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, the Political Adviser to the President and Dr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity – distanced themselves from what they see as a repugnant message designed to distract their boss from going ahead with his ‘transformation agenda’. Gulak, who spoke from his village in far away Adamawa, was emphatic that the President had not mandated the sponsors to put out the controversial communication material.

“I am sure it is the work of misguided elements who are out to cause confusion among Nigerians,” Gulak told Sunday Vanguard in a telephone interview on Tuesday night.

The following day, Abati took the stage in another interview, castigating the masterminds of the posters. Like Gulak, he insisted that the material did not receive the blessing of his master, who was working hard to fix decrepit Nigeria.

“The President is focused on delivering on his mandate for Nigerians and would not want to be distracted,” Abati chorused like other foot soldiers of Mr. President. He was not yet done!

“Those pasting the posters are trying to express their own views. The President had stated that he would talk about the Presidential election from 2014 and those doing these things do not have the consent of the president.

“What is of importance now is for the president to deliver on his electioneering promise to Nigerians and not to embark on the pasting of posters. The President has not launched any campaign; he believes those doing that are playing games. There is no reason for the president to engage in any form of scaremongering, having said that by 2014 he would make his position on the matter known. Nigerians should wait till them,” the spokesman declared.

Product of high taste and careful packaging
But in spite of the denial by the President’s men, it has emerged that the posters were carefully packaged and displayed at strategic places in the FCT by hawks working on the Presidential Project. It was learnt that the display of the first set of posters, was a carefully planned plot by Jonathan’s foot soldiers, who wanted to test the political waters for their masters ahead of 2015. Competent sources confirmed that the group coordinating the posters on behalf of the Presidency would soon blossom into a Non-governmental body and own up to the publicity materials.

The import of the posters was to send a strong message to the opposition, which has been working to metamorphose into a formidable platform to confront Jonathan as a common political party in 2015. The thinking by Jonathan’s political hawks is that it is not proper to leave the turf for the opposition to have a field day while their master pretends to be considering what to do about 2015 when the body language suggests he is going to run.

The quality of the posters and the message in them, lend credence to the fact that they were not done by poor and illiterate men in search of what to do in order to earn their meal. The packaging shows clearly that the message was a product of rigorous thinking and produced by sound minds to meet the taste of a sophisticated audience.

But if the Presidency insists it has no idea of who sponsored the message, Nigerians may want to know how soon an enquiry would be carried out to determine whose money was spent to produce and paste the materials and by who and why?

Posters vanish from Abuja
Perhaps, frustrated Nigerians still writhing in the pains and agony of soaring cost of living and scarce petroleum products were not too happy to be greeted by the posters as they returned to the nation’s capital to grapple with the complexity of life imposed on them by the system that has woefully failed to protect and secure their lives. It was therefore not surprising why most of the posters were easily defaced and removed from the streets barely a few hours after they were placed by unidentified persons.

In a jiffy, the posters in the highbrow areas of Asokoro, where influential Nigerian politicians and economic players reside, were removed followed by the ones in the suburbs of the FCT. Neither the law-enforcement agencies nor the officials of the FCDA could stop the destruction of the posters. However, a few of the posters were still left around the premises of the Peoples Democratic Party, Wadata Plaza, in Wuse 5.

Uproar spreads like wildfire over posters
In a swift reaction to the development, notable socio-political groups in the country rose against the posters. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum and the major opposition parties took turns to condemn the timing of the posters and called for probe.

The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Bauchi State Chapter, asked Jonathan to first of all redeem the electioneering promises he made to Nigerians in 2011 before delving into another round of campaign. Chairman of the CPC in the state, Aliyu Abubakar Saidu, advised Jonathan to save Nigerians from their present predicament before thinking of another election, pointing out that the posters were too hasty.

On his part, the Bishop of the Calabar Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev Tunde Adeyeye, described the posters as the handiwork of stooges bent on diverting the President’s attention from the major problems confronting the nation.

Adeyeye said, “This is very Nigerian. That is what we do; we major in minors and then divert attention from the problems of the hardship and poverty we are suffering from.

Adding its voice to the condemnation of the timing of the posters, the South-South Peoples Assembly, SSPA, one of the main support groups for President Jonathan, said that it was too early for anyone to come out with posters campaigning for the president. A founding member of the SSPA, Dr. Ambrose Akpanika, said he did not think that the 2015 poll should dominate issues at this point in time when the nation was facing serious challenges that need urgent attention.

Opposition against Jonathan’s re-election mounts
Although the coast is always clear for an incumbent President and governors to easily win re-election in Nigeria, it is difficult to say how easy Jonathan’s 2015 project will be, given the plethora of opposition against his re-election. The circumstance of his emergence, first, as an acting President following the death of his boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and his subsequent enthronement as a substantive President in 2011, have thrown up some knotty issues that were never envisaged by the law.

For instance, it has been pointed out that Jonathan would have exceeded his two- term limit, if he contests in 2015, thereby violating the Nigerian Constitution. That has come up because he served out the remaining tenure of Yar’Adua, which was not contemplated by the law. He has by so doing, taken the oath of office twice and his traducers would not want him to come back for another oath-taking in 2015.

Second Republic lawmaker and social commentator, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has strongly advised President Jonathan not to waste time going for a second term, since doing so would create a constitutional crisis in the country.

Mohammed told Sunday Vanguard in an exclusive interview that Jonathan was not qualified to contest in 2015, having taken the oath of office twice as Nigeria’s President first in 2010 following the untimely death of Yar’Adua and later in 2011, thereby hitting the limit provided by Nigerian law.

“Most importantly, Jonathan should be told that the Constitution does not allow any Nigerian leader to take the Oath of Office twice. He has already exhausted the limit of his two terms.

Mohammed advised Jonathan to first subject his Presidential ambition to a judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court so as to stave off looming Constitutional crisis that his action would generate in the country.

According to Mohammed, Jonathan will be doing Nigerians a big disservice if he waits till 2014 to declare his interest in the 2015 Presidency because there are Nigerians who have real legal issues to take up with him on the matter and he should do it in good time to prevent a constitutional crisis and violence.

“If Mr. President is a true Nigerian leader he should decide now so that those who have issues with him will go to court to challenge him and get redress.

“The issue is not about him but 160 million Nigerians whose fate is tied to the Presidency of Nigeria. Jonathan has no right to dilly dally with the destiny of Nigerians,” he said.

But Section 137 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended states that” A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if – “(b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections; or ….”

Jonathan has only been elected to the Office of President only once and not twice.
Beyond the alleged constitutional crisis that is likely to be thrown up if Jonathan runs in 2015, one of the PDP governors from the North, where Jonathan derived its strength in the 2011 poll, Sule Lamido, has been mandated by the State House of Assembly to challenge the President in 2015. Lamido has not said anything about the endorsement but he may not be too far from running since he would be completing his second term as a governor come 2015.

All that the governor, whose son, was recently arrested by EFCC operatives at the Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly carrying undeclared Dollars running into millions of Naira, has said about his presidential ambition is ‘I’m flattered by the linkage of my name with the 2015 presidential poll’.

Clear picture of the looming game
In the days ahead, it will be clear, who sponsored the Jonathan’s posters and why and those who are working to stop him will also be bolder enough to come to the open to declare their interest and why. The top race, which has often been laden with high wire intrigues and manipulation, has just begun and the end will justify the means. Who wins, who loses?








Source - Vanguard news

Winners Chapel denies complicity in death of 3-yr-old pupil in Benin

BENIN—LIVING Faith Bible Church (aka Winners Chapel), proprietor of Kingdom Heritage Model School in Benin City, Edo State, has absolved itself of complicity in the death of one of its pupils, Miss Imiefan Omokaro, aged three, who was found dead in one of the school toilets in November, last year.

Counsel to the Church, Miss Omoikhekpen Oguns, in a statement absolving the school of complicity in the pupil’s death in Benin, yesterday, insisted that no medical report or any other proof had been adduced to prove the school’s culpability in the death of the child.

This is contrary to the position of the parents of the child, Mr. and Mrs. Jolly Omokaro, who attributed the death of their child to negligence on the part of the school’s management.

It will be recalled that Imienfan’s parents, in a petition to Bishop David Oyedepo, General Overseer of the church, said that she was killed in one of the school toilets and demanded N2 billion as damages for what they called her callous and senseless killing on November 1, 2012.

The petition was written through their counsel, Mr Peter Uwadiae, who insisted that the administrators of the school had ignored all entreaties for the peaceful resolution of the gruesome murder of their child, having failed to attend all meetings called to resolve the impasse.







Source - Vanguard news

Veteran guitarist nabbed with cocaine at Lagos airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a veteran guitarist with 1.575kg of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy.

The suspect, Mr. Fatoke Abiodun, a grandfather who played guitar for a Juju maestro for three decades, was arrested following the alleged detection of two parcels of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of his luggage.

While confirming the arrest, NDLEA Commander of the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the arrest took place on New Year day.

“We have made the first arrest in the new year. The suspect, a guitarist, Fatoke Abiodun, was found with 1.575kg of cocaine. The drug was discovered in the false bottom of his luggage during the outward screening of passengers to Italy,” Hamza said.

The 62-year-old grandfather, who is married to four wives with many children, was said to be helping narcotic investigators handling the case. Fatoke allegedly owned up to the crime to the investigators blaming it on financial hardship.

MM-AIRPORT
According to Fatoke, “after my primary education, I only did one year in the secondary school before I went into music. I can play any kind of guitar but my music career is a sad story. I played for a top rated musician for 30 years before I was unceremoniously retired in 2007. I was unprepared and without severance money I saw the bitter side of life. This is my first time of involving in drug trafficking. I did it out of frustration because at my age I could not provide for my family. I am ashamed of myself”.

Speaking on how he got involved in drug trafficking, the suspect was quoted as saying he got a call from a friend. “I live in Ibadan with my family. I was invited to Lagos where I was given 50,000 naira and they promised that every arrangement will be ready for me to travel soon. They promised to pay me one million naira. If not for my condition, I would have turned down the offer but it was my last hope to free myself from financial difficulty. I was given the bag and my ticket but at the airport NDLEA detected the drug. Since then, I have been in deep pain. I feel bad because I have no one to help me”.

NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, described the alleged involvement of the suspect in drug trafficking as sad and disappointing. His words, “It is sad and disappointing for a grandfather to be involved in drug trafficking.

“The suspect will be charged to court for unlawful exportation and possession of narcotics. If convicted, he could spend the next 25 years in prison custody.”







Source - Vanguard news