After five years in prison, Policeman acquited of murder charge

Lagos— A 34-year-old  Police Constable, Paul Ogbeh, was yesterday discharged and acquitted  by a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere over a murder charge.

Ogbeh

Ogbeh was said to have murdered men alleged to be armed robbers, while on police patrol after receiving a distress call.

He was discharged by Justice Olabisi Akinlade after she found him not guilty of the two counts of first degree murder on the basis of lack of sufficient evidence by the prosecution.

Akinlade said: “The defendant was performing his lawful duty on the day of the incident. The prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The prosecution did not tender any post-mortem or medical report in the death of the deceased, no ballistics report was tendered by the prosecution and there was also failure by the prosecution to produce eyewitnesses.

“All these lapses in the prosecution’s case have created doubt in the eyes of the court. The prosecution has failed to create any direct or circumstantial evidence linking the defendant  to the death of the two deceased.

“The defendant is, hereby, discharged and acquitted of the two-count charge of murder against him.”

Immediately, Ogbeh made the sign of the cross, raised his hands in praises to God and thanked the judge before leaving the dock, wiping tears from his eyes.

Ogbeh, who has been dismissed by the Police, told Newsmen: “I feel happy because I held onto my God since day one of my incarce-ration because the murders happened while I was performing my lawful duties.

“While I was in prison, I enrolled with the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, to study Criminology and Security Studies and I intend to complete my education,” he added, tightly clutching a copy of The Prisoner’s Bible.

Ogbeh, who was a Police Constable attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, was charged with the murder of robbery suspects, Abiodun Awe and Nelson Obeto at Ikorodu, when his team responded to a distress call in 2010.

Imo PDP calls for cancellation of Aprill 11 polls

OWERRI—The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State has called for total cancellation of the governorship and House of Assembly elections on April 11, 2015 in the state.

Chairman of the party, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, who made the call while briefing the press, yesterday, also explained that the party decided to make the plea after carefully studying the alleged monumental fraud orchestrated by All Progressives Congress, APC, during the poll.

Some of the facts cited by the PDP leadership included the faulty card reader machines used in PDP strongholds, inducement of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  officers to write results in favour of the APC.

Another alleged sins cited by the PDP leadership was the falsification of poll results in Ezinihitte Mbaise and Oru East local government areas, thereby up-turning the results scored by the PDP.

“There was also the writing of results with non-customised result sheets, which party agents were forced to sign at gunpoint, especially in Ideato North, Nkwerre, Ideato South, Oru West, Nwangele, Isu, Ikeduru and other areas,” Anyaehie said.

The PDP also accused INEC of inconsistency in reducing the number of the polling units earlier announced for the supplementary election scheduled for next Saturday.

He said: “It beats our imagination why INEC should give Ideato South a clean bill of health when there were reported cases of electoral violence in Umuobom, Ogboko, Umuchima, Obiohia, Isiekenesi and a number of other wards.”

Jonathan wont sign

MORE than two years of legislative work, expectations of millions of Nigerians and the new directions of democratic growth that the proposed constitutional amendment would have produced are about to be wasted. President Goodluck Jonathan would not sign the document. It would be difficult to know if his action is based on patriotism or just indecision. Either way, it would hurt the polity for some time.

His arguments for not signing the document, which has been with him for months, include some unclear provisions and the constitutional gaps that some of the proposed amendments could cause. He even claimed there was no proof that two-third of the State Houses of Assembly approved the amendments, as the law requires.

State Houses of Assembly really approved the amendments. They approved autonomy for themselves and the National Assembly, but rejected autonomy for local government administration. Their decision was unexplainable.

State Assemblies also affirmed:

*Indigeneship rights of a State to a Nigerian citizen who has resided in a particular community of a State for a continuous period of not less than 10 years. The proposed amendment runs against the more generous provisions of the Constitution for Nigerians to be shielded from discrimination and enjoy the same rights everywhere they decide

to live. Would some Nigerians not be denied rights classified as “indigeneship rights”? Would citizens have fewer rights than indigenes?

*Rights to free, basic education and right to free primary and maternal health care services, in Chapter 2 of the Constitution were changed, and moved to Fundamental Human Rights to make them justiciable.

*Independent candidacy in elections, which could create more platforms for political expression. The National Assembly would legislate on procedures, guidelines and qualifications for independent candidates.

*The three-month limit for the Federation or a State to operate without an Appropriation Act in a new financial year would generate more accountability than the current six-month provision.

It is unfair to growth of democracy that the difference independent candidacy, for example, would have made, to be wasted. Also thrown away are expectations that rights to basic education and health, which were to be made justiciable. They were expected to make governments more accountable.

Did the National Assembly, in 16 years, bother about Section 16(2d) of the Constitution? It states, “The State (country) shall direct its policy towards ensuring: that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the

disabled are provided for all citizens”. It did not.

Whenever we get back to amending the Constitution, the dynamics would be entirely different and some of these issues may no longer count.

Jonathan's defeat is God sent - Ndoma-Egba

Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, is the outgoing leader of the Senate. In this interview, he reviews the lot that recently befell his party Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the internal schism in the local chapter of the party in his native Cross River State and life after the Senate. Excerpts:

There are rumours that you’ll be defecting to the APC any moment from now. Is it true?

If I were defecting, I would have come out openly to declare it. Anything you hear   about my purported defection remains a rumour. One thing I found very amusing in Cross River is that anybody who leaves PDP to any other party is Ndoma Egba’s supporter. Whereas the story before now was that I have no supporter. So, where are those ‘supporters’ coming from?

There is an oversimplification of dynamics of politics in Cross River. We are no longer thinking deeply, we are no more analyzing issues the way it should be.

We are becoming mentally lazy, when mental laziness comes in, it breeds impunity, and impunity breeds arrogance. That is where we are, and we are paying a very high price for impunity which has now become a culture in our party.

But is there pressure from your friends and supporters to defect due to level of that impunity which you just spoke about?

The pressure, actually, is not only from my supporters but from every quarter but it is now left for me to reflect on it.

Corresponding traffic

I will like to make this point. After the so-called primaries of last year nationwide, there was a lot of movement, but that movement was in one direction, and that was where we were supposed to listen to alarm bell which was ringing.

The situation was that people moved from PDP to other parties, but we did not see corresponding traffic of people moving from other parties into PDP.

Furthermore, the crisis in the PDP over the primaries were more pronounced in states that were ordinarily PDP strongholds. The crises were more pronounced in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa. With this, the party was weakened long before the elections and with our own complicity.

I will advise that for us to move forward, political parties should be owned by members of the parties and not individuals no matter how powerful there are.

What advice do you have for your party men who are defecting en mass to other political parties?

*Ndoma Egba

The party that is coming into power at the federal level survived as opposition for 16 years. Even though what has happened to PDP is a self-inflicted situation, we should see what has happened as a God-sent avenue to recreate the PDP to be owned by members of the party and not by barons.

Mental laziness breeds impunity and impunity breeds arrogance and every situation reinforces itself. If you  have small impunity today if you don’t do anything about it, the impunity would grow and if you have small arrogance today and you don’t do anything about it, it would re-enforce itself by growing so the PDP is paying a price for our own conduct and this is a God sent opportunity for us to wake up and think and I also hope that the APC will learn from what has befallen PDP.

What next after your exit from the Senate in the next few weeks.   Outside politics my profession is still there and as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and I have not earned a kobo with that rank because I have not gone to court and the rank was given to me while I was in the Senate so the options are many but I still remain to serve- that much I can guarantee you.

The President last week refused to assent amended constitutions. Is there any friction between the National Assembly and the Presidency over this?

Let us look at the history of constitutional amendment in Nigeria. From 1960 to the sixth Senate, we never actually succeeded in any constitutional amendment in a democratic setting. The only time we succeeded was in 1963 when there was an amendment to the then constitution to allow for the creation of the then Mid-west region, but beyond that we never succeeded. That jinx was broken in the sixth senate when we passed the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd amendment to the constitution.

Constitutional amendment is not an easy process. It is a very tedious and elaborate process which requires not only the normal procedures on the floor of the senate but requires the involvement of the State Assemblies but also public hearings at the national, zonal, state up to the federal constituency level.

The essence of public hearing is to allow the public make their own inputs and the public at large include governments, Governments also send representatives to each stage of these public hearings.

How come these issues were not raised at that point. How come that after we had gone through these tedious processes, these issues suddenly popped up?

It is a rather unfortunate development. When you withhold assent to a bill, the practice is to return the original copy of the bill but what we got was not the original copy but a photocopy, and from that photocopy, the President’s signature was not there.

We can only be categorical when we receive the original copy and that was why, by resolution, we demanded that the original copy be sent back to us.

I can tell you that the National Assembly is not happy about that development, and I will not be surprised if they resort to the other constitutional solution to situations like this.

Prsident Jonathan

Constitutional solution

The constitution is very clear that within 30 days of the bills being sent to the president for assent, if the president withholds his assent, the National Assembly can override his veto by subjecting the bill again to the normal process of lawmaking.

These scenarios had happened before when former President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to give his assent to the bill creating the Niger Delta Development Commission. That bill was passed into law without the presidential assent.

What would be your role at both the State and federal levels after your tenure expires?

My role would depend on the PDP in the State. For almost three years, I have not been invited to any PDP meeting in Cross River. If I am shut out, I will play my role from outside and if the doors are opened, that would define the role I play too. But, the body language I see is that they prefer me outside the house than inside.

During the campaign, they ran their campaign throughout that period and I was not consulted or contacted. Anybody who was suspected of having any sympathy for me was excluded. I am waiting, watching, hoping and praying.

PDP managed poverty, we will end it- Tinubu

ADDRESS OF THE CHANCELLOR, LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, DELIVERED AT THE 12TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY, HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
Protocol

I am delighted to address this assembly for the first time since my investiture as the 4th chancellor of our university. When we assembled here for that memorable event exactly one year ago, many national and international personalities were among our guests.

APC leader, Bola Tinubu

We had the privilege of the eminent presence of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), now the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At the time, we could only hope and pray that all would be well with our dear country, Nigeria. Today, we are grateful to God because he has heard our cry and has answered our prayer for a better nation. It is, therefore, my privilege to welcome you all to this important occasion of the 12th Convocation Ceremony of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

Sweep of Change

As I congratulate the Governing Council, Management, Staff and Students of this university for carrying on the work of the university in the face of daunting challenges which the entire nation had to face in the recent past, I would also like to express my joy at seeing the broom of positive change sweeping across the entire nation. I particularly rejoice with the youth of our nation whose hope and prospects for a better future are now bright.  Their welfare and development are sure to receive much needed attention through the enhanced and progressive policies of the new federal government.

I must, however, state that for us as a nation to experience the change we yearn for, we should all be prepared for a fundamental change in our individual disposition and attitude toward nation building. This change at a personal level will help fuel a national re-orientation that will affect all sectors including governance. We must share the responsibility for change.

Let us use this opportunity to dedicate ourselves to ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach all and sundry. This is the only way to build a secure future for the teeming population of our youth, a large percentage of who have had to go through harsh experiences of insecurity, unemployment and an uncertain future. A great opportunity is now being presented to us to re-define our identity as a nation and re-order our values and priorities. This responsibility is yours as well as mine.

The nation can no longer afford to pay lip service to the development of her youths. I strongly believe that this country is blessed with vibrant and talented citizens whose capabilities for nation building are yet to be tapped. We must all stand in concert and unity of purpose to build a secure future for our country by developing our youth.
Government and youth have mutual duties in this regard. You owe as much to the nation as the nation owes to you. In the past, government has not always honoured its role.  You have now elected a government that will honour its duties.

One of Government’s primary duties is to provide you with an education in harmony with the demands of our political economy. We must educate you with skills required by the job market that you shall encounter and not for some abstract economy found only in textbooks.

Then government must spur the economic growth that promises jobs and opportunity to all of you.
A progressive government must turn its face from the austerity policies of the outgoing administrative that tried to manage poverty, but not end it. Such policies serve only to deepen and prolong the hardship of the average person. Such policies would lock us in a room without hope or safe exit. We dare not go in.

In response to the downturn in private sector activity, a progressive government must exercise the creative boldness to generate economic growth, productive and equal opportunity. Under the circumstances that now confront us, government must use fiscal and monetary policy to enlarge the economic space by embarking on ambitious infrastructural development, housing and agricultural programs.

These programs will provide jobs directly. Moreover, the enhancement of our infrastructural base and sharpening of our productive capacity that results from these programs will initiate multiple rounds of job creation. This is how economic growth and employment are sustained over the long term.

This is what the APC manifesto pledged to you. This is what an APC government will seek to deliver.
You, the youth, must be willing partners in this mission of radical, structural change.

Through perseverance, strong determination and consistent search for knowledge, you must seek to excel for the betterment of your society. As you have gone through this institution, you must carry with you the evidence that the institution has gone through you.

It is necessary for me to call on you the graduates to contribute your fair quota to the development of our country. Remember, the university that produced you has a vision “to be a centre of academic excellence for the advancement of technology in meeting socio-cultural needs of the society”. The knowledge you have acquired in this university becomes meaningful only when applied in a way that impacts positively on the society.

Conclusion

As I conclude, I need to place on record my appreciation of the efforts of the progressive governments of the two Owner-States of Oyo and Osun for their commitment to the growth and development of LAUTECH.

I also acknowledge the good leadership provided by the Governing Council, ably led by Professor Wale Omole, OFR. I sincerely salute the courage of the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi S. Gbadegesin and the Management team for bracing up to the challenges the University has had to face in recent times.

The Senate, all Staff and Students are well recognized and appreciated for their contributions to the peaceful atmosphere in which the University has been carrying out its work.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to assure you all that LAUTECH will continue to enjoy a top priority status.

I thank you for listening.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Court halts impeachment moves against Fayose

A Federal High Court in Abuja today, set aside all actions and activities of the embattled Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin and the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers from November 21, 2014 till date, including the purported commencement of impeachment proceeding and notice alleging misconduct against the Stare Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and his Deputy, Dr Olusola Eleka.

Justice E. Chukwu gave the ruling on an Exparte Application in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/361/15 filed by the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Dele Olugbemi and six other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

The judge also granted plaintiffs in the suit leave to serve the originating summons on the defendants through newspaper advertisements.

Olugbemi and six others had filed the suit, seeking an order of the court declaring the seats 19 lawmakers vacant having abdicated their functions since November 21, 2014 and also an order restraining the police from aiding, abetting or assisting the lawmakers from carrying out any illegal act.

Apart from Omirin and the APC legislators, also joined as defendants in the suit are the Inspector General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Hearing of the Motion on Notice has been adjourned till May 13.

Where is Abubakr Shekau

With peace and quiet from the usually vociferous Abubakar Shekau, supreme head of the Boko Haram in recent times, there are speculations within the security circles that the group may have been so disarrayed that it no longer has the luxury of issuing threats. He was also missing in the recent video of the group where they addressed themselves as 'Islamic State in West Africa.

A military source told PRNigeria that since the declaration of the final push against the insurgents in the middle of February, and directive to clear all terrorists’ camps before May 29 handover date, the Nigerian troops have been on the lookout for Shekau and other commanders of Boko Haram.

“The guy simply disappeared from the radar and suddenly vanished. We wish we can catch him alive,” the source added.

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader and Alex Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff

The last that was heard of Shekau was the unverified broadcast pledging allegiance to Islamic State (IS), early in March which was posted on Boko Haram’s Twitter account. In that broadcast he also vowed to disrupt the rescheduled elections.

Shekau was quoted to have said: “This election will not be held even if we are dead. Even if we are not alive Allah will never allow you to do it.” He made the statement in Hausa language.

Despite the threats however, the group was unable to disrupt the 2015 general elections as polls were conducted reasonably peacefully throughout the country on March 28 and April 11.

Since asking for a six week extension to the date of 2015 general elections in February, Nigerian troops have essentially flushed out boko haram terrorists from the 21 local government areas that they occupied in three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The military has invaded the notorious forest hideouts of terrorists and is systematically combing them to clear the entire Nigerian territory of terrorist elements.

On Wednesday, Defence Headquarters issued a statement detailing the killing of a notorious top terrorists’ commander, Abu Mojahid among scores of others in the outskirt of Alagarno on Tuesday morning

Robber set ablaze trying to rape housewife

A suspected member of a robbery gang terrorizing residents of 7UP area of Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State has been set ablaze.

Vanguard gathered that the robbers numbering about 12 were raiding an apartment in the area when a nmember of the gang attempted to rape a woman but was resisted by her husband.

However, luck ran out on him when neigbours raised the alarm which attracted the attention of others who came to the rescue of the couple while the gang fled leaving behind the randy member.

A resident of the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity told our correspondent that while the suspect tried to escape, other members of the community seized and tied him up and later set him ablaze at the 7UP junction.

The source added the gang has been terrorizing residents of the area, raping women, dispossessing them of cash, mobile phones and other valuables.

When contacted, Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Ezekiel Onyeke who confirmed the incident disclosed that before policemen from the nearby Ohuru Isimiri Division could get to the scene, the villagers had already set the suspect robber ablaze.

When our correspondent visited the area, the remains of the robber was still at the junction.

South Africans are not Xenophobic- Zuma

President Jacob Zuma has pledged to tackle anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa and to address deep-rooted problems behind the attacks. “South Africans are not xenophobic,” he said Wednesday. “If we don’t deal with the underlying issues, it will come back.”

Zuma gave few details of government plans, but said the violence was driven by “criminal elements” as well as friction between foreigners and locals.

However, several thousand demonstrators marched through central Johannesburg on Thursday to protest against a spate of deadly attacks on immigrants, after further raids by the authorities on suspected gang hideouts.

Watched by police, crowds sang songs denouncing xenophobia and carried banners that read “We are all Africans” as migrant workers crowded balconies, shouting their support.

“This march sends an important message to the world, to Africans,” David Makhura, premier of Gauteng province of which Johannesburg is the capital, told the demonstrators. “We are going to defeat xenophobia like we defeated apartheid.

“We are here to make sure that South Africa is a country of peace for all.” Soldiers were deployed in Johannesburg this week to aid police in operations against hostels housing South African men who are accused of targeting migrants from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and other African countries.

At least seven people have been killed in three weeks of unrest that have revived memories of xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed. “I am here to make a stand, to say ‘Not in my name’,” Zain Mayet, 20, one of the marchers, told AFP.

“Keeping quiet makes me as guilty as those who are committing violence. “We are here to demonstrate that not everyone in South Africa is a criminal who attacks foreign nationals.” UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence and called for “all efforts” to be made to avoid future attacks.

“He welcomes the public expressions of the many South Africans who have been calling for peaceful coexistence and harmony with foreign nationals,” Ban’s spokesman said in a statement.

- Forced to flee -

Two people were arrested late Wednesday when police, backed by soldiers, stormed a workers’ hostel in the city’s crowded Alexandra township. In total, over 300 people have been detained. The unrest erupted in the port city of Durban about three weeks ago and later spread to Johannesburg, the economic capital.

Many immigrants have been forced to flee their homes and abandon their small shops as marauding mobs hunted down foreigners at night. “Over 5,000 people from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi still seek refuge in displacement camps,” Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF – Doctors Without Borders) said in a statement.

“Injured Malawian and Zimbabwean men told medics that they are too afraid to openly seek medical treatment for their wounds and fractures for fear of further attack.” More than 20 years since the end of apartheid, many South Africans believe the lack of opportunities for young blacks and a severe jobs shortage has led to deep frustration.

One Mozambican man was stabbed to death in Alexandra township last Saturday in scenes that provoked widespread outrage after the killing was captured in graphic newspaper photographs. Alexandra, where Nelson Mandela lived as a young man, is one of the most troubled parts of Johannesburg and is located next to the upmarket business district of Sandton.

Regional relations have been strained by the attacks, with Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique organising for some worried citizens to return home. Neighbouring Mozambique said more than 2,000 citizens had fled the violence. Five buses also arrived back in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Poor men have no place in my heart - Bose Oladimeji

Bose Oladimeji is beginning to get all the attention in the Yoruba film industry, for both her talent and good looks. But Bose, from Kwara State and an English graduate of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State is burning with desire to do things most of her colleagues wouldn’t dare even though she wouldn’t cross the Rubicon of going nude.

Already, she looks good for it, as she has been nominated in the MAYA awards, along five others as the ‘New Bride’ of Nollywood. Meet her and see what makes her tick.

Why did you pick acting as a career?

I have always wanted to be an actress all my life. The passion began to grow as a child, back then when we used to play the moonlight play, where we imitated our parents and everything we saw on the television. Also, my love for literature helped to add fire to the passion. As an English student, literature is a part of the study, so, in a way, you can say I am still on my field as a professional.

So, how did you find your way to fulfill the dream?

I entered the industry through one man called Olokooba. Later I joined AKO group led by Oga Bello, Adebayo Salami but when the group disbanded I proceeded to Adebayo Tijani’s group. It was under Adebayo Tijani’s group I graduated but I thank God who has remained with him because there is no one else beside him.

Why is it that every upcoming actor in Yoruba sector of Nollywood must have a master through whom they must join the industry?

It is not easy to go at it on your own. If you don’t have a boss nobody will teach you the way to go. You need them to get the right connections and contacts. If you don’t join up with a group you won’t have any foothold and nobody will take you in on your own account.

But don’t you think by belonging to one group, it can limit your scope and career growth?

No, your growth in the industry depends on your talent and what you have to offer. The kind of person you are and how you carry yourself also goes a long way in determining how you turn out eventually. No two students under the same teacher are the same; character, passion and ambition will come to play.

Have you produced your own film?

Yes, I have produced four films. Oniduro was my first production, followed by Laye Lorun, Adajo Aye and my latest work, Aye Mi. Apart from those I produced I have featured in so many films that I cannot count.

Which film do you think brought out the best in you and why?

Hmm, I would have to say Adajo Aiye but Aye Mi brought more ovation than Adajo Aiye. It brought back all the memories of my school days. Aye Mi is a true life story that brought out the best in me because I had to bring back from memory most of what happened during my school days. Besides, many parents called to appreciate my effort.

How do you see your nomination by MAYA Awards as the New Bride of Nollywood?

Yes, it is under the category of Nollywood’s new bride (next rated female). New bride means ‘Iyawo Tuntun’ in Yoruba language and translate as the new face of Nollywood. I believe I caught the attention of the organisers of the award because of my works. I believe there must be something unique about my personality and my works to have been noticed and nominated.

Almost all Yoruba actresses have turn producers, why must everyone be producers?

Yes, it is the only way you can truly showcase your talent as an actress. Until you have produced your own film nobody believes in you or really notices you. So, you have to tell them you have got all it takes to be a really big name in the industry. It is by doing your own film that you can get any character that you want.

But I heardit’s all about making more money for yourself?

Yes, you are right. Until you produce your own films you cannot get real money. As an upcoming actress what you get are mere stipends. Sometimes, you don’t even get paid at all except for accommodation and feeding. This is worse for those still learning under a group. But thank God I have gone beyond that now.

There are many sensual roles coming into Yoruba films now, how sensual can you get in a film?

I apply wisdom to everything I do because I always think of that day a man will ask for my hand in marriage. I don’t want anything that will soil it to come in, so, I check myself and go as far as it would suit the script and comes off as good acting.

So you can’t even kiss, smooch or pretend to make love on set?

Why not? I have done many like that but what I am saying is that I do it with restraint and make sure the act doesn’t go beyond the set. Work is work and I don’t mix feelings with business.

Can’t you date or go out with a fellow actor?

Never; I will never do that. Not that I have anything against actors but I just can’t do it.

Why are the actors so bad or so poor?

No, not that. I just don’t mix business with pleasure.

What kind of men would you date or settle down with?

Wow, he must be cool, handsome, lovely, God-fearing, humble, rich and romantic. Those are the qualities I look out for in my man.

So you can’t marry a poor man?

Yes I can’t, truth is bitter; a man must be hardworking. If you are not hardworking, how are we going to give our children quality education? Providing for their needs? So my desired man must have something lucrative doing because I cannot be idle myself. I don’t believe in being a full time housewife. We must work together and achieve our collective goals. Poor men have no place in my heart.

What if you meet a rich man and he wants you to stop acting entirely?

No, capital no. Acting is a passion that can never be quenched. The man may limit the frequency of my going on locations but can never stop it entirely

If you read English, why haven’t you done any English film?

Everything takes time. Little by little I will get there. Mind you, if I am invited I would participate. Very soon I will shoot my own English film.

How APC won in Kogi

BEFORE the 2015 general elections, most people expected the All Progressives Congress (APC) to give the ruling Peoples Democratic (PDP) a good fight. However, only a few expected the APC to win the presidential polls in Kogi, the three senatorial and six of the nine House of Representatives seats.

Since 2003 when the PDP took over from Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, the party has remained in firm control of Kogi State boasting at a stage that there is no opposition in the state.

The just concluded general elections have changed all that with the opposition APC giving the PDP the political beating of its life.

While many were surprised by the APC conquest, most political analysts were not. To them, it was a disaster waiting to happen in view of the actions and inactions of the state government led by Capt. Idris Wada.

Why APC won

*Gov. Wada

The administrative logjam that greeted Wada’s emergence, perceived poor performance of the state government and botched post-primary reconciliation efforts among other factors spelled doom for the party at the polls.

The inability of the PDP to resolve the logjam over who was its authentic candidate in the 2011  governorship election has continued to witch-hunt the party and affected its fortunes at the last elections.

Though most of the court cases instituted by the Jibril Isah faction was resolved in favour of the governor, the two factions could not reconcile their differences and continued to play hide and seek.

First, the deputy governorship candidate of the Isah faction, Clearance Olafemi (a former Speaker of the House), decamped to the APC with his supporters in Kogi Wast Senatorial axis.

Though Jibril Isah (Echocho) himself did not formally leave the PDP, his foot soldiers and party admirers did.

The fallout of these grievances led to the Abuja group of politicians, the Kogi PDP Elders Forum, moving against the governor and by extension the PDP structure in the state. It was therefore not surprising that the party imploded.

But before the implosion, the PDP Elders forum escaped and defected to the APC. One of the Kogi PDP Elders, Senator Alex Kadiri, in a recent interview, gave insight into their defection. “If there is a situation that you don’t like and you complained to the those you believe can cause a change that could make you continue to be in the system but they do nothing about it, then you have two options: to remain there to continue to make the mess or to opt out.

Never in the history of the state has the party or any party faced the level of defections that hit the PDP and many who thought the governor will find a way to reconcile the aggrieved were all disappointed. The governor couldn’t find a means to resolve the irreconcilable differences between him, the Echocho group and the Kogi PDP Elders Forum who were hell bent on bringing him down.

Wada, at different fora, attributed the slow development in the state to the numerous court litigations that he said served as a setback for him.

The most unlikely mistake that finally give the state away to the opposition is the total collapse of the local government administration. Immediately Wada assumed power, he appointed caretaker chairmen known as Liaison officers for the 21 local councils. Most of the officers were nominated by his predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

But barely a year after, Wada disbanded the liaison officers and organised an election in which the State Independent Electoral commission, SIEC, declared his party as winner of the 21 councils. Shortly after, Wada started having running battles with the chairmen.

Running battles

Some attributed the problem to the chairmen’s open loyalty to the former governor, who they consult before carrying out the directives of the sitting governor.

First to taste the bitter pill of the grievances was Mohammed Ali, the Dekina chairman (the governor’s council boss), who was impeached immediately.

Not done, the court case instituted by one of the APC stalwarts, James Ocholi challenging the legality of SIEC chairman, Ayo Olaniran to conduct the council election because he was a card-carrying member of the PDP, resurfaced suddenly when many thought the case had died. The case was decided in favour of the APC and Wada without appealing the case immediately carried out the order of the court, sacked the chairmen and dissolved the council executives.

Many still hold the opinion that the governor had a hand in the sudden reappearance of the court case. The governor had earlier accused the chairmen of financial mismanagement which he said affected the payment of council workers’ salary.

Controversial primaries

The PDP did not manage its primaries well. For example, the Eastern Senatorial primary where Isaac Alfa was leading only for thugs to disrupt the exercise was one case in point. The party failed to hold another primary but the name of Senator Attai Aidoko, who is seeking a second term, was pushed forward by Senator Ahmadu Ali, the director general of the ill-fated Presidential Campaign Council.

The complaints of others were treated with kid gloves and the governor seemed not bothered about reconciliation. This development was also recorded in many primaries of the party.

Unlike the PDP, the APC, which also had some grievances during its primaries was able to manage its crises better.

Jonathan orders removal of Jonathan/Sambo campaign billboards, banners, posters

The President has ordered the removal of all  Jonathan/Sambo campaign billboards, banners and posters used for the March 28th election.

The President made this konwn in a statment, Thursday signed by Mr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity).

The statement reads in part

”President Jonathan directs that the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and the various associations that coalesced into the Jonathan/Sambo Support Group immediately begin the process of removing the posters, billboards, banners, signs and other campaign materials in support of his re-election bid which still adorn the landscape in major cities across the country.

The President thanks all individuals and organisations who made sincere contributions and worked with immense dedication for the Jonathan/ Sambo Campaign.

He applauds his supporters and other Nigerians for the disciplined, patriotic and democratic manner in which they comported themselves before, during and after the elections.”

Rivers APC chieftain laments another political killings in Ahoada

PORT HARCOURT — House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ahoada constituency II, Rivers State, Eric Apia, has expressed concern over the spate of politically related killings in Ahoada and it’s environs.

Meanwhile, the family of late Chief Christopher Adube, has appealed to the Rivers State Government and security agencies to help secure justice for them over the murder of their father and six others last month.

The first son of the family, Mr Henry Adube, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said things have been tough for the family since the killing of their father, urging the state government to come to the aide of the family.

“The Police and the state government should help us get justice. We want the killers to be brought to book. We also appeal to government to come to the aide of the family,” he said.

Meantime, Apia, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday said two members of his party were killed by suspected political thugs in Abarikpo community, Ahoada Local Government Area of the state five days ago, adding that three chieftains of the APC in the area were also abducted by suspected political thugs.

Lamenting the state of insecurity in the area, Apia said one of those kidnapped was the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Mr Cassidy Ikegbedi.

He said those who abducted the council boss dragged him through a footpath measuring almost two kilometers to a river where they fled with him in a waiting boat.

Apia who said he has been in touch with the family of the council boss, added that no contact has been established with the family by the kidnappers

We cant guarantee attacks wont happen again - South Africa

South Africans have said they cannot guarantee that there will not be xenophobic attacks in the country again. On Wednesday, President Jacob Zuma convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, to discuss the country’s migration policy and how various sectors can work with the government “to promote orderly migration and good relations between citizens and other nationals.” In a statement issued by office of the Presidency which was made available to our correspondent, the meeting began by observing a moment of silence for the seven people who were killed in the recent attacks against foreign nationals in the country. The meeting was attended by various stakeholders from government, business, sports, trade union movement, religious leaders, community formations, youth formations, children, disabled persons, traditional authorities, arts and sports groups. The statement read in part, “The meeting reaffirmed that the overwhelming majority of South Africans, including leaders attending the meeting that they are not xenophobic. The meeting was unanimous in its condemnation and rejection of the attacks against foreign nationals. “The meeting concluded that it couldn’t guarantee that these attacks will not happen again, unless urgent solutions are found to address genuine concerns that are raised by South Africans. The meeting further agreed overwhelmingly in conclusion that the attacks must stop and that all South Africans must be part of the solution.” In his opening remarks, President Zuma outlined some of the concerns from South Africans about some foreign nationals, which included unfair business practices, drugs, and influx of illegal foreign nationals. He stated that the attacks were impacting negatively on South Africa’s reputation. The violence has also occurred at the time when the country will be hosting the World Economic Forum and the African Union Summit in June this year. “These attacks are not a small matter, nor are they a matter for government alone but for all of us as South Africans. We don’t need another occurrence of these attacks in our country,” Zuma said. The President also briefed the meeting on the measures undertaken by the South African government since the attacks started and progress made. According to the statement, the stakeholders acknowledged that there were genuine concerns raised by South Africans and these should be taken seriously. However, they said there was no justification for the attacks. “The meeting decided to form a committee comprising of representatives of all stakeholders who will work with the Inter-Ministerial Committee announced by the President to take discussions of the meeting forward. The meeting suggested that government should convene a colloquium where all stakeholders should have a discussion and find out what are the real causes of these attacks and find solutions. “Government should consider establishing inspectors who can go out to inspect and investigate all the shops in the country in the rural areas, townships and cities. Government should also consider looking very closely to the movement of goods coming into the country and ultimately into the “spaza” shops in our communities,” the statement added. The South African Presidency added that the South African Youth Council would convene a meeting of the youth sector in Pretoria on Thursday, “to formulate a youth response to the attacks.”

Woman jailed for 266 yrs for stealing employer's N8m

Oluremi Olayinka, a female staff of popular eatery, Sweet Sensation,  was on Wednesday convicted and sentenced to 266 years imprisonment by Justice A.A Akinyemi of Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, for stealing N8million belonging to her employer.

The offence is contrary to sections 390(6)(7)(8), 467 and 468 respectively of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State.

The court found the convict guilty on all the 34-count charges. She was sentenced to seven years on each of 30 counts and 14 years on the remaining four charges. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Additionally, Justice Akinyemi ordered her to return the money she stole in restitution to her victim.

Ms. Olayinka was arraigned before Justice Akinyemi on May 13, 2014 following a petition, alleging that she stole the sum of N8,000,000 (Eight Million Naira), which she received on behalf of her employer.

When the convict was confronted with the allegation, she admitted the crime only for her to dramatically pleaded not guilty upon arraignment.
In the course of trial, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission presented four witnesses and tendered 16 exhibits to prove its case against the convict.

Kidnapped oil mogul rescued by Police in Lagos

62-year-old oil mogul, Kudirat Adebayo, who was abducted at Elemoro area of Lagos State, by a gang of kidnappers, has been rescued by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos.

Vanguard gathered that the victim who was kidnapped six days ago, while inspecting the construction of her new petrol fuel station, in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos was, rescued when the kidnappers attempted to collect a N3million ransom from the victim’s family.

Sources disclosed that a member of gang, Niyi Omosola, a native of Ondo State, was arrested with severe bullet injuries, when SARS operatives led by SP Abba Kyari, engaged the gang of kidnappers in an gun duel as they made attempts to rescue the victim.

It was further gathered that, Omosola, reported led SARS operatives to a deep forest in Epe area of the state where the victim was rescued alive.

Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, DSP Ken Nwosu, while confirming the report said the suspect was subsequently rushed to hospital where he was confirmed dead.

He added that one double barrel pistol with two expended and six cartridges were recovered from the suspect.

Nnwosu also said efforts are being made to apprehend other members of the gang.