Man, 65, attempting to transfer money from a murderedman’s account in police net

A look at 65-year-old Akpan Joseph , will never pass him for a
fraudster, owing to his seemingly calm disposition. But he is
currently cooling his heels at the dreaded Lagos State Police
Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Ikeja.
Reason? He was reported to have gone to one of the Ilorin
branches of a first generation bank,on January 7, 2015, posing
as one of the account holders , who had come to transfer the
sum of N1 million from his supposed account , into two
separate accounts,
Suspect: Joseph Akpan
Meanwhile, the authentic account holder, a 35 year-old
business man identified as Chinedu Mba, was murdered four
months earlier by unknown gunmen in his apartment in Gindiri
Jos, Plateau state.
Back in the banking hall in Ilorin, Joseph was asked to sit
down while the transaction was being processed. Unknown to
him, the cashier who apparently suspected something was
amiss, had called in the police. Joseph was reportedly
arrested and later transferred to the Lion building division in
Lagos. Thereafter, he was transferred to the SARS.
On further checks, the late Chinedu Mba’s phone was also
discovered from Joseph.
In this interview with Crime Guard, he claimed to have been
hired by a man whose name he simply gave as Benson, to
make the transaction, with a promise to be given N200,000 at
the end. He further stated that the said Benson also handed
the decease d’s sim card to him.
Hear the Akwa-ibom state born : “ A man called Benson ,
whom I met about ten years ago while I was a security man
at Tin Island ports, took me to Ilorin for a business
transaction.
He did not give me full details of the business transaction but
he promised to give me 20% of the amount . The way he
described the business made the transaction look so easy and
without complications .
We travelled to Ilorin on January, 5, 2015 and lodged in Henry
George hotel for two days.
Thereafter, Benson gave me a filled fund transfer form before
we proceeded to Union bank where he asked me to submit the
form, posing as the account holder. The filled form was an
instruction to transfer N500,000 each into two separate GTB
accounts with name Victoria Abikele.
But to my surprise, the cashier looked intently at me and back
to the computer system before him. Before I knew it, I was
arrested . And when I turned to look for Benson, he was no
where to be found”
Journey to MTN to retrieve decease SIM card
It was after I was arrested that I got to know that the owner
of the account was murdered. I am not the killer. I was in
possession of the sim because Benson went to MTN office in
Ilorin to retrieve the number of late Chinedu, while I waited for
him in the car. On his arrival, he handed the phone to me.
I didn’t kill the late Chinedu. I didn’t even know that he was
dead. Right now I feel very stupid for my action because I
never thought I would get into this kind of trouble. I wish
Benson would be arrested. He has answers to the questions
at hand.
I strongly believe that an insider in the bank gave Benson the
information that Chinedu was dead, that is why he had all the
details about the deceased.
Ah! what will my family say? I told my wife in the village that
I was going to Seme to buy second hand clothes. I didn’t tell
her I was travelling to Illorin for a business transaction”, he
said in an emotional laden tone.
On his part, the bereaved father , Mr Merclenious Mba, a
native of Enugu state, described the whole scenero as a
movie, wishing he would wake up to discover it was one after
all.
The 57 year-old father of nine, said the family received with
shock the news of the death of his son, Chinedu, on
September 9, 2014, by gunmen who stormed his apartment.
“Immediately I received the news, I requested that his remains
be brought home which they did and he was buried according
to the traditional rites in my place.
After his burial ceremony I sent some family members to his
house in Jos to bring back his properties, only to discover
that he had about N6.5 million in his union bank account.
Discovered fraud
We went to the bank with all necessary data and the bank
agreed to transfer the funds to Obinna, my younger son’s
account. But on arriving the bank with Obinna, we were made
to understand that someone had been making withdrawals
from my late son’s account, as a withdrawal of N1 million had
been made, by one Victoria Abikele, on January 5, 2015,
leaving out N5.5 million. We were advised to go to Abuja ,
where the person that was using my late son’s number was
traced to.
From Abuja, we came to Lion Building division ,Lagos, where
two men ; a father and son alleged to have been caught with
my late son’s phone were brought before us! We were told
that they had been impersonating Obinna and I”
To ascertain the true identities of Mr Mba and his son Obinna,
the Police at Lion building reportedly requested for the number
of the deceased. Obinna was said to have called it out and
when the number was dialled, the phone with the impostor
rang.
At that point, the bereaved father who was infuriated,
attempted to hit Akpan Joseph, the impostor, but he was
prevented by the police.
Trying hard not to betray his emotion, Mr Mba said: “ All I
want is justice. I want in-depth investigation, that would lead
to those involved in the death of my son. They must be
brought to book.”

After losing wife to cancer, Agbonavbare battles samedisease

For celebrated AFCON 1994 winner, Wilfred Agbonavbare, life
has been unfair. Having played for Nigeria at different levels,
comprising the Flying Eagles squad of 1983, which were the
first to represent Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World
Championship in Chile in same year and the then Green Eagles
squad of 1984 and later the Super Eagles team of 1994, before
seeking the proverbial pastures greener to Europe, where he
played and retired, the 48 years old Edo state native should at
least be living well off above the middle income level.
agbonavbare
But like is the fate of many former super stars of Nigerian
sports, that dream has remained a pipe-dream for
Agbonavbare, who is not only unemployed right now but is
bereaved and living on borrowed time because of the scourge
of cancer, which has confined him to the hospital bed, seeking
financial lifeline from compassionate Nigerians and the federal
government, which in a way, is alleged to have an indirect
hand in the goalkeeper’s precarious health and financial
predicaments.
Born on October 5, 1966 in Lagos, Agbonavbare, who played
for the famed New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and BCC
Lions, before moving to Spain in 1990, where he spent the
rest of his career, starting with Rayo Vallecano in the second
tier of the Spanish league, is clinging on to his precious life in
Spain and he is weak to the point that you could scarcely
hear his voice sitting next to him.
His exploits in between the sticks for clubs and country are
still legendary. He was a cat that was always ready to spring
to action. But in his battles to help Nigeria succeed, he is now
paying the heavy price of neglect, owing to serious health
issues affecting him.
In a brief chat with some of his former colleagues
Agbonavbare recounted his grace to grass story thus: “I was
relieved of my job after I was diagnosed with cancer. My wife
died of breast cancer three years ago and when she was
diagnosed with breast cancer I spent all the money I made
playing professional football on her medical bills to keep her
treatment uninterrupted. Consequently, I had to send my three
children to Nigeria because of my lethal health condition”.
Soon after sending his kids back to Nigeria, he was relocated
back to Spain after spending five months in a Tampa, Florida,
hospital, to continue with his treatment, which requires
money, an item that Agbonavbare can’t afford now.
For his former teammates, this situation could have been
avoided had the Nigerian government redeemed its pledge to
the Mexico ’83 Flying Eagles squad, who were promised
scholarship to the tertiary level by the then Shehu Shagari-led
government after they returned back to Nigeria from Chile.
According to Dehinde Akinlotan, who now resides in the USA,
it was high time that the present government under the
leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan bore the cost of
the treatment of Agbonavbare, who he lamented was suffering
because of government’s failed promise.
“We are using this medium to appeal to Mr. President to look
back into our plea for the scholarship awards promised to the
1983 Flying Eagles as the first ever Nigerian national team to
qualify for FIFA tournament and registered the country’s name
on their map.
“This will go a along way to help out oAgbonavbare, who is
plagued with a serious sickness and on the hospital bed,
seeking financial support and also fighting for his life. We are
hoping that our plea to Mr. President to redeem the pledge
would be of great help to him. We have already lost three of
our teammates to illness during our plea”
According to another worried teammate, Tajudeen Disu, it was
high time that the President Jonathan came to the rescue of
Agbonavbare, who he lamented was a problem of
government’s neglect.
“ We are using this medium to thank President Jonathan for
supporting all our sports men and women because his
administration has been very supportive of sports participants
more than any administration. I really want to go back to the
1983 promise made to us for being the first team to ever
quality Nigeria for a FIFA tournament by the then government
and up to date it has not being fulfilled. We have been calling
for the redemption of the promise and I believe that he will do
it because he is a president who genuinely cares for sports
men and women and I have no doubt in his trust.
“It’s unfortunate that one of us is at the point of death
struggling to pay hospital his medical bills and if your
government redeems this scholarship pledge, it will help to
save his life. I am talking about Wilfred Agbonavbare. We are
also asking FG to find a way to put together a retirement plan
so players have something to fall back to after retirement
from active football.
“Those of our deceased teammates and coaches ought to be
remembered as well. I have lost hope in the FG whereby it’s
promises are never fulfilled that was why I relocated my family
to US because I did not want a repeat of what happened to us
to happen to my children”, added Disu.

2015 elections: Which Messiah will deliver education?

Ever since campaigns for the 2015 elections began, education
has been mentioned in bits and pieces by candidates of the
ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its main
opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC. However, no
educational issue has been given as much attention as the
‘certificate saga’ associated with General Muhammad Buhari,
the APC’s presidential candidate. For a nation that cares so
much about a 53-year old certificate, it only seems natural
that education would be at the forefront of burning issues in a
time like this. Stakeholders in the sector worry that this is not
the case.
Buhari & Jonathan
“This is a matter which has bothered us sorely since the
commencement of political campaigns;” said Dr. Chibuzo
Asomugha, the national President of the Academic Staff Union
of Polytechnics, ASUP, “we have monitored the expressed
programmes of the vocal candidates and we are yet to receive
reassuring signals of a serious focus on the education sector.
While one party is preoccupied with reeling out its perceived
landmark impact on education, the other party is not even
paying the subject any significant attention. It appears the
parties and their candidates are more concerned with the
seemingly more exigent issues of security and the economy
and may not have considered education as a captive subject
matter for maximum electoral capital.”
Although the vocal focus might be on security, the economy
and job creation, both parties do give education a significant
mention in their manifestoes. The APC in its ‘Roadmap for
free, relevant quality education says that the party will: “Make
the right of every Nigerian child to receive a free, relevant and
quality education a reality, based on free and comprehensive
primary and secondary education; Provide free tertiary
education to students pursuing Science and Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM); Provide free tertiary education
to education majors and stipends prior to their employment as
teachers; Create incentives and dedicate special attention to
the education of girls.
The party also promises to “ensure that every child attending
primary school is properly nourished and ready to learn by
providing a free meal a day; Invest in better equipping and
staffing Teacher Training Colleges and provide financial and
progression incentives to attract and retain good teachers;
Revamp and restructure education curricula from primary to
tertiary levels with a view to ensuring students acquire the
right skills for employment, entrepreneurship and innovation;
Prepare young adults for the jobs of the future by expanding
the focus on science and technology at our colleges and
universities; Improve the ability of people to gain employment
in a variety of fields through greater access to technical and
vocational training.
The PDP Manifesto states that “Education is an important
social instrument for national unity amongst the diverse
peoples of Nigeria,” and that “the party in government shall
ensure that the educational system is improved upon;
Ultimately provide free, functional education at all levels;
Integrate into the formal education system the political
education of the citizenry with emphasis on the provision of
the Constitution, the state and democratic principles;Foster
and expand education all levels and fields of knowledge; and
encourage private and voluntary organizations to establish
schools subject to compliance and adherence to existing
government policies.”
The ruling party plans to do these in an eighteen point
strategy, which includes the promotion of pre-primary
education by encouraging the establishment of private
Nursery schools in such a way that every Nigerian child shall
have the opportunity to start education at the nursery levels;
the Provision of free and compulsory primary education; Free
and compulsory junior secondary education; and Free
qualitative senior secondary education” among others.
But for the National Coordinator of the Education Rights
Campaign, Mr. Hassan Soweto, both manifestoes are just talk,
and not enough talk at that. He told Saturday School Life,
SSL: “In my opinion, none of these candidates have paid due
attention to education in their manifestoes. There has been no
mention of specific policies and strategies to improve the
quality of education and make it more accessible. No one is
promising 26% budgetary allocation according to UNESCO’S
stipulation.
No one is talking about cancelling the outrageous fee hikes
across many universities. There is no talk about eradicating
the commercialization of the education system. There are no
plans to put the 10.5mn out of school children back in school.
All we have heard is talk about transforming Nigerian
education into that befitting the 21st century.
Nothing concrete has been said. Even with the new
universities that have been built, there is still no improvement
in the admission crisis. This is despite the fact that tertiary
education is not even readily affordable. It is not a question of
who wins, but the policies that anyone who wins the elections
will come up with.”
This is in line with the ASUP boss’ assertion that “the
trajectory of the degeneration in our education sector goes
beyond the present administration, and indeed, goes beyond
any single government. A serial layering of policy confusion,
weak political will, corruption, and lack of diligence has
brought us to the present sorry state.
In fairness to the present at the centre, funding to the sector
has recorded some increase, but still not on a scale that could
significantly ameliorate the deep rot that has festered in the
system. We will continue to insist that for the decay to be
stemmed and perhaps reversed, the political class must
muster the will to set education on a strong footing.
For instance, government, any government, must commit to
devoting at least 26% of the nation’s annual budget to
education; government must develop and pursue a
developmental programme for basic and secondary education;
government must set a global agenda for higher education.”
But Mr. Monsur Adeyemo, former Zonal Coordinator at the
National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, believes that
the future of education is inextricable tied to whoever emerges
as President after the 2015 elections. He said: “The present
administration has not kept its promise to us with regards to
education. Nothing anybody says will convince me of that
fact. And as we speak, there is still crisis in the education
sector. And people all over the country are clamouring for
change.
All the sectors are intertwined. I believe that one of the
reasons why education has not been properly funded is
because security has gulped a lot of money. So anyone who
can handle the issue of insecurity in the country would be able
to salvage money for proper funding of education. The crux of
every administration is its leadership, and the fates of the
different sectors depend largely on the man at the helm of
affairs.”
The National Treasurer, Academic Staff Union of Universities,
Dr. Demola Aremu, also had a similar view. He told SSL : “Any
good government will focus on education as a priority. This
has not been the case for the present administration. You can
see it in the meagre allocations to education for the past few
years. ASUU was on strike in 2013 and entered into
negotiations with the government. This same government
made some commitments during those negotiations that are
yet to be implemented as we speak.
It was the same issue with ASUP. We definitely need a change
because this present government has taken us nowhere in
education. Democracy is about giving someone a chance to
prove himself, and if they do not succeed we get to change
them in the next elections. I think we should give Buhari a
chance. If he wins and does not succeed in rescuing the
sector, then we can vote him out.
One might say that Buhari himself has not spoken a lot about
his plans for the sector, but the APC manifesto has a lot to
say about education. Look at the states run by the APC,
check out their education status, and look at the states run by
the PDP and do the same. It is beyond just building
universities in places you need to garner political support.
How well are the existing schools being funded?”
Soweto however argues that “where the PDP has failed, the
APC has also failed. The Lagos State University, for example
was until recently, the most expensive government school in
the country where students were paying between N150, 000
and N350,000 yearly. It took three years of struggle before
this fee hike was reversed. So if we are waiting for any of
these candidates to be our messiah in the education sector, it
will not happen. In the aftermath of the elections and whoever
might emerge as leader, we as students, parents and workers
in the education sector must continue to be united in our
struggle for our rights to education.”
The Senate President of the National Association of
Polytechnic students, Mr. Adeyemi Lukman, argued that
although both parties stressed education in their manifestoes,
the action plans are not stated clearly enough. Although he
agrees that the present Minister of education, “Mallam Ibrahim
Shekarau, a competent hand appointed by the President,
brought some calm into the sector, polytechnic students have
nothing to write home about concerning this present
administration.” He added: “I do not know whether or not the
APC will bring the change we need in the sector, but I will say
that change is inevitable for Nigerians come 2015, not just in
education, but in all the sectors.

Having my boobs kissed, caressed on set is minor to me —Adediwura Blackgold

Adediwura Adesegha is an ebony beauty who plies her trade
mostly in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood. She’s a graduate of
English from Lagos State University and has been acting since
2008. She started acting pretty early.
Adediwura-Blackgold
at is most unique about her is her openness. Adediwura is so
frank there isn’t a subject that has the ‘Stop’ sign to her. She
spoke to Showtime Celebrity on her career, beliefs, love, sex
and more.
Is it true that you need to produce your own movie in order to
be known in the Yoruba movie industry?
When you produce your own movie, it gives you the
opportunity to sell and promote yourself. The number of
people coming into Nollywood right now makes it tough. One
has to keep pushing oneself and think of something new that
can be done.
Why are you called Blackgold?
That question is funny to me; you know why? In the movie
industry, people do get some pet names for themselves for
different reasons, some for the movies they acted or so.
When I couldn’t get a pet name from a movie I acted, I
decided to get myself one which is ‘Blackgold’.Whenever I
grant an interview and I am asked to tell them my name, I
simply tell them Blackgold. There was a soap opera I featured
in which I took on the role of ‘Iya Sidi’ and people started
calling me ‘Iya Sidi’, but unfortunately I had already chosen
‘Blackgold’.
What is the meaning of Blarkgold?
My pet name BLARKGOLD is the combination of my
complexion and my real name. I’m a black lady and I
appreciate my dark complexion a great deal. Also, I believe
the translation of my Yoruba name “Wura” which in English
means ‘Gold’ is cherished. The name comes from combination
of my colour and my name. Call me a ‘Blarkgold’.
Must you have a nick name before you can make a mark in
the movie industry?
No, not really; It doesn’t have to be that way, but at times
when you look at actors and the way the name of a role they
once played defines their entire career, you just want to follow
their footsteps by getting yourself one. Many call me
‘Adediwura’ and others simply call me ‘Blackgold’.
How spiritual are you?
Spirituality has nothing to do with your mode of dressing. It
has to do with your heart. When you talk about being spiritual,
let me just score myself fifty percent.
Are you the type that wakes up in the morning and pray?
My morning devotion is on zero level. I will rather sing. I find
it difficult to pray and keep saying “Lord do this or that for
me”. Singing is the way I pour my heart to God. Everybody
doesn’t have to kneel down and pray. I might sit down and
just look on a spot for a while and keep my thoughts
connected to God. It depends on one’s way of connecting and
your relationship with God.
Are you the kind that goes to church regularly?
I won’t say regularly because I might be on location on
Sunday or might need to attend some family functions.
Why is it that the majority of Yoruba actresses seem to prefer
celestial church?
You know people love it when they tell them they have visions
about themselves. I think that may be the reason they attend
Celestial church. I might be wrong though. You know the
Yorubas believe in the power of the spiritual. Some actresses
were born into the Celestial church while some joined.
What are the challenges you encountered while starting out?
It’s been an easy journey for me. I actually started out with
the Evangelical Filmmakers Dramatic Association of Nigeria
(EFDAN). While I was with them, we went from one church to
another to act including the Redemption Camp. I had to
withdraw from the group when I changed my environment and
couldn’t meet up with their meetings. I was in my sister’s
shop one day singing when a man walked in and said: “You
know how to sing, I love your voice” and said: “Do you want
to act?” I told him that I have been looking for the opportunity
to do that. He said he is a marketer and has a role for
someone who can sing very well because the movie has to do
with music. I went for the rehearsals and got the role. I
actually started with a lead role. I acted alongside Funsho
Adeolu, Yomi Fash Lanso and Fathia Balogun. The movie is
titled Afiwo. That was how the jobs started rolling in and I
started getting known.
Were you criticised when you left the Christian arm of the
movie industry?
Yes, I was criticised because some felt I let them down. As a
Christian actor you are not supposed to wear earrings and all
those stuff. I am here today and they are appreciating me for
what I do because they haven’t seen signs of a Christian who
has disappointed.
Are you married?
I was married but I am separated from my husband. It’s been
seven years now and I have a boy from the relationship.
Do you have any regrets?
I do not have regrets giving birth to my son. I won’t say I
regret being in the marriage because I gave birth to my son as
a result of the marriage and my son has erased all my regrets.
What if the son had come from somebody else and not from
the father?
The point there is I have a son. I don’t want to know where
he came from. I appreciate the fact that I have a son and I
thank God for that. I don’t care whether it’s from mister A or
Mister B. It could have been from any responsible man
How are you coping without him?
Well! I have my family, friends and relatives who are always
there anytime. I have other things I do. I sell shoes, bags,
accessories and people know me for that
How has he been playing the role of a father to your son?
There is a saying that ‘’ what a man can do a woman can do
better’’. I stand on that and I thank God I am coping well.
There is something in life I want you to look at. What if you
gave birth to a child and the father dies, will you wake him to
come and play his fatherly role? In any situation you find
yourself, you have to be strong and stand on your feet.
Looking back, would you have wished your marriage had
worked out?
No, I wouldn’t have
Do you deprive your son of the right of knowing his father?
He knows his father. He has a relationship with his father. I
dare not deprive him of his joy
How long did it take you to get over the breakup?
As I said, I have my family, siblings and friends so I did not
find it difficult .The only regret I have is that we have just one
issue from the marriage. I intended to have two children for
him because that has been my plan. Man proposes, God
disposes. I had the plan of having two children from one man.
Do you have plans of getting married again?
Definitely, I just want to wait for my son to grow a little before
going into another one in order not to be accused by him of
going into another relationship immediately I left his dad.
Do you still get advances from men?
Why wouldn’t I? Am I not beautiful and sexy enough? I have
many of them and I will definitely go for one someday.
What is your definition of a sexy woman?
A sexy woman is someone that is clean. Your outlook,
appearance and character contribute to what makes you sexy.
For some men, they look at curves and the physical
appearance, while others look at the heart. It depends on
what you want to look at.
How about the comments you get on social media?
I have not gotten any awful comment so far. Recently, I
posted a picture on Instagram. I was wearing an outfit
revealing my cleavage and I captioned it: “Your opinions not
needed”. If I didn’t want people to see it, I wouldn’t have
posted it. I wouldn’t even wear the outfit in the first place.
Would you say being endowed has given you an edge in the
industry?
Everything still boils down to what you can do, the way you
interpret your scripts. We don’t use boobs to interpret scripts.
Would you allow someone to touch your boobs in a movie?
It is acting. If it has to do with touching my boobs it is acting
as long as he doesn’t bring them out to suck. It depends on
the message you are trying to pass across. There is no point
saying it isn’t in our culture and using religious sentiments to
give explanations. Why are you an actor in the first place if
you couldn’t portray the true picture of something?
What is the limit for you?
Someone cannot have sex with me live on set. That is the
highest point of it all. Kissing and caressing my boobs are still
minor to me.
Is there any role you can’t play?
You know it’s been said that money is the root of all evils.
When you think of the hugeness of the money you will be paid
you might be tempted. So, I won’t say this is what I can do
and this is what I cannot do.
Can you date someone in the industry?
I can never and I will not.
Do you get advances from them?
Definitely, a lot; I won’t date someone in the industry.
What are your reasons?
I see them as my colleagues. I see no reason why I should
date them. I won’t be able to flow. Imagine a director pairing
someone I am in a relationship with, in a movie with me. I
won’t just flow.
What are the qualities you look out for in men?
Everybody says he has to be God fearing and hardworking. I
don’t have any particular favourite quality. I just want you to
be clean. I love when a guy is totally clean.
What if he is clean and doesn’t have other qualities like
satisfying you in bed?
My lifestyle doesn’t revolve around any man. If you can’t
satisfy me in bed, I will let you know you cannot satisfy me.
We will find a way out. Is it not about making love? I will tell
you this is the way I want you to do it. Give it to me this way.
I am an adult. I see no reason why I should shy away from
that if I really think he is clean enough for me.
What is your opinion about the use of sex toys by some
women?
Its personal. If you think you need them, why can’t you get
them. I sell them and they buy
How has the patronage been?
It’s been huge.
Do celebrities patronise you too?
Friends, celebrities, anybody can buy. That is why I don’t
broadcast when I want to sell my goods. I have my
customers. A colleague did her baby shower, I took some to
the venue and people were so happy they were asking me
where they could get them.
Do you use it?
You don’t have to ask me if I use it. The fact that I sell it
doesn’t mean I use it. That’s personal
I read somewhere that men are attracted to your boobs?
Well, that is an old story.
How true is it?
I wouldn’t deny anything you people write because you use
headlines you like to sell your papers. For me, I just laugh at
whatever is written about me. It is news; you give them what
they want to hear or read. I don’t see any reason for me to
dispute anything. Everybody has their own selling point that
they flaunt. I have a colleague who is known for her huge hips
and she calls herself “Hips Don’t Lie”. Whenever she takes
pictures she flaunts her hips saying “Hips Don’t Lie”.
Do you see your boobs as a selling point?
I see them as a selling point and I don’t think there is
anything wrong in flaunting them
How has it helped you in getting roles?
It depends on the kind of role you are being told to play. For
instance, there was a particular film I was supposed to star in
that involved all the ladies in the Yoruba movie industry who
have big boobs. I couldn’t act in it because I was on another
location.
Do you consider yourself as one of the most endowed
actresses?
I will put myself in category C or may be category B. I have
people who are in the category A like Ronke Oshodi Oke and
Foluke daramola.

Naira hits N208 to the dollar at BDCs, Black Market

Lagos – The Naira on Friday depreciated against the dollar as
it traded at N208 from the N191.50 it sold for on Monday,
Jan. 19.
The rate has made the naira to lose N16.50 within five days.
The CBN’s website, however, put the Naira against the dollar
at N167.50, while the Pound sold for N253.20 and the Euro
stood at N193.89S
The development has resulted into speculation in the market
and caused ripple effects on other currencies.
A some Bureau De Change and Black Market operators in
Lagos, said that they could not give rates to the Pound
Sterling and the Euro.
Dealers who preferred anonymity said that there was scarcity
of dollars in circulation.
They said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had stopped
selling forex to the Bureaux De Change, since last year.
The dealers added that the recent review of trading positions
for the forex trading positions of banks to 72 hours, also
contributed to speculation in the system.
The effect, they added, was that the naira could depreciate
further by next week.
The CBN in November 2014 devalued the Naira to N168 to the
dollar.(NAN)

Policing the elections

The 2015 elections will begin in three weeks and one of the
issues of concern is the provision of a peaceful and calm
atmosphere to enable voters exercise their rights without fear
or distress. We are gratified that the security agencies such as
the Police, Department of State Security and the military are
all geared up to provide a secure environment for Nigerians on
election day.
We commend the Inspector-General of Police for not only
ensuring that the officers are specially trained for the event,
but also putting together a 28-page pocket booklet entitled
“The Nigeria Police Force Standard Operational Guidelines and
Rules for Police Officers on Electoral Duty.”
We urge every officer to commit these guidelines to memory
and carry a copy always for reference should any doubts arise
as to what is proper conduct. It spells out clearly to officers
“their real responsibilities and ethical expectations from
members of the public.”
We also commend the police for the recent re-deployment of
the zonal Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), which will
shield them from undue or “familiarity” influences.
Nigerians expect the best policing they can get in this
election. We believe the country has the men and the
materials to deliver the goods. Indeed, we expect the elections
to be moderated and secured by officers who will comport
themselves in the fashion of decent officers with transparent
integrity and professionalism.
That attitude will confer on the election the credibility which
Nigerians and, indeed, the foreign election observers and
monitors expect. We must emphasise that credibility is
everything in this election, for it ensures peace and guarantees
the acceptability of the election results which is a sine qua
non for a peaceful conclusion of the exercise. That should be
the ultimate goal of the both the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and also the police.
The route to credibility is to steer a course of absolute
political neutrality which would reassure the voters and the
parties. Any action that may have the appearance of
intimidation must be avoided. The slogan must be to oversee
a “free and fair” election. A peaceful non-threatening
atmosphere must thus be created. Crowd control measures
should never be needed. In a location where huge numbers are
expected, clean, clear, unambiguous arrangements to ensure
orderliness, and prevent hustling, pushing or shoving, (which
are the first signs of breakdown of law and order) must be
made well in advance in collaboration with INEC officials.
The best attitude is for security officials to keep off partisan
disputes and never get embroiled in any act likely to be
perceived as helping any party. The jobs in a polling station
are strictly delineated. It is INEC’s to supply the voting
logistics, the returning officers to guide the conduct and
ensure voting is according to the rules. It is the duty of the
voter to vote and it is the duty of the police to keep the
peace.
The Inspector-General is promising the deployment of 300,000
officers to be boosted by 60,000 officers of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defense Corps. Let them do a good job. In
many countries of the world, elections are held without the
need for a single policeman.
From every indication all over the country, Nigerians are
determined to prove the doomsday prophets wrong and
emerge from this election stronger and wiser. We must restate
the need for tolerance, the need for politicians to eschew
inciting and reckless statements, and for religious leaders to
point their flock the way of peace and to renounce violence.
We expect police officers and other agencies to give a good
account of themselves. Nigeria police and military contingents
have been honoured many times abroad for distinguished
service and professionalism. Nigeria expects no less in these
elections.

Why I’m vying for Ogun East Senatorial Seat — Kashamu

The Chairman, Organization and Mobilization Committee of
the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West, Prince Buruji
Kashamu has said that he was not seeking the position of a
senator for any pecuniary gain or personal aggrandizement.
Kashamu who is contesting the Ogun East Senatorial District
election, said he did not see the position of a senator as a
means to gain power.
He however pledged to work for the realization of an Ijebu
State from the present Ogun State for the benefit of the people
of his senatorial district.
The Ogun PDP chieftain who said this during the formal
launch of his campaign in Ijebu Ode added that he was
seeking election as a senator in order to widen the horizon of
his service to humanity, having enjoyed God’s favour and
kindness.
According to him “In vying for public office, I neither seek fame
nor wealth. I even do not seek power because the almighty
Allah has been kind to me as a private citizen. The records
are there for all to see. I offer myself for election so as to
widen the horizon of my service to humanity.
“You all know me. I am one of you. I have always been with
you, whether there is election or not. I am not a seasonal
politician. I have been with you all through the years, politics
or no politics. You all know the various empowerment
initiatives that we have done through the Omoilu Foundation.
Some of which have been mentioned by the DG of my
Campaign Organisation. My dear good people of Ogun East, if
I have done all these in my capacity as a private
businessman, I promise to do even more when I am elected
by you as a senator representing Ogun East Senatorial
District.”
Unfolding his programme of action, the Ogun East PDP
senatorial candidate assured the people of the district that he
would pursue the creation of Ijebu State if elected as a sena­
tor in the forthcoming polls.
Kashamu also promised to ensure the realization of the
Olokola Free Trade Zone project and the proposed cargo air­
port initiated by the immediate past administration in the
state but abandoned.by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led
government.

I never knew I could be this big! –Uti Nwachukwu

Big brother star, Uti Nwachukwu, has confessed that he never
believed that he could be as big and successful as he is
today. The BBA star made this declaration during this year’s
edition of his annual charity show tagged Uti Leads The Stars,
which was held at Calabar Hall, Surulere, Lagos.
“I’m truly in awe! I never expected it to be this Big! All along
we kept saying this year would be bigger and we wanted to
touch more Lives. To stand here today and see all these
happening just warms my heart.
“To hear the widows and blind and needy pray for us and
bless us for our good deeds is priceless! This is why I always
say people should grab the opportunity to care for the needy. I
am indeed fulfilled today,” an elated Uti added.
In attendance were BBA The Chase contestants, Melvin Oduah
and Beverly Osu, Sheyi Shay, Saeon, Vimbai, Lilian Afrgbai of
BBA Hot Shot star, Kenneth Okoli and Linda Ejiofor among a
host of others.
Guests were pulled together from different homes and lots of
goodies were donated to the homes which included bags of
rice, clothes, shoes and toiletries. Present at the event were
widows, orphans, blind and children living with Down
Syndrome including indigent students from the community.
They were entertained by Sheyi Shay, Saeon, Dezign, New Age
and Flavour. The event was hosted by ChinGul and Dr
Ayotunde Alao.

Dare Art Alade VS Timi Dakolo: Who’s the better R&B singer?

Dare Art Alade:
Dare Art Alade aka Dara is a multi-talented artiste and son of
late seasoned entertainer, Art Alade. A singer, songwriter and
entertainment consultant, Dare emerged third place at the
2004 edition of Project Fame Academy. Just like Timi, he
started his career in church and was once a member of the
National Troupe of Nigeria. As early as age 15, Dare was
already playing at high octane events in Lagos. A graduate of
Music from the University of Lagos, Dare once had a stint at
Cool FM. His debut album, From Me To You, featured hit
tracks like Fuji and Escalade. His track, Original Naija, was
adopted as the theme song for the maiden edition of Big
Brother Nigeria. He has won several awards to date.
Timi Dakolo:
Singer, songwriter and performer, Timi Dakolo hit limelight in
2007 after he emerged winner of the only edition of Idols West
Africa which was held in Lagos, Nigeria. Born in Accra, Ghana,
the indigene of Bayelsa State started his music career in
church at the age of 12 and lost his Ghanaian mother a year
later. In 2003, he joined the now defunct Purple Love, a
musical group. Dakolo ascribes his singing ability to his
grandmother, Ateni Dakolo, who raised him up in Rivers State.
The Iyawo Mi and Beautiful Nation singer, who has won
numerous awards, released his debut single, Let It Shine, in
2009. His debut album, Beautiful Noise, was released in 2011.
Dare Art Alade aka Dare and Timi Dakolo are unarguably two
top R&B acts in the Nigerian Music industry that lovers of
good music cannot ignore. With great voices and scintillating
stage craft, they have carved niches for themselves. Today,
the pair slug it out on Showdown as music pundits
determines which of them is the better R&B singer.
…And the people’s verdict:
It’s Dare –Oluchi Uzoegbu, student
Dare is my choice because he is a better R&B Singer
compared to Timi Dakolo. Dare has a better voice and is also
more popular among young people so as far as I’m
concerned, it is Dare.
I prefer Timi Dakolo –Jude Eze, entrepreneur
I prefer Timi Dakolo. He is a better R&B singer and he has a
finer voice texture compared to Dare. Moreover, he also sings
with more passion and energy than Dare.
Give it to Dare –Abeni Obileye, enterpreneur
Who is Timi Dakolo that you dare to compare him with Dare?
For all I care, Timi is just a budding artiste. Dare is far better!
Timi not Dare’s match! –Ebere Eziuche, student
It is acceptable to me that Dare and Timi Dakolo stand on top
of their games as successful R&B acts in Nigeria but it’s not
acceptable that they should be compared on any basis. It is
like comparing Chidinma to Tiwa Savage. That doesn’t mean
that Timi cannot be greater than Dare tomorrow, or that
Chidinma cannot surpass Tiwa in future but as we speak, Timi
is not Dare’s match!
They are both hardworking artistes –Sandra Elegbele, student
The only thing I have to say is that both artistes are hard-
working and their hard work will surely see them through. I
like both of them and they are highly celebrated within and
outside the country; their hard work will surely see them
through.
I’ll go for Timi Dakolo any day –Feyi Ibiola, undergraduate
I don’t need to think twice before voting for Timi Dakolo
because his voice and songs are usually touchy. And he sings
for all age brackets. So, if both artists were to file out for
formal voting, I will not think twice before voting for Timi and
I am certain that he will carry the day.
Dare is the bigger boy –Jimi Durosimi, civil servant
Timi Dakolo’s career no doubt could be said to be currently at
its peak and he is obviously enjoying every bit of it. But from
whatever angle you view both acts and as far as R&B is
concerned, Dare is the bigger boy in the industry; he is much
bigger than Timi Dakolo.
Timi Dakolo is hot! –Ademola Adebusoye, businessman
It is not news that Timi Dakolo is raving at the moment. What
is news is that he is one of the few artistes currently rejecting
deals on a regular basis due to clash of offers. He is busier
that Dare as we speak and that shows that Timi is more
popular than Dare, at least for now.
Dare is a bunch of talents –Bar Ken Ubadiuto
Dare is so endowed talent-wise that his versatility is breath-
taking. He is a bunch of talents, an all-rounder with a
difference. He is way above Timi Dakolo’s level.
They have great voices –Onyi Chikelumba, undergraduate
Both Dare and Timi have very rich voices and they are great
assets to the Nigerian music industry. One glitch about
comparing these artistes is that their pattern of music is not
the same. While Timi sings more of gospel, Dare is into
circular music. But what we cannot take away from them is
the fact that they both have great voices.

Tuface takes Vote Not Fight campaign to The Sun Awards

Tuface Idibia is leaving no stone unturned in making sure that
Nigeria experiences violent-free elections next month. Last
week Saturday, the star took his message to the 12th edition
of The Sun Awards, which was held at Eko Hotel & Suites,
Victoria Island, Lagos.
The singer, who alongside Chika Ike presented an award to
Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy, who clinched the award for
Creative Person of The Year called on Nigerians to just go out
and vote and avoid violence on February 14, 2015, when the
nation hold its presidential elections nationwide and during
subsequent elections.
“Vote Not Fight Election No Be War, that is my appeal to my
fellow Nigerians and all politicians present here today,” Idibia
said.
Commenting on why he embarked on the campaign, Tuface
said “I decided to embark on this as part of initiatives to
ensure a hitch-free electoral process this year. Tuface
Foundation, in partnership with Young Stars Foundation,
National Democratic Institute (NDI) and other partner
organisations, flagged off the Vote Not Fight, Election No Be
War campaign last year and the response has been
overwhelming.
“The youths are brimming with so much energy and passion
and if they are not guided, they could be used as political
tools to destabilise our nation. I am calling on all youths and
politicians to heed this call,” Idibia added.

I, carry cocaine? Never! –Hassan Taiwo (Ogogo)

Popular Yoruba actor and movie producer, Babatunde Al-
Hassan Taiwo aka Ogogo, has definitely carved a niche for
himself in the world’s second largest movie making tradition,
Nollywood. Born in Ilaro, Ogun State, in 1959, Ogogo started
acting in the early 80′s. However, he began his full acting
career in 1991 working with the group of late Muyideen
Aromire.
Earlier, Ogogo’s passion for technical knowledge drove him to
Government Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, where he
obtained a Grade One Certificate as an Automobile Mechanic.
In this chat with Tosin Akinola, the thespian opens up on his
controversial illness and cleared the air on rumors that he was
a drug pusher. He also spoke on his soon to be released
musical album among other issues
How did you come into acting?
I have always had a strong passion for acting since my
childhood days. I always looked up to the late Pa Ogunde, Ade
Love and a lot of those popular actors those days. Anytime
they were performing I did all I could to watch them and that
strengthened my love for acting. Back then they always had
shows at Rona Hall in Osun State, which was very close to
our house. When I grew up we started watching TV and I saw
them again on TV and I was determined that I was going to
do something about acting and here I am today, glory be to
Allah.
Which movie brought you to the limelight?
It was The Wicked Boy because it was my first home video
and it was produced and released in 1993.
How many movies have you produced personally?
To God be the glory. I have produced so many movies that I
cannot recall all of them now. I have about 25 films to my
credit under the umbrella of my company, Ogogo Film
Company. Some of the movies are Oore Ojiji, Kadara, Irole
Aye, Idajo Olorun, Kabiyesi Olodumare, Eni Ibi, Ota Olorun and
Orogun Oko among many others.
A while ago you were very sick and it was very serious. Some
people actually spread the rumour that it was ingested
cocaine that burst in your stomach. What actually happen?
Hmmm… my sister, it is good to always do good in life. I have
never carried cocaine in my life; I have never been a drug
pusher.
I don’t want to say much about my sickness because it was
my sad time, my darkest moments. The illness hit me
suddenly! I was on location shooting during Ramadan period
and I was fasting but suddenly, when it was 12noon, my body
system went berserk! I was just confused and feeling very
bad. I couldn’t talk or move any part of my body. One of the
cast now told me that, ‘Alhaji, is it not ulcer that is affecting
you? It has happened to me before.’ She asked me to take
milk with water which I did. Within five minutes, my body
calmed down and I felt relief. Immediately I left location and
ran to the hospital. When I got there it was something else.
The Doctor told me it was chronic ulcer and the rest is history
today. However, I don’t like to go back to that story, it is my
saddest moment. Glory be to God I survived it and here I am
today on my feet.
Tell us about your album Ogogo Oba Esa?
The reason why I am going into music is because I want to
show my fans and my loved ones that I can sing and that I
have a sonorous voice; chanting is my family heritage. That is
the reason I sat down to put Ogogo Oba Esa together for my
fans and loved ones. It would be launched on January 25 at
10 Degrees Event Centre, Oregun, Lagos.
Thirty-three years after, why don’t you want to celebrate your
years on stage like others are doing?
Celebration of years on stage is a good thing for an icon that
has aged in the industry. I am still young and I am still going
to spend a lot of time on planet earth; I am talking about 50
more years in the industry. I am not saying that those people
that are doing it are doing something wrong, no. But for me,
the time is not yet right for me to celebrate.

Chelsea may offload Mikel

Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel is once again linked
with a move away from the Premiership leaders with latest
reports saying he will be used as lightweight to sign Paul
Pogba. According to the Daily Express Chelsea will bid 40
million pounds for the Juventus 21 year old midfield maestro
and will balance the books by allowing players go in part
exchange.
Players tipped to be used as sweetener for the Pogba bid by
Chelsea include Brazilian midfielder Ramirez, Germany forward
Andre Schurrle with Obi Mikel listed as first option.
This is not the first time Mikel has been linked with a move
away from Stamford bridge but this time around any deal to
take him away has to wait till the summer.
Mikel one of Chelsea longest serving players presently in the
team fell down the pecking order at Chelsea following the
signing of Nemanja Matic a year ago.
This season his route back into the team has been blocked by
the near perfect partnership of Matic and summer signing
Cesc Fabregas in the middle for the Blues.
Galatassary, Schalke 04,AC Milan are teams who have been
linked to Mikel in the past as his 8 year stay at Chelsea ap­
pears to be coming to an end though he is still contracted to
the team until the summer of 2017.

I’ve done nothing to warrant my prosecution – Lulu

Former NFF President Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has once
again maintained his innocence in the corruption charges
leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC) which has lingered for the past five years
in a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Lulu in an open letter to Nigerians is demanding for immediate
justice in the case, said while he awaits God’s verdict, he’s
saddened with the humiliation, intimidation and ungodly acts
he and his colleagues have been subjected to over the last
five years.
“We exhibited the highest level of commitment and dedication
to service of humanity in accordance to God’s set standard,
which was clearly evidenced in our inheritance of an empty
account and debt of over N300 million when we assumed
office in August 2006 and left a total sum of N2.8 Billion in
various accounts of the NFF at the point of our illegal
impeachment,” he maintained.
Apparently reeling out his scorecard as the NFF president,
Alhaji Lulu reiterated that they were able to settle several
debilitating lingering court cases and most importantly re­
stored the glory of Nigeria football as the new Super Eagles
were elevated to the 9th best position on FIFA ranking.
“That was not all, we satisfactorily partnered with the Federal
Government as our main sponsors, state governments and
corporate sponsors such as Adidas, AIT, Afribank, Guiness,
GLO, Tom Tom, Peak Milk, IGI as well as CAF and FIFA to
ensure the delivery of our services within available resources.
“In realizing the magnitude of our responsibilities and the
inadequate resources, with the approval of the NFF congress,
we consequently and always resort to internal borrowing to
augment our lean resources. For instance I had to source
about N40 million to settle players’ allowances during the
2007 U-17 FIFA tournament in South Korea and CAN Africa
Nation championship in Ghana 2008. It would have been
difficult, if not impossible for the team to attain satisfying
performances of winning the championship and losing
gallantly to the host nation respectively,” he said.
He added that under him, the NFF made giant strides like the
overhauling and restructuring of the Federation in line with the
statutory provisions and other achievements he listed in the
release sent to SoccerStar.

I’m better than Keshi’s Boys – Martins

Ex-Inter Milan striker, Obafemi Martins, has revealed the
challenges he went through in his career when he was
growing up as a future star and the problems he had with
Coach Stephen Keshi.
He spoke to our reporter in Lagos recently while on Chris­
timas holiday.
Can you recall your best moment as a footballer?
The best moments of my career were the days I received
medals. I am a medal freak and I have won a lot of medals
with clubs and the national team. I can recall those days I
won bronze in the National team at 2006 AFCON and 2010
AFCON.
Tell us about your most memorable goal.
I have scored a lot of memorable goals and I can’t remember
all. But I can recall my goal against Arsenal back then in the
2004/2005 UEFA Champions League season. I can also recall
the goal I scored against Arsenal; that was back then in the
Capital One Cup final at Birmingham City and a couple of
other goals I scored against Arsenal.
What has been the greatest challenge of your career?
I have come across a lot of challenges, especially, when I was
at Inter Milan of Italy. I left the club due to frustration. You
know, when everybody is against you, you’re bound to play
under frustration. Brazilian forward, Andriano, and host of
other stars rebelled against me, and I believe he later faced
the repercussion of being a betrayer. If I had stayed longer at
Inter Milan, I would have been crowned African Footballer of
the Year, but God knows best, and I believe it’s not too late
for me to be named the African Footballer of the Year in the
nearest future.
How about the most painful moment in your football career?
The most painful moment of my career was when the Super
Eagles of Nigeria failed to qualifier for the 2006 World Cup in
Germany at the expense of an underrated team like Angola. It
was a painful day and I wept bitterly. Then I was just 20 and
my dream was to play in that competition.
Super Eagles are absent at this year’s AFCON, what’s your
take on that?
Well, it is painful but what can we do. The players did their
best despite the fact that we are the defending champions. My
perception on that exit was that the Nigeria Football
Federation played a major role Nigeria’s failure to qualify for
the Africa Cup of Nations. I think we lacked stability in the
Glasshouse and all of that led to our misfortune.
Do you think Keshi is the right man to coach the Super
Eagles?
To me, Coach Stephen Keshi shouldn’t have been given a
chance at all. He dislikes me. Why should you extend the
contract of a man who hardly won a match in recent time? He
dropped me from his world Cup list for no reason because I
believe I’m better than his boys. Well, that is in the past. All
we need to do is to stay focused and let’s see where he takes
the Eagles to.
Did that decision fast-track your retirement from interna­
tional football?
Yes, it’s part of it. I decided to quit the Super Eagles due to
the present relationship between me and Coach Stephen Keshi.
I can’t respect a man who hated me for no reason and I may
come back if Nigeria gets a better coach that can show more
love and respect to the fans and the media.
Which country do you tip for the AFCON glory in Equatorial
Guinea?
We all know there are no minors in football. If not, I would
have tipped Ivory Coast or Algeria but let’s wait and see how
it goes.
What should your fans be excepting from you in the US Major
League?
My fans should be looking forward to more goals and
wonderful performance not only in the League but also at
home whenever I get the chance to play in any charity game
in my home town Lagos, like the one I just did with Governor
Raji Fashola, Jonathan Akpoborie and the host of other ex-
footballers.
At what age do you hope to call it a day in your football
career?
I am a striker and I’m prone to injury more than any other
player on the pitch. Injury kills players’ career a lot, but if I
don’t come across any injury, I can still be active in the next
four years before I hang up my boots totally.
Any advice for the NFF?
The only advice I have for them is for them to focus on the
Super Falcons who will be participating in this year’s FIFA
Women’s World Cup. If they can give the girls the same
financial support given to the male team that failed us, I think
they can clinch the trophy giving the present form they are.
They have got a lot of upcoming stars like Asisat Oshola,
Oparanozie and the host of others; I believe they can do it.
What’s your target after hanging up your boot?
I have a lot of things on my mind. I wish to be a philan­
thropist because no one knows tomorrow; and, secondly, I
may engage in grassroots politics to develop my community.

A letter from an Aborted Child

Dear Mum
I have decided to talk to you, to let you know my feelings. I
want to know why you did it. My story is short. I have stayed
inside you for only three months. I was very comfortable and
warm. I felt
really protected. I know you are a special person because I ate
the food you ate. I longed for the day I would see your face.
Nine months was a long time to wait, but I was determined to
wait. I had to be patient. One day I heard you converse with a
man
about me, and at some stage you quarreled. The man then
offered you some money to get rid of
me. I was happy and prayed that this meant that I would at
least see you, the only person
that I knew in the world: I was wrong. I had almost forgotten
the issues until I felt something
sharp pierce my tiny ear. I jerked silently and in pain, and asked
you to protect me. Seconds later the object came, fiercer than
before. My tiny was cut up, starting from the ears then
arms and legs. It was an agonizing
experience, my head was then cut off and I died.
It took me a whole hour to die, a whole hour for an innocent
three months human being to be
murdered. I remember the whole
incidence vividly and I keep asking myself, what I did to deserve
that cruel death? Why me? Why did you do it to me? And why
was I not given a chance to live? I know you are having a lot of
nightmares. You remain guilty for
thebeastly act. Please explain to your God why you committed
the
heinous act.
Personally I have forgiven you
though I never lived to see your face. My journey to
back to my creator was safe and I arrived safely. I was given a
red carpet welcome by an angel. I
am infact, without bitterness.
I still love you mum.
But the question is Do u support Abortion???
A. Yes
B. No
C. Maybe

Certificate saga: Only Buhari can ask for result – Cambridge

As the controversy rages over General Muhammadu Buhari’s
secondary school certificate, the examination body, University
of Cambridge, has said that only he can request for his result.
Buhari is the presidential candicate of All Progressives Con­
gress (APC).
In its response to requests to authenticate Buhari’s certificate,
The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
(UCLES), now known as Cambridge Assessment, yesterday
said: “We can only confirm or verify results at the direct
request of or with the permission of a candidate.”
It stated: “This is in accordance with the provisions of the
Data Protection Act 1998 and section 40 of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.”
The institution also said that, according to the regulations for
1961, African language papers, including Hausa, were set for
the West African School Certificate Examination.
Amid this saga, the Nigerian Army had, on Tuesday, revealed
that Buhari’s file did not contain original certificate or certified
true copy of his West African School Certificate (WASC).
According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.
General Olajide Olaleye, when Buhari sought to join the army,
his school Principal at Provincial Secondary School, Katsina,
endorsed his application and also wrote a report, certifying
him suitable for military commission.
He had said: “His application was duly endorsed by the
principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and
recommended him to be suitable for military commission. It is
a practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are
shortlisted for commissioning into the officer’s cadre of the
service, the Selection Board verifies the original copies of
credentials that are presented. However, there is no available
record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s.
“Nevertheless, the entry on the NA form 199 at the point of
documentation after commission as an officer indicated that
the former Head of State obtained the West African School
Certificate (WASC) in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects:
English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa
and a pass in English Literature. However, neither the original
copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of results of
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s WASC result is in his
personal file.”
In the same vein, the authorities of Government College,
Katsina, where Gen Buhari said he sat for the school
certificate, on Wednesday, released his secondary school
statement of results.

Poll postponement: Jonathan’s men support Dasuki

Furious that national chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega is not
lifting a finger to help the re-election bid of President
Goodluck Jonathan like some other heads of Federal
Government agencies, the electoral umpire has come under
intense attack from close associates of the president.
Specifically, the presidency has been discreetly pushing for the
postponement of the February polls in view of the continued
rise in public support for the opposition All Progressives
Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu
Buhari.
After weeks of intense campaign by proxy to mobilize support
for postponement of the polls, the presidency eventually gave
official backing to the widely condemned plot on Thursday
when President Jonathan’s National Security Adviser, Col.
Sambo Dasuki (retd) revealed at the London think-tank
Chatham House that he had actually asked Prof Jega to
consider shifting the election dates citing incomplete
distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as justification.
The NSA said he had told Jega that a postponement within
the three months allowed by the Electoral Act would be a
good idea, adding that INEC had distributed only 30 million
PVCs in 2014, with another 30 million left.
He said while INEC had assured him the distribution would be
completed for the February polls, he believed it would be more
meaningful to allow more time for a successful election.
“It costs you nothing, it’s still within the law”, Dasuki said he
had told the INEC chairman, according to Reuters reports. The
NSA, however, said it was for INEC to decide.
Saturday Sun gathered that the frequent attack on Jega by
President Jonathan’s kinsman and staunch supporter, Chief
Edwin Clark may not be unconnected to this same plot to
beat the former university don into line and get him to play
ball.
Just last weekend while playing host to some PDP campaign
groups, Chief Clark alleged that the INEC chairman was
making frantic efforts to ensure that the President Jonathan
who is the PDP presidential candidate, did not win next month
election.
The Ijaw leader further alleged that Professor Jega was
desperate to create 30,000 polling units with phantom voting
population “to ensure that Jonathan doesn’t come back.”
“It is disgraceful that Jega whom we thought was an upright
man has allowed ethnicity and religion to take control of him”,
he added.
It was gathered that faced with the unpalatable reality of a
tough election in about three weeks, several ministers and
heads of federal agencies, who had in 2011 rolled out personal
and public funds to support the ruling party’s campaign, have
instead opted to channel such resources to mobilize support
for a shift in the election time table.
In the same vein, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in
Lagos State, Chief Olabode George yesterday supported calls
for the postponement of the election by the National Security
Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki(retd). George, who spoke at a
press conference in his Ikoyi office, Lagos, said Nigeria needs
a breather, especially for the issues mentioned by the NSA to
be addressed.
George said: “The NSA sees things deeper than any of us. So,
many people have not got their PVCs in Lagos and they will
be disenfranchised. I have not collected mine. There are
logistic problems but calling for a postponement of the
election does not mean it will be conducted after May 29. The
NSA must ensure there is peace in the land. If we have a
breather, all well and good, this will give INEC time to
distribute the PVCs. I have no objection if it is done because
because of what the NSA said.” This is coming as former
Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro led
the Lagos Goodluck/Sambo Independent Campaign Group on
a road show yesterday to drum up support for the re-election
bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. The road show started
from Dopemu along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway through
major streets in Lagos West senatorial district.
It was a funfair as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members
and supporters danced through the streets, distributing
leaflets and canvassing support for the Jonathan/ Sambo
ticket. Addressing supporters, Obanikoro reiterated the need
for Nigerians to vote for President Jonathan in the February 14
presidential poll. He expressed dismay over the distribution of
PVCs in Lagos State, but said he does not support calls for
the postponement of the February polls. According to him:
“We are not impressed with INEC over the distribution of PVCs
which would make or mar this election. With about 43 per
cent collection rate, there is still a lot of work to be done
before the elections.
“We are, however, not in support of any postponement of this
election, rather we want INEC to put its house in order and
ensure enough eligible Nigerians are allowed to vote.”
Meanwhile, George, who is also a former Deputy National
Chairman of the PDP, said 2015 is a critical year in the history
of Nigeria, so the country must get it right. He said all the
NSA wants is to ensure that there is peace in the land,
pointing out that a postponement of the elections does not
mean it would hold after May 29. However, the PDP leader
appealed to Nigerians to eschew religious and ethnic bigotry,
stating that the peace of the country should be paramount at
this moment.
“My appeal now to all Nigerians is that we should eschew
ethnic and religious bigotry. Let us put Nigeria first, let us
come together in harmony and peaceful association. Let us all
promote merit instead of nepotism, let us all promote
observable knowledge instead of cronyism,” he said. “This is
our collective fight, this is our collective struggle, enough of
this charlatanism. Enough of this rampant fraud and lies.”
George, while stressing the need for a change in the
administration of Lagos State, in the next election, noted: “Our
nation is in good hands at the national level, but in our Lagos,
power must change hands”. Furthermore, he said: “We must
now embrace new vision and new leadership. Lagosians
should now search their conscience and stop and ponder
whether this APC government has made any meaningful
contributions to their lives in the last 16 years. Whatever
decision we make at the polls in February will have lasting
impact on the lives of all voters, including the next
generation.”
Also speaking on the same issue, former Transport minister
and PDP chieftain, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said only Jega
can resolve the controversy over the postponemnt. His words:
“It is now left for Jega to clear the air. Jega must come out
and tell the whole world what is happening.My advice to him
is that he should ensure that INEC conducts credible and free
elections without favour or bias for anybody, party or group.”
He however added: “As for me and my party, PDP, we are
prepared for the elections. INEC has told us that the election
will come up on February 14 and we are preparing for it. The
ball is now in INEC court, to tell us and, in fact, the whole
world the level of its preparations for the election. It is not for
us to tell INEC to postpone the polls so that INEC would not
have any reason or excuse to pass the buck to us. For us, we
hold the February 14 sacrosanct until INEC tells us
otherwise.”

Ex-Senate President, Ebute blasts Jega

Former Senate President, Ameh Ebute, has taken a swipe at
the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, saying the
integrity of the electoral umpire to conduct the February elec­
tions is questionable.
Ebute alluded to the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which he
said Jega have only been delivered to the North West zone,
stressing that the performance of INEC is below standard.
According to the Third Republic senate president: “From what
we have seen, the performance of INEC has fallen below
standard and those of us, particularly in the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), are very, very suspicious of the
integrity of the chairman of INEC because we don’t know the
reason his political zone, the North West, has been given
preference against the other states.
“I read yesterday (Wednesday) that all the states in the North
West have been given their PVCs and that the PVCs have
been distributed up to eighty-something, 90 per cent level. We
don’t know other secret things that they are doing that
nobody is aware of, but the one of the distribution of the PVCs
is very clear to Nigerians that INEC, as it is constituted today,
is partial, is preparing ground for a particular candidate.”
Ebute spoke further on this with AIDOGHIE PAULINUS in
Abuja, even as he declared that his party, the PDP, is 90 per
cent sure of victory in the forthcoming presidential election.
Excerpts…
Preparations for February elections are already on. In your
view, how is the campaign going?
The campaigns are going very well. We have prepared for it
and in spite of the few hitches we have had here and there
during our primaries, the campaigns, as far as the presidential
election is concerned, are a full proof. We are quite ready for
the election on February 14, 2015, and we are 90 per cent sure
of victory in the presidential election because the main basis
of the people voting, is on performance and merit. And I want
to ask Nigerians to go round and see what Jonathan has
done, whether any president has performed to such level
before. So, if elections are to be based on performance and on
merit rather than on zonal and tribal basis, then we are 90 per
cent sure. And I am sure that the silent Nigerians who are not
talking, who are not politicians, and who have seen what is
on the ground, will definitely vote for President Goodluck
Jonathan.
How do you see the preparedness of INEC to conduct the
elections?
From what we have seen, the performance of INEC has fallen
below standard and those of us, particularly in the PDP, are
very, very suspicious of the integrity of the chairman of INEC
(Prof Attahiru Jega) because we don’t know the reason his
political zone, the North West, has been given preference
against the other states.
I read yesterday (Wednesday) that all the states in the North
West have been given their PVCs and that the PVCs have
been distributed up to eighty-something, 90 per cent level. So,
I want to appeal and to urge Professor Jega and officials
under him to immediately change tactics and make sure that
all the states of the federation have equal distribution of
PVCs. If not, they cannot run away from the accusation that
they are being partial and they are favouring a particular
candidate. When you supply some states with PVCs and you
deny others with PVCs, then how can you escape from being
accused of impartiality? So, I appeal to them and I urge them
that unless they change between now and the end of the
month, we would urge the government to dissolve INEC and
bring in people who would perform impartially so as to pave
the way for free and fair elections.
So, you doubt the ability of Jega to conduct free and fair
elections?
I have told you that the evidence that I have seen so far has
created doubt in me as to whether Jega can be impartial. The
law is that it is an independent electoral commission, but how
can an independent electoral commission favour one zone
against the other? That is the question. We don’t know other
secret things that they are doing that nobody is aware of, but
the one of the distribution of the PVCs is very clear to
Nigerians that INEC, as it is constituted today, is partial, is
preparing ground for a particular candidate.
How do you see the response of Nigerians?
Nigerians are responding in a very angry manner. Or are there
no roads to carry PVCs to other states of the federation in the
North Central, in the South East and in the South South? So,
it is only in the North West that we have vehicles to carry
PVCs to? No explanation has been given by INEC why all the
states in the North West have been supplied with PVCs and
other states in the federation have not been supplied with
PVCs.
Going by your experience as an elder statesman and most
importantly, as a former senate president, how do you see the
forthcoming elections?
The forthcoming elections are going to be most peaceful and
if INEC could tighten its belt and perform impartially, it will
measure to international standard. And we in the PDP are
prepared. We are not using our governmental power. We are
the party in power, but we are not muscling anybody, we are
not removing anybody from office because of his impartiality.
So, the election will be free and fair if only INEC can behave
transparently in the eyes of Nigerians that what they are doing
is fair to all the states of the federation.
How are the forthcoming elections going to be different from
past elections?
The elections are going to be different from past elections in
the sense that the elections will be very, very peaceful.
Do you think the re-election of President Jonathan is good
omen for the country?
Yes. He has to continue because President Goodluck Jonathan
has performed creditably well and I don’t think Nigerians will
allow all the programmes that he has put in place, the railway
system, in the aviation sector and the development in
agriculture that we are becoming the number one economy in
the whole of Africa, I don’t think that Nigerians would want
this to stop by not re-electing President Goodluck Jonathan.
So, re-electing Jonathan is progress for this country so that
he could use the remaining four years to complete all the
programmes that he has started before any other person
would come and rubbish the situation.
His critics believe that the president has not handled
sufficiently, the insecurity ravaging the North East. What is
your take on this?
The insecurity that we are seeing now was created by top
officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) so that they
can accuse him of inability to suppress the insecurity. So,
Nigerians should be sensible enough to understand that the
people who started the insecurity are there and we know them
and they are the people who are saying that three months in
office, they will be able to suppress the insecurity. Oh! Yes, be­
cause the boys in the field, the Boko Haram, are their boys.
And once they come to power, they just call them to office
and ask them to stop because they encouraged them in the
first place. They financed them and they are working for them.
They are recruiting some fighters from outside, these top
officials of APC. So, they have the ability to stop them. But
that would be a very bad omen because so many lives have
already gone. And especially for the presidential candidate of
the APC who had truncated democracy in1983, there is a
saying in law that you cannot commit fraud and later try to
benefit from the fraud. You cannot truncate democracy and
say that you are a democrat; that you want to be elected on
the platform of a political party.
So, there is no hope for General Buhari?
My vote is only one, so I cannot say there is no hope for him.
He could have hope depending on what Nigerians say.
Upon his emergence as the APC presidential candidate, it
was learnt that there was panic at the PDP secretariat. What
accounted for this?
There was no panic. His emergence cannot create panic
because this is not the first time that Jonathan is contesting
with Buhari. He contested with him in 2011 and Jonathan
defeated him. So, why should anybody panic in the PDP
because Buhari emerged as the presidential candidate of the
APC?
But he seems to be getting more approbation, more followers
across the country more than ever before. How do you see
this trend?
Well, the people that you see, the crowd that come out, are
always bought by political parties. People come out, believing
that because of the very small hardship in the country, they
could benefit and that they could be given something. So, it is
not genuine crowd. They are usually bought.
The forthcoming elections are largely believed would go by
tribal and religious inclinations. What’s responsible for this?
In the previous presidential elections, we have made it. But
now, some people have come out. Senator Bola Tinubu and
some die-hards from the North West have come out to say
that those two zones alone can produce the president. That is,
the South West and the North West. So, they have ganged up
on the basis of tribe to say that they have the capacity to
produce the president and that is what we are going to see.
My message for Nigerians is that they should vote irrespective
of tribal sentiments; that they should vote on the basis of
merit and performance for the unity of this country.

PDP, Amaechi set for war over Jonathan’s rally venue

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, and the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) are set for a showdown over the
venue of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential rally
scheduled for January 28. While Amaechi is maintaining that
the Adokiye Amasieamaka
Stadium is not available for use as construction is still
ongoing, PDP, on the other hand, is insisting that the facility
would be used for the rally. Yesterday, PDP raised the alarm,
alleging that the governor had plotted to use supporters of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) to disrupt the Jonathan’s
rally.
State party chairman, Felix Obuah, in a statement issued by
his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, said PDP could
no longer overlook the threat, as the opposition had
demonstrated hatred against the president.
Obuah said: “The party regrets that rather than issues-based
campaigns, Amaechi has made it a habit to cast aspersions
on Mr. President everywhere he goes for campaigns and as
though these are not enough, he went on a radio live
programme on Thursday, January
22, 2015, to threaten fire and brimstones, should the PDP go
ahead to hold any rally for President Jonathan at the State-
owned Amasieamaka Stadium”.
The PDP stressed that Governor Amaechi-led government
should note that: “There is a difference between him
(Amaechi) and the state and by extension, state-owned
institutions, and should stop acting as though these
institutions are his personal property.
“Regrettably, the only reason he (Amaechi) has given for
refusing the PDP the use of the new stadium is that he is the
Governor and has the right to say No. This is outright turning
himself to the ‘State’, which is wrong and anti-democratic”,
the PDP noted.
The party further alleged: “While we do not wish to join issues
with Amaechi, we also make bold to say that Amaechi’s
threats are a pointer to plans to cause breach of the peace
and order”.
The party chairman called on security agencies to investigate
the alleged threat, adding that the opposition should be held
responsible, “for any possible crisis before, during and after
President Jonathan’s presidential rally in the State”.

2015: Igbo yet to decide on Jonathan, Buhari – Ohanaeze

The caretaker committee recently inaugurated to run the
affairs of the Igbo apex body Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that
the Igbos have not yet decided on which presidential can­
didate to support in the February 14 presidential election.
In a statement issued in Enugu yesterday and signed by the
caretaker committee chairman Chief Ralph Obioha, the Igbo
apex body said it was yet to be agreed if Ndigbo should be
directed to collectively endorse the presidential candidate of
any of the two leading political parties, PDP and APC.
According to the statement “since the elected executive of
Ohanaeze ceased to function from January 12, 2015 because
of the tenure expiration and our caretaker committee only
inaugurated few days ago, the committee has been in wide
and extensive consultation with various organs of Ohanaeze.
“This consultations include the Imeobi, the youths and women
wings, traditional rulers, Ndi Eze Igbo in Diaspora, Igbo
organizations worldwide.
“This consultations have been on since the inauguration of our
committee and it will not be long before we will be in a
position to issue advice or guidance to Ndigbo on how to vote
in the coming elections.”
It however, noted that Ndigbo are concerned with core issues
that affect the generality of the people of the South East. It
highlighted such issues to include “the right to life and
property which includes addressing the menace of cattle herds­
men which is a national security matter.
‘The provision of power generation capacity to enhance the
revitalization of our industries, to put our people back to
production.
‘The reactivation of Oji River power plant; the extension of the
National Gas Link to all South East States.
“The absolute collapse of federal roads, infrastructure in the
South East Zone and the need for urgent attention and
rehabilitation.
‘The adherence to true federalism and the right to freedom of
religion as well as the removal of all stipulations that prevent
private enterprise to strive anywhere in Nigeria.”

How Boko Haram funds its operations – Security expert

As Nigeria grapples with the biting Boko Haram terrorist
attacks, a security and money laundering expert, Mr. Samuel
Chukwuka Onyeka, has given an insight into how the terrorist
organisation gets its financing in his soon-be-launched book,
entitled, ‘Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing
of Terrorism in Nigeria’.
According to him, Boko Haram is a local terrorist group and
does not operate banks accounts. He revealed that based on
series of researches conducted by United Nations-backed
agencies, Boko Haram is involved in kidnapping and small
scale trans-border arms smuggling.
Mr. Onyeka, who doubles as co-chairman of Nigeria’s Money
Laundering and Terrorism Financing National Risk Assessment
Secretariat, said the new book answers and resolves issues
related to large scale money laundering and terrorism
financing in the country. He equally revealed that agencies in­
volved in battling money laundering during the official
presentation of the book, billed to hold on January 29, 2015 in
Abuja.
He said: “Terrorism became an issue after the bombing of the
United States of America in 2001. Boko Haram in Nigeria is
not being funded by the major means through which terrorist
organisations are being sponsored. Based on our research,
terrorists in Nigeria do not need enough money to operate.
They are involved in kidnapping and small scale smuggling
across the Cameroonian boarders. They also get money
through other forms of illegalities and through coercion. So
far, financing of terrorism has been largely contained globally.

APC office set ablaze in Bauchi

Youths suspected to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) yesterday set ablaze the campaign office of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate
Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar in retaliation for the
attack on President Goodluck Jonathan and vandalization of
his billboards and posters.
It was learnt that some hired youths attacked and vandalised
the Bauchi South Senatorial District campaign office of Bar­
rister Abubakar located on Kobi Street at 2am when people
were still sleeping.
A resident of the area who craved anonymity said: “We woke
up and saw the office on fire and all the relevant things in the
office had already been burnt and there was nothing we could
do at that time to save the situation. We did not envisage
that any reasonable person could do such a thing.”
Some other residents said they saw some persons stormed
the office in three Hilux and set it ablaze and thereafter drove
out while the flame blazed for over two hours because of the
documents in the office.
Barrister Abubakar described the incident as unfortunate,
barbaric and undemocratic pointing accusing fingers at
supporters of PDP. He said APC is a peaceful party, deter­
mined to clinch the state governorship seat even as he
warned those behind the burning of his campaign to desist
while he appealed to the security agencies to fish out the
perpetrators.
“We in APC, we are not violent people and we are guided by
the simple principle of issue based campaign and not
violence. Our peaceful conduct is already giving us an edge
over our opponents and we can never resort to violence at any
point of our campaign”, he added.

Election postponement: INEC yet to decide – Jega

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has reacted to the spate of
appeals for the postponement of next month’s general
election, stressing that the electoral commissioners have not
met to take final decision on the possibility.
Although Jega assured that the Commission will meet the
electoral time table target, he however noted that
postponement is not a decision he can take alone without
consulting his commissioners despite the unconfirmed appeal
by the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Speaking during a programme: ‘Mitigation of Violence in
Election (MOVE) Project organised by IFES, Professor Jega
said: “We have all read the statement attributed to the NSA
for the postponement of the general election, but I don’t want
to comment on it until I confirm and get clarification because
it would be premature to do so.
“In any case, what I normally communicate to the public is
the Commission’s decision. The Commission has not sat to
discuss and take decision on this matter and I will therefore
appeal to people to be a bit more patient. I cannot just com­
ment on this issue now.
“However, I want to emphasis that everything we are doing
including the challenge of the distribution of the Permanent
Voters Cards (PVCs), which we believe is something we can
address long before the date of the election.
“I don’t know what anyone else wants me to say. We issued a
timetable for the February 14 election almost one year ago
and we have been very busy working to implement that
timetable to the letter,” he noted.
While giving update on the distribution of PVCs, Prof Jega
revealed the Commission’s plan to extend the distribution till
the eve of the election, disclosing that over 58 million PVCs
have been produced including the latest delivery of 4.1 million
PVCs.
“We have already decentralised the distribution of the cards in
order to hasten the process of collection. It was formally in
local government offices, but following the anxiety and
agitations and the fear that we might not finish the
distribution before the election, said instead of local
government offices, we decentralised to ward level. People can
now go to ward levels to collect the cards. Secondly, we
increased the duration of the distribution including Saturdays.

Mark slams APC, condemns attacks on PDP

Senate President David Mark yesterday condemned the All
Progressives Congress (APC)’s persistent attacks on Presi­
dent Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) campaign train describing the act as “despicable.”
President Jonathan’s aides and the PDP campaign train were
reportedly attacked in Katsina, Kano and Bauchi states by
thugs believed to be supporters of the opposition political
party.
Senator Mark said the attacks on the PDP is an affront on
democracy and a betrayal of the peace pact entered into by
the political parties and their candidates.
Also, Federal Capital Territory Administration Minister, Senator
Bala Mohammed and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu in
separate remarks urged Nigerians to remain steadfast with the
PDP.
The Senate President, who spoke at the flag-off of FCT PDP’s
presidential and national assembly campaigns in Bwari Area
Council on Friday said the conduct of supporters of the
opposition party is condemnable by any right-thinking member
of the society.
“We condemn this unwarranted, despicable and violent attacks
on the PDP and its candidates. They have campaigned in
other parts of the country without molestation. We should be
allowed to campaign freely. The opposition must stop this
desperation and allow Nigerians to decide.
“This election must not be a do-or die-affair. The campaign is
an avenue to tell the electorate what you have done and what
you intend to do for them. It should not be turned to a battle
field.
“Any democracy that stops Nigerians from moving round freely
is not the type of democracy we want. Nigerians must be free
to go to the south and to the North without hinderance. Those
who want to encourage hatred amongst Nigerians must think
twice. We must allow for freedom of movement.
“We must allow people to campaign anywhere they want.
Those of us who are at the helm of affairs must take full
responsibility for any misconduct or misdemeanor of our
supporters or followers.”