HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CEO OF AMEBOCITY

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CEO OF AMEBOCITY . AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY I PRAY THAT GOD IN HIS MERCIES LIFT YOU HIGHER AMEN.... FROM YOUR ADMIN

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General elections: I SEE BLOODSHED

■ Cardinal Okogie declares
■ Says only prayers can avert looming danger
Outspoken Catholic priest and former Archbishop of Lagos,
Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie has expressed fears that
there will be bloodshed occasioned by the general elections
slated for this month. The renowned cleric, who spoke with
VERA WISDOM-BASSEY in his Ikoyi, Lagos residence last
week, warned that only intense prayers can avert the danger
he is seeing ahead. Excerpts:
How has it been since you retired?
There is a slight difference between when I was in office and
now, because people still come to consult me, I still run
around to do a few things. I do make sure I keep myself busy,
life has been very pleasant. I am no more in office, I have to
have my own schedule, I am not tired yet. But in Roman
Catholic, there is a law that once you are 75 years, you have
to inform authorities in Rome meaning you have to retire, that
is generous enough. Look at our lifespan here, some don’t
even get to 60, I can still go another round if I am allowed but
that is not the case in Roman Catholic. Well, I missed moving
around with people, not that I don’t move around but it is
curtailed, I always go around schools to make sure that things
are in order, it’s quite good, that’s the beauty of Catholic
church, you don’t hold on to anything, things are given to you
to use for the good of others, I own nothing.
When I left, I had no place to stay, if we really want to make
Nigeria one as it should be, we should see one another as
brothers and sisters, that’s the correct thing to do.
What does it take to keep Nigeria one?
I think they say to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be
done but we are not keeping the nation one, look at the
innocent soldiers that risked their lives, where are they today?
How many people remembered them? It’s painful, and look at
all the people eating and drinking and spending the money the
way they like. Look at Boko Haram, how many of those
leaders are ready to go and sympathise with the parents of
those children who were kidnapped in Chibok? I feel bad. Look
at the newspapers, instead of addressing the issues, the
political campaigns are nothing but abuses, unearthing the
past, disgracing themselves. When you look at it realistically,
those thinking they are disgracing their opponent, are indi­
rectly campaigning for that person. I expect the issues to be
on education, unemployment and how they are going to
address them. How many manifestos have you seen out and
we are preparing for elections.
My fear in this election is bloodshed and it’s already
happening and am praying seriously, am begging God to avert
it, you can see the atmosphere is tense, look at what is
happening in Ekiti for example, how somebody will be doing as
he likes without being checked, just because he belongs to a
party.
This is not a joke, Nigeria belongs to all of us, there is no
other nation we can call ours, the good Lord that brought us
under one umbrella and call us Nigeria knows what He is
doing. Thank God Nigeria is changing; revolution.
Are you saying there is silent revolution going on?
The youths are coming up, there is a silent revolution coming
up, the youths are watching, that was the kind of thing
Ojukwu wanted to do but he was too ambitious, but our
heavenly Father knows what He is doing with everyone of us,
He knows when to call the break, He is wisdom personified, so
you can’t outdo things. When you look at the way the nation
is going on, some people must be checked and if they don’t
listen, they should be behind bars for peace sake, let’s be
frank.
We started getting it wrong from political godfathers, and they
are gradually dying out, they are fading away fast, then you
will find refined godfathers because they will always be there,
the refined ones will not ask for all the powers, they will just
tell you this is what they want you to do, if you don’t obey,
they will keep quiet and wait for you.
How do you rate the administration of President Jonathan on
the fight against corruption?
The current administration the way I see them, they plan
many things in the air but you will not see them on the
ground, the one you find on the ground, they don’t last, waste
of money and that to me doesn’t augur well. People travel,
they see all these roads, are they stupid, talk of Chibok girls,
these are minus, even if they are doing very well, all these
things are minus, for a nation like Nigeria we expect
something better, not that they are not capable but eye-
service is too much, and then of course, when you begin to
look at faces because they are members of your party, you are
wasting your time, the people that are really serious will just
look at you and smile.
If they want to cut corruption in this country, let them begin
by reducing the money of all the National Assembly members,
Senators, even the governors, then you will see that there will
be few politicians, the ones that will be there will be sincere
politicians who are not running after the national cake.
How do you see CAN in your time when you were the
chairman and now?
CAN now and then; the difference is clear in terms of action.
During our own era, we didn’t go beg governor for a favour,
you call a spade a spade, we had only one term and we know
the President, whether you are from the South East or North
or South-West, if you have any problem, you bring it to the
President, and if he cannot solve it, then we call the general
ground. If you want to be a leader and be a good leader you
must be a father in the real sense of the word, you don’t bring
in religion, you don’t bring affluence, these people are hungry,
how do I treat them, some people are fighting, how do I
correct it, those are the duties of a father, that is what a
leader should do, you don’t wait for people to say do this, do
that, if you wait too much, delay is dangerous, Nigeria belongs
to all of us, we don’t need to be afraid.
Are you of the opinion that the coming elections be
postponed as being canvassed?
There are those who are afraid of having this election
postponed because they are thinking of where to get fresh
money to begin a new campaign, the money they have, they
have expended it, they are looking at fire coming out and they
are still saying go ahead, the way I see it, we are not ready
and we should postpone it. If it is postponed, we will have a
peaceful election because there will be less money to spend,
money they cannot use for the poor, they are spending it on
campaigns, as far as I am concerned, am one of the many
that say it should be postponed.
Jonathan and Buhari, who is a better leader?
They should begin to publish their manifestoes and defend
them, they should be bold to say this is what they will do
when they get there.
Except they know that this candidate can deliver provided he
is not a cleric, and they have every assurance but how can
you have a 100 per cent assurance?
We have to pray because the atmosphere is too tense and I
think only God can help us, there must be spirit of self-
sacrifice, love, to be another man’s keeper, I think is lacking a
lot, people don’t care, that is gone. We need a selfless leader,
a leader who will see everybody as his own, and of course
there must be the fear of God because the fear of God is the
beginning of wisdom. You cannot rule out God in our nation
today and that is one of the things that is killing us. We think
we know better, who is God after all, and some will even ask
you show me your God. Our leader must be patriotic, he must
see Nigeria as his own, that one is lacking, completely lacking
in this nation, whether you say the pledge or sing the national
anthem, we can see we don’t mean it. It’s clear that we don’t
mean it.

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2015: Mbu talks tough ■ Controversial police AIG says ‘I’mbattle ready’

Lagos residents may have to brace up for more surprises from
the controversial Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police,
Mbu Joseph Mbu who heads the zone 2 command
headquarters of the force. He has threatened it will be fire for
fire in the coming elections.
“Nobody, no matter the position, will be above the law, I will
shame critics as we are not afraid of any person, I repeat,
anybody who attacks my men violently, we will respond
violently as we are battle ready”, Mbu thundered at a lecture
he held for senior police officers at the Lagos police command
headquarters, Ikeja on Wednesday.
The warning from Mbu, who came into limelight as a
Commissioner of police in Rivers Statewith his frequent
clashes with the state governor, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike
Amaechi is coming on the heels of his face-off with the Lekki
Concession Company, operators of the Lekki toll gates last
week.
The police chief had last week ordered the detention of some
LCC officials and policemen attached to the company after his
convoy of six vehicles was asked to pay toll fees.
However, addressing senior officers of the Lagos command on
Wednesday, Mbu attempted to paint the picture of a
gentleman who cannot hurt a fly. According to him: “You can
see for yourself that I am a simple man. Very friendly to be
around with, and humble. Anyone who is afraid of me must be
a lawbreaker. I can barely hurt a fly. Anyone who had worked
with me will understand that I hate indiscipline and will not
tolerate a dirty looking policeman.
“For now I do not have another job and will only do the right
thing to protect my job. All I need is police officers to know
the power they carry and utilize it properly according to the
constitution.”
For him, the 2015 general elections provide an opportunity for
him to shame his critics. “We will do our best. This is not the
first time that I have monitored elections and so far, it has
been peaceful in those areas and this will not be an exception.
“We have enough vehicles, manpower from police units such
as Mobile Police Force, Special Protection Unit, Rapid
Response Squad and we can even seek the assistance of the
Army”, he added.
He charged the senior police officers, including the rank and
file, to keep to the ethics of the profession and desist from
any act of corruption. “I want to warn policemen against
selling their conscience because of money or personal interest.
Policemen should be prepared to do the job and build
confidence rather than pursuing money, taking police job like a
personal business”, he said.
Mbu noted that his men should be prepared to work hard for
the success of the coming polls and be ready to either be
promoted, demoted or shown the way out of the police force if
found in any act of dereliction of duty.
The new AIG said policemen should not allow themselves to
be used or intimidated by any politician or political party,
saying that he would be ready to defend them when they are
on the right path.
He advised policemen who would be deployed to polling
centres to resist any form of violence, ensure that they take
pictures or video record of perpetrators of violence and always
update their bosses with situation reports.
He warned policemen against injustice and impartiality, adding
that they have nothing to do with election results or rigging.
Meanwhile, calm has returned to the Lekki tow gate, after the
ugly incident that led to the withdrawal of mobile policemen
posted to guard the area and ensure compliance by Mbu
Friday, last week.
Mbu’s convoy, consisting of six cars and an armoured
personnel carrier, sought to transit through the Ikoyi-Lekki toll
plaza on Lane 8.
On reaching the toll point, some of the police orderlies
escorting the convoy allegedly ran up and informed the LCC
official on duty and the mobile policemen standing by that the
AIG was in the convoy.
The LCC official was said to have retorted: “Who is the AIG?
He should follow procedure and pay the toll.”
Mbu, who was said to have overheard the remark, felt insulted
by the effrontery of the LCC toll plaza staff. To make matters
worse, the five mobile policemen attached to the plaza were
also said to have engaged the orderlies escorting the convoy
in an altercation. Their conduct was said to have enraged the
AIG, who then ordered that they be arrested along with the
LCC staff and detained at the Maroko police station. Mbu also
ordered the withdrawal of all policemen attached to LCC.
As a result, the LCC management was said to have reached
out to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, who allegedly
facilitated the release of all the detainees. The monarch is a
retired Assistant Inspector General, AIG, of police.
Mbu was, however, said to have refused to restore the
security details attached to the company despite pleas from
the Oba. Saturday Sun gathered that it took the intervention of
a former IGP, Musiliu Smith to convince Mbu to restore the
company’s security details.
Meanwhile, Saturday Sun learnt that while the face-off lasted,
LCC was at the mercy of local vigilantes and policemen from
Maroko division who patrolled the area.

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Osun: Aregbesola floors Omisore

Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday
dismissed the petition filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore, the
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the
victory of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014,
governorship election in the state.
The tribunal led by the chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejieme,
in a judgment, which lasted about seven hours ruled that the
petitioner failed to prove his case by not providing reliable
evidences.
The PDP candidate is challenging the election before the panel
in some units and wards in 17 local government councils of
the state.
Omisore and his party, PDP, alleged that the election was
characterised by irregularities and manipulation in favour of
APC and Aregbesola, thus, asking the tribunal to cancel the
election results in the affected local government areas.
He also prayed the tribunal to declare him winner of the
election, saying he had the majority credible votes, stressing
that the votes cast for Aregbesola and APC were not valid and
should be nullified.
The chairman of the tribunal in her judgment on the eligibility
of the petition ruled that the appellant failed when it did not
file his reply within the five days stipulated under the law.
The tribunal held that the five days the appellant had
commenced on the day they were served on October 9, 2014,
lapsed on October 13, saying the days under the law included
Sunday, which the appellant tried to exclude from the five
days.
She pointed out that the Appellants, having filed the reply on
October 14, fell foul of the law, noting that the law is settled
when it stated the method and dates to follow in filling reply.
On the issue of the Appellants abandoning their case, the
tribunal noted that for the purpose of fair hearing, the tribunal
would go on in delivering its judgment on the substantive
case.
Delivering judgment on the substantive suit, the tribunal held
that the petitioner failed to prove alleged harassment,
intimidation, molestation, over voting, voting by proxy,
inducement, improper accreditation, alteration of results,
irreconcilable figures in the local governments under review.
The tribunal also held that the evidence led by the petitioners
in Ayedaade Local Government Area, lacked any degree of
specificity and cannot be relied on by the tribunal as they
failed completely to prove any of the allegations.
The chairman held that for the petitioner not to have
satisfactorily proved his case in any of the 17 local
governments, the panel has no reason to void the election.
The tribunal therefore returned Mr. Rauf Aregbesola as the
duly elected governor in the election and dismissed the case
of the petitioner.

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2015: Abians seek change

As the 2015 general elections draw near, the traumatised peo­
ple of Abia State are excited about the prospect of change in
terms of the administration of the state. From the south to
the north and central senatorial districts of the state, the
prayer is the same: Let the cup of inefficient and insensitive
administration pass over us.
Indeed, in over seven years, the people of the state have been
gnashing their teeth over the decayed infrastructure and the
general poor state of affairs in the state. The situation is such
that respected business mogul and billionaire, Chief Arthur
Eze, openly admitted that the state was stinking.
Recently, Saturday Sun correspondent visited the state and
discovered that nothing had changed. In fact, the state is still
stinking to high heavens. The state roads are still in
deplorable condition while garbage litters the streets.
Consider this: Even in February, when the rains are on holiday,
Ohanku road in Aba leading to the hometown of the immediate
past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu,
remains impassable, both to human and vehicular traffic. The
road is flooded with water from the gutters even as the entire
stretch is enveloped by offensive odour. Every now and then, it
was learnt, state officials come and damage the road more in
the name of rehabilitating it.
A trader in the area said: “We are living in hell. The road is
like a pathway to hell. The road is in a deplorable condition
even as the overflowing gutter stinks so terribly. You are here,
so you can see things for yourself. In fact, you were able to
get to this point because the rains have stopped. If you come
here during the rainy season, you would have been totally
messed up. We have, indeed, suffered so much in the last
couple of years. When you consider the fact that the road that
leads to the home town of someone like the former Minister of
Labour and Productivity is in such a decrepit state, you have
no doubt that the present government is grossly inept. But the
good thing is that in a couple of days, we will have the
opportunity of sending out the clueless administration, if the
votes will count, that is. We are fed up with the situation
because those presently running the affairs of the state are
not responsive to the needs and yearnings of the people. If we
ask for fish, they give us snake; if we ask for bread, they give
us stone. My brother, I have never seen a thing like this
anywhere.”
Ngwa road, an arterial road connecting Ohanku, is also in
ruins. There, you see traders doing business beside a
mountain of refuse. The area emits an acrid odour because of
the overflowing, rotten garbage. You see maggots and flies
everywhere. Again, the traders have taken over a sizeable
portion of the road where they display their wares. It was
gathered that in the desperation of the people at the helm of
affairs and their cronies to make money, they allow the traders
to display their wares on the road. A traditional ruler in the
area was also fingered in the traders’ occupation of the road
as he receives a piece of the cake.
A source said: “The traders are allowed to occupy part of the
road because they pay some people who claim to be govern­
ment officials. Of course, the result is traffic congestion.
Sometimes, people are knocked down by vehicles but the
traders remain there because they do not have a choice as it
were. The traders cannot afford to rent stalls, so they lay their
lives on the line to earn a living.
“Regarding the overflowing garbage, it is a permanent feature
of the area. The area has a permanent odour because of the
refuse. Once in awhile, they come to clear the garbage but it
is only when it had become a mountain. As you can see, some
of the traders close to the mountain of garbage cover their
noses with handkerchiefs. We recognise the dangers of doing
business in such an unhygienic environment but what can one
do? Funnily enough, a former deputy director general of the
state environmental protection agency in the zone is gunning
for the position of governor in the forthcoming election. We
call him ‘dirty boy’ because he had failed woefully in his job. I
wonder how someone who couldn’t keep Aba clean would be
the standard bearer of a political party. It shows that the
powers-that-be are bent on ensuring that we continue to live
in misery.”
Ngwa road is not the only road taken over by traders in Aba.
Traders sit pretty on a section of Danfodio road doing
business. Ndoki road has also been taken over by traders who
pay fees to some officials. In fact, the vicinity of the popular
Enyimba Stadium leaves so much to be desired.
Indeed, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State could
be described as one of the dirtiest cities in the country. Many
of the streets are littered with dirt even as the drainages,
where they exist, are blocked by garbage. The popular East
Street, Hospital road, Park road and Obiora Street are some of
the places filled with dirt. Most parts of the city are neglected,
squalid.
If you see a portion of Danfodio road, you wonder what the
residents had done to deserve the treatment they are getting.
The place is flooded with disease-infested water from
overflowing gutters. Even a war-torn city will fare better.
One of the residents, who simply identified himself as Omaka,
said: “All year round, the place is flooded. It does not matter if
it is dry season or rainy season. The gutters are filled with
dirt and water covers the road. Some people call it ‘River
Danfodio.’ It is not a laughing matter because it breeds
mosquitoes everywhere. The residents are always falling sick
but because it is not easy relocating, we remain here. We are
expecting a change because of the forthcoming elections. Our
only prayer is that they allow the votes to count. We have suf­
fered so much for some years now and we are expecting a
change soon.”
As it is in the cities, so it is in the rural areas. In fact, the
state of roads in the hinterland is pitiable. For example, the
road to Ofeme community, after Eme River bridge, which is a
stone’s throw from Umuahia, the capital city, is in a sorry
state.
“The state of Ariaria-Asa–Amator and Obrete roads is nothing
to write home about. The roads are not passable, not to talk
of being motorable. Pools of ‘streams’ inhabited by reptiles in
the middle of the road are a common sight. The situation
subjects the over eight communities to untold hardship. Last
Christmas was terrible for people in the area because of the
roads. Broken down vehicles was the order of the day. People,
who came home for the Christmas and New Year festivities,
had it rough. Each time I think of going home, I shudder
because of the state of the roads. It is quite unfortunate,”
disclosed Chief Chima, an indigene of the place.
Regarding the road to Arochukwu, in another part of the state,
Okey Ikechukwu wrote: “The road is abominable. That is if we
insist on calling what is essentially a dangerous stretch of
treacherous undulations, massive pot (man) holes and sundry
dangers a road. As you ‘drive’ on this road of questionable
impact on the life of the people in the area, you can see those
who are trekking beside your car briskly overtake you. Mean­
while, you are inside a powerful rough terrain vehicle and they
are not. And those who ply this no-road every day are
Nigerians who have as much right to tolerable social
infrastructure as anyone else. Some mischievous observers
who try to laugh it off by pointing to the well-known Igbo
saying that there is no short distance to Arochukwu forget to
add that the adage speaks of distance, not that there is no
way of getting to Arochukwu at all.
“One thing is for sure today: whoever sets out for Arochukwu
hoping for a leisurely ride may well need to put his ancestors
on notice that he may join them at short notice. Those who
brag about using ‘jeep’ to travel to Arochukwu should know
that the fundamentally alarming fact that one may be tossed
right out of one’s vehicle as it navigates the terrain. My
experience during a recent visit to honour an invitation to
Arochukwu came dangerously close to the above narrative.

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INEC takes final decision on election dates today

Strong indications emerged yesterday on the possibility of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifting
next week’s presidential and National Assembly elections after
a stakeholders meeting with the leadership of the political
parties and Resident Electoral Commissioners ((RECs) at its
headquarters in Abuja today.
The press statement from the Chief Press Secretary to INEC
Chairman, Kayode Robert Idowu, implied that the Commission
may announce a shift in the election date to enable more
voters collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
The release further added that the INEC chairman, Professor
Attahiru Jega would today meet with the chairmen and
secretaries of all the 28 registered political parties to look into
the Commission’s level of preparedness and take a final
decision on whether the election will go ahead on next
Saturday as scheduled.
Idowu further noted that the INEC chairman will address a
press conference to inform the nation about the final position
of the Commission regarding the date for the election.
“On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor
Attahiru Jega, was invited to brief the National Council of
States (NCS) on the preparedness of INEC to conduct the
2015 general elections.
“He made a presentation titled ‘Preparations for the 2015
General Elections: Progress Report.’ The National Security
Adviser (NSA) and Armed Services Chiefs also briefed the
Council on the current security situation.
“As a follow-up to that meeting, the Commission has
scheduled a consultative meeting with chairmen and
secretaries of all registered political parties, as well as a
meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on
Saturday, February 7, 2015.
“Thereafter, the Commission will address a press conference
to brief the nation on its decision with regards to whether or
not the general elections will hold as currently scheduled.” Id­
owu noted in the statement.

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We’re praying to end tension in Nigeria –Pastor Mouka

General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus
Muoka has revealed that an inter-denominational event
scheduled to start today is expected to address the political
tension in Nigeria, challenges of humanity and consequently
turn every sorrow to joy.
The two-day annual crusade titled; From Sorrow to Joy will
hold from 8am daily at the church’s revival ground, on
Oshodi-Apapa expressway. Muoka explained that the
programme is designed as a proactive spiritual measure to
checkmate the anticipated ugly political challenges of the
country and that it is never the will of God that the entire
nation should remain under any affliction or despair. “Nigeria
must be delivered. God will arise during the programme and
douse the tension that has enveloped the horizon of the
country, even in the political and economic circumstances”, he
stated.

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Community honours The Sun ED, Nwosu

Another feather was yesterday added to the cap of the
Executive Director, Corporate Services of The Sun Publishing
Limited, Mr. Steve Nwosu, when Mbanese community in Nnewi
South Local Government Area, Anambara State, honoured him
with Noble Achiever’s Award.
Presenting the award at the corporate headquarters of The
Sun newspapers, the leader of the community’s high-powered
delegation, Ogbuefi Ray Ifeme, disclosed that the award was
in recognition of Mr. Nwosu’s excellent services to the nation
and the world at large.
He described The Sun’s executive director as a trailblazer who
has contributed immensely towards enlightening the populace
on relevant national and international issues, and encouraged
him to continue his good works.
While presenting the award plaque and magazines on Igbo
Cultural Day to The Sun ED, Eze Dr. John Nwosu, Ezekwesiri
Eze 1, the Eze Ndigbo Mushinland, extolled his virtues and dex­
terity, and urged him to continue to be a good ambassador of
Ndigbo.
Responding, Mr. Nwosu expressed delight and surprise over
the visit and the award, and assured the group that The Sun
newspapers would continue to publicise the activities of Igbos.
He charged Igbo leaders to be united when fighting a common
cause.
“I’m very surprised over the award because I wasn’t expecting
it. If you had told me earlier, I would have invited my
colleagues to come and bear testimony to the event. I wish to
thank you for finding me worthy of this honour and assure you
that The Sun will continue to publicize issues that concern
Ndigbo. I also call for greater unity among Igbo, and urge the
leadership to stop washing their dirty linen in the public.”
Other members of the delegation were High Chief Mrs. Love
Ugbonta, Chief Nelson Nwokeji, Chief Osita Nweke, Rev Fidel
Ozugha and Mr. Emmanuel Osakwe.

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My journey to ‘space’

In December last year, the Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal
Ministry of Aviation (FMA) launched what was labelled a
cleansing exercise in the aviation sector. It was specifically
designed to minimize, if not totally stamp out corrupt
practices at our international airports. On December 16, 2014,
I jetted out aboard United Airline through the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Lagos to George
Bush International Airport in Houston, United States of
America, USA.
I arrived at MMA in good time to check in. For the first time in
the many years that I have been passing through border point,
I witnessed a 60- per cent free flow of travellers through
different immigration desks. It was a remarkable improvement
on what used to be. Though the menace of touts was still
there, as I could smell and feel them right from the entrance
up to the departure lounge; I was welcomed by two urchins
begging to assist me with my light luggage. I quietly declined.
Even at that, they still pursued me to the security checking
point begging for a token from me.
Walking through immigration after my luggage was okayed
without any official pestering me with the usual plea: ‘Sir,
anything for the boys?’ That kept me wandering whether the
ICPC/FMA partnership to sanitise our international airports
had started yielding dividends.
My curiosity made me ask one of the officials at the final
departure point why I was not pestered with demands for tip.
He smiled and said: “Our Director General met us yesterday
and told us about the ICPC/FMA war against corruption at the
airports and that whoever that is caught demanding bribe or
tip risks going to jail.” He then added a caveat: “I hope this is
not just a one-off thing. It happened like this before during
Madam Chikwe’s era as the Minister of Aviation, and that
order never lasted than three months.”
However, whatever sense of pride I was feeling at those points
vanished with an encounter I had at the United Airlines’ final
check point leading to boarding gate where an officer without
a name tag frisked me. As he began, he looked at me and
started a conversation in a low tone.
“I saw you when you came into the airport; a lady was
carrying your bag,” he began. I had to look back to be sure I
was the one he was talking to because only my driver came
with me to the airport. I told him sharply that I was not the
person. But he was not deterred. He said: “Baba, we are at
your service O! Anything for me?’ I just looked at him, smiled,
and then, walked briskly into the bowel of the brand new
Dreamliner.
Moments later, the big bird slid out of the hangar, and hit the
tarmac, to begin the 13- hour non-stop flight to George Bush
International Airport, Houston. It was the smoothest flight I
ever had. We landed in the wee hours of December 17, and
walked into the calm and cool bosom of the magnificent
airport. There was no noise. There was ethereal peace as
travelers passed through Immigration points without
molestation. It took me only 10 minutes to complete the
arrival procedures. There were no touts nor any official
pestering you with, “wetin you carry?”
After spending a week in Houston, I moved to Silicon Valley in
San Jose. Again, like in Houston, there were no delays.
Everything was done with computerized precision. The little
delay we experienced, and which everybody understood, came
through the strict security checks travellers were subjected to.
It was understandable. The fear of terrorists has become the
beginning of wisdom for all countries all over the world.
My return journey from Silicon Valley, through San Jose
Airport, was less stressful as my luggage was checked and
routed straight to Lagos through George Bush International
Airport in Houston. The three-hour flight to San Jose to
connect my flight in Houston for my journey back home was
flawless. There was no security check again at George Bush
Airport, as this had been done at San Jose Airport. I took
notice of how Internet Technology had taken over virtually all
transactions for air travels. You cannot see anyone loitering
around you, pretending to want to assist you in whatever
name. There were free trolleys to move my luggage.
Coming back home, I had expected things to be better. Sadly,
it was the same confusion. As I disembarked from the bowel
of United Airline Dreamliner that ferried over 200 passengers
to Lagos, a gust of harmattan haze hit me on the face. How I
wished the harmattan saturated the Murtala International
Airport terminal building, because most of the air conditioners
had either packed up or were working far below their optimum
capacity.
But I noticed a remarkable improvement in the immigration
formalities for passengers. My clearance formalities were done
in less than 10 minutes. But to foul my mood, I had to wait
endlessly to collect my luggage at baggage claim. First, most
of us were forced to pay N200 per trolley that had a price tag
of N150.00. The lady issuing the ticket feigned not having N50
change. I understand it is worse in Abuja airport where
passengers have to pay N400 for a trolley. United Aircraft
landed 4.45p.m., Nigerian time, but most passengers,
including myself, did not get their luggage until two and a half
hours later. This delay should earn Nigeria a place in the
Guinness Book Record as one destination where a passenger
spends the longest time waiting for his luggage.
Whatever one went through at the arrival hall was nothing
compared to the hell outside. As soon as you stepped out of
the terminal building, touts swooped on you like ants do over
honey. A cacophony of voices welcomed you, offering one
service or another. “Oga, we are registered. You can tºrust us
with luggage; it’s safe,” one solicited. “I have taxi at
affordable price,” another said. “My car is good. It is a
Camry.”
Moneychangers became serious pests as they thrust wads of
naira notes at your face, begging you to come and change
“Dollars. Pounds Sterling.” I asked one of them whether the
ban on touts and touting imposed by the Minister of Aviation
few weeks ago had been repealed. He replied with a wry smile:
“Even if heaven falls, nothing can remove touts from this
airport. This is where we get our daily bread. Nobody can
remove us.” I couldn’t help but wonder whether sanity would
ever prevail at this very important gateway to Nigeria.
United airline
United Airline is in business in Nigeria. The way Nigerians are
migrating to the United States is making the airline to bloom.
It now operates two flights one to Houston and the other to
Atlanta. This is not to talk of other airlines like Delta and our
own Arik, ferrying passengers to the USA on a regular basis.
You may wonder why this rush out of the country and why
most of these Nigerians are taking American citizenship. My
guess is that they are running away from Nigeria for greener
pasture in the USA because of the worsening state of the
economy.
However, not all that glisters that is gold! The economy in the
USA is even worse than what most Nigerians would have
imagined. It’s even worse for those migrating without sound
education. Such people would simply be moving into second
slavery. My prayers are for the leadership of our country to
improve the welfare of the downtrodden so they could stay at
home and enjoy the opportunities offered by their fatherland.
A word for United Airline cabin crew
They should show some respect for their passengers. A
situation where a member of cabin crew spills water and
drinks on passengers is horrifying. I was a victim. And I think
that is not dignifying. However, I enjoyed flying in their brand
new Dreamliner. The big bird could tempt you to always burn
the kilometres. The brand new aircraft has one simple alluring
feature. It has no window blinds. Instead, it has a blue screen
that keeps the inside serene.
My trip to nasa centre
On December 22, 2014, my in-law, Pastor Gbenga Oso, who
resides in Houston, drove me and my cousin, Gbolabo, his
wife, and their two lovely daughters to the National
Aeronautics and Space Centre in the city. The centre,
established 56 years ago, is an aerospace research and
development facility for missions to space.
The centre, open to the public, is one of the money-spinning
tourist centres dotting America. In 2014, the centre won the
Best Tourist Centre of the year. People’s curiosity about why
and how the USA ventured into space is answered by a
number of questions, namely: how does the universe work?
How did we get here? Are we alone? It takes about one hour
for tourists to move around the complex in an arranged
motorized cabin. Intermittently, tourists are allowed to visit
some of the laboratories where astronauts are prepared for
space travels, and conduct research into what they found in
space. The visit was an eye opener as to how the US has
navigated a total of 168 missions into space.
NASA, according to Wikipedia, has conducted many manned
and unmanned space flight programmes throughout its
history. The unmanned programme launched the first
American artificial satellites into earth orbit for scientific and
communication purposes.
The United States won the space race with the Soviet Union
by landing 12 men on the moon between1969 and 1972 in the
Apollo programmes. To date, NASA has launched a total of
166 manned space missions. One could not but recall some of
the accidents that nearly scuttled the programmes – the two
space exploration shuttle orbiters with 14 astronauts that lost
their lives – the Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003.
The Space shuttle, according to Wikipedia, had 135 missions
before it was suspended on July 21, 2011, with the successful
landing in space of Shuttle Atlantis. In all, the programmes
spanned 30 years with over 300 astronauts sent into space.

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Edo: Inside story of killings, inter-cult clashes in Ekpoma

Whenever folks gather to talk about killing fields in Nigeria,
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states easily come to mind. In
recent past, Jos, the Plateau State capital assumed the
inglorious position as the most notorious city to live in
Nigeria. Scores of deaths were recorded every day. A city once
acclaimed to be calm and peaceful became Nigeria’s version
of Iraq and Afghanistan. For now, the killings appear to have
abated. Unknown to many, there is a town called Ekpoma,
located in Edo State, South-south Nigeria where there is a
raging war of a kind. Those engaged in this bloodbath are not
terrorists or militants; they are students, farmers and artisans
in the community. For keen observers who have followed the
blood orgy, cultism in the historic town has been taken too
far.
Ekpoma town is the second most popular city in Edo State,
after Benin City, the state capital. It has an area of 502 km²
and a population of 125,842, according to the 2006 census.
The popular Ambrose Alli University (AAU) is situated in the
town. It also boasts of notable Nigerians and heavyweight
politicians. The main language spoken by indigenes is Esan.
Pidgin is equally very popular and has become the lingua
franca in the town. The town accommodates strangers from
every part of the country and they live happily together in
peace.
However, that peace has come under severe threats by sons
of anarchy who have turned the place to a war zone. The
endless cult clashes have resulted in the death of hundreds of
students and locals. The situation has so degenerated that
the community becomes a ghost town after 8pm every day, for
fear of being raped, robbed, murdered or attacked by cultists.
In Ekpoma, everyone now sleeps with one eye wide open.
The genesis
Violent clashes between rival cult groups in Ekpoma is as old
as the university in the town, AAU. Until the mid 1990s when
students of the university had a running battle with the
military and scores of students were killed, cultism was
regarded as something reserved for the misfits of the society.
After the military massacre that claimed over 100 lives of
students, various cult groups embarked on massive
membership drive. Freshmen were initiated, while old students
were sometimes blackmailed to enlist. Since then, the
university community and the entire Ekpoma town has lost its
peace.
Since the late 1990s, there has not been any semester that
students are not massacred or engaged in inter-cult battle. At
some point, some of the killings happened within the university
campus. Vice chancellors and deans of students at different
times, tried endlessly to mediate. Sometimes, they succeeded;
at other times, they failed. During those mediation meetings,
the vice chancellors, the dean of students, the police DPO and
leaders of various leaders of the cult groups stayed up through
the nights. A popular spot located opposite the famous Igbin­
edion Hostel inside the university campus, was the meeting
point.
In its drive to stem the endless killings back then, the
university authority backed the formation of Anti-Cult
Campaign Organisation of Nigeria (ACCON). In its first few
years, the group succeeded in waging coordinated war against
cult-related activities in the university. Things, however,
changed when some daredevil cult members launched an early
morning attack on the base of ACCON in 2003 and killed eight
of its members. Thereafter, cultists infiltrated the group and
weakened its structure. Since then, it has lost its valour and it
has been unable to tackle cultism in the university. Observers
and students believe the anti-cult group is now being run by
cultists. In which instance, the devil thrives unchecked.
The new trend
In Ekpoma, it is difficult to tell who is a cultist. The whole
town has become a tapestry of cultists. Membership of cult
groups is no longer a special privilege enjoyed by students of
AAU. Locals are the new bosses. Mechanics, farmers,
electricians, okada riders and other artisans/technicians have
enlisted and the war is raging. A former student of the
university, Ehichioya (last name withheld), who runs a barber
shop in the town sat down with our correspondent and gave
graphical details of how cultism has eaten deep into every
fabric of life in Ekpoma. He equally spoke on series of
coordinated killings in the area and how police appear to have
been compromised.
“In Ekpoma, it is a crime to be law-abiding”, he began. “I
have spent all my life in this town. I am in my early 30s, so I
can tell you I understand how this town works. I am very
scared and many too in this town are scared. There is too
much lawlessness going on here and those that should ensure
there is peace are doing nothing. It is so bad that parents can
no longer tell their children what to do. It might not be as bad
as Boko Haram in the North, but we are in real trouble.
“In the past, only few students were members of popular cult
groups. I remember then as a kid how students used to block
the express lane when they were protesting. I also remember
how cult members used to clash and kill themselves. But the
school authority was quick to intervene then. Things really got
bad when a certain vice chancellor took over in 2004. He
destroyed students union activism and started fraternising
with cult members and holding meetings with them. That
action gave some sort of backing to those boys. Because they
knew they were not going to be arrested, they started
recruiting and initiating more members. This new relationship
between cult members and the vice chancellor gave rise to
cult activities.
“Before you knew it, cult boys started fighting inside the
campus. Soon, they took over the Students’ Union Gov­
ernment (SUG). They started insisting on sponsoring their
members that will form part of SUG. Before you could say
jack, SUG officials started joining cult groups. It became an
unwritten rule that you must belong to a known cult group
before you could be elected as president of SUG. As I speak,
that rule is still there. Most SUG members in AAU are cult
members and the current vice chancellor is helpless.”
Aluya spoke further: “Now, it is different. What we have in
Ekpoma is now street cultism. All sort of people are joining
cult groups. Today, mechanics are even joining cult groups.
Sometimes, when you take your car to a local mechanic in
Ekpoma, you see something very strange. When a mechanic
goes under your car, you see a gun attached to his trousers.
He openly wears his band or cap which displays the cult
group he belongs to. That is how far they have taken cultism
in Ekpoma. Okada men threaten you and openly tell you that
they belong to a cult group and nothing will happen to them.
“Secondary school students have started joining cults now.
Some carry guns to school and this is very common in public
schools. So, by the time these boys get to the university,
cultism becomes a child’s play to them. They see cultism as
a lucrative venture and many young people are lured to join.
Some of them have become armed robbers. They lay siege
along the highway and even attack private homes at night. Go
to Iruekpen, Ujemen, Eguare, Ihumudumu and all small towns
and villages in Ekpoma. It is the same story. Cultism has gone
to the streets.”
There is a particular hotel in Ujemen owned by a former
chairman of the local government. That hotel is the new den
of robbers in Ekpoma. Cult wars start and end in that hotel.
Only on Christmas day, some group of cult boys stabbed a 22-
year-old boy to death. Prior to that ugly incident, a similar
case was reported of how another young man was shot dead
in the same hotel.
Armed robbery attacks in Ekpoma
In 2011, some dare-devil robbers, suspected to be students of
AAU, launched a daylight attack in one of the new generation
banks. Lives were wasted and millions of Naira carted away.
According to eyewitnesses, the robbers spent over two hours
and police officers in the area were chased away. “It was a
gory experience and something I wish I could erase from my
memory. What really surprised me on that fateful day was how
a young lady mounted the main road and chased policemen
away,” one of the eyewitnesses recalled.
During that deadly attack that changed a lot of things in the
town, the assailants stormed the town with a juju man and
dynamites. The entrance to the building was bombed and
sporadic gunshots were fired. There were series of other high-
profile bank robberies in the town within the period. Angered
by the refusal of Edo State government to act swiftly, all the
commercial banks in the town closed down operations for over
six months. Residents were forced to carry out their bank
transactions in Benin City, Uromi or Auchi. After series of
pleas and interventions from stakeholders, banks in the area
reopened, but only work half day for fear of being attacked
again by robbers.
“I remember that day those robbers came to Ekpoma. It was
like a war situation. A girl operating a salon opposite the bank
was killed by a stray bullet. Policemen were chased way. Even
military guys were scared to engage the robbers. For over two
hours, they operated freely and held the town hostage. Before
that major robbery, the town had witnessed other robbery
attacks. Banks were always targeted and people were even
scared to go to the banks. The sad thing is that, we all know
how this thing started and since everyone has been
compromised, no one can bring an end to this madness,”
Aluya spoke briefly on robbery attacks in the town.
There is another fear silently expressed by residents and
natives of the town as the country prepares for the general
elections. It is an established fact that elections in Ekpoma
are among the most violent in the country. Snatching of ballot
boxes and harassment of voters are common occurrences in
the area. With the proliferation of arms in the town and the
secret backing of some candidates by known cult groups,
violence might break out in Ekpoma and spill over to other
neighbouring towns and villages.

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Umuoji community pledges total votes for Ngige

The people of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area
of Anambra State have assured the All Progressives Congress
(APC) senatorial candidate for Anambra Central senatorial
district, Senator Dr. Chris Ngige of their total votes in the
forthcoming election.
The community gave the assurance on Wednesday when
Senator Ngige visited them in continuation of his campaign
for a return to the Senate.
Speaking at the occasion, former President- General of Umuoji
Improvement Union, Chief Obi Onwuachu said that Umuoji
community was fully committed to Ngige and would continue
to deliver their bulk votes for him as pay back for the good
works he did in the town both as governor of Anambra state
and as a Senator.
Chief Onwuachu said Senator Ngige had continued to endear
himself to the people with his laudable programmes.
He noted with delight that more than 50 students from Umuoji
were already enjoying scholarship offered to them under
Senator Ngige Scholarship Foundation, while many more
would soon join the scholarship list.
Chief Onuwachu also extolled Senator Ngige for constructing
the Nkpor Junction Umuoji – Nnobi road which he said, had
remained durable because of its high quality.
Also speaking at the occasion, an APC stakeholder in Umuoji,
Chief Okey Obadike commended Senator Ngige for what he
described as his excellent performance in the Senate.
He appealed to him to carry his campaign to Mgbago Umuoji,
where he said that his numerous supporters were waiting his
him.
Addressing the crowd, Senator Ngige commended the
community for their unfettered support and pledged to attract
more constituency projects to them if voted-back to the
Senate.
Ngige who had earlier visited members of Umuoji Catholic
Laity Council said that Umuoji had remained strongly behind
him in his political carrier, and would always be remembered
in his programmes.
He told the people to collect forms for the 2015 batch of
scholarship so that those who did not benefit in 2014 would
have the opportunity to be part of beneficiaries.
He had earlier in the day taken his campaign to Ukwulu,
Nawgu and Umudioka, where he was received by enthusiastic
supporters and party faithful who pledged their commitment to
vote mas sively for him in the senatorial election.
Among those who received Senator Ngige at Nawgu and
Ukwulu were students from the two communities who received
his scholarship.

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Alex Otti berates Abia govt over non-payment of pensioners

Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance
(APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has berated the state
government over non-payment of the state pensioners’
emoluments, saying it is an offence against God.
Otti said that pensioners are like parents and that anybody
who does not respect his or her parents was courting God’s
trouble, stressing that the Bible made it explicit that children
should honour their fathers and mothers that their days may
be long but regretted that that was not the case with Abia
State government in its treatment of pensioners.
Otti who stated this while addressing pensioners in the state
capital, Umuahia, described pensioners as people who worked
diligently for the nation in their prime and ought to be taken
care of in their retirement.
He expressed sadness that retirees in the state who should
have been enjoying the fruits of their labour were made to
suffer by the same government they served meritoriously.
“The situation of pensioners in the state is heart rending
because these are old men and women who served the state
with all their strength at their prime and when it is time to
reap the fruits of their labour, somebody is denying them.

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Buhari can rule Nigeria even at 90 – Gen Magoro

Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation Sub- Commi t t e e ,
Buhari Campaign Organisation, North West, General
Mohammed Magoro (retd) has called on Nigerians who are
saying that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) is too old
to rule the country to have a rethink.
Fielding questions from newsmen yesterday at a press
briefing, General Magoro directed such Nigerians to take a
look at one of the African countries, Zimbabwe, where the 90-
year-old President Robert Mugabe is steering the affairs of
that country.
This was even as the Chairman, Advisory Council, Sir Ahmadu
Bello Memorial Foundation, Honourable Justice Mamman
Nasir (retd) called on Nigerians to avoid violence, but vote for
the candidates of their choice during the elections.
“So the answer to your question whether Buhari at 72, is not
too old to rule Nigeria is for you to look at Zimbabwe, how old
is Mugabe, I won’t say more than this”. Magoro said.
He said Buhari’s campaign rally in the North West was a huge
success, and that what was left to be done, was ‘mop up
operations’ which is expected to be done by states
governorship candidates as well as candidates of States
Houses of Assembly.
He added, “Buhari is ready for presidential debate any time he
is called upon to do so. I want to say that there is no
convincing reason to shift the election, it does not make any
sense, it will mean that we are not serious”.
In his remarks, Justice Nasir said, “The Foundation resolved
at its Advisory Council meeting on February 5, 2015 to draw
the attention of all well-meaning Nigerians and the interna­
tional community on critical issues on the upcoming elections
and the security of the nation.

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Court dismisses case against Ondo PDP

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the
application of some aggrieved members of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Ondo State seeking the nullification of the
list of the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general
elections as published by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
Delivering judgment in the suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1006/14
instituted against the party by the group led by Dr Olu Ogunye
in alliance with Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and Dr Olu Agunloye,
Hon. Justice Adeniyi Ademola held that it will not interfere
with the powers of the leadership of PDP to decide which
person to sponsor for the elections.
Against the submission of the group that the party’s
leadership in Ondo state flouted the court’s order in respect of
the same suit, the court said it did not find any of its orders
flouted, and consequently, the court refused to recognize the
list of the Ogunye group which it had prepared with the inten­
tion of replacing it with the INEC published list.
In court to witness proceedings were Dr Olu Agunloye who
had earlier led the aggrieved group on a protest on Thursday.
Jimoh Ibrahim who had been attending court sessions since
the suit was instituted was however absent in court on Friday,
even as the case has been adjourned till the 5th of March
2015.
Reacting to the judgement, the state’s publicity secretary of
the PDP, Hon. Banji Okunomo said there is no victor or loser
in the case adding that the goal of the party is to ensure that
every member comes together to ensure victory for it in the
coming elections.
He implored members of the party who had gone to court to
join hands with other members to work for the victory of
President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of the
party in the elections due to hold next week.

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Fayose rubbishes APC’s audio clips on Ekiti election

Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described the
audio clip released by the All Progressives Congress (APC),
through its media organ, SaharaReporters as fake, saying, he
never held any meeting with anyone to rig the June 21, 2014
election, suggesting that his voice and those of others could
have been faked using technology like Natural Voices.
He said the audio clip was APC’s new calculated attempt to
discredit the election results, having failed woefully both at the
poll and the tribunal.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said
in a statement issued on Friday that the APC would have used
the audio clip as evidence at the tribunal if it were genuine.
He said: “Nigerians should be reminded of how the APC lied in
2007 that they recorded how the governorship election was
rigged even in the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus
Adejugbe, but the party could not produce a single photo as
evidence at the tribunal because their plans to do what is
know as Morphing and Syncing was exposed.
“Nigerians should also be reminded of the existence of a
technology called speech software, which is good at
reproducing the sounds, inflections and intonations of a
human voice.
“There are software that can re-create voices and even bring
the voices of long-dead notable persons back to life.

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Keshi wants me to be next Finidi –Babatunde

Our reporter recently spoke with Nigeria’s injured 2014 World
Cup star, Babatunde Michael, in Lagos, about his career and
his hope to return to the Super Eagles to redeem the team’s
image, after missing out of this year’s AFCON in Equatorial
Guinea. He also spoke on a number of other issues. Excerpts!
Can you tell us a little about your career?
Well, I’m Michael Babatunde. I play as a natural left winger
for Volyn Lutsk F.C of Ukraine. I was born in the western part
of Nigeria, Lagos, to be precise. I started my career with
Waters FC in Abuja, and later joined Nigeria Premier League
side, Heartland F.C in the year 2010.
Can you recall your first invitation in the Super Eagles?
My first invitation to the Super Eagles came like of a dream. I
mean, I couldn’t imagine myself competing for shirt with the
likes of Victor Moses, Osaze Odenwingie, Brown Ideye and
others, who were playing in popular leagues in Europe.
Sincerely, I didn’t know I could be invited to the Super Eagles
despite the fact that I play in the Ukrainian Premier
League.The 2013 Confederation Cup in Brazil was the first and
biggest competition I ever attended and it put a lot of
pressure on me due to the fact that I heard fans at home and
abroad criticizing Coach Stephen Keshi for including my name
in his plans. But I thank God that I did what I know how to do
best for my father land.
What could be the worst moment of your career?
I am a footballer and I am prone to bad days. As a player,
when you lose, you lose your self. Nobody wants to lose; but
the worst moment of my entire career was when tNigeria lost
to France at 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when Odenwingie’s mis­
take led to the goal we conceded to the French team followed
by the own goal by Joseph Yobo. Those goals made me weep
after the match, and that remains my worst moment as a
professional player.
Do you think your absence in that game cost Eagles the
match?
Not really, as teammates we’re meant to help one another,
even if I was in the game, I couldn’t have done more than
what my colleagues did to change the tide. God knows the
best and I think the better team carried the day. I would have
said Onazi’s injury was a big loss to Nigeria in that match
and the officials were also unfair with the officiating. Matuidi
should have been given a straight red card for the hard tackle
on Onazi, and the disallowed goal scored by Emenike in the
early minutes of the game made issues worst.The French
national team was not better than us, we lost to poor
officiating and I think we should forget about the World Cup
disappointment and think of how to move our football
forward.
How about the most memorable moment of your career?
My memorable moment was when I visited president Goodluck
Jonathan with my Super Eagles’ teammate and Coach
Stephen Keshi. I feel great and honored.Then, secondly, I was
also happy making the World Cup list for my country which
gave me the chance to play on same pitch with the likes of
Lionel Messi, Aguero and a host of other stars.
Who’s your role model among the Nigeria football legends?
Well, I can’t mention names due to the fact that I’m a natural
left winger and I remember that Coach Stephen Keshi once
asked me if I would like to become the next Finidi George of
the present squad of the Super Eagles. I laughed because I
was a baby in the days of Finidi George and I never got to
know his style of football, but I pray to met him one day so
that I can learn more from him.
Who would you blame for Super Eagles’ absence from this
year’s AFCON in Equatorial Guinea?
To me, I think the Super Eagles were not fortunate to be in
Equatorial Guinea.We’re the defending champion no doubt, but
I think the fans and the football administrators in the country
were the ones behind our misfortune. In Nigeria, every one
wants to act like a coach, they list the players that should be
invited to the national team and those that should not and I
think that affects the confidence of the team. So to me, I
won’t blame the coach and the players, I would rather blame
the fans for making Keshi a confused man.
As a professional player, where would you love to end your
career?
For now, I don’t know. All I know is that I want the best for
my self. I don’t mind offers from the English Premier League,
Spanish League and Italian Seria A; Later show up in nearest
future, but for now, I don’t know where my future lies.
You are just 22 and eligible to participate in next year’s
Olympics in Brazil, what should your fans be expecting from
you?
Well, it’s up to Coach Samson Siasia. If I make his list, I will
make sure I do my possible best to lift my team. It is well
known that most of the Super Eagles’ players will be on
vacation until June this year which will make us feel more
relaxed and fit for any competition. I have never failed before
in my career, and I will not fail when the Olympic qualifiers
begin.
Whats your plan after quitting football?
What’s on my mind is to set up a football academy here in my
country, Nigeria, and to become a philanthropist in the nearest
future and I also have plan to become a cool business man,
but the type of business is best known to me.
Which player in the national team do you prefer to be paired
with in the attack?
I think my pairing should be best known by Coach Stephen
Keshi, but if I have the right to choose, I’d love to play with
Osaze Odenwingie and Ahmed Musa on the right flank, while I
handle the left wing. I think if this pair is been use always I
bet you we can beat any team but that’s not my duty Keshi
knows best.
You have been absent for months in the national team due to
injury, do you still think you have a place in the team?
Well, I am not the one to decide that. I have been nursing an
injury since last year which denied me invitation to the team,
but my target right now is to be fully fit to fight for a place in
the squad, which I think will be easier for me because I know
my worth under Coach Stephen Keshi. So I am confident of my
self, while I leave the rest to Keshi and his technical crew.
Which country do you tip to be the next AFCON champion?
You know it’s a game of football, and in football, any thing
can happen. If I must choose, I’d go for Ivory Coast due to the
quality of players it parades. Ivory Coast has been consistent
in recent years; to was in the final four years ago in same
Equatorial Guinea and I think with Yaya Toure and Gervinho,
the team can clinch the title this time around.
What advice do you have for the upcoming stars and your
fans home and abroad?
My advice for the upcoming stars is for them to stay focus
and show commitment to any thing they are doing.You see in
life once you lose focus you are out of the race and before you
could rejoin the race it might be too late.So therefore I urge
you all to remain focus because better days are ahead.

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Notable coaches that have won AFCON trophy

The Africa Cup of Nations has not only been a parade of
Africa’s best football stars over the years, but has also
provided a platform for coaches, including those from the
black continent, to showcase their tactical knowledge in the
round leather game.
Below are some of the notable coaches that had won the
coveted trophy as indigenous coaches, as well as foreign
coaches in Africa’s most glamorous showpiece.
CLEMENS WESTERHOF
Nationality: Dutch
Date of Birth: 3rd May 1940
Position: Super Eagles manager, 1989-1994
Honours: AFCON 1994
Westerhof is most noted for his success with the Nigerian
national team.
Nigeria qualified for and won the 1994 AFCON and also quali­
fied the Nigerian side for the FIFA World Cup that same year,
and the Eagles advanced to the quarter final stage of the USA
’94 World Cup.
He is presently in Nigeria and serving as a rector and chief ad­
ministrator at the Football School of Excellence, Ilorin.
Westerhof is rated as the best coach Nigeria ever had, with
high regard. He is credited with turning Nigeria football into a
power house in African Football, and responsible for the
‘Golden Era’ in the Nigeria Football. Players like Jay-Jay
Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini,
Stephen Keshi, and Daniel Amokachi went into successful
career and world spotlight under his tutelage.
HASSAN SHEHATA
Nationality: Egypt
Date of Birth: 19th June 1949
Position: Pharaoh’s of Egypt manager, 2004-2011
Honours: Egyptian League title 1977/78
Egyptian Cup 1974-75, 1976- 77, 1978-79
Two-time Egyptian League top scorer 1976-77, 1979-80
Third Best African Footballer, 1974
Best African Footballer in Asia 1970
Best Footballer, African Cup 1974
Best Footballer in Egypt, 1976
Merit of Sport, 1980
African Cup of Nations 2006, 2008, 2010
CAF Coach of the Year, 2008
Selected for Top five African Coaches.
Hassan is a former Egyptian forward Footballer, who became
the head coach after Marco Tardelli and the longest served
coach of the Egyptian National Football team.
He led the Pharaohs of Egypt to its first African Cup of Nation
in eight years defeating Cote d’Ivoire afterwards, three
successive African Cup of Nations titles, making Egypt the first
African nation to achieve such a feat.
Under his administration Egypt was ranked 9th by FIFA in
2008
STEPHEN OKECHUKWU KESHI
Nationality: Nigerian
Date of Birth: 23rd January 1962
Honours: West African Club Championship ’83, ’84
African Cup of Nations 1994, 2013
CAF African Coach of the Year ‘13
Keshi a former Super Eagles defender and captain made his
debut when he coached Togo’s National team to qualify for
their first World Cup in Germany 2006.
He was engaged to coach the Nigeria national team in 2011
and qualified them for the AFCON 2013 tournament, which
they won, defeating Burkinafaso with a lone goal in the final
and was able to qualify the team also for the Confederation
Cup in that same year.
Stephen went ahead and qualified the team also for AFCON
2014.
On 18 November 2013, Stephen Keshi set a record in African
football by being the first African coach to successfully qualify
two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) to the World Cup
Finals.
He also helped Nigeria become the first country to achieve an
African Cup of Nations trophy and World Cup qualification,
both in 2013.
CHARLES KUMI GYAMFI
Nationality: Ghana
Date of Birth: 1929
Position: Black Stars Manager
Honours: AFCON trophy 1963, 1965, 1978
Gyamfi is a former Ghanian footballer, who heralded a new
dawn in the Ghana Football.
Charles was able to qualify the Black Stars of Ghana for the
African Cup of Nations in 1963, 1965, and 1978, which they
won.
During his administration there was no high tech facilities, and
this had distinguished his qualification and winning of the
Black Stars of the AFCON trophy very exceptional.

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Spurs poised to spoil Gunners’ fun

The result of today’s North London derby could define the
race for the top four finish in the current English Pre mier
League.
Should an unpredictable Tottenham Hotspur strike a perfect
rhythm this after noon, then Arsenal’s hope of moving into the
top four bracket would suffer another set-back.
After a marked improvement since the middle of December,
Tottenham bowed to Crystal Palace last weekend to taste the
first defeat in its last nine Premier League games, six of which
it won.
Manager, Mauricio Pochettino may have found that magic
formula; although with Spurs there is always the feeling that
another slip up is just around the corner, especially, if on-fire
Arsenal comes to the party this afternoon.
Nevertheless, Spurs look like genuine top-four challengers this
season, thanks to Harry Kane, who without his 20 goals this
season, The Lilywhites would be nothing more than mid-table
fodder.
Pochettino has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from
today with Nabil Bentaleb returning to domestic action fol­
lowing the exit of Algeria from the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the host side should be prepared to sweat for vital
points as a recent run of five consecutive comfortable wins,
four of which have come without conceding a goal, highlight
just how good Arsenal can be when things are going well.
Most interesting about Arsenal’s current form was the manner
of the recent victory at Manchester City. For once, Arsene
Wenger appeared to abandon some of his infamously stubborn
principles in exchange for the greater good of all three points;
something of a rarity for the Gunners against fellow top-four
teams away from home.
Although hit-man, Alexis Sanchez’s fitness remains suspect
after missing last weekend’s demolition of Aston Villa with a
hamstring injury, Danny Welbeck is expected to return from a
thigh injury that had kept him out of action since the turn of
the year.
Spurs have lost only one of the last four North London derbies
at the White Hart Lane and have already beaten Chelsea and
Southampton and drawn with Manchester United at home this
season. Although Arsenal was impressive against Manchester
City at the Etihad a couple of weeks ago, it remains to be
seen whether Wenger’s side can re-enact that form today at
the White Hart Lane. Just two points separate both sides on
the Premier League log.

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No room for lazy foreign-based players in my team –Okon

Super Falcons’ chief coach, Edwin Okon, has vowed to shun
players that lack commitment to national duty ahead of the
team’s preparation for the World Cup.
In a chat with Daily Sun Sport, Okon spoke on a number of
issues including his aspirations this year, as well as his style
of celebrating whenever his team scores in a tournament.
What are your plans for the year?
We still have more competitions to play. There are the
Olympics and All Africa Games’ qualifiers as well as the World
Cup in Canada to play.
These are the three most important hurdles we have to face
this year. It is imperative that we prepare well for this competi­
tions and, most importantly, early enough.
The NFF have done well for us in 2014 because we got all the
support and encouragement from them, but we need to start
playing friendly matches soon.
The higher the quality we get, the better for us because we
must prepare hard for the championships lined up for us this
year and we must play strong teams as part of our
preparation.
For the World Cup in Canada, it would be good if we can play
against countries from the region where our group opponents
come from as that would toughen us on what to expect from
our group opponents.
But like I said, the NFF has done well and I believe it will do
its best to get us these friendly matches.
We want to do well at Olympic qualifiers, All African Games as
well as the World Cup and I’m sure we will get all we need to
make us do well in Canada.
What’s your take on criticisms on your outing at the last
AWC and what motivates you?
Well, it is always like that when you are holding a public
portfolio, especially with our football. You are constantly
under scrutiny and you face a lot of criticisms, and,
interestingly, I have learnt from them.
How do you mean?
What I mean is that when such criticisms start pouring in, I sit
back and reflect on what I am doing, whether I am wrong or
right.
I always have it at the back of my mind that those outside
are, sometimes, in a better position to see what I am not
seeing as an insider. So in such cases, I welcome the
criticisms and forge ahead.
Another thing is that, sometimes, most of those loudly
criticizing are agents of some of the star players and they
want their players to be in your team.
Do you take advice from them?
I am a grassroots coach. The local league has produced so
many good national team coaches and at that level, we are
not new to the system. So before you can convince me about
a player that is not in Nigeria, it will take time.
So you don’t have space for Pros in your team?
You see, I don’t hate them but their gimmick is the problem I
have. They stroll into the national team and before you know
it they make the team.
This era, I don’t believe in any player strolling into the national
team whenever it soothes her. I want them to compete for
shirts with those at home and then we know if you are better
than those in the domestic league, or if they are better than
you. If eventually you don’t measure up, then bye-bye.
This is my line of thinking and action at this level and it is not
going to change for a long time to come.
How would you review the year 2014?
The victories recorded in the past year means a lot to me, the
joy and happiness is indescribable. I give credit to my Lord
and Master for giving us the trophies in 2014 and we are
assured that He will do more for us in 2015.
What are your expectations this year?
We expect good things from the team. I harp on discipline a
lot because I believe that if a team is disciplined, they will go
places.
Any target at Canada 2015?
This is the apex of football competitions in the world and we
are looking forward to it. As we all know, Super Falcons have
never crossed the group stage at the World cup level.
Yes, we are setting a target for ourselves. The players and the
technical crew are aware of this and the target is best known
to us.
We have to do all within our means to achieve our goal and
as well call on God to assist us.
Why do you always bow down on the ground any time your
team wins a match?
You see, I don’t hide my identity, I am a Christian and each
time people ask me why I bow down my head on the ground ,
some even ask me if I am a Muslim and I say no.
Bowing down with my head touching the ground is my unique
way of referencing my God and whenever I do that, I achieve
results because God has never failed me.
What do you think about Assisat Oshoala?
Asisat had a very wonderful year in 2014 and I am not
surprised by the accolades coming her way. I congratulate her
for winning the African Woman Footballer of the Year Award.
We all knew that she would win it because she was and is the
best female player in Africa.
Her joining Liverpool, is a sign of greater things to come and I
hope she continues getting better.
This is not the time for her to go to sleep because she must
sustain the tempo so that she can keep getting recognized.

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Presidential poll: South-East did not endorse any candidate(1)

As the February 2015 Nigeria’s general elections get nearer
and electioneering becoming tougher, some of the political
parties, their candidates and campaign teams are becoming
more desperate, and perhaps even more dangerous, resorting
to doing all manner of things, including application of
sophistry and telling of lies just to win the elections. And just
few days back this year, the false claim of endorsement, that
the South-East geo-political zone of the country hasendorsed
the PDP Presidential candidate for the 2015 Presidential
election, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan, was published in
some newspapers as a news story (and believable in certain
quarters), knowing full well that it is a fabricated and
concocted tissue of lie, deliberately propagated to sway the
undiscerning ones among the southeasterners to vote for a
particular candidate, which is more reason why people have
to be very careful in information taking about the general
elections in this very desperate contemporary times because in
2011 Nigerians woke up one day to read or hear stories of a
candidate threatening to do this and that but which eventually
was a blatant falsehood deliberately published by another
candidate’s paid agent, simply to destroy the opponent’s
character and integrity and sway sympathy to the agent’s
candidate.
Though it was later retracted with apologies by both the
author and the newspaper, the falsehood or unfounded
allegation actually achieved its purpose of character de­
struction because even till date it is still being used as a
campaign tool against the man and is still believed by certain
people in the society. Given the potential danger and perpetual
enmity which such claimed endorsement could bring to the
southeast zone, no right thinking person or group comes out
openly to say they have endorsed any particular candidate in
an election, lest they become political enemies of some other
candidate’s geo-political zone or ethnic group, hence I
considered it auspicious to use this opportunity now to correct
the erroneous information being bandied about by some people
that the southeast have endorsed the PDP candidate or even
any particular political party’s candidate for the election.
Our people should learn from Yoruba to be discrete in politics.
In 2003, and even in 2011, no mention was made anywhere be­
fore the elections that the west had taken a decision to vote
for PDP Presidential candidates but there was such a pact,
which was only disclosed after the elections. But in the
present circumstance however, the southeast as a group have
not endorsed any Presidential candidate, and it is totally false
for anyone for personal cheap political gain to claim that the
zone have endorsed anyone. And whosoever is behind such
falsehood of endorsement, irrespective of their age or socio-
political positions in the society, simply spoke for themselves
and not for the entire southeasterners because in the south­
east zone of today supporters of the APC candidate, General
Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, are very many across the
zone, while an illustrious son of the zone, Chief Chekwas
Okorie, visibly the most patriotic contemporary Igbo politician,
is also running for Presidency, on the platform of his party, the
United Progressives Party (UPP), which he founded two years
ago in 2013.
The false endorsement claimants could not rightly claim to
have spoken on behalf of Chris Ngige, Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas
Okorocha, George Moghalu, myself, C.Don Adinuba, Chekwas
Okorie, many professionals, teeming unemployed youths, busi­
ness men and women, students of tertiary schools who stayed
for long out of classes due the ineptitude of the Jonathan
regime, other political party’s members and even some
persons in PDP who may not want their names mentioned, all
of southeast zone origin. The claim is simply a mirage or hal­
lucination by those vociferous self-seeking characters
masquerading as Igbo leaders. The mood of the nation today
about the coming Presidential election is obvious, that the
country wants change and that the man General Muhammadu
Buhari is the person they want among the present contenders.
The southeast zone should not make themselves scape goats
or pariah but rather follow the trend.
Unless one does not want to tell one’s self the truth, it is an
incontrovertible fact that because of the failed promises of the
Jonathan regime very many number of easterners have
become discontent about his quest for another term, a
situation that has become gainful to APC, as the number of
people supporting Buhari today in the southeast zone is
rapidly increasing. Unless they are going to allocate voting
results, as they allegedly did in 2011 in the southeast in the
Presidential election, it is not going to be easy for President
Jonathan again in the zone, in terms of supporting his bid for
yet another term because one can fool the people some of the
time but certainly not all the time. One is apprehensive that
the claim of endorsement might be a ploy to return over 90
percent voting result to the PDP candidate again.
No one can rightly claim that the entire great number of
unemployed southeast youths who are suffering serious
financial straits and other forms of deprivations and adversity
have endorsed Goodluck Jonathan for another term of office.
In the face of failed promises, such as with the issue of
constructing a second bridge across the River Niger at
Onithsa, the Akanu Ibiam ‘International’ Airport, the Sam
Mbakwe ‘International Cargo’ Airport, and the numerous
dilapidated federal roads, as the improvement of the facilities
of the federal tertiary schools and hospitals, no one can
correctly claim the entire southeast people are supporting the
PDP Presidential candidate, no matter how the PDP and their
candidate are battling tooth and nail to deceive the people
again with visits to these projects during his campaign rallies
in the zone.
Sir Anueyiagu, is a public affairs commentator

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Molade Okoya-Thomas (1935-2015)

Renowned industrialist, sports patron and business mogul,
Chief Molade Alexander Okoya-Thomas has passed on. The
great philanthropist and Pro- Chancellor of Lagos State
University (LASU) died last week in Lagos of an undisclosed
ailment at the age of 79. With his death, Nigeria lost an indus­
trial giant and entrepreneur par excellence. His passage has
expectedly elicited glowing tributes from many Nigerians,
including President Goodluck Jonathan.
In his tribute, President Jonathan said that the outstanding
entrepreneur “lived a very worthy and fulfilled life and left a
legacy of great entrepreneurial achievements for his
successors to build on.” Former Vice President, Atiku
Abubakar, described the deceased as pioneer and a visionary
who belonged to a generation of private sector investors who
saw opportunities in making investments in the economy when
it was risky to do so. His death, he said, is a huge blow to
the Nigerian business community .The Lagos State
Government described the deceased as a model for the
present generation. Speaking on behalf of the state govern­
ment, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr.
Aderemi Ibirogba, said: “He left a virtue for the present
generation. For instance, in spite of his status, he never
arrived late to any event he was invited. This is one quality
this generation needs to emulate from him. He loved youths
and until his death, he demonstrated his love for the youths
through organizing and sponsoring the Asoju Oba Cup.”
The Lagos State University (LASU) Student Union Government
said he would be missed for his contribution to education and
the institution. These worthy testimonials attest to his out­
standing character that is worthy of emulation by Nigerians.
The deceased was born in Lagos on June 8, 1935 to late
Hussam Okoya- Thomas (the first Baba Adinni of Furabay
Mosque, Olowogbowo, Lagos), and late Alhaja Suwebat
Okoya-Thomas (nee Gbajabiamila, Otun Iya Adinni of Idita
Mosque).
He attended several schools including the Princess School,
Lagos, 1946; Balham and Tooting College of Commerce,
London, 1956-1959; Columbia University, New York, US, 1981.
Okoya-Thomas was appointed Director Transcap Nigeria
Limited; Director, Niger Motors Industries Limited; Chairman,
Studio Press Nigeria Limited and Chairman, CFAO.
He was a member, Lagos City Council from 1971- 1975, Lagos
State Development and Property Corporation; Chairman, Board
of Trustees Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall. The
deceased was conferred with the prestigious French national
honour, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. The Federal
Government of Nigeria conferred on him the national honour,
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and Officer
of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). He also held the
titles of Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu Remo and
Odofin of Ife. He was an active sportsman in his youth. For
instance, he was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder of 4×220
yards relay race while at Baptist Academy, Lagos. He also
sponsored the annual Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championships
for over four decades, thereby setting a record as the only Ni­
gerian to have consistently sponsored a competition spanning
over four decade, single-handed. His philanthropy knew no
bounds. He served among others as the Chairman, 3rd All
Africa Games Appeal Fund. He built and donated a Modern
Sports Hall to students and staff of LASU in 2009. He was a
member of the fund-raising committee for the construction of
Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The death of Okoya-Thomas has sadly depleted the ranks of
the nation’s business icons and he will be missed for his
remarkable support to entrepreneurship, education and young
Nigerians. We join his family, friends and the Nigerian
business community to mourn his demise. Let the remarkable
entrepreneurial skills and philanthropic spirit of this industrial
giant and patriot serve as beacons for the present generation
of Nigerian businessmen.
No doubt, the deceased left indelible footprints on the nation’s
industrial landscape. His life of service to the country is,
indeed, worthy of emulation. We commiserate with his family,
friends and the entire people of Lagos State on his departure.
May God grant him eternal repose.

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Imo 2015: Candidates shun parley with police

Ahead of this month’s general elections, candidates of the
various political offices in Imo state yesterday shunned a
peace accord meeting initiated by the state police command.
Police officers at the meeting which was slated for 10am
waited till 1pm with no single candidate of any political party
in sight.
Even the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Usman Gwary
of Zone 9 who was supposed to be special guest at the meet­
ing left in anger after waiting for several hours without the
candidates turning up for the peace parley.
However, briefing journalists after the botched meeting, the
state command public relations officer, Andrew Enwerem
expressed disappointment over the attitude of the candidates
which he described as lackadaisical.
Enwerem stated that the aborted meeting was the second
time the parley would be organized, noting that the non-atten­
dance by the candidates is an indication that they were not
serious.
He explained that the motive of the meeting was to educate
the candidates on the purpose of a violence free election as
well as making them to sign a peace accord on their par­
ticipation at the election.

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Jesse Jags VS Vector: Who raps better?

JESSE JAGZ:
Jesse Garba Abaga aka Jesse Jagz is a rapper, hip hop
artiste, song writer and producer. Previously a Chocolate City
sign-on alongside his brother MI, he pulled out in 2003 to
float his own label, Jagz Nation. A Jukun from Taraba State,
Jesse was bred in Jos, Plateau State, by his clergy parents
and his exposure to the choir early in life influenced his career
as a music artiste. After recording a debut but failed album
with a group called Gospel Insanity, he formed another group
called Eleven Thirty, which became a relative success. In
2004, he collaborated with MI to establish the Inner Hub
Studios and in 2006; he went solo and dropped a debut single
entitled Africa. That marked the beginning of his successful
career which was followed with various hits like Bend Down
Low and My Brother among other chart toppers. He has won
several awards to date.
The Nigerian music industry has produced a plethora of
celebrated rap artistes whose works have impacted Africa and
beyond. They include the likes of MI, Ruggedman, Eedris
Abdulkareem, 9ice and ELDee to mention a few. This week’s
Showdown zeroes in on two talented rappers, Jesse Jagz and
Vector, as Nigerian rap enthusiasts determine the better of the
pair.
VECTOR THA VIPER:
Olanrewaju Ogunmefun aka Vector Tha Viper is an indigene of
Ogun State and holds a Bachelors’ degree in Philosophy. He is
a singer, songwriter, rapper and hip hop act active since 2008.
He has two studio albums to his credit namely State of
Surprise and The Second Coming . His interest in hip hop dates
back to his early school days at St Gregory’s College, Victoria
Island, Lagos. In 1999, he formed a group called Badder Boiz,
with his friends, Krystal and Blaze. However, he released his
debut single entitled Kilode in February 2010. A follow up
single entitled Mary Jane was released two months later and
this was followed by his debut album in October of the same
year. To date he has won several awards and numerous
nominations.
…And the people’s verdict:
I’ll go for Jesse Jagz – Charles Emmanuel, undergraduate
Jesse Jags is more popular and talented compared to Vector.
He is also more experienced in the art of rapping. I like his
single, Redemption , though some people criticized when it was
released. Thank God its success has proved that his exit from
Chocolate City was actually a redemption move. So, I will go
for him.
It’s Jesse Jagz – Jossey Ileomah, civil servant
I think it should go to Jesse Jagz. The fact that he is MI’s
brother already gives him an edge over Vector because there
is the advantage of him sharing ideas and experience with MI.
Besides that, Jesse is also a music producer and is in a better
position to put up better raps. He is better than Vector as far
as I’m concerned.
Both are good artistes – Bridget Young, entrepreneur
Both Jesse and Vector are good. A look at their career profile
will show you that both of them have earned several awards
and nominations. Apart from that, they have both dropped a
number of hits so I think singling out either of them as the
better rapper is not a good idea. We should not create
unwarranted rivalry between them.
Vector is cutier than Jesse Jagz – Yetunde Adeola, stylist
I find Vector cuter than Jesse Jagz and also find his rap more
intersting too. You know, the popular saying has it that ‘the
eye sees before the mouth savours.’ It is very true. What I am
trying to say is that the fact that I find Vector cuter,
everything other thing about him automatically appeals to me;
I hope you understand what I am driving at?
They are at par – Oluseyi Adegbesan, businessman
Judging by my rating, Vector and Jesse Jagz are on the same
level career-wise. Talk about hit tracks and awards and you
would find that they fall within the same rating. However, let
us watch Vector because he recently returned to active
recording after a long break so he has a chance to prove
himself this time round. Maybe, we shall be in better position
to pass judgement towards the end of the year.
Give it to Jesse Jagz –Eniola Oyetunde, undergraduate
Jesse Jagz is my preferred candidate. That is not to say that
he is a spectacular rap artiste but when compared with
Vector, he is my pick. I don’t really know much about Vector
in terms of hip hop or rap and I don’t know of any hit rap
song that is credited to him. But in terms of being endowed
with talent, they are both gifted and have what it takes to go
very far.
I prefer Vector –Abbey Gabriel, undergraduate
I consider Vector a better rapper compared to Jesse Jagz
because he can switch from slow to fast tempo, something
only a few artistes can do. Jesse Jagz cannot do that so I
prefer him to Jesse.
Neither is qualified –Idowu Victoria, PR Executive
Neither Jesse Jagz nor Vector is qualified to be rated as
colourful rappers as far as I am concerned. Moreover, one of
the major assets that qualify an artiste to be recognised as a
top act is endorsement. Apart from Vector’s voice which was
used for a certain long-running Sprite advertisement, both
rappers have not attracted any juicy endorsement deal so far.
However, they are doing their best and will hopefully get there.

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