The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Southern African countries plan single visa

    Mark Smulian talked to

    South African Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, about his dream of making an African e-visa regime a reality.

    At the tip of the African continent, South Africa is a long way from most of the rest of the world, and it is, therefore, not really surprising that it does not function as a major regional hub.

    But Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, wants to change that by encouraging carriers to look on Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport as the key “south–south” hub for the southern hemisphere, linking up the rest of Africa, South America and parts of Asia and Australia.

    What is more, Minister van Schalkwyk has a big idea to encourage a leap forward in tourism volumes in South Africa and its neighbours – a pan- African e-visa.

    If he can bring about a common e-visa area for southern Africa, the increased flows through Johannesburg could make the hub idea more viable. The country has increased in popularity as a tourism destination since the end of apartheid.

     

     

     

     

     

    In 2011, according to Statistics South Africa, it received some 3 million foreign visitors arriving by air, mainly at OR Tambo, with a peak in December and January.

    The most common points of origin for foreign visitors were the UK (420,483), followed by the US (287,614) and Germany (235,774).

    No surprises there perhaps, but in seventh place was India on 90,367, followed by China with 84,862 arrivals, which suggests South Africa can expect more as those economies grow.

    Of total visitors, 94.3% came as tourists, with business journeys accounting for only 2.2% of traffic, and transit passengers and students making up the remainder.

    Traffic is dominated by resident carrier South African Airways (SAA) and to a lesser extent by its low-cost subsidiary Mango, followed by carriers such as British Airways.

    But what South Africa and southern Africa continues to lack is a central hub for intra-regional travel, to foster tourism and business between the African states bordering South Africa, and van Schalkwyk hopes e-visas and the hub idea may break down this barrier.

    His objective is to get rid of much of the bureaucratic hassle of travelling in southern Africa by having a common travel region for all its countries – rather like the European Union’s Schengen agreement. Van Schalkwyk says agreement is near on this becoming a reality.

    First the good news. Van Schalkwyk, who has been Tourism Minister since 2004, says more than 50 carriers now fly to South Africa, against only 26 in the late 1990s, and that while “obviously a nation such as ours is a long-haul destination from almost everywhere in the world”, a managed liberalisation process has attracted airlines.

    “It may sound an old-style philosophy, but we believe that more competition will drive down prices and provide more choices, which are good for a destination,” he tells Routes News.

    Tourist arrivals increased by 10.5% in the first six months of this year and South Africa attracts some 4.25 million tourists a year, including those arriving by land, he says.

    Van Schalkwyk thinks southern Africa as a whole could attract more visitors than it does and that complex visa rules imposed by most countries are a deterrent to this if people wish to visit more than one country.

    “We believe the world should move to e-visas, and at the G20 heads of state meeting in Mexico all of them committed themselves to travel facilitation, but not everybody is there exactly at this moment,” he explains.

    Van Schalkwyk says the process of getting a single visa for the southern part of the continent agreed upon is “only two countries away from it, and if we can convince them we are there”, he says.

  • Abuja Bantaba: Stakeholders renew commitment to tourism marketing

    THE third edition of the Bantaba tourism speed dating

    was recently held inAbuja, and it was a success story. It

    was an opportunity for stakeholders in the industry to come together to discuss some of the salient issues affecting the sector and the way forward. With the Akwaaba annual travel fair, the foremost West African travel fair holding in Lagos, the Bantaba speed dating offers a platform for travel trade networking in the northern part of the country.

    Raising the marketing tempo of the tourism industry in Nigeria via-a-vis the Akwaaba platform, the 2013 Abuja Bantaba demonstrated the convergence power of the private sector as the driver of the tourism industry globally, when core and allied players in the tourism registered their presence.

    The one-day event that hosted a mini exhibition, matching travel buyers with sellers and allied tourism players also reduced the cost of individual marketing in Abuja and the North, vis-a-vis attracting buyers by using greater attraction through the speed-dating and marketing efforts of sellers with high-powered seminar session.

    The Bantaba did not only boost marketing and speed dating with face-to-face incentives through the one day buying and selling activities, but also widened stakeholders scope on growing and building the businesses and industry altogether.

    The speakers drawn from different tourism fields dealt with different topics allotted to them for discussion and in return touched on salient issues affecting the tourism industry and how they can firmly proffer solutions that would bring decency to the partnership drive for onward development.

    However, the organiser of the Abuja Bantaba did not only do their homework well to create the platform for buyers and sellers in the travel and tourism industry to grow their businesses, but also to cross-fertilise ideas on areas where the tourism sector can rank with others globally.

    The publisher of ATQ Magazine and organiser of Abuja Bantaba, Mr Ikechi Uko, who addressed stakeholders at the one-day speed-dating travel and tourism show said Abuja Bantaba will continue to improve on the content of the platform to position stakeholders’ business domestically and globally.

    Uko added that to boost the capacity of attendees, they decided to introduce more speakers and topics that addressed the immediate problems facing the tourism industry.

    Some participants spoke on the event. Movenpick Hotel Accra’s director of sales, Mr Andrew Asare-Boafo, said: “You can see that your efforts have been recognised. It gives us a good feelings, an appetite to do more, and for Bantaba to recognise us outside Ghana is a plus for us.

    “I am so amused and this award will turn out to be something good and it is going to be another challenge for us because it is not just that we have won an award, but the difficult aspect is to keep it and make sure that we keep the tempo to win again.

    “You know other hotels will be looking at us and will want to be there, so we have to work harder to keep it. The award is something that will motivate us to want to do more in terms of customers’ hospitality”.

    The Chairman, HRG and former President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, Mr. Femi Adefope, who spoke on travel management companies, said that they do more and provide wide-ranging services, including taxi, parking(in-country), sourcing of meeting venues, video conferencing facility, among others.

     

  • Understanding the family (4)

    Dear Reader,

    In this concluding segment of Family Forum for this month, we will be looking at what God’s Word has to say about the Mystery of One Flesh.

    Let’s examine some of the things we can learn from the mystery of one flesh, in understanding the family.

    Treat Your Spouse As Yourself

    An understanding of the mystery of one flesh will make husband and wife treat each other the same way. What you cannot do to yourself, don’t do to your spouse. Treat your spouse the way you want your spouse to treat you. Care for your spouse the same way you want him/her to care for you.

    The Word of God says: For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church (Ephesians 5:29). The American Heritage Dictionary defines “nourish” as “to provide with food or other substances necessary for life and growth; feed. To foster the development of, promote.” It defines “cherish” as “treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear. To keep fondly in mind.” A husband and wife should foster the development of each other, promote each other, treat each other with affection and tenderness, hold each other dear, and keep each other fondly in mind. It takes an understanding of the mystery of one flesh to be able to do this.

    Make No Provision For Divorce

    Do all within your power to avoid divorce. God’s Word says: For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously (Malachi 2:16). God hates putting away! What God hates, you should hate too. What God has joined together, nothing should put asunder (Matthew 19:5-6; Mark10:9).

    When there is a challenge in your home, divorce should not be the first option that comes to mind. Rather, it is important to first identify and analyze the challenge. Then, make proposals and choose a possible solution. This way, most problems can be solved. What you don’t confront you never conquer. Be committed to deal with problems, not walk away from them. Divorce can be likened to marital amputation. It causes a lot of grief, pain, and wound that only God can heal. Even when a wound is healed, the scar remains, and in most cases, for life. Make no plans for divorce. Remember, prevention is better than cure.

    The breakdown of the family unit is one of the greatest calamities our society faces today. The partners go through untold agonies, not to talk of the shattered lives of children, who go through turmoil and devastation. Probably you are reading this article and have been considering divorce, according to you, because there is no way out. Hold it! Who knows, this might be the reason God gave you the opportunity of reading this article. Or, are you already divorced? Do not allow a sense of condemnation to overwhelm and destroy your colorful future. God is a Restorer. Do you know a miracle can still take place in your life and family to bring about a restoration? And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm … (Joel 2:25).

    The general principle is: no divorce. But if you are already divorced, God picks you up where you are. If you are re-married now, God recognized the marriage relationship you are in now as binding. What you did in the past is past, ask God for forgiveness and go on from there. You need to make it a biblical relationship.

    Share Your Bodies With One Another

    Husbands and wives should learn to share their physical bodies with one another. After marriage, the physical body of the husband belongs to the wife, and that of the wife belongs to the husband. Both of them are to enjoy satisfaction from each other’s body. They are not expected to refrain their bodies from one another anymore. See what the scripture says in I Corinthians 7:4-5: The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other… Man and wife, understand that your physical union is your creative power. God created sex, and it is a key part of our lives. It is meant to be enjoyed exclusively by a husband and his wife after marriage. This physical union is what produces children. Sex is to be enjoyed, not endured. Don’t use it to punish your spouse!

    In marriage, sex is the ultimate in oneness between a husband and wife. Your sex life affects your attitude positively or negatively. Sexual tension is the foundation of crises in many marriages and homes, but it can be avoided. My husband says when a marriage lacks romance, it starts suffering disintegration. Never give your body to your spouse because you want to get something from him/her. In marriage, never be found prostituting your body; it is perverted sex!

    When a husband and wife are truly united in body, it becomes easy to overcome temptations from outside. Remember that sex is only proper in the context of marriage. Outside of marriage, sex is sin (I Corinthians 6:9). In actual fact, it is the scarlet sin, and it sinks destinies! Your destiny shall not sink!

    However, for you to enjoy family life and your marriage according to the design of the Almighty God, then you have to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. By so doing, you confess your sins to Him and tell you will not go back to them again. Are you ready to give Him your life? If you are, please say this prayer with me: “Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I believe You died for me and on the third day, You rose that I might be justified. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom”.

    Congratulations, you are now born again! I believe that you will begin to experience the reality of the price that Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary. All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name!

    Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through:

    E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 08141320204; 07026385437; 07094254102

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored)

  • ‘International tourists between January and April were 298m’

    A total of 298 million inter
    national tourists travelled worldwide between January and April 2013, 12 million more than in the same period last year, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.
    Prospects for the current tourism peak season remain positive with some 435 million tourists expected to travel abroad in the May-August period.
    International tourist arrivals grew by 4.3% in the first four months of 2013 to reach a total of 298 million, up from 286 million, despite a challenging global economic environment.
    Results were positive in all regions, with the strongest growth in Asia and the Pacific (+6%), Europe (+5%) and the Middle East (+5%) and weaker growth in the Americas (+1%) and Africa (+2%). By subregion, South-East Asia (+12%), South Asia (+9%) and Central and Eastern Europe (+9%) were the star performers.
    “International tourism continues to show an extraordinary dynamism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
    “The 4.3% growth in the number of international tourists crossing borders in the first months of 2013 confirms that tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of our times, contributing in a central manner to the economy of a growing number of countries” he added.
    Emerging economies growing faster Growth was stronger in emerging economy destinations (+4.6%) as compared to advanced economies (+3.3%), a trend which has marked the sector for many years now. By region, growth was positive in all regions, but results where rather mixed.
    Asia and the Pacific (+6%) saw the highest relative growth boosted by arrivals in South-East Asia (+12%) and South Asia (+9%).
    International tourist arrivals to Europe, the most visited region in the world, were up by 5%; an excellent result in view of the economic situation in the region. Central and Eastern Europe (+9%) continues to lead growth, while Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+5%) also turned in strong results.

     
    Africa (+2%) and the Americas (+1%) reported a rather weak growth in the first four months of 2013, though following the strong progress of 2012 (+6% and +5%, respectively). At the subregional level, results were rather flat in all subregions of the Americas except in Central America (+4%). In Africa, the 3% growth in Subsaharan Africa contrasts with even results in North Africa.

    Growth in the Middle East is estimated at 5%, though this figure should be taken with caution as it is based on still rather limited available data.

    435 million tourists expected to travel abroad during the tourism peak season

    Prospects remain positive for the period May-August, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer season. Around 435 million tourists are expected to travel abroad during these four months which account for as much as 40% of all international tourist arrivals registered in a year. The pace of growth might slow somewhat, as shoulder seasons tend to show faster growth than the peak season.

    International air travel reservations for May-August from business intelligence tool Forwardkeys support this outlook with a 4% increase in bookings for that period. The highest growth is recorded in international flight reservations from Africa and the Middle East (+7%) and the Americas (+5%), followed by Europe (+3%) and Asia and the Pacific (+2%).

    This outlook is confirmed by the UNWTO Panel of Experts Confidence Index survey which shows sustained confidence for this period, though with variations by region and activity. Confidence picked up significantly in Europe, the Middle East, among Global operators, tour operators and travel agencies. On the other hand, confidence decreased among experts in Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and Africa, as well as among experts in the transport industry.

    For the full year of 2013, international tourist arrivals are expected to increase by 3% to 4% in line with UNWTO’s long-term forecast of 3.8% per year for the period 2010 to 2020.

     

  • ‘Why our mission to extort money from school proprietress by threatening her with assassination failed’

    ‘Why our mission to extort money from school proprietress by threatening her with assassination failed’

    A THREE-man gang of suspected assassins who claimed that they were paid N150,000 to kill a school proprietress, Mrs. Veronica Okonido (65), has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command. The suspected assassins were arrested penultimate Friday.

    A police source said the gang’s suspected leader, Jude Ekpenisi (25) claimed that the gang was paid by a certain individual to assassinate Mrs. Okonido, but he had compassion for the woman and decided to reject the sum offered for her head. Instead, he requested Okonido to pay the gang the same sum of money or it would carry out Okondo’s assassination.

    The two other suspected members of the gang are David Ekpenisi (22) and Philemon Uwadi (22).

    As soon as the case was transferred to SARS for investigation, the officer in-charge, Mr. Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, swung into action and tracked down the gang leader through David Ekpenisi’s SIM card, which they used to tell him that the pastor of a big church had told him to come for a lucrative job. The pastor turned out to be a SARS operative and Jude Ekpenisi was immediately arrested.

    The third suspect, Philemon, reported at SARS’ headquarters by himself, not knowing that Jude was arrested in connection with the assassination attempt case which they had abandoned when it became clear that Okonido was not willing to cooperate with them.

    Okonido is the proprietress of Crownfield Nursery and Primary School in Ijegun, Ikotun area of Lagos, and resides and resides within the school premises. The police source said the suspects stopped troubling her when it dawned on them that she was not willing to do their bidding.

    Confessing his involvement in the assassination saga, Jude said: “I was the one that accommodated the two other suspects in my room. One day, we sat down and discussed how we could squeeze out money from the woman, who we thought was a millionaire. We first sent her a threat message. The text reads: ‘Somebody has paid us to eliminate you. But we are God-fearing. That is why we decided not to kill you.’ The first text message was sent on June 24, 2013.”

    Having threatened the woman, they asked her to send the said sum through Jude’s account. They sent the account number to her but she would not bulge. But in their desperation to collect the money from her, Jude sent a threat letter to her three days later, saying that they would kill her if she remained adamant.

    “We pasted the threat letter at the gates of the school, the body of the school bus and other places within the school compound,” he said.

    After waiting for four days without a response, they came up with another threat: to kidnap her and two of her pupils. “When the plan did not work, we decided to look for legitimate employment. I secured an employment in an air freshner factory.

    “After working there for one week, I received a call from a church that there were job vacancies. I quickly ironed my trouser and shirt to attend the interview in the church premises. But when I got there, I was arrested by SARS operatives.

    “I led them to my house where my younger brother who gave us his SIM card to use for the deal was arrested. David later came to SARS to see us and he was nabbed.

    “I came to Lagos in 2007 and stayed with my grandmother at Ikotun. It was unemployment and the money to pay for accommodation that made to form an assassination gang.

    “I was initially living alone at Ramat Ajike Street, Ijegun, where the woman’s school, Crownfield Nursery and Primary School, is situated. My house has a common fence with her school. She drives a Toyota Camry car and she knows me. But she did not know that I was the one who planned the attempted assassination and the kidnapping of two of her pupils.

    “She is always kind and friendly. She was surprised when SARS operatives arrested us.

    “My brother David and Philemon were not living with me before. They joined me from Ajegunle (Lagos) in April to look for jobs. I was living with one Solomon and my wife Precious who works with a Laboratory in Lagos. She is the one that feeds us and pays the house rent. She was not aware of the plan otherwise she would have driven us away. We demanded for N150,000 only.”

    He gave further details of the threats they issued to the woman, saying: “In the first week, we called her on her mobile phone after getting the number from her school’s sign board. When I called her, she asked who I was and I tried to use a name that would scare her. I told her my name was Jack.

    “I said somebody was working against her and she should call back if she wanted to know. She did not call back. After waiting for 30 minutes, I called again and told her that somebody had paid us to kill her.

    “She then said I should talk to her; that she is a child of God. I then told her that I am also a child of God and that was why I called her. I told her that she should try to cooperate with us, that the person behind it would die if she cooperated.

    “She then asked what we wanted and I told her to give us N150,000. She said okay and asked us to send our account number. I can’t remember the account number. It belongs to my brother and he did not know that we wanted to use it. I was using to use it to send money to him before.

    “I called his wife and told her that somebody wanted to send me money through her husband’s account number. She obliged, knowing that the number was always with me. When the proprietress did not send the money after two days, we called and asked her why, and she said the money was not yet complete.

    “We gave her one more day to send it. When she failed, we sent the threat letter. We told her that we were good boys but she wanted to turn us into bad boys. We asked how she would feel if we kidnapped two of her pupils or if they got missing. We asked her to call us with our phone number that was with her, but for three days she did not call.

    “Uwadi Philemon then wrote another letter which we pasted at the gates and on the school bus. It reads: ‘Since you have refused to send the money, you do not like the finger that is pointing at you to return back to the sender. Send the money now or we carry out our threat.’ Still, she did not answer until we started receiving calls from somebody else who claimed to be her brother.

    “He said he was a policeman and that he would trace us. She asked why we should demand money from his sister. From that day, he was the one calling and telling us that we would be arrested.

    “When they started threatening us with arrest, I called Jude and told him that we should stop disturbing the woman. That was how we stopped and decided to seek employment. I got an employment as a waiter in a hotel situated in Ikotun on a monthly salary of N11,000 before we were arrested. Jude and his brother, David, secured employment as marketers in a company that produces air freshner in Lagos.”

    Asked how they were arrested, he said: “They called David that a church had a vacancy for a drummer, a keyboard player and one security man. When I got there, I saw the lady and the police officer who was introduced to me as the pastor of the church. I asked if the work would be daily or weekly and he said we should go to the church.

    “The next thing I saw was a SARS’ car loaded with SARS operatives reversing to meet us. The SARS operatives alighted with guns and handcuffs. It was then that it dawn on me that we were in police net.”

    The third suspect, David Ekpenisi, Jude’s younger brother, said: “I was the one who gave them my mobile phone’s SIM card as contact. I was there always when Jude and Philemon communicated with the woman.

    “It was also my number that the police used to deceive us that a church wanted to give us employment.

    “It was because of poverty that I joined the gang. I found it difficult to feed because my sister said she hadn’t enough money to feed three big mouths. It was a big temptation because we were over stretching our sister.

    The spokesperson of the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Mrs. Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) could not be reached for comment at press time. She was said to have travelled for the burial of her father who died a few days ago.

  • Natures Gentle Touch on the move

    Natures Gentle Touch on the move

    Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute is determined to transform to a world-class institution, and in order to make this a reality, all its efforts are geared towards the attainment of this noble objective through excellent instructional methodology.

    The institution, owned by Africa’s leading hair and beauty group, Reacare Limited, the brand owners of Natures Gentle Touch, a natural hair care band that gives solutions to different hair and scalp problems like hair breakage and dandruff.

    According to Ukachi Obiuzor, its spokesperson, the institute, at Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, is out “to elevate the quality of hair care services rendered to salon customers by offering basic, intermediate, advanced and specialist courses.”

    The institute also provides the best and most comprehensive hair styling and beauty education to students, graduates, working professionals seeking a career change, practising stylists interested in upgrading their skills and people without previous hair styling knowledge.

    To live up to its mission, he said: “The curriculum of the institute is influenced by global trends and techniques and it spans through hair cutting , platform artistry, salon management , trends and design, hair structures theory marcel curling and much more.”

  • Pathetic tales of abandoned PDP members involved in fatal accident on their way to Jonathan’s campaign

    Pathetic tales of abandoned PDP members involved in fatal accident on their way to Jonathan’s campaign

    ON Friday March 25, 2011, 50 enthusiastic members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left the party’s secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, to take part in the campaign rally of President Goodluck Jonathan at the Eagle Square, Abuja the next day. It began as a smooth journey as the PDP members sang Jonathan’s praises.

    But tragedy struck as the travelers approached Ikire, a historical community in Osun State. The driver of the luxury bus that conveyed them lost control of the vehicle, leading to the death of a passenger while scores of other passengers sustained various degrees of injuries that have refused to heal.

    Those who sustained injuries in the accident included Madam Funke Oyinsanmi and Madam Bisi Awe. Others were Olabisi Olojede, Mercy Oluyemi and Mary Balogun.

    The victims were first taken to the Ikire Catholic Church hospital, from where they were transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, where most of them remained about two months.

    Mrs. Awe did not only lose four of her teeth in the accident, her fractured arm had to be amputated while her broken lower jaw makes it impossible for her to talk properly. Other victims of the accident are nursing equally serious injuries, nursing excruciating pains and securing no tangible help, even from the party.

    Recalling the events that culminated in her ugly fate, Mrs. Awe said: “I had no premonition whatsoever that the journey would bring me recurring tears instead of joy. I went on the journey because of my love for President Jonathan. Honestly, if I knew that the journey would turn awry, I would have turned down the offer to be part of the contingent.

    “We were singing songs in praise of President Jonathan when we suddenly heard a loud noise. I passed out immediately. The next thing I saw was that I found myself in the hospital. To my surprise, I found that my right arm had been amputated. At that point, I wept uncontrollably, but I was frantically consoled by the doctors and nurses around.”

    When our correspondent visited the Ikorodu residence of Awe, there were tell tale signs of sadness in the household. She was drinking garri, a delicacy she said she detested when things were going well.

    The 57-year-old woman recalled the fate that had befallen her since she lost her arm and joined the league of deformed persons.

    She said: “Apart from the fact that I have become a disabled person, the incident has turned me into a beggar. I now live in penury because I have spent all the money I have on treatment.

    “You can see that I have just finished a bowl of soaked garri, which ordinarily I would not have taken when I was hale and hearty. Now, I can hardly feed myself, not to talk of my children and other dependants. I have aged parents whose welfare was my responsibility before the accident. Now, I can no longer take care of them.”

    She also recalled how prominent party leaders, including the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, promised to help her but failed to make good their promises.

    She said: “During one of her visits to Lagos State in December 2011, we met the First Lady at the State House, Marina, at the instance of our party leaders. She sympathised with us and promised to facilitate my trip to India for corrective surgery on my face and to procure an artificial limb. Sadly, she has not fulfilled that promise as I speak, even though she made the promise in the presence of our party leaders.

    “I am therefore using this opportunity to once again remind her of her promise and to come to my aid as my health keeps deteriorating every day.

    “I know that some party leaders have assisted me at one point or the other, but I still need a huge lifeline to overcome my predicament. As I speak, my children have dropped out of school while I still have medical bills to settle.”

    Other victims of the accident alleged that they were abandoned by the First Lady and PDP leaders, who had promised to take care of their treatment and rehabilitation. Lamenting their fate, they pleaded with the party leaders and the First Lady to redeem their pledge.

    One of the victims, Madam Funke Oyinsanmi, an indigene of Ado-Ekiti, said: “I am a PDP member in Ward J, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State. At about 7.30 pm, we left the PDP secretariat in GRA, Ikeja in a luxury bus en-route Abuja for the grand finale of the presidential rally.

    “When we got to Ikire, Osun State, our vehicle was involved in an accident and it somersaulted several times. Some policemen rescued and took us to Catholic Hospital in Ikire, Osun State, from where we were referred to LUTH for treatment.

    “I spent two months at the hospital because one of the veins on my wrist was badly affected while there are still broken glasses that have not been removed from my hand to date. The affected hand is lifeless; I can no longer use it to lift anything.

    “I sincerely believe that the accident would have been averted if we had travelled in the day time. Queer party officials in charge of mobilization are in the habit of asking us to travel in the night, so that they can pocket the money meant for our accommodation.

    “While we were in the hospital, some stalwarts of the party, including Senator Florence Ita Giwa, visited us and promised that the party would take very good care of us. But the promise has remained unfulfilled.

    “We also sought audience with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, during one of her visits to Lagos, and she promised to take care of our treatment. But she has since abandoned us to our fate. Please tell Mrs. Jonathan and our party leaders to come to our aid because our health has not improved at all.”

    The story of Mrs. Olabisi Olojede is not different from those of other victims. The Woman Leader from Ward G, Lagos Mainland suffered a fracture and a swollen hand that have refused to heal.

    She said: “We were singing on our way to Abuja. In the middle of this, I fell asleep. The accident happened while I was still sleeping. I woke up to see blood gushing out of my head while I also sustained injuries on my lips and left hand. My swollen hand has not gone down and the attendant pain is what I live with to date.

    “In April last year, we met with Mrs. Patience Jonathan in Lagos and she promised to facilitate our treatment; which she has not fulfilled. Although she gave us some money on that day, it was not enough to even take care of one person, let alone the rest of us.

    “I used to work as a bead maker and traditional wedding engagement anchor, but people are no longer giving me jobs because of my predicament. Please tell our party leaders to take care of us in the name of God, because we embarked on the journey out of our love for PDP.

    “Since the incident and the indifference of party leaders to our plight, we have become the butt of jokes from members of rival political parties in the state.”

    Another victim, Mrs. Mercy Oluyemi-Lawal (49) said: “When the incident occurred, one of my hands was trapped under a heavy object. I tried to lift my hand but I couldn’t. My forehead was lacerated by broken glass and my tooth was also broken.

    “To date, I still suffer severe pain in my arms while pieces of glass are still stuck in my hand. I am a trained caterer but I can no longer work because of my broken arm. Our former State Woman Leader, Mrs. Olabisi Odunsi, tried for us but her effort was not enough to relief us of our pains.”

    Also recalling the sad incident, 43-year-old Mrs. Mary Balogun said: “I was sleeping when the vehicle somersaulted at about 7.30 pm at a spot on Ikire-Gbongan Road. I hit my head on the pavement and blood started gushing out of it. A co-passenger had to use her wrapper to tie my head in order to prevent further loss of blood.

    “Now, I can no longer see clearly with my eyes while my badly damaged hand is yet to heal. As I speak, I cannot use the hand to lift or pick anything. “

    “Despite the promises made by our party leaders and Dame Patience Jonathan to the effect that we would be given free medical treatment, nothing has been done about our plight. We can no longer continue to suffer for being patriotic, and that is why we are appealing to our party chieftains to assist us. We are dying in silence.

    “Many of us still need treatments that require going overseas even as we battle with poverty and hopelessness.”

    A letter of appeal addressed to the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, by the counsel to the victims, Kunle Fadipe, dated March 18, 2013, reads in part: “We wish to bring to your attention that efforts made by our clients to get echelons of the party (PDP) at the local government and state levels to look into their predicament have been futile…our clients are widows whose means of livelihood have been truncated by the mishap.

    “Because of their health challenges, they cannot go about their daily businesses, which were hitherto their sources of income. Unfortunately, they now live on contributions from friends and family members. Even from these contributions made to them, a substantial part goes to the purchase of drugs and other medications…it is upon these ugly experiences of our clients that we passionately appeal to your esteemed office for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme.

    Their situation is pathetic and needs urgent attention. They have become objects of ridicule and scorn in the eyes of friends and associates who deride them for sowing where they could not reap. They blame them for committing so much to the party and getting nothing in return in their time of need.”

    The Acting National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Tony Okeke, declined comment when one of our correspondents met him at his office in Abuja on Thursday. ”I am not in the mood to say anything on the matter,” he said.

    Efforts made by our correspondent to get the comment of the Media Assistant to Dame Patience Jonathan, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, were also fruitless. After failing to respond to calls made to his phone, our correspondent sent a text message, explaining why he needed his comment, but he responded saying: “Welcome and thanks for making contact. However, I am not in a situation to make a comment right now. Please direct this enquiry to Mrs. Ayo Adesugba.”

    Adesugba initially did not respond to a text message our correspondent sent to her phone. Our correspondent later called her on the phone and she promised to call back. ”I am in a meeting, I’ll call you later,” she said. She, however, did not make good her promise to call back.

    The PDP chairman in Lagos State, Mr. Tunji Shelle, could also not be reached for comment as he neither picked the calls made to his phone nor respond our correspondent’s text message.

  • Catholic diseases: Mania

    Mania can be considered colloquially as an excessive interest, love, or devotion to something such as a hobby, e.g., car racing or collection of artworks. A woman might say to a man: “I am mad about you”. Often we refer to a genius as mad. Mania and madness have various connotations in social life. Such colloquial mania or madness is often desirable, acceptable, or admirable.

    The medical condition of mania is not desirable or admirable, and in many cases, not acceptable. Mania is a “mental disorder characterized by extreme excitement and energy” (The American Academy of Physicians’ Family Health and Medical Guide, 1996). The Stedman’s Concise Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions, 3rd Editions defines maniain two ways: “an emotional disorder characterized by euphoria or irritability, increased psychomotor activity, rapid speech, flight of ideas, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, grandiosity, and poor judgement” or “ an abnormal love for, or morbid impulse towards, some specific object, place, or action”. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (6th Edition) gives a definition from psychology for mania: “a mental illness in which somebody has an obsession about something that makes them extremely anxious, violent, or confused”. Webster’s New World College Dictionary (4th Edition) gives several definitions amongst which are: “a type of mental disorder characterized by an abnormal preoccupation, compulsion, etc.” Mania is difficult to define and for the purpose of this article, I prefer to consider it simply as super-reaction to a person, place, thing, or event; activity that goes beyond the supports of reason and wisdom.

    Every human being becomes medically manic under various conditions, thus mania is a catholic or universal medical condition. Underlying genetic predispositions, cultural, religious, spiritual, social, psychological, temporal, economic, political, and other varied influences can precipitate manic episodes or stable mania in individuals. A manic person is hurtful to self and to others and in many cases more hurtful to others than to self. Thus mania is a condition we should all be aware of and know that we all have the possibility of developing any time, any day, anywhere, anyhow.

    People with stable mania, chronic mania, established manic lifestyles, attitudes, or behaviour, are possibly safer than people who fall into instantaneous and unexpected acute mania. The established known maniacs can often be tolerated, accepted within an understanding society, and cared for to fit into regular life. Persons known to have chronic mania can be regulated medically, legally, morally, and charitably, therefore any possible harm from them is limited, contained, or aborted. Some cases can fit well into family life, with other members of the family being understanding and supportive.

    Instantaneous mania is more common than we can believe and because it may not linger, it may pass unnoticed, yet leaving behind significant harm. We may never think of ourselves as sometimes becoming instantaneously mad or manic therefore we look at historical examples. When King Herod gave an order to kill innocent babies, he was mad. In a moment of madness he initiated significant harm killing all children, two years old and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts. He could not reason in that moment, he was pathologically angry with the wise men that did not return to him. We can recount Hitler’s episodes, Idi Amin’s atrocities, and terrors spread by religious fanaticisms of all faith institutions. Pathologic anger, fear, dread, envy, hate, greed, lust, vengeance, rivalry, etc., can develop in any person instantaneously and precipitate madness. Such madness is never expected by the person who goes mad or by the victims. Because the victims are unguarded, they are surely affected or hurt. Therefore, for all of us, knowing how to not get mad is an important aspect of good health and safe living.

    Within families, manic episodes by persons that were not known as mad have resulted in homes being burnt to ashes; family members being burned and disfigured; family members being stabbed, shot with a gun, poisoned, or hurt for life in various ways; property being destroyed; economic losses; or violation and disruption of good life in various ways. Any of these episodes may happen one pleasant, happy, sunny day when everybody has been feeling good and happy.

    The unpredictable possibility of madness from anyone, anywhere, anytime, anyhow, makes it necessary for us to take a closer look at this medical condition and how to save ourselves from it.

    To be continued.

    Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910

  • Babies making babies

    As the controversy over the law on underage marriage rages on in the country, different sides have taken stands on the sensitive issue, with none ready to shift ground.

    Besides the social, cultural and legal aspects of this controversial law, the area that those who don’t see anything wrong in children getting married and having babies, need to consider seriously is the health and medical implications. Perhaps, they need to take a trip to the nearest VVF centre in the country. For the uninformed, these centres are places where victims of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and Recto Vaginal Fistula are treated and rehabilitated. VVF is a devastating medical condition characterized by an abnormal opening between the vagina and the urinary bladder that results from unrelieved prolonged obstructed labour, usually caused by an underdeveloped pelvic girdle.

    In most cases, the girl’s injured pelvic tissue breaks down, leaving a hole or fistula between the bladder and vagina which results in continuous leaking of urine and or faeces. In many cases, these victims, due to the smell they give off, are abandoned by families and friends and live in isolation, ostracized from the rest of society.

    VVF is a negative fallout of early marriages and child pregnancies.

    A colleague of mine who did a story on this serious life-threatening medical condition some years ago visited a few of the centres while researching the story. He came back with tales of pain, misery and human suffering beyond belief. He said most of the girls at the centre were condemned to living as outcasts in their society as they had been rejected and abandoned by their families and friends ‘including the husbands who put them in their miserable condition in the first place.’ What he saw, he stated made him weep. Now this my colleague is a hardened, tough-as-nails journalist who has seen a lot in the course of his work and is not easily moved. So for him to react in such a manner shows the extent of the horrible condition in which these poor girls find themselves.

    One phrase readily comes to mind in this matter and which is: ‘You can’t cheat nature’. Nature knows best and that is why it takes its time to prepare a female’s body for the arduous role it has been created for- that of ‘replenisher of the species’. It’s a woman’s role to reproduce so that the world will always be filled with people. Note that I used the term ‘woman’ and not child.

    If nature had intended children to have babies, their bodies would have been fully formed from birth or at an early age say 8 or 10. But you don’t have to be a medical doctor to know that at the age of 10, a girl child’s body is still growing. At this stage, her reproductive organs are not yet developed enough to cope with the rigors of pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood which every woman who has undergone the experience will tell you is ‘no child’s play,’ or a picnic.

    Even animals and plants respect this salient law of nature. You don’t see a baby goat mating and giving birth. The same with chickens, dogs, cats, birds and other members of the animal kingdom. Their young are allowed to mature first before reproducing. Yet humans who are superior to beasts in the jungle, always do everything to contravene nature’s laws, with disastrous consequences.

    Some men, knowing fully well the terrible consequences of ‘babies having babies’ still derive joy in marrying children as young as their great-grand children’s age. They hide under the cloak of religion, culture and societal norms to perpetuate this inhuman act on these vulnerable children. The result of this practice which is more widespread in the country than you can imagine, is there for all to see.

    Recently, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, disclosed that Nigeria has the highest incidences of VVF in the world with an estimated 400,000 to 800,000 cases with 20,000 new cases added each year.

    She stated that VVF and Rector Vaginal Fistula are serious health problems in the developing world, including Nigeria where it contributes greatly to the country’s unacceptable high maternal mortality.

    This is a huge number of our youngsters whose lives have been truncated at an early age due to no fault of theirs but being born in a society where a female is a ‘disposable commodity.’ She can be married off at 11 and divorced or abandoned at 14 when VVF strikes and no-one cares. We live in a truly evil society.

    There is one question Nigerians need to ask our ‘distinguished’ Senators, most of whom are fathers and grandfathers- will any of them (including unrepentant child bride practitioners

    Iike Senator Yerima) give out their 13 year old child in marriage to a 70 year-old Papa? I bet the answer is a resounding No! Many of them with school age children have their kids schooling abroad in some of the best schools in the world. Yet due to perverse desires, selfishness and crass ignorance, refuse to protect the weak and helpless in the society.

    Renouncing this obnoxious law so as to protect our young girls against predatory older men who destroy their lives in the name of early marriages, has nothing to do with religion as no religion condones human misery in any form. It is about justice, human rights and the well-being of our vulnerable children who need to be educated and nurtured to grow up as responsible adults. Not groomed to be a senile, old man’s plaything and sex object!

  • A daughter’s homecoming

    A daughter’s homecoming

    Ijero, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was agog on July 18. It hosted one of its own, Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu, a professor of Educational Administration, to a civic reception. Prof Adelabu’s media aide BUNMI OGUNMODEDE revisits the ceremony.

     

    IT was sweet home-coming last Thursday for Ekiti Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adeola Adelabu at Ijero-Ekiti, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti state.

    Prof Adelabu, who is married to an Ijero Prince, was treated to a rousing reception by members of the local chapter of the ruling party in the state – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The reception, held at the Ijero Sports Stadium, drew the who-is-who in the politics of the locality. They included royal fathers, top government functionaries, market leaders, youths and school pupils among others.

    Prof Adelabu’s guests were received by community leaders and royal fathers from Ipoti, Ara, Epe, Ilukuno, Araromi, Temidire, Iroko and Oke Oro. High Chief Femi Oyebanjo represented the Ajero of Ijero. He presented gifts to the deputy governor on behalf of the communities.

    Pupils from CAC Grammar School, Ijero, Ijero High School, Doherty Memorial High School, Ipoti High Schoool and Babatope High School, Ikoro, thrilled the audience with a march past and spectacular displays that drew cheers from the crowd.

    An array of jesters and praise singers also found their way into the stadium. They spiced the reception with comic reliefs.

    Opening the floodgate of goodwill messages, Mr Jekoyemi Bankole, who is the chairman of the local wing of the ACN, urged members to remain united and always respect the positions taken by their leaders.

    Others who took turns to deliver messages included: Mr Biodun Omoleye; ACN Women Leader Mrs Bose Yakubu; and Mrs Dupe Bakare as well as the leader of youths in the area.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the Civic Reception Committee, Dr. Adebayo Orire, said the event became necessary for Prof Adelabu’s kinsmen to show their love and appreciation.

    His words: “We would like to use this opportunity to formally congratulate this woman of virtue and profound intellect, who has proved her mettle in academics and now doing well in the public arena on her appointment as the deputy governor.

    “We wish her resounding success in this new assignment and in all future endeavours. She is an epitome of humility, meekness, perseverance, respect, honour, virtue and godliness; no wonder she is inheriting the earth. She is set apart for glory and greatness in all ramifications.

    “To the people’s governor, we say a big thank you for this honour and privilege for considering our own worthy of being appointed as the Second-in-Command in our dear state – the Land of Honour. May the good Lord continue to imbue you with the wisdom to pilot this great state to loftier pedestal.”

    Dr Orire urged the state government to turn Ijero council area into a pot of cash by developing its vast potentials.

    Responding, Prof Adelabu thanked the gathering for the reception.

    Apparently thrilled by the turnout of party supporters, well-wishers, the defection of members of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the outpouring of encomiums, the deputy governor described the reception as simply amazing.

    “I must confess that this reception is amazing,” Prof Adelabu said while responding to the display of love from all the communities that make up the council area.

    She preached unity amongst party members, warning them against polarisation and division.

    She said the ACN family in the state remained one indivisible, saying members should look beyond returning the Fayemi administration into office next year, but create the enabling environment for continuity after 2018.

    The deputy governor, who had earlier inaugurated a recreation centre built by the local government under the chairmanship of Mr Bode Agbeleye, praised the council chief for replicating the Fayemi administration’s programmes at the grassroots.

    Those at the event were: Commisioners Dapo Kolawole (Finance); Mrs Ronke Okusanya (Arts, Culture and Tourism); Dr. Eniola Ajayi (Environment); Mrs. Fola-Richie Adewusi (Women Affairs, Gender Empowerment and Social Development), Special Adviser to the deputy governor, Hon Bamitale Oguntoyinbo; the lawmaker representing Ijero State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola; and the Provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof Francisca Aladejana.