The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • ‘No crisis in Rivers State, but wind of change is blowing’

    ‘No crisis in Rivers State, but wind of change is blowing’

    For the first time, the Minister of State for Education, BARR. EZENWO NYESOM WIKE, opened up on the crisis in Rivers State and his grouse with GOVERNOR ROTIMI AMAECHI, whom he served as Chief of Staff. Our correspondent, SANNI ONOGU was at the interview session. Excerpts:

     

     

    What is the cause of the crisis in Rivers State ?

    When you say cause of the crisis, what crisis?

    I mean the political crisis in Rivers State that has assumed a life of its own. Every day we hear one thing or the other by those in support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and those not supporting him that even Amaechi has to say “I will talk o” and then you gave him back, “I will talk also”. What is the back ground to where we are?

    Ordinarily I try not to discuss about this type of issue. First of all, I don’t want to come from the angle that there is a crisis. What I will say is that it is natural in life that we are not agreeable to change. For example, in 2007, when there was a pronouncement that Celestine Omehia was not the governor, it was difficult for people to accept it. That is to say, when change occurs you don’t expect people to easily accept it. But with time you will find out that everybody will begin to live with it. So, it is better for people to accept change in life because the only thing that is permanent is change. If you say crisis, I will not agree with you but rather you know that in politics, if you are not in control of the party machinery, there is always fear that probably what you want will not be realised or achievable.

    Can you define the change you have just alluded to? Because like you always say that Governor Amaechi is the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, whereas people are of the view that Amaechi is no longer in control of the party but rather you are the de facto leader

    No, I am not. This again is the problem. I am not the head of the party. I am not the chairman of the party. And by the Constitution of the PDP I cannot be the head except where there is no governor from that party. So I am not the leader of the party as provided in the organogram of PDP. I am not, because we have a governor who is from the party. But assuming there is no governor, as a minister I would have said that I am the leader of the party.

    Are you saying Amaechi is still your leader in PDP Rivers State?

    There are no two ways about it. Whether you like it or not, he is. Take for example today, you may not like Jonathan but will you say that he is not the leader of the party at the national level? No. So people must face the reality. If you like his face, if you don’t like his face, what it means is that by the constitution of the party, he remains the leader, except he is no longer in the party.

    You are talking about the structure of the party. You have also spoken about change. What is your basis of talking about change?

    The change I am talking about is this. People contested for positions. It is like we go for general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission clears certain persons. Even in the people polling units. But when it gets to the general collation centres, somehow another person is declared as winner. In that case anybody who feels aggrieved goes to the tribunal to say, ‘look, by the results as announced in the various wards or polling units, I ought to be declared as the winner.’ Now when that follows, at the end of the day, the person is declared as the winner by the tribunal, you will see reactions. The person may be the governor, a senator, a House of Assembly member or the Chairman of local council as the case may be. There will be reactions. In this case, people contested elections. People said they won. The other people said they won. At the end of the day people went to court to challenge what happened and they looked at the facts and said based on these facts, I think it is this way. Having done that, you will not expect that people will keep quiet. Why? Because unfortunately we are going towards 2015. A lot of people have ambition; I have an ambition to be this, I have an ambition to be that. Now, because of what has happened, if these people are no longer there, there will be likelihood that that ambition may not be achievable or realiseable. Assuming the verdict has nothing to do with 2015, even if you change people every day, who will cry? So people are just narrating the stories as it suits their own peculiarities. So, when things of that nature happen, you expect that people must react. You expect that people will give one explanation or the other. It is a natural thing. But again, whichever way it goes, it does not remove that party’s constitutional provision on how its leaders emerge.

    Having admitted that Amaechi remains your leader in the state, are you saying that you are still answerable to Governor Amaechi?

    When you say answerable, it becomes very difficult because I am not working for the government of Rivers State now. I am working for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But if my leader calls me that there are issues to be discussed, obviously, I will discuss and make my own input or contributions.

    Ok, are you agreeable?

    What do you mean by agreeable?

    I mean are you agreeable with the governor on the differences in the party structure. That is who won and who lost in the party setting?

    What’s the noise all about? What I am saying is that we can disagree but that does not remove the leadership from him.

    How do you reassure the people who lost out at the court that they have not lost out of the party?

    That is why I said that what they are doing is the natural thing they should do. Therefore, the party chairman should try as much as he can to ensure that they are carried along. He is now like a father. You must not say because they lost, you must not say because they are abusing you and, therefore, you say no, they should not come. No. You should be able to go there and bring them which they have started by constituting a reconciliation committee. It is a thing that if you give them the opportunity to say look, nothing is lost, we are still under the same umbrella but like you know, a typical Nigerian politician is always afraid.  It is a natural fear and that is what we are saying. Why should that fear be there? That fear should be there because of the way we are running our democracy. Because of the way we have been imposing people. Now if we allow popular choice to emerge, if we allow popular candidates to emerge you will see that nobody will entertain fear again.

    There have been so many solidarity visits to the Governor of Rivers State and again they are saying you are the leader in Abuja. How did it come to that?

    Now let me tell you, it is rather erroneous when you say Abuja. I challenge anybody in Rivers State who will say that I cannot win my village. I cannot win my ward. I cannot win my local government. I challenge anybody. The mere fact that I work in Abuja does not mean that I do not go home. If so, all the National Assembly members who live in Abuja are also Abuja people because they are working here. So if you are saying Abuja, it means all National Assembly members are also Abuja people. Is that right?

    It is instructive that you and Amaechi for the first time have publicly disagreed but if you look back at history, you were instrumental to Amaechi regaining his mandate. How did this position come to be?

    First of all, I will not say I was instrumental because God uses people at a particular time to achieve something. So it is God. God may have used me but I am not instrumental. That I made myself available to be used, I am satisfied with that. But that is why people do not understand politics. The mere fact that 15 years ago that you were all in the same page does not mean that in the next five years you will continue to be in the same page. In politics things occur. Things change. Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and Aminu Kano were in the same political party, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) but when he wanted to emerge he left Aminu Kano. But he never said Aminu Kano was not a good person. So we have to play politics of maturity. Today, at my my age, does it mean that I cannot disagree with you on any issue? Or when we disagree is it because we are enemies?

    What about the insinuation that Mr. President uses you to fight the party leader?

    That is another problem. When did the problem of Amaechi and the President start? Did it start as I became a minister? So, people forget history. If Mr. President would use me and then still leave me as a Minister of State, what do I have to gain? Mr President would use me to let me know about my political future? These insinuations are very insulting. At this level I am, I will wait for Mr. President to wake me to tell me that my political career is finished. You know there are things you just hear. Okay, like you are saying, in 2007, who sent me to fight?  In 2007 that you said I was instrumental, who sent me to fight? No one sent me to fight. I used my brain to know how I should fight. Now, because I am working with Mr President, somebody has sent me. But that time I was not working with Mr. President, nobody sent me. It is not correct. In 2007, I laid my life, who sent me? I was to be assassinated in Uromi. All those things I was doing then, who sent me? When Amaechi was in Ghana and I was taking all the bullets, who sent me? When there was no hope and people came to promise me all manner of things which I refused, who sent me? It is time Nigerians should try to accept that some people have come of age. That you have decided to do something today does not mean you have been a threat.

    So is it about your gubernatorial ambition?

    What gubernatorial ambition? I also ask: in 2007 what was my ambition? In 2011 what was my ambition? Now, because I am supporting Obuah, it is now I am having an ambition? To start with, every human being in life has an ambition. Even you have an ambition. Is it your ambition to remain the way you are? They day you were born, why did you go to school? Why did you further your education? Why do you want to marry an educated wife? Why do you want your children to go to good schools? What ambition? There is no person that does not have ambition in life. Why do you think it is governorship? Why is it not presidency that I have ambition for? Why do you think so? Why must it be governorship?

    You have called on the newly installed PDP Executive in Rivers State to reconcile aggrieved members, but fears abound that there is a plot to impeach the governor, following the crisis in the House of the Assembly where 27 members suspended five of their colleagues and the 27 were in turn suspended by the new party executives. Now how do you explain that?

    Now let me tell you, the party suspension is not meant to remove them from the Assembly. There are two different people. Let me tell you, no Assembly person can challenge me because I know how all of them came in. No one of them can look into my eyes and tell me anything. Nobody. They can say anything at my back but nobody can speak to my face. These boys are just trying to make money. They are just making money from the system. They are heating up the polity to make money.

    Which of the boys?

    The Assembly boys, that is what they are doing. I can show you some of their text messages. Most of them said this is the first time they are making money. Let the crisis continue, that they are now getting money. Every day they send one story out. They will say Amaechi wants to be impeached. In a 32-member House you have 27, who is impeaching who? There are so many ways people can be fraudulent. You can be fraudulent by getting into the chambers and trying to make money out of the system. How did the suspension come about? A democratically elected people, nobody is talking about that. You wake up one morning, sacked the 17 councillors, sacked the Chairman and the Vice Chairman. You did not even say let the HPM take charge in the interim. You brought a caretaker committee made up of politicians to take over the place. Now the party under whose platform you were elected said this is not in consonance with our beliefs. We believe in democracy. This is not democratic. Don’t do this. You flagrantly refused to obey your father, to obey your party. What can they do? You went ahead and suspended the chairman and the deputy, inaugurated a caretaker committee and then you want the people to fold their hands? Okay, you are doing a legislative work but you could not do a legislative work without the part. Therefore, for now they remain suspended from the party. They were not suspended from the Assembly. The party has no power to suspend them. The best they could do is to start a process of recall. Now, what these boys are doing, they shout wolf. Most of them now go to radio stations every day. They will say I am bold I have criticised and they will give you money.  There are all sorts of rumours flying around and I said what kind of system is this? Based on the rumours the system will bring money. They said police took over the Assembly, where? You ran away you don’t want to do your work. You are journalists, they are fighting Amaechi, they are fighting that. Take for instance, a court sacks an executive and you use a military fiat to dissolve my local government. People who were elected by the people? You sack them and nobody is saying anything. I tell anybody that the police today is the saviour of that place, not those who are speaking from Lagos. If the police had not taken over that secretariat maybe we would have heard a different story. Nobody is afraid of death because you will die one day.  Even you journalists have not asked questions. How can you dissolve or suspend elected people that can cause crisis and cause fire to engulf everywhere? Nobody is talking about that. It is like the President waking up one day and sacking a governor and all the legislators. Tell me the type of crisis that will come up? People are only shouting for nothing. You are a human rights activist, you don’t see anything wrong in the dissolution of a council or suspension of elected people. What you see wrong is that the police have taken over to ensure that there is no breach of law and order. Let the police go tomorrow and then you will see the crisis that may emanate. We should not be sentimental about this type of grievous issues.

    There are fears right now that if the crisis in Rivers State degenerates, the federal government may be forced to declare a state of emergency. How would this benefit the people?

    How long did it take the federal government to declare a state of emergency even in a war zone? You see that is what I say. This is how they try to make money from the system. Since the Boko Haram crisis in Yobe, Borno and others, the federal government did not declare a state of emergency. Now that it has been declared in three states, the political structures were left intact. Now in Rivers State, nobody is at war. Politicians are quarreling among themselves then you go and declare a state of emergency and ask the political structures to go? I mean this is nonsense. This type of rumour is stale. It is old and nobody will want to hear it.

    Where will this  supposed crisis in the state take Rivers State? What is the future of Rivers State with what is on ground there?

    The future like how? Let me tell you, PDP has always won in Rivers. PDP will continue to win Rivers. Go and check the results. As I am talking to you my local government has the highest registered voters in the state. It has over 500,000 voters followed by Port Harcourt local government. During the Presidential election my local government gave 377,000 votes. During the governorship election my local government gave about 369,000. Now this covered about 10 local government votes in that election. There is nobody that can win elections in Rivers State without winning my local government. It is not done anywhere. If you like, go and bring all the armoured tanks, it won’t work. So, Rivers State will continue to be PDP.  Don’t make any mistake.

    So when are you going to reconcile with Amaechi and the two parties?

    You see, there is no quarrel. Have you ever seen me criticise Amaechi’s government? If we have problems, probably there might be for one reason or the other the governor is not happy. But right now we are talking about politics. So I don’t have any personal problem with the governor. So if they are doing something and they invite me to Government House I will be there. People should get this clear. If the government has a function today and I am invited, I will be there.  The history is there. Rivers State does not vote for opposition, it is not done.

    Now that you say it is not a crisis, what is the solution to the disagreement?

    This is why I said people like to over-blow things. It is a political thing. We agree to disagree, disagree to agree.  That is the interesting thing in politics. You don’t know who will call who in the mid night. In the midnight anything can take place. I have told you people don’t kill yourselves. You are not in the arena. It is only those in the arena that know what happens. You will just guess. Sometimes you will guess well, other times you guess wrongly. In fact, most of the time you don’t guess well. There is one paper that reported that my governor went to Ekiti State and said Nigerians are cowards. That they don’t stand up for opposition. Now you went to dissolve a council and people are now revolting. How does the revolt occur? People are no longer cowards. People are saying, no, we don’t want to accept it and then you are blaming them.

    Where are we now in terms of actually transforming basic education to drive Nigeria ‘s development?

    You will understand it very well if you know that basic education is not in the purview of the federal government. Basic Education is wholly in the purview of states and local governments. So it would be very difficult for me to say this is where we are. What I can say is the efforts the federal government has made in supporting those whose duty is primarily to oversee basic education. So when you appreciate that you know that the federal government is doing quite a lot in complementing the efforts of states and local governments whose responsibility it is to oversee basic education. So if you come from that perspective, since this government came on board, what was the level of our performance in public exams, particularly getting five credits including English and Mathematics as at the time this government came we were 28 per cent? Today, what is the percentage? Today it has risen to 40 per cent. We are not saying that is good. What we are saying is that if we were 28 per cent and we have gotten to 40 per cent in 2013 and then if we continue that way, there is a likelihood that by 2015 that we get almost about 50 per cent or above. You will now see that government is doing quite a lot. What I am saying is this, before now most state governments do not access their funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission. As at 2011, we had not less than N70billion lying idle in government coffers un-accessed by states. Most of them had not accessed 2008 to 2009 funds. So what did we do, because not accessing these funds would not lead to the improvement of the learning infrastructure in schools that leads to enhancement in the performance of students in public exams? We embarked on aggressive campaign to reach out to reach out to state governors. You cannot be building bridges and your pupils are sitting on the floor. You can’t be building hospitals and you have not had good doctors that will be in those hospitals. Therefore, there is a need for you to access your funds and improve on the infrastructure you have in your schools that will lead to the improvement of students’ performance or improve the quality of education in the state. As at today, it is only a few states that have not accessed the 2011 funds. Eighty per cent of states have accessed the 2012 funds. This was not the case before we came. You will understand that the federal government has continuously released funds to various states to train and re-train their teachers. There is no year that we do not release to the states not less than N5billion to train their teachers in the primary and junior secondary schools. But let me tell you what has happened before we came. These funds were going to State Universal Basic Education Boards without their governors or commissioners knowing that the funds were coming. Therefore, these funds were diverted from one area or the other. I can remember when I visited one of the states, when I asked the governor that whether the chairman of SUBEB told him that they have given him this type of money? He said no. I said, okay, chairman when did they pay this money? He said about four months ago. But the governor was not aware. The governor was embarrassed. So what did we do? As these funds are being released we now write to governors that the money has been released. Now the governors are aware that such money is coming to the states. It may not be enough, but it is for you to use it to complement whatever money the state would have set aside on training and re-training of their teachers. Now in the local governments it is the policy of the federal government that most of the children who are in the public schools are poor. The government decided that we cannot allow them to be buying books. Government would take the responsibility of purchase and giving it to students and teachers to use free. But as it happens, most of the pupils would not know, most states would not know, some of them connived in spite of the security inscriptions in these books to sell these books to book vendors. So what have we done since we came? These books are now being given with the support of the State Security Services in every state. As they are distributing it in the state the SSS are taking records and from that state it goes to the local governments and how they get to the various schools we have records. So, on my way to Owerri, Sokoto or Gombe I passed through some of the schools and said can I see the books? Let me see the children using the books. I have done that several times. So I can tell you that it is no longer business as usual. The federal government has also in making sure that not just us, having access to basic education we have the problem of girl child education. In most of the states the girls do not go to school. Take for instance the north. We have the Northwest and the Northeast where we have a peculiar problem because of traditions and other things. We have to engage on aggressive advocacy by going to the states to tell them the need for them to allow their daughters to go to school because it is believed that when you train a woman you have trained a whole nation. Apart from the advocacy, the federal government said maybe because of the religion, we will build special girls’ schools to enable them to go to those schools and have education. As I am talking we have completed these projects in at least not less than 13 states of the federation. Now, you remember that the boarding schools owned by the federal government are the Federal Government Colleges. Today, you will not see the Federal Government Colleges the way they used to be. We have 104 of them and when I came, I visited not less than 80 of the schools. I went to all the six geopolitical zones in this country. In fact, I was the first Minister that went to Borno to go and see things for myself. When I went there I saw that it would not be easy for us o carry these schools at a time. We decided to do phased rehabilitation of the schools. In this year’s budget, we took 30 schools with emphasis on hostels, classrooms and laboratories. Next year we will not give these 30 schools the amount of money that we have given them. We will give them small money for maintenance. Then we will take another 30 schools for another set of rehabilitation. Now, one thing I have discovered, none of the schools has its own library. What they have is what they call reading halls. We are talking of education. No books, no library and then you are expected to perform miracle? So, one thing we must do to encourage reading habits or to encourage students to read books, make sure that the books are there. The facilities should also be there. Today, as I am talking to you all the Federal Government Colleges you see have new libraries of 450 sitting capacity. We call them E-Libraries. Some have been completed while others are ongoing. What advantage do we want to get from there? Those who live in the school, they will go and have their normal siesta while those who are day students will go and use the libraries. Now when they wake up from their siesta, they can use the library while those who are day students have used the library and have gone home. Teachers have libraries where they can prepare the exercises. What we did was go provide separate lights for these libraries which are all furnished and air-conditioned so that nobody will say we have no light. With this the reading culture will come back. With that, students will be encouraged to go to the libraries and make notes and add to what their teachers have taught them. Before, as you were coming out of the class you are going to the library. Now if you are coming out of class you are going home because there is no library to go to. That is why if you compare the results of the Federal Government Colleges and that of the state governments you will see that the difference is very clear. I am not saying that we are doing very well in what we are supposed to do, but comparatively, we can say that students in federal government schools have done better than those in state schools. Before now nobody has emphasised the training of our teachers in Federal Government Colleges. When I came on board I have made sure that every year we must train teachers in Mathematics and English. This year alone we took the teachers to the National Mathematical Centre to live there for two weeks and the feeding was free. Most teachers said for over 15 years they have been teaching, they have never gone for any training.

    In summary, what I am trying to say is that the federal government is doing quite a lot to see that basic education gets the boost and enough support that would affect them as they move forward to the other level of education because without a strong foundation in basic education no matter whatever you do at the tertiary level it will not work. This few things I can say the federal government has been able to do to improve access and quality in basic education.

    What about the special task you embarked on about the Almajiri education?

    That again is encouraging access to education. You know that out of over 60 million in the world that are out of school I think over 10 million are Nigerians. Out of that 10 million the Almajiris are about nine million. So government said this is a peculiar problem we must tackle. On the Almajiri education, we were supposed to commission some of the schools about one month ago, but because of some official engagements of Mr. President, we have to reschedule. We are going to do the commissioning at a date that is convenient for Mr. President. They schools have been built, they are well furnished. They students will be fed while in the schools because if you don’t feed them they will still be tempted to go out of the schools and go and beg.

    How many schools are involved in the Almajiri Education?

    Virtually all northern states are involved but their number differs based on the task force report on the strength of the almajiris in these various states. So the number we have in Borno cannot be the same with Nasarawa.

    Which means none of the Almajiri schools built by the federal government is functioning right now?

    Some have started functioning. We are only talking about the commissioning. What we are saying is that instead of waiting for the commissioning they can start so that they can improve on the enrollment figure.

    From the about nine million Almajiris what is your target to go back to school?

    We have not less than 100 of the Almajiri schools out of which about 60 have been furnished and the other 30 are all near completion.

    From the nine million Almajiris, how many do you target to attend these schools?

    From now till 2015 we a looking at a target of 70 per cent. We cannot say we will get all of them because that would not be realistic. But we hope to continue to improve on that.

     

  • Perfect earrings for every hairstyle

    Perfect earrings for every hairstyle

    WHAT would earlobes look like, if we did not have earrings to beautify them? Drab and dull? You are right.

    While the right earrings could add to the wearer’s beauty, the wrong one could mar it. In the past, there were different earrings for different occasions. But now, the scene has changed. All kinds of earrings are now worn at all kinds of occasions. The rules governing the use of earrings are not as rigid as they used to be. Earrings are the most popular and the most used jewelry in a woman’s jewelry box. They are meant to brighten the face and enhance its beauty.

     

    Not all earrings can compliment every hairstyle.

    Medium to long length hair

    Choose hoop-style earrings with caution. Hoop-style earrings add weight and curves to your face, making your face look round. Round face, then you should pick earrings of oval shape than going for circles. Choosing rectangular or square styled hoops is another way of adding dimension to your round face paired with long hair. Other styles, which will work best with long hair, are elongated and oblong shaped earrings. You can also choose to experiment with long danglers and chandelier style of earrings.

    Up-do style

    Pick a dimensional earring, such as squares, diamond, or gold drops. With an up-do, you can emphasize your neck area and for that, long beaded earrings or chandelier earrings can be your pick. Teardrop earrings would also be a good option for an up-do hairstyle.

    Short hair

  • Crime of passion (1)

    As I write this, I’m behind bars in a sordid prison somewhere in the country. I had to beg one of the wardens for some paper and biro to enable me write my tale.

    What is my purpose? To let the world know why I did what I did to Jake. Those who knew us and our relationship, our friendship that dated back to our campus days, had been shocked when they heard what had happened between us.

    That with my own hand, I had killed my best friend, my confidante and the only person apart from my mother that I trusted most in the world. Well, my wife used to be on that list. But not anymore. You will know the reason as my story unfolds.

    They say opposites attract. This was quite true in my relationship with Jake. Both physically and personality wise, we were very different. Jake was tall, slim built with good looks that could pass for those of a movie star. He also had a vibrant, outgoing personality. I, on the other hand was the quiet type who did not mix much and preferred studying to going out to parties. Despite these differences, Jake and I hit it off as soon as we met. This was how it happened. It was my second year in school and I was having problems securing accommodation. Then, a friend told me about a student who was looking for flat mates to share the apartment his family had rented for him off campus.

    I contacted him a few days later and luckily he agreed to give me one of the rooms at a reasonable amount. It was a three bedroom flat a short distance from campus. Shortly after I moved in, another student George joined us. That was how Jake and I became friends. We lived together for the rest of our stay in school in that flat and with time, we became very close. Though quite intelligent, Jake was not the studious type. Infact, he hardly bothered with classes, assignments and tests like I did. He often used to tease me about my serious attitude.

    “Guy, you are a real effico; too serious with your books. You should take it easy, sometimes. Learn to relax,” he told me one evening as I sat in my room reading for a test I had the next day.

    I looked up at him. He was dressed to go out in a nice T shirt and a pair of designer jeans. He looked great and I complimented him.

    “Thanks. I have a new ‘catch’ I’m taking out tonight,” he stated with a smirk, adjusting the collar of his top in the small mirror on the wall in my room.

    “What about Trish?” I asked. She was his girlfriend of about six months and I thought he loved her.

    Jake shrugged.

    “She’s out of town. Besides, she’s becoming too possessive. I need a break,” he noted. Knowing him so well, it was Jake’s way of saying he was tired of a relationship. That was another point of difference between us. His attitude to girls. “Love them and leave them,” he often said, with that mischievous grin of his.

    I didn’t share his views and I made that clear.

    “I don’t think its fair on the girls. I have sisters too and I won’t want any guy to mess up with them,” I told him. Yet, despite the way he treated them, girls still flocked around him like moths to a flame.

    “Well, is it my fault if the girls can’t resist me? I be fine boy now!” he would say, grinning broadly.

    “Why don’t you leave those books and come with us tonight? Catch some fun, you know,” he now said, as he made for the door.

    I shook my head.

    “I need to study for the test tomorrow. You know how tough that lecturer’s questions can be,” I stated, turning to resume reading.

    “Alright. See you later then,” he stated as he left.

    ‘You are lucky. You have rich parents so you can afford to fool around. As for me, I know where I’m coming from,’ I thought as I turned a page in my notebook. Both my parents were teachers and as the first son, they looked up to me to do well so I could help the family later. Thus I had no time for frivolities. I had to succeed in life for my family’s sake.

     

    * * * * *

    Finally, school was over and we left for the mandatory youth service programme. Jake and I were posted to different states. It was the first time in years that we were separated. By this time, we were so close, more like brothers rather than mere friends. Jake, who didn’t like the idea of my going so far away tried to influence my posting.

    “I will talk to my dad. He knows people at the headquarters and they will have you reposted to Lagos so we can be together again,” he told me one day when I called from my base in Niger State where I was serving.

    “Don’t bother, Jake. I like it here. The people are friendly and nice. Besides, it’s just for a year. It will be over soon and I will be back home before long,” I pointed.

    He reluctantly agreed and there was no more talk of my being reposted down South.

    Jake’s father, who was a business man had a lot of contacts in the business circles in the country. With his influence, he was able to get a job for his son even before the service year ended.

    I was happy and a bit envious as well when he called to give me the good news.

    “It’s a big company. They are into all kinds of stuff- manufacturing, food processing, construction,” he disclosed.

    “Lucky you. At least, you won’t be among the thousands of jobless graduates roaming the streets,” I said.

    He laughed then said:

    “You know what, Ray? I will like us to work in the same place. I will speak to my dad if he can fix you up in the company. Once he returns from his trip abroad, I’ll talk to him.”

    I liked the idea of our working together but I didn’t have much faith in my getting a job in such a big firm.

    ‘Afterall, jobs don’t grow on trees these days,’ I thought to myself as the call ended.

    So, you can imagine my surprise and excitement when he called to tell me two months later that I had been invited for an interview in the company.

    I was speechless for a while before I exclaimed:

    “But I didn’t apply! How come they are…”

    Jake laughed at my confusion.

    “Is this not Nigeria? With the right connection, you can get anything you want.”

    The job, he explained was for the post of a sales representative. “It comes with a car as you will be moving around a lot,” he stated.

    “A car? That’s great! But Jake, you talk as if I already have the job. I’ve not even done the interview yet,” I noted.

    He laughed again.

    “That, my friend is just a formality. The job is already yours!”

    We had just a month to go before we passed out as corpers. The thought of starting work as soon as we finished the youth service filled me with great joy. No endless job applications and rejections, no roaming the streets searching endlessly for jobs that did not exist with its attendant frustrations and sufferings…

    I silently thanked God for giving me a great friend like Jake. And I promised myself that I would work really hard at the job so that I would not disappoint him and his dad that had so much faith in me.

    Two months after our passing out, I resumed work at the company. Everyone, including my parents were surprised that I got a job so quickly after graduation.

    I told them about Jake’s role in it and they were very impressed.

    “He’s a good friend. Such friendship is rare these days so don’t take it lightly,” my father said. He promised to call Jake and his father and thank them for all their support.

     

    * * * * *

    My job involved marketing some of the company’s products. I had to move around a lot and the official car I was given helped in that regard. With time, I began to travel outside Lagos to other states where we had distributors of our products. I loved the job as it enabled me travel and see new places, meet new people. I preferred it to an office job where I would be sitting at a desk all day.

    It was during this period that I met Grace. She was the younger sister of one of our biggest distributors in the city. She was a final year student at the university and had come to spend the long vacation with her sister.

    I liked the girl as soon as I set eyes on her. It wasn’t just her obvious beauty alone. There was just something about her that I found so alluring.

    But despite the way I felt about her, I had not been able to speak to her about my feelings. It wasn’t that I was shy with girls or something. I just felt the time was not right.

    I always looked forward to going to the sister’s shop on business as I knew I would see Grace.

    Just seeing and looking at her made me happy.

    I was on my way there late one afternoon when I ran into Jake at the car park in the office. We were in different departments so we didn’t see that much at work. But we made up for it at weekends when we hung out together.

    He had closed for the day and was heading home.

    “My car suddenly developed problems. Battery problem likely. Guess I will have to take a cab home,” he said after we greeted.

    “No need for that,” I said. I intended closing as well once I had finished meeting Madam Betty, Grace’s sister.

    “Come with me and I will take you home later,” I offered.

    Grace was alone in the store when we arrived.

    “Sister just stepped out. She will be back shortly,” she explained.

    She served us drinks while we waited. I noticed Jake looking at her in a speculative way and my heart fell. I knew that look quite well. It was the sort of look he had whenever he saw a girl he fancied and wanted to sleep with.

    ‘Please, not this one,’ I thought as I looked at Grace. She had a new braided hairstyle which made her look even more pretty.

    When the woman returned, we sat to discuss business. I could not concentrate though. My eyes kept drifting to the front of the store. Jake was there, standing and chatting with Grace. I saw her laughing at a point and I became worried. What if she fell for Jake’s charms? Very few ladies could resist him. He was my friend but I didn’t want her to get involved with him as she would only get hurt in the end.

    We left shortly after. On the way, Jake kept talking about Grace.

    “Such a pretty girl. I’m thinking of inviting her out next weekend,” he announced.

    “What?” I exclaimed, turning from the road to glare at him.

    “Why do you look so surprised. You should know me by now. Once I see something I like, I go for it,” he said.

    I could not bear it any longer and I decided to be blunt with him

    “Jake, leave her alone,” I blurted out.

    He turned to me, surprised.

    “Why? Don’t tell me you like her too!” he said.

    “Jake, that’s not the issue now. Just don’t mess with her, that’s all I’m saying,” I implored.

    “Well, it’s too late for that. I want her. And I’m going to have her no matter what you or anyone says,” he stated firmly.

    I grew angry at his words. For the first time since we became friends, I wanted to punch him in the face…

     

    Will Grace become a source of conflict between the two friends? Watch out for the exciting details next Saturday!

     

    •Names have been changed to protect the narrator’s identity.

    Send comments/suggestions to 08023201831(sms only) or psaduwa@yahoo.com

  • Managing success

    We are an interesting country to behold. We make simple things look very difficult. We think more about ourselves than what we can contribute to our country. And this trend didn’t start today.

    The story from Germany ahead of the friendly against Mexico is disturbing. We are being told of our players seeking to play for clubs rather than our dear country. This is not the first time this has happened. And we are not capable of stemming the tide.

    We have thrown our arms up, but my fear is that we may have burnt our candles at both ends. I had thought that with the European season coming to a close, our players would assemble in Germany to plot the country’s strategies towards ensuring that we make the 2016 World Cup in Brazil.

    But that is not the story. Ahmed Musa has opted to play in the Russia Cup finals rather than participate in the Mexico friendly. Musa told the Super Eagles secretary that in the event that the Russia Cup final clashes with the Mexico friendly, he would play for his club.

    Could Musa have had the temerity to contemplate such a move if he were a fringe player in the squad? Is it not through Nigeria’s matches that he got the Russian deal? Is the Mexico friendly not meant to provide the platform for the players to understand themselves before the crucial 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya in Nairobi on June 5 and Namibia in Windhoek on June 12?

    The flipside to the Musa story is what are the Mexicans doing for the game? Mexico’s big stars such as Manchester United’s Hernandez aka Chacharito, want to play the game. The Mexicans have three crucial World Cup qualifiers and they are in the Confederations Cup. For them, the Nigeria friendly is an opportunity to prepare for both tournaments.

    Stephen Keshi definitely needs God’s grace to have a full house of committed players for the Mexico game.

    Musa is not alone in the choice of clubs over country. Agency photographs showed John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses boarding the flight with their Chelsea mates to the United States. Obviously, they are out of the Mexico game.

    Moses, who played Chelsea’s last Barclays English Premier League game against Everton, is said to be nursing an injury, according to a letter purportedly sent to the NFF by Chelsea’s doctors.

    The question is: when did Moses sustain the injury? Was Moses not the person who headed down the pass that resulted in Chelsea’s goal against Everton last Sunday?

    We all saw him play the game. At no time did he fall down or collide with anyone. He walked off the pitch in celebration? Or could this be another conspiracy between the player and the club?

    Our players must stop insulting our sensibilities with their conduct. Chelsea couldn’t have listed Moses in their squad to the United States if he was injured. By the same token, John Mikel Obi can’t just wake up in the US to say that he is fatigued and can’t play the Mexican game. If so, what is he doing with Chelsea in the US? When last did Mikel play for Chelsea to necessitate the purported fatigue story he is selling? Did he not struggle to be fit for the Europa Cup final?

    Mikel’s history of boycotting games played on undulating pitches around Africa is legendary. When he didn’t play Chlesea’s closing stages games, I knew he would opt out of the game. I knew that he would not play the World Cup qualifiers because he wants to participate at the Confederations Cup, where he hopes to battle midfield supremacy with the bigger boys of the game.

    The story of Kalu Uche’s injury is weird. He even wrote to say that he was injured. Not one report revealed that he was. Is this his payback for Keshi for missing the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa? Kalu Uche is Nigeria’s highest goal scorer in Europe this past season. His injury would have been the biggest news. Anyway, let us see how Keshi fixes this “injury” puzzle.

    However, I’m worried about the silence from the NFF. Ordinarily, these unexpected withdrawals ought to elicit comments from it. Unfortunately, the NFF has cast an indulgent eye on the matter. Times past, it would have directed the players to report to Germany for the Eagles doctors to ascertain the veracity of their claims.

    NFF doesn’t want to interfere in this clay-pot-and-rat setting. It is leaving the matter for the coach to handle. I hope this doesn’t signal Nigeria’s ouster from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    My fears are not unfounded because the boys could miss the stiffer of our two World Cup qualifiers against Kenya on June 5. And we would be in big soup because Moses and Mikel are the pivots of the team in the absence of recuperating Emmanuel Emenike.

    Curiously, the manner in which the coaches have handled players who played in the past has been awful. The coaches have made the players dispensable, such that no one would honour any late invitation.

    The dropped players sulked over their exclusion from the AFCON winning squad. This setting has tied the coaches’ hands in terms of seeking for substitutes, except they resort to the home-based. Therein lies one of the problems with our 2014 World Cup qualification ticket.

    If the coaches had cultivated the habit of talking with the players while with their clubs, it would have been easier for them to foil this late exclusion from the Mexico game.

    The coaches are shocked that the players didn’t give them any hint about their plans. How could they when their views are not sought before invitations are made?

    What is clear is that Keshi has lost the players’ confidence and trust. They are not ready to die for him. They feel he will dump them the way others were dumped, if their form drops. So, they would rather spend quality time with their clubs or proceed on their vacation.

    Perhaps, if Keshi had honoured the truce meeting scheduled in Abuja by the NFF before he left for the United States on vacation, the players would have laid their grievances on the table. All the issues would have been resolved and we would have had a fuller camp with our best players contending for positions.

    Keshi has assured us that there is nothing to worry about. I believe him because we have the talents. Yet the questions I want to ask Keshi are – when will the rebuilding of the Super Eagles stop? Won’t Keshi tell us some day that Moses is not in his plans? Will the Big Boss not shut out Mikel from the Eagles over this surprise change of heart?

    Eagles are suddenly a tournament team. They need to be in camp for long periods to gel. I had thought that the 14 days before the June 5 tie against Kenya would serve the purpose.

    Many people will argue that Moses, Mikel, Kalu and, indeed, others are tired from the season’s matches. True. How about those who are in the camp? Most countries eager to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil have scheduled warm-up games for their teams ahead of the qualifiers. Yet stars such as Frank Lampard are with Chelsea and would play in the friendly against Brazil at the end of the month.

    No ambitious country goes to a soccer war with her best players sitting at home. If they were injured, then their absence is tenable. Where they opt out of the country’s matches on spurious grounds of being injured only to star for their clubs, is a slap in our faces. And it is grossly unacceptable.

    If they knew that they won’t be available, they should have discussed their decisions with the coach before the list was submitted to the NFF.

     

     

  • The Deaf: Their painful, lonely world

    The Deaf: Their painful, lonely world

    The deaf in Nigeria have several reasons to be scared of their lives and future. From poor healthcare to lack of education and jobs, the nearly 16.8 million deaf, about 10 per cent of the population, lives in anguish, facing uncertain economic and social future. Many have lost their lives, many more will die unless government takes special interest in the lives of this underprivileged group, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    It may be surprising to know that many of the deaf people that walk into hospitals seeking medical treatment do not come out alive. The situation is more pronounced and worse in cases where children born deaf to deaf parents are involved, a condition described as “deaf of deaf” by the deaf community.

    Reason remains that diseases that could have been easily identified and treated, were the patients to be hearing persons, will in almost all cases, escape doctor’s detection, due to lack of sign language interpreters in many public and private hospitals.

    This case was true in the life of 42-years-old Mrs Tinuke Odumosu, who has been deaf since birth. She lost her husband, Seye Odumosu, and child under sympathetic and terrifying circumstances. Mrs Odumosu, who spoke through a sign language interpreter, Wole Ekundayo, said her late husband, also deaf, had died after a brief illness because when he was taken to a hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, it was difficult for doctors to accurately diagnose his ailment due to communication gap. Besides, there was no interpreter to assist the doctor.

    That, she explained, made it difficult for the right drugs to be administered on him. Months later, she also lost one of her three children under similar circumstance. “The cause of both deaths is similar. In all the cases, doctors could not understand how they felt and the health challenges they faced. So, it was difficult to administer the right drugs and treatments,” she said.

    She further explained that the diseases that killed her husband and child were treatable, had the doctors understood their complaints. Mrs Odumosu, who now makes a living as an hair dresser, lamented that many times, the cost of hiring sign language interpreters, when they are available, is higher than the cost of treatment in hospitals. She said majority of the deaf cannot afford both services. The Odumosus are not the only family of the deaf that suffers from this dilemma.

    Take the case of Kenneth Osuligwe, also deaf, from Owerri, in Imo State, an engine oil retailer based in Lagos. He suffered the same fate as the Ademosu’s. He had two children, but one died after a brief illness. He explained through an interpreter that the child could have been saved had anyone interpreted his health problems to the doctor.

    “The baby suddenly got sick and was rushed to a hospital. Sadly though, no one could tell the doctor what was wrong because of the absence of an interpreter. In most cases, the doctors do not get it right even after conducting medical tests. That was how I lost one of my two children,” he lamented.

    Mr. Solomon Ashade, a 42-year–old deaf, is a foreman at the furniture unit of the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja. He has problem with his left eye and had gone to Maxivision Eye Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, for treatment when he spoke to our reporter. He was accompanied by Ekundayo.

    “I cannot see very well. I want to see clearly. Sometimes, when people meet me on the road, I will not see them. Also, because of my hearing challenge, it is more difficult. Some even think I am arrogant when I fail to respond to their greetings. It is so bad that if I do not use reading glasses, I cannot read at all,” he explained.

    He also disclosed that his wife, Yemisi, a fashion designer, is also deaf. He said because he is privileged to be working, he can settle his medical bills, but there are millions of others with similar or worse cases that cannot settle do same. “When majority of the deaf cannot settle their bills, or hire interpreters, their case may turn out to be worse than expected, or even lead to death,” he said. Ashade said life is not easy because when one is sick, he has to add the cost of hiring an interpreter to that of treatment.

    Medical Services Manager, Maxivision Eye Hospital, Grace Eziashi said his left eye showed that he is suffering from macular degeneration. She said the problem is severe and may need surgery because the macular is at the centre of vision where the retina is situated.

    Dr. Natalie Rogozgyna, a Russian and visiting Ophthalmologist to Maxivision Eye Hospital, who examined Ashade, said treatment and consultation will cost him N100,000 if surgery is not required, or more if it becomes needful.

    She said: “It is a serious problem but we have equipment that helps in managing it so that the condition does not degenerate. Still, there will be little improvement. He is going to be coming every day for 10 days to take injection in the eye after a lab test,” she said.

    “We want him to see a laser surgeon, another specialist on the retina that usually comes from Russia. She will be here for three days. The doctor will look at the retina properly before doing anything, perhaps, surgery,” she added. But Ashade said should his condition get worse, additional cost will outweigh his income.

    A research fellow at the Foundation for Special Needs Education and Welfare, Ganaka International College, Jos, Paulina Ajavon, said over 10 million out of 168 million Nigerians are deaf or hard of hearing. She explained that as adults, the victims suffer discrimination and social exclusion because of difficulties communicating, while as children, 90 per cent of them are excluded from school for the same reason.

    Abandoned by the society that breeds them, the deaf in Nigeria face a doubtful future, with little or no hope for survival. From medicare, to daily living hassles, this set of underprivileged people has gory tales about their lives.

    In the face of these challenges, Ekundayo’s business as an interpreter is booming. He follows his clients to hospitals; intervenes when there are problems in their work places; hires lawyers to defend them in courts, among other services.

    He said it costs N30, 000 to hire him daily from Ibadan, where he resides, to Abuja. However, it costs N10, 000 daily to hire him from Ibadan to Lagos. He said the minimum cost is N10, 000 but could be higher depending on the cost of transportation and number of days involved. He said he interprets for Ekiti State School of the Deaf, especially during their examinations until he joined The Redeemed Evanglical Mission (TREM), a foremost pentecostal church based in Lagos, in April as a full-time staff. Now, he said his most regular clients will miss his services.

    Ekundayo said his service to the deaf is borne out of love and compassion, adding that he has assisted a good number of them in solving some of their personal problems. He cited a case in Awka, Anambra State, where one Friday Okobi, a former staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs, was unlawfully dismissed by the state government. He said he is still assisting the client renegotiate his return to the ministry.

    Another person, Gafari Balogun, a former staff of a federal ministry, was allegedly sacked since 2007 without benefits. He said he tried to engage lawyers to pursue the case, but there was no money for that purpose and his benefits are still unpaid.

    There was also a case of Oladipupo Sherifat, an Ibadan-based woman, who had fibroid and was successfully operated. Sunday Okafor, had hernia, and was operated at the Devine Specialist Hospital, Ibadan successfully. There were also other serious health issues that were resolved with the assistance of the interpreter.

    Ekundayo warned that the deaf in the society will continue to face major challenges both in their health and daily living unless government takes immediate steps to bridge the existing communication gap between the group and the society.

    Miss Oluwakemi Ajumobi, a former student of the Kwara State Deaf Grammar School, Ilorin, dropped out of school. She has taken a full-time job as a cleaner at the Lagos office of the Deaf Supporters Group (DSG), a union formed by the deaf to pursue their social and economic benefits. She said government needs to bring many of the deaf schools across the country to minimum standards.

    Mrs Ademosu said she needs government’s backing and support, especially in making interpreters available at government hospitals to avert preventable deaths. Osuligwe said aside providing interpreters to assist them at hospitals, government should also provide incentives that would enable the deaf become independent and contribute to the economy.

    The president of DSG, Afolabi Dahunsi, said challenges facing the group are many and that, ideally, the group is against its members begging, but one has to be realistic. “How do we stop people from begging when there is nothing for them to do? We have always advised them to start small businesses because there is dignity in labour. But starting a small business also requires money,” he said.

    He said other disabled are easy to deal with but the case of the deaf remains a major challenge because there is little or nothing for the deaf in the law of the land. The DSG President, who is also hearing-impaired, said the hearing aids provided by some state governments hardly work, adding that rather than improving one’s hearing condition, they make the condition worse. He said the deaf in Nigeria need both government and private sector support. “We are deaf but our children are not, and we need to cater for them,” he cried out.

    For him, the deaf face many problems in the society and it is the duty of friends, corporate organisations, government and non-governmental organisations to help them wriggle out of these challenges. ”Being deaf does not mean one cannot be useful to the society,” he said.

    Dahunsi said the DSG was formed to speak for its members against injustices in the society which also include absence of articulated and sustainable policy formation on matters that affect their social, educational and economic developments. “No one is immune from the pains of disability. Everyone must therefore help us to spread the message that being deaf does not necessarily mean that we cannot be useful to the society,” he said.

    Dele Raji, DSG member and lecturer, Federal College of Technology, Special, Oyo in Oyo State, said the deaf are discriminated against even in social and business circles, including the banking halls. He said it was high time commercial banks employed sign language interpreters in some of their branches to cater for the banking needs of the deaf. “Many bankers are always surprised that the deaf also use banks and in many cases, getting a simple transaction like cash deposit done takes longer time than necessary. This is the extent to which we are discriminated against in the society,” he cried out.

    Raji said part of the solution to these problems remains an institution that caters for the special education for the deaf instead of inclusive education as currently being practised in the country. He also asked that the bill for the disabled be passed at the National Assembly.

    He said most parents who are not deaf but gave birth to children that are deaf find it difficult to understand their problems, especially when they are sick or emotionally unstable.

    “At least one person should be employed in social services centres, government parastatals, ministries, departments and agencies of government, to bridge communication gaps between the deaf and the society. Also government should consider special education for the deaf instead of inclusive education, where both the deaf and others are taught in one roof. We need more competent special teachers for the deaf in this country,” he said.

    Raji said some deaf students with serious academic difficulties have never been evaluated to diagnose their problem areas, while others have been wrongly placed in classes which they do not belong. He said obtaining interpreters’ services in classrooms is a necessity because majority of Nigerian teachers are not trained in sign language.

    The national coordinator, DSG, Okikiade Adeyemi, said government should make jobs available for the deaf and also encourage the private sector to do same. majority of DSG members need support from both government and the private sector, especially in ensuring that majority of the deaf have jobs or are self-employed, he said. He added: “About 95 per cent of the deaf in Nigeria are unemployed and dejected. We need the help of every member of the society, especially government and private sector.”

    He disclosed that majority of the deaf now depend on begging and prostitution, among others, to survive in a country where the unemployment rate even for able-bodied people is about 24 per cent. He said the DSG has been a uniting factor for its members, supporting them with food items, finances, and other household items it gets from some corporate organisations that support its cause.

    “On January 24, the group organised an end of year party where gifts from corporate organisations were shared among its members, many of whom are always looking forward to such gatherings,” he said.

    A respiratory physician, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Tunmise Bamidele, explained to The Nation that the society should be committed to the cause of the deaf. He advised mothers to attend antenatal care during pregnancy and desist from accepting drugs from friends and relations. He explained that hearing defects caused by medication are irreversible and, therefore, should be avoided at all costs.

    He said other hearing defects can occur mainly due to meningitis infection. “There is need to educate people on the rising cases of hearing impairment. For instance, common drugs like quinine can cause irreversible deafness. Pregnant women should not receive drugs from their friends because such can cause hearing and respiratory defects. Our findings showed that sometimes, these defects are avoidable if the right things are done,” he said.

    Bamidele advised government to give deaf persons a sense of belonging by providing Braille and sign language interpreters for them to aid communication. They can also learn vocational programmes to empower them economically as such would increase their self-worth. He also advised that those that can be treated should be taken care of by Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists or speech therapists.

    An ENT specialist based in Lagos, Osaro Okoye, said sometimes hearing loss in people happens suddenly. “People can go to bed hearing and wake up deaf. Also, loud noise is known to be a major cause of hearing loss in people of all ages. One example is bombing, and another is loud music which teenagers are often exposed to,” he explained.

    He regrets that many deaf children have never been evaluated to find the cause and extent of their hearing losses, saying some experiencing moderate hearing losses could benefit from auditory or speech training using custom-fitted aids and cultivation of residual hearing.

    Hearing loss is not limited to Nigeria as it remains a global problem. Also common, especially in Africa, remains the limited number of teachers for the deaf. Data from Catholic Encyclopedia showed that averagely in Africa, seven ‘schools for the deaf’ employ only 16 teachers, that teach 127 pupils; in Asia, nine schools engage 47 teachers that teach 453 pupils and in Australia, seven schools employ 46 teachers that teach 332 pupils. In Europe, however, 450 schools employ 3,152 teachers that teach 25,821 pupils; in north America, 148 schools employ 1790 teachers that teach 12,784 pupils and in South America, seven schools employ 34 teachers that teach 229 pupils.

     

    Schools for the Deaf statistics

     

    Schools             Teachers                Pupils

    Africa                         7                        16                          127

    Asia                            9                        47                          453

    Australia                    7                        46                          332

    Europe                      450                    3,152                  25,821

    North America         148                    1,790                12,784

    South America           7                         34                        229

    Total                           628                      5,085                 39,746

    Source: Catholic Encyclopedia

     

    Although Nigeria has 43 schools for the deaf, all using sign language, the state of those institutions is appalling. As far back as 1977, the Federal Government admitted that the problem of providing for children who are handicapped as a result of deafness has become more complex with growing awareness in the area.

    Ajavon regretted that American Sign Language, used in Nigerian schools for the deaf, fails to meet the local language needs of the deaf. She said that local signs are widely in use and more reflective of Nigerian society, but these are routinely ignored.

    However, in the face of the above challenges, the Chief Operating Officer, RLG Communications, Taiwo Latilo, said his company is training people with disabilities, including the deaf, in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) not just to communicate but also to learn, and have more access to opportunities open to others. He said there is ongoing plan to establish a training centre for people with disabilities, adding that disability is not inability.

    Latilo explained that in Ghana, an information technology training initiated by government and RLG for persons with disabilities trained 5,000 people living with disabilities in phones and computer repairs. Such, he said, can be replicated in Nigeria.

    “Under this scheme, we used assertive technologies to increase and improve the functional capabilities of these individuals making them better able to communicate, gain access to educational services and become gainfully employed,” he said.

    He advised parents, guardians and relatives of people living with disabilities not to throw them out to beg, rather, they should encourage them to go to school for them to fit into the job market.

    Also, staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Jos branch, recently commissioned the renovation of a block of dormitory in the Plateau School for the Deaf, Jos. The CBN staff spent over N100 million out of their salaries on the project. The principal of the school, Kefas Koptum, said the school was in need of the infrastructure as the former buildings were collapsing. The school, located in Bassa Local Government Area, hosts about a thousand students, and was founded in 1977 but it is currently in a shabby state. The chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of the school, Yahaya Abdullahi said the school also lacks professional teachers.

    In Lagos State, the Special People’s Law, stipulates that children with disability should be registered immediately after birth and have the right to a name, to be known and cared for by their parents. They also have right to free and continual medical treatment in public health institutions. Parents /guardians of such children with disability, it stipulated, must ensure they are educated to at least secondary school level.

    In healthcare, the law stipulates that appropriate arrangements should be made for those who are unable to communicate normally, who also are entitled to free healthcare services. Also, all employers with a workforce of at least 100 people must reserve at least one per cent of the workforce for persons with disability. The DSG President, Dahunsi, said not many of the 36 states in the country have such laws, or are even aware of the need to cater for this set of people.

    In November 2012, a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of The Economist magazine, released its ‘Where-to-be-born Index 2013’, which ranked Nigeria as the worst place to be born in 2013. Nigeria came the last of 80 countries researched, seven points worse than the war-torn Syria, which came 73rd. Crime, trust in public institutions, health of family life and government policies were the quality-of-life index considered.

    The researchers think that although bombs, mortals and gun fires are going off nearly every second in Syria with over three million people displaced and 70,000 dead, the Middle East country is still considered a paradise when compared to Nigeria. Despite controversies and outright rejection that greeted the research, what remains clear is that for the deaf in Nigeria, it does not just rain, it pours.

    A member, Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET), Shomide Macualay, said problems faced by the deaf are compounded by myths held by some members of the society who believe that by going closer to such special people, they will give birth to disabled children. He said such myths and communication challenges facing the deaf make it difficult for them to properly align with the society.

    He said special individuals, especially the deaf, usually clash with bus conductors each time transport fares are raised because they are used to old fares and no one has communicated the changes to them. Macualay said such policy changes push members of the group to be aggressive and impatient towards other members of the public, adding that the language of the deaf is not visible, unlike that of average individual. He said television stations should include sign language interpreters in their news broadcast to carry the group along in key government policies.

    He regretted that schools for the deaf across the country have acute shortage of staff and the classrooms fall short of international standard of eight students to one teacher and a care giver. “Classrooms for the deaf should be built in a way that there will be less or no distraction during learning. Although students in such schools use similar curriculum like the regular students, they require twice the amount of teaching time usually given to regular students,” he said, adding: “Deaf persons have language development and abstract thinking problems and therefore, cannot learn unless in structured environment.’’

    He advised government at the state level to create the Department for the Deaf in several technical schools within the states as such would enable such special people acquire skills that will make them to be self-employed. He advocated that the deaf schools should get 10 per cent of total teachers’ quota to help improve their educational standards.

    He said that among clusters of special needs of individuals, deaf people are in the majority. He said road users and drivers should be educated to know that a good proportion of the population is deaf.

    A senior lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Lagos, Dr. Oni Fagbohungbe, said the mind of the deaf works like that of an average individual, adding that the deaf can overcome their predicament if given special education. He said the environment where they grow up and learning facilities available to them determine how they think and act.

    Fagbohungbe, however, regretted that in Nigeria, the deaf are always aggressive and impatient because the society adds to their already existing burdens. He said the Nigeria government has not been fair to the deaf because unlike in developed countries where they are well catered for, with good education and social support, in Nigeria they are abandoned and rejected. He called on the government to train more people as interpreters, especially in hospitals and other public places as such would bridge the widening communication gap between the group and the society.

    “In Nigeria, the common man is neglected, left alone the deaf and other special people and that is wrong. Special people should contribute to the economy instead of being a liability,” Fagbohungbe said. He advised churches, mosques, non-governmental organisations, among others, to assist government in tackling the challenges facing the deaf.

    The chairman, Lagos State Deaf Association, Lukman Agbabiaka, said majority of the deaf people are not gainfully employed. He said only a few have degree certificates, some have National Certificate Education (NCE) and majority uneducated. He said there are many who are skilled in many vocations but find it difficult to get jobs or become self-employed.

    Agbabiaka also lamented the negative public attitude towards the deaf, adding that government is also insensitive to their plight. He, however, said there are many deaf people who are lazy and impatient, worsening their conditions and deepening the societal, negative attitude towards them.

  • Brightening up your wrists with alluring bangles

    Brightening up your wrists with alluring bangles

    SOME fashion accessories never go out of the scene, no matter how many new ones emerge. One of such is the wrist ornament-bangle.This accessory is very feminine, and it comes in different flashy designs. Bangles certainly can never go out of fashion, The size and shape may vary with the season, but they will always be a part of the fashion world.

    Bangles are a must-have fashion accessory for all ages. There are different categories of bangles and they have various styles and designs of gold, silver, bronze and wood. These consist mainly of two types, one that have an opening (cuff) and the other type which has to be slipped over the hand. These beautifully crafted fashion accessories are so sassy, catchy and stylish that women of style can’t ignore them. Their names also reflect their character. We have round bangles, wooden bangles, cuff-wood bangles and strand cuffs. Most wooden bangles are hand-made, and in such cases, high quality of wood is selected to craft these beautiful masterpieces. The bangles are normally big, round, bold and at times studded with precious stones like emeralds, rubies and sapphires.

    Strand cuff bangles on the other hand are always bold and big with an opening curve and a width that is wider than wooden bangles. For wooden bangles and other bangle accessories to truly beautify your wrist and give you that special look, you must adorn them with at least two or more of these craftily designed bangles. Although one piece may be okay on one wrist, multiple numbers of wooden bangles are now in vogue.

     

    Bangles in vogue

    Beaded: Beaded bangles are making a comeback with the current bohemian trends and can be worn casually or formally.

    Leather: Leather is very trendy at the moment, and it allows you to indulge in the trend affordably and subtly.

    Bicep: Bicep bracelets are incredibly sexy and can create an exciting Egyptian style.

    Handmade: Handmade jewellery is incredibly popular at the moment, and you can indulge in the trend with handmade bracelets.

    Gold: Gold bracelets never go out of style, and they are very trendy at the moment.

  • Beauty of little black dress

    Beauty of little black dress

    A BLACK dress might not be the first thing on your mind when planning a party outfit, but if you think about it, it is the only option when you’re out of ideas and have to come up with something fast, unique, simple and creatively glam.

     

    How to select the perfect little black dress

    Keep it at knee-length or shorter

    Select the right finish

    Choose the right black cocktail dress style for your body shape

     

    How to wear a black cocktail dress

    Cocktail wear: Glam it up with sexy sky high black pumps, evening clutch purse and dangling pearl earrings/or large sparkly cubic chandelier earrings.

     

    Tailored: Go semi-casual with cute ballerina flats or heeled oxford shoes and throw on a blazer. And maybe add a trendy leather bag and stacked bracelets.

     

    With trendy tights and shoes: Consider embellishing your legs with sexy hosiery such as lace tights for parties, high-gloss pantyhose for special occasion, etc. Sheer black pantyhose looks incredible with the black dress and creates a slimming effect.You may throw on a pair of eye-catching trendy ankle booties.

     

    Leggings and boots: Appear casual by combining the little black dress with black ankle leggings, flowy wrap cardigan and brown knee high leather boots.

     

    Turtleneck and tights: Wear it on top of a turtleneck sweater for a stylish layered Fall/Winter look. You can also update the look with a wide belt or a double strap skinny belt around the waist.

     

    Punk chic: Generate a trendy-casual look with a bright coloured scarf, denim leggings and studded gladiator sandals.

  • I diverted N35m worth of goods to fund my wedding

    I diverted N35m worth of goods to fund my wedding

    A truck driver and suspected member of a six-man robbery gang arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, Emmanuel Agbazue (25), has said that he connived with five others to divert N35 million worth of goods in order to get enough money to marry a woman he was in love with and also start a business of his own.

    Agbazue and the other members of the gang were arrested at a warehouse in Lagos while they were offloading the goods in question into the warehouse of the receiver. The other suspects include Haruna Abdullahi (48), Nsube Okoli (20), Chinedu Ukaonu (27) and Aloysius Anuntu (42) and one Alhaji Sani who was not charged as he was found to have been a victim of circumstances.

    According to police sources, the diverted goods belonged to Friesland, a subsidiary of WAMCO Plc situated at Ogba Industrial Estate, Ikeja. The raw milk was said to have been imported for the production of powdered milk.

    Agbazue, a driver with a transport company named Jetra, was said to have been the one that drove the truck with which the goods in question were moved from the port at Tin Can Island to the company’s premises at Ogba. Thereafter, he allegedly contacted Ukaonu to help him in diverting the goods. Ukaonu in turn contacted a Lagos-based auto spare parts dealer named Aloysius to look for a buyer to whom they could dispose off the goods at a give-away price.

    Aloysius then contacted one Ibrahim based in Maroko, a suburb of Lagos, who in turn contacted one Tukur and both of them agreed to buy the diverted goods for N17 million. Thereafter, they contacted one Haruna, a resident of Railway Line, Agege, Lagos, to help them secure a warehouse where the diverted goods would be kept for onward transportation to Sokoto. Haruna was said to have paid the sum of N40,000 for the warehouse located in Kara area of Ibafo, Ogun State.

    But following a tip off, the Officer in Charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), mobilised his men to the location and met the six suspects offloading the goods into a the warehouse. The SARS operatives arrested all the suspects and recovered the stolen goods and the trailer.

    Though before SARS operatives swooped on the suspects, half of the stolen goods had been offloaded, hence, the loaders were ordered to reload the ones they had loaded into the warehouse back to the truck and the suspects and the trailer carrying the 40-feet container were later taken to Scorpion House for further investigation.

    However, interrogation by the police was said to have revealed that Alhaji Sani was only a victim of circumstance. Haruna told the police that Sani only escorted him to the warehouse as he used to, and the fact that he saw him pay the sum of N40,000 to hire the warehouse made him not to suspect that they were dealing in stolen goods. Other members of the gang also corroborated Haruna’s explanation, saying that Sani was innocent. Abba Kyari therefore set him free with a warning that he would no longer be spared if he was found in the company of looters again.

    Narrating his role in the saga, Agbazue said: “I am a native of Okija in Anambra State and a trailer driver with Jetra Petroleum Haulage on a monthly salary of N18,000. I started working with the company in June last year. The monthly salary is too small. From each trip I made, the company collected between N200,000 to N300,000, even if the consignee paid N150,000 per trip and I made up to eight trips or more in a month, which brought the company’s income to about N1.2 million per month.

    “Even if business is dull, there is no way half a million naira would not enter the company’s account in a month. Yet, they could not pay reasonable salary. What would happen if a fatal accident occurs? The company can abandon me.

    “To make matters worse, the company would monitor us from the point of loading to the point of delivery, and there was no opportunity for us to carry load or passengers along the road to make extra money. Even the N6,000 the company used to give us for the road, there was no way you would manage it and get something reasonable. For instance, when we collected the N6,000, we would pay between N1,500 and N2,000 for TDO paper. When the load came out, you would buy ticket of N1,000. By the time all the payments were made, I would be left with N1,000 or N1,500, which I shared with the conductor. That was not enough for food, drinks, cigarette and kola nut, which we needed to keep us going on the highway.

    “To worsen matters, I wanted to get married to my sweetheart but there was no way I could get the huge amount budgeted for it. You know that every long vehicle driver likes women, especially prostitutes. They sleep with prostitutes wherever the night catches up with them.

    “I knew that there was a tracker in the trailer, so I removed it so that they would not know my location. It was a surprise to us that SARS men discovered our location. I was asked to deliver the goods from Apapa to WAMCO at Ogba (Lagos), but I diverted it to Ojodu Berger and Kara areas.

    “I needed the sum of N17 million to start business and do my wedding. I had an account with a bank containing the sum of N21,000, but my ATM card stopped working. Four of us intended to share the N17 million. Unfortunately, the buyers of the goods had not paid before SARS operatives arrested us and recovered the goods.”

    Asked whether he had any regrets over his action, he said: “I regret losing my job, which used to give me some money for feeding. I also regret not getting the millions I targeted. I am now facing interrogation and possible prosecution.”

    The second suspect, Okoli, said: “I am from Amaichi Umuwaehi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. I am a truck conductor. They don’t pay me salary. It was the driver (Agbazue) who employed me and gave me money any time we went on a trip, like N200 for feeding, N100 for hot drink and N20 for cigarette. At the end of each trip, he gave me N1,000.”

    Asked if he was a party to the plan to divert the goods, he said: “Yes, I was aware. We had been doing it, but this one would have paid us better. If I had succeeded, I would have bought a commercial bus and stop this long-distance travelling.

    “There was one we diverted in Nnewi, Anambra State, sometime ago and they gave me N50,000. I don’t know the worth of the goods involved in this one. It was a 40-feet container and the goods were worth millions.

    “I dropped out at JSS 3 because of financial handicap. Nobody was willing to assist or accommodate me. Hence, I slept in the market or at the motor park. The driver picked me from the motor park and I have been serving him well.

    “My regret is that I did not get a dime from this operation before I was arrested.”

    Ukaonu on his part said: “I am a native of Isialangwa in Abia State. I am a trailer driver. I am single. I stopped my educational career in primary six. I was arrested because we conspired to divert some goods.”

    Asked how he got involved in the deal, he said he and Agbazue learnt driving together. “We are neighbours. On that fateful day, he called me and told me that there was an urgent job to be done and it would fetch us big money. I asked him how much and he said it would be in millions of naira and that it would take us to the next level of life. I was very happy.

    “I quickly contacted one Aloysius and he said he knew some buyers. He called one of them known as Alhaji Ibrahim. Later, Ibrahim called his boss named Alhaji Tukur, who signified interest in buying the entire consignment. From there, I continued to monitor the progress of the operation from the loading to the offloading points.

    “I followed them very closely because criminals who divert goods are heartless. If you are not present, they could divert your own share. Where will you report them if they don’t give you your own share after disposing the goods? Therefore, to be on the safe side, you follow them closely so that you will not be cheated.

    “I was with them at Kara, the off-loading point on May 11, 2013 when SARS operatives stormed the place and got six of us arrested. But they later released one when they found out that he was innocent.

    “I was driving for AURUM Energy, a transport company. But I left them after I had a fatal accident that got the trailer badly damaged. The company refused to repair the trailer, which left me redundant for almost eight months. Hence, I resigned and joined the gang. I had both the G and E licences and I am good at driving. But I needed big money to solve the big problem I had. Driving alone cannot give me the money even in 20 years time.

    “I have no regrets over my action because I don’t have a kobo in my pocket now, and a man without money is a dead man.”

    The fourth suspect, Aloysius, said: “I am from Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State. I deal in auto spare parts at Oyingbo in Lagos Mainland, where I have a large shop. But I reside at No. 56, Okera Road, Railway Compound, Oyingbo. I was the one that contacted Alhaji Ibrahim who in turn contacted Alhaji Tukur.”

    On why he contacted Ibrahim, Aloysius said: “I did so because Chinedu said he had some stolen goods to dispose. I then said I knew one Alhaji Ibrahim who was an agent to Alhaji Tukur. There and then, Alhaji Ibrahim called Alhaji Tukur and we negotiated the price and agreed on N17 million.

    “The said Tukur arrived Lagos from Ibadan between 11.30 pm and midnight that day. He said the person that would provide the key to the warehouse at Ojodu Berger had not arrived and asked us to wait till 5 am.

    After 5 am, the man still did not surface. But at about 7 am, Alhaji Tukur’s boy arrived and with the key. He opened the warehouse and we opened the container. They negotiated with one Haruna Abdullahi to pay them the sum of N40,000 to use the warehouse for four days.

    “We stood at a corner while they negotiated. In the end, the labourers started off-loading the diverted goods. As they were off-loading the goods, SARS operatives appeared and arrested everybody. They also ordered the labourers to reload the container. The container was later taken to Scorpion House (SARS headquarters) along with the suspects and the goods.”

    He said he did not get a dime from the deal and that it was his first experience. His wife, he said, never knew that he was involved in crime because she travelled. “But when she came back, she was informed and she came to see me. She quarrelled with me and asked me why I should partake in such a dirty deal. But I pleaded with her that it was the handiwork of the devil,” he said.

    The fifth suspect, Haruna said he was a trader of empty sacks and nylon, but he realised that there was no much money in the business. “I am married with five children. How do you expect me to feed all these mouths, including my wife’s, with the sale of sacks and nylon bags?” he asked.

    “How much is school fees? I am addressed as an Alhaji but I have never gone to Mecca. People just call me Alhaji and I claimed it because it raised my social status.

    “I am from Panisau village in Ungogo Local Government Area, Kano State. Alhaji Tukur sent Aloysius and Alhaji Ibrahim and Chinedu, and I went to show them the warehouse. It was in the morning, but they said they would be bringing the goods in the night. After bringing the goods at about midnight, they called me and I told them that I would not be able to come at that hour. I told them to wait till 5 am.

    “I got there at 7 am. We called the owner of the warehouse and he sent his boy. After opening the warehouse, they opened the container and started offloading. In the process, SARS operatives stormed the place and got all of us arrested.

    “The goods were already half off-loaded, but the police ordered us to load them back into the container. Unfortunately, SARS operatives arrested my friend, Alhaji Sani, who I had asked to accompany me to the place. But during investigation, the police found that he was not connected with the deal and he was released. He was exonerated by all the other suspects.

    “But let me make it clear that many of us at Railway Line, Agege, specialise in buying and selling stolen goods, and people patronise us because our goods are very cheap.”

    Asked how he felt free to sell stolen goods close to Isokoko, Pen Cinema and Elere police stations, he said: “It is a contact point for many areas in Lagos where stolen goods are sold. They buy from them and we do not allow members to misbehave to avoid attracting the attention of the police.

    “Whenever there is a misunderstanding between a buyer and a seller, we try our best to solve the problem amicably. Besides, we do not allow our members to take their matters to the police in order to keep the police away.”

  • As Lady Chinyere Annie Okonkwo clocks 50 in style

    As Lady Chinyere Annie Okonkwo clocks 50 in style

    Baring any last minute hitch, Senator Annie Okonkwo’s wife, Lady Chinyere, will be celebrating her 50th birthday in a grand style .The effervescent and lovable woman will be 50 tomorrow. Celeb Watch gathered that the fashion-forward lady is set to paint their Ikoyi, Lagos home in pure gold as she and her excited husband will be playing host to the rich and famous, politicians, socialites and many others at their sprawling and exotic seaside lawn. Those who should know informed Celeb Watch that her husband, Senator Annie Okonkwo, who is sparing nothing to dramatise his gratitude for three decades of marital bliss to the celebrant, has described his wife as his priceless umbrella of care, affection and blessings, whose wealth of feminine shield no man could ever wish for more .

    “I must admit” he said, “I have been particularly lucky and blessed for what I got in my wife, Chinyere, because I married my childhood friend and first love, and therefore consider it an honour to indulge her a little as she glides her way to the golden club”. Meanwhile, Lady Chinyere, who is visibly radiant, trim and relaxed, said her style of celebration for all the love she has gotten, is to thank God with melodies of praise and raise toasts to her friends and family for their abiding affection.

  • I’m getting married soon, what can I do to gain weight?

    My name is Jenny from Calabar. I am 25 years old. I wasjust going through a magazine and I saw people talk to you about their problem. Here is mine – I am having a problems adding up weight. I have tried taking something but it’s not working. Please what do you think I should do because I will be getting married soon so I need to be full in my attire? Please help me.

    I was so happy when I read your concern. While most brides would do all crazy things to lose weight before their wedding day, you actually want to look round and healthy. Good. You must look great in the dress and in the photos because hundreds of guests would have their eyes on you and you don’t want to look hungry and too thin. We want to see those curves and not make people worry about whether you would be able to get pregnant fast. Some people are just born naturally skinny, but if you’re looking to put on a little healthy weight, there are many simple tricks you can do.

    1. Don’t go for “empty” calories. While chips and cookies look like the easiest way to put on weight, you want to put on HEALTHY weight. Go for snacks that have a fair amount of calories, but also a lot of nutritional value. Peanut butter is great for this. Mix it with carrots, crackers, apples, or anything and you have a delicious, healthy snack.

    2. Exercise. Yes, you need to exercise to gain weight. Yes! Lifting and weight training help your body gain muscle weight, which is the best kind of weight for your body to put on. Start off slowly if you aren’t used to doing this kind of training. Increase weight and decrease reps as you go along.

    Make sure to fill up on protein directly after a workout. This will help build muscle. Protein shakes are a great way to do this, and there are many different brands and flavors to try.

    3. Make sure all of your food groups are present in every meal.