The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

How to create romantic feelings in a woman

To seduce a woman, you must take her into another world, a special world where only the two of you exist, a romantic world, a poetic world.

Sometimes this happens automatically with a woman: if you’ve ever fallen in love, you remember what it’s like to feel like you are the only two people who’ve ever existed. You probably also remembered that, in that state, she really wanted sex. A lot.

If you haven’t ever felt that, don’t despair – by following these simple guidelines, you can learn to create those special feelings. It’s your responsibility, if you want to get laid. So how do you do it?

* Keep on the lookout for romantic ideas or situations.

You can train your mind to always be looking for ways that little romantic moments can be created.

The other day a friend of ours was at a Chinese restaurant, and got the fortune, “Take the next opportunity you see – it will be wonderful” in his fortune cookie. Seeing an attractive woman sitting alone, he wrote his name and phone number on the back of the fortune, and as he left stopped at her table and said, “You look lonely here… perhaps this fortune will cheer you up. By the way, I think you look beautiful.” She smiled and accepted the fortune and he smiled and left. Two days later she called him and they now have a date planned.

This effortless introduction worked because it created a small, special moment in her otherwise busy, stressful day. He was appreciating her. He was doing something romantic.

You can tell if an idea is romantic by asking yourself, “Would a woman look back on it as incredibly special?” Our friend knew that the fortune cookie was a tale a woman would gladly tell about how she met her boyfriend. So it was romantic, made her feel special, and it worked.

* Look like you put thought into it.

Women feel special, just like anybody does, if they think someone has done some preparation just for them. Cooking a meal, wrapping a little present, or hand-making a card for her will all make her feel like you are sitting around thinking of ways to delight her.

The key here is to do things that give the appearance that you are thinking of her. When you do things to make her feel special and appreciated it will increase her desire to put out for you.

* Do something special and “out of the ordinary.”

Don’t take a woman to the same place you’d go with buddies if you want sex. Take her someplace out of the ordinary. A river- front cafe in a nearby small town, a walk in the woods where you’ve previously and secretly stashed a bottle of champagne, two glasses and a blanket you can “discover” together are all examples of “out of the ordinary” events. Even art films (if she likes that kind of thing) or museums can be out-of-the-ordinary events. You can be an “out of the ordinary” man if you know some love poetry by heart. That will make her feel very special.

* Focus on the details.

Women want the “little things,” so you should make sure every little thing is right when you are seducing a woman. This means flowers, new candles just lit for the first time, clean linens, the works. Everything is clean, nothing is sloppy. Romance is in the details, and you must have them right in order to succeed.

Just as a businessman is always looking for new situations that can make money, a “man’s man” is always looking for new situations that can create romantic feelings. If you take on this practice you’ll make her feel special, and you will get sex.

Source: sosuave.com

November 24, 2012
Experiencing true love in your life

Is true love a once in a lifetime experience? Not really. You can experience them many times over, and with many people at the same time. You can experience true love with your spouse or your lover, your children and any other person you’re attached to in your life. But true love too, can fade with time. For most of us, our first love is the first time we would have experienced the purest form of true love. We aren’t afraid to let this special someone into our heart and we aren’t afraid to experience heartbreak because we still don’t know what heartbreak feels like. We’re fearless in love and we love passionately with all our heart. [Read: But when the first romance dies, the true love we had for our first partner too eventually fades, even if it takes years and several new relationships to overcome. And as we enter more relationships, most of us split into two groups. One that believes in true romantic love and the other group that convinces itself that true love doesn’t exist. The kind of relationships you’ve had in your lifetime can play a big part in your understanding of, and expectations from, true love.And if you’re wondering whether true love and romantic love are the same, it really isn’t, even though we almost always associate true love with romantic love. True love is love in its purest form, while romantic love needs sexual attraction to stay alive.

True love can’t be forced

True love has to be experienced naturally and wholeheartedly. You can’t fake true love no matter how hard you try. If a couple fails to pass the test of compatibility in their infatuation stage, it’s pretty hard for both of them to ever experience true love.On the other hand, if both partners can understand each other and relate to each other, they’ll start to love each other’s company and start to become inseparable. And eventually, this bond will turn into a pure and selfless love that we call true love.

November 24, 2012
‘My problem with Aba’

Abia State and its governor, Theodore Orji, have been dogged by a string of controversies lately. The latest involve issues of the oil wells ceded to it, and the aborted swearing-in of Justice Ifeoma Jumbo-Ofo recently named to the Court of Appeal. Associate Editor, Taiwo Ogundipe, met him to talk about these and other issues – including the perennial problem of the city of Aba.

LET us start with the controversy surrounding the oil wells. The Rivers State government has been agitating that its oil wells have been wrongly ceded to Abia and Bayelsa States. What is your response?

I didn’t cede the oil wells to myself. The oil wells were legally and legitimately ceded to us by the appropriate body. I know that I don’t have any problem with Rivers State. The oil wells were ceded to us because the appropriate body saw they belong to us. It was an injustice that was rectified. If anybody feels aggrieved about the development, the court is there to sort out the issue just like they sorted the issue of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. But as of now, I don’t have any problem with Rivers State and I don’t think they have any problem with us.

Does the transfer of the oil wells suggest there would be an improvement in the revenue of the state?

Yes of course. That’s what we expect.

Were unaware that you were supposed to have these oil wells?

The issue didn’t start today. The state had been fighting this battle before I came on board as governor. The appropriate body considered the matter and saw that our claim was genuine and gave the oil wells to us.

We want you to comment on the controversy surrounding the appointment and aborted swearing-in of the lady judge from the state.

I don’t have any comment. I’ve done what I’m supposed to do as governor.

Let us now talk about Aba. The issue of lack of infrastructure in the city has always been in the news and it seems to be defying your government. There have been all kinds of protests and stories. What have you personally found to be issue?

Aba is the commercial nerve centre of this area and it has made news in the areas of trade and commerce; and that is why it attracts attention. Just like Aba is popular in trade and commerce, it has its problems. The problem of Aba essentially is that of infrastructural decay. I did not cause the decay. I inherited much of it. These include bad roads, filled-up drains, refuse disposal. These are some of the major problems in Aba. What I’ve been doing is to make my own impact; to ensure that the drains are opened up so that water will always find its way; to also ensure that the bad roads are repaired and new ones constructed; to ensure that refuse is carted away on daily basis for the environmental health of all the people who live in Aba; and to also ensure that the environment is conducive for them to do their business by making sure that security is provided for them. These are the things that we are doing.

No government can come and repair all the roads in Aba or solve all these problems at a go. It is for each government to make its own impact. And I believe that the impact I am making right now will make it easier for other governments that are to come because I’m laying some foundations in Aba. Number one, I’m building solid roads, very solid stone-based roads. I’m putting legacy structures in place in Aba. I’ve built an overhead bridge in front of the Aba Polytechnic. It wasn’t there before. We are repairing the bad roads with good quality materials and by good contractors. We are also trying to sanitise and modernise the markets.

However, we need the assistance of the inhabitants of Aba to make these things progress. The people in Aba don’t obey rules and regulations. They embark on indiscriminate building of houses and shops. They even build on waterways, blocking the drains, thereby causing erosion and flooding in Aba. They like to leave the markets and trade in residential buildings. They convert residential buildings to markets and shops. When we build motor parks, they find it difficult to go in there. Rather they would stay on the roads, blocking everywhere.

These are the problems we have been having in Aba, which I’m fighting against. I know that if discipline is instilled in Aba, the other things will follow.

You have mentioned the attitude of the citizens and all the problems they have been creating. Why are you finding it difficult to enforce the laws against the recalcitrant ones?

We are doing our best and I think the approach we have adopted, to me, is one of the best. This is democracy. It is not a military regime. We are enforcing the regulations as par due process and extant laws. The laws are not meant to hurt the people. The laws are meant for their own welfare and we enforce them in a way that they will not hurt the people drastically. And they are complying. But the one that is most annoying is the attitude of those who know very well that before you erect any building, you have to get approved building plan. They disregard that and build on drains and waterways. And we have said that once we start construction of roads and renovation of the bad ones, any building or shed seen blocking the drains or waterways will have to go. We will enforce that.

A group of lawyers were recently reported protesting publicly in Aba against bad roads. What is your reaction to that?

If you were there to see what happened, you would have seen that it was sponsored. The so-called protest was carried out by some members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch minus other branches such as NBA Umuahia, NBA Ohafia, NBA Isiala Ngwa North and South, as well as the others. The protest was carried out by that insignificant branch in Aba. The other branches had dissociated themselves from that show because they realised it was sponsored. You can’t imagine lawyers, learned people – that’s what they call themselves, go to buy raincoats and boots to start demonstrating during rainy season. If you are not happy that the roads are bad, as an educated person, you know what to do. You engage the government in dialogue to know what is happening. If it is roads that are owned by the Federal Government, engage the necessary agency, and when that fails, then you can go on rampage, the kind that they embarked on. What the NBA Aba did was sponsored. As I told you, the other branches have dissociated themselves from that and they have written letters of apology to me. NBA Aba has been antagonistic of this government because they are being used by my detractors. They are easy prey in the hands of my detractors. If it is something that is universal in Abia, it is NBA Abia State and not NBA Aba alone that should have taken action. It is not only in Aba that you have bad roads. There are also bad roads in other certain areas in this state. So, why should it be NBA Aba that was demonstrating about bad roads in Aba? Why don’t they demonstrate about bad roads in the whole of Abia State or Nigeria? Their demonstration was sponsored, as I said.

Some people are also complaining about the state of markets in Aba. Some say they are generally old and dilapidated. What are you doing about markets in the town?

Those markets are the ones I inherited – Ariara and the others. What I’m doing now is to modernise them by building more stalls in the market and urging the traders to go into the markets. We have plans also to build a modern market in Aba by private partnership arrangement. We have gone very far and it will be a model if we realise that. The ones that I inherited are still popular. People come from far and wide to trade and buy in the markets. So, we are trying to modernise them and build new ones.

Let us now focus on Umuahia. Some people observe that it neither looks like a state capital nor measures up to some other capital cities in the country. What is your take on this?

I thank you for this question. People come here and concentrate on Aba. They ask you about Aba all the time. They forget that Abia State has two major towns, Aba, the commercial centre, Umuahia, the city capital. The city capital is equally as important as the commercial nerve centre of Abia, which is Aba. You have to work on the two towns. The first and foremost thing about Umuahia being the state capital is the symbol of Abia. Anybody who comes to Abia will come to Umuahia and may end up not even going to Aba. And the impression he gets about Umuahia is the one he will carry about Abia State. So, it becomes imperative that we make this town, Umuahia, to look like a capital city. And that is what we are doing. The topographies of Aba and Umuahia are different. So, if you arrive in Umuahia, you may not see any bump; the roads are good. Erosion is under control. You have a functional drainage system in Umuahia. We are now putting up more structures to make Umuahia a befitting capital. You have streetlights that have been on in the city since 2008; we are still maintaining them and building new ones. We have decided to relocate the major market in Umuahia. Unlike in Aba, the market in Umuahia is at the centre of the town. We are now building a new one so that Umuahia will have a facelift. We have achieved almost 55 percent completion of the new market at Ubani. We are also building another market to move away the timber people from their industrial location very close to Government College, Umuahia. In fact, the timber people will move this month and the spaces created will be used for constructing houses. We are also building an International Conference Centre which will be a model. We are building a secretariat for civil servants because all along they have been operating in rented houses and apartments in different locations. The secretariat we are now building will house all the civil servants so that they can operate from a central place. These structures we are putting on ground will become legacy structures. The structures were not there before. If they were there before now, I couldn’t have gone back to start building them. I’ll rather use the money to do other things that can move government forward.

The Government House complex where this interview is being conducted looks rather unkempt, dilapidated and ancient. It does not seem to present the state in good light.

I’m pleased with your observation. This place where we are right now (the living quarters) used to be a guest house in the old Imo State. It was converted under emergency situation to a Government House. My office belonged to the late Vice-Marshall Emeka Omeruah as the owner. The then government acquired it from him and gave him an alternative plot of land. You can see that the Government House is being operated from a makeshift structure. However, we have started to build a befitting Government House at New Umuahia. It is one of the legacy projects I was talking about. If these things were done in the past – remember how many years since Abia State was created; nobody thought it wise to build a befitting Government House for this state. It is now that I’m here that I’ve thought it wise to do that. If you go to other states, you’ll be ashamed of what we have here. That is why we are determined to ensure that we build a befitting Government House where subsequent governments will live and operate from. And by the grace of God, if I finish before 2015, I will open it and others will also follow suit. It is important to note this, that the projects including the secretariat and the other legacy projects should be prioritised. We have also built a diagnostic centre. All these projects will outlive us and be signs of what we left behind when we were there as the governor.

The state seems to lack appreciable presence of industries. Some of your critics say you are not doing enough to attract investors to the state?

The first and foremost thing we have done to attract investors is to make sure we are on top of the security situation. Security is intact here. Kidnapping is gone; armed robbery is drastically reduced. So, investors are now willing to come and start investing in Abia State. We have also embarked on tours outside the shores of Nigeria. Not only myself but my aides and other notable Abians going out shopping for investors, and they have been coming. Some of the investors that ran away – such as Guinness – are back in Aba. The company left Aba because of kidnapping but right now they are back. Just yesterday, we were discussing about the Golden Guinea Breweries, about the people who have come to invest in it. Several potential investors have carried out feasibility studies and they are coming in. The last time I went to the US, I got in touch with our doctor friends in the Diaspora and we reached agreement with them to come and facilitate the building of an international hospital, an American hospital in Obaku City located at the boundary between Abia and Rivers States. The hospital will service Abia, Rivers, Imo and Akwa Ibom States.

What role did the Chief of Army Staff play in the security management of the state?

The Chief of Army Staff is from this state and he has put in a lot of efforts to achieve the standard we have attained so far. The Federal Government also assisted and all the other security agencies including the police, the SSS, the Navy and the others put in their best. It is the sustenance of the security level that matters now. We don’t want to get back to the situation when many people – including indigenes and non-indigenes – fled the state, especially Aba.

Still talking about the security situation, we discovered that the use of motor bikes as means of transportation was aiding and abetting kidnapping. What we did was to enact a law through the State House of Assembly banning the use of motorcycles as means of transportation in the urban areas of this state, replacing them with tricycles. The people were restive about it because usually change is not easy to effect. But eventually with advocacy they were able to realise the gains they could have from the use of tricycles. So, they now shifted to the use of tricycles as a means of transportation in Abia State. It is decent and it is safer. Accidents have been reduced. And they are disciplined under their unions. We also have taxis here but these tricycles have been very popular.

What are the other significant developments in other parts of the state?

We try to make an impact in every local government area. What they need in the local government areas are roads. We are constructing one road in each local government area of the state. Some are on-going, some have been completed. We are also embarking on agricultural revolution. We have the Liberation Farms that are on-going right now where we are going to embark on the cultivation of cassava. We engage and train our youths for the farms. The Liberation Farm is being established in each local government area of the state. Of recent, we have handed over our rubber estate to a private investor who has started working on it. We hope it will yield a lot of revenue for us. In our palm industry also, we have a private partnership arrangement with a foreign company that is developing our palm estates in Ohambele and Ulona. All these are in the agricultural sector.

In the health sector also, we have as of today built 250 health centres scattered all over the state in all the local government areas. These are apart from the general hospitals that we are renovating. In terms of education also, we are renovating the schools in the rural areas. We have given back some of the schools to their original owners for effective management. This is also helping us. We are reaping the dividends by the way our pupils and students are performing in public examinations. So, in all the sectors, we are touching the villages, one after the other. We have also given employment to 4, 500 youths. And we intend to give more. The rubber plantation we handed over, the MD told me will initially employ 56 people to work in the estate. These potential employees will come from the environment where the rubber estate is located.

What is the current situation with electricity?

We have a village called Ohiya in Umuahia. In Ohiya there is one 32KVA sub-station where there is power. We awarded contract to evacuate power to Umuahia and the surrounding towns as far as to Imo State. In recent times electricity has been fairly constant. That has brought about productivity in terms of the artisans who are working, and has at least reduce the noise you hear from generating sets everywhere. There is a Geometric plant in Aba that will be commissioned by February next year. This will make further make input into power generation in the state. It is owned privately. Then at Alaojie, the federal government is doing an NIPP project which is almost being completed. When completed the issue of lack of power will be a thing of the past in Abia State.

You have listed all these projects your government is carrying out, how come some people are still insist you are not doing much in the state?

The people who are saying that don’t come to the state. These projects are verifiable. Those who hold the negative views depend on the Internet. They are detractors and they will not see anything good in what we are doing. If we are not doing well, why are we winning all the laurels we have been winning? Just few months ago in Ghana I was given the Best Nigerian Governor Award in Security. Few weeks ago also, The Champion Newspapers gave him the award of The Icon of Democracy. Few weeks ago as well, the Methodist Church Nigeria gave me an award, Knight of John Wesley. Are these awards not indication of achievements? I didn’t buy them. I didn’t tell people to come and give me awards but they applied their conditions and criteria and saw that I’m qualified and gave them to me. These are independent people. They are not detractors. So, you don’t listen to what detractors are saying. I don’t expect anything better from them. What do you expect them to say? Would they come and praise me? If they praise me they won’t achieve their aim. These are Internet people who don’t come to Abia. If they are Abians, they don’t come home; they don’t even know their wards. They don’t know how many polling units are there in their wards. They are just far away making noise on what they can’t substantiate.

Your predecessor in office as governor has been one of your persistent critics…

I don’t have any comment. I don’t discuss my predecessor on the pages of newspaper.

Are you looking to install a successor who will sustain these projects? Are you thinking of the issue of succession?

Well, I’ve not started looking at that. Right now my focus is embarking on these legacy projects and finishing them – at least almost all of them. There are some we haven’t started so I can’t start thinking of who to succeed me now when I’m still working. For now I want to work to my satisfaction and when the time comes for succession I will take care of that.

Let’s talk about your future aspirations. Some of your former colleagues as governors became senators or went into farming. Where do you see yourself in future?

The future will tell.

There is also this allegation that you have not been paying government workers their salaries. What is the problem?

This is a rumour being peddled by our detractors whom I’ve been talking about. If there is any constituency that has benefited from this government most, it is the civil service. I’m building a secretariat for them. I promoted them. No government has done that in Nigeria, to generally promote civil servants from one grade to the other. I promoted all of them and sustained the promotion. I’m paying them minimum wage – one of the highest in the country, N20,100. And I’m paying their arrears. Let me ask these detractors who are spreading rumour, how many times have you heard that civil servants going on strike in the state? Even during the time of the crisis over minimum wage, when all the civil servants in the South East went on strike, civil servants in Abia State didn’t go on strike. They believed in the government because the government had been taking care of them. We are not owing salary. Generally, the Nigerian economy is not very buoyant; many states find it difficult to pay salary. The state governments are squeezing themselves to meet up with the payment of salary, suspend some projects to ensure that the civil servants are paid. We don’t want to disengage or sack anybody. We are managing to pay salary to our workers.

November 18, 2012
Fur is hot!

LIKE it or not, fur is hot! With style icons like Eunice Efole photographed in neckline fur-clad jacket and purse, its trend for the incoming year fashion culture seems secure.

Nothing brings out the best in your tailored designed dresses these days than a stylishly mixed fur design.

Fur jacket is an essential piece for any woman’s wardrobe; it is an ideal shoulder cover of choice. It’s back with a bang; it was the rave several years ago, but if you think it’s gone, you are wrong. Believe it, there is no trendier cover for that exposed shoulder, chest and back than a beautiful fur jacket or shawl. Apart from the fact that it keeps you covered, it also keeps you warm. And the good thing about it is that it can be combined with a variety of attires.

Fur has grown so important to the point that many of our fashionistas cannot ignore it. But this may not be just because of fashion; the truth is that fur is light to wear. It can be worn during the day or when you are dressed up for an evening event.

November 18, 2012
Bhaira’s top 10

Bhaira Mcwizu, actress and AMBO Season 3 winner, speaks to Kehinde Falode about her favourite things.

Favourite shoe designer

Sals Peters by

Salome Peters

Favourite bag designer

BM byBhaira Mcwizu

Favourite wrist watch

Peridot

favourite Nigerian designer

Deola Sagoe

Favourite perfum

Vera Wang

Favourite pet

Dogs

Favourite skirt

High waist

pencil skirt

Favourite car

Aston Martins

Favourite holiday spot

Tinapa Resort and

Obudu Cattle Ranch

November 18, 2012
Spice up With tunics

SEASON after season, fashion designers have abundance of tunic dresses. That’s because a tunic is a lady’s best friend, and for good reason tunics are easy to wear. Keep it casual and cute during the weekend or while shopping or taking a stroll. Then jazz it up with a great pair of heels, trendy handbag and a jacket, and before you know it, you will be the centre of attraction.

Don’t forget that some of your basic ready-to-go tunics can be revamped and revived into fresh new stunners. Whether it’s through a little layering, adding a fun new belt around the waist of your blouse, or draping on the jewels, it’s easy to spice up with tunics!

•Pair them with the right shoes
Classic pumps may work great with a pencil skirt, but when it comes to tunics, your best options are flats under any form and shape and platform wedges for that retro look.

•Think about the proportions
A tunic is generally loose, not tight and, therefore, it brings some volume to your look. So, pair it with tighter bottom pieces to create a pleasing balance. For instance, skinny jeans, leggings or a tight miniskirt that barely shows under your tunic.

•Avoid overly elegant bags and accessories
Tunics originate in the medieval times, so anything too contemporary, glossy and ultra sleek could be saved for another outfit. Opt for casual chain bags, neutral tones and soft leathers instead!

November 18, 2012
Delta: Okada out, tricycles in

Notwithstanding critics’ position that roads in Delta State are in deplorable state and therefore cannot justify any investment by government in transportation, what could be described as a silent revolution is taking place in the transport sector in the state.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan confirmed this much recently at the launch of the1,250 tricycles to replace motorcycles popularly called Okada as a means of transport in the state in September ending.

While addressing the gathering, the governor declared: “We are improving the transport sector and very soon, more commercial buses and boats for the riverine for our people. The time has come for us to adopt a comprehensive transport system that would guarantee the safety of lives and property in the state”.

Taken at face value, this mind set could have probably informed the flurry of activities in the last three months in the state that has seen the government launch buses, tricycles and taken delivery of water buses to boost both land and marine transport.

“This is a massive investment by the governor in his bid to give the state’s urban transport a facelift. Those who are saying the roads are bad, that we should continue with Okada are not mindful of the security implication of continuing with that mode of transportation; the havoc people use Okada to inflict on innocent people and the fatality of the accidents involving Okada. Let the government continue with the urban transport renewal project, it is a good idea that we should not continue to postpone for any partisan consideration. At least we have started, let us see how we progress from here”, a source who craved anonymity told The Nation in Asaba, the state capital, last weekend.

The government’s plan is to introduce the tricycles as means of transportation, in strategic cities across the state in phases to replace the popular albeit controversial Okada form of transportation. The plan has already taken off on November 1, in the three major cities of Asaba, Warri and Effurun.

To make the introduction of the tricycles appealing and to ensure that it does not constitute a financial yoke to the primary beneficiaries – the Okada riders in the state – the state government bent backwards to assist them by announcing a subsidy of about 70 percent in the price of the tricycles. What ordinarily should cost about N400,000:00, with the kind approval of the governor, was given out for N150,000:00.

But typical of almost every initiative of government in this part of the world, unscrupulous elements would always find a way to abuse, if not destroy it for selfish reasons. And in a show of a propensity for self-destruct, it was gathered that those who got the tricycles for the subsidised rate connived with crooked businessmen who bought it of them for between N250,000:00 and N300,000:00 thereby making an instant profit of between N100,000:00 and N150,000:00.

Besides, tongues started wagging that the scheme was all about political patronage designed by the government to settle “the boys”. But the Commissioner for Transport, Ben Igbakpa, debunked the allegation in a subdued angry tone, saying mischief makers would stop at nothing to discredit a laudable programme. Speaking to The Nation, Igbakpa said: “That is very funny. I sat with His Excellency, the governor, and it was agreed that these tricycles should be given to the commercial motorcycle unions. So they have their leaders and have been doing their things. When the governor commissioned the tricycles, he handed them to the unions. They are to collect the money and pay into government’s account, and when we see the proof of payment, then I release the number of tricycles they have paid for to them. So they were the ones doing the distribution really not the government and there was no particular yardsticks used in distribution as only the Okada riders are the ones doing it, not to talk of using it as a tool for political patronage.

“You may even go and cross-check what the governor said on that occasion. It was as if he knew. To me, those who are saying this are equally saying that if they were the ones in position, they would use the programme as political patronage. Sorry, His Excellency is not like that.”

For the record, Governor Uduaghan at the launch of the tricycles had stressed that they were exclusively reserved for commercial motorcycle operators, warning politicians to keep off as they were not meant for political patronage.

He specifically enjoined politicians not to see the policy as an avenue for providing jobs for their boys and advised them to go to the open market if they were interested in empowering their boys with tricycles.

His words: “I like to appeal to the political class not to interfere in the distribution of these tricycles. Do not use it to settle your boys. The tricycles are strictly for the Okada riders who are transiting from Okada to tricycles.’’

Barely a month after the launch of the tricycles, Governor Uduaghan also launched 160 new buses in October to further boost the transport sector in the state. They included 50 units of Marcopolo buses, 100 units of Toyota Haice buses and 10 units of Tata buses.

While commissioning the buses in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan explained that investment in the transportation sector was part of his Human Capital Development agenda, adding that the objective was to touch lives in the rural areas.

He said the aim of investing in the transportation sector was to reduce the cost of transportation and make Deltans travel in a more comfortable condition. He maintained that Deltans were entitled to enter good vehicles whether they own one or not.

And, again, critics soon latched unto the announcement that majority of the Marcopolo and TaTa buses would be run by private transport services, while 50 of the Toyota buses would be run by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Igbakpa, again, defended the policy, saying the trend is that only government businesses with private touch tend to do well as a general observation. He argued that of all the operators the government has been dealing with, the private operators have been exceptionally good and therefore government has no hesitation in engaging it to manage the larger number of the buses.

In like manner, the government is not detached from the transport needs of the riverine communities in the state. The government has taken delivery of 110 units of Almarine built 18-seater water buses out of the 130 units that were approved by the State Executive Council. It was learnt that the remaining 20 units are already at the Apapa Port and would be delivered anytime from now to the government in the state. Once the numbers are complete, they would be commissioned and given out to be managed by competent private transport companies that specialise in marine transport.

Signs that the transport sector would enjoy some fillip showed early in the year. When the removal of subsidy was announced as a New Year gift to Nigerians by the Federal Government, it would be recalled that it generated a lot of tension across the country. Yet, in Delta State, all was calm. Igbakpa linked this to the foresightedness of Governor Uduaghan who had had about 100 buses bought and had to commission them then to quickly cushion the effect of the hike in the pump price of petrol.

In fact, when it was noticed that owners of transport companies were diverting fuel subsidy palliatives in the state, the government threatened them with severe sanctions. The state government had directed the transport companies not to increase fares as a result of the hike in the price of petrol, noting that it would bear the extra cost occasioned by the increment. But some of the operators were playing smart.

The governor, who was said to have been visibly unhappy with the action of the transport companies, lamented that after several discussions and agreements with them, they still went ahead to corner the palliatives provided by the state government.

“I don’t want a repeat of this. Do not collect more than the fare you were charging before Christmas. If you repeat this, I will show you the way out. Transport companies should be humane rather than exploitative at this material time in the nation’s history. Do not exploit the people. Be considerate and charge moderate fares. There should not be anything like special seasonal fares. Instead of high fares, it should be lower”, the governor was reported to have warned the operators concerned.

While attention is fixed on the current effort by the government, a source in Asaba said there is nothing new in the drive by the Uduaghan administration for urban renewal in the transport sector. The source, who would not want his name mentioned, insisted that since 2008, the governor has demonstrated his commitment to safe, clean, affordable and efficient transportation in the state.

“The truth is that the state government’s policy for the provision of cheap and affordable transportation for Deltans dates back to 2008. I have been in this transport business for a while now. That year, I remember the government launched the State Urban Taxi scheme with 170 taxis. These taxis have helped to alleviate the transportation problems in the state.

“Then between 2009 and 2011, the government bought about 500 units of 18-seater buses for the State Urban Transportation Programme. Some of these buses, about 40, were given to schools as shuttle to assist the students who were then experiencing transportation problems”.

The state government moved in to alleviate the transport challenges faced by tertiary school students by providing in nine units of 38-seater Nissan Civilian buses to them.

The buses were distributed to the three campuses of Delta State University at Abraka, Asaba and Oleh, the three polytechnics at Ozoro, Otefe and Ogwashi-Uku and the Colleges of Education at Agbor, Warri and Mosogar.

Evidently, the transport sector in the state has enjoyed good attention from government, a development Igbakpa said must be encouraged. According to him, “The transport sector is an important component of the state economy, impacting on socio-economic developments and people’s welfare. Only an efficient transport infrastructure and services will provide some of the economic and social opportunities the state needs to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). In fact,transport is one of the key sectors that play a crucial role in achieving the goals of poverty eradication and sustainable development, the sectors is very much linked and influences development in other sector of the economy”.

But then, the general concern about the parlous shape of roads across the state continues to be a source of worry to many people. They argue that the first thing would be to fix the roads if the government wishes to see the many buses it is buying serve the people for a long time. Besides, they also argue that no amount of professionalism would guarantee efficient and sustainable transport system where the roads are manifestly bad. The call has been “please fix these roads.”

A prominent indigene of Asaba, told The Nation that those criticising the government for not doing enough on rehabilitation of roads and or construction of new ones are by all standard justified and can be called patriots. He jokingly asked in Pidgin English, “abi the vehicles wan fly? No bi road them go pass? Dis no be politics, this one na the right thing to say, we all be PDP and na we all get Delta”.

But while conceding that the state is facing challenges of roads, Igbakpa insisted that critics are not fair and have failed to cross check their facts. He argued that the state is unique and the terrain very demanding as is with all Niger Delta states. Besides, he insisted that the resources available are small in relation to the number of issues begging for urgent demand. He revealed that the governor last week gave the contractors up to December 15 to perform or be fired.

The hope is that the contractors will perform so as to ensure that Deltans celebrate the coming yuletide season enjoying good buses and plying good and safe roads.

November 17, 2012
‘Our major challenge with transportation in Delta is people’s attitude’

Benson Igbakpa is the Commissioner, Directorate of Transport, Delta State. In this interview with Assistant Editor, AUGUSTINE AVWODE, he explains the activities of the state government in the transport sector. Excerpts:

As the man at the head of the Directorate of Transport in Delta State, what would you say are the vision and policy thrust of the directorate in the state?

The vision and policy thrust of the Directorate of Transport in the state are tailored in a way that they conform with the Three Point Agenda of His Excellency, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. In summary, the vision and policy thrust of the directorate is to provide safe, reliable, effective, efficient and integrated transport operations and infrastructure that will best meet the needs of passenger and freight services. Ours is to provide Delta State with adequate, sustainable, affordable, comfortable and safe transportation services in all modes. The directorate is responsible for the design, supervision, and administration of traffic control devices, inter-city/intra-city transportation and water craft services; we ensure effective management, control of road traffic policies, safety of lives and property on our roads. Besides, it is also incumbent on us to provide transportation infrastructure such as jetties, buoys, pillars, and terminals and stop shelter, lay-bys and so on. And don’t let us forget that the directorate is also saddled with evolving active strategies for the channelisation and dredging of inland waterways routes in order to provide easy access to riverine communities in the state.

Delta State has now joined the league of states that have banned the use of motorcycles, popularly called Okada, at least in some cities…

Yes, and it is because of the above that we resolved that Okada should leave our major highways because there is no way in which they fit into this vision and policy thrust for the state. They are not safe, reliable, effective, and efficient. They can’t be said to be sustainable, affordable or comfortable means of transportation. If you consider the accidents that are results of recklessness on the part of Okada, you will feel terribly aggrieved. In terms of security, they are the ones that will trail and give information to kidnappers about people, when to strike and where. These are some of the things we have considered and we think Okada, as a child of necessity, is not a thing we can afford to keep in Delta state any longer.

What informed the policy of giving some of the recently commissioned buses in the state to private operators?

If you look at government’s business, the ones that are successful are those that have the private touch. In Delta State, the transport sector has been a marriage between the private and public sectors and that is the way it has been. Now, among our operators, the best ones today as we speak are the ones we have partnered with in the private sector. We have a government operator, the Delta Line, but the private sector’s performance has been very encouraging. All the private operators are doing well, very well. And that is why we have no hesitation in engaging them.

The government and your ministry have been criticised on account of the recent 1,250 tricycles launched in the state. They claimed that it was for political patronage.

That is very funny. I sat with His Excellency the Governor, and it was agreed that these tricycles should be given to the commercial motorcycle unions. The plan has been on since January. That is why today when people cry and talk about the ban of Okada, I wonder why people should be complaining because it is a policy and enlightenment that have been on since January. These tricycles have been purchased since last year but it has taken time to put them together, assemble and change them to the state colours of blue and white and other things. We have been telling them that one day, you are going to leave the roads and when we finished doing that, we told them that you are not just going to leave the roads but you are going to be the owners of these tricycles.

And how did we do that? When I resumed as Transport Commissioner, I met about 8-9 unions of these Okada riders in Delta State and I think that was chaotic. It was not healthy enough and I told them I don’t want to deal with more than one or two; so go and streamline yourselves. No union that has factions can expect to do well or survive. So I begged them to please come together that we are young men, let’s come together because as a Commissioner for Transport I was not ready to deal with multiple factions. They heeded the plea and came together except for one that is hiding somewhere due to ego or so. So they have their leaders and have been doing their things. When the governor commissioned the tricycles, he handed them to the unions. They are to collect the money and pay into government account, and when we see the proof of payment, then I release the number of tricycles they have paid for to them.

So they were the ones doing the distribution really not the government and there was no particular yardstick used in distribution as only the Okada riders are the ones doing it, so it is not a tool for political patronage.

A large part of the state lies in the riverine areas. What efforts is your ministry making to ensure an effective transportation in the riverine areas of the state?

We are very much aware that a large part of the state lies in the riverine areas. And we have eminent people from these areas. But we must agree that transport has been a problem in those areas. However, the happy thing is that, like I keep telling people, His Excellency is like Nostrademus, the man who saw tomorrow. He keeps playing ahead. In January this year when there was problem about subsidy removal, the governor already had 100 Hiace buses in place in Delta State. So when people were busy fighting, he was busy commissioning and rolling out buses. For the people in the riverine areas, he has made sure that while those in the hinterland are being taken care of, they are also provide for. In line with that vision, the State Executive Council approved the purchase of 130 water buses, (18 seaters). And as we speak, we have taken delivery of 110, as soon as the remaining 20, which are already in Apapa Port are delivered here, they will be commissined by His Excellency and they will be given out. But in Delta State we believe that the private partners are the best to work with because they have proven that over time. We believe in the PPP arrangement.

Critics say all the government is doing is to waste money and misplace priority because there are no motorable roads in the state. How would you react to this criticism?

Well, yes, it is a known fact that we all have challenges with roads. It is not peculiar to Delta State. I challenge anybody to go across the states in Nigeria, there is no state in the country that doesn’t have challenge with roads. More so, this is the South-south, this is the Niger Delta, what it costs to construct a kilometre of road here is not what it costs in another place. Again, Delta is a peculiar state in that it is not a one capital state. Yes, Asaba is the capital city, but we have so many cities. We have Warri, Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor, Abraka and all these cities have to be looked at the same time. When people are comparing Delta Sstate with other states, I laugh because there is no basis for comparison. Delta Sstate is a mini-Nigeria. Besides, the governor just read the riot act to contractors few days ago.

Three days ago, the governor did not work in his office. He practically moved his office to the Ministry of Works, he was there for hours, where he discussed with contractors, did approvals and gave them marching orders. He actually gave them up to December 15 to perform, to shape in or be shipped out. He is ready to pay, work and get your money. The governor is not sleeping over the road issue in the state. But the critics should know that while we are talking about roads, we don’t do it with our teeth, we do roads with money. The resources are such that they must be judiciously allocated to cater for other needs in the state. People who say it is a waste of money must rethink their opinions. Today, Delta parades the cheapest transport fare in the country. Our transportation is being subsidised by government. Any distance that will cost you N50:00, you pay N20:00, the government pays N30:00. So in most cases, the government pays about 75%. People are free to talk but they should cross check their facts.

What are the challenges facing the transport sector in Delta State?

The basic challenge facing the transport sector in Delta State, I would say is that of the attitude of human beings, especially as it affects what the government is doing in the state. The basic challenge, as is usual with all government businesses, is scarcity of resources. It is a major problem. I know that His Excellency the governor has a wonderful agenda to transform everything over-night but because of limited resources, not everything has been done. When I spoke a little while ago about the attitude of human beings towards government property, you just imagine somebody coming into a clean, air-conditioned bus, carry meat with blood dripping from it and would like to just keep it anywhere; and in fact some find it difficult to pay or not wanting to pay at all just because it is government owned. So, in summary, the attitude of the people towards government property or business and the dearth of resources are the major challenges facing the sector in the state.

November 17, 2012
‘How my husband drafted me into kidnapping business’

The wife of a suspected leader of a kidnapping gang, Mrs Eno Joseph, has said that her role as a member of the gang was to prepare food for victims.

Confessing her role in the gang in an interview with our correspondent, the 25-year-old indigene of Uduan, Akwa Ibom State, said: “I knew my husband, Victor, as far back as 2007. I had a child for him but the child later died of chicken pox.

“Our journey into trouble started when my husband told me that he wanted to go into kidnapping and that he wanted me to have an input into the business. I told him that I saw trouble coming, but he said what I saw was not trouble but a lot of money coming our way. He said he got his inspiration to go into kidnapping from a guy called ID, whom he said had given him N1 million.

“Since I could not convince him to return the money and we were experiencing a lot of financial problems, I told him that I would need a part of the money to open a shop. In March last year, I was sleeping in our house at about 2 am when the police came and arrested me and my husband. My husband told me to be courageous, saying it had happened and we had to pay the price.

“The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), who arrested us, charged us to court. They said I collected robbery money. We were later remanded in prison.

“While I was in prison, my sister came and said one lawyer had arranged how we would regain our freedom. When we came back from prison, I decided to go into petty trading to assist my husband financially.

“I hate trouble, but my husband would not listen. He later went with his friends to go into kidnapping again. My husband called me one day and sat me down. He told me to listen very carefully. He said some friends of his were coming to the house and I should not go anywhere.

“On that fateful day, I was in our parlour between 9pm and 10pm watching the television when he and his friends came in with a total stranger. I asked him who the man was and why they had brought him to the house. I told them I had just left the prison yard and did not want to go back to jail so soon.

“I told my husband to take the man back to where they had brought him from, but he begged me to exercise some patience. It was in the process of exercising patience that I started my role as the food provider.

“I first went to the market to buy ingredients with which I would make good soup. Apart from cooking for the victims and providing water for them to bathe even though their legs were in chains, I also kept them company, cracked jokes with them and made them to have the hope of seeing their families after paying the necessary ransom.

“At a point, I became sympathetic to one of the victims and started planning how to assist him to escape. I was the one that opened the door for him to find his way before my husband and others who were deeply asleep would wake up.

“When he had escaped, I kept the door open and went to fetch water. When I came back, they told me that the victim had escaped. They asked me why I opened the door for him to escape and I told them that I did not know that the door was open because I was hurrying to fetch water. I lied to them because they were very angry over the victim’s sudden disappearance.”

Asked why she did not report the incident to the police if indeed she did not want to be a party to the man’s abduction, she said it was risky to do so. “If I had reported to the police, I would have been thrown into the police cell and it would have been difficult for me to secure my bail because the police would want to use me to arrest other members of the gang,” she said.

Asked how the chain on the legs of the victim were removed, she said: “I don’t know. What I did was to keep the door open for him. How he removed the chain is what I don’t know.”

The second suspect, Victor Sunday (34), a native of Etinang Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, said: “She (Eno) is my wife. We have been married for five years now. Although I am yet to pay her bride price, both of us agreed to be husband and wife. Every other thing is mere formality. The important thing is love.

“I had a workshop before I joined a company on Victoria Island, Lagos. I did automobile engineering. I joined the company in 2006. I left because I was trained as an installation agent but there was no money there. Hence, I joined another company also on Victoria Island.

“At a point, I became frustrated with my job because my company could not generate enough money to pay its staff. It was in that mood that one Idon Eseng aka ID, a taxi driver, met me and introduced me to kidnapping.

“ID told me that if I could bring a victim from the company where I was working, I would get big money to take care of myself and my wife. That was how we arranged the kidnap of one Mr. Adebayo, a director in the second company where I worked. I was the one who identified the director. The man’s relations later paid N13 million but my share was one million naira.

“I later bought two vehicles with the money. I bought one bus for commercial purposes and one SUV for pleasure ride. Then my enemies saw me and became jealous. They reported me to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Umar Manko, who immediately ordered the O/C SARS, Abba Kyari, to fish us out.

“I know my jealous friend who reported me, because when I came back, I found that when he asked me to give him N500 to drink beer, I told him that I had no money. He said he heard that we did one job that paid, but I insisted that I had no money. He then vowed to inform CP Umar Manko or O/C SARS SP Abba Kyari.

“I was arrested in March last year and taken to SARS office. I was later charged to court. The case that took me to court was that of the Federal SARS. I spent about eight months in Ikoyi Prisons. While I was in the prison, one of the inmates introduced me to a lawyer and I followed his instruction. He said he would assist me to come out.

When I came out, I started looking for job. I moved out from where I was living in Oshodi because I knew that if we were reported to SARS, their first port of call would be my house. I moved from 3, Oremeji Street, Oshodi to 42, Matokun Road, Lambe, Ogun State.

“There I called a friend in prison, named Emma, a native of Akwa Ibom State. I asked if he knew anybody who could get me a gun for a job we had in our hand. He linked me up with one Mr. Joseph who came with a locally made gun in company with two other men.

“So, we went to Okota in Lagos where we got the victim in his car. His car attracted us because it showed that the man was wealthy. We followed him to his house. As he wanted to go into his house, we approached him, showed him the gun and he melted. What we did next was to order him to enter our own vehicle, a Nissan Sunny car.

“Out of the four of us, three went in to ransack the house. We brought the man out of the house, seized his Samsung handset, N2,000 cash and his car. We later took him to my house on Matogun Road, Okearo, Ogun State.

“On our way, we gave him dark glasses to wear because we did not want anybody to identify him. It was at about 9 pm. We chained him in the leg and kept him inside. It was one of our members called Joseph who negotiated for ransom between the family and the gang. Joseph was on the phone contacting the family

“The victim stayed in my house for six hours. My wife was giving him food and water to bathe. The victim was able to escape because we were sleeping while watching. How he removed his chains and opened the door is still a mystery to us.

“All of us left the place immediately and relocated because of his escape. I called my wife and David. The house is a two-bedroom flat. I rented it for N65,000 per year in September.”

The third suspect, Eteh Mbong Udo (27), a native of Ikot Epene, Akwa Ibom State, said he was an okada (commercial motorcycle) rider around Ojodu Grammar School, Lagos.

He said: “I became a member of the gang last year. I was introduced to the gang by a fellow okada rider called ID. He bought a car and graduated to taxi driver, operating in the same area.

“He called me on the phone to meet him and take him somewhere. I did so three times. It was under the Berger Bridge that he asked me to wait for him. He later came with a polythene bag and I went and dropped him at Akiode Bus Stop, Ojodu. He gave me N50,000.

“Later this year, his wife called me and told me that we should plan about kidnapping to make big money. I became afraid and told her that I had not done such a thing before. She then asked me to be a man and that only cowards don’t take risks while only those who take risks make it in life.

“She then told me that the reason I was given N50,000 was for me to be part of the gang and work with them. I told her that I wanted to travel to my state. While I was in Calabar, he was calling me on the phone for two days, telling me that they had succeeded in the kidnapping job.

“A day later, she called again and said the victim had escaped. I had been with ID for seven years and I knew that he used to do robbery jobs, but I did not join him at that time.”

The fourth suspect, David Udom (27), a native of Anang, Akwa Ibom State, said: “I am an okada rider. I was arrested because they said I was among the gang. I was only taking Madam ( Victor’s wife) to the market to buy ingredients with which she prepared food for victims. I had not been paid a kobo before I was arrested.”

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, said the force would not rest until the suspects were all fished out.

November 17, 2012
Lam and I were like David and Jonathan –Ex-Oyo SSG Koleoso

Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleoso served as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) between 1999-2003 in the Lam Adesina’s administration. Koleoso, a former National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), relives his experience with Lam Adesina whom he referred to as a ‘bossom friend’ for over five decades when he spoke with OSEHEYE OKWUOFU in his Saki residence in Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

HOW did you receive the news of the passage of your friend, Alhaji Lam Adesina, who died in a Lagos hospital last Sunday? Somebody called on the phone informing me that Lam died. I felt devastated because I didn’t expect him to die, though death will eventually come one day but he was full of life when I paid him a visit a few days ago before I got the shocking news. You know, we were together in the hospital where I had gone to visit him and we had a lively discussion. We read the dailies together and expressed our feelings about what we read together. It was a rude shock and immediately, I had to pick my phones and start coming to Ibadan. How long did you know him as a friend? Ah, I had known Lam for a very very long time, for over five decades and we had been close since that time. We were like David and Jonathan, just to tell you how close we were. And we had remained in the same progressives all along because we shared the same political ideology, the same principles etc. What can you say about Lam as a person? Oh, very amiable, selfless, and considerate fellow who cherished the welfare of others. He would not want any discomfort for anybody. He was very intelligent, somebody who always sought the good of others. You served together with him in the AD government from 1999-2003 as Secretary to the State Government. Can you share your working experience with Lam? As I mentioned earlier on, he was my bosom friend even before we were in government. Lam and I enjoyed doing things together. We planned together. When it was time for meals, we ate together. This was so much pronounced that people outside started saying maybe the two belonged to a cult. It was strange to hear such talks, because we didn’t believe in cult. Lam was a devout muslim and I am a practising Christian. But they were saying things because they could not find what was going on between us. We had to ignore them since we did not belong to any cult. All we knew was that we were very close as friends and it was not out of place for people to read meanings into people’s life style and relationship. We did things together. During meal time, while we were in government, we ate together in the office. And people kept wondering that there must be something between us. But I can tell you there was nothing other than love, understanding and sharing of common goals, aspirations and ideas. We never disagreed and that was why we were able to flow on many issues. Working with him was a very pleasant experience anybody would pray to have. He was tolerant, considerate and above all always seeking the interest of others first. He was full of brilliant ideas, and a very cheerful person who you would enjoy every bit of your stay with him. We can say our friendship endured because we shared many things in common- honesty, virtues, probity, courage and love of God and humanity. When was the last time you saw him and what was your last discussion with him? I saw him last when I went to St. Nicholas Hospital to visit him in Lagos. And we had a very pleasant time a very useful discussion together. We talked about the state of the nation, our party in the state, especially how to strengthen and harmonised all interests. We talked about the activities of the government and he advised that we should work together for the progress of the party. Did he have a premonition of his death? No, because all our discussions ended on one note that when he returned to Ibadan, then a lot of things would be done. He had the mind of coming back and everybody was eager to have him back home. He was also eager to come home and I could read this from our discussion. That is why I said that his demise was sudden and unexpected. He died at a time all the people were eagerly waiting to receive him back home. So, it was a rude shock to me that he passed on at this time. Lam was a great man, a true friend and a lover of the people.

November 17, 2012