THE month of March is internationally acclaimed as one to celebrate and roll out the drums for women, but for Rachel Nasiru, mother of six-month old David, the word celebration may just be the last in her dictionary.
Her heart is in turmoil. And the reason is that her only son, David, has a hole in his heart and urgently needs surgical intervention.
It is on account of this that her heart sinks daily, as she watches her little boy gasp for breath on a daily basis.
You ask what could be wrong with the child and her responds is: “I don’t want my baby to die.”
She heaves a deep sigh and begins her sad story. “You can see the way he is breathing; it gives me great concern to see him like this.”
Little David was born with a hole in the heart and from the moment his condition was diagnosed, both his parents have been running helter-skelter to save his life. She continued: “Apart from the hole, the cardiologist attending to him at LUTH says he has other complications. Two of the valves, one carrying blood to the lungs and the other carrying oxygen and blood to the body are narrow and they need to be expanded.”
Rachel recalled how it all started: “He also has several holes in the heart, which needs to be blocked. It was detected from birth. Even before his birth, I went through Caesarian Surgery (CS) and the reason for the CS was because in one particular test I undertook, they found that the water inside me was short.”
The hospital had to quickly conduct emergency surgery on Rachel to bring out the baby. “It was from that labour ward that they transferred him to NNU (Neo Natal Unit), where he was taken care of. He was under oxygen for over two weeks to stabilise him because when I gave birth to him, he had fast breath and he was almost green, probably because he was short of oxygen. So, they quickly placed him on oxygen and also treated him for jaundice. We were there for about three months before they now referred us to the cardiologists department.”
There, the first x-ray was conducted and it was discovered that the boy had a hole in the heart and some other complications.
“I can’t totally analyse the report but it showed that he had all this complications that I have been talking about.”
She paused for a while to stabilise her emotions and then continued: “They said he has to undergo surgery for it to be corrected before he clocks one year, and that they cannot do it before he is six months. They actually gave us a referral to Babcock University, where they have a cardio section. They do it in several places but LUTH referred us to Babcock. They also said that if we have the resources, we can take him to India but that it is cheaper to take him to Babcock.”
To buttress her point, Rachel handed over a copy of her son’s medical report dated 4th January, 2019, which read: “The above named male child is a known patient of the pediatric cardiology unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba. Clinical evaluation indicated that David has symptomatic congenital heart disease, which was confirmed by echocardiography to be Pentalogy of Fallout. David will require further cardiovascular and possible open heart surgery to correct his heart defects in order to forestall irreversible and life-threatening complications.”
Rachel continued: “The money that is required is about three million naira. That is just for the surgeries alone, he also needs to run some test and do some examinations that is not part of it. Please, we need financial assistance to help my son. I plead with well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid. At the moment, I am not working.”
She added; “My husband works in the hospitality industry, that was where we met and we have two girls before David. I was working at Four Points Hotel but had to resign because of my baby’s condition. You know the way things are at LUTH, when you have to run this test and move from one place to another. It can be so frustrating. So, I had to resign,” she said, helplessly holding back the tears.
Life after quitting the job and caring for her baby has been really tough. “My son is on medication to help him with breathing and I believe that God would make a way for the funding his surgery.”
On his part, Oluwole Nasiru, father of boy is also hard hit by the trauma that his son is going through. He talked about some of the efforts he has made to save his dear son but all his efforts haven’t been successful.
“We have been everywhere searching for help, trying to save the life of my only son. When we couldn’t get help, someone advised me to come to the newspaper.
A civil servant, Micheal Ayinde, on Wednesday pleaded with an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to end his marriage because of his wife’s penchant for making babies.
Ayinde, 39, told court that his wife, whose name he gave as Glory, enjoyed “giving births at will’’.
According to him, Glory has made six children within the nine-year duration of their marriage.
Ayinde explained that before he married Glory, he had warned her that he needed only two kids, irrespective of their gender so that he could afford their upkeep.
He said that Glory reached an agreement with him on the matter, only for her to discard the agreement.
“My lord, my wife wants to kill me with children; she is bearing them like rats.
“My wife agreed to have two kids with me but after marriage, she started having children like rats, in nine years, she delivered six children.
“She was sacked from her work place just because she gets pregnant immediately after she resumed from a maternity leave.
“I have sold my cars and some of my property to cater for the children.
“After she had the fourth baby, I begged her to go for family planning, she refused.
“I had to force her to the hospital for a family planning device but she went secretly to deactivate it without my consent.
“Some months later, she went to her parent’s place and sent me text message that she was pregnant.
“She did not return home until after delivering and naming the baby in her parent’s place.
Ayinde said that on Dec. 24, 2016, Glory left home again for her parent’s place, where she called again that was pregnant and that she would be back after delivering.
“Last month, she called me that she had delivered and named the baby, David.
“Please sir, dissolve this marriage because if I continue to live with this woman, she will continue to have more children.
“I will be compelled to sell my remaining property, which is my house and then, become a beggar.”
Ayinde also accused his wife, who was not in court of starving him and their children of food.
“My wife starves us of food. I always buy food stuff at home but she will never cook.
“If she managed to cook once in two weeks, the food is always tasteless.
“I don’t eat her food anymore because I vomit anytime I eat her food.”
The father of six also alleged that his wife was not washing his clothes and those of their children.
He said that he had employed a dry cleaner to wash clothes for him and his kids.
The President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, however, ordered bailiffs to serve Glory another summon for the next adjournment of the matter.
He adjourned the case until May 16 for further hearing.
Despite explanations by the Nigerian Army, the controversy generated by its launch of Operation Python Dance in the South-east appears not abating. In its response to the flurry of criticisms trailing the decision to deploy the army to the zone between November 27 and December 27, the army said the aim was neither to kill secessionist agitators nor cause untold hardship to people of the region.
Army Deputy Director, public relations, 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa said the measure is to ensure crime-free yuletide and free flow of traffic within the region during the festivities. According to him, it is a command post and field training exercise to enhance troops’ preparedness across a spectrum of contemporary security challenges peculiar to the South-east.
“It is only a field training exercise that is designed to, where necessary, dovetail into real time activities such as anti-kidnapping drills, patrol, raids, cordon and search, checkpoints roadblock and show of force. The aim is to checkmate anticipated rising wave of crimes usually prevalent during the period”.
To further disabuse the minds of those who read other motives to the exercise, the army reeled out similar exercises it had conducted in other zones given their peculiar security challenges. These included operation Shirin Harbi to take care of insurgency, cattle rustling and other sundry crimes in the North-east, Harbin Kunama against banditry, insurgency, cattle rustling and other crimes in the North-west and Crocodile Smile in the Niger Delta against illegal bunkering, oil theft and piracy among others.
For them, operation Python Dance is targeted against armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping, herdsmen-farmers clash, communal clashes and violent secessionist attacks. As if these were not enough, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has taken a step further to reassure people of the zone that Exercise Python Dance was not an army of occupation but targeted at wiping out crime in the region.
But unknown to him, he raised issues germane to raging scepticisms on the deployment of soldiers to the zone during this season when he said two and a half years ago, the state government raised “operation Kpochapu which cleared the state of crime such that today, Anambra is the safest state in Nigeria and that the army have always assisted the Joint Task Force we set up and they have not disappointed us”, Obiano disclosed this as the Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai visited the headquarters of Operation Python Dance in Awka and reassured that soldiers will respect the freedom of the people while the exercise lasted.
Evident from the governor’s disclosure is that the fight against armed robbery and the sundry criminal tendencies on which basis the army is now deploying its men and officers to the South-east has been an ongoing thing. As a matter of fact, the army had always been part and parcel of the Joint Task Forces that have been combating crimes in the zone.
If this is so, what point is there in another campaign requiring the deployment of an armada of troops and ammunitions to duplicate checkpoints and ‘show force’ in the zone during this season? Before now, especially since agitations from the pro-Biafra groups seeking to break away from the Nigerian state gained momentum, the army has maintained checkpoints and roadblocks at some designated areas within the zone including the Asaba end of the Niger Bridge in Delta State.
Their handling of peaceful protests by those agitating for self-determination was the subject of a recent report by Amnesty International in which it accused the military of shooting peaceful pro-Biafra protesters and bystanders among other human rights violations. The army has since denied the accusations. But despite the denial, the fact remains that its handling of peaceful demonstrations by secessionist groups is the main source of the suspicion on the motive of Operation Python Dance.
Since that encounter, military checkpoints have permanently been stationed in strategic locations in parts of the South-east. During the same period last year, people travelling through the Niger Bridge saw hell as the checkpoints and roadblocks contributed heavily to the traffic gridlock that kept travellers at one spot for several hours. The situation is bound to worsen this time with the cordon and search, checkpoint roadblocks and show of force which operation python dance entails. So fears of the exercise creating serious incontinences for travellers during the festive period are well founded.
Though there is usually a general rise in crimes in the weeks preceding the Christmas and New Year celebrations, these are by no means peculiar or limited to the South-east. Armed robbery, kidnapping, communal clashes and herdsmen-farmers’ clashes constitute serious security challenges to other zones. The only security issue that seemingly stands out the zone for this operation is what the army has termed “violent secessionist attacks”.
Even then, we do know as a matter of fact that the pro-Biafra groups are not violent and they have stated this for the umpteenth time. They neither carry arms nor have they engaged the military in any armed confrontation- the kind typified by the insurgency in the North-east and North-west that gave rise to operation Shirin Harbi and HarbinKunama respectively. We have not seen them in the kind of mindless killings that have become the hallmark of the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the North-central. Neither have they taken up arms as was the case in the militancy in the Niger Delta.
So the operations cited to justify the dancing of the python in the South-east at a time the people are usually in their best of mood do not add up. And if one may ask, why should the python dance in the zone at a time of mass return if it has no intention of preying on the returnees? If anything, the timing of such a scarring engagement is bound to send fears into the spine of all those who plan to return to their ancestral homes from far and wide.
So those who smell a rat over the exercise have ample grounds for it. Mounting military checkpoints and roadblocks here and there, cordoning and searching indiscriminately during the period will add to the suffering people usually encounter at the period. Moreover, the crimes for which the exercise is being justified are usually at their lowest ebb once the festivities have commenced.
For some reason, criminals also take days off to enjoy their loot at their homes during the season. That is why crimes are usually in the upsurge during the weeks preceding the festivities and drop once celebrations have commenced. So the usual joint taskforces should be able to handle whatever security challenges that may crop up during the season without the show of force denoted by operation python dance.
The python will only dance at the sight of its prey or after feeding fat on it. The prey of the marauding python should not be the innocent and harmless people who have no issues with security agencies.
IPOB/MASSOB has declared operation David Dance advising its members to keep away from the battle-ready soldiers during the season so that harm may not come their way. Not surprisingly, operation David Dance does not denote confrontation with the soldiers but a prayer for divine intervention over the siege in keeping with their non-violent posturing. Their fear of being the target of the exercise may not be unconnected with the fact that among the security challenges for which the operation has been rationalized, only secession is peculiar to the zone.
In sum, the problem of marketing operation python dance in the zone is the making of the military leadership for two reasons. The first is with the choice of code name. The other hinges on timing. When next they come, their code name must reflect the challenges on the ground. But for the assurances of not interfering with peoples’ freedom as the operation lasts, time will tell.
•Octogenarian battles Delta govt over family land •We need it for public interest, says commissioner
The inauguration of Effurun flyover was widely celebrated, not only by the people of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, but by other residents of the state and users of the federal highways passing through the community.
Owners of nearby property and businesses were optimistic that the development would open up fresh vistas of businesses, increase the value of their property and bring increase patronage and prosperity. Property owners are already seeing jumps in the value of property and investments in the area.
•ijeki land with ongoing construction of Shoprite in the background
But for Madam Modupe Edemirubra Ijeki and her family, the ceremony morning is bringing closer the fear of losing their multimillion naira heirloom. They watched the pomp and fanfare that marked the inauguration ceremony with feeling trepidation and uncertainty over their future because of an alleged threat by the state government to demolish the property, which already bore the dreaded ‘X’ mark of the state Ministry of Land and Urban Development.
The property is a rough diamond; outwardly it seems like a collection of shanties, dilapidated bungalows and makeshift structure. But they sit atop one of the most valued part of the business capital of Delta State. The dualisations of the vital Effurun-Warri Road and recent facelift for the busy Refinery Road and ongoing construction of an international shopping mall, among other developments have increased value of land and office spaces in the area. But there is no joy for the Ijekis
The octogenarian Madam Ijeki, a widow, said prior to the ceremony the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had personally visited her compound and ordered her, her children and grandchildren to seek alternative accommodation because the row of bungalows on the property have been marked as illegal structure, which would be demolished.
“How can the home that I have lived in even before the governor was born now become an illegal structure simply because they want to forcefully take over the land and use it for their personal business?
“I have lived here since I was born; it is the only home that I know, except for when I was in my husband’s house. I have brothers and sisters and relations who were all born here. Our forefathers were born, lived and died and buried here and now we must leave!”
The told Niger Delta Report that a section of the property is also home to the Egbegbeje shrine and about nine graves where at least four generations of her ancestors were buried.
Our reporter’s visit to the site last Friday revealed that expansive compound and surrounding land is bordered by a similar property owned by the Aziza family at the edge of the Refinery Road on the East; Effurun-Sapele Road (Agric Junction) on the north and under-construction Shoprite (Delta Mall) on the South and West.
A valuation carried out by the renowned estate surveryors and valuers, Chris Oghene Omoru & Co, put the size of the property at 1,878.375square meters with approximately 31percent of it fully developed. “The remaining 69 percent of the site is used for landscaping, vehicular and pedestrian as well as aerial circulation for effective natural ventilation of the premises.” A copy of the report was given to our reporter.
A site layout plan contained in the valuation report indicated that the property contained five bungalows, seven auxiliary structures, a building foundation and several kinds of fruit trees and plants. The bungalows have a total of about 15 bedrooms and several living rooms as well as stores, warehouse and offices among others.
Independent investigation carried out by NDR revealed that the Delta State Government is acquiring the property and other adjoining land through the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development for “overriding public interest”.
The State Commissioner for Transport, Hon Ben Igbakpa told our reporter that the area is earmarked as the site of the Effurun Terminus of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) initiative of the state government, which has evolved severally since it was started about two years ago.
Igbakpa, who spoke in a telephone interview, clarified that the BRT, which is at an advanced stage on the Phase 1, starting from the flyover bridge to Enerhen Junction, was delayed because it had to be expanded to take three traffic at each sides of the road. As a result, he disclosed that the size of land needed increased from seven metres on either side to nine metres.
“The initial plan for the BRT was seven metres, but it had to be increased to nine meters in order to take three traffics at the left and right at the corridors of the BRT lanes.
“The present administration is still determined to carry on with the project and it will be complete to the first phase, which terminates at Enerhen Junction. We hope that the new administration, which is also PDP, will continue with the original plan (second phase), which is to end at Ugbuwangue Market in Warri,” the commissioner added.
However, a male member of the Ijeki family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed reservation about the true reason behind government’s acquisition of their land and those of other families around the Effurun flyover bridge. He said the family suspected that the state government was hiding under the guise of ‘overriding public interest’ to hijack family land for private concerns.
“We all know that our land is close to the Shoprite that they are building; the construction is going at the same speed as most of government projects in the area because they want it completed before May 29 so that the governor can add it to the list of his achievements. The question is: ‘Why is the government so interested in the success of this private concern?’
“Shoprite is not even a Nigerian business concern; it is owned by South African firm and we are hearing that some government officials have stakesin it. So, could it be that Governor Uduaghan and his official are harassing us because they want to hijack our land for Shoprite?”
However, the Commissioner for Transport insisted in the chat with our reporter that the acquisition was for the BRT terminal. He said the Uduaghan administration’s vision was motivated by the desire to improve the economic wellbeing of the state and its citizens through development of infrastructure critical to diversifying the economy.
He assured that, contrary to fears of landowners in the area, no property would be acquired without payment of compensation. In fact, he said the issue of compensation payment had reached advanced stage, stressing that he was personally involved in the process to ensure it was speedily and fairly done.
“The matter is now in the Executive Council and we expect to have approval within the shortest possible time. It will be done transparently and will be fair to all concerned,” Igbakpa assured.
Despite the assurance, there are concerns that several loose ends abounds. For instance, Mrs Clementine Erute, one of the descendants of Ijeki, who owns a bar in the compound, faulted the processes adopted by the government for the acquisition. She insisted that the government acted without the interests of its citizens.
She slammed the governor for allegedly referring to buildings within the property as illegal structure saying, “It is wrong to say that a place where our 80-year-old matriarch was born and where hundreds of other children have been born and raised for more than a century is illegal place. Nobody would like to hear. How would he feel if we call the place of his birth illegal?”
Similarly, our findings revealed a wide gulf between the families’ expected compensation and what the government would actually pay. For instance, the private firm commissioned by the Ijeki family for the valuation estimated the property at N165,327,195. Although NDR could not ascertain the figure approved for the property, reliable government sources said it was less.
Our findings further revealed that in the highly unlikely situation where the compensation is amicably and swiftly resolved, the issue of time needed for relocation might be a snag. Mrs Erute told our reporter that they were reliably informed that the government would allow them a mere three days for relocation as soon as they are compensated.
She accused the governor of taking advantage of her family’s poor standing to maltreat them. “It is because he sees us as poor people that is why he is able to act with this level of impunity; if there was a mansion standing here he would not give us three-day notice to move out. How can you expect an aged woman with grandchildren living with her to get a place in three days and move out?”
Also, Madam Ijeki insisted that the graves of at least nine famous patriarchs and matriarchs of the family as well as the shrine must be relocated after due appeasement sacrifices. The cost of performing the appeasement and actual relocation are put at over N25m.
Information gathered from experts and Uvwie elders revealed that the ceremonies, relocation of graves and appeasement of deity to enable the shrine allocation are processes that required up to several weeks and even months to be effectively done.
On the other hand, the octogenarian had vowed that unless the rites are performed, she would not budge in her demands. “Except they do all these, I would be waiting for them to come and crush me with the bulldozers. I have lived for over 80 years and I will not stand by and allow anybody steal my family land. Even if it is the governor that comes here, I will be waiting and am ready to die in his arm,” she vowed.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken a parting shot at David Luiz, insisting the Premier League club will not miss the Brazil defender.
David Luiz left Chelsea to join Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal for a fee reported to be in the region of £50million.
That move ended the 27-year-old’s three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, and it is a piece of business from PSG that has come under increasing scrutiny following the centre-back’s performances at the World Cup.
Indeed, David Luiz was heavily criticised in the wake of the host nation’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, and the 3-0 third-place play-off loss to Netherlands that followed.
And Mourinho has now given his assessment of the former Benfica man, stating that Chelsea do not need the services of David Luiz – who can also play in midfield – to be successful in 2014-15.
“Last season he was not regular first choice for us. As a central defender not at all, it was John Terry and Gary Cahill the whole season,” Mourinho said.
“In midfield, he was a physical guy and gave us important things, especially in the Champions League when [the cup-tied Nemanja] Matic couldn’t play. But this season Matic can play in the Champions League so we don’t lose that physicality.
“The fact we have Cesc Fabregas moves us in a different direction. It’s something that our football needs, and we want to go in that direction.
“David did important things here, was always a good professional and we will miss him as a good guy. But from a football point of view, we believe our squad is stronger this season than it was.”
Coping with work and family can be stressful. It takes proper planning, having a focus and an understanding spouse to survive, writes Yetunde Oladeinde.
WANTED husband! Is there a criterion required? Yes, he must have the Wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the courage of David. That’s the advertisement most women would run if they wanted to find the ideal husband. After having the experience for about a year or two, it also helps if the man has Jonah’s ability to come up smiling no matter what.
There is certainly no business like home business. Washing, cooking, pounding, cleaning, trading, fetching water, supporting the husband, taking care of the children and office are some of the departments every wife takes care of on a daily basis.
Housework, for many, is serious business. It actually takes the woman round the clock. That probably explains why some feminists argue that they should be paid. If you do not believe this, then let’s take a trip to a typical day in a woman’s life.
Kunmbi stretches on her bed. She is still feeling sleeping but has just been woken by the alarm clock placed directly above her head. Time is about 6 am. For the mother of five, this is when a typical day begins except on Sundays when she has the luxury of an extra hour.
Tired but determined, the forty-two-year-old woman gets up slowly from the bed so as not to awaken her husband, Gbolahan, who is still snoring. “Most times I guess he did not hear the alarm ring or he probably did not hear the alarm go off. Even if he did, it was none of his business as it was not yet time for him to wake up,” she says.
As a dedicated wife, alive to her duties, she has to prepare the breakfast for her family before going to work. “There are days when I turn the water faucet and I would discover that there is no water. At such moments I would have to rush downstairs to fetch some buckets for the kitchen and the bathroom.”
Apart from handling daily chores, it is also important for women to monitor the growth and development of their children, especially the girl child. “It is sad that a number of mothers abandon this duty to nannies and house helps. The result is that the children are exposed to wrong hands who exploit such lapses,” says Maltida Ibekwe, a social worker.
Ibekwe adds: “Some of us are lucky because we are married to men who are caring and understanding. This makes it easy but if you are unlucky to live with a difficult spouse, it would be difficult to make both work together simultaneously. In this kind of situation, the woman would have to choose one and she would not be happy in the process.”
She goes on to talk about some of the things young people are exposed to at puberty and the need for mothers to be watchful at this stage.
“It is a stage when the young ones want to be adventurous. It is therefore normal to feel curious, anxious and ashamed especially if you are the only girl in the house. I also have a case of someone who was happy because she was going to wear a bra. Others are ashamed and they wear double vest to cover the bump. Some of the changes include menstruation, pubic hair, pimples, growing by the hips, nipples and other internal organs. Mood swings also occur and the sex hormones are responsible for sexually maturity.”
On her part, Folashade Ajayi talks about the different ways in which the predator can abuse the girl-child. “Here, the young ones need information to guide them from irresponsible people who would want to take advantage of them. The important thing is that every child has a right to know about sex education. The body is divided into two parts (private and public).”
Ajayi adds that “Everyone can have access to the public part but the private parts, as the word implies, are those extrinsic parts and they should not be touched. It is important to raise an alarm or say you just brushed me now. Is it a mistake? Most times, it isn’t. Sexual abuse comes in different ways.”
She goes on to use a personal example to buttress her point. “Imagine a designer wants to take your measurement with the tape rule and it comes across the nipple. Another example is that sometimes, the person can come and show you sexual scenes from a magazine. I had a similar experience when I was in school. For about a week the guy kept telling us about a special book that he was going to bring. He finally brought it on a Friday and he gathered only the girls, five of us. When he opened it, we saw naked bodies and we were all screaming and ran away. Much later he came back and I threatened to report him. Before I knew it, he was already sleeping with those girls.”
In spite of the many odds, women are happy each time to reflect on the memorable moments no matter how small or insignificant it is. “I would say that the happy moments count for a lot of women and that is why they prefer to work hard and dwell on this. A woman is also eager to deprive herself of so many things just to change the life of the family positively,” says 52-year-old Ndidi Maxwell who has been married for about thirty years.
To have a wonderful experience at the home front, communication is also very vital. “When I got married about eight years ago, the first few months were a nightmare. We fought almost every day and I had a number of scars that made me think of opting out. Unlike the days when we were courting, things were different and we were parallel lines. After a while I realised that what was missing was communication and once we made use of this everything changed positively,” Maxwell reminisces.
Another tragedy struck Friday evening in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, as a disgruntled houseboy identified as David, butchered a Senior Magistrate (Mrs) Olufunmilayo Timehin(retired).
A policeman on Thursday killed himself, wife and and five others in Abeokuta.
David was a former house help of Magistrate Timehin but was sacked two months ago following allegation that he stole the woman’s phones and gold chains.It was gathered that while trying to sell the phones at Oke – Ilewo area of the state capital, David was arrested by the police but following the intervention of the woman, he was released.But on Friday evening, the boy reportedly stole into the Ladiren Estate home of the Magistrate, scaled the high rise perimeter fence and hid himself at vantage point waiting for when she would come out of the house.
However, her son who was returning from outside happened to knock at the entrance gate, ostensibly to enable the mother open the door but woman only walked into David, who attacked her with machete.
Before help could come, David had killed her and was about escaping when operatives the Ogun State Vigilante Service apprehended David and handed him over to the police.
SADIQ TAIWO, the country’s number one male squash player, says he is ready to maintain his dominance of the game at the 2nd Sen. David Mark National Open Squash Championships.
Taiwo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos on his expectations of the competition. The championship got underwa on April 21 to end April 25 in Abuja.
“I’m ready for the championship, as the country’s number one male player, I need to ensure that I remain on top; I know most players will come prepared too, but I’m confident. The competition is just what we need right now, after our return from the Africa Senior Squash Championships in Windhoek, Namibia.
“We hope that more tournaments like this are organised to help the players. So far, the preparation by the organisers, the Nigeria Squash Federation is good; we are ready for a showdown. We will also entertain our spectators with quality squash that will be worth their while,’’ he told NAN on telephone.
NAN reports that Wale Amoo of Lagos State won the men’s category at the maiden edition in 2012, while Dunni Okikiola also of Lagos State won the women’s category.
Lanre Opakunle, Plant Manager of Lafarge WAPCO’s Lakatabu Ewekoro plant in Ogun State gave rather insightful contribution on the raging controversy as to the cause(s) of the so-called-cement glut over which Dangote Cement had drawn the shutters on its Gboko Cement plant. (See The Nation December 31, page 6). It could not have been better timed given the raging low intensity corporate warfare between Dangote Cement and Ibeto Cement, the fringe player now accused of flooding the local cement with imported cement.
No doubt, the Lafarge chieftain helped put, in perspective, the problems plaguing indigenous industrialists. Unfortunately also, he left a gaping window on what I consider a troubling aspect of the corporate behaviour of our indigenous venture capitalists. I shall return to that later.
Let me attempt a summary of the views of the Lafarge chieftain on the rage over the so-called glut in the cement said to be a grave threat to the multibillion-dollar investment in the industry.
First, he confirmed the glut, which he attributed to the increase in local production of cement and the continued importation of subsidised cement. Secondly, he acknowledged – and I consider this important – the problem of low sales and high inventory – the logical consequence of weak and ineffective demand. While admitting the cyclic nature of demand for cement, he could not understand why sales have not lifted since the onset of the so-called peak season.
His words are particularly instructive: “the market was dull during the rainy season. The current period is supposed to be the peak of production and demand. But the reverse is the case as there is no demand. It means something is wrong. About 220,000 tonnes of clinker are on ground, not being used…Most of our workers are roaming. Ninety percent of our trailers are idle. We are operating at less than 50 percent capacity. The cost of production is high. Our plants are experiencing challenges…Once the place is filled up, we have no choice but to shut down”.
Unfortunately, he would in the same vein lapse into the same deliberate misdiagnosis of the problem – the issue of the so-called glut arising from the influx of cheap, substandard foreign cement. He would bemoan the fact that cement importation has continued despite the glut in the local market, a situation he says, “calls into question, the backward integration policy of the federal government”.
Some of course would argue that it comes to no issue that two foremost players in the industry – Dangote Cement and Lafarge WAPCO – have found a common enemy in Ibeto on which to hang all of the problems facing the industry. I started this by referring to what I consider a troubling aspect of the corporate behaviour of our indigenous venture capitalists. The point I seek to make is that the near paranoid anti-competition instincts of the typical local venture capitalist has never been given the attention it truly deserves. Given their grave implications for our trade and market practices, I think the time to beam attention to these practices has come.
Lest I be mistaken, I have not sought to understate the problems of the industry or even industries generally. The problems are real as to be indisputable. And as I have always argued on this page, the local industry needs all the muscle that a federal government can give by way of tariff walls, duty waivers, and other forms of direct incentives to make them truly competitive. But then, the question that most Nigerians have not bothered to ask is where will the Dangotes of this world, the Lafarges and other thriving multinationals without the hefty support in the first place? And should they be allowed to deny others the use of the same ladder with which they rose to their pre-eminent positions?
The point therefore is that the so-called survival quest of the local venture capitalist must be balanced by considerations of consumer interest. Year in, year out, we read of billions of naira declared as profits to shareholders – nothing wrong as that is what keeps business going. Of course, we do know that the other leg of what keep businesses going is the ability of the consumer to make a purchase. At this time, no one seems to bother. And the future: to get as many players as possible on board and hence unlock the vice-like grip of the current players on the industry.
How many Nigerians can afford to buy a 50kg bag of cement at the ruling price of nearly N2000? Given the reality of declining disposable incomes, the answer would seem obvious: fewer and fewer Nigerians. Where is the housing industry in which the industry is expected to make its bumper sales? Or even the construction industry?
But more pertinent is whether the price actually represents the best price in the circumstances? To start with, it is doubtful that many Nigerians would agree; even more doubtful is that government will agree going by its tepid attempt in the past to get the producers to bring down the price. The problems of the industry are certainly not new; the problems affect the cement manufacturers as indeed other players in the economy. The yarn about the influx of foreign cement is obviously designed to court the sympathy of Nigerians. Of course, with the prospects of another factory closing shop at a time of high unemployment, government’s back would expectedly be on the wall.
However, the larger issues remain. Clearly, the suspicion has lingered that the pricing regime is sustained by the current structure of the industry – which permits the existence of a few dominant players, a situation which effectively renders the consumer a price taker. The emerging oligopoly should ordinarily be troubling in an industry where the consumer should ordinarily be king. But more troubling is the failure of the government to anticipate the possibility of collusion and other anti-competition practices in the absence of anti-trust legislations.
Above all, we must shudder at the one-sided equity in which few manufacturers would enjoy some incentives while denying others the same; clearly, the Santa Claus image of government as one that dispenses favour to operators by the rule of the thumb, or one that is aligned to special interests, must be deplored.
I need to make the additional point that the so-called war is not about the cement consumer. It is about access to the Nigerian gravy – the winner-takes-all industry where only the fittest survive. The consumer is only a hapless bystander in a game they are programmed to lose. So we watch. And enjoy.
David was deeply spiritual man who became a fool for the Lord to advance to a height only attainable by few even among the heroes of faith.
It’s obvious that David’s understanding of the power of a heartfelt praise activated his spirit to choose to act that way. That he was a fool on purpose. That he made a decision to do what he did.
Why did David act as a fool? What does his behavior mean? And, what can we say about the disdain or disgust of his wife?
During the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the wilderness the ark guided the pilgrims. Israel did not go anywhere or do anything without the ark leading the way. The ark even led Israel in battle. One time Israel went into battle without the ark; she attacked the Amalekites and Canaanites even though the ark stayed in the camp. The result was defeat in battle (Num 14:39-45).
When we look through the prophets and the psalms, we see there that the ark was regarded as the throne of God, or his footstool (Jeremiah 3:16-17; Ps. 132:7-8). The ark, then, led the people. It was regarded as the throne of God here on earth. What it comes down to is this: the ark was the symbol of God’s presence. It was the symbol of the presence of the holy God, the awesome God, the mighty God, the creating and covenanting God. As such, the ark was clearly the most important object within the tabernacle and, later, within the temple.
David celebrated the recovery and the return of the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Ark, which in Moses time, is the dwelling place of God in the midst of His people had stayed many years in captivity had to be brought with a joyful heart and this David did without restraint. In the text above, singing and dancing is emphasized three times as the Ark of the Lord was brought to the tent David had erected on Mount Zion. Michal appeared to be really angry for David’s perceived ‘carelessness’ in the place of dancing to his God. But the context around David at the time would give a deeper understanding of what was really gone wrong with Michal. David’s ‘mad’ dance and celebration took place at the time God had turned his face against King Saul, blessed David and promised him a Kingdom and a Covenant that would last forever. Michal would therefore despise her husband David, because he was about to take her father’s throne, and she knew it.
Your advancement is not the joy of many. Unfortunately, those close to you and who you would consider very close as to celebrate your victory and advancement is the same people who are wickedly despising you. I pray for you that as many who are angry about your joy and advancement will forfeit the grace to be fruitful in Jesus name. May the land of all your unrepentant enemies be barren and desolate in Jesus name. When your deepest allegiance is unto God, He pleads your cause before your adversary.
One of the greatest graces you can enjoy is the grace to be joyful in His presence; the assurance that He is with you at all times. And this is a guaranty that even when you pass through the fire, He’s there with you. David once said: “even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.” Evil stays away from the path of those whose treasure is God and when this happens; your life composes a dance unto God your Creator. I pray for you that your life will from today be an offering of praise unto God.
When God calls us to be His covenant partners we are wise to remove all impediments that may stand between God and us. Rather than elevating ourselves before God, we are called to humility and awe before the God who has saved us. God is King! And He deserves our humblest devotion and praise expressible in heartfelt dance. Even though our culture really tutored us to be very expressive in worship, many of us suddenly grow pious in worship as an expression of humility and meekness. But our sudden ‘meekness’, ‘humility’ and ‘educated’ minds has retrained us on skillful dancing steps. This is not the type that we are talking about here. It’s the dance from heart that draws from the inspiration that “The Ark of God’s Covenant” is with us, so to speak…and God is still at work in our lives. This is fruitful to advance us, elevate us and guaranty us a place in God’s heart.
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