Bed-Bound 50-Stone Elephantiasis Woman Walks Again After Having Legs Drained

Five
years
since
she
took
to
her
bed,
42-
year-
old
Sophia
Loot
from
South
Africa is walking again, after a leg operation
gave her back her freedom.
When Sophia's weight ballooned from a
size 14 and 14 stone to almost 50 stone
after being bitten by a mosquito in 2006,
the foster mother of two was too ashamed
of her weight to go to the hospital for a
diagnosis -- thinking it was down to
overeating.
However, after half a decade spent pinned
to her bed by enormous legs weighing
almost 10 stone each, she has finally taken
action.
A radical diet and surgery, combined with a
surgical procedure that drained her legs,
and stripped them of excess flesh, has
allowed her to take her first steps for years.
Sophia was also diagnosed with a genetic
form of lymphedema, which caused her
skin to thicken and swelled further.
Lymphedema, aka elephantiasis, can be
brought on by emotional distress and
Sophia had previously lost her father and
had a stillborn child.
According to the World Health
Organisation, more than 1.3 billion people
in 72 countries worldwide are threatened
by lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as
elephantiasis.
Of the 120 million people currently
infected, 40 million are disfigured and
incapacitated by the disease, which causes
the abnormal enlargement of body parts.
Sophia, from Cape Town, grew so heavy
she was unable to perform simple tasks
such as washing or going to the toilet
unaided.
And as Sophia turned to food for comfort,
her weight continued to grow.
Eventually she fell into a spiral of
depression due to the emotional impact of
her condition.
However, following a public appeal to save
her life Sophia was put on a radical diet
plan and lost enough weight to be eligible
for surgery.
She said: "I honestly thought I was going to
die in my bed. It was terrible. My kids had
to come home from school to help me go
to the toilet.
"My husband worked away a lot and I
spent my time alone in bed knitting or
listening to the radio or in tears."
Sophia's eating got so out of control
she was eating thousands of calories
per day and do no exercise.
In a single day she would eat a loaf
and a half of bread with a block of
cheese, 10 cups of coffee with five
sugars and cream, two litres of cola
and three family bags of crisps.
She said: "Food was my only comfort
in the end.
"In the space of five years I lost
everything, I could barely call myself a
mum.
"My legs felt like they were on fire all the
time. I was in agony - it was torture."
Sophia and her husband Manie, 66,
fostered Marita, 17, and Nolene, 13, ten
years ago, but the girls ended up caring for
Sophia.
At one point it took five people to lift
Sophia's legs to be able to wash her.
But after having surgery to drain her legs
and remove the excess skin, Sophia is now
down to 20 stone.
She said: "What I've been through is
nothing short of a miracle.
"I was introduced to a dietician called
Christo Strydam who created a diet
especially for people like me. In the first
month on my diet I lost a stone and a half.
"Taking my first steps in five years was very
emotional."

TOMORROW IS MONDAY

Do you see monday as a problem as this young man

I’d have become Head of State if I wanted –Domkat Bali

General Domkat Bali
(rtd) , one-time most
senior military officer
and prominent player
in Ibrahim Babangida’s
military presidency but
now the Ponzhi Tarok,
says he never became
head of state because he rejected the
position. Excerpts:
After serving in the military for three
decades, how well will you say you have
adjusted to your new life?
I am yet to adjust to it. I have always
been a very free person in the sense of
going where I want to go to and doing
what I want to do and no restriction
whatsoever. In this traditional setting,
there are too many restrictions, too
many don’ts and dos and the don’ts
are more than the dos.
What is the major difference
between serving in the army and now
being restricted to your palace and
the community?
The major difference is the restriction.
In the army, nobody restricted me. I
would go to the office in my uniform
and do my normal work. When I return
home I change from my uniform and
live my life like anyone else. I am no
longer that free.
Why did you accept the call to
traditional leadership, especially
because it meant restricting you
from life the way you loved it?
I would have been castigated by my
people if I had declined the call. In
Langtang, chieftaincy issues run within
families. In our case there are five royal
families. It goes from one to another. It
got to my family in my time and when
they sent for me, I told them that I was
an ambitious soldier, I still wanted to
be a general. I told them to leave me
out of chieftaincy issues… I thought I
had gone away from it, not knowing
that they would come again. They said
our tenure was still there. Again, it fell
on me to come and become the Ponzhi
Tarok. Having dragged my feet in the
past, I didn’t want to do anything like
that again, so I accepted the offer.
Could you speak specifically of the
restrictions you said make your stool
different from your military office?
In the army, especially when you reach
the rank of a general, nobody restricts
you anymore. So, the restriction in the
army is not as much as the restriction
of a Ponzhi who is the head of a whole
tribe. Everybody frowns at you if you
are found on the street not behaving
the way a Ponzhi is expected to behave;
whereas I am a very carefree man. I like
to be myself. So there are many don’ts
and dos in the process of being the
Ponzhi.
What is the secret in people of
Langtang being so many and so
prominent in the military?
It’s the Tarok mindset. The Tarok
people want to do something manly.
They believe the army is for those who
are brave and strong and are ready to
go to war and so on. So, it is very
appealing to the mentality of a Tarok
man.
What about this view that so many
Tarok people got into the army and
did so well because Tarok people
who attained big offices early made
sure they helped their kith and kin
into the army?
Right from the word go, before the
Second World War, the Tarok joined the
army. My uncle died in Burma. My
father was born a twin. My father was
Bali and his twin brother was Tali. Tali
went to Second World War. We lost him
to the war and my father survived as a
single twin brother. Maybe because of
that my father became very close to
Jeremiah Useni’s father. My father’s
close relationship with Useni’s father, I
believe, cushioned for my father the
effect of the loss of his twin brother.
They remained very close friends up till
death. They died about the same time,
and it was Jeremiah Useni who buried
both of them.
Is any of your family in the army
now? Is any of your kids in the army?
I have only one son, and he doesn’t
appear to be keen on a military career.
He is in Canada and has not shown any
interest and I will not do anything to
force him to join the army. My prayer is
that he will come back and work in
Nigeria, not to remain in Canada. He
was trained in Canada and he has
tendency to want to stay there. He is in
the country (Nigeria) right now and was
here (Langtang) a few days ago and I
think he went to Abuja. Certainly, he
has shown no interest in becoming a
military man.
He took to a different profession?
He did electronics engineering. That’s
what he studied in the university. There
in Canada I think he does contracts,
jobs to do with electronics. They invite
him, they discuss ideas, negotiate price
and he does the work. He seems to like
it that way.
Looking back at your military career,
you rose to the highest position, you
were the most senior officer in the
Nigerian Army, yet you were not the
highest ranking because there was
military president and chief of
general staff (vice president). How
did that work out?
I was far senior to Babangida. Both
Babangida and Vatsa, I was senior to
them. I am an old man. Who did Vatsa
topple?
He was accused of an attempt to topple
IBB.
At that time, of the officers, I was the
most senior. So, if there was going to
be military head of government, it
ought to have been me, but I said I was
not keen. I was not interested in using
the gun to become president. It was not
attractive to me.
Does that say that you are a
democrat at heart?
Oh yes. Even during the civil war, I was
still a democrat.
Yet, you served under the military
presidency?
That is what the military is all about.
How do you reconcile the
contradiction of being a democrat in
the military?
I wasn’t meant to be a soldier from the
word go. I never wanted the army as a
career. It was Ahmadu Bello who made
sure I got into the army. I tell people
that the North died with Ahmadu Bello
and I mean every word of it. Ahmadu
Bello was truly a good Nigerian. He was
not biased. Ahmadu Bello came to Kuru
(near Jos), I think, in 1958. I was then
in Form Five. Ahmadu Bello went round
the North preaching to us to join the
military. He felt there were no sufficient
northerners in the services. He was not
looking for Fulani men to empower. He
was genuinely interested in seeing that
the North was not at a disadvantage
among the other regions of the country.
He came and got me, for instance, to
join the army. He did so not because he
despised me. As far as he was
concerned, northerners who were
qualified should join the services. When
he finished talking to us, he said who
among us were interested? .... He took
our names to Kaduna for us to sit for
the army examination.
So, he was instrumental to you
joining the army?
Absolutely! If he had not preached the
idea of joining the military to us I would
not have been interested.
You were not keen on being a
soldier: how did you go ahead to
make a success of it?
I prefer success to failure. I would have
hated to go to the NDA and make a
failure of it. In the NDA I had to do
everything to pass and come out well, if
nothing else but for the personal pride
of being successful.
If we may take you back to the IBB
era, in 1990 you were moved from
minister of defence to minister of
interior and you resigned. What
actually happened?
I think if it was that, I disagreed very
strongly because of the switch in
position, Babangida would have listened
to me. Maybe I resigned because I felt I
had overstayed my welcome, if you like.
Since my juniors had come and gone,
why should I be tagging around?
What is your relationship still like
with Babangida? Do you contact each
other?
I don’t; I am a very reserved person. I
keep to myself very much. Otherwise,
Babangida is generally a nice person.
Does he call you? Let’s say on
Christmas Day; does he call to say
‘Your Highness, Happy Christmas,
Happy Easter’?
He has done that once or twice, not
very often.
Did you foresee from the situation at
that time that IBB would handover
and Abacha would become head of
state?
I could have become head of state but I
let it pass. I wasn’t keen anyway, but I
could have been the head of state.
You mean if you had remained in the
army or if you had been the defence
secretary as Abacha was, IBB might
have handed over to you or you
would have taken over?
The military have their way of doing
things. If they staged a coup, the
leadership would emerge within the
military naturally.
It means if you had remained, it
would have been automatically you?
Do you regret leaving the army then;
because you would have been head
of state?
No, I don’t regret leaving when I did. If
I had wanted to be head of state I
would have become one. Merely saying
that I was interested would have been
it.
You did not wish to shoot into power?
Yes.
That time, Admiral Aikhomu, now
late; what was your relationship with
him?
Aikhomu was in the Navy. Coups were
usually a soldier’s affair. Aikhomu was
the closest to me in terms of seniority,
but we were in different services.
You played significant roles in the
reform of the Nigerian Army. How do
you view the army at that time
compared to what it is today?
Nothing seems to be the same in
Nigeria any more. Corruption has done
much damage to the nation. People
manipulate things one way or the other
in all sectors, including the military. In
my time, if you tried such rubbish, they
would kick you out.
With the benefit of hindsight, what
do you think of the 1976 episode
when General Iliya Bisalla and many
Middle Belt officers were executed
for the abortive coup, especially
because that episode affected top
military officers from Plateau State?
If Bisalla wanted to be head of state, he
should have taken decisive steps. It was
virtually like he was scared of becoming
head of state. He wavered too much.
Take my case; I didn’t want to be there;
finish. But he kept quiet. Dimka had
virtually made him head of state, only
for him to dash it away.
In efforts towards lasting peace in
Plateau State, how often do you
traditional rulers meet with the
governor to discuss peace and unity?
Jonah Jang became a know-it-all sort of
chap; and I am an arrogant man, if you
like, in the sense that I don’t go to
people begging for favours. Anyhow,
Gyang Buba (Gbong Gwom Jos) handles
chieftaincy issues. He is our chairman
(Plateau State Council of Chiefs). When
I became the Ponzhi Tarok, he came to
me and said, ‘I have been the chairman
of the traditional council but now that
you are here, you were by far my senior
in school’. He felt he should step down
for me; but I discouraged him. I said,
‘No I am in Langtang and I will be in
Langtang most of the time. You are in
Jos and the seat of the state
government is in Jos. It is good as you
are there and you can liaise with the
governor on behalf of us’.
But why have the crises in Jos
persisted?
What is the problem in Jos? It is always
Jos, this plateau crisis. Almost always in
Jos; Berom land, by the same Berom
people. So ask the Berom people what
is wrong with them.
Langtang South at a time was packed
full with Fulani. People were asking me,
why are you allowing the Fulani to stay
there. I tell them Fulani are the most
peaceful people to stay with. If you
don’t touch their cows, they will leave
you in peace. So let them be. And they
lived here peacefully until they parted
peacefully. But if they had dared kill a
Fulani cow, it would have led to another
thing.
What is the solution?
Again I would ask you to ask the Berom.
How often do you meet with the
governor to discuss issues of security
peace etc?
The governor hardly met me in Kuru.
He was in Kuru the year I was leaving
and yet he became a know- it-all kind of
person. I am a very arrogant man if you
like, I don’t go begging for favours
from people.
He doesn’t call you to discuss these
issues?
That his own business. Gyang Buba is
our chairman.
Some say the government has not
done enough to resolve issues in the
Jos crises. What is your opinion?
The truth is that in Berom land, the
women are more brave. Take note of
this, anytime there is crisis in Berom
land, you’ll find out that it is the
women that would come out. The men
would just disappear into their farms
but the women would take pestles and
what have you and come out. The
Taroks are not like that. In fact if there’s
crisis, we keep our women and children
in the house and tell them not to come
out as we will do the fighting. So it’s
this background that leads to this.
What about the issue of indegenship
and settlers?
The Jarawa in Jos North should be the
ones making the claims but
unfortunately they are so docile that
the Berom are now claiming that the
whole of Jos North is their own, yet they
cannot even keep the Hausa away. But I
would have preferred Jarawa instead of
Berom to champion that cause. The
Jarawa would have had much more
reasons to demand that Jos North is
part of their land.
At the national level, there have
been crises too, Boko Haram in
particular. What do you make of it?
Boko Haram! Western education is not
good. That is what they preach, isn’t it?
They have western education; why will
they now say it is not good? It makes no
meaning to me.
I think they are just causing disaffection
among people. Christians and Muslims
have lived together for ages and there
is no other way. Christians and Muslims
must live together in peace. Nobody
should bring issues that will make us
fight ourselves.
Do you think northern leaders have
done enough to see that-these
problems happening up north.
Insecurity, Boko Haram, youth
unemployment and other things-are
curtailed?
It depends on what you call northern
leaders. Take Kano, for instance. I was
wondering what is Boko Haram? It
might be outside people behind recent
happenings, it might be the same Kano
people. What have Emir of Kano and
other leaders done about it? I have said
that we have no alternative but to live
together. We must live in peace as we
have done over the years.
Currently, the National Assembly is
in the process of amending the
constitution and some traditional
rulers and opinion moulders have
suggested a role for traditional
rulers in the constitution. Do you
support the suggestion?
We chiefs are detached from politics. I
prefer it that way. I prefer the neutral
role that we, chiefs, play. Let the
politicians play their own role.
What is your score for democracy
since 1999 when it started? Has it
paid some dividends?
It must have paid dividends, otherwise
we would have lost it. The military has
kept out of it, which means that we
have accepted it. I pray that it should
go on and coups should no longer have
any part to play.

I’d have become Head of State if I wanted –Domkat Bali

General Domkat Bali
(rtd) , one-time most
senior military officer
and prominent player
in Ibrahim Babangida’s
military presidency but
now the Ponzhi Tarok,
says he never became
head of state because he rejected the
position. Excerpts:
After serving in the military for three
decades, how well will you say you have
adjusted to your new life?
I am yet to adjust to it. I have always
been a very free person in the sense of
going where I want to go to and doing
what I want to do and no restriction
whatsoever. In this traditional setting,
there are too many restrictions, too
many don’ts and dos and the don’ts
are more than the dos.
What is the major difference
between serving in the army and now
being restricted to your palace and
the community?
The major difference is the restriction.
In the army, nobody restricted me. I
would go to the office in my uniform
and do my normal work. When I return
home I change from my uniform and
live my life like anyone else. I am no
longer that free.
Why did you accept the call to
traditional leadership, especially
because it meant restricting you
from life the way you loved it?
I would have been castigated by my
people if I had declined the call. In
Langtang, chieftaincy issues run within
families. In our case there are five royal
families. It goes from one to another. It
got to my family in my time and when
they sent for me, I told them that I was
an ambitious soldier, I still wanted to
be a general. I told them to leave me
out of chieftaincy issues… I thought I
had gone away from it, not knowing
that they would come again. They said
our tenure was still there. Again, it fell
on me to come and become the Ponzhi
Tarok. Having dragged my feet in the
past, I didn’t want to do anything like
that again, so I accepted the offer.
Could you speak specifically of the
restrictions you said make your stool
different from your military office?
In the army, especially when you reach
the rank of a general, nobody restricts
you anymore. So, the restriction in the
army is not as much as the restriction
of a Ponzhi who is the head of a whole
tribe. Everybody frowns at you if you
are found on the street not behaving
the way a Ponzhi is expected to behave;
whereas I am a very carefree man. I like
to be myself. So there are many don’ts
and dos in the process of being the
Ponzhi.
What is the secret in people of
Langtang being so many and so
prominent in the military?
It’s the Tarok mindset. The Tarok
people want to do something manly.
They believe the army is for those who
are brave and strong and are ready to
go to war and so on. So, it is very
appealing to the mentality of a Tarok
man.
What about this view that so many
Tarok people got into the army and
did so well because Tarok people
who attained big offices early made
sure they helped their kith and kin
into the army?
Right from the word go, before the
Second World War, the Tarok joined the
army. My uncle died in Burma. My
father was born a twin. My father was
Bali and his twin brother was Tali. Tali
went to Second World War. We lost him
to the war and my father survived as a
single twin brother. Maybe because of
that my father became very close to
Jeremiah Useni’s father. My father’s
close relationship with Useni’s father, I
believe, cushioned for my father the
effect of the loss of his twin brother.
They remained very close friends up till
death. They died about the same time,
and it was Jeremiah Useni who buried
both of them.
Is any of your family in the army
now? Is any of your kids in the army?
I have only one son, and he doesn’t
appear to be keen on a military career.
He is in Canada and has not shown any
interest and I will not do anything to
force him to join the army. My prayer is
that he will come back and work in
Nigeria, not to remain in Canada. He
was trained in Canada and he has
tendency to want to stay there. He is in
the country (Nigeria) right now and was
here (Langtang) a few days ago and I
think he went to Abuja. Certainly, he
has shown no interest in becoming a
military man.
He took to a different profession?
He did electronics engineering. That’s
what he studied in the university. There
in Canada I think he does contracts,
jobs to do with electronics. They invite
him, they discuss ideas, negotiate price
and he does the work. He seems to like
it that way.
Looking back at your military career,
you rose to the highest position, you
were the most senior officer in the
Nigerian Army, yet you were not the
highest ranking because there was
military president and chief of
general staff (vice president). How
did that work out?
I was far senior to Babangida. Both
Babangida and Vatsa, I was senior to
them. I am an old man. Who did Vatsa
topple?
He was accused of an attempt to topple
IBB.
At that time, of the officers, I was the
most senior. So, if there was going to
be military head of government, it
ought to have been me, but I said I was
not keen. I was not interested in using
the gun to become president. It was not
attractive to me.
Does that say that you are a
democrat at heart?
Oh yes. Even during the civil war, I was
still a democrat.
Yet, you served under the military
presidency?
That is what the military is all about.
How do you reconcile the
contradiction of being a democrat in
the military?
I wasn’t meant to be a soldier from the
word go. I never wanted the army as a
career. It was Ahmadu Bello who made
sure I got into the army. I tell people
that the North died with Ahmadu Bello
and I mean every word of it. Ahmadu
Bello was truly a good Nigerian. He was
not biased. Ahmadu Bello came to Kuru
(near Jos), I think, in 1958. I was then
in Form Five. Ahmadu Bello went round
the North preaching to us to join the
military. He felt there were no sufficient
northerners in the services. He was not
looking for Fulani men to empower. He
was genuinely interested in seeing that
the North was not at a disadvantage
among the other regions of the country.
He came and got me, for instance, to
join the army. He did so not because he
despised me. As far as he was
concerned, northerners who were
qualified should join the services. When
he finished talking to us, he said who
among us were interested? .... He took
our names to Kaduna for us to sit for
the army examination.
So, he was instrumental to you
joining the army?
Absolutely! If he had not preached the
idea of joining the military to us I would
not have been interested.
You were not keen on being a
soldier: how did you go ahead to
make a success of it?
I prefer success to failure. I would have
hated to go to the NDA and make a
failure of it. In the NDA I had to do
everything to pass and come out well, if
nothing else but for the personal pride
of being successful.
If we may take you back to the IBB
era, in 1990 you were moved from
minister of defence to minister of
interior and you resigned. What
actually happened?
I think if it was that, I disagreed very
strongly because of the switch in
position, Babangida would have listened
to me. Maybe I resigned because I felt I
had overstayed my welcome, if you like.
Since my juniors had come and gone,
why should I be tagging around?
What is your relationship still like
with Babangida? Do you contact each
other?
I don’t; I am a very reserved person. I
keep to myself very much. Otherwise,
Babangida is generally a nice person.
Does he call you? Let’s say on
Christmas Day; does he call to say
‘Your Highness, Happy Christmas,
Happy Easter’?
He has done that once or twice, not
very often.
Did you foresee from the situation at
that time that IBB would handover
and Abacha would become head of
state?
I could have become head of state but I
let it pass. I wasn’t keen anyway, but I
could have been the head of state.
You mean if you had remained in the
army or if you had been the defence
secretary as Abacha was, IBB might
have handed over to you or you
would have taken over?
The military have their way of doing
things. If they staged a coup, the
leadership would emerge within the
military naturally.
It means if you had remained, it
would have been automatically you?
Do you regret leaving the army then;
because you would have been head
of state?
No, I don’t regret leaving when I did. If
I had wanted to be head of state I
would have become one. Merely saying
that I was interested would have been
it.
You did not wish to shoot into power?
Yes.
That time, Admiral Aikhomu, now
late; what was your relationship with
him?
Aikhomu was in the Navy. Coups were
usually a soldier’s affair. Aikhomu was
the closest to me in terms of seniority,
but we were in different services.
You played significant roles in the
reform of the Nigerian Army. How do
you view the army at that time
compared to what it is today?
Nothing seems to be the same in
Nigeria any more. Corruption has done
much damage to the nation. People
manipulate things one way or the other
in all sectors, including the military. In
my time, if you tried such rubbish, they
would kick you out.
With the benefit of hindsight, what
do you think of the 1976 episode
when General Iliya Bisalla and many
Middle Belt officers were executed
for the abortive coup, especially
because that episode affected top
military officers from Plateau State?
If Bisalla wanted to be head of state, he
should have taken decisive steps. It was
virtually like he was scared of becoming
head of state. He wavered too much.
Take my case; I didn’t want to be there;
finish. But he kept quiet. Dimka had
virtually made him head of state, only
for him to dash it away.
In efforts towards lasting peace in
Plateau State, how often do you
traditional rulers meet with the
governor to discuss peace and unity?
Jonah Jang became a know-it-all sort of
chap; and I am an arrogant man, if you
like, in the sense that I don’t go to
people begging for favours. Anyhow,
Gyang Buba (Gbong Gwom Jos) handles
chieftaincy issues. He is our chairman
(Plateau State Council of Chiefs). When
I became the Ponzhi Tarok, he came to
me and said, ‘I have been the chairman
of the traditional council but now that
you are here, you were by far my senior
in school’. He felt he should step down
for me; but I discouraged him. I said,
‘No I am in Langtang and I will be in
Langtang most of the time. You are in
Jos and the seat of the state
government is in Jos. It is good as you
are there and you can liaise with the
governor on behalf of us’.
But why have the crises in Jos
persisted?
What is the problem in Jos? It is always
Jos, this plateau crisis. Almost always in
Jos; Berom land, by the same Berom
people. So ask the Berom people what
is wrong with them.
Langtang South at a time was packed
full with Fulani. People were asking me,
why are you allowing the Fulani to stay
there. I tell them Fulani are the most
peaceful people to stay with. If you
don’t touch their cows, they will leave
you in peace. So let them be. And they
lived here peacefully until they parted
peacefully. But if they had dared kill a
Fulani cow, it would have led to another
thing.
What is the solution?
Again I would ask you to ask the Berom.
How often do you meet with the
governor to discuss issues of security
peace etc?
The governor hardly met me in Kuru.
He was in Kuru the year I was leaving
and yet he became a know- it-all kind of
person. I am a very arrogant man if you
like, I don’t go begging for favours
from people.
He doesn’t call you to discuss these
issues?
That his own business. Gyang Buba is
our chairman.
Some say the government has not
done enough to resolve issues in the
Jos crises. What is your opinion?
The truth is that in Berom land, the
women are more brave. Take note of
this, anytime there is crisis in Berom
land, you’ll find out that it is the
women that would come out. The men
would just disappear into their farms
but the women would take pestles and
what have you and come out. The
Taroks are not like that. In fact if there’s
crisis, we keep our women and children
in the house and tell them not to come
out as we will do the fighting. So it’s
this background that leads to this.
What about the issue of indegenship
and settlers?
The Jarawa in Jos North should be the
ones making the claims but
unfortunately they are so docile that
the Berom are now claiming that the
whole of Jos North is their own, yet they
cannot even keep the Hausa away. But I
would have preferred Jarawa instead of
Berom to champion that cause. The
Jarawa would have had much more
reasons to demand that Jos North is
part of their land.
At the national level, there have
been crises too, Boko Haram in
particular. What do you make of it?
Boko Haram! Western education is not
good. That is what they preach, isn’t it?
They have western education; why will
they now say it is not good? It makes no
meaning to me.
I think they are just causing disaffection
among people. Christians and Muslims
have lived together for ages and there
is no other way. Christians and Muslims
must live together in peace. Nobody
should bring issues that will make us
fight ourselves.
Do you think northern leaders have
done enough to see that-these
problems happening up north.
Insecurity, Boko Haram, youth
unemployment and other things-are
curtailed?
It depends on what you call northern
leaders. Take Kano, for instance. I was
wondering what is Boko Haram? It
might be outside people behind recent
happenings, it might be the same Kano
people. What have Emir of Kano and
other leaders done about it? I have said
that we have no alternative but to live
together. We must live in peace as we
have done over the years.
Currently, the National Assembly is
in the process of amending the
constitution and some traditional
rulers and opinion moulders have
suggested a role for traditional
rulers in the constitution. Do you
support the suggestion?
We chiefs are detached from politics. I
prefer it that way. I prefer the neutral
role that we, chiefs, play. Let the
politicians play their own role.
What is your score for democracy
since 1999 when it started? Has it
paid some dividends?
It must have paid dividends, otherwise
we would have lost it. The military has
kept out of it, which means that we
have accepted it. I pray that it should
go on and coups should no longer have
any part to play.

Drama in Plane, Passengers hide under seats, Some made last prayers as door BLOWS OPEN at 27,000ft

A British tourist told yesterday of his
flight of terror when he claims an
emergency exit on a super jumbo blew
open at 27,000ft.
David Reid and his son Lewis feared a
bomb had gone off after hearing a
'massive explosion' two hours into their
flight on the brand new £250million
Emirates Airbus A380.
Freezing air blasted in and the cabin
pressure plunged after the door in
business class came an inch and a half
ajar, leaving a gaping hole, said Mr Reid.
As passengers wept in terror, he said, a
petrified stewardess ran down the aisle
and screamed 'the door's going to go'
before cowering behind her seat.
Astonishingly, according to Mr Reid,
instead of making an emergency landing,
the crew decided to stuff blankets and
pillows stuck together with gaffer tape
into the hole and continue the flight
despite a horrendous droning noise and
sub-zero temperatures.
The drama happened on Monday as the
two Britons flew from Bangkok to Hong
Kong as part of what was planned as a
'trip of a lifetime'.
He said: 'We were about two hours in
when suddenly there was a huge blast.
'It was a real shock, so loud that I
thought a bomb might have gone off. Air
was gushing into the cabin like a gale.
'The stewardess jumped up and stared at
the door. Her face was drained white.
'She ran up the aisle, grabbed the
intercom and started screaming, “The
door's going to go, the door's going to
go!” Then she hid under her chair.
'Other passengers were crying and saying
“We're going to go down, we're going to
go down.”
'It was complete panic. The emergency
door was ajar and leaving a gaping hole.
You could see straight out into the
atmosphere, 27,000ft up.'
Mr Reid, who has a private pilot's licence,
said that after several moments of
confusion, the cabin crew started
grabbing blankets and pillows which
they stuck together with duct tape to fill
the gap.
He added: 'This is a state-of-the-art plane
but they were using the most crude
method you could imagine to try and
plug the hole.
'The conditions were terrible for the rest
of the flight. The door continued to make
a horrendously loud droning sound
which made it impossible to speak to
each other.
'Worst of all, it was absolutely freezing.
It was an extremely nerve-wracking
experience for everybody.'
He said cabin crew closed the curtain
between business class to stop those in
the economy cabin below discovering
what was happening.
Mr Reid claims he suffered a chest
infection following the ordeal and the
pair had to cut short their £4,500 trip.
His 18-year-old son reported the incident
to the Department of Transport's Air
Accidents Investigation Branch who have
passed it on to air investigators at the
United Arab Emirates General Authority
for Civil Aviation.
An Emirates spokesman said: 'We can
confirm there was a whistling noise
emanating from one of the doors on the
A380 upper deck on flight EK384
between Bangkok and Hong Kong on
Monday, February 11. At no point was
the safety of the flight in jeopardy.'
An Airbus spokesman said: 'It is not
possible for a cabin door to open on an
A380 or on any aircraft whilst in flight,
as doors open inwards and have locking
mechanisms.'
An Emirates spokesman later updated the
company's statement responding to Mr
Reid's claims, saying : 'At no time during
the flight did one of the upper deck
doors open. There was also no loss in
cabin pressurisation at any time during
the flight.
'The noise from the door was caused by a
small dimensional difference between
the inflated door seal and the door lower
frame striker plate, when the door is in
the closed position.
'This is currently under investigation in
conjunction with Airbus. Emirates have
now fixed the problem.
'The blankets were placed around the
door to abate the whistling sound
emanating from the door, not to prevent
the door from opening.
'There was no point during the incident
where the safety of the flight was in
jeopardy.
'In addition, the green light next to the
door does not represent that the door is
open. It is an Attendant Indication Panel
and is used for communication
information for the Cabin Crew.'

“Obasanjo Sacked Me Because I Told Him I’m His Party Leader, Not His Cook” – Ogbeh

APC Will Develop Nigeria Than PDP – Lawmaker

How IBB, Abdulsalami tricked Atiku on presidency – El-Rufai

MORE revelations have continued to
emerge from the controversial memoir of
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, The Accidental
Public Servant, in which he detailed the
part played by former Heads of State,
Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in the failed
bid by former Vice-President Atiku
Abubabakar to succeed his boss, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.
The two generals as well as a former
National Security Adviser, General Aliyu
Gusau, according to El-Rufai, in his
newly-released book, had in conjunction
with Atiku, formed what was known as
the G4, a political group allegedly hell-
bent on supporting Atiku to stop
Obasanjo from becoming the country’s
president for a second term, because “the
four of them had been meeting to review
Obasanjo’s performance and they had
concluded that Obasanjo’s first term up
to that point had been a disaster.”
El-Rufai revealed that the former vice-
president had called the trio of himself
[El-Rufai], his political adviser, Dr Usman
Bugaje and Thisday publisher, Nduka
Obaigbena and told them of how the G4
had allegedly told him (Atiku) that the
group would support him to become
president as he was the then vice-
president, who “should have the first
shot at the presidency.”
“Now, it was a well-known fact then that
President Babangida harboured a similar
ambition. Yet, Atiku believed that
Babangida, who is older, would step back
for him to have the first shot.
He [Atiku] did not see as a trap. The
moment he told us, it did not sound
right. As I learned much later, this was
Babangida’s ploy to prove to Obasanjo
that Atiku, given the slightest
opportunity, would stab him in the back.
When the four of them began meeting
and discussing Nigeria’s problems,
Babangida allegedly called Obasanjo and
informed him,” the book read in part.
According to the book, which has drawn
diverse comments from the public,
including Obasanjo and Atiku, revealed
that while the G4 meetings were going
on, General Babangida was furnishing
Obasanjo with details of the meeting
while Atiku, who had similarly informed
his boss, was alleged to be withholding
some information, probably taking
insurance against a backlash of his
actions.
Atiku, according to the former minister,
was also in consultation with a second
political group comprising 17 Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) governors “who
all wanted him [Atiku] to be the next
president, in return for assurances for a
second term for themselves.” This group,
it was gathered, was powerful because
the governors controlled the selection of
voting delegates to the party’s national
convention which would determine the
presidential candidate.
However, the bubbles of General
Babangida alleged plot against Atiku
burst with one of Atiku loyalist’s
suggestion that the former Head of State
should be made to walk the talk. Atiku
was advised to approach the G4 with
information that having begun
consultations within the country and got
positive feedbacks, he needed to
undertake international consultations
which would involve the G4, especially
the former presidents using their
influence on the international scene to
sell Atiku to the international forces in
France and Germany.
While Atiku’s men, El-Rufai and Bugaje,
were to handle consultations with the
United States and United Kingdom, he
was advised to test IBB by asking him to
arrange a meeting with a former
President of France and a former
Chancellor of Germany where they could
broach the topic of an Atiku presidency, a
test which the former head of state
allegedly failed, as El-Rufai revealed that:
“We never got to the point of having
those consultative meetings abroad
because before they even took place,
Babangida had already failed the test.”
Accordingly, El-Rufai went on to write
that act of disloyalty and subsequent
actions allegedly on the part of Atiku
created a wedge between him and his
boss further widened the gulf of his
ambition to the president of Nigeria.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi resigns one day after winning Super Eagles the 2013 Afcon title

The Nigerian football
fraternity was dealt
with a huge blow on
Monday evening, when
their coach Stephen
Keshi announced his
resignation from his
job as the coach of the
national team, just less
than 24 hours after he
guided the Super
Eagles to Afcon glory at the National
Stadium.
Keshi claims that he was sacked prior to their
quarterfinal clash against Ivory Coast,
because apparently the Nigerian Football
Federation booked a plane back to Nigeria as
soon as they found out that they will play
Ivory Coast.
Nigeria's former PRO Peterside Idah,
confirmed Keshi's claim on Twitter. He wrote
@IdahPeterside, “Keshi only heard the NFF
had given the secretary money for return
tickets before Ivory Coast game, only after
they won the game.”
However, Keshi claimed on Metro FM that he
heard about the arrangement made by the
NFF after the Mali game, and that he did not
want to take it to mind as it would have
affected his teams preparations.
Keshi’s resignation letter still has to be
discussed by the NFF, and the coach says he
is unlikely to change his mind, because he
believes that NFF did not trust and respect
his tactics as a coach.
The coach did tell Goal.com a few days
before the final, that he would ' pack his bags
and leave' if he felt he was not wanted, and
it is a surprising turn of events after the
coach was highly praised from all quarters.

S-H-O-C-K-E-R! 150 rape cases in 1 hour!

Victor Moses ‘ proud to be Nigerian ’ after Afcon triumph

Nigeria forward
Victor Moses has
dedicated the
victory of the
Super Eagles over
Burkina Faso in
Sunday’s Africa
Cup of Nations
final to all his
countrymen.
The Chelsea winger played a big part in
the team as Sunday Mba scored the lone
goal that made Nigeria emerge African
champions for the first time in 19 years.
Moses had recently changed allegiance to
Nigeria from England and has now won a
continental title with the Super Eagles.
“[It’s] one of [the] best days of my life.
[T]his is a dream come true I'm so proud
to be Nigerian. The win is for each and
every one of [you] back home,” Moses
tweeted via his official account.
Nigeria will now play in the
Confederations Cup in Brazil later in the
year.

Nigeria 1-0 Burkina Faso: Super Eagles seal Afcon Glory

The continental heavyweights of
Nigeria overcame the underdogs of
Burkina Faso in a convincing Afcon
final display in South Africa

Nigeria’s young squad
made Africa Cup of
Nations history by
besting Burkina Faso in
Johannesburg to claim
the nation’s third
continental crown.
Sunday Mba’s first half
goal was enough to
seal victory against the
Stallions.
Few in attendance at the National Stadium
were under any doubt as to the magnitude
of the occasion, and the anticipation created
a powerful atmosphere inside the arena.
While both sides belted out the national
anthems with vigour and aplomb, Nigeria
were the only side that succeeded in
overcoming the emotion and expectation
early on. Burkina Faso, by comparison, were
nervy and at times looked overawed by the
altitude of the final.
The tension afforded Naija the better
opportunities early on, as the Stallions’
defence failed to settle. Victor Moses, a
player who has begun to emerge as a
genuine international star during this
competition, was particularly bright, and
looked keen to profit from any unease
among the opposition. He appeared
everywhere, troubling both fullbacks with his
pace, and also the subtler side of his game,
his feints and touches.
Efe Ambrose and Ideye Brown had
opportunities to demonstrate their aerial
prowess early on, but despite the bumbling
and fumbling of Daouda Diakite in the
Burkinabe goal, neither could capitalise. As
the first half unfurled, the Stallions struggled
to impose themselves; in frustration, perhaps
more than hope, Aristide Bance – one of the
semi-final heroes - twice shot from distance,
but both of his efforts were wayward – the
first hurtling over the bar, the second
dribbling wide.
With the game threatening to become
congested in the midfield, and Burkina still
struggling to settle, Nigeria struck first.
Moses forged some space for himself, and
after demonstrating admirable determination
and work rate, indirectly provided an
opportunity for Sunday Mba – the slayer of
Cote d’Ivoire – to fire the Eagles ahead.
The Enugu Rangers midfielder still had a lot
to do however, and a compilation of delicate
touches allowed him to glide past the
Stallions defence before finishing. It was
further vindication of Keshi’s domestic-based
selection policy, the manager becoming only
the second figure in history to win the cup as
both a player and a coach.
Burkina Faso, on the other hand, failed to
truly grow into the contest and find their
rhythm. While few would have begrudged
them a place in the final, after their heroic
performances previously, perhaps the
occasion was too big as the side appeared to
lack self-belief, and rarely convinced.
As the game became stretched late on, the
Stallions began taking risks, but only looked
menacing on rare occasions, one such
chance, a terrific shot by the substitute
Sanou, demanded a stunning save from
Enyeama to preserve Nigeria’s lead.
The Eagles also carved out several chances to
end things, but Moses and Brown conspired
to waste these promising situations - every
missed opportunity may have felt like a
portent to another Burkinabe uprising, but,
as the minutes dripped by, the inspiration
never arrived. Images of Alain Traore, injured
on the touchline, a horrible reminder of
‘what might have been’ for the Stallions.
The result ended a wait of 19 years for the
Super Eagles to be reunited with the trophy
that means so much to Nigerians worldwide.
Only time will tell if the generation of 2013
can emulate the past vintages beyond this
tournament, however, with a young squad,
including superstars such as Moses, Mikel,
and Musa, as well as the rawer talents of
Mba, Oboabona, and Omeruo, the future
looks very promising indeed.
Nigeria claim their third Cup of Nations with
the 2013 edition, as a continent recognises
their revival, and a nation rejoices.

Girl, 9, Gives Birth in Mexico

A 9-year-old Mexican girl, under the
reported name of Dafne, gave birth to a
baby girl on Jan. 27, 2013 in Jalisco,
Mexico.
Both mother and child are at home and
healthy, Dr. Enrique Rabago, director of
Zoquipan Hospital, said at a press
conference this morning.
The search continues, according to
authorities, for the baby’s 17-year-old
father, who may be criminally charged
for having a sexual relationship with
Dafne.
“Due to her young age, we don’t know if
she is being entirely truthful,” says Lino
Ginzalez Corona, spokesperson at Jalisco
State Prosecutor’s Office, who received
an account of the relationship from the
young mother who describes a loving
relationship.
According to Corona, the 17-year-old and
Dafne were dating but the young girl is
unwilling to release any further
information regarding the association
between the two.
“She did not realize that she was
pregnant until the seventh month,” said
Corona. Her boyfriend suggested Dafne
move in with him and to raise the child
together but when the young mother
refused, her boyfriend “decided to leave
town two months ago,” says Corona.
State authorities are searching for the
father of the child to acquire his own
account of what occurred between the
two. The prosecutor’s office in the state
of Jalisco said they are willing to request
cooperation from neighboring state
authorities if necessary.
Corona says the state prosecutor is “still
open to the possibility of rape or child
sex abuse.”
Dafne, who is one of 11 children, lives in
Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos, a
poverty-stricken neighborhood 25 miles
south of Guadalajara. “Her parents work
all day and were not watching after her,”
says Corona, “and therefore didn’t
realize what was about to happen.”
The girl was given a C-Section at the time
of the birth. “Due to her young age and
to the fact that her body was not ready to
give birth,” says Rabago, “the medical
team decided a C-Section was the best
option” for both mother and child.
Rabago said at the press conference that
Dafne will be receiving both medical and
psychological attention.
Last year, in Zoquipan Hospital, around
25 percent of the pregnancies were
among teens.

Super Eagles eye history at Soccer City

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be at home
when they clash with Les Etalons of
Burkina Faso in the Final of the 29th
Africa Cup of Nations at Soccer City on
Sunday.
In football championships, the accident of
fixtures place some teams at home and
some away, even when the host nation is
not involved. Most of the time, playing at
home means very little. But at times it can
confer minimal advantage, such as having
the first choice of jersey and having your
National Anthem played first.
Significantly, it has no bearing whatsoever
on the crowd, which simply decides which
team to support. Of the five matches the
Super Eagles have played at the Africa
Cup of Nations in South Africa, leading to
the Final, they have only played at home
once.
And that, incidentally, was their first
match of the competition against Burkina
Faso, which fixture will now repeat itself
for the Final match in Soweto on Sunday.
Against Zambia (1-1), Ethiopia (2-0), Cote
d’Ivoire (2-1) and Mali (4-1), Nigeria were
the away team. Against Les Etalons on
Sunday, they are back at home.
Sunday’s showpiece will take place at the
same venue that hosted the Final match
of the 20th Africa Cup of Nations, on
February 3, 1996 between South Africa’s
Bafana Bafana and the Carthage Eagles of
Tunisia. Then, it was known as First
National Bank Stadium.
The venue also hosted the Final match of
the World Cup on July 11, 2010, between
Spain and The Netherlands. Then, there
had been change of name to Soccer City.
The Final match of the 29th Africa Cup of
Nations on Sunday will pitch Nigeria and
Burkina Faso against each other, in what
will be the first truly all-West African Final
since Cote d’Ivoire prevailed over Ghana
11-10 on penalties at the Stade Leopold
Senghor Stadium, Dakar on January 26,
1992.
Cameroon and Nigeria have battled three
different Final matches (the Indomitable
Lions winning all) and Senegal lost on
penalties to the Lions in Mali in 2002. But
Cameroon, despite being Nigeria’s
immediate neighbours to the east, is in
Central Africa.
Coach Stephen Keshi (pictured right), 51,
will become only the second man to have
won the Africa Cup of Nations as player
and coach once the Super Eagles fly
above the Etalons in Sunday’s showdown.
Keshi lifted the trophy the last time
Nigeria won it, on April 10, 1994, in
Tunisia. Christian Chukwu, who was
captain when Nigeria won it in 1980, was
handed an opportunity to make history
but his Eagles only mined bronze in
Tunisia in 2004. He was assistant coach
when Nigeria won in 1994.
Austin Eguavoen, another member of the
1994 team, won bronze as coach in Egypt
in 2006.
On Sunday, Nigeria striker Emmanuel
Emenike will aim to become the first
Nigerian to be named top scorer of the
tournament since Jay-Jay Okocha tied on
four goals with four other players at the
2004 Nations Cup, but was given the
award based on a greater number of
assists.
Also, midfield ace John Mikel Obi could
be the first Nigerian named most valuable
player of the tournament since Jay-Jay
Okocha won the award in 2004. Other
Nigerians to have won the prestigeous
award are Christian Chukwu (1980) and
Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory, 1994).
Late Yekini was also top scorer at the 1992
(four goals) and 1994 (five goals)
tournaments.
Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo, who played
at five previous finals in Mali, Tunisia,
Egypt, Ghana and Angola but has only
bronze medals to show, will be a happy
man when the Eagles lift the trophy on
Sunday.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR,
will sit beside South Africa’s leader Jacob
Zuma inside the presidential box on
Sunday, but it is not yet known if
President Blaise Compaore of Burkina
Faso will travel to Johannesburg.
If the Super Eagles get past the Stallions,
they will move behind only Egypt,
Cameroon and Ghana on the number of
tournaments won.
At the moment, they are tied on two wins
each with Democratic Republic of Congo,
who won in 1968 and 1974.
Article by: Colin Udoh

Muhammad Ali could be dead in days –Brother

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is so ill
he could be dead within days, his
brother has warned.
Rahman Ali said the former heavyweight
champion cannot speak and no longer
recognises him.
Rahman fears his 71-year-old brother –
known as The Greatest – may not
survive the summer.
He told The Sun , “He’s in a bad way. He’s
very sick.
“It could be months, it could be days. I
don’t know if he’ll last the summer. He’s
in God’s hands.”
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease in 1984 but remained active for
many years and made a moving
appearance at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic
Games where he lit the flame.
However, he was seen looking
particularly thin and frail at the London
2012 Olympic opening ceremony where
he was helped across the stage by wife
Lonnie.
Rahman has accused his sister-in-law,
who has been married to Ali for 26 years,
of refusing to let the family visit the
ailing champion.
Rahman, who was also a professional
boxer, said he last saw his brother in July
at the Sports for Peace Gala in London
and is only allowed to speak to him over
the phone.
The brothers, born Cassius and Rudolph
Clay, grew up together in Louisville,
Kentucky.
Ali’s most recent public health scare was
December, 2011, when the champion was
taken to hospital after falling
unconscious.
Emergency services were called days
after Ali made a frail appearance at the
funeral of fellow boxing great Joe
Frazier.
He was treated for dehydration after
collapsing at his 6,000 sq ft estate in
Arizona.
Rahman told The Sun from his flat in
Louisville that before Ali’s health
deteriorated, he said he was in no pain
and was proud of his achievements.
Rahman, who has suffered recurrent
strokes following his own boxing career,
said he feels distraught at being cut from
his brother’s life.
Father-of-nine Ali wants a Martin Luther
King quote on his gravestone, according
to Rahman.
The quote is: “I tried to love somebody; I
did try to feed the hungry.
“I did try, in my life, to clothe those who
were naked. I want you to say that I tried
to love and serve humanity. The
Greatest.”
Wife Lonnie refused to comment on the
claims.

BREAKING NEWS: Match - fixing probe : 380 suspect games

Europol has
revealed that 380
football matches
across the globe
are under
suspicion of
match-fixing,
following a
lengthy
investigation into
what it considers
a criminal network within the sport.
A total of 425 players, officials and other
individuals are suspected of being
involved in an organised crime syndicate
based in Asia, which is thought to have
been organising the operation to rig the
results of matches.
Rob Wainwright, director of Europol, said
the allegations included two Champions
League fixtures, one of which was played
in England in the last two or three years,
though they did not name the matches in
question.
He told a press conference in the
Netherlands: "This is the work of a
suspected organised crime syndicate
based in Asia and operated with criminal
networks around Europe.
"It is clear to us this is the biggest-ever
investigation into suspected match-fixing
in Europe. It has yielded major results
which we think have uncovered a big
problem for the integrity of football in
Europe.
"We have uncovered an extensive criminal
network."
Criminals wagered €16 million on fixed
matches and recorded an €8m profit, the
investigation has revealed.
Payments of €2m have been made to
those involved in the scheme, with the
biggest single payment to an individual
totalling €140,000.
The Asia-based syndicate is believed to
have liased with criminal networks
throughout Europe, with match-fixing
believed to have occured in 15 different
countries.
Fridhelm Althans from Bocum Police,
Germany, and a spokesperson for JIT
Veto, said: "We have evidence for 150 of
these cases and the operations were run
out of Singapore with bribes of up to
€100,000 paid per match. Even two World
Cup qualifiers in Africa, and one in
Central America are under suspicion."
So far, 50 people have been arrested,
with officials stating their concern that the
news was simply "the tip of the iceberg."
Wainwright said that Europol's findings
would be shared with Uefa president
Michel Platini, adding: "This is a sad day
for European football and more evidence
of the corrupting influence in society of
organised crime. But this investigation
also proves the value of international
police co-operation in fighting back
against the criminals involved.
"Europol and its law enforcement
partners are committed to pursuing
serious criminals wherever they operate.
Unfortunately this also now includes the
world of football, where illegal profits are
made on a scale and in a way that
threatens the very fabric of the game.
"All those responsible for running
football should heed the warnings found
in this case."

Mikel: We stopped Cote D’ Ivoire from playing

The Nigeria midfielder has said the key to
their victory over the Elephants was to not
allow their opponents play their own
football
By Lolade Adewuyi , In Rustenburg
Feb 3, 2013 7 :11 :00 PM
Nigeria midfielder
John Obi Mikel
has praised his
side’s 2-1 victory
against Cote
D’Ivoire in
Sunday’s quarter
final match of the
Africa Cup of
Nations.
Sunday Mba scored the winning goal after
Cheik Tiote had cancelled Emmanuel
Emenike’s first half lead.
“We’re very happy with our achievement,”
Mikel said after the game. “A big
congratulations to Ivory Coast for their
achievement so far in the tournament but
today we knew that they’re a good team
so if we were able to work together and
play for each other on the pitch, then we
could stop them.
“And that’s exactly what we have done
today.”
Having defeated the pre-tournament
favourites, do the Super Eagles now have
the confidence of getting to their first
final since 2000, Mikel was asked.
“We still have a semi final to play. We have
to keep taking each game one at a time
and hopefully if we manage to play well
like we did today, we will be very pleased
with ourselves,” he concluded.
Nigeria will play against Mali in the semi
final on Wednesday in Durban.

Warning to Malian players

Dear Malian soccer players,
any attempt, 'attempted attempt,' group of
attempts, variable attempt, fixed attempt,
debit or credit attempts to stop us from
winning our game with u will result in the
following punitive measures:
1. We will withdraw our troops from Mali.
2. You will pay us the N7 billion our
government has spent on your war to date.
3. We will encourage the Tuareg rebels to
return.... So the ball, (figuratively and
literally) is in your court, pass it to Emenike!
A word is enough for the wise.

Man lay dead in his flat for TWO YEARS until cleaners turned up to clear his hom

A loner lay dead in his city centre flat for
two years after no one realised he had
passed away, an inquest heard.
The skeletal remains of Simon Allen
were only discovered when deep
cleaners went to his home.
His body – wearing just a pair of socks –
was found lying behind an armchair in
the living room of the flat in Brighton,
East Sussex, in November.
Eleven days earlier his landlord and
bailiffs had gone to the first-floor
property to check why his rent had not
been paid for several months.
Neighbours said there had been a ‘musty
smell’ in the hallway outside the flat
before his body was found, but nothing
more unusual than that.
Police said they believed that Mr Allen
had died in December 2010 when he
would have been aged around 50.
They were unable to trace any family or
friends and found few personal items in
the flat, which Mr Allen had rented since
1999.
Paul Hanscomb, 45, who lives in a
neighbouring ground floor flat, said: ‘I
hadn’t seen him for about two years.
‘He was a heavy drinker and I used to
hear him banging around in the hallway
and up the stairs when he came home at
night.
‘But we all keep ourselves to ourselves
here and we thought he’d moved out.’
Chris Dunbar, who also lives in a first
floor flat, added: ‘It was a shock.
‘I think it’s quite sad really and maybe
should have been investigated a bit
sooner.’
He said there was a slight musty smell in
the hallway before Mr Allen’s body was
discovered, but ‘nothing strong’.
The Brighton inquest heard that Mr Allen
slept on two chairs pushed together and
only used his bedroom for storage.
Affinity Sutton, the housing association
who owned his flat, said he was ‘a model
tenant’.
Tracy Evans, head of housing in the
south for Affinity Sutton, said: ‘We were
deeply saddened to hear of the death of
Mr Allen.
‘There was no indication that there were
any problems nor that he had any
additional support needs and he was a
model tenant.
‘Sadly, despite repeatedly trying to
contact Mr Allen, the alarm was not
raised until significant rent arrears had
built up in 2012.’
Police said there were no suspicious
circumstances surrounding the death and
it was impossible to say how he died.
Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said
she was ‘particularly saddened’ that a
relatively young man had not been
missed.
She added: ‘There is no suggestion that
anybody should or could have done
anything different in relation to their
dealings with Mr Allen.
‘It seems that he chose his somewhat
reclusive lifestyle.’
Mr Allen was given a welfare funeral,
provided for people who have no known
family or friends to arrange the burial or
cremation.
The number of welfare funerals in
Brighton has more than doubled in the
last five years, from 36 in 2006/7 to 79 in
2011/12.