BusinessDay 30 Sep 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

58 years of pillars, caterpillars and locusts

p.16

Analysts predict bearish trend for Q4 as equities shed N1.65 trn YTD

Again, Art X Lagos spotlights contemporary African art p. 38

??

p. 37

Sunday 30 September 2018

20yr Bond

2019: Fresh concerns over INEC’s credibility

-0.07 15.15%

CHUKS OLUIGBO & INIOBONG IWOK

Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$82.72

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Gold

10yr Bond

$1,196.50

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Cocoa

$2,057.0

Vol 1, No. 236 N300

inside Religion should be a tool for integration, not destruction – Prelate Kalu Uche p. 18

Araraume: Asset or liability to Imo APGA?

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he just concluded governorship election in Osun State has raised fresh concerns over the credibility and preparedness of the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct free and fair elections in 2019.

This is in spite of several assurances by INEC that it is committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections next year.

Ahead of the September 22 election in Osun, political analysts and commentators had reiterated that it would be yet another litmus test for not just INEC but also for the police and other security agencies. The conduct of the poll, just like the Ekiti State election before it, they said, would give a peek preview into what Nigerians and the

international community would expect from INEC in the 2019 general election.

But while most election observers commended INEC for the conduct of the original poll on September 22, saying it was an improvement over Ekiti, the rerun of September 27 has been trailed by widespread condemnation.

In its preliminary report on the Osun

P. 2

DECISION DAY FOR INCUMBENTS AS APC, PDP HOLD PRIMARIES

Jibrilla Bindow

Abdullahi Ganduje

Akinwumi Ambode

Okezie Ikpeazu

Udom Emmanuel

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Nasir El-Rufai

Samuel Ortom

Ben Ayade

Darius Ishaku

p. 22

I am going to the Senate to liberate my people – Akpoti p. 24-25

Dredging: Making billions at the expense of Bayelsa environment p. 31

Hamzat turns in support for Sanwo-Olu, rumoured as running mate …36 lawmakers adopt Sanwo-Olu JOSHUA BASSEY

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ncumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State faces a tough battle today in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries following ground-swelling realignment of forces against his second-term bid.

The latest in what seems a conspiracy

against Ambode is the endorsement of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ambode’s main challenger,

by Obafemi Hamzat, the third of the aspirant.

Hamzat’s decision to turn in support for Sanwo-Olu finally nailed the speculations in the last one week, that he was in the race to limit Ambode’s chances. Since picking up and submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms three weeks ago, Hamzat,

a former commissioner for works and infrastructure in the state, has been silent and seen doing nothing to suggest seriousness.

BDSUNDAY gathered from sources close to the Lagos APC that Hamzat is being considered to be Sanwo-Olu’s running mate if Sanwo-Olu eventually picks the party ticket

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Cover 2019: Fresh concerns...

Continued from Page 1 election, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, which comprises more than 60 civic groups, expressed concern that the conduct of the election was a departure from the recent achievements recorded in the country’s election process.

It further said the lapses observed in the Osun State rerun election raises serious concerns about the forthcoming 2019 Nigeria general election.

“From Situation Room’s observations, it is clear that the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the elections in the seven polling units where the elections were re-run, including violence, also repeated themselves in the re-run election, raising questions on why results obtained under these conditions should now stand,” the group said.

“Situation Room is further concerned that the entirety of the Osun State re-run election derogates from the recent gains made in our elections process and the confidence that was beginning to be built. The lapses in the Osun re-run elections has put a serious question mark on the electoral process and raises concerns about the forthcoming 2019 Nigeria general election,” it said.

There were reports of incidences of violence and gunshots around some of the polling units, heavy deployment of security personnel “in a manner that created heavy tension and apprehension among voters”, use of political thugs and hoodlums to intimidate voters, attacks on opposing political sides, denial of access to polling units to journalists and election observers, high rate of

Yakubu

vote-buying in several polling units, fake observers, and tacit connivance by security forces.

“In the light of these antidemocratic acts which have undermined the sanctity of the ballot,” Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an observer group, said in a statement on Thursday, “we hold strongly the view that the rerun poll of Thursday, September 27, 2018, does not meet up with the minimum standards for free, fair and credible elections.”

On its part, the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said it has lost confidence in the commission’s capacity and readiness to conduct a credible election in the country.

“With INEC’s fraudulent conduct in the Osun governorship election, and approval that a concluded election be declared inconclusive, the PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians no longer have confidence in [Mahmood] Yakubu [INEC chairman],” the party said.

“It is completely inexcusable that Yakubu presides over an atrocious and compromised electoral umpire that manipulates electoral process, doctors figures, allocates fictitious votes and subverts the will of the people in an election,” it said.

“The PDP has additional documentary evidence of how this compromised INEC, through its Operations and ICT Depart-

ment, doctored results from polling centres, directly shortchanged the PDP with no fewer than 4,387 votes by slashing votes cast for the PDP at the polling centres while allocating fictitious figures to the APC. “The PDP has facts on how INEC slashed over 1,000 votes freely cast by the people for our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in Ayedaade Local Government Area, just to reduce our votes from our legitimate 10,836 votes cast at the polling centres to 9,836 votes so as to give the APC the lead with a 1,000 vote margin in the local government.

“Also, the PDP has evidence of how INEC, while collating results, directly allocated over 1,367 fictitious votes to the APC in Olorunda Local Government Area, to fraudulently shore up the APC’s votes to duplicitous 16,254 votes. This is in addition to evidence of how INEC awarded over 2,000 fictitious votes in favour of the APC in Oshogbo to push APC’s vote to 23,379 against the actual 21,479 votes scored by the defeated party,” it said.

Other stakeholders who spoke with BDSUNDAY raised similar concerns, saying if the Osun State election was indeed a sign of what lies ahead, then Nigerians and the international community should expect something worse than the days of Maurice Iwu in next year’s elections. Iwu, a professor and chairman of INEC from 2005 to 2010, presided over the 2007 general election adjudged by observers as one of the worst in Nigeria’s political history.

Setonji Koshoedo, a former chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State and a former member of

the House of Representatives, told BDSUNDAY that INEC as presently constituted cannot conduct free and fair elections.

Asked by our correspondent if he was confident that INEC can conduct credible elections next year, Koshoedo said: “Which INEC? Do you mean this INEC? The people of Ekiti State and Osun State can answer that question better. I really don’t know how to describe the current INEC. Let me just say that we all have been seeing what INEC has become.

Whether credible to conduct credible elections is revealed by what we have all been observing. In fact, if I were Buhari, I would close the current INEC down and create a new one with new staffs, if only not to further destroy my image.”

Chukwuka Ikwuazom, chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos chapter, said the current administration in the country lacks the political will to conduct credible elections in the country, stressing that the electoral umpire has been hijacked.

“The APC government is not serious about conducting credible elections. If they want INEC to conduct a credible poll, let them show political will and honesty to organise a free and fair election,” Ikwuazom said.

He said whereas INEC may have been sincere in the first election in Osun State, the rerun was not free and fair as attested to by international observers and journalists.

“We should look at our laws.

The constitution is clear on how a governor could be elected. It says a 2/3 majority in some local governments or the highest number of votes. But the laws Continued from Page 3

James Odunmbaku, popularly called ‘Baba Eto’ and Omolola Essien, a former member of the state House of Assembly, also sought the support of the councils for Sanwo-Olu ahead of today’s primary election.

But Ambode is not taking the matter lying low, as he has gone ahead to inaugurate the Ambode Campaign Organisation (ACO), recruited and trained hundreds of agents, who will be his “eyes and ears” across wards and local governments where the election is taking place.

Ambode is said to have also reached out to members of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making body in the state chapter of APC, trying to woo them to his side in the election. The GAC had, while addressing the media last week, promised to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants in the direct primary election adopted

by the national and state leadership of the APC. Events seem to be turning out worse for Ambode in his effort to actualise his second term ambition, as 36 of 40 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly yesterday, unanimously adopted Sanwo-Olu. According to a statement by the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, the decision was taken at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers which took place at Lateef Jakande auditorium of the House.

The meeting was presided over by the speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa. Out of the 40 members of the House, 36 were present at the meeting and all endorsed the decision and duly signed the statement announcing the decision.

Hamzat turns in support for Sanwo-Olu ...

Continued from Page 1 for the 2019 general election.

In the light of the latest development, Ambode therefore, faces tight battle, and it may take some miracle for the incumbent governor to emerge victorious in today’s contest.

Before now, many of the party stalwarts who initially showed interest and openly backed Ambode, had either turned their back or lost their voices. They include Oluremi Tinubu, the senator representing Lagos Central and wife of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the APC and most influential personality in Lagos’ politics. Another is Gbenga Ashafa , the senator representing Lagos East, who was with Ambode on the day of the governor’s declaration, but left him days after to join Sanwo-Olu during the latter’s

formal declaration at the City Hall, in Lagos Island.

Apart from being rumoured to be the anointed of the state party leadership, Sanwo-Olu has received ground-swelling endorsement by the Mandate Group, a formidable political force within the Lagos APC. The group in the last three weeks had been mobilising supports across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of the state, vowing Ambode will not return in 2019.

Also, chairmen of the 37 councils, their vice chairmen, councilors and ward chairmen are also rooting for Sanwo-Olu, while others, such as private waste operators, who have had a running battle with the Ambode-led administration, have also declared support for Sanwo-Olu. Kaoli Olusanya , a former commissioner for agriculture in Lagos, and a member of the Man-

date Group, last week appealed to councilors in all the councils in the state to remain steadfast with Sanwo-Olu and not be deterred by antics of those afraid to face the people at the primaries,” describing them as closest to the people.

“No politician knows the grassroots people better than you the councillors”. According to Olusanya, nothing would be taken for granted until the primary is lost and won. ‘It is on that note that I’d want you to work for our brother, friend and colleague, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu so that he can clinch the party’s ticket on Sunday, September 30, 2018,’’said the former commissioner.

Remi Shittu, vice chairman of the Councilors Forum, reiterated the endorsement of Sanwo-Olu by members of the forum, and pledged the support of his colleagues in the primaries.

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News Agbaje, Doherty in supremacy battle for Lagos PDP guber ticket INIOBONG IWOK

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he stage is set for what is expected to be a fierce contest between two top politicians, business mogul, Deji Doherty and Jimi Agbaje, who are expected to slug it out for the gubernatorial ticket of the Lagos chapter of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), at the party’s governorship primaries today.

The two notable politicians have long been political rivalries in the PDP in the state, and had previously contested for the party’s governorship ticket in 2011 and 2015.

However, in 2014, Agbaje had, against all odds, defeated Doherty and former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro at the party’s primaries to emerge the PDP candidate, but subsequently narrowly lost the governorship election to the incumbent, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC. Speaking recently on his ambition and reasons for picking the party’s nomination form, Agbaje said he decided to contest due to pressure from his teeming supporters across the state, stressing that he was confident that the party’s leadership would create a level playing ground for all the aspirants.

“It is true that initially I did not want to re-contest, but I had so many people urging me to run. I bought and submitted my nomination form shortly before

Agbaje

it closed. I will be part of the PDP Lagos governorship primaries,” he said.

“Our primaries have always been open, fair and free for all.

This is what we are known for, and that is the way I expect it to be,” he added.

“It is the people of Lagos State that will decide. The issues in the party will not impact negatively on votes. Most Nigerians now vote for individuals rather than party,” he further said.

Permutations ahead of the primaries This year’s primaries may perhaps be different from the 2014. Since the 2015 general election, the Lagos chapter of the PDP has been hit by protracted leadership crisis; initially between Moshood

Doherty

Salvador and Segun Adewale, both party stalwarts claiming to be the authentic state chairman.

Recent crisis was over sharing of state executive positions between Salvador and his presumed political godfather and leader of the party in the state, Olabode George; this culminated in Salvador’s recent defection to the APC. However, it is presumed that Agbaje is a close political associate of Salvador and was not happy with the way Salvador was treated by George before his eventual defection to the APC. Agbaje has not been seen in any PDP event in the state in recent time; he had refused to attend several meetings by Presidential aspirants with the state party leaders and delegates ahead of the presidential primaries, fuel-

SMEDAN raises committee on National Summit on growth, support initiative for artisans FELIX OMOHOMHION, Abuja

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steering committee for the forthcoming national summit on growth and support initiatives for Nigerian artisans and the informal sector has been inaugurated in Abuja.

The Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dikko Radda, who inaugurated the committee, said it became necessary because it is in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s economic recovery blueprint to aid artisans. The committee has 25 members.

“This initiative is in tandem with the present administration’s medium-term plan between 2017-2020, tagged Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), which is one of its strategic pillars among oth-

ers to drive industrialisation through focusing on MSMEs for the purpose of restoring economic growth while leveraging the ingenuity and resilience of the Nigerian people - the nation’s most priceless assets,” Radda said.

Everest Obijuru, national president, Association of Skilled and Vocational Artisans

Dikko Radda

of Nigeria (ASVAN), is to chair the committee.

The SMEDAN DG charged the committee to plan and hold the intended summit within the terms of reference as contained in the concept note and outlined framework for successful summit.

He further enjoined the committee members to work assiduously in delivering on the corporate objectives as a business membership organisation that has more future prospects in harnessing the strengths of her ever-growing association as well as taking cognizance of the challenges being faced in order to proffer lasting solutions.

In his presentation, Ernest Kemakolam, project coordinator of ASVAN, said the association aims at empowering Nigerian artisans protected by law and recognised as professionals in their respective trade after passing through some scrutiny.

ling insinuations that the disagreement between him, George and some leaders of the party in the state had not be resolved, which may work against his favour in the primaries.

This is unlike Doherty, who is said to be in the camp of George, and has been active and present in all recent PDP activities in the state.

Ahead of the primaries, analysts have predicted that Doherty may be George’s anointed candidate and could emerge as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos.

Doherty was an aspirant in 2014, but came last in the party’s primaries won by Agbaje; he is not seen as a grassroots politician with a strong political structure in the state capable of challenging

the APC. However, analysts have equally doubted his seriousness in the governorship race.

Speaking recently on the 2019 governorship election in the state, Doherty said that the PDP would win Lagos State because the resident of the state were tired of the current APC government, lamenting that the APC had failed to fulfil its promises to the electorate.

“It is strategy and not noise making that will make an aspirant win an election, commitment to the people and to God. Our strategy is good and we are committed up to the polling booths. We are going to rely on our votes.

“We are going to also rely on the dissatisfaction that Lagosians have from this APC government.

I think that is what is going to propel us towards winning the election.

“The non-indigenes, the Ijaws, the Igbo, the Hausa and the Fulani people are all aware of what they are not getting.

“The youth, the women, the low-income earners, the physically-challenged are aware that they have been deprived of certain things in a state where the internally generated revenue and the money they get from federation account is close to N50 billion on a monthly basis.

“We are actually looking at a government that has promised so much and has just done little and that is why we are very hopeful that when we come on board in 2019 we would change the narrative of governance in Lagos State,” Doherty said.

2019: Fresh concerns...

Continued from Page 2 are interpreted differently in states. It is a dangerous trend for democracy in the country ahead of 2019,” Ikwuazom said.

Frederick Fasheun, national leader of the Green Party (GP), said he doubted the possibility of INEC conducting credible elections next year.

“I don’t think the general elections next year would be credible. INEC has not been able to conduct free and fair elections in the country over the years – except Buhari would change the leadership before the elections. They have been saying they are committed to conducting credible polls, but I personally doubt that,” he said.

Yusuf Sanni, national chairman, Action Democratic Party (ADP), said the only way to overcome the current anomalies in the electoral system was for INEC to play by the rules.

“My concern is that INEC should conduct elections according to the provision of the electoral law. The electoral law

says that voting should be secret open but what we saw in Ekiti and other elections in the country has been different; it is open throughout.

“These methods give room for rigging and put the voters in danger because the party agents who are stationed beside the polling booth can just see who such individual voted for.

If INEC cannot provide cubicle, let them allow voting to be conducted far from the public view.

What we think now is that INEC is compromised and part of the rigging,” he said Despite the pessimism being expressed, the Commission has repeatedly said it was committed to conducting free, credible and all-inclusive election come 2019 General Election.

At a recent event in Benin City, Edo State capital, Mahmoud Yakubu, INEC chairman, said the Commission would deliver to Nigerians credible elections next year. He urged the cooperation of all citizens and the support of the International community.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

News

Alhassan’s dual resignation lowers APC chances in Taraba

…Writes Buhari…Oshiomhole explains JAMES KWEN, Abuja

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he chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning over Taraba State in the 2019 general election from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) appear very slim as the party’s backbone in the state, Aisha Alhassan resigned both her appointment as Minister and membership of the party.

Alhassan, who was the Taraba State APC Governorship candidate in the 2015 general election, Saturday resigned as Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, following her disqualification from contesting for the Sunday Governorship primary election.

The immediate past minister, who is popularly known as ‘Mama Taraba’ was screened out of the APC Governorship primary election along with the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu.

Alhassan, had in a letter of resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari dated September 29, accused the

National Working Committee of APC of grave injustice meted out to her by unconstitutionally disqualifying her from participating in the governorship primary election.

The letter read in part: “I write with a lot of respect to inform Mr. President on my decision to resign my appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Mr. President may also wish to recall that l wrote to notify you of my intention to again contest for Governor in my state in the forthcoming 2019 elections under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and you again graciously blessed my intention and wished me well through a letter personally signed by Mr. President which I appreciate and will forever cherish.

“Sir, I purchased the APC nomination forms and I went for the party screening on Thursday the 20th of September, 2018 along with ten other contestants for the governorship of my state, Taraba. I, with your permission proceeded to Taraba on

Alhassan

the 23rd of September, 2018 to prepare for the Presidential and Governorship primaries then scheduled for the 25th and 29th of September, 2018, respectively.

“While preparing for the primaries in Jalingo, I received with shock and dismay (a message) that

I was disqualified and not cleared to contest for the governorship election by the National Working Committee of the party (APC).

No reason was given for my disqualification sir.”

According to her, “Mr. President may wish to be informed that I had always

been a very committed and loyal party member and was at no time queried or admonished for any wrong doing or unconstitutional behaviour. Up to this time of writing this letter, no reason is given by the party for my disqualification to contest election under the APC.

“It is for the above reason Sir, that I feel grave injustice was done to me by the party (APC), therefore, my decision to leave the party and resign my appointment as Minister. If I am not qualified to contest election in the APC, I feel I am also not qualified to remain a Minister in an APC Government”.

But Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman, told journalists in Abuja that Alhassan was disqualified from vying for the party’s governorship ticket due who her questionable loyalty.

According to him, “The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs has issues that have to do with party loyalty. Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern.

“From all she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening, the NWC reviewed everything taken together and we arrived at the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that the APC requires for her to contest elections on our platform”.

Why I will pay priority attention to Experts roll out online platform to increase SME sector, by Imo guber aspirant education, awareness on cyber security SABINUS ELEMBA, Owerri

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tanley Amuchie, a frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Imo State, has said that he would concentrate on industrialisation if elected governor in 2019 This is as he stated that he would revamp the Onitsha Industrial Layout, in Irete, Owerri as the Small and Medium Enterprises sector has been globally seen as the engine and key of economic growth, playing an important role in prompting regional growth.

He promised that if elected the governor in 2019, the SME sector will be one of the priority areas of concentration by his government because of the huge potential in the sector; this, according to him will be followed by agriculture,

health and education.

Amuchie made this known during a ‘Face 2 Face’ interactive forum programme organised by the Imo State Correspondents’ Chapel in Owerri.

He said that he would revamp the Onitsha road industrial layout which the present government of Rochas Okorocha has been unable to do.

There were over 100 manufacturing firms in the Onitsha road industrial layout, but as the time of writing this story less than 10 companies are operating even at half of their installed capacity.

Amuchie said that he would revamp the layout to make it attractive to both local and foreign investors and professional business men and women.

“When there is conducive environment for businesses to operate, the internally generated revenue of the state would increase,” Amuchie said.

SEYI JOHN SALAU

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igerians have been urged to secure their lives and investments against online fraudsters by leveraging unique cyber information security awareness platform rolled out by certified experts.

The call was made at a media launch in Lagos of a platform, ‘Online Wisdom’ introduced by Great Life Technology Limited (GLT).

The initiative, introduced by e-business professionals, is targeted at inducing awareness on cashless economy and also providing comprehensive information and e-business security awareness campaign to organisations, banks, schools, individuals, families, government establishments, and the public.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos at the weekend, Managing Director, GLT, Martin Obiora, said: “While we en-

joy the beauty of technology, on the other hand, there are people who are all out to make sure they criminally enrich themselves. Technology has changed the way we live. From Fintech to Artificial Intelligence, to Internet of Things (IoT), to Internet of everything; these have transformed the way we live.

“There is an increase in digital banking fraud; organisations are being breached on a regular basis; the global rise in cyber threats, etc, so we want to create the proper awareness and educate people on what to do.”

The Managing Director said it was obvious that a good number of people may have already fallen victim to online scam and some have been defrauded through the electronic banking channels due to lack of awareness.

“Our objective is to stem the tide through our massive awareness campaign called ‘OnlineWisdom’. The channels that will be used to create the awareness in-

clude TV, radio, CDs, booklets, magazines, posters, partnership with schools and instructor led trainings.

“We are also establishing ‘’OnlineWisdom’ club in primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Through this channel the young minds will be enlightened and helped to remain safe as they use the internet,” Obiora said.

Of serious concern to the experts also is the enormous havoc cyber criminals wreak on children, teenagers, hence, Obiora said that part of GLT’s objectives is to use the platform to enlighten the public on how to protect their children, teenagers from the negative influence of the internet.

According to him, they are also out to educate the public to protect their online reputation, and enlighten the general public on steps to protect their computer from being compromised or hacked into.

Earlier, Sam Okenye, a Cyber Security expert and

member of the board of advisers, Cyber Security Professionals, noted that technology has broken barriers and transformed the way people live. He also said that it has affected all fields of human endeavour.

“All the information we need today are there on the Internet. But as we see the benefits that technology advancement has brought to us, we are also aware of the major threats we face today as a result,” he said.

According to Okenye, “Cyber security threat is a major threat and biggest of organisations that are making huge investments in cyber security are also under attack. Individuals are losing their hard-earned money; parents also do not know who is coaching their children online.”

“In spite of the numerous benefits of technology, cyber threats remain enormous. In dealing with cyber threats, online protection or security isn’t enough but human elements,” he said.

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News Buhari, APC have killed democracy in Nigeria - Fayose RAPHAEL ADEYANJU Ado Ekiti

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he out-going Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), of killing democracy in Nigeria with the outcome of what he described as electoral fraud in Osun State on Thursday.

Fayose was reacting to the declaration of APC’ s Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola as the winner of the September 27 re- run governorship poll in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He described the conduct of the poll as a show of shame to democracy, adding that Nigeria will now become a laughing stock before democracy adherents and lovers in the international community.

“With the show of shame that happened in last Saturday’s Osun State governorship election in general

Fayose

and the Thursday rerun in particular, there is no other conclusion to draw than that democracy is now dead in our beloved country,” he said.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, decried the conduct of the gov-

ernorship poll in Osun as well as its outcome, as a sham, alleging that it is a perversion of the will of the people rather than an encouragement of democracy. He further said that the APC had killed democracy with alleged rigging machinery deployed in Ekiti

State on July 14 and Osun on September 22 and 27.

“With what happened in Osun State, democracy is actually dead in Nigeria and we are in critical times.

The Osun supplementary elections were just a repeat of what happened in Ekiti State on July 14th. And it is unfortunate that, again, the will of the people has been perverted.

“It was obvious even to the blind that the Osun election, as was the case with Ekiti, was a contest between the PDP and the security agencies supervised by a compromised INEC,” he said.

Fayose added that the University professors also used as returning officers by INEC have, ab initio, been compromised and only serve the interest of those he described as their pay masters.

“Therefore, we want to believe that conscionable Nigerians and the survival of this country as a whole are at the mercy of God and of the judiciary. And if the judiciary fails to rise up to the occasion, Nigerians will be among men the most miserable,” he said.

‘Why Buhari’s 2nd term bid is being opposed’ UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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political analyst and a university lecturer at Michael Okpara

Buhari

University of Agriculture, Umudike, Sebastian Uremadu, a professor, has said that those opposed to the 2nd term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari, are doing so because he prom-

ised to hand over power to the Southeast in 2023.

Uremadu referred to a statement credited David Jemibewon where he said in a national daily that some retired generals were against President Buhari’s administration.

Reacting to the development in Umuahia, Abia State, Uremadu said, Mr. President’s stand on Igbo presidency, come year 2023 had gone a long way to confirming that the Hausa/Fulani love the Igbos more than any other tribes in Nigeria.

The political analyst, who wondered why some retired generals should oppose the 2nd term bid of President Buhari, said, “Why will they oppose his aspiration now that it is the turn of the Igbos to produce President of Nigeria in 2023 after Buhari’s 2nd term. Almost every general from the other geopolitical zones has risen against it.

The President of Arewa

youths is also against it.

“It goes to confirm late general Ojukwu’s remarks that the Generals who fought the civil war still see the Igbos as their enemies.

It also goes to confirm Oladipo Diya’s remarks during the sharing and allocation of appointments that the civil war was not fought to compensate the Igbos.

You can see that history is repeating itself.

“That suddenly all the people from Middlebelt have come up to say it is their turn to be President in 2019, is unfair to PMB and the Igbos.

“PMB should be allowed by the generals who fought the civil war to complete his term and hand over powers to the Igbos in 2023. If we still want One Nigeria”, he pointed out.

He however, advised that the Igbos need to change their attitude which other tribes detest and by so doing be acceptable to other tribes of Nigeria to rule.

FG has mapped out incentives to boost food security – Ogbeh UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

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he Federal Government says it has concluded plans to boost infrastructure for Agriculture and various innovations which will assist farmers attain commercial scale production and achieve food security.

Audu Ogbeh, minister of Agriculture and Rural Development stated this during the 2018 edition of the Africa’s premium Agric-show (Agrikexpo) which took place at the International Conference Centre Abuja.

He urged the organisers not to relent in confirming partnership with the ministry on the wider development of Agriculture in Nigeria.

Okechukwu Enelamah, minister of Trade and Investment, also speaking during the occasion described the agrikexpo as one the greatest agric shows in Africa which from inception had grown in relevance as a platform for the development of Agribusiness, from a stand point of new investments

and trade.

While touring the exhibition ground, Enelamah assured the participating companies he visited that the future of Agribusiness and investments in Nigeria remained one of the best in the world with Nigeria focusing very keenly on new partnerships and supports to stakeholders.

The three-day event which was declared open

by Victor Iyama, president of Federation of Agricultural commodities, partners of the the Expo saw about 100 exhibitors from all over the world participating.

Iyama, while speaking at the opening ceremony, noted that the event being a private-driven initiative, commended the support of the government and used the opportunity to draw concern towards the welfare of farmers and various operators in the Agricultural value chain He thanked all participants, sponsors and stakeholders for their various roles played during the exhibition despite some hiccups, adding that 2019 edition would witness wider partnership.

Akwa Ibom government has not received refunds from FG ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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kwa Ibom government says it has not received any refund for money spent on the construction of federal roads in the state.

Nsikan Linus Nkan, the commissioner for finance who disclosed this in Uyo, the state capital said the state Government has made several request and has even gone for verification exercise of its claims, however it has not received any money from the federal government in terms of refunds.

A report credited to Godswill Akpabio, in a recent interaction with newsmen had alleged that the federal government

has refunded N78billion to the state government for federal roads constructed during his administration.”

But in a reaction Nkan said the state has made several presentations to the national assembly and other relevant federal agencies, but till date, no money has been refunded to the state.

He re-iterated that Governor Emmanuel runs a transparent and accountable leadership, buoyed by his high profile integrity records which have endeared him to global business community.

This is what has earned for the state the confidence of investors who have made Akwa Ibom a destination of sort, for several industries and economic activities.

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News

We have no viable opposition in Kwara - PDP scribe SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, at the weekend insisted that the 2019 general election will be a walk over for it, saying the state lacks viable opposition.

The state secretary of the PDP, Rasaq Lawal stated this during an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the state capital.

Lawal posited that the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), lacks the cohesion needed to wrest

power from a formidable ruling party in the state, the PDP. He said the lack of cohesiveness and common leader has started manifesting in the internal wrangling over which mode to adopt for primaries by the state chapter of the APC. Lawal, a former commissioner for Special Duties in the state, observed that the opposition party lacks unity, unique leader, discipline, adding that “The opposition leaders place individual interest above public interest.”

“Any party that lacks the aforementioned qualities cannot win any election in the nearest future. The APC

should forget about winning any election in Kwara State in 2019. They should start preparing against 2023 because it takes time to inculcate election winning ingredients in parties,” he said.

The PDP scribe expressed optimism that his party will sweep all the elective offices across the federal and state levels during next year’s general election.

He said that apart from being blessed by a unique leadership in the person of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the party’s aspirants across board have pledged to sacrifice personal interest for public interest and have

decided to queue behind those that may emerge as party’s candidates for all elective offices in the state.

“Our aspirants had at different fora expressed their readiness to give necessary support to those among them that emerge as PDP’s candidates for all elective offices in the state.

This enviable feat is achievable because we are blessed with a working structure and purposeful leadership in the state. Our party is also populated by those whose primary objective in politics is to serve and ensure the welfare and well-being of the people,” he said.

SA meets West Africa as ‘Baby Mamas’ comes to Nigeria CYNTHIA IKWUETOGHU

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aby Mamas’ premiered at the Toronto Black Film Festival, had its African premiere at the Durban International Film Festival, and has also been screened at the New York African Film Festival earlier this year. It will be screened at the Lights Camera Africa Film Festival in Lagos today, Sunday, September 30.

The film is a comedy drama revolving around the daily lives, loves and drama of four professional women who are all in different stages of motherhood. As two of them struggle with the challenges that face single mothers, another finds out she is pregnant, and the other grapples with the fallout of an abusive relationship.

Written and directed by Stephina Zwane and produced by Salamina Mosese, the film boasts a star-studded cast.

Commenting on the movie - producer Stephina Zwane said, “Our generation is fortunate to have the privilege of being able to tell our story ourselves, so the first thing I’m going to do is always to tell the other side of our unique African story.

“It’s also important to show women who are smart, beautiful, funny, sassy, and that stand by each other’.”

‘These are the women that

we know and that we want to see more of on our film screens and on Television.’

Baby Mamas will be screened at the Lights Camera Africa Film Festival on September 30 at 7:15pm at the Muson Centre Lagos, by Sorele Media.

Sorele Media is a production company, founded by two young black females, Stephina Zwane and Salamina Mosese, with vast television and production experience. As producers, these two are not afraid to push the bar and think outside of the box.

As young black women, they are able to bring to the fore topics in their films, that are relevant to society, in a fun and unique way, and in this way, they are have developed into storytellers who are bringing to the fore stories that are both entertaining, thought provoking and compelling.

Their first foray into film saw the pair produce their first feature film, titled ‘Love and Kwaito’.

Written and Directed by Stephina Zwane, the project was first screened at the Nasrec Youth Expo (9- 17 June 2016), and was later one of the official selections for two local film festivals, namely the Johannesburg film festival and the Mzansi Women’s Film Festival. In 2017, Mzansi Magic licensed the film, in a three-year licensing agreement.

‘APC has killed NotTooYoungToRun law’ UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

L-R: Sandra Oke, The Boost management lawyer and Kay Jay Ogbonna, songwriter-singer at the signing of management deal with The Boost Entertainment recently

Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation seeks more govt support for widows Seyi John Salau

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orried by the poor living standard of most Nigerian widows, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) has called the Federal and State Governments to support non-governmental organisations working on interventions for widows and other less privileged in the society.

The Foundation, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in Lagos on Thursday, was established with a vision to reducing poverty among vulnerable children and women, especially wid-

ows in Nigeria, by working on interventions for increased access to quality education, primary healthcare, nutrition, social welfare and economic strengthening through sustainable development activities for the less-privileged in the society.

A A A F Fo u n d a t i o n through its intervention programme has pledged to give voice, hope, and hardship relief to the most vulnerable members of its host communities.

Speaking during the 10th anniversary lecture, Wale Afolabi, president of the Foundation said the celebration was aimed at creating awareness about the ac-

tivities of the foundation towards lifting widows out of poverty.

Afolabi said that government can assist existing foundations that are helping the widows because doing that will help the lives of widows to be lifted from poverty.

“Being a widow does not mean they are burden to the society, they are part of the society – if something happen to them, it is not there wish, but when it happens we have to see how we can help them improve their standard of living,” Afolabi added.

Sarah Sosan, former deputy governor of Lagos, who was the special guest at the 10th anniversary ceremony,

said the society and not the government alone should assist widows.

According to Sosan, government should formulate friendly policies to support individuals and organisations working on poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

“Government cannot do it alone but government can give some incentives or create platforms to bring Non-Governmental Organisations together to enable them make greater impact.

Corporate organisations should show more supports to foundations operating in local areas of the state that are not really accessible to touch their lives.

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hidike Ukauwa, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, has condemned the high fees his party fixed for nomination forms and expression of interest for all elective positions in 2019 elections.

He said with this development, the aim of the ‘ N o t To o Yo u n g To Ru n ’ Law which was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari had been defeated thereby making old men to perpetuate themselves in running the country aground.

Ukauwa, who initially indicated interest to run for the governorship of the Abia State, said that he decided to withdraw from the race when Sampson Uche Ogah showed interest to run, adding that Ogah is the only aspirant in the party that can deliver Abia from the present pharoahic adminsrtation in the state.

He dispelled rumours

making the rounds that he had been settled by Ogah to step down for him.

The frontline APC member noted that he started the struggle for the governorship position for over one year, adding that he was motivated to embark on the mission because of he wanted to salvage Abians from the Pharoahic administration in the state.

“I am not withdrawing because Ogah has settled me. He has not given me a kobo. Before I embarked on the mission, I asked Ogah whether he would come out but he said no. Now that he has come out and as decent and sincere human being who can salvage Abia, I decided to withdraw because I cannot fight my master,” he said.

The Nigerian students Ambassador noted that issue of Abia charter of equity does not exist in APC, adding that the party would only choose credible candidates to fly its flag during the 2019 elections no matter which of the three zones the persons may come from.

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News Abia APC guber aspirant pledges priority attention to Umuahia-Arochukwu Road UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

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hris Akomas, former deputy governor of Abia State and governorship aspirant on the platform of APC, says, if voted into power, he will put in N10 to N15 billion to reconstruct and rehabilitate the UmuahiaOhafia-Arochukwu Road because of the economic and historical importance of the road which traverses five local government areas.

Akomas, who spoke while kicking off his tour of local government areas in the state at Arochukwu in continuation of his campaign to pick the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it was out of place for any government to wait for the Federal Government to reconstruct this all-important road, noting that it was the people of the state who suffer the very deplorable condition of the road.

“If the road had been there, the cement factory would

Akomas

have taken off long ago, and would have employed our teeming youths,” Akomas said.

The APC governorship aspirant told his audience, “Chris Akomas is a human resource expert, a manager of man, material and resources and I have done that at both the private, national, public, and international levels. I have also done it in government. While in government, I brought innovations, creative ideas and these ideas are still yielding for Abia State.

“I come to you as Chris

Akomas and I have been in the field as a development person working with international organisation. I have been in the field, in the academic research, working with the United Nations. I have been in development, working with the World Bank. I have worked in the private and public sectors. I come with a complete package, experience, knowledge and I know what our problems are,” he stated.

He insisted that it is time for the people of the state to be brought together and develop a working plan - short, medium and long term- so as to move the state forward as well as place it where it is supposed to be even as he blamed lack of continuity in governance in the state as the root cause of the level of underdevelopment in the state.

“Chris Akomas will complete the other four years in APC for Abia South, and we will lay a solid foundation, the needed framework that will take Abia to the desired end, so that Abia can grow economically, socially and otherwise,” he said.

Ajegunle residents raise concerns about activities in low-standard hotels in area Sandra Bidebe Okoye

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esidents of Ajegunle have raised concerns about the activities in some low standard hotels in the area regarding them as centres of immorality for Nigerian youth.

They said some youths, regarded as the future leaders of the country seem to be engulfed by the services rendered by these hotels in Ajegunle and other parts of Lagos.

It was gathered that in the quest to make quick money, hotels in these areas have softened policies regulating immoralities with deepening levels of immoral acts amongst youths in such hotels.

Some residents strongly believe that hotels in Ajegunle no longer serve its purpose as an establishment providing accommodation, meals, relaxation and other services for travellers and tourists.

To a large extent these hotels are being used for various forms of immorality amongst youths especially

teenagers.

Eye witnesses explained that at night, these hotels are used as centres where young men and women smoke marijuana while some ladies are housed for prostitution.

Femi, a manager in one of the hotels said, “The owner of this hotel built it for visitors who have nowhere to stay, but Ajegunle youths has turned it into a podium where they smoke marijuana, and other hard substances”.

“The hotels in Ajegunle promote corruption amongst youths. So many prostitutes living there, coming out half naked corrupts to a large extent teenagers, some of whom might go the extra length in trying to get money to lie with these girls,” John, said.

Also, some residents doubt the status of these hotels, hence calling on authorities to check whether the hotels are registered with relevant authorities and belong to hoteliers association.

This is on the premise that a well registered hotel under the constitution will

curb to an extent promiscuity and immorality amongst clients.

The residents who are concerned about alleged nefarious activities in the hotels believe that the hotels are not serving their purposes as tourism centre.

Abigail, a resident, said: “Hotels in this our area have turned to something else, my children at their tender age can sing all the circular songs because right in my room the music can be heard. I wish the local government–Ajeromi-Ifelodun could do something about this situation by adopting a law that teenagers between the age of 12-17 should not be allowed into the hotel, she added’’ Opeyemi, another resident, also said that she thinks the reason youth always access these hotels could be because of the low cost of lodging. She thereby urged the hoteliers association to take a drastic action against the ugly development.

Observers say that such development puts the future of Nigeria at risk as the lives of the youth could be endangered by debauched living.

Crisis rocks APC in A/Ibom over 2019: Female presidential consensus candidacy aspirant pledges inclusive govt ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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risis is rocking the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the decision of key stakeholders to adopt a consensus arrangement in the selection of its governorship candidate.

Already, one of the aspirants for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district, Iniebehe Okori has reportedly accepted to step down for Godswill Akpabio, former senate minority leader.

Similarly, Nsima Ekere, the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is reported to have emerged as the consensus candidate for next year’s governorship election.

The decision was said to have reached after a meeting held at the country home of Okorie in Etim Ekpo local government area and attended by Akpabio, Ekere and Don Etiebet, a caucus chairman of the party in the state.

It was gathered that the two aspirants are to be officially presented to the peo-

ple of the senatorial district at a later date.

Addressing party faithful after senatorial district caucus meeting, the leader of the party, Etiebet, said the decision was reached for the common good of Akwa Ibom state.

“We leaders have decided tonight that Obong Nsima Ekere, be our governor in 2019, we have also decided to endorse Godwill Akpabio to represent the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district (Akwa Ibom North West).

“After individual experimentation, we have decided to work to take the decision for the common good of the people of Akwa Ibom state.

“We are going to work for our collective interest, we

Akpabio

recognised the importance of contributory arrangements that between us the leaders, all of us are known in the country and that if we go to Abuja, we can get something working together.’’

The state party chairman, Ini Okopido, expressed satisfaction that the leaders at meeting were able to bring out an amicable resolution that is binding all parties.

“I thank God that we have arrived at definite decisions one of which is to support Obong Nisma Ekere, for the governorship position of the state, support Godswill Akpabio, because when the national leaders our party came here they respected him and we have decided to respect so that he would not be like the proverbial prophet who is not respected in his home town” Okopido stated.

Speaking, Okori, who accepted to step down for Akpabio, assured that the decision of the elders would remain binding on all the parties involved.

“I must admit that we have a tough meeting that lasted for over four hours, but I thank God we were able to resolve and all of us as gentlemen will abide by the resolutions of the meeting.

UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

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ngela Johnson, a female presidential aspirant on the platform of Alliance for United Nigeria (AUN), has said that if elected as the President of Nigeria come 2019 she will run an all-inclusive government so as to improve on the decayed infrastructure.

Johnson, who made the promise in AUN party office

in Umuahia while receiving her expression of interest and nomination forms from the National Chairman of the party, Mike Ndu, said she would ensure that Nigeria is united as the name of the party says it all.

The presidential aspirant disclosed that before she joined AUN, she had studied the manifestoes of many political parties and found out that only AUN among the parties is gender-sensitive.

“Nigeria needs a united

force to grow and it is only AUN that can unite Nigeria.

No other party has the interest of the female gender at heart except AUN. All young people should rally round us to salvage Nigeria. I will not disappoint Nigerians. I will ensure that Nigeria is united,” said Johnson.

Ndu, the National chairman of the party, while handing over the forms to the aspirant, noted that his party would restore peace and unity in the country.

CIPM wants HR practitioners to act as business leaders SEYI JOHN SALAU

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s organisations struggle to keep pace with shrinking resources at work place, especially human resources considered as drivers of organisational goals, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), has urged Human Resource (HR) practitioners to act as business leaders within the organisation to ensure the success of the business.

This position was reached at the 30th induction ceremony of the CIPM, held

recently in Lagos where 70 top HR practitioners were inducted as full members of the institute through the executive route. The executive route is an initiative of the CIPM geared towards attracting business leaders and HR practitioners at the senior management/executive level or in a cross-functional management role in structured and recognised organisations across various sectors of the economy.

Abiola Popoola, managing partner, Context Consult and guest speaker at the 30th induction ceremony of the CIPM, themed ‘HR as business leaders,’ said HR key

responsibility is the people, therefore HR must understand how best to get, keep, grow, and deploy the talents available within the organisation to achieve greater results.

According to Popoola, the people within and organisation are the greatest assets of any organisation. HR leaders must ensure organisation has vision, hence they must learn, unlearned, and relearn on how best to help the organisation succeed. Popoola opined that as business leaders, the HR practitioner must deploy his/her HR expertise to solve business problem within the organisation.

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PhotoSplash

L-R: Nathaniel Ligbago, marketing manager, Equipment Hall; Ololade Olotu, solutions sales specialist, Dell EMC West Africa; Gbolahan Olayomi, CEO, Equipment Hall; Chioma Okpara, client solutions specialist, Dell EMC West Africa; Edem Kubiangha, senior manager, technology development, Equipment Hall, and Bolarinwa Dorojaiye, IT Systems Engineer II, Addax Petroleum, at the TechExec Breakfast Series 1.0 at FourPoints by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

L-R: Managing Partner of Sanni and Co., Abiola Sanni; Managing Partner of Growth Capital by CcHUB, Mr Adetunji Eleso; Television Continental (TVC) Director of Programme, Mrs Morayo Afolabi-Brown; Dufil Prima Foods Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Mr Tope Ashiwaju; Managing Director of Inside-Out Media Limited, Agatha Amata; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rise Networks, Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, social critic, Mr Adekunle Adeniyi and Managing Director of BD Consult, Mr Tola Badamosi, after the judges’ sitting to select 2018 Indomie Independence Day Award (IIDA) winners in Lagos.

L-R: Segun Ogunleye, senior brand manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc; Tokini Peterside, founder/director, ART X Lagos, and Amaechi Okobi, group head, corporate communications & external affairs, Access Bank PLC, at a Press briefing to announce ART X Lagos 2018, recently in Lagos.

L-R: Adejoke Oshodi-Olasukanmi, director of NGOs, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Sarah Sosan, former deputy governor of Lagos State; Okeowo Oyeleye, representing wife of Ogun State governor, and Wale Afolabi, president, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, during the 10th anniversary of the foundation in Lagos.

L- R: Channel Director, Nickelodeon Africa, Tasania Parsadh; Shimmer; Portfolio Manager, Non Alcoholic Drinks, Ngozi Nkwoji; Spongebob Squarepants; Country Manager Nigeria, VIMN Africa, Bada Akintunde-Johnson and Shine at the Nickfest 2018 festival.

L-R: Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Head of Mission/African Union’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations; Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Moussa Faki, Head of the African Union Commission, after the revitalization meeting on a peace agreement between the warring parties in South Sudan alongside the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73) Session in New York.

Emmanuel Oriakhi, marketing director, NBPlc. alongside Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leonardo; Michelangelo; Donatello; Raphael) at the Nigerian Breweries headquarters ahead of 2018 Nickfest With Maltina

L-R: Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation; Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, and Yemi Ogunbiyi, former Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria, during the inspection of Lagos-Ibadan light rail project in Ibadan. NAN

Sunday 30 September 2018

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Lagos-Ibadan railway: Amaechi summons contractor over shortage of equipment on site

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otimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has summoned the managing director of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over shortage of equipment and materials deployed for the ongoing LagosIbadan standard guage rail project.

Amaechi summoned the official during the monthly inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said that though he was impressed with the level of progress on the project, adding that for more to be done before the December deadline, more equipment must be purchased for the launching of beams.

According to him, CCECC needs to launch the beams in three months with more equipment, one launching toward Ibadan and the other toward Papalanto and Abeokuta.

Amaechi, however, scheduled a meeting with the CCECC managing director on Monday (tomorrow) to deliberate on the way forward on some of the challenges limiting the progress of work on the site.

“The problem with the launching of the beams is that they are ready to launch, but they don’t have enough equipment, if they

Ongoing construction of Onikan Stadium, in Lagos Island.

get enough equipment then they can launch more beams.

“However, if they don’t get more equipment then we have a problem.

“They have just two equipment, one launching from Ibadan now, which the company said still has five outstanding (bridge) then one launching from Papalanto to Abeokuta.

“They have about four or five (bridges) to Lagos and even if they want to launch them together it will take three months because if they don’t launch it, we can’t cross.

“We are impressed with the work they have done from Ibadan to Abeokuta, because of the choice of station location in Abeokuta they completely abandoned it from

Abeokuta to kilometre 133.

“However, we drove up to kilometer 89, meaning that it was just two more kilometres to get to the MKO Abiola pavilion.

“They have relatively done well, I think by December the whole work should be ready that won’t be the problem.

“The problem is launching of beams to cross and the laying

of tracks because you can’t lay tracks unless you cross the bridge that is why I said they need to get more equipment,” he said.

The minister said he wanted to see their work programmes, reason he asked the managing director to see him.

He stressed the need for the company to possibly buy more equipment, to fast-track the project, saying that only bridges and minor civil works are left.

Amaechi, however, said that they are still on course to meet the December deadline, adding that the issue on the stations’ design would be concluded in two weeks.

The minister noted that what worried him now was not the issue of pipes, saying that there was disagreement with the design between team and CCECC, not in terms of structural, technical or electrical but that they have not brought it for the team to approve.

He said that the government has given them two weeks to return all the design of all the stations, saying some of the stations won’t take up-to two months to be completed.

Amaechi explained that they still have two years more to complete the contract, saying that Nigerians are eager to see results.

(NAN)

Independence Day Jumat: Ambode Police deny clash btw OPC, Hausas in Lagos …say report capable of breaching peace urges prayers for Nigeria JOSHUA BASSEY

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o v e r n o r o f La g o s St a t e , Ak i n w u n m i Ambode has called on Lagosians and other Nigerians to pray for Nigeria and the leaders for continuous divine guidance in their quest to build a stronger party a united and progressive nation.

In a message to Lagosians during the Special Jumat Service on Friday, September 28, to mark the 58th independence of Nigeria, delivered on his behalf by AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, the commissioner for home affairs, Ambode said, he and some other leaders “are committed to the development and growth of the nation.”

He said the commitment was a statement of interest in seeing all Nigerians thrive and proud of their country.

According to him, all Nigerians, especially Lagosians must continue to have faith in the destiny of the nation, and of the state, and not relent in their prayers for the country and our leaders.

He said “we must cooperate with them, collaborate with one another and work selflessly as we have committed in our national

anthem and pledge.

In his sermon titled, “The desire of Allah for Nigeria,” Moutoib Adams, the officiating imam, “as a nation we have made some progress since independence in 1960”. He, however, “wondered if we should not have made much more progress and achieved better stability if, we, leaders and the led, have conducted our affairs in the ways Allah has enjoined.

Adams said that God loves Nigeria and has been kind to the nation, blessing it abundantly, especially in terms of human and mineral resources.

He lamented that many of the “sad tales we are telling are by our owing doings.”

Quoting relevant verses from the Quran, he said Allah “will not change the way of the people, except they change (their affairs) by their own hands.”

He advised that in building a nation where there would be justice and fairness, a nation that is united in peace, living freely and growing together as one in “brotherhood of humanity,” every Nigerian has a role to play. He implored Nigerians not to cheat others, but more loving, more tolerant, supportive and readily assist one another.

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he police in Lagos have denied there was a clash between members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the Hausas in Ejigbo area of the state.

Chike Oti, the spokesperson of the police in Lagos, who dismissed the media report in which some persons were purportedly killed, described it as false and therefore capable of breaching peace in the state.

He said that the police at Ejigbo got information about the arrest of a suspected motorcycle thief and some persons attempted to secure his release from the police.

“The incident happened on Tuesday at Powerline Area, Ejigbo, at about 5 a.m. The local vigilante group in the area arrested the suspect and informed the police.

“Operatives from Ejigbo came

Suspected cultist shot dead

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agos State police command say a suspected cultist has been shot dead during a gun duel with operatives in Ishashi area of the state.

Chike Oti, spokesman of the command, said that Olamide Oloruntobi, 31, a suspected leader of the dreaded Aiye confraternity, was killed at Durosooto Street, Celenizer, New Mebamu, Ishashi at about 9:00pm According to Oti, the police stormed the area following a distress call that the group was terrorising residents.

Oti said that the hoodlums allegedly opened gunfire on sighting the police team.

“This led to a hot exchange of gunfire. When the dust settled, Olamide Oloruntobi was found

dead while other members of the gang fled.

“A locally made pistol with live ammunition was recovered, while the body has been deposited at Badagry General Hospital mortuary for autopsy,” Oti said in a statement.

Oti said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Lagos, Edgal Imohimi, had charged operatives in the area to arrest the fleeing gang members.

Imohimi called on parents and community leaders to prevail on their children or subjects who were members of the unlawful groups to renounce cultism and surrender their weapons to the police.

The CP promised to reintegrate the cultists into the society with the help other stakeholders.

to the scene to take away the suspect and some people started hauling stones against the police.

The operatives refused to use their arms against the people to avoid casualties.

“The police succeeded in going away with the suspect, currently detained at Ejigbo police division.

“One locally-made pistol was recovered from the suspects.

No other arrest had been made,” he said.

1 killed, 5 injured in Lagos-Abeokuta road crash

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12-year-old girl has lost her life in an accident that occurred at Awowo on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, with five others injured.

Babatunde Akinbiyi, the public relations officer of TheTraffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) of Ogun State, confirmed this.

Akinbiyi said the accident which occurred at about 1: 45pm, Thursday, involved a Nissan Murano with registration number FST 764 HB coming from Lagos and inbound Abeokuta.

The TRACE spokesman explained that the accident was caused by excessive speed which resulted in the jeep losing control and somersaulting.

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Bolatito Adebola Mobile: 08053859391, email - iambolatito@gmail.com twitter - @iambolatito

Skye Bank MD, Tokunbo Abiru’s giant strides Jite Okoloko’s big factor in Agriculture

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very human being has the potential to show his or her own salient attributes and leadership qualities and these vary from individual to individual especially when they occupy top managerial positions in their respective organizations. This defines the substantial and impressive leadership qualities which epochal Tokunbo Abiru has brought to bear since he assumed office as the MD/CEO of an almost dwindling defunct Skye Bank now Polaris Bank. As the helmsman of new generation bank, Skye Bank, he is daily proving pundits wrong that age is not a big factor when it comes to efficient service delivery and well-focused administration, even in the face of persistent oppositions from both within his bank and other financial services providers. Many may not agree with the phenomenal status of very unassuming financial guru, Tokunbo Abiru, and this is because the man doesn’t brook sycophancy and undue publicity, going about his job quietly and diligently. Like it is often said, history is normally written by champions, and sometimes they rewrite it. But very few champs excite the splendid tribute of a big player in the wake of their most glorious feats.

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Toks, as the Managing Director of Skye Bank Plc, however, presents a remarkable difference and distinction. While Tokunbo Abiru might not be a failure, he and his team apparently failed in the mission to save Skye Bank Plc from the same trouble that cost his predecessor, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, his job.

This is a glaring fact, despite CBN’s statement saying otherwise. Yet,

the apex bank has decided to retain him (alongside other members of the board), to continue the leadership of Polaris Bank. Tokunbo Abiru is a business executive and former politician who was born 55 years ago, and is closing all the gaps that could affect his position as the leader, and there are indications that everything is working perfectly well for him.

How Cornfield Group Chairman, Agbeyo, soars

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e is a man with many antecedents, and he comes along with valuable experiences. Dr. Babatope Agbeyo has come to register his name in the firmament of the Nigerian enterprise world, having risen from grass to grace and is now standing shoulder to shoulder with industry giants.

He is the Chairman Cornfield Group, a conglomerate of ICT and related business ventures.

Enterprising Tope has shown through his diverse business exposure in Nigeria and abroad that success is the result of hard work, resilience, focus and drive. A Dramatic Arts graduate of OAU, Ile-Ife and

Masters degree holder in Media and Mass Communications Studies from Birmingham City University UK, ‘Tope has been able to merge these two dif-

ferent disciplines to make a name for himself in his career choice, and he is still not yet done, using all the opportunity available to him to explore the many opportunities that are abound in the country. He has taken his industry to many oversea countries, the most recent of which was in May, last year in UK where he attended a conference themed ‘Secured Document World,’ which had world powers in attendance to talk about security documents. At the conference, Nigeria was used as an example of a country with the highest fraudulent document globally.

Between PMB and Wale Tinubu

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hen a son is good and inspiring, his father will always carry him along in everything he does.

President Muhammadu Buhari has a liking in the Onado boss, Wale Tinubu, and this has been evident in virtually all the trips he makes to different states and even abroad. Many may seem to wonder how bespectacled Wale Tinubu manages to be on the train of Buhari, despite his tight and busy schedules at Oando. Those in the know divulge that Wale has a deep fountain of knowledge, intellectual repository and

high level of business acumen; and these are attributes which PMB sees in the Lagos Big Boy and oil and gas industry player.

If you are still in doubt, the story of his steady rise in the oil and gas sector as one of the biggest players is proof that he was born under the proverbial lucky star, and that story must surely be in the making, if not yet completed. The lucky dude, that he is, is not in any hurry to release his memoirs for public consumption, because he believes he is still an evolving phenomenon. Wale Tinubu is up to the task and he is leaving

here is no need mentioning the name of Onajite Okoloko, who has an intimidating pedigree, when it comes to making money. Onajite Okoloko has over the years, come to register his name in the firmament of the Nigerian enterprise world, having risen from grass to grace, and is now standing shoulder to shoulder with industry giants. He is the efficacious Chairman of Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, and also the Managing Director and CEO of Notore Chemical Industries and sundry related business ventures. Onajite Okoloko has shown, through his diverse business exposures in Nigeria and abroad, that success is the result of hard work, resilience, focus and drive. Versatile and very dynamic Okoloko is still not done, using all the opportunities available to him to explore the many opportunities that abound in the country and abroad. Okoloko has achieved much, yet he is not quick to talk about his achievements, endorsing the school of thought which preaches that accomplishments should speak for themselves. As a track record, in 2011, he was named the inaugural winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Emerging Entrepreneur category for the West African region. He is indeed one of Africa’s silent revolutionaries in the area of economic

Gibraltar boss, Sir Olu Okeowo’s love for humanity

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no stone unturned to make sure that he retains his plum post at Oando plc group.

development of the continent.

His Notore Chemical Industries Plc is listed N1.61 billion ordinary shares of N0.50 each at N62.50 per share a few weeks ago on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

At its listing price, this amounted to a market capitalization of N100.63 billion. The new listing has created some new billionaires and increased the valuation of already existing ones. Okoloko has an indirect stake of 400,308,279 shares in the company amounting to a 24.8% stake. At the recent closing share price, which amounts to about N25 billion. His total holdings in the company are thus valued at N25.2 billion. Men like Okoloko are the people we need to take us to the next level.

ir Olu Okeowo, Chairman of Gibraltar Property is man of proven and immense wealth, a lover of humanity and an embodiment of philanthropy, whose milk of humane kindness, like an inestimable fountain, has endlessly flowed to whet parched throats and soothe frayed nerves across the land. He is to this extent highly regarded, respected and honoured in the society. This is a man, whom many describe as a man of excellence, integrity, and an exemplary leader; again played his usual major role as he donation Sir Olu Okeowo Physiotherapy Centre, the new Physiotherapy Building at the College Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba that has just been com-

pleted will be dedicated and commissioned coming Wednesday.

The commissioning is expected to be graced by top scholars, businessmen, politicians and high level government officials.

The gesture as confirmed makes him one of the biggest donors to the department and the building, set him back with over half a billion naira, as we talk now looks like the biggest physiotherapy laboratory in any Nigerian university.

The property mogul is known to have a soft spot for advancement of humanity. Indeed, people who have come in contact with him also affirm that he’s always in constant quest to influence and give back to the society.

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News Feature

No solution in sight, as Labour shuts down banks, hospitals, others …as Taskforce pickets JAMB, FMC Abuja, construction firm KEHINDE AKINTOLA, HARRISON EDEH, OYIN AMINU & STELLA ENENCHE, Abuja

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he seven-day warning strike declared by the organised labour took its toll on the economy as workers in the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy including aviation, oil and gas, banks, health and other financial institutions as well as federal and state ministries, departments and agencies joined the industrial action.

As at Friday, coalition of labour, and civil society groups embarked on picketing of three organisations in Abuja.

They are: Joint Admission Matriculation Board, Bwari Area Council; Federal Medical Centre, Jabi District and one Construction company located at Idu industrial Layout.

Our Correspondent further gathered that the picketing of various MDAs and private organisations will continue on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the reconciliatory meeting held on Thursday evening at the instance of Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari with the leadership of the three labour centres: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) did not yield any positive result as workers stayed away from work on Friday.

According to Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, the Tripartite Committee on national Minimum Wage chaired

by Amma Pepple is expected to reconvene on Thursday, 4th October, 2018.

A handful of National Assembly workers who resumed early at work on Thursday and Friday, were compelled to quit their respective offices, as the executive of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) enforced the industrial action directive.

In the same vein, the leadership of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) directed all its members working in all the public health facilities to stay away from work until further directive from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Our Correspondents, who monitored the strike across Abuja and other parts of the country, observed that workers at the National Assembly and various federal ministries and agencies (MDAs) including Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Productivity

who turned up at their various offices, were prevented from gaining entry.

Speaking on the development, Monday Osasah, Programme Office for African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development in a chat with BDSUNDAY observed that the industrial action if not nip in the board may spell doom for the country’s economy.

“The strike action is an ill-wind to the economy .The Government seems to be recalcitrant and adamant in the whole issues. It shouldn’t be allowing issues to be settled through strike.

“Shortfall is also looming in the oil sector because once we are not able to meet our daily oil production targets which are the mainstay of the economy; we may slide back to recession.

“Once the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers Union, the Oil is the mainstay of the economy and the major resources we used in planning the budget, and the daily projection of the revenue from oil is part of what we have used to plan our budget, hence there is going to be a shortfall. Once there is shortfall, the economy is depressed,” the Civil Liberty expert added further.

On her part, Fausat Bello, a Level 9 officer in Federal Ministry of Justice who applauded the step taken by the organised labour, however, argued that the “timing is really bad”.

According to her, “NLC should have at least allowed us (workers) to receive this month’s salary before embarking on the strike. I speak with you now; I don’t have enough cash because I just paid my children’s school fees. Nobody to assist me, I’m a widow.

“My fear now is that the government should not say no work no pay because I don’t trust this government when it comes to handling delicate issues. It doesn’t speak well of a government who said it is fighting corruption. If you are truly fighting corruption, then you should take the welfare of citizens very seriously. You can’t tell a hungry man not to steal when the opportunity comes.”

On his part, a Director in one of the core ministries at the Federal Secretariat who pleaded anonymity also aligned with the organised labour’s directive, saying: “I am happy with the strike because at least I will have time to take care of my small businesses.

“Although weighing the other aspects, I pray the Federal Government and labour come to an agreement fast so that the economy does not collapse. Whether you admit it or not, there are people who will not have money to feed their families as long as the strike continues because what they generate from their daily sales at the Federal Secretariat that they use in sustaining the home front. We all know you aftermaths of that. So please government should act fast,” he urged.

As the strike commences, motorists have embarked on panic buying at various filling stations.

Hundreds of bank customers who visited the ATM points expressed frustrations over the long queues as they were unable to make withdraw.

“On my way to the secretariat, I realised that the road was not busy at all, vehicles were moving into the fuel stations to buy fuel but no sign of queue or panic buy-

Ayuba Waba, NLC President

ing of fuel as compared to Kubwa.

“Federal Secretariat is a shadow of itself on getting there as mostly junior staff of the ministry did not bother to be at work. I met a Director I know who came to the office but was denied entrance as a result of laying of siege on the buildings. On asking what the next line of action would be, the director said ‘there is nothing I can do than to go back home.

Look at it yourself now, our offices have been blocked and nobody is allowed to enter,” he told our Correspondent.

Probing further on what he feels about the strike action, he argued that: “times are hard for people as salary is stationed at a fixed amount without any increment while every other thing, transportation fare, food, electricity tariff and all things is on the increase, and said the strike action is justified and went further to say that the government would have come to an agreement with the labour union leaders to avert the strike action.”

While briefing on the strike action, Josiah Biobelemoye, MHWUN President who spoke at a press briefing held in Abuja, explained that the National Minimum Wage is a constitutional matter under the Labour Act of 2004 which set the standard for the minimum amount of naira a worker in Nigeria supposed to earn.

According to him, in 2004, the Minimum Wage was set at N5,500 per month, was increased to N18,000 in 2011 through the review of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2011.

“However, it is important to note that by the National Min-

imum Wage Act of 2004, the National Minimum Wage is supposed to be reviewed after every 5 years, but from 2004 when it was reviewed to 2011 when it was last reviewed was 7 years.

“The next National Minimum Wage review was due in 2016.

However, the present administration pleaded with labour for understanding based on the fact that the economy was down, the administration was new and international crude market was dull.

“The organised labour took into consideration the financial predicament of this administration then, and pleaded with Nigerian workers for patience and understanding. We are told the economy is out of the woods, but inflation has eaten up the pittance known as minimum wage as the take home pay of the Nigerian worker can no longer take him home. Still government is being insensitive to the plight of the Nigerian worker.

“Recently, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, on her visit to Nigeria declared Nigeria to be the poorest country in the world. This is because our minimum wage is insignificant. She was speaking the mind of the international community.

“As the organised labour in conjunction with civil society allies commence warning strike to protest the refusal of the Federal Government to order the immediate resumption of the meeting of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee in order for them to conclude their work, we at the Medical and Health WorkContinues on Page 27

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Feature

The Platform Nigeria: Changing mindsets one step at a time

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CHUKS OLUIGBO

omorrow, October 1, 2018, all roads will lead to The Covenant Place, Iganmu (beside The National Theatre), for yet another edition of The Platform Nigeria.

Organised by the Covenant Christian Centre under the guidance of Poju Oyemade, its senior pastor, The Platform has since inception become a catalyst for change in the society. Oyemade, who was ordained into ministry by Bishop David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of Living Faith Ministries Worldwide, is a teacher of the Word of faith with insight into how believers can apply biblical principles in a pragmatic and practical way in their daily lives.

Essentially, The Platform, which has become a global media event holding twice every year – on May 1 (Workers’ Day) and October 1 (Nigeria’s Independence Day) – is an intellectual fair geared towards helping people to create opportunities and develop their potentials. Annually, it brings prominent speakers from all around the world under one roof to share ideas, innovations and insights.

The vision of the initiative is to stimulate and inspire Nigerians, by facilitating the development of the proper mindset and right thinking processes through learning sessions that enable people to optimally utilise opportunities available to them in the country today. The Platform Nigeria events are, therefore, designed to facilitate growth in the areas of personal capacity, productivity and national development within Nigeria.

Tomorrow’s edition, tagged ‘Beyond Politics: The New Tribe of Africans Fighting Poverty and Changing the Face of the Continent’, will feature speakers like Victor Oladokun, an internationally recognized media practitioner, director of Communications, African Development Bank Group and CEO, 3D Global Leadership, a media consultancy and strategic leadership development company; Bosun Tijani, CEO, Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB); Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, CEO & co-founder, Flutterwave, and Adepeju Jaiyeoba, founder, Brown Button Foundation.

Others are Mosunmola Umoru, founder & CEO, Farmshoppe; Evon Benson-Idahosa, founder/ED, Pathfinders Justice Initiative; Orondaam Otto, founder, Slum2School Africa; Clare Akamanzi, CEO, Rwanda Development Board; and Oscar Ekponimo, founder & CEO, Chowberry.

The Platform has over the years featured as speakers some of the best brains in business, politics, academia, arts and entertainment, and other walks of life.

The roll call of previous speakers include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese; Oby Ezekwesili, former vice president at the World Bank; Ibukun Awosika, chairperson, First Bank of Nigeria Plc; Mitchell Elegbe, founder and CEO, Interswitch Group; Seun Onigbinde, cofounder, BudgIT; Taiwo Oyedele, partner, head of tax and corporate advisory services, PwC Nigeria; Itoya Ijewere of Best Foods Group and past president, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria; Anthony Kojo-Williams, former chairman, Nigerian Football Association; Judy Smith, American author and founder/CEO, Smith & Company; Pat Utomi, professor of po-

Poju Oyemade

litical economy, management expert and founder, Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL), and Nimi Akinkugbe, founder and CEO, Bestman Games.

Others are Prince Bimbo Olashore, chairman, Board of Governance, Olashore International School; Abdul-Ganiyu Garba, a professor and former head, Department of Economics, ABU, Zaria; Roman Oseghale, head consultant, Intelserve Inc.; Andrew Nevin, partner, financial services advisory leader and chief economist, PWC West Africa; Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State; Anil K. Gupta, a leading expert on strategy, globalization, and emerging markets and the Michael Dingman Chair in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business; Haiyan Wang, managing partner of the China India Institute and adjunct professor of strategy at INSEAD; Magatte Wade, founder, Adina World Beverages and Tiossano and a 2011 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader; Luis Alexandre Chicani, founder and CEO, DentalCorp Brazil and DentalCorp Chile; Pius Adesanmi, a professor of literature and African studies at Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada; Segun Adeniyi, chairman of editorial board, ThisDay Newspapers; Bolanle Austen-Peters, founder, Terra Kulture; Alibaba, founder/CEO, Alibaba Hiccupurray, among others.

Themes have ranged from ‘Thinking Outside the Box’ to ‘Enterprise and Governance: The Bull and the Ballot Box’, ‘Cultural Innovation’, ‘Pragmatic steps to moving Nigeria forward – How Understanding & Building the Right Institutions is Driving the Growth of Nations’; ‘Nigeria, What is in Your Hands? Tapping into Our Dead Economy, Looking beyond Our Oildriven Economy’, ‘Nigeria, Our Journey So

Far: What Next?’; ‘The Nigerian Economy’; ‘Understanding the New Global Economy: How the Internet, Social Media and Technology is Driving Business & Entrepreneurship’, among others.

Topics have also included ‘Nigeria: Euphoria, Hysteria and Dementia: Still a long walk to freedom; ‘A holistic look at the Nigerian economy and its potentials’; ‘Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Scale Businesses as the Vehicle for economic growth’; ‘The untapped potential in technology’; ‘Unboxing Opportunities with Power of Data’; ‘Nigeria Beyond Oil, The Crude Reality’; ‘Potentials in Agriculture’; ‘Untapped potentials in Sports, Football as a case study’; ‘The untapped potentials in Arts and Entertainment Industry’, among others too numerous to mention.

Both the themes and topics have always been selected with due consideration for their relevance to Nigeria’s continued quest for greatness.

When he chose ‘Cultural Innovation’ as the theme of the May 1, 2012 edition of The Platform, for instance, Oyemade said it was in line with his belief that it was the key to the progress of Nigeria.

“Every emerging nation as the term is used today needs to learn the basic principles of advancement from the more advanced nations, but it’s important we do not take their models but learn their principles. Their models have the DNA of their culture in it that makes it impossible to work that well elsewhere without adapting it to fit the environment,” he said.

Also announcing The Platform 10.1, which had the theme ‘Pragmatic steps to moving Nigeria forward – How Understanding & Building the Right Institutions is Driving the Growth of Nations’, Oyemade said, “Today we stand at a very

critical place in the history of our country Nigeria. For the first time, one can feel among the thinking and educated class of Nigeria a certain level of discontent with the way things are. Some ask, with all the bloodletting and corruption seemingly rampant in every strata of society, is the project called Nigeria viable or worth it?

“Yet outside that environment hearing the thoughts and the voice from certain centres of power on the global level, it is clear that the geographical space is loaded with potential. It is recognized as a powerhouse with possibilities and potentials crippled only by the fangs of corruption.”

But it was perhaps Peter Obi’s expose on the wastage in government that brought The Platform to the notice of many people. Obi spoke on the October 1, 2016 edition of The Platform.

Coming at a time Nigeria was plunged in an economic recession, Obi’s speech on cutting the cost of governance resonated with many Nigerians and went viral on the internet. It attracted many comments, with some even calling for Obi to gun for the country’s presidency.

Sharing his experience as a governor, Obi spoke about how he cut cost by visiting Abuja alone, without the usual retinue of aides, whenever the need arose.

He also advised governors to scrap the Office of the First Lady which, he said, gulped N2 billion monthly.

“It costs an average of N2 billion to run the Office of the First Lady in every state in Nigeria. Multiply by 36,” Obi said.

“Nigeria can still function on its income if only we learn how to cut cost. We need to cut the cost of governance. No governor needs a house in Abuja; governors don’t live in Abuja. Government House is not a restaurant, I told my cook to cook for only one person,” he said.

In an article published October 9, 2016, Poju Oyemade said Obi’s “intervention on the waste that defines governance in our country today has touched a very deep nerve with many Nigerians, including me”.

“Indeed, I strongly believe that the political elite will be making a big mistake if they think the landscape will remain the same after such a revealing presentation,” Oyemade said in the article ‘Beyond Peter Obi’s Speech at Platform Nigeria’.

“It must be clear to every Nigerian at home and in the Diaspora that a sound has gone out on a serious abuse of public trust.... I hope all the office holders in our country (whether in the private sector or in the public arena) can hear what the Spirit is saying: the cry of accusation in the area of wastage is an accurate voice that changes the game. It is important that Nigerians make the adjustments before the Lord shows His hand in the affairs of our country and it becomes too late to change,” he said.

While it may be difficult to measure its impact in concrete terms over the years, there is no doubt that beyond the vibes it has generated, The Platform has been inspiring many Nigerians and changing mindsets one step at a time.

The mammoth crowd that gathers at the venue every year is a testament to that. As Margaret Mead, the late American cultural anthropologist, once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

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For the Records Governance is not about lies and propaganda – Governor Emmanuel Being text of an address by Governor Udom Emmanuel on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

My dear Akwa Ibomites My wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel and I congratulate you all on the occasion of the 31st Anniversary of the birth of our State. We should all be very proud of what God has done for us as a people in the past 31 years; the developmental strides we have witnessed, the rising profile of our State, the redefinition of our identity, from a people whose voices were not to be heard at the table of decision makers, even when decisions taken had profound effects on the lives and the fortune of our children. We should be proud and give praise ONLY TO GOD for taking us out of that valley of despondency to the mountain of hope and self-fulfilment. Let me salute all our past leaders for their contributions towards the rewriting of the Akwa Ibom story.

Fellow Akwa Ibomites, I am happy to announce that the state of our State is strong and on the right track. However, it is that happy and glittering Akwa Ibom story which we are all proud of today to tell, that today, is at the risk of being returned to the dark chapters we had worked hard and collectively shredded and rejected. It is that great story of a people who had been emancipated from internal slavery and cruel domination, from the naked and broad daylight stealing of our commonwealth and common blessings that today is at risk of repeating itself.

My dear compatriots, the future of Akwa Ibom State that has become a source of pride to us as a people and even to fellow Nigerians is in serious jeopardy.

We are at an important point in our State’s history, a moment that recommends a Pan-Akwa Ibom mind-set; where the Ibibios, the Annangs, the Oros and others must stand up and celebrate our hard-fought freedom and help secure the future of our children. If we miss this moment, if we allow the raw desire of an individual to supersede the collective interest of our people, we will forever remain bound by the shackles of domination and slavery. May God never allow affliction to happen a second time!

Fellow Akwa Ibomites, we are confronted with two stark and distinct choices: the choice of living in a State that is peaceful, devoid of kidnappings, politically motivated assassinations and where the security of lives and property is assured or a return to the fearful years when death and insecurity walked on two legs; where people were afraid to visit or pursue their legitimate

Udom Emmanuel

businesses for fear of being kidnapped or outrightly murdered. It is a chapter in our State’s history we wished had not been written!

We have a choice between our freedom, that of our children and the utilisation of our God given resources to develop our State at our own pace while securing a prosperous future for our children or the choice of those who want to sell our State on bended knees to the highest bidders just to secure their political future. The interest of one man cannot override our collective good. Akwa Ibom interest must supersede one person’s interest.

Can we afford to sell our State to those who had once enslaved us, simply to satisfy the desire of an individual or a tiny percentage of those who permanently think they have an eternal sense of entitlement to power and our wealth? May God not allow affliction to happen a second time.

My fellow Akwa Ibomites, you have a choice of continuing on the path of steady growth of our State and our people, of a State that is fast industrialising and where our youths are gainfully engaged and have a reason to dream and dare or a return to the years when the promise of industries in each of the 31 Local Governments Areas were made with fanfare and not even a cottage industry was established; where monuments were built with great fanfare instead of Projects that have enduring benefits to our people. Remember, building monuments is not the same thing as building lasting and economically viable projects.

You have the choice of having a society where our youths are being developed and asked to dakkada and use the works of their hands to earn a living, or

a return to the dark days where they were only seen as thugs to be used and dumped by their political paymasters. Akwa Ibom youths, is this what you deserve?

I have heard people boast of using and dumping you justifying the reason for doing so, on the morally shocking reason that, “they were paid to do the job, and therefore, should expect nothing more,” Akwa Ibom youths, this is not about Udom Emmanuel, this about your future and you have a choice to embrace progress or embrace darkness?

My fellow Akwa Ibomites, we have a choice of educating our children and equipping them with the skills- set that would make them compete with their compatriots like the students of Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School (NASCO) in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area who recently won academic laurels in Stockholm, Sweden, thus bringing glory to our State.

You have a choice to have a State where no child is left behind on the lane of education and where the quality of education received can compare to those in private schools, or the other choice which is to seek faults and engage in propaganda without telling us what they have done.

We have a choice, my fellow brothers and sisters of continuing to enjoy the steady electricity made possible through our massive investment in power sector, or return to the dark days when every home had “I better pass my neighbour generator with the noise pollution that comes with it.

You have a choice to continue to enjoy our economically viable road network, where every part of this State is covered- parts such as Obot Akara in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, where the

Nto Edino-Azu-Ekwereazu Road has ended the reign of tears and pain the people of the area had experienced, where children were drowning from makeshift canoes that took them to school daily, or parts of Mbo or Ini Local Government Areas where for more than eight years, not a single kilometre of road was constructed, but today, these areas enjoy good roads.

When they lie to you my dear Akwa Ibomites about what we have achieved, you should ask them to show you what they have used the massive budget to do for Akwa Ibom people. Governance is not about lies and propaganda, governance is about character, integrity, transparency and doing the job of the people. Governance is not about giving people fraudulent contract papers for road construction. Akwa Ibom people deserve better, they deserve to be told the truth. The era of taking our people for granted, playing on their perceived gullibility is over. Our people deserve a fair deal from those who wish to lead them and not a raw deal. That is the choice you have my fellow Akwaibomites.

You have a choice to continue enjoying the investments we have made in health care delivery, equipping hospitals with modern amenities such as those of Etinan, Ikono, Ikot Okoro, Ituk Mbang, Iquita, in Oron, Immanuel Hospitals etc. or return to the years when the above named hospitals were overtaken and overgrown with weeds; where reptiles of all manner took up residence in place of patients. You have a choice of having these critical secondary healthcare facilities run optimally and where the lives of our people are saved or dwell in the world of propaganda.

The choice is there for us my dear Akwa Ibomites if we are to continue to support our women with interest free loans through which they have expanded their business of trading or the other choice where women are seen and regarded as expendable commodities. The people of Akwa Ibom State, especially our women should ask them what plans they have for them that is different from what my wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel’s signature Pet Project “Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programme” (FEYReP), under whose instrument, the lives of our women have been touched profoundly.

As we go to the polls next year to elect our leaders both at the national and the state levels, Akwa Ibom people should ask

themselves this simple question: are we not more united in 2018 than we were pre-2015? This is a critical point because every element of our development depends on a stable and peaceful State. The escalating exchange rate has affected all facets of our economic lives, yet the opposition here would embark on propaganda trying to speak ill of the achievements we have made for our people which are all there for everyone to see.

You should also my dear Akwa Ibomites, ask yourself this fundamental question: What is the perception of the Akwa Ibom person today in Nigeria? We are nationally known for our honesty and integrity. We are never known for being a people who speak from both sides of our mouth; if we gave our word on any given issue, we always kept our word. If we were a part of a group and certain decisions were made, we were not known to be the people who will go and betray confidentialities or agreements we had reached collectively for our selfish interest. But today, my dear Akwa Ibomites, certain individuals have made us look bad, untrustworthy, unreliable and one that would betray a group interest to further personal interest. We must tell the world that we are better than this negative perception; that we will not sell our conscience for a portion of porridge. We have to restore the integrity and moral fibre of our people and our sterling character.

You have a choice to make this huge statement and reassure the world that the Akwa Ibom person is a man of honour and integrity.

My dear Akwa Ibomites, as we celebrate our 31st Birthday, I am happy to announce to you that our State is on the move, Akwa Ibom is rising, the fundamentals of our growth are strong, and we are laying a great and sustainable foundation for the economic prosperity of all Akwaibomites. We are not playing politics with development.

For over three years now, we have been engaged with the sole task of providing quality leadership with tangible results; we have devoted ourselves to moving Akwa Ibom State forward, challenging our people to dakkadaand claim that faith of greatness. Mine, is not about applause or playing to the gallery. Mine is not about lying to you to score cheap political points; mine is not to go on the social media and indulge in propaganda, mine, is about ensuring development for our people that is both immediate and sustainable.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Independence Special

Nigeria: A tortuous journey to nationhood

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INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja

igeria , a country of profound and complex diversities attained independence on October 1, 1960 when the British Union Jack was lowered and the Nigeria national flag of Green and White hoisted during an elaborate ceremony at the then Race Course, now Tafawa Balewa Square that refulgent Saturday.

Independence was achieved after enormous efforts, sacrifices and compromises for political power leadership to be handed over to indigenous people of Nigeria after British rule was firmly established with the conquest of Lagos in 1861.

The Nigerian people have had a tortuous journey and some uncertain trajectory in the political and economic life of the country.

At independence, Nigeria represented hope and showed potentials for greatness, judging by her enormous human and natural resources. But no sooner was the euphoria of Independence over than the dark forces began to envelope the nation. The country rolled from one crisis to another as the new elite leadership failed to resolve lingering issues and by omission and commission created new theatre of crisis.

It soon became obvious that the mismanagement of the na-

First was the highly politicised and the controversial 1962/3 census, where inflated figures were pronounced to give certain regions advantage over others in government representations tion’s rich diversity presented a challenge to the new leaders.

Nigeria is made up of about 300 ethnic groups with multiple cultures and languages at varying degrees of historical and political development. The political crisis that engulfed the nation was partly blamed on the quest by the ethnic nationalities to use the new nation to enhance their narrow ethnic and regional agenda which created apprehension among others.

The political parties that ushered Nigeria into independence

had only agreed to coordinate their efforts, there was no unity of purpose neither was there any concerted attempts to run the country on a framework of a discernible national ideology or philosophy. According to the late Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in his widely read book “ Because I am Involved” “Nigeria is country of many differences randomly put together and handed over to a nationally inept leaders at independence.”

He added that the “struggle for independence gave the Nigerian peoples togetherness but not unity. It gave Nigeria confidence but not strength.”

President Muhammadu Buhari

The political parties that played immense role in birthing the Nigerian state also entered the fray on a fractious note.

The country was divided into three regions namely; Northern region, Eastern region and Western region. A fourth region, the Mid -west was created in 1963.

The political parties were also heavily regionalised with little or no influence outside their region of origin. The Northern People’s Congress (NPC) dominated by the Hausa-Fulani and led by the indisputable champion of northern interest, Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the northern region, crafted and pursued an idea of

politics it thought will protect northern interests. The National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) was dominant in the Eastern region with the majority Igbo ethnic group leading the way with their irrepressible Nnamdi Azikiwe, the paragon of leadership.

The Western region where the Yoruba ethnic group was the landlord had the Action Group (AG) as the dominant party and the iconic social mobiliser, Obafemi Awolowo, was the predominant leader of the region. This regional parties and idiosyncrasies have another dangerous element- religion.

The north is predominantly Muslim while the South is majorly Christian and this element heavily reflected in the biases of the regional leaders and their followers.

Apart from the three dominant tribes of Hausa-Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba that are dominant in the regions, many other smaller tribes where merged with the big three ethnic groups, which has become a source of constant tension.

There were other smaller parties such as the United Middle Belt Conference (UMBC) dominated by the minority tribes in central Nigeria. This party was led by the Tiv iconic intellectual, Joseph Tarka. There was also the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) led by the renowned advocate of the

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Independence Special talakawa (masses) Aminu Kano.

At independence the NPC formed a shaky coalition with the NCNC and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the NPC became the Prime Minister in the Westminster style Parliamentary democracy, the NCNC leader Nnamdi Azikiwe took the position of the ceremonial President while Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the AG remained Premier of the Western region and the opposition leader.

And the trouble starts First was the highly politicised and the controversial 1962/3 census, where inflated figures were pronounced to give certain regions advantage over others in government representations. Then in quick succession the 1964 Federal Elections witnessed huge distortions and manipulations of the electoral process. Serious accusations were levelled against the ruling party, the NPC and their new allies, the New Nigeria Democratic Party, (NNDP) of Samuel Akintola, which went into the 1964 federal election on the platform of a coalition called the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA). This coalition was pitched against another Vice President Yemi Osinbajo formidable coalition called the United Progressives Grand Alli- of ‘Five Majors’ in the Nigerian ance (UPGA), which was a co- Army, led by Chukwuma Nzeoalition between the NCNC and a gwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna faction of the Action Group and targeted some of the political leaders and some senior military other smaller parties.

However, the election was officers suspected to be their almarred by irregularities. Ac- lies and gunned them down. The cording to political historian influential Ahmadu Bello fell to Sam Ukpabi, “ the electoral pro- the bullets of the coup plotters, cess was rendered nugatory “ as the Prime Minister, Balewa was the politicians breached the con- also kidnapped and shot dead by stitutional provisions to score the soldiers. Finance Minister, political advantage over the Festus Okotie-Eboh was cut other. The crisis triggered by this down by the killer soldiers, the shenanigans was so intense that Premier of the Western region the then President of the coun- Akintola after resisting the soltry, Nnamdi Azikiwe, refused diers came under heavy fire that to call Prime Minister, Tafawa silenced him.

The soldiers also turned their Balewa to form government and the nation came to the brink of guns against their colleagues disaster until wise counsel pre- and sent quite a number to their vailed as Zik later called Balewa early graves. First among the cato form government to avoid sualties, was Zakari Maimalari, a Brigadier General and one of the further constitutional crisis.

But just when the nation foremost officers of northern appears to have heaved a sigh extraction. Samuel Ademuleof relief, the 1965 Western re- gun, a Major General was shot in gion election dashed the hopes his house, Raph Shodeinde also of many. The outcome of the fell to the bullets of the killer solelection, which had the much diers, Abogo Largema was shot, maligned and hated AG fac- Kur Mohammed, James Yakubu tion of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Pam and Arthur Unegbe also lost emerging victorious in a heavily their lives.

The coup plotters howevmanipulated and rigged elections, triggered unprecedented er, did not succeed in taking violence in parts of the region over power completely at the in the infamous “Operation center, as the General Officer Wetie”, where rival party gangs Commanding (GOC) of the descended on each other and Nigerian Army, Johnson Aguiyi spread deaths and massive Ironsi, a Major General, rallied destruction on themselves and troops and upstaged the plotters and subsequently had them many innocent people.

The violence appeared un- arrested.

But as the dust settled, it becontrollable and threatening came clear that those who carto spread to other parts of the country until some group of ried out the coup were mostly middle ranking officers in the Ni- from the East and mainly Igbo gerian army, who thought they and most of their victims, were had the revolutionary answers non-Igbo, which created an to the myriad of crises bedevil- atmosphere of suspicion rather ing the nation, struck on January wrongly that the coup was an 15, 1966 and terminated the life Igbo plot to dominate the rest of the country. of the First Republic.

As untenable as this insinuThe First Coup The coup plotters, a group ations appeared, the northern

suspicion was strengthened by the fact that the rump of the Balewa government had handed over power to Ironsi, who was also Igbo. This coupled with Ironsi’s Decree 34 or unification decree, generated much anger and resentment among northerners as they viewed it as a plot by the Igbo to dominate them in the Nigerian project. And so the simmering fury led to the first wave of organised attacks against many Igbo resident in the north. Many of them were killed and their property looted.

Ironsi tried to ameliorate the situation but his effort was too little, too late.

July 1966 Counter Coup The northern soldiers plotted a counter coup on July 29, barely six months of Ironsi regime and

The disagreement between the government at the center now led by Gowon and the Eastern region government could not be resolved within the country for security reasons

ended his life and his regime.

The July coupists led by Murtala Mohammed, Martin Adamu, Theophilus Danjuma and others then turned their guns against their Igbo colleagues in the army and murdered them in large numbers. They initially wanted to break up the country with the shouts of ‘araba’ an Hausa word for secession until they were allegedly prevailed upon by the British to drop the idea.

They also seized power at the center and imposed Yakubu Gowon, a northern military officer as new head of state over his seniors, who were mostly from the South. This decision was fiercely opposed by the military governor of Eastern region, Odumegwu Ojukwu, who insisted that the hierarchy of seniority be respected.

In the midst of this confusion, there was a far more serious and well- coordinated massacres of the Igbo civilians in the north allegedly perpetrated by both northern civilians and soldiers.

Tens of thousands were killed.

It was a very horrible moment for the Igbo in Nigeria as many of them fled home to the east, where the agitation for secession began in earnest.

The disagreement between the government at the center now led by Gowon and the Eastern region government could not be resolved within the country for security reasons.

So a window was created in Aburi, Ghana where Gowon led a federal delegation to meet Ojukwu and the Eastern delegation. Between January 4 and 5, 1967, a wide range of issues were discussed and agreements reached.

But as soon as they arrived Nigeria, differences in interpretations of the agreement beclouded the Aburi pact and the situation degenerated further to a point where the Eastern region gave Ojukwu the mandate to pull the region out of Nigeria after they accused Gowon of trying to undercut the negotiated settlement and undermine the East by creating 12 States of the existing 4 regions on May 27, 1967.

And so on May 30, Ojukwu responded with declaration of the Eastern region as the Republic of Biafra, which the federal government saw as treason and declared war. The civil war lasted for 30 months between July 6, 1967 and January 12, 1970, when the federal government reunited the country after a bitter war and national agony, which cost about 2 million lives and damaged unquantifiable amount of property.

The government of Gowon continued in office until July 1975 when he was overthrown

by Murtala Mohammed but Murtala’s regime lasted only for six months. On February 13, 1976, Murtala’s convoy ran into an ambush of soldiers on another coup adventure and the ruthless soldiers led by Buka Suka Dimka, a Lieutenant Colonel, assassinated the Head of State in hell bullets in a failed coup attempt.

Olusegun Obasanjo, the second in command to Murtala succeeded him as head of state and returned the nation to civilian rule in 1979, when he handed over power to President Shehu Shagari in a new constitutional arrangement that ushered in the White House style Presidential system of government.

But the Shagari era politics was marred by irregularities.

President Shagari’s party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was pitched against others, such as the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP). The flawed elections in 1983, and allegations of corruption, provided excuse for the army led by the then Muhammadu Buhari, a Major General in the Nigerian army to sack the government on December 31, 1983.

Buhari stayed in office for barely 20 months before he was overthrown on August 27 1985

by Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida fondly called IBB, initiated one of the longest transition to civil rule programs in Nigeria’s history. He introduced the two -party system with the creation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). But the transition ended with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election won by the late Moshood Abiola of the SDP. The June 12 crisis forced IBB to step aside but he installed an Interim National Government led by Earnest Shonekan. But barely 100 days in office, Sani Abacha, a general in the Nigerian army shoved the interim government aside and assume full military dictatorship.

Ab a c h a m a d e p r e t e n s e s about bringing Nigeria back to civilian rule. However, Nigerians watched in indignation as Abacha, backed by power hungry civilians championed his self -succession bid.

The five political parties of the time, namely; the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), the Congress for National Consensus (CNC), National Centre Party (NCP) and the Grassroots Democratic Movement in what analyst called a “travesty of democracy,” each adopted Abacha as their consensus candidate, which was described by the late Bola Ige as the “five fingers of a leperous hand”.

But as the nation reeled in uncertainty about how to deal with the Abacha strange politics, the dictator suddenly died in 1998 of ailment suspected to be liver complications. That gave room for a new transition this time headed by Abdulsalami Abubakar who ushered in the Fourth Republic in 1999, when he handed over power to former military ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo, who won the Presidential elections on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Thus, the Fourth Republic was born and has so far remained.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Independence Special

58 years of pillars, caterpillars and locusts ZEBULON AGOMUO

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n its 58 years of existence after Independence on October 1st 1960, Nigeria has been under the management of different categories of leaders. While some can be rightly described as leaders, many are outright undertakers who leveraged on their positions to kill the country and became wealthier than Nigeria in their individual worth.

In the last 58 years, the country has seen a few pillars, those who actually sacrificed their own resources and personal comfort for the good of the country. Majority of those who had presided over the affairs of Nigeria can aptly be said to be caterpillars and locusts.

As caterpillars and locusts, they ate up the green leaves (the huge accruals from the rich natural endowments of the country). These locusts and caterpillars are they who never built anything, but concerned themselves with destroying everything that their predecessors and founding fathers built. As caterpillars, all they have done over the years has been to eat down everything that was built shortly after Independence. Today, we have decayed and decaying infrastructure littered all over the country.

We hear about privatisation and such exercise is never transparent and has always ended up leaving the country poorer. The rational thinking is that selling off assets of the country would mean more money into the coffers of government to execute more important and rewarding projects, but that has never been the case. The usual case here is that the assets for sale are undervalued and sold out to friends, cronies or even to selves, using proxies. The leaders have always been lovers of themselves and their families, but they pay a lip service to Nigerians, whom they claim to serve.

The consensus opinion is that the masses of this country have not had it rosy. Although Nigeria has within these years witnessed abundant yields in terms of oil

revenues, which is the mainstay of the country, the commonwealth has always been plundered in the same manner locusts descend on green vegetation. In some of these years, it has been a mini hell for many citizens.

Although the years of the military occupation of power stool witnessed unbridled abuse of human rights in the country, it is debatable if what citizens have experienced (and still experiencing) in the so-called democracy, has been anything better.

Nigeria has always remained a potentially viable country. It remains a dwarf year in, year out.

Under the so-called democracy, suffering appears to have become widespread in the country and every index of measuring good governance has shown that the country is doing badly. In the last three-and-half years in particular, Nigeria has gone in and out of recession and hope is slim that it will not slip into another round of economic coma very soon.

Within these years, leaders have come and gone. Many came

on board with seemingly good intentions; they did a lot of political razzmatazz and all the acrobatics that go with power, yet by the time they exited power, they left the country more bruised than they left it.

While the country raked in trillions of petro-dollar, the masses pined away in abject poverty.

Folks watched helplessly as school dropouts, who found themselves in politics at the local level became rich, earning stupendous amounts of money, more than university professors.

Poor Nigerians watched helplessly as the oil money was shared between the Executive and Legislature. Despite their huge allowances, they were also ‘stealing’. Many of the political actors elevated corruption to a norm in society.

Today, the nation’s courts are filled to the brim with cases bordering on mindless stealing and blind acquisition of wealth to the detriment of the country.

Human locusts and caterpillars have eaten Nigeria up, leaving carcasses. The country has become a

waste land, a scorched land. The last 19 years have been pathetically harrowing for the poor masses.

Even the promise of change has not brought smiles on the faces of longsuffering Nigerians.

Capturing the last few years under civil rule, someone said: “It has been years of waste, mismanagement, lack of planning, moneysharing that brought the country today to where we are. No regime is as bad as that not even the military; particularly the last six years saw the sharing of Nigeria’s commonwealth. In a nutshell, PDP’s 16 years of rule has brought the country to where we are today; it brought up all the problems Buhari is trying to solve. We were not as this bad as a country by 1999. In a nutshell, the 16 years of PDP was a disaster.”

An analyst said that Nigeria, like the Prodigal Son, has frittered its inheritance in “riotous” living. “There have been too many missed opportunities. We ate all our years of plenty during the several oil boom cycles that would have helped in the diversification

of the economy. Apart from maybe 2003-2007, we have mostly made the wrong moves economically. An exception has to be the liberalisation of the telecoms sector. The results of that are apparent. One cannot imagine Nigeria today without the millions of lines and jobs and the billions of dollars in investment that have come with it.

“Looking back, it is a case of missed opportunities and poor choices; moving on, we must do better, open up the economy, attract private sector-led development, overhaul the educational system to fit into the contemporary needs of our economy, improve accountability and transparency in governance, punish the corrupt severely and make ours a nation where dreams do come true, not just for the rich and privileged, but for all Nigerians.”

Sunny Amojor, president, TotalMan Fellow, a non-profit men’s leadership organisation, was quoted as saying that the cruelest locust to have visited Nigerians in the last few years was the $16 billion sunk into the power sector without anything to show for it by Olusegun Obasanjo, PDP’s first president in the current republic.

Amojor lamented that despite the billions that have been pumped into Nigeria’s power sector and the many promises on power generation by the PDP, many parts of Nigeria cannot boast of constant and uninterrupted supply of electricity and that, in worst cases, several Nigerian communities are in total darkness.

“You cannot talk about years of locusts in Nigeria without talking about the $16 billion wasted under Obasanjo that went to private hands in the name of investing in the power sector. If the money had been properly invested in the power sector, there would have been abundant energy supply in Nigeria by now. This is just one of the several examples of how Nigeria’s money has been squandered under the various regimes that had presided over the country,” he said.

The Nigerian nation @58: Non celebration Continued from back page

5 years die every year due to lack of adequate maternal healthcare, malnourishment and malaria disease.

Nigeria accounts for more malaria deaths than anywhere else in Africa and Asia, statistics show that mosquito nets which are delivered by international organisations or even those bought by the state or Federal organisations are sold in some shops and street hawkers at unaffordable cost for our poor mothers. Nigeria is now hemorrhaging with infernal sickness as a very poor nation, with very robust resources that can make

Nigeria one of the 20 developed nations on earth!

Nigeria in the last three months has overtaking India as a nation with the highest rate of poverty and our governments fiscal and economic policies do not offer any redemption from these abysmal indices on Nigeria’s poverty and literacy levels.

It is therefore not surprising that just within this last month the Central Bank of Nigeria, in a discussion with the National Assembly revealed the very pathetic financial exposé that if care is not taken before the end of 2018 the Federal Government may not be able to pay monthly salaries of its workers as and

when due.

It said that direct taxation across board including petroleum products may be introduced in other to raise sufficient revenue internally. However such a fiscal alarm is not only horrendous but humongous in the present situation. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have this year warned Nigeria that our external borrowing which is being committed for recurrent expenditure rather than capital expenditure has reduced our yearly financial growth rate to about 1.8percent instead of the former 6 – 7percent per annum, This situation shows that the growth rate in

Nigeria’s economy is presently less than that of that of any West African country, most of whom are growing between 5 – 6percent per annum.

If Nigeria looks at the state of the Asian countries, and their achievements in the sustainable developmental goals we will find the real reasons why most of them in Asia such as Malaysia, Singapore, North and South Korea, Brazil, etc. are known as developed nations.

In the case of China, their leader, Mao Tse-tung, locked up their nation for 40years, at the end of which China has become the world’s fastest growing economy, for which United

State of America is currently indebted to by almost (Three Trillion Dollars).

China has become one of the world’s three super powers Economically, Militarily, Scientifically and one of the powers in outer space exploration, and just this month proposed to lend to Africa 60 billion dollars for projects and finance.

It is really a dismal situation for Africa and the black race that Nigeria which Almighty God has blessed with diverse resources and largest concentration of black population on earth is currently unable to lift herself Continues on page 17

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Independence Special

A giant at 58 living without housing CHUKA UROKO

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omorrow, at different levels of government, Nigerians will be gathering in groups to celebrate their country which is attaining the age of 58 as a free and sovereign nation. For various reasons, perhaps, there is need for the country to celebrate. If anything, the country is still intact as a corporate entity despite the centripetal and centrifugal forces pulling it apart from all corners.

At 58, a country, like a human being, should have got a reasonable number of his basic needs, including a good wife, a good job or a thriving business, children already out of school and perhaps, working, and above all, a decent home he calls his own.

But this is Nigeria at 58 where over 80 percent of its citizens have no house they can call their own.

This is stark reality. Whether the story is about home-ownership level or the housing deficit in the country, it is always a disappointing tale. As against 72 percent home ownership level in the US, 78 percent in UK, 60 percent in China; 54 percent in Korea and 92 percent in Singapore, homeownership level in Nigeria is, 58 years after independence, still below 10 percent.

With a growing population conservatively estimated at 170 million and high urbanisation growth rate also estimated at 4-5 percent per annum, housing stock in Nigeria is said to be between 10 and 13 million units while an unconfirmed record shows that about 25 million households comprising six members each don’t have homes of their own, leaving the country with a deficit of about 17 million units.

Evenat17millionunits,thedeficit is no longer tenable, according to the Nigerian building and roads research institute (NBRRI), which insists that from 2012 to date, Nigeria’s populationhasincreasedfrom168,240,403 to 191,835,936, showing a significant increase of 23,595,533 people to the population. So, more people are without houses.

A report by BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit (BRIU) on Nigerian Real Estate says that out of 170 million Nigerians, only 8 million people qualify for the luxury property market, adding that there is more than enough for the latter while hardly any thought is spared for the remaining 162 million citizens.

Continued from page 16

out of its present state of indolence, ineptitude, despondency, domestic frustrations, religious intolerance, and immense backwardness.

There is hardly any more time left for Nigerians to lift ourselves out of our current negative situation of becoming a failed state, which is devoid of the mental

According to the report, over 80 percent of Nigerians are living in ‘unplanned residences’ and those in the urban centres are living on rented accommodation that takes away almost 40 percent of their income with no adequate facilities like water or electricity.

A major tragedy in the country’s housing situation is that the deficit, which is both quantitative and qualitative, has been allowed to fester. The 1991 National Housing Policy (NHP) which was revised in 2012, remains the most recent attempt by government to define what should be done with the housing system in the country, but like most things Nigerian, its implementation ended with the pronouncement.

Though there have been some efforts at improving the housing situation like using alternative building techniques that help to mass produce housing and possibly reduce prices which, at the moment, are unaffordable to many citizens.

The industry has seen such techniques as Vitapur’s Prefab Green Homes promoted by Vita Foam which can produce a twobedroom bungalow in just 15 days for N3.6 million; the Moladi Modular initiative; Mundoscrete Pre-stressed T Beam and Block flooring system developed by Mundostrade Limited, and Tempohousing’s new building technology which produces luxury but affordable homes from containers at prices beginning from N3

million.

There are also many others but lack of encouragement from government coupled with hostile business environment would not allow such innovations to thrive, blossom and be the solution to the housing deficit which requires about 10 times the country’s annual budget to bridge.

As it is today, Nigeria is the only country, at least, in Africa, without a housing policy and a functional mortgage system, yet it wants to develop its housing sector.

The NHP initiative which aimed to provide decent and affordable accommodation for every adult Nigerian was perhaps, a follow up to the low cost housing of the Shehu Shagari which was a colossal waste of the tax payers’ money.

Most of the houses were built in bushes and forests only accessible to, and habitable by lizards, rats and rodents.

The subsisting public private partnership (PPP) which both federal and state governments flaunt as governance philosophy in housing delivery is a great fallacy in which government is paying lipservice to this all-important sector of the economy.

By simple definition, PPP is an arrangement in housing delivery in which government, in some cases, provides land and the enabling environment such as critical infrastructure and favourable policy instruments that aid the development of housing, while the private sector provides the capital

and the technical know-how for affordable housing delivery.

Because government has always failed in keeping its own part of this arrangement, the private sector is having a field day, making housing development a cash-andcarry enterprise, only accessible to, and affordable by the very rich.

At 58 therefore, the driving philosophy in the Nigerian housing system is cash-and-carry, and according to Johnson Chukwuma of Systems and Designs Limited, “because we are a trading and capitalist economy, investors and housing developers are after the rich and projects that make quick returns on investment”.

“If you invest in developing 100 residential housing units, you will struggle to offload them in two years, but if you start a shopping mall of 1,000 square metres, you are likely to sell off at foundation level; and this is the story of housing in Nigeria today,” he explained.

The near-absence of a functional mortgage system in the country in 58 years is one of the major draw-backs to housing system, accounting for a situation where of the 10.7 million housing units in Nigeria, 10 percent of which is self-built, only about 5 percent is in formal mortgage.

An analyst, who did not want to be named, explained that effectively about 95 percent of home equity/savings in residential developments are ‘dead assets’, pointing out that mortgage finance requirement for the country

stands at between N20-30 trillion.

The analyst noted that while huge potential exists for growth of both the housing and mortgage sectors of the economy, there are constraints that need to be overcome, listing them as regulatory, financial and operational.

“Ownership and management of land are encumbered by administrative difficulties of issuance of Governor’s Consent; apart from poor land registry practices, compensation for land is based on ‘fair compensation’ and subject to diverse interpretations, and there is absence of an overarching legal and regulatory framework for the housing industry,” the analyst noted.

The commercial segment of this sector which includes retail, hospitality and industrial developments, has been described as a goldmine following its fast-paced growth which has been halted by the just exited economic recession. That segment of the market is now struggling with varying degrees of vacancy rates.

Over all, the Nigerian housing sector has great investment potential, but the failure of government to make the environment enabling for investors is working against its growth. Government seems so apathetic that it takes, most times, foreign interests to draw its attention to the opportunities in the country.

An official of Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI), owners of Movenpick Hotel and Ambassador Heights Residences in Accra, Ghana, once said “Nigeria is strategic and key part of our consideration for further investment in West Africa. We are definitely looking to invest in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a considerable focus to us. We believe in that country and it is just an accident of timing that we are not yet there. But surely, this is something we are looking closely at”.

The retail, hospitality and industrial segments of commercial real estate have been described as goldmine following their fastpaced growth. Nigeria and, indeed, Africa are the flavour of the moment for international investors.

But it should be pointed out that KHI is not yet here, not because the market fundamentals have changed or that the opportunities have ceased to exist, but chiefly because the environment is not inviting. At 58, Nigeria should be thinking about all these and more, importantly, about how to live in a house by housing its citizens.

The Nigerian nation @58: Non celebration capacity to restructure our governance etiquette begotten to us at independence by our forefathers.

Only a new class of leadership with a resolute and resilient affirmative character devoid of ethnic, cultural, religious and

primordial inhibition and bigotry with a revolutionary spirit can within the limited time left lift our nation from this degrading and degenerating morass.

There are quite a few Nigerians across boards that have this spirit of determination to move

our Nigeria forward. Please let it be, for the sake of the black men on this planet.

Yes, it can be done and should be done, not for our own sake but for the sake of our children born and unborn, and for the greater goal of the black race which was

the first human beings to originate and exist on planet earth. .Ikokwu (Omenife), an accomplished lawyer, a civil war hero and Second Republic politician, sent in this article in commemoration of the 58th Independence anniversary of Nigeria.

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TheWorshippers Religion should be a tool for integration, not destruction – Prelate Kalu Uche Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), His Eminence, Dr. Chukwuemeka Kalu Uche, recently spoke with select journalists in his office in Lagos on some key national issues, urging the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to seek technical support from world powers to suppress religious extremism in Nigeria. SEYI JOHN SALAU was there and brings excerpts: In your book ‘Kerygma of a Prelate’, you said the problem of the church is ignorance and darkness. How can these be eradicated? gnorance is cured by qualitative education. Darkness can be cured by the word of God. That is the work of clergymen and Imams. We must not only preach the word but walk our talk. The same thing you say on the pulpit, you must act it out on the street. Let the light shine. Once this is done, people will come out of darkness of sin and there will be sound morality and spirituality in the land.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) recently accused President Muhammadu Buhari of bias in his appointments, especially the security chiefs. How can this be addressed?

I am part of CAN and if President Buhari can correct the imbalance, it will be good. We are watching.

Methodist Church has been in Nigeria for 176 years now.

How has the journey been so far?

Nnamdi Azikwe was a student of Methodist Boys’ High School. Akanu Ibiam was also a student, and even Michael

I

Okpara. So, Methodist has done well in Nigeria and outside. Our church is not a church to toy with.

If you go to South Africa, Mandela was a Methodist bishop and was buried by Methodist pastors. We have produced men and women of intellect and wisdom.

We see man as a tripartite being – spirit, soul and body – and that is what we develop. That is why when the missionaries came, they brought church, school and hospital. We don’t also live ostentatious life. You can’t see any Methodist minister thinking of buying airplane when many people are suffering. Not that we can’t afford it but we like humility.

What is the leadership of the church doing currently regarding evangelism?

We have a vision for evangelism. We held a formidable convention at Ikot Ekpene. We had 22,500 leaders who were representatives. The non-Methodists were there and they have become Methodists. They were about 4,600. I know that if we call out Methodists for evangelism, I don’t know where can contain us because we are more than 2 million by population. I have discovered that evangelism is capital-intensive and we have

.Chukwuemeka Kalu Uche

now what we call Evangelism Trust Fund.

Boko Haram insurgents asked government to pay ransom or they would kill Leah Sharibu, the Christian girl in their custody. What is your reaction to this?

My advice is that they should not kill the girl. And if government paid any ransom to release the Muslim girls, they should do so for Leah. But if they eventually kill the girl, they are worse off and God will condemn all of them for killing an innocent girl. That will be their waterloo.

How do you think the high level of insecurity in the country at the moment can be addressed?

The government is trying its best, but what I will say is that they should involve the international community. I thank God that the countries that make up ECOWAS are involved. I want them to go a bit further. US, UK, France, China should come and help us suppress or exterminate insecurity. But then, there are factors that grow insecurity, such as hunger, unemployment and mal-administration. Most of the school dropouts are the

ones causing the problem and that has to do with the quality of education we give to our citizens. For instance, without being immodest, I can tell you that you can hardly see the youths of my church involved in crime, because we groom them through the Sunday School and Youth Fellowship. We teach our young people that the love of money is the root of evil. But even if you are dying of hunger, dignity of labour is better than carrying arms. You can go to farm and plant cassava or maize and feed well. But some people are making money from insecurity.

Insecurity can stop when we learn to behave well. Another option is that I don’t know if government is thinking of dialogue with Boko Haram. They can choose a venue like Dubai that is a neutral ground. Dubai practices religious tolerance and love for humanity. I have been to Dubai for more than three times and I felt like living in the city. I have seen in Dubai where people are worshipping in churches and mosques unmolested. In fact, most of the people working in Dubai International Airport are Christians. The king of United

Arab Emirates (UAE) is a good man. He is not a fanatic. The people are tolerant of other religions.

People making money from insecurity must stop because my God is coming in a strong manner. God will deal with those who perpetrate evil in this country. I can see that coming.

Don’t you think the policing system in the country may also be a factor? Shouldn’t the police be decentralized?

I have said this more than three times, government can permit states to have vigilante groups that are armed and will work under the supervision of Nigeria Police. It will reduce the problems of insurgency and other disturbances. I saw what Governor Tanko Almakura did in Nasarawa State and that should be replicated in other states of the federation. Recently, he inaugurated the state vigilante group and I saw them with guns and they are under the command of the state governor. It should be done in a way that no state governor will abuse it or use it to target enemies or political opponents.

The 2019 general elections are around the corner. What is your message to politicians?

Number one, election should not be a do-or-die affair. It is not war. Election is a game of displaying your manifesto, giving out your ideology. After all, we want to be voted to serve, not to destroy, plunder or loot. That you are in APGA and I am in APC does not make us enemies. There should be no rigging, election buying or ballot box snatching. Those who do that do not mean well for this country. There should be peace in this country because nobody owns Nigeria more than the other. President Buhari does not own Nigeria more than my last child. He is just privileged to be the president of this country.

What is your advice to Nigerians at a time like this?

I want Nigerians to know that we have no other country to run to. We should not destroy our country, we should not kill ourselves. We should love one another. We should practice our religion as a source of integrating and not destroying ourselves.

Sunday 30 September 2018

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BDSUNDAY 19

Inspirations The Overcomer’s mentality (2)

PASTOR I.S JAMES TEXT – 1 JOHN 5: 1 – 5

Continued from last week Unknown to many Christians they are buying into the value system of this world.

Satan’s purpose is to pull us out of the realm of faith to the realm of reasoning (like he did to Eve). You cannot defeat him in that realm.

Eve could have simply resisted him but she allowed him to pull her to his turf.

Of course you know why it is said that the wisdom of this world is foolishness unto God; it is controlled by the devil. Christians must not allow themselves to put on the value system of this world or allow themselves to be squeezed into the world’s thinking mold.

Many of us started in the spirit but are now maturing in the flesh –from resisting headaches to taking analgesics at the slightest sign of a headache. This is because we have been moved from the level of faith to the level of reasoning. Always strive for the higher alternative: God’s standards/ways.

It is important that you put on the overcomer’s mentality because of the need to transit to the next level. Your system of behavior will have to change. Anyone who does the same thing over and over again expecting different results is not being sincere.

You would recall that not everyone who came out of Egypt went into the Promised

Land.

The Promised Land was the next level.

It was almost impossible for former slaves to see themselves as owners of houses and vineyards they never built. Those who came out of Egypt were former slaves who didn’t have an updated desire to want to get into cities and occupy homes and vineyards they did not build. It is not possible for such persons to move on to the next level. There has to be a mental rebirth of some sort.

Like them, many of us have remained at the same level because we have remained prisoners of our past. For us to make progress there has to be a mental renovation. They couldn’t go in to the Promised Land for a number of reasons: · They were a fearful bunch imprisoned to their past as slaves. They couldn’t see themselves moving on to a new phase. Remember, in the things of the spirit you can ONLY get what you can see. · They were a complaining and murmuring people. Their attitude to every challenge or struggle was negative, always wanting to go back to Egypt. Such persons never go forward. · They were generally lazy. What mostly defined their lifestyle was that they “sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (1Cor.10:7). They never were the sowing, laboring, working type. They were a people who only needed to wait for the cloud to move before they moved. But there was nothing like the cloud mentioned at the time Joshua led them into the Promised Land. He wasn’t led by a cloud but by wars and by the Commander of the Hosts at some other time. That was the mentality of those that came out of Egypt.

We may repeat their mistakes if we do not learn these lessons. The ‘Entering-in

generation’ did not have the Cloud to direct them. Neither did they wait for manna (in fact manna ceased when they got to the Promised Land). Subsequently they needed to fight, conquer and work before they ate.

They had to fight for every advancement unlike the ‘Coming-out generation’ that cowered in the face of the slightest challenge.

The ‘Coming-out generation’ lacked preparation to transit to the next level. The only choice that seemed open to God in the circumstance was to eliminate them and raise a new generation with occupation mentality.

Exactly what are we supposed to overcome? · The World’s System (a far greater enemy than Satan himself); this is a system we daily participate in and one which constantly works to squeeze us into its mold. And Satan is synonymous with this system sometimes. · The human nature which wars against the spirit, especially when you express the desire to embark on some spiritual exercises like fasting, preaching, praying, giving, etc.

This also includes our ingrained stereotypes, biases and prejudices. If you are an old believer from the S U (Scripture Union) times, recall your initial reaction when you saw a professing believer with processed hair. To you it was outrageous, carnal, etc. You reacted that way because the stimulus you received was rather new. For many people, whenever they see something new, rather than finding out whether it is intelligent, good or bad, they react negatively, rejecting it.

They would not even consider the possibility of cultural differences. It is part of human nature.

But this tendency has to be overcome and rightly utilized because many packages God sends us are sometimes wrapped with the

strings of the unfamiliar. Be less swift and less violent in rejecting new/unfamiliar things. · Every other obstacle that stands against God’s plans for our lives. Such obstacles could come from friends, spouses, finances, etc.

Love for God is intense and characterized by their ‘zeal’ for the things of God, they are on ‘fire’ for Him in Evangelism, Prayers, Giving, Worship, Service and Church Attendance. They are in Love with their Savior and will not be ashamed of His gospel nor a Shame to the same. These are people who work for God ‘passionately’ and are enthused with the things of God. They may even lack in knowledge but certainly not in ZEAL. (Rom 10 v 1-3).

Lukewarm Believers: These are the most dangerous people to stay with in church, they are neither here nor there, not hot nor cold, not strong in Faith nor strong in Sin, do not Walk with God and at the same time do not dine with the devil. They do not go to clubs and yet will not be avail-

able during the week for church services.

They do not witness about Jesus but also will sing in worship to the Lord. They brag in their ‘private’ practice of the Christian Faith meanwhile the faith of our Lord cannot be privately practiced but publicly.

I hope you have found where you are in the 3 possible states above, Jesus said, He will Spit The Lukewarm Believers out of His mouth. Do not be Lukewarm....be HOT!!!

How to develop the overcomer’s mentality.

Break the bonds of your past experience.

Do not be tied by the negative experiences of your past. Follow Paul’s example, who, in spite of the rejection from most members of the early church (on account of his past life) moved on (Acts 9:1-2, 26). He refused to be bound to his past life even when people treated him, holding the misdeeds of his past against him. It doesn’t matter if you were a pimp or prostitute; while there isn’t much you can do about what others think or say about you, there is a lot you can do about yourself. “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer” (2Cor.5:16).

Don’t allow people to define you from the human point of view. The word says you are an overcomer. Believe this and let your thoughts and actions be defined accordingly.

Speak the word; read it and set yourself in agreement with it.

Dr. Iruofagha James is the Founding Pastor, Glory Christian Ministries, Odo-Olowo Street, Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Ijeshatedo, Lagos. www.isjames.org Tel: 08060599144

Spit it out

REV. YOMI KASALI

T

@rev.yomikasali

he only time we spit things out of our mouths are when we feel nauseated and irritated as human beings. I ran into a very worrying thought the other day on the plane from Miami to Houston; I had to quickly pull out my iPad to jot down these thoughts and bury my head between my knees to pray for mercy without moving my lips.

I could not fathom the thought that our Lord Jesus can actually ‘reject’ or ‘spit out’ some of His own... very unthinkable and unimaginable indeed. In fact to the contrary, the scriptures that rushes into my mind is that of Jesus saying, ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out’ (John 6 v 37).

The idea that our Lord Jesus, the compassionate One, who came to earth to give us Grace and not expect us to live by Law, the One who forgives sins and iniquities of many, the saviour of the weak and defender of the oppressed; who told the woman caught in the very act of adultery

to go her way because He would not ‘condemn’, the epitome of Mercy and Giver of Second chances and opportunities, will SPIT OUT some people is really a tough pill to swallow and it will surely distort many theologies out there about God. Yes, let me share the popular passage with you where Jesus said it Himself in Rev. 3:16, ‘So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.’ Can you fathom the fact that He said, ‘...I will Spue You Out Of my mouth?’ What a Word!!! By the way, the scriptures does not contradict itself; the earlier passage in John 6 v 37 was referring to unbelievers who come to the Lord as they are, He would not reject them at the altar of salvation while the passage above in Rev 3 v 16 is referring to believers who are ‘Lukewarm’ and arrogant about it.

I will like to quickly explain the 3 main possible states of every believer; we are in one of those state at every possible time and season of our faith and in our walk with God. I will try to Inspire you today to examine yourself and do a soul searching evaluation of their possible position in Christ.

Cold Believers: These are people that used to be in faith but now have cold love towards the things of God, usually because ‘iniquity shall abound, the Love Of many shall wax cold...’(Matt. 24 v 12). This state occurs when a believer begins to wipe the lines between sin and righteousness, justifies certain sinful conducts and embraces iniquity in the name of Grace. This man will certainly become cold in the things of God. Hot Believers: These are people whose

Be inspired.

Shalom.

Rev. Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos

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Lagos and the promotion of MSMEs

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Frank Aigbogun EDITOR Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITORS John Osadolor, Abuja ASSISTANT EDITOR Chuks Oluigbo NEWS EDITOR Patrick Atuanya EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIGITAL SERVICES Oghenevwoke Ighure GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERT Adeola Ajewole ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Patrick Ijegbai CIRCULATION MANAGER John Okpaire GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

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TAYO OGUNBIYI Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

B

eing the nation’s commercial and industrial hub, the Lagos State government rightly recognizes operators of MSMEs as catalysts of socio-economic growth. This is because they are responsible for employment generation, wealth creation, empowerment, innovation, income generation and prosperity.

Consequently, MSMEs development is being consciously driven in the state through initiation and implementation of policies that create and foster a positive business environment, enhance technical and non-technical entrepreneurial skills, and improve access to networks and financial services.

Till date, government has made vital interventions in advancing the cause of MSMEs in the state.

Perhaps, the most audacious of such is the establishment of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). The Fund provides loans for MSMEs at a 5 percent interest rate spread over a period of five years. So far, the LSETF, under its MSME loan programme, has approved over N6.9 billion for disbursement to 6,548 small business owners and has successfully disbursed N4.1 billion loans to over 4,762 beneficiaries (43 percent recipients are women).

One other essential activity envisioned to fast-track the growth of MSMEs in the State is ongoing construction of the Imota Light Industrial Estate, Ikorodu which is aimed at providing workspace and business accommodation for small scale industrialists. The Imota Estate is particularly planned to enhance the capacity, visibility and mileage of MSMEs with verifiable outcomes such as new jobs created, improved living standard and improved Gross Domestic Product, among others.

Regular sponsorship of MSME Exclusive Fair is another veritable vehicle being used to support MSMEs in the state. Institution of MSME Exclusive Fair was conceptualized to build a strong publicprivate support system that would enhance the capacity of MSMs for economic diversification. The first edition was held on 5th May, 2016, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. At the event, the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode intermingled with diverse MSME operators in the state and reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting their business aspirations.

The second edition took place in August 2017, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, and was, indeed, a great improvement on the previous ones as over 400 MSMEs operators were on hand to display their goods and products to a teeming daily crowd of over 7,000 people.

In order to build on the successes of the previous editions, this year’s version with the theme “Enhancing MSME’s Product Quality for Global Competitiveness” aims at developing qualitative lo-

cal products for consumption and exports. It takes place between Tuesday, 2nd and Monday 8th October, 2018 from 9am to 6pm daily at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The seven-day fair focuses largely on quality improvements in the MSMEs’ production processes and outputs so as to encourage the development of globally-competitive products and services. Its main goals include offering indigenous producers increased leverage for market access and global visibility, encouraging quality comparison and innovative improvements for local and international competitiveness, promoting MSMEs linkages with trade support and market facilitation channels, especially e-commerce and facilitating linkages for investment opportunities and export development.

It is hoped that the fair would be able to achieve increased patronage and global visibility of locallymade products in Lagos State, healthier and more supportive business environment, stronger and more sustainable enterprises as well as increased business networks, sales opportunities and market access for small indigenous brands. Over 600 local MSMEs entrepreneurs are being expected with over 20 regulatory agencies providing institutional supports while over 10,000 daily visitors (buyers, investors and prospective entrepreneurs) are being targeted.

Supporting the growth and development of MSMEs is, no doubt, the best way to go in the drive to diversify our economy and create employment for the people. The benefits and multiplier effects of

investing in the sector will result in positive socio-economic impacts at all levels, especially in terms of job and wealth creation, progressive redistribution of wealth and innovation. Therefore, there must be concerted efforts on the part of governments at all levels to focus on strengthening MSMEs operators towards increasing their capacity to diversify the nation’s economy.

These and other factors duly informed the various investments of the Lagos State government in the sub-sector. When critically viewed, the renewed resolve of the Lagos State government to promote MSMEs, thereby stimulating the growth of the national economy, is a logical one. For one, the state alone accounts for about 3,224,324 micro enterprises and 11,663 small and medium enterprises, the largest concentration of MSMEs in Nigeria. This implies that Lagos State has a role to play in changing the course of the economy for the better. The inherent pressure on Lagos in terms of economic migration makes it imperative for the state government to be actively involved in the promotion of MSMEs. Nigerians should, however, encourage indigenous entrepreneurs by patronizing locally-produced goods and services. It is only in doing this that we could develop and transform local industries. There is no country that has managed to transform itself without adequate industrial growth or wholesome dependence on imported goods.

Ogunbiyi s of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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IAN KING King is the business presenter for Sky News.

F

irst there were the Brics.

After coining that acronym in 2001, Jim O’Neill, then chief economist at Goldman Sachs, came up with the “Next Eleven” two years later, identifying 11 economies capable of joining the Brics as the world’s fastest-growing. Fidelity Investments developed this further when, in 2011, it identified the Mint economies, which it said could prove as rewarding for investors over the next decade as the Brics had been in the previous decade.

The Mints — Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey — have not kept that promise. Indonesia probably has been the most reliable, its economy growing at just under 5 per cent or more in every year since 2011. Turkey and Mexico have delivered variable growth. The worst of the four and the biggest disappointment by far has been Nigeria, which slid into recession in 2016, going on to achieve GDP growth of only 0.8 per cent last year.

Yet Nigeria boasts vast resources and huge potential. It is the world’s seventh most populous nation and by the middle of

ABAYOMI OLOTU Olotu is a writer and social commentator

A

few days ago, an article titled ‘Nigeria’s self-styled Macron wants to win power by ending corruption’ written by Ian King, a presenter and business analyst on Sky News, circulated on the internet. In it he referred to Professor Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Mohammed Sanusi II, as “the most intriguing candidate in the 2019 elections”. It will be hard to disagree with that opinion.

First, Nigeria has not had a front-line candidate in the calibre of the former United Nations official in recent memory.

Professor Kingsley Moghalu, the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) is a political economist and lawyer with extensive ex-

21

Nigeria’s self-styled Macron wants to win power by ending corruption the century the United Nations expects it to be the third largest, with its population doubling from the present 200 million.

Moreover, that population is urbanising rapidly, with Lagos projected to become the world’s biggest city by population by 2100.

As well as one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations, Nigeria enjoys vast natural resources, most obviously oil and gas. It owns 2.2 per cent of proven global oil reserves, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, while accounting for 1.3 per cent of global natural gas production. It also boasts generous gold, lead, zinc, coal and uranium reserves.

Why, then, does Nigeria’s economy underperform so dramatically? The most obvious answer is corruption. Nigeria is ranked 148th out of 180 in the latest corruption perceptions index published by Transparency International. Corruption and poverty go hand-in-hand, poverty is still rising and so is the jobless rate, because GDP growth is not keeping pace with population growth.

All this will be keenly debated in Nigeria’s presidential election, due in February next year, in

which the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari, will be standing.

So, too, will be Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, the party of former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, under whom Mr Abubakar served as vice president.

The most intriguing candidate is Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and candidate of the Young Progressive Party.

A lawyer who worked for the United Nations for 17 years and who was educated in Nigeria, the United States and Britain (he has a PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics), Mr Moghalu presents himself as a thoroughly modern presidential candidate in the mould of Emmanuel Macron.

Last week, while on a visit to the UK, he said: “One of the major things I am going to do is move away from dependence on oil and move the economy towards innovation. We will have to look very seriously at the philosophical foundations that drive successful capitalist economies, make sure that there’s property rights, make sure that there’s innovation, make sure that there is capital. I shall be introducing a

major venture capital fund that is going to fund small businesses and stimulate the economy.”

Mr Moghalu’s policy prescription also includes more infrastructure investment. He accepts that while Nigeria has benefited from the process of “leapfrogging”, where a lack of landlines has encouraged rapid take-up of mobile technology and a lack of established electricity grids has enabled the rapid adoption of off-grid solar power, that can go only so far: “Nigeria, in particular, has a very high level of mobile phone technology and that’s a good thing, but I don’t think you can apply leapfrogging to every aspect of development. I still think Nigeria needs an industrial base. You can’t go into a post-industrial society, as some people recommend, without having been an industrial society.”

The would-be president also has controversial views on Chinese investment in Africa.

He says that many African nations have not benefited as they should have done, arguing that a lot of the continent’s leaders have lacked the “intellectual soundness” to drive a harder bargain with the Chinese. He argues it has exacerbated debt traps

around Africa and increased dependency on foreign loans. Two thirds of taxes raised in Nigeria go on servicing its debts.

Another key policy of Mr Moghalu is greater equality for women. He argues that Nigeria’s education and legal systems prevent too many women from reaching their potential and is promising a 50-50 gender balance in his ministerial appointments.

But is Nigeria ready for a technocratic president? Mr Moghalu, who points to his work nationbuilding in Rwanda, Angola and the former Yugoslavia during his time at the UN, insists that it is. Pointing out that the country has become poorer since it became a democracy in 1999, he argued: “The people of Nigeria are tired of the old, recycled and corrupt political class, which President Buhari’s government represents.”

Many will wish him luck. If this is to be the African century, the continent’s biggest country must fulfil its economic potential. If it does not and poverty continues to grow, the chances are that an increasing proportion of Nigeria’s growing population will head elsewhere, adding to the global migration crisis.

The Moghalu effect: Placing a worldview on Nigeria’s 2019 federal elections perience in both academic and business sectors. He was a Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University until November 2017.

He is also the Founder of Sogato Strategies LLC, an emerging markets risk, strategy and macroeconomic advisory firm, and a Senior Adviser of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF). In 2016, Moghalu founded the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET), a think tank focused on the achievement of inclusive economic growth and effective public policy in developing countries.

Most importantly, he is currently the only candidate in next year’s elections who has clearly stated his manifesto, actively interacts with Nigerians (home and abroad), and, as seen last week, is engaging the global community on economic and social policies to transform Nigeria, a nation with the unenviable distinction of being labelled the poverty capital of the world.

The YPP candidate recently

undertook a global listening tour in London, which included meetings at Chatham House, a presentation at the London School of Economics Institute of Global Affairs where he delivered a powerful lecture titled ‘Nigeria’s Poverty: A Global Ticking Time Bomb’, as well as a private lunch hosted by OMFIF. During the tour, Professor Moghalu was met by global business and financial investors, asset management firms, and sovereign wealth fund managers.

Apart from holding a townhall meeting in London aptly themed ‘Nigeria, Stand Up!’ on Saturday, 22 September, 2018, where he engaged Nigerians in the diaspora on his presidential candidacy, and how to get involved in the country’s economic transformation, he was also featured on interviews with international media outlets such as Sky News, Bloomberg, Russia Today, Sunday Times, The Economist, and Fame TV. As part of his most consistent opinions on the country’s socio-economic issues, Moghalu has explained that with

over 87 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty amidst a failing economy, the nation needs leaders who can create wealth through their huge global management experience and attract economic development and social tranquillity for all citizens irrespective of class, education, ethnicity, gender, and religion.

All of these will be keenly reviewed and debated before Nigeria’s presidential election in February next year, where Professor Moghalu aims to defeat the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari, and claim the presidency.

With his excellent policies and ideas dominating the media and town-halls in an unprecedented manner, every interested voter, by now, should have a clear idea of what Moghalu intends to achieve as president.

In a recent episode of Nigeria Decides, a United Kingdombased political show hosted

by Mark Eddo, an international journalist and lead consultant at the African Union, Mark referred to the 2019 elections as the “most exciting political bear pit since he began to watch elections in Africa”. His opinion

is shared by Nigerian talk show host, Suleiman Aledeh, who stated that the readiness of Kingsley Moghalu to engage anyone on his manifesto — a clear departure from previous politicians — inspires his supporters and millions of listeners across Nigeria. His preparedness has awakened the interest of the global community in engaging him as an economist, administrator, and a politician.

Many Nigerians may not be attuned to Ian King’s description of Professor Moghalu as “Nigeria’s self-styled Macron”, but they sure are affected by the precarious situation of the nation where poverty is exacerbated by the incompetence of our leaders, their bad policies, and selective fight against corruption. Nigeria cannot be left in the hands of elected officials and politicians who, clearly, do not have any idea how to build the prosperous nation that we desire.

“But is Nigeria ready for a technocratic president?” King asks.

We definitely are. We’ve been waiting. The whole world has been waiting.

We cherish readers’ reactions to stories and articles published in BusinessDay. All such reactions, which must not be more than 250 words, should be sent to bdsundayletter@businessdayonline.com with names and addresses of writers. The star letter every week will be rewarded.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Politics Araraume: Asset or liability to Imo APGA? happened long ago.

“I am very impressed by the formidable structure of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and I believe that with such a structure coming into our great party, APGA’s victory is assured,” he was quoted to have said.

CHUKS OLUIGBO

W

hen the number of politicians aspiring for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State began to swell a few months back, some political analysts interpreted it as a sign of the high level of acceptance of the party in the state. Even when the number of aspirants hit 20 and counting, they said it was a vote of no confidence on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and a sign that Imo citizens were looking to APGA for salvation in 2019.

There were, however, a few observers who saw the large number of governorship aspirants in the party as a bad sign. For this group, the concern was that the way the number of aspirants was growing, the party risked an implosion if the primary election and its outcome were not properly managed.

But some members of the party quickly dismissed these fears, arguing that since democracy was a game of numbers, the influx of new members into the party was a positive sign which, if properly harnessed, could translate into electoral victory for the party in next year’s governorship election. They also dismissed the fears that the party may have rancorous primaries owing to the large number of aspirants.

“First of all, I think it’s a good sign that everybody is interested in APGA. APGA is a huge tree that gives shelter to all shades of people,” Okey Ezeh, chief executive officer of Savvycorp Limited and a frontline governorship aspirant in the party, told this writer in an exclusive interview in June.

“The fact that people from other political parties are deserting their ships in droves and coming into APGA tells you that there is something they see in APGA; they can see a clear momentum with us and we welcome them, the more the merrier.

Politics is about numbers. We have a critical mass of people swarming into APGA. With that, they bring goodwill; with it, they increase the momentum. The party leadership is also focused. They know that that particular momentum must be properly managed,” Ezeh said.

“A party like APGA is like a church.

When you go to church, on a typical Sunday the doors of the church will be thrown open and you have the faithful trooping in, everybody is looking for salvation; they want to sit down, they want to come and worship, and nobody sends them away,” he said.

Enter Araraume But the defection to APGA from APC, recently, of Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, a two-time senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999-2007) and a federal commissioner in the National Communications Commission (NCC), has forced many to rethink their earlier permutations. Not even the entry of Ikedi Godson Ohakim, a former governor of the state, into the party created the kind of ripples that Araraume’s defection has created.

Araraume’s entry and his purchase of the party’s governorship nomination form has further swelled the number of aspirants that include Frank Nneji, chief executive officer, ABC Transport; Okey Ezeh, CEO, Savvycorp Limited; Sam Amadi, a former chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Chidi Okoro, a former managing director/CEO of UAC Foods; Stephen Nwoga, deputy

Araraume

national organising secretary of the party, among others.

Araraume, whom many have tagged a serial defector, was a PDP senator for eight years. Before then, he was the pioneer chairman of the then All People’s Party (APP) in the state, but abandoned APP a few weeks to the primary election to grab the PDP ticket for the Imo North senatorial seat.

His aspiration to the state governorship seat in 2007 was, however, truncated by powerful forces within the ranks of PDP. In the end, rather than have Araraume, the PDP leadership in the state went into an alliance with Ohakim, who had crossed over to Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) after he failed to actualise his ambition in PDP. Ohakim was eventually elected governor of Imo State in 2007, with active support of PDP heavyweights.

In 2009, aggrieved Araraume left the PDP for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and in 2011 ran for the governorship under the ACN platform but lost. In 2014, he rejoined the PDP and contested in the primary election but came second behind Emeka Ihedioha, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

With APC’s victory both at the state and federal levels in 2015, Araraume joined the APC, where he had hoped to fly the party’s flag in the 2019 governorship election. However, following disagreement between his camp and that of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is desperately pushing to have his son-in-law Uche Nwosu as his successor, Araraume a few weeks back left the APC for APGA, where he has gone ahead to obtain the governorship nomination form.

Asset or liability?

Looking at the pros and cons of Araraume’s defection to APGA, some political analysts have said it is a good omen only to the extent that it gives the party the needed formidable force to battle Okorocha in 2019.

In spite of losing his several bids to govern the state over the years, Araraume still has a lot of followership and is seen by many as a strong political force that can muster large votes, especially in his Okigwe Zone.

But they are cautious to suggest that he should fly the APGA flag in 2019.

“Araraume is a force, no doubt, but I think it would be a terrible mistake for Imo APGA to hand the party’s governorship to him,” said an analyst who craved

anonymity. “Imo people have rejected him several times before and may still reject him in 2019.”

Cliff Njoku, an Owerri, Imo State-based professor, in a recent article raised the alarm that Araraume’s defection to APGA had the capacity to plunge the party into crisis. That was even before the former senator formally declared for APGA. “To be sure, Araraume would be more of an asset to any other party right now but in the current circumstances, handing the APGA’s governorship ticket to him will undoubtedly cause a reversal of fortunes for the party in the forthcoming elections,” Njoku said.

“First, the generality of the leaders of the party in the state, together with the numerous governorship aspirants in the party, will feel both insulted and short-changed.

Apart from that, many of them have never seen Araraume eye-to-eye in the politics of the state; they will resist a situation whereby the obvious interpretation would be that he came and purchased them with his money,” Njoku said in the article ‘Red alert: Araraume in APGA’.

He further contended that Araraume, besides being seen by the generality of Imo people as part and parcel of the Okorocha administration which they are up in arms against on account of its abysmal performance, is “a beneficiary of the governor’s perfidy and subterfuge against the people”.

Indeed, Araraume was said to have been very instrumental to Okorocha’s re-election in 2015 against the wish of the people.

As such, Njoku said, Imo people would not trust him to be their governor in 2019.

“Even so, many fear that in the event that he fails to grab the APGA ticket, Senator Araraume may plunge the party into crisis, a thing he is known for. Observers believe that because of his orientation, the senator will feel very uncomfortable to remain in APGA once he fails in getting the governorship ticket and will certainly move,” he said.

With both Araraume and Ohakim, two longstanding political rivals, now in APGA and coveting the party’s governorship ticket, some also fear that the party may turn out to be a battleground between the two that may tear down the walls of Imo APGA. But Peter Ezeobi, chairman of APGA in the state, reportedly said Araraume’s entry into the party was a welcome development that the party wished it had

Fear of hijack Araraume’s entry into APGA has also rattled some governorship aspirants in the party who raised the alarm that the party has been hijacked. Araraume is believed to have the financial strength to push his way through. For instance, following reports of complaints of insufficient party membership cards after he and his Destiny Organisation members moved into APGA, Araraume was said to have donated N10 million for the printing of more cards and additional N12.6 million for sundry expenses towards the primary election.

“The moneybags are all in APGA right now. Araraume and group are taking over the space. It’s a very hard climb for us,” a top governorship aspirant in the party told BDSUNDAY in a chat.

“APGA has ceded the governorship ticket to Araraume, a moneybag from Okigwe zone. This individual, who has just dumped APC for APGA, has always contested for Imo governorship since 2007.

The story around Imo State right now is that APGA is the same as APC/PDP and will bring nothing new,” the aspirant, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, claimed.

Okey Ezeh, another top aspirant, however, dismissed the claim as “completely unfounded and without substance”.

“We have absolute confidence in the leadership of our party. APGA is blessed with some of the highest crop of individuals. When I say highest crop, I’m talking about in terms of integrity, in terms of patriotism, in terms of vision. The national chairman of the party, Ozonkpu Dr. Victor Ike Oye, is a fine gentleman of the highest order. He understands the principle of inclusive democracy. He is a stickler for due process,” Ezeh told BDSUNDAY in a telephone chat on Tuesday.

“There is nothing on the ground that suggests that the party has been hijacked by anybody. The short-sighted would want a situation where the door will be slammed restricting some people. Don’t forget, APGA is a political party. We want to uphold an all-inclusive policy where the party will be home to any well-meaning compatriot who wants to pursue his ambition or his philosophy with us, because we are not just a political party; we are a movement. That’s what Victor Oye’s vision is. APGA is not a political vehicle that people can just use to win election. I can assure you there is nothing like that. APGA is alive and well,” he said.

Nothing to fear, says Araraume But contrary to fears that he would brew trouble, reports have it that Araraume has promised that even if he does not get the party’s ticket, he would support whoever emerges the party’s candidate provided the primary election process was credible.

Araraume, it was reported, also urged the leadership of APGA to ensure a levelplaying ground in the selection of candidates as it would make the party come out stronger to win elections without rancour or acrimony.

As the October 4 date of party’s governorship primary election draws close, political observers are watching with keen interest to see how things will play out.

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Politics To what extent would technology influence the 2019 elections?

ZEBULON AGOMUO

T

he growing awareness among Nigerians in the goings-on in the Nigeria’s political arena and their willingness to participate in the electoral process may have made election riggers to rethink their strategies.

In the past, ballot-snatching and stuffing were common, whereby hired thugs would swoop on unsuspecting electorate towards the end of a voting process, unleash terror and cart away boxes full of ballots.

But today, thugs are no longer willing to carry out such bare-faced crime because chances are that they would be captured on camera by onlookers and therefore traced.

Unlike in the past when information about what transpired in one location, even within a local government area, took weeks to circulate, today, information circulates with the speed of light. That is why information about electoral fraud or attempt of it elicits spontaneous response.

In the past, events would have happened and passed many days before people would hear when it had become stale, a past tense and reaction would be meaningless.

In the Ekiti State gubernatorial election in July, the vote-buying fraud became a major issue because some party members and agents were caught in the act on phone cameras and the pictures and associated stories went viral on social media. In the recent by-election in Kogi State, some indigenes and residents, with their phones, captured and brought to light the extent of electoral fraud that featured there. With the aid of their smart phones, they were able to post online some onions, maggi cubes and other items that were used to induce voters.

Technology, no doubt, has restrained a lot of people from being brazen in their electoral fraud.

For instance, some officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who ordinarily would want to compromise are today hesitant to do so, because they are not sure somebody is not somewhere taking their photograph and uploading same on social media.

The move by the INEC to ban the use of smart phones around polling units in the recently-concluded Osun gubernatorial election was predicated on the fear that results can be announced on the social media before the official announcement by the INEC. The ban was met with sharp criticism with observers accusing the Commission of having some sinister agenda up its sleeves. They believe that instead of thinking that

APC raises alarm over illegal printing, distribution of membership cards in Ondo YOMI AYELESO, Akure

T

Yakubu

smart phones around polling units was an impediment to the INEC, it could indeed help the Commission’s work.

In the past, elections held in one state were not used to draw attention of many people outside that state, but nowadays, people show more than passing interest in what happens elsewhere in terms of who is in the race, how the election is conducted and what happens on the election day, up to the declaration of results.

Nowadays, it is no longer cast your vote and go home and hear the result later, but people now wait at the polling unit after they must have cast their votes to hear the result there and then. Heavy monitoring by party agents and voters would frustrate rigging.

Unlike in the past when people’s votes did not count, politicians wait until after the voting and then bribe the electoral officers to declare wrong figures, today, people no longer disappear to wait for result at home.

In many cases, the voters record the proceedings- the voting in progress, the collation of result, the announcement and people’s reaction. Before they leave the polling centre, they would have known the result, making it difficult for manipulations.

In the Osun election, Nigerians from all corners of the world witnessed the drama that surrounded it; the negotiations between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on one hand and between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Omisore on the other hand. So, those who hid under the secretive

handling of vote-counting to perpetrate electoral fraud, may not find it easy to do so in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

Ahead of the 2019 polls, the social media is awash with all manner of information about everything concerning the election. Such information ranges from who to vote and who not to vote, to the good and bad sides of candidates or their parties. The information also ranges from what goes on in the individual parties to the readiness or otherwise of the INEC. Most of this information is not propaganda or tissues of lies and half-truths; they are not only reliable but authentic.

Whatever the INEC does or fails to do in the course of organising credible polls this time around will be served to Nigerians unsolicited through the social media. Whatever the role of the security agencies is going to be or how they carry out their duties across all the states of the federation will also be brought to people’s notices. So, technology will ensure that every one of those expected to be apolitical in the discharge of their duties does so without playing the monkey.

From the gale of defections that has taken place across party lines to the invasion of the National Assembly by the operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), to the cut-throat prices of expression of interest and nomination forms of some parties; the major parties’ double standard in the use of direct and indirect methods of primaries, and to the acrimonies arising over venues for parties’ conventionsthese decisions and developments received immediate reactions.

Recall that in the build up to the general election in 2015, the APC

accused the PDP of tampering with its data base. A lot could happen this time around. The world is a global village and outside influence is seriously impinging on local elections, and 2019 will not be an exception.

The United States of America accused Russia of “meddling” in its election in 2015. It has also raised the alarm of possible repeat of same in its next election. This was allegedly done by the aid of technology.

Today, people follow some powerful influencers online, and these influencers shape their thought and mindset about whether or not to vote at all; who to vote for, who not to vote for; the desirability of the elections or otherwise. These debates flying in the social media, particularly the common platforms such as the facebook, twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, which is accessible to everyone, will play a huge role in influencing the outcome of 2019 poll.

The use of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) will to a large extent check rigging. If the INEC is going to adopt electronic voting with paper trail, that will make it difficult to rig. Outside of the PVC, the widespread use of national identification cards, Bank Verification Number (BVN), driver’s licence, international passport and others will also possibly discourage bare-faced rigging because the politicians will think twice this time around.

If for instance, a bogus figure is declared as those who voted and it becomes contentious and suspicious, the candidate or party will then prove that they are eligible voters with those items of identification.

he Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised alarm over the illegal printing and distribution of membership card of the party in the state, saying the action was designed to cause division within the party.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alex Kalejaye, who disclosed this in a statement described those behind the printing and distribution of the membership card as agent of darkness who are bent in destabilising APC in the state.

Kalejaye who said the supposed membership cards had been printed and circulated to some local government areas in the state, warned unsuspecting members of the party not to fall for the antics of the criminals, saying “there is no new membership card being issued by the party.”

Kalejaye said in the statement that “Our meticulous investigation reveals that the printing of the said cards was done in Akure, the Ondo State capital, between last week and Tuesday this week, before moving same to the North Senatorial district for distribution.

“It is further gathered that copies of booklets of the cards have been allocated to some party chieftains and chairmen in about five local government areas in the northern part of the State.

“The Ondo State chapter of the APC wants to state unequivocally that it has not authorised any person or group to print or distribute membership cards on its behalf. The act is therefore not with the knowledge and consent of the party.

“The printing and distribution of the so-called membership cards, we want to believe, is the handiwork of criminal and wicked agents that are bent either on destabilizing the party or subverting the will of the people.

“Whichever, the action is disheartening, crudely harsh, appalling, unacceptable, and should be a source of concern to all stakeholders, both within and outside the State.”

The statement stated further that “While appealing to our members to disregard any call for registration or collection of membership cards from fraudulent and desperate politicians. The State office will always give elaborate and adequate publicity to its actions and programmes for proper awareness.

“We also call on security agents to carry out thorough investigations into the development to unmask the gladiators behind it, and ensure that they are proportionately punished, to serve as deterrent to others from cultivating similar criminal tactics.”

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Politics

I am going to the Senate to lib

Natasha Hadiza Akpoti, a lawyer, and senatorial aspirant for Kogi Central, in this interview with ZEBULON AGO Ajaokuta Steel project in her native Kogi State. The former employee of Liquefied Natural Gas Industry in Brass, R her philanthropic gestures; her motivation into joining the race, her optimism to chair the Senate Committee on You are aspiring for Kogi Central Senatorial district seat at the National Assembly. What informed your decision to choose the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)? Have you held any elective political post before? will like to say that this is my first time getting involved actively in politics. I have not occupied any elective position in the past. However, I have been very involved and concerned about the dynamics of politics in Nigeria.

My decision to get into politics is borne out of the desire to create a positive impact in my immediate environment, that is the district I am going to represent in particular, Kogi State, and the country at large. I have realised that advocating as a citizen in the civil space does not give one the avenue to create an impact in society as it should be, because citizens’ space in Nigeria is too weak unlike countries like America and Europe, whereby a citizen can pick up an area of societal default and interact with the authorities and they would have such views held and incorporated; but in Nigeria unless you are in that political space, you will not be able to make that positive impact. That is why I said I have a chance of either being an advocate, speaking on issues like Professor Wole Soyinka and others, or getting in and use the authority and represent my people efficiently, and create the needed impact. Now, on the reason why I chose SDP; I took my time to go through the manifestoes of many political parties and I discovered that the SDP of which my father was one of the founding members and on the platform of which he vied for the House of Representatives, is ideal and focusing on the grassroots, the masses and ordinary citizens and what they are doing. I just felt that the philosophy and ideology of SDP resonate with my belief of what a political party should be. But at the same time, I want to say that I respect the ruling party, the APC and I also respect PDP and other parties. And I really believe that the Nigerian democracy will develop to a point that political parties could come together, support or collaborate towards achieving a common goal; which is making Nigeria greater than what it is today.

I

One would have expected that being a new entrant into the murky waters of politics, you should have started from the House of Representatives for

instance. Why Senate?

You see one thing we get wrong in Nigeria is that we look at politics as hierarchy – when you are starting, start with councillorship and from there go to other local government chairmanship, then state House of Assembly and probably, governorship and all that. What I would rather say is that we need to do away with that mindset. Every individual is endowed with certain skills and talents. Some people were born leaders; some others became leaders out of the experiences they acquired in life. Some were made leaders because of what the people found in them. Few individuals have a combination of all of these. When an individual finds himself that he has developed the capacity of leadership; I think at that moment it is all a matter of self-assessment, then you push. You now take other decisions you think can best help the people. It has nothing to do with, oh, you are a new entrant and therefore, you have to start from a lower level, otherwise, you will then can say that Nigeria should not be in a state of despair; after all, if you look at those around Mr. President, we have old politicians and you begin to wonder, why are they still making the same mistakes that have kept the country down if they are so knowledgeable in the act of politics. So, that also tells you that we have probably not been looking at the credibility and capacity of an individual to contribute his or her quota as against how long a person has been in politics. That is one of the things, I want to really change. I want people to see that, you don’t have to be a career politician; you don’t have to have a godfather; or your father being in politics (my father died over 20 years; the same year Abiola died), so, I did not have to say, oh, I am not an Abiola or Obasanjo’s son or daughter to make an impact. You can on your own make an impact in society.

You have been a vocal voice in the campaign for the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel project. Some people call you an activist whose voice has been heard over and over again in this area; but many people also think that there is no need to go back or commit more money into the Ajaokuta project because it has outlived its usefulness.

What is your response to that?

First, let me correct one thing; I am not an activists as many people call me. I am a social reformer; I am a social entrepreneur. I know these names are quite new in Nigeria. What is social entrepreneur or who is a social reformer? You may ask. He is a person that reforms the society. What I do is; I identify a problem in the society and I do my research on it and add my expert opinion; I advise the government and work with government to provide solution to the problem. And that’s exactly what a social entrepreneur does. On my own part, coming from the host community of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Mining

Company (NIOMCO) Limited, Itakpe - these two are critical to the economic development of my people in particular and Nigeria in general, and that is why as a social reformer, I am trying to focus on the most important problems in the country and there are quite a number of them- unemployment, revenue generation, curbing poverty, curbing violence (social vices that come from unemployment).

If we have Ajaokuta working today, it can create thousands of jobs, and I said let me focus on that. So, I am not an activist. People thought I became an activist because my voice was a bit strong. Social reformers have strong voices; but mere activists would just pick out a problem, blow the problem up and leave it there.

But as a social reformer I go in there; I identify the problem; create awareness in the problem, provide workable solution to that problem and work with the government to solve it. For the past three-and-half years (2015 till date) I have been advocating for Ajaokuta Steel project and many people know me for that. The reason as I said is that it is going to have tremendous impact on our economy. It is going to position Nigeria as an industrialised nation and create employments. When you look at how much Nigeria spends to import steel products in the past 10 years, it is enormous. The country has spent over N23trillion according to my findings from the National Bureau of Statistics; that will tell you how important the Ajaokuta Steel project is to us. The figure is only the documented figure, which means it is much more than that. You know in Nigeria, if they tell you something is N23 trillion, it could even be more than double.

If you go by the actual figure, it could be over N60 trillion. Then you now begin t o wonder; if you have the steel sector working, that means we would have that amount of money circulating in the economy and you don’t have to send it out importing products. That means we can

When I get to the Senate, I am not just going to be a voice for the people of Kogi or for Kogi Central, No; I am going to be a voice for many Nigerians

Natasha Akpoti

even position ourselves as an industrial hub of West Africa or even Africa as a whole, given our population and the resources we have, which is even beyond Iron Ore. So, all of that make me advocate for it. Of course, some people ask me, why was I tough on the government? It was because the major factors that held Ajaokuta down were, one, bad leadership, or what I call unpatriotic leaders; two, there were poor decisions that emanated from these unpatriotic leaders. These unpatriotic leaders lacked the political will to put the country forward. They held the country down through their bad decisions and policies that crippled the industry. It will interest you to know that the same people that were responsible for the collapse of our steel industry still have lots of their stooges acting in this government.

Right now, they sit like godfathers and position their senators, their ministers and sometimes even governors to monitor their interest in that industry.

It came to a point that some people thought I had exposed a lot, but there are still so much I did not consider safe to put out there.

Some of these cabals actually own factories in China that manufacture steel products. So, they killed the steel industry in Nigeria so that we can continue to import from their factories in China.

I realised that the only way I could tackle them was by exposing every finding that I have made because corruption thrives in secrecy. But when you begin to apply transparency and of course, accountability that comes with it, then they begin to crumble. It is like you are tying their hands because the public is now more knowledgeable on what their plans are and their tactics and they

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berate my people – Akpoti

OMUO, Editor, spoke on her three-and-half-years struggle for the revitalisation of the Rivers State, who described herself as a social entrepreneur and reformer, also spoke on n Steel when she gets to the National Assembly, among other issues: Excerpts:

are able to checkmate them.

But you know, I have done this for three and half years; look at all the exposé that I have made; till today no arrests were made. Of course, you can make reference that the whole Africa and many international organisations got to know about what is happening on the strength of that debate I made on the floor of the National Assembly on the 4th of March. But most of the actors are still alive and nothing has happened to them. No arrests were made and nobody even questioned them. No panel was set up to investigate all that I said. At a point I had a serious talk with myself – this country, there’s so much than meets the eye; it is like these same cabals are connected to those in government. And I really had to have a reality check with myself and I decided I am no more going to fight anybody. I am no more going to expose anything.

Everything just ends up like a movie. Everybody keeps enjoying the movie, and after one movie, the next movie comes on, the first one is forgotten. It is just like Nigeria is an entertainment country. I don’t have all the time to live on this earth. I asked myself, how best can I apply my wisdom and my knowledge to help Nigeria; help my people? Now, I was able to discover a few major loopholes in the steel sector. One, steel laws – you know in the petroleum industry you have the PIB, and many others that regulate the operations in that sector. So, because there are no laws to regulate operations in the steel industry, a lot of things are going wrong. There is no orderliness of regulation and operation in the steel sector. Every government that comes in will appoint an MD and they do whatever they want. They have just carried on like that

for so long. And that was why every time a new administration comes in they will keep pumping money into the projects without accountability. Even if you know that fraud was committed, there were no laws there to punish anybody. The foreign investors will come and do whatever they like and you don’t hold anybody responsible, because there are no laws in that sector to check such excesses. So, when I discovered it, I said to the leadership of the National Assembly ‘this is the problem’. So, there must be steel laws.

Imagine a country without laws. We now have identified that we need to set laws for the steel sector. Number two; the second thing that I discovered is that we need to have independent steel authority. In the 70s we had the Nigerian Steel Development Authority. It will interest you to know that all the major reforms the steel sector has enjoyed till date was that one that was done by that Authority in the 70s. Ever since that Authority was shut down in 1979, we have never experienced any major reform in the steel sector. So, I now thought that we need to bring that Authority back, so that it will be the one in charge of the operations of the steel plants, while the minister will be in charge as the political appointee as it is done in some other places, such as India.

It is just like in the communications sector, you have the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and then the minister of communication. We need to have a replica of this in the steel sector which means, bringing back the Nigerian Steel Development Authority. That is where professional stakeholders will have an avenue for them to contribute, professionally, to the development and sustainability of the Steel Sector.

It is very critical. That is another reform that I see that we need to make. There are so many other reforms like moving the Steel sector from the Exclusive list to the Concurrent list. You know in Nigeria today everything- the minerals that are buried underneath the earth within the Nigerian territory- fall under exclusive list; it is only the Federal Government that has the right over them. That goes again against the spirit of federation.

In federalism, every federating unit has the right to develop their economy; using their own resources within their land.

So; to an extent, under normal circumstances, when that is done (removing the steel sector from the exclusive list to the concurrent list) the Kogi State House of Assembly or the Delta State House of Assembly or any other state for that matter where such deposits (crude oil or iron ore) are found, it is going to be a joint effort developing the laws for the operations in the sector and for the extraction of such minerals in the soil. And this will be between the state legislature and the Federal House of Representatives or the National Assembly as a whole. The advantage of this is that it will give room to incorporate the rights and interest of

the communities where these things are found.

You see, the major problem we have today, whether in Kogi State; Delta State or Niger Delta as a whole or anywhere else is that host communities or states feel that the Federal Government will just come, extract whatever it wants and ignores them. That’s why people are pushing for true federalism; some people are even saying regional government and all that.

These and many more are few reforms I have looked into and I said, no way, this one I can’t achieve it as an ordinary citizen.

It is not possible. So, I now said, since I am knowledgeable about this, having worked closely with informed experts and other professionals in the sector, I said I would go to where I need to do something that will count; that is going to the Senate. And I am not mincing my words, I am going to chair the committee on steel when I get to the Senate and then begin to draft the laws for the steel sector; begin to work with the Executive arm and state governments and other allied ministries to ensure that we have a truly revived Nigerian steel sector.

It is impossible for someone to make these reforms from the outside. These reforms I told you about, I discovered them out of personal involvement and when I compared Nigeria with other countries that are making huge success and progress in their own steel sector, I discovered we need some reforms to get there, and they cannot be influenced from the outside. So, that is why I want to go to the Senate. It is good for me because it is my people at home that called on me to go there. They told me, you have really been struggling to get the government’s attention on this issue, why not go there? People have made political gain using the Ajaokuta steel project. They invite outside media and showcase the project, and claim that it is now working, but nothing is working; Ajaokuta is not working; that’s why I said, they are not patriotic. They play politics on important things that affect the lives of the people. At the detriment of the people, they score their own personal gain; we must stop that. I want to get there

to bring sanity to leadership, to bring truth and transparency, and credibility to leadership. When I get to the Senate, I am not just going to be a voice for the people of Kogi or for Kogi Central, No; I am going to be a voice for many Nigerians. I am going to speak the truth and many other leaders will be empowered to do better.

Where is the role of the civil society organisations in all these? It appears they have lost their voice; what is happening?

I operated as individual in my own state and I built my own followership. Many people are telling me to join forces with some established civil society organisations. I looked around a few; apart from SERAP (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) whose mandate aligns with what I am doing in the case of Ajaokuta- justice for social and economic development for the people- there is no other group I can find doing the kind of things I am into. Again, when I tried in the early stage to connect with SERAP, I found out it was very difficult! I sent some mails; I didn’t hear from them until after a long time, I got a response from one of them through twitter, by that time I was involved in too many things that I didn’t have time again to follow up on that. My skepticism again in joining an established civil society initially was because I heard that some of them sell out.

I am just saying it with due respect to some of them. Some of the information I was getting on the Ajaokuta issue was too sensitive; the discoveries that I was making were very sensitive. In fact, if I had a twin, I wouldn’t have even trusted the twin with my discoveries (findings) until I thought it was ripe enough.

If I were in a civil society, some people would have wanted to make millions out of it. You know, Ajaokuta has international interest that is holding it down and then national conspiracy. And you know that in a project that has the interest of the IMF, World Bank, China, America and others, anything can happen. The plot to

Continues on page 26

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Sunday 30 September 2018

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Politics

I am going to the Senate to liberate my people – Akpoti Natasha Hadiza Akpoti, a lawyer, and senatorial aspirant for Kogi Central, in this interview with ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, spoke on her three-and-half-years struggle for the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel project in her native Kogi State. The former employee of Liquefied Natural Gas Industry in Brass, Rivers State, who described herself as a social entrepreneur and reformer, also spoke on her philanthropic gestures; her motivation into joining the race, her optimism to chair the Senate Committee on Steel when she gets to the National Assembly, among other issues: Excerpts: You are aspiring for Kogi Central Senatorial district seat at the National Assembly. What informed your decision to choose the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)? Have you held any elective political post before? will like to say that this is my first time getting involved actively in politics. I have not occupied any elective position in the past. However, I have been very involved and concerned about the dynamics of politics in Nigeria.

My decision to get into politics is borne out of the desire to create a positive impact in my immediate environment, that is the district I am going to represent in particular, Kogi State, and the country at large. I have realised that advocating as a citizen in the civil space does not give one the avenue to create an impact in society as it should be, because citizens’ space in Nigeria is too weak unlike countries like America and Europe, whereby a citizen can pick up an area of societal default and interact with the authorities and they would have such views held and incorporated; but in Nigeria unless you are in that political space, you will not be able to make that positive impact. That is why I said I have a chance of either being an advocate, speaking on issues like Professor Wole Soyinka and others, or getting in and use the authority and represent my people efficiently, and create the needed impact. Now, on the reason why I chose SDP; I took my time to go through the manifestoes of many political parties and I discovered that the SDP of which my father was one of the founding members and on the platform of which he vied for the House of Representatives, is ideal and focusing on the grassroots, the masses and ordinary citizens and what they are doing. I just felt that the philosophy and ideology of SDP resonate with my belief of what a political party should be. But at the same time, I want to say that I respect the ruling party, the APC and I also respect PDP and other parties. And I really believe that the Nigerian democracy will develop to a point that political parties could come together, support or collaborate towards achieving a common goal; which is making Nigeria greater than what it is today.

I

One would have expected that being a new entrant into the murky waters of politics, you should have started from the House of Representatives for

instance. Why Senate?

You see one thing we get wrong in Nigeria is that we look at politics as hierarchy – when you are starting, start with councillorship and from there go to other local government chairmanship, then state House of Assembly and probably, governorship and all that. What I would rather say is that we need to do away with that mindset. Every individual is endowed with certain skills and talents. Some people were born leaders; some others became leaders out of the experiences they acquired in life. Some were made leaders because of what the people found in them. Few individuals have a combination of all of these. When an individual finds himself that he has developed the capacity of leadership; I think at that moment it is all a matter of self-assessment, then you push. You now take other decisions you think can best help the people. It has nothing to do with, oh, you are a new entrant and therefore, you have to start from a lower level, otherwise, you will then can say that Nigeria should not be in a state of despair; after all, if you look at those around Mr. President, we have old politicians and you begin to wonder, why are they still making the same mistakes that have kept the country down if they are so knowledgeable in the act of politics. So, that also tells you that we have probably not been looking at the credibility and capacity of an individual to contribute his or her quota as against how long a person has been in politics. That is one of the things, I want to really change. I want people to see that, you don’t have to be a career politician; you don’t have to have a godfather; or your father being in politics (my father died over 20 years; the same year Abiola died), so, I did not have to say, oh, I am not an Abiola or Obasanjo’s son or daughter to make an impact. You can on your own make an impact in society.

You have been a vocal voice in the campaign for the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel project. Some people call you an activist whose voice has been heard over and over again in this area; but many people also think that there is no need to go back or commit more money into the Ajaokuta project because it has outlived its usefulness.

What is your response to that?

First, let me correct one thing; I am not an activists as many people call me. I am a social reformer; I am a social entrepreneur. I know these names are quite new in Nigeria. What is social entrepreneur or who is a social reformer? You may ask. He is a person that reforms the society. What I do is; I identify a problem in the society and I do my research on it and add my expert opinion; I advise the government and work with government to provide solution to the problem. And that’s exactly what a social entrepreneur does. On my own part, coming from the host community of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Mining

Company (NIOMCO) Limited, Itakpe - these two are critical to the economic development of my people in particular and Nigeria in general, and that is why as a social reformer, I am trying to focus on the most important problems in the country and there are quite a number of them- unemployment, revenue generation, curbing poverty, curbing violence (social vices that come from unemployment).

If we have Ajaokuta working today, it can create thousands of jobs, and I said let me focus on that. So, I am not an activist. People thought I became an activist because my voice was a bit strong. Social reformers have strong voices; but mere activists would just pick out a problem, blow the problem up and leave it there.

But as a social reformer I go in there; I identify the problem; create awareness in the problem, provide workable solution to that problem and work with the government to solve it. For the past three-and-half years (2015 till date) I have been advocating for Ajaokuta Steel project and many people know me for that. The reason as I said is that it is going to have tremendous impact on our economy. It is going to position Nigeria as an industrialised nation and create employments. When you look at how much Nigeria spends to import steel products in the past 10 years, it is enormous. The country has spent over N23trillion according to my findings from the National Bureau of Statistics; that will tell you how important the Ajaokuta Steel project is to us. The figure is only the documented figure, which means it is much more than that. You know in Nigeria, if they tell you something is N23 trillion, it could even be more than double.

If you go by the actual figure, it could be over N60 trillion. Then you now begin t o wonder; if you have the steel sector working, that means we would have that amount of money circulating in the economy and you don’t have to send it out importing products. That means we can

When I get to the Senate, I am not just going to be a voice for the people of Kogi or for Kogi Central, No; I am going to be a voice for many Nigerians

Natasha Akpoti

even position ourselves as an industrial hub of West Africa or even Africa as a whole, given our population and the resources we have, which is even beyond Iron Ore. So, all of that make me advocate for it. Of course, some people ask me, why was I tough on the government? It was because the major factors that held Ajaokuta down were, one, bad leadership, or what I call unpatriotic leaders; two, there were poor decisions that emanated from these unpatriotic leaders. These unpatriotic leaders lacked the political will to put the country forward. They held the country down through their bad decisions and policies that crippled the industry. It will interest you to know that the same people that were responsible for the collapse of our steel industry still have lots of their stooges acting in this government.

Right now, they sit like godfathers and position their senators, their ministers and sometimes even governors to monitor their interest in that industry.

It came to a point that some people thought I had exposed a lot, but there are still so much I did not consider safe to put out there.

Some of these cabals actually own factories in China that manufacture steel products. So, they killed the steel industry in Nigeria so that we can continue to import from their factories in China.

I realised that the only way I could tackle them was by exposing every finding that I have made because corruption thrives in secrecy. But when you begin to apply transparency and of course, accountability that comes with it, then they begin to crumble. It is like you are tying their hands because the public is now more knowledgeable on what their plans are and their tactics and they

are able to checkmate them.

But you know, I have done this for three and half years; look at all the exposé that I have made; till today no arrests were made. Of course, you can make reference that the whole Africa and many international organisations got to know about what is happening on the strength of that debate I made on the floor of the National Assembly on the 4th of March. But most of the actors are still alive and nothing has happened to them. No arrests were made and nobody even questioned them. No panel was set up to investigate all that I said. At a point I had a serious talk with myself – this country, there’s so much than meets the eye; it is like these same cabals are connected to those in government. And I really had to have a reality check with myself and I decided I am no more going to fight anybody. I am no more going to expose anything.

Everything just ends up like a movie. Everybody keeps enjoying the movie, and after one movie, the next movie comes on, the first one is forgotten. It is just like Nigeria is an entertainment country. I don’t have all the time to live on this earth. I asked myself, how best can I apply my wisdom and my knowledge to help Nigeria; help my people? Now, I was able to discover a few major loopholes in the steel sector. One, steel laws – you know in the petroleum industry you have the PIB, and many others that regulate the operations in that sector. So, because there are no laws to regulate operations in the steel industry, a lot of things are going wrong. There is no orderliness of regulation and operation in the steel sector. Every government that comes in will appoint an MD and they do whatever they want. They have just carried on like that

for so long. And that was why every time a new administration comes in they will keep pumping money into the projects without accountability. Even if you know that fraud was committed, there were no laws there to punish anybody. The foreign investors will come and do whatever they like and you don’t hold anybody responsible, because there are no laws in that sector to check such excesses. So, when I discovered it, I said to the leadership of the National Assembly ‘this is the problem’. So, there must be steel laws.

Imagine a country without laws. We now have identified that we need to set laws for the steel sector. Number two; the second thing that I discovered is that we need to have independent steel authority. In the 70s we had the Nigerian Steel Development Authority. It will interest you to know that all the major reforms the steel sector has enjoyed till date was that one that was done by that Authority in the 70s. Ever since that Authority was shut down in 1979, we have never experienced any major reform in the steel sector. So, I now thought that we need to bring that Authority back, so that it will be the one in charge of the operations of the steel plants, while the minister will be in charge as the political appointee as it is done in some other places, such as India.

It is just like in the communications sector, you have the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and then the minister of communication. We need to have a replica of this in the steel sector which means, bringing back the Nigerian Steel Development Authority. That is where professional stakeholders will have an avenue for them to contribute, professionally, to the development and sustainability of the Steel Sector.

It is very critical. That is another reform that I see that we need to make. There are so many other reforms like moving the Steel sector from the Exclusive list to the Concurrent list. You know in Nigeria today everything- the minerals that are buried underneath the earth within the Nigerian territory- fall under exclusive list; it is only the Federal Government that has the right over them. That goes again against the spirit of federation.

In federalism, every federating unit has the right to develop their economy; using their own resources within their land.

So; to an extent, under normal circumstances, when that is done (removing the steel sector from the exclusive list to the concurrent list) the Kogi State House of Assembly or the Delta State House of Assembly or any other state for that matter where such deposits (crude oil or iron ore) are found, it is going to be a joint effort developing the laws for the operations in the sector and for the extraction of such minerals in the soil. And this will be between the state legislature and the Federal House of Representatives or the National Assembly as a whole. The advantage of this is that it will give room to incorporate the rights and interest of

the communities where these things are found.

You see, the major problem we have today, whether in Kogi State; Delta State or Niger Delta as a whole or anywhere else is that host communities or states feel that the Federal Government will just come, extract whatever it wants and ignores them. That’s why people are pushing for true federalism; some people are even saying regional government and all that.

These and many more are few reforms I have looked into and I said, no way, this one I can’t achieve it as an ordinary citizen.

It is not possible. So, I now said, since I am knowledgeable about this, having worked closely with informed experts and other professionals in the sector, I said I would go to where I need to do something that will count; that is going to the Senate. And I am not mincing my words, I am going to chair the committee on steel when I get to the Senate and then begin to draft the laws for the steel sector; begin to work with the Executive arm and state governments and other allied ministries to ensure that we have a truly revived Nigerian steel sector.

It is impossible for someone to make these reforms from the outside. These reforms I told you about, I discovered them out of personal involvement and when I compared Nigeria with other countries that are making huge success and progress in their own steel sector, I discovered we need some reforms to get there, and they cannot be influenced from the outside. So, that is why I want to go to the Senate. It is good for me because it is my people at home that called on me to go there. They told me, you have really been struggling to get the government’s attention on this issue, why not go there? People have made political gain using the Ajaokuta steel project. They invite outside media and showcase the project, and claim that it is now working, but nothing is working; Ajaokuta is not working; that’s why I said, they are not patriotic. They play politics on important things that affect the lives of the people. At the detriment of the people, they score their own personal gain; we must stop that. I want to get there

to bring sanity to leadership, to bring truth and transparency, and credibility to leadership. When I get to the Senate, I am not just going to be a voice for the people of Kogi or for Kogi Central, No; I am going to be a voice for many Nigerians. I am going to speak the truth and many other leaders will be empowered to do better.

Where is the role of the civil society organisations in all these? It appears they have lost their voice; what is happening?

I operated as individual in my own state and I built my own followership. Many people are telling me to join forces with some established civil society organisations. I looked around a few; apart from SERAP (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) whose mandate aligns with what I am doing in the case of Ajaokuta- justice for social and economic development for the people- there is no other group I can find doing the kind of things I am into. Again, when I tried in the early stage to connect with SERAP, I found out it was very difficult! I sent some mails; I didn’t hear from them until after a long time, I got a response from one of them through twitter, by that time I was involved in too many things that I didn’t have time again to follow up on that. My skepticism again in joining an established civil society initially was because I heard that some of them sell out.

I am just saying it with due respect to some of them. Some of the information I was getting on the Ajaokuta issue was too sensitive; the discoveries that I was making were very sensitive. In fact, if I had a twin, I wouldn’t have even trusted the twin with my discoveries (findings) until I thought it was ripe enough.

If I were in a civil society, some people would have wanted to make millions out of it. You know, Ajaokuta has international interest that is holding it down and then national conspiracy. And you know that in a project that has the interest of the IMF, World Bank, China, America and others, anything can happen. The plot to

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Politics Adoption of different modes of primaries exposes APC double standard

T

ZEBULON AGOMUO

he ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to have taken impunity to a higher level, observers say.

In 2014, shortly after its formation, the broom party received a great number of political heavyweights who decamped from the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The defectors had cited impunity as their major reason for leaving the PDP. At that time, the APC cheered and celebrated the huge harvest.

Today, it appears that the APC is being bitten by the same bug. Needless to recall here all the defections the party has recently suffered on account of same allegation of impunity.

Of note is the lamentation by Barnabas Gemade, the senator representing Benue State North-East Senatorial District, who was one of the founding fathers of the PDP but joined the APC on the platform of which he became a senator. Gemade recently dumped the APC for Social Democratic Party (SDP), alleging that the ills, because of which he left the PDP, are now ruling supreme in the APC, hence his decision to seek fulfillment elsewhere.

“When I ran the PDP (as chairman of the party), it was an excellent party.

Thereafter, impunity took over and that is why so many of us left and went to other parties. I also went to the APC. Those problems cropped up again and it was necessary to move. I have removed myself.

“If you don’t condone something, and it is something you cannot remove from where you are; you remove yourself.

Politics is all about times and seasons.

The reason is that so many issues had bedevilled a lot of parties,” Gemade said.

Allegations bordering on impunity and of going beyond the “sins” for which the PDP was crucified in 2015 have continued to trail APC actions and inactions. First, it was the Kawu Baraje group, New PDP (nPDP), that began to raise the alarm that indeed the taste of the pudding was in the eating, in relation to the goings-on in the APC. They began to allege ill-treatment and marginalisation by the Buhari administration. Efforts mounted by Baraje, then leader of nPDP, to get the government address the issues proved abortive. The group decided to adopt a new nomenclature– ReformedAPC (rAPC) and vowed to work with other parties to oust APC in 2019. Since the name-change, the Buba Galadima-led

rAPC has continued to increase allegation upon allegation against the APC. Some months ago, when Baraje sought the President’s intervention, the Presidency referred him to the party’s leadership, saying it was a party issue that must be trashed out at that level.

Signs that all is not well with the APC across the country, even in the states it controls, became evidently clear a few days ago, when the party released the list of states and mode of primaries expected in such states.

The list shows that the method of primary to adopt in each state depends on the relationship between the governor or leader of the party in that state with the national leadership of the APC. It is like a divide and rule system.

For instance in Kaduna State where Governor Nasir el-Rufai is in good relationship with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, indirect method of primary was approved for him. That means he can use the delegates to his own advantage.

In Lagos State where Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is fighting the battle of his life as the godfather in the state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may have decided his fate, the APC approved direct primary. In this case, Ambode will be facing

party members who are no longer in good terms with him. It is like allowing a vindictive person to preside over the case of his foe.

Senator Magnus Abe, a governorship aspirant in Rivers State, has screamed foul over the decision of the NWC to approve indirect primary for the state.

The thinking is that the decision is to favour Chibuike Amaechi, the transport minister who also is the director-general of the Buhari re-election campaign organisation.

“We shall present our facts before the NWC in order to ensure that the right thing is done in the state. I have been informed of the decision of the NWC of APC to hold indirect primaries in Rivers State; that decision goes against the grain of reason,’’ Abe said.

States to face direct primaries are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Taraba, and Zamfara.

The remaining 19 states, according to the national secretariat of the APC, will go for indirect primaries. They include Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Yobe.

living for others. That is my philosophy in social development. So, if anybody is thinking about getting himself enriched; thinking I am going to share money; that is not going to happen. The good thing is that it is my people that called on me to come and go represent them. They understand that I am not as rich as these core politicians who have enriched themselves with public wealth; I do ask them, I hope you know I am not going to give you any money to vote for me, and they say yes; again, I said to them, do you realise I do not depend on or have any godfather who will own my voice and who will ensure that whatever that should come to the senatorial district should go to him; they said they know that I do not have a political godfather; and again if a godfather owns my voice the strongest voice I have now which is Ajaokuta may change; and I may now give Ajaokuta to him (that godfather) but right now I am kicking against the sale of Ajaokuta and my struggle to get the National Assembly create a one-billion naira lifeline for Ajaokuta, all these will be in vain. So, I told them the importance, and that I am not under any pressure to begin to look for a sponsor that will later own my voice. I told them to ensure that my voice remains pure to the project. They have understood. I said to them, the N2,000 or N4,000 you were given four years ago, during election, has its changed your life?

They said no. I think everybody right now is more aware now than before, of the power of their vote. To that extent, I have not been getting much of such pressure, even though going to such an elective position demands some level of funding. You have to print campaign ma-

terials, and you have to transport people and all of that. I would like my election to be the first crowd-funded election in Nigeria. Recently, I got a call from somebody who donated 10 telephones and 10 sim cards. I have got some T-Shirts; I have got three campaign vehicles donated by some communities in Delta State. It goes to show that people are just yearning for that purpose-driven leadership; nobody cares to know whether you are a man or woman; or the party you belong to; or which region or religion you belong to.

Everybody is tired of what is happening in Nigeria– leadership deficit- and people want to identify with those they think will deliver that credible leadership; that purpose-driven leadership. That‘s my mission.

I am going to the Senate to ...

Continued from page 25 hold down the black is real and that is what Ajaokuta has suffered and is still suffering. We should not act ignorant of it; we should identify the fact that there are countries that want Nigeria to continue to be poor so that they can use us as dumping ground for their cheap finished products and they tap our minerals at their own price. These are the things I found out and I thought it was too sensitive to leak my information to anybody. I did not want to now be killed by my own team mate. I did not want to run into that kind of trouble. I know that there were times I was offered millions of naira, positions; I was offered many things, including being taken out of the country with my children to wherever I wanted.

But I told myself no; it is not about me; it is about the people. Not everybody will have the courage to turn down these favours. I determined that I was going to carry this struggle to the point I know it is time enough to blow it up. With due respect, I pray and I hope that the civil society organisations will become more purpose-driven. I am actually impressed now with what some of them are doing.

There should be more development in the civil society space.

We know you have been doing a lot of philanthropic work in your area; you have been taking care of people in various ways in Kogi State, particularly in your senatorial district. May we know if it is what you are banking on for victory? You know that where poverty thrives, politicians capitalise on that to compromise voters with gifts. Are you

Natasha Akpoti

by any way inducing the people to get their votes in return?

Ah, if anybody is waiting for me to dole out anything; it is not going to happen.

Let me tell you something. I learnt a lot of who I am today from the practical example of what my father was doing.

The short time I knew him. My father was a philanthropist. He taught me what it means to care for people; for the underprivileged to find joy. The time my father died, he didn’t have more than three clothes (three fabrics). He put a lot of children in school and he was taking care of them. At a point he was even donating his own blood for people. If a patient comes to him and he doesn’t have money but they needed blood, he would donate his blood. He built his wealth in the heart of people. So, I learnt philanthropy from him. I don’t believe that a man should have so much for himself, out of greed, while his neighbour is poor. I believe in sharing. I find strength and passion by

Her Profile

Natasha Hadiza Akpoti, a lawyer also has a Master’s Degree in oil and gas. A former employee of Liquefied Natural Gas Industry in Brass, Rivers State, she is a social entrepreneur and reformer.

She is the founder of the Builders Hub Impact Investment Programme and Builders Hub Foundation, a social enterprise focused on creating jobs through the sustainable revival of Nigeria’s local industries. Natasha is also a philanthropist, supporting 600 school children in Kogi State and 100 university students across Nigeria. She is also the leader of Ajaokuta/Itakpe Revival Movement- a movement towards the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Kogi State.

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Politics APC primaries: Ambode, Sanwo-Olu in last minute campaigns …party warns no ID card, no voting JOSHUA BASSEY

A

kinwunmi Ambode, incumbent governor of Lagos State, and Babajide SanwoOlu, both aspirants in the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) governorship primary election which holds Sunday, September 30, are intensifying campaigns, reaching out to various groups in last minute’s efforts to win the support and sway votes in their favour in Sunday’s governorship primary election The primary election is meant to produce the APC flag bearer in the 2019 generation elections. It was scheduled for Saturday, September 29, but later shifted to today.

Ambode has been accused by those opposed to his re-election bid within the state APC, of running self-centred government, and sidelining key stakeholders in the party, some of whom supported his election in 2015. But the governor, whose campaign organisation towards the primary had been inaugurated, with hundreds of agents trained to be his ‘eyes and ears’ across the 20 local government areas of the state, has dismissed the allegation.

According to the governor, who announced his readiness to contest in the direct primary, on Wednesday, he has ran an all-inclusive administration in the last three years plus.

Ambode, at the 80th anniversary of Ikoyi Club, Thursday evening, said conscious efforts had been made in the last three and half years by his administration to practice inclusive governance in

Ambode

Sanwo-Olu

which no sector or section is left behind in development.

He argued that deliberate initiatives had put in place since he assumed office to extend development to nooks and crannies of the state all in a bid to ensure inclusiveness.

“I believe strongly that the value that we bring as a government which is what we have been pursuing in the last three and half years is to say that we should create values that promote inclusiveness which is what Ikoyi Club is all about.

On his part, Sanwo-Olu, Ambode’s major challenger, says he will restore the lost glory of the state if given the opportunity to serve.

According to Tayo Ayinde, the director general Sanwo-Olu campaign organisation, the aspirant having served in both

the private and public sectors, has the prerequisite experience and expertise to run Nigeria’s richest state. Ayinde, a former chief security aide to Bola Tinubu, the APC national leader, says the array of endorsements so far received by Sanwo-Olu is a testimonial that the people believe in him.

In the mean, the state chapter of APC has been distributing identification cards to members ahead of primaries in the state.

Tunde Balogun, state chairman of the APC, led other executives to distribute the cards at the party secretariat, in Ikeja, through selected party leaders across the different councils in the state.

Balogun said the giving out the cards was to enable members participate in the governorship and subsequent primaries.

According to him, at least 1.7 million cards had been issued based on the data

of members, appealing to the representatives to ensure the cards get to registered members in their respective areas immediately.

“We have carefully selected you because of your good records in your areas and because we believe you can deliver in getting these cards across to our members.

“I implore you to do your best in delivering on this assignment so that our members can get their cards before the governorship primary on Sunday,” he said.

Balogun directed them to distribute the cards to identified party members immediately in the presence of their council chairmen and council party chairman in their respective areas.

He said the distribution must also be done in the presence of the state executive member representing each of the 20 constitutionally-recognised councils.

The chairman said that the party arrived at the arrangement to ensure that cards do not fall into the wrong hands.

Balogun warned that for no reason should the cards be given to the wrong people, urging the leaders to return unclaimed cards to the secretariat.

“Please make sure you check the photographs on the cards before giving them out.

“We do not want a situation where these cards get to the wrong hands. In case you cannot get the owners of some of the cards, please return it to the secretariat; we will know what to do.

“And for some of you who cannot get all the cards because of bulkiness, please do come tomorrow, as that is the deadline for distribution,” he said.

No solution in sight, as Labour shuts down banks...

Continued from page 11

ers’ Union of Nigeria, wish to register our unalloyed support to the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“We have watched with keen interest unfolding events leading to this unfortunate situation and are convinced that organised labour has exhibited the highest level of civility, patience and respect for due process in the quest for the legitimate aspirations of the working class.

“We recall that the National Minimum Wage Committee was inaugurated in November, 2017 and commenced work in March, 2018 with timelines to deliver on its mandate of arriving at a new minimum wage in August/September, 2018.

“The assurances given by the Minister of Labour and Employment in February this year during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Labour Congress removed our initial doubts in the sincerity of the government on this sensitive issue. We had also kept faith as the committee continued to work assiduously and meticulously in spite of challenges to be able to deliver on their mandate.

“We were however shocked to learn that the government had decided to adjourn the meeting of the committee indefinitely with a purported intention to enable consultations.

We see this decision as against the principle

of collective bargaining, an act of bad faith and a deliberate ploy to delay negotiations and subsequent implementation even when the current minimum wage is long over-due for review.

“Permit us to restate at this juncture that the justification for a new minimum wage cannot be overemphasised while all the indices that justify wage increase have either been introduced by the government or market driven forces have propelled their emergence.

“Under this administration, the pump price of petroleum products have been increased, the currency have been devalued with consequential effects on workers and citizenry like unbearable electricity tariffs, punitive exchange rate and hyper inflation all of which have led to a rising cost of living for workers and other Nigerians.

“Sadly too, we are yet to feel the effects of government’s promise to mitigate these hardships even with the setting up of a palliatives committee to fashion out mitigatory strategy, policies and programmes to cushion the vagaries of its policies.

“We wish to associate ourselves with the age long adage that a leopard does not and cannot change its spots. We want to remind our members, in particular, and the general public, at large the suffocating and unbearable negative influence of the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, in the recent avoidable

Joint Health Sector Unions strike which went unabated to six weeks, leaving poor and vulnerable Nigerians dying en-mass simply because both Chris Ngige and the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole had acted in concert to jettison a memorandum of settlement signed on 30th September, 2017 to which five weeks was the timeline for its consummation implying that by middle of November, 2017, the matters would have been put to bed.

“Unfortunately, by April, 2018 when all Health Workers under the auspices of JOHESU were no longer in the frame of mind to condone their attempt to even deny its existence, the one and a half month strike had to be stemmed through the instruments of an NGO that ran to court. Up to this moment the Ministers have not been able to resolve the issues in the health sector.

“This thus gives the government the toga of an administration that does not respect Collectively Bargained Agreements (CBA), or an administration that has a phobia for taking care of the welfare of its workers, particularly if it has to do with increase in what goes into the pockets of the workers.

“We have also noted with utmost disgust, the position of the Federal Government, especially some governors, who have retorted, in reaction to the ongoing warning strike

by Organised Labour, that workers cannot

force government to pay them minimum wage.

“True as the position may be, it is only serving as a clarion call to workers that government, as a ruling class, is poised to protect the exploitation of the working class through continuous payment of slave wages while they continue to enrich themselves with our sweat. We should note this at the time they are preparing to deceptively return to scavenge for our votes. We thus call on our members in active collaboration with the NLC to come together to put these politicians on the spot, on topical issues affecting workers including the issue of minimum wage before deciding where to lay their voters’ eggs.

“Workers would no longer be taken for a ride where they vote charlatans into office only to face various draconian policies, such as loss of precious jobs, under various guises and satanic activities against workers by the likes of the Ngiges, Adewoles and the loud mouthed anti-minimum wage politicians against this scenario, we wish to state in unequivocal terms our loyalty to the Nigeria Labour Congress/organised labour and our commitment to this struggle.

“We therefore wish to direct our members nationwide to key into this struggle as a matter of policy and should not rest on our oars until we receive directives from the leadership of organised labour,” he said.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Politics

How we will lift Kwara out of the doldrums – Mustapha Saliu Mustapha is the former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct political party, the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State. In this interview with journalists in Ilorin, he spoke on reasons for joining the race and his plans for Kwara if elected governor of the state in 2019. SIKIRAT SHEHU was there. Excerpts: You are aspiring to become the governor of Kwara State under APC, what informed your decision? or me, coming into the race and aspiring for this job is about a call to service, to serve our people and to make life better for them. We want to change the system of the state from the dilapidated situation it has found itself.

I am in the race to take Kwara to the next level and make it a better society for your family and my own and for everybody.

Tell us a bit about your political sojourn?

We started way back with the APP that later metamorphosed into the ANPP. We got to a stage where we formed our own party, CPC in which I became the Deputy National Chairman. I was part and parcel of what we called APC today, how the merger came about and after the merger. We had people who migrated to the party from the new PDP and today they have left and I still remain in APC. This alone is a testament to the fact that I am a committed member of the All Progressives Congress.

As an astute politician with vast experience of the political situation in our dear country, I have always shared the ideological conviction of President Muhammadu Buhari and I have always believed in his political ideology.

There are so many people who are vying for governorship position in your party; how will you react to this?

You’re looking at it from one side. From the other side it is even more promising for the party because when you see people coming out vying for such position, it shows you have many qualified people that can do the job.

From the list of names I have seen, they are eminently qualified. What we are only asking is that there should be cooperation and sincerity of purpose for us to work together so that the best can emerge for our people to get the best.

We are not saying that it must be central but from the political exigencies, it is better for us to present somebody from central now, so as to be able to counter the opposing party because for us it is about winning not about participating.

How will you assess the level of development in Kwara State, are you satisfied?

If I am satisfied, I will not be putting myself forward to serve

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the people because I believe what is on ground today is not good enough for our people and that is why some of us have come out of passion to serve our people better.

Trying to give them more accountability of their resources, to manage our resources better, try to guide and protect the common wealth of the people so as to be able to provide better living conditions for our people.

What is your opinion on the trend of change agenda by aspirants?

Change is constant in life, if there is anything history has taught us about change, it is about the rise and fall of empires which also means change, so there is nothing in life that is permanent.

Even God in His infinite mercy that created us, He created us from one stage to another. At a stage you’re a baby, you get to the stage of adolescence, you get to another stage and then become an old person.

For me, change is constant; the change we talk about in APC is change from the situation we find ourselves to a better situation.

We want to change to a better environment that is what we meant by change in APC. It is not about changing things from good to worse no, it is from worse to good.

We intend to come and give our people a better system of governance, a system that will serve our people better, not to come and rule them. That is the change we mean in APC. What would be your programmes for the state if you eventually win the gubernatorial election?

My plan for Kwara is for it to be better and that is what we are all asking for, we want a better system.

For me, first and foremost is accountability to the people matters a lot, once you can account for whatever you’re doing, then you will definitely be able to provide a better system for them, a better formula, a better infrastructure, better education, better security and better welfare for the people, that is the whole essence of accountability.

One of them is in the area of education. Infrastructural decay has revisited most of them and more importantly, you must create a conducive environment; security of lives and property. Let people have confidence to go about their daily activities. Secondly, we need reorientation, education and pub-

Mustapha

lic enlightenment for us to know what works and what does not work for us. Thirdly, as a government too, we must quickly address dilapidated structures in hospitals, schools, providing social amenities for our people and also trying to look at what can be more of an investment and encourage people to come into the state and partner with us. We must look at the monthly allocations and think out of the box.

We must start looking at the possibility of also generating and creating sources of income for ourselves, job opportunities for ourselves and feed ourselves. That is very important. We have a blueprint already to look at the immediate, mid and long term projects and how these things can be realised within a short period of time.

For me, why I have chosen education, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, reorientation among the cardinal points of my reform, if and when I became the governor by the grace of God, is because you cannot give what you don’t have.

We cannot dream and think we can become another Small London if we don’t have what it takes to create that enabling environment for ourselves. So, we must be

able to know what can work for us, what is practicable for us and what is not.

If the people don’t know what is good and bad for them, how would they start? Without the foundation built, you can’t get it right. These days, we are living in an advanced society where the conventional style is not what is obtainable again, you must have some level of orientation, some level of educational upliftment.

Nobody can beat science. You can’t beat technology. We are all using mobile phones now. Some years ago there was nothing like that. The world is a global village today. We must look at these things and then prioritise our needs.

We must have a strategic plan; short term, mid-term and long term, on how to address some of these things. The manpower is there. It is not everybody that must have a white collar job. The youth are there wasting away, calling themselves good boys, what is good about what they are doing?

They just constitute themselves into a menace to the society.

Some of them should be made to know and it has to be through some public enlightenment or

reorientation that you need not have a PhD or Masters degree to be able to feed for yourself and to earn a living for you and your family.

You can learn a particular skill and before you know it you start earning more money than the white collar people.

There are some mechanic workshops now that will charge you a consultation fee before they run a diagnostic on your car. Doctors do it in the hospitals and we think it is because they are doctors, it is okay.

If you believe that the mechanic would do the job for you, you have no choice but to pay. So, we must start looking at these things and look at what works for us.

Those who want to go to farm, create an enabling environment for them. That is one of the main objectives of government; security of lives and property. If you can do this, then you will now let people know that you can do this to earn a living and also employ others.

If not, it is like you are pouring water in a leaking drum. Energy, time and resources would just be wasted if we don’t get some of these things right and if we don’t prioritise our needs and look at how to improve the internally generated revenue for the state, look at what is not working for us than looking at elephant projects. There are some projects that are just lying down there without economic impact for us in the state. You don’t start a project that does not have the real effect for the people.

The kind of government we would run is participatory, where all hands must be on deck. That is why we must sit down and look at where wastages are taking place, look at how we can increase our revenue, cut down unnecessary spending.

If what is obtainable in other states is different from what our people are taking home here, we must look at how we can motivate them and by so doing, everybody must contribute their quotas. We must let them know adding more is also going to be proportional to what you are doing, because people should not just work and they are not well paid. That means you don’t expect the best from them.

So, the state must also motivate its workers.

You don’t wake up and start increasing taxes on people. If you don’t create a conducive atmosphere for them, how do they want to increase their productivity? So, you must be able to motivate the workers, create a conducive environment and by motivating them,

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Politics the government on its own side would also do a lot.

Because you don’t expect the teachers to go to school when the classroom is leaking, no chairs, the place is not conducive and you want he or she to spend six hours giving his best to the students, it doesn’t work that way. But if you create a good atmosphere for them, they too would be happy to give out their best.

Ours is going to be a participatory government whereby we must sit down and look at things, depending on the peculiarity of individual sections, departments, problems or localities. Assuming somebody in Kaiama now, one of their major problems is road infrastructure. If you don’t help them, how do they bring out their food produce to the centre to sell? We must look at all these things, look at the immediate gains so that we can all reap these things and be able to manage it so that it can have immediate effect in the system.

The National Headquarters of the APC announced the dissolution of the Kwara State executive of the party and set up a caretaker committee. Now, both the dissolved executive and the caretaker committee are laying claim to the leadership of the party in the state.

Under which of the executives do you intend to run?

For those of us who are team players and who know where the National Secretariat is, the national is with Bashir Bolarinwa Caretaker Committee. So, anybody wasting his time with the Balogun Fulani executive is just on his own day dream.

The truth is the national secretariat has the power. From the electoral laws and Supreme Court judgment, it is the party that sponsors the candidates. The party is the national, not the state. Don’t forget, INEC did not give states certificate of registration, they gave it to the national.

Don’t let people confuse you.

Of course, the matter is in court and I may not be able to say much.

But some of these things are just diversionary, to distract and create some confusion. Be rest assured that the authentic party executive as at today is the caretaker committee headed by Bolarinwa.

What do you think the National Secretariat of APC should do to harmonise everybody’s interest as a lot of people are jostling for guber seat in the state?

Most of the people who have come out to contest in APC are eminently qualified. But for the larger goal, I’m appealing to my fellow aspirants too for us to sit back. Within us, it shouldn’t be a do or die, it should rather be a call to service and then we can now

For our brothers from Kwara North, if we are looking at morals or by convention, none of us would want to contest against them

advise ourselves. One of the ways we can achieve this is that we must sit down, look at the winning strategy. By the time you do that, you would be able to do some logical reasoning on why this person should change his or her mind from going to A to go to B. For our brothers from Kwara North, if we are looking at morals or by convention, none of us would want to contest against them.

For me, had it been we were looking at that situation, I would support 100 percent the Kwara North. But today, we are looking at a winning strategy. We are looking at the possibility of having somebody to battle with the opposition party from the Central here.

Because by the time you look at the total votes cast, Kwara Central alone would pull more than 40 percent. So, we must not take that for a joke.

On a good day, if we are to look at what is a conventional, gentleman’s agreement, we would want to say Kwara North.

But if today, you bring somebody from Kwara North, all the opposition party needs to do is to bring somebody from Kwara Central and then both the North and the Central would now start looking for whatever they can pick in Kwara South, and the people we are trying to wrest power from would give us a knockout.

By the time you have a strategy of winning, it would further assist you to guide yourselves such that some people would look at it that for the larger goal or interest, let us look at it this way.

The State chapter of the APC led by Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa has adopted direct primary in the selection of the governorship candidate of the party. Do you support this?

Well, the party has the final say as it stands now, the party can decide what sooths it better because from the electoral law, the party decides who runs on the platform; so, for me, whatever the party leadership chooses to adopt I support it because I know the party wants the best for our people. So, as team players, we go by whatever the party adopts. We want to see a situation where Kwara would be lifted from the decay that it has found itself. It is about bringing the state to the next level. It is about putting all hands on deck, partnering fellow progressives to see that we take Kwara to the next level.

What will be your take after the primaries?

My take after the primaries is for the APC to win, for APC as a party, whoever wins, it is a collective victory for all of us. We want to believe that the APC as a party wants to come out victorious in the next general election; therefore, we must be more strategic, more focused and look at what would make us win the election. We would want to appeal to Kwarans to give us the necessary support to enable us give them the best that the APC has to offer. My major appeal would be Kwarans should give us that opportunity to serve them, to be able to deliver what they have been lacking for a long time and for us to achieve the big project of fixing Kwara.

There cannot be free and fair elections with present composition of INEC – Koshoedo Setonji Koshoedo, a former chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State and a former member of the House of Representatives, in this exclusive interview with Iniobong Iwok, speaks about the party in the state, the Buhari administration, among other issues. Excerpts: The general perception is that Lagos PDP will perform poorly in next year’s general elections in view of the crisis and recent defections rocking the party. What is your take? eally? Such perception sounds right. But I know APC has more terrible crisis than PDP. So it may not be right to judge the future performance of the party with that. Don’t forget that, more than ever before, people of Lagos desire a shift this time around. They will prefer to be governed by the worst democracy rather the best dictatorship.

That’s an advantage for PDP. And that is a factor to consider for our performance in the 2019 elections.

What is your view about Salvador’s recent defection to the APC? Salvador is a grown-up man. He has a mind of his own. And he has his reasons for taking such decision. People’s emotion differs, and so are their reactions to situations.

He reacted based on his level of temperament. I may not react the same way, but his defection is not good for the party; at least not to APC. There are insinuations that Bode George is the cause of the problems facing the party?

I won’t want to blame Chief Bode George for anything. After all we have leaders doing the unthinkable in other parties. There is always that tendency for leaders to mismanage the affairs of followers, but followers have the choice to decide to remain to follow or not. I will rather blame the entire membership for the problems of Lagos PDP. President Muhammadu Buhari has spent more than three years in office now and is seeking re-election next year. What is your assessment of his administration?

Assessment? Look at the faces of Nigerians. Go and sample opinions of the poor, the rich, and the average. What you get is enough to assess Buhari’s government. Look at his failed manifesto, if there was any; the system has degenerated; there is wider gap between the rich and poor. In fact, what we have now is nonsense of governance.

Nothing can describe the APC government better.

What is your view about the recent resignation of the finance minister and the calls for her prosecution?

She was just a victim of circumstance. Many more never served.

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Koshoedo

Can’t you see another case coming up almost immediately? For me, the law should have made her serve for more years under severe conditions.

What are the chances of the PDP in the 2019 general elections, especially in the presidential election?

It depends on how we manage the party. Nigerians are ready for another change, but PDP must give them the right candidate. The chances are very bright, but we also need to exploit the failures of APC for our good. No matter how ready the people could be, we must present ourselves as the best alternative. I believe our leaders will not miss the opportunity.

What issues do you think should be priority to the aspirants, that would probably determine who you will vote for as a delegate from Lagos State in the party primaries?

The most important thing is for the party to present a candidate with the right heart, a compassionate heart to feel the sufferings of Nigerians. That is the basis, but there are many other factors – a youth to meet the crave for generational shift, a smart guy with sixth sense and skills beyond mere intelligence, a proven achiever with records of experiences of civic, public and political works, and more importantly, a detribalized Nigerian that can keep the unity of the country intact.

What is your view on the agitations for restructuring of the country? Afenifere, Yoruba Patriot

Front (YPF) and others say that would determine who they would support in next year’s presidential election.

Restructuring is all about fairness to all geopolitical zones as provided in federalism. I don’t think anyone is asking for too much by asking for restructuring. In fact, any candidate that is not for restructuring has a hidden agenda and playing with the unity of Nigeria.

What is your view on the Buhari’s anti-graft war?

How I wish whoever is reading this can see my laughter when you asked this question. Did you say Buhari’s anti-graft war? It is worth laughing at again. In fact, this is pro-grafting, if there is any word like that. Even whatever he is doing now is one-sided with so much injustice all over the place. Sinners have now become saints and mediocrity is being celebrated all over.

Anti-graft war has never been this bad. So just forget it.

Are you confident that INEC as presently constituted can conduct credible elections next year?

Which INEC? Do you mean this INEC? The people of Ekiti State and Osun State can answer that question better. I really don’t know how to describe the current INEC. Let me just say that we all have been seeing what INEC has become.

Whether credible to conduct credible elections is revealed by what we have all been observing. In fact, if I were Buhari, I would close the current INEC down and create a new one with new staffs, if only not to further destroy my image.

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Interview

NAPharm well placed to undertake researches on diseases prevalent here – Akinkugbe Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe, can be regarded as the doyen of pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria having qualified as a pharmacist from the School of Pharmacy in Yaba in 1949. For his pioneering and entrepreneurial trailblazing efforts in the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, as the pioneer General Secretary of the defunct Nigerian Union of Pharmacists (NUP) and having served as the fourth President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Academy has bestowed him with a Lifetime Achievement award. Akinkugbe, who turns 90 on 5th December, is the first pharmacist and third distinguished personality to be so awarded. In this interview with Bola Adebola, the pharmacist-turned-board room guru speaks on Nigeria’s Academy of Pharmacy’s push for research and innovation, inter-professional collaboration among healthcare professionals and other life issues.Excerpts:

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ow do we strengthen our institutions to engage in local production of drugs and ensure a viable drug distribution system in the country?

Capacity for local production is still a major problem in the sense that industrialization is still finding its feet in the country. And it’s not just with drugs alone but also with many other food and household products. The problems of power supply, access to funds, regular water supply as well as other skills needed in manufacturing other than just the pharmaceutical profession itself. I think that ensuring a viable drug distribution system is probably going to be easier to achieve in the sense that we would need exposure to other business capacities apart from pharmaceutical education.

Fortunately today, there are business schools, additional and supplementary courses that people can have which make it easier to start a business or access finance and also the logistics of being able to run a medium-sized business.

The questions of easy access to supplies, better access to funds and logistical practices would drive a viable drug distribution system.

You have always been passionate about building capacity to address the all-important subject of development via research and innovation. What do you say to the Academy’s decision to initiate a vehicle that would drive meaningful pharmaceutical research as well as encourage the prosecution of research that addresses relevant health problem?

The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy is in a well placed position to start working in that path. Most of the drugs that we have in this country originate from the Western world, which has diseases that are largely universal. But there are diseases which are of a tropical nature which they have also concentrated on in the past. Research into tropical medicine has often been treated as an addition to the research which covers diseases peculiar to the West. In the past, we benefited a lot from research into malaria, which is a major killer.

There have also been research successes in engaging pandemics like Ebola and AIDS. However, there is this nagging feeling that maybe the West isn’t as interested in these diseases largely because they are not prevalent there. Therefore, it is important for those in the tropical

areas to look at peculiar problems in their environment and give it the desired attention it deserves by concentrating their research time on these subject matters. This probably explains why in recent times, there has been a rekindled interest in sickle cell anemia, which has its roots in a tropical environ-

ment like ours. As an Academy, I believe that NAPharm will give concern and greater concentration to the fundamental problems that are prevalent here and ensure that they no longer pose a problem to our people.

How do we deepen the use of local herbs and plant in drug

manufacturing?

Less than a hundred years ago, we moved in the direction of Western medicine. As a result, people have tended to look down on herbal medicine. With the advances taking place in other countries like China, we see that there is still a heavy reliance on herbal medicine.

Thankfully, people have come to accept that each type of medicine has its own peculiarities and usefulness that we do not have to depend on just only chemotherapy and antibiotics. The old remedies still have a place and there might be a number of drugs from natural sources that can still emerge from plants from our tropical forests which have escaped attention over the years or having a second look at the constituents to see whether they would be valuable for diseases which are commonplace but have tended to be ignored. People have always used a combination of these drugs, as they have not completely abandoned our own ethnic plant portfolio of drugs. We still find a lot of usefulness in them and these are areas that I urge the Academy of Pharmacy to provide the requisite leadership, if not as a research centre but as a vehicle to assist research centre and efforts.

A big challenge that has plagued health outcomes in the country today is the issue of deep-seated lack of trust and infighting among professionals in the healthcare sector. How prevalent was this during your time and how do we put an end to the lack of inter-professional collaboration?

Inter-professional rivalry in the health sector isn’t a new thing.

However, you find out that the people who are most vocal about this question of leadership are themselves the mediocre. They are the ones who always love to push people back, preventing them from emerging as full-fledged professionals. Leadership is something that must be earned and it can emerge from any sector. In academic circles, people are trained to appreciate other disciplines; you cannot say that it is only your own that is paramount. When people come together from time to time, leaders ought to emerge from among them to push projects forward. Even among doctors, different disciplines, if you are a cardiologist, you cannot say that you are better than a psychiatrist and so too it is with other professionals in the field. The people who make these medical instruments and equipment, at times have sharper minds than those who are surgeons and probably with medical engineers, and those who research and come up with new drugs, a number of them may not even be medical professors themselves.

I think that emphasis should be placed on appreciation of each

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BDSUNDAY 31

Feature Dredging: Making billions at the expense of Bayelsa environment While sand dredging remains an economically viable business capable of yielding billions of Naira in profits, it has proven detrimental to the fragile ecosystem of Bayelsa State and calls for urgent measures to protect the environment from over exploitation, writes Samuel Ese in Yenagoa.

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other’s contributions rather than the scope of work or leadership.

Who are your role models or people who inspire you?

My primary role model was the founder of my secondary school, Rt. Rev. Canon Moses Craig Akinpelumi Adeyemi. He was born around the 1880s and graduated from Fourah Bay College, which was then affiliated to Durham University during the first decade of the 20th century. He made his contribution when he was probably the only graduate in his community and at a time that there were not more than 30 graduates in the whole country, many of whom were arts graduates. But he made tremendous sacrifice to educate his community. He had very little advantage for himself. He had the opportunity of exploiting his people, acquiring their assets, he never did. However, he was a happy man, much respected in the community.

When he lived, he did so frugally, but happily; and when he died, he had very little left even for his family. But the community realized his importance and rose up to make sure that his family did not want largely because they knew that he gave of his best to his community.

He was my godfather, my principal. My classroom was in his office when there were only two of us as pupils in a prep class in the secondary school. We had a class teacher who taught two students and I ate all my afternoon meals in his home for more than six years.

He was the first one to take me out of my hometown in Ondo to Lagos and I remember that this was an epic journey. He had an old jalopy which broke down less than 30 miles out of Ondo but he was a happy man. He laughed throughout his lifetime. I never saw him in any sorry or sulky happenstance.

He was later made a member of the Legislative Council representing Ondo Province in the legislature. Unfortunately he died when he was only 60 and we thought that he was a very old man. He inspired me – the idea of service above self and I think that he had the most effective influence on my life.

What is the best advice that you ever received?

The best advice that I ever received came from my father. He

advised me not to be afraid of the future and he knew what the future can always bring with it. It can bring pleasure, it can bring sadness but he knew that all these where ingredients of life and that one must continue and not be afraid of tomorrow.

What piece of advice would you give to young people looking to emulate you and make a difference in their generation?

I would like to say to them – keep working, keep working. Do not give up. Sometimes when you have a disappointment, it provides an opportunity for you to find solutions. Sometimes when you think that what has happened would be the end of the world, it is just the beginning. I always like to tell the story of myself and three of my friends. When we sat for our first examinations after leaving school, I was the only one picked and I thought that I was the best and cleverest. Three months later, there were only three of them and what two of them got were better than what I got, leaving one. And the fourth friend felt so dejected that he wasn’t picked for the first or the second but when his own opportunity appeared, it was the best of the four. So, he had the last laugh of the four of us and I learnt the virtue of waiting for one’s own time to come.

You have been a major player in the governance of several manufacturing and business enterprises; what are key success factors that made you the towering presence and shrewd entrepreneurial giant that you are?

Well, one key success factor would be the art of listening. Keep your eyes open; keep your ears open. When you do these, you would be able to identify opportunities when they come. When people suggest to you that you must jump at opportunities, you don’t know when they will come so you keep on jumping. These are the major things in life that one must go on doing; you don’t stop because you never know when these opportunities will arise.

Could you please sum up your philosophy on life in one sentence?

Keep working; just keep working and never give up.

ne of the most prominent businesses and money-spinning activities in Bayelsa State for the past 10 years has remained the dredging of sand from rivers, streams, creeks and sometimes upland areas for commercial purposes.

The trend increased after a popular indigenous firm was said to have made billions of Naira from the sale of sand dredged from the Ekoli River and went ahead to build a sand dredging complex on the Obogoro community side of the river.

The increase in sand dredging activities also coincided with the advent of a new technology in road construction in Bayelsa State and other Niger Delta states where mud is dug from the road and later filled with sand for durability and quality.

Since then, the traditional method of diving into the river and scooping sand from the bottom of the river with perforated buckets especially on the Yenagoa and Agbura waterfronts paled into insignificance as sand could now be accessed and supplied in tonnages.

But of dire consequence is the impact of the sand dredging activities on the environment as without dissimulating, no stakeholder including the sand dredging concerns would deny that these activities have adverse effect on communities and areas prone to river erosion.

The tale of woe is evident at Obogoro, Anibeze, Onuebum, Agbura and several communities which are experiencing increased river erosion with attendant loses of farming land, buildings,economictreesandfishing grounds thereby leading to a serious economic challenge.

It is also not contestable that the Goodluck Jonathan Bridge on the Ekoli River is in danger of collapse due to the unmitigated dredging activities both upstream and downstream of the only link between the capital, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Another worrisome fact is that many of the dredgers are located on the areas hat are already prone to erosion and the dredging activity furthers erosion and landslides by

weakening the surrounding river bed and creating large whirlpools that give the strong water currents more strength to do damage.

With the floods now ravaging the state and government attention is on opening up of natural drains and efforts to mitigate the impact of the flood on residents, it is pertinent that focus should also be on this economic activity that helps to destroy the soil’s natural resistance to river erosion.

As at now, several communities are in danger of extinction among them Anibeze and Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area, Famgbe and Obogoro in Yenagoa Local Government Area and Ayama and Otuokpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

At Igbogene, a dredging activity on the Epie Creek created a deep gorge that is yet to be filled several years after the activity stopped while other dredging activities upstream have continued with reckless abandon.

Observations have shown that dredging activities between Agbura and Onuebum on the Ekoli River have remained the worst over the years with about 10 dredging concerns located within about a kilometre space and this has had devastating effect on river erosion.

The river which seemed some distance away from the link road is now less than 40 meters away and for all the erosion and landslides that have eaten away the land, the dredging concerns are still bent on carrying on with their businesses to the detriment of the environment.

It is difficult to fathom if the dredging firms actually carry out environmental impact assessments (EIAs) before embarking on the dredging activities or if they do, whether the activities are approved and supervised by the state Ministry of Environment.

For a riverine state that is located on a flood plane that has suffered severe flooding and river erosion over the years, it is expected that the government would toe a hardline on such activities that have had adverse effect on the environment.

The example of the number of

dredging concerns located within the short distance between Agbura and Onuebum communities in an area that is not only erosion prone, but has lost a significant portion of land over the years, highlights the concern of environmentalists and other stakeholders on whether the state government is sufficiently concerned over the impact of the activities.

A concerned environmentalist expressed the opinion that the government does not have a policy framework to address the malaise otherwise, it would have stopped the dredging activities on that stretch owing to the open danger it has posed to the existence of those communities.

The environmentalist group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria ERA/FoEN, which investigated complaints by Obogoro community on the impact of dredging activities on erosion that has been ravaging the community listed three demands in their report for prompt action to address the challenge.

In the report by ERA/FoEN field officer, Alagoa Morris, the group called for the establishment of a Flood and Erosion Control Commission to tackle related challenges due to the special deltaic nature of the state.

The group also urged the federal, state governments to “take practical steps to ensure properly conducted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)” before carrying out any commercial or large scale dredging activities.

ERa/FoEN noted that visiting erosion sites, documenting them and making budgetary provisions are not enough and stressed the need to protect “what is left in our communities” saying that the release of funds, mobilisation to site, effective project monitoring and political will to get such projects done are of utmost importance.

The group also urged communities to be alert and not resign their plight to fate pointing out that they should not encourage man made environmental or ecological problems “by remaining docile or passive to happenings around them” while highlighting the need to set up special committees to address communal environmental issues.

According to the group, “Legitimate actions to safeguard the environment include reaching out to authorities, their representatives in government, related NGOs, the media through personal visits, letters and peaceful protests.”

The call by ERA/FoEN is apt and capable of galvanising the state into action to address the looming ecological disaster that could result in loss of whole communities, shelter, means of livelihood and worsen rural/urban migration.

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Interview ‘My objective is to bridge the gap between Western and African fashion’ Adaeze Kelechi Obi, a Nigerian-born UK-based fashion designer who recently relocated back to Nigeria, is the CEO of Great Dazed House (GDH), a fast-growing fashion house with an objective to tackle unemployment and promote Africanism through modern-day fashion trends. In this interview with Ifeoma Okeke, she speaks of how her outfit is providing employment opportunities for Nigerians.

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What motivated you into fashion designing? was basically motivated by real life situation, after my first degree there were no jobs forthcoming and we know every fresh out grad is looking forward to that white collar job just as we are meant to believe is the process, when non of these things happened I knew I had to live and not just exist. This gave birth to my self discovery and along the line fashion came and I followed it. It’s been graceful ever since.

How long have you been into fashion business?

I have been in the fashion industry for about 12 years but professionally I can say 5 years, and it’s been highly adventurous.

What are the challenges of fashion designing in Nigeria compared to other climes?

The major challenge here in our homeland ranges from funding, power and so on. We don’t have financial institutions that can offer long term investment loans to SMEs and this is really eating deep into the progress of

our local industries. This glitch affects a lot of things like getting the required machines and work tools to make apparels required by the international market. I’m using this medium to plead with our government to look into creating platforms and program to support the creative industry (fashion industry).

How many people have you employed both directly and indirectly through GDH, your fashion house?

GDH has been able to train directly and indirectly over 100 Nigerian youths and teenagers.

Due to undercut on running capital there is a limit to what we can do, but gradually we are recording great success. We have not recorded much as we desire such is due to the slow progress which is as a result of limited funds. But we have employed more than a handful.

Who is your target market?

Our target market ranges from aged to middle class and teenagers (male and female). GDH has different units working hand in hand towards the actualization of the organizational goal. Each

Adaeze Kelechi Obi

division working at their optimum capacity to meet fashion need and trends globally. We have our clothing, beading, hat, bag and

purse making, gele units. Also the academy is open for new intakes.

Can you tell us about GDH and what you sought to achieve by

setting this up?

GDH as we know is a fashion power house that wants to bridge the gap between the western and African fashion. Gucci and Dolce & Gabanna recently lunched their new collection with African fabrics. The primary aim of GDH is to promote Africanism through fashion and also mold lives through empowerment programs.

What are the success stories from GDH? A lot of success stories. There are limits to what I can say here at the moment, fingers crossed. A lot has happened and a lot more is going to be happening soon from GDH. Many project and programs have flied in the state in and outside government parastatals.

Being a mother of two, how have you successfully combined fashion designing with the home, such that none suffers?

This has been the most difficult task amongst all. Thank God I’ve them both running fine. I guess that’s the duty of an average African woman: keep your home running and functioning fine without any excuses whatsoever.

‘The need to render service to mankind, save lives inspires me’ Chinyelu Samuel-Johnson was recently installed the charter president of Anthony Village Emerald Lions Club in Nigeria. In this interview with Ifeoma Okeke, Samuel-Johnson speaks about her experience as a widow, mother and leader as well as prospects for the club in the coming years.

For the first time in 101 years, Lions Clubs International has a female president. Why did it take so long for it to happen? believe it took this long because the Lions Club started as a gentlemen’s club; thus it was male-dominated. Lions Club started in 1917 but the Lioness Club started in 1975. Women became Lions globally just in 1987.

The first female to be an International Director was in 1999. If you do the math, you’ll see that Lions have come a long way. Lions Club came to Nigeria in 1964 but we got our first female District Governor 33 years later. It has taken a while but we have made good progress.

This new international president is advocating more women in membership and in leadership, hence her new initiative, ‘The New Voices’, which is basically an advocacy for more women in membership and leadership. It is also worthy of note that this year, Nigeria has taken another giant stride. The number 1 Lion in Nigeria (The Multiple Council Chairperson) is a woman.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a goal-oriented individual who believes that what is worth doing is worth doing well. I take

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delight in putting smiles on the faces of every deserving individual irrespective of class, tribe and religion. I have the passion for service.

I have vast experience in banking having worked in several units of banks for over 20 years. I currently work as a Zonal Service Manager in a new generation bank. I am a mother, widowed at the age of 35, and have single-handedly brought up three awesome children that are now young adults. I love mentoring, teaching and counselling and I cherish relationships a great deal. I am very proactive by nature.

I hold a BA degree in Linguistics and MBA in Human Resources. Most importantly, I love and serve God. How and why did you start this charter club?

The need to have a wider reach and take service to every nook and cranny of our community necessitated the bifurcation of my previous club into three other clubs. The more we are, the wider the reach.

Seven people from my old club moved and got new members to join and form the Anthony Village Emerald Lions Club.

What are your club’s objectives?

The objectives are to take service to all corners of Anthony

Village and environs since Lions Club is a community-based association, and to find people of like minds to join because the more the members, the more the people served and the more ideas for new projects shared.

Can you tell us the clear mission and vision of your charter

Chinyelu Samuel-Johnson

club?

The mission of the charter club is to create and foster a spirit of friendship amongst the people of our community. We also have a vision to organise communitybased activities by carrying out a thorough needs assessment of what will best benefit the community, thereby touching lives positively. Our long-term goals are to establish a lasting relationship with the community, train the youth to become future leaders through our youth empowerment programmes and bring succour to the needy and continue to fight preventable blindness.

What categories of individuals are you targeting as members and why?

We are targeting Individuals with a passion for service; who are courageous enough to part with funds that will not benefit them or theirs in anyway. To be a Lion, you require passion for selfless service because Lions club will require your time, your talent, your resources and your intellect.

What are the biggest mistakes of charity organizations like yours and how do you intend to avoid them?

The greatest mistake is inviting people who are neither prepared nor have the passion to serve humanity, but who rather join the club for the wrong reasons (either to socialize or travel). My club intends to carefully invite members of like minds who join the club for the sole purpose of serving humanity.

What motivated you to go into a life of charity?

I was motivated by the need to live out my passion.

How will your organization deal with the failing economy and get people to part with funds?

Whoever will give will give, and what we do is show them that Lions club is a credible platform to donate to by making our club visible through the projects and activities we carry out. We account for every fund received.

How do you plan to make your club stand out amongst the other clubs?

We intend to choose the best suited people and also equip them via training and retraining. We will carry out outstanding projects and activities. I will also foster unity amongst the members because together, we serve our community better.

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SundayBusiness IAA Nigeria shares roadmap with members SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he International Advertising Association (IAA) Nigeria has shared the roadmap that will guide the operations of the association in the country.

This was unveiled at the first general meeting of the association held recently in Lagos.

The IAA champions the common interests of all the disciplines across the full spectrum of marketing communications ranging from advertisers to media companies, agencies to direct marketing firms, as well as individual practitioners.

The Nigerian chapter, which was inaugurated earlier in the year by the global president and chairman, Felix Tataru, is led by Tunji Olugboji, executive vice chairman of the Verdant Zeal Group. The first general meeting is the flag

off of robust engagement and continuous interactions that will make a difference in terms of value creation and addition for members of the association.

In his address to all current and prospective members, Olugboji noted that the advent of the IAA Nigeria is imperative, as its presence will enable practitioners raise the stakes to enable the country effectively compete on the global stage.

“It is strongly believed that the inauguration of the Nigeria Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) would go a long way in enhancing the skills of both individuals and corporate organizations in the nation’s advertising space.

“The association is a platform for industry issues and is dedicated to protecting and advancing freedom of commercial

speech, responsible advertising, consumer choice, and the education of marketing professionals,” said Olugboji.

The association’s membership is open to all marketing and advertising (and allied) professionals.

Members of the IAA would have access to benefits which include nurturing the power of creativity; reinforcing the value of long-term brand building; practicing advocacy and advancing professional development.

Some of the activities during the meeting include the presentation of badges and certificate of membership; requirements for membership at various categories were made known to intending members. The meeting was attended by industry bigwigs which include Lanre Adisa of Noahs Ark; Ikechi Odigbo of DDB Lagos amongst others.

MTN, Microsoft collaborate to train SMEs on successful business models SEYI JOHN SALAU

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TNNigeria, in partnership with Microsoft, recently held a one-day training programme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos aimed at empowering Nigeria’s fast-growing SME segment to streamline their financial and business processes, improve customer interactions and make better decisions with integrated intelligence.

The training which had over 50 SMEs in attendance allowed for business owners to standardize their entire organisational business processes, including sales, finance, human resources, operations, logistics and marketing to function as one integrated whole, by connecting data across accounting, sales, purchasing, inventory and customer interactions.

The SMEs gained access to a holistic view of business management and chart financial performance in real time, and were able to gain first-hand experience on how to use Microsoft Excel to improve accounting and record keeping.

Cecelia Edom, CEO of Cece Confectionery, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, said, “This has been very instrumental in helping to bring technology and management closer to entrepreneurs. It was a great opportunity to show anyone

that they can learn the basics of computer science in a fun and engaging way.”

MTN Nigeria continues to seek ways to contribute to the Nigerian economy by extending its partnership capabilities to brighten the lives of small business owners within the country.

The training is the first in the series of training collaborations MTN has planned for small business owners across various regions in the country to deliver value to businesses.

Problem-solving, the ultimate key to wealth Prince Mbata

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ost people in Africa venture into entrepreneurship or business for the sole aim of making money.

But after much series of research, it has been discovered that this approach to business success and wealth creation is wrong.

This mindset is the reason why over 90 percent of the start-ups in Africa, especially in Nigeria, die within the first five years.

Most individuals think that starting a business is as simple as buying and selling of a commodity to make profit. If business were merely buying and selling, everyone would have become a millionaire. If business were a mere commercial activity to make money, then everyone would have succeeded.

Rather, problem-solving is the ultimate key to becoming a very successful entrepreneur and creating wealth for oneself.

If you want to be rich, you must agree with the fact that problems will never go away. No matter how many times you find a solution to one problem, an-

Wherever people are complaining about anything, always think, how can I solve this problem? Because you know there is money in solving people’s problem other one will pop out.

But, if you also understand that the process of solving problems is what makes you rich, you will accept problems when they come into your life or when you see them in the lives of other individuals in the society. The ability to solve not only your problems but also the problems of other people in the society is a bold and big step to our journey to riches or wealth.

People will pay you a lot of money to solve their problems. In fact, we pay people to solve our problems and make life easier for us. We may not be very aware of this but we continually pay people to fix

our troubles. For example, if your pipes are damaged at home, obviously you have a problem, so what do you do? Call a plumber to fix the problem. And if the plumber solves the problem satisfactorily, you pay for it.

The bigger the problem you solve, the greater the profit you get. That is the reason doctors make a lot of money because they solve bigger problems by saving human lives and ensuring people stay healthy again.

The popular and suc-

cessful entrepreneurs we all know today in one way or the other solved bigger and difficult problems for people which in turn created wealth for them. In the 1990s, most people in Nigeria complained about the government’s inability to provide public toilets in public places.

A 30-year-old man, Isaac Durojaye, then came up with an idea of mobile toilet. That was the birth of a company, DMT, which started small and later proceeded to a level where they manufacture mobile

toilets. If you are living in Lagos, Ibadan or any other city in Africa, you may have seen or used these mobile toilets.

If you aspire to be a successful entrepreneur and create wealth for yourself, you must train your mind to see opportunities where there are problems. Train your mind to think positive in negative situations, stop complaining when others are.

People complain about their society, government, and even their parents.

They complain about ev-

erybody and everything around them. Individuals who complain a lot tend to languish in poverty because they refuse to take responsibility for the conditions they find themselves in, but businessminded entrepreneurs take full responsibility for themselves; they listen to those problems people complain about and go to make research on how to solve those problems based on their [entrepreneurial] abilities.

Business starts when you discover certain areas where you can provide solution to human problems.

Wherever people are complaining about anything, always think, how can I solve this problem? Because you know there is money in solving people’s problem.

When you walk on the street, stop seeing what government has failed to provide, start looking for what you can provide.

There is a formula for business and wealth creation: find a human problem you can solve better than those who are solving it right now and solve it strategically. Find, that is your primary assignment.

No business exists except for solving some human problems.

Mbata writes from Lagos.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

SundayBusiness Need for active insurance industry in mortgage economy

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ike action and reaction, insurance and mortgage are equal and opposite and this is why, in advanced economies of the world, an active insurance industry is highly needed for the mortgage economy. While mortgage lending is a risk, insurance, by its function, acts as a hedge against risk. It is a cover.

To develop a healthy mortgage industry, therefore, there is need for a mortgage insurance functioning as a policy that protects a mortgage lender or title holder in the event that the borrower defaults on payments, dies, or is otherwise unable to meet the contractual obligations of the mortgage.

This is why the new the Mortgage Guarantee programme, a new initiative by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is quite instructive. This is a kind of mortgage given to a borrower by a lender, where an identified third party will take responsibility for the loan if the borrower defaults. The programme is structured in such a way that once the borrower defaults, the third party receives a claim from the lender, pays the lender off, and assumes responsibility for the mortgage.

Besides incentivizing mortgage lenders, a quality mortgage guarantee programme is also used

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

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atters can be defined as unfavorable situations, circumstances that have happened in our lives at one time or the other that left us crippled, deformed and embittered, which consequently have stopped our progress in life. This definition is according to “LIFE” not according to the laws of physics or by the dictionary.

I have heard a man of God say that “behind every glory there is a story”. I truly believe in that story. We all have stories, and these stories usually are not palatable, some we don’t even want to remember. Some are so disgusting and repulsive that we carry the shame all around even though no one knows or sees it.

The remembrance of them in-

to provide credit loss protection to lenders in case of borrower’s default and, according to CBN officials, a robust primary mortgage market is a synergy of several components, all working together to effect affordability and access for intending buyers.

Investopedia, an encyclopedia of investment initiatives, identifies three aspects of mortgage insurance. These are private mortgage insurance (PMI), mortgage life insurance, or mortgage title insurance. What these have in common is an obligation to make the lender or property holder whole in the event of specific cases of loss.

Private mortgage insurance may be called ‘lender’s mortgage insurance’ (LMI) if the premium on a PMI policy is paid by the lender and not the borrower.

For these reasons and more, an active insurance industry is needed for the growth and development of a functional mortgage industry.

The mortgage industry in Nigeria is still a fledgling and fingers are frequently pointed to an insurance industry that is not as active participant as it should be.

For some reasons, in this country, in spite of everything the people have learnt, policy is still shaping the industry whereas, in advanced economies, it is the other way round—industry shapes policy because people in the industry are

the ones implementing the policy every day.

The mortgage industry in United States, for instance, has been robust for decades and it is with continued activity. One is not however, saying that Nigeria should replicate what happens in the US here, because Nigeria has its own unique characteristics which must be recognized and respected.

What the mortgage players in Nigeria should do however, is to make the US system a base-line because that system represents the global standard. Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja, a mortgage and finance consultant advises that “we have to start learning that system and adapt it to meet our own unique cultural system and unique needs”.

Nigeria needs to lay a very good foundation for mortgage industry growth to ensure that what happened in America in 2006 with sub-prime mortgage crisis does not repeat itself here. The Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) is a big possibility that can change and shape the mortgage system in this country and could also be an umbrella for the industry.

One of the high points of NMRC, as a secondary mortgage institution, is its long term, low rate global funds and, because the mortgage industry here is not yet buoyant,

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

NMRC, whether it is succeeding now or not, can be a significant tool for achieving these attributes of a working mortgage industry.

Fasanya-Osilaja believes that the mortgage industry should be shaping NMRC and not NMRC shaping the industry, advising that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through the NMRC, should be listening to the voice of the industry.

“Experience has proved to me that the CBN is quite ready to listen and learn. The problem here, however, is that the industry has been rather passive”, she noted.

This industry has to be standardized so that global players, from global perspectives, could view the local industry from the perspective of NMRC and mortgage banking association of Nigeria (MBAN) and see something to hold on to in their investment decisions. Despite the current challenges, the Nigerian economy could conveniently support the growth of the mortgage industry as the country

is one of the fastest growing economies in the world where talent resource is amazing.

The mortgage consultant advises further that Nigeria needs to understand there is time for competition and also time for association and each is as critical as the other. “The only thing that will stop this industry from growing is over-regulation by people who are not in the industry and therefore will not understand the effect of their policy on the actual market”, she said, emphasizing the urgency of an active insurance industry to drive the needed growth in the mortgage industry.

As a step forward, mortgage insurance could come with a typical ‘pay-as-you-go’ premium payment, or may be capitalized into a lump sum payment at the time the mortgage is originated. For homeowners who are required to have PMI because of the 80 percent loan-to-value ratio rule, they can request that the insurance policy be canceled once 20 percent of the principal balance has been paid off.

It does not matter

capacitates us. We seem to stop in our track at the remembrance of them and it takes steam out of our sail. Beloved, you are not the only one in this situation.

The Scripture says that “Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world...” it is not peculiar to you alone.We miss it big time when the enemy corners us and makes us to believe his lies in that aspect. The reason why it may look like that to you is because others seem to be making so much progress that it looks like they have never encountered challenges or had shameful experiences in their lives before.

What you do not know is that they have probably been in worse places and even have more certifications in worse things than you, but yet have moved on in spite of all that had happened in their lives. That is the TRUTH. That you were raped, that you were duped, maligned or failed in business are not prove enough that you should stop the pursuit of what

God has laid in your heart. What had happened does not matter.

They only matter when you give thought to them and relive them or you make them the matter of your life. In God there is always a new beginning that makes the past to become irrelevant. There is freshness and grace for a new beginning all the time. That you lost time does not mean you are out of time. Life and its system would have you believe you are only entitled to one opportunity in a lifetime. Nothing can be further from the truth. If you follow life you miss out.

The design of God for life before it got corrupted was abundance and reproduction of opportunities. Scriptures says “God, our father daily loads us with benefits, with opportunities”, not yearly or quarterly but daily. They are so numerous that we can never run out of them except we discard them. If some of us were David that committed adultery, murdered the husband and even touched the anointed of God, we would have died of shame or commit suicide.

Men like David were men that knew how to ditch what does not matter and pursue what matters most. They pursue the mercy and favor of God when they are at their witsend. They recognize the frailty of man in his weakest moment and also have unflinching confidence in the love that God has towards them to accept them back when they miss it. They do not relish in sin but recognize the power of God to take them from the miry clay of failure, disappointment and discouragement and put them on the hard soil of mercy. They press on nonetheless.

For you to succeed against all the odds and events of your life, you must always remember that “it is human to err, and it is divine to forgive”. So I say to you categorically that your matters donot matter, they only matter when you make them the matter of your life. The question at the back of your mind is to know whether God truly supports that it does not matter. It is a resounding YES. 1 John 1:9 says “if we confess our sins, He

is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from every unrighteousness”. Isaiah 1:18 corroborates this matter ‘’ Come, let’s talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!

(TLB) “. God’s mind concerning this matter is forever settled.

Satan our accuser does not have any bible that we can read from, but this he has to say. “I can do nothing against any child of God that has asked for forgiveness, because the blood that flows from the cross cleanses them from every unrighteousness. But I can condemn them as long as they do not know the purpose of the cross”.

So beloved, lift up your holy hands, rejoice and be glad for old things are passed away, behold!all things are become new.

Remain blessed as you celebrate God in your matter. @spiritonomics

Sunday 30 September 2018

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SundayBusiness Effects of climate change on food security Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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ake no mistake about it-freaky w e a t h e r conditions are here with us for real. These are characterized by intense heat waves, with the relentless emission of green house, global warming-gases depleting the once-protective ozone layer. It is like an umbrella with holes in it, unable to keep off the heat from the sun rays.

Snow cover has reduced and snow is melting earlier than before. Glaciers are also melting.

Therefore, the Arctic sea ice extent is diminishing. Other features such as ocean heat content, sea surface and lower atmosphere temperature and global sea level are all rising.

These have serious implications on food security.

This is attained when all people at all times have physical or economic access to sufficiently safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life(Tollens,2000).

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC, 2007) Climate Change is ‘any change in climate over time whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.’ The most general concept of climate change therefore, is a ‘change in the statistical properties of the climate system when considered over a long period of time, regardless of the cause’.

In this context, fluctuations over periods shorter than a few decades do not represent climate change. The term is sometimes, applied to climate change caused by human activity. This is different from changes in climate that may have resulted as part of the e a r t h ’s n a t u r a l p r o c e s s e s .

Experts therefore, see Climate Change as a long-term change especially in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years.

Among the consequences of climate change are that, it has the potential to interrupt progress made toward nations that have enjoyed food security, as a hungry population is a volatile population.

Paradoxically, climate change that leads to seasonal flood, desertification and increase in heat waves that deplete the amount of raw food materials produced is also affected by attempts to ensure sufficient food production. According to Dr.Willie Siyanbola, activities such as land clearing , food production, animal husbandry, food processing and preservation, and food distribution activities

lead to the production and release of greenhouse gases.

These include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide which can lead to global warming.

Researchers such as Siyanbola and Adesina, et. al., view land use change such as deforestation and desertification, together with the use of fossil fuels as the major anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide.

Vulnerability to climate change is determined by geographical, social, class, economic, ecological and political factors, which determine an individual or household’s resources to achieve food security in the face of climatic shocks and trends.

We must plan with credible data obtained from robust researches. It is therefore, time for the Nigerian government and her people to rise to the challenge of climate change because seasons are shifting, temperatures are rising, landscapes are changing and sea levels are soaring. All these would ultimately negatively impact on food production and access to nutritious food in the country.

We need more studies of the impacts of climate change on food security to focus not on only one determinant of future food security: quantity of production, and largely from crops. It should consider all dimensions of food security, namely availability, access, utilisation and stability, and have impacts over the whole food system.

New studies consider broader determinants of food security such as investigating the relationships between future irrigation potential and food trade in integrated impact

modeling. How will the impacts on livestock systems be resolved through reduced feed quantity and quality? What about changes especially in pest and disease prevalence, as well as direct reduced production due to physiological stress? According to Thornton and Gerber, 2010 the yield of meat, egg and milk and quality decrease as temperatures go beyond 30 °C due to reduced feed intake.

Our governments through the Ministries of Agriculture, Rural development, Science and Technology should sponsor researches into the effects of climate change on the areas of production at large scales. These could include shifts in areas of crop or livestock production suitability. These could have substantial impacts on prices, trade flows and food access.

Physical access to food may also be affected by climate change via effects on transport systems and physical well-being.

Ex p e r t s o n a g r i c u l t u r e insist that there are also issues associated with the allocation of food within households, for example to women and children, and how such allocation may be affected in a more variable climate.

Migration of farmers especially men is a primary factor in climate change vulnerability. There is also the likelihood of reduced household resources putting women at increased risk to shocks such as droughts, and reduce capacity to invest in off-farm activities.

Women’s lack of access to information and extension, weaker participation in some social institutions and increased

workloads under climatic stresses all affect adaptation according to Wood et al., 2014.

Researchers have shown that in general, climate change is likely to reduce food safety due to higher rates of microbial growth at increased temperatures particularly in fresh fruit and vegetables and fisheries supply chains. Climate affects health via myriad pathways, including vector-borne diseases, heat stress and natural disasters, which in turn affect people’s nutrition, plus their ability to provide care for children and dependents’ food security.

Water-related impacts of climate change, such as lower availability of water for sanitation or increased contamination of water due to increasing severity and frequency of floods can also compromise food safety and health, according to experts.

Also, researches by Tirado, Costello and Ford, have shown that rising disease incidence will lead to overuse of pesticides and veterinary medicines, especially in fisheries. Also, indirect effects of climate change on health, such as loss of jobs and livelihoods, or migration, or interrupted public health services, will disproportionately affect people who are already poor and indigenous peoples with negative outcomes for food security.

Taking proactive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change on food security would be a stitch in time that saves nine.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

Kay Jay Ogbonna, songwriter-singer signs management deal with The Boost Entertainment AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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fter signing a futile management and record label deal in the past, Kay Jay Ogbonna, a Nigerian songwritersinger has signed a multi million naira management deal with The Boost Entertainment, to be handling all his bookings and management affairs.

Kay Jay, born as Victor Ogbonna from Abia State, started his music career in 2012 as a songwriter, composing songs for African and Nigerian artists including ‘Catching Cold’ by Tunde Ednut; ‘Iyanu Mashele’

by Iyanya; ‘Burn’ & ‘Psycho’ by KCEE; Naeto C, Kach ‘Olo’; ‘Go Down’ by Chuddy K; Stunna ‘Bal-

ance’ featuring Iyanya; Samklef; Tillaman; Bimbi Philiphs ‘Duro Dada’.

BusinessDay understands that Kay Jay is perfecting plans to release a new single in November 2018 produced by Blaq Jerzee, and will also announce his future endorsements, partnerships and plans for his body of work coming soon.

Currently nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2018 ‘Fresh Vibes of The Year’ category alongside the likes of Davido’s artist Peruzzi, Kay Jay is now described as the new ‘Kid’ on the block, watch out WIZ! “I signed a new management deal with The Boost Entertainment because we have the same vision and I believe that they will

make me one of the biggest artists in Nigeria and beyond,” Kay Jay said while commenting on the deal.

Despite being newly established, Kay Jay described The Boost Entertainment as one of the first and few music management companies in Nigeria that fund the artist.

“They are not just bringing funds, strategy and ideas, but also bringing full hands on involvement and direction, with a unique attention to visual content creation. This is the structure that many new, upcoming and young Nigerian artists need to launch and succeed. Our problems as artists have always been how to finance and promote our music,” he stated.

According to him, The Boost Entertainment will provide all the support required by artists to achieve their goals and dreams, projecting that five years from now, he will become a big brand, winning multiple awards, opening NGO to give back to communities and help the less privileged.

“Fate had its way when we crossed paths with Kay Jay while in search for music talents. The Boost Entertainment was established with a mission to catapult noteworthy artists to greater heights by providing all the fundamental support require by artists to initiate, expand, and progress,” said The Boost Entertainment in a statement.

According to the company,

the highlight of meeting Kay Jay was based on a mutually shared vision and approach, which led to an instant synergy and flow between both parties.

“With the official signing of Kay Jay, our first artist, we plan to activate and create a new unit for music content management and creative business positioning. We at The Boost Entertainment believe that strategy and business direction with the right goals are the key structures in building a 360 music powerhouse.”

Kay Jay’s hit songs include ‘Sell Over’ featuring Skales & Omo Akin and produced by Kenny Wonder as well as ‘Work & Pray’ featuring Shaydee and produced by BlaqJerzee.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Imperial Leather, Canoe brands create sparks on fashion design competition DANIEL OBI

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The Idea he Imperial Leather brand has over the years partnered the Dare2- Dream Youth empowerment platform that empowers young people with talents in fashion, entertainment and modelling by equipping them with relevant skills to kick-start their careers in their chosen field. This season, young fashion designers all around the country were primed with excitement as Imperial Leather and Canoe from the stables of PZ, announced plans to debut a fashion design competition tagged ‘Masters of Style’, so what better way to launch this campaign to leverage an already existing and viable platform.

As sponsors of the Dare to Dream Campaign for its fifth season, both brands took ownership of the Fashion Design category targeted at discovering and rewarding talents in fashion designing, which was then dubbed the ‘Masters of Style’ fashion design competition. The winner of the Masters of Style will be rewarded with the sum of N500, 000, an internship with a top Nigerian fashion designer, and a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to showcase a collection at one of the biggest fashion shows in Nigeria.

Masters of Style 2018 The Masters of Style competition kicked off in June with call to entry from 5 select universities across various regions in the coun-

try; University of Jos, Port Harcourt, Benin, Lagos and Calabar. The competition was broken down into 5 stages: The Campus Showcase, Masters of Style Incubator, Dare 2 Dream Bootcamp and Dare 2 Dream Season Finale.

Hundreds of students entered for the Masters of Style competition, but only 5 designers would make the cut for each university and get to showcase their talent at the Campus Showcase.

Imperial Leather and Canoe were on ground at each of the campuses, providing brand experiences and consumer engagement with a touch of style and luxury.

While Imperial Leather provided unique spa treatment

to students in the form of pedicure and foot massages in a relaxed environment; Canoe, on the other hand, provided laundry services to students, as they had their clothes washed with the Canoe detergent and ironed as well.

The Campus Showcase provided the opportunity for each of the designers to face off, showing the judges why they deserved to move to the next phase of the competition. The top 3 designers from each of the campuses were rewarded with cash prizes of N50, 000, N30, 000 and N15, 000 respectively.

At the end of the Campus Tour, 10 finalists emerged and headed to Lagos for the Masters of Style Incubator programme.

Masters of Style Incu-

bator The top 10 finalists arrived Lagos to a rousing welcome from PZ Cussons and members of the brand team, after which they were handed over to the ‘Incubator Coach’, who was none other than Nigeria’s top fashion designer, Mai Atafo. These finalists would go on to be mentored by Mai, who took time daily to help each of them hone their skills as they began creating their masterpieces for the final showcase. Each contestant was required to produce 3 designs: two themed pieces and one masterpiece, which would be presented during the Incubator finale showcase, where only the top 5 designers would proceed to the next stage: the

Dare 2 Dream Bootcamp.

The Incubator finale showcase had all the attributes of the top fashion show and more, anchored by Mai Atafo himself, with music performance by Bassey, who serenaded the audience as they settled in for the showcase. The judges included celebrated fashion designer and Creative director, April by Kunbi; Kunbi Oyelese, Fashion entrepreneur, Tolu Bally and celebrity stylist, Style Infidel. Each designer brought their ‘A’ game and wowed the audience as clearly expressed with the constant applause that filled the air. In the end, the top 5 finalists emerged, and were rewarded with cash prizes of N100, 000 each as they head on the Dare 2 Dream Bootcamp.

Dare 2 Dream Bootcamp The Dare 2 Dream Bootcamp was designed to further prepare the finalists for the grand finale and equip them for the industry beyond. As part of the preparatory activities, the Masters of Style finalists alongside other finalists from the Modelling and Performing Arts categories attended a Master Class session on Marketing, hosted by Imperial Leather and Canoe, where they got the basic understanding of marketing and its importance in business. The session which took place at the PZ Cussons HQ afforded the brand team the opportunity to impart knowledge and equip these young talents as they looked towards kick-starting their

respective careers. At the end of the session, each of the finalists were given assignments after which the lowest scoring contestants were eliminated from the competition.

At the end of the Bootcamp, only 3 fashion designers made the final cut, and would face off at the grand finale event.

The Grand Finale After the different phases of the competition which spanned over three months, it was now time to discover the ‘Master of Style’ 2018!

The grand finale event put together by by Kinabuti, organisers of the Dare 2 Dream initiative, took place at the prestigious Tera Kulture, a premier recreational destination. The event had in attendance the crème de la crème of the Nigerian fashion and entertainment industry. One of the highlights of the night was the special performance by fast rising Nigerian R&B singer, Ric Hassani, who gave a very impressive and entertaining live performance.

After a night of impressive talent showcase from all the finalists, it was time to announce the Master of Style 2018. In a tense moment leading up to the announcement, Yahaya Taofiq, representing the University of Lagos, was named winner of the Fashion Design category and Master of Style 2018, winning himself a sum of N500, 000, an internship with a top Nigerian fashion designer, and a feature in one of Nigeria’s top fashion shows.

The Outcome The Masters of Style campaign was the hot topic amongst fashion and entertainment lovers and enthusiasts, and the general audience wasn’t left out as they joined the conversation across social media, leveraging platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, using the competition’s designated hashtag #MastersofStyle. The campaign recorded over 30 newspaper stories, over 15 blog stories, and over 100 million impressions on social media platforms.

The programme, according to observers is really commendable as it moves to create entrepreneurs in a country where unemployment rate is high. The observers called on other institutions to emulate PZ CSR examples to impact on the society positively.

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EquityMarket Analysts predict bearish trend for Q4 as equities shed N1.65 trn YTD TELIAT SULE

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nalysts in the nation’s capital market have predicted a bearish trend for the last quarter of 2018, following sustained downward movements in the prices of equities particularly in the second and third quarters of 2018.

Their projections are premised on the likelihood of the forthcoming general elections being held under tensed atmosphere as the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) tries to make shot at the presidency. It should be recalled that since half year when institutional and foreign investors started reducing their stake in the capital market, equity prices have been depressed leading to the All Share Index(ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE), as well as other sectoral indexes ending the second and third quarters of 2018 in the negative.

“Inflationary pressure is going to be higher towards the end of the year as politicians inject more funds into the system. As at now, the foreign investors are not bullish about the Nigerian capital market until after the elections as you can see the reallocation of assets towards fixed income securities. The rate hike in the United States will put further pressures on yields in Nigeria and for the last quarter of the year, the concerns around the forthcoming elections are likely to keep foreign investors away”, said Junad Ahmad, an analyst with Meristem Securities.

As at the last trading day of September, the end of the third quarter of the year, the ASI closed at 32,766.37 points translating to -5.97 percent loss in September alone and -14.32 percent year to date loss.

Similarly, the NSE Premium Index ended the third quarter of the year at -8.14 percent while the NSE Main Board, NSE AseM

and NSE 30 Indexes closed at -14.69 percent, -26.64 percent, and -13.50 percent respectively.

The NSE Banking Index retuned -13.50 percent; NSE Insurance Index returned -10.12 percent; NSE Consumer Goods Index was down year to date by -22.31 percent; NSE Oil and Gas closed lower at -13 percent; NSE Lotus Islamic Index returned -11.62 percent;

NSE Industrial Index was lower by -22.62 percent while the NSE Pension Index closed lower by -11.13 percent, year to date.

That was not the same in similar period in 2017, when all sectoral indexes retuned between 10.64 percent and 60 percent apart from the NSE ASeM Index and NSE Oil & Gas Index which closed at -2.77 percent and -10.19 percent

respectively.

The market capitalisation of listed equities ended the third quarter of 2018 at N11.96 trillion, representing a loss of N1.65 trillion year to date. In September alone, the value of equities was depressed by N760.12 billion.

“We are of the opinion that not much upward movement in prices of equities will take place until after the general elections. Most of the players in the market now are retail investors who don’t have the capacity to drive up the market. Equity valuation is highly depressed especially when you look at stocks such as GTB and Unilever, but the capacity to drive up the market is not there for retail investors”, Fola Abimbola, and equity analyst with CSL Stockbrokers, said.

As the end of the third quarter, CCNN, C & I Leasing, Cutix, NEM and Unity Bank are the outperformers on the NSE. CCNN posted 166.3 percent appreciation in its price as at September 28, 2018.

C & I Leasing returned 134.1 percent; Cutix, 104 percent; NEM, 80.7 percent, and Unity Bank, 64.3 percent.

Others are Fidson Healthcare, 62.2 percent; Eterna, 53.9 percent; Beta Glass, 52 percent; AIICO, 48.1 percent and Caverton Offshore, 39.5 percent which are the topmost ten stocks on the NSE ast the end of the third quarter of 2018.

The five worst performing stocks are Japaul Oil and Royal Exchange, each posted -56 percent; and Cornerstone Insurance, Dunlop and Sunu Assurance which returned -60 percent each.

CBN ratifies Adebise, Oseni as Wema is set to issue N20bn bond

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ema Bank Plc hereby announces that Ademola Adebise has been made the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank following the retirement of Segun Oloketuyi in September 2018. He was initially appointed the Acting Managing Director in July after Oloketuyi proceeded on terminal leave in July 2018. Adebise assumes the new role effective, October 1, 2018.

Prior to this appointment, he was the Deputy Managing Director of Wema Bank, a role he held since January 2017.

Adebise has been part of the bank’s executive management team since 2009 and has played a pivotal role in the execution of the strategic turnaround plan of the bank. He has over 28 years’ experience in the banking and has worked in various capacities in information technology, financial control &

strategic planning, treasury, corporate banking, risk management and performance management.

Before joining Wema Bank Plc, Adebise was the head, finance and performance management practice at Accenture (Lagos Office), where he led multiple successful projects for banks in business process reengineering, information technology and risk management. Adebise is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School and a holder of a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School.

Wema Bank also announces the appointment of Moruf Oseni as its Deputy Managing Director, effective October 1, 2018. Since joining the Wema Bank Board in 2012, Oseni has contributed immensely to the growth of the bank’s retail

business. Until his appointment, he was the executive director in charge of retail business and ALAT, the Nigeria’s first digital bank.

Moruf Oseni brings a wealth of banking and non-banking experience to his new role. Before joining Wema Bank, Oseni was the CEO of MG Ineso Limited, a principal investment and financial advisory firm with interests in various sectors of the economy. Prior to his time at MG Ineso, he was a Vice President at Renaissance Capital, where he was responsible for debt capital markets (DCM), equity capital markets (ECM) and structured finance origination and execution for Sub-Saharan African corporates and financial institutions.

He was also an associate at Salomon Brothers/Citigroup Global Markets in London and New York where he was involved in credit market origination and execution for European financial institutions.

He commenced his career as an IT

officer with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG).

Oseni holds an MBA from the prestigious Institut European d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France, a master’s in finance (MiF) from London Business School, London and a BSc in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of King’s College, Lagos.

Oseni is a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and a member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He serves on the board of Continental Broadcasting Services Limited and is a member of the Lagos State Economic Advisory Committee.

Both the appointments of Adebise and Oseni have been ratified by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“In Ademola and Moruf, the Bank

has two financial veterans with a wealth of experience in senior executive positions across a wide range of countries,” said Babatunde Kasali, the Chairman of Wema Bank.

“With their proven track record in the financial services sector, the Board is confident that their appointments will lead to the continued transformation of the Bank as it positions itself as a market leader in Nigeria’s retail banking segment through technology and innovation.”

Furthermore, following the successful establishment of its N50 Billion Bond issuance program, the bank is set to issue up to N20 Billion senior unsecured bond in series 2 Bond issuance program. The proceeds of the Bond are intended to boost the working capital financing needs of the bank. The series 2 of the Bond is to be issued for a tenor of 5-7 years and the target market is the institutional investors.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Arts

Again, Art X Lagos spotlights contemporary African art

...hosts Yinka Shonibare as keynote artist Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

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nce again, Art X Lagos, West Africa’s premier international art fair, is set for the third edition with lots of enthralling works on display, networking opportunities and other engaging activities.

The fair, which opens from November 2-4, 2018 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, its venue since inception, will feature some of Africa’s most sought-after established and emerging artists, as well as leading galleries.

Building on the success of previous editions, which hosted 15,000 visitors collectively, and continuing with its ambition to showcase the best and most innovative contemporary art from the African continent and the diaspora, the 2018 fair will host 18 prestigious galleries from a variety of countries worldwide, such as: Art House – The Space (Nigeria), Addis Fine Art (Ethiopia), Circle Art Agency (Kenya), Stevenson Gallery (South Africa), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Tafeta (United Kingdom), Tiwani Contemporary (United Kingdom), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), and Out of Africa Gallery (Spain) amongst others.

The 18 exhibiting galleries have been chosen by a

Paintings by Kainebi Osahenye at Wheatbaker for The Contemporaries exhibition

Selection Committee led

by Advisory Board members, N’Goné Fall, the renowned Senegalese curator, art critic and cultural consultant, and Femi Lijadu, one of Nigeria’s most respected art collectors and leading commercial lawyer.

As part of its pan-African identity, widening Nigeria’s connection to the contemporary African art world, ART X Lagos is proud to welcome East African artists to the fair for the first time, featuring critically acclaimed artists such as Kenyans Paul Onditi and Cyrus Kabiru.

Speaking at the ART X La-

gos 2018 press launch, which held recently at Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos,Tokini Peterside, founder and director, ART X Lagos, said, “After the success of ART X Lagos 2017 we are delighted to return for a third edition. We are validated in our decision to develop this vital platform for the growth and increased visibility of African artists and galleries. This would have been impossible without the phenomenal support of the galleries, sponsors and partners, who took a huge leap of faith and committed to support us from ground zero, for which we are most

grateful. In six weeks, we will open the doors to ART X Lagos 2018. We look forward to welcoming a vast and varied, local and international audience as we seek to reinforce Lagos’ position as an emergent cultural capital on our continent.”

Offering details of this year’s edition, Peterside said the fair will be welcoming Yinka Shonibare,MBE, internationally renowned artist, as its 2018 keynote artist, who will be celebrated with a highly anticipated exhibition, exploring his career highlights.

Another highlight of this

year’s edition, according to her, will be the ART X Talks.

This year’s programme is curated by Missla Libsekal and it features a series of exciting and engaging talks from key stakeholders in Africa’s art economy. ART X Talks will hold on November 3rd and 4th including a keynote talk with Yinka Shonibare MBE. There will also be Interactive Projects. The projects are curated by A Whitespace Creative Agency and will feature experiential platforms that explore ideas influenced by the exhilarating essence of Lagos. Olalekan Jeyifous and Wale Lawal have created a virtual reality installation, Mad Horse City, which explores a futuristic imagination of Lagos in the year 2115.

Meanwhile ‘Lagos Drawings’ is an Interactive Installation,

by Karo Akpokiere which combines digital technology, perceptible sounds and visual illustrations inspired by Lagos Textures.

For the 2018 edition, the Art X Prize with Access Bank has evolved to bolster the efforts of emerging artists who have demonstrated a commitment to careers as professional visual artists.

Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, who emerged as the winner in June 2018, after a rigorous selection process, received a grant of N1 million and will have a solo presentation of her project, ‘Scraps from Mama’s Floor’ at this year’s fair.

ART X Live!, the live art and music performance, will also make a return this year, featuring some of Africa’s most talented rising artists, curated by Lanre Masha, with Odunsi the Engine as creative director. The show will see performances by Teni the Entertainer, Ghanaian musician Amaarae, and BOJ, accompanied by some of Lagos’ finest emerging visual and graphic artists. The theme this year invites guests to indulge in an electric exploration of Africa’s rich musical history with a celebration of our heroes past – the icons, legends and sounds that have shaped the continent’s contemporary musical landscape.

ART X Lagos 2018 is made possible by the generous, committed support of its sponsors, which include thus far – Access Bank (Gold Sponsor); Ford Foundation (Diversity and Education Sponsor); Stanbic IBTC Pensions, H2Oh!, Anap Jets and Chapel Hill Denham (Bronze Sponsors); Lufthansa, Absolut, Budweiser,Leadway Assurance and Metro Capital (Category Sponsors).

ART X Lagos was founded

by Tokini Peterside and is also supported by an Advisory Board comprised of - Labi Ogunbiyi, Dudun Peterside, Evelyn Oputu, Fatima WaliAbdurrahman, Femi Lijadu, Jess Castellote, Junaid Dikko, N’Goné Fall, Papa Omotayo and Reni Folawiyo.

The Contemporaries II exhibition to celebrate Nigeria at 58, Wheatbaker at seven

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s the global art world gathers in London for the 1.54 Art Fair, the largest fair of African Contemporary Art attracting over 18,000 visitors between October 4-7, 2018,The Contemporaries, an exhibition showcasing works by three cutting edge artists from Nigeria, will attract much interest when it simultaneously opens in London and at the Wheatbaker boutique hotel in Lagos.

Th e W h e a t b a k e r i s proud to host the Contemporaries II in celebration of Nigerian Independence Day, showcasing 38 sculptures, paintings, and mixed media works by Kainebi Osahenye, Kenny Adewuyi and Kelani Abass, three avant garde contemporary artists. The

Contemporaries II exhibition presents strong visual narratives and powerful figurative abstractions which explore historic socio-political narratives, the dignity of labour, technology, and the environment vis-vis unbridled consumerism.

The Contemporaries II marks the nations’ 58th independence day, presenting three artists who have contributed significantly to the vibrancy of Nigeria’s contemporary art scene.

Kainebi Osahenye combines spray paint with oil, pastel, and acrylic, experimenting with dynamic fluency and fluidity to explore figurative gestures which interrogate society’s insatiability vis-a-vis the earth’s limited natural resources.

Kelani Abass creates intricate multi-media works,

in which small mechanical parts retrieved from his family’s printing press, are layered with photographs and archival materials as the artist explores personal stories against the background of social and political events frozen in time and memory.

His ‘man and machine’ series on canvas explore the interchangeable co-dependency between man and technology.

Kenny Adewuyi’s emotive sculptures of elongated figures and exaggerated limbs are in recognition of humanity’s universal struggle for survival and sustained livelihoods. His iconic sculptures are cast in bronze using the lost wax technique dating as far back as the 9th century in eastern Nigeria, keeping alive an ancient artistic tradition.

“As we celebrate Nigerian independence day and the Wheatbaker’s seventh anniversary, this important exhibition reaffirms our commitment to celebrate the very best of African creativity, ” said Mosun Ogunbanjo, director of the Wheabaker. “The second edition of the Contemporaries continues the impressive standard set by the first quarterly exhibition we hosted in 2011, providing a regular platform for celebrating our exceptional local and international talent”.

“We are delighted to showcase our artists on two important platforms simultaneously, The Wheatbaker in Lagos, and at the 1.54 African Contemporary Art Fair in London, ” said Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, the Wheatbaker’s art cura-

tor and founder of SMO Contemporary Art. “Art is an important avenue for addressing global issues, and we depend on our artists to be good global ambassadors for Africa.”

Speaking at press preview of the exhibition held recently at Wheatbsker, Kelani Abass offered the public reasons to visit to see his works.

“I am intrigued by how the past and present coalesce. I attempt to make a statement on the future that concedes the interdependence of different moments in time. I explore these themes through painting, photography and printing, using archival materials to highlight personal stories against the background of social and political events frozen in time and memory”,

he explained.

“My oeuvre also probes the shared history and character of men and machines through a wide range of different media including installations, acrylics, oils, pastels and charcoal. I engage the use of technology with the printing press, which I use as a metaphor for obsolete materials, transporting them into modern relevance, usurping outmoded machinery and tools such as printing cases, letterpress types, metal plates, rubber blocks and the stamping tool to generate new contemporary narratives”.

The Contemporaries II is supported by the Wheatbaker and Louis Guntrum Wines, and runs from October 1, 2018 to January 15, 2019 in Lagos and from October 4-7, 2018 in London.

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Arts Okori traditional ruler takes unity crusade to Bida IFEOMA OKEKE

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n continuation of his peace talk in Nigeria, Appolus Chuhe, the Egbere Emere Okori Eleme, Rivers State, recently took his campaign to Bida in Niger State. The crusade, according to Chu, is part of the moves to strengthen cultural ties and peaceful coexistence among the regions and ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Apart from organising various events in his community to achieve this, like hosting high class traditional ruler and other dignitaries across the country in his palace regularly, Appolus has recently been travelling from one part of Nigeria to another preaching oneness, a gesture he wants other traditional rulers to emulate.

In Bida, Chu’s arrival was greeted with the salute of gun shots while being escorted by royal horsemen to the palace of another royal father, Yahaya Abubakar, ETSU Nupe of Bida and chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.

An unending celebration accompanied by cultural dances of all sort by different cultural troops in Bida - from the women group to the Hausa Community and

more were displayed to welcome Chu to the ETSU Nupe of Bida’s palace.

Settled at the palace, Chu thanked the ETSU Nupe of Bida and the people of Bida for their contribution towards the unity of Nigeria even as he expressed satisfaction at the cordiality and respect been maintained in the Kingdom. He described Abubakar as a role model and icon in the crusade for national unity.

“I am one of the young kings in this country that admire your style of leadership. He is not just a kind for Nupe people but a king of all Nigerians because he is one of those leaders in Nigerian that have been doing their best to educate Nigerians on national unity. He is a man that moves from one kingdom to another to talk about the unity, security, and development of this country. And I know that it is not a job of one man alone, we need the collective support of all the traditional rulers in this country to join in this crusade”, said Chu. Chu who incidentally found his match in the ETSU Nupe of Bida in the campaign for unity in Nigeria said he was also supporting his host in this crusade of ad-

From left, Yahaya Abubakar, the ETSU Nupe of Bida with Appolus Chu, the Egbere Emere Okori Eleme, during the visit.

vocating for national unity and peace of the nation.

“The government cannot do it alone without the support of the traditional rulers.

Government is far from the grassroots but we the traditional rulers are close to the people, so we can better communicate with our subject in the language they understand”, the Egbere Emere Okori noted.

He said he embarked on the journey from OkoriEleme in Rivers State just to strengthen the bounds

between him and the traditional ruler of Bida, which will strengthen his kingdom with that of Bida and its people as a symbol of love.

He said his journey was also to portray the fact that there was no difference between the North and South. “When there is peace and unity, we can talk about development and also about educating our children.

“Insecurity is a distraction and the virus eating deep into the fabric of the nation at this point. And it is high

Belvedere Vodka, Laolu Senbanjo unveil new limited-edition bottle in Nigeria

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uesday, September 25, 2018, visual art lovers, vodka connoisseurs and the general public witnessed for the first time the fusion of art and vodka at the official unveiling of the 2018 Belvedere limited-edition bottle designed and handcrafted by Laolu Senbanjo, an award-winning performance and visual artist who is popularly known as ‘Laolu NYC’.

Th e s u p e r - p r e m i u m vodka brand has a rich heritage in the history of Polish vodka-making that dates as far back as 600 years. Since its establishment, the brand has always aimed to be at the forefront of innovation while staying dedicated to its legacy, heritage and high-quality standards.

Laolu visually expressed the true essence and image of the brand with an amazing blend of art revealing the magnificence that lies within the new limitededition bottle.

Th e i c o n i c d e s i g n i s

adorned with sharp edges that signify a fusion of the water and rye that gives Belvedere Vodka its distinct dimension and taste.

The bottle’s skin-sense texture reacts to UV lights and the charcoal colouring has complex patterns inspired by the artist’s Yo-

From L-R: Oluwole Awoleke, brand manager, Belvedere Vodka; Laolu Senbanjo, the artist; and Francesco Fraschetti, global communications manager, Belvedere Vodka, at the unveiling in Lagos recently.

time for us, as a nation to rise together and eradicate insecurity and all the restiveness that is happening in this country. If we don’t fight for peace ourselves, nobody will come and fight for us. And we are not going to fight for peace and security with guns but by coming together as one”, he said.

In his response, Abubakar thanked Chu for the visit, describing it as a symbol of respect, love and unity between the North and the South -South. “What we are

actually propagating here, considering the situation we are in now and considering the history and political activities in the country, is unity”.

“The traditional institution in Nigeria has been playing a very significant role in uniting this country and also ensuring that we have good government administration.”

Abubakar noted further that Chu’s visit will give Nigerians the understanding of the unity of this country and how we should relate with, respect and tolerate one another so that we would promote the objective of nationhood.

He stressed further that for any country to develop, it must have the required peace and understanding, adding, “we hope, Chu’s visit will go a long way in ensuring that the unity, peace and progress we are looking for this country will be achieved.

He extolled the resilience in Chu in building synergy among traditional rulers while he called on other traditional rulers across the nation to emulate Chu’s giant stride. Abubakar later presented a royal horse as a gift to Chu.

NCAC to showcase Nigeria’s cultural DNA at NAFEST 2018

ruba heritage.

“I am so excited to be back home, it has been an interesting journey working on the new limited edition bottle and seeing it come to life is a dream come true. I am always glad to showcase the Nigerian culture on anything, using art to represent people, culture including the remarkable beauty embedded inside Belvedere Vodka. This bottle brings to life a lot of things the vodka brand stands for such as the rye, the pristine water and the basic things that makes Belvedere what it is and being able to put that on a bottle is so overwhelming”, Laolu said at the unveiling in Lagos.

While in Nigeria, Laolu will be involved in a series of activities, which includes a celebration of the bottle unveil at top hotspots in Lagos and Abuja, an art master class and grand fashion inspired soiree where the Lagos Dreamscape painted

by Laolu will be unveiled.

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n three weeks’ time, the best of Nigeria’s culture, arts, crafts and fashion will be showcased at the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), which is going to be hosted by the Rivers State government in Port Harcourt.

The National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), the organiser of the festival, is not leaving anything to chance as the outing in Port Harcourt promises to re-launch the unity festival into global acceptance and inclusiveness.

Indeed, the last outing in Kaduna being the first under the watch of Segun Runsewe, director general, NCAC and to which there was a strategic manifestation of an enduring change and perception of the once neglected festival, the Port Harcourt edition in last week of this month, October will herald a massive repositioning of the entire gamut of Nigeria’s culture value chain beyond the pedestrian dance drama and accolades of mere street observers.

NAFEST in Port Harcourt will create a strategic learning curve on how to alleviate poverty and enthrone a new rural

sustainable cultural economy through skill acquisition and exposure to other multi beneficial contents related to Nigerian culture.

According to the NCAC director general, the unity festival is coming at time Nigeria has become the destination to watch as President Buhari diplomatic shuttling across the globe has attracted some massive interest on Nigeria beyond the traditional business frontiers hence the repositioning of culture as the central bank of our creative wealth.

At the just concluded private sector trade fair in Lagos, Runsewe showcased interesting sidelines of what NCAC will do in Port Harcourt and to which governor Wike of Rivers State has promised an enhanced and progressive collaboration to effectively re-jig policy orientation on Rivers very rich and unique culture.

Reports from all the states participating at the event revealed that a very strong wind of competition among participants will be high and the message of mainstreaming culture as an economic catalyst will be taken serious.

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Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (SMS only) 08057511893

My regret not contesting beauty pageant years ago – Former Mrs Nigeria

My mission is to spread the gospel of Christ - King Wadada

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ormer Mrs Nigeria Tourism, Ebelechukwu Enemchukwu has said she wished she had contested in beauty pageantry when she was much younger.

In a telephone chat with Bliss recently, the former beauty queen said she had several opportunities to have contested in most beauty pageants, especially when she was still single, but she couldn’t because of her mother.

“If I were to have any regret, it would be not contesting in a beauty pageant earlier than I did.

But again, may be God designed it this way. I got several opportunities to do it when I was younger but I turned all of them down. My mum had this notion that beauty queens are lose. Since she was a disciplinarian, she said no way! She didn’t want me to do it.

“But looking at it years later and from where I stand, it was an erroneous thought but not unfounded. The closest I came into doing this was during my youth service programme in 2005 when I was ‘forced’ to represent my platoon and I won.

That was it until 10 years later in 2015 when the Mrs Nigeria Tourism came up. I ran it by my husband and he said it was okay. He has been supportive all the way. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

And since she won the international beauty pageant years ago, Ebele has been busy even as she was under the employ of Globacom.

Bliss gathered, however, that Ebele is no longer a member of staff of the company and she gave her reasons.

“I worked for Glo for 12 years and I left about seven weeks ago. The cliché thing to say would be that I went ahead to pursue my dream. It is not in any way far from the truth. I am out to pursue my dream which is my brand ‘Ebele’ in the area of event hosting and corporate training and of course, continue to pursue one area I am passionate about and that is beauty.

“During my reign, I was still working at Globacom. My immediate boss and my department were very supportive of what I was doing. While in Glo, I did my job and I focused on it. For all the charity events and hosting that I did, they were done during my HR approved leave days. I never absconded or left my duty in Glo for my personal jobs while I was there. I was a different person outside the office. I left the company because it was time to be me. It was 12 amazing years and I resigned as a training specialist. I felt there is more to give to the world. I wouldn’t want to go down the grave with unutilised

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talents,” she said.

At the moment, Ebele said she is all out to push her brand forward and do what she loves best.

“I am a full-fledged make-up artiste and I bagged this degree from the London Make-up school after getting my professional qualification last year. I am a beauty therapist. My ability to walk and run with high heels doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that I was a beauty queen. I have always been this way. It was just that a crown was added to it. I also have a foundation called Women Are Beautiful Inside and Out (WABIO).

I also host events for corporate and social events.”

Politics not for me now – Yomi Fash-Lanso

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ven as some of his colleagues are veering to politics especially in these days of politics, popular veteran actor, Yomi FashLanso has said such is not on top of his to-do list at the moment.

In a recent chat with Bliss on the telephone recently, the actor said his strong wish is for the country to be better and more comfortable for Nigerians to live in.

“Things are really so bad in this country. The economy is at its worst level. It is so sad that Nigeria has come to this level. Nothing seems to work, absolutely nothing and it breaks my heart,” he said.

Fash-Lanso, who wrote an open letter to President Buhari via his instagram handle, said he had to do so to pour out his mind on the things bothering him in the country especially where it concerns corruption.

“Corruption is at its highest peak in this country. God! It is crazy the way people

steal in the country. we need to start meting out punishment for anybody who is caught in any corruption practice. We campaigned for these politicians but look at what they are doing. Now I am afraid to campaign for anybody because you cannot trust anybody. All I can do is advice people to vote. We have never enjoyed any administration in this country. Every government that came into power always had one issue or the other. We have allowed corruption to thrive so much that it has eaten into our bone marrows and this makes everyone believe they can do anything they like,” he said.

In the chat, Fash-Lanso who is also the coordinator of Afro Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards talked about the event set to take place in Houston soon.

“AHBEA is not about voting. A selection of entertainers who have stood out in various genres of entertainment are given the awards. This is not a case where some people would feel bad that they didn’t win or fee that the award was partial. That is basically what sets us apart from any other award,” he said.

here was a time Austin Peters, popularly known as King Wadada was among the popular reggae musicians in the country.

However, the artiste went underground and nothing much was heard of him.

However, the dreadlock artiste is back and he is back on another scale. He now sees himself as “a crusader for Christ”.

Wadada hinted that ever since his hiatus, he has become a more spiritual person and he would use his music to win souls for Christ.

He said, “My mission in the music industry is to spread the gospel of our Jesus Christ. I decided to use my music and that is why I am into strategic evangelism.

Most of my artistes sing about women and other subjects but the moment we have their attention, we would begin to play my spiritual songs for them. I am not a pastor but I see myself as a spiritual artiste who sings street gospel music aimed at the people on the street. I am not the kind of artiste that sings in church alone because if I sing for them, they

are people who already know the truth. Most of the people that are on the street do not know about Jesus and that is why I am targeting them with my message.

“I have about four artistes signed on my record label but right now, we are unveiling Blackelz and King Wadada. I am now involved in a strategic evangelism whereby I use my artiste to sing secular songs and when we have got the attention of people, we would begin to preach to them through my spiritual songs. That is what I am doing in my entertainment outfit, King Wadada World Klass Entertainment. I want there to be holiness in our country.”

He further noted that his appearance would not hinder him from winning souls for Christ.

“The fact that I wear big jewelry and I am on dreadlock does not mean that I cannot preach the gospel. God does not look at our looks instead he looks at our heart. It is part of what I am preaching about; people need to understand that they should not judge anyone by their appearance,” the singer said.

Bobrisky pens touching message to Tonto Dike

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espite the controversies surrounding him, Bobrisky has so many diehard fans who are also celebrities. Chief among them is actress, Tonto Dike and virtually everybody knows how close they two are.

And to showcase how much he appreciates the friendship between them, the Nigerian cross-dresser, via his instagram handle, wrote a touching message to the actress.

He posted, “Tonto I want to thank the day I met you and the day we both decided to be so close as good friends.

You have been so dear to me as my elder sister and a mother. I love you so much.

One thing I miss about you is when you tell me “Bobyboby, if I have extra money I wish to give you everything “to prove

how much you love me””. I’m so inspired by you every day. Each time I wake up in the morning, I pray for God’s protection, cash flow in your account etc. You publicly eat with me, walk with me, and you are always there to support my success any way.

God bless @tontolet. See you soon darling.”

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Entertainment Nickfest: Falz, Mayorkun treat kids, parents to a delightful experience

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ANGEL JAMES

ack with a bang, Nicke l o d e o n ’s a n n u a l family-centric festival got kids, parents and guardians into a delightful mood on day one of NickFest 2018, which held at Balmoral Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos. Nickelodeon transformed the venue into a massive kiddies’ wonderland with amazing fun games, toys, and loads of sparkling bright colors.

The two-day event which attracted thousands of kids and parents across Lagos was packed with activities, events and experiences for all ages as promised and delivered by Nickelodeon in partnership with Maltina.

The Highlights of Day one of the festival include performances featuring two of Nigeria’s talented music stars “Wehdone sir’ singer and rapper Folarin Falana widely known as Falz and DMW music star Adewale Mayorkun Emmanuel, professionally known as Mayorkun.

The whole venue was lit again during their exhilarating performances, which set the whole

place in a delightful mood that kids, parents, other music lovers present let loose and engaged the singers in a sing-along with so much thrills beyond their expectation.

The excitement continued as children of all ages in attendance witnessed the arrival of their favourite Nickelodeon characters live at the festival, the energetic Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Adventure Bay’s

intrepid pups, Skye, Rubble Marshall and Chase from Paw Patrol with her animal rescuer cousin, Diego and her best pal, Boots, Shimmer and Shine and of course Teenage Mutant ninja Turtles.

NickFest host of the day, celebrity On-Air personality, Ik Osakioduwa and Nigeria’s Got Talent maiden edition winner, Amarachi kept the mood alive with their effervescent delivery.

The slime challenge, a favour-

DStv’s new brand campaign boasts amazing talent ...and best African content

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Stv is at the forefront of delivering original local stories, using the most talented performers on the continent. At the core of its existence, the brand promises to tell African stories in a way that Africans can relate to.

It is with this commitment that DStv continues to deliver the best television content that entertains viewers from all walks of life. The new DStv brand campaign was created to reiterate the spectrum of content while highlighting the various genres, captivating storylines and incredible African talent.

Martin Mabutho, GM Sales & Marketing, Multichoice Nigeria, says, “It is important for viewers to be excited by the fresh content produced on DStv. Brand campaigns such as this one help customers not only to connect with the DStv brand but also get excited about what is still to come.”

This campaign explores different stories told by different people in the desire to foster a

connection, while invoking key conversations among customers. In this brand advert, DStv showcases different genres and celebrates authentic storytelling by using some popular faces.

This DStv brand advertisement boasts an array of talent from across the continent. The popular 2018 BBNaija -Double Wahala reality show, ex-housemate Tobi Bakre stars together with the accomplished writer, actor, producer and presenter Ireti Doyle winner of Best Actress in a lead role at the 2014 Nollywood Movie Awards for her portrayal of Ovo in the thriller Torn. Do not miss this seasoned actress on the popular series Tinsel on Africa Magic Showcase weekdays.

From Maisha Magic’s Selina, is the jack of all trades Pascalino Lpesinoi, a musician, actor, comedian and songwriter. Catch him playing the role of Nelson also on DStv. Also amongst the talent is Tinsel’s Linda Ejiofor a Nigerian actress and model best known for her role as Bimpe Adekoya in

popular TV seriesTinsel. In 2013, Linda was also listed as one of the 10 fastest rising Nollywood stars. Zambezi Magic’s Mwaka Mugala who stars in Zambia’s first-ever telenovela, Zuba was also amongst the talent, watch her on Zambezi Magic where she portrays Zuba back on your screens this October.

Evelyn D’Souza lead actress and executive producer on Varshita! also appears in the campaign. Catch her in action on Maisha Magic East every Saturday. Last but, not least is the wellknown Riyama Ally Selemani, award-winning Tanzanian actress and film producer known for her role on Huba, catch it on Maisha Magic Bongo.

This stellar crew worked together in creating the new brand campaign sure to entice viewers of the content explosion available on DStv. Our stories told by our people, DStv showcases amazing talent and exceptional stories that will keep viewers glued to their screens.

ite section at the festival saw different celebrities get doused with gooey green Slime.

Speaking at the venue of the event, Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President & Managing Director VIMN Africa , said: “Over the years, Nickelodeon has entertained families world over. With NickFest in Nigeria, we have translated our hugely popular and family-centric TV entertainment content to an

event experience that resonates with audiences.

We had an incredible show of support from parents and kids at the 1st edition last year and this 2nd edition turn out for Nickfest in Nigeria has gained even more fans. At VIMN Africa, we are grateful for the valued support from our partner Maltina and the new associate sponsors in bringing NickFest to Lagos again.”

Cartoon Network Africa’s Powerpuff Girl Awards entries close soon

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artoon Network is teaming up with the African arm of the international NGO, Save the Children who are pioneers for children’s rights as well as Africa’s very own Powerpuff Girl, Toya Delazy, in their quest to find some of Africa’s young, amazing, girl heroines.

Toya Delazy, Africa’s very own PowerPuff Girl said, “The PPG Awards celebrates young African girls and their achievements. It aims to empower young girls to express themselves and never give up on their dreams.”

“We hope that the PPG Awards provide a platform to bring out the strength that every young African girl carries within her and allows her to become the

amazing little superhero that she really is!” Delazy added.

Entries for Cartoon Network Africa’s Powerpuff Girl Awards will close on Monday, October 15 2018. The Powerpuff Girl Awards (PPG Awards) was created to celebrate and empower young girls in Africa between the ages of 9 and 14 who are looking for a platform to showcase their super-powers.

Split into three categories, each representing The Powerpuff Girls’ characters, entrants will be able to submit projects in the Science and Tech Inventor, Social Helper and Artistic Creator categories.

Specific guidelines for each category and the terms and conditions for entry, can be found online on the DSTv website. Winners will be announced at the end of October and will receive their award at a ceremony which will hold in Johannesburg in November 2018.

Winners, from each of the three categories, will receive $1500 to help bring their awardwinning entry to life with the assistance of a dedicated mentor, including Toya Delazy as the Artistic Creator mentor.

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Travel

Why is Lagos State pursuing a tourism masterplan when the project seems abandoned at the national level? e are convinced that we do need a tourism masterplan to propel our tourism and creative industry agenda. In every nation where tourism has thrived, a blueprint is always required. Your vision must be clear and you need a roadmap to drive it. This is what a masterplan does; it identifies what you need to do and how to do it. This is similar to what Lagos State has achieved in the political-economy space. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu conceived the idea of a Lagos State Development Plan, Governor Fashola berthed it in 2012 and handed it over to Governor Ambode. This is what the state is running with till 2025. The tourism masterplan will work in a similar fashion with one governor handing it over to his successor while the deliverables are attended to in order to diversify the economy and create a good image for the state.

Is Lagos carrying along the Federal Government and relevant agencies in the documentation?

As a document, not really. The masterplan was commissioned directly by Lagos State Government and it is a blueprint that focuses largely on specific areas of need for the state. But in execution, yes it will have a lot to do with Abuja, other states and the private sector.

The truth is that you cannot market a state in isolation. You will always be a component of a big, beautiful and diverse country that we really are. Issues of national carriers; ideal airports, visa on arrival and courteous consular officers representing the country all over the world are exclusively within the Federal purview. But we are lucky in Lagos that the two people running tourism at the Federal level - the Minister and Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation are both Lagos products who have the interest of the state at heart. We enjoy a very cordial relationship with them and we are always happy to key into their efforts at promoting the tourism and cultural landscape of Nigeria as a whole.

What are the milestones achieved in tourism and the creative industry in the last three years under the present adminis-

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‘We are propelling tourism and creative economy agenda with a tourism masterplan’ Aside being centre of commerce, Lagos is positioning as top tourism destination. The state has launched a tourism masterplan, the plank upon which its tourism promotions agenda for the next 20 years will be anchored. In this interview, Steve Ayorinde, the state’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, speaks to Obinna Emelike on the masterplan and other relevant issues. tration?

First, we have adopted the popular buzzword coined by the Governor himself - Tourism Hospitality Entertainment and Sports for Excellence (T.H.E.S.E) as our focus. In three years, the ministry is fulfilling its mandate creditably well; changing the profile of Lagos into that of a city with a vibrant artistic soul. The state’s landscape is being beautified daily with iconic statues and public art installations that have engaged a wide spectrum of Nigeria artists.

Six new 500-seater theatres are being built simultaneously across the state to expand the frontiers of opportunity for talented youths; four out of the six will be opened this December. The Onikan-Marina axis is being turned into an arts and culture district with its first major offering, the J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History nearing completion. The Lagos Museum project within the same district will soon commence with a grant from Ford Foundation and strategic partnership from the Musee du quai Branly in Paris and the British Museum.

Our ministry conceptualized and has supervised since December 2015 the pooular One Lagos Fiesta, which has become arguably the biggest end-of-the-year concert in Africa with its unique template of holding simultaneously across the five divisions ofLagosin the lasteight days of the year. If you consider that up till 2014, the Lagos Countdown was a one-day, one venue affair, but in three years, One Lagos Fiesta is fulfilling two major obligations - democratizing and decentralising the idea of fun and entertainment and giving every part of Lagos a sense of belonging you will appreciate why OLF has become a significant part of our socio-economic service to the people. Similarly, more artists are engaged and given the opportunity to perform at Ikeja, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu in addition to Bar Beach

Steve Ayorinde

and in the process we are creating a whole new economy around those towns for eight consecutive days.

Also, with a Calendar of Arts Events released in January to aid planning and visits around the state, our ministry believes we will always give visitors a reason to spend an extra day or two in exploring this smart megacity that is full of fun, art and cultural enterprise.

What efforts is Lagos making at turning its aquatic splendor to tourism gain?

I think aqua tourism has always been an important and recognisable component of the tourism eco-system in Lagos State. And it ought to be so because water constitutes about 22.5 percent of the land mass of the state. So, the state is keenly aware of its God-given gift - the Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. The Prest Boat Cruise, for example, has promoted water tourism on the lagoon in the last 15 years or so. Several other cruise packages have been added in the last three to five years. And because of the huge awareness and serious commitment of this administeration to everything tourism, sev-

eral business concerns are adding to the water tourism component of the sector. The Lagos boat club is growing and as you must have heard, the Governor recognises and supports its contribution to the development of the sector. From La Campaigne Tropicana in Ikegun to Ilashe beachfront and Inagbe waterfront resorts, awareness and investments are growing in the area of water tourism. On the part of government too, this adminisration has maintained the annual Boat Regatta carnival among several other initiatives.

Beyond transportation, how is Lagos opening the waterways for tourism?

It is a two-way approach. First, is to create the necessary awareness both for tourists that want on-thewater experience and for investors that see great opportunities on the waterways and in the general marine tourism economy. And you will soon see from our Tourism Masterplan that we have paid attention to our waterways in terms of better utilisation by domestic and international tourists. The other way is in working closely with tour

operators and partner-destination stakeholders to make waterways an integral part of the Lagos tourism experience. For example, we are in talks with Apapa Amusement Park’s management on how this fantastic facility can be better accessed via water as an alternative to the Apapa gridlock. We are in tune with La Campagne Tropicana and the Lagos Sports Commission on a possible annual kayaking tournament. The promoters of All Sails Lagos have our endorsement for the kind of water racing fiesta that is being planned. Similarly, F1 boat racing franchise owners in Nigeria are in discussion with us on how this global spectacle can berth in Lagos soon. Getting our waterways busy once the channelisation of the key routes have been completed by next year, therefore, is a priority in our short to medium term plans for the Tourism Masterplan.

How has tourism empowered the people?

I am excited by a new research this year, which suggests that directly or indirectly, tourism and travel-related eco-system provide one out of every ten jobs in Africa.

From tour travel component of aviation industry to hotels and hospitality establishments; visual and performing arts and the huge technical support base that keeps all working; not to forget the chefs; cooks, tour guides, tour operators, travel bloggers and journalists; specialised security operatives and even taxis and specialised tour transport operators, there is an endless list of opportunities. And marine transport is already benefiting, and can only do better as the sector grows. The more ferries that are put on the lagoon, the more jetties that will be needed to be built and maintained; the more our waterways are channelised and routes expanded the more ferries and luxury boats that will be operated with the full compliments of staff.

World Tourism Day: Nigeria still struggles to earn tourists’ dollar OBINNA EMELIKE

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n September 27, 2018, the global tourism community celebrated the World Tourism Day (WTD), a day set aside to raise awareness about the role of tourism within the international community.

The celebration is imperative because tourism contributed US$8.3 trillion to the global economy and supported 313 million jobs in 2017 from 1.322 billion people that travelled across the world for tourism last year.

Moreover, international tourist arrivals grew 6 percent in the first quarter of 2018, compared

to the same period last year, and exceeding United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) forecast for 2018.

However, for the 1.322 billion tourists that traveled the world in 2017, sadly, Africa attracted only 65 million of them. Nigeria hosted a little over 1 million tourists compared to Kenyan’s 1,474,671, Egypt’s 8,292,426, and South Africa’s 10.29 million foreign tourists in 2017.

Going by their sizes, Gambia and Ghana that attracted over 200,000 and roughly 1 million tourists respectively in 2017, seem to be doing better than Nigerian in tourism.

While Nigeria has failed to develop her tourism assets over

the years due to the easy money from crude oil, other oil-producing countries of the world are rather using the oil money to develop enabling infrastructure for tourism in their countries.

The sad thing is that the country is calling for the enlisting of more local attractions in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites while the two enlisted sites; Sukur Kingdom and Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove are least visited.

For Nkereuwem Onung , c h a i r m a n , B O T, N i g e r i a n Association of Tour Operators, (NATOP), the 2018 celebration of WTD called for action on sustainable tourism in Nigeria, reiteration of the need for the diversification of the economy using tourism as the lowest hanging fruit and collaboration of government and private sector in pulling along all relevant agencies to ensure focused development.

For a start, most industry

stakeholders think that tourism needs a full fledge ministry to enable focusedattention,concertedefforts and measurement of results as the present ministry is burdened with many responsibilities, especially the tedious task of the spokesperson of the government.

“We need a separate ministry of tourism and strategy to grow tourism appeal and offerings. We cannot continue to promote Nigeria just as a business destination while the tourism potential abound, but we need concerted efforts from government and private sector to do so. The ministry will coordinate such strategies and destination promotion through relevant agencies”, Mike Ohigwe, a tourism expert disclosed.

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Travel

NCAA reiterates sustenance of zero accident status in aviation Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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he Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA has deregistered 10 aircraft from its register, sanctioned airlines and penalized pilots and crew for various safety reasons.

Others affected are aircraft engineers and aviation training institutions.

Speaking at an interactive forum for information Managers in the aviation sector in Lagos, Director General,NCAA Captain Muktar Usman said violation of safety regulations was viewed seriously by the Authority.

He noted that in order to ensure that the zero ac-

cident in the sector was sustained and passengers comfort not compromised, it was constantly strengthening it oversight of aviation agencies, airlines and their personnel.

On delays of flights on the domestic routes, Capt.

Usman said, 16,880 scheduled flights were delayed,” on international 2,443, 253 cancelled on domestic, international 95, missing baggage/ delayed on domestic 25, international 17,893, all airlines have been warned over delays and cancellations”.

According to Captain Usman, while it big stick came down on some airlines and its personnel, it also recorded many successes in the registering of 20 aircraft for commercial

air transport and 10 for General aviation operations and the re-registering of 12 as well as issued 30

certificates of airworthiness and renewed 85 between January to June this year.

He explained that 15 training organizations was certified while 11 was still being processed, adding

that 36 pilots, 68 aircraft maintenance engineers and 242 cabin crew licenses were issued. “violation to safety regulations is viewed seriously by the NCAA , 5 airlines sanctioned, several flight crew and engineers penalized and aviation training organization also penalized”.

The NCAA boss emphasized that as the Authority looked forward to an exponential growth in the sector with an anticipated increase in passenger volume, airline operators must adhere strictly to civil aviation regulations.

He noted that with the zeal to ensure total enforcement of its regulation, it would not hesitant to wade the big stick when appropriate.

Airbus A330-900 receives EASA type certification Ethiopian voted ‘Best African Airline’

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he A330-900 has received its Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The aircraft is powered by RollsRoyce Trent 7000 engines.

The Type Certificate was signed by EASA’s Certification Director, Trevor Woods, and handed over by EASA’s Head of Large Aeroplanes Certification, Ludovic Aron, to Airbus’ Head of Engineering for Commercial Aircraft, Jean-Brice Dumont. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification is expected to follow shortly.

“The A330neo embodies Airbus’ spirit of innovation.

This new generation aircraft with unparalleled efficiency and flexibility from short to long haul routes has tremendous market potential,” Guillaume Faury, President Airbus Commercial Aircraft said.

“We look forward to delivering the first aircraft equipped with the beautiful new Airspace cabin to our launch customer TAP

Air Portugal in the coming weeks.”

In agreement with TAP Air Portugal, its first built aircraft served as a demonstrator for route proving around the world visiting more than 12 countries.

Together with the two A330-900 flight test aircraft, the certification flight test campaign was successfully completed in around 1,400 flight test hours in under a year since the first flight on 19th October 2017.

The A330neo is a true new-generation family comprising the A330-900 and its smaller sibling, the A330800, which will make its first flight in the coming weeks.

The A330-900 in particular is the lowest seat-mile cost 300-seater which incorporates highly efficient Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, a new 3D-optimised wing and new sharklets with use of lighter composite materials.

Together, these advances bring a significant reduction in fuel consumption of

25 per cent compared with older generation aircraft of similar size.

Passengers can expect the highest levels of comfort when flying on the A330neo, with the aircraft featuring the award-winning Airspace

by Airbus cabin with newly designed sidewalls and fixtures, larger overhead storage, advanced cabin mood lighting and the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity.

Op e r a t i o n a l l y, t h e A330neo shares a common pilot type-rating with the larger A350 XWB, which facilitates minimum flight training cost and maximum pilot productivity.

Maintenance personnel will also benefit from the aircraft’s new Skywise data connectivity features which will help them to predict potential issues before they arise, thus ensuring maximum productivity of the aircraft in revenue service.

The A330 is one of the most popular wide-body families ever, having received over 1,700 orders from 120 customers. More than 1,400 A330s are flying with over 120 operators worldwide.

The A330neo is the latest addition to the leading Airbus wide-body family, which also includes the A350 XWB and the A380, all featuring unmatched space and comfort combined with unprecedented efficiency levels and unrivalled range capability.

at Arabian Travel Awards

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thiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, has announced that it has been crowned “Best African Airline” at Arabian Travel Awards 2018, the second edition of Arabian Travel Awards, held on September 20, 2018 in Dubai. The winners of the award were determined based on the votes of travelers.

Regarding the award, Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines remarked, “We are honored to have been voted the ‘Best African Airline’ at the Arabian Travel Awards 2018, a testimony that our product

and services are meeting the high expectations of customers from the Middle East.

Ethiopian currently flies to 12 destinations in the Middle East and thrice daily from Dubai with ultramodern aircraft, connecting travelers from the Middle East to over 60 destinations in Africa and over 115 worldwide.

“In line with our long term growth plan, Vision 2025, we will continue to invest in expanding our ultramodern fleet and global destinations ultimately creating even better connectivity options for travellers around the world in general and the Middle East in particular.”

Th e Ar a b i a n Tr a v e l Awards recognize and en-

courage the talent in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors under different categories such as Airlines, Cruise companies, Hotels, Travel Technology Providers, Travel Insurance Facilitators, B2B Travel Portals, Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Holiday companies, among others.

Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

L-R: Lucky Idike, Gen Sec KCOBA, Phillip Isakpa, both members of old boy, Muhammad Sanusi II CON (Sarkin Kano), Chuma Anosike, Sonny Kuku OFR member board of Trustees KCOBA, Isaac Kolawole, Principal King’s College Lagos, Otunba Christopher Tugbobo member board of trustees KCOBA , Leke Oshunniyi Deputy President KCOBA, Babajide Familusi compere, at the KINGSWEEK Founder’s Day Lecture.

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Life&Living

Eight year old Kanyeyachukwu beats autism, becomes youngest recipient of ‘Flame of Peace’ art award JUMOKE AKIYODE-LAWANSON

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istory was made on the 6th of September 2018 when Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, a young gifted Nigerian child who is also known as the “Young Picasso” was conferred with the prestigious “Flame of Peace” award in Vienna, Austria for his contribution to promoting peace with art, to the amazement of the arts and diplomatic community in Austria and the world. This award has been described by art critics as spectacular and phenomenal and it is the first time a Nigerian and someone so young would be awarded.

At the tender age of eight, Kanyeyachukwu is the youngest ever recipient of the award and the conferment speaks a lot more for Kanye, being a child who overcame the impediments of autism and has shown a high level of creativity.

The Flame of Peace is an award granted by the Austrian non-profit organization, Association for the Promotion of World Peace, it was instituted in 2007 and has been given to many prominent individuals such as the President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh; Ambassador of Jordan to Austria, Hussam Al Husseini; The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga; the Chairman of the Carnegie foun-

dation, the President of the Prague Parliament in Chezk Republic, and a host of others.

Kanyeyachukwu who is a native of Anambra State, Nigeria has been hailed as an art genius by fellow artistes and museum curators from around the globe and this has seen the young artist invited to exhibitions across Europe. The journey of this young dynamo has been described by his parents, Tagbo and Sylvia Okeke, as simply a miracle. Beginning with what they initially regarded as mere “scribbling on paper”, his keen interest in arts led to his enrollment in

an arts tutoring class where his skill at abstract creativity was further honed and what began as a childhood interest suddenly reached the world in 2017 when young Kanye’s works found its way to the Nigerian Ambassador to Austria; an arts enthusiast who was visiting the embassy saw one of his paintings and, after requiring who the artiste was, immediately alerted other art enthusiasts and collectors.

Kanye’s creative manifestation in arts also got to the ears of the art community and art connoisseurs in Europe including Suleiman Al-

Everything you need to know to get the perfect shave

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IFEOMA OKEKE

having is an art. It all begins and ends with a proper shaving regimen. When properly done, shaving can make one look as smooth and handsome as George Clooney but when poorly done, it can leave a person’s face so bumpy and disfigured that their Tinder date is convinced she’s been catfished. A nick here and there might be tolerable, but when a set of razor bumps lay across the chin and neck, it can be an eye sore.

As shaving predates history and age-old traditions, the methods and presentations of it has evolved over the years. What was once viewed as a mere chore has now become a fundamental

part of the modern man’s look. However, a lot of men struggle with skin conditions such as razor bumps - a result of poor shaving etiquette.

The development of razor bumps can be attributed to a number of common shaving mistakes, but one major factor is the shaving routine. When hair is cut off at the point where it exits the skin, it can curl back and start growing inwards. These ingrown hairs cause irritation to the hair follicle, which swells into a small red lump that looks a bit like a pimple and can be painful to both look at and have on the skin surface.

However, it’s never too late to change your shaving routine and save face - literally. A razor bumps-free shave can be achieved if you follow the right

steps. With the Murad Man regime, you get the perfect shave from start to finish leaving your skin feeling hydrated and most comfortable.

Start with the Cleansing Shave. It forms a rich lather which is ideal for shaving and cleansing your skin. As razor bumps are caused when hair curl inwards, the Cleansing Shave lifts the hair, prepping for a superior irritationfree shaving experience. Its exfoliating properties also loosens dead skin cells that can block hair follicles – another cause of ingrown hair.

To use, massage a moderate amount over dampened face and neck to build up a rich lather, then shave as normal.

Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Murad Cleansing Shave After shaving, follow with the Razor Burn Rescue. The combination of Glycolic Acid and Tea Tree Oil provides a soothing, moisture-rich antioxidant infusion that helps clear clogged follicles and prevents breakouts.

To use, apply a small amount onto face and neck after shaving. It can also be used individually for severe razor burn.

Use twice a day until the area clears, then proceed to use only after shaving.

Murad Razor Burn Resque Lastly, keep skin moisturized and protected with the Face Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 15 to help restore elasticity and radiance to your skin.

Murad Face Defense SPF 15 These products are exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

Herbish, the Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), an intergovernmental development finance institution established by the Member States of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), whose yearly art exhibition showcases artists from around the world whose works are dedicated towards peaceful coexistence around the world.

Prestigious arts museums like the prestigious Moya Museum of Young Art, Vienna Austria and curators of art and members of the Austrian monarchy were also hinted about the

art work of Kanye and, after careful scrutiny, the board of the museum concluded that his works were exceptional and has to be amongst those to be on display at their art exhibition.

After reviews of his works, Kanye was nominated for the prestigious “Flame of Peace” award for his contributions on fostering world Peace with art, which was conferred on him by the Arch Duchess of Austria, Lothringen. This prestigious award caused so much excitement in The Austrian arts community and lead to invitations to numerous other exhibitions including that of Solomon Okpurukhre, a Nigerian arts curator also based in Vienna. At the Flame of Peace Awards, Kanye’s painting was selected from over seventy artists invited globally to showcase their works at the United Nations Young Artists for Peace exhibition to the amazement of art critics and lovers.

Beyond any doubt, it is clear that there’s more to come from Kanye.

As the first Nigerian and African child to clinch the much coveted award, a child who has obviously surmounted the challenges of autism to be the first child below the age of ten to exhibit and be conferred with such an international award, Kanyechukwu has cemented his name and that of Nigeria in the global artistes hall of fame as well as earning him the title of “the Young Picasso” in Europe.

ART X Lagos 2018 brings best of contemporary African creativity IFEOMA OKEKE

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RT X Lagos, West Africa’s premier international art fair, has announced the third edition of its annual fair scheduled to hold from Friday 2nd November to Sunday 4th November 2018.

The fair will play host to some of Africa’s most sought-after established and emerging artists, as well as leading galleries.

Building on the success of previous editions, which hosted 15,000 visitors collectively, and continuing with its ambition to showcase the best and most innovative contemporary art from the African continent and the diaspora, the 2018 fair will host 18 prestigious galleries from a variety of countries worldwide, such as: Art House – The Space (Nigeria), Addis Fine Art (Ethiopia), Circle Art Agency (Kenya), Stevenson Gallery (South Africa), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Tafeta (United Kingdom), Tiwani Contemporary (United Kingdom), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), and Out of Africa Gallery (Spain) amongst others.

The 18 exhibiting galleries have been chosen by a selection committee led by advisory board members, N’Goné Fall, the renowned Senegalese curator, art critic and cultural consultant, and Femi Lijadu, one of Nigeria’s most respected art collectors and commercial lawyer.

As part of its pan-African identity,

widening Nigeria’s connection to the contemporary African art world, ART X Lagos is proud to welcome East African artists to the fair for the first time, featuring critically acclaimed artists such as Kenyans Paul Onditi and Cyrus Kabiru.

Speaking at the ART X Lagos 2018 press briefing, Tokini Peterside, ART X Lagos founder and director said, “After the success of ART X Lagos 2017 we are delighted to return for a third edition. We are validated in our decision to develop this vital platform for the growth and increased visibility of African artists and galleries.

In six weeks, we will open the doors to ART X Lagos 2018. We look forward to welcoming a vast and varied, local and international audience as we seek to reinforce Lagos’ position as an emergent cultural capital on our continent,” he said.

The fair this year will welcome internationally renowned artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE, as its 2018 keynote artist, who will be celebrated with a highly anticipated exhibition, exploring his career highlights.

For the 2018 edition, the prize evolved to bolster the efforts of emerging artists who have demonstrated a commitment to careers as professional visual artists. Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, who emerged as the winner in June 2018, after a rigorous selection process, received a grant of N1 million naira and will have a solo presentation of her project, ‘Scraps from Mama’s Floor’ at this year’s fair.

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Health&Science New study says diclofenac increases risk of heart

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ANTHONIA OBOKOH new study by Danish published in the British Medical Journal claims that taking diclofenac could quickly increase the risk of heart problems.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is often used to treat arthritis and other painful joint conditions.

In many countries, it’s available without a prescription.

Diclofenac, available in major pharmacies and sold over the counter in Nigeria as a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Experts say that the increased risk of suffering a heart attack was 50 per cent overall when taking the drugs, compared with not using them.

“The increased risk was apparent even within 30 days of starting the drug and even with low doses,” the researchers reported in The BMJ. The researcher also found that the rate of first-time cardiovascular events was 20 to 30 per cent higher among people who started taking diclofenac than among people who started taking ibuprofen or

naproxen, which are also NSAIDs, or paracetamol (acetaminophen).

These events included heart attacks, development of an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, or death from heart problems.

NSAID are said to cause peptic ulceration which is the reason why they should be avoided or used with caution by individuals with previous or active peptic ulcer disease.

The study further showed that diclofenac initiators had an upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk similar to that of naproxen initiators and more than twice the risk of ibuprofen initiators.

The researchers analysed data

from the Danish national patient registry. Altogether, they had information on nearly 1.4 million diclofenac users, 3.9 million ibuprofen users, 292,000 naproxen users, 765, 00 paracetamol users, and 1.3 million people not on any of these painkillers.

The researchers concluded that it is time to acknowledge the potential health risk of diclofenac and to reduce its use.

“Diclofenac should not be available over the counter, and when prescribed, should be accompanied by an appropriate front package warning about its potential risks,” they say.

Nigeria, world leaders commit to lead response to beat NCDs, promote mental health ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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o implement a series of World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended policies, president Muhammadu Buhari has joined other Head of States and Government at the firstever UN High-level meeting in commitment to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), promote mental health and well-being.

WHO estimates that implementing polices such as public education and awareness campaigns to promote healthier lifestyles, vaccinating against HPV virus to protect against cervical cancer and treating hypertension and diabetes could generate US$ 350 billion in economic growth in low and lower-middle-income countries between now and 2030.

Other specific commitments focus on halting the rise of childhood obesity, promoting regular physical activity, reducing air pollution and improving mental health and wellbeing.

The world leaders resolved to take responsibility themselves for their countries’ effort to prevent and treat

NCDs and also agreed that these efforts should include robust laws and fiscal measures to protect people from tobacco, unhealthy foods, and other harmful products, for example by restricting alcohol advertising, banning smoking, and taxing sugary drinks.

According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, directorgeneral of the WHO, today world leaders have taken a set of landmark steps to beat non- communicable diseases.

“These add up to a historic opportunity to promote health, save lives, and grow economies,” said Ghebreyesus.

According to WHO, noncommunicable diseases, primarily cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers

and diabetes, currently account for the deaths of seven in every 10 people worldwide (41 million), including 15 million in the prime of their lives (aged 30-69), mostly from developing countries.

Mental conditions and disorders are a related concern, with depression alone affecting 300 million people.

Ghebreyesus added that the political declaration reaffirms global leadership of the fight to beat NCDs and promote mental health, and urges the Organization to continue working closely with key partners, including government, civil society and the private sector.

“In particular, it calls on food manufacturers to take several actions in reformulating products to reduce salt, free sugars and saturated and industrially produced trans fats, using nutrition labelling on packaged food to inform consumers, and restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children,” he said.

What to know about psychosis

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sychosis means a loss of contact with reality; it is a symptom of a number of mental illnesses rather than a medical condition in its own right.

Some estimates suggest that 14.7 to 18.5 percent of people with major depression may experience psychotic features and that the prevalence rates may rise with age.

This form of depression is an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition.

People must remember that psychosis is a symptom of particular mental health conditions, not a disorder in itself.

Experiencing psychosis can be frightening and confusing, and psychosis can present in a variety of ways.

Symptoms of psychosis include delusions, also known as false beliefs or false perceptions, hallucinations, or seeing or hearing things that are not present paranoia.

Healthcare professionals can misdiagnose depression with psychotic features as other disorders. These other illnesses may include major depressive disorder without psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder; depression not otherwise specified mood disorder.

A misdiagnosis is often due to a lack of recognition of the psychotic features of major depression.

A mental health professional who is licensed to diagnose must

decide if someone has psychotic depression.

These specialists will conduct a physical examination and may perform blood or urine tests to rule out other possible medical problems.

The mental health professional will also ask about an individual’s symptoms and medical history.

If the person has a family history of bipolar disorder, the doctor may screen for manic episodes.

Steps to recovery Psychosis can lead a person to hold a distorted view of what others perceive to be reality. The delusions or hallucinations associated with psychotic depression can lead to a medical emergency, which needs immediate medical attention.

A person may need to spend some time in the hospital, followed by an inpatient or outpatient treatment program.

Doctors are still trying to establish the most effective treatment for depression with psychosis.

Treatments focus on reducing or managing symptoms. Currently, no treatments can entirely cure psychotic depression. This means that people will usually need on-going treatment.

Culled from Medical News Today

Rotten tomatoes can cause cancer

AGENCY REPORT

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he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday warned Nigerians against the consumption of rotten tomatoes to forestall cancer.

Christiana Essenwa, a deputy director with the agency, gave the warning in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha.

According to her, rotten tomatoes contain micro-organisms that induce cancer.

She explained that “once tomatoes become rotten, it will have micro-organisms, mostly fungi, and fungi in rotten tomatoes produce mycotoxins which are deadly and induce cancer,

and cause immune deficiency in man and animals.

“Mycotoxins are deadly, and can cause all sorts of poisoning in the body,” the director said.

She said that some research suggested that mycotoxins could also cause kidney damage.

According to her, some people think that rotten tomatoes which are cheap can be consumed after washing and heating.

She, however, stressed that the toxins could not be washed or killed by heating “because mycotoxins are heat-resistant.”

She, therefore, advised consumers to keep-off rotten tomatoes often sold cheap in the market, saying “it was better to spend money to prolong life than to use such money to buy death.”

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Sunday 30 September 2018

Sports Why regular sports can promote corporate bonding, healthy lifestyles

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ANTHONY NLEBEM

t’s a known fact that unhealthy population has a direct or indirect impact on social security and healthcare costs. The risks are becoming increasing burden on the economy. Scientific evidence clearly shows that sedentary lifestyles, irregular exercise and poor diet can lead to ill health, particularly later in life.

In a bid to promote bonding among corporate organizations and encourage healthy lifestyles for more productivity at workplace, the Premier Cool, a brand of PZ Cussons, kicked off a football competition tagged ‘Premier Cool Turf Wars’.

The 5-a-side football competition designed by Premier Cool, a brand of PZ Cussons, tagged ‘Turf Wars’, kicked off with a flurry of matches on the 22nd of August and runs through September 1, 2018 at the sports ground of Children’s International School, Lekki, in Lagos.

Following the conclusion of the voting phase of the competition, 16 teams emerged and proceeded to complete their medical screening to ensure that every player was certified healthy and physically fit to be part of the competition.

It was then followed by official draws of the competition, which was officiated by the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), who are also supporting partners of the competition. The fixtures have been set and the matches are now set to commence.

The trio of judges spearheaded

by Ex International Victor Ikpeba, ‘The Prince of Monaco’, who was handed the task of selecting all 32 out of 42 teams that participated at the next phase of the selection process. Forming the rest of the panel were Olusegun Fetuga, Eagles Ex International; and Mojeed Adegbindin, a Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) board member, who picked each team according to specific guidelines and criteria communicated to them at the screening event. Considerations made were based on age, personality, amongst other conditions.

Also present at the Teams Screening event was Alex Goma, Managing Director at PZ Cussons, who spoke about spoke about this love for football and

how the brand seeks to change lives and connect people with the competition: “We seek to create passion points with this competition because if there’s an ounce of passion, you can create invaluable experiences. The Premier Cool Turf Wars competition presents an opportunity to interact with the consumers, and to reward and change their lives through this competition. Football is more than a sport, it’s an experience that involves passion, intensity, camaraderie, and so on, and that is why we are using it as an avenue to truly change lives,” he stated.

Brand and Activation manager, Busayo John, stated that the Premier Cool Turf Wars is an initiative borne out of “love for the game” and its social impact.

“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”

Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician and so-called father of medicine, proposed this formula for a healthy life over 2000 years ago. Two millennia later, healthy living is just as important as ever, and more joined-

up thinking when it comes to policy-making could be one possible solution, according to three European Commissioners who have launched a joint call for action.

No doubt, regular sports help us in so many ways and on so many different levels. First of all, we improve our physical health and meet our human body needs, staying strong and fit. Being a sort of a sportsman, our exercising allows us to achieve some new personal records. Similarly, sports help to develop a much stronger mental health. Also, sportive activities bring joy, satisfaction and self-confidence. In fact, every sport involves effort and conquest.

As a result, we certainly get a more meaningful understanding of life and its lessons. For example, we get beat, then start practicing, correct mistakes, and improve the technique. No doubt that physical and mental development of sport has much in common with the game of life.

Finally, lifestyle sports increase the energy and help us to live a full and productive life. So, this is high time you participated in some kind of sport, burnt extra

calories, kept muscles fit, had fun, and greatly benefited your life.

“Football is a widely loved sport especially in Nigeria, it has the power in uniting millions and changing lives. This is no different from what we want to achieve with the Turf Wars 5-aside football competition. We want to reward the passion of our consumers, who still make time out of their work schedules to play and enjoy the game of football. This event is not just about the football, as we have created a cool atmosphere for relaxation, networking, good food, as well as music to make it a worthwhile experience for everyone,” she said.

The matches were spread across two days; matchday one featured the qualifiers, while matchday 2 saw all the final matches.

The winning team got a cash prize of N3million, while the second and third runners took home N1.5million and N750, 000 respectively.

The Premier Cool Turf Wars is endorsed by the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA); the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF); and also proudly

supported by SociaLiga, a sports entertainment company that aims to bring people together by creating an ambience where people can network and enjoy fun activities.

Premier has been in Nigeria for over 30 years and recently relaunched the brand with new offerings and variants to provide consumers with the total personal care.

Healthy lifestyle sports benefits cannot mean the same for everybody. There are amateur and professional sports, as well as sports preferred by men and women, practiced indoors and outdoors.

Anyway, sport provides an excellent opportunity to express us in a healthy way.

Studies have shown that sports can lead to more than just physical health; it removes anxiety and depression while improving performance at work place. Sport also has the power to strengthen social skills, particularly, ability to build healthy relationships at workplace and within the sector.

You can engage in any of these sports activities like football, jumping, running, swimming, bending and stretching to boost your health.

Adegun, others for Arsenal/WorldRemit coaching programme

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panel of judges from Arsenal Football Club and its official online money transfer partner, WorldRemit, have selected six coaches - including one Nigerian - from across Africa as finalists in their new Future Stars coaching progamme.

These final six coaches will now compete in a public vote on futurestars.worldremit.com for

the chance to attend an exclusive training programme with Arsenal Soccer Schools in London - fully sponsored by WorldRemit.

The finalists facing a public vote are: Shola John Adegun from Lagos, Nigeria, Ahmed Ali from Hargeisa, Somaliland, Hamisi Mohamed from Nairobi, Kenya, Innocents Yeboah-Num from Abease, Ghana, Tersia Davids from Cape Town, South Africa,

Titus Tongesai Sanangurai from Harare, Zimbabwe.

The programme was designed to recognise and reward the valuable contributions of youth coaches to their local community and has already granted Arsenal replica shirts to over 500 kids whose coaches were shortlisted for the programme by the judging panel.

WorldRemit has filmed the finalists during their coaching

sessions and the videos will be shown on the Future Stars website, where members of the public can vote for their preferred candidate. Voting on futurestars. worldremit.com will open on September 28.

“Our business is all about helping our customers’ financial support for their community to go further,” Andrew Stewart, Managing Director Middle East & Africa

at WorldRemit said.

“We hope that by shining a spotlight on the way these coaches are using football to benefit their community, we can help their efforts to go even further still.

“The power of sport to bring communities together and create positive social change was one of the key reasons for entering into a partnership with Arsenal.”

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Sports

VAR technology to make UCL debut next season Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

I was exhausted after the World Cup- Modric

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uropean football governing body U E FA h a s c o n firmed it will use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in next season’s Champions League for the first time.

The decision to introduce VAR was taken at a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Nyon, Switzerland.

“We are confident that introducing Video Assistant Referees in August 2019 will give us enough time to put in place a robust system and to train match officials to ensure an efficient and successful implementation of VAR in the UEFA Champions League, the world’s flag-

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ship club competition,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

VA R i s a i m e d a t clearing up contentious episodes in four cases: wrongly awarded goals and penalties, direct red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity.

The system will also be used at Euro 2020 and

at the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, while the Europa League plans to introduce the technology not earlier than the 2020-21 season.

The VAR system made its FIFA World Cup debut in Russia in the summer, and is used in national football leagues in Italy, Germany and Spain, as well as in the FA Cup in

England.

Some, including FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, have praised the technology for making the game fairer. However, critics say it slows the pace of the game and fails to clear up contentious issues as many cases are ultimately still based on human judgment.

Serena Williams out of China Open

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liams will miss the China Open and may not play again this season after her controversial US Open final defeat by Naomi Osaka.

Her name, along with sister Venus, was not in the draw for the event, which starts in Beijing on Saturday.

At the US Open, Serena was given a code violation for coaching, incurred a point penalty for racquet smashing and was docked a game for verbal abuse.

It is thought unlikely that the 37-year-old will

play again this season.

The American, who

was aiming to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24

Grand Slam singles titles against Osaka, says she wants to move on from the controversy.

Sh e d e n i e s b e i n g coached from the stands; despite her coach Patrick Mouratoglou saying he was sending her signals.

“I just don’t understand what he was talking about,” she said.

After being punished for coaching and racquet abuse, she called umpire Carlos Ramos a “liar” and “thief”.

She was later fined $17,000 (£13,100) for the code violations.

Standard Chartered Cup ‘Experience Anfield’ kicks off in Lagos

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tandard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited will be hosting its clients to the 2018 edition of the Standard Chartered Cup on October 1, 2018.

The ‘Standard Chartered Cup’’ is an international 5-aside football tournament organized by the Bank in partnership with Liverpool FC. It offers football fans including clients of the Bank from around the world a once in a life time ‘Money Can’t Buy’ opportunity of being hosted by Liverpool FC in Liverpool, UK. 10 teams consisting of clients from the Corporate, Commercial and Retail businesses of the Bank to participate in Lagos tournament on October 1 2018 Highlights of the trip for the participating teams will include an exclusive tour of the LFC stadium and museum, training sessions

with LFC coaches, watching a live match in Anfield stadium and interacting with legends of Liverpool Football Club.

Speaking on the event the Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Dayo Aderugbo stated that the tournament was open for participation to invited corporate clients, commercial and retail clients of the Bank.

She said, “Nigerians are

very passionate about football and the English Premier League in particular. Hundreds of thousands of fans tune in to follow the English premier league every week with Liverpool FC being one of the leading teams to watch. As a Bank that is deeply committed to our clients and to the communities where we operate, we are proud to be able to leverage our relationship with Liverpool FC as the official sponsor to reward

and motivate fans, clients and employees of the Bank through football; a sport we all appreciate. We are excited to give our clients this grand once in a lifetime the opportunity to go to Anfield where they will get to meet with Liverpool FC legends like John Barnes and Michael Owen. Nigeria is one of the few countries within Standard Chartered globally that has had the privilege to be invited every year to participate in various Standard Chartered LFC sponsored events including the SC Road to Anfield Tournament. This is a testament to the fact that the Nigeria remains a priority for the Bank and that we are truly here for good.’’

Highlights from the local tournament will be featured live on the Bank’s Nigeria FaceBook and Instagram pages.

roatian midfielder and FIFA Men’s Player of the year, Luka Modric has confessed that he was burned out after the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

He has struggled to recover his form after Croatia’s adventure in Russia, in which he was crowned player of the tournament after guiding them to the final but where beaten by France.

However, that has come at a price and Modric admitted that the tournament has taken a lot out of him.

“It hasn’t been easy to return to normality after living through so many

emotions,” he told FIFPro. “I needed time to recover my best levels but now I’m feeling better every day, I just need more games.

“I was completely exhausted after the World Cup and only had three weeks of vacation and the first one was a celebration.”

However, he is aware that Croatia’s summer heroics must now be put firmly in the rearview mirror.

“We wanted to do something big with our country and we managed to do that,” he said.

“But now the season has started and we need to forget about everything that happened in Russia.”

Premier League Masters battle African Masters … Game Live on Kwesé Free Sports

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he Kanu Heart Foundation in partnership with Masters Football, will this week stage the Petrolex Kanu Cup 2018 in an effort to raise funds for the foundation. Nigeria’s trusted source for the best in sports and entertainment programming Kwesé, has secured exclusive broadcast rights to provide live coverage of the game.

The charity football match which takes place on Sunday 30 September at the Hive Stadium, London pits Premier League Masters against African football legends.

Kwesé will broadcast full coverage of the events from 2.45pm on it’s freeto-air channel, Kwesé Free Sports. Football fans in Lagos can tune to UHF channel 32 to watch the match through Kwesé Free Sports terrestrial transmission. Viewers all around the country can also enjoy the action live on Kwesé TV channel 285, while those on the-go can do so through the Kwesé TV or Kwesé iflix mobile apps.

A star-studded line up has been announced with the Premier League Masters to include; Jens Lehmann, Nigel Winterburn, Sol Campbell, William Gallas, Pascal Chimbonda, Steve McManaman, Robert Pires, Jonathan Greening,

David Thompson, Teddy Sheringham, Louis Saha and Emile Heskey. Representing Team Africa will be; Rami Shaaban, Lauren, Emmanuel Eboue, Danny Shittu, Christopher Kanu, Quinton fortune, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Jay Jay Okocha, Yakubu, Lomana Lua Lua and Kanu Nwankwo.

Through the charity match, the Kanu Heart Foundation is aiming to raise $35M to build a new cardiac centre in Abuja, Nigeria where they can successfully treat those in need and avoid costly travel and accommodation fees for sick children and their families. “ Th e n e w c a r d i a c centre in Abuja will help hundreds of people get access to vital heart treatment without having to travel abroad. I am proud that so many amazing ex-pros will be joining me in the Petrolex Masters’ Cup in association with Masters Football – it will be an amazing day and great help for the charity”, says Arsenal and Nigerian football legend, Kanu Nwankwo.

Football fans can visit their nearest Kwesé branded store(s) to purchase a decoder and dish for N10,960, inclusive of one-month free subscription, or renew their subscription for N5,000.

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NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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SUNDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

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The Nigerian nation @58: Non celebration

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oday marks the 58 years of Nigeria’s Independence of October 1st 1960. A reflection of Nigeria’s palpable dismal situation shows that our growth has been stunted for over 40years since independence.

The Nigerian nation is today at the crossroads of choosing its path to National growth in line with other developing nations or on the other hand continuing its present retardation along the ignoble road to selfdestruction and conflicts among its numerous ethnic nationalities as had been witnessed within the last few years. It is such that most observers, domestic and international, have observed that our country has not been as divided as it is today, the division stands from religious bigotry, economic degradation, high index of poverty, joblessness, insecurity, massive corruption as a way of life, high rate of mediocrity in the leadership circles, lack of good governance, very low capital appropriation coupled with massive external loans and indebtedness which are being used mainly for recurrent expenditures, personal allowances, and non-diversification of critical areas of the economy which makes Nigeria a dumping ground for other countries and a classic case of consumption rather than production.

The lack of infrastructural development over the last 30years and the absence of electrical facilities have becoming a bane in Nigeria’s evolution from its present comatose economic state which has become a pathetic disgrace within the concept of the developing nations in the world.

Most observers agree that the pathetic situation of our country resulted from the quittance of our military from its role as custodians of the territorial integrity of our nation for the past 50years into politics which have resulted in the present day degradation and almost total disillusionment in virtually all respect of our national evolution such as Education, Health care, Cultural Identities, Public service, Modern agriculture and Industrialisation and cottage industries and small scale entrepreneurship and technological concepts for which Africans had been known for multiple centuries gone.

In the current clime, Nigerians do not even realise that the first human beings on planet earth were Africans! We shudder when told that is was Africans of old who built the various pyramids from Egypt to Sudan with scientific and technological exactitude with spiritual innovations still being unearthed today by modern archeologists.

Many Nigerians shudder when told that our Nigerian forebearers were resolute enough to survive the herculean tragedies of the slave trade which impoverished our black nations from the Congo to West Africa, and that Nigerian slaves from the southern part of Nigeria were able to survive such transgressions in West Indies, Britain, South American territories such as Cuba, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, Honduras, and of course Haiti

where Nigerian slaves were able to set up the first Negro Republic from where they moved to the North American United States in Virginia, together with the anti-colonial emancipation struggles of African countries like Nigeria.

In the United States of America today most AfroAmerican are able to trace their blood types (DNA) back to their African descents including Nigerian.

Nigeria’s population of today is the highest concentration of black people on planet earth and should be the shining light of Africa.

If we compare our achievement in Nigeria with those of other countries in Africa as well as the emerging developing nations in Asia as well developmental trajectory of some developed nations in Europe and North America, it will not be difficult to analyze where Nigeria got it all wrong to the point that we are now virtually a FAILED STATE. The first duty of a Sovereign State is to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

It is such a proactive action of the government that will imbue in its citizens a sense of patriotism and nationalism, a situation where the lives of every citizen matters will impose on the nationals a voluntary sense of defending the values and machinery of governance instinctively, but such is not the case in Nigeria in the last few years.

The herdsmen- Farmers clashes have resulted in more than five thousand deaths without any sense of obligation on the part of the leaders at the helm of affairs to arrest or prosecute any of the perpetrators who have killed, burnt, and pillaged villages and occupied their homestead without remorse. The international community and their ambassadors to Nigeria have gone round most areas of the Middle Belt to have a firsthand account of these pillaged.

The UK, EU, USA, and UN have been shocked by the reports of the killings which include Clerics and Worshippers.

It is quite obvious to them and Nigerians that the above defaults are due primarily to our skewed security architectures where about 90 percent of the high ranking security operatives are virtually from one zone in the Northern part of Nigeria.

It has been clear that these high ranking operatives are not manifestly keen on implementing the established rules of engagement in order to maintain peace and order. Any real democracy in modern days can only be sustained by the implementation of the rule of Law and constitutional precepts which are the established grundnorm for law and order. In the month of May this year at the national assembly of Nigerian lawyers and Judges and members of the Executive and Legislature, the Educated and Elite Nigerians were baffled when the President Mohammed Buhari in a written address told the audience that security and national interest are superior to the Rule of Law. Most of the audience was baffled and the NBA’s final communiqué repudiated such an unconstitutional rhetoric and insisted that the Rule of law is immutable and remains the foundation of the Nigerian constitution and

GUY IKOKWU .Ikokwu (Omenife), an accomplished lawyer, a civil war hero and Second Republic politician, sent in this article in commemoration of the 58th Independence anniversary of Nigeria.

democratic tenets, and the grundnorm of our legal existence.

President Buhari has not retracted his misguided statement which was mischievously written for him by some of his elite misguided subordinate.

One of the primordial factors which will lift any nation to greatness is Education. The greatest investment any parent or nation can give to its children or citizens is QUALITY EDUCATION and This can be best done in an egalitarian society, although it has also in the past been adumbrated by despotic and militarized societies which had given rise to several wars in Europe and in Asia.

The quality of education in Nigeria has deteriorated so much in the last 50years. It is such that the literacy level in Nigeria is one of the lowest in the world and our educational institutions continue to produce illiterate graduates, most of whom are unemployable when compared to those of other countries. It is so pathetic that wealthy Nigerians no longer send their children to public schools. Our Leaders either use very expensive private schools within Nigeria or send their children to other countries in Europe, United States, and Asia or even to neighboring West African countries such as Ghana.

A clear example of the rate of unemployment is that of this September, FRSC screens 324,000 applicants for just 4000 openings for employment! Statistics show that 7.9 million Nigerians have been unemployed since 2016.

In modern days valued education must include a very high quota of technical and digital propensities in other to meet the challenges of the modern world.

It is only in such a sphere that a country can be productive and export oriented. On the other hand Nigeria’s economy is consumption based to the extent that Nigeria presently still imports more of her finished agricultural food items from abroad, the examples of which are: rice, cereals, chicken, wheat, fish, meat, flour, apples, peaches, strawberries, oil including palm oil and even toothpicks! “Wonders shall never cease to end in our abysmal import potentials”.

In all areas of sustainable developmental goals nationwide such as healthcare, infrastructure, energy, female gender discrimination, Nigeria which many years ago ranked more than any other African or West African countries has presently dropped in many cases to the position and grade of about 143 position and in some cases even dropped to 180 position of the nations on planet earth!

An example of the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s healthcare situation shows that 201,000 of our children under the age of

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

199

At last, ‘Mama Taraba’ bows out

T

he dual resignation, yesterday, of the former Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, from the President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet and from the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not surprising. In fact, it has been long in coming.

Many Nigerians had expected the former minister to have left the cabinet last year when she declared open support and loyalty to Atiku Abubakar above President Buhari.

Last Friday, the national leadership of the APC had disqualified Alhassan from taking part in the governorship primary in Taraba State, citing her doubtful loyalty to the President and the party.

Explaining the reason for her disqualification Adams Oshiomhole, said: “She has issues that have to do with party loyalty. Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern.

“From all she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening, the NWC reviewed everything taken

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together and we arrived at the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that the APC requires for her to contest elections on our platform.”

According to Oshiomhole, “The Electoral Act and the APC constitution forbid anyone from being a member of more than one political party at a time. You cannot be a member of APC and be a card carrying member of another party but when you have a situation where it would appear, based on what you know and based on what I know that someone is probably APC in the day time maybe for the purpose of retaining certain offices and they are PDP at heart.

“Or if they are not PDP at heart, they are actually and simply a follower of a one-man permanent presidential candidate…then we have the right to ask ourselves if these attitudes and qualities are characteristics of an ideal member of an APC.” The national chairman of the APC was apparently referring to Alhassan’s outburst last year, when she openly declared that she was for Atiku any day, and that she would support the former Vice President if he declared intention to run for

the presidency in 2019.

Recall that in September last year, “Mama Taraba” had given her endorsement for Atiku during a private visit to the former Vice President, who was then a chieftain of the APC. “Your Excellency, our father and our president by the grace of God come 2019. Before you are your people, your supporters for life, the people of Taraba State. They are here to show our homage and to greet you on the occasion of Sallah and for all that Allah has done to you because Allah has raised your status,” she said.

Following a welter of criticism her visit and comments elicited, Alhassan tried to give some explanations which ended up rubbing it in that her mind was indeed far gone with Atiku.

According to her, “Since I was in the civil service, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, has been my mentor and godfather. He has remained so even now that I have joined politics. There is a reason for every political relationship.

This is the official number of deaths arising from the raging flood across the country according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

PDP, PDP, PDP…

Ahead of the presidential election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) slated for October 6 and 7, observers say the main opposition party appears to be stretching itself thin and may have no strength left to do the real battle in 2019. The fears oozed from series of acrimonies arising from the selection process of the standard bearer of the party. A word is enough for the wise.

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