19th oct 2014

SUNDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY

Sanctity of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Sunday, October 19, 2014 Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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ice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday said the over 17.8 million signatures collected by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria in support of the call for President Goodluck Jonathan to Fashion Rock super chic ripped jeans 22&43

Bed Work &

Life

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Vol. 1 No. 243

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N150

Sambo: 17.8 million TAN signatures, proof of Jonathan’s popularity contest the 2015 presidential election had confirmed his popularity and acceptability by Nigerians.

Body Soul

The vice-president, who spoke at the Eagle Square, Abuja grand rally organised by TAN where the

registers containing the signatures were presented to him for onward transmission to the President, noted

that TAN had succeeded in deepening democracy in the country.

“TAN has not only suc-

ceeded in sanitising the polity but has been able to collect a significant number CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER,

VICTOR IKPEBA

Ifie Sekibo

Chekwas Okorie

2014

Rewriting SGBN’s story through Heritage Bank }28

Nigeria needs foreign coach now }60

Why we step our father’s ped into mag -Zeeto & Nike Pel ic shoes ler

Jonathan, Kalu, Jang laud Gowon at 80

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Obi’s defection to PDP has ruined APGA }51

CHIBOK GIRLS

TALE OF INTRIGUES

} 13, 41 & 42

Anule Emmanuel and Musa Pam

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resident Goodluck Jonathan; a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu; and Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, yesterday paid tribute to ertshwile head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on his 80th birthday.

The President in a congratulatory letter to Gowon said the nation would

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Boko Haram violates ceasefire, attacks two villages

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ew hours after the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, announced a ceasefire between the military and Boko Haram, the insurgents have reportedly violated the agreement by attacking two villages in Adamawa State.

Security sources and witnesses told Guardian of London newspaper that suspected insurgents attacked CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Fayose sacks Ekiti LGs, LCDAs’ bosses Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday dissolved the caretaker committees of the 16 local government areas and those of the 19 newlycreated Local Council De-

velopment Areas in the state.

The governor, who made the announcement in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in AdoEkiti, said all the caretaker chairmen of the councils should immediately hand over to the Directors of Ad-

ministration of their respective councils.

Caretaker chairmen have been in control of the 16 LGAs since the former governor Kayode Fayemi came on board on October 16, 2010.

Caretaker committees were also appointed for the

19 LCDAs which were inaugurated shortly after the June 16, 2014 governorship election.

An attempt by Fayemi to hold an election in the 16 councils on February 4, 2011 was stopped by a state high court, following a suit filed by the Peoples Demo-

cratic Party.

PDP had said that some members of the State Independent Electoral Commission were registered members of the then ruling party, the All Progressives Congress.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Contents | 19.10.14 BODY & SOUL

Magic’s not voodoo -Peller’s Children As kids, when people heard we were Prof. Peller’s son and we wanted to shake hands, they would go like, ‘No, I don’t want to change into something, I don’t want to disappear...

}15

POLITICS

Govs and anointed successor Despite repeated warnings by the party leadership, outgoing governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party continue to anoint their successors

}31

BUSINESS

Naira’s rapid depreciation and dangers ahead Depreciation of naira to N170 at the parallel market confirms fears that the falling oil prices, portend negative consequences for the economy

}23

FAITH

Divorce, unacceptable for cleric Divorce is sinful no matter who is involved but it’s more discouraging when a leader is involved.

}51

SPORT

‘Keshi shot himself in the foot’ Former Super Eagles defender, Chidi Nwanu, says sacked Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi’s albatross was his fighting with his players

}60

THE SUNDAY MAGAZINE

Chibok Girls: Tales of intrigues, twist and turns The Sunday Magazine takes a look at the events that have played out since the Chibok Girls abduction in April

}13

Editorial

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The war against poverty

he United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17 each year. In 1993, by resolution 47/196, the UN so designated the day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries. Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the development of the post2015 development agenda. The 2014 theme recognises and underscores the demanding challenge of identifying and securing the participation of those experiencing extreme poverty and social exclusion in the “Post2015 Development Agenda” that will replace the Millennium Development Goals.

Today, roughly 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty. That is still an overwhelming number of people, but it represents great progress. Compared to 1990, today nearly 700 million fewer people live in extreme poverty. For instance, in 2010, the world achieved Millennium Development Goal 1 - to halve the poverty rate among developing countries, five years ahead of schedule.

The global rate fell to 20.6 percent (from 43.1 percent in 1990). Aggregate poverty rates are now falling in every region, including in sub-Saharan Africa. If we accelerate our progress and focus on key turnarounds in some challenging contexts, we believe we can lift one billion more people out of poverty by 2030. But without mincing words, much more needs to be done to really bring down the poverty level to tolerable limits.

Grim statistics released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics about the population of in abject poverty showed that 112 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.

This followed another depressing disclosure by the World Bank, which also said that the population of Nigerians in poverty has increased considerably. The figure represents about 67 per cent of the entire population.

“On the aggregate basis,” the report stated, “the economy when measured by the Real Gross Domestic Product, grew by 7.68 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011, as against 8.60 per cent in the corresponding period of 2010. The 0.92 percentage point decrease in Real GDP growth observed in the fourth quarter of 2011 was a result of production shut-down in the oil sector during the period. On a nominal basis, the GDP for the fourth quarter of 2011 was estimated at 10,048,574.17million naira as against the 9,459,399.32million naira during the corresponding quarter of 2010, thus indicating an increase”.

However, amidst this impressive growth, the World Bank in its ‘May 2013 Nigeria Eco

nomic Report’ said the number of Nigerians living in poverty was increasing rather too rapidly. According to the report, “Poverty rates remain high in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. These rates declined between 2003-2004 and 2009- 2010, although not nearly as fast as would be expected from the pace of economic growth in the country…”

The World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, recently, at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings restated that Nigeria is one of the top five countries with the largest number of poor. Nigeria, he said, ranked third in the world while India ranked number one with 33 per cent of the world poor. China is ranked second with 13 per cent of the world’s poor, followed by Nigeria where seven per cent of the world poor live in. He said that Bangladesh has six per cent share of the world’s poor while the Democratic Republic of Congo has five per cent of the world’s poor population.

Jim Yong Kim said these five countries are home to 760 million of the world’s poor.

Another five countries, Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya, he stressed, would encompass almost 80 per cent of the extreme poor. Noting that a sharp focus on these will be central to ending poverty, the world Bank President said: “While economic growth remains vital for reducing poverty, growth has its limits, according to a new World Bank paper released today. Countries need to complement efforts to enhance growth with policies that allocate more resources to the extreme poor. These resources can be distributed through the growth process itself, by promoting more inclusive growth, or through government programs, such as conditional and direct cash transfers.”

To tackle poverty, we must understand the challenges the poor face where the greatest number of them live. At the same time, we must concentrate and focus poverty-reduction programmes where hardship is most pervasive—in urban slums, rural communities and in areas where natural disasters (flooding, gully erosion, desertification, landslides and the rest) are endemic.

Other measures to eradicate poverty include improvement in healthcare and food production, employment and entrepreneurial development through soft loans to small and medium-size business owners.

The government must do all that is necessary to move many more people out of poverty between now and next year, when the millennium development period would have come to an end. It is embarrassing that with all our resources, we are still contributing up to 7% of the world’s 1.2 billion world poor.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief n Eric Osagie Deputy Managing Directors n Gabriel Akinadewo

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 2014

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SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

TO AN OUTSTANDING STATESMAN @

I, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, CFR, the Comptroller-General of Customs, on behalf of my family, officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service felicitate with the people’s General and former Head of State, His Excellency, Gen. (Dr) Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, on the occasion of his 80th birthday today.

As a nationalist per excellence, your relentless efforts in keeping Nigeria as one indivisible nation have been legendary. You have reamined a voice of moderation in times when many would lose their heads through ‘Nigeria Prays’ and your soothing words of wisdom.

As we celebrate your birthday, may the Almighty God grant you many more years and good health to continue your exemplary leadership role in the country.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

BIRTHDAY FELICITATION My family and I join all well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating elder statesman and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon GCFR, on the occasion of his 80th birthday anniversary.

At 80, General Gown’s life is an example in loyalty and steadfastness in the service of our dear nation. This momentous day will forever be cherished by those concerned with the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.

We pray to Almighty God to grant him good health and more wisdom as he continues his meritorious service to humanity.

Happy Birthday, Sir!

Gen. Yakubu Gowon GCFR Signed

RT. HON. AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL (CFR) Mutawallen Sokoto Speaker, House of Representatives

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SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Take two for the price of one, from October 6, 2014.

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News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fayemi had, however, promised to hold a council election before the end of the year but could not fulfill his promise before he left on Thursday.

Fayose had vowed not to fund the new LCDAs with federal allocations for the 16 councils listed in the 1999 Constitution.

In another development, Fayose yesterday in AdoEkiti met with the Head of Service, Mr. Bunmi Famo-

Fayose sacks Ekiti LGs, LCDAs’ bosses saya, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies, warning them against being involved in partisan politics.

The governor also urged the top public servants not to hoard necessary information with which the new administration would take off smoothly.

While promising civil

servants in the state all the support and encouragement needed to make them perform optimally, Fayose also charged them to make accountability their watchword.

“You know me as a worker-friendly governor. During our first tenure, you all

can recollect how we made your welfare and progress our concern. You must avoid getting involved in politics and don’t hoard information from the government.

“You also have to make yourselves accountable to this administration. No one can operate without mak-

ing mistakes, but only honest mistakes in the course of your duty will be pardoned.

“We are going to appraise the civil service and hard work will be appreciated and compensated. While the government is ready to do its own part of the bargain, we expect you to do yours. We

are not going to witch-hunt anybody, but we solicit your cooperation as well,” he said.

In his remarks, Famosaya said nobody would hide any information from the government. He added that the loyalty of the civil servants to the Fayose’s administration would be total.

Jonathan, Kalu, Jang laud Gowon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

always owe the former head of state a huge debt of gratitude for successfully managing and guiding Nigeria through an unfortunate civil war, out of which it emerged as an even stronger and more united nation.

The President wrote that “As you deservedly celebrate this noteworthy anniversaryon Sunday, October 19th, 2014, I join your family, friends, protégés and well-wishers in celebrating you and thanking Almighty God for the unique and richly fulfilled life He has blessed you with these past 80 years.

“Over the years, you have continued to use your exalted position to engender bridges of love and harmony across the country; availing successive governments of your wise counsel, and demonstrating your unwavering faith and willingness to partner with us in our quest to bequeath to our collective posterity, a nation of which we can all be proud. Nigeria owes you a huge debt of gratitude.”

He wished Gowon a happy 80th birthday celebration and prayed that the Almighty God would continue to bless, guide and protect him.

Kalu, while extolling the virtues of Gowon, acknowledged the exemplary leadership qualities of the elder statesman.

Kalu, in his tribute titled: ‘GO ON WITH ONE NIGERIA,’ noted that Gowon’s administration laid the foundation for an indivisible Nigeria.

The tribute reads: “There is only one leader whose name has been turned into an acronym for national unity and cohesion. He is Gen. (Dr.) Yakubu Gowon.

His last name, during his time in office, was interpreted to mean: GO ON WITH ONE NIGERIA (GOWON).

“And how fitting the acronym was! For it was under Gen. Gowon that Nigeria fought a gruelling 30 months’ civil war that had the potential of breaking the country into pieces.

But through deft nationalistic leadership, Gowon

took Nigeria through the war, and at the end, declared: ‘No Victor, No Vanquished.’ He also affirmed the 3 Rs, standing for Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation. There is no way the history of Nigeria would be written without Gen. Gowon being given his due.

“As he turns 80, what can I do than to thank God for the life of this great man? He got into power at a youthful age, held that power with maturity and decency for nine years, and today, almost 40 years after, he is still serving the country with his wealth of knowledge, offering worthy advice to the younger generation.

“To our dear Gen Yakubu Gowon, I’ll just say as he turns 80: please, Go On With One Nigeria.”

Kalu also prayed God to grant Gowon excellent health in his service to God and humanity.

In a separate tribute, Jang described Gowon as a ‘man of courage, patriotism and love.’

In a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. James Manok, the governor said that being a humble, simple and God-fearing leader, Gowon stands tall among his peers in the history of the nation, and also as a global statesman.

Jang wished Gowon more of God’s blessings as he celebrates his 80th birthday.

He noted that Gowon was a great leader who believes in leadership by example.

He said the former head of state was a great believer of the unity of Nigeria in spite of the country’s diversity.

“Gen. Gowon is one Nigerian I have great admiration and respect for. He symbolises one Nigeria, working relentlessly yesterday, today and tomorrow for the unity of our dear nation.”

He said that his belief in one Nigeria led to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps during his tenure.

“We on the Plateau wish our distinguished son many more years of strength in the service of our fatherland,” the statement added.

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha and Kaduna State Governor, Ramalan Yero at the grand finale of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, yesterday Photo: Nan

Sambo welcomes 17.8 million TAN signatures CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

of signatures; over 17 million signatures urging Mr. President to contest the 2015 presidential election.

“This innovation is an indication that our democracy has taken firm root; this initiative is in line with democracy worldwide.

“The signatures so far collected do not only confirm the popularity of Mr. President but have also demonstrated his acceptability by Nigerians,” the vice-president added.

He commended TAN’s efforts in defending Jonathan’s transformation agenda, noting, “We do appreciate the partnership of TAN in transforming Nigeria.”

He also urged the group CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the village of Abadam on Friday night, killing at least one person and ransacking homes, while another attack on the village of Dzur on Saturday morning left at least eight people dead.

Fears are already mounting that the ceasefire could fail to win the release of the more than 200 schoolgirls being held by Boko Haram, the report said.

News of the attacks came after an unnamed source

not to rest on its laurels but develop similar initiatives that would enrich Nigerian democracy.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, who presented the registers on behalf of TAN to the vice-president, noted that a total of 12.2 million signatures were collected after the zonal rallies in the six geopolitical zones, with the South South geopolitical zone recording the highest number of 4.2 million.

Anyim, however, noted that even after the zonal rallies, the collection of signatures continued, resulting in the increase to over 17 million.

The SGF, who said the signatures were verifiable, recalled that at a similar

rally five weeks ago at the same Eagle Square, over five million members of Goodluck Support Group declared their support for the President.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of the governors, noted that in spite of distractions and security challenges, Jonathan had been able to provide stability and purposeful leadership to Nigerians.

Akpabio, who is also the governor of Akwa Ibom State, said the President had been able to establish six universities in the country and over 300 Almajiri schools in the northern part of the country.

He predicted that PDP

would win not less than 29 states in next year’s governorship election.

TAN’s Director of Communications and Strategy, Dr. Udenta Udenta, in his opening speech, said Jonathan had outperformed every other president before him in his first three years in office.

He said the grand rally was a crowning moment to find out what the zones had done.

About five governors and some ministers attended the rally.

Goodwill messages were received from the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, people living with disabilities, youths, women and Nigerians in Diaspora.

Boko Haram violates ceasefire, attacks two villages told the newspaper that the girls could be released

by Tuesday.

The unnamed source said yesterday that the federal government was striving to meet its obligations under the ceasefire so that the students could be released “either on Monday or, latest, Tuesday next week.”

Head of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, said only that authorities were “inching

closer to the release of the Chibok girls.” Military officials were unavailable for comment.

Boko Haram, which conveys messages in videos by its supposed leader, Abubakar Shekau, has yet to comment on the ceasefire.

Relatives of the schoolgirls were cautiously optimistic about the ceasefire.

The community leader Pogu Bitrus said “people

rejoiced, but with caution” given the previous false claims made by the government and military.

Bana Lawan, the chairman of Chibok local government area, said: “We don’t know how true it is until we prove it. We will know the negotiations were successful when we see the girls physically.

And then we will know it is true. And then we will celebrate.”

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Kano 2015: PDP warned against imposition of ex- leader’s son

Muhammad Kabir Kano

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s speculations continue to spread that Presidency is behind the governorship aspirations of the two sons of for-

mer Heads of State, Abba Risqua Murtala Mohammed and Mohammad Sani Abacha in Kano, another aspirant, Dr Umar Musa Mustapha, has warned that imposition could split the party and make it to lose 2015.

He told newsmen in Kano that the party leadership should allow competence, honesty and the ability to deliver as the basis for selecting the candidate of the party and not heredity or the fact that an aspirant is a son any former leader.

Although Dr Mustapha could not substantiate the claim that Presidency was behind the contest of the two sons of the former Heads of State, he said he heard that a former political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan was

dropping the name of the Presidency as having given him the support to contest governorship election.

The aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party appealed to the Presidency and indeed his party to be neutral in the governorship primaries not only Kano but all other states, saying that is the only thing that will help the party to field people of good character and those who represents the choice of the people.

He also urged the party to consider the possibility of reducing the “exorbitant cost of obtaining the governorship form from N10 million and N1million as expression of interest fee, saying the money if paid will push elected leaders to loot public treasury.

Speaking on the problems facing the nation, he said unless Federal Government addressed the distortion in the Nation Industrial Policy, Nigeria should forget its moves toward industrialization moves.

He said that inconsistency in government policies on industrialisation resulted in the failure of the nation to make any development in manufacturing sector.

Similarly he noted that influx of foreign goods and porous borders in the country has badly affected the nation’s industrial development, adding that lack of patronage for home made goods and preference for foreign one are some of the factors that made it difficult for industries in the country to grow.

Tony Obuh obtains governorship form

A L-R: Director-General Project Tony Obuh 2015, Chief Fred Majemite, and Delta State governorship aspirant, Sir. Tony Obuh receiving his epression on Interest Form from the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Mustaoha, in Abuja at the weekend

I neither borrowed nor left debt, says Alao-Akala Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

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ormer governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has said that he governed the state with resources available to his administration without borrowing a dime and leaving no debt.

Speaking with newsmen in Ogbomoso on Saturday, Alao-Akala said he governed outstandingly and explicitly within the available resources, stressing that “I served as the governor of the state cutting my coat according to my cloth. I know how I raised the state’s Internally Generated Revenue by 300 per cent. Then, I worked within the available resources without borrowing a dime. Mind you, I left no debt in the state covers”, he said.

Speaking on his governorship ambition, Alao-Akala said that experience matters a lot in governance, adding that he was very close to the grassroots and knows how to do that a lot.

Alao-Akala, who said that

he would banish poverty in the state promised to reintroduce soft loans to the people at reasonable interest rate as he did during his government before.

He said that he would continue with his effort at industrialising the state through provision of conducive environment for investment, easy access to raw materials and tax holiday for investors.

“Yes, we did all these during my first term in that

office. My government invented a programme known as ‘Environmental Akalism’, and it worked out for good.

In the sense of provision of tax holiday, I mean easy access to raw materials, better infrastructure and conducive environment. With all these, people will come around to invest”, he said.

Alao-Akala said that the people of the state were suffering because of capital flight, alleging that “the present government patronised foreign

contractors, jettisoning our professionals in the state”.

He said that his administration patronised professionals in the state, likewise the local contractors, and that such effort was responsible for liquidity of money in circulation within the state.

He therefore assured the people of better days ahead, saying that his return would definitely be with the usual human face that would not relent in putting smiles on their faces.

Female guber aspirant gets nod in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

A

coalition of Idoma/ Igede youths in Benue South Senatorial district of the state has expressed bitterness over what it called absence of power rotation in Benue State, describing the development as ‘a shallow pool of an unpopular and fast fading ideology which presents no meaningful atmosphere for development’.

According to the group

the practice was a deliberate ploy to truncate the very essence of the concept of standard democratic principles, norms and values, instituted and adopted by international standard.

The coalition which was led by Mr. Austin Agada noted that the five candidates in Idoma land vying for the seat of the governor have good potentials enough to be saddled with the responsibility of leading the state.

“We make bold to say that we have settled for Mrs. Ada Chenge, a woman that can, and is ready to give her male counterparts a run for what they claim to know best, the phantom “so called ‘preserve of men’ and yet beat them to it, a Benue woman that has fulfilled all the rights to be called ideal mother of Benue as a result of her past and well backed antecedents.

governorship aspirant in Delta State, Sir Tony Obuh, has procured his nomination form at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja.

Accompanied to the occasion by the Director General of Tony Obuh Guber 2015 Project, Chief Fred Majemite, and other top Delta State PDP chieftains, Obuh declared at the occasion that his journey to the Unity House, Asaba is a done deal.

He said the purchase of the form put paid to claims in some quarters that he was a fore runner of another

aspirant who will pull out of the race in no time.

He used the occasion to articulate his developmental programmes for the state if elected, and urged his supporters to shun misleading information because he “is not just an aspirant but the best and most qualified among the legion in the state.”

In Asaba and across the state, news of Obuh’s procurement of the form sparked great excitement and jubilation by his supporters who said that the aspirant is itching close to the Unity Government House in the state.

2015: Imo APGA divided over Ihenacho’s endorsement Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

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here are indications that the recent endorsement of former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Imo State by the party in the state is creating much disaffection.

The chairman of APGA in the state, Barr. Peter Ezeobi has described the endorsement of Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho as by members of the Imo State Executive Committee of the party as democratic and in line with APGA constitution, but it is evident that the endorsement has plunged the party into serious controversy.

However, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Tony Mgbeahuruike had countered the endorsement, inferring that the action was

out of place in a democracy and incompatible with the ideals of the party.

Ezeobi, however, said that statement by the party’s spokesman was not authorised by the leadership of the party in the state and as such, the action was a nullity and should be disregarded.

Reacting also to the endorsement, another governorship aspirant in the party, Mr. Okey Eze described it as ‘false, undemocratic, unworthy, childish and illegal’.

Mgbeahurike, in another statement said that the party’s State Executive Committee is divided over the issue, averring that quite a good number of the party’s executive share the sentiments of Mr. Okey Eze in condemning the endorsement of Ihenacho without a fair contest.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

News

2015: Bode George lists means of ending South-West marginalisation S outh-West Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has advised members of the party in the zone to close ranks while efforts to return the south-west PDP into the mainstream of governance in 2015 are in top gear.

The former PDP National Vice Chairman South-west said efforts were on to bring together the leaders of thought and royal fathers in Yoruba land to a roundtable for advanced talks on how to re-position the south-west for full participation in the affairs of Nigeria through the PDP. He said such efforts would be more meaningful with the full support of the Yoruba intelligentsia, politicians and artisans who, he said, are expected to be part of the quests for the revival of the zone and its politics.

The A’tona Yoruba, (Yoruba Torchbearer) however, dismissed insinuations about leadership tussle among the Yoruba leaders on the cur-

rent efforts, stating that any well-meaning Yoruba leader will not get involved in such a tussle which, according to him, is meaningless, needless and irrelevant.

He said, “We just put together a Unity Rally in Lagos which attracted a huge crowd of President Jonathan’s supporters from the south-west and other zones, during which the President, Vice President, the Senate President, PDP National Chairman and other top government functionaries were in attendance.

“For that rally, this needless tussle of leadership did not arise. It will not arise because there are no petty minds among the Yoruba leaders. In any case, petty minds don’t do great things. No one will hear of any leadership tussle among us,” Bode George said The Co-convener of Egbe Iyipada Yoruba said this in Lagos during a chat with newsmen. He said part of efforts to re-cast the status of the south-west politics would crystalize in a Conference of

Royal fathers in the zone to be held at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife at the end of this month.

He also said, “It is heartwarming to know that the Yoruba Royal fathers have embraced the idea with eagerness to brainstorm over the affairs of Yoruba people and ready to give royal blessings towards repositioning the south-west dur-

ing the conference”.

He said the forum, the first of its kind in the southwest, held a strong promise to amend the crack in the wall of the Yoruba, while it would also help the Royal fathers close ranks and begin to synerges their efforts in promoting their zone both politically and economically.

Bode George further said: “What we are planning now will offer a silver lin-

ing in the efforts to promote the south-west in National Politics given the eagerness

by President Goodluck Jonathan to have the south-west return to the center of power in 2015”.

He said members of the Egbe Iyipade Yoruba (The Turnaround Team southwest) had been having sleepless nights to ensure that the summit would be a success.

He posited that:“Indeed, you need to see the wide ground already covered by the south-east and other zones in the present government to know the extent of marginalisation of the southwest. This must change in 2015 by the Grace of God. This is the reason we have not been resting on our oars. We must all come together for the purpose of ending this problem of marginalisation.

Assemblies of God Church trains youths in creative writing Ojiaku Kalu Abuja

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n its bid to steer Nigerian youths, especially those in its host environments from societal vices, the pastorate of the Assemblies of God, National Worship Centre, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, has instituted a series of free quarterly trainings for youths in and around the Federal Capital Territory.

The pilot programme in the series designed to empower them for relevance is a writing workshop tagged, ‘Writing For Christ’ with the sub-theme Fabrics of Faith.

It is slated to commence on Monday, October 27, 2014 within the church premises, from 5pm – 6:30 pm daily.

The first training, and indeed subsequent ones in the series, will be open to the general public for youths in secondary school, tertiary institutions and anybody interested in gaining proficiency in written communication.

Senior Pastor of the National Worship Centre, Rev. Levi Johnson, who doubles as the Asst. Superintendent of the Abuja East District of the church, said a team of professionals in journalism and mass communication would be led by the media and research consulting firm, International Development Audit, to act as a body

of faculty for the training.

According to the church authorities, the Creative Writer’s Workshop has been planned to run on three segments: first, as a weeklong training on the tenets and groundwork of writing from Monday 20 – Saturday 25, October 2014; that would be followed by a three-week, actionpacked writing residency when journalists, writers and authors will daily mentor participating youths on crafting publishable scripts for books, newspapers and radio/television.

During the residency segment, participants shall be expected to produce a good script with which they would enter for a competition that a team of judges shall review and score – at the end of which mouth-watering awards shall be given to winners on Saturday, December 6, 2014 in the church auditorium by 12 noon.

Mr. Kingsley Emelogu, President of the youths of the church with his executives were particularly delighted at this rare prospect which would stem the declining interest and aptitude in standard composition, especially given that the church authorities extending the training free of charge to every interested youth in Abuja metropolis.

L-R: Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, at the All Progressives Congress Northern Stakeholders meeting in Kaduna …yesterday

Business tourism is Zimbabwe’s INEC tasked over party forms Independent National electoral process. The cost of future, says minister TheElectoral Commission the process at pre-election

Andrew Iro Okungbowa Harare

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s Zimbabwe works towards the realisation of its vision 2020 for the tourism industry, the country has been urged to pay serious attention to the industry as the future survival of the country depends on the growth of business tourism.

Zimbawe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Walter Mzembi disclosed this at the official opening and award ceremony of Sanganai/ Hlanganani, the country’s premier tourism exhibition held in Harare, the nation’s capital.

According to Mzembi, the country will continue to lay emphasis on its tourism industry because it is the only way of attracting investors to the country as investors are first visitors before becoming investors.

To this end, he said, there is no stop his ministry in

the task of making people to discover the beauty of Zimbabwe.

“This great nation that is yet to be discovered tourism is going to be the economic pillar joining agriculture, mining and manufacturing. It is tourism and the tourism dollar that is going to impact on the lives of the poor people and eradicate poverty through the creation of more jobs,’’ he said.

He told the hundreds of exhibitors and buyers at the event that their visit to the country was having immediate impact on the people. The minister also made pitch for the industry as he told the people that Zimbabwe has the best weather in the world as its enjoy the four seasons but more than this and the diverse natural resources dotting the country’s landscape, Mzembi said the greatest tourism asset of the country is the peace enjoyed by it.

has been tasked over its statutory duty of monitoring the financial activities of political parties, especially the excessive cost of the preelection process.

At a press conference yesterday in Dunukofia, Anambra State, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and House of Representatives aspirant in Anaocha, Dunukofia, Njikoka Federal Constituency, Chike Maduekwe, urged INEC to check “political parties that have resorted to imposing very high fees on aspirants seeking to purchase nomination forms to run elections, as a ploy to raise money for the parties. The implication of INEC’s failure is that only money bags will run the entire electoral process.”

Maduekwe, who is an Abuja based lawyer and co-convener of the Alliance for Integrity in Governance, noted that “the excessive charges imposed by parties on aspirants running for election at various levels is a recipe for criminalising the

stage and the electioneering campaigns have scared many decent people from running for election.

“For example, how can the All Progressives Congress charge its presidential aspirant, a non-serving major-general N27 million to purchase the party’s nomination forms? The situation is made more disagreeable by the comment of the party’s national chairman that the high cost is designed to separate the men from the boys. This is a call for criminals and those who have not legitimately acquired money to take over politics at the expense of decent people.”

Calling on INEC to be proactive in monitoring the pre-election process and the campaigns for elections by parties, Maduekwe said that, “what is obvious is that Nigerian politics is the most monetized in the world and this means that we can never get the best and capable brains to run elections and this situation breeds godfathers and money bags in our politics.”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPINION

Remittances and economies of developing countries

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emittances to developing countries are on course for 5.0 per cent growth this year, faster than the 3.4 per cent growth recorded in 2013. The acceleration is driven largely by expanding flows to Asia and Latin America. Remittances to developing countries are expected to continue climbing over the mediumterm, reaching $454 billion in 2015. The cost of sending remittances is falling, but remains high along key corridors, especially to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Officially recorded remittance flows to developing countries are expected to grow by 5.0 per cent to US$435 billion in 2014, and expand by 4.4 per cent to US$454 billion in 2015. Remittances flows were three times larger than official development assistance in 2013, steadier than private debt and portfolio equity flows; and, excluding China, larger than total foreign direct investment to developing countries. Global remittance flows, including to higher-income countries, are expected to rise from US$582 billion in 2014 to US$608 billion in 2015.

At the regional level, remittance flows are growing fastest in East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Flows to the Middle East and North Africa are rebounding from weaker performance in 2013, while in Europe and Central Asia, flows are decelerating due in part to the weakening economic outlook in Russia. India is expected to remain the largest recipient of remittances, which could reach US$71 billion in 2014. Other countries expected to receive large remittances in 2014 include China (US$64 billion), the Philippines (US$28 billion), Mexico (US$24 billion), Nigeria (US$21 billion), and Egypt (US$18 billion). Remittances

as a share of GDP are highest in Tajikistan (42 per cent), the Kyrgyz Republic (32 per cent), and Nepal (29 per cent).

The main drivers of remittances are migrant stocks and economic conditions in remittance-sending countries.

Weakening oil prices are contributing to lower remittance flows from Russia to Europe and Central Asia, while climbing migrant employment in the U.S. is boosting remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean. The humanitarian impulse is also a powerful motivator of remittances, enabling them to serve as insurance against risks confronting the poor. Flooding in Pakistan this year may be motivating a rise in remittances,

The humanitarian impulse is also a powerful motivator of remittances, enabling them to serve as insurance against risks confronting the poor. Flooding in Pakistan this year may be motivating a rise in remittances, which are projected to increase by 16.6 per cent in 2014

which are projected to increase by 16.6 per cent in 2014. Recovery from the super typhoon that struck the Philippines in 2013 brought an 8.5 per cent increase in remittances that year, helped by money transfer companies agreeing to zero fees.

The global average cost of sending remittances continued its downward trend in the third quarter of 2014, falling to 7.9 per cent of the value sent, compared to 8.9 per cent a year earlier.Competition and the expansion of mobile-phone and internet-based technologies hold much potential to continue driving down fees.

Risk-based approaches to the application of anti-money laundering regulations to remittance operators and international banks hosting their bank accounts will be important to ensuring that compliance does not result in undue costs, which could slow the fall in remittance costs and leave substantial flows underground. Costs remain high along lower volume corridors, especially to Sub-Saharan Africa.

•Culled from worldbank.org

Arrested for feeding widows and orphans Stephen Davis

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t is now well known that I have been working for the release of the Chibok girls and the other at least 300 girls who have been captured

by Boko Haram in these last 12 months.

I have visited many villages and towns attacked by Boko Haram. I have seen first-hand the devastation and talked to families of the attacks. These are tragic stories of loss of life, slaughter, rape and the worst abuses of human life one can imagine. In the midst of this ongoing tragedy, there are people who have courageously helped to support the work of finding kidnapped girls and boys and helping them receive medical care and food until a more permanent solution can be found to their situation.

In Maiduguri, there are small groups of young men and women who go out into the community each week to provide food to the widows whose husbands have been killed by Boko Haram. Others repair the humble shelters used by widows and orphans to shelter from the rain. These humanitarian efforts are undertaken with the meagre funds these generous local people have from their equally meagre salaries.

One such group of community servants is the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association in Maiduguri. It is a registered association with very admirable goals. In an overview of the group its mission is stated as: To promote peace, unity, love and understanding in our community.

To assist the people of the community such as widows, orphans, and the less privileged by upgrading their standard of living.

To assist in sending the orphans and any interested fellow within and outside the community to Western and Islamic schools to acquire a reputable education and knowledge that will prepare them to be useful members of the community.

To empower youths in our midst by creating suitable job opportunities.

To enter into association with any local, regional and international organization, engaged in assisting community development.

I heard of this group while seeking the handover of Chibok captives in Borno State a few months ago. I met with the group in Maiduguri to learn more of their community work. I was convinced of the outstanding humanitarian work of this group with such meagre funding from their own private resources.

It is quite an amazing story how this group has managed to find girls who have escaped from Boko Haram camps and support them and their families with food and medical care until the girls can be connected to Federal Government support through the President’s Victim Support Funds chaired by General (ret.)

Danjuma.

The Shehuri group has made a formal application for funding to continue the victim support work and the additional work they do in locating and verifying the identity of escaped girls for relocation and protection from the Federal Government.

This week we learn that the State Security Services has arrested many of these fine young community workers on the pretext that they are Boko Haram sympathisers.

A tweet from someone known as Aye Dee posts a photo of me with the management board of the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth

Empowerment Association whom Mr Dee says “were hired to play the part of Boko Haram fighters/commanders in the Stephen Davis saga of being in contact with the terrorist organisation.”

Nothing could be further from the truth!

What a monstrous fabrication! Mr. Dee may be misinformed from his SSS source as these photos were taken from the phone of one of arrested community workers. The photo for which Mr Dee claims proprietorial rights and one of several taken on that occasion was taken on my camera and is printed here in full detail.

Mr. Dee is correct in saying that I have contributed some funds to the organisation which has found its funds stretched as more escaped girls are being supported. I have also provided a photo of the rice distribution which these workers conduct and to which my funding has been applied. The escaped girls are in great need of trauma counselling. As most are not Chibok girls there seems to have been little media interest in telling their stories and assisting them.

I am in no doubt that President Jona-

The Shehuri group has made a formal application for funding to continue the victim support work and the additional work they do in locating and verifying the identity of escaped girls for relocation and protection from the Federal Government

than wishes to provide support for any victim of Boko Haram and particularly for captives who have escaped Boko Haram camps regardless of whether they were captured at Chibok or any other village in Nigeria.

On hearing of the arrest of members of the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association I immediately sent a message to the DG, SSS. I have not yet had a reply but am very hopeful that as he is well aware of my work in seeking the release of the captives and arrest of the sponsors of Boko Haram. He will equally be aware of the innocence of these community workers and their outstanding service in providing food, shelter and medical support for the escaped girls and restore their families into a stable community life.

If the DG, SSS would care to check with the office of General (ret.) Danjuma and Ambassador Gana I am sure he will find these facts as I have set them out to be supported and thus enable the immediately release the members of the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association.

I am optimistic that General (ret.) Danjuma, as Chairman of the President’s Victim Support Fund, will also find the case for acknowledging the valuable work of these community workers deserving of his support.

These are people we should be honouring for their outstanding, selfless work conducted at considerable risk to their lives, not arresting and incarcerating.

•Dr. Stephen Davis is an Australian academic and priest who covertly helped negotiate peace deals with insurgents in the Niger Delta and in the North East of the country at the behest of the Federal Government of Nigeria

11

Sunday Mail OCTOBER 19, 2014

You have a right to be heard! Send your letters and photographs to sundayletters@newtelegraphonline.com.

Letters should not be more than 150 words and must have the name and address of the sender.

How Buhari could have raised money for his presidential nomination form Dear Editor, Buhari said he took a bank loan to purchase the APC Presidential nomination form for N27 million Naira.

Assuming he actually took the bank loan, how would he pay back? It also means that not many people believe in Buhari as it would have taken just 270 people to donate N100,000 each to buy the nomination form for him.

Also, 2, 700 people would have contributed N10,000 each or 27, 000 people would have contributed N1,000 each if they sufficiently believed in Buhari.

So for Buhari to seek for a loan facility just to pay for nomination form is a sad commentary on Nigeria’s money politics!

Waheed Idris Kano

#Ekiti State: I wish I am Dr John Kayode fayemi Dear Editor, If I were to be Dr. Kayode Fayemi, I will call a press conference. At the press conference, I will apologise to all Ekiti State indigenes for what has happened so far in the State.

I will start from the civil servants, the Obas, the Okada men, market men/women to all students. I will apologise to all political parties in Ekiti State, particularly the PDP and mostly the Governor elect, Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose.

I will re-congratulate him. Perhaps, I might have offended some of my members in APC, I will also apologize to them.

I will do that for the interest of Ekiti State. Thereafter, I will move on. I will pledge my support for the Governor in all areas of things in Ekiti State. On the 16th of October 2014, I would have made Ekiti State a red carpet. I would invite the creme de la creme in the political arena of this nation. I would invite my party leaders and all that deserve to be on seat for the swearing in of the new Governor.... including the Press Crew. I would do my possible best to make the day great. I would not stop there, I would thank everybody.

I will tell the good people of Ekiti State that I won’t go on Exile (Apologies to Femi Falana (SAN), I will be with my people and I will not allow anybody to push me against the voice of the people. If it is possible for me. If it is possible I said, I will decamp to PDP. If I cannot do that now like Governor Olusegun Mimiko, I will do that later like formal Governor Segun Oni or Olagunsoye Oyinlola. For the interest of Ekiti State, on the 16th of October 2014, I will hand over to Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose without any political hanky panky, and I will congratulates him once again and I will return to my house to wait for where I can help the new governor or I take my rest. I wish I am Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Tunde Atolagbe Ekiti State

Abuja airport and 7pm gate closing time Dear Editor, This is about the uncountable times I am unable to get a flight out of Abuja to Lagos. Its unthinkable that a route that experiences over 50 flights daily will close gates at 7pm and at worst 8pm, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja has night landing facilities. Lagos Airport has same facilities. Why can’t we have 10.00 pm, 11.45pm flights from Abuja to Lagos so that those of us who conclude our businesses at the very end of the day because we wait on our preys as long as they are, can still have dinner at Abuja and pick our luggage to the airport?

It costs N6000 cab to go back to town, pay for extra night, eat extra food ( and you know that frustrated people take it out on food) and take another cab back to the airport next day. Lagos is awake till after midnight, so I don’t see why we can’t have midnight flights, after all, most flights at the MMIA leaves around midnight.

This kind of experience is why people scramble for private jets. If I had one, I would have been home by 7pm.

Kelechi Deca Ikeja, Lagos

Care while the mothers are away.

On APC’s N27m presidential ticket form Dear Editor, Before you start complaining about the N27 million Buhari had to spend for the presidency ticket form, just look how much Mitt Romney and Barack Obama had to spend for US presidency. $6 billion for a job that pays only $200,000. $6 billion: The total amount spent on this election, according to an estimate by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. That’s $700 million more than the previous “most expensive election” in history—2008—and includes money spent by the campaigns, outside groups, and independent organisations. $970 million: The estimated amount spent by outside groups during the 2012 cycle, according to Federal Election Commission data. “The increase has largely been driven by rapidly increased spending among ‘super PACs’ and outside groups that can raise unlimited amounts of money from donors,” reported The New York Times’ Nicholas Confessore. $874.6 million: The amount that went toward Obama’s re-election this election cycle, with the Obama campaign burning through $553.2 million, the DNC spending $263.2 million, and the biggest Obama Super PACS spending $58 million. $844.6 million: The amount that went toward Romney’s candidacy, this cycle, with the campaign spending $360.4 million, the RNC adding $284 million, and Super PACs adding $200 million. $265 million: The gap between the amount President Obama and Mitt Romney spent on TV ads through October 29. In summery, the president spent far more. If you combine the ad spending, it amounts to more than one million television ads purchased by the campaigns and their supporters. The Wesleyan Media Project, which gathered the numbers, has a chart of this increase in ads.

Amaechi Osegbo Lagos

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

On Governor Fayose’s appointment of an aide for Stomach Infrastructure Dear Editor, Even in America, there is stomach infrastructure policy. The less privileged in their society get food stamps every week. I commend Gov. Ayo Fayose for his foresight. Without food, people cannot think or contribute effectively to economic growth of our community. Let the pretenders and hypocrites continue to mock the initiative.

Oludare Ogunlana Oyo State

A personal note to General Buhari Dear General Buhari, in the first place, let me apologize for writing this rather personal but open letter to you. We are not really connected so I felt it was better to reach you this way. I am also using this chance to send my sincere condolences on the death of Zulai on November 30, 2012.

I’ve always liked you, especially ‘with immediate effect and alacrity’. Your quote actually takes me right to where and what I want to talk to you about. From reading the papers, I see you are still making sacrifices to try to become a presidential candidate. Do you not think it better to try to change that to a more humanitarian cause? Do you not know that you can still influence people, however, you may have to change your line of actions? You got out whilst the ovation was loudest and to me, going back there again is counterproductive.

You can voice for a cause and that cause is Sickle cell disease . You will be able to move people especially those who look up to you. Why am I writing this to you? I write you because I am also into sickle cell and I know with you behind sickle cell especially in Nigeria, you can move mountains. Once again, General Buhari, sorry for this pubic personal note.

Pamela Mojekwu Lagos

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Moment

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode (left), receiving the party’s nomination form from the Lagos State party Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, in Lagos…on Wednesday

L-R: Managing Director/ CEO, ABC Transport Plc, Frank Nneji; Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Dr. Sally Mbanefo and Business Manager, City sightseeing, Princess Onyeanusi, during a courtesy call on the Director General in Abuja…recently

L-R: Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Minister of Avation, Chief Osita Chidoka and Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Ikechi Uko, during the third Iwa-ji and Obiora Fesitval of Eze Iweka 111 in Anambra State…recently

Mr. Olatunji Sotimirin of the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos (left) and Chief Presenter, Olokun Festival Lecture, Otunba Gani Adams, during Olokun Festival lecture on the dialectics of culture and development in Lagos…on Thursday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

President, Women Arise and Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (left) and Lagos State Commissioner, Aderanti Kayode, during Odumakin’s visit to the commissioner in Lagos…on Thursday

L-R: Chairman, Niger Delta Ministers Forum, His Eminence Julius Ediwe; Leader, Rivers Converge, Mr. Nimi Walson-Jack and his wife, Didi, at the Prayer session for Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan in Port Harcourt …on Thursday

L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Sokonte Davis; Chairman, Publicity Committee on National Breakfast Prayer, Senator Ita Enang; Senator Joshua Nidani; Senator Sonni Ogbuoje and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, during the press conference on National Breakfast Prayer, in Abuja…on Wednesday PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Vice-Chancellor, University of Osun, Prof.

Bahir Adekunle Okesina and his wife, during Prof. Okesina’s birthday reception in Osogbo …recently

13

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Chibok Girls

Tale of intrigues, twists and turns it, how many of them were taken away and in what manner they were conveyed out of Chibok.

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Onwuka Nzeshi & Ahaoma Kanu ilitary offensives launched by the Nigerian military against the terrorist group, Boko Haram, after the declaration of Gworza as an Islamic Caliphate led to the insurgents calling for negotiation for the a ceasefire and release of the abducted students of the Girls Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, Sunday New Telegraph has learnt.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, had on Friday announced that the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect had reached a ceasefire while Hassan Tukur, a Principal Private Secretary to President Goodluck Jonathan, announced the agreement reached between the federal government and Boko Haram in talks held in Saudi Arabia for the release of more than 200 girls kidnapped from the town of Chibok in April. Reports say the girls will be released this week.

What led to the sudden capitulation of the group, which had vowed not to relent in its bloody campaign until Jonathan converts to Islam and other demands are met? What shaped the sudden change in the trajectory of intrigues which have trailed the kidnap of the schoolgirls?

According to a top government official who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, the onslaught on boko Haram insurgents launched after the declaration of Gworza as an Islamic caliphate resulted in the capture of top Boko Haram commanders.

“The offensive launched by the Nigerian military to retake Konduga resulted in the capture of so many Boko Haram commanders. What the army intelligence now did was to use them to get across to their colleagues.

These Boko Haram commanders were among their leaders and so they quickly started calling for a peace deal through the Government of Chad,” the source said. The battle to retake Konduga was launched in September and was described as the final phase to flush out Boko Haram and end their dastardly acts.

Some of the Boko Haram commanders then initiated moves for a peace talk through the Government of Chad which later contacted the Nigerian government. Jonathan then put together a negotiation team with Tukur among the team leaders.

“The President wanted to be sure of the willingness of the offer being made by the sect but President Idriss Déby of Chad assured him and agreed to host the negotiations in Chad. It was then that Jonathan directed Hassan Tukur and the team which included some intelligence chiefs and military officers to go ahead with the negotiations,” the source said.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that while the negotiations continued, the Nigerian military sustained the fight and this led to a deadlock between the two groups. These may have affected a planned announcement

by Jonathan of the release of the Chibok girls in New York, United States when he went for the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The Boko Haram negotiators were sceptical about the sincerity of the government

Aso Rock versus opposition

If there is any issue that has deeply set the government against the opposition, it is this saga. The All Progressives Congress had at every turn used the sad incident to lampoon the President. Also, Jonathan’s refusal to visit Chibok, after his plan to sneak into the sleepy community had leaked to the global media, attracted harsh criticism.

Important Timelines

Jonathan

because so many of their fighters were being killed and they were afraid that they would be prosecuted or killed. Also, their demand that some of their commanders be released by government was rejected by Jonathan.

Hassan and the team were briefing the president on the negotiations. Everyone is happy that this is finally coming to an end,” the source said.

Intrigues of a mass abduction Until recently, not many knew that Chibok, a sleepy town existed in the southern district of Borno State. What has placed the town squarely on the world map today is the unfortunate incident of April 14,2014 during which sect stormed the school and abducted the grils.

The young girls were studying for their Senior School Certificate examination when the terrorists, masquerading as friendly troops of the Nigerian Army, stormed their hostels in a commando style.

The terrorists told the teachers on duty that they had come to evacuate the students to a safe place, based on information of an imminent attack on the town by Boko Haram.

At first, the incident sounded like a fairy tale and many dismissed it as one of those fables associated with the insurgency.

Nigerians reacted with disbelief as everyone wondered how possible it was for a crowd of over 200 persons could be kidnapped in one fell swoop. The National Conference, which was then in session, reacted swiftly by asking the Federal Government to shut down Nigeria’s borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroun as a way of preventing the shipment of the girls outside the country. The delegates felt that it was time to take some drastic measures to stem the tide of insurgency and further acts of terrorism in the North East geo-political zone of the country. But the story became

more intriguing barely 24 hours later when reports emerged from security circles that the girls had been rescued by the military. When this sudden freedom was disputed, another angle to the story emerged that a number of the abducted maidens had escaped from captivity. It is imperative to note that the way the Army handled information about the incident in the first few days was rather clumsy and left a lot of doubt in the minds of the public. When it dawned on all that the mass abduction may well true, the sand dunes of the desert had covered the foot steps of the assailants and even the security agencies could hardly ascertain which direction they had to go in search if the girls.

Panic Measures Following public outrage over the incident, the Borno State Government on April 16, 2014 announced a reward of $300,000 for anyone who could provide useful information that could lead to the rescue of the schoolgirls.Similarly, Jonathan convened a National Security Council meeting in Abuja to review security measures and determine the best way forward.

Conflicting Testimonies

The public outcry over the whereabouts of the girls forced the Presidency to conduct an investigation into the abduction saga.

The investigation saw the Borno State Government, authorities of the school, West African Examinations Council and parents of the abducted students giving separate accounts. But the investigation brought to the fore the realities of insecurity and how different groups perceived it. There were conflicting testimonies as to what really happened to the girls, why they were in school when the federal government and the examination body had advised against

On April 24, 2014, some parents of the missing girls and other Nigerians took to social media to call the attention of the international community to their plight and to put pressure on the Nigerian government to take swift action towards their rescue.

A lawyer in Abuja, Ibrahim M. Abdullahi, sends the first tweet, using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

April 30: About half a million Nigerians most of them women dressed in red gathered in Abuja. They marched to the National Assembly where they delivered a protest letter, demanding immediate action from the federal government on the issue.

May 5, 2014: Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, claimed responsibility for the abduction of the schoolgirls. In a video tape aired on national television, Shekau declared that the girls were in the custody of the terrorist group at an undisclosed location.

May 7, 2014: In Paris, French President, François Hollande, offers Nigeria a ‘special team’ to look for the girls and Britain says it will send a team of experts to Nigeria to help with the crisis. China’s Premier Li Keqiang, on a visit to Abuja, promises that his country will make any useful information acquired by its satellites and intelligence services available to Nigeria’s security agencies. May 12: In a new Boko Haram video, Shekau claims to show the missing Nigerian schoolgirls. In the video, the girls say they have converted to Islam and the terrorist group declares that it will release the schoolgirls in exchange for all imprisoned militants.

On May 27, 2014, the Nigerian Army states that it has located the abducted girls but says it will not use force to rescue them.

July 12: Pakistani human rights activist, Malala Yousafzai, visits Abuja and meets, first with five of the girls who escaped on July 13, and then with the President (July 14). Malala Yousafzai visited Abuja and met with some of the girls who allegedly escaped from the terrorists. She also met with the BringBackOurGirls Group and later President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rick Villa where she pleaded with the federal government to ensure the release of the girls.

July 22: Jonathan meets with the parents of the Chibok girls at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.Even this meeting soon became another subject of controversy as some of those who attended complained that they were shortchanged in the sharing of some money allegedly given to them to facilitate their transportation back to Chibok.

As the world awaits the release of the girls this week, the saga will go down as one of the hottest dramas in recent times, full of suspense, intrigues, twists and turns.

14

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

APC to Jonathan: Don’t use Chibok girls for political gains Ibraheem Musa,

T Kaduna

he All Progressives Congress yesterday advised President Goodluck Jonathan against creating a false sense of security for political gains over the reported cessation of hostilities with Boko Haram and the reported impending release of the Chibok girls.

APC, which gave the advice in a communique after a meeting of its Northern stakeholders in Kaduna, stated that the “incoming APC government in 2015 will make the security of lives and property of all citizens, respect for the rule of law and good governance its topmost priority.”

The party spoke against the background of reports that the Federal Government had reached an agreement with Boko Haram at a meeting which was facilitated by President Idris Deby of Chad, to cease fire and secure the release of the

abducted schoolgirls.

Speaking at the opening of the APC stakeholders meeting, a former head of state and presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, noted that if the number of security agents that were deployed in Ekiti State to supervise the recent governorship election were sent to the North-East, the insurgency in the area would have been contained.

Buhari pointed out that another four years of Peoples Democratic Party rule would not help Nigeria. He promised that APC would make necessary changes for the betterment of Nigeria.

The presidential aspirant recalled that he had contested for the presidency three times and challenged the results on those occasions up to the Supreme Court.

He regretted that he was defeated at the apex court with dollars and naira.

Speaking on behalf of APC governors in the North, Governor Kashim

I’ll win Lagos gov election - Ikuforiji •Five Fashola aides seek Reps tickets Muritala Ayinla

S

peaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, yesterday vowed to deliver Laogosians to the All Progressives Congress, if he emerges flagbearer of the party. This was even as five aides of Governor Babatunde Fashola are jostling for House of Representatives tickets in the ruling APC. Ikuforiji, who also called for transparent and credible primaries in the November 15 APC governorship primaries, said his decision to contest for the governorship position was to further serve the people of Lagos, having led the house for nearly 10 years.

Briefing journalists at the APC State Secretariat after picking Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the governorship poll, he called for a debate among the aspirants.

Speaking on other aspirants allegedly enjoying the backing of political leaders in the state, Ikuforiji noted that he was not worried about the issue.

Meanwhile, indications emerged yesterday that five members of the Lagos State Executive Council are jostling for House of Representatives tickets.

Sunday New Telegraph authoritatively gathered that no fewer than seven members of Fashola’s team are set to contest for either governorship seat or Federal House or Representative seats in their various constituencies. Those who are leaving Fashola’s cabinet, if their political aspirations scale through are: the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; and a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fashola on School Environmental Advocacy, Mrs. Adetokunbo TobunAgbesanwa. Both have indicated interest in running for governor. Others who want to run for the House of Representatives include the Special Adviser to the Governoron Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji; Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademorin Kuye; Commissioner for Housing Bosun Jeje; and Special Adviser to Fashola on Youth and Social Development, Dr Dolapo Badru.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Wale Raji, is also expected to resign any moment from now to enable him contest as a federal lawmaker in Epe.

Shettima of Borno State advised the people of the region to come together, irrespective of their religion and ethnicity, to salvage the country, as Nigerians go into another round of elections next year.

According to the governor, the North in the best of times was the least in all indices of economic development, let alone now that

it is suffering the ravages of insurgency.

“We are now the poorest of the earth. Poverty has no religion, it has no ethnicity. Therefore, we must reach out to other parts of the country, so that by 2015, other Nigerians can join forces with us to salvage the country.”

Speaking earlier, APC’s Deputy National Chairman

(North), Senator Lawali Shuabu, said the meeting was not about the choice of a consensus presidential candidate that will fly the party’s flag.

The communique said APC would “provide a level playing field to all those who aspire to contest for public office on the platform of the party through its internal demo-

cratic process.”

The communique also stated APC’s commitment to the unity of Nigeria, as well as the assurance by the Northern stakeholders to “work closely and diligently will all members of the party across the country to ensure the ousting of the corrupt, disastrous and clueless PDP government in the 2015 general elections.”

A cross-section of members of Youth Organisation, Celestial Church of God, Worldwide (Nigeria Region), during an awareness walk on Post-Ebola & Peace Campaign in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

NASS may review EFCC Act –Osagie Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN

I

ndications emerged yesterday that opposition members of the National Assembly, particularly in the All Progressives Congress, may move for a review of the activities and constitutional roles of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

This followed what the opposition members in the upper and lower chambers

of the National Assembly perceive as undue excesses and abuse of its constitutional role.

The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie, stated these in an interview with newsmen in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Osagie said the National Assembly may be compelled to review the EFCC Act in order to “remove any area of ambiguity for which the EFCC will want to hide

PDP adopts Imoke’s ex-aide

T

he Peoples Democratic Party in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State has adopted Dr. Alex Egbona, immediate chief of staff to Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, as its sole candidate for the Abi/ Yakurr Federal Constituency election.

The endorsements were made on a day that Egbona was celebrating his 50th birthday with physically challenged people in his Ekuri village. The ceremony also provided him the opportunity to dance and eat with virtually all the old people from the two local

government areas.

The physically challenged people also declared their willingness to queue behind him as a reward for his kindness towards them in the past. The Abi chapter of the PDP took the decision at a meeting of all chapter executive committee members, as well as ward leaders from the local government area. In endorsing him, the party leaders said Egbona had been a faithful and loyal party man who had contributed immensely to the growth of the council area and was well endowed to salvage the federal constituency.

under to be used as political tools by the ruling government.”

The plan may not be unconnected with the detention of the Speaker of the Edo State Assembly, Uyi Igbe; Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu; and Majority Whip, Folly Ogedengbe, by the agency over allegation of signature forgery.

The alleged offence is believed to be the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force.

Osagie spoke on the crisis rocking the assembly and which has torn the nine Peoples Democratic Party state lawmakers and their 15 APC counterparts apart and the manner in which the antigraft agency was drafted into the case. He said that for the lawmakers “to be called to answer questions as to the regularity or otherwise of the removal of a principal officer of a house of assembly is well beyond the functions of the EFCC.”

Ortom, 3 others for primaries Cephas Iorhemen, Makurdi

A

head of the governorship primaries slated for November in Benue State, the elders forum of the Peoples Democratic Party in MINDA bloc of the state has settled for four out of 21 aspirants jostling for the position.

Former House of Representatives member, Cletus Upaa, announced at a meeting with 16 governorship aspirants and 70 elders from the area at the Makurdi residence of Senator Fred Orti that the four had been advised to purchase governorship nomi-

nation forms. They have also beenadvised to undergo the requisite screening by the party after which the forum will decide on one aspirant.

Sunday New Telegraph gathered that those that had sailed through include ex-Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom; a former Speaker of the state house of assembly, Terhemen Tarzoor; ex-Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Felix Atume; and erstwhile Commissioner for Justice, Alex Adum.

15

Fashion Rock superchic ripped jeans 22&43

Bed Work & Life

Dave magicked me off my feet but...

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Body Soul SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Why we stepped into our father’s magic shoes -Zeeto & Nike Peller

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

heart y m m o r f t h g Strai

ep my fingers my mind I’d ke up e ad m I , g citizen As a law abidin in Lagos State. y’ da rn ho o It was the ‘N to October 15. looked forward disposes)! ht, oposes and God Road. off my horn. pr an (m cles from the rig . it on d two other vehi ob sed Deus disp med International Airport an kn e it m rn Did I succeed? on n ho op ke e pr ta th o er fist on ld had ov Muham os say, Hom 49 my brakes, my e right? The articut out of the wor Well, the Latin time that day on the Muritala Pg. d I slammed on th in a hurry to ge an m e ed fro st tim em ok fir se of e to th er ck ho ni w ov ed at the I honk s driver on that iver that erved to the left commercial bu against traffic ier? The bus dr hicles to drive A NACO-bound of an oncoming tanker. He sw driver ’. Really, who is craz ve ch su ed w to razy at allo nose hicles e & Din almost into the es honked and I muttered, ‘C ’ drive? Or the authorities th authorities that permitting ve Wine elf in cl e way th d ne in ‘O m a re yoursd with on to n Few other vehi ve t w ha do I e g o in D G ar n? be iver d natio ere oo d g rush hours? lated vehicle dr ad -a gateway to the state an Their sirens w the miovese re nose to tail durin y, two convoys raced past. t ro es an us rt g ca po lly n im ua ry a da us ve ad S that affic on that ro were ad around 1pm horn? drive against tr ge’ at Ikeja. We ied spent on that ro ner. But then, is a siren not a id I Y br es se ut in ou m H e w the ‘Ayink a beggar tr certing man Within the fe day was beside ied their trade. I watched as t in that discon at th no rn gh ho ou y th m al ars pl honk active, of way. The begg e I was forced to he was saying The second tim affic light to give us the right ething. dn’t hear what di tr I m . e ed so ed th r lk ith fo ta w h g d rt minute. I watch all waitin cle to pa , talked an nd fis to tears the next driver of a vehi Sokoto made with lace fabric e in idge a th k r ea ce r br in ld nv o co ou p w d to ain an in a Buba an creased as if he plant out N1,200.

The beggar, a m s mouth moved and his face nripe which costs ab r U le ha a in hi ith an as w s ath and need but I watched ggar ’s story. tted to and fro at the point of de ar with that be notes ad. He had tro T them. I’m famili er (can’t remember which) is ars ago in a traffic on that ro lding loosely to some Naira ht ho ye ug e le His son or da ore than thre his right whi m in 0 r 00 pe 2, pa N of of in e e m piec my w He had gypped ’ look on his face, waving a me wind down s sorry on fore me, made hi be ld er to iv he dr e le th hi w ‘pity my conditi ece of land ed no ice with pi a aw . th of r praying le nd te he sa af ha at e e ft th th m le in his gotiating and the fact cles behind ne e hi an nc ve m na w a face. te e fe a un lik co ed on ed sticulat He mov est look his His ‘urgent’ ched me. He ge buy the inhaler. her driver with the same earn ith the same tale oa go pr y ap kl ic he qu n to he w d him dow w ed me beg anot N2,000 and urge and stooped to . Two days later, he approach Pg. 50 tale. I gave him and my generations unborn or irr m at ew vi ar for me contorted face from my re ith . m w es hi ly ey ed s ild hi rv w se to ed n in I ob rs ulat gree me man gestic icking my finge from amber to brain and I felt like st rstand my anger when this sa ute the traffic light changed your Crack in de m un t n ac ca ex u e k th yo , r e So chos r’. is wo give the ‘begga re me. The man work honk. Eyes the driver befo g in his car for something to an angry, loud rn’ com- When home t ou t le it d in an to start rummag I hit my fist on my horn knob were monitoring the ‘no ho back, t, At that momen ion. Two uniformed men who ey looked at me and I glared with W Th e ct . re m ge re turned in my di standing just under the brid the drama befo them observe ere pliance level w me near me. I had watched Gags ever, co I drove off. on that day. How nce rn daring them to em nodded slightly at me as ho y m nk ho th rced to duced si o times I was fo e from vehicle horns have re interest. One of er ose were the tw is th no s, e Corn er th ad at re th r s Cook ea D ehow, it seem status. ’ m rn So ho y. o da ‘n t t ea os it was a gr n this alm we can maintai sed. that day. I wish es bl n ai m and re Happy Sunday le puzz

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Contents 19.10.2014 COVER

To be a magician, you have to be trained. I was trained by my father, Prof. Peller, and I went to a magic school abroad. What gives me an edge as a magician is that I am able to learn the art of meditation and concentration

-Zeeto & Nike Peller

} 18-19

BEAUTY If you have your nails professionally fixed or manicured, you should ensure that the manicurists sterilise their equipment after each use. An alternative will be to have your own manicure tools

} 21

GLAM DUDES Black has been the staple suit colour in every man’s wardrobe for decades but recently, a new colour has been trending that may replace black in the suit arena and that is the grey

} 44

en l. Wh ge bowmi xtu re e in a lar nuts ch oco lat it over they ntl the pour ney x ge o on ho tter cools, ak es. Mixture int e le spo bu 1 tab spoon chocolate cor nflspoon mior cupcak e le 2 tab s milo or d nu ts and ffin tray the fridg on i be 3 cup p alm ly) a mu Put in s, it makes Iklak is fun to m. om snack.

1 cu d rough cases. ce it set Biw etimes, it with mu d m nchy pe on coand nutty cru ll be fro Som kitchen cook an (chop ration r, cho by ll r Prepa the butte a saucefor a light withis ‘all in the ing he en you wi rt in u de lt e Yo de Me d honey Th Watchering wh gh to sta g ma it he at. havin f’. late anon low crowave wond up enou kitchen. u can o mi shouldx mysel pa n grow g in the ld als is step ipe yo . Mi cookin is a rec - couefly. Th an adult ond RN Here bri ne by CO w… and alm be do nflakes try noUN CH Y IES cor ISP CR the CR ES FLAK ients kes Ingreds corn fla 5 cup

FASHION

m ces.co : netpla Source

Knowing how to wear the shredded jeans in a perfectly stylish manner is what puts you in the category of the super chic

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) Wole Adepoju Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent)

} 22&43

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics)

ACCESSORIES Hoop earrings come in various shapes and sizes and there is always one for each outfit and occasion -from thin to large chunky engraved hoops, gold or silver } 17

Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 julietbumah@gmail.com julietbumah@newtelegraphonline.com

Associates

BED, WORK & LIFE

Here is a man who is angling for a relationship with her. Her mind tells her he is sincere, moreover, he is single and obviously searching.

T h e p ro bl e m is that Dave has crowded

her heart. Dave obviously is interested in keeping her, but as what?

Concubine?

Second wife?

} 20

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Accessories

Frame face with stylish hoop earrings Vanessa Okwara

H

oop earrings have always been in fashion.

They keep making a comeback in different forms. When it comes to hoop earrings, simplicity is the word and they have a way of adding polish to any outfit.

Hoop earrings come in various shapes and sizes and there is always one that will fit each outfit and occasion -from thin to large chunky engraved hoops, gold or silver.

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Whether simple, classic or bejeweled and bright, these delicate pieces help frame your face for a flattering and youthful effect.

For bold accessorizing, turn to chunky gold hoop earrings. Chunky hoops offer standout appeal, a defining accent to any attire. Choose small chunky hoops for more subtle accenting or large, chunky hoops for all-out style. A pair of classic gold hoops offer a ladylike touch and pair well with everything.

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Look for ones with timeless appeal. Top off every day wear with hoop earrings to craft an eye-catching appearance. No matter your budget—there’s a pair of face-framing hoops for you.

17

Body&Soul

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Why we stepped into our father’s Moshood Abiola known as Professor Peller, for many years, dominated the magic scene in Nigeria. He was famous and rich, courtesy of his practice of magic. Several years after he was assassinated where he had gone to pray as a Muslim on a Friday, two of his offspring - Saheed Abiola, a.k.a Zeeto and Nike - took to his trade. Zeeto, a lawyer, and Nike, a popular Nollywood actress, take WOLE ADEPOJU through their art and more Howa has it been since you revived your father’s trade – magic?

Zeeto: We thank God for everything since we started. Magic in Nigeria was dead and nobody knew what magic was anymore since our father died. Three years ago, we decided to bring magic back to the entertainment industry, and we thank God for the acceptance. We started three years ago and we have been able to take it to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. We now do corpo-

rate shows, annual shows for corporate bodies. We also do concerts. We have really revived magic, and people are beginning to see magic in its real light.

Like I always tell people, magic is not voodoo, magic is entertainment. Magic is just like you are watching a movie; the only difference is that we are taking you to dream land. I mean, things you can only imagine in fairy tales, that is what makes the difference between us, magicians and actors. Thank God so far

so good, we are doing very well and we thank God for keeping us going.

Why is it that it’s just the two of you that are into magic among all your father’s children?

Nike: Well, let me put it this way. Anyone among us can do it but I had been in the entertainment world before daddy died. Zeeto is the one in charge, so that is one of the reasons. Others are busy with their businesses, their marriages

and some are even abroad. However, if any of them comes today that they want to do magic, they will be welcomed.

Zeeto: Peller family is a very large family. We’ve got brothers and we’ve got sisters. Thank God we were always with daddy on stage when he was alive. At a very young age, I showed interest and our daddy realised this and sent me to magic school. I went to magic school to refine my magic. Actually, we have our different trades. I am trained as a lawyer, we have doctors and we have engineers.

When daddy died, it was not easy for all of us to leave what we were doing to come and do magic. So I decided to take the responsibility upon myself because he sent me to a magic school. Aside from sending me to the University of Ife, where I bagged my Masters in Law, he also sent me to magic school abroad.

So when it was time, I just looked at everything and the fact that the rest were busy with their work. I considered the fact that he sent me to a magic school and that magic was the legacy he left behind. So, I decided to take it upon myself. It’s open to everybody; whoever is interested can join us. As for Nike, she’s been in Nollywood and she’s been my scapegoat (general laughter), so I don’t need to look elsewhere for someone to perform with. If I want to cut someone into two, I want to make someone float in the air; she’s just there for me.

Did you ever practise as a lawyer?

Zeeto: I practised as a lawyer in Nigeria and abroad. I practised as a solicitor and I still practise. When I’m not on the road, I am in my office.

Do you feel the acceptance is like when your father was alive?

Zeeto: Like I said, since Prof. Peller died, magic went silent and nothing was coming up. All you got to see on television were foreign magicians like David Copperfield, Chris Angel. So, when we came in, we started doing things. We have our shows on television; we feature in most concerts in Nigeria -Etisalat, Nigeria Breweries, A Nite of a Thousand Laughs; we worked for a lot of companies, corporate organisations. We even have retainership of some corporate organisations that we are in their programmes annually. So, the acceptance is warm and we enlighten people that there’s nothing voodoo or diabolical about magic; it’s just entertainment.

So, what makes it possible for someone to float in the air and all that?

Zeeto: Basically, to be a lawyer you have to go to school, to be a doctor you have to go to school and the same thing is applicable to magic. To be a magician, you have to be trained. I was trained by my father, Prof. Peller and I went to a magic school abroad. What gives me an edge as a magician is that I am able to learn the art of meditation and concentration. Those are the basic things you need to have to be a successful magician.

The ability to meditate in your inner sub-consciousness …if you can do this, then you can achieve anything imaginable. But it does not come easy, you have to learn. That is why I was trained by my father and I went to a magic school.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Body&Soul

magic shoes -Zeeto & Nike Peller Can you let us into the foreign tour deal you just signed?

Zeeto: Yes. Bioku Investment is an entertainment company that is based in America. The owner sees a lot of magicians in America but magic died in Nigeria since Prof. Peller died. He never expected anything like magic in Nigeria. So when he saw our performance when he visited Nigeria recently, he was thrilled. We have signed a deal that will make us tour a number of cities in America, and the tour begins before the year runs out.

Are there magic stunts that get you scared when your brother wants to perform them on you?

Nike: We have varieties and they all have names we call them. We have ‘Invisible difference,’ we have ‘Head off,’ and we have ‘Suspension’ and so on. I am always scared of ‘Head off.’ ‘Head off’ is when they are going to take off my head. So each time my brother says: “Let’s go and practise Head off,’ I am always complaining. But there are some I look forward to because I enjoy them.

Not that they are all that easy but I am used to them. But ‘Head off’ (laughs) is scary.

(Zeeto cuts in) You see, for me to perform ‘Head off,’ I need to be focused because it may go wrong if I lose focus.

So, she’s always like ‘Are you sure you will be able to concentrate and meditate in this environment?’ I would say, leave me to that and nothing would go wrong.

Really, it has never failed and nothing has ever gone wrong.

I learnt a stunt actually went wrong with your dad at a show where the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo were present.

What do you take out of that?

The thing is that I have learnt from my dad’s mistakes and they have never happened to me. When that incident happened, we were very young and we were in the audience. Dad wanted to cut mummy into two with a chain saw and it went wrong and there was blood and intestines out. When we got home, we were all in her room, we were all crying but she came back alive the following day. I was still young but when I grew up, I asked my dad what went wrong and he explained that somebody wanted to try something on him and it made him lose concentration and things went wrong. It has never happened to me and it will never happen because I have learnt from my dad’s mistakes.

Where does your head go when your brother do ‘Head off’ with you?

Nike: (Laughs) That is what we call magic because what you don’t know is what you don’t know. I just get unconscious and at the end of the day, I am back to normal. That is why they say Abracadabra, the more you look the less you see.

How do people who see your head go off relate with you afterwards?

Nike: They are always surprised and will ask if my head is still there and if I am normal. I will always ask them how I would be able to speak if my head is not there and all that. Some will even touch my head and I tell them that that is magic for you. We have another one we call ‘Mismade,’ where your leg will be up, your head down and body elsewhere. So, we have got so much in stock and we ask Almighty Allah to guide us through.

Nike just mentioned Allah. What is the

meeting point between Allah and magic?

Zeeto: I tell people that magic is a profession while Islam and Christianity are religions. Anyone can be a magician, they don’t really cross. The best magician in the world is David Copperfield and he’s from a Catholic home. Magic convention in America, in Europe starts from the church. When we go for magic

conventions, it starts from the church.

That is why we have to put magic on its side and religion on its side. I am a Muslim and I do my prayers. As a magician, all I need to do is to work hard and do my practices. I don’t need to invoke anything or chant anything to be on stage.

Are there things that should not be done

by a magician? May be a taboo?

Zeeto: It is the normal things we should not do, like when you want to pray. For example, you should not go on stage drunk because if you do, you are bound to lose concentration. So there are no rules or forbidden things, except for the normal things like getting drunk, which I just explained.

Are there spiritual implications?

Zeeto: No. There are not on the same pitch.

What was the negative perception you suffered as children of a magician while growing up?

Zeeto: That is a very good one. It happened to me and it’s happening to my children. Growing up, when they heard you were Prof. Peller ’s son and you wanted to like shake hands, they would go like, “No, I don’t want to change into something, I don’t want to disappear.”

But all in a friendly mood. I am proud of my father, proud of what he was known for. His name opens doors for us, “Oh! That’s Prof. Peller ’s son” and all that and I enjoy it. But on the other side, religious fanatics were a serious one. You would see some say, “I can’t go watch his shows, he’s diabolical” and all sorts but things have changed now. You can’t call white black for anyone. If you watch magic with an open mind, you will enjoy it. It’s not a religion; it’s a profession that if you are trained, you will perform it.

Is there any of your children that is interested in magic?

Zeeto: Basically, they are interested.

Some of them are interested but they are still in school and are still very young.

My first son is showing great interest but like my father did, education first and after that he may join the family business.

Is it true that Nike is not a biological daughter of Peller?

Nike: I have heard people say that but I don’t mind them because they are saying what they don’t know about. My father was also an actor and he produced about six major works. If you check one of the movies, Oganjo Oru, (Midnight) you will see me there. That was where I started my career. So, I don’t know where people got that story from.

Zeeto (cuts in): It’s a straightforward thing. If you don’t know something, you ask and you get clarification. My father had more than one wife and there are loads of us. Basically, I and Nike are not of the same mum, just like I have other half-brothers and sisters.

Since both of you are running the family business, do you remit money to family account?

We represent the family and the family is aware of what is going on, so we don’t have any problem at all.

As a magician, people never thought your father could be killed by a bullet. What do you think?

Zeeto: From God we come and to Him we shall return. Prof. Peller was praying when it happened, that means he was holy. That says it all. I don’t want to go into details.

But it was really a surprise...

Zeeto: My father was praying when it happened. My dad died when he was praying, it was an act of God.

20

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

Dave magicked me off my feet but...

K

athryn’s phone is ringing. She rushes to it.

Ben! “Hello,” she says, voice lowered.

“Hello, my dear. I have been waiting for you. You promised to visit,” Ben says quietly.

“I’m sorry dear. I...I...I have a visitor.

I’m...”

“Don’t tell me your uncle came back,” Ben cuts in.

“No dear, not my uncle...” she begins.

“Oh great, then I can come over. Look dear, you bewitched me. I can’t get you off my mind. I need to see you. We need to talk. I really think we can start something dear...what do you say?” Ben asks.

Kathryn is lost for words. Here is a man who is angling for a relationship with her. Her mind tells her he is sincere, moreover, he is single and obviously searching. The problem is that Dave has crowded her heart. Dave obviously is interested in keeping her, but as what? Concubine? Second wife?

“Hello...are you there?” Ben asks.

“Yes dear...can I call you back?” Kathryn replies, adding, “I’ll call you back”.

“Can I come over,” Ben insists.

“I’ll call you back shortly,” she replies.

She can hear footsteps on the staircase.

Dave is coming up!

“Who was that on the phone?” Dave asks as he steps into the room.

“Er...er...a friend,” she stammers.

“Hmmmmmm...” Dave begins but his phone rings.

He moves to his dressing table and picks it.

“Hello Ricky...oh great...where? I’m home...no problem...” he talks on.

Kathryn is grateful to that caller, whoever he is. She quickly switches off her handset. She’ll call Ben later. She doesn’t want him to call when it’s not convenient to pick his calls.

Dave talks some more on the phone.

Then, he turns to her and her heart skips a beat.

“Why are you standing like the guilty one? Relax darling, my friends are in the neighbourhood. They want to come over. You’re gonna host them,” he says.

He is obviously in a good mood.

Kathryn relaxes.

“Host your friends? With what? I don’t even know what you have in the house,” she says.

“Darling, you go to the kitchen. Not much in there I’m afraid except nuts and fruits...you know what?” Dave asks.

“What?” Kathryn asks.

“Check the dinette, there’s a business card of the Chinese cuisine across the road. Place an order for Spare ribs and any meal that catches your fancy for seven or eight people. Don’t request for drinks, we have enough in the house,” he says.

Kathryn stares at him.

“My darling wife, we’re expecting my friends and you have to host them. This is your house,” he says, looking into her eyes.

“My house? Hmmmmm I don’t even know where anything is here,” she replies, worry in her voice.

Dave laughs, that cool, calm laugh that says ‘everything is okay’.

“Darling, you need to know where ev-

erything is in your house. If I were you, I’ll go round the house and do just that.

I need to get out of this mess you got me into,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes, looking down his soiled boxers.

They laugh and she checks her skirt, no telltale sign that she’s been naughty a while ago. Good.

He gets out of his boxers, plants a kiss, smack on her lips and moves towards the loo. On second thought, he comes back to her.

“I just remembered...you asked for a nooky. You still want it? I want it too,” he says, unbuttoning her blouse.

She shivers.

If there’s one thing she enjoys since they met, it’s snuggling close to him. It seems he likes that too...so?

She yields to his touch!

He pushes her gently on the bed, her two legs on the floor. He divests her of her clothing, kneels between her legs and caresses her big succulent twin tatas with his tongue. She moans. His hands are all over her body and as they move closer to her cave of wonders, she shivers again, her body arching...

The atmosphere in the room changes suddenly. It’s as if something got into him. He becomes as hard as Vin Diesel’s thighs. His body begins to shake uncontrollably. He pulls her gently towards him and his peen is inside her before they realise it. That contact is magic.

They scream and scream as he ravishes her like he would a Cronut after the gym. Minutes later, spasm after spasm rock their bodies. He collapses on her, spent.

When they catch their breaths, they

stare at each other, wondering what happened.

Kathryn feels wet under her and jumps up.

Oh no! She hasn’t done this without a sheath in like 10 years!

“I’m sorry my darling. I was carried away. I don’t know what got into me. I’m sorry...I’m clean...are you? We can...” Dave stammers. This has never happened to him since he left school.

“It’s ok baby. I guess we get carried away once in a while. I’m very clean also,” she says, getting off the bed.

She has enjoyed it so much. Until a few minutes ago, she has forgotten what it feels like to be with a man without the sheaths. The feeling is heavenly. She needs more of this...with Dave only.

She smiles at him and walks to the loo.

After cleaning up, she gets dressed.

“They will be here in less than an hour. There’s a grocery about four houses away, in case you need anything.

There’s money in the wardrobe, you help yourself,” Dave tells her, disappearing into the loo. ***** Kathryn feels like a newly deflowered girl as she moves around the kitchen.

Nothing much in there. Just bachelors’ stuff. But the bar is well-stocked. She washes some wine glasses.

“Hi Katty.”

She spurns around. Dave’s brother!

She relaxes.

“Hello...” she replies, trying to recall his name.

“I’m Hanson,” he says.

“And I’m Mike,” another says, moving into the kitchen.

“Oh thanks for reminding me,” Kathryn says with a small laugh. They laugh also...like friends.

“You cooking?” Hanson asks.

“Not really dear. I’m supposed to place orders for food from across the road. Mind helping me? Your brother is expecting some friends,” she says to no one in particular.

“Friends? I guess we came in too early,” Mike says, making a face.

“You want to place an order? Hope you know your husband likes Spare ribs and seafood? Make ours double,” Hanson says, picking up a paper on the fridge.

“Here’s the number...or I should do it for you? How many people?” Hanson asks.

Kathryn is not sure of anything again.

Husband?

“Er...er...Dave said he’s expecting about eight people,” she says.

“Ok...we’ll make it 10 then. By the way, he warned us to be good to you, didn’t he?” Hanson says with a chuckle, turning to his brother, Mike.

Mike grins.

“And I mean every word I said. Be good to my wife and you are good to me,” Dave says, walking into the kitchen.

They all turn, surprised.

He walks to Kathryn, wraps his arms around her and says, “I need to warn you against these my brothers...” ****** Warn? Is there a problem? Let’s find out next week.

Send your observations to the email above.

21

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Body&Soul

&

Healthy ways to get a manicure

Vanessa Okwara

N

ails reflect our overall health, which is why proper nail care is very important. Millions of women visit manicurists to have their nails done professionally every year. A manicure should be a pleasant experience, not one that leads to painful nail infections. The state of your nail is an indicator of your overall general health. Nail problems may indicate problems with your heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver, and may indicate diabetes. Broken, dis-

colored, or misshapen nails can indicate nutritional deficiencies, infections, or skin conditions.

Good nail care keeps your hands and feet looking nice and is part of personal hygiene.

Artificial nails and manicure are very popular and can help your hands look nice. A professional manicure includes thorough cleaning and moisturizing with lotions that will exfoliate your skin; keep your hands smooth and reduce appearance of wrinkles.

However, they can also be a source of health problems.

Manicure tools and instruments used in salons are used on different people. If these tools are not properly sterilized, you can get infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or fungus.

If you have your nails professionally fixed or manicured, you should ensure that the manicurists sterilize their equipment after each use. An alternative will be to have your own manicure tools. Buy your own manicure and pedicure kit and take it with you when you visit your manicurist. Make sure you clean and disinfect your manicure kit after

each use.

Also bear in mind the following when next you visit your manicurist: • If you are not using your own manicure kit, make sure all instruments are cleaned and disinfected after each use.

• Make sure the manicurists wash their hands before and after each client so as not to pass on fungus disease to you.

• If these precautions are not taken at your nail salon, don’t be afraid to talk to the shop owner.

Body&Soul

22

Vanessa Okwara

A

torn or ripped jean is casual and edgy and is the look many top celebrities are rocking this season.

This style, initially seen on teenagers, has now been embraced by fashionistas.

Ripped jeans come in various forms.

From washed, dark blues, white to black and the occasional grey in between, with or without embellishments, everything

goes as long as it features the mandatory holes and shreds. Ripped jeans can be worn in the most casual or sophisticated ways.

From classy to edgy, the ways to enhance the shredded jeans appear endless and exciting.

Knowing how to wear the shredded jeans in a perfectly stylish manner is what puts you in the category of the super chic. The trick to making ripped jeans look pulled together is to pair them with basic staples,

such as a silk blouse, tee-shirts, a great pair of stilettos, chic blazers or a men’s wearinspired jacket. Ripped pale denims look ladylike when paired with stilettos and a statement jacket.

Ripped jeans are appropriate for many occasions. When paired with heels, you get an elegant evening look; when combined with sneakers, you get a more sporty and casual one.

Limit your accessories to a roomy bag

or clutch and a statement necklace for an evening date; add a floral blazer or a denim jacket for an effortlessly, street-ready look. Ripped jeans always look great when paired with a tucked-in blouse, a structured bag, a chic overcoat, a statement heel, and plenty of wrist swag.

In order not to look too tacky or vulgar, go for the right ‘rip’. Before you rock this trend, you may need to ask yourself, ‘how ripped is too ripped?

Rock super-chic ripped jeans

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

43

23

SundayBusiness SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Personality

Ifie Sekibo: Rewriting SGBN’s story through Heritage Bank p.28

Transport

Hyundai signs dealership pact with Truckmasters p.25

Interview Niger enjoys favourable business climate –Commissioner p.27

Features

Elumelu empowers distressed Nigerians p.24

Jonathan

Naira’s rapid depreciation and dangers ahead T

Paul Ogbuokiri

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okonjo-Iweala

he value of the Naira against other currencies hit a two-month low on Wednesday, down to N170 at the parallel market. The situation confirmed fears expressed by economic experts that the falling price of crude oil at the international market portends negative consequences for the economies of Nigeria, Russia and other major exporters whose economies depend on the back gold to fund their annual budgets.

The Central Bank of Nigeria sold $400 million on Tuesday at the bi-weekly foreign exchange auctions. It also sold dollars at the interbank market in a bid to bring down the interbank exchange rate and thus narrow the gap between the interbank and official exchange rate.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation sold $300m to selected lenders, but this was not enough to boost the depreciating naira. The official exchange rate stabilised at 155.9 in the official market, but the ‘free fall of the naira’ at the parallel market continued unabated during the week.

The NNPC accounts for the bulk of dollars traded on the interbank market.

The International Oil Companies, every month end, sell foreign currencies to some

“Unless we see fresh forex flows from offshore investors buying local bonds, and from some oil companies yet to sell dollars in the market, the naira will cross the N163 to the dollar mark soon” banks to meet their domestic obligations and that has always helped to stabilise the naira.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that up till last week, the naira had steadily depreciated in the official and interbank markets.

But it closed on Wednesday at N162.87 to the dollar at the interbank market after the CBN intervention, compared with Tuesday’s close of N162.80. It was the lowest level seen since July 2, when the Naira closed at N163.10 to the dollar.

According to Reuters, the banks took the opportunity of the NNPC sale to cover their short positions, which left the mar-

ket with little left to meet growing demand from importers and other foreign exchange end-users.

A dealer at Bristol Street Lagos, Shehu Umar, corroborated the assertion of Reuters, saying, “A lot of demand targeted at the NNPC dollar sale hit the market, reducing the impact of the fresh dollar flow and weakening the naira further.”

He noted that the demand for the greenback is strong. He does not know what most of the so-called end users of the foreign exchange are using the currencies for.

He said he expects the naira to weaken further next week against other currencies because of the strong demand.

“Unless we see fresh forex flows from offshore investors buying local bonds, and from some oil companies yet to sell dollars in the market, the Naira will cross the N163 to the dollar mark soon,” Umar said.

Since May 26, the Naira has depreciated persistently at the bi-weekly auction, as the exchange rate rose steadily from N155.69 per dollar to N155.9 per dollar last week Monday. Similarly, the naira depreciated by 386 kobo as the interbank rate rose to N163.21 per dollar last week from N159.35 per dollar on May 23.

Analysts say that apart from other conC ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 24

24

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Feature

Elumelu empowers distressed Nigerians

Tony Elumelu

C

Paul Ogbuokiri

hairman, United Bank for Africa and heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has announced the launch of The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund.

The fund was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan, with the purpose of revitalising the economies of post conflict and disaster communities across Nigeria, according to a statement on Friday.

It said that the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund was created out of the N2.5 billion donated by The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Heirs Holdings companies. This donation was announced at the Presidential Fundraising Dinner for

the Victims Support Fund in July 2014.

Given to support distressed communities across Nigeria, N1 billion was immediately disbursed to the Victims Support Fund, while the remaining N1.5 billion now serves as the initial seeding for The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund.

The fund will focus on communities like those in the Niger Delta and Jos. “Rehabilitating distressed communities will require interventions not just from the government, but also from the private sector. Therefore, I am pleased to see that Tony Elumelu, one of our private sector leaders, stepped up in a big way - by making a major contribution to the Victim Support Fund and that his

effort did not end there as he has now created The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund” said Jonathan.

Seeded and managed by The Tony Elumelu Foundation, The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund, a non-profit organisation, will transform communities that have been ravaged by natural disasters, hazards and conflicts, into thriving and economically sustainable communities.

The initiative will create opportunities and empower people in affected communities across Nigeria, enabling them to rebuild their lives and businesses whilst instilling a sense of economic empowerment for the long-term.

In furtherance of Elumelu’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs across Africa, The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund will focus on encouraging the development of entrepreneurship in these affected regions through access to start-up funding, capacity building and mentorship. The fund will also support a range of initiatives in these communities, including projects that will tackle environmental issues, restore damaged infrastructure as well as social welfare projects.

By helping to restore these communities, the fund will create the platform for a thriving entrepreneurial environment, the statement added.

“By making social investments and grants available in select distressed communities across Nigeria, the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund will economically empower individuals and communities by creating and fostering an enabling environment that will support a new generation of entrepreneurs.

“Entrepreneurs create jobs, opportunity and wealth at the local level and in doing so, they play a vital role in re-

ducing poverty and addressing a range of social issues that cause conflict and instability,” Elumelu said.

As the fund works to economically empower communities, so will it work to sustain itself. The fund is managed by Katja Nwator, a staff of the Tony Elumelu Foundation with considerable community development experience and Niger Delta roots.

With the support of a distinguished board and other donors, both domestic and international, the Fund will be impactful and sustainable. This will occur within a framework of accountability and best practice, to serve as a model for delivering development programmes to the communities that have been devastated by conflict or disaster.

The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund’s distinguished board members include Prof. Charles Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Hajiya (Dr.) Mairo Mandara, Nigeria Country Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto; Managing Director of the Empretec Foundation, Mrs. Onari Duke, and CEO of the Bank of Industry, Rasheed Olaoluwa.

Others are a director, Central Bank of Nigeria and Director, Transcorp Plc., Dr. Stanley Lawson; and the Executive Director of Oxfam International, Dr. Winnie Byanyima.

Speaking at the launch of the fund, Kukah stated, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. The Tony Elumelu Foundation has ignited what will definitely be a massive flame of hope to dispel the darkness that hovers around us. I am honoured to stand beside men and women with passion for our common humanity.”

Naira’s depreciation portends danger for enconomy

CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 23

tending reasons for the strong demand for foreign currencies, the falling price of oil in the international market remain a strong factor which might have given rise to the speculative buying against expected fall in the values of the naira. This is because of the expected reduction in government revenues which will erode its ability to continue to support the naira as it is currently doing.

Nigeria is a mono economy, with over 85 per cent of its budget funded with revenue from the sale of crude oil.

The prices of crude oil fell for a seventh week in the longest stretch in three years, according to Standard Chartered Plc. in a statement on Wednesday.

Sunday New Telegraph had in its September 28, 2014 edition raised the alarm on the negative implication the continuous fall of oil price in the international market would have on the economy.

It noted in the publication two weeks ago that Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which have already shaded about 9.5 per cent to $39.5bn by October 2, is in danger of being depleted if revenues fall short of the target.

This opinion was shared by Kunle Ezun, an analyst with Ecobank Transnational Inc. in Lagos, in an interview with Reuters. He said, “A drop in forex inflows will put pressure on reserves and affect the ability of central bank to continue to support the currency.”

In 2008, the oil price hit $140 a barrel.

Today it is well below $90. Healthy supplies from America and weak demand (especially from China) have pushed down prices.

But the Financial Derivatives Company in its recent monthly economic report blamed the depreciation of the naira on foreign exchange round-tripping, speculation and repatriation of profits by foreign companies.

The company said speculators are besieging the market to take positions, due to their expectation of a weaker currency as a result of the declining trend in oil prices. This will result in a slowdown in external reserves accretion and the ability of the CBN to continue its support of the Naira.

“The divestment of international investors’ funds from high yield government securities is increasing the demand for forex; round-tripping between the official

and parallel markets. The spread between parallel and official rates has widened to levels last seen in December 2009 and early January 2010. The gap between the official spot rate and the parallel cash rate is currently N9.1, from a low of N2.94 in March,” the company further said.

Meanwhile, industry experts have said that the rapidly depreciating naira is inversely related to the falling prices crude oil. They say when crude oil prices fall, businesses and individuals cheer but oilexporting countries suffer.

According to research by Deutsche Bank, seven of the 12 members of OPEC failed to balance their budgets when prices are below $100. Last month Venezuela, a particularly inefficient member of the cartel, saw its bonds downgraded.

One non-OPEC member in particular is in trouble: Russia. Its economic growth is already poor.

Will Saudi Arabia come to the rescue? It is the largest oil exporter and if it cuts supply, prices could rise again. But this seems unlikely. The kingdom is in the midst of a big fiscal boom as it tries to diversify its economy and improve living standards.

For 2014, the Saudi Arabian government plans to spend $228 billion, up by 4.3 per

cent last year.

But against all expectations, the CBN has continued to reassure an apprehensive Nigerian public that the nation’s foreign reserves are still in safe hands.

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told AFP two weeks ago in Singapore that the falling oil price was not a threat to the budget or the country’s foreign reserves because the 2014 budget was estimated at $78 per barrel of oil.

The current trend has already sent jitters down the spines of most captains of industry, who fear that the era of unpredictability in corporate planning is here again.

While giving insights into the likely effects of the weakening of the Naira on the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, a member, Mr. John Aluya, said that the situation would have unsalutary effects on the manufacturing sector more than any other sector of the economy.

According to him, manufacturers would have to factor in various cost elements incurred in the process of producing goods before they decide on the price. This, he said, would impact negatively on the prices of finished goods and as a result, CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

25

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Transport

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER , 2014

Hyundai signs dealership pact with Truckmasters

H

Paul Ogbuokiri yundai Motors Nigeria Limited has appointed Lagos-based automobile vending and aftermarket shop, Truckmasters Nigeria Limited, as one of its provisional dealers at a recent sign-on ceremony in Lagos.

At the ceremony, it charged the new agent to be steadfast and extend its role beyond being a simple sales and service shop to become customers’ lifetime companion.

Managing Director, Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Stallion Group, Mr. Parvir Singh, who recently

made this appeal, said Truckmasters facility will provide sales and technical support to teeming customers in Maryland, Ikeja and its environs.

He urged the newly commissioned agent to embrace Hyundai global vision of being ‘Life time partner in automobiles and beyond,’ while moving one step closer to customers by making Hyundai buyers’ beloved brand.

“It isn’t enough to be successfully certified and expect your organisation to keep performing at a high level, using smart practices. Rather, you need to be focus and make compliance to standard

an on-going habit,” he said.

Singh encouraged the new agent to embrace the principle of maintenance and improvement as standard ways of working throughout an organisation, adding that Hyundai Motor Company recognises the importance and impact automobiles have on society and mankind.

He said: “A car is no longer simply a means of transportation that links people to people but a life space that occupies a central role in people’s lives.”

A robust automobile brand, Hyundai has made remarkable strides at

local and global markets owing to high quality and emotional appeal of its products, which have become part of the brand’s modern premium strategy and brand direction to ‘Live Brilliant’.

Hyundai vehicles are also celebrated for their stylish, sleek curves and fluidic sculpture designs that not only implies a sporty and dynamic style, but improves aerodynamics to lower air resistance and enhance outstanding fuel economy and quiet cabin space.

Mr. Anthony Arenyeka, Managing Director, Truckmasters Nigeria Limited applauded the initiative of Hyundai Motors Nigeria and her determination to spearhead the reinvention of the local automotive industry, where Hyundai seeks to play dominant role saying: “I am delighted to be part of this team and together we will take Hyundai to deserved heights.”

He said Truckmasters was inspired by the success of Hyundai both as local and international brand and seeks to consolidate on the brand’s achievement to enhance and growth of Hyundai clientele in Nigeria.

“We are ready to collaborate with Hyundai Motors Nigeria to develop a local brand that would in future place Nigeria on the global map of technologically inclined nations and Truckmasters seeks to play key role that extends beyond being a simple car sales and aftermarket shop to become customers’ lifetime companion,” Mr. Arenyeka assured.

Auto Clinic

Car Accident Tips

Kia Motors records 1.5% sales growth

K

ia Motors Corporation has announced its global sales figures (export, domestic and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles for the second quarter 2014, which shows that it sold a total of 228,277 units.

This figure represents a 1.5 percent yearon-year increase.

The company in an online statement on Tuesday, said In the second quarter, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in China and North America of 17.3 percent (50,162 units sold) and 3.9 percent (61,820 units sold), respectively.

Marketing Manger of Kia in Niger Kayode Olajimi, said cumulatively, through the first eight months of 2014, Kia’s global sales have increased by 3.8 percent yearon-year, reaching 1,910,969 units. China, North America and General Markets* have experienced cumulative gains to date in 2014 of 13.2 percent (424,302 units sold), 5.7 percent (454,791 units sold) and 2.0% (347,998 units sold), respectively.

He said the Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets for the month of August was the B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) with 36,565 units sold. The C-seg-

ment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3’ in some markets) was the second bestseller with 33,962 units delivered, while the Sportage compact CUV, Optima D-segment sedan and Soul urban crossover fol-

lowed with 29,287, 25,428 and 19,487 units sold, respectively. Both Rio and Cerato are also the brand’s bestsellers in Nigeria, according to sources at Dana House, the Lagos head office of Kia Motors Nigeria.

Mazda releases details of supermini

M

azda has revealed the first technical details of its next 2 supermini, which will go head-to-head with the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

According to the Telegraph Cars, an online auto news platform, the new Mazda 2 will be powered by a selection of 1.5-litre engines, with three petrol versions of 74bhp, 94bhp and 113bhp, and one 104bhp diesel making up the range.

It noted however that even the cleanest petrol model – the manual 94bhp version – will struggle in the emissions stakes with 105g/km – more than most rivals, which are now ducking below the 100g/km mark and, consequently, qualify for freeof-charge tax.

The news portal said the interior of Mazda’s new supermini will be styled simply

and cleanly It added that the diesel Mazda 2 offers better emissions on paper, though even its 89g/km is beaten by the cleanest Ford Fiesta. It was further stated that Mazda will be hoping that buyers will forgive the 2’s higher emissions levels – and its resultant costlier tax – if they fall in love with its styling, both inside and out.

Telegraph Cars said that the swooping lines and low nose of the 2 do make it look rather rakish, while the elegantly simple interior is a lesson in minimalism.

There’s no word on pricing just yet, so if Mazda can pitch the 2 correctly, it could go some way towards mitigating against those carbon dioxide figures.

We’ll find out when it goes on sale early next year.

W

hat to do if you’re in an Accident Car accidents can be very stressful. Read the tips below to learn what you should do if you’re involved in a car accident.

Stay calm.

Keeping a normal demeanor helps you stay in control of the situation.

Make sure you and your passengers are OK. Move as far off the roadway as possible, but stay at the scene of the accident. Warn oncoming traffic by activating your hazard warning lights and/or setting flares.

Call the police.

Call 911 or the appropriate emergency number to report the accident.

Contact your insurance company and report the claim.

The sooner your insurance company knows about the accident, the sooner they can start working to resolve your claim.

Do not admit fault.

Do not discuss the car accident with anyone other than the police and your claims representative.

Exchange vital information with the other driver involved in the car accident.

Write down the name, address, phone number and license numbers for all drivers and witnesses, particularly those who were not riding in a vehicle involved in the accident. Ask for the insurance companies and policy numbers for drivers involved in the car accident.

26

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Equities nosedive T

he Nigerian equities market declined by 5.55% week-on-week (WoW), the highest weekly change in 2014. The NSEASI dipped below 40,000pts to close at 38,197.73pts pegging the YtD return at -7.58%. Market’s negative sentiments spread across sectors with all sectorial indices closing lower save for insurance which recorded a 1.97% gain. A total of 14 stocks recorded price appreciation against 70 decliners.

7UP, IKEJAHOTEL, MANSARD, GOLDBREW and ACADEMY were the top gainers for the week advancing by 10.24%, 8.65%, 8.33%, 5.00% and 4.55% respectively. In a market that was dominated by decliners, UBA, TRANSCORP, OANDO, SEPLAT and CAVERTON led the losers’ chart declining by 16.69%, 14.57%, 14.40%, 14.26% and 13.64% in that order.

Volume and value of transactions were on the increase, advancing by 39.55% and 64.00% respectively for the week.

Our technical analysis indicates a relatively underpriced market which portends an opportunity for potential upside for value seeking investors. We are of the view that some investors may want to take position to benefit from the current low prices. Against this backdrop, we expect possible reversal to positivity in the coming week.

Banking Sector: Majority of sector stocks decline, as sentiment swings further negative

The banking sector bled red this week as 12 of 15 stocks declined in prices week on week, with SKYEBANK advancing, while UNITYBNK and WEMABANK remained flat.

The only gainer for the week, SKYEBANK, advanced by 1.29% as the ticker continues to be buoyed by its provisional acquisition of Mainstreet bank for NGN100bn last week.

On the other side, UBA led the laggers’ list, declining by 16.69% to reach a new year low price of NGN5.29 as the banking sector’s stocks continue to be pressured by the combination of negative general and sector market sentiments. Other major decliners were GUARANTY (10.04%), FBNH (8.60%), and ZENITHBANK (6.14%).

WEMABANK released its Q3:2014 results this week in which the bank consolidated on its impressive 2014 results, though this performance is largely due to the low comparative base of 2013. The bank grew its top and bottom lines by 20.22% and 344.61% Year on Year (YoY) respectively, and we expect that the bank will be able to maintain this impressive performance by FY2014.

We are of the opinion that the general negative sentiment that has hit the market and the sector presents some very good opportunities to buy some good stocks at cheap prices.

Stocks such as GUARANTY and ZENITHBANK may provide good yield as they near the bottom of this period and so we advise that investors time their entry to take advantage of a Probable rebound.

Industrial Goods: Bearish Trend Continues

Continuing the negative trend of last week, the sector treaded south yet again as most stocks closed negative for the week, leaving other stocks flat. WAPCO, PORTPAINT, CCNN, ASHAKA, DANGCEM, BERGER, and CUTIX all closed negative, dipping 13.23%, 12.00%, 6.67%, 4.13%, 2.31%, and 0.53% respectively.

Nigeria Wire & Cable Plc. (NIWICABLE) and West African Glass Industry Plc. (WAGLASS) stand the risk of being delisted following Tuesdays’ issuance of final notice of delisting for the regularization of their listing status by the NSE if regulatory requirements are not fulfilled within the one month grace period. Berger Paints Plc. Q3:2014 result showed a decline in both Revenue (-5.37%) and Profit after Tax (-29.17%).

We expect that positive Q3:2014 results will drive the sector’s performance for the coming week. Hence, we advise cautious position taking ahead of the results even as we are of

…as NSEASI dips below 40,000pts ROYALEX recorded the highest price decline, shedding 13.56% while other laggards were WAPIC, NEM, CONTINSURE, INTENEGINS, AIICO and CUSTODYINS as their prices declined by 11.27%, 10.39%, 9.00%, 7.14%, 2.50% and 1.76% in that order.

We are of the opinion that CUSTODYINS will probably find a new support level at the current price, precipitated by our expectation of good Q3:2014 outing. MANSARD appears to be fairly priced at current level but will remain investors’ toast in the sector even as we preach cautious trading in the coming week.

Our fundamental valuation supports CONTINSURE and NEM.

the opinion that stocks are relatively cheap at their current prices following successive losses recorded in recent time.

Consumer Good Sector: sector sentiments still downbeat

The sector followed the same line with the general negative market mood, shedding 5.69% Week on Week (WoW). Most of the companies within the sector had a negative run during the week’s trading while some however upheld their stability despite the weak general market mood like sector heavy weight 7UP which gained 10.24% WoW after trading flat during the previous week.

7UP was joined by HONYFLOUR, VITAFOAM and INTBREW with 0.52%, 0.47% and 3.28% gains respectively. DANGFLOUR and NNFM however traded flat WoW despite all pressures.

DANGSUGAR led the losers’ chart declining by 12.96%, CADBURY, FLOURMILL, NASCON, NESTLE, PZ, UNILEVER, GUINNESS, NB, CHAMPION, and PREMBREW also joined with losses of -2.76% -0.97%, -11.99%, -6.67%, -4.98%, -4.46%, -4.26%, -8.08%, -5.02% and -4.78% WoW respectively.

In the Conglomerate space, AGLEVENT remained stable at its market price of N1.33 while UACN shed 10.92% WoW. In the coming week, we anticipate possible third quarter result releases to determine the direction of price movement for the sector’s counters. Barring this, sector performance is expected to remain tempered.

Oil and Gas: Forte Oil post 46.72% growth in Q3 earnings

FO released its third quarter financial state-

ment during the week, in which the company recorded yet another impressive growth in top and bottom-line. A growth of 33.06% in revenue can be attributed to consolidation of activities of Geregu power plant and expansion in petroleum marketing business. OPEX increased by 19.34% while finance cost surged by 146.14%. Despite a 49.97% decline in other operating income, the company’s PAT grew by 46.72%.

The impressive number was unable to shake the negative sentiment across the market as FO shed 2.09% to close at NGN215.90 for the week. All other price movements in the sector were also negative with OANDO leading the chart by shedding 14.40%, while SEPLAT, CONOIL, MOBIL, TOTAL and ETERNA declined by 14.26%, 5.00%, 4.71% 2.56% and 1.32% respectively.

We maintain our overpriced position on FO, while we believe the recent decline portend an opportunity for position taking in other counters such as MOBIL and ETERNA. Also, our fundamental valuation also puts CONOIL in the fairly priced region.

Insurance: MANSARD to the Rescue as Performance Revives

The insurance sector recently witnessed some profit taking, particularly on some heavy weight counters. In spite of the negative sentiments that characterized the sector for the week as the sector’s market breadth favored decliners as only one stock appreciated in price, the MERI-INS index increased by 1.97% on the back of significant price appreciation of 8.33% recorded by the sector’s most capitalized ticker, MANSARD.

Healthcare Sector: Local pharmaceutical companies bag WHO pre-qualification status

In line with the general market sentiment for the week, the Health sector continued to shed points as the MERI-HLTH index closed 8.05% down, thus dragging YtD return to 17.47%.

The sector breadth pegged at 0.25x, as one (1) advanced against four (4) that declined.

Only MAYBAKER closed the week up, advancing 3.4%, while GLAXOSMITH, NEIMETH, EVANSMED and FIDSON shed points during the week, losing 8.2%, 7.5%, 4.9% and 2.1% respectively. All other counters in the sector closed flat.

The positive sentiments on MAYBAKER may not be unrelated to the news of pre-qualification status bagged by the company alongside EVANSMED and CHI pharmaceuticals during the week. In all, four pharmaceutical companies have been awarded the WHO prequalification status for Good manufacturing practice (GMP) this year, making Nigeria the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to attain this status.

This status will give the companies the opportunity to bid for bulk purchases of Antimalaria, Anti-retroviral drugs and TB during global health intervention programmes and also ensure that the company’s products compete favorably in the global market.

Services sector…IKEJAHOTEL soars despite negative market mood

The services sector experienced another downturn with a sector breadth of (0.30x) as three stocks gained against ten stocks that lost.

IKEJAHOTEL led the gainers’ chart with 8.65% trailed by ACADEMY and RT.BRISCOE with 4.55% and 3.49% respectively. On the contrary, TRANSCORP CAVERTON, REDSTAREX, LEARN AFRICA, ABCTRANS, ASL, TRANSEXPR, STUDPRESS, UPL and NAHCO were the decliners for the week closing in with 14.57%, 13.64%, 9.09%, 9.03%, 5.80%, 4.98%, 4.44%, 4.17%, 3.38% and 0.60% returns while LENNARDS, C&I LEASING, TANTALIZER, NSLTECH all traded flat.

Ikeja Hotels Plc. released its financials for the Q2:2014 during the week. The company recorded 14.87% decline in Turnover and dipped by 107.88% in its Profit after Tax as a result of an astronomical increase in its finance cost and operating expense which soared by 7794.17% and 11.69% respectively.

Agric Sector: Sector sustains negative sentiment

Agricultural sector closed the week on a negative mood declining 2.42% WoW to peg YtD at -16.78%. As all counters in the sector traded south.

LIVESTOCK led the losers’ chart for the week with 12.34% loss to peg its price at NGN2.70, albeit volume and value trade surged 155.97% and 133.35% respectively.

PRESCO and OKUMUOIL also dipped by 4.31% and 0.03% to close at NGN35.5 and NGN33.00 in that order. The other counters in the sector traded flat, both in their volume and value.

Whilst we await Q3: 2014 result to flood the market, OKUMUOIL and PRESCO remain our top picks.

2727

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sundayinterview

The first Niger State Investment Climate Summit has just ended. How would you assess the forum? Would you say the summit was a success?

The summit was a huge success. First, it recorded the kind of attendance that was unprecedented in the history of economic summits in this part of the country. Second, we were able to sensitise investors on the business potential in the state and valuable tips on how they can take advantage of these opportunities.

Specifically, we emphasised our competitive advantage in terms of land mass and the huge employment opportunities embedded in agriculture. So, it was on the strength of what we presented to the investors that they tabled actionable plans that would accelerate economic development in the state in the areas of agriculture/ agrobusinesses, infrastructure, roads, housing, manufacturing, employment generation and wealth creation. For instance, investors who have their eyes on agriculture were happy to know that Niger State has about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s entire land mass, 80 per cent of which is arable. They also now know that in Niger State, we have people who are friendly, hospitable and welcoming - the type you cannot find anywhere else. The peaceful nature of our state also makes it an attractive investment destination.

But the question on the lips of many was about the timing of the summit. Why is the summit coming in the twilight of this administration?

Yes, many have asked this question, but my answer is: Why not now? In the last seven years, we have worked tirelessly to create a favourable climate for doing business. We have repositioned land administration in a way that has fast-tracked the processes leading to the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy. We have also improved on the way we administer taxes as they pertain to investors. What this means is that big businessmen who come to Niger State will enjoy tax incentives which may sometimes include outright waivers, depending on the volume of the investment. Contract enforcement and Alternative Dispute Resolution centres have also been established so that good investments are not frustrated by unnecessary litigation. So these are some of the deliberate steps that we took in order to increase the flow of investments into the state. Without the kind of foundation that we have laid down, all our competitive advantages that we have, like our intimidating land mass, will amount to nothing.

So, what major policy reforms would you say the state has embarked on in order to build the kind of business environment that would attract the multi-billion naira investments you have talked about?

I have just listed some of the incentives to include the repositioning of land administration which has made the issuance of C of O very easy. I have also mentioned another area which has to do with tax administration. But let me say that the state has a comprehensive package which has made Niger State one of the best investment destinations in the country. We now have all the laws that encourage private sector participation in the development of the economy of our state. We now have the Fiscal Responsibility Law and the Public Procurement Law which are a set of rules which ensure sound financial management, greater transparency, and accountability in public finance.

Also, we have the Small and Medium Enterprises/Micro Finance Agency Law which has ensured the smooth take-off of micro-finance banks and small businesses in the state. Our commodity and export promotion agency which we created through an Act of the Niger State House of Assembly is also doing excellently well.

But the Niger State One Stop Investment Centre is the icing on the cake. We have

Niger enjoys favourable business climate –Commissioner Danladi Ndayebo is the Niger State Commissioner for Information. In this interview with DAN ATORI in Minna, he speaks on the outcome of the state’s First Investment Summit and other issues

Mallam Danladi

“Our health care delivery services are also among the best. In the last seven and a half years, we have made tremendous progress in the area of health care delivery” been able to use the agency to put forward our investment potential in our priority areas of agriculture, solid minerals, tourism, transportation and energy.

Before now, various agencies of government had made efforts to attract businesses to the state. Nigerians would like to know if your investment drive has yielded positive results.

Very well! You would recall that Niger State was among the five states where Nigeria’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, acquired farmland for the commercial production of rice. And I’m sure you have not forgotten that that part of the agreement requires that Dangote Group would establish two modern rice mills in Niger State, each with a capacity to mill 120,000 metric tonnes of paddy. What this means is that thousands of jobs will be provided for our young people.

And only recently, the state government got a private company which indicated interest in investing over N1.6bn in the establishment of a shea butter factory in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state. We have since met our own part of the bargain, which is the provision of 20 hectares of land to the firm.

On completion, the factory would engage

about 10,000 people and would generate an average of N10m monthly. So, no one needs to be told that these and other businesses that will soon take off will do the generality of Nigerlites a lot of good.

Does that mean that the state is leveraging only agriculture where it has a competitive advantage?

Well, that may not be very correct. Yes, agriculture enjoys priority attention because, like you said, it is our competitive advantage. But we have other priority sectors where the state government has made huge investment in order to attract the right kind of businesses. In the area of tourism, for instance, the state has 65 sites which if properly harnessed will spin a lot of money for the state. Popular among our tourist sites are Zuma Rock, Kainji Lake National Park, Gurara Waterfalls, Baro Empire Hills, Mungo Park Cenotaph and the Zungeru Colonial Ruins.

Talking about energy, it is common knowledge that Niger State houses the three hydro-electric power stations in the country, with the fourth under construction in Zungeru. We have several other opportunities in the areas of mini hydro power projects, municipal waste to power projects and rural electrification/ distribution projects. Also, Niger State has huge investment potential in the area of solid minerals. We have gold, beryl (light blue honey), amethyst, tourmalines, quartz and other minerals in commercial quantities.

What you intend to do to consolidate on the achievements going forward?

The current administration under the leadership of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has done a lot to better the lot of its people

and this cut across all the critical sectors of the state’s economy. We shall continue to do all the things that have made Niger State a home for all. We shall continue to stamp our seal of excellence in all spheres of human endeavour so that whoever comes here would want to live here forever.

For instance, we will consolidate on our landmark achievements in the area of agriculture. From 2007 to date, we procured 400 units of tractors and distributed to the Tractor Hiring Units Implementation Programme in the 25 local government areas to boost agricultural production and revitalise agricultural extension infrastructure. We did this by renovating nine centres across the state and distributed 100 motorcycles to facilitate the movement of the extension workers. This has given meaning to the lives of our rural farmers and will be sustained.

We also established the Niger Rice Investment Consortium Project to boost rice production and position Niger State as the major producer of high quality rice in the country. To get the project off the ground, we established and equipped five agricultural equipment hiring centres of the NSRIC Project in the rice producing communities of Doko, Jima, Mambe, Ndaloke and Gaba.

Our irrigation programme has also enjoyed a boost with the reactivation of 16 schemes across the state to boost all year farming. We have also registered over 270,000 farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES).

It was because of our modest efforts that the state was selected as one of four additional phase II states for the implementation of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II) in collaboration with the World Bank and French Development Agency.

Our health care delivery services are also among the best. In the last seven and a half years, we have made tremendous progress in the area of health care delivery. We have been proving free medical services for children under five, pregnant women (up to 40 days post-delivery) and the aged over 70 years of age.

We have constructed and equipped three ultra-modern, hi-tech general hospitals in the three senatorial zones of the state (located at Gulu, Sabon Wuse and Nasko).

Government has also embarked on the construction of 134-bed neo natal and maternity wings as part of the expansion of Minna General Hospital (with funding support from SURE-P special projects directorate).

Do not also forget that between 2007 and now we have constructed over 200 primary healthcare centres across the state in partnership with the MDGs office aside the renovation of all existing general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the state.

Some rural health centres were also upgraded to the status of general hospitals.

They are General Hospital, Kutigi, General Hospital, Agaie and Lemu General Hospital.

Not to be missed is the Ward Development Project introduced by the current administration. It is a novel initiative which has since become iconic and a model to other states. Under the project, funds are allocated to the 274 wards in the state on a monthly basis and a committee of selected persons superintend over a forum where the entire community agree on a project of their choice. This has given a huge sense of belonging to the grass roots.

28

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Personality

Ifie Sekibo: Rewriting SGBN’s story through Heritage Bank

T

Paul Ogbuokiri

he Heritage Banking Company Investment Services Limited (HISL), a special purpose vehicle sponsored

by Heritage Bank to bid for Enterprise Bank, on Wednesday announced the full payment of the 80 per cent balance of its purchase price for the bank. This is in fulfillment of the major requirement necessary for its full acquisition of Enterprise Bank Limited. The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria had last month announced HISL as the preferred bidder for Enterprise Bank.

AMCON also gave HISL up to Wednesday, October 15 to pay the 80 per cent balance of the bid price after the latter met the deadline for the payment of the initial 20 per cent, leading to the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement last month.

The final payment of the balance of the bid price by HISL within the timeframe specified by AMCON means the coast is clear for Enterprise Bank and Heritage Bank to merge

Sekibo

as one stronger banking entity.

The Enterprise Bank acquisition is a clear signal that the lender, which entered the market slightly over a year ago with a regional bank status following the acquisition of the banking licence and liabilities of the defunct Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN), is well on its way to becoming a strong national bank. The acquisition of Enterprise Bank which currently boasts of 165 branches will increase Heritage Bank’s points of presence from the current 15 Experience Centers to nearly 200 branches spread all over the country.

To those who have been following the milestones of the youngest player in Nigeria’s financial landscape, Heritage Bank Plc, has accomplished in the last 18 months its latest feat did not come them as a surprise.

The bank opened it doors to customer on September 11, 20014, was rebranded Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria which alongside Savannah Bank was granted a regional banking licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria last year. With accomplished a manager of human and material resources, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, at the helm of affairs of the lender, it set tall goals for itself.

In a speech three weeks ago to announce the Enterprise Bank deal, he said: “Our vision at Heritage Bank is to deepen the culture of wealth creation, transfer and preservation among Nigerians. This latest acquisition can only empower us to deliver on the vision in a more robust manner, with more vigour and through a stronger and more diversified platform offered by this new partnership with another tested market player. We are hopeful that with this historic feat, Heritage Bank has further shown its intention to change the financial business landscape in Nigeria.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Credit Administrator, Dr. Chris Onalo, said in a recent interview that selling Enterprise Bank to another local rival would not only bring about economies of scale, it has assured Heritage Bank’s rapid rise to the top.

“We are hopeful that with this historic feat, Heritage Bank has further shown its intention to change the financial business landscape in Nigeria” The first noticeable step the bank took to announce its serious commitment to making a mark in the industry was the Account Validation Exercise it conducted for depositors of the old SGBN. For the first time in the banking history of Nigeria, a bank that had gone under for 10 years, with depositors having lost hope of recovering their deposits, came back under a new ownership and management structure to return the lost deposits to their owners.

Furthermore, Heritage Bank has championed a few innovations and trends that have changed the course of banking business in the country. One such innovation is its leading exploration of alternate channels of financial services distribution. This is even as it has continued to move the frontiers of e-banking platform with its first-of-its-kind deployment of Finnacle 10 software. Other older and bigger banks have had to copy this approach and, today, the e-banking platform has become a veritable marketing and competitive arena.

The bank has equally raised the bar by launching, ahead of any other financial services provider in the country, its Automated Banking Centres (ABCs), MSME Clinic, Financial Literacy Plan and Agency Banking platform, among other innovations that never previously gained wide embrace in the financial sector before its coming on board.

Also, the launch of its Zero COT offering heralded yet another revolution in the industry. For most banks before Heritage Bank, the COT represents a huge cash cow; producing 20 to 25 per cent of their revenue base. The bank became the first to operate zero COT on all its account categories. Today, few other banks are towing the line.

The bank which is fast becoming the game changer in the industry has reaped the benefits of goodwill and public acceptance in the last 18 months of its operation, receiving mandates from several MDAs, Governments and Corporate Organisations as their revenue-collecting agent. Among these are the Lagos State Government, Nigerian Customs Service, Oyo State Government, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Eko Distribution, Ikeja Distribution and DSTV/Multichoice, among others.

According to some staff of the bank, Sekibo’s well documented ability in repositioning unknown firms to high performing enterprises is at work at Heritage Bank. The staff who did want their names published described him as a man who believes no man is done anything until he has left something behind that defies time.

The echoes of his achievements still reverberate in the insurance sector. He has a proven track record of resuscitating moribund entities. He successfully steered indigenous oil company, MoniPulo Limited, to profitability – paying off all debts and even going as far as buying out its foreign technical partners. In just six months, he turned around the fortunes of RIMS Merchant Bank.

He took on Global Assurance and transformed it into International Energy Insurance (IEI). This led to the listing of IEI on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

His wealth of experience helped steer the insurance giant and a diversified financial services group offering products and services within and outside Nigeria.

A well respected Alumnus of Harvard Business School and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Member, Institute of Petroleum, London, Associate Member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), this financial Sekibo is still driven by his mantra: “To help those who never thought they could make a name for themselves to do so and help those who have done so to preserve it.”

This says nothing less than the track record he set in the companies he has turned their fortunes around is expected in Heritage Bank.

Seven quick facts } Sekibo has a proven track record of resuscitating moribund entities. } He has well documented ability in repositioning unknown firms to high performing enterprises } He successfully steered indigenous oil company, MoniPulo Limited, to profitability – paying off all debts and even going as far as buying out its foreign technical partners, in just six months } He turned around the fortunes of RIMS Merchant Bank } He took on Global Assurance and transformed it into International Energy Insurance (IEI). This led to the listing of IEI on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. } He is a well respected Alumnus of Harvard Business School and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Member, Institute of Petroleum, London, and Associate Member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) } His mantra is: “To help those who never thought they could make a name for themselves to do so and help those who have done so to preserve it.”

29

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

World / News

Nigeria partners S’Africa on vehicle purchase loan

T

Paul Ogbuokiri he Federal Government on Wednesday raised the bar of the new auto policy in South Africa where the National Automotive Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WesBank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, to offer vehicle acquisition loans to retail and corporate purchasers.

The agreement, which aims to stimulate the sale of locally assembled vehicles in Nigeria, was signed in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

A statement by NAC Director of Policy and Planning, Mr. Luqman Mamudu, said its Director-General, Mr. Aminu Jalal, signed for the agency while the Chief Executive Officer of WesBank, Mr. Chris De Kork, signed on behalf of his company.

Jalal said the Nigerian government recently approved the National Automo-

tive Industry Development Plan to attract investments from vehicle manufacturers globally and grow the supply of locallymanufactured vehicles. He explained that the agreement would allow WesBank to work closely with NAC to develop vehicle financing solutions specifically for those vehicles built in Nigeria.

He said it is with the aim of making them readily affordable for the average Nigerian car user.

“We are delighted that the Nigerian

Chief Executive Officer, WesBank, Chris De Kock; CFO WesBank Motor Division, Simon Ingersent; Deputy CEO FirstRand Bank Limited, Johan Burger; Director General, National Automotive Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal; Director Policy and Planning, NAC, Mr. Luqman Mamudu and Director, Industrial Infrastructure, NAC, Mr. Waheed Odetoro; at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on consumer vehicle purchase financing in Johannesburg, South Africa.

government and NAC have chosen WesBank as their partner of choice. Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and this is an excellent opportunity to grow our footprint on the continent, in line with the FirstRand strategy,” said de Kock.

WesBank is already successfully represented in other African markets, including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zambia. The move to Nigeria will extend its reach to the northern parts of the continent, presenting an opportunity to participate in some of the larger African economies where, over time, vehicles sales are expected to experience substantial growth.

“We believe that we have the required experience and expertise to operate successfully in developing countries given our own experience in South Africa over the last 50 years.

Our ability to find innovative solutions and to develop country specific products and processes we think will be well-received by the Nigerian automotive market and its buyers “It is also our hope that in due time, this venture could become the biggest market for WesBank in Sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa,” he added.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that WesBank is South Africa’s market leader in vehicle and asset finance.

This is a position it achieved through successful partnerships with leading manufacturers, offering finance to consumers for both locally-manufactured and imported models.

The NAC DG recently announced that the council was packaging a Vehicle Financing Scheme to make Nigerian-assembled vehicles easily affordable over a period of about four years at low interest rates. The scheme is also intended to assist vehicle assembly plants in Nigeria to gain high volume within a short time so as to facilitate local components development.

Naira’s depreciation portends danger for enconomy CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 24

would compound the economic woes of many Nigerians.

Aluya, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of Technologies Industries Limited, said that when the cost of obtaining loans increases, there is the tendency that it would affect the cost of production, forcing consumers to pay more.

A Bureau-de-Change operator on Broad Street, Lagos told Sunday New Telegraph that the situation was getting out of hand, stressing that despite various efforts, the Naira was still maintaining a free fall.

Managing Director of Apple Financial Services Company Limited, Mr. Samson Iwara, said the real sector was in for serious trouble, owing to the fact that the prices of goods would increase sharply.

The Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol Organisation, Emeka Chiakwelu, said it is an arduous, if not Herculean task to safeguard and revamp a currency in the era of globalism and international currency trading.

He added that the recent and precipitous declining value of Nigeria’s naira to major currencies including dollar, euro, yen and others is something of great concern.

“The slumping naira can be re-

vamped, although it is easier to say than done because the means to the end and options available are limited.

With a blink of an eye the computerized trading of currency can alter and devalue a currency, therefore the mission to refurbish naira becomes more complex. Ultimately, the value of nation’s currency is a reflection of the wellbeing of a nation,” he said.

According to him, there are many underlining implications associated with the weak Naira. He said the rudiments of a strong currency are determined by the GDP of a nation, particularly the vibrancy, volume and richness of the export.

“An export-based economy can readily build and possibly protect a currency from speculators because it can accumulate a large foreign exchange base, which becomes the war chest to deter any hostile takeover.

Even with such a sound economy, capitalism is subject to creative destruction which implies that a larger economy and more active speculator can still overwhelm and weaken a currency by fiercely and voraciously going after the targeted currency. Currencies cannot be fully fortified for in the international trade, they are exposed to the forces of demand and supply.

“In totality, Nigeria’s economy is

“The slumping naira can be revamped, although it is easier to say than done because the means to the end and options available are limited”

not very active for it is a commoditybased economy. The economy lacks diversification and becomes relatively weak when compares to industrialised economies of the West and East.

The point here is that the source of generating foreign exchange to Nigeria is quite limited. For the major source of foreign exchange for Nigeria comes from oil.

Therefore, Nigeria lacks the adequate zest and resources to constantly fend off speculators and buy back the naira in the hands of foreign currency traders. Nigeria needs an export driven economy that will enable her to accumulate a large and intimating foreign reserve,” he said.

He said the import-based economy of Nigeria hampers the full blooming of the Naira because the importers are

busy sending the precious foreign exchange to foreign lands. Meanwhile, the infant industries are left unprotected.

Chiakwelu said that in the short run, Nigeria’s options are limited. He said Nigeria can dip her hands into her foreign reserves and ease the scarcity of dollars by liquefying the capital market, thus making the Naira stronger. But once Nigeria does that, she increases the internal demand for dollars and other major currencies.

Liquefying the market will temporarily cool off the hyper demand of the foreign currencies and buy more time for Nigeria to come up with a long time strategy.

The pathways to stronger currency are paved with discipline, hard work and commitment.

First and foremost, Nigeria must accept that she cannot continue to build an economy with one major export which is oil. The key and the operating word is diversification, he said.

A crude price of $85 a barrel is likely, and a drop to $80 a barrel is not out of the question.

While this will be a welcome change for consumers, the drop will be temporary at best, and when prices bounce back, the bounce will be sharp. It is another case of “Be careful what you wish for.”

30

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sunday/ Business

Between age and success Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

S

uccess is governed by principles. As such, it is not gender-sensitive, age-sensitive or race-sensitive. Wherever the recipe for success is applied, success will be achieved.

It was Oprah Winfrey, who said, “Excellence is the greatest deterrent of racism or sexism.”

This piece is intended to challenge young people all over the world, especially those who feel they are too small to make it big or get to the global stage. If you are one of such persons, I want to tell you that from Mark Zukerberg of the business circle in America to Wizkid of the entertainment circle in Africa, young people have excelled in every field of human endeavour.

Gowon became the Nigerian Head of State at the age of 32, the youngest so far to hold that office.

Alfred Diette-Spiff, now Amanyanabo of Toun Brass in Bayelsa State of Nigeria, became the governor of old Rivers State at the age of 25. His administration is reputed to have laid a solid foundation for the development that can be seen in Rivers State today. Sometime in 2012, MTN brought a young man to Nigeria to address captains of industry and

leaders of thought, in a widely publicised leadership symposium.

His name is Dr. Farrah Gray. He was only 28 when he came to speak at that leadership seminar. Gray, a businessman, became a millionaire at 14. According to Wikipedia, he was named one of the most influential black men in America by the National Urban League. He began his entrepreneurial career at age six, selling homemade lotion. Today, he is the CEO of Farrah Gray Publishing. He is just 30.

Sometime last year (2013), a friend told me my pastor brought a young lady to speak in church. Her name is Toyosi Akerele. She was about 29 then. If you google ‘Toyosi Akerele’, you will most likely find a video of the First Lady of America, Michelle Obama, saying that one of her itineraries in her then visit to Africa was to see Toyosi Akerele. According to George Essien’s Blog (www. georgeessien.wordpress.com), Toyosi Akerele was in June 2011, described

by Mrs. Michelle Obama as one of her personal inspirations. This was in a televised address to America as a prelude to her visit to Africa for the African Young Women Leaders Forum, of which Toyosi remains the only Nigerian member till date (as at 28th October, 2012).

Zuriel Oduwole, a Nigerian ‘wonderchild’ advocating education for the girl-child in Africa, was appointed an ambassador in Tanzania at the age of 11. According to Information Nigeria website (www.informationng.com), at the age of 10, Zuriel became the youngest person ever

interviewed by Forbes.

I hope you are still there. Please read on.

Just last week, the world celebrated Malala Yousafzai, a 17 year old, who became the youngest person ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, precisely on Friday, October 10, 2014.

At a tender age, Malala stood out for ‘advocacy for girl-child education.’

In the pursuit of that cause, there was an attempt on her life, yet that did not deter her.

Only last year, I was invited to speak at an international youth conference in Lagos, Nigeria, alongside dignified persons such as Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (who was ably represented by Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon); Kanayo O. Kanayo; and Funlola Craig, among others. Not too long after I spoke, a young man was brought up stage.

His name is Dayo Israel (@dayoisrael). Dayo Israel is a wonder. He was 27 when I met him. At 27, he had met so many world leaders and is doing so much for youths at a global level.

Some may consider it inappropriate to challenge youths to exploits without giving my testimony. So, here it is (below): The day I turned 27 (May 11, 2012) in my ‘one-room’ residence at Ogudu, Lagos, I started an online daily inspirational reading, which I christened ‘The KISS Devotional.’

Two years after, it is read in Europe and is available in hard copies in Nigeria, with free copies distributed in different parts of Nigeria. There are testimonies of its positive impact on the lives of people.

You need a mentor The Big Picture Julian Atufunwa 08032810713 (SMS only)

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entoring is a relationship that involves a person of higher knowledge, skill and achievement with one of a lesser experience knowledge called a protégé. It is the impacting and transmitting of knowledge wisdom to an apprentice or a novice.

A mentor is a person who has ventured into different areas and is able to pass on his expertise to another.

God designed the world to function with the principle of mentoring.

He made a family so you could be trained by more experienced parents.

Every parent uniquely possesses the right traits to impact on their offspring to become exactly what God intended for the fulfillment of purpose.

Every great leader is a product of another leader in the quest for success. It is crucial to get a mentor in different fields of life. These are persons that already have what you desire. You need someone to mentor you on finance, in your career, education, your spiritual life, in your health, family and profession.You need to understand that mentoring is more than getting advice, training and knowledge. It is the impartation of spirit. If someone is said to be rich

or successful, it means the inside is rich. If you are a success on the inside it is just a matter of time for it to manifest on the outside. If someone is said to be dirty it also means the real person on the inside is dirty. Therefore, dirtiness is manifested on the outside. So in mentoring, you buy into the spirit of your mentor. It is more of a formation not the theoretical. So it is important you choose a mentor wisely! Did I say choose? No you don’t decide mentorship; you discover it, you are led to it. We all need mentors because it is a principle of life. The day my mentor, Rev. John Ogu, said to me, “I give you a double portion of my grace and anointing,” I knew I had a shift in my spirit. It was a mental shift and bit by bit, I realised that I could understand things differently. You need someone to impact and advise you. It is not safe to live a mentorless life.

The quality of your mentor will determine the success that flows into you and through your life. The impartation of knowledge from your mentor will determine how high you fly. There are tremendous benefits of having a mentor and they are: (A) It will increase your level of success and productivity. A quality mentor will equip you with all you need to be become more successful than he or she is. Every good father wants his son to exceed him.

(B) It will reduce your failure rate - A mentor will reveal to you potential pitfalls and loopholes and you end up reducing your failure rate.

(C) It saves time and money. By avoiding all the mistakes of your mentor, you save precious time you

would have invested in rebuilding damage. It also saves money you would have used in reconstruction.

(D) Relationship with a mentor will increase your level of knowledge and information. You will indeed achieve more than your counterparts because you would be able to make better decisions based on your knowledge and information acquired.

(E) It will build your self-esteem.

Your mentor’s sense of faith in you and in what you can do builds your self-worth and increases your confidence and value.

There is this particular adage that says great men are those who make us feel great when we are with them.

(F) Opens more opportunities With your mentor’s influence, you could go to places you never would have gone on your own. He could link you to his friends who in turn will enrich your life.

(G) You experience a mental spirit - Be reminded that the difference between the rich and the poor is the way they think. Every great achiever thinks differently from an ordinary person. Having a mentor will create a paradigm shift, you will begin to reason and see things in the right perspective.

Finally, life should not start and end with you. Pass the ball. You can never be a star player all your life, so train and impact on people to continue from you. By so doing, you will be forever relevant and generations will remember you. We shall discuss the principles and qualities to look out for in a mentor next week God willing.

080395121535 (SMS only)

I’m winning because I have the loudest voice

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or the first time since this column began, I will try and speak to the Nigerian military directly; especially those manning their information management machine. When this project began, the idea was to share information on how best citizens can take measures to remain safe in an environment heavily challenged by terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

We will not deviate from this perspective. But it will also be right and proper to offer a word or two to the armed forces, which have the primary responsibility for national security.

I’ve had a number of arguments with friends on social media about the efficacy of propaganda in the prosecution of the war against terror in Nigeria.

While my friends have argued that the military needs to raise its propaganda ante as a critical weapon against the Boko Haram terrorists, I have maintained that this is needless.

Time and again, the Directorate of Defence Information has misfired in its efforts to be ahead of the terrorist gang in the application of propaganda. And this has cast the army in poor light before the public. Most Nigerians have grown to mistrust nearly all the bits of information coming from the armed forces about their successes in the fight against Boko Haram and this is for many reasons.

Apart from the fact that these bits of information have been found to be untrue or half-truths at best, most people would agree that propaganda as a tool is not for the military. You see, propaganda serves the terrorists better than it does the legitimate soldiers fighting to protect the country. Propaganda in its nature suggests that the user has his back against the wall and needs all the diversion that can be mustered to ensure it either wins sympathy or spreads confusion in the ranks of those it is fighting. So when the Nige-

rian army invests heavily in propaganda, what it is actually telling the public is that it is desperate and not sure-footed enough.

When the United States was confronted with taking out the Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, there was not so much noise about creating an impression that it was trying hard enough to have the mastermind of the September 11 bombing killed. It got to a point when the US government kept totally quiet about what they were doing in that regard. But they were on the ground and working. Eventually, they surprised the world when it was announced that Osama had been killed somewhere in Pakistan.

But the Nigerian situation is almost the reverse.

Every opportunity is utilised to announce how successful the military has been and how they are even planning some missions. Of recent, for instance, there were announcements about how the government had increased troops deployment to the parts of the country most affected by terrorism. This is absolutely unstrategic. It tells the terror group you are coming after them and enables them to redouble their alertness. The efforts of government to procure weapons for the army have also been in the news just too many times.

When a giant and a dwarf are standing in a crowd, it is not for the giant to look for what to climb on to get a vantage view. The same is the situation for a national army facing challenges from a terror group. Propaganda would serve the terror group better because it is the dwarf in this context.

What I expect the army to be doing is to scream in strategic silence and leave propaganda for the evil group. Fighting enemies of the country on the pages of newspapers is not the hallmark of a military that is prepared and equipped to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of the nation!

31

Politics SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014

The Sunday Interview

Obi’s defection to PDP has ruined APGA - Chekwas Okorie p.32

Interview

‘It will be disastrous for Jonathan not to contest’ p.35

Governors and anointed candidates It’s a season of anointing of governorship candidates across the nation. In this report, BIYI ADEGOROYE and ONYEKACHI EZE explain how this phenomenon will affect the chances of the political parties in the 2015 elections

G Uduaghan

Biyi Adegoroye biyi.fire@yahoo.com 08033024007 © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

overnor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State stirred the hornet’s nest last week when he dropped a bombshell. At the opening of the ‘Emancipator Unity House’ in Jos, built by a former governor of the state, the late Chief Solomon Lar, he said: “If God decides to give the governorship position to the son of Jang, let it be.”

He was speaking against the background of speculations that he has anointed his son and special adviser on special duties, Yakubu Jang.

The outgoing governor’s declaration in a state where over 20 governorship aspirants are now jostling to succeed him is a reflection of the growing phenomenon in the country where governors are anointing their successors. By the last count, no fewer than six of such have been mentioned throughout the country.

Notable among these are Ebonyi, Delta, Lagos,

Obuh

Abia, Niger, Akwa Ibom and Enugu states. The situation in Lagos State is still fluid, as Governor Babatunde Fashola has not openly declared support for any aspirant. This may be because he does not want to be seen to be opposing the perceived choice of his godfather and All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the person of Akin Ambode.

As far as Plateau State is concerned, feelers indicate that though Jang may have dropped his son’s name, he is actually disposed to installing his kinsman and former Chief of Staff, Senator Gyang Sunday Pwajok.

However, pundits in the state are of the view that with the formal return of political heavyweights like former Governor Joshua Dariye and erstwhile Minister and one-time deputy governor, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, to the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Jang would not find it easy to

achieve this objective.

Already, some of the aspirants have complained that the concept of anointing a successor is not only undemocratic, but that the fact that Pwajok hails from the same senatorial zone disqualifies him. They believe that right now, the Southern senatorial zone and not the North, the homestead of Jang, should produce the next governor.

The politicians have not failed to express their vehement opposition to Jang’s imposition of Pwajok. Senator Victor Lar, a grass roots mobiliser in a chat with Sunday New Telegraph is ever ready and prepared to slug it out with other aspirants.

“I am ready for the governorship primaries come November 29, 2014 in Plateau State. Governor Jang will not impose any candidate and even if he didn’t support me I have hope that I will become the next governor,” he declared recently.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

32

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014

The Sunday

Obi’s defec ruined AP Chief Chekwas Okorie is the founding father of All Progressive Grand Alliance political party and now the national chairman of United Progressives Party. In this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN, he speaks on the recent defection of former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, from APGA to the Peoples Democratic Party and other issues

Okorie

What’s your reaction to the defection of former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, from APGA to PDP? Well, actually, my reaction is in line with being vindicated. I have been vindicated because right from the very beginning of the APGA crisis, I never ceased to tell anybody that there was no altruistic reason for which two kinsmen from one community - Peter Obi and Victor Umeh - would combine to fight the leadership of the party do vehemently.

Peter spared no resources both in the court and in the media to project me as the one who didn’t like the party we founded. APGA was my place in history. By founding APGA I became the first Igbo man to found a registered party in the entire history of Igbo. So how can’t I cherish such a glorious baby? But I was projected as the one who wanted to sell out something that took me seven years to achieve because APGA was the third attempt.

However, overtime people have found out the true character of the people involved. I’m very sorry for the memory of Ikemba because these people misled him; they misled him. They took advantage of his vulnerability to age. They did what they did and said he was their eternal leader; even in death he was their leader. Look at now how much loyalty they have for the spirit of the man?

Even Peter now claims as the PDP told him that PDP lost to him and not to APGA. They should ask themselves what has become of the Ojukwu factor in Peter’s victory. What about Ikemba during the second term of Peter telling the whole of Anambra State to vote Peter and that that was his last wish? It was a very emotional and passionate plea and at the end of the day look at how it has been appreciated. I know that Ikemba would be turning angrily in his grave with this end of the day betrayal.

But that is the way I look at it. The true char-

acter of Peter has now emerged as a man who will go any length to destroy anything he didn’t build for personal reasons. There’s no reason he went to PDP except in search of more relevance.

God has blessed you, you were in office for eight good years and still being within the corridor of power will make you to throw every principle and morality overboard to do what he has done.

He has done himself eternal damage. He will live with the moral burden of what he has done for the better part of his life and he has already become a liability to Jonathan’s campaign effort because that is where he is headed. Peter cannot stand and address any Igbo community. Right now, he has overnight ruined every good will he has been trying to build.

Are you saying he is finished politically?

He is gone and he is gone too early because at his age he went overboard and took too much for granted. His ego became overbloated and nobody else matters. Ikemba didn’t matter and it was now Peter. And that was why arrogantly he led the likes of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, and others that were listed in your paper to go and speak to Igbos in Lagos, thinking that he was still regarded. They gave him the other side of the coin. They booed them, they told them off and even threatened to turn in the direction of APC. To cover their faces kind of, they said they were going to set up a committee to be led by Peter to find out the grievances of the Igbo elites in Lagos.

But Peter Obi cannot convene a meeting that will be honoured. He has already finished himself.

And let me also tell you, not just Peter Obi, all the Igbo people in Jonathan’s government, perhaps with the exception of Okonjo-Iweala. All the others have become outright liabilities to the President.

The simple reason is that while they were enjoying all the purposes of office, they became so

arrogant and alienated themselves from their people. It was easier to see President Jonathan than to see any of those people. For you to see the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is like trying to see God. And now the same people have come down from their high horse to ask for support; and the people said well, you will not get it.

What about Ohanaeze?

Even Ohanaeze that was already ahead, saying they wanted to adopt President Jonathan.

After I addressed the Igbo people in Awka, they reversed themselves. They sent a delegation to the World Igbo Congress to go and convince Igbo in the Diaspora. It took me just 15 minutes of addressing our people to change the entire thing to the fact that Igbo would run for President. My people, Igbo people are a very rational people.

They can give you the chance, the long rope you need but once you push them to the wall, they become difficult.

And Jonathan has always relied on Igbo votes, I’m afraid whether those votes will be available again.

So what has now become the fate of APGA in all this?

APGA has been ruined; may be I have to repeat myself. When I left APGA, I told the world that I had gone with the spirit and the soul of the party and it would reincarnate in another party. Then UPP was not founded. When UPP was founded I said this is where it has reincarnated; that what I left behind was a carcass. Then after a while I said it was a decomposing carcass. What has happened since? Its two years that I left APGA, that decomposition process has been steady. Peter has done his own demolition of the party.

What is left now ...and look at the morality and immorality of Umeh’s leadership. Umeh is going for Senate, as you all well know. Shinkafi,

APGA secretary, is going for governorship in Zamfara State. These two people are the signatories to APGA account.

They are about to collect nomination fees from those wanting to use APGA to run for elections.

At the end of the day, they will simply clean out the account to fund their own election and on failing, which they are going to fail, Umeh will move to PDP. Shinkafi had already made it clear that after this his adventure in APGA, he will go to APC. So the place is simply not existing anymore; it is a matter of time.

Let me tell you what many people have not observed: Governor Obiano is the next target. If he does not quickly join Peter Obi in PDP where he will become de facto leader, he will be ruined because they only require two or three more defections from APGA in Anambra State to PDP among the legislators to have a majority in the house. And once PDP has the majority, the leadership of the house stands dissolved because a minority party will not be the Speaker, a minority party will not be the majority leader, a minority party will not be deputy speaker. So the leadership of the house changes.

What will be next thing for PDP to do is to throw Obiano out and go for a fresh election because by their own calculation they will be taking back Anambra before the general elections. But if Obiano runs after Peter immediately and does what happened in Adamawa where the deputy governor did not go to APC and they got a favourable court judgment and he threw his hands up to PDP and said, “Please, I’m still one of you.”

That’s why they quickly obeyed the court order. He is now the one calling for reconciliation. For PDP they have acquired what they lost through Nyako. If Obiano joins he becomes the leader of PDP in Anambra state and beats Peter to his game because he will now be Peter’s leader.

But it is the only thing that will now fulfil my

33

4 NEW TELEGRAPH

y Interview

ction to PDP has PGA - Chekwas Okorie prediction that Umeh will be a political orphan because I have predicted that.

You insist that UPP will present a presidential candidate in the next election. Do you have the resources to match the strength of PDP? What resources did David have to confront Goliath? was it in terms of armoury? Was it in the size of the sword? But he came with a catapult. Having said that, there’s a saying in Igbo land and I’m sure in every other tribe that ‘he who has people has power.’ Even if it is Igbo votes that we have, we are already entrenched in the 36 states of Nigeria and are able to galvanise a minimum of 25 per cent of the voting population in each state of the country.

And we are looking at people who are highly sentimental and emotional and who are very angry at this point in time about what has become their lot in this country. Those who felt they were used in a very rough way for the 2011 elections and they have been nothing to show for it.

So we already have a very strong foundation for a major impact. Let me also tell you that we are already the beautiful bride of the 2015 dispensation: approaches are being made to us from the two big parties but we don’t want to be absorbed or adopt anybody.

It is for electoral cooperation: alliance is the name of the game. Except for America that has a wellestablished two-party system over time, all other multi-party democracies have formed governments on the basis of coalitions of parties.

The CDU is running Germany, leading the German government with a coalition of parties. The Likhud in Israel is leading with a coalition of parties. It is so in Kenya, Spain and Britain. It was a coalition of the Liberal and Conservative parties that formed government in Britain, with the Liberal Party producing the Deputy Prime Minister (Nick Clegg). The Liberal Party has 24 seats out of about out about 300 seats owned by Labour and individuals.

Our own is that it is either we win that election or we are a critical factor in the formation of the new government. With an improved INEC, it will be difficult for anybody to sit in one place and write the results of the elections. So without firing a shot, without casting the ballot, UPP that was one of 26 parties is now one of the three; because only three parties are going to lock horns.

Why are you so confident?

We have something going for us that other Nigerians will buy into, not just the Igbo. What is it? We don’t have in our midst people who have been indicted in any way or the other for treasury looting or leaving the economy comatose.

APC and PDP are two of the same kind. If we go into alliance with any of them it will be to dilute their extreme conservative tendency with our progressive tendency. One other thing that is also going to face Nigerians is corruption. It will be a major issue in 2015 campaigns. We are waiting for campaigns to begin and let me see what PDP or APC will offer Nigerians in terms of fighting corruption when they equal numbers of those who have made this country comatose; those who have been recycled since First Republic.

We are confident that Nigerians will face two choices only; either to remain where they are, which is not acceptable to majority of people, or go for a change. UPP becomes the face of that change.

I’m sure there are many Nigerians who are not Igbo and who don’t belong to any particular religion and who would want to see some kind of change. Let me then predict that with INEC doing what it is supposed to do, there would be upsets in 2015 everywhere. Some who are in the Senate

who are thinking that their seats are for keeps will be defeated. Same thing for the House of Representatives. Some who think they are already anointed to become governors will lose. These upsets will result in many giants falling and so many Davids rising.

You said there would only three parties in the next year elections, that’s UPP, PDP and APC. What happens to Labour Party?

Labour Party I can tell you authoritatively is not presenting a presidential candidate and they said so. Even before Mimiko left the party, they said they are supporting Jonathan for President. APGA or whatever is left of it is supporting Jonathan for president; even the two factions. Maxi Okwu said the same thing, Umeh said the same thing. In fact, Umeh to be able to survive has gone ahead to form JJJ or whatever that means. But I know that when you see JJJ there must be Jonathan in it.

You were in Europe and America recently. Can you reveal your mission to those countries?

I went to market UPP principally and it coincided with the World Igbo Congress which I have not attended since 1994 when it was set up. First of all, I went to all our people in UK who were interested in forming chapters of UPP in Europe. They converged in London where I addressed them and gave them the mandate of the party to go and set up their chapters in Europe.

So I went to Houston where this year’s World Igbo Congress took place. I was lucky to meet the political programme because it was second to their last event.

That second to the last was the one most Nigerians also attended. Here we had a hall of about 2000 seating capacity of mostly professionals and other intellectuals and of course there was a heavy PDP presence.

A minister like Emeka Wogu was there; Peter Obi was there; Chief Iwuanyanwu was already presiding when I came in. There were banners of Jonathan saying ‘South-East for Jonathan.’ They were almost at the verge of moving a motion to say that Igbo in Diaspora had adopted Jonathan when I walked in. And then of course, my presence caused a little stir because they know what I stand for. I handed over the microphone because I heard them saying they were going to negotiate from inside.

It is better to negotiate from inside the party than outside. I asked them one question, I said, “Tell me how Jonah in the Bible could negotiate in the belly of the whale? Is there any chance of negotiating?

He is already inside the whale.” The whole hall erupted. It doesn’t require any expertise to understand it. So I said that’s why you have not been to get anything for us because you are already in the belly of the whale. Our negotiation to my understanding is eyeball to eyeball, not when you have already been absorbed.

I went further to tell them what we benefited from alliances during the first and second republics and that it has to be so this time and we must negotiate. If we are going to support Jonathan, it must be negotiated. And it is not between cultural groups. World Igbo Congress is not a political party, Ohanaeze is not a political party.

There’s no political negotiation that’s done with cultural groups. Arewa and Afenifere don’t go and negotiate political things for the North and South-West respectively, they allow political parties that are sympathetic to their agenda to do so.

Their interventions are at different levels but this one the President of Ohanaeze was there, some two or three traditional rulers were sponsored to come and drum support for Jonathan.

It took me 15 minutes to reverse all that and the motion was now moved that Igbo will go for president; that President Jonathan had not even said he was going to run and it was untraditional for an Igbo man to beg anybody to rule over him. That was what changed the whole thing. Anyway, I moved from there. By the time I got to California and Los Angeles my reputation was ahead of me. I was in large hall again where I had the floor and instead of 15 minutes I had 1 hour 30 minutes and then questions came. Many of them understood my struggle and my message.

From there, I moved to New Jersey; delegates came from Washington, Virginia, Maryland, Masachussets and New York. It was unprecedented. The message was well received. By the time I came back, the World Igbo Congress had issued a communique.

In what ways will Nigerians in Diaspora support your party?

I’m doing this out experience. I did it in APGA and it worked wonderfully. And why would government send such a powerful delegation to America? I tell you why. There’s no family in Igbo land that does not have one person at least living abroad and most of these people, whether they are high profile workers or those doing menial jobs send money home through Western Union Money transfer be it $100 or $200 dollars every month. They solve a lot of problems at home - hospital bills, school fees among others.

Governor Obiano is the next target. If he does not quickly join Peter Obi in PDP where he will become de facto leader, he will be ruined

It is said that he who pays the piper calls the tune. They say to their people here that they want to come back and the only way they can come back is if you support this party to be in power. We believe in it, it will create an environment for us to come back home.

There’s none of them who has succeeded in his educational career that does not want to come back. Those who are doing well in their businesses still want to come back but the environment does not permit that. Some come and they don’t go back, they are kidnapped, they are killed.

What about the phone calls?

Those phone calls worked wonderfully.

Once the family said our bread winner, benefactor says it is here, no matter what you do in your campaign, no matter the number of bags of rice you distribute on the day of voting, they will still go to where their benefactor is. That is the benefit, it is immense.

Now when it has worked for us, the internet, social media was not as vibrant and robust as it is now and so now everyone can access it from his or her telephone; you can see the impact.

The speech that I made in Houston, I had not concluded when it was posted everywhere.

While you were there were you able to convince some well established Nigerians in Diaspora to come and contest in next year’s poll?

Well, in terms of people coming to contest, so far we have made few successes. Some have already come in, some will come in the next couple of weeks because we are tidying up places of work and taking leave of absence that enables them to return to work in case they don’t win. And then all these chapters they are opening in those places give them opportunity to be part of it. I said to them that it is not always when you contest and win that you become part of the system. Obasanjo went out and got technocrats, people who are well grounded in certain fields. The Minister of Agriculture, for instance, I have great admiration for that young man and then of course, Okonjo-Iweala is doing a yeoman’s job. Our connections internationally have been so very helpful to Nigerians and some others. Even Aganga is not doing badly and these are people recruited from outside the country.

I said to them, “If you support us to be part of government, some of you will be remembered.” Some of them are doing businesses that can help lift the economy of this country.

The challenge of coming late to build structures and contest is there. We are having some people; in Imo we are having one person joining the team of aspirants for governorship.

There’s a lady from Atlanta to run for Senate.

But I told them that there’s no favouritism or any reserved ticket for anybody coming from abroad. You have to contest for the office through primaries.

I can also tell you what UPP did that is quite unique. We have created two more zones. Our convention will ratify it. You know we have six zones, every party has zonal executives.

In UPP, we have created two extra zones. We have European zone, America/ Canada zone.

The same executives you have in the six zones in Nigeria, you also have in Europe, America /Canada. When we have our NEC meetings, they will have similar representation, during our convention they will have representation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Analysis

Governors and anointed candidates C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

Similarly, another aspirant and former PDP chairman in the state, Dr. Haruna Dabin, said that irrespective of the governor’s posturing, he is the man to pick the PDP’s governorship ticket on November 29, 2014.

“I believe Jang does not have the right to impose any candidate on the people of Plateau State. I know that the electorate will decide who should succeed Jang. Most importantly, God is the final decision maker, not Governor Jang,” he stated.

Niger State

In Niger State, it is now beyond the realm of speculation that Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has anointed his Chief of Staff, Umar Mohammed Nasko, as his successor. Nasko, son of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt- Gen. Gado Nasko, has been chosen over and above other aspirants, including Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto. Three buses filled to capacity with the inscription: ‘Chief Servant Mass Transit Bus Candidate,’ apart from other smaller buses brought people from Niger State to the PDP National Secretariat for the purchase of Expression of Interest form for the ‘anointed.’

Though Abubakar Suleiman Mokwa, coordinator of Ever Green Association, which he said comprised 20 groups said they came to purchase the form to “woo” Nasko to contest the governorship election, it was not difficult to see the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob in the whole exercise. No fewer than three commissioners from the state accompanied the group to purchase the form even while the aspirant was conspicuously absent.

Conversely, not even a single of these high capacity buses or any state government official accompanied Alhaji Yunusa Usman when he came two days later to pick the same form for Ibeto. When asked whether Ibeto obtained the governor’s blessing for his aspiration, one of those who came with him replied: “We don’t need his blessing.” This sent a strong message!

According to Mokwa, the governor’s anointed is the most qualified among the aspirants from the state to fly the PDP flag in the election because ”he has received tutelage from a technocrat and super administrator, the Chief Servant of Niger State, and we believe he is now very fit to lead us as governor. We believe that he will build on the foundation of good governance, accountability and transparency and the servant leadership style laid by the Chief Servant.”

Later that day when the group presented the Expression of Interest form to Aliyu, the Chief Servant said, “You have a lot of work to do. I pray for the success of your assignment.”

However, the deputy governor, speaking shortly after obtaining both the intent and nomination forms, said he is in the race to effect some positive changes in the state. He said he would focus on infrastructural transformation in order to bring development closer to the people.

Seemingly unperturbed, he declared: “I am in the race to effect changes that will bring development closer to the people which I believe is the essence of leadership. I have been part of the current administration; so there are certain things that I believed we must continue. There are areas where we must introduce changes.”

Also in the race is the immediate Chief Executive of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mustapha Bello. Undaunted

by Nasko’s endorsement, he said, “I have remained a grass roots politician and have had a direct link with majority of the rural populace of the state. I have a crystal clear understanding of their needs and challenges, to some extent, as there is no part of the state I’ve not known personally.”

Bello, who was once a governorship candidate in 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party, further said he is distinct from all other contestants because he is among the founding members of the PDP. He said

Elechi

Onyebuchi

Okowa and Ngozi Olejeme, who feel the contest should be thrown open to every aspirant from Delta North to prove their popularity at the primaries.

Party leaders in the 24 local government areas of the state are also reportedly opposed to the anointing of Obuh.

Many aspirants have picked expression of interest forms in preparation for the party primaries slated for November 29, 2014.

Akwa Ibom

Ugwuanyi

he has given jobs to over 500 citizens of the state in the federal civil service and for over 700 people from across the country as well as directly assisted over 100, 000 persons over 15 years.

Delta State

When the Anioma Elders Council visited President Goodluck Jonathan penultimate week and presented the names of four aspirants to him, they had one mission - pulling a fast one to block Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s anointing of one of the aspirants, Chief Tony Obuh.

Obuh, who has served as Permanent Secretary in the office of the Secretary to the State Government under Uduaghan, has since boasted that he is “a product that will not fail.”

The council led by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, said that bearing in mind the fact that Anioma North people who approximate to the present-day Delta North senatorial district have not ruled the state since 1999, said it is now their turn to produce the governor. They are also predicating this on equity, justice and fair play, and the principle of rotation, not ‘winner-takes- all.’

Though Obuh is favoured by virtue of PDP’s zoning arrangement, his choice has since pitched Uduaghan against other aspirants among the ‘anointed’s’ Anioma kinsfolk.

Top on the list are Ndudi Elumelu, Ifeanyi

From all indications, Governor Godswill Akpabio and the State Executive Council have zoned the PDP’s governorship ticket to Eket Senatorial district. This is an area that has not produced a governor since 1999. This, they said, was premised on equity, fairness and natural justice.

“If the first two senatorial districts have produced the governor since 1999, we do not need any prophet to tell us that Eket District, the third leg of the tripod, should produce the next governor of the state. And as it was when it was zoned to those each of those districts, the federal constituency of the district should produce the governor,” said Robert Umoette, a governorship aspirant in the state.

But if the latest signals are anything to go by, Akpabio has anointed his SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, from Eket as his successor. The grouse of those opposed to this endorsement is not only the determination of Akpabio to ensure that Emmanuel flies the PDP’s flag but that he is allegedly shutting out other candidates from the contest.

Party elders in Akwa Ibom State, including Akpabio’s predecessor, Obong Victor Attah; the immediate SSG, Umana Okon Umana; and a former Petroleum Minister, Don Etiebet, are vociferous in their opposition to the governor’s anointed candidate.

After appearing before Prof. Iya Abubakar’s PDP South-South integration committee early this month, Attah said they took the action to avoid a repeat of the kind of terrible disaster the party experienced in 2011.

“Why do some people collect the registers from where they belong and take them to the Government House? Why should they be the ones to privately and individually form the list of delegates to go for congresses and even appoint a successor?” he asked.

Attah also wondered why the governor and the PDP leadership in the state were making it difficult for those who genuinely left the party to come back and allegedly denying them registration.

“So if we don’t do this, I fear for what will happen in the election,” he added.

Senator Helen Esuene, who spoke in the same vein after picking her Expression of Interest form at the PDP National Secretariat for the governorship, noted that “the party is not for one person or just a little group of people.

It is everybody’s organisation; it is there to protect everybody and I believe that the PDP I know will stand by that fact of protecting the interest of all the aspirants within the party, giving them a level playing field.

“I mean a level playing field, not lip service.

This is what we ask and this is what we will get. That is the part of peace and progress and that is the part of victory for the PDP and I believe that is what we will get,” he stated.

Already, this clear opposition to the governor’s stance and divisions in the party is having a negative effect on the electioneering activities in the state. For instance, last week, Esuene was reportedly attacked by suspected thugs during her campaign at Essien Udim, Akpabio’s community. The attackers had queried why another aspirant came to campaign in the community instead of Udom, the government’s anointed candidate.

Ebonyi State

With the resignation of the immediate Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, from the Federal Executive Council last week, the coast became clearer for him to contest the 2015 governorship position in Ebonyi State.

This is coming on the heels of his endorsement by Governor Martin Elechi, who hails from Afikpo zone and is favoured for the position. But this endorsement at a Sallah party in Abakaliki as consensus governorship candidate of the PDP is generating political crisis.

While some believe that Elechi was justified in invoking Ebonyi Charter of Equity to zone the governorship to Afikpo block since Abakaliki zone has ruled the state since 1999, some political interest groups in the state have rejected it. They described it as a pregnancy that will never come to life.

But a group, which calls itself ‘Concerned Citizens of Ebonyi State,’ said the minister’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014

Politics / Analysis

‘It ‘ll be disastrous for Jonathan not to contest’ What plans do you have for the people of your Senatorial district?

My experience has shown even during the election and right now that to a very large extent do not decoy to provide boreholes in the true sense of the word, the legislator influence good governance. If people would accept just that after they have petitioned that they will need a road, they need a structure and I am able to pass these yearning to the executive arm of government, then I would have done my job. There is a provision and ensure they intervene. I don’t know what has happened to our psyche; we are in an age especially with the electronic device, once you give a comment, something must happen immediately but in governance, it takes time. An idea has to be shared, planning must go into it, budgeting provision must be made and procurement of that service must also come. If people appreciate that, then I may not have serious challenge.

However, there are also constituency projects which legislators must do. I came in the budget has been drawn and has been implemented, how much can I do? What I have proposed is that I am going to continue from where late Awaisu Kuta of blessed memory stopped.

And to achieve that I retained all the staff that worked with him, otherwise in the next seven months the Senate would have wound up and that would help us to be able to find out which constituency project we can push to be implemented for us, that’s very important. Once these are done I will make sure I collaborate with Senators that have same opinions and challenges with me, like the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) bill to see how we can resurrect or revive it, so that it is implemented fully.

What stage is the HYPPADEC bill?

The thing is that, the bill must be passed by the Senate. I will talk with my colleagues in the House of Reps to confirm whether they pass the same bill before it is forwarded to Mr. President for his assent within 30 days. If there is something else we should do to ensure that he gives his assent so that it becomes operational, we will do it.

A few weeks ago, the APC went to the tribunal. Are you perturbed?

In Nigerian democracy, you have to factor in this aspect. It is very difficult for people to accept defeat and they will also always delay, distract and at the end of the day democracy suffers because people get disenchanted. In the case of my opponent, David Umaru, it is a tradition that whenever he losses any election, he goes to the tribunal. So he is just playing for time because we knew he must go. That is his habit.

Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, the newly elected Senator representing Niger East zone, in this interview with DAN ATORI assesses the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, the Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission bill and the West’s tardiness in supporting Nigeria’s war on terror survey that was carried out on poverty rate.

Niger State was highly rated as one of the states where poverty is low. If you look at infrastructural development and even Universal Basic Education programme; if you look at the type of funds and other funds from other states, Niger State is one of the states that is up to date, always paying counterpart funding, and accessing developmental funds. And if you come to Minna as well and you observe what Minna was in 2007 and what Minna is in 2014, you will see that there has been remarkable development. Let’s use the poverty index, I think that is a very good indicator that Niger State is not doing too badly.

How do you see the chances of APC in the 2015 elections in Niger State?

PDP will always win. For PDP to win or lose an election will depend on a lot of things especially with the candidate presented and if we came together in the PDP, and we do not have any form of factionalisation during the process of nominating candidates, there is no fear.

Moreover, you know the APC tried to come together after the opposition merged to see how to get power from PDP, not really coming as an alternative, offering a differing manifesto and we also discovered that most of the actors were in the PDP. I don’t quite buy any catastrophe coming among the PDP in Niger, it will remain a very strong PDP state.

What do you think are the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term come 2015, going by group and individual endorsements?

And what if he decides to step down?

It will be a great disaster for Nigeria if Mr. President to refuse to come up and get elected. There is no reason why he should

not come out having achieved a lot in the last four years despite the challenges which were not his making but borne of political influence.

As soon as the election result was announced in 2011, there was a lot of killings and arson and after that Boko Haram came up with a lot of venom making him (President Jonathan) to lose focus. He has improved the railway sector, there is investment in the health sector, and he is doing well in the areas of roads and even infrastructure. Even when we had the Ebola Virus Disease challenged the Federal Government in collaboration with states government rose to the occasion and they were able to curtail the outbreak in this country. And if you look also at the Millennium Development Goals, I know Nigeria would have by 2015 achieved all of them; a lot of efforts have really gone into that. Think of women empowerment, the President has carried women along, but has other political parties done what President Jonathan has done in their states? This man has tried as elected President of this country, some people think, he can be looked down upon because he is and Ijaw man.

Personally, he is doing his best as the President today. How do people interpret the statement that they would make Nigeria ungovernable, (they even sworn) if he emerged President in 2011. In my own opinion, where we all agreed to make it work rather than destroy this country four years in the life of nation, much can be

How would you rate the transformation agenda (Vision 3:2020) of Governor Babangida Aliyu?

Niger State has done well, I remember one particular

achieved. If everyone would sheath their sword and say “okay, no more crises, let just wait for another four years and Mr. President will be off and then we look for another President for ourselves” and I think the risk will be less that is my own opinion.

Now, let us move to your primary assignment, how is your relationship with your colleagues in the Senate?

I am very excited because the first day I met with the Senators personally, we are very good friends because we have met at different fora before. I was well received even by those in the opposition. I have adjusted, I have settled down, in fact I feel as if I have been working with them for long. After the recess, I will be appointed into committees, so that I can contribute my quota at such levels.

What is your take on the $9.3million arms deal ?

A number of people are seeing the issue from a religious point of view. They said the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsajafor must have been importing arms so that they can fight Muslims. You know that is an angle that is being exploited by the opponents of our party. Anyone that knows him should know he chooses straight he is not a man that bends at all. And if you check the records, you would see that the jet was not under his care but was put up for commercial use and someone rented this jet for a business of procuring arms. The excuse they are giving us is that the western world has refused to sell arms to Nigeria at a period when we have insurgency in our country. But are they saying that Nigeria should just sit down and fold their arms to let this insurgency overrun this country? We must do something. All they needed to do now is to find out if the deal was in the interest of the country.

Do you think the Western world turned their back on us because Nigeria rejected same sex marriage?

It was alleged in one of Wikileak reports that the western world especially USA was not comfortable with Nigeria’s posture and that there was need to distract us and get us engaged with insurgency like we have now.

I will also agree that indeed the gay marriage thing is also affecting us. You will recall that Uganda which also did the same, they are withdrawing aids from them. It is one of the price that we are paying.

Nuhu

Obi’s defection ruined APGA - Chekwas Okorie C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

There’s no political party that has created any kind of structure to accommodate the Diaspora Nigerians. It is unique and is borne out of this experience that they have great influence.

Ahead of 2015, how prepared is UPP in terms of primaries and nomination of candidates?

We are ready: the paper work is already done. By next week, I will confer with the national secretary who had been in Saudi Arabia. He just came back. I will confer with him to fix a date for our NEC meeting. We will meet and agree on the guidelines. It will be published and the world will see the

dates for primaries, congresses and convention. The fees for various offices would also be announced and I can assure you being a grass roots and progressive party our fees are very going to be modest. Our policy of no fee for women still stands. To encourage women we don’t charge any nomination fee, whether you are running for president or anything.

How would you assess INEC’s readiness for the 2015 elections?

INEC is doing well. If someone is doing well you must acknowledge it so that he can be encouraged to do better. INEC is now improving by the day. The botched election in Adamawa would have helped to further prove the point

that there is improvement but one thing about a credible election is that it encourages participation. By INEC statistics, 45 per cent of registered voters participated in Ekiti State.

That’s a far cry from what used to be 25 per cent participation. And because of the success of the Ekiti election, 71 per cent participated in Osun State during the governorship election.

Now more people have now realised that their votes count. There is improved awareness and we can sustain it. A party like UPP that speaks the language of the grass roots is doing a lot to encourage them to overthrow the reactionary forces. There is a battle line drawn between the progressive forces and reactionary forces. APC and PDP belong to

one side and the people led by UPP are on the other side. You remember our logo is the tiger.

The tiger is always known not to lose a battle. When we encourage people to come out and their votes count, that’s why I predicted upsets. It’s sure going to happen and our democracy will be better for it. INEC needs to be supported and encouraged. The President must be commended too because no other President has given INEC as much freedom as to exercise the independence its name implies like President Jonathan. I hope nobody tries to convince him to do otherwise even if he loses election. He will go down as the one who contributed the most to the development of our democracy.

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Politics / Column

David Mark’s frank talk with Kwankwaso

F

lattery, hypocrisy and pretence are innate attributes of a natural man.

However, the degree of manifestation of these traits may vary with individuals, societies and cultures. In Nigeria, it is a common practice for people to flatter and deceive their victims, who may be their friends or foes as the case may be. In fact, deception is a norm well entrenched in the daily living of some people.

A close study of the motives behind this kind of lifestyle shows that though these behavioural tendencies have concomitant negative consequences on the victims, and indeed the entire society, the norm is thriving because people, as a matter of natural instinct like to be flattered. In a country like Nigeria, when you tell people the truth, they tend to hate you while others will simply cut off relationship with you for being sincere.

In this kind of psycho-socio-cultural environment therefore, it takes courage and discipline for someone to defy the feelings and opinions of men and state the facts as they are or tell the truth undiluted especially in critical circumstances. It is the hardest task for people to tell you that they hate you when they do. In politics for instance, particularly in Nigeria, it is very difficult for the electorate to bluntly tell political office aspirants that they will not support their ambitions at elections.

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, an Idoma-born retired military General and astute politician, last Thursday, broke this endemic yoke of pretence, flattery and hypocrisy, when he openly and unequivocally told the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwank-

From the Chukwu David chukwudavid68@yahoo.com

Deviating from the norm, the President of the Senate told him the and bitter truth that he would not support his presidential ambition

waso that he would not support his 2015 presidential ambition.

Although he has not formally declared his interest to occupy the Aso Rock in 2015, Kwankwaso has been going about, meeting people, seeking their counsel and perhaps canvassing for support when and if he finally declares. In line with this effort, Kwankwaso paid a courtesy visit on the National Assembly, where he met with Senator Mark, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other parliamentarians of the opposition All Progressives Congress on which

platform he is seeking election.

Obviously, Kwankwaso would have received a lot of flatteries, ovation and encouragements from Tambuwal and the rest of the lawmakers, who would be cheering him up as he went about pointing out his perceived weaknesses of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and giving lofty promises on what he intends to do to transform Nigeria to Eldorado. Even those who knew very well that they would neither vote for Kwankwaso nor support him in election would promise that they would stand solidly behind him.

However, deviating from the norm, the President of the Senate told him the bitter truth that he would not support his presidential ambition. Rationally speaking, it amounts to self deception and ridicule in the first place for an opposition aspirant to meet his opponent and start asking for support. We have seen traditional rulers and other leaders of thoughts in the country promise to support and vote for as many aspirants as asked for their support when they already have their candidates.

Rather than tow this line of deception, Mark advised Kwankwaso to return to the

PDP that made him governor, if he tried his fate in APC without success. He also encouraged politicians in Nigeria to play politics without bitterness as he believes that only the Sovereign God can give power to whosoever he desires.

His words: “It is completely impossible for me to support you. Good as your wishes may be, I can’t grant them. The Peoples Democratic Party is the correct platform to contest election and I have always advised the Senators so. If you don’t make it in your new party, feel free to come back to us because you have always belonged on this side.”

Meanwhile, reading between the lines and the body language of Governor Kwankwaso, it appears that his passion for the PDP has not totally left him. After meeting with Mark and went to meet with the members of the APC in the Senate and the House of Representatives, he repeatedly extolled some of the noble virtues of the PDP, especially in the area of diligently conducting presidential primary elections since 1999, even when other parties neglected such. It will therefore, not be surprising if Kwankwaso eventually returns to the PDP. It is true that Mark’s frank position on Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition might be viewed to be undiplomatic but he actually demonstrated love for his opponent by not deceiving him or giving him false hope.

It is a lesson for all Nigerians, not just the politicians to embrace because any society or relationship built on truth will definitely be focused and prosperous while a society where flattery, deception and hypocrisy are the norms.

Reps and life pension for ex-President, others

T

he House of Representatives last week adopted the conference report on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution preparatory to forwarding it to the 36 States Houses of Assembly for approval. The House voted on 71 items and out of the 260 members present at the plenary, 250 voted for, while eight voted against and one lawmaker abstained. The House is made up of 360 members.

Out of the 71 items proposed for amendment, some issues stood out. One of such was the rejection of the amendment of Section 9 of the Constitution to allow for a referendum in determining the fate of the report of the just concluded national conference.

Curiously, the lawmakers proposed a clause for a life pension for the President, Vice President, Senate President and his deputy, speaker of the House of Representatives and the deputy respectively; which is contained in Clauses 5 and 5A on page 39 of the report. It provides that, “any person who has held office as President or Vice President shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent President or Vice-President; provided that such a person was not removed from office by the process of impeachment or for breach of any provision of this constitution”.

This proposal by the lower house is not realistic and it is absurd taking into cognisance the poverty level in the country. It is not desirable and clearly insensitive because looking at the perks of office of the officers been given life pension in Nigeria, it will only amount to greed for elected people who have occupied these offices to

From the

GreenChamber

Philip Nyam enjoy such mouthwatering benefits after leaving office.

Anyone who has occupied the office of president in Nigeria and has lived a modest life can never lack anything in his life; ditto for the office of Vice President, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker and governor and deputy governor. This category of elected officers are adequately taken care of and by virtue of the high office they occupy, they have connections both within and outside the country, which they can deploy to cater for themselves and family.

The question to ask is: what criteria did the lawmakers used in choosing these officers who are to enjoy life pensions?

Have they forgotten that out of the over 160 million Nigerians, almost half of the population lives below poverty line? In other words, majority of Nigerians have been consigned to the prison of poverty due to many decades of poor leadership coupled with unbridled corruption.

There are millions of Nigerian children of school age who are wasting at home because their parents cannot afford school fees in public schools. Millions of Nigeri-

ternyam@gmail.com

I would like the House of Representatives to have a rethink over this proposal because it is clearly anti-people and contrary to what the lower chambers stands for ans cannot access basic health care hence the increased infant mortality rate in the country. What about unemployment? The figures are simply appalling and frightening. What about the state of infrastructure in the country? Most roads in the country remain impassable and the quality of life of an average Nigerian is still a sad commentary. So, why would a privileged Nigerian that has risen to such high office continue to feed fat on the resources that could be used to better the lives of the

common man and improve the state of the economy.

This proposal by the House is never popular and can never be feasible in a struggling developing nation like Nigeria.

It is not in the interest of the nation for the elites to continue to exist at the expense of the masses. We have seen what ex-leaders in developed climes do after leaving office. Look at what former US president, Jimmy Carter is doing with guinea worm and other diseases across the globe. Why can’t our own leaders think about issues like this instead of living off the Nigerian state after enjoying it to the fullest?

I would like the House of Representatives to have a rethink over this proposal because it is clearly anti-people and contrary to what the lower chambers stands for: the House of the people. If this proposed amendment is sent to the states, they may be tempted too to include former presiding officers of the state assemblies and local government chairmen on the list of those to benefit from life pension.

Nigeria is presently at a cross roads and it will be injurious to the larger population if these class of former leaders are allowed to take home the perks of their offices.

I think the House and indeed the Senate has done a wonderful job with the constitution amendment process by proposing full autonomy for the local government councils to ensure sustainable development at the grassroots. But if the life pension clause is allowed to stand, the whole amendment would become a mess.

Please, honourable members do not fall into this temptation.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014

Politics / Column

T

Jonathan’s depleted cabinet

he success of any organisation or indeed a nation can never be achieved single handedly. This explains the import of the proverbial saying that ‘a tree does not make a forest’ or put it in another way, ‘no man is an island’. Solo efforts often times only make scanty success far less than team effort.

In government circle, the need for teamwork is not different and is why at the highest level of policy decision making such as the Federal Executive Council, there are cabinet members led by the President working towards achieving one single purpose - providing good governance for citizens.

There are about 39 ministers serving presently under the Goodluck Jonathan administration with their portfolios ranging from ministers to ministers of states for Agriculture and rural development, the finance ministry, Education, Health, Women affairs, Industry trade and investment, Federal Capital Territory, Works, Environment, Niger Delta affairs, Labour and Productivity, Petroleum resources, Aviation, Foreign affairs which has three ministers and the the ministry of Defence.

Others are the ministry of Interior affairs, Water resources, Power, Housing and urban development, ministry of Transport, Culture and tourism, Sports, Information, Communication technology, Science and technology, Mines and steel development as well as the ministry of police affairs.

Penultimate Wednesday, President Jonathan announced the decision of seven members in his cabinet wishing to resign and pursue political ambitions

Anule Emmanuel emmyanule@yahoo.com

The former ministers should be allowed to test their popularity in a free and fair election

in their respective states. The Ministers who include the Ministers of State for Niger Delta Affairs Darius Ishaku, Musliyu Obanikoro Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Samuel Ortom Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Emeka Wogu Minister of Labour and Productivity, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu Minister of Health, Labaran Maku Minister of Information and the Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike are leaving to contest for governorship positions in next year’s general election.

Although the affected Ministers had up to tomorrow, 20th October to take a final decision whether to remain in the cabinet

or not, their departure definitely will create a vacuum that may be difficult to fill before May, 29 next year when the tenure of a new administration commences.

Interestingly, for the first time, a special valedictory session has been held in the seat of power not for the dead but for departing Ministers who voluntarily took a bow. What this invariably means is that President Jonathan himself may have been interested in spreading his tentacles in order to build a network of influential politicians around the country.

Considering the fact that he has often been criticised for lack of sound political structure, one could deduce easily from his tone that his is indeed excited seeing his foot soldiers move on to grab power at the state level.

He said: “But we may not say they are not with us until they write to us through the Secretary of Government. As we are talking nobody has written and we have not dropped anybody, people should not say we have dropped Ministers, no.”

“We have not dropped any Ministers; they are still Ministers of Council but as-

suming between now and next council, if they decide to go on with their plans, it is only proper we wish them well, assuming we will not see them again. But if they change their plans they will continue to be with us but after receiving the letters and they changed their minds it will be too late. So if they have to change their minds, they have to change it before sending the letter to the Secretary of Government.”

If they do succeed and the President is also re-elected in 2015, having the backing of governors on major national policies for instance, would become a smooth sail for him. In the next few days, possibly when the seven Ministers finally put-in the resignation letters, the President may need to give additional responsibilities to those left behind.

Like he had done before, when a few Ministers were relieved of their appointments, some ministries including Labour, Health and Information would have to be supervised by other ministers until the next election. There is however no problem with Education, Niger Delta, Industry, Trade, Investment and the Defence Ministry which already have substantive Ministers.

Aside strategically reassigning the empty polios therefore, what is important, however, is that much as the outgoing Ministers are the President’s foot soldiers to strengthen his political base, he must not be seen to be pushing too hard for their success in the forth-coming elections. They should be allowed to test their popularity within the principles of free and fair polls.

Governors and anointed candidates C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

adoption was taken without the knowledge and approval of leaders of thought and the state chapter of PDP in Ebonyi State. President of the group, Dr. Jerry Uhuo, argued that there was no provision for the rotation of power or consensus candidacy in the PDP constitution.

Instead, he added, the party believes in the enthronement of internal democracy.

“This gives vent to party democracy and affords party members the opportunity to choose their leaders and candidates for any election. Political parties that have practised true democracy always maintain that the right of party members to choose their leaders should not be circumscribed in any form or shape,” Uhuo noted.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone has expressed support for the endorsement of Chukwu as the PDP governorship candidate.

The zone comprises Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Izzi and Ohaukwu local government areas.

In a communique issued last week in Abakaliki and signed by the representatives of each of the four LGAs, they applauded the unanimous agreement that Ebonyi South should be allowed to produce the next governor of the state.

The communique also stated that it is equitable and just to rotate the governorship seat of Ebonyi State between the three zones. They said it is in order to guarantee political stability, social cohesion and multilateral contributions to the growth and development of the young state.

Backlash

The position of the governors is said to be overheating politics in PDP-controlled states, because the governors not only get the aspirants agitated, but scare them from taking active part in electioneering. Anyone who dares a sitting governor, being the leader of

Ambode

the party, not only enters into his black book, but stands to incur his wrath.

For instance, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Igwe Paulinus Nwagu, a governorship aspirant in Ebonyi State, incurred Elechi’s wrath about three months ago when he declared for the governorship election. The governor immediately announced that he has been stripped off the chieftaincy title given to him by the traditional rural of his community.

Following the punishment given to Nwagu, other aspirants from the state have since either buried their ambition or are too intimidated to

declare interest in the governorship election. Even Onyebuchi never nursed the governorship ambition before Elechi unilaterally adopted him.

Also, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s adoption by Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, appears to have killed the ambition of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze; the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Eugene Odo; the Chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, Vita Abba; and Chinedu Onuh who represents the South-East in TETFUND to govern the state.

Eze described the meeting at Government House, Enugu where Ugwuanyi was adopted as an ‘ambush.’ Though he admitted that he was at the meeting, he said nobody was given the opportunity to speak. This raised the spectre that the PDP ‘stakeholders’ were railroaded into adopting Ugwuanyi. The senator has, however, remained the only vocal voice against the adoption.

Although the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, whose candidate, Chinedu Onuh, was shut out of the governorship contest, has not openly spoken against the adoption, his supporters are being hunted by the governor. A traditional ruler in one of

the communities in his senatorial zone was dethroned while the impeachment hammer is hanging on the neck of chairman of a local government next to his.

Legality

While the actions of the governors have stoked controversy, it seems there is no stopping the governors.

An earlier statement signed by PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said the NWC strongly frowned on this development. It also issued a final warning to all elected party officials and chapters at all levels not to endorse or anoint any aspirant. It also threatened to sanction such erring officers or chapters.

It said the “sanctity of our nomination processes must be protected at all times. We therefore wish to assure all party members that there shall be a level playing ground for all aspirants intending to participate in the nomination processes.”

The NWC charged members and supporters to disregard all such endorsements, saying the PDP will conduct primaries to duly elect flag bearers in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution of the party.

The stance of the parties is immaterial, as some aspirants who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph on condition of anonymity said. They declared that the governors, as party leaders, would have their way in the end.

“Many of the delegates to the primaries on November 29 for the PDP are party leaders from the local governments and at the state level under the control of the governors. It will take a rare display of courage and defiance of intimidation for any of them not to vote for the governor’s candidate,” one of them said.

However, such imposition, he said, could cause an implosion in the party and lead to mass defection, to the benefit of the opposition.

38

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Interview

Obiano should bring people together, says Okoye Chief Abolle Okoye Agu was deputy governor during the short-lived tenure of Dame Virgy Etiaba as the Governor of Anambra State. He was also a special adviser to former governor Peter Obi on political matters. In this interview with CHINEDU EKEJA, he says the All Progressives Grand Alliance has changed for the worse

Do you see APGA lasting beyond Obiano’s first term?

If the party continues the way it is going now, a lot of people will lose interest and may not be able to retrace. For Imo, APGA is no longer there, and it will be a tug of war for APGA to regain Imo State, because PDP is there now and they have the muscle and men. Rochas Okorocha as the incumbent will definitely take advantage of that to strengthen his hold on power. So it will be difficult for APGA because he will give you a fight. I consider Imo a lost ground for APGA. If we are able to get few councillors after the election we will be happy for it.

But in Anambra, I think it is easily predictable. The only thing that has made APGA to be strong in Anambra State is that PDP stalwarts are in disarray. The moment the PDP stalwarts in Anambra State come out and say, ‘this is the man we want to bring’, APGA will collapse, and you will see that APGA will not make any impact in 2017. The followership of PDP in Anambra State is far above that of APGA, but they are all scattered.

You have been silent on the state politics after your days as the deputy governor of Anambra State. Why? As a matter of fact, after serving in that capacity as deputy governor, I joined Mr. Peter Obi, the immediate past governor of Anambra State as his special adviser on political matters to help anchor the state for a bright future. You were actually right to say that a lot of people have not been hearing from me, but the truth is that in politics, I don’t believe in noise making.

I believe in tackling issues as they come because the more you talk, the more you disclose your strategies. And too, a lot of people may misunderstand and misquote you. But that does not stop one from airing his views when the need arises. So maybe it is time to start opening up. Many apologies to the people for my silence.

With the trend of politics in the country today, where do you belong politically?

Right now, I am an All Progressives Grand Alliance person. I was part of the people that formed APGA when we broke out from PDP. We came out of PDP because of Chinwokeke Mbadinuju whom we felt he was not ruling us well; when people were out of school for one year and other administrative inefficiencies. Then APGA was born. In 2002 we started romancing APGA and brought it to a lime light. We all embraced APGA and it became a household name in the South- East almost immediately.

I was personally given the task of making sure that APGA was nurtured to full growth in Rivers State. I successfully established it and made it very popular and then went to Bayelsa State, and made APGA known there too to the point that we were able to produce through my effort, the first House of Representatives member on APGA platform in Bayelsa. Then he was attacked by his people who were predominantly PDP and not long after that he joined them and we lost. However, that was understandable because APGA has no firm footing in Bayelsa State.

Then in Rivers State, there was this question of opposition. Members of Peter Odili’s opposition joined the party after I had preached APGA to them. Then I was using my company’s office, Jablony Management Consultancy Limited as a place for the gathering of APGA faithful.

That was when Celestine Omehia took that opportunity to assemble Rivers people into APGA but he failed to ask question, and that was why he failed to capture the state.

With your efforts so far, what will you say of the state of the party now as many are leaving for other political parties?

You see, team work is very necessary. I am not happy with APGA now. We don’t believe that APGA should belong to one person and the person will now feel that the party’s programmes have to be an individual affair and the people should come and worship him. If there is no team spirit, nothing will happen. I expect the current governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano to call a meeting of all the former governors and other former leaders of the party to know how they feel. It is not going to cost you much money, but if we scatter ourselves like this, it will be to the detriment of the party.

together so that they can continue to be part of that establishment called political party and then look at themselves as relevant stakeholders in the state. Everybody in a political party wants recognition and not even money. If you invite the person he will feel important and have a sense of belonging.

What is your take on the impeachment of the deputy governor of Enugu State?

It is quite unfortunate that rearing of poultry can amount to the reason for the impeachment of a deputy governor. But I never foresaw such thing happening in an open and civilised society as Nigeria is fast becoming. Sunday Onyebuchi, a very good friend of mine is somebody I know who cannot hurt an ant. Though that is not a justification, but the manner of his impeachment to me was unwarranted.

As a deputy governor you are nothing and you have nothing. You don’t dispense anything. The major job of a deputy governor is boundary supervision, where you go and know where people are encroaching into your territory and resolve the dispute and then any other assignments that the governor will give to you. It is only when the governor is not there and you are made to act, that is when you have the capacity to do anything. But as you know a governor is always afraid of his deputy governor, not wanting to give him more powers that he can use to overpower the governor. If the governor makes any mistake, he takes over from the governor like what happened in Taraba State. That is why they are always afraid and don’t want to give deputy governors a chance.

Okoye

I have been here for instance, as the former deputy governor. I have been sending my suggestions and contributions on how to bring about good governance in the state and none has been replied, not even one. When Alhaji Sehu Shagari was the President of this country, I was making my suggestions and Shagari was writing me back personally to say thank you very much for the suggestion you are bringing, but here, the reverse is the case. His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi started it all when he was nonchalant about bringing people together that could advise him. He decided to bring young people whom he felt were going to take ‘yes, yes’ and ‘never no’.

They don’t want people who will say no; they want only a yes group, and that is not

what governance is all about.

Do you feel Governor Obiano’s style of leadership is responsible for what is happening in APGA today?

No way. Obiano is somebody who is refined, a gentle man but the only thing I have against him is that he is not bringing people together. But in terms of governing Anambra people, he is giving them the best in governance with what I have seen so far on ground.

It is in the area of party leadership that I have issues with him. He should remember those who have been on the top of the party leadership; the governors, the deputy governors, secretary to the state government and all that. From time to time, bring them

As a deputy governor with less power, did you at any time feel like wanting more powers than the constitution provided?

You see, you don’t give power to somebody who will turn back and swallow you.

The people that made it that way were not mistaken, because some deputy governors are naturally more powerful than the governor and if any opportunity comes, they will overshadow him.

What are your expectations on 2015 elections?

It’s been a long time that a statement was made in America that Nigeria will break up before 2015. But even though the political happenings in recent times have been tilting towards that prediction, I believe the 2015 election will be peaceful; even more peaceful than the previous elections. It will only take Nigerians prayers, because there is nothing a genuine prayers cannot change.

39

South-East Focus

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014

Agulu Lake: Tourist potential fraustrated by politics

Ajulu late

Tony Okafor

P Awka

erhaps when it said that politics is a dirty game, what readily comes to most minds in Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State and environs is how Agulu lake, a veritable tourist attraction, has suffered neglect by successive administrations right from the Eastern Region era.

When former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi (a native of Agulu) in the twilight of his administration visited the place during the sod turning of a new hotel, to be known as Agulu Lake Resort, he recalled that it was conceived together with Oguta Lake Resort in Imo and Nike Lake Resort in Enugu during the days of the defunct Easter Region.

Obi regretted that while the other resorts had since been achieved, Agulu Lake Resort remains a dream.

On the occasion, Obi explained the objective for siting the resort near the lake thus: “You know, I am a corporate man. Many corporate organisations would always approach me on a daily basis to hold their AGM in Awka but the lack of facilities is one of major constraints. Agulu Lake Hotel Resort, within the capital territory, will not only boost an international standard hotel but will also have a hotel located in one of the best areas for such purposes.”

To demonstrate further commitment to the actualisation of the project, Obi awarded the contract for the dualisation of Azinano Road leading to the resort.

Speaking to journalists, shortly after the ceremony, Obi’s Commissioner for Works, Callistus Ilozumba, said the then Exco wanted the project to be completed as soon as pos-

sible due to its potential benefits to the state.

But that was not to be as shortly after Obi left office, his successor, Willie Obiano, stopped work on the project.

The story in town then was that the new governor had frozen all accounts of the state to enable him to study the state’s treasury holistically, with a view to properly situating them. But up till now, it does not seem as if the new government is keen on continuing with the Agulu project.

During the commencement of Aroma flyover project in the state capital, Obiano sarcastically told the people of Awka that “the hotel they took way from Awka to Agulu, we shall build another one here in Awka.”

That was not all. The new governor had shortly after he assumed office awarded a similar contract for the construction of a resort at Ogbunike cave.

Though Obi had said that during his reign that N2.2 billion was reserved for the con-

Obiano

Obi

tinuation of work on Agulu Resort, some observers have blamed him for leaving the project till some months to the end of his eight-year tenure as governor of the state, A former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, also had a good vision for the Agulu lake. He had wanted to begin work on the lake alongside the construction of Nike Lake Resort, but politics of the time known as ‘Anambra North/South dichotomy’ prevented him from realising the objective.

A recent research carried out by Okeke and Nwokolo of Hydrology Laboratory of the Department of Geography, University of Lagos, entitled, ‘Conservation and Preservation of Traditional Agulu Lake in Anambra State Nigeria,’ states its potential and description.

It goes thus: “Anambra State has traditional attractions such as sacred streams, lakes with potential for investment and tourism development, of which Agulu Lake is one.

“The Agulu Lake is not a common lake; it is traditionally inclined, has cultural landmarks and is believed to be possessed by spirits. The lake is used for different spiritual rites, performance for traditional worshippers and the water serves as a major source of medicine for different ailments. (equivalent to what Nigerian pilgrims cherish scrambling for when they see themselves in Israel or Egypt).”

Continuing, the researchers stated: “However, industrial, human pollution and bacterial contamination from numerous activities in and around the lake; land use change influence (land recreation, industrial sites, sewage, major spills, inadequate bugger zones and vegetation, geology and unhygienic practices. (WHO, 2004) affect the water quality of the lake. Thus, issues to CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

South-East Focus

Civil war veterans laud group’s registration

Some of the Biafra war veterans

shows that the Jonathan administration is listening to our cries. This is due to his magnanimity, and we want to thank him for this. For our part, we will support his administration and pray for its success,” Ugwu said.

The war veteran said the report given during the last meeting positively changed the mood of his colleagues in the 10 states they have classified as divisions.

Uwakwe Abugu

T Enugu

he mood of thousands of war veterans who fought on the side of Biafra during the Nigerian-Biafran war lit up recently, with the announcement in Enugu last Wednesday that their association has been registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

The war heroes spread across some 10 states in the old Eastern Region have in the past years been struggling to earn the federal government’s recognition, by forming the Pardoned War Veterans Association.

This would enable them to also earn benefits like their counterparts in other parts of the country.

Last Friday, Sunday New Telegraph learnt that thousands of the veterans spread across Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and River states are now in celebration mood following the registration of their association by the CAC, a development that was announced on Wednesday by their regional leader and ex-Biafran general, Emmanuel Osita Ossai, whom late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was said to have anointed to lead them.

A veteran soldier, Mr. Ambrose Ugwu, who is also the chairman of the association’s Enugu Division stated that at a meeting held at the Enugu Recreation Club, the various leaders were shown a copy of its constitution.

According to him, at the meeting, the leaders of the divisions who reviewed the issue of registration of the body upon which Ossai “showed us the certificate of incorporation and we were all happy.”

Ugwu, who was in company with another member of the group, said they were full of praises for President Goodluck Jonathan for being the only leader since after the civil war to truly identify with the plight of the war heroes in the spirit of the ‘no victor, no vanquished’ declaration at the end of the Nigerian-Biafran war in 1970.

“Our members are happy because the federal government is now listening to us. We

Life as war veterans

Ugwu, chairman of the Biafran war veterans in Enugu, with a member of the group during the chat with Sunday New Telegraph

hope that God will continue to touch those in authority until they treat us as they have done to our counterparts in the other two

old regions of the country.

“The fact that we have been registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission

He noted that in Enugu State alone, there are over 670 surviving members and more than 300 widows of their colleagues who had died. He said they had been managing to survive by “doing small works,” a situation that also subsists with thousands of others in the rest nine divisions. Ugwu, who is now about 63 years old, said he had been working with a private security outfit, adding that that was the source of livelihood for his family.

On their fallen colleagues, he said members of the association had made it a point of duty to stand by the families of departed colleagues.

“We always make sure we stand by such families during their time of mourning. We attend the burial ceremonies of our dead members and we stay with the families on such occasions,” he explained.

Agulu Lake: Tourist potential fraustrated by politics C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 9

protect and restore the sacred lake irrespective of the threats which often have adverse short and long term effects on the quality of water, through increasing developmental and water treatment costs and causing poor health conditions on consumers needs to be addressed.”

According to the research, geologically, the lake lies within the Anambra Basin which is characterised by heavy floods, soil, gully erosion and landslides which destroys lives and properties. Anambra Basin, however, is dominantly filled with sediments of poorly

consolidated sandy units with lithographic thickness of up to 2,500m. These include; Nkporo Shale, Mamu Formation, Ajali Sandstone, Nsukka Formation, Imo Shale, Nanka/Ameki, Sands/Formation, Nsugbe formation and Ogwashi- Asaba Formations (Egboka et al,) This lake is located along Awka Road in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state. It is home to an estimated 300 crocodiles and r turtles.

Fishing is not allowed in the lake and the crocodiles, being sacred animals to the people, cannot be killed. Legend says that these

crocodiles were instrumental in delivering the town from enemy soldiers during wars, even in modern times.

It is believed that these sacred crocodiles and turtles transformed themselves into beautiful ladies and would lure enemy soldiers unawares into the lake where the soldiers would disappear without trace. At noon, the crocodiles and the turtles would appear at the banks of the lake to take in sunlight.

In some other climes, this lake and resort would serve as revenue spinners for the state.

41

Abuja Beats SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

F

Yekeen Nurudeen

or Esther Yakubu, it is indeed true, that “he who wears the shoe, knows where it pinches.”

For six months, she has nursed the pains and agony of not seeing her 17 year-old daughter, Dorcas Yakubu, and not knowing what has become of her after she was abducted alongside 255 other girls by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014.

Though the federal government, through the Nigerian Army, has intensified action to rescue the abducted girls alive, what is obvious is that this has not met the expectations of many Nigerians and the parents of the missing girls.

Yakubu, like fellow Chibok parents, spoke through an interpreter, the Chairman of Chibok in Abuja, Tsambido HoseaAbana. He had gone to Chibok and brought papers with their comments to the BBOG sit-out last Saturday.

“Six months of painful moments; the pain of missing a child are too much for me as a mother; yet my voice is meaningless to my government. What have we done to them that they care less about us? They said they are doing everything to rescue them. Let us know what they have done for six months. Haba! Are we not Nigerians?” she cried in the transcript of the interview distributed to journalists at the sit-out.

Her pains echo and reflect the anger and frustration of several other parents whose daughters are being held by the group.

To some of them, President Goodluck Jonathan has only been paying lip service to the rescue of the girls.

This can be understood in the words of Ntakai Nkeki, father of missing 16 year old Hauwa Ntakai, when he said, “Even if we are just starting an army, by now - after six months - they should be trained enough to stage a real rescue. Yet the government does not even think that talking to us is an issue at all. Is it because we are poor people?

God is greater than all of them.”

For Samuel Yanga, father of 17 year old Sarah Samuel, the seeming inability of Nigerian Army to decisively win the war against Boko Haram paints a picture of hopelessness.

He said, “We don’t have

It’s six months and….

Chibok girls still in the news

links with the government, and no one seems to think that we deserve to be talked to. We daily nurse our pains, and are inching closer to hopelessness. By the action of the government six months down - can we still count on this government? If not for you people in BBOG (Bring Back Our Girls movement) that are talking on our behalf, we would have been forgotten long ago. It is a pity that we are also Nigerians.

“Some seem to have given up on their daughters.

They have resigned to God. A father like Gambo Dibal whose daughter, Halima Gambo, was also taken alongside other girls said, ‘We patiently wait on God for whatever result that is their destiny.”

When on April 15, 2014 the news of their abduction filtered into town, not few Nigerians, including those who control the nation’s security apparatuses, doubted its veracity.

But half a year on, 219 out of the 256 Chibok Secondary School girls abducted by members of Boko Haram from their school in Chibok village, Borno State are still missing. Fifty-seven of them have by sheer luck

Jonathan

escaped from the group’s claws a couple of months ago.

For their parents, it has been six months of agony, trauma, hopelessness, helplessness, belief and disbelief about the reality of their missing daughters.

The situation is less different for those agitating for the safe rescue of the girls. It has also been six months of frustration, anger, betrayal and perceived dereliction of duty by government officials.

For the missing girls, the BBOG movement has cre-

ated global awareness and attracted the attention of the international community as well as sympathy for the missing girls and the plight of their parents.

Members of the BBOG have kept a daily sit-out for the girls at the Abuja Unity Fountain where on Saturday October 11, they gathered for an ‘emotional sit-out’ to mark 180 days that the terrorist group commandeered the girls from the school in Chibok.

The Saturday event was a symbolic one that culminated in a candle light proces-

sion at the Unity Fountain.

But not until some heart wreaking emotional messages were delivered by members of BBOG. And it was indeed an evening of messages to President Jonathan and members of his cabinet as well as the global community.

It was also the day a new logo for the BBOG struggle was unveiled.

The logo which was unveiled by Hajia Saudatu Mahdi has red and white colours. The logo has always been ‘BringBackOurGirls’ with a silhouette in the background but the new one reads ‘BringBackOurgirls Now,’ written with red in white background.

The white colour in the logo, according to Hajia Mahdi, a 1979 first class Textile graduate, symbolises a lot of things to the struggle such as origin, reason noting that it is relevant to a citizens-driven movement like the BBOG. Not able to control her emotions, Mahdi lamented that the sage of the 219 missing girls was a sad note for Nigeria, particularly women.

“We are the ones used as sacrifice; we are the ones abducted; we are the ones

battered. This is the biggest sacrifice in the history of Nigeria, 219 girls missing and no one has given a clue as to their whereabouts,” she said as tears rolled down her face.

Dr. Emman Shehu, a communication scholar and a prominent member of the BBOG, lamented that Nigerians did not take the abduction of the girls seriously when the news was broken.

“The media contributed to the whole confusion. The Nigerian media should do soul searching on the coverage of the abduction of the girls. The media has allowed itself to be used to change the narration of insurgency and the abduction of the girls,” he said.

In her short but powerful speech at the sit-out, Hajia Mariam Uwais said, “It is very disturbing. We will continue to stand towards bringing back our girls.”

But a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwezili, who spoke last before the candle light procession moved the entire gathering to tears when she rendered the lyrics of Whitney Houston’s ‘GreatContinue on page 42

42

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abuja Beats

Utako town: Behind a sprawling ghetto Obinna Odoh

W

henever the name Utako is mentioned what readily comes to the minds of many residents of Abuja and visitors are the various transportation companies whose offices dot the area. This is besides the gigantic and popular Utako Motor Park that serves as entry and exit point to the nation’s capital.

It shares boundaries with Jabi, Mabushi and the popular Berger Roundabout etc.

However, there’s a village known as Utako. It is the home of some Abuja natives who are waiting to be resettled by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The village which is now populated by thousands of low income earners as well as other categories of people engaging in menial jobs within and around Abuja has grown in popularity due to a number of reasons.

One, it is about the closest to the city centre and is believed to have rent rates affordable to the categories of people living there, albeit the houses were of low standard and haphazardly built.

Many residents of what can best be described as a ghetto inside Abuja said the cost of living there is relatively cheap. Life in-

deed inside Utako village is fun as there is never a dull moment there.

This explains why besides residential houses and there are small scale businesses as well as restaurants, bars, and even the locally brewed wine called otherwise known as Burukutuin the area.

Due to the low rate drinks and other things in the area compared to what is obtainable in the hotels and motels in nearby places patronage of the place is very high. Other recreational centres are in great numbers in the small place called Utako Village.

A visit to the place on a Sunday or any evenings will tell it all as people troop to the place in numbers for relaxation and other social activities.

This has however, recently, led to high cost of living and hike in house rent in the area. Previously house rent in the place was very low and affordable that any class of persons could pay with ease.

A rent of one room self contained previously went for between N30,00 to N50,00 but now it goes between N120,000 and N150,000.

Yet at this rate, residents of Utako see it as huge opportunity and gain to compare with rents in neighbouring house in Utako, Jabi, Mabushi,

A section of Utako

Wuse, and Garki where it’s equivalence goes for between half a million, one million and above or boys quarters.

Also worthy of note is high level of prostitution going on in the place. The girls of easy virtue who are in high number in the area storm the streets of Abuja at night for business activities.

For the call girls, they use what they have to get what want.

Motorists, particularly

commercial taxi drivers plying the roads of Utako and FCT environs confirmed to Abuja Beats that many ladies who stand in the streets of FCT in the night waiting for sex partners are residents of Utako village.

They use the advantages of low rent and also explore the opportunity of proximity to hotel and rest houses where the rich men who seek company from them lodge.

A resident who declined

to disclose her identity said that they charge their numerous customers between N10,000, N20,000 and beyond as the case may be in a night.

Utako Village was said to be a reserved area kept for the indigenous people before they will be finally relocated to the place built for them by government off town. It was gathered that they refused to be relocated to the new place and since then have advanced in developing the

place more and more until it is congested.

Population in the area is on the increase day by day that if nothing is done urgently in the near future it may lead to serious environmental and health problems.

Government should therefore make alternative provision in a nearby place where houses will be affordable so as to decongest the place and also afford the poor residents of FCT equal opportunity.

It’s six months and…. Chibok girls still in the news c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 4 1

est Love of All’ track.

Speaking afterward, Ezekwezili challenged President Jonathan to demonstrate his tough character against the terrorist group.

She urged him to mobilise Nigerians against ter-

rorism.

Her words: “First, I would expect our President to convey a message of a strong nation. Nigeria is not a weak country by every standard. There’s a way to convey the message that does not seem to

imply that when citizens like those that have been advocating for the rescue of the girls call for rescue they are told to go and talk to the terrorists.

“To me, that’s not what the nation state tells the citizens. A nation state is

Enoch Mark, father of some of the Chibok girls addressing government officials recently

strong by virtue of the fact that it is the entity that has the monopoly of the coercive apparatus, that is, the security instrumentation.

And for me I believe that there’s that strength of character that is necessary for us to be able to win this

war. I think mobilising the citizens has unfortunately been the most divisive thing of modern day Nigeria.”

A day after, eight year old Hauwa Abubakar Yusuf wrote an emotional letter to President Jonathan, asking him to protect the girl-child from harm.

In the letter brought to the BBOG sit-out at the Unity Fountain, the Grade 4 pupil at I-Scholars International Academy, Gwarimpa, Abuja, called on the President to protect the girl-child from war, terrorism, kidnapping, poverty and other dangers.

The letter was titled: Please BringBackOurGirls and Save Us of From Terror.

Little Hauwa who requested that her letter be handed to the President on Tuesday when the BBOG group tried to take its protest to the Presidential Villa said she would have loved to hand it over to Jonathan but because she would be in school by that time.

The letter reads: “Mr. President Sir, from time past, the girl-child has been a victim of all forms of vio-

lence such as rituals, early marriage, and all forms of slavery.

“As we mark the International Day of the Girl-Child which coincides with the 180th day of the abduction of the Chibok girls, I humbly request you to rescue the 219 girls abducted from their school on 14th April, 2014.

“Mr. President Sir, I also request you to please protect us from war, terrorism, kidnapping, poverty and from all harm so that we the Nigerian children will have a brighter future.

We are children today, the future of Nigeria.”

Although the BBOG mega protest was stopped by a combined team of riot police women, soldiers and agents of the Department of State Security, the message was taken to Jonathan by three members of his cabinet – the ministers of Women Affairs, Environment and Water Resources who had come in his place to listen to the protesters.

Nigerians and indeed the world wait to see how things will turn out!

44

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Grey is new black in suits Vanessa Okwara

O

ne of the most stylish fashion statements a man can make is to appear at an event looking distinct in a well-tailored suit. When it’s time to look smart and put-together, there is nothing like a good suit.

Black has been the staple suit colour in every man’s wardrobe for decades but recently, a new colour has been trending that may replace black in the suit arena and that is the grey.

With the way stylish men appear at events in grey

suits, it is safe to say grey is the new black for men right now.

If you look in the shops, grey is certainly the colour of the moment. Grey suit is ideal for the man of class who wants to look his best at a special event. It is ideal for weddings, church service and dinner parties. It is also the colour that can fit into any occasion; just style it appropriately. In fact, if you do not want to break your bank buying different colours of suit, you can have one grey suit and style it differently for each occasion.

Take for instance, if you

are attending a wedding, pair your grey suit with a white dress shirt and patterned tie with black dress shoes and matching accessories. For funerals, style it with a black dress shirt, black shoes and black knitted tie. If it is for formal functions you can go for a French cuffed white packet dress shirt and a black bow tie.

Thanks to its versatility, you only need to focus on two things when buying a grey suit -fit and colour.

Fit is everything. Even the world’s most expensive suit will look bad if it is not tailored to the contours of

your body. There are different shades of grey, so you need to pick a particular hue that compliments your skin tone. If you are light skinned, go for mid-grey tone that sits somewhere between cement and charcoal and if you are dark skinned, look out for lighter shades of grey to compliment your skin colour.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Body&Soul

Love can be brewed on the Internet I

t all started with a click of a button.

Funmi hardly logs on to her Facebook account to chat. On that fateful day, boredom was almost becoming her second name and she decided to go online to see if she could find an interesting friend to take the edge off her loneliness. A few minutes later, a guy named Emmanuel said, “Hello”. Initially, she didn’t want to reply since she has never chatted with him before but on second thoughts and out of courtesy, she gave him a perfunctory greeting.

As she was busy scrolling through the names of her friends online to see who she could buzz for a chat, Emmanuel sent in a chat commending her on one of her wall posts on #bringbackourgirls campaign. She was struck by his choice of words, astuteness and ability to easily catch the drift of her lengthy open letter to the government on the issue. She immediately replied and before she knew it, they were chatting animatedly on everything and anything ranging from government, work and life.

Chatting with Emmanuel became a regular thing as they found it interesting chatting with each other. It was quite different from the usual chats with guys she meets on Facebook which can be annoying sometimes. Normally, they start off with greetings like “Baby how are you, you are so beautiful” or something inept like “I love you or I want to marry you” for someone you hardly know? Haba! Such chats make

her cringe inside. She keeps wondering if they don’t have the right vocabulary to discuss with a lady other than love and sex. So instead of always sounding rude or giving a sarcastic answer, she decides to totally ignore them or not log in to chat at all.

So Emmanuel was like a breath of fresh air right out of Facebook! She was always looking forward to his chats. They never seem to lack topics to discuss and always share ideas on different issues.

Before she realised it, they moved their chat to BBM (Blackberry messages), exchanged phone numbers and kept in touch with each other virtually on daily basis. Soon love brewed in their hearts and they kicked off a budding relationship right from the Internet!

The only snag in their relationship was the fact that they have never met physically especially with the miles of ocean separating them. Emmanuel is from Edo State but living in Germany for over two years now. He promised to come back to Nigeria as soon as possible to perform the marriage rites and whisk her off to

live with him in Germany.

Funmi is scared of taking this bold step into marriage with someone she has never met before even though he sounds genuine. Could love brewed on the Internet be real?

We all live in a global village called the World Wide Web were possibilities seem endless. Social media such as Skype, LinkedIn, Facebook and the rest have helped bridge the distance separating friends and family. You can virtually buy ice from the Eskimos by just a click of a computer button or mobile device!

That is exactly how close people of the world have become interwoven in this large web called the Internet.

Various social media have even made it easier to find friends we lost touch with and also get connected with new ones. It is quite possible to meet a future life partner online. Love has no rules, limits or guidelines. Love can find you anywhere and bring joy to your life.

And increasingly, the search for love is happening online frequently.

Back in the days, joining a dating site

or searching for a partner online was viewed as being desperate. But this is not the case anymore. People log on to various Internet sites to hook up for love purposes. Some are quite genuine in their search while others can be fraudulent. The case of Miss Cynthia Osokogu killed by friends she met on Facebook is still fresh in our minds.

There are rules you must follow when dating online. Don’t be quick to say “I do” or tie the knot until you meet the person in real life and establish the fact that you are truly compatible both online and offline. For a first-time meeting, make sure you it is in a public place such as a mall or restaurant instead of private homes or hotel rooms. Also make sure you meet each other’s families to ascertain genuineness.

Social media only provided you the opportunity to meet this wonderful person you might not have met all through your life because of the distance, but you owe yourself the responsibility of making sure that the connection you felt while online with this person is tangible and not just a figment of your imagination. You can only know this when you meet face to face to cement that love. So don’t dismiss meeting someone online but also play with caution and don’t get carried away with sweet words and fake smileys.

Send your views to the email above!

Ebola Strikes Fear into The Heart of Western Mortals

‘

Ilera l’oro’ is a Yoruba proverb that is analogous with the English saying ‘health is wealth.’ I did find that adage to be true this past weekend when it seemed I had served my time on earth and it was time to go. The change in weather from summer to autumn always seem to knock me out but then, this one seem a killer blow.

Even as I write, I am still in a horizontal position, laid prostate by a bug that had infected my chest upwards. Talking, my favourite pastime, became a difficult task.

I could barely eat and what’s more, it all happened in the middle of celebrations to mark my 10 years of marriage. What was planned as a big surprise party had to be pruned.

However, in the midst of all these, I still had some time to reflect on my homeland and issues of health. As I sat in the waiting room of the doctor, every cough emanating from my inner core was met with a causerie look from the other patients waiting to see the doctor.

I wondered why I was getting such a look; come to think of it, everyone was sitting in that room because they were sick. My wife whispered to me that Ebola had been discovered in USA and so the Canadians were equally afraid it was on their shores. I laughed silently.

I felt like declaring I had Ebola in order to clear the room and then I can see the doctor earlier, but decided against it.

Sometimes, the moral panic caused by news events around the world cannot be taken for granted. You cannot blame the people for wanting to preserve their lives and why lose your life in the process of saving it? Makes no sense.

On coming out of the hospital, I re-

searched (more like googled) Thomas Eric Duncan and learned more of what happened to him. Most of it are common place now but at least some are worth mentioning. Duncan actually sought help in a Dallas hospital. However, when asked where he came from, he simply said ‘Africa’ and so the nurses thought nothing of it, gave him antibiotics and sent him home. This is one problem many living in the diaspora normally face. Africa is one long street full of black people and they all know each other; at least from the point of view of most dwellers of the western hemisphere. If someone had just asked one more question, “where in Africa?” then maybe, he would still be alive. The answer would have been Liberia and that would have raised flags for further tests to be conducted. No wonder, Pius

Adesanmi wrote a book recently, ‘You are not a country, Africa.’

Sadly, just like it happened in Nigeria, the United States of America is having to deal with Ebola on its shores couriered in by a Liberian. Just like in Nigeria, that courier will not live to tell the story but will leave panic and pandemonium in his wake. Medical experts have requested that a delegation go to Nigeria and understudy how the Health officials were able to deal effectively with it. You struggle for something of pride in stories such as this, but believe me, I am proud of all the health officials and government officials who curbed Ebola with information and medical expertise.

Who went beyond the call of duty and inadequate infrastructure and still won the battle against the beast called Ebola Virus. It is this resilience that experts

Duncan actually sought help in a Dallas hospital.

However, when asked where he came from, he simply said ‘Africa’ and so the nurses thought nothing of it, gave him antibiotics and sent him home. This is one problem many living in the diaspora normally face

with far higher grade of medical equipment want to come and learn.

The world is now a global village, and so we must be ready to share this knowledge. Let the world know of our success story. Failure to do so may mean we bear the brunt of the after effect. Medical migrants and tourists flocking to our shores for cure. This can bring untold strain on the entire health system which is not even on solid footing right now.

I am not even going to talk about the refugees of victims of Ebola virus. Just like we got most of the refugees of the war in Liberia, the same may happen, and so we must be willing to extend help to the universal assault on curbing Ebola.

Liberia’s president should also be quiet and let the professionals in the medical field work without distraction.

Some of her utterances of late has been embarrassing to say the least and Liberians will be doing their international reputation a great favour if she is given the boot. Imagine her saying she has established a procedure for suing and jailing Duncan if he ever comes back to Liberia. So what will she do now that he has died? Sue his dead body to appease the western power? As president, should she not be more concerned about helping the man get better? The woman makes me sick.

Ebola Virus is at least getting the needed attention after taking the back seat to trivial matters. Maybe now, a concerted effort, with Nigeria as the arrow head, can be started to deal with it before the last bell chimes. I wish myself soonest recovery.

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

with

Wole Adepoju 08085003746

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Bala Mohammed ignites ambition again F

ederal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed, happens to be one of the politicians who know where they are going. But he has treaded softly as regards his ambition for reasons best known to him. What we could not confirm is if he has the federal backing to embark on the journey of his ambition to govern Bauchi State.

Prior to the time he was appointed into the present administration, Bala had always kept mute about his intentions. Those who are close to him also vehemently deny that the man has any ambition. However, his actions are being interpreted to mean that he is nursing a governorship ambition. Bala, over a year ago, had given a huge amount of money for the renovation of mosques in Bauchi, even as he kept sealed lips.

The time for the real event is at hand and hopefuls have signified intention as well as got to work. It’s being said in some quarters that Bala may have finally made up his mind to throw his hat into the ring as he’s said to be thinking of quitting his plum job at Abuja to return to Bauchi and declare his intention to be the next governor of the state.

Meanwhile, Bala and the incumbent governor of the state, Isa Yuguda, are said not to be on cordial terms. A source said it is the reason why Bala decided to do his homework before making his intention known. What we could not confirm, however, is if Bala has truly got federal backing to embark on his quest.

Tundun Abiola mellows

T

undun, daughter of late acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, Chief M.K.O Abiola, sure must have been the toast of her peers because of her parentage. As the apple of the eyes of her mother, Chief Bisi Abiola, Tundun could not have wished for more with her heart desires at her beck and call. But fate would not offer the same privilege in her matrimony.

In the typical way the marriages of several silver spoons have crumbled, Tundun also had her share of broken relationships.

After her break up with the Benue Stateborn business man she was engaged to, her former hubby has since moved on with his life to contract another marriage.

Atama Attah, several months ago, consummated his affair with an aide of President Goodluck Jonathan on job creation, Josephine, and the couple has since been

Tundun Abiola and Bridget Awosika

living together in happiness. Meanwhile, Tundun has neither been able to drag another man to the altar nor been seen anywhere near the social scene. Those who are close to her revealed that she might not after all be in a hurry to pin down another man for marriage as she’s said to be very comfortable spending time with her mother who reportedly overpampers her.

Ateke Tom celebrates

F

or the leader of Niger Delta Vigilante, Ateke Tom, the phrase, if you want peace you go for war, aptly applies. It will be recalled that Ateke and a few other South-South indigenes some years back took to arms to prove a point with the government. They destroyed oil installations and several other government properties. In the end, their demands were considered by the government, hence, a ministry that would look into the plight of Niger Delta as region was created while many of them were granted amnesty with attendant benefits.

Ateke and other former militant leaders currently enjoy patronage from the government and this has transformed them into men with deep pockets. However, these men have since identified with the kind of life they want to live as individuals. In the case of Ateke Tom, the Okrika high chief has not failed to identify with his people and those from other ethnic groups. Those who know him say he renders a helping hand to as many people as he can. Also, Ateke has not forgotten the root of the comfort and some relief his people enjoy.

To mark the fifth year since he was granted amnesty by the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua’s administration, thee x-militant recently rolled out drums in celebration. To make the day a memorable one, a Reggae concert was organ-

ised in Okrika, Rivers State. The concert drew artistes of note such as Ras Kimono, Blackky, Wadada and Righteous Man. The high point of the concert was when maverick singer and Send Down The Rain crooner, Majek Fashek, mounted the stage. Majek, who has been in a sorry state for a long time, reportedly shocked the audience when he rendered some of his hit tracks, out of which ‘Send Down The Rain’, carried the day.

Many Nollywood personalities, who through their president, Ibinabo Fibresima, have long identified with Ateke, were said to have attended the event. Zack Orji, Pete Edochie and Patience Ozokwor, who was said to be up and doing at the event, were among many notable actors who were there.

The event, however, we were informed, did not go without some of the Nollywood figures being disgraced. Ateke was said to have called for a meeting with the artistes who performed in his house. Upon getting wind of this, one of the Nollywood figures mobilised fellow actors to the meeting with the intention of benefiting from the largesse that would come with it. Sources at the meeting revealed that Ateke only met with the singers, leaving out the actors who were said to have left embarrassingly one after the other.

Tale trails Mudi D

elta State-born frontline designer, Mudi Clement Enejeamo, who is better known as Mudi, is one person who has remained a newsmaker for a long time. While he’s being celebrated, he’s also seen the other side of it.

With branches of his outfit in a couple of African countries and high profile list of clientele, Mudi stands tall in the gathering of fashion designers. However, there is an unpalatable tale trailing the slim-built stylish designer. Although details of the tale are still very sketchy, the thrust is that there is unease in the South Africa branch of Mudi’s outfit. The issue is said to be basically about how Mudi hires and fires workers, and this is said to be raising dust.

47

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Body&Soul

Thinking

Aloud

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com

New dawn for Olamiju Akala

T

he immediate governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, is doing everything possible to return to the Agodi Government House in Ibadan.

His erstwhile controversial son, Olam-

iju, it appears, has worn ‘responsibility’ as a new attire. During the tenure of his father as a governor, Olamiju was allegedly linked with different issues. His excesses got to a point that his father reportedly sent him to Ghana to spend some time. However, all these things have since become a thing of the past.

Olamiju, prior to quitting bachelorhood, had assumed a calm nature and his sense of responsibility, according to those who should know, has increased tremendously. Olamiju, earlier in the year, sealed his affair with Hadiza, daughter of industrialist, Alhaji Razak Okoya, in an elaborate society wedding.

Information that has also been making the rounds about this young man for some days now, is that he’s got more responsibilities on his shoulders. Ola, as he’s fondly called, has been running an oil outfit belonging to his father. He was recently entrusted with yet another family business when his father recently opened a radio station in Oyo State. Ola is said to have been saddled with the responsibility of making it a profitable venture.

Akinwumi Ambode buries in-law

T

hat accounting expert-turned-politician, Akinwumi Ambode, is interested in succeeding the outgoing governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, is no more news. The fact that he is said to be the anointed favourite of All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has no doubt given him an edge over his rivals. What is news at this point about the man is that amidst serious political engagements, he found time to give his aged in-law a

befitting burial.

Ambode’s mother in-law, Madam Comfort Olufunmilayo Odumokoya (nee) Onabanjo, passed away some weeks ago at the ripe age of 94. Those who witnessed the event said that the burial ceremony, which was held at Epe, was an avenue for Ambode to prove to critics that he actually hails from the town. The church service was held at First African Mission, St. David Parish, Poka, Epe while guests were also entertained at another venue in the town.

Sen. Akinyelure in stormy session J

ust like other politicians who are either seeking an elective post for the first time or running for re-election, Idanre, Ondo State born-politician, Senator Ayo Patrick Akinyelure, has also got things to contend with. This is as he hopes to return to the Senate for another term but his case is more critical because of the nature it comes with.

At the moment, he’s contending with what is called ‘Akure Agenda,’ which is calling for an Akure indigene to take over from Akinyelure.

Senator Ayo, who is better known as ‘All Over,’ it will be recalled, made a blunder that made his people rise against him sometime back when he voted in support of child marriage.

His sin is said to have been forgiven after he begged and wept publicly over what he called regretted error. Apart from that, those who should know said that he has performed wonderfully well in his capacity. He’s said to have facilitated employment for over two hundred youths

aside many other inspiring things he has done. Members of Ayo Akinyelure Beneficiary Forum (AABF) among other supporters are presently rooting for his return as the man to continue representing Ondo Central Senatorial District.

Expectedly, many, both from his party, PDP and other parties, especially Akure indigenes, are latching unto the chance created by Akure agenda to get at ‘All Over.’ However, informed sources revealed that the man is most likely to survive the scheming because he’s been a loyal person to Governor Olusegun Mimiko and most importantly, to the party that brings them together. Out of the three senators that came on the platform of Labour Party, Ayo is the only one who has remained steadfast in his loyalty to the governor and the party. His loyalty to the governor, we learnt, is the reason why he’s been on several foreign trips with the governor.

) 0807 270 9777

with Helen Paul

Lessons from the Eagle (end) Y

ou don’t ever have to be afraid of the circumstances of life or the challenging situations you may find yourself in. You can always be at peace, because the Bible says there is no fear in him whose mind stays on Christ Jesus. You see, it is up to you to react to the storms of life that come your way. It’s your decision whether or not you flee in terror or begins to wring your hands and say, ‘oh, my Lord, why is this happening to me?’

We’ve all been there at one time or another. We’ve all cowered in the face of trouble and wrung our hands, wondering, ‘what am I going to do now?’

But thank God, those days are gone.

No longer do we have to flee in terror from the enemy. We can rise to victory.

We can rise to our full potential in the spiritual realm where God wants us to dwell.

God is not in favour of His people being taken advantage of by the enemy. Consider how the eagle reacts to the storm. Yes, there is turbulence in the storm. Yes, there is the risk of destruction in the storm. And yes, there is the possibility of total devastation.

But because of his strength and ability in flight, the eagle keeps the storm from devastating him.

You see, the eagle knows what to do in the midst of a storm. He knows exactly when to turn and when to rise and fall with the currents of the wind.

So even though the eagle faces a force that could potentially destroy him, he isn’t paralysed by what the storm can do. Why? Because the eagle has confidence in knowing what he can do.

You and I don’t need to be so ignorant to think that potential danger doesn’t exist when we face tribulations. Certainly we need to realise that the enemy is a force that can destroy us if we allow him. But when we know what God’s word has to say, we can follow the wisdom in His word to know exactly which way to move and what direction to take. Then we can operate with confidence in the storms of life just as the eagle does in a natural storm.

Also, notice that the eagle doesn’t fly out in the face of a storm with the attitude, ‘well, I’m going to see if this works.’ With that kind of attitude, he’d be destroyed. Neither can we go out and face the storms and the circumstances of life that come our way with the attitude that we’ll try the world and see if it works. No! We must face every storm with confidence in the word of God and with great boldness and fearlessness –just like the eagle.

The problem with some people is that rather than standing on God’s word and facing their troubles headon, they’re always looking for another way out. When you’re exercising your faith and believing God for

something, the answer doesn’t always come instantly. So the enemy will often come and try his best to get you to quit and to discourage you from standing on the Word.

In those situations, you can do one of two things. You can become discouraged and downcast and lose your victory. Or you can stand your ground, face the storm, and say, ‘I believe God.’ Take the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God and soar above darkness. Soar above the gloom. Soar clear above every cloud of adversity until you break through to the peaceful skies of victory where you can glide on outstretched wings in majesty and strength.

But it starts with your making a move. Move out of the nest of spiritual complacency and mediocrity and set your sights high in the Lord. Begin to develop your spiritual wings by spending time with the Lord in prayer and praise and exercising your faith in God’s word every chance you get.

Then as you wait before the Lord, putting all of your trust in Him, you will renew your strength. You will soar on wings like eagles to reach your full potential in life.

The problem with some people is that rather than standing on God’s word and facing their troubles head-on, they’re always looking for another way out. When you’re exercising your faith and believing God for something, the answer doesn’t always come instantly. So the enemy will often come and try his best to get you to quit and to discourage you from standing on the Word

48

Body&Soul

DIY on the GO

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

First Aid kit in the home Esther Odili

I

t’s advisable to keep a well-stocked First Aid kit in the house.

No one knows when it will come in handy. Few people really keep First Aid kits at home and fewer people ensure that the content of the box are useable at all times. Every home should invest in a First Aid kit. It doesn’t cost much, can save a life and will almost certainly ease someone’s pain at some point.

Aside from home and vehicles, offices and factories should also maintain First Aid kits.

The primary aim of First Aid is to apply basic first aid to the patient he’s taken to a doctor.

First aid supplies may also apply to situations in which a doctor is not needed, like for instance a small wound or basic and instant care for emergency situations.

Basic first aid does not harm and it most time is not a complete treatment for a patient. First aid treatment comes in handy between when a person falls ill or sustains an injury and when a doctor sees him. However, the person administering the basic first aid must know

what to do.

The First Aid kit should be kept in a cool, dry place and out of reach of young children. The travel kit is for trips away from home.

Keep it in a suitcase, backpack, or dry bag, depending on the activity.

A first aid container should be a transparent, water and air tight plastic container. However, inexpensive nylon bags, personal kits, fanny packs or makeup cases serve very well. You do not need to spend a lot of money on a fancy ‘medical bag’. Put wound supplies in one bag and medications in another.

The very important items that should be inside the First Aid kit are those which can treat minor injuries and prevent infection.

Basic items that any First Aid kit should contain include a variety of plasters, sterile gauze for dressing wounds, bandages, towels, safety pins, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, scissors, antibacterial wipes, a thermometer, antiseptic cream, soap, Calamine lotion, plastic non latex gloves (at least two pairs), alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol, acetaminophen and ibuprofen and antiseptic

solutions (like hydrogen peroxide). Others are painkillers, antihistamine tablets and distilled water for cleaning wounds.

Drugs and other first aid items have expiry dates.

To ensure your First Aid kit is usable anytime it is needed, you must check the content frequently.

After you’ve stocked your first-aid kits, read the entire first-aid manual so you’ll understand the use of the content.

If your kids are old enough to understand, review the manuals with them. Check the kits regularly. Replace missing items or medicines that may have expired.

Train others in your family to use the kit.

You may be the one who needs first aid. Pack and use barrier items such as latex gloves to protect yourself from the bodily fluids of others. First Aid kits may be basic or comprehensive. What you need depends on how far away you are from professional medical help.

Ready-made first aid kits are commercially available from chain stores or outdoor retailers, but it’s easy to make smart, inexpensive first aid kits yourself.

49

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Get yourself in the mood with Sangiovese red Ibukunoluwa Kayode

Y

ou want to treat yourself to something new? Sangiovese red wine is a perfect choice. The red grape wine is a bit of a chameleon in nature -easily altering its genetics to fit the environment and its lovers.

It has different mutations of the variety, which results in very differenttasting wines. From the delicate floral strawberry aromas of Montefalco Rosso to the intensely dark and tannic wines of Brunello di Montalcino, Sangiovese wine is a typical light-medium bodied, fruit-forward red wine crushed from tart cherry, red plum, strawberry and fig grapes.

Also, this is one of the most elegant wines from the Italian region, but today has its roots in other regions around the world -Argentina, Romania, United States, Australia and Chile.

This subtle red wine is savory. It offers a wide range of tastes from very earthy and rustic nature -as is the case with many Chianti Classico - to round and fruit-forward.

Regardless of where it’s grown, it always exhibits cherry flavours with more subtle notes of tomato.

On the palate, it also holds friendly notes of roasted pepper, tomato, leather, clay, brick, tobacco, smoke, oregano, thyme, dried roses, pot-

pourri with a lingering finish.

Sangiovese red is a friendly wine that can​ be indulged by anybody when it’s time to get in a refreshing mood, as a party tranquilizer or a table wine.

The red grape wine pairs perfectly well with wide range of foods because of its medium weigh body and savory character. Use Sangiovese’s savory as a congruent flavour with herbs and tomatoes. This technique will actually bring out more fruity flavours in the wine.

A Sangiovese with high tannins will work perfectly with rich roasted meat, cured sausages and hard cheeses.

Unripe plantain porridge and fish Biwom Iklaki

T

hose of us who are diabetic and those trying to lose weight would be very familiar with this meal. It is one of the safest and most nutritious options for their

healthy living. It is also rich in iron, Vitamin A and potassium. It also means it is a favourite among weight watchers. Here, we explore unripe plantain with fish, which is high in protein and body building properties (especially for maintaining lean muscle).

INGREDIENTS ½ kg fish choice of Titus or croaker (washed and cleaned) 5 medium fingers plantain (peeled and chopped) 2 chunks Ponmo (cut in bite size pieces) 1 cup liver (bite size piec-

es) ½ cup crayfish (ground) 1 bulb onion Vegetable: choice of bitter leaf, efo, hot leaf and basil ½ cups Palm oil Pepper (to personal tastes) 3 stock cubes Salt to taste

PREPARATION Spice the fish and set in the oven to grill. Spice with stock cubes and salt and cook the kpomo. Just before it is tender, add the liver. Put the plantain pieces in the pot of kpomo, liver and stock and

add salt if you need more.

Leave to cook for about five minutes, add the onions, pepper and palm oil.

Leave for 15 minutes then add the crayfish and vegetables or herbs. Stir and turn off the heat and serve after one minute.

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

When homework is work Compiled by Biwom Iklaki

W

hen you find that it takes a little longer for you to grasp a lesson in class than your classmates, it is possible that you may have a little learning curve. This does not mean that you are not a learner, you just need to pay a little more attention to your lessons.

Mrs Cecelia Olanrewaju, Assistant SupervisorFoundation Stage at Chrisland School, Opebi, Ikeja has 23 years experience working with children. She believes there is nothing you cannot achieve when you

put your mind to it. According to her, you need patience with yourself to overcome this period.

First of all, try to discover where you have challenges; make friends with your teacher who will help you through areas of stress.

Meet all challenges you face one step at a time.

Display your achievements and awards, like the gold stars and stickers your teacher or parent gives you for a job well done or a lesson learned.

This will act as a motivation everytime you look at them, and will ginger you to do more and break through many barriers.

Focus on one issue at a time. When it is time for class lessons, pay rapt attention. When it is time for home work, face it and give it your all. You should take up extracurricular lessons.

Your nursery rhymes will give you a healthy boost in vocabulary and other lessons. Recite them as often as possible. Do not be too hard on yourself, and never quit. Try and try and try again, you will definitely get it right. Remember to play too. As you know, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Crack your brain

Sources: www.funnyjunk.com

Gags If you have me, you want to share me, if you share me, you haven’t got me.

What am I? Ans: A secret

What is the fruitiest topic in school lessons?

Ans: History. Because it is filled with dates

Before Mt Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

Ans: Mt Everest, it just wasn’t discovered yet

Why is weighing a fish very easy?

Ans: Because the fish has its own scales What does a trendy frog love to wear?

Ans: Jumpsuits

Cook Corner

Cross word puzzle

Source: netplaces.com

Biwom Iklaki Sometimes, it is fun to be in the kitchen with mum.

Watching her cook and wondering when you will grow up enough to start cooking in the kitchen.

Here is a recipe you can try now…

CRUNCHY CORNFLAKES CRISPIES Ingredients 5 cups corn flakes

1 table spoon honey 2 table spoon butter 3 cups milo or chocolate 1 cup almond nuts (chopped roughly) Preparation Melt the butter, chocolate and honey in a saucepan on low heat. You could also microwave it briefly. This step should be done by an adult. Mix the cornflakes and almond

nuts in a large bowl. When the chocolate mixture cools, pour it over the cornflakes. Mix gently and spoon mixture into a muffin tray or cupcake cases. Put in the fridge and once it sets, it makes for a nutty crunchy snack.

The delight will be from having made this ‘all by myself’.

Faith 51

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER , 2014

News

Obuh, Igbuya advise Christians on evangelism p.54

Sermon

Pope Francis’ third class honours p.56

Sermon

Step out of that shadow p.57

Divorce, unacceptable for clerics - Okechukwu The Anglican Bishop of Aba Ngwa North Diocese, Rt. Rev. Nathan Chinenye Okechukwu, speaks on his diocese’s synod which begins today in Aba and other social issues with TAI ANYANWU

Sermon

The trend hasn’t changed p.58

Adebiyi

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

the house among my father’s three children. My parents were good Christians, and that had a great influence on me, my elder brother and sister. For instance, my father died as a pastor’s warden. Following in his footsteps, I served in different church groups like the choir; and at the age of 10, I joined the Boys’ Brigade. I also attended the Monday class, where children were taught the catechism. I had an uncle who was the zonal leader of the Scripture Union. He always took me to attend Scripture Union’s programmes. It was in one of those programmes in 1984, at a camp in Uhuru, Ukwa Local Government Area that I gave my life to Christ. I continued to serve and I grew up to become the catechism teacher, because I loved what I got from it. I started giving it back to the younger generation. Between 1982 and 1989, I doubled as the choir leader and youth leader in my area church. And that is just how I got involved in church services. I knew I had a call, but the way the Anglican Church was set up people don’t kind of prophesy on you like we hear today: “I heard God calling me, God spoke to me and I have a call.” Then, it was rather as a result of your services and commitment that some elders of the church would encourage you to consider being a priest. I got a lot of such encouragement from a good number of elders in my parish. Having done very well in primary and secondary schools, my parents asked me to consider a career in the ministry. I agreed although I wanted to go further with my education first. My father was also concerned because he wanted me to become a lawyer or practise another profession because Okechukwu I was

How has your faith journey influenced your priorities and leadership role?

By divine permission, the Anglican Bishop of Aba Diocese and I have been here since April 2009. I am the baby o f

intelligent.

When I gained admission to the University of Nigeria, my father denied me the opportunity.

I also got admission to study at Nigeria Defence Academy, but he insisted that if I must go further in my education, it must be through the church.

It was a very f ru s t r a t i n g experience.

But in 1991, I joined the m i n i s t r y, and then my salary was meagre but I was passionate about the ministry. As a bishop, I don’t joke with young people.

I have learnt that you don’t know what you have until you go for it. For me, every young man or woman I see, there is immense potential the lord has embedded in them. When people observe me now with much interest in young people, it’s just as a result of those who helped to bring out God’s best in me.

I also believe that yesterday is gone, today is far spent, tomorrow is important, so we must work for a better tomorrow.

This has to do with young people. From my experience, the best way to be successful is to empty and humble yourself. Whoever you are, to me, humility is a great virtue everyone should possess. Another thing that has helped me is this; anything you can do to put a smile on another’s face and they say: ‘God bless you,’ do it.

Could you tell us a bit about the synod that is being held in your diocese?

It is a gathering of the church and a time to take stock and reflect on our achievements in the past year in terms of policies, structural, spiritual and financial aspects. The synod also gives the church an opportunity to plan for the year ahead. We strategise on how the church would be able to reach out or influence the world better. That’s what the synod basically does. In our structure, the parishes feed the archdeaconries, the archdeaconries feed the diocese. So every parish has people who represent them, so that at the end of the synod, they will take the message back, and everyone is carried along.

What is the theme of this year’s synod?

The synod’s theme is: “If I were the only salt, how would the world taste?” It is taken from the Bible book of Mathew 5:13; and our target to use that portion of the Scriptures to challenge Christians. We have a responsibility to cause our world to live out the righteousness of God. We want to remind Christians that we have a responsibility to change the world we live in, through our individual conduct or lifestyle.

For us to be the salt of the earth, every Christian must lead an exemplary life, to so shine that people around us would get a feel of the goodness of God. That’s the impact we want the synod to have in the lives of our members by the grace of God. For me, spirituality is useless if it doesn’t translate to practical Christian life style. We are going to challenge ourselves because no matter how spiritual we claim to be, if neighbours don’t feel our impact, it is useless. And so we have lined up activities such as Bible study, seminars, talk shows, prayers, worship and communion, that will really challenge us to grow spiritually. At the end of the synod, there will be a communiqué and also be a motion. A motion is actually the message that the synod will give to the world.

Between government and the church, which has a greater responsibility to change society?

And do you at times have to rely on government to actualise this CO NTINUED O N PAGE 55

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Harvest of miracles @ The Lord’s Chosen crusade in Ibadan

The two-day Holy-Ghost International Crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries titled: THERE COMETH ONE MIGHTER THAN ALL which started yesterday at Agric Bus stop, Manatan Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, will come to an end today at the same venue. Science Reporter, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM, writes on the significance of the Crusade.’

W

orshipping with the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries is such an exciting and enriching experience that no one will ever like to miss. For the first time ever, in the history of the 11-year old Mega ministry, aside from Lagos, the Lord’s Chosen is organising its international crusade in South-West Nigeria.

The event titled: There cometh one Mighter than all which started yesterday Saturday 18, October 2014, at Agric Bus-stop, Monatan, Iwo road Ibadan, has been witnessing tremen-

dous out-pouring the power of God as of old. The sick are healed,as sinners gave their lives to Christ. According to Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the ministry in his characteristic nature and love for humanity to rescue the dying souls for Christ, “God is proving here at Ibadan that He is the one Mightier than all.”

The theme of the crusade is taken from the book of Mark Chapter 1 verse 7. We are inviting people from all parts of the world. This crusade as usual, has been witnessing unprecedented power

of God as of old. This is because there is freedom for the captives, salvation for sinners, deliverance for the oppressed, succour to the sick, joy to the broken hearted, and victory for all.

The blind have recieved their sight, the deaf hear, sinners gave their lives to Christ, and the paralysed were made whole since yesterday. Today will witness a greater power of God. No matter your problem, as you come, the Mighter than all will take them away and you will go home rejoicing Stanley Chibuihem 08035624538

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen CRM A sign post at the Oyo State Headquarters of The Lord’s Chosen building at Babalola Estate, Odona Elewe road, Orita Challenge, Ibadan

Sis. Juli healed of madness at the on going crusade

Successful delivery granted to Sis. Goodness Daniel

Sis. Mmesoma Duru took first position in her class

The evangelical group (sisters) at the on going event in Ibadan

A woman blessed with a baby after 18yrs barreness

A section of brethren healed at The Lord’s Chosen previous crusade

Sis. Ruth delivered from accident on her way to the crusade

Sis. Ezekeil took first position in her class

Bro. Livinus Emeafor favoured with brand new car

The evangelical group (brothers) at the on going event in Ibadan

HRH Eze (Dr.) James Nduka Oramadike JP, Eze ndigbo Ibadan, testifying how God has blessed him since he joined The Lord’s Chosen

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Faith

TMC holds ‘Ojodu must dance’ fiesta

Cross section of members praise in the church auditorium

F

Ayorinde Durojaiye

aith Base Church, Ojodu-Berger in Lagos witnessed showers of blessing recently when the Twist Mass Choir hosted a night of praise at its church auditorium.

The fiesta, which took place at 15, Apode Street, Yokoyo Road, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos State featured top artistes and comedians as they thrilled members of the church with superb performance.

The praise night was themed ‘Ojodu must dance,’ as it was a dance hall all night.

The praise night began with slow tempo worship from members of the mass choir as they led the congregation in worship before ministration by the guest pastor, Pastor Steve.

The pastor in his sermon admonished the youths on worldly living, urging them to be of good conduct.

Aside the praise session, the event also featured thanksgiving, drama, joke cracking and choreography.

Hilarious jokes from Mc Chinco also kept the congregation entertained as laughter filled the hall before the choir returned to lead the church in worship.

Present at the event were Drab Choir, Ojodu; as well as ministers such as Obus Zalee, David Dayo, Paul Praise, G.bass, Boluwaduro, Ronnie and Apostle Uche Nmekini.

The ministers, in their separate sermons, dwelt on the gifts and rewards of praising God. To them, God enjoys praise and it is the only way to connect with Heaven.

The Truce Female Choir moved the congregation with praise while Evangelist Comedian of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mc Loquacious, also thrilled the congregation with a scintillating performance as he mimicked Igbos and Yorubas with his jokes.

Prayers were offered for the nation as Sister Boluwatife recited the second stanza of the national anthem, to remind the congregation of their duty to their nation.

Also in the course of the service, Cristabel of the Twist Mass Choir sang praises to God. David Dayo, with different dance steps and languages from South Africa and Zimbabwe, gave a spectacular performance as he performed tracks from his album with his band.

Pastor Steve and Sam Asuelimen

Guest artistes like Paul Praise, G. Bass and Ronnie D. were not left out as they kept the congregation awake with thunderous and spectacular performances.

Speaking with Sunday New Telegraph, a member of the church, Ronke Ojo, described the praise night as superb, adding, “It shows Gods love for people doing his will.”

Another member, who identified his name as Nduka Moses, said the praise night was a remarkable event, which had never held in the church before.

In an interview with the host, Sam Asuelimem aka Bishop, after the event, he described the event as a great programme, which went beyond her expectation.

He also expressed his gratitude to God for the huge turnout of guests at the event.

Shola Ijanusi, a guest at the praise night, gave thanks to God for the massive turnout, which he said was overwhelming.

Another guest, Lara Adedoyin, said she knew the event would be a remarkable one.

The Twist Mass Choir is set to hold a luxury dinner party at 1pm today at the church auditorium.

Sam Asuelimen, aka Bishop

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Obuh, Igbuya advise Christians on evangelism

C

hristians have been urged to invest substantially in the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ so as to attract the blessings, favour and continuous protection of the Almighty God. The appeal was made at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke (Anglican Communion) in Sapele, Delta State by a frontline Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Sir Tony Obuh, while speaking at the church’s harvest luncheon/fundraiser.

He declared that the entire life of a Christian should center around Christ and the supremacy of God. He added that all that Christians own ultimately belongs to God “because He is our maker, our father and our God.” Obuh, a knight of the Catholic Church, was represented by his aide on political communication, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.

He told the congregation that his desire to become the next governor of the state was as a result of his strong passion to contribute to the socio-economic remodelling of the state through a deliberate economic action plan anchored on transparency, accountability, justice and equity.

The governorship aspirant pointed out that if voted into power in 2015, he would work with the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship

RAMAH Church plans women anniversary Ayorinde Durojaiye

C

hrist Apostolic Ramah Church, Ikotun, Lagos is set to witness yet another communion with God, as she sets to celebrate another funfair women anniversary on October 26, 2014.

The anniversary which is to take place at the church auditorium at 1, Omu Street, Epetedo Street, Abaranje/ Ikotun, Lagos.

The anniversary features spiritual and physical healing, thanksgiving, singing, dancing, drama and choreography.

The General Overseer, Rev. E. Oluwakoyafunmi, said in an interview that he believes it will turn out beyond his expectation.

Other ministers expected at the anniversary are Pastor Adeshina, Evangelist Oyinloye and Evangelist Tope Ezekiel.

of Nigeria to strengthen the people of the state.

The Majority leader of Delta State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, who chaired the occasion said there was the need for Christians to invest heavily in the building and renovation of churches, as a way of glorifying their creator.

He urged Christians to emulate the woman who gave ‘her widow’s mite,’ pointing

out that it is imperative that every Christian should consistently give towards the propagation of the gospel.

Delivering a short sermon at the luncheon, the Lord Bishop/Spiritual Father of the occasion and Bishop of Sapele Anglican Diocese, Rt. Revd. (Dr.) B. A. Erifeya enjoined the political class to govern well so that the people can prosper.

He commended Delta State Governor,

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for working for the overall development of the state and prayed God to grant him the wisdom to do more for Deltans before handing over the mantle of leadership next year.

Among dignitaries at the ceremony were politician, Chief Fred Sowho, and his wife; transition committee chairman, Sapele Local Government, Julius Egbebi; Chief Kings Okpako; Chief Arthur Akpowowo.

Bishop John Madonald Ogbansiegbe ministering at Faith Convenant Ministry in Lagos recently

Nigeria is a sad, corrupt country –Iloh Tai Anyanwu

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ne of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and founder of Soul Winners Chapel, Rev. Moses Iloh, has described Nigeria as a sad country where corruption has become the peoples’ first religion.

Iloh, who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph ahead of his 85 birthday, said Nigerians had built a tribe of corrupt people who preferred to take and not give.

The cleric regretted that Nigeria was no longer the country he dreamt of during the early years of his life.

Iloh, who is a seasoned sports administrator and philanthropist, is said to have compelled British colonial authorities to consent to the demands of tin miners in

Jos area.

Iloh explained that had devoted all his life time just to give back to society.

“My pain in this country is that today this country worships corruption; the government of Nigeria is not even able to pronounce corruption.

“Nigeria has got to a very bad level where foreigners will come to ask you what the religion in Nigeria is and you say Islam and Christianity. The madness in Nigeria has made us to develop the greatest religion which is number one: the Christians, the Muslims have come together to establish number one primary religion called corruption.

“On Sunday, we are Christians; on Friday we are wholly Muslims. On Sunday, we shout ‘Holy Ghost’ but on Monday, Tues-

day, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday the Muslims and Christians link up together in corruption.

“So, the first religion in Nigeria today is corruption; then the second is Christianity and Islam. How can a country like that grow up?” he queried.

He frowned on the level of corruption in the country, saying, “When it comes to anything in this country they will want to know if you are Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa.

But when it comes to corruption, nobody wants to know your tribe; nobody wants to know your gender; nobody wants to know your religion. What they want to know is your religion.

“In the next few months I will be 85 years old and this is not the Nigeria into which I was born,” he lamented.

Aspirant gets divine blessings ahead of primaries Musa Pam Jos

A

s the November 29, 2014, Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries draw close, immediate chairman of the party and governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Dr. Haruna Dabin, has received a spiritual blessings from clergymen in Kalashi village of Kanke Local Governemnt Council , his homestead.

Dabin who visited Kanke with a large crowd of supporters received blessings at Church of Christ in Nation, Kalashi by a team of clergymen led by the Chairman Regional Church council of Amper, Rev.

Emmanuel Golu.

The clergymen commended him for taking the direction before embarking on the politcal journey, urging him to adhere to Bible principles if elected into office.

Speaking after the event, Dabin said he decided to visit the village where he was born to first seek blessing from his root, because God is the ultimate giver of all leadership positions. He said for this reason it was important for him to seek the face of God in contesting the governorship seat.

Addressing a large crowd of supporters at the PDP secretariat in the town, Dabin said, “Today according to God’s leading and timing, I stand as the exhibit of the grace of

God declaring to Kanke and all people of Plateau State that I’m contesting election on the platform of our great party the PDP for the office of the governor of the state come 2015.” He stressed that he embarked on the cause as a way of seeking for an oppurtunity to serve God and humanity. He pledged to provide a fair playing ground in the state if elected He also reiterated his determination to create sustained synergy with and integrate all Plateau stakeholders into policies of his administration so as to utilise them as agents of positive change “On the 29th November 2014, at the special congress, I shall move from being an aspirant to being the governorship candidate

of our great party; we shall take the centre stage towards defeating the forces that have held Plateau hostage and stunted the march to our greater freedom and manifest glory”.

Earlier when he visited the locsl government chairman, Hon. John Gotau, he said he intends to succeed Governor Jonah jang and reclaim the legacies of late Joseph Gomwalk who was an Ngas man who made Plateau State proud The council boss said he had never seen a governorship aspirant like Dabin, showing humility by coming home to flag off campaign. He however prom ised that the council would give him all the support to become the next Governor of the state.

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Faith

Divorce, unacceptable for clerics - Okechukwu CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 51

goal?

First, we don’t rely on advocacy, but we’ve done our best to invite the government to this synod. If government officials attend, they will catch our message intact and that is important to us; because at times, when government receives our message in reported form, it could send a different signal entirely. This is why we made it a deliberate policy to work with the government from the outset. On the other hand, government alone cannot change the society. The responsibility to change the society rightly belongs to the church than the government. And I am glad because as a Christian, I realise that

we have the tools to do it. We just need to give necessary backup to the government.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth; he did not say government is. We expect that after the synod there will be a synergy between this diocese and the government.

We are ready to do anything Godly and righteous to work with the government to build a better Abia State.

What has been your preoccupation as the bishop of Aba Ngwa Diocese?

I want to raise and lead members who are armed with the message of love of God through Christ; and members who are ready to take that message to others.

By the grace of God, we will get the point where many will know the love of God

Taraba: ECWA president counsels politicians Buhari Bello, Jos

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resident of Evangelical Church Winning All, Rev. (Dr.) Jeremiah Gado, has called on the Taraba State political class not to allow the current political crisis in the state to divide adherents of different faiths.

Gado, who spoke on Wednesday at ECWA headquarters in Jos, said the issue of leadership should not be used to create divisions among the people of the state.

The state has been divided along religious and political lines over the health status of Governor Danbaba Suntai, as well as moves to oust him in favour of the Acting Governor, Garba Umar.

“It was God that gave leadership to Danbaba Suntai as He wished. Leadership is ordained by God, and what happened in Taraba State was ordained by Him. As men of God, we believe in it. It is God that gives power to whomever He wishes,” he declared.

The ECWA president said Nigeria should be guided by the rule of law, noting that the laws should clearly state how a leader should emerge in such a situation.

“We are followers of anybody that is in leadership, as ordained by God,” Gado explained.

He further urged the political elite as well as all the people of Taraba state to support Umar, for the overall development and interest of the state.

and show exemplary leadership. And God will forgive our sins, heal our land and give our nation in general a new start.

What your views are on religious intolerance and insecurity in the country today?

It’s a big problem which has assumed a level of insanity. Government must sustain its current fire power so that no citizen of Nigeria will wake up in the morning and begin to kill another citizen just because he or she doesn’t agree with what you believe in. If a member of my family says he doesn’t want to be a Christian, I shouldn’t kill him and this should not be politicised for any reason.

What is the church doing about the fact that our education sector is producing unemployable graduates?

Well, it is an annoying and disappointing embarrassment; because the mess which our educational system has become will not leave the same effect as our bad road network. The bad road is not a problem as much as the education system, because we can fix these roads; and tomorrow that would be quickly forgotten. But the effect of a neglected education sector would linger much longer. Even when it is corrected those years of neglect and mismanagement will harm us for the next 50 years.

It is bad enough that our universities have been producing unemployable graduates, graduates who hardly speak correct sentences, be they in English, Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. The Igbo graduate of today can’t speak Igbo correctly. The church got it right, at the first time, but government took over missionary schools, unfortunately; and then we saw ourselves in this mess. Though churches have sort of come back to the scene, yet there are many peo-

ple who attend non-church schools than church schools where quality education is fairly better. Thank God the government is returning the schools to the church, which is the best thing the government has ever done. The church should continue to make sure her schools are well equipped. Generally, the church should talk to our parents as we do here, though the system is bad but some of our parents are making the system worse by taking their children to miracle centres, and buying admission for students. That is not helping an already messed up system.

What is the stand of the church on the issue of ordination of women?

In the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, there is no place for ordination of women. Theologically and Biblically, women have no place in priesthood. We are talking of priesthood that is of Apostolic succession. In the Anglican Church, it is of the Apostolic succession, which means that as a priest I am a successor of the 12 apostles.

How do you feel seeing Christian leaders in divorce cases?

The Bible tells us how Christians should live. In the letters of Paul to Timothy, he outlines the qualities expected of a leader.

Divorce and Christianity do not go together; now talk less of a leader who should be an example. Anybody who wants to be an example for people to follow in the house of God, when they get married they should be reminded that it’s not bed of roses; it’s not chewing gum and sweet. Divorce is sinful no matter who is involved but it is more discouraging when a leader is involved.

This time around Christian

Relationship Pastor

Taiwo Odubiyi

0802 300 0773 (SMS only)

M

isan looked at the snake-like towel again. It was very funny but she wasn’t in the mood for jokes now.

And why did the man make a snake, anyway?

She prayed under her breath before she took the snake-like towel, unfolded it and threw it on the center table.

Then she sank on the bed. God, what should I do? She had not been prepared to meet Antonio.

She looked at her daughter’s photograph and said quietly: Weyin, I’ve seen your father but I don’t know if he will be delighted to know of your existence.

And I don’t know what telling him might bring. More tears fell from her eyes.

The knock on the door made her look up. Her heart began to pound. Could it be Antonio? She cleaned her face before she checked through the peephole. It was Ruth. She quickly took her sunglasses from the table and wore it before opening the door. She went back to sit on the bed.

“Misan, is everything alright?” Ruth asked as she sat on a chair.

Misan nodded. She was in no mood for talking.

“You don’t look it ... and why are you wearing sunglasses in the room?” Ruth

stared at her. “Tell me, what is it?”

Misan kept quiet. She would like to talk to someone but could she confide in Ruth? She asked herself as she stared at the door blankly.

“What happened?” Ruth asked, looking at Misan, expecting her to talk.

She did not as she continued to stare at the door. Should she talk to one of the pastors in the group?

Ruth was still looking at her. “You were not really nauseated, it was that man.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“What is it?” She asked again.

“There’s nothing, I’m just a little upset.”

“Have you just met him on the ship or … is he an old friend?”

Misan nodded.

“I asked two questions, which one are you nodding to?”

“He’s an old friend.” Misan answered quietly. Ruth waited for her to continue but she did not.

Misan was thinking. She would have loved to share her burden with Ruth but she wasn’t sure she wanted to confide in her. Although Ruth was nice, there were times she talked too much and liked to gossip. Misan had heard many stories about their church from her. Ruth had told her different things about different people in the church and twice, Misan had felt guilty, asking God to forgive her for listening to such gossip. It had occurred to her a number of times to point out this flaw to Ruth as a good friend but her fear was that Ruth might be offended.

Not many people liked to be told the truth.

Misan remained quiet. If she should tell Ruth about her involvement with An-

tonio, there was no guarantee that Ruth would not tell one or two of her friends in the church.

“In America or Nigeria?” Ruth prompted.

Misan took a deep breath. “I’m sorry but I don’t want to talk about it now. I’ll tell you some other time, perhaps.”

“Okay, I just thought I should ask you so we can pray about it if there’s a problem.”

If Misan had not been in such a foul mood, she would have laughed. She knew Ruth would do more than pray, she would also tell people about it.

Ruth eventually stood. “Should we walk around the ship?”

“No, I’d rather be alone.” Misan answered. That was the thing about her.

If she was bothered, she would lose all desire to be active. At such a time, some women would get busy, go for a walk, go shopping, turn to food or clean the house.

But for her, she would just sit and stare into space.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

When Ruth left, Misan continued thinking, feeling burdened. She had many questions flying around in her heart. How dare Antonio have the nerve to come to speak to her? He must have a bad opinion of her with the way she behaved four years ago, for him to come and talk about seeing her in the evening. She felt ashamed of herself. She was a victim of a wrong advice and a polygamous home.

Everyone in her family did as he or she liked without control. It was hard to tell who was right or wrong as there was no good example to follow.

Misan brought her mind to the present. What should she do? Should she tell

Antonio about his daughter? What would she accomplish by telling him anyway?

She knew his stand from the onset. If she told him, he might think it was a set-up or that she wanted to push another man’s baby to him. Besides, how should she handle him if she ran into him again should she greet him or not?

She thought for a while and then decided.

One - she would greet him if she had to. Two - she would not tell him about Weyin, and three - she would certainly keep him at an arm’s length. She had learnt her lesson the hard way.

Suddenly, she felt the urge to go out again to catch a glimpse of Antonio. A part of her said no but she eventually convinced herself that she needed to go back to the restaurant to eat. Seeing him again after all these years still felt like a dream ... a bad dream. But what would she say to him if she saw him? She wasn’t sure but she had to see him again.

She looked at the yellow blouse she wore. It wasn’t rumpled. She had bought it at a store in the State of Maryland, having come a week before the cruise so she could do some shopping. She stepped into the bathroom which was to the right of the room and looked at her face in the mirror.

The tears had messed up the powder.

She quickly washed her face with the body wash that had been provided and took one of the many towels on the shelf to wipe the water off. She reapplied the powder and used perfume. This time, she wore low shoes and set off again.

To be continued

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Faith

Pope Francis’ third class honours Firm Faith:

Right Reason Most Rev.

Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only)

A

Before you were formed in the womb nonymous! It is not at all unusual to hear that word used for people who do not want their names mentioned in connection to something. I often oppose that classification for people who do some good or who request prayers in Church but would rather not be mentioned. I argue that there are no “anonymous people”. In the community of God’s people especially, it would be more realistic to speak of “someone or people known to God”, for indeed so they are. God knows everybody. They may not be known to other people but no one is anonymous to his Creator.

Hear the Prophet Jeremiah: “A word of Yahweh came to me, ‘Even before I formed you in the womb I have known you; even before you were born I had set you apart, and appointed you a prophet to the nations’” (Jer. 1;4-5). The psalms too speak thus of God: “It was you who formed my inmost part and knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps. 139:13). So there it is, undisputed, with God there are no anonymous people.

The clamour for a better world.

Every day the clamour for a better

world gets louder and more ubiquitous.

Rightly so! It is clear that God’s plans for man is that he make a better world for God said to Adam and Eve: “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Gen. 1:28). That was an order to man to make the earth a better place than he finds it.

Jesus Christ manifested the purpose of his coming when he took the scroll in the synagogue, adopted the words of the prophet Isaiah and declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind, to free the oppressed and announce the Lord’s year of mercy” (Lk. 4: 18-19). It was a clear commitment that he had come to make the world a better place for all. Jesus then gave a charge to his followers in affirmative words: “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden… In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5: 13-16.

Jesus therefore came to call Christians to follow him as witnesses not “secret service agents”. The obstacle to changing our world for better lies largely with believers who fail to be witnesses but prefer to hide away or stay silent when they encounter evil. “For evil to triumph, good people need only be silent”.

The Pope would gladly take Third Class But silence was not the attitude of a young hero who emerged in our world recently when she saw evil. It is very rare that a pope gets beaten in anything, least of all one like Pope Francis, a man of

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind, to free the oppressed and announce the Lord’s year of mercy” (Lk. 4: 18-19). It was a clear commitment that he had come to make the world a better place for all” many firsts. Here, this time however was the news, bold and clear. Pope Francis, who had been listed among candidates for the 2014 Nobel Prize for peace had been “beaten”. In fact he was beaten, not just to second place, but to third by two awesome individuals. One was Mahlala Yousafzai a Muslim from Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi, a Hindi from India.

Both individuals shared the prize, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”. The two had struggled in favour of education and against extremism. More remarkable of the two is Malala, who at 17 is the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Prize. She had been shot in the head by the Taliban in a murder attempt in 2012 for insisting publicly that girls as well as

boys have a right to education. After several operations in Birmingham, Britain, she continued her studies and engaged in more vigorous activism. After her ordeal, on her sixteenth birthday, Malala addressed the United Nations.

She had simply risked her life to oppose evil and be light in her world’s darkness. In her acceptance speech she said: “In Pakistan, I had two options, one was not to speak and wait to be killed and the second was to speak up and then be killed, I chose the second”. Lined up with such courageous inspiration in youth for a better world, Pope Francis, doubtlessly, would not mind accepting Third Class.

Youth can craft a better world Yes, Pope Francis, in his inimitable way would gladly echo Papal messages to galvanize young people to fight for a better world and would point out Malala as a model to emulate. At the 17th World Youth Day of 2002, Saint John Paul II said to the youth of the world: “Dear young people, do not be content with anything less than the highest ideals! Do not let yourselves be dispirited by those who are disillusioned with life and have grown deaf to the deepest and most authentic desires of their heart.

You are right to be disappointed with hollow entertainment and passing fads, and with aiming at too little in life. If you have an ardent desire for the Lord you will steer clear of the mediocrity and conformism so widespread in our society”. Well, if youth would only follow that golden injunction then the Pope, I am sure, would thankfully accept Third Class Honours and indeed do so many times over (Lk. 10:21).

When the enemy has a strong reason (2) Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

T

he devil is well aware of the fact that when the law is broken, then the protective hedge is removed. Invariably, there has been established a premise for him to attack. After his rebellion and subsequent fall from heaven, the Bible heralded his mission: “Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at lastsalvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth - the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Rev 12:10 (NLT) Put differently, this tells us that the devil, knowing that he is a loser, only can gain credence by finding and holding onto faults and mistakes of brethren with which to accuse them daily and gain grounds for his attacks in their lives and destiny. It is for this same reason the Bible also warned: “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8 (GNT) The ‘someone’ mentioned here is the man who has given the enemy a strong reason by breaking the hedge. Just as I always say, “If you know how to sin, you

must also know how (learn) to suffer.”

When a man sins, he openly sells his birth right (believer’s authority) to the devil to afflict him. “(Though) hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”

Proverbs 11:21 (KJV) Once the enemy has a reason to strike you, then you are at his mercy, because you are no longer under God’s protective covering. Your sins and atrocities are capable of hindering and limiting God. “Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT) Are you married yet you have failed to lead a responsible life? You still derive pleasure in going after young girls and mistresses? All these are the routes of enemy invasion. In what area is the devil attacking you? If you are ready to amend your ways, surely you will be delivered.

Let me remind you that your sins will eventually find you out; you cannot be smarter than your sins. You are only opening a door for the enemy to attack you and you will not be able to confront the devil when he rises up against you.

When the enemy tries to come into my finance or ministry, I boldly stand up to him and even before I finish praying, things will start to get better. Your problem lingers if you are a sinner.

Your affinity with all forms of beggarly powers, patronising and parading from one spiritual home to another eating and swallowing all manner of junks and

‘problems’ are basically short cuts to prolonging and compounding your woes and this chain reaction will continue in the life of even the unborn generation in your loins.

When does the enemy have a strong reason? n When you cleverly cleave to your sin. n When you live a life of hypocrisy; in the church you are a child of God but with a different personality outside, surely the enemy will have a warrant of arrest against you. n If you are an idolater. n When you are not a tither. You are not helping anyone or church by paying your tithe. You are only clinging unto a covenant by so-doing. Your pocket is too small for God to rely upon to build His church. So if you are not a tither, the enemy has a warrant to deal with you irrespective of how shrewd a businessman you are. n If you are a backbiter or slanderer. n If you are having alternatives to Him or when you have made men your hope, you have given the enemy a reason to afflict you. Let your help and your hope be from God. You can win against his reasons To be exonerated from the danger list of the enemy, you must guard against his subtleties. When there is a crack in the wall, invasion is inevitable by rodents and reptiles; likewise your life and destiny, whatever might have crept into your life on legal grounds by reason of your action, the mercy of God is speaking deliverance for you today in Jesus

name. “Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.” Pro 14:34 (GNT) So why don’t you decide today to close this door against sin in your life? Every appearance of sin such as greed, selfishness, envy, malice, etc are grounds for the devil’s attacks.

When you live righteously, then you can tell the devil to stop his mess in your life. When this virtue governs your life, then you are battle-ready and will not be at the mercy of the enemy any longer. No matter how beautiful a house is, if an invader can succeed to penetrate through a ladder, then its security is threatened. That ladder is sin; there is a ladder you have given to the enemies and you must act swiftly to remove it. If you have been suffering because of a doorway in your life, as you pray your way through, that doorway of affliction and oppression by your enemy shall be closed permanently in Jesus name.

Prayer points n Every door of oppression of darkness in my life, close up by fire! n By the power of mercy, I am free from the grip of sin dragging me into the camp of the enemy! n Every ladder of sin in my life, crash land by fire! n Every satanic reason behind my suffering and struggles, expire now by the blood of Jesus !n My life, my destiny, receive deliverance from stronghold of my past mistakes!

In Jesus name

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Faith

Prayer: Real secret of breakthrough Mystery ofAnxiety Bishop

John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

P

rayer is a spiritual exercise based on man’s communion of relationship with God. It could be in form of a request, supplication, praise or thanksgiving.

Now, the bible says that the prayer of the righteous is a delight to God. It is not the oratory, fluency or eloquence of the righteous that makes his prayer a delight, but the righteous and holy life.

Naturally, the delight of every father is in the satisfaction of his child. Likewise is the delight of our heavenly father is when we present our request to Him through our prayers, He satisfies our desires. The Bible opens our eyes to the understanding of the fact that God shall supply all our needs according to riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Prayer is asking or making a request in respect of a need. Prayer is communication with God. It is adoration, worship, thanksgiving, praise, contemplation and meditation. The realisation of

our own weakness and inadequacy is the master key that will open the door to the adequacy of God in all things.

The more the people of God pray the better for them if they must have the required breakthrough. This is because prayer operates like an explosive weapon in the kingdom of darkness.

Whenever you prayer, the kingdom of darkness is shaken. God always uses prayerful men and women of all dispensations for great spiritual achievements, but hardly uses prayerless men. When a child of God prays, the spiritual atmosphere is cleared. When you pray in holiness and in the name of Jesus Christ, it must be answered.

Because the God to whom you have prayed is alive forever, He has ears and always hears the prayers of the righteous.

Prayer is one of the greatest services a man can render for his generation. It also makes the generation yet unborn to be well shape and spiritually strengthened in accordance to God’s Divine will. The generation that has no prayerful men is a generation wallowing in nothingness and emptiness. God can decide to forgive a damned nation of great spiritual crime, just because of the prayers of one righteous man.

This was why the word of God said in James 5:16, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

When the people of God pray, the mercy seat of God is shaken, and God is disturbed. He, consequently, mobilises His angelic armies into action to fight their battles in the visible and the invisible, so that victory will be their portion at last. The only unique requirement and condition is for you open your mouth and ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Then, an answer and a miracle shall be your entitlement.

Prayer gives God the authority and managerial office to handle any situation in the life of any church or individual. Why would you not enthrone God in that situation, when you know that he is ever ready to intervene for you?

Prayer is a channel and medium through which God officially takes over any situation. The bible made it clear to us that it is from Zion that our miracle, deliverance and answers to our prayers shall flow. Thus, the word of God declares, “I will declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, thou art me son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with the rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel,” Psalm 2:7-9.

Just simply obey this condition, ask of me then you will see the elimination of that very mountain before you. The

secret of every breakthrough for a child of God is the willingness of the mind, the opportunity and capability to pray.

The question that often comes up in the minds of many is, “Are my prayers being heard by God? Will God hear my prayers? How will I know that my prayers are heard by God? The simply answer is this, when one prays, the Holy Spirit of God in you bears witness with your spirit that your prayers are answered. Once you are born-again, you are joined with God. Because you are joined with God, you are one with God, you are one with God, and you become one spirit with God. Become you have become one spirit with God, your prayers are answered and your spirit which is in ones with God must bear witness with your own spirit, that your prayers have received divine endorsement from God. This is why the following scriptures stated thus, “For we are members of His body, His flesh, and His bone,” – Ephesians 5:30.

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”- 1st Corinthians 6:17. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you –John 15:7.

From the above scriptures, it is clear that, because you are joined with God in one spirit, you become one hearth with God. God hears your heart beat. Each time you pray, God hears because your heart is attuned and joined to Him.

Step out of that shadow Word of Life

Bishop

Moses Kattey

moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

Introduction As long as you remain under any shadow, the light does not reach you directly.

You can never be more important under any shadow than the person or organization under whose shadow you dwell.

The sun and the heat scorch the tree, while all persons shaded by the tree are saved from the heat.

“Nothing will grow in the shaded part of the Garden” is an adage commonly said in farming communities.

Farmers only provide shade in the nursery to protect seedling from hot sun and heavy rainfall. After this stage, if shading continues, the growth will be stunted.

If you do not step out of that shadow your growth will not satisfy you. It is sweet and comfortable to be under shade, especially, when the scorch heat of the sun is unbearable.

And the Lord God prepared agourd, and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief so Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd (Jonah 4:6).

Living Bible renders it thus:And the leaves of the shelter withered in the heat, the Lord arranged for a vine to grow up quickly and spread leaves over Jonah’s head to shade him. This made him comfortable and very grateful (Jonah 4:6 L.B) Coverings or shadings always deliver

from grief and make a person “comfortable and very grateful” according to the Living Bible version, but the growth of the person shaded will be stunted!

The sun whose heat scorched that person (shading you), and the rain and the storm that came upon him and did not kill him, should also scorch me and toss me about and I too will not die. I have passed the seedling nursing stage. The shading stage is past.

1. Unknown shadow You may not know who is shading you spiritually. Some prominent chiefs or politicians have gone out to ensure that nobody in their place, or organizations becomes more important than them, nor their children. No matter how one tries he/ she cannot make a name greater than the one somebody among them has already made. Everybody there is said to be in the shadow of that person.

Hear from the Lord Jesus directly: Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father (John 14:12) The Lord Jesus wants us all to perform more miracles than He himself performed. Any man who has contrary view or philosophy is a bad person, and we pity all those whom they have willingly or unwillingly placed under their shadows.

Only a prayer of faith – “I step out of every body’s shadow in Jesus name” removes you from that shadow and shade.

When you are under the shadow of a tree, that tree receives all the light, all the heat and all the rains, and gives you the amount that tree desires, not the amount you desire. Sometimes, the shadow will be totally dark, and no light reaches you depending on the tree. Sometimes, the shadow will be partially dark depend-

ing on the tree. Sometimes it might be like an umbrella to you and no rain or water touches you. Infact, what reaches you and the amount of light that reaches you will be as determined by the “Oga”, the big tree. (i.e the person under whose shadow you dwell or trust).

2. Shadow of man in politics In politics, people cannot declare to contest for elective positions because the President, the Governor or the Local Government Council Chairman has not given the go ahead. Most politicians today dwell under the shadows of the big politicians. All the “blessings” coming from God do not reach them because they try to channel them through their President, Governor, or godfathers. They do not expect any thing directly from God except through their political bosses.

You must step out of that shadow if you want God to bless you. The rains and the sun that “beat” the boss should “beat” you too. The boss did not die so you too will not die.

Woe to the rebellions children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me, and that cover with a covering but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.

That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at My Mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt.

Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. (Isa. 30:1-2) Staying under the shadow of man may make you very comfortable and grateful but all these would eventually lead to shame and confusion (Isa. 30:3). The stronger the man, the greater the shame and the more you trust, the more confused you become.

Stepping out of that shadow in your heart is stepping out of impending

shame and confusion. But in trusting Pharaoh you will be disappointed humiliated and disgraced for he cannot deliver on his promises to save you. For though his power extends to Zoan and Hames, yet it will all turn out to your shame – he won’t help one little bit (Isaiah 30:3-5 L.B) When you step out the shadow of the person, you step out of disappointment, out of humiliation, and out of disgrace.

In the contrary, remaining under the shadow is being in the vicinity of disappointment, humiliation, disgrace, shame and confusion.

3. Not noticed under shadow Shadow is like darkness in a place or something especially made so that you cannot easily see through who or what is there. You work and labour all day long, all week long, all year long, but no one notices you. They only see the owner of the shadow you dwell understanding between the light and you. The person gets all the blessings, all the praises, and all the attention, but not you, after all nobody sees you in the dark.

The miracle is gradual as you step out of the shadow. People you thought notice you before, complain that you have not been around. Why? Spiritually somebody has been covering you. You must step out of the shadow or shade into the light.

As long as you are under any shadow your ambition and plans remain unreal or impossible to achieve. It is impossible also to receive as much attention even from your own family as that person whose shadow you dwell under consciously or unconsciously.

Dwelling in the shadow of any person prevents direct light and blessings from reaching you. That person provides a screen for a lamp, light or blessing from reaching you, that makes you less bright, less important, and less noticed.

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Faith

Restoration from traditions the of

Oracles God

Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com

0703 362 1866

M

any think they believe the Scriptures, but in reality they do not. To believe the Scriptures means to respect every Word of God and act accordingly. The phrase is commonly used: ‘No other Gospel.’ But in reality, many have a totally different gospel, not the original gospel of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

Every Christian church claims to be Biblical, but more or less has deviated from the Bible. It is necessary to search the Holy Scriptures honestly to verify that our teachings and practices truly do agree with the Word of God. It is easily understood that men defend their own doctrines. But blessed are those who can say like the Master: “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:1617). Those who believe the Scriptures will defend what is written on its pages. They do not interpret anything into it; to them the words of our Lord apply: “He that believeth on me as the Scriptures had said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” (John. 7:38).

The fullness of salvation does not rest in a church institution. On the contrary, salvation is only found in the Saviour Jesus Christ. Viewing the promised Return of Christ in God’s Word and the fulfilment of Bible prophecy, we under-

stand the signs of the time. God’s Word, which does not change but remains forever, is the only valid authority. Thus saith the Lord, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Luke 21:33).

An unbelievable tragedy has occurred within established Christianity. In theological seminaries they don’t teach from the original Word, but teach from books compiled by mere church men. This is not valid before God. What counts is what He said and what His servants left behind in the Old and New Testaments.

What is not written in the Scriptures does not have a divine origin. The Old and the New Testaments are complete testimonies of God, and no one should dare to add anything to it. This is also true with a natural testament – the last Will; after it becomes valid nothing can be changed or added.

The esteemed church fathers didn’t stand on Biblical ground in the Council of Nicene (325AD) and afterwards they did not step on scriptural soil. They believed and taught whatever they wanted.

It’s not recorded that any of these men had a personal relationship with Christ, a true conversion or a call to the ministry from the Lord. They looked upon Christendom as a mere religion and brought heathenism into Christianity. In their writings, they use Bible terms, but have given them a totally different meaning and designation. This is in practice today in these formal churches. It is sad, as people remain with the theme but are not in the original truth. Whether it is Tertullian, Clemens, Hippolite, Julian, Origen, Marcean, Montanius, Sabellius, Athanasius, Arius, whatever they taught is not for Bible-believing Christians. These men have left us a spiritual tohuwabohu (a

total mess). Now the question arises: are the dignitaries of today in the various Christian denominations guilty? What about the pope, cardinals, bishops, pastors, preachers, evangelists and self-acclaimed prophets and apostles? Are they all guilty? Since they are not founded on the word of God, but rather remain in traditions passed down through time, they are all indicted by the Word of God. Their whole study being tainted by church statements and creeds, they never heard the real truth. Also, those churches that separated from the church of Rome, especially since the Reformation, have retained a portion of her doctrines and remained therein, taking for granted and believing that everything is all right with them. But now the hour of truth has come. The comparison between true Bible doctrine and practice and the inherited traditional teachings are forcing us to make a decision. From now on, no one will have an excuse. Only what the Bible teaches is correct – not how it is interpreted. With God are no extra holy traditions, verbal or written. Such traditions exist only within religious institutions - Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostalism and others, who remain bound to them.

The command for us now is: Get back to the original word of God – to the true foundation of the apostles and prophets and to their practices. By so doing, the way of God can be taught truthfully and be prepared for us to walk in it to be the word-bride, the wise virgin, ready for the Master’s return/Rapture. (Luke 20:21, Acts 18:24-26).

This has to be mentioned because of the Christian churches that do not go back to the teachings of our Lord as proclaimed by the apostles, but instead rely on the

doctrines/traditions which have gradually come into existence since the founding of the Christian state religion in the fourth century. Of the more than 1,000 participants at the Council of Nicaea, 318 voted for the trinity doctrine wherein the emphasis was placed on the person of the Son, who was said to be equal eternal alongside the Father. In the year 386, the Holy Ghost was officially declared to be the third person of the Holy Trinity. In the turn of the year 2000, a new dogma proclaimed the elevation of Mary to coredeemer. This would mean that Mary is embodied into the Godhead. Out of the Trinity comes forth a quadrinity, with Mary as daughter of the Father, mother of the Son and bride of the Holy Ghost.

As far as dogmas and traditions are concerned, it needs to be mentioned that they have nothing in common with the truth and the testimony of the scripture.

Before proclaiming a dogma, the word of God had to be ignored for the creed to take its place. The adding to the word, the transgressions, the ungodliness of the man of sin, the lawless one, who lifts himself up above God and His Word are now made full. (2 Thessalonians 2). The falling away from the true faith founded on the Holy Scriptures alone, as Paul foretold, is being fulfilled.

This is the tragic result after 2000 years from Pentecost. The false Christs and anointed ones who are deceiving many souls as foretold by Jesus (Matt 24), arise confidently before the people. The great apostasy, as announced by Paul in 2 Thess. 2, has become a reality. Those miracle workers will have to endure the dismissal by the Lord. “Depart from me, Ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23.

Where are you standing? On the word of God or on the traditions of men?

The trend hasn’t changed Timing your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

I

have learnt that one should not be led by his or her feelings. I don’t get angry if I don’t get as much attendance in church as I expect. It is wrong to display such before those whom the Lord has led to the church so that they could gain spiritual nourishment. You are a child of God when you are spirit-led.

And the truth is that when they leave after eating this kind of food, they will increase to the extent that those who didn’t come will see them and become envious.

The next time they will find their way here. But instead of doing that, I will always get angry and those who came would say: “If this is it, I won’t come next Sunday. It is better for me not to come because those who didn’t come today have their peace at home.” So, I have learnt not to be feeling led.

You know, in my place they say if you open your eyes too wide, dirt will enter; even when anything is happening, I am not seeing it. Why I am saying all this is because your anger can become a weapon in the hand of the enemy to ruin

your destiny.

Moses was one of the most anointed personalities in the whole of the Bible. His life serves as inspiration to all Christendom, even unbelievers. Moses was a man who knew God; the Bible says of Moses that Israel knew the heart of God but Moses knew the ways of God and that describes how intimate his relationship with God was. God called him the ‘meekest man in the whole world.’

God called him alone in a desert place by the act of a burning bush that never consumed; his commission was to go and be a god to pharaoh. This same Moses beat Pharaoh hands down; he brought heavy plagues upon Egypt by his anointing. By the same anointing, every first born of Egypt died the same night.

What kind of awesome anointing is that?

Nationwide, you couldn’t talk of Moses anyhow in his time. Some of his brothers and sisters ganged up against him, and God arose, the earth opened and swallowed them. He was highly anointed and well favoured by God. But let me show you how anger dealt with the same man: God called Moses to Mount Sinai for a specific assignment.

God said: “Come up here, because the people you are leading are indeed stiff necked people, they are the people that cannot follow instructions, they are the people that you will tell to do a thing but they will prefer to do the one you did not tell them. Moses, I want to do away with these people.”

Moses stood and said, “God, if that is how you are, then do away with me first.

What will you tell the Egyptians? That you brought them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness? Deal with me first. If you are not going to kill me first, then don’t touch this people and the Lord changed his mind.” The next option was to draft laws in a stone and hand over for their learning. And God said, “OK, come to me and I will give you laws that will guide them. They will help to put them in shape.” Moses said “Ok” and then climbed up Mount Sinai. If you have been to Israel you will know how much it takes to climb this mountain.

Climbing Mount Sinai is not an easy meat. It is not a child’s job; you got to have strength and stamina. Apart from the strength of climbing, Moses stayed there for 40 days and 40 nights with God alone. Moses watched God write on stone with His fingers. Ten Commandments with His fingers, the glory of God was there, the grace of God was there, and the power of God was there.

Beloved, how will you feel sitting side by side with God and watching our Daddy write with His fingers on the stone and you are privileged to have this experience for 40 days and 40 nights? It is an experience you will not wish to lose for any reason, but watch how bad Satan is. After 40 days and 40 nights, Moses took the two tablets that contained the Ten Commandments. He was coming down to meet the people; he was coming

down to celebrate with his people now that there is a constitution that would rule them for the rest of their lives. Something that will make them to achieve the throne that God has set before them.

On his way down, they heard a noise from the camp of the people of Israel.

Moses turned to his son and said, “I hear a noise, that noise must be the noise of war. Who knows if my people have not been invaded by eliminators?”

The child said to him: “Daddy that is not war. This is singing of our people. They must be praising and singing about something.” Moses said, “Ok, I pray it is well.”

You know, every leader is concerned about his people. Now, Moses began to come, and as soon as he got near the camp, what he saw he could not handle; he saw that the same people he left under the control and leadership of Aaron had been led to serve idols. They donated their rings and bracelets and moulded objects and images that they could worship. The very thing that God gave unto them became their gods. Do you know that the trend has not changed in the current dispensation? When God blesses His people, the blessing becomes a barrier to worship. The one that has a television will watch until he or she has no time for quiet time. The ones that have cars will use them to carry ladies. The one that has a job will no longer attend evening Bible studies because of a busy job schedule.

The one that has a BlackBerry phone will be chatting while service is going on.

Advertise your church events, special programmes, conventions and other church activities on these pages. Contact: Tai on 07064380029

Sport 59

SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Rugby

Independence Rugby 7’s: Plateau Tigers, Barewa book tickets p.60

Eagles

Ahmed Musa: Eagles must beat Congo to qualify p.62

Golf

Ukah, Ikoyi Golf Club celebrate with Gboneme p.61

Sunday Team

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu Golf Reporter Ifeanyi Ibeh Graphics Edwin Usoboh © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Chidi Nwanu: Keshi shot himself in the foot

•Says Oliseh is another disaster waiting

A

Dapo Sotuminu former Super Eagles defender, Chidi Nwanu, who played alongside the sacked Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, at the USA 94 World Cup has said that the former Anderlecht FC of Belgium star shot himself in the foot on issues bothering on the national team.

He told New Telegraph on Sunday in an exclusive interview from his base in Belgium that, Keshi got it all wrong dumping players on personal feelings an indication that his time was spent. When one’s character is already formed, it becomes difficult to change. The ability to change for good is a character and once you don’t have it, no matter what advice you’re given, you either feel threatened or disregard them.

“I am still surprised that Keshi whose attitude as a riotous player took extra efforts by coaches to manage, failed to manage players under his care. It also puzzles me that he could experiment with players he never saw played, this means that there’s something going on underneath. It was wrong for the coach to cast aspersions on one of his top players, Ike Uche much that he said in the media that as long as he remains coach of the Eagles he doesn’t want to hear anything about the player. This negative comment went all over the world.

“Keshi should have gone back to the Eagles team that played against France at the 2014 World Cup second round with two or three changes made with the injured ones before the World Cup. He failed to follow the footsteps of Dutch coach, Clemens Westerhof, in reaching out to those players he fell out with. It was shameful for Keshi to pick a player from China where top class football is not played. He almost ruined Nigerian football doing this, but thank God he has been booted out.”

Nwanu said Nigeria is bigger than any coach or player. Keshi should have put away his differences with the players, as all we needed was victory.

“I must admit that the level of unprofessional behaviours exhibited by our local coaches give one much concerns. Since they started handling the Eagles, there’s a continual drop in the level of football expected from our national side. We have not improved better than the 1994 World Cup team. Why? This is simply because of incompetent coaches. The results speak for themselves. Every local coach chose a different group of players and this creates a lot of inconsistency in building up a team that stays at least for a decade. Let’s go for result oriented coaches and stop this monkey chop banana and banana fall for monkey business. God bless our country Nigeria and God bless the Super Eagles.”

He noted that Keshi overstayed in the Eagles as he should have been sacked immediately after the World Cup game against France where he was exposed as lacking ideas as a world class coach. The performance against France was unacceptable and it showed clearly that Keshi is not a good coach. It is the players that make the coach and not otherwise.

“In football, you don’t allow your opponents to decide your fate, but Keshi has put us in such situation now making the qualification for the 2015 Nations Cup near impossible. If the Eagles do not pick a ticket to play in next year’s Nations Cup, there would be a big problem in Nigeria as the people take solace in watching the Eagles play in international competitions. Personally, I want to watch the Eagles at the 2015 Nations Cup.” Nwanu stated that, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, should go ahead with the plans to employ a foreign coach who will take Nigeria to where we are supposed to be. He advised the NFF not to succumb to the pressure of bringing in another former Super Eagles player, Sunday Oliseh as the new coach of the national team as this would spell a bigger doom for Nigerian football.

“Oliseh will be another terrible mistake if employed as Eagles chief coach.”

Keshi

Nwanu

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport/Interview

Former Eagles stars want foreign coach

After the sacking of the Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, it was decided that a foreign coach would be employed after the last two 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers, DAPO SOTUMINU spoke with three former national team superstars who believe strongly that the return of the foreign coach would do the magic Victor Ikpeba (Former African Footballer of the Year): Sacking Stephen Keshi after the Super Eagles defeated Sudan 3-1 in Abuja was the right step in the right direction. No one likes to sack a coach at this period of a qualifiers but the NFF had to do as football in Nigeria is a unifying factor that brings people of diverse ethnic groups together and this coach was almost destroying what gives joy to Nigerians.

Keshi should have been relieved of his job immediately after the 2014 World Cup, but the NFF delayed and that proved to be very dangerous as he performed woefully in the Nations Cup qualifiers a situation that propelled his sacking. Despite the delay after the Brazil 2014, he should have also been sacked after the first leg game against Sudan. Even the victory in Abuja couldn’t have changed the mindset of the NFF Executive Committee members. Football in Nigeria needs change and that is what the NFF is doing and we are happy about that.

Look at what happened in South Africa after the World Cup, they brought in a new coach, new challenges and new mentality.

We can see what they are doing in the group qualifiers of the 2015 Nations Cup. Kudos to Keshi, he did a good job until the 2013 AFCON but lost it afterwards as he got neck deep in lots of problems which included victimization of players and some other alleged shady dealings, you can’t continue like that in the national team of Nigeria. The Eagles belong to every Nigerian and not one man.

The Eagles players represent Nigeria and not Keshi. It is unfortunate that he had to leave in such manner. If I were in Keshi’s shoes after the World Cup 2014 I would have gone out to look for something else to do instead of waiting to be booted out.

The NFF has done so well giving Keshi and his assistants the opportunity to go and develop themselves technically. We have to move forward and football is a game that needs constant changes.

Apart from the poor technical output, there are other problems like that of the appearance fees which was a national disgrace.

Ghana set up an Enquiry to investigate similar situation in the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup. Keshi should take responsibility on the issue of appearance fee as it was not in the team at France 98, Korea/Japan 2002 and the South Africa 2010, so why should it come up at the Confederation Cup and Brazil 2014 World Cup when he was the coach of the team. The management of the players has been very poor as Keshi failed to be a father figure to the players. He failed to give Nigerian top soccer stars equal opportunity to fight for shirts. He divided the house.

The NFF is free to bring in a foreign coach to take over the affairs of the Eagles as such coaches had recorded huge successes in Nigeria in the past. It was a foreign coach that gave us the Nations Cup title in 1980 and 1994, the first ever World Cup appearance also in 1994, won us an Olympic soccer gold at Atlanta 96. Indiscipline has been the problem of Nigerian coaches and I hope one day when they are given the opportunity again they will grab it with all tenacity. Let’s see what Amodu Shaibu and his crew would do in the interim.

Henry Nwosu (Former Eagles captain): The leade r -

Nwosu

ship of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, was too much in a haste to sack Stephen Keshi, they should have waited for him to finish playing the two remaining 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers.

Even if he fails at the end of the day it would have been conclusive that he failed and no one would have raised a voice to defend him. It is a known fact that football is about hiring and firing, so the action of the NFF wasn’t a big surprise to me as it was most expected but my quarrel is the timing. It was ill-timed.

The NFF showed clearly that they do not trust Keshi anymore, as he was never given a free hand to do his job all through his stay in the national team.

I don’t have anything against the NFF’s action against Keshi, but my problem is the idea of hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, I don’t think that is the right way to go now. But the Nigerian coaches that were given the opportunity spoilt it all.

The Super Eagles has been playing under pressure, they should be given kudos. It is not true that Keshi fought with his players, this is not possible, he was in charge and everybody must respect his decision.

He advised the Eagles players to play better than what they did in the last game against Sudan so that

Ikpeba

they could win the two games against South Africa and Congo to get the ticket to play in the 2015 Nations Cup. Friday Ekpo (Former Eagles midfielder): Everybody saw the handwriting on the wall that Keshi was going to be sacked, he saw it himself. Aside from losing his technical depth as a coach of a team as big as the Super Eagles, Keshi also presented himself cheap as he refused to step aside after the expiration of his contract in June after the World Cup. He should have given the NFF the opportunity to pick another coach.

You cannot drop from a fullfledged manager to become an interim manager, it is not done anywhere and more so the team lost at home to lowly rated Congo, played a draw against South Africa and lost to Sudan.

We had one point from possible nine losing eight points, it was unacceptable to the Nigeria Football Federation whose leadership got scared and had to take a decision that best protest their interest.

Whether w e

Ekpo

qualify or not the Super Eagles should start all over again.

I know every coach sometimes have problem with their players, but you must be a good manager to handle this. The coach is also like a father to the players, but Keshi got it all wrong as he fought with players that would execute matches for him. You can only coach them and you cannot be on the pitch with them during matches. He should have managed them to do his biddings no matter how bad the players were.

Another thing is that Keshi had a bad record as coach of Togo and Mali and he carried it over to the Super Eagles. I think he must work on that negative attitude and make sure he corrects it as he is still very young and he has a long way to go in the coaching profession. And if thinks his negative attitude is the best way he would surely have problems in the future.

Keshi also got it wrong wanting to be the national team manager and the players’ manager at the same time. If you attempt that, you will fail and that was what happened to Keshi. You must allow the players have their way to select their own managers and it shouldn’t have to be you.

I would have loved the NFF to continue with the home grown coaches to handle the Super Eagles as the foreign coaches would be expensive, but the present situation made me have a rethink over this. If you look at it, Nigeria did well during the periods we had foreign coaches doing the job in the national team, so if the NFF wants to give it a shot they can go ahead but this must not take long before the local coaches are allowed to return.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014

Golf Weekly Junior Golf Challenge tees off Thursday

•Access Bank, Fairstrokes take teens to Ikoyi Club

I

Stories by Ifeanyi Ibeh n a bid to develop promising youngsters who will in the foreseeable future take the golfing world by storm and etch Nigeria’s name in the league of golf superpowers, Access Bank, one of the country’s leading financial institutions, has partnered with golf promotions outfit, Fairstrokes, and Caritas PR Limited, a leading public relations firm, to organise the maiden edition of the Junior Golf Challenge.

The event, which is for kids aged between 8 and 15, gets underway on Thursday 23 October, and other partners in the 36-hole contest, endorsed by the Nigeria Golf Federation, include CocaCola, 2AT Nigeria Limited and Pointers Tour.

The two-day event scheduled to tee-off by 8am at the golf section of the Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos, is expected to play host to more than 50 golfers from different schools across the country.

The young golfers will compete in two age categories for boys and girls: 8-11 and 12-15.

Commenting on the development, Access Bank’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Mrs Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said that the event was part of the bank’s effort at providing an enabling environment to facilitate the mental and physical development of the Nigerian child, through physical activity and en-

gagement on the golf course.

She also stated that Access Bank’s sponsorship of the Junior Golf Challenge is the bank’s way of contributing to the growth of golf in the country.

“Our decision to sponsor the golf challenge was not spontaneous but based on current realities among Nigerian children who are increasingly developing more than passing interest in the game,” she said.

Mrs. Victor-Laniyan also added that sport development is a critical part of her organisation’s sustainability initiative.

She said: “Access Bank’s sustainability initiative has sport development as part of its key pillars.

Sport is an avenue for sustainable socio-economic development and opportunity to discover future great talents.”

Speaking on the Junior Golf Challenge, Sam Emehelu, Executive Director of Fairstrokes, said that more than 50 players from different schools in the country have been invited to participate in the event.

He also said the initiative is aimed at supporting and encouraging kids to embrace the game of golf while eliminating the wrong long-held belief that golf is an elitist sport.

The fun filled fiesta is expected to reward the junior golfers with the Best Gross Boys and Best Gross Girls prizes at the end of the two-day challenge.

Norman set to return after chainsaw mishap

S

hortly after sensationally announcing that he may never play golf again following a chainsaw accident that severely injured his left hand, Greg Norman has been cleared by his doctor to swing a club.

Norman injured his left hand while cutting tree branches at his South Florida home in September.

He underwent successful surgery soon after the incident to repair nerve damage, and avoided any tendon or artery damage.

The fact that the two-time British Open champion will play golf again comes as a relief to his many fans who have closely followed Norman’s regular social media updates about his injury.

And even better, there’s a return date set as the golfer popularly known as the Shark plans to play in the pro-am rounds prior to the

Franklin Templeton Shootout, otherwise known as the Shark Shootout, on December 8.

He’ll then make his broadcasting debut alongside Joe Buck in Fox Sports’ first-ever golf telecast during the final round of the event on December 13.

The tournament will serve as a trial run for the new golf broadcasting crew at Fox, which signed a deal with the USGA to televise its championships from 2015 through 2026.

Upcoming Nigeria Tour events 8th Keedak Cup @ Otukpo Golf & Country Club (23rd – 26th Oct) Seedvest Open @ Ibadan Golf Club (3rd – 9th Nov) Apagun Open @ Abk Golf Club (12th – 15th Nov) 19th Air Assault Open @ PH Club (20th – 23rd) NGF Pro-Am Tournament @ Otukpo Golf & Country Club (11th – 14th) End Of Year Golf Tournament @ Otukpo Golf & Country Club (18th – 21st)

Young golfers such as these two can now look forward to a bright future

Ukah, Ikoyi Golf Club celebrate with Gboneme

T

he former president of the Nigeria Hockey Federation, Mr. Patrick Ukah, who led the team of prominent members of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section to the wedding ceremony of the son of the club’s former captain, Mr. Lucky Frank Gboneme, said that members of the Ikoyi Club willingly dropped all they had earlier scheduled for October 11, 2014 to give honour to whom it is due.

“Frank has made us his family and we were delighted to see his son marry his beautiful wife in a very glamorous ceremony. Our joy is that Frank was in good health as usual for the occasion and we were happy to join him on this glorious day, as it is the joy

of every parent to see their children get married while they are still alive.”

Frank Gboneme’s son Chukueku Elurihuku on October 11, 2014 in holy matrimony wedded his bride, Uchenna Cynthia, the daughter of the Chairman of Orange Drugs Plc, Sir Anthony Ifeanyichukwu Ezenwa.

The event took place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Victoria Island, Lagos, while the reception of guests took place at the prestigious Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel on 3, Lekki Road Victoria Island.

The leadership of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section through the Captain of the Ikoyi Club Golf Section, Mr. Ted Iwere, was full of commendations for

Frank Gboneme who he said served the Ikoyi Golf Club diligently and meritoriously during his tenure as Captain of the number one golf club in the country.

Iwere who is also the Managing Director of Daily Independent Newspapers, noted that: “Frank is very important to all of us in Ikoyi Club, the sole reason why members of the golf section stormed the venue of his son’s wedding ceremony in our large numbers. “He deserved all the honours from us as he does not joke with matters that affect the club and the members generally. To cap it up, he is a good man and we were happy we gave him all the backing with our massive attendance at the ceremony.”

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SUNDAY, 19 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport / News

Ahmed Musa: Eagles must beat Congo to qualify

Musa

S

uper Eagles match winner against Sudan in last Wednesday 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers game, Ahmed Musa, has stated that the qualifying match against Congo in November would determine whether Nigeria would play in the 2015 Nations Cup or not.

The 22-year-old forward explained that winning at the Stade Municipal in PointeNoire on November 15 would rekindle hope of the Super Eagles defending their AFCON title.

Musa is happy that the Eagles players have finally rediscovered themselves and the team

is back in contention to qualify after an unimpressive start towards the defense of the title won at the South Africa 2013.

“It is good we have shown that we are still in it after the kind of start to the qualification, which is unfortunate. As African champions it will be very bad if we fail to qualify.

That is why the game against Congo is a very important one that we must win. Once we win that, then our place at the Nations Cup will almost be guaranteed. But it won’t be easy as we think because every team in our group also wants to play at the Nations Cup too.

“The good thing is that we have finally won a game in the qualifiers, and that is good for the confidence of the team. We will continue to work hard so that we can qualify, and we will take each game as they come,” he said.

Independence Rugby 7’s: Plateau Tigers, Barewa book tickets

A

fter a highly contested play-off in the Northern Region, Plateau Tigers RFC, Barewa RFC and Zaria RFC secured a slot in this year’s Independence Rugby 7’s Championship, Also, Royal Stallions RFC of Ilorin secured a slot after Marlins RFC of UK withdraw from the championship.

Following this development, the Tournament Manager, Fasimoye Olatunji, who is also the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby

Football Federation confirmed that 16 teams will be participating in this year’s edition: Alexander RFC of Egypt, Cosmos Buffalos of Ghana, Botswana Vultures, Nigerian Exile RFC of UK, Police Machine of Lagos (Defending Champions), Cowrie RFC of Lagos, Racing RFC of Lagos, Hawkster Athletics of Lagos, Gosar RFC of Lagos, Zaria RFC, Barewa RFC, Plateau Tigers RFC of Jos, Abuja RFC, Buffalos RFC of Abia, South-South RFC and Royal Stallions of Ilorin.

He further stated that the teams will be grouped into four consisting four teams each and will play for Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield.

Exciting action and great crowd, that’s what best describes the Independence Rugby 7s tournament which is held annually by rugby community to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence anniversary.

This year’s edition will be held at the Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Lagos on October 31 and November 1, 2014.

Musa, expressed his displeasure on the sacking Stephen Keshi who he believed did his best for the national.

“It is not good when your coach leaves like that, but there’s nothing I can do as I wish him the best. He played the role of a father to us. Now we must continue from where he stopped with the new coach (Amodu) who is also a father figure with lots of coaching experience at different levels. I am ready to work with him and give my best as usual,” Musa stated.

Musa followed up his fantastic goal-scoring form by scoring twice for CSKA Moscow in their 6-0 thrashing of Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League on Saturday. The striker had netted twice in Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Sudan in the AFCON qualifying match in mid-week, and he now hopes he can carry on with that form.

Lorient 0 - 1 Saint Etienne Lille 1 - 2 Guingamp

R

eading midfielder, Hope Akpan, has spoken of his delight after making his international debut for Nigeria.

Akpan made his first appearance for Nigeria in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Sudan in their 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier.

The former Everton youngster was rewarded with his first callup to the Nigerian squad this month after catching the eye of the country’s coaching team with a number of impressive performances for Reading.

The 23-year-old, who started in central midfield alongside Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, believed the two complimented each other very well in the game and has set his sights on solidifying his place in the international squad.

“I am very proud that one of my dreams has become a reality by making my debut for Nigeria,” Akpan said.

“It was a great experience to make my debut and it was brilliant to play alongside someone like John Obi Mikel in midfield.

“I learned a lot playing alongside him as everyone knows he is a top player.

“I want to build on this and win as many caps as I can for Nigeria. The most important thing now though is to continue my form for Reading which is what has earned me this recognition.”

Football stakeholders want EPL on free-to-air channels

F

ootball fans in the country have urged authorities in Nigeria to take a cue from Kenya where there is sharing of the exclusive rights to air the English Premier League (EPL) with local high-end games.

More than ever before, the need to break the DSTV monopoly for a free-to-air arrangement has arisen. The Kenyans would read-

RESULTS

Barclays Premier League Man. City 4 - 1 Tottenham Arsenal 2 - 2 Hull City Burnley 1 - 3 West Ham C/ Palace 1 - 2 Chelsea Everton 3 - 0 Aston Villa Southampton 8 - 0 S’land Newcastle 1 - 0 Leicester Germany - Bundesliga Bayern 6 - 0 Bremen FC Cologne 2 - 1 B/Dortmund Freiburg 1 - 2 Wolfsburg Hannover 0 - 3 B/ M’gladbach Mainz 05 2 - 1 Augsburg Stuttgart 3 - 3 Leverkusen Schalke 2 - 0 Hertha Berlin Italy - Serie A Roma 3 - 0 Chievo Verona Spain - Liga BBVA Levante 0 - 5 Real Madrid Barcelona 3 - 0 Eibar France - Ligue 1 Lens 1 - 3 PSG

Hope Akpan delighted with Nigeria debut

Yobo FC players celebrate zonal victory as Extra Joss’ state finals begin Oct 22: The finals of Ikeja zone of the Extra Joss soccer Competition Season 3 was played yesterday. The state finals begin from October 22-26 at the Campos Mini stadium. 16 teams that qualified from Divisional Football Associations will play a knock-out series. Two from Epe, three from Badargy and Ikorodu, and four each from Ikeja and Lagos DFA respectively

ily explain how beneficial the steps they took in this direction have been and “this can also happen in Nigeria if the government through the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC, could yield to the yearnings of the people, at least by allowing it to be on free-to-air channels,” said Mr. Biodun Owoeye, a sports consultant in Lagos.

To the Manager of Glory Babes Football Club of Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr. Femi Akinoye, “it will be cheering news if there is healthy competition in the broadcast of EPL matches by both DStv and the local broadcasters; the market is lucrative because we have a large numbers of followers of English football in Nigeria. I’m sure everybody will have its share of the expected profit and more importantly breaking some unwarranted monopolistic tendencies which will be a great service to the Nigerian economy.”

Mr. Lekan Sorungbe also shared the sentiment of Glory Babes’ manager, he said: “with the rumour milling around that La Liga and other leagues will soon be on free-to-air channels in Nigeria, it would be healthy for EPL to follow suit.”

It is on record that EPL teeming fans in Nigeria were able to watch some of the previous EPL matches courtesy of the free-to-air deal.

This is a pointer to the fact that, if EPL is not careful it would lose its viewers to other leagues.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 2014

Consensus: Why Enugu politics is peaceful, progressive

F

or many an analyst, Enugu State is difficult to place. Lacking in mineral resources, the livewire of the national economy, it is supposed to be a poor state, yet it pays its bills, cleans and beautifies its environment and upgrades its social infrastructure as and when due. It’s not exactly the most industrialized state or home to the highest number of tax payers, yet it ranks third among the states with the highest internally generated revenue (IGR), coming only after Lagos and Rivers—in that order.

Journalists especially don’t seem to like the state. After the hare-brained media blitzkrieg of the Chimaroke Administration, when governance model was built on excessive media exposure of government’s activities and journalists were given generous attention by government, a Sullivan Chime came to power and, alarmed by what he saw as the deleterious effects of ‘too much media’ on the Chimaroke Administration, decided to adopt the extreme position of not reckoning with the media at all. Hurt by such obvious disregard, journalists practically swore to always pay Chime back in his own coins. Thus, whatever happened in Enugu State, good or bad, big or small, was always portrayed in bad light. From Chime’s ill-health to his quarrel with his wife Clara, his political spat with the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to the impeachment of the former Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi, Chime and or his government was always wrong and the other party right. Even when Enugu, as challenged by the perennial disagreements among its sub-ethnic groups as any other Igbo state, taught the nation a lesson in democratic tolerance, equity, justice and fair-play through adoption of a consensus candidate, as a means of giving practical expression to its well- advertised power-shift plan, the media chose instead to crow about ‘crisis’ in the PDP over the consensus arrangement just because one out of 14 candidates who participated the peaceful, transparent democratic process, exercised his right of free expression by openly disagreeing with the result of the voting by the ruling party’s stakeholders, which did not favour him.

As has unfortunately come to be accepted, in our peculiar media culture, the noisy but empty are often applauded while the quiet but efficient are held in contempt. However, that the media liked Chimaroke but can’t stand Chime is all about form, in this instance, about two individual styles. There is little we can do if reporters chose to dwell more on form than substance. And that substance is clearly this: that since its creation, Enugu State, in what may well be one of the greatest reversal of roles in the Igbo sociological narrative (everything bright and beautiful comes from the south), has brought to bear on the fragmented politics of the great Igbo nation a revivalism that was hitherto considered impossible. Today, when I see in my mail box Willy is Working, the username created by Chief Willy Obiano’s great media team to ferret stories about the Anambra Governor ’s extra-ordinary work-pace across to media houses, I am reminded as much about how a Peter Obi made this possible as how, in reality, Obi borrowed the concept of power shift to the North of Anambra from Enugu. I predict that Abia, Ebonyi and Imo may also succeed in painlessly shifting power to other zones in 2015 as has been mooted by stakeholders in those states (and opposed by many powerful blocks in most of them). And if they do, then the practice of power-shift, consensus arrangement and the peace and stability that come with them cannot but

Sunday

Notebook

Chime

stand in Ode to the political sagacity of Enugu elders who had concluded right from the creation of the state in 1991 that the only way to promote equity, justice and fair-play and, therefore, peace, stability and progress in the society is by ensuring that every component part of the state is given a sense of belonging through appointments and governorship of the state.

In 1991, as first executive governor of the state, former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and his team crafted what they called ‘Triangular Equilibrium,’ a policy of inclusiveness, which ensured that the three zones of Abakaliki, Enugu and Nsukka were equitably represented in government, state-owned businesses and appointments at the federal level (and that was how Bart Nnaji, from Enugu East, was appointed Secretary of Science and Technology in Shonekan’s Interim National Government and not a man from Enugu North, Nwodo’s constituency). After Ebonyi was created out of Enugu and Abia in 1996, the policy resonated in the three senatorial zones of Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu West. In 1999, although many expected that Enugu North would produce the governor since Nwodo was in power for only 20 months, it was generally not much of a problem for any of the zones when Enugu East took the first shot as governor in a full democratic dispensation, in the person of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani (MD).

Despite the crises that dogged Nnamani’s Administration---from political assassinations, corruption, nepotism to cronyism, the Enugu system withstood those testy times and came out even stronger. Indeed, part of Nnamani’s problems with the state elders, a reason they never gave him a breeding space, was that he was carrying on in ways that were strange to the to the nature and aspirations of the Wawa people: he was high-handed and spread violence like measles to shatter the peace and stability of the Wawa-Igbo nation. But, ours is a system that regenerates itself. It is instructive that it was the same high-handed Nnamani that worked for the emergence of Chime, a man of peace and honour, who eventu-

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Ugwuanyi

“Despite the crises that dogged Nnamani’s Administration---from political assassinations, corruption, nepotism to cronyism, the Enugu system withstood those testy times and came out even stronger.

Indeed, part of Nnamani’s problems with the state elders, a reason they never gave him a breeding space, was that he was carrying on in ways that were strange to the to the nature and aspirations of the Wawa people: he was high-handed and spread violence like measles to shatter the peace and stability of the Wawa-Igbo nation.

But, ours is a system that regenerates itself” ally returned Enugu to its old glory--as the land of peace, love and good neighbourliness, as home to all Igbos and the centre of their civilization and learning.

Individual styles in doing things matter a lot. But structure is everything. We salute Sullivan Chime for the unprecedented peaceful manner that has so far defined the processes leading to the eventual transmission of gubernatorial to Enugu North next year. As one group, NsukkaUSA wrote in a Thank You advertorial to Chime and PDP (Enugu State Chapter) published in Saturday Sun yesterday, “the September 16, 2014 peaceful, widely acclaimed, pace-setting adoption of our brother, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the likeable, people-loving, peaceloving, God-fearing, hard-working,

highly intelligent Gburugburu, as the consensus candidate of the PDP for the governorship election in Enugu State (in 2015 may…have) demonstrated that Enugu is a land of peace, love, equity, fair-play and freedom—a land of democracy…(and) we are grateful to all those who made it possible.”

But, we believe that Chime’s good heart—and goodwill to the people of Enugu North—only found rhythm in an enduring structure that our visionary founding fathers (may C.C Onoh’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace) had long ago put in place to guide our inter-group relationships in this beautiful land of rolling hills, Milliken hill and luminous coal.

Witness what happened: after Ugwuanyi was adopted by Enugu North PDP, Chime reportedly took the choice to the state caucus of the party, which is like the Elders Committee of the state (including Chief Jim Nwobodo, Senator Ken Nnamani, Dubem Onyia, Okwesilieze Nwodo, among others) for ratification, which was done. It says a lot about the state’s political leadership’s commitment to unity, equity and unanimity of purpose in Enugu State that even Senator Ekweremadu, who is widely reported to be having a political face-off with Governor Chime over the Enugu-West Senatorial seat, which both VIPs covet, has quietly endorsed the choice of Hon Ugwuanyi, who is incidentally the Deputy Senate President’s personal friend. I have had cause to quarrel with editors who, believing that Ekweremadu is opposed to Ugwuanyi’s adoption, simply secondguessed the distinguished senator by attributing to him a statement in which he purportedly opposed the emergence of the Reps Member as the consensus candidate. Which is not true, because even the contestant who was reportedly sponsored by Ekweremadu, Chinedu Onu, said after the voting to adopt Hon Ugwuanyi as the consensus candidate, that while he was not going to oppose what the party had done, he would also not step down for the consensus candidate until he had consulted with his supporters.

I believe that what Enugu PDP has accomplished should be applauded

by Wadata House not condemned. In my view, party headquarters should rather be proud of state chapters that choose consensus candidates who emerge through a transparent, nonraucous process instead of vilifying them. After all, the party is not in contest with itself but with the opposition.

For, democracy would be imperiled if party headquarters allowed influence peddling in Abuja to undermine the credibility of the result of a democratic process that many have acknowledged as transparent and representative of the will of the people.

The lesson in what has happened in Enugu State is, thus, that the acrimony so endemic in Nigeria’s political contests, electoral victories and governance would be greatly minimized, if not completely eliminated, if political leaders recognized that every section, group or individual ought to be given a sense of belonging in the scheme of things, through enthronement of equity, justice and fair-play in the conduct of public affairs and worked towards the realization of such noble objective. If we continue to insist that all animals are equal but some are more equal than others, rest assured we’ll never make a success of this wobbly contraption called Nigeria.

Nonetheless, one’s happiness is that even if Nigeria won’t learn from Enugu, the rest of the Igbo nation is already doing so with, if you like, with some gusto and that, to be sure, is a very, very positive contribution of the wawa to Igbo civilization.

As our own Chimaroke would say, to God be the glory…

SPORT

Chidi Nwanu: Keshi shot himself in the foot

FAITH

Sanctity of Truth

Nigeria is a sad, corrupt country – Iloh

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014

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Comparing Nigeria with the Asian Tigers: Where we missed it (1)

T

INTRODUCTION he “Asian Tigers” arrival into the world economy has been extraordinary. From the traditional “Tigers” (Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore) and then those forming part of the “Tiger Club Economies” (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines), they have experienced dramatic changes over the past 30 years. Their economies have fundamentally changed from traditional agricultural society, to rapidly growing newly industrialized nations. Their incredible rates of growth were accompanied by significant structural changes. In contrast, most of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in general, have navigated a diametrically opposite direction from that of the Asian Tigers.

ASIAN TIGERS: WHO ARE THEY?

By the 1950s, the distribution of wealth across the planet was extraordinarily lopsided, with just one fifth of the world’s population (mostly in Western Europe and their descendants in North America and Australia) holding 82% of the world’s wealth.

But, from the 1960s, several initially extremely impoverished Asian nations, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, attained rapid wealth. By 2009, their quality of life rivalled those of historically rich European nations, such as Germany and Britain.

The term ‘tiger economy’ has come to define any economy that has experienced, and continues to experience, extensive economic growth through its trade and industry sectors. According to Investopedia, an economic tiger is a country whose economy has grown and becomes successful very quickly. It is a nickname frequently employed for the economies of Southeast Asia.

The term had emerged in the 1960s during which many of East Asia’s economies experienced spectacular growth averaging an annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6% or higher. It was discovered that the factors that marked the East Asian economies as tiger economies included the presence of a large highly educated labour force. Life expectancy was high and the symmetric distribution of land was prevalent; corruption was fiercely tamed and income, relatively equal.

Less stringent policies on credit, and improving the manufacturing and information technology sectors became rife. Markets were massively opened to international trade.

While the Asian nations were advancing their quest for economic prosperity, most African countries languished and luxuriated in regressive poverty. However, within the last decade, the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa have appreciated in leaps and bounds. Nigeria is now Africa’s biggest economy and the 25th largest economy in the world in GDP. But can it match the Asian Tigers? Let’s analyse.

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08128444555 (sms only) “Neither South Korea nor Taiwan was richer than Nigeria in the late 1950s” than Nigeria in the late 1950s. South Korea was mired in political instability, with no industries, having lost all to the more developed North Korea. Taiwan was a predominantly agricultural economy, with sugar and rice as its main exports.

In many ways, their transformational strategies to major industrial powers mirrored Japan’s. Their governments were single-mindedly focused on economic growth.

Both countries also possessed an overarching geo-political motive. South Korea needed to grow so it could counter any possible threats from North Korea. Taiwan, having given up on the idea of reconquest of mainland China, wanted to forestall any possible challenge from the Communists. The governments in South Korea and Taiwan understood that achieving their political and military goals required rapid economic growth. Developing industrial capabilities and a strong manufactured exports base became their predominant objective by unleashing energies of private business. They removed excessive taxation, red tape, bureaucratic corruption, inadequate infrastructure and high inflation.

Governments gave incentives such as generous subsidies to stimulate investments in modern industries designated as “priority sectors”. In South Korea, these took the form of subsidized loans through the banking sector. In Taiwan, they came as tax incentives for investments in designated sectors. In both countries, bureaucrats played the role of midwife to new industries: They coordinated private firms’ investments, supplied the inputs, twisted arms when needed, and provided necessary sweeteners. Neither country exposed its nascent industries to much import competition until well into the 1980s. While they enjoyed protection from international competition, these infant industries were goaded to export almost from day one.

WHY THE ASIAN TIGERS OVERTOOK

MAMA LASISI

NIGERIA

The various Asian governments proved efficient at some very difficult tasks: they maintained fairly stable macroeconomic strategy, implemented strong educational policy, lowered birth rates, and narrowed the income gap between the rich and poor. These factors are NOT present in the present Nigerian economy as they were at their nascent stages. While the Asian tigers positively utilised the factors for the ultimate advancement of their economies, the same cannot be said of Nigeria.

STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY ASIAN TIGERS EFFECTIVE AND STRINGENT PUBLIC POLICIES

This consisted of credible macro economic policies that kept inflation low, interest rates low, fiscal policies that focused on raising saving rates and investment rates, as well as policies that developed infrastructure. These factors promoted private investment and growth. For example, in Singapore, despite the absence of natural resources and a large domestic market, high growth rates and development were realised. Politically, many of the tiger economies had a recent history of military rule. However, a number of them had since liberalized and Taiwan, and South Korea are now amongst the most democratic countries in Asia.

Thus, in these countries, the state intervened actively in the economy, premised, not on socialist redistribution, but rather, on state-drven macroeconomic planning, guided by capitalist principles and international competitiveness. Nigeria can learn from the Asian Tigers in this regard, by creating capable and effective state institutions which up till now have either been neglected or are shaky.

TAMING CORRUPTION

Economic theory and empirical evidence demonstrate a direct causal link between corruption and economic growth. Corruption impedes economic growth by discouraging foreign and domestic investment, taxing and dampening entrepreneurship, lowering the quality of public infrastructure, decreasing tax revenues, diverting public talent into rent-seeking, and distorting the composition

of public expenditure. Corruption also exacerbates income inequality, reduces the progressivity of the tax system, increases the inequality of factor ownership, and ensures that lower income households (and businesses) pay a higher proportion of their income in bribes, than do middle or upper-income households.

The reason these countries are called the “Four Asian Tigers” is not just for their agility, focus, commitment and determination, but most importantly for their honesty, an inherent leadership attribute in the whole of Asia. For example, the effects of South Korea’s industrialization efforts and its cultural behaviour helped its citizens, with life expectancy of 79.3 years at birth, one of the highest in the world.

Nigeria’s average life expectancy at birth is only 47.56 years. The 2011 corrupt nation’s world index of Transparency International for 183 nations places South Korea at number 43 and Nigeria at number 143. The issue of corruption in Nigeria is frightening, assuming a cultural dimension, which means that it is no longer newsworthy discussing about it with all serious magnitude. Even with South Korea’s wealth and economic development, the President’s annual salary is only $136,699, one of the lowest among both developed and third world nations. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s annual export income from oil is only $56 billion and the President officially earns $400,000 per annum besides allowances and other perquisites attached to his office.

The salary of some officials of the Government of the Federation is pegged at $197,000 per annum, scandalously higher that of the Korean President, Park Geun-hye, or the Prime Minister Jung Hongwon.

SKILLED LABOUR FORCE

In the 1960s these nations were poor, with abundant cheap labour. This excess labour was absorbed by labour intensive industries, and was transformed into productive workforce through various reforms. Education at all levels was introduced, with all children attending elementary and compulsory high school. Colleges and universities were improved upon. The dilapidated infrastructures in the various universities for instance, and the incessant industrial unrests in the Educational sector, are pointers to the neglect of education in Nigeria.

CAPITAL ACCUMULATION

In Taiwan, high savings activated high domestic investment rates. Productivity was attained through adopted foreign knowledge and technology. The technological catch up, coupled with capital accumulation ensured the Asian tigers’ growth.

It may be argued that Nigeria is measuring up if we take the cumulative value of the Nigerian Stock Market, foreign reserve, FDI, etc, into consideration.

But it is a long way off, because the value of the entire stock of the NSE is not up to the value of the total assets of South Korea’s Samsung which is US$ 100.4 billion!

Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

By Aliu Eroje

NIGERIA VS ASIAN TIGERS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Prior to 1999, Nigeria was tottering along in economic stagnancy. Within the last 15 years, however, the size of the economy has expanded and leapfrogged by 89%, becoming the biggest in Africa and still growing. What abracadabra “magical wand” did the Asian Tigers use?

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR GROWTH IN THE TIGER ECONOMIES

After the Second World War, Asia witnessed the combined efforts of a determined government with the energies of a vibrant private sector. Enormous exports led to globalization.

Neither South Korea nor Taiwan was richer Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: EMEKA MADUNAGU.