Binder555555, sunday, june 15, 2014

Sunday Edition

Sanctity of Truth Sunday, June 15, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 117

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Sanctity of Truth

ON SUNDAY

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Page 15, JUNE 15, 2014

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT www.newtelegraphonline.com/body&soul

I share my husband passion and ideals

APC’ll kick PDP out in 2015 –Oyegun

-Erelu Bisi Fayemi

he newly elected first National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has as-

sured Nigerians that the opposition party will leave no stone unturned in unseating the ruling Peoples Democratic Partyin the 2015 elections.

Oyegun made this declaration in his acceptance speech after being elected at the

party’s National Convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja yesterday morning.

He lamented the state of the nation and promised that his party would provide Nigerians with a visionary, dedicated and people-oriented lead-

ership that would liberate the nation from PDP’s ‘rule of poverty’ and ‘oppression’.

In the speech titled, ‘We must set forth at dawn’, the former governor of Edo State, however, warned his fellow party members against any

illusion, noting that the task of defeating the ruling party would not be an easy one.

While reiterating that the task of salvaging Nigeria “will, on its own, be hard

T

by New Telegraph on Sunday.

Our correspondent learnt that the amount was spent on the MD’s 45 trips to Europe in 2013.

Findings at the agency’s protocol unit revealed that most of the trips were for

short stays, as the MD and his entourage usually travelled on Fridays and returned Sundays.

A source at the protocol unit, who declined to be named, said, “We are not aware that this agency is

seeking any foreign investor or planning to sign any memorandum of understanding (MOU) with any company or firm. So, we are surprised that the MD made these trips so frequently. Again, our major

concern is that he usually travels with people who have no business with the operations of our agency.

He usually goes with traditional rulers on first-class tickets and they stay in five

Yekeen Nurudeen

T Abuja

Cool kicks for casual How I hit it big in outing

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Makeup business

Flamboyant traditional outfits for special occasions

High slits: The new sexy

-Joy Adenuga

Top govt official spends N5.4bn on 45 foreign trips Paul Ogbuokiri

he managing director of a federal agency spent not less than N5.44 billion last year on 45 foreign trips, according to findings

news

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Sanusi goes into three-day solitary confinement }2

News

Banks’ excess charges: Utomi, others back CBN Governor }7

news

Woman Power: Two unidentified women slug it out with a male adversary at Asade Market, Ikeja, Lagos…on Wednesday

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

World Cup: Eagles demand $75,000 appearance fee }58

I’ll still run for president, says Atiku

}2

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

Sanusi goes into three-day solitary confinement Muhammad Kabir

T KANO

he end is yet near for the installation of former Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano as he is expected to go into solitary confinement for three days.

The monarch, who is to be known as Muhammadu Sunusi 11, is to perform the

rite from today. It was last held 51 years ago during the installation of the late Alhaji Ado Bayero in 1963.

The monarch is expected to stay in the room for three days performing rituals symbolising his emergence as the Emir of Kano.

He had on Friday performed yet another ritual of penetrating three gates that were sealed for the last 52 years after the turbanning of Bayero as the 13th Emir

of Kano.

The rituals, according to Dansaran Kano, Alhaji Gambo Muhammadu Danpass, will strengthen the Emirate Council and make it viable in the hands of the new emir. He stated that the event was not contradictory to Islamic teachings because they are simply traditional.

Accordingly, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 will stay in the room that is being opened today after 52 years under

lock, praying and reciting some Quranic verses. He will also carry out some traditional activities.

After he comes out on the third day, an insider member of the traditional institution told New Telegraph on Sunday that he would go through Kofar Kudu, a gate that is being built at the back of the Kano Emirate Council.

From there, he will pass through the frontage of

the emirate council, a step which will finally make him the Emir of Kano.

On Friday, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 was escorted to the emirate council amid tight security, and entered the palace through the first gate linking it with a graveyard of family members of previous emirs.

Then, he went straight to the second gate also linking the graveyard to a bush of about two kilometres to the actual house of the emir, were he stayed for about two minutes and prayed for the reposed of the departed members of the royal household.

Danpass said the solitary confinement was simply a tradition differentiating

Kano Emirate Council from others, and making it one of the strongest in Nigeria and Africa.

The room in question has been in existence for over 1000 years since the times of the Habe dynasty. It was there before the coming of the Fulani under Ibrahim Dabo some 200 years ago to inject some Islamic virtues in the affairs of the Kano Emirate Council.

The Dansaran Kano noted that the making of Muhammadu Sanusi 11 would certainly turn out to be a blessing in disguise because the former CBN governor “is a man with a huge historic background and sense of economic teachings which Kano is yearning for.”

Why we develop parks –Fashola Muritala Ayinla

G L-R: Registrar, Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Alhaji Muazu Iliyasu; Pioneer Provost, Prof. Ladan Shehu; and Bursar, Alhaji Lamaran Gidado, at the 2013/2014 Maiden Matriculation of the college, in Bauchi…on Saturday

I’ll still run for president, says Atiku Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

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ormer Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday said that he is still in the race for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, pointing out that the ticket is open to all Nigerians irrespective of where they come from.

Atiku specifically described as “sponsored stories,” reports by a section of the media to the effect that the APC, of which he is a chieftain, had zoned him out of the presidential contest following a new ar-

rangement.

A statement issued by the Atiku Media Office quoted the former Vice President as saying at no time did the party’s Convention Planning Committee or its recently-dissolved Interim National Executive Council (NEC) discuss the issue of zoning of elective offices outside the positions of leadership of the party which he said, were filled at the highly successful convention held on Friday.

According to the statement, “As for the presidential ticket, the position of all organs of the party is that it

is open to all Nigerians irrespective of where they come from”.

The statement described as “a hatchet job for Aso Rock” a front page lead story in today’s edition of a newspaper titled: “Atiku Zoned Out,” wondering why the presidency is scared of the prospect of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan facing Atiku in 2015.

It also accused the newspaper of abandoning principles and its responsibility to the public “by uncritically accepting and mechanically reproducing editorials, opinions and reports” from

the Villa.

The statement said, that “Atiku’s chances have never been better, given the climate of democracy and freedom in the APC” adding that the former Vice President will at any moment from now be making a pronouncement on if, when and how he will be making a declaration.

It conveyed Atiku’s appeal to all his well-wishers, supporters and the general public to disregard these false reports emanating from the presidency, which are designed to deter him from offering his services to Nigerians.

Top govt official spends N5.4bn on 45 foreign trips CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

star hotels abroad.”

Another source in the parastatal said the trips were mainly to the United Kingdom. It was further gathered that the helmsman usually embarked on most of his foreign trips with a retinue of staff, beside his friends, but they collectively number over 11 persons per trip.

Findings revealed that an air ticket from Lagos to London costs about

N1,155,520 for a first-class passenger, while economy class goes for about N222,167 per person.

Therefore, air tickets for 11 passengers comes to about N12,210,620. As such, 45 trips totalled about N539, 075,400 for air tickets only.

Our correspondent further learnt that the official daily estacode for heads of agencies and parastatals under the supervising ministry for the agency is about $6,000 a day, while direc-

tors and general managers collect about $4,500 daily.

This covers internal transportation, hotel accommodation, feeding and other sundry personal expenses the beneficiary may incur during the trip.

Some of the helmsman’s foreign trips are normally listed in the accounts sector for two weeks or some times less, even as his entourage was normally paid the estacode of general managers. This brings the amount paid out to one

person in one year to about $63,000.

Subsequently, the total amount paid as estacode on his foreign trips is $31,455,000 or N4, 914,960,000. When aggregated, the amount paid on air tickets and the estacodes paid out by the organisation was put at N5, 444,135,000 in 2013 for his trips.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that the agency’s helmsman has made more trips this year.

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of parks and gardens, describing it as parts of efforts to mitigate negative impact of climate change.

Fashola who also commissioned and named a 17,195 square metres park after Rear Admiral (retired) Ndubuisi Godwin Kanu, said the Lagos State Park and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, was established to sustain environmental renewal initiatives through developments of recreation and relaxation centres across the state.

Speaking while unveiling the park, constructed under the supervision of the Lagos State Park and Gardens Agency, (LASPARK), Fashola said the places hitherto known as criminals hideouts had been turned to beautiful gardens.

Explaining why the park was named after Rear Admiral Kanu, Fashola said the dedication of the park was a token appreciation to the former military administration of the state and one of the heroes of June 12 1993 Presidential Elections, who stood up against the voice of darkness despite the consequences.

He argued that without the sacrifice of the June 12 heroes, the political office holders wouldn’t have become what they are today, urging them to always remember those who fought and sacrifice their lives for the attainment of democracy.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello described the creation of the park as another testimony

of the state government’s commitment of consolidating the greening and recreation culture in the state.

“This new park which occupies approximately total land area of 17,195 square metre has the following facilities: ornament plants, palm tree, rotunda, garden light, gazebo with fruits producing seats, multipurpose court, children playing ground, irrigation facilities, toilet facilities, walkways and area that accommodate minimum of 40 cars. There is no doubt that the park will enhance aesthetic of the area,” Bello added.

Responding, Rear Admiral Kanu who expressed appreciation to the state government for founding him worthy of the honour, said Nigerians must guide democracy jealously in order to give voice to the voiceless and enhance the standard of living of the common man on the streets.

The former Military Governor of Imo and Lagos states said that Nigeria is still bedevilled with problems of kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery and other challenges because the election which could have liberated Nigerians against social injustice was annulled.

He added that if the June 12 election was not annulled, Nigeria wouldn’t have been where she is, and perhaps, numerous challenges confronting the nations would have long been overcome.

He said there are many reasons for the nation to continue the June 12 struggle in order to achieve numerous objectives and tenets of the struggle, which according to him was aimed at strengthening democracy in the country.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

News

APC National Convention

‘We’ll defeat PDP in 2015 elections’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

because the rot is deep.”

He added that “the task would be made harder by the fact that we have, as opponents, a political party that will stop at nothing to frustrate our mission.”

His words:”Tonight I say to Nigerians: Your wait is over.

Your prayers have not been in vain. Help is on the way.

The APC is here! In 2015, Nigerians will finally have the opportunity to kick out a long-ruling party that has, among other things, failed to provide them with stable power supply; failed to provide them with security that will enable them to sleep peacefully on their beds at night; failed to provide employment for millions of

Nigerian youths; and failed to stem the tide of corruption that is robbing Nigeria’s children of their future.

“In 2015, the All Progressives Congress will provide Nigerians with a visionary, dedicated and people-oriented leadership that will liberate the nation from PDP’s rule of poverty and oppression. Under the stewardship of the APC, Nigeria will progress and Nigerians will thrive. This is our sacred pledge to Nigerians tonight.

“We know the make-up, the habits, the philosophy and the mindset of our opponents. We know the extent they will go to cling to power.

And we know how immense the resources at their disposal are. But because the

resources they misuse are resources that should rightly be used to improve the lives of the Nigerian people, those resources will not be effective in frustrating the people’s hopes for liberation.”

Oyegun, who emerged as APC National Chairman unopposed as all those eyeing the seat before the convention stepped down for him, also extended the olive branch to all aggrieved party members to bury their grievances and join hands with him to achieve the set goals of the party.

He said, “But for us to succeed, dear brothers and sisters, we must pledge this night to work together as a team. We must embrace the ideals of unity, oneness and

harmony, and the spirit of give and take.

“We must learn to let go of past grudges and previous grievances and move forward together as members of the same family. And so tonight, I call for the healing of rifts and the smoothening of cracks.

“I call for forgiveness of offences and injuries. I call for unity in our great party. I call for our collective embrace of a common vision. I call for a commitment to work hand in hand to accomplish the task before us. If we fail in our task due to disunity and acrimony, it is not only ourselves we would have let down; we would have betrayed the hopes and aspirations of long-suffering

Nigerians. And we must never lose sight of the fact that the collective destiny of the Nigerian people is far more important than our individual or group interests, ambitions or grievances.

“Because the road ahead of us is long and hard, we must heed the wise advice of our esteemed Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, that “we must set forth at dawn.” And so, whereas tonight we party to celebrate the successful conclusion of the National Convention of our party, early tomor-

...You’re agents of deceit, says Suswam Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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L-R: Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari; Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko; newly elected National Chairman, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and former Vice President , Atiku Abubakar, at the party’s National Convention in Abuja…yesterday

Chibok: Borno gov Ensure issue-based shuns convention opposition–PDP Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

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he lingering controversy over the disapperance of over 200 female pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State may have forced the state governor, Kashim Shettima, to shun the national convention of the All Progressives Congress at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Special Adviser to Shettima on Communications, Isa Gusau, explained that the governor believed that while the convention was a legitimate democratic process, he opted to stay away so as not offend the sensibilities of the girls’ families as well as victims of insurgent attacks in Borno State.

The governor, who sent

his deputy, Zannah Umar Mustapha, to represent him at the convention, said he fully shares APC’s aspirations and vision, which is to transform Nigeria.

Shettima said leaders and members of the party had Borno at heart and sincerely shared the grief of the people of the state.

He said it was for this reason that governors of the party visited the state and made a humanitarian donation of N200 million in 2013 in addition to other forms of solidarity regularly extended to Borno.

He said the governor was praying for the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls and an end to the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria as well as other terror-related activities across the world.

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

I

n the rare spirit of comradeship, the Peoples Democratic Party yesterday sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected leadership of the All Progressives Congress, charging the party’s leaders to ensure a vibrant opposition devoid of bitterness, desperation and divisive tendencies.

PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, told the new APC leadership to “ensure an issue-based opposition that will purposefully and constructively engage and challenge the PDP with decency and maturity as prescribed by democratic tenets and principles.”

Stating that Nigerians deserve a vibrant and patri-

otic opposition driven only by the national interest, the PDP charged the new APC leadership to “put the unity and welfare of Nigerians ahead of other considerations and jettison all divisive tendencies, including unguarded statements that overheat the polity and pitch Nigerians against one another.”

PDP, however, said it still remained the party with the widest acceptance among Nigerians, maintaining that APC, despite its new leadership, posed no threat all.

Boasting that it remains the only party committed to the national interest, the ruling party said it is noted for providing a level playing ground for all Nigerians to achieve their aspirations irrespective of religious, ethnic and gender considerations.

row morning, we must rise with the dawn and set forth on our patriotic mission to set Nigerians free, and usher in the New Nigeria of our dreams.”

Other elected national officers of the party include Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni who emerged as the National Secretary; Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary; Chief Segun Oni who emerged as the Deputy National Chairman (South); and Alhaji Lawal Shuaibu who became the Deputy National Chairman (North).

enue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, says the All Progressives Congress Party, (APC) is peopled by agents of deceit and does not imbibe democratic principles like the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Suawam stated this while receiving a chieftain of the APC, Prof. David Iornem, into the PDP at Lessel in Ushongo local government area on Friday.

He stated that the defection of Prof. Iornem, whom he described as the engine room of the opposition into the ruling party has brought great relief to the PDP, assuring that his party will adopt the strategies the defector used to help APC win to excel at elections at all levels in the state.

“APC is a party of deceit; it is a party that was formed by one person and of course it is a party that does not exhibit the tenets of democracy within it. But within the PDP, all of us are equal despite the different positions we are holding. Prof.

Iornem who has joined us today will be treated just like any other PDP member,” he said.

He assured governorship aspirants of a level playing field, pointing out that he has not anointed anybody to succeed him in 2015. “Let there be no apprehension in any quarters that any person will be excluded from the scheme of things, not at least during my own leadership. My intension is that all Benue sons should be in one place so that we have a better bargaining power”.

“I have no candidate (and I keep repeating this), among those who are contesting to take over from me. I have no candidate. This is why you see my deputy who is one of the contestants and other friends of mine carrying out

campaigns with their supporters. If I had decided on a candidate of course it would have been obvious. So let there be no apprehension in the mind of any person that any person will be schemed out. The people of Benue will decide who takes over from me when the time is ripe,” Suswam said.

Giving reasons for his defection from the APC, Iornem a one-time senator on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, explained that his decision to dump the opposition party in the state was to get even with a serving senator who has suddenly started imposing candidates on the people of the state.

The former Director General, Prof. Ugbah Campaign Organisation in the 2011 elections said he left the APC with his large followers such that by the time the senator realised it, he would be left alone.

But in a swift reaction to Suswam’s invectives, the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Philip Anza said it is the PDP that was operating a government that is anchored on deceit and not APC. Anza said most of the programmes the PDP government claimed to have executed in the state were just a mere paper and radio propaganda aimed at deceiving the people and sympathised with Iornem for defecting to the PDP, a party he said had called him as a fake professor.

“Let me tell you, I deeply sympathise with Prof. Iornem because in the past few months, he has been harassed and intimidated by the PDP government to the extent that he was tagged a fake professor giving fake degrees. And again, the PDP government froze his account, intimidated and dehumanised him and in order to get out of that mess, he had to go back to PDP so as to have respite,” he said.

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Moments

L-R: Advisory Leader, Deloitte West Africa Michael Vincent; Transitional Leader, Deloitte Nigeria, Tawanda Gumbo; Global Chairman, Deloitte, Steve Almond, and Chairman, Deloitte Nigeria,Femi Abegunde, after a breakfast meeting with clients and Corporate Chief Executive Officers in Lagos…on Thursday

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Government, Tony Okocha; Sen Magnus Abe; Rivers State Commissioner for Information and communication, Mrs. Ibim Seminatari, and Hon Asita Asita ,during a protest against the directive of the NJC for Daisy Okocha to take over as Chief Judge of Rivers State… on Wednesday

L-R: President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. David Adewunmi; Nollywood star, Racheal Oniga; Osun State Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Adeleke Ipaye; Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Sola Afolabi; President, Association of Telecomm Computer of Nigeria (ATCON), Lare Ajayi; and Managing Director, Alpha Technology, Mr. Maggi Peters, during the ninth Titans of Tech Award, in Lagos….on Thursday

L-R: Assistant Director, Communication, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Ademola Olajire; Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Miss Chika Mokwugwo and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, during the presentation of the Nigeria National Flag to Director of Competitions, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the World Cup, in Abuja…on Thursday

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

L-R: Anambra State Special Adviser on Public Works, Mrs. Anthonia Tabansi-Okoye; Governor Willie Obiano; and Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government, Mrs. Ann Chukwuneke, during the governor’s visit to a collapsed four-storey building in Fegge, Onitsha...on Saturday

L-R: Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim; Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu; Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesung Ra and Head, Business Development, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo, after Samsung Electronics West Africa’s media briefing on the Galaxy S5 in Lagos…at the weekend. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako; and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and others, during the All Progressives Congress National Convention in Abuja… on Friday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

L-R: Public Relations Manager, StarTimes, Mr. Irete Anetor; wife of star prize winner, Mrs. Gloria David Abayomi; star prize winner of Toyota Yaris car, Rev. David Abayomi; and Brand/Marketing Manager, StarTimes, Mr. Habeeb Somoye, at the prize presentation ceremony in Lagos…on Wednesday

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

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Moments

L-R: Brand Communications Manager, Oral B, Ajewole Ayotomiwa; President Elect, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Bode Ijarogbe; Chief Executive Officer, London Smiling Dental Clinic UK, Dr. Uchenna Okoye; President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Olurotimi Olojede and Consultant/Restorative Dentist, Dr. Ifeoma Menakaya, at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Dental Association in Lagos…on Thursday

A cross-section of the finalists selected for this years’ President Barack Obama’s Washington fellows for Young African leaders at the United States Embassy, Lagos…on Thursday

L-R: CEO, Profiliant Development Resources Ltd, Oliver Nnona; HR Certifications Lead, Skills-Farm Ltd, Benny Nwagwu; and Executive Director (Middle East & Africa), Society for Human Resources Management, Brad Boyson; during a briefing session for SHRM Certifications and Development in Nigeria at Eko Hotel, Lagos... on Monday

L-R: Chief Consultant, Edumark, Yinka Ogunde; Proprietress, Jellylas School, Jelilat Lasaki; Special Guest of Honour, Leke Pitan; Executive Director, Cayley College, Mary Iyayi; and Chairman, Association of Private Educators of Nigeria (APEN), Femi Ogunsanya, at the opening ceremony of Total School Support Seminar/Exhibition, organised by Edumark in Lagos…on Thursday

L-R: Guest Speaker, Dr. Stephen Faleti; Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Olu Falae; and Coordinator, Odua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams; during a lecture organised by OPC to mark the June 12, 1993 election in Lagos…on Thursday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Director, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, Mr. Garth Smith; Member, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Omo Christopher Isu; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale; Chairman, MEMMCOL, Kola Balogun; and Deputy Chairman , House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Muhammed Ricco; during the official visit of the committee to MEMMCOL head office, in Olowotedo, Ogun State…on Friday

L-R: Executive Director, AIICO Insurance, Mr. Jide Orimolade; Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA); Managing Director/Ceo, Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Gus Wiggle; and Chairman/Chief Executive, Brickred Consult Limited, Dr. Dan Okehi, during Okehi’s briefing on his senatorial ambition, in Lagos...on Wednesday

L-R: Head, Retail Showroom and Franchise, Airtel, Tolulope Tope-Awofeko; Chief Operations Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Tolu Ojo; Regional Retail Head, Lagos, Edero Daro-Idollo; and Regional Operations Director, Lagos, Femi Oshinlaja, at the commissioning of Airtel service centre at Mega Plaza, Victoria Island, Lagos recently

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

Tambuwal urges FG to dialogue with Boko Haram Ibraheem Musa

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Kaduna

peaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has reiterated that dialogue remains the best alternative to dispute

resolution especially in the face of insecurity ravaging the country and that open discussion is the platform of achieving unity and development.

Tambowal who made this known while declaring open the pre-Ramadan

‘I didn’t give Boko Haram chance to operate in Niger’ Dan Atori Minna

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overnor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu on Saturday revealed how he prevented Boko Haram from having security base in Niger state by sacking the Darul Salam sect from their Mokwa base four years ago.

According to the press statement issued by the governors’ Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel A. Ebije, the governor was proactive in sacking Darul Islam sect where at least the key leaders of the dreaded Book Haram were once encamped.

Babangida, who spoke at the Adesoye College Offa at the 22nd graduation ceremony was emphatic that governors must take security issues seriously. He insisted that once the sect members comprising of Nigerians from different states and aliens were dislodged from Niger, it was the duty of their respective states of the sect members to put them on security watch.

“We were proactive in

managing Boko Haram insurgents from having a base in Niger State. Imagine having Boko Haram in the middle of Nigeria? A governor must at all times seek ways of protecting the lives and properties of people in his state,” he said.

According to him, security challenges do not just happen,” it takes the indulgence of some elites who are desperate in gaining political advantage.

It is the thugs they engage that are causing the nation serious security challenge” While calling on Nigerian leaders to imbibe the culture of practicing true democracy devoid of engaging thugs, he urged schools to build future Nigerians with moral chastity and teach them how to be goal oriented.

He therefore, charged schools on the need to focus more on instilling moral ethos on young Nigerians towards engendering security preparedness and inspiring good leadership. He said issue of security is self inflicting in Nigeria adding that its everybody’s business to end it.

Federal Poly, Ukanna begins classes Sept.

Tony Anichebe UYO

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he Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Ukana, Essien Udium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, with a take-off grant of N1 billion from Education Trust Fund. The institution will commence classes in September.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who Friday received President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval letter from the Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike at the Governor’s Office, in Uyo, expressed appreciation to the President for this kind gesture in finding the state worthy in establishing this federal higher institution in the state.

“Our state is a state on the right track in the edu-

cation sector. Already, we have introduced the free and compulsory education in the state for the benefit of all the children, which further made establishment of the Federal Polytechnic in the state a welcome development”, he stated.

Akpabio further stated that the Federal Government has already provided a take-off grant of about N1 billion for the project, and as part of the state government’s support in this regard, it has decided to rehabilitate the structures at Independence High School in Ukana to serve as a temporary site for the school.

He then congratulated the Rector of the new Federal Polytechnic, Prof. Oluma Joseph and other principal officers of the institution, assuring them of the cooperation of the state government.

meeting and a national conference organised by Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) held at organisation’s headquarters in Kaduna yesterday.

The theme of the conference was “Practical steps in uniting the Muslim Ummah,’’ Tambuwal also promised to support the Federal Government in restoring peace in the country, including dialogue with the insurgents.

“I have said this before may be three or four years ago and I’m still maintaining my ground that we need

to ensure we bring back those that can be brought back and address any issue that needs to be addressed by the government. All issues must be looked into with the possibility of resolving them because the idea of taking arms against the state will not solve the problem.”

In his opening remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of JNI, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar reminded the gathering that there is no alternative to peace. “Every commu-

nity, state, country needs to embrace eschew bitterness and embrace peace as a teaching of Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” he added.

Contributing, Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State challenged Muslims to put into practice what they have learnt from Quran, saying by doing so, corruption and other socio vices the country is faced with would no longer be there.

Earlier, keynote speaker and Vice President General of JNI, Ebonyi State chapter , Sheikh (Dr.) Haroun

Ogbonnia Ajah, said the quest for real unity of the Muslim Ummah requires knowledge and fear of God, humane moral quality that which dominate moral incentive that engender commitment.

“To achieve total and genuine unity and restore the declining power and rights of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, leaders and followers including those in political power and authority must base their actions and behaviours on the Islamic injunctions,’’ he said.

L-R: Amb. Zubairu Dada; Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu; former President, Ibrahim Babangida; Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman; Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and others, during the commissioning of Paiko Friday Mosque, Niger State…on Friday

CCC crisis: Members advised to sheath swords Babatope Okeowo Akure

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he spiritual leader of Celestial Church of Christ, (CCC) Pastor Paul Suru Maforikan has appealed to aggrieved members of the church to sheath their swords over the appointment of deputy pastors to help in the administration of the church.

Maforikan, who said the church requires total restructuring, overhauling and redirection so that it could occupy its pride of place, said the appointment of three deputy pastors was to help him achieve God’s purpose in that regard.

The church has appointed three Deputy Pastors including Beni Omoge as Deputy Pastor 1, in charge of evangelism, Pascal Togbe as Deputy Pastor II, in charge of monitoring and discipline and Nicholas Moullo

as Deputy Pastor III, to head the Ivory Coast Diocese.

Some members were however, uncomfortable with the appointment, saying the church leader should have taken age and seniority into consideration before making announcement.

Speaking at a peace meeting held with representatives of Shepherds Council drawn from all arch-dioceses, Maforikan asked those who are aggrieved over the appointment to allow peace to reign in the church and to work as one in order to achieve God’s purpose in the church.

His words: “One thing I want to state here, and because I don’t want anything to hinder my heavenly home is that the selection of Omoge as Deputy Pastor I, is basically as directed by the holy spirit and devoid of human consideration or factor.”

“If I were to consider hu-

man factor, I have every right to appoint Togbe as Deputy I, because he is close to me and we share a relationship. But I rather do the will of God than that of man,” he said.

A delegate from Oyo ArchDiocese at the meeting, Evang. Victor Odewenwa appealed to Maforikan to remain calm and focused on his administration. He pledged the support of his colleagues from the archdiocese for the Maforikanled administration.

Another leader of the church, who is the National President of Task Force, Evang. Oseni advised members not to do anything that would jeopardise the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

He condemned a situation where suspected thugs would be used for a matter that is purely an internal matter among celestial church members.

Debunking the allegation that money changed hands before the appointment was made, a member from Ondo/ Ekiti Arch-diocese, Evang.

Ayo Adeyemi said such insinuation should not be mentioned among men of God. Adeyemi who said the allegation was baseless and the figment of the imagination of its peddlers said the Ondo/Ekiti arch-diocese and its head, Rev. Omoge have shown absolute loyalty to the Maforikan-led administration.

The head of Lagos ArchDiocese, Rev. Kunle Lawal said the spiritual head of CCC has the right to choose the persons he knew are loyal to him and help in the administration of the church even if it is to follow personal factors. He, however, added that the choice of Omoge as the Deputy Pastor I am divine and nobody should question God’s choice.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

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News

Banks’ excess charges: Utomi, others back CBN Gov Paul Ogbuokiri and Chijioke Iremeka

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takeholders in Nigeria’s financial services sector have praised the new Central of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on his recent directive that excess COT charges collected by banks be refunded to customers as well as the ban on the collection of Account Maintenance Charge.

Industry stakeholders, who spoke yesterday in Lagos, said the directives would revolutionise the banking sector and make the financial institutions engage in more creative banking practices.

They told New Telegraph on Sunday in separate interviews that the charges would not have been necessary if the bank had put their funds to effective use in the productive sectors of the economy.

Professor of political economy and director at Lagos Business School, Pat Utomi, said there were so many things that were considered inappropriate in the sector.

He said refunding excess COT charges was just a way of sending back the money to the customers without adding any value.

On whether he had been overcharged COT before, he said, “It has become a normal operation in the country. They do that on a regular basis. One unfortunate situation is that most bank customers don’t pay attention to that; which unfortunately, I’m one of them. Whenever you bring in a consultant to check your accounts, there is always something to reconcile.”

According to him, the banks have capitalised on the reluctance of customers to thoroughly cross-check their statements of accounts on a regular basis to defraud them.

He said the country needs to get rid of such practices.

He said, “There have been too many problems in the sector, created by challenges on the part of regulators and operators. From the operators’ side, we need to get away from this mentality of which bank is the biggest and the best. This race to number one in biggest assets and liquidity is not what makes a good bank.

“I keep reminding bankers that there is a 200-year-old bank in England that the average intelligent and educated people have not heard of because the bank does not bother to cater for the whole world, but picks on between 2,000 and 3,000 customers and service them well; yet it is a very strong bank.

“Unfortunately, the mindset around here was made worse by Prof. Charles Soludo’s consolidation, as if that is the only way to show how strong a bank is.

This actually brought about a number of sharp practices and characters that we need to run away from. We need to

discover which kind of bank we want or something else.

What kind of customers and not competing over who has the biggest profit in the sector.

“Banks don’t have to demarket each other. In de-marketing each other, they have created this problem we are talking about. And they are doing all manner of things to raise capital, which is bad. So, the operators need to realise that for the time being, they have been their own worst enemies. This should these sharp these practices and all the banks involved should be made to pay back, just as the CBN has directed.”

Chairman, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu, said the COT charges and Account Maintenance Charge were products of ‘idle’ banking practice. He stressed that there would not have been any need for such charges if Nigerian banks had engaged in active developmental banking.

“The banks could not moblise the funds in their kitty to work in the real sector because there were lot policies in place in the last regime.

So they resorted to charging the depositor COT instead of paying for keeping money in the bank,” he said.

Nwosu stated that there was no question of whether anybody had been charged excess COT before because it was a normal practice, over which people often don’t complain because they don’t have accountants to help them run their accounts.

“The new CBN governor is an insider and knows the damage some of these practices are doing to the sector.

The move is in the right direction and it will definitely force the banks to be creative in their business and put the idle funds in their vaults to work so that they can make profit for their shareholders,” he added.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Emeka Ngige, said the CBN Governor, as the former managing director of a bank, knows the sharp and irregular practices going on in the sector, saying that such practices on COT are used to cheat customers.

He said, “Coming from that sector, he is in a position to know what is happening and I commend him for that bold step and initiative. It is aimed at saving the customers from that unwholesome activities of some banks in the country.”

According to him, due to the fact that most bank customers hardly look into their statements of accounts, banks have capitalised on that to collect excess charges for genuine and phoney transactions.

“Banks charge for everything in the system, including email they send to customers.

If someone pays money into your account, they charge you. If you withdraw money, they charge you. They charge for alert and many others.

And through this, they make huge profits from these excessive charges at the expense of innocent customers,” he said.

Ngige expressed confidence that the CBN’s directives on these excess charges would reduce these activities, saying that the banks’ COT are sometimes, in excess of what the CBN has provided in its circular.

“If you buy a bank draft, they charge you, and if you return it, they still charge again.

This is a step in the right direction for the CBN governor and it is achievable. All they need to do is to get back to their computers and know what they have charged the customers and the computers will do the reversal,” he said.

Ngige said his account had been over-charged by a bank but when he realised the level of stress he would pass through in trying to get the money back, he left it for the

financial institution. He noted that the stress of writing letters and having to pay return visits to the banks was not okay with him.

“But I have represented a client that a bank charged over N70 million COT for nothing. We engaged the services of forensic examiners and at the end of the day, they found out that the bank had collected COT of over N70 million for nothing. So, we wrote the CBN and they looked into it and directed the bank to pay us N50 million, which they paid.

“However, we are still negotiating with the bank to pay the N20 million difference, else, we go to court and prove that even what the CBN asked them to pay was not accurate. We are still negotiating with them. I commend the CBN governor because he said his leadership was going to be ‘pro-people’ and this is

a proof of that promise,” he explained.

The Chairman, Nigeria Maritime Conference and Exhibition (NIMAREX) and Chairman, MORBOD Group, Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi, said the money that the banks are collecting in excess was so big that by the time it is computed, such would amount to double taxation.

“If this would be stopped by the new CBN governor, it would reduce the volume of liquidity that we throw away, especially those of us that are entrepreneurs. This is very good. Of course, my accounts have been over charged and when I discovered it, the banks said it was a mistake and they would re-credit the bank. But if you don’t have a good accountant to detect these things, you are in for a serious overcharge. With this new governor, I pray that things would be done in a

more professional way,” she said.

The Managing Director, Fina Trust Micro-Finance Bank, Deji Popoola, hailed the policy but expressed worry that the refunds would be a bit challenging as most banks are already preparing their 2014 financial year accounts.

“Well, it’s going to be a bit challenging. CBN actually knows that this is the half year and it’s going to be difficult for some banks to do that. A lot of banks have started preparing their 2014 financial accounts, so for them to go back and start crediting those accounts is going to come with a bit of challenges.

“I’m sure that a lot of banks are complying and I don’t think it would affect all of the institutions. I have never experienced it, though. My accounts are charged with the agreed COT,” he said.

L-R: Mrs. Margret Koshoni; Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti; human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana; Mrs. Aisha Oyebode; Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo; Mrs. Charlotte Obidairo; Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; Ms. Ayo Obe; and other members of Women for Peace and Justice at a peaceful rally on ‘BRING BACK OUR GIRLS’ in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Crisis: Benin monarch warns politicians

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he Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba Erediauwa has waded into the crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly urging the politicians to allow peace reign in the state, and avoid plunging it into crisis.

At a meeting he held with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his palace, yesterday, he appealed to the political parties to resolve their differences in the interest of peace and security of the state.

A statement issued by the palace and personally signed by His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin said: “I thank leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic

party (PDP) for honouring my invitation at short notice.

“I invited you to my palace to appeal to you on the need to allow peace to continues to reign in Edo State, I you know as politicians have a way of resolving political issues, no matter how delicate and sensitive the issues are.

“Politicians in Edo State, regardless of whichever political parties they belong to, I am quite sure, will do all they can to ensure that our great state especially Benin City, the capital, is not made ungovernable for political reasons. I know as citizens of Edo State, you will always do all you can to protect our people and our land.

“On this very note, taking into consideration what has been happening since the beginning of this week, I am appealing to you not to engage in the destruction of lives and properties for whatever reasons. I also appeal to

you as you leave here to have the interest of Edo State at heart and amicably resolve whatever political disagreement you may have, which I am sure, you are well capable of resolving for peace and security to reign.

Obasanjo, George mourn Adegoke Wole Shadare

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ormer Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South, Chief Bode George have condoled with the family of the founder of Adegoke Group of Companies, Chief (Elder) Amos Olasupo Adegoke who died last week at the age of 78.

Obasanjo, who eulogised the late businessman, said his death was a great loss to the nation and particularly Oyo State. “This is one painful loss to the great country.

It is indeed really sad to lose such a good friend and brother, “Obasanjo said.

In the same vein, George described his death as a major loss, not to his family alone but also to the country at large.”

…Vows to

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

Ekiti poll: NSCDC warns officers against bribes Adesina Wahab

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Ado-Ekiti

he CommandantGeneral of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ade Abolurin, has promised to severely deal with any officer who solicits or accepts any form of logistic support from government or individuals ahead of Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election.

According to him, the corps has already made adequate provisions for all logistics support for all its officers and men, and that it would thus

be an offence for them to go ahead to either solicit for such or accept them from either government or politicians.

Abolurin, who handed down the warning on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital during a one-day assessment visit, said: “We do not want a situation where our people will be offered support that will make them compromise neutrality.”

He said the Ekiti State Command of the corps had equally been mobilised with the required welfare packages such as money, food as well as fuel for vehicles among

several others.

Abolurin, who used the visit to address senior officers within the ranks of Unit Commanders, Local Government Commanders and Area Commanders, warned them against compromise during the election.

He directed the Crime Prevention Unit as well as the Disaster Intervention Unit, (DIU) of the corps to keep an eagle-eye on all polling booths to ensure that harmful materials, including nylon bags were not brought there by any individual or group.

Abolurin, who would not disclose the total

number of his men to be deployed for the election for security reasons, assured residents of the state that the corps was on top of whatever challenge that may occur.

“Our intervention in the election will be holistic; there will be a total coverage of the election while security will be effective. We are going to cover the whole of Ekiti, ward by ward, local government by local government, polling booth by polling booth and town by town,” he said.

He announced that a special crime detection and control vehicle

known as “Surveillance Equipped Cameral Vehicle” had already been deployed in Ekiti to capture happenings in a wide range area, so that there would be no escape route for criminals.

He enjoined the people of the state to support and cooperate with his men by giving them useful information capable of helping the corps nip crimes in the bud before they are committed.

...INEC recruits 7,941 ad hoc staff Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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o fewer than 7,941 temporary staff have been engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to help in the conduct of next Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

Disclosing this in AdoEkiti on Saturday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai, said that bulk of the ad-hoc staff were National Youth Service Corps members, while the rest were students of federal tertiary institutions.

He said the commission engaged such a high number in order to be able to attend to a total of 766,132 personnel that were duly registered as voters in the state.

Pai added that out of the figure, 2,195 would work as presiding officers, while 5,605 would work as assistant presiding officers.

According to him, some of the ad hoc staff would be deployed in the 177 electoral wards as well as the 16 collation centres at the local government headquarters, while the rest would work at the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.

The REC said in order to avoid cases of delayed payment to ad-hoc staff in such exercise, money meant for those engaged had already been credited into the account of Ekiti State office of the NYSC. He said each corps member would receive the sum of N11, 000, made up of N7, 000 as honorarium and N4, 000 as basic transport fare.

NLC canvasses free poll in Ekiti Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

L-R: President, YEFFETMESKA Group, Mr. Ron Yeffet; Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; and Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, when Yeffet paid a courtesy call on the governor, in Abuja…on Friday

‘Don’t underestimate Jonathan’s powers’ Chris Ejim Yenagoa

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ormer Security Adviser to the Bayelsa State Government, Chief Richard Kpodoh, yesterday warned the former governors of the ruling People’s Democratic Party who have defected to the All Progressives Congress against under-estimating the political prowess of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he is not a weakling.

Kpodoh said though Jonathan takes his time to act on issues, the perceived slow pace at which he deals with the insurgent group, Boko Haram and the provoca-

tive statements from some opposing governors is not a sign of weakness but the interest of the unity of the nation.

Kpodo, while speaking in Yenagoa said the love and unity of the nation and the need to guide against shedding unnecessary blood were factors responsible for the perceived weakness of Jonathan.

He, however, called on Jonathan to show Nigerians that he is the President and Commander of Chief of the Armed Forces, because if he allows these people to do what they are doing, it will boomerang on him. Not only him but the whole South-south.”

NIS repatriates 40 aliens Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

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o fewer than 40 illegal immigrants most of whom are Nigeriens have been repatriated to their country by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS), Jigawa State command.

The Comptroller, Alh. Isah Idris Jere while parading the immigrants to newsmen called on Nigerians to be vigilant in reporting any irregular immigrants who entered into the country through illegal route.

Jere said they were arrested at Maigatari border in Gumel Emirate of the state for violating ECOWAS treaty in crossing our border without valid documents. He assured

the command’s readiness to give resident permit to any immigrant who wishes to stay and maintain the country’s law and order.

New Telegraph on Sunday gathered that the essence of embarking on “Operation Flush” by the Nigerian Immigration Services on illegal immigrants was to contain the influx of immigrants who are crossing into the country illegally through the use of Nigerien/Nigerian border in Katsina and other borders in the country.

Sources said that the purpose was to ensure all immigrants into the country owned a certified and genuine travel documents in line with ECOWAS Treaty to avoid public embarrassment.

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resident of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abduwaheed Omar, has warned against manipulating and rigging in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday during a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the poll, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Omar warned external forces from influencing the election.

Accompanied by the state chapter of the NLC led by its Chairman, Ayodeji Aluko, and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Kolawole Olaiya, Omar said the power that be must allow the people to make their choice because Ekiti people know what they want.

The NLC President, who canvassed against rigging in the election, stated that the congress will continue to identify with leaders who perform creditably

well while in office and sustain the confidence the populace repose in them.

Speaking against the agitation in some quarters about the visit to Governor Fayemi, Omar said: “Nobody can stop us from identifying with whoever we want. We are Nigerians and we are identifying with Governor Fayemi because he has done well.

With this, we have every reason to do so.”

He prayed for peaceful conduct of the election, adding though that his visit to and tour of AdoEkiti have enabled him know that the reportage of violence in the state was exaggerated.

Governor Fayemi, who praised the NCL for agitating against electoral violence, said he had been able to make Ekiti the destination of choice for patriotic leaders because of the sustainable peace in the state.

Fayemi said his peaceful disposition to governance had made people to have confidence to invest in Ekiti without fear.

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Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014

Osun revitalises school feeding programme

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n September 26, 2005 the Federal Government initiated the Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme, in collaboration with the New Partnership for African Development, World Food Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund and other International Development Partners. But issues with high cost of maintenance and disagreements between the States and Federal Government on implementation modalities truncated the programme.

Osun State, despite its scarce resources as the 34th on the Federal Allocation list is offering a lifeline. Rebranded as O’MEAL, it kicked-off on April 30, 2012, providing a meal for 155, 318 pupils in classes one to three. By June 30, barely two months after, the number of pupils had increased to 194, 253, a total of 38, 000 pupils had been rescued from the streets. Encouraged by the increase in enrolment, the state government expanded the programme to include primary four pupils. Currently, the state has over 300, 000 pupils in its public primary schools.

The children are healthier, happier, more attentive, agile and eager to learn.

Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori who also doubles as Commissioner for Education, recently at a technical meeting in Osogbo, capital city of Osun State, put the cost of feeding 155, 318 pupils at N7.7 million per day, N38.5 million per week, and about N169.4 million per month.

There is reduction in hunger among the school children, improvement in

their nutritional status, and increase in school enrolment, attendance and retention in the classroom as well as providing employment for its teeming population especially farmers by using locally-sourced foods and materials. So far, a total of 3, 007 women are said to be appointed as food vendors by the state, and 1,000 farmers drawn from the state’s nine federal constituencies have been trained in modern method of farming and offered financial support to commence farming after graduation.

However, what endears the programme to international bodies is its cashless policy, which is to avoid misappropriation. The transfer of money is through bank system, which is very tightly controlled.

Interestingly, not too long ago, Osun was the second state with the highest number of out-of-school children in the South-West with Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states ahead, according to the UNESCO report of January 2012. But by July 2013, report of the National Bureau of Statistics placed Osun as the state with the highest figure of primary school enrolment. By implication, the initiative,

Today, Nigeria has the highest number of infant deaths in Africa as a result of malnutrition and infant mortality is related to maternal malnutrition.

which is aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), would have had the same effects all over the country if other states had not backed out.

It is, therefore, our considered opinion that the federal and state governments should find out why the programme initially failed at the pilot phase in Bauchi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Yobe, and Osun. The same reasons advanced for the initial introduction of the progamme are still widespread.

Today, Nigeria has the highest number of infant deaths in Africa as a result of malnutrition and infant mortality is related to maternal malnutrition. Also, the most watched goal, universal primary enrolment – is not realizable as there are more children out of school in Nigeria than in any other country in the world 10.5 million. Nigeria is now one of only 15 countries that UNESCO’s report projects will have fewer than 80 per cent of its primary school age children enrolled in 2015. The monumental implication that this throws up is that the wealth in the country is not trickling down into public social good.

The frightening school drop-out rate ought to arouse some form of national emergency in the education sector. For a country like Nigeria, which cannot claim to have done well in education, a programme of this nature would step up its game. With decrepit infrastructure, frequent strikes, poorly educated

teachers, incessant policy rollback, poor funding and remuneration, among others, the situation cannot be any worse. The high drop-out rate is a direct consequence of a poorly managed sector, which has hitherto, witnessed a lot of motion without movement as a result of policy somersault. Sadly, the bearers of the brunt are Nigerian children especially those from poor homes. There is a correlation between education and nutrition which must not be overlooked. Even war-ravage Mali is successfully running a similar programme.

Osun State Government and its partners deserve accolades for successfully revitalizing a failed project. The success of a programme of this nature depends to a large extent, on continuity, good leadership and political will. But at this juncture, what should worry the government is what becomes of the programme after the expiration of Aregbesola’s tenure. There is need for sustainability beyond the founders as it is a long term development plan that would yield huge dividends for years to come. The government must not lose sight of the quality of education as access to education is not the only crisis; poor quality is capable of reversing the gains.

With this level of success, if international and national commendations are anything to draw conclusions from, there is no doubting the fact that in no distant future, the state and indeed, the country stand to reap immense benefits from the O’MEAL initiative.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board JULIET BUMAH Deputy Editor (Sunday) PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

OPINION Army’s unwarranted crackdown on media

Michael Jegede

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he three essential functions perform by the media are that of information, education and entertainment. These are the conventional social functions the media render to the public anywhere in the world.

In performing these functions, the media in Nigeria has contributed in on small measure to national development and the entrenchment, growth and sustenance of democracy, where the fundamental human rights of every citizen are absolutely guaranteed.

No doubt, it is for the very crucial role of the media in the society in teaching, sensitizing and mobilizing the people via information dissemination, that the freedom of the press is equally fully granted in the constitution, besides the freedom of speech enshrined as part of the basic fundamental human rights of citizens.

However, it must also be noted that the said freedom of press does not give media organizations and practitioners in the industry the leeway to unnecessarily malign or mar the reputation of any individual, group or government through their publications and contents.

Where of course such situation occurs, the appropriate thing for the affected person, group or government to do is to seek redress through the constitutional means of instituting a legal action against the media house.

It is on this note that I condemn in its entirety the unwarranted clampdown of the Nigerian military on the media, where some newspapers were reportedly confiscated and distribution vans of media outfits impounded acting on a supposed intelligence report. I do not think it is proper for the Army to launch this kind of onslaught on the media, no matter where the directive may have come from. Rather than this offensive attack and needless intimidation of

the media, what the Nigerian Army as a key security agency ought to do is to continue to ensure a very smooth relationship with the press. As a matter of fact, they are supposed to see themselves as partners in progress with media organizations in the fight against terrorism which is seriously hitting us in the face at the moment. The deadly activities of the Boko Haram sect have reportedly claimed about 12, 000 lives since 2009 and the terrorist group is currently holding captive about 300 innocent schoolgirls for almost two months now. The rescue of these girls is what we should concentrate on now and not the terrorization of newspaper firms.

I recall in one of my most recent articles captioned: “Jonathan’s plea for emergency rule extension”, how I enjoined Nigerians to put aside their religious, ethnic and political affiliations to combine effort with the military and government in the battle to stamp out terrorism from our dear country, Nigeria. In the said piece, I also urged the Senate while it was trying to dilly-dally to concur with the resolution of the House of Representatives that had already approved the request of Mr. President for a sixmonth extension of the emergency rule in the troubled Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Many had used the media to vent their views for and against the extension of the state of emergency, but at the end of day it was granted.

It is annoying therefore to see the military taking such a preposterous action that is capable of giving wrong impression about the Nigerian media, when they are supposed to be working with the press to achieve a better result in the struggle against insurgency. I do not think that the purported order could have come from the Presidency, as some may want us to believe.

But I think the President as the CommanderIn-Chief has a duty to call the military to order

to stop this unjustified harassment.

Major General Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information last Friday confirmed that soldiers were indeed given orders to ransack newspaper distribution vans for “materials with grave security implications”, stressing that the exercise had nothing to do with the contents or operations of the affected newspaper outfits or their staff.

The statement reads in part: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to clarify that the exercise has nothing to do with content or operation of the media organizations or their personnel as it is being wrongly imputed by a section of the press. The military appreciates and indeed respects the role of the media as an indispensable partner in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation and the overall advancement of our country’s democratic credentials. As such, the military will not deliberately and without cause, infringe on the freedom of the press. The general public and the affected media organizations in particular are assured that the exercise was a routine security action and should not be misconstrued for any other motive.”

This explanation by the military spokesman did not hold water for many Nigerians who were equally shocked by the sudden crackdown on the media, which continued for three consecutive days, from Friday, June 6, 2014.

Decrying the crackdown on newspapers, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), described it as “strange to democracy”.

Wali picked holes in the the explanation offered by the Defence mouthpiece, Olukolade, maintaining that “Clampdown on newspaper distribution is not and cannot be a language in a democracy and we do not understand what the defence spokesman and the Presidency are saying. We expect clarification from the govern-

ment. This, they must do as soon as possible.

We are waiting.”

Joining his voice to condemn the action of the army, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, the Convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) called on all rights activists to rise up to the occasion to defend press freedom. According to Opadokun, a renowned NADECO leader, “Some of us lost our lives in the struggle against forces of darkness in Nigeria. If a government is not comfortable in the area of reportage in any matter, it should go to court and seek redress. They can file action against such media house. That is the constitutional and legitimate thing to do. They should stop the shenanigan and with all sense of responsibilities, we will not allow them to continue with all these acts that will take us back again to dark years in Nigeria.”

For its part, the most formidable opposition party in the country, All Progressive Compressive (APC) while also describing as deceitful and ludicrous the clarification that an intelligence alert prompted the appalling and objectionable clampdown on the media, in a statement signed by the party’s interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “Even if one believes the Administration’s babble that President Jonathan holds the media in high esteem, how can that be justified by the indignities being meted out to the media under his watch? How does the so-called intelligence report justify the arrest of media workers, detention of distribution vans and the impounding of newspapers? How does it justify the restriction of newspaper circulation?

How does it justify an Administration’s efforts to tamper with fundamental rights guaranteed by the nation’s constitution?...”

•Michael Jegede, a journalist and public affairs analyst wrote from Abuja

Nigerian journalists and Boko Haram: A dangerous symbiosis Law Mefor

T

he Nigerian Press and Boko Haram are feeding fat off each other. There is without a doubt an unspoken accord between the two – you rub my back, I rub your back. As heinous as this may seem, it is indeed the reality and this has been the staying power of the terrorist group. For a fact, without the wild press reportage of the evil deeds of the sect in Nigeria, the group would probably have gone extinct. In the same way, without the newsfeeds easily provided and wildly reported by the Nigerian press, some of the news outlets would have gone extinct also.

This unholy alliance needs to be placed in perspective and dissuaded if the nation will gain an upper hand in the fight against terror in any foreseeable future. Before taking a close look at this dangerous symbiotic relationship, it is important to acknowledge the trend as a global one, even though that of Nigeria appears to be increasingly reckless.

Around the world, recent history, specifically the past decade, has provided copious examples of the mutually beneficial relationship between terrorist organisations and the Press. As some remarkable terrorist attacks in history indicate, whether it is in the United States, Europe, the Middle East or Nigeria and Africa, the architects of terrorism exploit the Press for the benefit of their operational efficiency, information gathering, recruitment, fund raising and propaganda schemes. Whether it is arson by an environmental group such as MEND blowing up oil pipelines or mass destruction by a network of Boko Haram, as just happened in Kano, Nyanya and Jos, the perpetrators’ Press-related goals are the same: attention, recognition and perhaps even a degree of respectability and legitimacy.

Since Boko Haram members are relatively few in number and therefore limited in terms of reach, they need the Press to achieve ubiquity and to maximise the impact and import

of their despicable deeds. The Press, in return, receives the attention of the public that is vital for its existence and benefits from bumper sales and huge limelight. To put it tersely, just as terrorism has to be communicated to have effect, the Press has to cover the incidents in such a way as to benefit from the public’s eagerness to obtain information about terrorist attacks. It is, therefore, fair to believe that there is a mutually beneficial relationship between terrorism and today’s Press, be it unintended or not.

Accordingly, winning the attention of the Press, national and foreign publics, and decision-makers in Aso Rock or a state government is one of the primary goals of Boko Haram. To this end, Boko Haram carefully selects the places in which it carries out its attacks in order to attract the best Press coverage. The obvious examples of this are the Boko Haram attacks at Police Force headquarters and UN building, both in Abuja; St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madala near Abuja; and Eagle Square, Abuja bombing

by MEND during the Independence Day celebrations on October 1, 2010.

Indeed, the goals of Boko Haram are not solely confined to winning the attention of the masses. In addition to that, through the Press, they aim to publicise their political causes, inform both friends and foes about the motives for terrorist deeds, and explain their rationale for resorting to violence. They further aim to be treated like regular, accepted, legitimate world leaders. For the avoidance of doubt, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has long gained celebrity status, no thanks to the Press. That is to say, for Boko Haram, the Press functions as a tool to shrink the power asymmetry between them and the Nigerian Governments at all levels.

In the ideological warfare, Boko Haram , through the Press, has succeeded in creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion to legitimise their acts, and reach greater recesses of the Nigerian society. Given these motives, Boko Haram arguably carries out their at-

tacks rationally and strategically with full awareness of the influence of Press coverage on almost every segment of the Nigerian society and government officials of all levels. To illustrate this, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current leader of al-Qaeda, recently said: “Al-Qaeda is in a battle, and more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the Press. Al-Qaeda is in a Press battle for the hearts and minds of the ummah.”

Boko Haram’s means of communication is greatly enhanced by technological advancements, which enable it to utilise Press tools with greater convenience. This includes publicising their messages to the world via websites at their own discretion, as seen in the video footage of the Chibok girls shown by the sect.

Needless to say, terrorism is an attractive godsend for Press coverage, mainly because terrorist attacks make viewer or reader ratings surge and profits increase. To be more specific, terrorism has many aspects that make it a very attractive subject for the Press, as it has the elements of drama, danger, blood, human tragedy, miracle stories, heroes, shocking footage and action. Another reason is that violence is a central and defining quality in contemporary television culture and is critical to the semiotic and financial momentum of contemporary Press organisations.

The problem does not lie in why the Press covers terrorism, but lies in how the Press covers terrorism. The Press covers terrorist acts by writing sensation-seeking, enlarging anecdotic stories, especially on who is to blame, repeating the same images over and over again, separating physical and mental health consequences of disasters, and creating new syndromes. In addition, the Nigerian Press traumatises the Nigerian society by exaggerating the threats.

To understand how Boko Haram grabs the headlines almost daily, one should take a closer look at the mediums the Nigerian Press employs. The nation’s Press generally

uses agenda setting and framing to highlight and make certain issues more prominent than others. Agenda setting is the theory that the more attention a media outlet pays to a certain phenomenon, the more importance the public attributes to such an issue. Framing, on the other hand, is selecting some aspects of a perceived reality and making them more prominent in a communicating text, in such a way as to promote a particular problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and/or treatment recommendation for the item described. Thus, the words and images that make up the frame can be distinguished from the rest of the news by their capacity to stimulate support of or opposition to the sides in a political conflict.

The way out is first, desecuritisation. There is no doubt that terrorism must be reported.

However, the way the events are framed and the extent to which it is covered are also important. Accordingly, in order to alter the symbiotic relationship between terrorism and the Press, it is of high importance for the Press to reevaluate and change its rhetoric when covering terrorism-related news and stories.

The Press can desecuritise terrorism-related acts and stories through covering those incidents just as any other story in a more responsible and less ‘sensational’ manner.

Achieving this may not only prevent Boko Haram from using Press coverage as an important publicity and recruitment tool, but may also prevent the emergence of an atmosphere of fear at the public level. It may also force government and security elite to make more rational decisions regarding countering terrorism and dealing with public outrage.

Hence, news coverage with less repetition of horrific scenes, less traumatisation, less sensation and more information and prudence are essential in the first place to break the symbiosis.

• Law Mefor, Forensic Psychologist and Journalist, is Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement TNM, Abuja; +234-803-787-2893; e-mail: lawmefor@gmail.com

11

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Life

Work resumes on bad spots on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway ...after New Telegraph on Sunday report A

Camillus Nnaji pparently buoyed by the publication of New Telegraph on Sunday edition of June 8, 2014 titled, ‘Road users groan as LagosIbadan Expressway deteriorates’, work has commenced on the bad spots and gullies along the expressway.

The state of the road had caused hardship to commuters and motorists plying the road.

In July 2013, Presidential Goodluck Jonathan had mandated Julius Berger Plc to reconstruct the stretch of the 120-kilometer expressway from Old Ojota tollgate in Lagos State to Sagamu interchange in Ogun State while Reynolds Construction Company was give the portion from the interchange to the old tollgate at Ibadan to handle.

However, users of the stretch under Julius berger’s mandate, which hosts a large number of communities and estates and a growing human population, had complained several times about the horrors they had to endure everyday.

Apart from pockets of work done by Julius Berger and RCC on some portions of the road, there has been no significant change since the President gave the commencement order. The expressway is still dotted with potholes, craters and a gaping crevice on the uncompleted speed lane between Berger and the old Ojota tollgate inward Lagos. Also, there are distressed expansion joints, visible absence of pedestrian bridges and streetlights and intersections in need of repair.

This has led to auto crashes and high casualty figures on the road.

The report by New Telegraph on

Sunday apparently moved Julius Berger to begin the patching of some bad portions between Ogun River bridge and Wawa. Work began on Monday at Fatgbems intersection as its field workers filled the bad spots near the intersection.

By Wednesday, they had moved to the long bridge where they also patched some holes.

Mr. Kazeem Keinde, a Field and Safety Leader with Julius Berger told our correspondent that the company’s management ordered the repair work.

“Our work on the expressway is a continuous one, That is why wherever we notice bad spots, we normally go to those places to repair them. Right now, we are working on the Ibadan-Lagos side after which we move over to the other side,” he said.

While New Telegraph on Sunday’s investigations revealed that the lack of funds was the major factor militating against the successful progression of the reconstruction work, Julius Berger’s Public Affairs Officer, Suszan Obi, said it was not true.

She stated that the contract had a three-year span and as such, there was no delay.

Some of deteriorating portions of the road are visible at Wawa intersection where a huge gully has made a mess of the junction.

Trucks and smaller vehicles periodically crash into the concrete median while some have even plunged into the ditch between both sides of the long bridge.

An estimated 250,000 vehicles ply the road, which links the nation’s economic caspital, Lagos, to other parts of the country.

Another bad spot is at NASFAT junction, where the tarmac has

disappeared, exposing the concrete drain. The gullies at this intersection are also getting deeper by the day while the undulating nature of the expressway on the inward Lagos side has led to big vehicles veering off the road into the bush.

Utility poles near this intersection usually bear the brunt of such crashes as trucks slam into them to lessen the impact of a crash.

The intersection at Mowe just before Car Park C turning of Redemption Camp is also in a bad state. The waterlogged gullies at this section, New Telegraph on Sunday observed, have been in that condition for more than three years.

Some road users, who spoke to our correspondent, lamented the chaos they usually suffer whenever there is a vigil or major programme at Redemption Camp or Deeper Life Bible Church campground at Pakuro or Mountain of Fire and Miracles at Magboro.

Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers heavy truck section at Ibafo, Mr. Abiodun Doyin, explains that “if there is no church programme, the road is free. But on the days of these programmes, the gridlock is terrible.”

He stated that truck drivers don’t like the traffic jams and accidents recorded in Ibafo but lamented that government had only paid lip service to their planned relocation.

“We don’t have any place to park our trucks. Whenever we are given a location, the indigenes

will immediately start to develop it. We cannot park our trailers on the streets,” he said.

Julius Berger Plc maintained that they had been keeping with their terms of the countract and the deadline given to them saying that they go the extra mile to When contacted, Corporate Affairs Manager of Julius Berger, Clement Iloba, said the construction giant had kept to the terms of the contract to create diversions for motorists.

“If there are still areas that have gullies and bad spots, it means we have not reached those places.

Don’t forget we have a four-year arrangement,” he said.

But with the promptness with which they responded to the New Telegraph on Sunday publication, the stress that motorists

have been going through these past months would be reduced as Iloba said that the management has moved in to work on the bad spots highlighted in the publication.

“The work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is executed in phases.

You provided the information on the bad spots at some areas. The management might have read it and decided to act on it. The company is to reconstruct not to maintain the road.

“You don’t maintain a road you are reconstructing. Like I said, we are working with a timeline and where we have reached on the expressway is timely. May be the management wants to provide some palliatives on the road by sending its field officers to work there,” he stated.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Life

At 20, Nollywood doesn’t pay attention to details — Ohikhaure

Being a film maker who has traversed the worlds of painting, animation, photography and cinematography, Stanlee Ohikhaure is not your regular Nollywood producer. He has an eye for details and tells AHAOMA KANU, in this interview, what makes his movies different.

You just had a premiere, Short Nights, and you have been doing movies for some time now. What inspired this particular event? horts Nights was conceived out of a desire to boost the appreciation of the efforts put into the production of Movies I choose to call QMDs’ (Quarter and Mid Duration Movies) popularly referred to as short movies. These are movies with durations ranging from a few minutes to 15 minutes, and up to 45 minutes in length. It is a deliberate attempt to bring to the fore, such movies – which offer the zealous film maker an opportunity for self-actualisation and expression in a medium that is not so expensive to pursue; based on scenarios and story-lines.

A typical short movie unravels the conflict early enough to start the build-up to its resolution within a time range that is bound to favor the viewer with even the least attention span.

Can you take us through your career? You are an artist now. What influenced your metamorphosis, if I should use that, from painting, animation, photography and now cinematography?

I have always had a thing for story telling; that’s why in my early years as far back as my secondary school days, I was involved in cartooning and also was an active member of the Editorial Board of the Association of Fine Arts Students in both my secondary and my tertia-

S

Stanlee with AMVCA award plaque

ry institutions. Directing and Cinematography for live movies came naturally as a gradual progression from animation to my 3d characters. Animation for me was my avenue to make the impossible happen.

Mind you, I am a surrealist – and you know surrealism deals a whole lot on dreams and fantasies. It became my vehicle for showcasing in ‘animate’ terms, the character and sentiments that make up the totality of the personalities of the characters I was already creating whenever I picked up my pencils and pens to draw. It wasn’t difficult putting painting aside to focus on visual Arts – since my paintings were not of easily acceptable genres. Many of my paintings dwelt on the surreal and mysterious and people usually retreated at the sight of my visual imaginations.

Nollywood is marking 20 years this year. Why is it that since inception, the industry has not been able to get it right? Movies still have some flaws from storyline to shooting and editing.

The problems lie in the attention to details – especially in the planning stages; during pre-production and also in the lack of patience to see post-production through to a reasonably acceptable conclusion – especially with the sound issue. Everyone who goes the extra mile in these areas always does outstanding works!

Watching the movies you presented at the premiere, the story lines seems to send out a message; from deadwood to the rape movie. Are you a social crusader trying to change some aspect of society to change it?

Film is a veritable tool for social change even though it also has to be entertaining. It must engage, influence and seek to rectify. I love horror movies and psychological thrillers – even in such movies, people get salient revelations of metaphysical, surreal and divine realities.

Tell me what motivated

the movies presented at the premiere?

My innate self searched out the deep plots like Loop and Kpians Premonition, the “Aluta” in me gravitated towards the ideology of The Deadwood, STING was motivated by a need to inform with visual intensity in order to make it stick while Oblivious was an adaptation of a popular story online which before now has only been read in letters of black.

Kpians The Feast Of Souls – my classical horror film - is simply a playback of my surreal fantasies blown out of proportion!

Within a short time you have made an impact in Nollywood and got some recognition. Tell me about these achievements and what you are aiming for?

My movies have won a couple of awards, the latest being the AMVCA (Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award) in which the Deadwood won the category of Best Documentary. I can assure you of more awards this year but the ultimate would be to on the global platform – an Oscar would suffice.

Your movie shots pay attention to details, from camera angles to costumes, stunts and makeup. How do you achieve this?

I leave ample time for pre-production. That’s when I settle all the details including, props, costumes, set design, make-up, and very importantly – my story boards to make decisive conclusions on staging, camera angles, blocking and shot list. I even decide on the lenses to be used for each shot during pre-production.

Nigeria has a lot of stories to tell, from individuals like Queen Amina, Usman Dan Fodio to events like Aba women riots, political crisis of 1967 and so on but yet no movies have been made by Nollywood on these events. What do you think is the problem?

All the stories you mentioned can be categorised as epics and without the corresponding Budget, an epic is only going to exist as a thought. Personally, I have written scripts around Queen Amina of Zaria and Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi of the Ancient Bini Kingdom. I guess the luck I have is that I am also an animator and special effects person. So, I am currently in pre-production for both scripts, trying to figure out what footage I really need to shoot while selecting

Stanlee on set

the technically inclined scenes that would need to be embellished with fake elements by way of Set Extension and Computer Generated Imagery (CGI).A film maker could end his career abruptly by embarking on a not well thought out quest to shoot an epic. A typical epic could cost nothing less than N120 million to shoot. Who will fund it? Who will distribute it to ensure that the financiers and investors get their money back? Who will patiently execute it, paying close attention to the details necessitated by research and history? It is not business as usual.

Have government and the private sector supported Nollywood enough going by the recently rebased economy where we found out Nollywood and entertainment added to our having the biggest economy in Africa?

I will be blunt here. Government is doing something – but it is clearly not enough.

The private sector’s involvement is still not yet sustainable because we still do not have a formidable marketing and distribution structure that can even cater for the whole of Nigeria let alone Africa and the World at Large.

The Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board placed a ban on Half of Yellow Sun by Biyi Bandele, What’s your reaction to this action and how do you think it will affect the industry in terms of investment?

The Censors Board will have to come out boldly and explain the extent of their assertion with respect to public perception of film content. Even in Rwanda, after the genocide, the topic became part of their school curriculum.

I believe it is a Political move – but a mindless and baseless one soiled with unworthy sentiments, high handedness and a vehement plot to conceal the truth.

If we can’t have freedom to re-enact historic events that are still being spoken of, then the Freedom of Information Bill was clearly never meant to see the light of the day. The horrifying images in the pages of newspapers coupled with the unfortunate stories that greet social media platforms on a daily basis will make mockery of even the goriest representation of events from our past when depicted in a movie. The whole situation holds no promise for the advancement of the industry. I mean, what then is the purpose of recalling the past if not fix the flaws and make recommendations for the future.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Life

Lamido Sanusi’s game for the throne

Muhammad Kabir,

“Y Kano

our appointment into the exalted position of Emir of Kano was guided by our collective and careful judgment of your ability, credibility and capability to provide the required purposeful leadership to enhance the Emirate Council at this crucial period of our history as a state and as a nation.”

With those words, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presented the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, with a letter confirming his appointment, last week, as the 14th Emir of Kano Sanusi succeeded the late Alhaji Ado Bayero, who passed on after 51 years on the throne.

While he was serving as CBN Governor and before he was turbaned as Danamje Kano, Lamido Sanusi made his intention of becoming the Emir known. He said, “If there is one thing I cherish and hope to become, more than even the President of this great country is to become the Emir

of Kano.”

His appointment as the apex bank chief by late President Musa Yar’Adua, was seen by analysts as a move aimed at strengthening the Northern traditional institution.

But controversies followed his career at the CBN from the sacking of five bank chiefs, introduction of Islamic banking as well as N5000 note to his regular face-offs with the National Assembly and finally the rift with Mr. President who eventually suspended him, there were slight chances of him becoming the chosen one for the Emirate.

But New Telegraph on Sunday gathered that immediately news of the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero, the 13th Fulani Emir of Kano, was announced, Sanusi and his machinery started scheming for the throne.

The intrigues started when Lamido Sanusi was said to have disappeared from the scene after prayers were made for the repose of the late Emir. His disappearing act did not raise any suspicion since many believed that Governor Kwankwaso would have no other option than to announce the eldest Son of the Emir, Alhaji Sunusi Lamido Ciroma, as the successor to the throne.

What the supporters of Lamido Ciroma

forgot was that Sanusi had planned very well towards his ambition while still at the CBN. In February 2012, the CBN donated N100m to Kano State victims of the Boko Haram attack of January same year. While presenting the cheque to the Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Sanusi explained that the donation was part of CBN contribution towards assist the state government to alleviate the suffering of direct victims of the violence and their families.

“We are here to commiserate with the government and people of the state on the recent violent incident that claimed the lives and properties of victims and present the contribution of the bank to the state. The incident, from all indications, has deeply shocked the country and the world at large. Our pray is that Almighty Allah will grant those who lost their lives mercy and comfort their families” he said.

Sanusi started getting close to the opposition and in March, after he was suspended as the CBN governor, a source in the presidency told New Telegraph on Sunday that Sanusi was alleged to have donated money to the opposition party, a revealation that shocked the President.

The source noted that in the build up to the 2011 presidential election, Sanusi made donation to the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major- General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have invited Sanusi to the Villa to explain the motive behind the donation to Buhari’s presidential campaign. It was learnt that Sanusi admitted that he only made a N20 million donation to Buhari to advance his course because of the relationship the former Head of State had with his family, especially his uncle. But a source said the President had evidence of Sanusi donating more than N100 million to Buhari’s campaign.

“Ever since the donation was made, the president became mindful of Sanusi’s political inclination. We see him as more of opposition than being part of the government. If a sitting Central Bank governor could be making donation to a presidential candidate in an election, then you should begin to suspect,” the presidential aide said.

Sanusi was also accused of awarding contracts to opposition leaders. A presidential aide gave two instances of such contracts. One, a N5 billion contract was reportedly awarded to a former minister and leading opposition figure. Another set of contracts worth over N15 billion were also awarded to a former governor. The former state chief executive was instrumental to Sanusi’s appointment and that of another head of government financial institution during the late Umaru Yar ’Adua administration.

“This is seen as a measure to fund the opposition leaders against the president. There are several of such instances,” a source said Also, Jonathan was said to have given up on Sanusi after security report indicted him of providing sensitive documents to those perceived as “enemies of government.”

The report also provided details of several nocturnal meetings Sanusi held with opposition leaders both in Nigeria and abroad. The details of a meeting Sanusi held with Buhari, a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other opposition leaders in London recently were leaked to the president. “The details of the meeting and several of such showed that the suspended CBN governor was on a mission to bring the government down. You can’t be an employee of government and at the same time you want to

bring it down. You have to be shown the way out,” the source said.

With what he was going through, Sanusi became a pride of the opposition and they came to the airport to welcome him when he returned from Niger Republic after he was axed as the CBN governor. As the tussle for the throne began, it was the turn of the All Progressive Party (APC) and Governor Kwankwaso of Kano State to reciprocate and help their friend in time of need.

“Unfortunately, these same people have lost sense of his history and the fact that for Governor Kwankwaso, he is waiting patiently to reward a friend; a truly friend in need and deed somebody who opened wide the doors of CBN to intervene in Kano State and provide all the necessary help to both the people and the Government,” Mohammed, a Kano State resident said.

New Telegraph on Sunday gathered that on the same Saturday that Sanusi went off radar, there were unverified reports that the King makers of Makama, Madaki, Sarki Maituta and Sarkin Bai, saddled with the process of choosing the new Emir were also missing from view.

Journalists to gather that the Kingmakers were at the Government House carrying out the job of choosing the 14th Emir of Kano and when they were accosted by the media, they remained silent and only gesticulated with their hands.

It was alleged that a vehement Kwankawso declared that it was either Sunusi Lamido or nothing. Then came the sudden withdrawal of one of the contestant and who is the uncle of Sunusi Lamido Sunusi, the Wamban Kano, Abbas Sunusi. This move left the other contender and son of the late Emir, Sunusi Ciroma Lamido, in a jinx.

The withdrawal of Abbas Sunusi from the race helped in placing Sanusi’s name on top of the choices for the throne.

When the decision was reached that Sanusi was chosen, the four kingmakers were skeptical of how to announce the choice of Sunusi as the Emir of Kano.

It was at this junction that the Secretary to the Government of Kano state, Rabi’u Bichi, had announced the selection of Sanusi as the new emir of Kano following his recommendation by the kingmakers and approval by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

He disclosed that the government chose Mr. Sanusi’s out of three candidates forwarded to him by Kano Kingmakers.

“Under state customary law, the kingmakers comprising the Madaki, Sarkin Bai, Makaman and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta had sat down and forwarded three names to the government to choose the one that will succeed the Late Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero.

Out of these three names the government has approved Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Dan Majen Kano, and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as the new emir of Kano,” the SSG said.

However, what followed the announcement, sporadic violence erupted in the town. From the city center to the streets, protesters in their hundred took to the road which led to sealing off of the Emirate Palace by a detachment of mobile Police officers.

The protests did not stop Governor Kwankwaso from present working permit to the new Emir as well as other important traditional regalia of staff of office, traditional Shoes and the traditional Sword to Lamido, confirming him as fully the Emir of Kano.

When the Emirate Council was cleared on Friday, the new King led his subjects in Friday prayers by conducting a sermon touched the heart of his subjects; This acceptance by his subjects sends out the signal that his Eminence has come to stay.

14

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Diaspora Notes

People with disabilities can change the way society treats them –Carole Tonks

Carole Galgano-Tonks is the Executive Director at the Alliance for Independence, a communitybased, grass roots organisation that supports and promotes independent living for people with disabilities in Middlesex, Union and Somerset counties in New Jersey, USA. In this interview with AHAOMA KANU, she speaks on issues of rights, privileges and steps needed to change the way people with disabilities are treated around the world As a director in an organisation that advocates for people with disability in America, why is it that people with disabilities, especially physically challenged persons, are most times looked at differently? t is unfortunate that many people see the disability first and not the person.

As more and more people with physical disabilities are out and living independently in, and contributing to the community, people’s attitudes will change.

The Alliance Centre for Independence is said to recognise disability as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Can you explain to me the beauty in disability?

One of the beautiful things about the United States is its unique diversity of her people. We take pride in being a melting pot. Disability is a natural and beautiful part of that diversity. We recognise each other’s beauty in our uniqueness. We are more similar than we are different.

Many persons with disability get into the condition through accidents and it becomes difficult to adapt to the status of being a challenged person, how should family members, the public and the society at large help someone overcome the initial trauma of adjusting to such a life?

For this question I went to Nybil Ghanem.

He works at ACI as an Information and Referral Specialist; he is also a young man with a disability. I asked him to respond to this question: “It takes time to adjust to any disability, sometimes longer when it is acquired through an accident or unexpectedly. When this happens, it is most important to stay positive to the fact when faced with hardships in life that the person is going through. For their family and friends it is also a trying time. Being supportive, listening and remaining positive and giving the person time can be helpful. Remember, it takes time to heal both physically and emotionally.”

It is natural for most people to have empathy for people with disabilities especially when coming across them for the first time. I have come across experts that say people with disabilities do not need empathy but opportunities, is then

I

Carole Galgano-Tonks

a kind of anomaly to be sympathetic to persons with disabilities and where does one draw the line?

It is a natural human characteristic to have empathy for people. Empathy can be described as feeling with the person as opposed to sympathy. Empathy and sympathy are two very separate terms with distinctions. When you feel sympathy you are feeling sorry for or displaying pity towards someone. People with disabilities do not need sympathy or bumper stickers that ask for awareness. What is needed are acceptance and opportunities for independence.

More emphasis is paid to physically challenged persons and they have the most voice and advocacy why are persons with mental disability not getting the same level of advocacy and support as physically challenged persons?

I do not believe that statement to be true. For example, the Autism community it is very active and is a very well organized community.

There are advocates all across the United States calling for change and their civil rights.

Tell me the special privileges that persons with disabilities are entitled to in America that may not be accessible in most countries?

In 1990 the US passed a law called The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this law prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodation, commercial facilities and transportation. The ADA is not an entitlement, but a civil right law, as important as the civil rights and voting rights laws passed in the 1960’s.

In Nigeria, persons with disabilities are going through a hard time moving about; there are not accessible roads for them; they can’t use the public transport and cannot even enter the doors in majority of the banks to transact business as the doors are constructed without them in mind. Do you think they deserve this kind of onslaught on them by society, government and private sector?

Getting around in the physical world is something many people take for granted. It is no longer acceptable for people with disabilities not to be equal members in society, enjoying the same restaurants, stores and opportunities as everyone else. It is too often that the voices of people with disabilities are simply not heard without a fight. The voices of disabled people in developing countries can be even more suppressed. The Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD)

seeks to change that. The Convention has served as the major catalyst in the global movement from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing them as full and equal members of society, with human rights. The Convention was the first human rights treaty of the third millennium. For more information, please visit the website at www. disabilitytreaty.org. Check to see if Nigeria is a signatory to the treaty.

What are the necessary steps to take to ensure that the government listens to persons with disability and pays attention to their needs?

A great deal of work is needed to address concerns ranging from affordable housing, accessibility, education, self-empowerment, health care, employment and more. Advocates need to identify people in government who support their ideas. People with disabilities need to educate themselves on the issues and how to effectively make the necessary changes. People with disabilities need to build coalitions and develop allies with organizations who have influence and also share or support the issues important to people with disabilities.

In addition, people with disabilities need to show the decision makers that they can be a potentially powerful voting bloc.

What is the limit of the advocacy your organization provides for persons with disability and do you have partnerships with people outside the United States?

ACI assists people with disabilities in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties in New Jersey. In the past we have assisted a group of students going to Tanzania in disability sensitivity and etiquette. We are open to forming partnerships with others outside of the US. What kind of programs do you offer at ACI? ACI provides information and referral services and develops and implements educational programs and innovative activities that promote activism, peer support, health and wellness, employment and independent living skills for people with disabilities and their allies. ACI supports the philosophy of independent living for all persons with disabilities.

Tell me what inspired the Disability Parade held annually and what objective does the parade achieve?

The idea was inspired by the Disability Pride Parade that is held annually in Chicago, IL. In a conversation with two of our young adult group members they asked “Can NJ have parade?” and so we did! As a center for independent living the philosophy is in line with our mandate. The NEW JERSEY DISABILITY PRIDE PARADE & CELEBRATION (NJDPP) is a grass-roots effort organized and hosted by ACI with the support of the statewide disability community. The purpose of the NJDPP is to bring people, organizations and businesses together to celebrate pride with the disability community and to promote the belief that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity while generating national awareness for the disability community.

A Nigerian, Leroy Fagbemi, who just passed on recently partnered with ACI in some of their events, can you tell me about his involvement?

Leroy was the first artist to respond to our call for entertainers for the first NJDPP in 2011.

We connected right away. He was a strong advocate for an equal society, changing people’s views of disability and was proud of who he was. Aside from music his passion was to advocate for change for people with disabilities in Nigeria. Last year, we worked together on bringing representatives from Silverbird Television, Nigeria to New Jersey for a documentary on Leroy and the parade. He was very proud. I spoke to Leroy not long ago; he was putting together a board for his foundation “Second Chance in Life” and asked me to join.

Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to get together to discuss his ideas. Leroy is missed by many including all of us at the Alliance Center for Independence.

Sanctity of Truth

ON SUNDAY

Page 15, JUNE 15, 2014

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT www.newtelegraphonline.com/body&soul

I share my husband passion and ideals -Erelu Bisi Fayemi

Cool kicks for casual How I hit it big in outing

Makeup business -Joy Adenuga

Flamboyant traditional outfits for special occasions

High slits: The new sexy

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Contents 15.06.2014

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COVER

I like to plan my time. I have a timetable for what I am doing for the next two to three months and I can be flexible because things happen that are beyond your control

-Erelu Bisi Fayemi

} 18-19

BEAUTY

Use natural bristle brush to free your hair of tangles before shampooing.

This will help distribute natural oils called sebum coming from the scalp down to the hair ends

} 21

GLAM DUDES Over time, Agbada or Babanriga has evolved to become a staple choice for that man who desires to show off his wealth, class and panache at a special occasion

} 44

Body&S

FASHION If you’ve got it,

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flaunt it has become a cliché for fashion forward ladies as they do their ‘thing’ on red carpet. Ladies with beautiful legs cannot help but show off what they have by wearing clothes slit high up to their thighs. }

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DIY

With regular wear, your gold jewellery will eventually accumulate water, sweat, body oils and even grease, which will cause

a change in colour.

To care for your gold, you need periodic cleaning.

This will help to main its value and beauty

} 48

BED, WORK & LIFE

Ego means a lot to a man. Pride also.

Perhaps, it would have soothed my nerves a bit if she lied a bit, if she pretended that I got her pregnant.

That would have wrapped me in a toga of a man. Telling

me to my face that I’m infertile emasculated me

} 20

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Hobo llet or str lar g wa r lon e hobo out the o is usually and a reach for your phone and ssa Ok e hob h a strap. Thpe, and never Vane Th ily you s eas bag d for The uchy wit scent sha hobo for one bag l aroun tylish of fashion omen slo has a cre the shoulder.made fee s with ease. oured hobo act go ou reason -w! Chic bagworn over which it is laid- key brightly col fect casual ch A per to bea simple e them up e on a is terial from entuates its ese the pie ma acc . Th s can be From hip lots of fun k cut to giv y. ft fibers- y nature bag refuse tch bags loo wever, for a -so k, slouch e, but hobo art cessor c, there are little clu runway. Homen want Ap that bac to chi y in siz n large. o bags fashio l world, wo their necesbags varerally quite their casual. choices. a few hob they are as the rea t can containke room for are gen ge space, their appeal Here are on style te big to l ma and whatm lar bag tha are as domina , and stil g fro igns also add rage. ugh to leather is sities ork, snacks ulate durin des on sto ge eno paperw e we accum bo bags are It’s lar frame, yet its therefore ever els y days. Ho fashionable a small tweight and Its bus be . our also ligh nal too way to a great y are functio perfect for is and theus interior spacio wara

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T h e Te a m l Juliet Bumah (Editor)

l Bayo Adeoye (Senior Correspondent) l Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) l Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent) l Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics) l Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 chibumah@yahoo.com julietbumah@newtelegraphonline.com

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Accessories

Hobo bags for the functional chic Vanessa Okwara

S

tylish hobo bags never go out of fashion for one simple reason -women refuse to give them up! Chic little clutch bags look cute on a fashion runway. However, for the real world, women want a bag that can contain their necessities and still make room for paperwork, snacks, and whatever else we accumulate during our busy days. Hobo bags are a great way to be fashionable and they are functional too. Its spacious interior is perfect for

those who like to carry all their necessities with them throughout the day.

The hobo is usually large and slouchy with a strap. The hobo bag has a crescent shape, and is worn over the shoulder. The material from which it is made -soft fibers- accentuates its laidback, slouchy nature. These bags vary in size, but hobo bags are generally quite large. Apart from large space, their casual designs also add to their appeal.

It’s large enough to dominate a small frame, yet its leather is also lightweight and therefore

very easy on the arm. Don’t be afraid to fill it to capacity and make use of its generous pockets and compartments.

Hobo bags offer easy access and a long strap, so you can easily reach for your wallet or feel around for your phone and keys with ease.

A brightly coloured hobo bag can be the perfect casual accessory. From hippie to beach to chic, there are lots of fun choices.

Here are a few hobo bags that are as big on style as they are on storage.

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Body&Soul

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Body&Soul

I want my husband to be a great Cerebral is the word that comes to mind at first contact with Erelu Bisi Fayemi. The regal wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is the ideal modern woman with a soul. A distinguished activist whose passionate promotion of women rights and empowerment is yielding positive results in Ekiti state, she stands doggedly behind her husband in his quest to achieve his dreams. In this interview with JULIET BUMAH and VANESSA OKWARA, she talks about her husband, work, dreams and more You are a strong advocate for Ekiti women, and the governorship election comes up on June 21. How prepared are the women for Ekiti election?

I want to believe that Ekiti women are very well prepared for the upcoming election.

According to the information revealed by INEC (Independent Electoral Commision), Ekiti women constitute the highest number of registered voters, who actually collected their permanent voter cards. So, the majority of those who are going to vote in the election are Ekiti women. That is one level of preparedness; to actually have your voter card in your hand. In terms of the women who are members of our party, the All Progressives Congress, they are very ready because they have gone round the state, doing sensitisation and voter education and also giving them the information they need to be able to do door to door campaign to attract women from other parties. And more than any other election in the state, we have done a very good job of attracting members from other political parties, particularly women.

The reason why a lot of women have come to join our party is because of the gains women have made in Ekiti State during this administration. Ekiti women know that they have choices, that they are going to give their votes to someone who has done more than any other governor in this state to promote the interest of women and that is Dr. Kayode Fayemi. So the women of this state are prepared to give him their votes.

If re-elected, what do you have in store for Ekiti women?

First of all, a lot of things have been done for Ekiti women in the area of legislative and policy advancement. So, the first thing that I think we will pay attention to is consolidating those gains and ensuring that all those gains do not remain things on paper. For example, one of the achievements under Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s administration has been the passing of the gender-based Violence Prohibition Law. We also have the Equal Opportunities Law of 2013, which provides equal opportunities for women in Ekiti State. We also have the Child Rights Law, for example, or the Law on Widowhood Practices. So all these gains in legislative and policy areas, we expect to consolidate and deepen them.

Secondly, a lot has been achieved in terms of health care for women in Ekiti State with the free health services for pregnant women, for example, and the free medical attention for children under the age of five.

We have also done a lot of things on breast cancer awareness, cervical cancer awareness and other similar p ro -

grammes. But what I would like to pay some attention to is the whole topic of healthy living because I believe we will do a lot more in that area. We still have a lot of people dying of chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and so on. I would like to do more awareness around that. Another issue that is of concern to me, having gone round the state campaigning for my husband recently, is the development of communities on our farmsteads. We have a lot of farmsteads in Ekiti State - over 300 - and majority of those farmsteads are inhabited by communities from other parts of the country and women in those places live a very difficult life - lack of access to good roads, water electricity and so on.

So I am very concerned about how we can do more for them and His Excel-

lency the Governor has also promised that in his second term, he is going to pay a lot of attention to the development of the farmsteads. Those are just a few of the things that we are going to do more work on if by the special Grace of God, my husband gets back into office.

How have the Violence Prohibition Law and the Equal Opportunities Law of 2013 impacted on the people so far?

They have been very impactful because for starters, they helped to raise consciousness around the state that women can no longer be treated as second class citizens.

There is also awareness around the state that there is a law against gend e r- b a s e d violence.

Men o n

the street joke about it by saying, “I don’t want to touch this woman because if I touch or beat her now, there is a law under which I will be arrested.” Women also know that there is a law to protect them from harmful traditional practices as seen in many parts of the country; where when a man dies, his widow is disinherited and thrown out of the family house and cannot inherit her husband’s property and so on. They now know that it will not be tolerated in a state that has laws that protect the rights of women. The fact that we have created this space, we now have more women coming forward, wanting to aspire to decision making positions, run for office or push themselves forward to be appointed into office. That is a far cry from the past when women were used to sustain political machinery and after the elections are won, they were pushed back to where they were before and men would take over the space. Now women know that they can be stakeholders in the political process and it has helped to boost their self-esteem and confidence and they are very grateful for that.

You have been a front-runner in the advocacy for women’s welfare even before you became the first lady. What informed that?

Well, I spent my career particularly promoting the rights of women and creating opportunities for women to grow. I had done that in different countries around the world before my husband became the governor of Ekiti State. I was based in Accra, Ghana as the Director of the African Women Development Fund, which was the ground making foundation supporting women’s organisations across Africa. Before then, I was doing similar work in other countries.

That has been my professional career and those have also been my political interest and academic interest as well. So coming to Ekiti State gave me an opportunity to build on the experiences and the interests I have had before now.

You stood solidly behind your husband when he was robbed and denied victory. As a woman, were you not afraid that he could be killed by his opponents?

No, I was not. It didn’t cross my mind that he could be killed. I was aware that he was in danger. I was in danger as well, because when your husband is in danger, you are as well. But my husband was fighting for the truth. If you are fighting for the truth, you are fighting for principles, a mandate that people bestowed on you and was stolen from you, then you are doing

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Body&Soul

leader - Erelu Bisi Fayemi the right thing. You will not be forgiven if you do anything else. It will be a betrayal of the people who have put their trust in you. It will also be a betrayal of all the values that you hold dear. So I did not think that I had any choice than to support my husband because his dreams are my dreams and his aspirations are my aspirations; his values are my values as well.

putting a wardrobe together. I read a lot of fashion magazines and I see the way a lot of our women, especially the young women, dress and I wish they could be a bit more careful in how they put their wardrobe together. Just because something looks great on a Hollywood superstar does not mean it will be good on you because you have different body sizes and shapes.

you start attending funerals of those who are your peers or people who are even younger than you, then that is a sign that you need to start putting your affairs in order. The first thing I have learnt is that you need to have fun. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Figure out something that makes you happy and do it for a couple of minutes a day. Try as much as possible to have fun. Life is too short.

You are an activist, a social crusader and a very active first lady. It must be very tasking. How do you cope?

I like to plan my time. I have a timetable for what I am doing for the next two to three months and I can be flexible because things happen that are beyond your control. But I try as much as possible to plan my time, to minimise distraction and to ensure that I maximise the use of my time or how I manage my different obligations. If you don’t plan, you will be pulled in so many different directions. I also surround myself with good and competent people, the people who know what to do and can work with minimum supervision and that has made life a whole lot easier.

Do you have a favourite designer?

I have people who make things for me and whom I’m very happy with. My very good friend and whom I went to school with, Ituen Basi, makes a lot of things for me and Joke Okeowo also makes the things I wear almost on a daily basis. There is also a young woman here in Ekiti whom I will not name for security reasons. She does a very good job and I am very happy with what she does.

I refer people to her privately.

‘Speaking above a Whisper’ and ‘Speaking for myself’: why do you have the compulsion to ‘speak’?

Actually, it was supposed to be one book, ‘Speaking for myself’, which is a combination of my autobiography and some essays I have written over the years.

But when I discussed it with my hus-

How has your programme, the Ekiti Development Foundation, affected the woman on the street?

The Ekiti Development Foundation, EDF, is precisely for the woman on the street. It exists to support women at different levels.

We work on women economic empowerment as a whole. We support our women to gain financial independence in a number of ways. We set up cooperatives for women participation in different parts of the state.

We provide them with training, capital to set up revolving loan fund and we also provide them with business opportunities. Ekiti Development Foundation has also been helpful in working on issues around women leadership and governance. So all the work I do is around pushing for education in the state under the auspices of the Ekiti Development Foundation, in collaboration with other state agencies like the Ministry of Women’s Affairs or NGOs such as Federation of Women Lawyers. EDF does a variety of things to ensure that Ekiti women can consider themselves as critical stakeholders in the development process.

As a woman activist, would you like to seek a political position after your husband’s tenure expires so as to represent women generally?

To be honest with you, for now, my main interest is to support my husband. I share the same passion and ideals as my husband and my husband supports me to articulate the issues that are of concern to me. So for now, I’m content to support my husband to achieve what he wants to achieve - and that is to be the best leader that he can be.

You always appear very smart. What informs your dress sense?

I believe people see me as an ambassador, for my husband and for the people of the state. So, I believe I need to look the part. I need to appear presentable, smart and appropriate. People usually ask me what my own definition of style is and I believe style is about your personal interpretation of what is appropriate and what makes you comfortable. It is also about branding; what you want your personal brand to be. I would like to believe that my dressing also reflects my mood. When I’m in a good mood, I pay extra attention to how I appear in public. If I don’t feel like going out and I don’t feel like making an effort to get dressed, I simply don’t go because what is the point in getting dressed and you are missing your most important accessory, which is your smile? Even if you are wearing an apparel that costs you almost a million dollars, a woman’s most important accessory is her smile. I advise that women should do their homework when they are

You don’t look your age at 51. Is it as result of eating right, or you started taking care of yourself when you were very young?

It is actually a combination of a whole lot of things, good genes also. However, it gets to a stage where you really need to start making an effort. For me, healthy living is important.

I try to eat right and rest as much as much as I can. You don’t want to get to a point where you start falling apart when you are supposed to be enjoying your middle years.

So, I try to take care of myself and I also try to encourage others to do the same. I exercise regularly and I also try to link theory and practice together. Most of us know what we are not supposed to eat.

We know we are not supposed to eat too much carbohydrate or sugar or alcohol, but the practice is very hard, we just cannot resist the temptation, but we need to make an effort.

In your book, Speaking above a Whisper, you wrote that your husband’s smile and gap tooth attracted him to you. What other things endeared your husband to you?

He was very bright, very kind, soft spoken and almost shy. I just felt he was the most wonderful man in the world and I still think so.

The first time you set your eyes on each other, what went through your mind?

I won’t get so melodramatic because we were in class together for a couple of months before the whole drama started. There was not really much until our encounter in the library which since you said you read my book, you must know the rest of the story by now.

So far, what has life taught you?

A number of things. First of all, you need to surround yourself with positive energy.

As you go through life, there could be a lot of things that would try and suck the life out of you. Try and minimise the negative energy around you. That includes surrounding yourself with people who give you negative energy or problems that makes you sad and unhappy. Secondly, as I said earlier, planning is very important; especially for those who get to a certain age; such as when you get married and start having children or you are 40 years and above. You need to start planning as if each day is going to be your last because you never know what can happen. We never pray that we lose any of our loved ones at an early age or lose our own life at an early age, but when

band, he said, “There are people who would want to read your autobiography and just learn about you and your experiences. But there are people who would want to read your essays and learn about some of the things that are important to you as a political thinker, as a scholar, woman activist and so on.” Also, my very good friend, Kunle Ajibade, one of the founders of TheNews, said the same thing - that I should publish them separately. So what started out as a publication titled, Speaking for Myself, became two publications - the autobiography, Speaking above a Whisper, and the book of essays which is a collection of essays and lectures I have given over a period of 20 years, Speaking for myself. On the issue of why I talk about speaking, it is not just speech individually, it is to ‘speak’ in a political sense - in allowing women to air their own views; allowing women to claim a stake in what is happening in governance and leadership and the society at large.

I’ve yet to come across a first lady in Nigeria that did an autobiography. People would have expected you to have someone write your biography. How did you get the time to sit down and actually write it?

I had to create the time because it was important to me. As a trained historian, and as someone who knows how women have been written out of history, or minimised in history, I’ve always felt very strongly about women telling their own story. Unfortunately, women usually don’t have the time or the resources to tell their stories. It is the stories of the men we get to hear. So for one woman’s story, you would have heard a hundred written for or by men. That is another lesson I have learnt in life. You need to create time to do the things that mean a lot to you.

You must love reading.

Yes, absolutely! You have to read.

That is the only way to acquire more knowledge and expand your horizon. That is the only way to figure out what is going on around you and align yourself with the thinking of other people. If you don’t read and know what other people are thinking, how can you express yourself as authoritatively as you ought to?

That is one of the reasons why some people who went through the university still don’t do well because they don’t read. The only thing they read is on Facebook or cyberspace. I’m a very strong advocate of reading. When we were in secondary school, we used to have reading competitions as to how many of us could finish reading the African Writers Series.

What do you regard as the top three important things a woman needs to succeed in life?

You need perseverance, which comes with patience and others. You need to plan. My friends call me Madam Plan B. You need to have a plan B, C and if necessary a plan D. If you find yourself wandering in the realm of Plan D, it means you need to go back to the drawing board. You need love. The love I am talking about is not necessarily the one between a man and a woman. You need to have love for yourself; love for the people around you, backing it up with forgiveness and the love of God. You have to allow God to reign in your life. If you exude love, people will be drawn to you. If you exude bitterness, hate and resentment all the time, people will run away from you.

Nobody wants to be around a bitter person. So perseverance, the ability to plan, love are the three main things.

20

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Body&Soul with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

chibumah@yahoo.com

Incredible love I have for Patra

P

atra lay on the hospital bed with her eyes closed. She had lain like that in the past three hours. Richie sat on a chair beside her, his face sad, weary and worried.

Betty stepped out. Though she said she wanted to take a drink, she had actually gone out to make a call.

Pius had called Patra more than thrice and when Richie stepped out momentarily to see the doctor, Patra asked Betty to return Pius’ call so that he wouldn’t get worried.

“Hello, Pius, it’s Betty,” she said.

“Betty? Why are you using Patra’s phone?

Where’s my love? Is anything wrong?

Lemme speak with her. Why is she not picking my calls? I’ve called many times. Are you there?” Pius said.

Betty sighed and said, “Patra is okay. It’s just that she cannot take your call now.

She’s...” She realised she didn’t know what to tell him.

Pius’ voice barged into her thought.

“She’s what? Talk to me Betty. What is wrong? Did her husband find out about us?

Did he hurt her? Where’s she? Betty! Betty!

Are you still there?”

Betty sighed again.

“Pius, calm down. Patra is okay. She had a minor domestic accident..” Pius didn’t allow her to finish?.

“Accident? Where? Her husband hurt her?

I want to see her now,” he said.

“Calm down. You will see her soon. She’s in the hospital. Once her husband leaves, you will see her,” Betty said soothingly, like she was talking to a child.

“Okay...hope you’re telling me the truth?

Where is the hospital?” Pius said.

“Remain where you are Pius, she’s very close to you,” Betty assured him. ****** A desperate Ruth reached for her phone.

She must talk to Richie. Old Jim had been making life difficult for her. She was running out of cash. If she didn’t get money from Richie soon, she might have to pawn some of her jewellery.

“Pawn? I may have to sell! Oh no! How did I get myself into this quagmire? I should have left Ol’Jim when I netted Richie. Of what economic value is that old man? None.

But Ol’Jim has his use o. When it comes to twilight sport, he sure knows how to make a woman beg for more.”

She was in her bedroom. Ol’Jim was snoring on the couch in the living room. He did nothing more than eat, drink and snore. He had told Ruth a number of times that he had retired and wouldn’t work for money.

“The kain work wey I dey do for you, your papa do am for your mama? That your Richie fit do am for you? Na only money him get.

Man wey get money and no get action don die o,” he had told Ruth.

Ruth remembered reminding him that manliness should not begin and end on the bed. But really, the old man’s libido was something else. Richie was a learner compared to Jim but his money would make a woman forget libido.

Yeah! The reason why she would do anything to get him back.

She uncorked the little bottle she had in her hands and took a sip, muttered some words and dialed Richie’s number.

The prophet who gave her the bottle said her voice would sound like honey in Richie’s ears once she had the ‘holy water’ in her mouth.

She smiled. ****** Richie silenced the phone immediately it rang. He wondered why Ruth would chose this inauspicious time to call. He would warn her to stop calling him. He looked at Patra’s face, she was still sleeping.

The phone rang again.

He picked and listened.

“Hello,” Ruth’s voice rang out. His gaze moved across Patra’s face, she was immobile.

“What do you want,” he said quietly into the mouthpiece, anger welling up inside him.

“Sweetheart, I am sorry for everything. I love you so much. I can’t live without you. Please, we need to talk about ourselves.

Things are not as you think...” Ruth said.

“Yeah, you are right, things are not as I think. I thought I got you pregnant the first time and the second time. That was what you made me believe.

Foolishly, I did. I took over, fending for you and your smelling grandpa lover.

Imagine me drinking from the same well as that filthy old man. Gawd! Ruth, you are evil. Do you have conscience at all? Do you have feelings? Which lie do you want to sell to me again? That smelly old man called me and told me everything. He warned me to keep away from his children. Let me warn you Ruth, keep away from me...” Richie voice had risen a tad high. In his anger, he had forgotten that Patra was lying on the bed beside him.

He glanced at Patra, stood up and left the room. ******** Patra shifted a little on the bed. She opened her eyes a wee and took a sneak peek around. She was alone in the private ward.

She adjusted herself on the bed.

She was happy. The doctor said she and baby were doing great. She heard every word that was said in that room because she only pretended to be asleep.

“So Richie’s woman had been two timing with a dirty old man? Yuck! To think that Richie had been going into me unsheathed!

I need...” She heard the door opened and quickly closed her eyes. Betty barged into the room and whispered, “All clear babe.

He’s with the doctor.”

“Oh cool. What did Pius say? Hope you told him I’m ok?” Patra asked, her face flushed.

“Yes babe. But he is worried stiff. Tell me, what happened? I don’t believe that accident crap Richie gave me,” Betty said.

Patra sat up and said, “The bubble has burst dear. He finally asked about the paternity of my baby. He hit me and I fell down,” adding quickly as she observed the shock on her friend’s face, “He was drunk. You know Richie would never hit me. He loves me. He has always loved me. He’s going through a lot right now.”

Betty stared at her friend. Typical Patra.

Nice to a fault.

“Patra dearie, you love Richie!” Betty said.

“Yes dear. I love him. My heart cannot hate.

Richie made me so happy at a time. I never forget the good a person did to me,” she said.

“So what about Pius,” Betty asked, confused.

Patra smiled and said, “Betty, I wish it was a fling I had with him and got pregnant. I would have had the baby and life would have continued. Unfortunately, a chance occurrence turned into something real, something true. When I think of him, I feel like a school girl who is in love for the first time.

Somehow, I feel that fate had this laid down

for us. We met as young people, when we might not have been responsible for our actions and now, we met as adults who had lived our lives with other people. I love Pius, I love his baby in my womb. I love the fact that I will cherish them all my life. I wish life is so simple, that a woman can love two men openly...” Patra smiled wishfully and turned to Betty and continued, “My heart is cut into two. One for each man and both of them need me like a fish needs water.”

Tears were running down her cheeks.

A phone beeped, it was Patra’s.

“Pius,” Betty whispered, glancing at the door. She held the phone out.

“I’ll take the call,” Patra said.

“Baby, I’m ok,” she said.

“Oh my love! What happened? Are you sure you’re ok? I want to see you now. You sound tired,” Pius said.

“I’m ok love, it was a minor accident. Hubby is here now. Once he leaves, you’ll come and see me. The hospital is about 20 minutes walk away from you,” Patra said.

“I love you. Will always do. Please send the address to me, my love,” Pius said, relieved.

“I will baby,” Patra replied with a smile. ******* Accident? Domestic accident? How possible? Very possible, but Pius didn’t believe that.

He got dressed, picked his wallet and was at the door when a message alert beeped on his phone. ******** Richie was in KC’s office.

“So, you lost it? You got yourself drunk and hit your wife? That doesn’t make you a man!

She could have hit her head on the floor, she could have sustained a serious injury that could lead to death. She could have lost the baby! “ Dr. KC said and Richie flinched.

“I feel like an ass KC. I regret my action.

Jealousy can kill, just as love can. I was jealous. I love her. Alcohol blinded me. I told her the baby in her womb is not mine. I hit her! I feel terribly sorry for my action. But KC, my wife told me to my face that I am not responsible for her pregnancy! Now that hurts,” Richie said.

“Yeah, that hurts, man, but that is the truth.

You are not responsible for her pregnancy.

You were frank enough to tell her and she confirmed it. That’s noble. Would you have preferred she lied to you?” KC asked.

Richie lowered his gaze and said, quietly,

“KC, ego means a lot to a man. Pride also.

Perhaps, it would have soothed my nerves a bit if she lied a bit, if she pretended that I got her pregnant. That would have wrapped me in a toga of a man. Telling me to my face that I’m infertile emasculated me...and we had a witness, a security guard.”

“I understand man. But a man must be responsible for his action at all times. So now, what’s your plan?” KC asked.

“My wife occupies a special place in my heart. My home is her home anytime. I guess I’ll have to wait,” he said.

KC glanced at his timepiece and said, “I’ve got to see some of my patients now,” and stood up.

“Is my wife leaving with me now?” He asked.

“No, let me observe her till tomorrow,” KC replied.

“Cool. In that case, I’ll see her and go home. I need to get my thoughts together.

Will come back later to spend the night with her,” Richie said. ******* Patra was awake when Richie got back to Private Ward F. “How are you doing, darling,” he asked her, kissing her forehead and briused cheeks.

“Better,” Patra muttered.

Betty was about to leave.

They all chatted for a few moments and she left.

“Darling, I’m sorry. I was drunk. I was jealous. I was.....er...er...I was just outta my mind. Please forgive me...” Richie searched for words to convey his feeling.

Patra helped him out.

“It’s alright darling. Fate has been cruel to us,” she said, reaching for his hand.

“I want to go home and a pick a few things will be back soonest,” Richie said.

“Kk darling,” she replied. ******* Richie observed a good looking, well-built man in nicely fitted T-shirt walked towards the nurse at the reception area. Being a rich man, he recognized one of his ilk. They nodded at each other in greeting. As he walked away, he heard the rich voice asked to be taken to Private Ward F. ******** Who is that stranger? Did Richie go back to the ward?

Find out on Sunday!

21

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Wash hair without damage Biwom Iklaki

W

ashing your hair the right way is part of hair growth tips not too many are aware of.

Perhaps that is because a lot of people regard hair washing as something routinely done, something that you do aimlessly – just wet, shampoo, rinse and presto! It is done.

Some are not even sure how often hair should be washed. It actually depends on your hair type, personal preference, the kind of shampoo you use and if your hair is healthy enough to withstand shampooing, whether con-

stant or scheduled. Your aim is to have healthy, clean, beautiful hair. When needed, take hair growth vitamins to ensure healthy hair growth.

Here are some hair growth tips to healthy, luxuriant and shiny hair: Detangle before shampooing.

Use natural bristle brush to free your hair of tangles before shampooing. This will help distribute natural oils called sebum coming from the scalp down to the hair ends. Choose a shampoo that has neutral pH balance, make sure it’s sulfate-free. Massage shampoo onto scalp, this will stimulate blood flow on hair follicles.

Always use a good conditioner Using hair conditioner helps minimize tangles.

Hair is often full of tangles after wash but this can be reduced with the use of a good quality conditioner.

If your hair is the oily type, apply the conditioner away from the scalp and down to the ends only.

Rinse with cold water because it helps seal hair follicles and flatten cuticles to lessen breakage and split ends.

Gentle dry Squeeze out water from hair gently, using soft cotton towel. When hair is wet, it is advisable to use wide-tooth comb so that stretching the hair to the point of breakage is avoided.

Continue with these hair growth tips and with proper hair vitamins and utmost care, you are sure to have the locks you have been dreaming of.

22

Body&Soul

Vanessa Okwara

way up to the waist, showing off their smooth legs and thighs.

a fashion blunder, especially if have elephant size thighs.

High slits: The new sexy

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

43

Hardball Nigerian constitution has been grossly violated, says Marafa p.28

biyi adegoroye, ASSISTANT Editor, Politics NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JUNE 15, 2014

biyi.fire@yahoo.com

Tel: 08033024007

Interview 'Drug money threatens national security, political stability' p.30

23

Politics ON SUNDAY

Issues that will determine Ekiti governorship election

T Fayemi

hough the Independent National Electoral Commission cleared 18 candidates for the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, political observers are quick to point at four of the contenders as those who will make a good show come Saturday They are Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP) and Mr. Kole Ajayi of Accord Party (AP).

However, out of the quartet, Fayemi, Fayose and Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives, are seen as the three leading candidates.

Since the commencement of the campaigns, each of the contenders has made efforts to sell himself to the electorate.

For his part, Fayemi has given the assurance that he will not relent in the transformation of the city and urged the people to cast their votes for the APC on June 21 so that he can continue the various developmental projects that his administration has started.

Fayemi assured that he would continue to pursue issues of water provision, construction of roads and neighbourhood markets and extension of electricity in some communities, as well as the continuation of the welfare programme.

Fayose

Bamidele

With about a week to the conduct of the governorship election in Ekiti State, ADESINA WAHAB examines some of the issues and personalities that may decide who wins “We always get involved in the communities ourselves; some of their requests are not really novel to me. I knew they wanted those things. Roads are a concern to our government, water is what we are working on in a comprehensive manner because we have just designed a master plan for water provision in the state, extension of electricity in the new communities is something that we are also fully involved in and ensuring that we will do for our people. All those things like transformers, secondary schools are in the pipeline and there is no way we won’t do many of those things before the end of the year. The communities know that we will do them,” he said.

Fayemi advised the electorate to be vigilant at the election on Saturday; saying that they should not allow anyone intimidate or prevent them from exercising their civic right. He said APC is ready to resist anyone bringing thugs to the state even as one of the parties had sworn to turn the state to a war front.

“We are ready to succeed. Whoever is bringing thugs from Akure, Abuja, Ibadan or Lagos

will meet the resistance of Ekiti people. We should be battle ready because they said they are coming with war. We know who the true friends of the people are. We don’t want those who will defraud the people in the guise of poultry project. Ekiti people have said No!” he declared.

Bamidele gave an insight into what he intends to achieve, if elected, pledging to focus on education and tourism development, increase internally generated revenue and invest in agriculture to prevent dependence on federal allocation He vowed to focus on youth and sports development, especially based on his background as a commissioner for youth, sports and social development in Lagos State and meet what he called the 'leadership needs' of the state.

“The state is 17 years old and in those years the state has had all sorts of leaders as governors. We have had governors that did not spend more than one day in office: governor for two days, three months, a sole administrator and since the creation of the state only one

governor has actually completed a term of four years as an elected governor, ” he said.

Noting that the polity in Ekiti had been quite unstable, he stated, "It has been a very volatile setting and as much as possible the people of the state have come to the conclusion that the state has been placed in a barber’s chair that keeps spinning on one spot without actually moving. At this point, it is not just another governor the state needs, but it needs an unusual governor, someone that will be able to provide the kind of leadership that the state needs at this time."

He promised to recognise stakeholders and the civil society.

"I will galvanise the academic community.

Ekiti is a small state of 2.5 million people with over 5,000 members of the academic community. It is unusual. The state is home to a lot of critical thinkers and the intelligentsia.

It is not a place you just come and rule from an Olympian height," he said.

Beyond providing leadership, he promised to grow the economy of Ekiti, which he said

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Analysis

Issues that will determine Ekiti governorship election C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

has less than 250,000 electrified buildings.

“Most households still rely on firewood exposing our mothers, wives and sisters to the danger that is inherent having to sit in front of naked fire everyday to cook. Over 200,000 houses still rely on nearby bushes for people to pass excreta," he said.

Former governor, Fayose, is said to be a down to earth man, a man loved by everybody in the sense that he is a bridge between the literate and the illiterate, and hopes to leverage on that to get re-elected.

One of his aides said, “Fayose relates well with artisans, market women, teachers, civil servants and all other people from various segments of the society. Everybody sees him as a friend. And when you see somebody like that, a grass roots man with the love of the people in his heart, you can’t but love him.

Fayose is somebody who is not self-centred, who is not arrogant, whom one can relate with easily. You can’t but love such a person,” one of his aides said..

The former governor also targets infrastructural development, health and education as the focal points of his administration, if elected.

“His chances are very bright, like a shining moon. I’m an Ekiti man and I live here. Go to all the nooks and crannies of Ekiti; everybody is yearning for him, they want him back. The song on everybody’s lips in Ekiti is that Fayose must come back. They know the good work he did during his first term in office and they want him to return,” he said.

Since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996 and the advent of democratic rule in 1999, the coming election promises to be the most keenly contested, going by a number of variables. When the Fourth Republic was ushered in on May 29, 1999, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), one of the forebears of the APC, was dominant in the state as well as in the South-West.

The tide changed in 2003 with the coming of Fayose on the banner of the PDP, as he defeated Otunba Niyi Adebayo of the AD to clinch the governorship seat.

In the 2007 election, Chief Olusegun Oni of the PDP was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the situation changed on October 15, 2010 when the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Kwara State finally ruled on the controversy that trailed the election and held that Fayemi of the then Action Congress of Nigeria was the duly elected governor of the state.

This came after a rerun as well as supplementary elections in some areas.

Though the 2011 election also held in the state, the governorship poll was not conducted and the attendant results recorded in the national and state assemblies elections may not suffice to indicate how the parties would fare this time around. A number of factors and personalities who will change the political calculations in the state and will determine the direction of the elections this weekend are presented hereunder.

Previous performances

In the 1999 elections, the then Alliance for Democracy won the governorship election in the state with its candidate, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo defeating others, including the PDP candidate, Prof. Tunde Adeniran. However, the tide changed in 2003 when Ayo Fayose of the PDP defeated Adebayo of the AD and six others. Fayose polled 220,906 votes as against his closest rival, Adebayo who got 169,191 votes.

In the contentious 2007 elections, INEC declared Oni of the PDP as the winner of the governorship poll with 177,780 votes, defeating 12 others including Kayode Fayemi of the then AC who came second with 108,305 votes. It was also the first time the LP would

Awe

take part in the governorship election in the state. Its candidate, Gbenga Aluko, polled 5,000 votes. After the re-run and supplementary election, which led to a series of petitions and litigation, Fayemi was eventually declared the duly elected governor of the state by the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Supremacy battle between APC and PDP The coming election is seen as a battle for supremacy, especially between APC and PDP. This is because in PDP, it is believed that APC got into office through the 'back door'. PDP leaders are quick to say that the judgment that brought APC to power in the state was 'tainted'. PDP leaders and members are also saying that the results of the 2011 elections in the state in which APC dominated the polls were due to the bandwagon effects of a sitting governor the APC has in the state.

With the scenario, both parties are poised to prove to the world that they are in control of the politics of the state. APC also wants to prove that its 2011 victory was not a fluke.

For the third leg in the political drama, the LP, which has as its arrowhead a former member of the APC, it wants to assert itself as a force to be reckoned with in the state and even in the South-West. The party currently controls Ondo State and is making a strong presence in Ogun State where former Governor Gbenga Daniel is the leader of the party.

Opeyemi Bamidele's entrance to the race Bamidele's political group, the Bibiire Coalition, which later moved to the LP, drew most of its members from APC and PDP.There is no doubt that LP has been able to erode the lines of the two parties to some extent, but how deep the erosion is will come to the fore when the election result is announced.

Civil servants' factor Workers in the employ of the state government such as teachers, local government workers, civil servants and even retirees have become beautiful brides in the bid by the candidates to get their votes. Fayemi, Fayose and Bamidele have held meetings with them and made promises. Bamidele, touting the labour toga of his party, said he would even give the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) an integral role in his administration.

The influence of public servants was heightened by some steps taken by the Fayemi administration. For instance, the downgrading and sacking of some school principals over poor performance in a test led to the refusal of teachers to sit for the Teachers Development Needs Assessment Test aka Competence Test. Twice, times the state government unsuccessfully tried to make the teachers sit for the test. The state government later bowed to pressure and cancelled the exercise. A similar

Ogundipe

test caused a serious crisis in another APCcontrolled state, Edo. Whether the decision to cancel the test has assuaged the feelings of aggrieved teachers would be known when the election is held.

Similarly, some local government workers were sacked, some redeployed and other rationalised in an exercise by the state government. In 2012, local government workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) went on strike for about two months over disagreement with the government on some issues.

Pensioners too have some issues to resolve with the state concerning their welfare and dues. The workers are said to be mobilising themselves on who to vote for during the election.

The Segun Oni factor Oni, who defected to APC from PDP, is expected by his new party to deliver, not only his local government, but across the state. His campaign outfit, the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO), now has most of its members following Prince Adedayo Adeyeye in PDP. This is not to say some of his supporters did not follow him to APC, but the election will determine his political impact.

Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, ministerial nominee He is the leader of the SOCO group in PDP. Other SOCO leaders are a former deputy governor, Sikiru Tae Lawal; ex-Secretary to the State Government, Ambassador Dare Bejide; Chief Bisi Omoyeni; Chief Afolabi Ojuawo; former deputy govenor, Abiodun Olujimi and they are still in PDP. The nomination of Adeyeye as a minister by President Goodluck Jonathan has also allayed the fear of some SOCO members that they would be forgotten in the emerging PDP in Ekiti State. Adeyeye has since continued to mobilise support for Fayose and the party in the coming election.

Also, Adeyeye's nomination is expected to pacify the people of Ekiti South Senatorial District that earlier agitated for the governorship ticket. The zone has not produced the governor of the state since its creation.

Resort to violence by parties Every well-meaning Ekiti person craves a violence-free election. This is as parties, before the commencement of campaign, promised an issues-based campaign. However, things have not taken that course, as character assassination, mudslinging and outright violence have been the order of the day.

A critical observation of the situation is that people are wary of parties and candidates fomenting trouble and are also fed with those engaging in character assassination and pro-

paganda. The three major parties are confident of winning the poll and here are what their state chairmen have to say: APC State Chairman, Jide Awe "We are 100 per cent sure that we will win the election. Our party has performed creditably well in the last three and a half years that we have been in the saddle. The administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi has changed the face of the state. One good term definitely deserves another and the people of the state are willing to give our party the go-ahead to rule the state for another four years.

"We are the party on ground and we have met the expectations of the people of the state.

Where are the opposition parties? They are nowhere to be found. The PDP is in disarray, the Labour Party only exists on the pages of newspapers where their man carries on a campaign of calumny and blackmail against us. They have no root at all in the state. If the election is conducted today, we are sure of beating the opposition hands down."

PDP state chairman, Makanjuola Ogundipe "Fayemi and his party have failed the teachers, the students, artisans and the entire workforce in the state. People can attest to the fact that Fayemi has zero tolerance for the opposition, having failed to realise the fact that democracy allows for criticism and healthy opposition. The people of the state will show their rejection of Fayemi and the APC when they will vote massively for the PDP in the coming poll. We are winning the election."

LP state chairman, Akin Omole, "We are the party of workers, whether in the private or public sector. The ruling APC has not done anything tangible. Local government resources are being siphoned and the ruling party has grounded the state financially. APC is a party of killers. We all know what they did in Erijinyan and Emure and their chieftains are standing trial for these killings. What do you want the people to do?

They will boot them out through the ballot.

"APC is anti-workers. People are tired of their bad policies and our party is the best option for the people of the state and they are ready to give us the chance and they will sure give us.

"We are the best option for the electorate and those who feel they can just railroad themselves into office through dubious means would be disappointed. The LP is the party to beat in Ekiti State."

With tension getting to feverish level, the people of Ekiti State will definitely heave a sigh of relief when INEC's Chief Returning Officer announces: "And the winner of the election is..." hopefully on June 22 and the result reflects the wishes of the people.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Politics / Interview

Violence does not win election for anybody - PDP chieftain Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Owoseni Ajayi, is the immediate Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ado-Ekiti branch and currently the Deputy Director-General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation. In this interview with ADESINA WAHAB, he speaks on political developments in the state

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hat is your impression of the defection of former Governor Segun Oni from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress?

We have reacted to this officially and in the reaction we described the action as “good riddance to bad rubbish.” Segun Oni brought ill-luck to PDP in Ekiti State. He was actually an albatross to our party. You will recall that Oni crossed from the then Action Congress, (now APC) to the PDP just to come and grab the gubernatorial ticket of the party after Ayo Fayose was forced out of office. Oni was not a member of PDP. He joined the party a few weeks to the primaries and he came a distant third. But he was imposed on the party then by the powers that be and the rest is now history. After getting the ticket of the PDP, instead of behaving the way Fayose is behaving now, talking to other aspirants, bringing all the PDP members together, Oni started witchhunting all followers of Fayose. Not only that, all original members of PDP were alienated.

Oni went to the extent that all members of our party who had won primaries for various elective positions were substituted. He retrieved the mandate given to 13 PDP members to the House of Assembly and gave it to the people who are his own. The 13 people lost the election.

And that was the genesis of the crisis in the PDP in Ekiti State. The development led to the 13-13 controversy in the Ekiti Assembly.

With that, he narrowly won the governorship election. It was obviously clear that Dr. Kayode Fayemi won that election because Oni was vindictive, he was not tactful and he did not ask for the cooperation of party members.

That was why he had a disastrous outing in that election. Eventually, party members went with him to the election. I could still remember during the rerun, the former President, late Umaru Yar’Adua, called Fayose to assist him in that election. And all arrangements had been concluded at the top level with the national leaders and PDP governors in the South-West but Oni rejected the offer, saying he would rather resign than work with Fayose. So, the President and other leaders were helpless in that situation.

Oni did not stop at that, he insisted that he would prosecute Fayose for murder charges to a logical conclusion. So, we had no choice then than to team up with Fayemi during the rerun and he was eventually declared the winner at the court. So, now that Oni has said he wants to go back to the APC, so many things

can be deduced from that. One of which is that he was not actually a member of the PDP in the first place. I think Oni himself confirmed this when he was defecting that he was a foundation member of APC and that he was only returning there. So, what we can deduce from this statement is that Oni was never a member of PDP in spirit. What he did with the defection was just to carry his body back to where his spirit had been.

Secondly, with his action, Oni is telling the whole world that he actually stole Fayemi's mandate. Probably Oni has to go further by apologising to Fayemi for stealing his mandate. Because there is no justification for you to align with somebody you claimed robbed you of your mandate through the court. The person who said you were never elected as governor, the person who removed your photograph and smashed it on the ground and retained that of one-day governor, the late Friday Aderemi, who was sworn-in by an illegal Chief Judge, who in law never existed.

The person who scrapped the only legacy you had in your home town Ifaki-Ekiti, the University of Science and Technology (USTI).

Looking at all this, one would realise that there was no justification for his action other than for vindictive reasons. And that is why Oni is virtually alone in the journey. Go and check the records, all the people who served with him are still in PDP. His then deputy, the commissioners, the local government chairmen and his personal aides are in PDP. All his principal officers are with us, including Dayo Adeyeye, whose structure represents Segun Oni Campaign Organisation. The few people you saw with him during the defection are disgruntled for one reason or the other, including Taiwo Olatunbosun who is our boy.

Even the PDP woman in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, who also announced his defection to APC, has always been an APC member since the day she was elected. Her own is not a fresh defection, you always see her with the wife of the governor or the deputy governor.

But the reception accorded PDP at Ifaki, clearly showed that the people of Ifaki are

Awoyemi

with us. The generality of the people of Ifaki are with us. We are satisfied with getting rid of Oni. How will you react to the issue of Fayose’s academic credentials being raised by some opposition members?

Which credentials are they talking about? Is Fayose just contesting election in Ekiti State?

What fresh issues are they trying to raise now?

When Fayose defeated Otunba Niyi Adebayo in the election, all these issues were raised at the tribunal up to the Court of Appeal. So, there is nothing there anymore.

What is your view of the Ekiti Council of Obas' peace deal with candidates?

Right from the outset, I think the media is a living witness to it that the violence is coming from the ruling party, the APC. The PDP went to the extent of asking the police to ensure that all those arrested in connection with one incident of violence or the other should be prosecuted. This is because all of them are APC members. We even challenged the police to mention any PDP person who has been indicted or linked to violence since the wake of the campaign. And we have not seen anyone to controvert that. Even attacks on members of Labour Party (LP) are being perpetrated by APC men. The APC is doing this out of desperation, fidgeting and fear of eventual loss of the election. You don't have any cause to be attacking members of other political parties if you are not desperate. Like in our case, Fayose has handed down a strong warning to PDP supporters to steer clear of violence and that anyone caught would face the music. And that is why the PDP is not engaging any thug in its campaign. The PDP is relying fully on security agencies. That is why they have not

traced any violence to us since our campaign started. This is contrary to what is obtainable in the APC and we have reported this to the police that two buses loaded with arms always accompany the governor’s convoy. The aggressor has always been the ruling party.

They should always be frank and sincere that they should desist from violence and violence would never win election. Violence will not force anyone to vote for you.

There have been some controversies in picking Fayose’s running mate…

Let me be very frank with you that all positions will always be contested for. Of course, dust was raised over the gubernatorial contest and the PDP was able to resolve it. You will discover that all former governorship aspirants are still with the PDP, none of them has defected. About 30 of them, this is so because of the maturity displayed by our candidate, Ayo Fayose, and the Presidency's quick intervention. So, if we can resolve the issue of governorship primaries which was very crucial, I don't think that of the running mate, who is to assist the governor, will give us any problem.

If people showed interest in it, there is nothing wrong in that. I also showed interest. I am qualified by my loyalty to the party and the candidate. But the party came to the idea of reaching out to other aspirants and they are all towing the line of the party. For instance, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who was the second leading aspirant in the primaries, is from IseEkiti where I hail from. The presidency has agreed to give him a ministerial position. So, it will actually be wrong for me to vie for the deputy governorship slot, if actually PDP wants to win the election. It will be foolhardy of me to insist on that.

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics

INEC and the search for funds

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t is a fact that without fund, it will be pretty difficult to run an efficient government.

Similarly, to have successful elections, money also plays a vital role because it is needed to print electoral materials, logistics, recruiting of ad hoc staff and sundry other requirements. The timetable for 2015 elections has been unveiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body charged with the responsibility of conducting elections in the country. Unfortunately, the body is currently faced with some challenges prominent amongst which is lack of funds to prosecute the elections.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega disclosed this last week at a two-day national dialogue/stakeholders forum on transparent, credible, free and fair elections organised by the House of Representatives committee on reform of government institutions. Jega also lamented the funding process for the electoral body declaring that it is unfortunately ‘politicised’. So, how politicised is the funding of INEC? According to Jega, funding of election is supposed to be recognised as an election cycle whereby funding is provided for over a period of time and not to wait until when elections are around the corner.

It is disheartening and disturbing to hear this type of story coming from INEC. Since 1999, Nigerians have complained about the quality of elections conducted across the country.

Most of these elections are often marred by irregularities ranging from ballot box stuffing and snatching, altering of figures, thuggery and violence. In fact, the 2007 general elections that brought in late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as president is said to be the worst ever. Yar’Adua himself acknowledged in his inaugural address that the election was highly flawed and this explains why he decided to

From the

GreenChamber

Philip Nyam set up an election review committee led by former Chief justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais.

It will be recalled that INEC was given N85 billion from the Special Fund Account to conduct the 2011 election. In 2012, only N35 billion was allocated to the Commission, while it received N32 billion in 2013. This year, the Commission had proposed N93 billion but only N45 billion has been appropriated for it.

Today, INEC under the chairmanship of Prof. Jega is optimistic that it can deliver a better election than what we witnessed in 2011.

In spite of the current challenges, Jega is still optimistic that INEC will deliver a transparent and credible elections come 2015. But as optimistic as Jega is, we must never go to sleep that all is well. The revelation that most of the local government offices of the commission do not have a single four-wheel drive vehicle for logistics and more than 1/3 of the offices are operated in rented apartments is a big minus.

If these local government offices do not have vans of their own, how effective will they be during elections? How can they distribute electoral materials freely and efficiently? No wonder, election materials never ever get to polling units on time because the commission relies on hired vans.

It is not safe to hire vehicles from private indi-

ternyam@gmail.com

It will be recalled that INEC was given N85 billion from the Special Fund Account to conduct the 2011 election. In 2012, only N35 billion was allocated to the Commission, while it received N32 billion in 2013.

This year, the Commission had proposed N93 billion but only N45 billion has been appropriated for it viduals or companies to transport election materials. Some of those private transporters may be saboteurs and leaving election materials in their care could be counterproductive. Some of them are either members or sponsors of some political parties and exposing the election materials at their disposal could negatively affect the credibility of the election. So, if Jega is sincere about his promises, he would ensure that the not only the local government coun-

cil offices but all INEC offices are adequately equipped in good time before the election. All the offices should have functional vehicles and provision should be made for reserves in case of unforeseen circumstances.

The integrity of most voters register has also been called to question severally since the advent of the present democratic dispensation.

In some cases, there are stories of multiple registration, omitted names and mutilated registers. If the Jega-led INEC wants to make a positive change, it must have a good register of voters in place. It is often said that a good election begins with a credible register. As it is today, INEC is yet to get it right in this area.

Luckily, INEC has the opportunity to test some of its reforms before the elections in 2015. The forthcoming Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections scheduled for June and August this year present a litmus test for INEC to horn its skills in effective conduct of election. Jega had disclosed that plans have been concluded to roll out a program of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide, which would mark the end of the usage of Addendum register for elections. He confirmed that the voter register has more integrity now as plans have also been concluded to issue all duly registered voters with chip-based permanent voter cards (PVCs), which will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100 percent verification and authentication of voters.

Reading Jega’s countenance, one would tend to believe him. But is INEC really making conscious efforts to achieve all it has planned before the dawn of the 2015 elections? The INEC chairman sounds convincing anytime he speaks. It now behooves the government to do the right thing by making the required funds available to INEC to reposition itself ahead of 2015. Although, it looks as if 2015 is far from now, there is no room for procrastination. Having had it so bad in the past, we must brace up to the challenges and conduct a truly transparent and credible election.

Edo as a theatre of lawlessness cused the lawmakers as having been induced with N50 million each to dump the APC. He said government was undisturbed with the shenanigans of the defected lawmakers, because the defectors took the action because they believed they do not have any chance of being re-elected in February next year, either because they would have done two terms or because of their poor performance, their constituency would not re-nominate them.

Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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hen the political landscape in Edo State became a theatre of confusion last week, culminating in the indefinite suspension of five legislators, including the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Festus Ebea, after a botched attempt to sack the Speaker, Uyi Igbe, the majority leader and six others, not a few people were amazed by the development.

Besides the suspension, there was the usual exchanged of blows by both parties in the dispute, even as their supporters fought on either of the sides. Sounds of gunshots rented the air as the confrontations between security agencies and some thugs, who tried to gain access into the Assembly Complex, caused not a little apprehension.

Ebea, representing Esan South-East, Friday Ogierhiakhi (Orihonmwon), Patrick Osayinmen, Oredo East and Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha) were suspended indefinitely for what their colleagues described as “gross misconduct” and a court order was also obtained by the leadership of the house restraining them from entering the hallowed chambers.

A couple of days earlier, the suspended lawmakers had mobilised five other legislators to invade the complex, stormed the assembly in an unmarked bus and broke into the hallowed chamber, and held a session in which they suspended 14 members of the house, in a move perceived as part of a grand plan to impeach Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Informed observers would recall that the latest political intrigues in Edo have its roots in the defection of the former chairman SouthSouth of the APC, Osagie Ize- Iyamu to the PDP following the disaffection which greeted

Oshiomhole

the outcome of state convection about three weeks ago, Since the defection, not a few political pundits in the state saw it as a touchstone for other strange political activities thereafter.

Ize-Iyamu who enjoys the support of the suspended lawmakers, had predicated his defection on the election of political office holders into APC execution, which was at variance with provisions of the party’s constitution, but was carried out because of what he described evidence of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s obsession with power. Expectedly, all the five lawmakers suspended were those who moved to the PDP along with Ize-Iyamu.

Curious enough, Oshiomhole had discountenance Ize-Iyamu’s defection and even ac-

Reasons for the crises Another issue is that of geo-political balance where the Edo Central people of Esan stock are currently neglected in the sharing of the three key positions in the state. The situation where the governor is from Edo North, while Edo South produces both the deputy governor and the speaker is something the Esan people consider a clear case of neglect.

From initial agreement and permutations premised on equity and fairness, the Esan people who are sidelined in the scheme of things have reasoned that they should have produced the Speaker of the current House of Assembly. But to their chagrin, they are only given the post of the deputy speaker, in the person of Mr. Festus Ebea, who was suspended earlier.

Ize-Iyamu, from the Southern senatorial district’s keen interest in succeeding the governor against the stance of the incumbent, however, remains another major reason behind the current face-off. Interestingly, all the lawmakers currently on suspension are said to be loyal to him.

High-handedness While the Comrade Governor is said to have performed well in there are of urban renewal,

the political class in the state is said to be uncomfortable with Oshiomhole’s insolence and high-handed in the running the affairs of the party. He is said to be not only running the state as a personal estate, and accused of being intolerant of the opposition.

For instance, Oshiomhole allegedly insulted former governor of the state and a strong national leader of the party at a public function in Benin recently- and he has neither denied nor apoligised to him. A strong politician in the state said if he was that insolent to his party leader.

It has also been said that APC government which felt threatened by the defection of another four of its members to the PDP, was very uncomfortable with the rising profile of the opposition PDP in the state. But Oshiomhole’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Kazeem Afegbua denied that, claiming the governor does not dabble into internal affairs of the House of Assembly.

On the issue of inequitable distribution of the top three key positions in the state to the detriment of Edo Central, he said the current speaker of the assembly emerged as a result of the internal democracy of the house, even as the Speaker of the House of Representative, Waziri Tumbuwal emerged in a manner different from the position of the leadership of the party. And in terms of population, Afegbua said the Esan people constitute only about 17 per cent of the population of Edo State.

While equity, fairness and high-handedness remain key issues, observers believe that the current impasse is about who succeeds the governor in 2015 and who controls party structure for the process and in whose interest.

27

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Politics

Still on the new N2.2b presidential Banquet hall

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hen I first wrote about this building, obviously, I was yet to have this privilege of real time feel of its interior decor but had watched from a near distance how finely finished construction giant, Julius Berger had brought out the beauty of the white colour known for Aso Rock structures.

One central issue which must be highlighted is the fact that the new banquet hall is without some basic facilities. For professionals in my kind of discipline, 'it is a beautiful building, at the same time not functional.' Don't blame them with such comments. As far as colleagues are concerned, Mr. President remains a public figure whose activities to a large extent, should be of public concern.

In this regard, the architectural concept of the new presidential banquet hall may be far from providing the needed facilities to achieve this. At all cost, the President's remarks on any issue is a must get and is why reporters and camera men often times could even scramble for sounds and visuals coming from him.

"Maybe, this hall has been built to host only private events for the President.

Imagine that there is no provision for pressmen", one of the reporters expressed concern when he first entered the hall.

Aside the main bole which capacity can host about 200 guests at a given time, provision has only been made for small meeting rooms, catering section, a performance stage and a few waiting rooms.

When President Jonathan hosted his counterpart, President Maroon Hussain of Pakistan to a banquet at the new presidential hall last Tuesday, all the concerns expressed earlier, about inadequacies in the hall played out. Unlike the old banquet hall where such events are opened to even villa staff, there was strong restriction. President Hussain was in Nigeria

Anule Emmanuel emmyanule@yahoo.com on a three day official visit.

Attendance was strictly on invitation to ensure that the venue remained less crowded.

Right inside the main bowl, about 16 dinner tables to accommodate 12 persons each were neatly arranged by protocol officers. Others including the presidential band and reporters would stay in a space provided in the gallery

located upstairs.

But for the camera men, remaining in the gallery would serve no good. The rule in the new banquet however is that loitering and general movement is not allowed, Mr. President wants a serene atmosphere for his guests, it was learnt from a presidency source. Staying upstairs would mean getting pictures in a fixated, only

from a particular angle without quality sounds.

In other climes, such halls come with sound boxes and special vantages to allow picking the sounds without necessarily extending cords and microphones where the guests are seated.

At the special dinner for President Husain which indeed was the first official assignment held in the building, just about four camera men and six reporters were permitted entry.

This is unusual of the presidency where there are presently over 70 accredited media organisations whose job is to give adequate coverage and publicity to the President's functions.

Given the peculiarity of the new presidential banquet hall, maybe, events held here should be private and not for converge. Or rather, the President's handlers need to begin to find alternatives for the press men who must inform the public about happenings in the seat of power.

Presidency and Sanusi's Emirship

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ndications were rife last week that President Goodluck Jonathan may have been uncomfortable with the emergence of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano.

But considering the circumstances in which he left office, those sympathetic to the current administration strongly feel that long before now, Sanusi would have been arrested and detained, foreclosing any attempt to even turbane him as emir. In their thinking, the President needed to have nipped it in the board.

Unfortunately for persons with this school of thought, Sanusi is yet to be proven guilty.

Sanusi who had raised series of allegations of misappropriation and non remittance of oil revenues by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) amounting

to about $20billion or $10billion, is currently under investigation by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria FRCN. The thought of some groups in the direction that Jonathan and Sanusi were in a fight to grind personal axe, - Sanusi having dislike for the administration and Jonathan being uncomfortable with the allegation, perceiving it as a dent on his government) was what played out on Sunday when the news of his emergence as emir first broke out.

On the part of Sanusi's apologists, the President could be the cause of the crisis that greeted the appointment of the new Kano emir.

They had alleged that the pockets of demonstrations that followed the appointment of Sanusi may definitely have been sponsored by the Federal Government.

But all these insinuations remain invalid.

In a democracy just 14 years old natured and jealously guarded in Nigeria, overheating the space only incubates and breeds room for discord which is unnecessary for growth and development. Understood that ahead of the 2015 general elections, President Jonathan who is yet to make public his intention about the elections may have interest about what happens in the north particularly with the votes that comes from this region, it is not enough if for any reason, it is true that government at the center is delving deep into the traditional politics of an emirate as large as Kano.

At the same time, no one can prove at the moment beyond reasonable doubt that the President has really shown interest in the Kano emir affairs. Like Sanusi, like Jonathan, only God gives power.

INEC and the challenge of data storage facility

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ntil last week, it was in the realm of speculations. Even when the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Lawrence Azubuike announced that names of registered voters in over 620 voter registers in the state have been wiped off, Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega said this was impossible.

Idowu argued that even if the voter register for a ward is missing, INEC have replicated copies at the local government level, another at the state level and yet another at the national level. Sounding rather uncomfortable, he asked: "Who told you that INEC register is missing or that names simply wiped off the data bank? It is not possible. It is because we know that our data are intact and secure that we were able to discover people who did double or multiple registration?"

Some people who attempted to believe the REC agreed with Idowu especially as the commission had warned that double registrants would be prosecuted for breaching electoral law. Indeed, during the distribution of permanent voters' cards in Ekiti and Osun States, which served as pilot scheme for the exercise, the electoral body discovered a staggering 77,609 and 37,273 double and multiple registrants respectively in the two states.

But the disclosure by Prof. Attahiru Jega when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Reform of Government Institutions last week, confirmed REC Azubuike’s assertion. Jega had told the committee members that there were cases of equipment failure in some polling units during the recently conducted Continuous Voter Regis-

INECDiary Onyekachi Eze

Admitted that mechanical and human errors could always occur in every human venture, but a situation where over 100 voter registers to be wiped off completely both in hard and soft copies left much to be desired tration in some states of the country, which he said fuelled anxiety and disappointment among many people who wanted to register.

He blamed this on inadequate storage facility available for INEC’s Direct Data Capture machines deployed for the CVR in these states, describing it though as inevitable. According to him, these machines were bought in 2010 and were used for 2011 voter registration exercise. Since then, no new machines were purchased.

Record keeping has been a problem of Nigeria. Even with the advent of computer and other electronic devices, Nigerians still have the problem of retrieving information and data when they are needed. This, in most cases, has

ezekatchy@yahoo.co.uk

been blamed on viral infections.

Not a few Nigerians heaved a sign of relieve, when in 2010, Professor Jega, shortly after he assumed office as INEC chairman, told Nigerians that the commission would embark on electronic registration of voters, a promise he fulfilled with the procurement of 132,000 DDC machines. But the recent disclosure of challenge in data storage is no cheery news.

The Enugu case was a surprised one. Out of 2,940 registers, a whopping 620 got missing. These were among the registers used in December 2013 when the state conducted the local government elections, and barely four months after that they were wiped off. Among the missing names in the registers were those of Governor Sullivan Chime, Speaker of state House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vita Abba.

In the estimation of many Nigerians, it is too early for INEC to begin to face such challenge bearing in mind the fact that our e-registration experiment is barely four years old. What will happen if it gets to 10 or 15 years?

Jega in his submission before the committee said the INEC’s saving grace was that there are enough equipment, therefore if there is

mal-functioning of any machine, it will be quickly replaced with a new one. But what will happen if the stock got exhausted? That is why there is the need for adequate funding of the commission.

The National Assembly and the executive should therefore consider the INEC Chairman's suggestion for the fund body to be seen as a cycle and not an event. This is to enable the commission procure and replace essential materials without waiting for fresh appropriation.

There is no denying the fact that INEC has no back-up data anywhere. For the fact that the commission is giving those whose names were missing from the register the opportunity to reregister during the CVR exercise confirmed this, Idowu’s claim notwithstanding. That is why the issue of adequate storage facilities should be taken seriously.

Storage problem apart, INEC should not give the politician any room to suspect foul play. Admitted that mechanical and human errors could always occur in every human venture, but a situation where over 100 voter registers to be wiped off completely both in hard and soft copies left much to be desired.

That is why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu believed the disappearance of the registers was a deliberate attempt to disenfrenchise most people in the state.

Again, such error could give room for double registration and therefore made nonsense of the electoral law. How are we even sure that the record could not be manipulated and after the re-registration, the document reappeared during the election and used for rigging? Jega and the commission should investigate the Enugu disaster.

28

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Hardball

Nigerian constitution has been grossly Senator Kabir Garba Marafa is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District in the Senate. In this interview with CHUKWU DAVID in Abuja, he comments on the security situation in the country, his perception about the violation of the constitution by the executive arm and the issue of separation of powers

I

n the First and Second Republics, before any policy was brought to the National Assembly for approval, the Senate and the ruling party would harmonise the issues in advance. This, to some extent, reduced bickering between the Executive and the Legislature. In the present dispensation, this is not common, hence the frequent friction between the National Assembly and the Presidency, especially in the budgeting process. Why this gap?

Before I answer your question, there are very vital issues I think in my opinion and some of my colleagues are very important issues. These tend to threaten the life of our hard-earned democracy. These issues border on security of lives and property in the country today, flagrant abuse or violation of extant rules and to a large extent the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is also the issue of the need for respect for the principle of separation of powers. I think the whole thing is connected to the question you have asked. So, maybe I take it one by one.

On your question, I was not in the First and Second Republics; so I don't know how the business of the National Assembly was conducted at that time. In the Seventh National Assembly, of which I am a member, I think the leadership tried as much as possible to conduct its affairs more or less in a manner that is acceptable to all of us. However, I think we have reached a level by our age and experience, and our position now where we have to be honest on some of these issues. And it all borders on the fact that there is a kind of mistrust between us in the National Assembly and even in the polity. A lot of things are happening and a lot of people are doing different things. So, you see a lot of gaps that have raised a lot of questions. People ask a lot of questions. When you talk about the budget, there are a lot of misgivings in the way and manner they go about it; some people kind of corner things this way or that way.

If you take the issue of the constitutional amendments, these are some of the things you see which in the past we don't do that way. In the past, the National Assembly or Senate worked as a family when they were issues to be discussed or raised. Today, like I said during the debates on the constitutional amendments, there is a lot of mistrust. There are a lot of conferences going on somewhere, which we don't know whose idea it is and what it tends to achieve. We hear a lot of rumours; there is a serious communication gap. So, people are very skeptical when they see things now. They have to read and read and ask a lot of questions. So, all these things contribute to the frictions we constantly have in the polity.

It has been observed that, apart from the frequent quarrel between the Legislature and the Executive, there are also internal conflicts among senators. What is the problem?

Marafa

That is what I am saying; the mistrust arises when some people are executing some agenda that are not known to some others. This also arises where you allow rules to take the centre stage instead of maybe, people saying the truth. Then you allow mischief makers to come with a lot of rumours to say one thing or another. So, as the representatives of the people you have to look at everything. If you talk about the budget now like I said, there are three issues I want to talk about that I think are on the lips of every Nigerian. As a people, I think it has reached a time people need to come out and talk about them. Now take the budget, for instance, it is one of the things I talked about the violation of the constitution. I’m not an economist but as a businessman, I know what budget is all about. You project your earnings and weigh them against your expenditure over the year. This is what I expect to earn, and these are the ways and means in which I am going to earn them, and this is how I am going to spend it. Now, you earn what you expect to earn and there is a shortfall in your spending and you don't tell people where the shortfall is. Where are the monies now to put it straight? In the last three

years that I have been in the National Assembly, the budget has never been implemented 100 per cent; and all the parameters on which the executive predicated the budget upon are not met. Last year, I think was the worst. You see some parastatals with 20 per cent, 30 per cent, and maximum 50 per cent budgetary implementation. And the revenue projections were all met. Now where is the remainder of the money? Then you see extra-budgetary expenditure springing up from places. People should ask questions. I know we have responsibilities as senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to in addition to stabilising the country, protecting the unity and progress of the country, but at the same time there are times you need to ask questions about where these monies go to and who is doing these things. Now the resolutions of the National Assembly are not respected. We sit down and pass resolutions; there are a lot of them, I can tell you plenty of them.

There is a report on the status of special account which the National Assembly investigated. A lot of monies have been accrued to these accounts and they are disbursed in a manner that is highly unconstitutional.

You seem to be deeply involved in blame game and buck passing, whereas the same constitution has given you power to sanction any erring member or agency of the executive branch. Don't you think you are also responsible for the confusion in the system as an institution?

I am not unaware of the enormous responsibilities that rest on our shoulders as senators of the Federal Republic; not only to think and protect the unity of the country and protect our democracy, but to be seen to be doing that. In any human endeavour one finds oneself, you have to consider some factors. There is the learning factor and so on and so forth.

You are talking about learning process, but our democracy is 15 years old. These years should be enough time for any system to attain a reasonable state of maturity. Why is this system not maturing?

I think part of the blame will definitely come to the National Assembly because like you said, we are empowered by the constitution. All the three players, the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature, are all arms of government, but they are one

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Politics / Hardball

violated, says Senator Marafa About 425 people were killed in Gamboru Ngala, just a week or two after the infamous abduction of the Chibok girls; nobody mentioned it.

government and each one of these arms is given its powers to exercise. I think maybe, in relation to these questions, I will go back to the three issues I raised: the security of lives and property. I think this is something that bothers everybody.

Before going to your questions that border on invoking the necessary constitutional powers for addressing this issue, now, the security of lives and property as it is today is no longer news to anybody. It has reached an unacceptable limit.

A lot of Nigerians are being killed daily in parts of the country, especially the North, and most especially in the North-East. Even today you can see what the papers are saying about Boko Haram killing people. Mind you, these are not camels, goats or sheep; these are people like you and me. And these things have been on and on; and as I am speaking to you today lives no longer mean anything in this country. The leaders don't talk about it; it is taken for granted that Nigerians can be killed anyhow and nobody talks about it. And what bothers me most is the levity with which the executive arm of government is taking these things, like we said earlier. But when the chips are down, we have only one commander in chief, one chief executive and we are supposed

to show concern about these things. There is a lot we can do. Some people argue that the Executive is doing enough or doing its best to arrest this situation but when your best is not good enough, I still feel the President and the executive arm of government can still do a lot more. We should value the lives of Nigerians just like we value our own lives. The Executive can do a lot in that respect and I believe they are not doing enough.

If you complained about poor performance of government to address critical needs of the citizenry, will you advise that people who fail to discharge their responsibilities should begin to take the path of honour in this country by resigning from their jobs?

I am coming to that; let me explain these points one by one and what I mean when I talk of security of lives and property. We all value the lives of our own kith and kin in Nigeria. We have seen this numerously. When the Vice President's brother died, the Federal Executive Council called off its meeting in honour of that; and when the Ciroman Sokoto died, the Vice President flew into Sokoto to condole with the Sultan of Sokoto.

But a day before, about 235 people were killed in the neighbouring state of Zamfara and the vice president didn't deem it necessary to even mention it before the Sultan to say, ‘In addition to condoling on the loss of our illustrious prince, we are also condoling the people and government of Zamfara over these losses’. The President was in Katsina to commission projects when in not too far away Kankara, about 165 people were killed and not a mention of it. Today 300 people were killed; and nobody is sending a condolence and not even a mention.

About 425 people were killed in Gamboru Ngala, just a week or two after the infamous abduction of the Chibok girls; nobody mentioned it. Take for instance what happened in the United States in the past, President George Bush flew into Iraq at the height of war in the middle of the night to visit his troops and to boost their morale so that they would know that the people and the government of America were with them in that exercise. Now, what stops our leaders if they value the lives of their followers, to say at least if there is an incident like this, the President will send condolences to the people and government of that place. Nobody is talking about that. Death has become a common thing in Nigeria, going by the flagrant violation of the constitution, especially the financial abuses. We see abuses a lot in the way and manner funds are being disbursed; funds are being spent. We talk about the Kerosene subsidy, we talk about lack of accountability, extra budgetary spending, that will bring me to your question. We are in a serious danger in this regard. I will give you examples of this. The Attorney- General of the Federation is supposed to be the chief law officer of the federation. The same Attorney-General was alleged to be involved in the financial mess of Malabu Oil Gas Company which was brought before the Senate. We deliberated and the Senate mandated two committees on Upstream and Finance to investigate but the Attorney-General through his own cronies rushed to court to say this matter is in court and somebody is taking it to the National Assembly and investigation on the matter be stopped, pending the outcome of the case.

He wrote to the National Assembly. The same

Attorney-General is in court with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, challenging him on why he did not declare the seats of 37 PDP members that defected to the APC vacant, forgetting that they are also about 15 members that defected from other parties to the PDP. It is no longer a crime to defect from other parties to the PDP but it is a crime to defect from the PDP to APC. The same Attorney-General as a Nigerian, knows what happened in the Fifth Assembly, where a lot of senators and their state governors or members of the National Assembly defected from other parties to PDP and nothing happened.

A case in point here was in the fifth assembly in Jigawa State under Saminu Turaki. The whole apparatus of government decamped from the ANPP to the PDP so were their members of the National Assembly from the parties to PDP and nothing happened.

In the Sixth Assembly, I know it happened and a case is also my own state, Zamfara, where the governor and some members of the National Assembly also defected from ANPP to the ruling party. Two senators I know defected that time and nothing happened. Today, we are witnessing the same thing. Now the Attorney General, in flagrant abuse of his constitutional responsibilities, forgetting that he is the Attorney-General of the country and not that of the PDP, he was appointed by the PDP-led government but he was appointed to serve Nigerians and Nigeria.

He is not the PDP legal adviser. So, if the PDP is having any problem with the issue of members defecting from their own party to another or the APC having problem of people defecting from their own platform to another platform, I think the right person to do anything is their own legal adviser. But here we are today; we have reached the impunity level, the effrontery in which the Attorney-General today comes out to sue the Speaker, I think it is unacceptable and it has now reached a point where I believe, as members of the National Assembly, like I said, we are going to face two judgments: one by the people and the other definitely by God. And our children will ask us questions in the future,’ Daddy when you were in the Senate and with all constitutional powers that you were given, what did you say when Nigerians were being killed with impunity and nobody was talking and not even condolence messages to comfort the grieved? God will also ask us about what you did.

Some people will say democracy is a game of numbers and if you do this, we cannot succeed the way we are going about it. I think we have reached the level and I am speaking my own mind on what is happening today as regards this three issues I have raised, the insecurity, the flagrant abuse of the constitution as we see in the non implementation of the budget, extra budgetary expenditure and so on and the need to respect the separation of powers. I think it has reached an unacceptable level; I will want to tell the Attorney-General, as my brother I want to advise him that the committee on Upstream and Finance will commence the investigation of this Malabu as mandated by the Senate of the Federal Republic to do so. We are going to do it regardless of his suit in court because the constitution requires us to do our work because if we allow this impunity to go on, one day some people will go to court and say National Assembly should not sit, and somebody will come and block our gate that we cannot sit because they is a court injunction. The constitution is very clear on role and functions of the Executive, roles and functions of the National Assembly and roles and functions of the Judiciary. And the Nigerian Judiciary as a responsible institution I want to advise that they should stop entertaining this kind of cases, I will also want to urge the relevant committees, it is not only the Attorney-General, but the Minister of Petroleum Resources is also in court to stop the members of the House of Representatives from

investigating her alleged involvement in the use of N10 billion chartered flight. Members of the House of Representatives should go ahead to carry out their constitutional duties unless otherwise stated by somebody and if that happens I think we know what to do. On the issue of this effrontery of the AttorneyGeneral of suing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, I urged him and in doing so, I am speaking for myself and for some of my colleagues who share the same views, we have been talking on these things for quite some time now and we have reached the level where we feel we are going to do our own bit. When the history of Nigeria is going to be written, then everybody will now say what he has done. So, within these two weeks, I urge the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw this suit against the speaker or join the other colleagues in the House of Representatives that also defected from other political parties to PDP so that we will call him the Attorney-General of the Federation. If he has any issues relating to these things, and these things happened in the Senate too, he should join everybody to his work, he is but the Attorney-General of the PDP. He should be reminded about that; he should withdraw this suit within these two weeks if he fails to do so, I urge my brother and Commander in Chief to show the Attorney-General the way out and to assure the members of the House of Representatives that they can investigate any minister, government functionary as part of their oversight responsibility as enshrined in the constitution. And if all else fails, we will not hesitate upon resumption to invoke the necessary or relevant sections of the constitution to defend the Nigerian masses, the Nigerian constitution and to defend the National Assembly. I think it is enough of this impunity. Nobody should stop us from doing our work and we should be allowed to carry out our work as enshrined in the constitution.

And anybody that feels otherwise is free to contest and come to the National Assembly or should stop doing what he is doing.

Do you sense connivance between the Executive and the Judiciary to thwart the efforts of the Legislature especially based on the issues you raised? Moreover, if there is a case in court or a court injunction on a matter and you are asking the National Assembly to go on with an investigation into that matter, does it not amount to lawlessness which you accuse other people of?

I wouldn't want to say there is connivance between the Judiciary and the Executive, because the Judiciary as an institution comprises great men and women of proven integrity.

But in any system, there is no way you can gather like 109 and 365 lawmakers and say everybody is good or bad. So maybe there are bad eggs among them; and if there are any I am sure their chief executive, that is the Supreme Court judge and the Judicial Council are up and doing and I think it is time for their own leadership to call this type of judges to order because failure to do this will lead to anarchy. God forbid! When you start stepping into someone else's responsibilities, you are just calling for trouble. Government officials will just do what they want and rush to courts or tell their cronies to go to court and stop the National Assembly from carrying out its oversight functions. That too is unconstitutional and can lead to a lot of consequences.

But I don't see any connivance between the two institutions; they are responsible institutions of the Federal Republic and I cannot see them conniving to stop another organ from doing its work. However, I feel this is the time for us to rise and be counted.

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics

'Drug money threatens national security, political stability'

After establishing the fact that drug abuse de-inhibits users and fuels criminality and undermines national security, Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Otunba Femi Ajayi, in this interview with BIYI ADEGOROYE, says drug trafficking and money laundering can compromise or hijack government

T

o what extent do drug trade and abuse pose a threat to national security?

Drugs impact on terrorism because they are de-inhibitors. They give people some kind of high feeling without restrain, which is called accident immunity deficiency syndrome. They feel they cannot be killed, because when they are high they can pull the trigger without retrain, passion and human feelings. Do you think it is easy for somebody to decide to die? Take for instance the man that bombed the UN House in Abuja; the man had probably loaded his vehicle with bombs and drove it into the building.

Of course, he knew the impact and consequences, knowing full well that by the time he collided with something he would die. So, he was targeting to take many people as possible along with him. It takes somebody who is under the influence of something, which is one dimension to it. The link between violent crimes and the consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances has also been sufficiently demonstrated over the years.

Even in recent times, after many raids in the North-East where there have been a preponderance of insurgency, we have discovered large supplies of cannabis sativa. Mind you, the word 'hashish' (cannabis) is the root word for assassins.

Still on the same theory of dis-inhibition, do you believe that people, who decapitate pregnant women and children, carry out such heinous activities without being under the influence of drugs? I don’t think a normal human being would be able to do, except that the person is mad or he is under the influence of drugs just like the Boko Haram people. Do you know the northern part of Nigeria now is where they consume more drugs - all sorts of drugs, both natural? There is a plant in north now called ‘Zacami’ The thing is so potent, even all these other substances like Benyline, Codeing, Tramadol and taken to get high.

And there are also drugs used by veterinary doctors for animals that have been found to have psychotropic effects and people are consuming them.

Also, considering that drug trafficking is a mega bucks business; proceeds of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are a serious threat to national security, the economy and overall development. These proceeds of illicit drugs are usually applied to promote the criminal interests of drug dealers. The funds may also be applied to corrupt and compromise law enforcement, judicial and other government officials in order to weaken their capacity to fight crimes and protect lives and property. Proceeds of drugs can also be used to acquire political power in order to provide a conducive atmosphere for their illicit and criminal activities, and in extreme cases, proceeds of drugs had been deployed to fuel centrifugal sentiments and even promote insurgent activities.

But the Financial Intelligence Unit has been set up by the Federal Government to monitor cash movement, nip money laundering in the bud and all the banks are expected to report this.

That is one unit that has not been working well in the country because it has been made a unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes

Ajayi

Commission. Also some of the banks are too secretive that they protect their customers at the expense of national security. But it also comes down to the fact that the law enforcement agencies are not doing their work. If a bank is sanctioned for concealing high cash lodgment or money transfers the banks will be more careful. So there is the need for better coordination of the activities of NFIU such that those who should supply and receive information do so. For instance, there is information that NDLEA should be given to that body can work with it, and there is also information the NDLEA should give to other agencies can worth with it, it is a form of a two-way communication.

But the fact that NFIU is not working is more or less an extension of the lack of sufficient intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies. If you talk about NDLEA for instance how much information do we receive from the customs? Most of those drugs we seize at the airports or seaports were done based on intelligence we receive from abroadfrom SUCA- serious organised crimes agency of the UK and Drug Enforcing Agency of the United States. . If the customs of other countries are giving us information what stops ours from doing same?

For political stability, how do we handle this in the case of Nigeria and ensure this does not grow beyond us finding an end to it?

The issue is the NFIU has to be up and do-

ing as well as the individual agencies must do their work. Those ones operating against the interest of the state must be cleaned up.

Sometimes we have to engage in joint activities where we share information with some of our partners but before we get to them they would have been informed, because some of those people are under their protection. One of the reasons they drove us away from the seaport then was because some of our people said we were disturbing ‘trade facilitation’. So we had to convince presidency that the NDLEA has to be at the seaports. If they wanted a fast and efficient operation, then they should upscale their technology for searching say 20-foot container instead of manual inspection. So we need to be at the custom point to do our job.

How prevalent is the cultivation of cannabis in Nigeria?

The lucrative nature of the cultivation of cannabis sativa has led to a situation where hectares of arable farmland and even forest reserves are being cleared for the illegal cultivation of cannabis. Whereas cannabis sativa was largely restricted to South-West states of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo as well as SouthSouth states of Edo and Delta, plantations of cannabis have now been discovered in places like Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi and Benue states, among many other new cannabis-producing states. As it is, cash crops like cocoa, rubber, kola nut and palm trees as well as food crops such as yam, cassava, coco-yam and cowpea

are being displaced by cannabis as farmers prefer to cultivate cannabis sativa because of its high income-yielding potential. Moreover, youths are abandoning schools and farmers are boycotting the cultivation of food crops and legal cash crops in order to go into the lucrative but illegal business of cultivating and trafficking cannabis sativa.

The above examination of the nature and pattern of the twin problems of drug abuse and illicit trafficking is aimed at driving home the extent of these problems in order to enable us rationalise the various areas in which they threaten socio-economic development.

There is no gainsaying the fact that a sustainable socio-economic development agenda will to a large extent be dependent on the youth that are supposed to be provided with the requisite education that will enable them to deploy their physical and intellectual capacities for productive purposes. Any threat to this section of the population will therefore constitute a major threat to socio-economic development. It is within this context that we can situate the drug problem in the country.

This is further compounded by the nature of threat that drugs pose to industrial safety, as well as the health and sanity of the productive population.

It had also been demonstrated that illicit drug is a major conflict multiplier and source of societal insecurity that constitute major obstacles to investments and general economic development. No reasonable investor will commit his resources in an atmosphere of insecurity and neither can there exist any meaningful economic activity or development. Drug abuse and trafficking are confirmed repellents to foreign investments and tourism. On this basis, the abuse of drugs, illicit trafficking and the resources derived from drugs also constitute a major challenge to our socio-economic development.

It is also important to appreciate the fact that the prevalence of illicit drug trafficking undermines the national image and credibility of a country in the community of nations. This will ultimately affect international perception and determine the manner in which the international community will treat travellers and transactions that come from there, and determine the level of international support for the economic and socio-political programmes of the country.

What does the Federal Government intend to achieve with the proposed drug control master plan?

We are looking forward to the formulation and development of a people-driven, people-oriented and people-friendly and people-owned National Drug Control Master Plan 2014-2018, to tackle the proliferation and trafficking in illicit drugs and psychotropic substances in the country. We are hoping for a smart, easy-to-operationalised and assessable living work-plan, not just a working document, but one that can be used to tackle the drug problem. You see, when the task of drug control is for a country as complex, heterogeneous, highly populated, with vast land mass located among narcotic drug source countries with many legal and illegal border posts, Nigeria cannot afford to produce a weak drug control master plan.

That informed the recent inter-ministerial committee meetings comprising NAFDAC, the Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration, Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary and civil society groups to work out response to drug and related organised crimes in Nigeria, sponsored by the European Union under the auspices of the UNODC.

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Politics

‘We need to revert to six federating units’ President, SouthEast/South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN), Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, a former bank executive, in this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA says the nation’s democratic experiment is too expensive and calls for a reversion to six federating units which will promote competitive development

R

egionalism seemed to have worked for the country in the past, considering alleged nonviability of the states in the current political system. Would you consider a reverting to regionalism a priority?

If the states create wealth no one will say they are not viable. But because the country is currently structured to depend largely on income from crude oil sales, people gather in Abuja monthly to share money, Nigerians are calling for region to regionalism. The fact that money is shared on state basis, communities would be clamouring more states so that they can get their own share. This multiplicity of overhead cost is unnecessary and unsustainable. Otherwise, no one will tell me that one commissioner of education in a state cannot administer education in the whole South-East.

If you have one, instead of five, you save much as overhead, which can be put into productive use. This is the essence of regionalism. I dare anybody to prove me wrong that regions are not cost effective. People agitate for states because they want their own share of the commonwealth. How many states will be in existence, if they were being made to contribute and not to receive from the federation purse? We should, note that streamlining our governance structure is not an end in itself but a major step in the right direction.

One of the dominant issues at the ongoing National Conference is the call for restructuring the country, which is currently creating ripples. In your view, how best could this be tackled?

Let me use this opportunity to send an important message across to all delegates at the National Conference. They must realise that the destiny of this country is temporarily entrusted in their hands. It means that the survival of Nigeria hinges on the outcome of the national confab.

Nigeria's continuous existence depends on how they handle this important national assignment. We don’t need Americans or anyone to tell us that this country may disintegrate in 2015. We are witnesses to what this country has become. Insurgency and terrorist activities have reached the level that some foreign countries are now giving us assistance.

The confab has the opportunity of turning the country around if it seizes this opportunity to create a new Nigeria. This is why we are begging the delegates to take this assignment seriously. They should avoid distractions and realise that this is a golden opportunity to change this country.

Unfortunately, what many Nigerians have read in the national dailies as recommenda-

Ugwu-Oju

tions from many of the committees are mere palliatives, and it appears as if they are trying to apply band-aid to a structure that everyone agreed is about imploding before our eyes.

We hope that they would see the matter before them as a matter of life and death rather than giving some self-serving politicians what they want. Whether some people want more states or more local governments or not, we should accept that the system we are currently operating has failed us. We need a system that will encourage and bring out the best in our people. It does not matter how long they spend at arriving at a workable system, all we need is a new Nigeria. We are ready to extend their stay in Abuja so long as they come up with a new Nigeria that will actualise its enormous potential.

Already, there are calls for memorandum from the civil society. Will the SESSP submit any to the conference?

We are out to ensure that the delegates come up with some proposals that will form the basis for a new constitution. There are many ideas and memoranda out there. They are so many that one might be forced to say we don't need more proposals. We are more interested in assisting the delegates to adopt proposals that can lay a strong foundation for a new progressive Nigeria by highlighting the key pillars such as re-federating into six regions; fiscal federalism, individual right to his land and any resource it contains, equal citizenship rights, federal /regional/local policing and secularism.

On 2015 elections, we re-emphasise that it will be disastrous if the confab does not come up with a new structure that makes office holders less powerful and more accountable. I was in Washington DC recently, where I witnessed the APC/PDP altercation at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The conditions listed by the APC’s spokesperson for which they could accept the presidential election result if they were not

declared winners is definitely not attainable

The confab has the opportunity of turning the country around if it seizes this opportunity to create a new Nigeria

in Nigeria before 2015. Electronic voting for instance is one.

From time immemorial, agitations for perfect derivation formula have been with us, and currently, this has surfaced again at the confab. What is your take on agitations for an upward and downward review of the 13 per cent derivation formula in the country?

We, the members of South-East/SouthSouth professionals have been consistent on our calls for Nigeria to be reengineered into a nation anchored on wealth creation as against sharing of irreplaceable and depleting natural resources. One guiding principle that would make the confab successful is for them to look at the fundamentals that will encourage wealth creation.

It’s only through sustainable wealth creation that poverty can be eradicated. There is much attention on oil, which is wrong. We don’t produce up to three million barrels a day and we have a population of about 170 million. So, even if we produce up to 10 million barrels a day, it will still not be enough for us.

So, when people say that we are rich because we are producing oil, we disagree on that. We are poor based on our production level and our population. If we were a country of five million people and we are producing two million barrels of crude oil daily, then you can say that we are rich. For instance, Libya, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are

the ones to say that, considering the ratio of their population to production.

When some people talk about derivation, it gives the impression that the only wealth we can create is oil. That’s wrong. Oil wealth is not enough even with zero corruption. It’s unfortunate that we are so concerned about how to share oil wealth. The whole emphasis should be on how each area can be the best they can be in terms of creating wealth.

When you situate that, the issue of derivation will fall in because people need incentives for wealth creation. But there is no incentive when oil that is found in your backyard is being carried away by the federal government. It does not make sense that someone who lives 10 thousand miles away is talking about how the oil resources in one locality or the other is shared.

However, it does not mean that Nigeria cannot exist without oil. It’s unfortunate that some people make it look like that way. There should be incentives for wealth creation from any sort of resource and not oil alone. People should be encouraged to have access to what belongs to them, be it material or otherwise.

Do Nigerians actually realise that a major driver of the economy at the moment is remittances from Nigerians in Nigeria? This is a good example of human resource as against depleting natural resource.

You mentioned that Nigeria is not as rich people believe, what then, in your own opinion must have prompted President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that Nigeria's problem is how distribute her wealth and not poverty?

May be he was misquoted. But the reality is that Nigeria is currently a poor country based on our over dependence on crude oil production and the quantity of crude oil produced compared to our population. But that does not mean that the wealth we produce now cannot be equitably redistributed.

We at SESSP are very concerned about wealth creation in the country and are passionate about the regional development of every part of Nigeria. We are, however, particular about South-East/South-South economic development. Sometimes, when people hear about the poverty rate in Nigeria, they think that most people are eating from the gutter in Nigeria.

That is not exactly the case in Nigeria, but we are not where we should be if we really focus on wealth creation instead of sharing inadequate crude oil sales. We definitely have the potential to be better than we are at the moment. We are no longer interested in talking about our underdevelopment but taking action to lift our people from poverty.

When you mentioned wealth creation, what models are you projecting for its actualisation?

Governance structure now is based largely on sharing of proceeds from the sales of one mineral resource - crude oil. The question now is what sort of structure could encourage wealth creation instead of wealth sharing? Because money is shared on the basis of number of states and local governments, those marketing the idea of federating units at the confab, do not seem to be doing it well.

Federating units should not stop at having a weak centre. It should also involve having a synergy that will create wealth faster. When you have only six federating units, the cost of governance will go down and will free up resources that will be invested for wealth creation. As you create more wealth, you may then have the luxury to afford non productive cost centres. But right now, people are concerned about what they will get from the federation account and not what they can contribute.

JUNE 08, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

60 32

Abuja Beats Fading glory of National Children’s Park and Zoo

left out in the decay that has eaten deep into the site as the wooden walkway leading to the waterway is damaged and barricaded. The conveniences are totally unkempt and boast a leaking thatch roof. The restaurant is also deserted and has been overtaken by mosquitoes and cobwebs.

Attesting to the downturn in activities at the park, an employee who doesn’t want his name mentioned said, “Really the zoo has gone down. Some years ago, the place was bubbling but as you can

see for yourself the place is really down.

Even during the weekends and public holidays when we usually had visitors, no more, just few visitors. I can’t really say it is totally because of the security challenges we have in Abuja. Some people complain that the zoo now has few animals. I think the management has a lot of work to do.”

As regards the management, it was reported sometime last year that concerned about the current state of the park, President Goodluck Jonathan had

set up an Interim Management Committee to evaluate the current state of the facility, supervise the ongoing management of the facility, make recommendations about how the facility should be rehabilitated and evaluate options for the future sustenance of the facility and define a role for government in the running of the park.

The committee was given six months to complete its work but unfortunately till date, no stone has been turned at the facility as tourists continue to bemoan the misfortune of the park.

One tourist, who identified himself as Fagbemi, told our correspondent that he came all the way from Sokoto with his son to see the place. But to their surprise, they met a different spectacle at the park. His words: “From what I am seeing now, no no no !!! I’m just thinking of what we could have done with this kind of place. This is a gold mine if we know how to manage it.

“I have seen places like this outside our country and they are better managed than what I am seeing here now.

It doesn’t take much to manage this particular place. It is natural. There are countries which had to create this kind of place on their own but here God has given us this kind of place and we are mismanaging it. It’s just a waste.”

Fagbemi is not alone in this expression of disappointment as the dilapidated state of the park has scared many Abuja residents and visitors away.

New Telegraph on Sunday visited the market, some fruits that had overstayed with the traders were rotting. This was even as plenty bags of oranges were piled in the open, while many fully loaded trucks of oranges were waiting to be offloaded.

This reporter tracked the voices of the people from the market where two dominant views held sway on the state of the market.

Sughter Ahile, a trader who brought a truck of oranges for sale, attributed the situation to the rainy season which he said is responsible for the quick rotting of fruits since they contain much water.

This is even as a fruit hawker, Musa, said he does not buy them in large quan-

tity, for fear of their getting rotten. However, a retail fruits trader, Baba Alhaji as he is fondly called, attributed it to recent terrorist attacks on Abuja, which have subsequently scared people from patronising the orange market.

“Since the two bomb explosions at Nyanya, business at this market has been affected. People used to drive from far distances to come and buy fruits here but many of them are no longer coming because they suspect that Mararaba is not safe,” Alhaji stated. Mararaba is a 10-minute drive to Nyanya, where two bombs exploded on April 14 and May 1 and killed over 100 persons.

As fruits are being pushed into the market daily, the prices are much more

affordable than at other markets. From bags, half bags, baskets and basins of various sizes, there are price ranges that accommodate everybody.

A female retailer said a bag of oranges is sold at between N4,000 and N5,000, depending on the species, while there is a basket of N500, as well as a basin of N200.

“Even with this when customers are not coming and the oranges start to rot, we cut the prices,” she stated.

Terkimbi Kyange, a supplier of oranges and mangoes, called for the establishment of a juice processing plant in the market where fruits can be turned into durable products, thereby minimising waste.

Amadi Nnamdi

T

he National Children’s Park and Zoo located at the base of the magnificent Aso Rock, Abuja was established in 2001 amid fanfare by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, with contributions of animals from several African countries.

The tourist site at inception attracted an average of 113,000 visitors and 2,000 educational institutions annually. Due to the presence of endangered species and other interesting animals there, foreigners trooped in to view the wild life.

For instance, the park has ostriches – the biggest bird in the world - a 79-year-old tortoise and a six-year-old giraffe milling about their enclosures in the zoo.

Other animals in the zoo are crocodiles, buffaloes, zebras, wilderbeest, impala, camels, pythons, monkeys and others.

Unfortunately, the tourist site which charges N200 and N100 for gate fee from adults and children respectively is now a shadow of its old beautiful self, as the place is replete with weeds.

A recent visit by our correspondent revealed that the once boisterous place is now almost totally deserted even on festive seasons, weekends and holidays.

The extraordinary quietness of the once busy place now makes it look like a beautiful cemetery.

Many of the cages and barricades that house different animals are now empty, as only few animals are now seen in the zoo section of the park. Some of the few tourists our correspondent met there complained of “an empty zoo.”

Even the artificial lake section is not

Abuja Orange Market: Fruit sellers record low sales

Kenneth Tyohemba

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he Orange Market located at Mararaba, a suburb of the FCT, is the major market in the city where vendors sell assorted fruits in different sizes.

The market which is famous for oranges also serves as a depot for other fruits like water melon, cabbage, mangoes and other perishables.

It is the garage for many trucks bearing fruits from the Middle Belt region as they usually offload their wares here.

Fruits here are no doubt fresh, coming straight from the farm.

The market which used to be a hub of business activities has of recent not been witnessing high patronage. When

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Abuja Beats

Making child adoption, infanticide laws viable

Johnchuks Onuanyim

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Johnchuks Onuanyim

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oday, it’s obvious that all over the country there is no state that has a stringent child adoption law. This lack of operational law has given rise to the abuse of child adoption in different states of the country. Currently, it is common knowledge that couples, single parents et cetera buy babies in the name of adoption.

Going by law, for adoption to take place, the court has to grant an adoption order. This depends on the type of adoption taking place and the Social Welfare Department responsible for orphanages would be involved.

Also, within the Federal Capital Territory, cases of infant murder (Infanticide) are becoming a daily occurrence. To address the problems associated with child adoption and infant murder, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, set up the ministerial committee known as the Administration of Child Welfare Services last year.

As the committee submitted its comprehensive report this week, the minister also in the same vein inaugurated the implementation committee on the elimination of the practice of infanticide in some parts of the FCT. The ministerial committee known as the Administration of Child Welfare Services was set up to examine various issues regarding the services of residential homes otherwise known as orphanage homes in FCT. Presenting the report to the junior minister, on behalf of other members, the chairman of the committee, Mrs. Nana Tsokwa, noted that the committee which was inaugurated on 11th February, 2013, took time to tour the FCT to get a first-hand information regarding the activities of the orphanages.

Tsokwa identified lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders in child welfare services, which led to lapses in the

FCTA boosts food production for residents

Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory provision of direct services by the Social Secretariat Department, overlaps in service delivery, duplication of functions and more seriously certain direct oversight duties not being performed by the secretariat.

The committee chairman equally identified that Social Development Secretariat is challenged by inadequate human and material resources needed to carry out its mandate effectively. This, according to Tsokwa, had become critical as FCT continues to experience an almost daily influx of persons from surrounding states, with its population fast out-pacing available social infrastructure.

However, the committee recommended that the FCT Administration approves the schedule of duties for the Departments of Gender Development and Social Welfare Services as proposed in the report.

According to her, this will ensure efficiency in the provision of services,

as well as a focused monitoring of children in the orphanages by relevant departments.

Olajumoke, inaugurating infanticide committee stated that it became necessary following incidents of infanticide within some parts of the FCT. She described the act as a shocking considering that Nigeria is a signatory to the African Union Charter on the Right of the Child.

The committee headed by Secretary, Education Secretariat, Alhaji Kabiru Usman, has the mandate of examining the observations and recommendations of the earlier committee as they affect each of the identified communities and to evolve a viable action plan to address issues raised.

The committee is expected to mount a massive advocacy and sensitisation campaign against harmful practice through print and electronic media as well as group contacts with the local communities.

he Federal Capital Territory Administration is boosting food production in the territory through Growth Enhancement Support.

The administration, according to Minister of State for FCTA, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has registered 110, 642 genuine farmers under the Federal Government Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

She gave the hint in Abuja at the commencement ceremony of the 2014 Growth Enhancement Support Programme.

She said, “Out of this figure, about 92, 418 farmers were duly registered through a genuine means of identification and issued a green card while the balance 16,224 farmers had no genuine form of identification but were accommodated in the programme and issued black cards.”

Akinjide stated that communities in all the 62 wards of the territory were captured in the programme; adding that the registration was not without challenges but ensured that only genuine farmers were registered under the new technology which has proved dependable in rural communities.

According to the minister, registered farmers on the platform would be given two bags of fertilizers at 50 per cent subsidy and 10kg of maize at 90 per cent with ease this season.

She used the opportunity to call on the private sector to take advantage of the enabling environment to participate more actively in the development of agriculture in the territory.

Akinjide enumerated the areas of investment to include agricultural land clearing and tractor hiring services, cold stores and cooling warehouse fortress and perishable food items value addition on crop, fishery, meat and dairy processing.

In her speech, the Secretary of the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Madayi, said the E-wallet system using GSM technology captured 92, 143 farmers, about 82 per cent out of the 111, 276 of the GES National Database.

Madayi therefore expressed the FCT administration’s determination to record remarkable achievement in the agricultural sector as it strives to boost food production.

Insecurity: Church forbids phones in premises Obinna Odoh

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Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, CAN President

ollowing the security threats targeting public places and the intermittent killings and destruction of properties resulting from dreaded group known as Boko Haram, St. Martins Catholic Church, Lugbe, Archdiocese of Abuja has banned people from entering the church with handsets during Sunday services.

One of the priests working in the parish who spoke on condition of anonymity to New Telegraph on Sunday said the decision was taken by the Parish Pastoral Council, the decision making body of the parish, which is headed by the parish priest.

He said, “The decision was taken long even before I came into the parish. But the reasons are obvious; since life is

no longer safe in the churches, public places in FCT and other places in some parts of the North, human measures in term of security consciousness must be in place to avoid sad stories. It is not only handsets that were banned; also non-transparent bags of all kinds are not allowed into the church.”

The priest regretted the level of killings being reported in newspapers on a daily basis and called on government and concerned agencies to step up to the challenges of insecurity.

He said, “While we pray as religious groups, government should play its part so as to stop this scourge that is spreading so fast like oil or kerosene poured on the floor.”

A resident of FCT, Mr. Gabriel Ezugwu, however, condemned the decision, saying it is anti-people and should be

reversed immediately.

He noted that though he is not a parishioner he was embarrassed last Sunday when he visited the church for a Pentecost programme and was asked to drop his handset with the security men.

He said, “A handset is very important to all, even in keeping to security issues. If one discovers any suspicious movement around the church, what is the person going to use to call security operatives when cellphones are barred in the church? To me, that does not make any sense at all. If the dreaded group can break into places like police headquarters, UN building, ThisDay office, schools etc. where enough security is in place, tell me where the safe place is if not God alone who is the hope of common people like us?”

South-East

34

BEATS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JUNE 15, 2014

Industrialist boosts job creation in Anambra community Uwakwe Abugu

W Awka

hen a delegation of American industrialists from Blount Internationals, USA visited Umuchu, a community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State recently, the foreign business visitors had a day before toured locations in the commercial city of Onitsha in the state where they interacted with distributors of their products. The company manufactures a range of products under the Carlton trade mark, such as saw chains and files used mostly for the timber industry. They also addressed the Onitsha distributors of their products at a hotel located in the city.

Led by the European Managing Director, Mr. Marnix Kuyper, and Sales Manager, Mr. Simon Pears, the delegation visited Umuchu the next day where members of the team toured the sprawling business empire of an indigene of the community, Chief Godwin Ezeemo.

Incidentally, Ezeemo is the representative and distributor of Carlton products in Nigeria and the entire West Africa. New Telegraph on Sunday was at Umuchu where the tour took the international businessmen to a 70,000-bird poultry sited in a remote area of the community; a table water factory said to be worth about N1 billion; as well as a farm established by the industrialist which take plenty of inputs from the vast poultry business he also operates.

Poultry produces 30,000 eggs daily Ezeemo, who spoke to our reporter in the farm, said that on a daily basis, his poultry

A section of the poultry

produces no fewer than 1000 crates of eggs from some 70000 layers. It means that the farm hands who were seen quite busy as the delegation toured the poultry area, pick no fewer than 30,000 eggs every day. And true to this quoted figure, scores upon scores of crates of eggs were seen neatly packed in stores and outside of them during the visit. From the distribution chain of the eggs alone, various business opportunities are said to have been created for unemployed youths within and

outside the community. In all the factories he runs within the state, including the oil and gas area, the industrialist has employed about 1000 workers.

Ezeemo stated that the figure is expected to increase with the planned production of broilers in the poultry farm to serve as table meat. At the table water factory, the business chain created by the establishment of the factory was easily decipherable.

The firm, which produces Fresh Life table

water in bottles and sachets, has created vast employment opportunities in the community and neighbouring towns. That is outside those directly employed as factory workers.

Ezeemo told our reporter in the short chat of the expanding agro-allied activities in the farm and how jobs are being created.

He said, "We are into agricultural, forestry and gardening equipment. We are also into farming."

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Confab: Igboezue laments Ndigbo's poor showing

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socio-political organisation of Igbo people, Igboezue Cultural Association, has expressed frustration at the progress of the national conference.

It said the lacklustre attitude of delegates from the South-East compounds the degenerate leadership structure in the zone. In a statement signed by its National Leader, Chief Chekwas Okorie, and made available to New Telegraph on Sunday, Igboezue regretted that “our expectation that the National Conference would come up with a new draft constitution that would usher in a new era of a more equitable, and justiciable Nigerian political structure" has not been met.

The statement reads in part: "We have watched with deep concern the lacklustre performance of the delegates from the South-East geopolitical zone at the ongoing National Conference at Abuja.

We chose to speak out at this time when the 20 committees set up by the conference have concluded their deliberations and submitted their recommendations for consideration by the Plenary Session of the conference.

"We are worried by the recommenda-

tions of the committees that dealt with the core issues which persuaded Ndigbo to embrace the convocation of the conference, with great enthusiasm and hope.

It was our expectation that the National Conference would come up with a new draft constitution that would usher in a new era of a more equitable, and justiciable Nigerian political structure that will be fair to all the ethnic nationalities that make up the country called Nigeria.

"We expected a true federal structure that will be anchored on Nigeria's six geo-political zones as federating units on the basis of equality, devolution of power, fiscal federalism, equitable revenue allocation formula in the form of resource control, citizenship rights among other provisions."

While indicating the unacceptability of the outcome of the conference, Igboezue added, "We are exceedingly disappointed at the abysmal performance of the Igbo delegates who in spite of well-founded reservations on their ability to deliver on their mandate, considering the manner of their appointment, were given the benefit of doubt, supported and encouraged.

"It has become clear even to the unwary that all the Igbo delegates to the conference were mere sitting ducks who were struck by certain strange and mysterious 'deaf and dumb' ailment. No profound statement reflecting the aspiration and expectation of Ndigbo in Nigeria could be ascribed to any Igbo delegate at the National Conference."

Igboezue noted that "the trend at the Plenary Session of the National Conference shows clearly that Ndigbo shall come out of the conference empty-handed, with our political elite and traditional rulers back to their pastime engagement of co-ordinating the campaigns of non-Igbo politicians who have the deep pockets to hire their services, without sparing any thought for the fate of their children and generations of unborn Ndigbo in Nigeria."

While insisting that "this cannot be the legacy bequeathed to us by our past heroes," Igboezue said it cannot surrender in spite of the heart0-rending disappointment and betrayal of those who lay claim to Igbo leadership at this trying time.

Noting that justice is a fundamental prerequisite for unity, Igboezue added, "The

leadership of Igboezue wishes to caution Nigerians, especially those at the National Conference and members of the National Assembly who are also currently in the process of amending the Nigerian Constitution, that Ndigbo must not be treated with levity on a matter that is dear to our people in the Nigerian Project. Ndigbo are very restive at this time and may not continue to endure their pains in Nigeria for a much longer time, if the only thing we can get out of the National Conference is the maintenance of status quo.

"We wish to sound it loud and clear that the irreducible minimum condition to pacify Ndigbo is the incorporation of Nigeria's six geo-political zones into the Nigerian Constitution as federating units on the basis of the equality of the zones.

In the event of any conspiracy to deny Ndigbo this minimum condition, Igboezue shall without delay mobilize similarly inclined extant Igbo groups and Associations, in Nigeria and in the diaspora, to convene as a matter of urgency, an All Igbo Consultative Assembly to review our fate in Nigeria and take our destiny in our own hands."

News Heritage Bank, Dbanj partner on Koko Agropreneur p.36

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www.newtelegraphonline.com/politics

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JUNE 15, 2014

Market and Malls How thrift banking aids Owerri traders p.42

35

Business AZUBIKE NNADOZIE, ASSISTANT Editor, SUNDAY

azubike.nnadozie@newtelegraphonline.com

ON SUNDAY

ISPS Code: NPA bars non-compliant ships from Nigerian seaports N Paul Ogbuokiri

igerian Ports Authority has said that effective from Thursday June 12, all vessels calling at Nigeria’s seaports will be required to meet all the requirements of the ship security plan equivalent to the maximum of those required at security level Two, as defined

in the International Ships and Port Security Code.

Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who made this on Friday in Lagos, said that any vessel which fails to meet the requirement will be allowed to berth in any of the Nigerian port facilities.

“This directive which applies to all ships entering any of the na-

tion’s seaports or port terminals are part of the additional security measure taken by NPA to ensure the strict compliance to the ISPS Code, by all visiting vessels,” he said.

Abullahi further said that NPA has concluded the process of acquiring additional security equipment to enhance safety and security at the nation’s seaports, adding

that all the newly acquired security equipment will be fully in place before the end of September, 2014.

He explained that the security equipment which shall be deployed to selected port locations in both the Western and Eastern Ports shall include X-ray and Scanning machines, Water front Patrol boats, as well as the provision of Computerised Access Control Gate

with CCTV System. This equipment are to be spread in Ports in Apapa, Tin Can Island, Rivers, Onne, Calabar and Delta Ports.

According to him, the provision of the additional security equipment would not only enhance both the safety of port operations and port users at the nation’s ports but would also guarantee the safety of all visiting ships as required by the ISPS Code.

Abdullahi, who acknowledged the efforts being made by some terminal operators in complying with the provisions of the ISPS Code within their domains, commended the Federal Government for ensuring that the nation’s seaports fully implement the ISPS Code requirements.

He further commended the Federal Government for designating the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency as the local authority in charge of Port security saying that the decision was in the right direction and a positive step towards achieving a full ISPS Compliance compliance.

Inside

(L-R): President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), Ms. Sola Salako; member, Board of Directors, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Junaid Dikko; Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Oluwole Rawa; and Chief Executive Officer, Rise Networks, Ms. Toyosi Akerele, at the launch of Etisalat Cliqlite, an e-learning product for children, held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos...on Friday.

P&G launches new toothpastes P rocter & Gamble Nigeria has launched Oral B Pro-Expert, a line extension of the leading oral hygiene brand, Oral B, at the Nigerian Dental Association conference. The new extension consists of two brands - Oral B ProExpert Gum Protection toothpaste and Oral B Pro-Flex Toothbrush.

The launch event which was part of activities of the dental association’s annual conference held on Thursday at the Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos.

Speaking at the NDA conference, Ayotomiwa Ajewole, the

Brand Communications Manager for Oral-B, said “the new Oral-B Pro-Expert was designed to combat gum problems quicker and help fight against cavities, plaque, tartar build-up, sensitive teeth and enamel erosion better.”

Ajewole confirmed that the absolute gum protection claims by the new brand have been validated by the Nigerian Dental Association, which explained why the brand was launched at the association’s conference.

Benchmarking the new Oral-B’s Pro-Expert against other foreign

oral hygiene brands, Dr Uchenna Okoye, a UK-based dentist who was in Nigeria for the NDA conference, said “the Pro-Expert brand, to a large extent, demonstrates Oral-B’s commitment to promoting oral healthcare in Nigeria.”

“Oral-B Pro-Expert Gum Protection (750ml) and Pro-Flex Toothbrush will give consumers improved oral healthcare with its 70 percent increase in Stannous Complex content, which is more than the Oral-B All-Round Protection. The new line is guar-

anteed to protect your gums and give you the best oral healthcare,” Okoye said.

Commenting on Procter and Gamble’s commitment to touching and improving lives through its spectrum of innovative products, Ajewole said “our aim is to touch and improve the lives of consumers with all our products.

The new Oral-B Pro-Expert lends credence to this claim. Oral-B is the oral hygiene flagship brand that we have been using to drive good oral healthcare for Nigerians.”

Why MFBs haven’t accessed CBN’s N500bn fund – Popoola

pg 39

Weststar introduces 2014 Chrysler 300C

pg 37

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Business News

Governors’ jumbo pension unhealthy for economy –TMG T Chijioke Iremeka

he Transition Monitoring Group has condemned the pension laws being passed by various state houses of assembly for outgoing governors, saying these would worsen the nation’s economic woes.

It called for the immediate repeal of these laws.

Chairman of the group, Zik Ibrahim, said on Wednesday in Lagos that these laws are being passed without regard for the nation’s vulnerable and unstable revenue profile, as well as their debilitating impact on the nation’s fragile economy.

He said, “Apart from Governor Godswill Akpabio’s offensive ‘pension law’ being cosmetically reviewed by the Akwa

Ibom State House of Assembly, other states such as Rivers, Edo, Kwara and Lagos have put in place similar laws which provide a leeway for former governors and their deputies to live extravagantly off the public for the rest of their lives.”

He said that the pension laws which were hurriedly packaged by the governors in collaboration with the state assemblies,

is the height of the ploy by the Nigerian political elite to continue its mindless looting of public funds.

“This law is an attempt to use the valid process of legislation to rubber stamp an apparent assault on the commonwealth of the people and it will not stand.

The TMG considers these laws, especially the one in Akwa Ibom, which will see the governor,

L-R: Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo a.k.a Dbanj; Executive Director, Manilla Banking, Heritage Bank, Mary Akpobome; Group Head SME Banking, Heritage Bank, Bayo Ogunnusi; during the announcement of the partnership between Heritage Bank and Dbanj on the Agropreneur project, held in Lagos...on Thursday

while in retirement, gulp up to N100 million of state funds per year on medical expenses alone, among other allowances, as the height of the insensitivity and opportunism that have become the hallmark of the Nigerian political elite since 1999,” he said.

More so, TMG frowns at the attempt to use the institutions of state to create the framework for inconsiderate personal aggrandisement in the midst of poverty. He added that the push for benefits such as pension for life, the purchase of cars and acquisition of choice houses, all at public expense even when the beneficiaries are no longer public servants, is symptomatic of a political elite hell bent on fleecing its people to the hilt.

However, the Publicity Secretary of the group, Chief Eddy Ezurike, said TMG believes that public service is a sacred trust and a rare privilege for the public servants.

“It’s the public servant that should be grateful for the opportunity to serve, and not the other way round. No amount of vaunted infrastructural development or any other similar progress made in the states can rationalise the hefty burden that the governors are imposing on longsuffering Nigerians.

“From the point of sustainability, these laws defy logic.

Nigeria’s mono culture oil-dependent economy is currently reeling from the effects of rapid discoveries of other alternatives to crude oil in the world’s leading economies. Recently, the United States, a major importer of Nigeria’s light sweet crude announced an end to the importation of Nigerian oil,” he said.

Heritage Bank, Dbanj partner on Koko Agropreneur

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elebrated music artiste, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo, a.k.a D’Banj, who clocked 34-on Monday, June 9, has made a name for himself in the entertainment world. He is, today, one of Africa’s cult-figure artistes, with a followership that cuts across socio-economic barriers.

And while celebrating his achievements as a Nigerian act with international reckoning, the Koko Master, as he is popularly known, has launched another significant aspect of his career path – a strong entrepreneurial initiative focusing on agriculture and agro-economic enterprise.

Tagged ‘Koko Agropreneur’, Dbanj’s latest initiative is aimed

at providing practical leadership and encouragement to the youth to embrace the agricultural revolution being championed by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, as part of the national socio-economic transformation agenda. It is also an initiative designed to stress the significance of small and medium enterprises as a veritable platform for the future economic well-being of the country.

Earlier in the year, Dbanj made a donation of N50 million to Nagropreneur (Nigeria Agricultural Entrepreneur), - the national agricultural renewal project being championed by the ministry,- after he was appointed as the brand ambassador for the

Nagropreneur initiative.

“I have been so humble about what God has done in my life in the space of 10 years in the entertainment industry. I did promise on my 34th birthday that I wanted to give out N50 million to create 750,000 jobs for the Nigerian youth. I am glad that that dream has finally come to reality today,”D’banj said.

Providing support for the Koko Master in this new venture is Heritage Bank, the nation’s most innovative bank whose mandate is the creation, preservation and transfer of wealth via robust SME Support Scheme.

Through its unique SME Clinic, Heritage Bank continues to offer a holistic bailout strategy for

SMEs in the country through an amalgam of services such as business diagnostics, advisory services, financial literacy and entrepreneurship development, customised product development for each customer and market knowledge development. This scheme is backed up by the innovative Heritage Bank Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Investment Protection Fund; a non-collateralized funding option with embedded insurance for the default risk inherent in the SME scheme to assist the growth and rejuvenation of the sector.

The Heritage Bank support for Koko Agropreneur spans the entire scope of idea fine-tuning,

advisory, set-up, financials and customised product development in order to enhance the initiative’s MSME capacities and strengthen its business management skills, in addition to offering support programmes aimed at developing its survival and growth capabilities.

The Group Head, SME Banking at Heritage Bank, Bayo Ogunnusi, says, “We at Heritage Bank are pleased to partner Dbanj in the ‘Nagropreneur ’ (Nigeria Agricultural Entrepreneur) initiative.

As a bank whose ideology is to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations, this initiative falls right within our purview”.

SundayTransport 37

PAUL OGBUOKIRI, paulogbuokiri@gmail.com 0802-779-0557, 08037613380

W

Paul Ogbuokiri eststar Associates Nigeria Limited said on Tuesday that it had delivered the 2014 Chrysler 300C to the Nige-

rian market.

The company in a statement signed by the Head Media, Funmi Lawuyi, said the vehicle is a superior creation comprising top-notch materials and has RWD performance, superior handling and maximum road comfort.

The statement described the 2014 Cheyster 300C as outstanding, adding that Weststar is proud to be the Authorised General Distributor of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram, all joining its already existing group of brands in Nigeria.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that the group of brands is now under the umbrella of FiatChrysler Automobiles, after Fiat bought over Chrysler Group LCC earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/CEO of Weststar, Mr. Mirko Plath, has said that he is confident of the Chrysler 300C’s fate in the auto market, and with good reason.

He said, “A raked-back windshield and forward-leaning fascia create improved aerodynamics with an aggressive stance, while tailored finishes of the iconic grille, LED headlamps and tail lamps give the Chrysler 300 a look unlike any other;- that of sheer boldness, beauty and class.

Whatever the distance or weather, the Chrysler 300 has a number of amenities in place to pamper the driver/passenger on the way. There’s riding comfort with eight-way power seats featuring four-

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNRDAY

JUNE 15, 2014

Weststar introduces 2014 Chrysler 300C way lumbar support for the driver and front passenger. The luxurious seating for five not only adjusts to accommodate the driver and passenger/s, but also when storing your belongings. The 60/40 split rear seatbacks fold down to store longer items in the rear.

According to him, the Chrysler 300 possesses a power tilt and telescoping steering column feature, which stores personalised height and angle adjustment preferences for two different drivers. He added that the column can adjust both up and down as well as forward and back.

In addition, precise

driving comfort is achieved with just the push of a button. Also, the pedals can be up closer to your foot, or extended farther towards the floor to lengthen your driving position. Thanks to the memory system, once the pedals are adjusted, your settings are saved, Plath said.

He said that the car has a luxurious cabin effect which is given with ultra soft leather trim offerings.

“To add to that is a leather-wrapped steering wheel and refinements like chrome accents and LED mood lighting.

There’s total attention to detail as is evidenced in the availability of real wood and satin finishes,” he adds.

Plath also said that the 2014 Chrysler 300C is fortified with an arsenal of standard and available active and passive interior and exterior safety and security features. I.e. a ParkView Rear Back up Camera, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection, ParkSense Front and Rear Park Assist, Reactive Front Head Restraints, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and a Four-Wheel Disc Antilock Brake System are just a handful of the features offered.

“This dynamic engineering and solid Chrysler brand craftsmanship comes standard with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

Auto Clinic Whether you’re a new or experienced driver, following these common sense tips can help keep you, your passengers and your car safe, and your premiums low.

Before You Get Behind the Wheel Keep up with car maintenance - Well-maintained cars are safer cars, so make sure you change your oil on a regular basis and make sure all the parts of your car (engine, tires, belts, hoses, mirrors, windows, windshield wipers, lights, horn, etc.) are working properly.

Consider installing a car alarm to deter potential thieves.

Plan ahead - Consider the safest route and give yourself enough time to get to your destination so you don’t feel the need to speed.

Check the forecast to find out if severe weather is expected when and where you’re driving, then plan your trip accordingly.

Be prepared for emergencies - All drivers should prepare an emergency road kit and store it in the trunk of their vehicle. Suggested items include a flashlight, road flares, a first aid kit, blanket, water, road atlas and warm clothes for use in the winter season.

When Driving Don’t drive tired - Make sure you’re well rested and

alert for your journey.

Avoid driving distracted - Put down the cell phone, food, hairbrush and makeup. Avoid adjusting the radio, heater/air conditioner. Stay focused on the road ahead instead of the scenic view and any accidents that might be on the side of the road.

Follow the driving laws - Buckle up, maintain a safe distance from other cars, stay out of the passing lane if you’re not passing another vehicle, etc.

Never operate a vehicle while impaired - An auto should never be operated if you drink alcohol or take drugs. Once they’re consumed, alcohol or drugs immediately impair your judgment, reaction time slows, and emotions and behavior become exaggerated. If you operate a motor vehicle while impaired, you jeopardize not only your life, but also the lives of others.

Be patient and considerate to other drivers - It’s important to treat other drivers as you would want to be treated.

Aggressive driving, following too close and using high beams improperly are all examples of actions that can lead to serious accidents.

When You Park Your Car Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up, and

take your keys with you. Don’t make it easy for thieves to steal your car or the items in it.

Remove valuable items from your car or keep them out of plain site so thieves won’t be tempted to break in and steal them.

Park your car in a well-lit, well-travelled area.

Avoid parking next to large vehicles or any objects (dumpsters, large trees or shrubbery, etc.) that someone could easily hide behind.

If you have a breakdown If you’re in an accident or your car breaks down, safety should be your first concern. Getting out of the car at a busy intersection or on a highway to change a tyre or check damage from a fender bender is probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down: Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you’ve been involved in an accident, motion the other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.

Source: Insurance Information Institute www.iii.org

38

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sunday Transport

Ford lowers MPG ratings on six vehicles

F

ord has announced that it will be lowering the fuel economy ratings on a number of its 2013 and 2014 model year vehicles after an error was discovered in the company’s internal testing data. The EPA has been notified.

Worryingly for Ford, the vast majority of the vehicles affected are hybrids, including the C-Max, Fusion and MKZ in both hybrid and plug-in varieties (where applicable). Also covered as part of the rerating is the entire lineup of 2014 Fiesta engines, with the exception of the ST, including the turbocharged, three-cylinder EcoBoost.

The C-Max was originally rated at 47/47/47 mpg, but dropped to 43/45/40 last year and now to 40/42/37.

The Fiesta range is seeing corrections of one to two miles per gallon in the combined rating. C-Max Hybrid models are seeing their combined rating decreased by three mpg, the Fusion’s

drops by five mpg, and the MKZ drops seven mpg. Both the C-Max and Fusion Energi models have had their ratings slashed by five mpg. Ford critics will note that this is the second time in less than a year that the Blue Oval has had to recalculate the economy ratings for the C-Max Hybrid. That car was originally rated at 47/47/47 mpg (combined/city/highway), which was dropped to 43/45/40 last year and now to 40/42/37.

“This issue highlights the need for continued strong oversight of the fuel economy labeling program,” Chris Grundler, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, said in a statement. “Consumers need to trust that fuel economy window stickers are giving consumers reliable and fair estimates of real world fuel economy.”

The problem cropped up in what’s known as the Total Road Load Horsepower. According to Ford, TRLHP is

specific to each vehicle, and is used as a measure of resistance in dyno testing for fuel economy ratings. Apparently, Ford discovered that the TLRHP used on the vehicles affected was incorrect.

There were also issues with the way wind tunnel testing was factored in to the dyno resistance rating. In Ford’s case, it seems like they’re trying to pull a Hyundai and Kia and take the honest way out by acknowledging the fault.

“Ford is absolutely committed to delivering top fuel economy and accurate information,” said Alan Mulally.

“We apologize to our customers and will provide goodwill payments to affected owners. We also are taking steps to improve our processes and prevent issues like this from happening again.”

We’ve got those goodwill payments available below in a table. You can also take a look at the press releases of both Ford and the EPA, which includes a complete breakdown of the re-rated economy figures

Mazda redesigns 1.5-litre SKYACTIV diesel engines M

azda has joined the global trend for downsizing engines with its new turbocharged 1.5-liter SKYACTIV diesel.

The engine features a very low compression ratio (14:8:1) like the 2.2-liter SKYACTIV diesel featured in the CX-5, but less mechanical resistance and additional work to limit the cooling losses associated with a small engine.

It also takes advantage of a water-cooled intercooler that is integrated into the intake manifold, which improves engine response and the efficiency of the turbocharger.

Mazda’s 1.5-liter SKYACTIV diesel engine The engine makes 77 kW (105 hp) at 4,000 rpm, and an impressive 250 Nm (184 ft lb) between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. Mazda claims the torque figure is equivalent to that which you’d find in a 2.5-liter petrol motor, and because the engine meets the strict Euro6 emissions targets, Mazda claims no costly NOx aftertreatment system is needed to curb emissions.

To keep fuel consumption down, the new car will feature Mazda’s i-stop system, which stops the engine when sitting still instead of wasting fuel idling. It also will feature i-ELOOP brake regeneration, a system that stores energy gained when braking and uses it to help power the car’s electronics. The 2015 Mazda 2 will be the first car to utilize the new engine.

Source: Mazda

L-R : Partner, Steward Redqueen, Dr. Rene Kim and Head, Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Bank, Diran Olojo, during the Press conference on the Bank’s Africa Report Roadshow, held at the Bank’s new head office, in Lagos ...recently.

Weststar introduces 2014 Chrysler 300C C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 8

which runs on a performance of 292 HorsePower and 353 NM of Torque,” he stated.

There’s also the optional power of a 5.7L HEMI V8, 363 HorsePower and 531 NM of Torque with Fuel Saver Technology, he said.

The available All-Wheel Drive system gives you AWD when you need it and RWD when you don’t. This is even as the system optimises vehicle traction and cornering stability in nearly all conditions, while the innovative ‘active transfer case with frontaxle disconnect’ maximises fuel economy.

Also, every Chrysler 300 is equipped with front multistage airbags which deploy with the

appropriate force, based on the severity of the impact. Side-curtain airbags help provide added protection for all outboard passengers in side-impact collisions or rollover events. Front seat-mounted side airbags help provide enhanced side impact protection. A driver inflatable knee blocker deploys when the driver’s airbag deploys. It helps position the driver relative to the front airbag and avoids sliding under the instrument panel in the event of a collision.

The standard 8.4-inch Uconnect System, with Voice Command, has the largest touchscreen in its class. To keep your hands on the wheel, the Uconnect System enables the driver to use voice to select AM/FM radio stations, access his/her favourite playlist

on MP3 player or USB, SiriusXM Satellite Radio+ channels and make calls The Chrysler 300C stands out in a remarkable way and never fails to command attention.

These are found in numerous attractive features which include: bright chrome door handles, mirror caps and exterior accents: There is certainly something to be said about the allure of the chrome appointments on the new 2014 Chrysler 300C. These accents blend retro and modern styling to create an evocative statement. The 18-inch chromeclad aluminum wheels are standard on the Chrysler 300C RWD. These finely crafted symbols of excellence in both taste and design proudly announce your arrival.

The Chrysler 300C has fog lamps that further spotlight lowvisibility paths. These projector fog lamps increase light spread performance to help deliver improved forward lighting in reduced visibility.

Available Light Group with Adaptive Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps, A Headlamp Leveling System and High Beam Control: Intelligent headlamp technology like Bi-Xenon High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, a headlamp leveling system and high beam control keeps the road brightly lit and ensures excellent visibility at night.

The 2014 Chrysler 300C is also available at any of Weststar’s dealerships- Sunny Motors and M-B Automobiles.

Meanwhile, Weststar said it

had contacted the few customers of Dodge Durange and Jeep Grand Cherokee over the recent recall by Chrysler on some 2011 through to 2014 model year of vehicles.

The Head Media, Weststar, Ms Funmi Lawuyi, said the recall was due to a problem with the break booster which could pose a problem during winter conditions.

“This means that only winter countries may feel the impact of this potential difficulty. Nigeria doesn’t experience the winter season, but none-the-less, Weststar has taken progressive steps to contact the very few customers, who might be affected, for vehicle inspection. Thereafter, essential and appropriate action will be taken, if necessary.”

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Sunday Interview

Why MFBs haven’t accessed CBN’s N500bn fund – Popoola Mr. Deji Popoola is the Managing Director of Fina Trust Micro-Finance Bank. He spoke to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on the challenges of MFBs in Nigeria and why CBN approved debenture of N500bn has not been accessed by MFBs. Excerpts: One of the reasons for the establishment of MFBs is get to the unbanked but we see that they are seen mainly in the cities. What informed this trend?

I don’t think such is a fair assessment because more MFBs are located in the rural areas than in the cities. May be because they are visible in the environment where we operate. In all the nooks and crannies of the country you will find them there.

More so, MFB is like every other business in the world, where the owner has the rights to locate, where he wants, whether in the hinter land or in the rural areas. But I don’t want to believe that there are more MFBs in the cities than at the rural areas.

Between commercial banks and MFBs, which plays the major role in financing SMEs in the country?

It depends on what project is involved.

For me, basically, I would say that both organisations have special roles and different responsibilities. But they look alike in their features. When it comes to local farmers and agriculture, MFBs are more viable because they are closer to the customers.

It’s easier for them to reach the farmers and market women at the local level. But they all have roles to play. When it comes to critical development, in terms of infrastructure, commercial banks are in a better position to do that. Like you said, MFBs are meant to cater for the unbanked. I would say that commercial banks are better positioned to stimulate infrastructural development and foster the development of SMEs. MFBs are there to alleviate poverty and support SMES in the country.

What informed your stance that commercial banks are better positioned to stimulate economic growth and economic development than MFBs? I said so, in terms of share capital, capacity, deposits, regulation and capital outlay. You don’t expect MFB’s share capital of between N150 million and 200 million to go into developmental projects. Also, commercial banks have better engines of deposit than MFBs. They can get deposit for five to 10 years and I’m not sure there is any MFB that can have deposits for over three years. Commercial banks have vast funds and developmental funds. We cannot do developmental projects with shortterm funds. It’s only natural.

Recently, CBN approved a debenture of N500bn to be issued by the Bank of Industry to SMEs - N300bn to the power sector and N200bn to refinance SMEs/ manufacturers. How have these funds fared?

You just said that that is going to power and SMEs. The money has not been disbursed and I’m not sure that MFBs will be part of that project.

I don’t think any MFB would come out today and say it has been able to access the fund.

As at September 30, 2005, commercial banks had set aside N38.31 billion or 27.per cent under SMEEIS, while N10.54bn had been disbursed. What went wrong?

I don’t work with a commercial bank.

So, I wouldn’t know but Nigerians should begin to understand that we have a deficiency in private businesses. And people say there is no capital, but I can truly say that people don’t come out with business ideas, which they want banks to sponsor.

And I must say that neither the commercial banks nor MFBs have such money to throw into a non-viable business. The success of any business hinges on the availability of information on the business.

How informed one is about cash flow, business plan and a whole lot of things.

Now, where those things are deficient, what do you expect us to do? We must be able to do business based on facts available. In most cases, I discover that when people want to get into business, they do not have good business plans. So, when the banks want to go into projects, they discover that these things are deficient. We should be able to do business with facts and information available. Let the investors and people come with business and account that are verifiable and verifiable cash information.

That reminds me of the statement made by the president of Africa Finance Corporation that Nigeria experiences low project financing from the corporation due to her poor bankable projects. Does that corroborate with what you just said?

I wouldn’t say that but I think if the project we have at hand at a particular time is bankable, banks will be ready to sponsor them. One of the things that is essential for us to drive growth and development is to invest in the infrastructure. Our power infrastructure is so bad. We need to invest significant amount of money in the power sector and then we can stimulate growth, development and productivity. We also have to invest in the transport sector, human capital and on a whole lot of things.

For instance, if I’m on a flight, coming to invest in Nigeria, if I get to the airport, I’m already discouraged and disappointed because the whole system is bad. The roofs are leaking, toilets not working and roads

a r e very deplorable. How c a n a road that leads to the international airport, the gateway to the country, be that bad? Those are things that government will invest in to transform the country.

Also, we need to invest more in housing development and railway. In other countries, you will see a lot of people travelling within and out of the country through rail. In the UK, you get a train to France.

Our schools and hospitals should be developed. When these things are in order, people will go into production of drugs and other things but when there are dysfunctional, jobs will not be created.

In the lists of these projects, where do MFBs fit in?

The MFBs will perform better when these are in place. People will want to create wealth because they have multiple sources of capital. So who wouldn’t want to come to MFBs to assess loans, business advice and lots more? And these people that could not go to the commercial banks will now come up with their business ideas to be supported. By these, they would employ more people and that is when the SMEs will begin to thrive. So, we empower them with credit facility and technical advice.

Many have advocated that government should create an avenue through which money should be steady in the MFBs for the development of SMEs. Is there any policy today that ensures steady supply of funds to MFBs? Like every other bank, we are supposed to raise deposits from the public. I have never been an advocate of that. Banks should be treated as private liability companies. I shouldn’t say they should get deposits from government. If we are expecting government to give us money, then we should also expect the man with a publishing firm to seek money from government to do his business. MFBs should be institutions with a strong corporate structure to run its business.

Are your loans guaranteed by CBN or not?

They are not backed by CBN. Most of the loans we give out are not secured; we do it from the volume of cash we got from the customers.

What do you consider the major changes

that militate against the smooth running of the MFBs in the country?

There are a whole lot of issues. Most of the loans we give out are lost due to high level of mobility. People live here today, and tomorrow they are gone. You can trace them because they don’t have national identity cards to trace them. Today, one can answer John Jean and tomorrow changes his name to Kingsley John and you can’t get them. There is lack of sincerity on the part of customers. A lot of them come right from the beginning with the intention to defraud. Others come with the intention of not wanting to repay their loans. Also, environmental risks are there. Today, where you are doing business may be demolished by the government and customers suffer significant losses and as a result cannot pay back as expected.

Does it mean your loans are not secured with collateral?

In most cases, we don’t take collateral for loans because a lot of customers don’t have collateral to offer. And that is why we have MFBs in the country to support business with or without minimal collateral. We produce adequate insecure loans unlike commercial banks.

Some MFBs have caved in due to some of the challenges you mentioned. Why do I need to transact business with Fina Trust MFB instead of another?

We have been around for over five years.

So, in terms of credibility, we are there.

We pride ourselves as being one of the best professionals in the business; one of the few highly ethical professional institutions. Our corporate governance and institutional frameworks are very strong, yet we have a good management team for proper running of our businesses.

If CBN under Lamido Sanusi Lamido injected so much into the failing banks to rescue them, why hasn’t such been done for the sick MFBs? I agree with you. I’m sure the reason is best known to the regulators. I was thinking that if there was a global financial meltdown and CBN was able to bailout commercial banks, it should be able to do same to us. I wonder why the government didn’t do same with MFBs.

40

T

he equities market in the week traded southwards returning -0.03% WoW though market mood could be said to be largely positive. Analysis of volume and value of transactions shows that volume traded increased significantly by c.50% while value traded swung in the opposite direction, declining by a significant 32%.

From sector viewpoint, Oil and Gas posted the highest return WoW (3.25%) followed by Insurance (2.56%), Banking (2.55%) and Healthcare that inched up marginally by 0.02%. Profit taking, however, played out in Industrial, Conglomerate, Agriculture and Consumer goods, each dipping by 1.72%, 1.65%, 1.39% and 1.13% in that order.

We analyse further the prevailing sentiments in the respective sectors cum our expectations for the coming week.

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Bears still in the crannies …last trading day rescues YtD return

Banking: Resurgence from previous weeks’ lull

During the week, news filtered into the market that six banks were fined a total of NGN392.77mn by the Central Bank of Nigeria for violations of Nigerian banking laws in 2013. The banks which included DIAMOND, FCMB, SKYE, STERLINGBNK, UBA and ZENITHBANK were found guilty of breaching different parts of the ‘Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act’ (BOFIA). ZENITHBNK was the most guilty, paying the highest fine of NGN276mn.

This revelation however did not have a major impact on the stock prices last week as prices did not seem to be adversely affected. The banking sector continued to receive investor interest as the positive sentiment surrounding the stocks continued. We think the surge in recent weeks (save for the lull witnessed the previous week) has been due partly to investors taking position ahead of Q2:2014 results. Out of the 15 publicly traded banking stocks 12 returned positive this week with only DIAMONDBNK, FCMB and UBN shedding 1.47%, 0.96% and 0.78% respectively.

The major gainers in the sector this week were UBA, GUARANTY and STANBIC which gained 7.55%, 4.2% and 3.6% in the week. Sector P/E and P/BV stand at 8.07x and 0.87x respectively relative to the market ratios of 13.38x and 2.43x in that order in our view will continue to buoy positive for the sector. We expect most of the banks to release positive results for Q2:2014 for which we believe informed investors are taking position ahead of.

Insurance: Positive momentum rebounds

The sector bounced back from the negative return it posted in the preceding week as position taking in major counters outweighed profit taking to put WtD return at 2.56%. Top gainers for the week were PRESTIGE, WAPIC, CUSTODYINS, MBENEFIT, MANSARD, CONTINSURE and ROYALEX, returning 5.88%, 5.56%, 5.06%, 4.00%, 3.73%, 2.88% and 1.92% in that order while the laggards were AIICO

GMD, UBA, Philip Oduoza

and OASIS, shedding 2.38% and 1.85% respectively.

Investors’ buy interest in CUSTODYINS stayed for the fifth consecutive week which we attribute to the company’s fantastic Q1:2014 result cum expectations for the second quarter. We expect the positive sentiments towards the counter to persist as the company continues to enjoy synergy from its merger with Crusader Insurance.

As has been the trend for most trading weeks so far this year, we expect some of the stocks that gained during the week to shed some gains this week.

Others that closed negative may witness some level of price gyration.

Consumer Goods: We expect an impressive FY result from INTBREW

Performance of the consumer goods sector was rather mixed, though a good majority of the listed stocks closed the week positive. Sector index as measured by NSEFB10 declined 0.62% reflecting sell sentiments on the major stocks in the sector.

PZ led the sector gainers with a price appreciation of 6.94%, other gainers include HONYFLOUR, CADBURY and UNILEVER with 4.50%, 3.07% and 2.44% appreciation respectively.

On the flip side, NASCON depreciated the most, shedding 11.74% after

GMD, GT Bank, Segun Agbaje

it was marked down on a dividend of NGN0.90 declared by the company during the week. NESTLE and FLOURMILL were other decliners in the food segment.

In the brewery sub-sector, NB retracted to NGN174.64 (2.11% depreciation) as against NGN178.4 in the previous week. Investors’ sentiment on NB can be largely attributed to the proposed merger with consolidated breweries Plc though occasional profit taking occurs.

GUINNESS stayed relatively calm, as the stock failed to recover from investors’ negative reaction to its NineMonth earnings release. The stock has remained within the range of NGN176 to NGN181 for over five weeks compared with NGN 190.00 prior to the release of its 9-M result.

INTBREW appreciated 0.19% WtD even as the beer maker further delayed the release of its full year result. Nevertheless, we expect the company to post impressive full year revenue and PAT growth given that the value segment where the company currently operates is the major driver of growth in the sector.

Industrial Goods: Investors’ apprehension drives stocks southward

The week was dominated by negative sentiments as investors’ took prof-

its on prior week’s gains on WAPCO and ASHAKACEM while the volatility of DANGCEM tilted towards the negative territory (losing 1.30% WtD).

While WAPCO’s 6.78% WtD loss may be attributed to profit taking, we think the share price decline may also have been as a result of investors’ apprehension over the proposed consolidation of its Nigerian and South African businesses. ASHAKACEM 4.8% loss on the first two trading days of the week can be largely attributed to investors profit taking. However, the stock gained from mid-week, yet it closed the week lower by 1.28%.

We expect investors to remain cautious with their decisions on WAPCO and ASHAKACEM. Our expectation is drawn from the uncertainties surrounding the impacts of the new cement standard on their numbers as well as the share exchange on consolidation though we see a favourable outcome for investors of both stocks at the current price levels. Q2:2014 results remain the trigger for positive stock returns.

The chemical and paints subsector on the other hand enjoyed a relatively positive mood as none of the paints stocks traded in the negative zone.

Positive activities in the subsector were however mild as only BERGER (4.53%) and PORTPAINT (1.48%) recorded

41

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Market Report gains this week.

Healthcare: No counter closed negative

The healthcare sector closed the week positive with a marginal return of 0.02% after a disappointing 0.21% loss in the previous week. Most counters in the sector closed positive with NEIMETH recording the highest return of 5.83% to mount the 12.15% price appreciation it recorded in the prior week following the news that entered the market as regards the company’s investment to upgrade its factory.

EVANSMED followed suit returning 0.75%, GLAXOSMITH inched up marginally by 0.01% (after shedding 0.22% in prior week) while FIDSON closed flat after shedding 2.4% on the last trading day.

We still remain upbeat on FIDSON and GLAXOSMITH on the back of their sound fundamentals.

Agric: Sector posts negative WtD return on Profit taking

PRESCO and LIVESTOCK shed 2.53% and 0.32% respectively during the week to bring WtD sector returns to -1.39%.

Positive sentiments predominated on OKOMUOIL through the week until Friday when it shed its gains to return 0.00% for the week. The company had its AGM during the week during which the N1.00 dividend was approved, with payment date scheduled for Mon-

MD, Stanbic Bank, Sola David-Borha

day, 16th June 2014. PRESCO on the other hand shed 2.53%, after posting 4.17% the previous week, as technical traders booked profits. LIVESTOCK continued to trade around the N3.00 mark posting gains and losses on different days. It however closed the week with a 0.32% loss. No extraordinary volumes were observed on any of the 3 stocks.

We do not expect any major change in stock prices in the coming week except if there is major news to drive trades.

However, technical indicators suggest that the downtrend in

PRESCO may continue into this week. OKOMUOIL and LIVESTOCK remain in the fairly bought region and may remain there for the week.

Oil and Gas: Bullish week for CONOIL and ETERNA

After weeks of relative calmness, Conoil embarked on a bullish run this week as positive expectations for the company’s full year result drove price appreciation. Conoil returned 39.87% for the week to close at NGN72.73. Given that its full year result is scheduled to be released by the second

week of August, we envisage a further rally on the counter as investors continue to take position. However, it is likely that high prices might invite the activities of profit takers.

After weeks of negative sentiments that saw ETERNA’s share price decline significantly, the low prices attracted investors to the stock during the week. This put the share price in an upward trajectory with the stock returning 26.80% for the week to close at NGN4.40. Activities of profit takers might suppress the counter in the coming week, we however maintain a positive outlook on the stock.

Save for MOBIL and MRS which returned 4.02% and 3.56% for the week, all other counters in the industry closed flat.

The Ministers of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ended their meeting on Wednesday without any significant change to policies. Production ceiling was maintained at 30mb/d as the organisation believes both suppliers and consumers are satisfied with the current state of the oil market.

Furthermore, the ministers retained Abdullah el-Badri for another six months as the organisation’s secretary general and only decided to put Nigeria’s proposal of replacing him with her petroleum minister, Alison-Madueke, under consideration.

SERVICES: Sector heads south

The services sector traded in the negative zone this week, declining by 1.03% as measured by our Meristem services index. The mood in the market, despite the overall loss, was however mixed as five stocks gained while five declined.

AIRSERVICE continued its upward movement as it consolidated the previous week’s gains with 6.06% increase in its share price. NAHCO, RTBRISCOE, TRANSEXPR also advanced in the week gaining 0.63%, 3.70% and 1.73% in that order.

CAVERTON recorded its first gain since listing on Wednesday with a 3.58% increase in price. The positive sentiments on the stock persisted for the rest of week driving the stocks YtD to -47.58% following a 12.93% gain WoW. IKEJAHOTEL recorded the most loss this week as it shed 13.33% due to profit taking by investors as the stock had enjoyed a rally in the recent past.

TRANSCORP shareholders also appeared to be cashing out following a six-week rally as the stock declined by 2.28% WoW. We see the service sector bouncing back from its recent downtrend in the coming weeks even as investors continue to take position ahead of half year results.

Industrialist boosts job creation in Anambra community C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

American visitors hail Nigerian business spirit After they had toured their Nigerian partner’s investments in Umuchu, the American businessmen also visited the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Godson Ezechukwu. The monarch told them that Calton products were quite useful to many of his subjects who are timber dealers. He urged them to establish a branch of Blount Internationals in his kingdom and not to countenance reports of criminal activities in the state, giving the assurance that the state government was making efforts to put crime under control.

At a press conference, Pears spoke positively of Nigerian entrepreneurs, describing them as "good people for commercial transactions."

In the same vein, Kuyper told newsmen in Onitsha during their tour of their distributors' outlets that it was clear to them that "only just a few bad eggs are giving Nigeria a bad name."

He explained that since 2005 when Blount opened a business deal with Ezeemo, it had not had cause to regret the partnership.

Pears told the distributors of his company's products that the best way to relate with Nigerians is to deal honestly with them, adding, "Nigerians will not have any other option than to reciprocate. We are

Some of the foreign visitors

here to hear from you some of the problems you encounter in the sales of our products to the end users, and to also address them.

"Nigerians are very good people to do business with. We have been in this business with our major distributor, Mr. Godwin, for a long time, and we can tell you that Nigerians are very wonderful. We use Godwin to judge what Nigerians can do, and I can tell you that Nigeria is wonderful," Pears said.

No to substandard products for Nigerian consumers Also speaking during the tour, Ezeemo told the traders that he is working hard to ensure that the American company improves on the quality of their products. He assured the traders that he would ensure that the company continues to improve everyday for the benefit of end users in Nigeria and other West African countries, where he

also distributes Blount's products.

He maintained that he "was not ready to do business like some businessmen by asking the company for a reduction in the quality of their products because I have a monopoly of the distribution of the product in the country. Rather, I'm encouraging and advising them on ways of improving their products to ensure that they win the Nigerian and West African markets.

"We know that a lot of people

have been faking our products, but very soon we will come back here to sanitise this market."

During the Umuchu tour last Thursday, the tourists had a harrowing experience coursing through a winding, rough and undulating road, the type that has never been tarred. The sprawling farm located far into a rural part of the community certainly calls for attention in view of the poor condition of the earth road.

42

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Tel: 08027790557, 08037613380

How thrift banking aids Owerri traders Steve Uzoechi

S

Owerri

ome call it thrift savings, others call it ‘daily contribution’ while several others call it ‘akawo’ in market parlance. Whatever it is called, it is fast becoming an alternative banking system of choice among traders in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Whether the contributions are daily, weekly, fortnightly or even monthly, the traders are dedicated to this contractual transaction.

They commit their resources to it with a near religious fervour, striving to deposit agreed sums according to agreed schedules.

New Telegraph on Sunday sought to know the motivation behind the apparent massive drift towards thrift saving by visiting Owerri Main market otherwise known as Eke Ukwu Owerri.

A patent medicine dealer, Chinedu Anthony, says, “It makes savings easier and gives you the chance to dictate how you want to do your savings transaction with the thrift company. It is far more convenient and preferable to going to the bank every day. At the end of every month or every two months, I get to collect my savings and I still lodge them in a bank.

But thinking of going to the bank every day, no that is impossible.”

Anthony agreed that there is an inherent risk of a thrift company or its representative absconding with the depositor’s money. He acknowledges that “this is one risk everybody wishing to engage in thrift transaction has to contend with. Anybody could abscond with your money no matter how trustworthy they appear.”

He advised that the weekly thrift was less risky as it involves a group and pays out to depositors on a weekly basis. The daily thrift, he said, poses more risks as it is coordinated by one company representative who cannot entirely be put in check as the payout is hardly on a weekly basis.

He, however, agreed that there are some decent people running thrift operations.

For Mrs. Gloria Ebere, a dealer in cotton, blinds and household wares, thrift saving is a way out for busy traders who cannot afford the time for banking routines.

She said, “Sometimes, I attend to customers from morning till around late afternoon. By the time I remember I have to go to the bank, they would have closed for the day. Sometimes also, with the pressure of sales, you may entirely forget the need to save some money, but with the thrift operators, they bring the bank to your shop by coming to collect your money at your shop and bringing you cash when you need it.”

Continuing she said, “In the banks you wait for hours on end until you start receiving calls from your customers telling you that they are waiting at your shop or are on their way to your shop. Most times, you are forced to leave the bank and return to

Akujuobi Michael

Mrs. Kelechi Nnotum

your shop and attend to your customers. As a matter of fact, since January, I have not been to any bank at all.”

Ebere, who said there is much risk involved, narrated an experience. She said, “I’m a devout Christian. Once, a girl from my church who was operating a thrift organisation, came to me to save with her company.

I agreed and not only registered with her company but also drew some of my friends

and neighbours in the market to join. The girl disappeared with our money and could not be traced even in the church.

The rest is now history. So it is a matter of trust, and even at that it is never fool-proof.”

To cushion the effect of a thrift company absconding with a depositor’s money, Ebere said most traders had resorted to saving small amounts like N1000 or N2000 in five or six different thrift organisation to

reduce the impact of loss in any. This is based on the understanding that all cannot fail at the same time.

She also conceded that most times, thrift is a safer option for the less literate.

“Most of us cannot use the ATM card, I don’t even have one. The bank processes seem frustrating as some traders may find it challenging to even write and fill out bank forms. So it is easier to go to a place where al-

most everything is done for you.

All you need to do is to watch while they tick your column and mark what you have deposited.”

A twist to the foregoing came from another female trader who deals in groceries and baby wear.

According to Madam Kelechi Nnotum, thrift saving is a more convenient method of saving funds but regretted that the operators have failed most of their clients and the risk is no longer worth the gain.

“They have disappointed me several times, so I quit. My neighbour in the next shop currently has a serious challenge paying up the money she collected as thrift from depositors.

Her shop is shut and she cannot come to market because of the issue. That was why I had to look elsewhere,” Nnotum explained.

She explained that a microfinance bank is now doing for her exactly all the thrift companies do because the operations of the latter, though with some trust issues, have a wide appeal. She noted that any serious minded financial institution should to a large extent adopt some of the modalities of the thrift operators, as over 75 per cent of traders in this market engage in thrift savings.

“Instead of going to the bank in the middle of all these rush and sales, the microfinance people now come to my house on the agreed days of Monday, Wednesday and Friday to collect my deposit. Whenever I need money, all I need to do is call them and they bring me cash. They were recommended to me and they have not failed,” she said.

In spite of the risk of thrift operators absconding with depositors’ fund, Oluchi Osuji, who deals in stationeries, differed with Nnotum. She says that thrift saving is worth the risk.

Hear her, “There is no guarantee that the thrift operators would not disappear with your money, but it is easier to take the pain and continue than stopping and still wasting resources on frivolities. What I mean is this: you cannot go to the bank everyday for 30 days of the month to deposit N1000 in a bank, but you can contribute N1000 daily for 30 days, sitting in the comfort of your shop. This same N1000, if not saved, can easily be spent on frivolities without you noticing it. In everything in life, there is a risk; there is profit and loss, so it should not stop anybody from investing in what he knows is right.”

She, however, suggested that people should only deposit money with thrift operators whose houses and places of work they know and not to strangers.

She also maintained that it is easier to get a loan in the place you make thrift deposits than in any bank.

D uring the 2012 Hollywood Oscar award, popular actress Angelina Jolie looked ravishing in a black velvet Atelier Versace gown with a thighhigh slit that stunned the world. Her ‘leg flashing’ even got a Twitter handle! Since then, Jolie’s leggy Versace dress started a hot trend and celebrities show off their legs in thigh high slits at red carpet events till date.

‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it’ has become a cliché for fashion forward ladies as they do their ‘thing’ on the red carpet. Ladies with beautiful legs cannot help but show off what they have by wearing clothes slit high up to their thighs. The more daring ladies take the slit a little higher, all the

The thigh-high slit focuses on body shape while allowing for motion with ease. It celebrates the female form in a sexy yet polished manner and channels classic red-carpet glamour.

High slits look better on clinging dresses that accentuate the curves and shape of the woman.

It can be made from any type of material - sequins, Lycra, chiffon and the crepe.

These fabrics easily cling to the body, making it easy for fashion designers to cut eye catching slits that immediately draw attention to the thighs.

Wearing high slit dresses have only one code though - make sure you have the legs to show off or else you will commit

Here is a quick check list before you get yourself a thigh high slit dress: * The style is strictly meant for after dusk affairs that call for something glamorous. Don’t ever wear it to casual occasions. * If you don’t have great legs like Jolie, ensure the slit is modest. You can go for a slit that ends at the knee. * Thigh high slits demand all the attention they deserve. So go really easy on accessories. Also, they work best on single colours. * Wear very high pumps or sandals when wearing thigh high slits to show off the beauty of the dress and your legs as well.

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Flamboyant traditional outfits for special occasions Vanessa Okwara

I

f you are attending a special event such as a traditional wedding, coronation or an event that demands an ethnic touch, you’ll not go wrong with the traditional flowing attire popularly known as Agbada or Babanriga.

This style, predominantly worn by Yoruba and Hau-

sa men, has gained popularity in Nigeria.

Over time, Agbada or Babanriga has evolved to become a staple choice for that man who desires to show off his wealth, class and panache at a special occasion. It can be sewn with Guinea brocade, lace or good cotton material.

The choice of material in making an Agbada is

therefore very important as it will determine how expensive your whole ensemble is.

To stand out from the rest at that special occasion, make sure your flowing Agbada is designed with creative embroidery to give it a distinct appeal for that flamboyant and glam look.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Body&Soul

Couples must forgive easily

- Pastors Lucky and Abimbola Onyeemesi

Pastor Lucky Onyeemesi, the pastor in-charge of RCCG Zone 10, and his wife, Asst. Pastor Abimbola, share their love story with BAYO ADEOYE When and how did you meet your husband?

Abimbola: It is a long story. I met my husband when we were both together in Provincial Youth Fellowship many years ago in Owo, Ondo State, in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Then he was our youth leader while I was the treasurer.

I believe in God speaking to people about tomorrow. Before he came to me, I had already seen the vision. I prayed and fasted about my husband and God had already told me he was going to be my husband, but I decided not to tell anybody about it. Actually, there was something I didn’t like about him; ladies were always around him, being our leader. So I told myself that if he didn’t come to me, I would go back to God and ask for another man as husband. But along the line, my zonal pastor came and told me a similar thing to what I had received.

Lucky: Just as she said, we were brought up to ask God about our future.

We put everything in the hands of God about our future. Actually, several ladies showed interest, but when it was time for me to have a wife, I prayed. I can say it boldly, I prayed and I didn’t know that she had received the message two years before I received mine.

Actually, in the youth fellowship, she was fond of children and was always playing with children even when we were busy doing serious things and I always rebuked her publicly. So there was no love attraction until I received the message from God. But when I prayed about my marital life, I started seeing some things about her. One of those things I saw in the revelation was that we were in our usual camp, marching out for prayer and we marched out together. Incidentally, we were at the camp same day and I told her brother who was my pastor about the revelation. He asked me to pray further. So, I prayed and fasted for seven days. God confirmed it and gave me a clear revelation about her. Honestly speaking, I didn’t see

‘sorry’.

Lucky: Just as she said, it’s been God, primarily, and the training we were exposed to. The church background helps a lot.

Right from campus, we have been exposed to different seminars on marriage. We were taught about basic things that hold marriage together; ‘I am sorry’, ‘I love you’, ‘please pardon me’. I mastered them and ever since, I don’t find it difficult to say ‘I am sorry’ to my wife because I don’t intend to have another wife. There is this scripture that I got exposed to early in life. I am a marriage counsellor; I have to practise what I teach people. Even before my wife offends me, I have prepared forgiveness. We offend each other a lot but the forgiveness is always there. That is the truth.

anything special in her.

There were lots of more beautiful and attractive ladies, and she was even so slim. But it was God. I can say it anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

Okay, ladies pretend a lot; we all know that.

How did you receive him when he made his position known to you?

Abimbola: Actually I didn’t pretend, he was aware I had received him.

I only told him to give me some time. He rebuked me publicly and sisters were always around him.

So I was scared of what would happen in the future.

How long did you court?

Lucky: Six years.

Why did it take you that long?

Lucky: Nothing actually. The courtship started when I was in FUTA. After I left school in 2002, I worked for some time. But in 2005, when I made the final decision about my future, I went back to God

and He told me something about my life. Some of those things I saw in that revelation was that I was at the Redemption Camp again and I was trying to introduce my wife to Mummy Adeboye (wife of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye). She told me that I should not bother because she already knew her. She said, ‘By this time next year, you will be married’.

I saw the revelation in June 2005 and I was born in April. So, I planned to get married in April 2006.

I was born in that month and everybody knows that I like to do my things that month and I had carried my parents along. But our marriage never took place as planned because my father in-law didn’t give his consent until June that year. So our marriage was held on June 9 and 10.

Oh! Today is actually our eighth-year wedding anniversary. I didn’t even know. This is wonderful!

It wasn’t so long. She was working and she was also

a part-time student but I was not working. However, with what I had experienced in Ondo State, to avoid temptation, we got married eight months after I secured a job in Lagos in 2005.

Why did your parents object to the wedding taking place in April?

Abimbola: I didn’t know. They never told me. I lost my mum 18 years ago. So it was my dad and my elder brother that wanted it to hold in June.

Lucky: I think it was just to confirm the revelation I told you earlier.

After proposing to her, were there more temptations?

Yes, several girls came to me. Some of them even told me they received me but I never yielded to that. This thing does not work out that way. If you receive me and I don’t receive you, it won’t work out. They all tried but she was the anointed one and

God kept us together. I didn’t fall into temptation.

You have been married for eight years; what are the challenges so far?

Abimbola: So far, I thank God. He is faithful. What I would call my challenge might not be a challenge to some people; I have three boys and no baby girl yet. (Laughs).

Lucky: We thank God, He is wonderful; things have been very smooth in our marriage.

Eight years and still counting, what is the secret?

Abimbola: It is God, it’s been God. That’s what I will say. Though something happened that I felt like going back to my parents, but God frowns on divorce and again, you must have a forgiving heart.

But thank God for my husband, he is a man that always says ‘sorry’.

Even when I’m at fault, he still comes back and says

As a pastor and an African man, is he romantic?

Abimbola: Very romantic; unlike some African men, he helps me in the house. Despite his position as a zonal pastor, he sweeps the house, he cooks, washes plates and is very close to the children. He takes them to school and brings them back home.

Lucky: She is extremely romantic. I am happy I have her as my wife. She is beautiful, presentable, lovely and romantic and she cooks very well. I thank God I didn’t miss it in marriage.

As a wife and pastor, what advice do you have for women?

I will advise women not to be lazy. It is not good to be dirty. Married women must be romantic. You must satisfy your husband sexually so that ladies out there won’t give him what you fail to give him. The best thing is to satisfy your husband so as to keep him at home. And you need to be humble and lastly, you should try and tolerate each other.

Lucky: Man, be romantic to your wife. You should satisfy her sexually. You need to help her at home and lastly, you should realise that your wife is your partner and not your servant or slave.

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Keith Richards’ chieftancy titles T

alk about a foreigner who has a good rapport with Nigerians and loves chieftaincy titles like a typical Nigerian, the name that readily comes to mind is Chief Keith Richards, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

A number of traditional titles had been conferred on him from across the country.

Over the years, many titles have been bestowed on the British-born CEO. These titles include Aare Baaladun of Isolo Kingdom, a title which was given to him by the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, Lagos State; Ike Oha 1 of Okpu Omoubu Community, Abia State; and Eze Di Oroma 1 of Enugu State.

Recently, Chief Richards added to his haul of chieftaincy titles when he was turbanned the ‘Gunuwan Daura’ by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar.

Top government officials, executives as well as members of the diplomatic corps attended the ceremony that took place in the ancient town of Daura in Kastina State. The new title makes it the fifth for Chief Richards.

with

Bayo Adeoye 08032016869

bayoolunla@yahoo.com

Amos Adamu on the rebound

C

elebrated sport personality and former FIFA Executive Committee member, Amos Adamu, seems to be finding his way back to the highest football ruling body in the world after completing his suspension term.

A reliable source confirmed to Celeb Lounge that the former DirectorGeneral of the National Sports Commission was spotted at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, a couple of weeks ago where he went to perfect the necessary procedures to reclaim his position in the football house.

Adamu was banned for four years by the world football governing body for being allegedly enmeshed in a bribery scandal.

Ojora of Ijora marks 20 years on the throne I

Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s other passion

T

t was a day of great honour as government officials, captains of industry, royal fathers and other top personalities stormed Ijora Kingdom of Lagos State to join Oba Fatai Aremu Oyeyinka Aromire (Oyegbemi II) in celebrating his 20th year on the stool of his forefathers.

The celebration that held for a whole week peaked on Saturday, June 7, at the Oba’s palace in Ijora with king of Juju music, King Sunny Ade, on the band stand.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Minister of Defence (State), Musiliu Obanikoro; one of his predecessors, Demola Seriki; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Oba Saheed Elegushi; Oba Oniru and many others attended the party.

Aromire was elevated to the position of a substantive monarch in 2010 after 17 years of struggle as a white cap chief.

he newly installed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is no stranger to many in Nigeria. The ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is one of the most popular personalities in the country and journalists have written a lot about this controversial individual. However, not many are aware that the respected banker is a staunch supporter of Arsenal Football Club of England.

Celeb Lounge learnt that he loves the club so much that he occasionally travels to London to watch the club’s live matches. Also, he is among the top gold card carrying members of the club which allows him into VIP section of Emirates, the official stadium and headquarters of the club popularly known as the Gunners.

Between Obanikoro and Orelope-Adefulire

G

oing by their political differences, one would have expected a sour relationship between Minister of Defence (State), Musiliu Obanikoro; and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. Their long standing friendship has not been marred by the fact that while the deputy governor is in the All Progressives Congress, the minister is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. They are still the best of friends, going by what

Celeb Lounge noticed penultimate week at an event.

The minister was already seated at the event beside his brother and head of Obanikoro compound, Chief Ajayi-Bembe Obanikoro, before Orelope-Adefulire made her entry into the event with her aides.

She exchanged pleasantries with other personalities and on sighting the minister, she ignored ushers who were leading her to the ‘high table’ and made her way to his seat.

They hugged and had a

hearty discussion, laughing out loud at intervals.

From what Celeb Lounge observed, they enjoyed each other’s company very well.

Obanikoro and OrepopeAdefulire served under exGovernor Bola Tinubu as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation respectively in 1999 before the minister was elected to the Senate in 2003.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Body&Soul

Princess Aderenle Adeniran Ogunsanya’s new political moves

S

ince her removal as the Lagos SSG in 2007, Princess Aderenle AdeniranOgunsanya has not been that visible politically. At a point, nobody seemed to know her whereabouts.

But those close to the Ikorodu-born princess informed Celeb Lounge that she is now out of political hiatus and is making a comeback. Some said she might seek

with

Bayo Adeoye 08032016869

bayoolunla@yahoo.com

an elective position in the coming elections, hence her alliance with the powers that be in Lagos State APC. As gathered, the former SSG is now busy holding meetings with some political bigwigs as well as those who matter in her constituency. This move is seen as part of her attempt to ensure something fruitful comes her way next year.

Nkechi Ibeneme rolls out Teens Connect A

miable and stylish Nkechi Ibeneme, who made her mark as a high flying executive in Advert De-

partment of Punch Nigeria Limited, has joined the league of publishers in Nigeria. The author and mentor presented her top class magazine, Teens Connect, to the public last week. At the launch of the magazine, which held at the Nigeria Institute for International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, it was obvious that the guests from the creeme de la creme of the society

were impressed.

Among them were the Managing Director, Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Demola Osinubi; Chaiman, Augene Art Foundation, Chief Solomon Ogbonna; One-Day Governor of Lagos State, Master Olajuwon Boadley; and a former Assistant Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service.

Sir William Igoni Park, who flew in from Port Harcourt to chair the occasion, said he was impressed with the idea of the magazine because it would encourage the younger generation.

“This generation needs to be encouraged; if we want to build a better future, we need to direct our young ones. This magazine is one of those steps in the right direc-

Tee-Mac’s anticounterfeiting drive

P

opular flutist and former PMAN President, Tee Mac Omatsola Iseli, marked this year’s edition of the World Anti-Counterfeiting Day on June 5 in Lagos with members of the AntiCounterfeiting Coalition of Nigeria (ACC). The event themed, ‘Say No To Fake: You Could Be The Next Victim’, was organised in conjunction with NIROPHARM. Of the event, Tee Mac said, “We chose this year’s theme because we wanted to drive home the dangers of counterfeiting and its attendant risks. The truth is that it could happen to anybody; no body is immune to the dangers of fake and counter-

feit products. The Nigerian government, brand owners and the general public suffer as a consequence of this illicit trade. It is for this reason that the ACC and NIROPHARM are collaborating to create awareness on the issue.”

ACC had earlier held its annual roundtable in collaboration with the International Trademark Association (INTA). It had also organised public awareness events such as Walk The Talk campaign in 2012; the Anti Malaria Campaign in 2013, which was sponsored by the US Consulate in Lagos; as well as its annual world Anti-Counterfeiting Day campaign.

tion,” he said.

Executive Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, noted that teenagers and young people in Nigeria would be guided by the publication.

Ibeneme said she would use the magazine to chart a new course for teenagers in Nigeria.

“There are so many vices that are taking over the focus of our young people, from naked fashion to child labour. I decided to come out and make a statement and walk the talk on refocusing the direction of our teenagers,” she said.

Demola Seriki’s dress sense

I

f there is a competition for powerfully dressed men in Nigeria, Demola Seriki will win it many times over. The lightskinned ex-minister’s good dress sense stands him out in the crowd and this has endeared him to many people, especially the opposite sex.

Celeb Lounge met the for-

mer minister at a function recently where he wore a well-fitting agbada made with voile lace. His appearance added flavour to the event.

He got a title from King Sunny Ade who was at the bandstand at that event.

The musician hailed him as ‘Oba awon wosowo’ (King of powerful dressers).

Former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, ends hibernation

F

rom all indications, former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, has come out of hibernation after her removal from office.

Since she was spotted at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, where she was honoured

by Ndigbo Lagos, the Anambra State-born lady seems to have overcome the shock of her sudden removal by President Goodluck Jonathan in February. Celeb Lounge gathered that she had put the incident behind her and moved on with her life. She has since been seen at public functions.

We gathered that her sudden reappearance at public functions is a move to get back into the political scene.

48

Body&Soul

DIY on the GO

Get the shine back on your gold Abimbola Sodeke

G

old, unlike other accessories like beads and wire work, should be properly cared for and not misused, because left to its own nature, gold jewellery won’t tarnish or corrode.

However, with regular wear, your gold jewellery will eventually accumulate water, sweat, body oils and even grease, which will cause a change in colour.

To care for your gold, you need periodic cleaning. This will help to main its value and beauty.

1. Remove your gold jewellery before showering, bathing, or cleaning. Exposure to soap and chemicals can dull the gold.

Also, chlorine can permanently discolour gold, so take your jewellery off before going into a hot tub or swimming pool.

2. Mix a few drops of mild dish washing detergent and warm water in a

small bowl.

Some jewellery stores recommend using a few drops of ammonia in water to clean your gold pieces while some don’t support. Mild dish detergent is, however, universally accepted as a good way to clean your gold.

3. Dip each piece of gold in the mixture, one at a time. Don’t pile all your gold into the bowl at once to avoid scratching.

4. Wipe the gold gently with a very soft cloth.

Vigorous scrubbing with a toothbrush could scratch your gold. Nevertheless, if you have a very heavily ornamented piece with many cracks and crevices, using a soft-bristled child’s toothbrush may be the only way of getting it clean.

5. Rinse the gold gently in warm water (not hot) until all traces of the suds are gone and the water runs clear.

6. Buff and polish the gold gently with chamois or another soft cloth before you put the jewellery away.

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Wine & Dine

The subtle Pink Drink

Ibukunoluwa Kayode

E

very wine is made for the palate whenever the occasion or moment calls for it. The other side of wine is the distinctive health benefits every wine has. Rose wine makes the taste bud crave for more sips.

Majority of rose wines are made from red grape varietal and are most

times referred to as ‘pink wine’. The varietal often used in rose wine making are pinot noir, syrah, Grenache, merlot, malbec, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo, sangiovese and zinfandel.

This pink shade refreshing drink can range from a soft, subtle hue to a vibrant, hot pink, depending on the grade used and how long the grape skins

Biwom Iklaki

E

kpang kukwo is a favourite meal among the Efiks/Ibibios (Cross River/Awka Ibom states) where it originated. It is a meal that is tasty and time consuming (preparation), but the rewards are beyond mouth-watering. When you sit next to someone eating ekpang, you are likely to hear some sucking sounds.

Do not panic because they are just drawing out the scrumptious periwinkle from its shell. Here is how to experience this chow divine…

INGREDIENTS • Mackerel/sardines/preferred protein • Cocoyams-grated into a paste • Half water yam also grated • Mfi (periwinkle in shell cut a bit off the head for easy removal) • One cup palm oil • Ibad (dry fish) • A cup of obu(crayfish) • Stock cubes • Fresh pepper as desired • Ntong leaves (mint leaves) chopped • A bunch of young cocoyam/efo leaves for wrapping • Ikpa (pomo) cut into bite size pieces • Snails (optional) • Salt to taste PREPARATION Caution: Some species of cocoyam are itchy so limit contact to your palms when grating and wrapping or wear disposable gloves Season and boil the meat (save stock).

Wash properly and cook the shelled periwinkle for about 5 minutes in salted water, drain.

Pour the periwinkle in the pot to form a base, add one cup of palm oil into the pot. To the cocoyam and water yam mixture, crush and sprinkle one stock cube and about 1/2tsp of salt, mix properly

were in contact with the juice.

Rose wine can be made in a sweet, off-dry or bone-dry style. The flavours of rose wine tend to be in subtler version to their red wine varietal counterparts. The fruit expectations lean towards strawberry, cherry, and raspberry with some citrus and water melon tones.

49

Body&Soul for picnic as it tends to have both lighter body and more delicate flavours on the palate, presenting a great wine partner for chicken or roasted beef sandwich along with fruits, potato or eggs.

Everybody can indulge in this medium sweet wine and it can be served at any given occasion.

Rose wine is perfect under any weather condition as it tends to rejuvenate the palate for optimum refreshment without any hiccups.

The subtle drink is best enjoyed when served chilled. It also tops the chart for food-friendly wines. So, be rest assured that rose wine can handle both sea food and steak.

It is also a perfect wine

Ekpang Kukwo

with your fingertips or with a wooden stick, use the leaves as a pouch to wrap the cocoyam and water yam mixture, starting from one tip of the leaf to the other end until all the mixture is wrapped.

Boil about 2 cups of water, put the ekpang on fire and add the 2 cups of water and steam for about 5minutes .

Add the meat, dried fish and stockfish. Add the crayfish, chilli pepper, onions, stock cubes, pour in the stock and allow to cook for about 15minutes on medium heat.

Stir and slightly mash or just cut

through with a knife. If it still isn’t properly cooked, add a little more water and allow to cook further on low heat. Add ntong leaves just before you bring the pot down.

Serve hot!

NUTRITIONAL BENEFIT OF PERIWINKLES They are rich in Vitamin B12 (which helps the nervous system), protein, omega-3 fatty acids and low in fat. They also provide the body with iron and important minerals like potassium and magnesium.

Rose wine sales are on the rise as savvy wine lovers have discovered that many of these pink wines are not the sugary sweet wines of old, but rather sophisticated summer sisters of many wine varietals, which can as well serve the diabetic due to its low sugar content.

Sermon Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet p56

Sermon How do you treat people? p.55

TAI ANYANWU, titus.anyanwu@newtelegraphonline.com 0706 438 0029

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

JUNE 15, 2014

www.newtelegraphonline.com/faith

Sermon The secret of walking into abundance p.57

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Faith ON SUNDAY

Why prayers can’t change Nigeria – Akamisoko

Bishop of the Diocese of Kubwa, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Duke T. Akamisoko, in this interview with TUNDE OYESINA speaks on why Nigerians need to adopt a different approach to the nation’s challenges My lord bishop, recently in one of your sermons, you said prayer does not change a nation. Can you explain exactly what you meant?

Thank you! People have been calling for prayers as a means of transforming us as a country, ending corruption, changing our laziness, changing everything.

It’s like the solution to our country’s lems is hangprobing on prayer. But I want us to know,

both as a Bible student and as a student of history, from all Biblical records, first of all we need to define prayer. What is prayer? Prayer is the means through which an individual communicates with his God. And there are all manner of religions in the world, each with its own god which the adherents pray to. There are different gods and you cannot deny anybody his god. Individuals can claim whatever god they want to believe and pray to and you cannot question them. But then when we talk about a nation we are talking about the congregation of human beings with souls; they make up a nation. When we say a nation has changed, what we are saying is that those individuals have changed. So for us in Nigeria, we say we believe in the Almighty God, and we pray for Him to change our country, Nigeria.

I say No! There is nothing like that.

God cannot change Nigeria. What you should say is pray for the individuals in Nigeria to change.

Enough of insurgency -PFN Tai Anyanwu

T

he Pentecostal Fellowship Nigeria (PFN) has condemned the holding in captivity of the Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists, in spite of calls for their release.

Emerging from its National Advisory Council and National Executive council meeting in Lagos on Thursday, PFN warned that the increasing upsurge of criminality and terrorism by the group was alarming.

“The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is appalled that, in spite of our persistent

call and appeals from all over the world for immediate released of our young children who were kidnapped at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State almost two months ago, the perverts behind this criminal abduction are still holding on to them.

“We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, this callous abduction of our innocent children by this gang of criminals who claim to be motivated by the desire to foist on Nigeria their own perverted ideology,” the group stressed.

Making a firm demand for

the immediate release of the girls, the PFN said “Enough is enough.”

While commending the efforts being made by government and some foreign nations to secure the release of the abducted girls, PFN praised president Goodluck Jonathan for what they described as his exceptional courage in responding to the agitation from different quarters by instituting a national Conference to tackle issues confronting the nation.

“The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria remains resolute that evil shall not overcome our land ,” the group

L-R: National President Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev Dr Felix Omobude; Deputy President, Pastor Paul Adefarasin; Former Deputy President, Rev (Mrs) Mercy Ezekiel; and National Admin Secretary, Pastor Akinola Akinwale at a press conference, in Lagos...on Thursday

If individuals in Nigeria don’t change, prayer cannot change Nigeria. Prayer cannot change homes unless the individuals change. Prayer cannot change a church unless the individuals there change. Prayer cannot do anything on its own.

What prayer does to the individual who truly desires change is to transform him; then such an individual or group of individuals so transformed will bring about change in the society or nation or church. Prayer alone cannot do magic to a nation. In fact, I have said this in several places. If prayer can develop a nation or prayer is the only way to develop a nation, China will not be developed. China will not be where they are as a nation because they don’t pray. Japan will not be topping the world in technology because they don’t pray.

In 1902 when the Wright brothers invented an airplane, an elderly man asked them, have you prayed? You say you want to develop something to fly. The young people said they were

just coming from the university and that was what they knew. They said they didn’t know anything about any god. Then, he told them that they had made a mistake because if God wanted us to fly, he would have given us wings.

Since you did not pray and ask God, you just say you are coming from the university then you want to make something that man will be flying like a bird; it will never happen. You are trying to invent what God has not done. The brothers said we believe man can fly and they made the first airplane, it failed and the second one, it also failed; and then the third and they succeeded. And ever since, man has been flying, they never prayed they worked hard.

So there is heavy deception in our nation. In fact in the history of the world it is being said that Nigeria is one of the praying nations. Has that transformed Nigeria? No! Why because the individuals are not transformed. So, we CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Special Publication

Lord’s Chosen Bayelsa Set for ‘Enemies Submitted’ Crusade

The two-day Holy-Ghost International Crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries titled: …

AND THE ENEMIES SUBMITTED will hold on Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, 2014, by 8am daily at the church’s International Headquarters in Ijesha, Lagos State. Science Reporter, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM, writes on the significance of the event unarguably regarded as the ‘Mother of all Crusades.’

A

visit to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries anywhere in the world, without attending this forth-coming ENEMIES SUBMITTED crusade taking place this weekend in Lagos, could be likened to that man that traveled to the city of New York without a glimpse of the famous Statue of Liberty; or someone who travels to Brazil without catching a glimpse of the on-going soccer fiesta regarded as the greatest show on earth. This is

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General overseer of the Lord’s Chosen

Pastor Uchenna Elusi, state Cordinator

Bayelsa State Hqtr of the Lord’s Chosen, Azikoro 100 Sani Abacha Way, along Bayelsa Palm road, Yenagoa

because all things are ready for every believer to receive.

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Ministry in his characteristic nature and love to humanity to rescue the dying souls for Christ, emphatically stated: “The Enemies Submitted Crusade is the climax of all crusades as it is done once in two years. It’s theme is taken from the book of Psalms 66 verses 3.

We are inviting people from all parts of the world. This year’s crusade as usual, will witness unprecedented

Sister Comfort Sunday, 13 sexual transmitted disease gone

power of God as of old because there will be freedom for the captives, salvation for sinners, deliverance for the oppressed, succour to the sick, joy to the broken hearted, and victory for all. A Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian.

As you come, give your life to Jesus and maintain a consistent Christian life, no matter what your problem is, your enemies must submit.”

STANLEY CHIBUIHEM 08035624538

Bro. Chibuzo Emelife, wife gave birth to baby boy as 8 years barrenness was broken

Bro. Lambert Ngerem, delivered from 5 armed robbers, and N5,000 retrived from them and thier gun

Some Bayelsa State Pastors of the Lord’s Chosen with the state Coordinator, Pastor Uchenna Elusi, (sitting middle), preparing for the crusade

Bayelsa State brethren of the Lord’s Chosen with Pastor Uchenna Elusi, preparing for the crusade

Bayelsa State women leaders, with the state Coordinator Pastor Uchenna Elusi, preparing for the crusade

Some Bayelsa State leaders of the Lord’s Chosen Church

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Special Publication

Lord’s Chosen Enugu Set for ‘Enemies Submitted’ Crusade The two-day Holy-Ghost International Crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries titled: …

AND THE ENEMIES SUBMITTED will hold on Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, 2014, by 8am daily at the church’s International Headquarters in Ijesha, Lagos State. Science Reporter, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM, writes on the significance of the event unarguably regarded as the ‘Mother of all Crusades.’

A

visit to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries anywhere in the world, without attending this forth-coming ENEMIES SUBMITTED crusade taking place this weekend in Lagos, could be likened to that man that traveled to the city of New York without a glimpse of the famous statue of Liberty. This is because all things are ready for every believer to receive.

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General

Pastor Mark, State Coordinator Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General overseer of the Lord’s Chosen

Overseer of the Ministry in his characteristic nature and love to humanity to rescue the dying souls for Christ, emphatically stated: “The Enemies submitted Crusade is the climax of all crusades as it is done once in two years. It’s theme is taken from the book of Psalms Chapter 66 verses 3. We are inviting people from all parts of the world.

This years crusade as usual, will witness unprecedented power of God as of old because there will be

Sister Felicia Okonkwo, 3 years blindness gone

freedom for the captives, salvation for sinners, deliverance for the oppressed, succour to the sick, joy to the broken hearted, and victory for all. A Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian. As you come, give your life to Jesus and maintain a consistent Christian life, no matter what your problem is, your enemies must submit”.

STANLEY CHIBUIHEM 08035624538

Sister Ngozi Nwabunwanne, 7 years fibroid gone

Sister Okwudili Chukwu, 21 years pile gone

Pastor Muoka (middle), with some pastors of the Lord’s Chosen preparing for the crusade

Enugu State Hqtr of the Lord’s Chosen, 4a, Pocket Layout Trans Ekulu Flyover, Enugu.

Enugu State brethren of the Lord’s Chosen preparing for the crusade

Some Enugu State Pastors of the Lord’s Chosen preparing for the crusade

Enugu State leaders preparing for the crusade

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Special Publication

Lord’s Chosen Akwa Ibom Set for ‘Enemies Submitted’ Crusade

The two-day Holy-Ghost International Crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries titled: …

AND THE ENEMIES SUBMITTED will hold on Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, 2014, by 8am daily at the church’s International Headquarters in Ijesha, Lagos State. Science Reporter, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM, writes on the significance of the event unarguably regarded as the ‘Mother of all Crusades.’

A

visit to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries anywhere in the world, without attending this forth-coming ENEMIES SUBMITTED crusade taking place this weekend in Lagos, could be likened to that man that traveled to the city of New York without a glimpse of the famous statue of Liberty, or anyone that travels to Brazil now without catching a glimpse of the on-going

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General overseer of the Lord’s Chosen

Pastor Ifeanyi, state coordinator

soccer fiesta unarguably regarded as the greatest show on earth. This is because all things are ready for every believer to receive.

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Ministry in his characteristic nature and love to humanity to rescue the dying souls for Christ, emphatically stated: “The Enemies submitted Crusade is the climax of all crusades as it is done once in two years. It’s theme is taken from the book of Psalms Chapter 66 verses 3.

We are inviting people from all parts of the world. This years crusade as

Sis. God’s gift Nkanang with her child, 3 years barreness gone

usual, will witness unprecedented power of God as of old because there will be freedom for the captives, salvation for sinners, deliverance for the oppressed, succour to the sick, joy to the broken hearted, and victory for all. A Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian. As you come, give your life to Jesus and maintain a consistent Christian life, no matter what your problem is, your enemies must submit”.

STANLEY CHIBUIHEM 08035624538

Sis. Dimaka Favour, delivered from Engr. Uwem Dan, two years two major fatal accidents kidney stone gone

Akwa Ibom State Hqtrs of the Lord’s Chosen, V.V.F Hospital Road, NUNG Itam, Off Idoro Road. Near Flyover Uyo

Akwa Ibom State adult choir with some youth choristers and state Coordinator, Pastor Ifeanyi

Akwa Ibom State brethren preparing for the crusade with their state Coordinator

Some leaders of Akwa Ibom State, with Pastor Ifeanyi sitting in the middle

Akwa Ibom State leaders with their state coordinator

Akwa Ibom State women leaders with Pastor Ifeanyi, preparing for the crusade

Akwa Ibom State men leaders with the State coordinator (middle), preparing for the crusade

54

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Special Publication

Lord’s Chosen Anambra Set for ‘Enemies Submitted’ Crusade The two-day Holy-Ghost International Crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries titled: …

AND THE ENEMIES SUBMITTED will hold on Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, 2014, by 8am daily at the church’s International Headquarters in Ijesha, Lagos State. Science Reporter, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM, writes on the significance of the event unarguably regarded as the ‘Mother of all Crusades.’

A

visit to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries anywhere in the world, without attending this forth-coming ENEMIES SUBMITTED crusade taking place this weekend in Lagos, could be likened to that man that traveled to the city of New York without a glimpse of the famous statue of Liberty. This is because all things are ready for every believer to receive.

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General overseer of the Lord’s Chosen

Pastor Bethel Ogbonna, state coordinator

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Ministry in his characteristic nature and love to humanity to rescue the dying souls for Christ, emphatically stated: “The Enemies submitted Crusade is the climax of all crusades as it is done once in two years. It’s theme is taken from the book of Psalms Chapter 66 verses 3. We are inviting people from all parts of the world.

This years crusade as usual, will witness unprecedented power of

SisChibuzoUbe,asasecondwife, sherestitutedher24yearsmarriage

God as of old because there will be freedom for the captives, salvation for sinners, deliverance for the oppressed, succour to the sick, joy to the broken hearted, and victory for all. A Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian. As you come, give your life to Jesus and maintain a consistent Christian life, no matter what your problem is, your enemies must submit”.

STANLEY CHIBUIHEM 08035624538

Genuine salvation granted

Sis. Chisom delivered from evil kingdom

Anambra State Hqtr of the Lord’s Chosen, 62, Onitsha-Owerri road, Onitsha Anambra State

Anambra State adult choir of the Lord’s Chosen

Anambra State Children’s Choir of the Lord’s Chosen, with their leaders

Anambra State leaders of the Lord’s Chosen

Anambra State youth choir performing at the church programme in Onitsha

Some students of More Grace Bible Institute Lagos of the Lord’s Chosen sitting with their Dean in the middle, Pastor Chidozie Amadi

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Be positive and optimistic

T

he Bible is the road map for the mind and has much to say concerning the right things to think about. The Bible says, “Finally brethrens, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, w3hatsever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report if there be any praise, thins on these things- Philippians 4:8.

There are two types of attitude; the positive attitude and the negative attitude. There is also pessimism and optimism.

You have a right to choose which attitude you want. By my definition, your attitude is an inward feeling expressed by your utterance, actions, and outward behaviour. Your attitude is the outward manifestation of what is hidden inside of you. Your attitude is your best friend or your worst enemy, because it can draw people to you or repel people from you.

Choose the positive attitude to life for the Bible recorded, King David tells himself every morning as he wakes up, This is the day which the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it” – P:salm 18:24. A positive attitude is the right choice to be made despite problems around. Learn to forget the past and move forward.

St. Paul advised in God’s word, by the Holy Spirit, and said “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but

this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press towards the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians -3:13.

Stop looking at where you have been, but stat looking at where you can be. Do not be too relaxed with yesterday’s accomplishments or yesterdays failures but be propelled by the better things and the successes which you can achieve tomorrow.

Develop the ‘I can’ attitude –The word of God declares “I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me” – Philippians. The man or women who attend the greatest heights in life are those who face life’s challenges with the principles of ‘I can’ attitude.

Believe yourself and be positive in everything; no matter how bad and ugly they may appear. With ‘I can’ attitude, you can transform the ugliest circumstances into the richest and most beautiful blessings.

Have you tried to met up with your target and actualise your goals to no avail? Have you tried and failed to achieve a particular thing? Have you become so disgusted or tired again? Have you tried your best on that examination or interview? Have you tired in vain to secure a good job to no avail?

Have you really tried your best on your marriage, on your

children, on your husband, on your business to no avail? Do not give up. You can try one more time. This time around apply the ‘I can’ principles and you will surely remember that your attitude determines your altitude.

Be positive in your words – The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” – proverbs 18:21. What you say has a strange powerful way of becoming real; so much that when a person says “I wish I am dead” he or she invites the spirit of death to invade his or her life. When an unhappy wife says “My marriage is a failure” she has pronounced doom and calamity for that marriage.

When a pregnant mother says “I don’t want this baby” she is pronouncing the termination of her pregnancy or a curse upon the life of the unborn child.

When a man who is about to set out on a journey tells the wife “darling if you don’t see me again today, take heart, or if I don’t come back from the journey, take care of the children.” He has pronounced tragedy and eventual death, for his journey. Such a trip must be councelled at once.

In the spiritual realm, there are two spirits: the benevolent spirit and the malevolent spirit. The benevolent spirits are good, merciful and angelic spirits under the pilotry of the

Faith

MYSTERY OF ANXIETY with

Bishop John Ogbansie gbe Tel:08033416327

Holy Spirit. While the malevolent spirits are wicked, evil, and brutal spirits which are under the pilotry of the devil and his fallen angels which are known as demons. When you say negative words with your mouth, they hear it and execute it. In the same way, when you say positive words, these benevolent spirits through the guidance, leadership and directives of the Holy Spirit will bring it to pass, for your own good, to give you your expected end.

To this end therefore, the word of God says “For as many as are led by the spirit of god, they are the sons of God” – Romans 1:14.

The word of God also said “ For I know the thought that I think towards you, saith the Lord, the thought of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end” – Jeremiah 29:11. Believe and confess always that with God all things are possible.

The dominating thought in the heart of any person is easily identified by his words. Some talk so much about poverty they receive poverty; some talk about sickness and receive sickness and some talk about failure and receive failure. What you say with your mouth can put you under your

problems or above your problems. The spoken word from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ was positive and carried divine potency. His words drove away everything that was void of God in it. He spoke to the winds and the waves and they obeyed him. He spoke to sickness and diseases, they obeyed Him. He spoke to the devil and demons, they bowed out. He spoke to the fishes, they obeyed him. He spoke to the tree; the tree obeyed and dried up. He spoke to the angel of death and the angel of death obeyed and flew away. His secret was that He spoke to those things without doubts, but was positive in his heart believing that those things which He said shall come to pass and they came to pass.

No wonder why He said to His disciples “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore say unto you, what things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” –Mark 11: 23-24.

How do you treat people?

“A

nd Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took

out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” Luke 10:30-35 In this scripture, there are five personalities involved; the priest, the Levite, the Samaritan, the host and the victim. The victim who is the attacked traveler is unknown by way of nationality. The priest and Levite would definitely be Israelites while the host is only a businessman running an inn. The priest, on seeing the victim, simply crossed over to the other side. The Levite took time to look at the victim before crossing over. It was the Samaritan who had compassion on him. Note that they are not Jews.

Now, isn’t it an irony that someone (a Samaritan) who is perceived to be an unbe-

liever, so to say, is the one who had the mind to help a highway robbery victim where the supposed people of God, the priest and Levite failed to do so. It still happens in our days.

Sometimes we may display some negative responses to the behavior of others. Some of these are: - MALICE: It is a sign of immaturity, an active will and/or desire to harm others. It may arise out of undue rivalry/competition. Cain’s malice with his brother Abel resulted into murder (I Pet 2:1) - VENGEANCE: Deut. 32:35.

Vengeance is the vindictive act of doing something to get satisfaction for an earlier wrong/ injustice done against one or another. When we seek revenge on our own, we arrogate to ourselves the prerogative of God and this is actually a slap on God’s face.

- STRANGE PRAYERS: In the spirit and attitude of vengeance, we often find some people, particularly believers, resorting to strange prayers, raining curses on each other.

- STRIFE: This may range or extend from mild protest to violent disagreement. Strife, according to James 3:16 is the mother of confusion and evil work.

- REBELLION/CONSPIRACY: (I Sam 15:23a; 30:1) This is usually an act which is often direct-

ed at one who is superior to the rebel/conspirator. Rather than communicate their displeasure; they begin to conspire. An example is Miriam.

- CONDEMNATION: (Matt 7:1-2) Some are very quick to condemn others for their behavior, in other words, they are quick to judge others. In Verse 3-5, it says you should first remove the beam in your own eye before talking about the mote in your brother ’s eye.

- RESENTMENT/BITTERNESS (Eph 4:31) - HATRED (I John 4:20) - AGGRESSION SO HOW SHOULD I TREAT OTHERS (BIBLICAL STANDARD) - DO NOT DESPISE (Prov 11:12): To despise is to feel contempt for others, by so doing, you make others feel worthless.

The Bible says in I Pet2:17 ‘honor all men and love the brotherhood’. If you honor only those you feel you can benefit from, then you are walking in the opposite direction of Christ’s commandment Luke 6:33.

- BE TRUTHFUL TO OTHERS: The scripture says truth brings freedom and that ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The unfortunate truth about lying is that when you tell one, in your attempt to cover that one, you will tell many more and before you real-

ize it you become chronic liar Eph 4:25.

- DO NOT HOLD GRUDGE: God is always ready to judge the attitude of grudging, He doesn’t take it lightly. Aaron and Miriam are very good case in point in Numbers chapter 12. ‘Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.’ James 5:9 - DO NOT PROVOKE OTHERS (Galatians 5:26) ‘Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.’

WHY DO I HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE WELL - It is God’s commandment (I Thessalonians 5:15) ‘See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men’.

- It brings rewards (Hebrews 13:2) ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares’.

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Songs 2:15 I know you have been blessed.

Write and share your testimonies, comments, etc.

Rev’d Femi Akinola – The Hebrews International, Lekki, Lagos

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Faith

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Interview

THE Oracles Behold, I will send of God

you Elijah the Prophet

by

Frank Oboden Olomukoro

T

frankolomukoro@yahoo.com, 07033621866

his is a continuation of the Midnight Cry and the Midnight Prophet. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet” is a prophetic utterance

by God through Prophet Malachi in Malachi 4:5 – 6. The prophecy is already in total fulfillment from John the Baptist, the first forerunner, to the midnight prophet, the second forerunner. This is the last church age, the Laodicean era of the 2,000 years Gentile dispensation when God is taking a wife from amongst the Gentile nations through his angel messengers. The midnight prophet, by scripture, is the prophet messenger with the anointed ministry to prepare the bride by revealing all of God’s plan through the ages to the Bride of Christ. Revelation 10:7 affirms this “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” Christ’s second coming has been revealed to His servant the midnight prophet and he has declared the messages which upon

believing, will produce the rapturing faith. Only one man is ordained for this forerunner’s work as John the Baptist.

The bride or the wise virgin alone will recognise Christ’s forerunner and begin to busily prepare for the great translation.

The foolish virgins or saints who will turn down this prophet messenger will certainly be swept away by the modern socalled revivals into the council of churches (WCC, CAN, PFN) and into perdition. These councils, like the Sanhedrin councils, are man-made organised corporate religious schemes, and never in God’s scriptural projections ordained for His works. These councils actually threw Jesus Christ their master outside His own church until Jesus was knocking on the door inviting true sincere believers to come out from the organised councils to Him for their salvation. This council of churches has a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, nor do

they operate in accordance to God’s revealed truth in our time. Roman 10:2 – 3 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness; have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (God’s revealed truth).”

Behold, I will send you Elijah, is the same as the midnight prophet who gave the cry in Matthew 25:1 – 13 and Revelation 10:7; the seventh angel messenger who will declare all God’s mysteries as first preached by the prophets and Apostles. The saints must be restored to the status quo of believing the original revealed truth as preached by the Apostles from Pentecost. Any dilution is a digression of the corruption of the word of God into apostasy or falling away from the original truth. The word of God in its original state is what gives eternal life. Any slight leaven or corruption by traditions of church, creed and dogma will lead to dispensing

Commonwealth football club and inner conviction

I

registered a football club for the church called commonwealth football club. We registered for the state challenge cup, supper league, Bishop Cup etc. I always leave two instructions. The coach should ensure that he brings up fixture for every match as his mind tells him.

He should not “try a player. He should be fair, not to people, not to the players, but to his own mind. If he did so without fixing his team base on any other consideration, the team would be at its best whether they loose or win.

Secondly, the players can play as occasion demands, but if along the line their mind tells them to do something at any point, that it should be obeyed.

Never play penalty if your mind tells you not to. You will miss it.

Shoot or pass the ball as your spirit agrees with. Infact, do not disobey your mind.

One day, the captain of the team was to take a penalty kick. Immediately, his mind told to play ground ball, and he remembered my instruction: never disobey your inner voice (heart). He got ready to play but suddenly the opponent goal keeper ran out picked the ball, and told him to his face he could not score him.

The captain was intimidated and he changed his mind not to play ground ball. He disobeyed his mind and lost the penalty. In another instance, a player even cried that he would not play, but 9 persons have played except him and the goal keeper.

Anyanwu

Despite crying, he was forced to play and missed the goalpost.

In another match which ended draw and, penalty shoot outs were to be used to determined the winner. One of the persons who was to play the deciding goal said his mind told him not to play leave it to somebody else to play: he remembered my instruction but disobeyed and played. He missed the goal post because he did what was disagreeable with his mind. This principle works in every area of life. If you do not force yourself to do anything, you will not only succeed but live a good long life.

The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly (Proverb 20:27).

In this situation, happy is the man who does not sin by doing what he knows is right (what his mind tells him to do). But anyone who believes that something he wants to do is wrong. (I.e. what his mind did not tell him to do) shouldn’t do it. He sins if he does, for he thinks it is wrong. Anything that he does apart from what he feels is right (what his mind tells him to do) is sin (Romans 4:22, 23 L.B).

He was forced to play and missed the penalty. He played against his mind.

Even issuance of visa in any Embassy largely depends on what is agreeable to the officer at the counter attending to people. They are trained to listen to their inner voice. They may not have good reasons to reject or grant visa applications.

THE YOU-COMMITTEE AND UNANIMOUS DECISION

For every task, there is a committee set up by God to tackle it.

There is a purpose, task or term of reference for every committee.

Tasks exist before committees are setup. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them (Acts 13:2) Living Bible renders it this way: Dedicate Barnabas and Paul-for a special Job, I have for them.

Paul and Barnabas did not just form one committee to solve the problem together. What God implies is that he set up two different committees to solve problems not necessarily together. He took a human spirit; a soul and a body brought them together as a committee, and called this committee, Barnabas, to solve a problem.

He brought another human spirit, a soul and a body, put them together as a committee to work together, and called it PAUL, to perform a unique task. The committee called Barnabas and the committee called Paul had different term s of reference, different jobs and different responsibilities.

Initially, e very one thought that the committee was one making up of Barnabas, Paul and probably John Mark, but subsequent events proved this wrong. A committee of human spirit, soul and human body was set up when you were created. You name is the name of this divine unique committee. Your body, soul and spirit were fabricated together by God. In fact, it is better said that your body, soul and spirit were prefabricated together to consti-

spiritual death. The midnight prophet operating in the spirit and power of Elijah as John the Baptist did (Luke 1:17) is truly the last call; there will not be another. Other scriptural prophecies are fulfilling side by side. Soon after the rapture, the Lord will again turn to the Jews who are The Jews who are currently in their homeland and are spiritually blind since Christ came so that attention will be turned to bringing out a Gentle bride from within the Gentile nations. These are non-Jews during the set time of the Gentile dispensation. Romans 11:25.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceit; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”

The Elijah prophesied in Malachi 4;5-6 has come and gone, exactly the same way John the Baptist came and left the scene and the Jews and even the disciples did not know until Christ mentioned

it. Matt 17:10. And his disciples asked him saying, “Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the son of man suffer of them.” His message is in the hands and hearts of God’s people and the stage is now set for the rapture.

As free moral agents, we are at liberty to accept God’s messengers and obtain life or reject God’s messenger to you and be condemned. Like Paul puts it, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2 Cor 5:11. These messages are an eye opener. No man has monopoly of knowledge except God. What He reveals belongs to us, that we may all do the works of this law. Deut. 29:29.

Therefore, choose life that both thou and thy seed may live. Deut. 30:19.

WORD OF LIFE by

Bishop Moses Kat tey Tel: 08087707486, Email: moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

tute the YOU for a special task. This is the reason no body, if you believe, can dissolve this committee except God and by your consent. Yes, and by your consent dissolving you the committee means death.

This you-committee will achieve its purpose successfully and live long if one does not do things that disagree with his/her mind or spirit. The body must follow the decision of the spirit or hear.

The inner personalities must lead the body. When their leadings conflict with reasons, one has to follow the inner conviction, provided it is not against the word of God. But the man who has doubts (misgivings, uneasy conscience) about eating and then eats (perhaps because of you) stands condemned before God because is not true to his convictions, and he does not act from faith for what ever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin (what ever is done without convictions of its approval

by God is sinful) (Romans 14; 22, 23. Amplified Bible). This YOU- COMMITTEE must agree to succeed and live long. If in doubt, suspend decision and action. Never disagree with your heart or mind except it is against the word of God. There must be unanimous decision of the Body –Soul-Spirit committee. Only the body is external,

others are inside. Murderers, armed robbers, evil doers, witches, etc. forced themselves to commit these sins initially until they were able to silence their inner voice, and the Lord gave them over to reprobate minds. (Romans 1:28). There is something else deep within me, in my lower nature that is AT WAR WITH MY MID, and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. IN MY MIND I WANT TO BE GOD’S WILLING SERVANT but instead to it. (Romans 7:23 Living Bible). You must recognize the fact that there is a war waged against your mind, forcing you to disagree with what your mind tells you, what theinner voice in you tells you to do. If you find yourself always going against the inner voice i.e. what your spirit tells you to do, you will have no peace of mind, you will fear and doubt, going against your conviction, and thereby making your conscience to blame and condemn you. STAND SOLIDLY BEHIND THE DECISION OF YOUR YOU-COMMITTEE ALWAYS, PROVIDED IT IS NOT CONTRARY TO THE WOED OF GOD. Romans 14:22, 23.

Worship with us @ Commonwealth Covenant Church Int’l Inc. Alode Nchia Eleme, Rivers State, Nigeria.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Divine guidance and education

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very human being needs the guidance and the direction of God in whatever he is doing in life.

If we really need to survive, if we really need to succeed in everything we are doing in life, we need to confront the king of glory for his direction and guidance, but when we make up our minds to do it alone, God will be far from us and we end up in a mud.

In the Bible, we heard and read of those men that invited the direction of God in their endeavors and how they ended, and those of them that decided to do it on their own. When we compare the two, the difference is clear.

As people of God, all we need to do is to welcome God in our daily activities for Him to gild and direct us. When God directs us, He will then do a new thing in our life because He says in the book of Isaiah 43:19. That He will make a way for us and do a new thing in us.

If there is divine guidance and direction in all we do, God will make our ways to be bright. I really thank God for what He did for me. I would have made the worst mistake in my life by marrying a wrong man. Different suitors were coming on my way, both rich and poor. Many came with deception

tongue, many came with different motive. Having considered all of them, I decided to invite God for His divine guidance and direction.

Nearly I would have made a mistake but I thank God for the idea He gave me to seek His direction.

At a time, I felt the world was going to swallow me. I felt the whole world was coming down on me. I felt that there was no more hope for me again, but I then remembered that God said that we should cast all our burdens upon Him for He cares for us.

Just like I wrote in my book, HEALING TO THE BROKEN HEARTS, that there are moments in your life that makes just make you think, when you are being caught up in fear, terror, anguish, hurt, lust, broken hearted and horror. All this happens when we fall to recognize the power of divine guidance and direction in our relationship.

At a time my prayers changed, I began to say to God let your will over my marriage life be done. This was when the burden was so me. I then decided to seek direction from above. God came down immediately and led me to the right path.

God said in the book of Philippians4:19, and my God shall supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory by Christ, Jesus.

Power in the word with

Banke David

Tel: 08034156014

I

n every developed society, there is a constant move to educate, enlighten and develop the man. (by man, I mean both male and female) Last week, we saw that the choices you make, determine to a large extent your outcomes in life. A colleague told me of a complaint made by her staff. The lady in question had joined the organization for many years without promotion. To her, her boss hated her and therefore she felt justified in challenging her boss.

Why have I not been promoted all these years, she asked? I know you don’t like me, she went on to say, you have promoted my friend twice within these 5 years, while I have remained on the same level.

The boss wisely asked her whether she had furthered her education within these years or attended any external training to empower herself. On the other hand, her friend had acquireda degree, rising from her entry-position of school certificate holder to her current elevated position.

She had constantly made herself available for seminars and went ahead to perform tasks outside of her job function. The complaining staff had seen this as siding up to the boss and constantly accused her colleague of eye-service.

The boss told her that the reason why she had remained at the same level was not because she

hated her, but because she chose not to develop herself by acquiring more skills. She had been satisfied with the status-quo. This was an eye-opener for the staff that had come to accost her boss, only to be made to realize that her choices were what had hindered her from rising.

This story illustrates vividly, the need for man to constantly develop himself, acquiring necessary skills pertaining to his calling or vocation in life. In order to rise above mediocrity and move to the next level, there is a need for constant training and education. It is not enough to stop at basic level of education.

What then does it mean to educate? To educate is to develop or train the mind, capabilities or character by formal schooling or instruction. (Webster’s) The mind needs to be trained in order for it to become polished and productive. An uneducated mind is one capable of destruction and damage.

Also in receiving education, according to this definition, our capabilities, talents and character are developed. No wonder, our society lacks people of integrity, morals, character and values; people who have refused to hone their Godgiven abilities due to a lack of proper education. Due to a lack of proper direction and enabling environment, our society breeds corrupt individuals with destructive tendencies though having

This shows us that God is ready and eager to answer our prayers immediately, we recognize His divine direction. I’m really grateful to God. He never wanted me to enter into the wrong hands that are why He says that His thought for me is of good, not of evil to give me an expected end.

All I did was to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb.12:2.

God’s promises are forever sure.

You don’t need to be afraid; all you need to do is to accept His direction and guidance in all that concerns your soul.

When you accepted His guidance and direction in all your dealings, you will then be bold and hold unto His promise and with this, I tell you that He will not forget you. Just like He never forgets me; He also will never forget you too.

For he says:“Can a woman forget her nursing child? And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely, they may forget, yet I will not forget you.

See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands, your walls are continually Before me. Isaiah

57

Faith

Word of FAITH by by Apostle Clement Mrs Joy Clement Ogbonna Ogbonna apostleofgraceinwof2010@gmail. apostleofgraceinwo com, 08035525852

49:15-16.

God will inscribe anyone that goes with His guidance and directions on His psalms. He will never allow the person to make mistakes. If not divine direction and guidance, I wonder who I would have and what would have been my case now. 2 Peter.

1 vs. 3-4 says: According as His divine power hath given to us all thing that pertain unto life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him that called us to glory and virtue.

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these, by might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the Corruption that is in the world through lust.

God gave me several promises.

But all the promises wouldn’t have fulfilling if I had not accepted His guidance and direction.

A man came when I decided that I will no longer get married because of the disturbances I had

from my suitors. I was busy planning to travel outside the country without knowing that God was somewhere watching me closely. I was then supposed to go an interview in the British Embassy but I not knowing that it wasn’t the will of God for me yet.

Few days to my trip, the lord visited me. Pastor Clems had a revival programme with my church and right there, the lord ministered to me when he came in that he is my husband. I never believed that voice because of my plans to run away from this country.

Immediately, I started rebuking the message not knowing that it was God speaking to me directly. I went home and forgot the message entirely. But thank God for He is the one that said His thought for us is of good and not of evil.

Worship with us @ World of Faith International Church, 69 Ohanku Road Aba, Abia State.

The choice for education

great potential for success, if given the right encouragement and enabling environment.

The Bible instructs us in Romans 12:2 to renew our minds by reading, studying and meditating upon God’s precepts.

You see, despite the fact that you are born-again, you still need to renew your mind because salvation is of the spirit and not of the mind.

After receiving Christ therefore, there is still a need for the training of the mind with the Word of God. So, you see, being born-again is not an excuse for remaining ignorant.

In the secular world, development of the mind can also be achievedby attending school or learning from home. There are many options available, so a lack of formal education is not excusable. Even when a lack of requisite funding is the case, there are scholarships available.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

A reader is a leader. I marvel at people who are not interested in reading. It is not enough to go to school to get an education, you need to be a reader in order to keep abreast of things. To be versatile, one needs to keep developing by

reading all manner of literature.

There are people who haven’t had much formal education, but they keep reading and interacting with people ahead of them. Because of this, their minds are enlightened and they make informed and educated choices.

2nd Timothy 2:15 says- “Study to show yourself approved of God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

Mrs Banke David is a pastor at Christ Riches Church, Brass, Aba.

‘Why prayers can’t change Nigeria’ CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 5 0

must know this and get it right - until we are sincere with our prayers, and we pray that individuals are transformed or changed then we can think of the country.

It is as I said that there are different ways of transforming a nation. Prayer is one of them, when it is properly targeted at transforming the individual. But prayer is not all of them.

How was China transformed? It was transformed by the rules and regulations which the leaders put in place and religiously enforced on the citizens. You steal in China, you get killed. So people fear to steal; not because they don’t like stealing, not because they don’t have the capacity to steal, not because there is nothing to steal but you steal and you are caught, you die. No compromise, no argument.

So people are afraid to steal - not because you are holy, not because you pray to God and not because of anything else, but stringent rules.

Yes, it is the individual that is to turn away from sin, but then the nation is called to pray.

Yes, what is the nation praying for? There is nothing like a nation or people are praying. It is individuals. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…”

“Turn”, God is talking about people; if individuals turn from their wicked ways, I will heal their land. But if there is hypocrisy and they refuse to repent and continue in their wicked ways, my ears will not hear. That is what God is saying.

Now that is why the 8th Century BC prophets - Amos, Hosea, Micah, etc. we call them the 8th Century BC prophets. They prophesied at a time Israel was filled with corrup-

tion. Amos would tell them, “Go to Gilgal and cry.” Gilgal was the place of prayer. “Go to Bethel and spend all your time.” He said I (God) won’t listen, because you are selling yourselves as slaves. That is sin. You are cheating; you have foreskin, you have this, you have that. Why are you praying?

You are wasting your time. What I want from you is change - repentance. Then God will hear your prayers. That’s all.

Listen, I’m a Bible student. I’ve been studying the Bible all my life. And I am also a student of history. Take your time, go through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and find out for yourself whether there is any portion where God tells you that if the individuals are bad, God will still change the nation. No! Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. He didn’t say, “God, will you change Sodom and Gomorrah, if Sodom and Gomorrah are righteous?” No! Rather he said, “God, if you find… how many people, who are righteous….” The key word there is persons, not city. If you find 15 persons who are righteous, will you still destroy the city? And God said, “No!” And finally when God came down, He didn’t find 15 people. And what happened? He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. And up till today, you won’t find Sodom and Gomorrah on the world map.

Let’s still look at it again a bit more critically, using the children of Israel as a case study. You know very well, as a Bible student, that the Almighty God had a covenant with Israel, which now resulted in their gathering annually to pray to renew their covenant with God. It was the nation of Israel gathering and their primary mission was to pray – congregational prayer.

And it was a practice that God found acceptable...

Football Jonathan promises to shock Eagles, as Mark motivates team p.60

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Football Keshi: We won’t take it easy with Iran p.62

Dapo Sotuminu, Deputy Sports Editor dapo.sotuminu@newtelegraphonline.com 08099400190, 08038154192

Sp rt

Eagles poised for war over appearance fee, camp site

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ith barely 24 hours to Nigeria’s opening World Cup game, the Super Eagles have plenty on their minds apart from the crucial match against Iran slated for Curitiba.

Authoritative sources revealed to New Telegraph on Sunday that the appearance fee row which broke out between the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the players during the week is still a major issue.

The visit of Senate President, David Mark, to the Campinas camp of the team further brought the issue to the fore as the players held a meeting with the number three citizen of Nigeria to table their grievances.

The meeting was attended by Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Dr. Danagogo; Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Chief Edem Duke, Minister of

…Mark wades in, NFF promises to meet demands

Culture and Tourism; Mr. Boni Haruna, Minister of Youths and Social Development; Senator Gumba, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports; Godfrey Gaya, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Alhaji Maigari, and other top officials of the NFF. It was learnt that the players vowed not to take anything less than the $75,000 each given to their Ghanaian counterparts as appearance fees for the Mundial.

Mark, our sources revealed ordered the NFF to pay all that was due to the players from the $9million FIFA proceeds before the match against Iran on Monday.

“The NFF President, Aminu Maigari, was there himself and he promised to handle the issue as directed by the Senate Presi-

dent,” the source said.

The Super Eagles also kicked against their camp base which they argued was in a remote area of the country.

“The players do not like the camp base. They feel the entire place is not good enough and they are asking for a change in base before the end of the group games.

“The players also tabled this before Senator Mark and the government delegation that visited on Friday. The situation in camp is tense and we pray the NFF makes the play-

ers happy latest today with the appearance fee to boost their morale before the game against Iran in Curitiba,” our source added.

It was further learnt that the NFF boss signed an agreement with the players to meet their demands on the appearance fees.

Reuben injured, out

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abriel Reuben was not part of the training on Friday when the Super Eagles had their last work-out at the Guarani FC Stadium in Campinas, Brazil.

Reuben who was only involved in a light walk-out with an official of the team i s

technically ruled out of Nigeria’s first game against Iran holding in Curitiba on Monday.

“He is getting better, we expect him to be ready for other games after the first one. That is why he was asked to rest not to complicate issues,” Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, said.

Twenty two other players trained on Friday with a huge crowd in attendance to cheer the Eagles team at the stadium.

Some young football fans ran into the field in an attempt to touch the players. This kept the security operatives very busy as they ran after the fans to protect the players who were busy training.

Did you know?

Reuben

That, Marcelo’s own goal against Croatia at the 2014 Mundial was Brazil’s first ever in the history of the FIFA World Cup finals

Super Eagles of Nigeria

My late invitation act of God, says Uzoenyi

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uper Eagles midfielder, Ejike Uzoenyi, has described his late invitation to join the 23-man list of players to Brazil as an act of God. Speaking after the Friday training of the team at the Guarani FC Stadium in Campinas, Uzoenyi noted that, his invitation came when all hopes were lost.

The Rangers player who is South Africa bound was called in as a replacement to injured Elderson Echiejile shortly after the last friendly encounter with the USA.

Uzoenyi said he is focused on the World Cup now that he was lucky enough to have made the team eventually.

He said: “I don’t want to continue taking about how I felt when I was dropped. Of course, I felt terrible but that is behind me now since I am now in Brazil in a miraculous way.

“World Cup is the ultimate ambition of every footballer and so I am happy and ready to prove myself anytime the opportunity comes my way in the competition.”

Uzoenyi was part of the train-

ing exercise that lasted 90 minutes on Friday.

Uzoenyi

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2014

Sport

2014 FIFA World Cup Finals Update

Eagles’ debutants set for Brazil 2014 challenge

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uper Eagles are in the ongoing World Cup with most of over 90 per cent debutants.

Stephen Keshi picked 19 players yet to taste World Cup action for the competition. Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Osase Odemwinge are the four players who have been to the World Cup before this edition.

Yobo is in his 4th World Cup, Enyeama in his 3rd as well as Ejide, while Odemwinge in his second.

Followers of the round leather game believe there should have been a blend of old and new as experience may count against most of the players Nigeria will be parading from June 16 in Curitiba when the country files out for her first match against Iran.

After a close study of the pro-

file of the Eagles, English journalist Dennis Smith asked our correspondent what informed the decision to overhaul the team.

“I want to see the Nigerian coach and the only question I have for him is why he chose to come to the World Cup with almost 100 per cent debutants.

It is absurd. Every team needs experience. We don’t know all your players except about two or three,” Smith said.

When the Eagles file out on Monday, Odemwinge and Enyeama are likely to be the only ones with previous Mundial experience.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, is not worried about the development. He said the target for him was to raise a solid team

Sambaland Notes From Brazil Compiled by Adekunle Salami, Sao Paulo

Public holiday for opening

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any visitors were shocked on Thursday that most shops did not open for business. There might have been announcements on radio and television but the language barrier is a big issue. Shortly before the opening ceremony we thought people closed shops to watch the opening game but even after shops and offices were still locked. It was later learnt that the government declared Thursday a Public Holiday so that the people could witness the opening ceremony and enjoy the first match of the World Cup. After the game, it was tough to get anything in the city as all shops were closed.

and the players are still in the process of coming together as a solid bunch.

He argued that the important thing in football was the results which the team would give here in Brazil as Nigeria confronts Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina in group F of the global soccer showcase.

Keshi; “Results is the summary in football. I am not doing this job to fail. I want results and it’s up to me how I get that result.

Building a team is a very difficult task but I chose to do that because it is the best thing to do.

“By raising a team the coach will know everything about each of the players. It is good to know their strength and weaknesses just to achieve results.

It is also an advantage because you will know how best to deal with a difficult situation.

“It is not deliberate coming to the World Cup with few experienced players but these are the players that matched my thinking and vision for the team.”

The coach argued further that this development could be a big advantage for Nigeria as the opponents might find it difficult to know how best to deal with the Eagles.

“There are always two sides to a coin. People are saying the players are not known but that could turn out to be our biggest advantage because the element of surprise is there. For those they know, the coaches and players would have studied how best to deal with them.

“In USA 94, nobody knew Nigeria not to talk of the players. But before they knew it, we almost defeated Italy with a bunch of relatively unknown players on global stage. Imagine beating Bulgaria 3-0 in the opening match.

“I see this as a positive issue for the team and that is why our approach to every game speaks for us when we play our group games.”

Nigeria’s build-up to the World Cup was not inspiring as the Eagles drew 2-2 with Scotland, 0-0 with Greece and lost 2-1 to the USA in an encounter that highly exposed the Nigerian defence.

Keshi noted that all the friendly games were used to try out the fitness level of the players and to try out different strategies for the competition.

“I said it before the games that our focus was not to win

the friendlies. You all saw the starting line-up against Scotland. We were building up and looking at how best to get the best from the players.

“We were simply using the friendlies to prepare well for the preliminary stage of the World Cup. We saw some things we are going to correct before our first game and generally we are just fine.”

Team captain Joseph Yobo, also told our correspondent that the few experienced players in the team have been working towards encouraging the younger ones to do well here in Brazil.

Yobo said, “The most important thing is focus. We are collectively focused on achieving results here. The team is not lacking experience in my view just that many of the players were yet to be at the World Cup. “We have been talking to them on how to approach all the games. Most of the players were at the Confederation Cup and they played against Uruguay and Spain. I believe that experience is sufficient for us.

Football is a team sport and we have a solid team with players ready to play for one another to achieve results.”

Prostitutes declare free day

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he victory of Brazil on the first day of competition here was celebrated in many ways. Some people sang and danced all night after the game. Some embarked on drinking spree but also embraced the invitation of ‘ladies of the night.’ Before the opening match some young ladies were all over the streets distributing handbills on the way to stadium. Of course, I could not read it because of the language.

I was curious and showed it to a Brazilian who speaks English. He now explained that the handbill was an invitation by prostitutes that if Brazil wins the match, their ‘clients’ can do business for the night without paying. Of course Brazil won the game beating Croatia 3-1; the entire city of Sao Paulo was agog. When I got to my hotel, the workers there also confirmed that red light districts would witness huge crowd as people normally rush for the “free offer” of the professional ‘ladies.’

Poor awareness

T

he awareness for the ongoing competition is very poor. This is the biggest football event and if one compares this to the past editions, Brazil will score a very low mark. From the airport, I did not see much sign that a big event was about to take place. The situation was the same on Wednesday when I went for my accreditation tag. It was only the stadium that was decorated. The taxi had issues locating the right entrance to the arena and I was shocked. On the opening day on Thursday there was fanfare on the road and so much noise not for the World Cup but for the national team.

Many faces of bike riders

T

he first impression about motorcycles here was a good one because it is not the usual ‘okadas’ we see on Nigerian roads. The riders are always well kitted with helmets and they look like dispatch riders. Some of them wear black with ‘POLITIKA’ written on the back of their jackets. I was able to confirm that most of them are dispatch riders. However, I also learnt that some riders are policemen combing the streets looking for criminals simply because some of the criminals also use ‘bikes’ to perpetrate their ‘operations.’ Generally, there is a negative impression about people riding bikes here in Brazil. Most of them wear black overall and the helmets cover their faces. When a bike approaches here in Brazil, we are on red alert.

Victor Moses one of the Eagles’ debutants battles for the ball with an opponent

Nigeria concludes plan to spy on Bosnia, Argentina

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igeria have concluded arrangement to spy on her group opponents Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina as both teams clash in the group F opener scheduled to hold in Rio today.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that two officials will be in Rio for

the match to study the Argentines and Bosnians to enable the technical team know how best to handle the two teams later in the competition.

An official of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, who confirmed this to our correspondent said it was normal and such, would hap-

pen throughout the competition.

“We also expect that Argentina and Bosnia officials will send people to monitor our game against Iran. It is normal, “the NFF board member who preferred anonymity said.

The Nigeria, Iran match holds in Curitiba on Monday June 16.

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JUNE 15, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport

2014 FIFA World Cup Finals Update Odemwingie: Eagles’ defenders lose sleep over Messi

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uper Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie, is relishing the prospect of confronting Barcelona superstar Lionel Osaze Messi at the World Cup. The Eagles come face-to-face with one of their old rivals at the World Cup, Argentina at Estádio José Pinheiro Borba in Porto Alegre on June 25.

And Odemwingie has confessed that him and his teammates are scratching their heads; thinking of an antidote for Lionel Messi. ‘’This is a player who holds an opponent in suspense for 90 minutes and at any time can decide the outcome of the match - one touch, one action.” ‘’Our defenders will lose sleep before a match with Argentina. But in recent years we have a couple of times played against this team, Leo did not score, and we looked decent.” ‘’And this fact will also be in our heads,’’ the former Lokomotiv Moscow man told sportbox.ru.

He added: ‘’Can I play with Messi personally. We have players who did it. They are very tenacious defenders and midfielders.’’

Nigeria has never been victorious in four previous attempts they squared off with Argentina, with Lionel Messi named in the starting line-up.

In 2005, the Flying Eagles lost the final of the FIFA Under 20s in Holland, followed by another defeat in the gold medal match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At the last World Cup in South Africa, Nigeria lost by the odd goal and suffered a 3- 1 loss a year later in an exhibition match held in Bangladesh.

Campinas goes wild for Eagles

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riday’s open day at the national team’s basecamp in Capinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil turned out to be another exciting time for Brazilians soccer fans to show their love for the Super Eagles as they turned out in their thousands to cheer the team at their training ground in Estadio Brinco de Ouro da Princesa.

Open days are normally organized periodically for fans and the media to have an intimate experience with the team at their team base camp and what an experience it was for the fans of the Nigerians side, their players and officials. Apart from the thousands who were able to gain access into the arena, others lined out the route to the stadium as the team drove in from their Vitoria Hotel abode.

At a point, the situation almost degenerated as police battled to cage the fans who were by now running into the pitch where players and the technical crew were doing their business to have a closer shave and look at the Super Eagles. No violence was however recorded during the over two hours that the team trained at the venue. At the end of the session both the international press and their Nigerian counterparts that includes such heavyweights as Kunle Solaja, Mumini Alao, Akinloye Oyebanji, Paul Ogazie, Tony Ubani, Kunle Salami, Kayode Tijani, Christian Opara, also had their turns to interact with the players and officials and left with very positive positions.

Jonathan promises to shock Eagles, as Mark motivates team

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romises of a bounty reward came from the highest office in Nigeria Friday, when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said he will shock the Super Eagles team if they are able to make a major impact at the ongoing World Cup being hosted in the South American country of Brazil.

Speaking through Senate President, David Mark, who led a powerful Federal Government delegation to wish the Eagles well in the championship, Jonathan said it was time an African country wins the World Cup, adding that, the African champions are motivated enough to do the magic. “When we won the Olympic gold medal at Atlanta 96, we defeated countries like Argentina and Brazil, so I believe we can have a repeat performance at this year’s World Cup, with the talents available to us in this team,” he said.

The Federal Government delegation which includes Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed, Youth, Bonny Haruna, Culture, Chief Edem Duke, and host Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, who also declared that he has absolute confidence in the ability of the team to cause upsets in the championship that would remain indelible in soccer annals. Also in attendance were two state governors including that of Cross River, Senator Liyel Imoke, where the team played all its qualifiers for the World Cup, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba and his House of Representatives counterpart, Honourable Godfrey Gaya.

Senator Mark assured that the government was ready to do all it can within available resources to make the team comfortable in the championship, adding that, he will personally remain to attend all the team’s games in the opening rounds of the championship.

He praised the good conduct of the players so far and thanked the Mayor of Campinas, Mr Donas Donizete, who was also present for his support for the team.

Earlier, NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who introduced the huge presence of dignitaries, said he was thrilled that such a delegation was in town to motivate the players and officials of the team. The NFF also had in attendance Vice President, Chief Mike Okeke Umeh and Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, Barr. Chris Green. Maigari assured that with the caliber of players paraded by the African champions, Nigerians and indeed Africans will not be wide of the mark if they start thinking of winning the World Cup. Responding, Head Coach of the team, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi said he was happy to see top government functionaries visiting the team before they kick their first ball of the tournament as that has been a motivating factor for him in his playing days, which

saw him captaining the squad for 14 years.

Team Skipper, Joseph Yobo, assured Nigerians once again that the team will not disappoint at the tournament, while calling for prayers and positive attitude from all and sundry.

After the speeches, Senator Mark presented Yobo, with the national flags, while Keshi also received a flag for the team, same as Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, that will be displayed on the team’s bus during each game they played. All the 23 players also received the national flags from dignitaries present, with all of them assuring that they will not let the nation down. After the eventful occasion, the August visitors went into a private session with the players and coaches during which sundry issues concerning the team’s welfare were discussed.

Mikel: Nigeria will do well in Brazil

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uper Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has declared that the Nigerian team is on the right track to turn around a dismal recent record in FIFA World Cup finals and can build on their success as African champions.

The Super Eagles have played in five of the past six World Cups but after reaching the second round in 1994 and 1998, have taken just two points from their past six matches in the finals.

T h e y come into the tournament on a high after winning last year ’s Afric a n Cup o f NaMikel tions a n d boast the likes of Mikel,

his Chelsea teammate Victor Moses and forward Emmanuel Emenike.

“This is my first World Cup,” Mikel said after a training session in Campinas, outside Sao Paulo. “I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don’t just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.

“I have to make sure I lead by example.

We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament.”

Mikel said becoming African champions had given the side an injection of confidence as they prepare to take on the best teams in the world.

“We know we’re the African champions and people expect us to do well, to represent the African continent,” he said. “That’s a bit more extra pressure but it’s pressure that we love. We love to be African champions.”

“We are doing well; we are doing everything we can. We’re preparing well. Today the result in Spain against the Netherlands (5-1 victory for the Dutch) shows anything is possible so we have to make sure we approach games seriously and play well.

Moses, heading back to Chelsea after a loan spell at Liverpool, agreed that Nigerian football was on the up as the side prepares to play Iran in their Group F opener on Monday.

“Things are going in the right direction

for us at the moment,” Moses said. “The younger lads won the Under 17 World Cup and we won the Africa Nations last year so if we can bring the same determination that we did in the Africa Nations into this World Cup it will be very good for us.”

But coach Stephen Keshi said he was anxious to forget about recent football triumphs and focus on the future as his side bids to become the first African World Cup winners.

“Things are going in the right direction but that’s the past tense. We want that to stop. We need to focus on what is in front of us and we’ll take it from there,” he said.

And Keshi said football was a force for unity in the West African nation, struggling to cope with the threat from Boko Haram militants.

“Football is the one unifying force in Nigeria,” he said. “The fans are so passionate so when they’re playing you can’t see anybody on the street.”

This week officials in northeast Adamawa state announced the closure of all football viewing centres because of the threat of attack.

It came a week after 40 people were killed in an explosion at a football pitch, shortly after a match in the town of Mubi, in Adamawa state, which was blamed on Boko Haram.

The other teams in Group F are Bosnia and Argentina.

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Sport

2014 FIFA World Cup Finals Update

Argentina under pressure against Bosnia

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rgentina will kick off in the Maracana on Sunday against World Cup debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina, knowing that anything but finishing top of Group F would be cause for concern.

With Nigeria and Iran also due to face the former world champions it’s easy to understand the high level of optimism from supporters and neutrals alike, especially given their recent run of just one defeat in 15 previous international matches.

However, boss Alejandro Sabella will need to be wary of the free-scoring European newcomers who amassed an impressive tally of goals during qualification and will approach the game with little to lose.

Of all the countries competing at this year’s finals, nobody created more goals through the middle than Argentina with 77 per cent of their total tally coming from this area. With the obvious threat of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain - all of whom are among the favourites to claim the Golden Boot - Bosnia will face a huge task of keeping the free-scoring South Americans at bay. The statistics don’t bode well for the Balkan side either, two-thirds of the qualifying goals shipped by Safet Susic’s team came through their apparently vulnerable centre - only Spain, Nigeria and Brazil conceded a greater share from central positions going into the finals.

Both teams come into this Group F opener in good scoring form with Bosnia in particular averaging an impressive three qualifying goals per game - only Germany, Holland, England and Ghana scored more frequently. However, Argentina’s average of 2.19 is almost as impressive given the relative difficulty of the South American qualifying group, and the 1978 and 1986 World Cup winners could prove to be a dangerous opponent right from kick-off having scored 12 times in the opening

Robben proud of Dutch display

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oalscoring hero Arjen Robben heaped praise on his Netherlands team-mates after they stunned FIFA World Cup holders Spain on Friday.

Robben scored two goals in the second half as the Netherlands came from behind to trounce Spain 5-1 in Group B at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

The Bayern Munich speedster was at his blistering best against the defending champions but he preferred to congratulate the team, who gained some revenge for their 2010 World Cup final defeat.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to have scored those goals,” Robben told FIFA.com after netting his seventh goal in his last seven international appearances for Louis van Gaal’s side.

“I have to say, I’m just so proud of my team. It’s always nice to score a couple of goals but I’m far prouder of the side.

“I’m proud of our performance because that’s what really matters.”

Saturday’s result saw Spain concede five goals in a match for the first time since losing 6-2 to Scotland in 1963.

It was also only the second time Spain had shipped that many goals at a World Cup, having previously been on the receiving end of a 6-1 defeat to Brazil in 1950.

But despite the magnitude of the performance, Robben urged his Dutch teammates to remain focused ahead of clashes against Australia and Chile.

“We need to stay focused and just keep doing what we have been doing,” he said.

“Tomorrow we start again.”

Dzeko Messi

half-hour of games en route to Brazil.

A resilient Bosnia side are well-versed in coming from behind though, having rescued 67 per cent of points from losing positions during qualifying.

Bosnia’s strike duo of Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic will offer hope of a potential shock against the experienced Argentinians - the emphatic pair managed an impressive haul of 18 goals between them during qualifying. Interestingly though, only one attacking combination was more productive on the road to Brazil - opposing duo for the day Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain managed one more between them than their fruitful counterparts - and that’s without factoring in Sergio Ague-

ro’s contribution - and will hope to add more to that tally against a predominantly inexperienced defence.

Considering world rankings alone (16 places separate these two sides), it’s hard to see beyond Argentina beginning their 2014 World Cup campaign with a win, especially given their embarrassment of attacking riches. Given that Sabella’s multi-talented side have not conceded a single goal in their last 490 minutes of international football, Bosnia boss Susic may need to abandon the more cautious 4-2-3-1 approach his side have adopted during their pre-World Cup friendlies if there are to be any hopes of a World Cup upset in Rio de Janeiro.

Ramos encourages Spain to recover after mauling

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pain defender Sergio Ramos has implored his team-mates to show all their champion qualities after a harrowing start to their World Cup defence.

Sergio Ramos is imploring his teammates to recover after a troucing.

The world and European champions were torn apart as they crashed 5-1 to rampant Holland in a remarkable Group B encounter in Salvador.

Spain had arrived in Brazil again among the tournament favourites while Holland were thought to be facing a tough fight to reach the knockout stages from a group that also includes Chile.

The result at the Arena Fonte Nova sent shockwaves around the footballing world and Ramos knows Spain, who face Chile in Rio on Wednesday, must respond.

T h e 28-yearo l d Real Ramos Madrid cen-

tre-back told FIFA.com: “This team has experience and has been through some bad times.

“It’s been able to come back from setbacks like this and that’s what makes it great.

“We can’t sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. We need to start thinking right now about beating Chile.”

One of the setbacks suffered by Spain, who have won their last three major tournaments, was a defeat by Switzerland in their first game at the 2010 World Cup. With Chile beating Australia in their first game, the pressure is now on Spain once again and Fernando Torres accepts there is little room for error.

The Chelsea striker said: “It’s pretty clear that the situation is a whole lot trickier after this defeat.

“You have to win and your opponents know you have to win. You can’t even afford to draw and they’ll try to make the most of any anxiety we might be feeling.”

Spain capitulated alarmingly as they conceded four goals in the second half.

It seemed business as usual as Xabi Alonso put them ahead with a 27th-minute penalty, but Robin van Persie levelled with a sublime header before the interval.

The Dutch then found another gear as the exhilarating Arjen Robben put them ahead after 53 minutes and Stefan de Vrij forced in a third.

Van Persie robbed Spain goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas to claim the fourth and Robben wrapped up the scoring with a superb solo effort.

Chile player admitted cheating, says Cahill

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ustralia forward, Tim Cahill, has claimed a Chile player admitted cheating during their 3-1 FIFA World Cup win over the Socceroos on Friday.

The Group B rivals played out a thrilling contest in Cuiaba, Chile ultimately just having too much for a dogged Australian side, who fought back from conceding two early goals.

Cahill himself headed Australia back into the game before seeing an equaliser ruled out for offside in the second half.

But it was a booking picked up late in the first half by the New York Red Bulls man that irked him.

Cahill was shown a yellow card after tangling with Chile defender Gonzalo Jara and also got involved with Gary Medel on more than one occasion.

After the game, Cahill claimed that Jara had admitted to looking for an unfair advantage.

He said: “There was an incident where the left-back elbowed me and kicked out at me when I was trying to run past him for a cross, and I’ve got the yellow card.

“I called him a cheat and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m a cheat, so what?’

Mourinho was right about Casillas - Maradona

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he Argentina legend has criticised the Real Madrid goalkeeper following his nightmare showing on Friday night Diego Maradona says Iker Casillas’s horror showing in Spain’s 5-1 defeat to Netherlands proves Jose Mourinho was right to drop him during his time in charge of Real Madrid.

The goalkeeper was at fault for at least one of the goals as the reigning world and European champions suffered a shock thrashing at the hands of Louis van Gaal’s Oranje.

He has since accepted the blame for the defeat, and Argentina legend Maradona says the performance shows Mourinho was right to favour Diego Lopez over the 33-year-old.

“He had the worst game I’ve ever seen in my life...and it reminds me of what my friend Mourinho told everyone about him,” the 53-year-old told Telesur.

“He said Casillas wasn’t the right keeper and he paid for that. He had to leave, but in the end it turns out that Mourinho was right.”

Sergio Ramos was also criticised in the aftermath of the game and Maradona felt the Madrid centre-back lacked in pace against Arjen Robben.

Free-flowing Colombia beat Greece 3-0

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olombia marked their return to the World Cup after a 16-year absence with an attacking display that earned a 3-0 victory over Greece on Saturday, and the early initiative in what looks to be a really tight Group C. The South Americans went ahead after five minutes when great work by Juan Cuadrado set up Pablo Armero. Teofilo Gutierrez poked in the second after 58 minutes and James Rodriguez drove in a left foot effort in stoppage time at the end of another game full of high-paced action.

Greece struggled to get a foothold in the match and their hopes of a comeback fell away after Theofanis Gekas crashed a header against the bar from point-blank range after 63 minutes.

Colombia will now fancy their chances of topping a group that also contains Japan and Ivory Coast, who meet in Recife later on Saturday.

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JUNE 15, 2014

E-mail: ifeanyiandrewibeh@gmail.com Tel: 08085973490

WITH IFEANYI IBEH

Forget Brazil 2014, US Open reigns supreme

FIFA World Cup

Keshi: We won’t take F it easy with Iran The Brazilians did not forget Stephen Keshi and his Super Eagles after the men in green swooped down to South America’s biggest country for the FIFA Confederations Cup last year. Though they were unable to navigate themselves through an examining group including world champions Spain and Copa America holders Uruguay, they did give a good account of themselves and thrilled the flair-obsessed locals. That was evident when the Nigerians arrived at the team hotel in Campinas, where innumerable animated fans were on hand to greet them. Here, in an interview with FIFA, Keshi reveals his surprise at that memorable welcome, discusses the way he believes football should be played, outlines what has let African sides down in the past, and weighs in on Iran, whom Nigeria will commence their FIFA World Cup campaign against in Curitiba on Monday First up for Nigeria is Iran, whose coach has a good deal of experience. What are your views on the Iranians?

I think an experienced coach is their biggest weapon, because he’s well experienced, he knows the game well. For the Iran game we have to be focused. We have to concentrate and do our job. We are not going to take Iran lightly because they’re not going to take us lightly. So we have to go out with everything that we have. They have a very good coach and I’m sure they also have some quality players. We don’t know Iran very well, but we’ll see them on Monday.

You got such a great reception when you got to the team hotel.

How pleased were you?

Very pleased because it was something that we were not expecting. And we came so late in the morning and they were still waiting for us just to give us a welcome back. It was good.

Are you satisfied with Nigeria’s level or can you still improve?

We can be much better. This squad is probably a year-plus old, it is a new team. Most of the players are young. We are still in the process of getting much better at what we do. In two years’ time we can be much better.

What can the team achieve under you?

I don’t know. My dream is to build a strong team for Nigerians and give these players a reason to be footballers. And to show the many players that are coming up behind that they can become somebody in football. That’s my dream and that’s it.

How important is the team’s unity?

It’s very important because I think that most of the teams that I played for in Europe, in Africa, always had this unity, this

oneness. I think it’s a great weapon to have in your team because everyone is there, fighting for one another, playing for one another, which is a great thing. I’ve known this all my life as a football player, and now as a coach I am experiencing the same thing. This is the way we got to qualify. Togo also qualified for the World Cup in 2006 because we were united. We had more spirit moving forward. It was the same thing in Mali when I was there as well. I think it is working so I just keep on.

My dream is to build a strong team for Nigerians and give these players a reason to be footballers.

What’s Stephen Keshi’s football philosophy? What can we expect from your side?

I like attacking football. I don’t believe you need to sit back and load behind. You have got to be open and make the people come to the stadium. They spend so much money - they need to get value for it. Good, attacking football is what I like. Of course there must be purpose and discipline and togetherness to make the good football work.

Pele once said that an African side would win the World Cup by the end of the 20th century. Do you think African football is now on a par with Europe and South Amer-

HOLE IN ONE

ica?

I think so. If you look at most of the African players who are playing now for the African teams that are the five teams that have qualified for the World Cup - most of them are playing in Europe, playing against the same players as European players, South American players. I think it is the same thing.

The only problem, the only difference I think is the lack of concentration and the lack of discipline on the field. Tactical discipline, that is. If we could pay attention to our game plan and concentrate, I think we could do it because this is the same team that we play against week in, week out in Europe. Nigeria have not won a World Cup game for a while. Why do you think that is? I mean, we’ve always had such great players. It’s because of a lack of tactical discipline and concentration.

You have a wealth of experience in the squad. How will this help you progress?

You cannot buy this sort of experience. I pray that Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, John Mikel Obi will bring all their experience.

Youth is good, but if we can combine youth and experience that will be great for us.

Keshi

orget the FIFA World Cup, which got underway in Brazil on Thursday, it’s the US Open, which comes to a close today, that is currently in vogue for golf enthusiasts the world over as the best players on the globe take on the sand hills of Pinehurst, in North Carolina, USA. Visitors to any of the golf and country clubs spread across Nigeria, from Lagos to Abuja, should not expect to find any of the World Cup matches scheduled for Sunday being shown on the television screens at these clubs.

No serious golf enthusiast at any of these clubs is going to bother watching the Switzerland-Ecuador match, or the France-Honduras game, or even the Argentina-Bosnia encounter which comes up much later tonight, as attention remains focussed on the US Open.

This year’s line-up didn’t feature the injury-troubled Tiger Woods, but the championship will still be a spectacle of high-wire unpredictability, as golfing greats battle it out for a purse of US$8,000,000 on the old money course.

After a winless season and a tumultuous 2013, Rory McIlroy remains in contention for a second US Open title, even though he didn’t make the best of starts on Thursday. The Northern Irishman,

prior to the start of the championship, said that he would head into this year’s second major full of confidence, and it remains to be seen if he would emerge victorious at the end of today.

There is also Phil Mickelson who, having finished as runner-up on six occasions, needs victory at Pinehurst to complete a career grand slam. It’s a hefty ask of a man who is playing the worst golf of his career, who can’t recall a top 10 finish, and who is currently under investigation by the FBI for insider trading violations.

That said, Mickelson is a chipping giant, and on an unforgiving course such as Pinehurst, anyone who can pull miraculous shots out of nowhere time and again will have the best chance of emerging victorious.

Sadly this was something Mickelson failed to do in 1999 when he let his first chance at a US Open victory slip away on the same course, finishing a shot behind the late Payne Stewart.

Fifteen years on, the killer rough and narrow fairways on Pinehurst No. 2 have been replaced by wide fairways and expansive waste areas and now are teeming with passionate crowds who have descended upon the 114th US Open Championship.

Tiger Woods

Tiger dethroned as highest-paid athlete

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ndefeated boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr was last Wednsday named the highest-paid athlete in sports

by Forbes magazine, bumping off 2013 winner Tiger Woods by amassing $US105 million in net revenue.

Mayweather also topped the list with $85 million in 2012, ending 14time major golf champion Woods’ run atop the 100-athlete list from 2001-2011.

This time, Mayweather joined Woods as the only ones to top $100 million on the Forbes list, thanks to victories over Canelo Alvarez last September and Marcos Maidana last month, and did it with only 72 minutes of work and with no endorsement income.

The magazine measures endorse-

ment income as well as prize money and salary payments from June 1 of one year to the next.

Woods, who also lost his world number one status in golf last month to Australian Adam Scott, lost ground due to the end of a video game deal and a pinched nerve that required surgery March 31 and kept him out of the Masters and this week’s US Open.

Mayweather’s win over Alvarez set pay-per-view records with $200 million in total revenue, although his 2007 victory over Oscar de la Hoya remains the most watched fight in boxing history.

Mayweather, who has been paid nearly $400 million since turning pro in 1996, has three fights remaining in a six-bout deal with Showtime he signed last year.

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Sport / News

Beckenbauer skips World Cup after ban

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erman football legend Franz Beckenbauer is cancelling his trip to the World Cup in Brazil in the light of FIFA suspending him for 90 days over the investigation into the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid, he told the German media on Saturday.

The 68-year-old, who won the World Cup both as a player and as a coach in 1974 and 1990 respectively, told daily newspaper Bild he did not feel he would be made welcome after FIFA announced he had been suspended because he refused to speak to investigators looking into allegations that Qatar paid bribes to secure votes for its 2022 World Cup bid.

“I won’t be going to Brazil,” said Beckenbauer, whose sole title these days is honorary president of Bayern Munich.

“I am basing that decision on the fact I will not be welcomed by FIFA.” Beckenbauer, who was a member of the FIFA executive board in 2010 when the votes were cast to award Russia the 2018 finals and Qatar the 2022 edition, had originally planned to go to Brazil for the semi-finals.

Beckenbauer refused to cooperate with Michael Garcia, the former US federal prosecutor who headed an investigation in the votes for the

WORLD CUP RESULTS & FIXTURES Thu 12th June Brazil 3-1 Croatia Fri 13th June Mexico 1-0 Cameroon Spain 1-5 Netherlands Chile 3-1 Australia

Qatar vote and another that awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia.

The ban was ordered by FIFA’s Ethics Committee adjudicatory chamber because a breach of FIFA’s code of Ethics “appears to have been committed and a decision on the main issue may not be taken early enough.

“The apparent breach relates to Mr Beckenbauer’s failure to cooperate with an Ethics Committee investigation despite repeated requests for his assistance, including requests that he provide information during an in-person interview or in response to written questions provided in both English and German,” said the statement.

A formal investigation of the Beckenbauer case has now been started by investigatory chamber member Vanessa Allard, added the FIFA statement.

The international spotlight has fallen on Garcia’s investigation following allegations reported by the Sunday Times newspaper that a former Qatar football boss and FIFA vice-president, Mohamed bin Hammam paid more than five million dollars to get support for the emirate’s bid.

The ban against Beckenbauer is largely symbolic as he is no longer on the FIFA executive and has no real role in German football.

weakening confrontations against the likes of Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko and the deadly Argentina quartet of Angel di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi.

But the Nigeria defender is taking it in its stride. “I am not worried about anybody,” he said very calmly.

“I have played against a couple of

top strikers, and I’ve got my partners ready for these games as well so I am not worried at all.”

Omeruo is expected to return to the starting line-up against Iran after recovering from a slight knock in training.

Meanwhile, Omeruo’s Eagles team mate, Osaze Odemwingie, has admitted that nerves played a part in his poor showing on his return to the national team in the match against Scotland and Greece.

The Stoke striker struggled with his first touch in these games and admitted that he was a little nervous.

“It feels great to be back in the squad and to receive the kind of welcome I got from the boys. But I didn’t do too well and maybe I was a little nervous because it has been such a long time since I played for the national team.”

Odemwingie, shifted the blame to the ball. “I am used to playing with adidas ball and this one was Nike!”

The Nigeria forward said he expected to return to form in time for the start of the World Cup. “But I have been working on it and I know I need to relax a little more and just do my thing. It will come,” he said.

A’Ibom PDP sponsors 31 chairmen to Brazil 2014

Kenneth Omeruo

Tony Anichebe Uyo

ran midfield stalwart, Andranik Teymourian, believes the unfancied Asians can surprise the world in Brazil and book a place in the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

Sun 15th June Ivory Coast vs. Japan - 02:00 Switzerland vs. Ecuador -17:00 France vs. Honduras- 20:00

World Cup Top Scorers Robin van Persie (Hol) 2Goals Neymar (Brazil) 2Goals Arjen Robben (Hol) 2Goals Oscar (Brazil) 1Goal Alexis Sánchez (Chile) 1Goal Jean Beausejour (Chile) 1Goal Xabi Alonso (Spain) 1Goal Jorge Valdívia (Chile) 1Goal Oribe Peralta (Mexico) 1Goal Stefan de Vrij (Hol) 1Goal Tim Cahill (Australia) 1Goal

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uper Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has stated that he is not scared by the prospect of meeting some of the world’s top strikers at the World Cup and he welcomes the challenge.

The former Flying Eagles defender will come up against Iran’s Ashkan Dejagah on Monday, before even more potentially knee-

Iran predicts surprise runs to the knock-out stages T I

Sat 14th June Colombia 3-0 Greece

Monday 16th June 17:00. Germany .vs. Portugal.

20:00. Iran .vs. Nigeria.

23:00.Ghana .vs.USA

Omeruo ready to face Messi, Dzeko

Andranik Teymourian

The Iranians are tipped to struggle in their fourth appearance at the finals with Nigeria and Bosnia expected to battle it out for the runners-up spot in Group F behind overwhelming favourites Argentina.

But defensively-minded Iran, who conceded one goal in four warm up matches, are hoping to prove the pundits wrong ahead of Monday’s clash against Nigeria in Curitiba.

“We are more experienced and I hope that we will advance out of the group stage,” Teymourian told reporters.

“In our group, perhaps our match against Argentina will be strongest. Off course our opening match will be important.

“In the World Cup, we mustn’t make any mistakes. I can say with

confidence that we will be a surprise for all people,” added the midfielder, who played all three group matches in the 2006 tournament.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said earlier this week he had already decided upon his starting line-up for the match against the African champions.

That 11 is sure to include Teymourian sitting alongside deeplying playmaker Javad Nekounam and protecting the back four while looking to instigate quick counter attacks down the flanks through the speedy Ashkan Dejagah and Masoud Shojaei.

Former German youth international Dejagah, one of a number of players in the squad found through the Iranian diasporas, shared Teymourian’s confidence.

training on Saturday at the Hope Waddell Training Institute.

“If you look back at last year and year before, the last team camped and played all their matches here and eventually, they won the 2013 World Cup.” He urged the new team to emulate their illustrious predecessor by first ensuring qualification for the CAN Under-17 Championship in Niger before aspiring to be world champions; charging the players to cultivate the right attitude as well as pledging continuous government’s support and traditional hospitality of Cross-Riverians to ensure the team’s successful campaign.

“You are a new team and as usual, we welcome you with open hands and we hope you

would find the environment conducive,” he continued. “We hope you will take your training seriously and listen to your coaches because by so doing so that you would be able to demonstrate what they are teaching you.”

Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke (MON), thanked the commissioner for the visit despite the inclement weather even as he solicited for the state’s sustained support.

“The experience we had the last time was marvellous and we are building upon that experience,” said Amuneke.” We would remain disciplined and continue to work hard; and by the grace of God, we shall come out victorious.”

Imoke welcomes Eaglets to Calabar

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he Executive Governor of Cross River State and Golden Eaglets’ foremost supporter, Senator Liyel Imoke, has formally welcomed the Under-17 National Team to Calabar, asking the lads to build on the success recorded by the class of 2013.

The state’s Commissioner for Sport and Youth Development, Patrick Ugbe, spoke on behalf of the Governor who was away in Brazil as part of Federal Government’s delegation to the opening day of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. “We are delighted to have you back here in Calabar and I am here on behalf of His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke who is in Brazil with the Super Eagles,” said Ugbe who actually defied the rain to watch the team’s

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Akwa Ibom State, has sent 31 chairmen of the party from all the local government areas in the state to watch the on-going 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

It was learnt that the benefitting chairmen of the party besieged the immigration office in the Federal Secretariat, Uyo last week to seek international passports and concluded other travelling formalities before making the trip last week.

Contacted, the state PDP chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo, refused to answer the question posed by our reporter. “You can see I am relaxing in my house now and I must confess to you that I have no answer to your question.”

Earlier, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said it was only the party chairman that can comment on the issue. The chairmen have since arrived in Brazil.

Reacting to the issue, former Commissioner of Information and member Akwa Ibom PDP Elders and Stakeholders, Mr. Ita Awak, said the chairmen of the party were sponsored to Brazil in order to pave the way for his preferred aspirant to lead the party in the state congress.

He noted that: “It is clearly the move by Akpabio to make the people he has been starving for many years to accept his stooge as his successor,” stating that it was unfortunate for Akwa Ibom people have kept quiet over the issue.”

He stated that the move by Akpabio to install the present Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as his successor, is causing frictions and disunity in the once united party in the state.

SPORT

Mikel: Nigeria will do well in Brazil }60

Sanctity of Truth w ww. n ew te l e g r ap h on l i n e . c om

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth. – Buddha

VOL. 1 NO. 117

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014

N150

FAITH Why prayers can’t change Nigeria –Akamisoko

}50

And Sanusi is boxed to a corner

F

ormer CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s ascension to the throne of his forefathers as the revered Emir of Kano is a welcome development, indeed. For me, it comes as part of the modernization that the traditional institution in Nigeria has undergone in the past many years, starting, for example, with the crowning of former Prince Solomon Akenzua, a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, as the Oba of Benin on March 23, 1979. Since then, we have also had Dr. Adedapo Tejuso, a renowned medical doctor and industrialist, who is the Oke-Osile Ona of Egbaland, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, a famous novelist and former Registrar of WAEC who is the Eze Ndikelionwu, Ajali Kingdom in Anambra State and his counterpart in Awka, Eze-Uzu Awka, Prof. Gibson Nwosu, one of the first recruits into the Nigerian Air Force and a former head of air traffic operations for the Biafra Air Force, the Lusaka International Airport and Zambia Air Services Training Institute (ZASTI). There is also the case of Professor Laz Ekwueme, world-famous musicologist and younger brother to the former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who is the Igwe of Oko, also in Anmbra State.

With such men on the thrones of their forefathers, the traditional institution is expected to play a more positive role in peacebuilding efforts in and the socio-economic development of, communities, states and the nation as a whole.

It is in this light that I think we should look at Lamido Sanusi’s selection by the kingmakers as the 14th Emir of Kano. All through his career as a banker and public servant, Sanusi espoused and implemented ideas that projected him as a truly development economist. For instance, when Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, the brilliant Minister of Agriculture came to the scene and pointed to a new, pragmatic direction for the nation’s agriculture, Sanusi as the CBN Governor responded with a N500b CBN Agriculture Loan Scheme to enable farmers to access funds so they can expand their production. Whether or not the scheme has been well implemented is a different matter entirely.

The problem with Sanusi’s own version of an intellectual as a traditional ruler, however, is that his ascension as emir is the product of vile politics. He is a willing pawn in a truculent political chess played, on the one hand, by Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and all the other radical, anti-establishment forces in Kano and, on the other hand, by the more rational, sober elements in Kano who have watched as the rabid radicalism and nonconformist posturing of the likes of Kawankwaso, Junaid Mohammed, the late Abubakar Rimi and Lamido Sanusi himself, among others, have bred the religious fundamentalism that has all but destroyed the socio-economic fabric of Northern Nigeria and brought ethnic and religious disharmony to the place. The latter group is supported by the federal government, which appears ill-at ease with the Kwankwaso’s group’s brand of politics that seems to thrive on insults, lack of respect for constituted authority and ethnic and religious baiting.

The circumstances leading to Sanusi’s suspension as the CBN Governor are well known and bear no repetition. But, we do

Sunday

Notebook abugufex@gmail.com

Sanusi

recall that as CBN Governor and member of the Jonathan Administration’s Economic Team, Sanusi made largely unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against the administration, which could not but put a strain on his relationship with the government. Ultimately, his actions and utterances against the government of which he was practically a member, what the press called whistleblowing, were to lead to his removal as governor of the CBN barely three months before the completion of his five-year tenure.

It was a spiteful action against a man who had shown so much spite for the government of the day. Sanusi and the government were still in court over his “illegal” removal when the Emir of Kano, the great Alhaji Ado Bayero passed on to the great beyond and the kingmakers and Kwankwaso’s government chose Sanusi as his successor.

It is alleged that on the day the kingmakers were to vote for the late Emir’s successor, the entire APC apparatchik practically relocated to the ancient city of Kano to ensure

MAMA LASISI

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

08076290498 (sms only)

that Sanusi emerged. And emerge he did.

The hope of his supporters is that Sanus’s strong views against the Administration and his seeming popularity in the North will sway people’s sympathy and votes from Jonathan to whoever APC will bring out as its presidential candidate for next year’s election. A well calculated move, you would say. But, the question is, is the overt politicization of Sanus’s installation as the Emir of Kano good for both APC and Lamido Sanusi? I hold the view that it is not good for them--for several reasons.

One--and this is very important--is that as a traditional ruler, Sanusi can no longer hold overt political views for or against anybody or institution. He cannot be seen to be too critical of either the state or the federal government. As a traditional ruler, revered or not, he is expected to hold his political opinion largely to himself. If he gets too involved in politics, he risks possible deposition. He should ask Ibrahim Dasuki, the would-have-been most powerful traditional ruler in Nigeria. Installed by former military President Ibrahim Babangida against the wishes of the people, Dasuki was soon to know who was more powerful when Abacha came to power and would not brook any opposition from any other “powerful” person, not even the person occupying the seat of Uthman Dan Fodio as head of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria. Dasuki was deposed and banished to a remote village in Kebbi State.

If Sanusi insists on going the way he did as CBN governor, trust me, he will get the boot.

The other reason is that APC and Sanusi, like it or not, are not treading the same path.

Never one to play by the rules or as a team member, Sanusi had always wanted to be the Emir of Kano and had mapped out his plans well in advance. When Sanusi dressed one day like the Emir and went to his office to conduct the affairs of the day as CBN Governor, he served notice that he did not

care as much about the CBN job as he did about the position of the Emir of Kano. Thus, when the crisis of confidence erupted between the APC and the Presidency, Sanusi gleefully jumped into the fray on the side of APC or, well, Kwankwaso, his state governor whose nod he ultimately needed to be crowned the Emir. We are all witnesses to how things have played out. But, we also know that, in reality, Kwankwaso and Sanusi have never been the best of friends. In Kwankwaso’s first coming as Kano governor in 2003, he once urged UBA to sacked Sanusi, unable to contend with the searing criticisms of his government by the former CBN governor. When the UBA declined to accede to his request, he withdrew all Kano State Government’s funds from the bank. It is still the same Sanusi who doesn’t suffer fools gladly that is the Emir of Kano today.

How are Kwankwaso and Co sure that Sanusi will not turn against his benefactors sooner or later?

Jonathan may the common enemy today, one that the APC may need Sanusi’s touted influence to oust come next year. But as we have pointed out, Sanusi as a traditional ruler may have become politically useless to APC. He can neither campaign openly for the party nor clandestinely because, right now, I presume he is the most watched public officer in Nigeria. He just has to be careful how he moves, whom he associates with or what he says. Or risk possibilities he is loathe to think about.

Therefore, I find the hairsplitting about Sanusi as new Emir of Kano in many quarters unnecessary. The truth is that the Emir of Kano has been boxed to a corner and can’t do any political harm to anybody. He can’t brandish his anti-corruption credential any longer because that credential has been sufficiently discredited, what with the Senate ‘s declaration that his allegation that $49bn of NNPC money was missing is a lie. Even if he had other facts to disclose, Sanusi may no longer have the political leverage he had as a ‘whistle-blowing’ CBN governor to make any damning disclosures. So, where is he going to derive the power to do political damage to his foes more than he has already done? I think that rather than fight Sanusi and canonize him in the process, the government should just let him be but put him on serious security watch because, right now, Lamido Sanusi has just become another traditional ruler in a part of Nigeria who can only be seen and not heard.

By Aliu Eroje

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