Binder 1222233334444 satuday, may 17, 2014

Saturday Edition

Sanctity of Truth Facebook.com/newtelegraph

Saturday, MAY 17, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 88

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

TEX EGBEDI Why Texen is an enduring brand P.13

SENATOR ANOSIKE Governors’ ambition for Senate unhealthy P.45

#BringBackOurGirls

Celebrities hit the road for campaign P.18

How a leak foiled President Jonathan’s Chibok visit

lPresident’s advance team was in Maiduguri as at Thursday lAbati: Presidency never announced any trip to the town Suleiman Bisalla, Anule Emmanuel and Ndubuisi Ugah Abuja/Lagos

I

t was a discreet plan, conceived to catch virtually everyone unawares and earn the president a huge plaudit after the intense criticism he has had to contend with on account of the less than satisfactory manner the abduction of over 200 female students in Chibok, Borno State, was handled.

But a leak put paid to that and the media was soon awash with reports that President Goodluck Jonathan would be visiting the community that has been in the spotlight since April 14, when the students of Government Girls Secondary School were abducted by Boko Haram.

The Presidency has however denied the report that Jonathan had planned to visit Chibok. “Every trip by the president is usually pre-announced. The Presidency did not at any time announce a trip to Chibok today. Ignore rumours,” Senior Special Adviser to the president on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, announced Friday on his Twitter page.

“The statement issued by my office yesterday (Thursday) indicated very clearly that the president is scheduled to travel to Paris today (Friday). It is therefore wrong and malicious to allege that a non-existent trip has been cancelled,” he tweeted.

Also, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, spoke Friday, corroborating Abadi’s earlier statement. VOANEWS online quoted Omeri as describing re-

Why I’m reluctant to speak on students’ abduction - Shettima ...says he has documentary evidence of WAEC’s acceptance to conduct exams Ndubuisi Ugah, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Ummal-fadal Babagirei

Lagos/Abuja

M

ore than one month after the outlawed Boko Haram sect abducted over 200 students

of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has said the need to be “cautious and not to overheat the polity as a leader” informed his decision not to speak on the incident which has sparked CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

ports that President Jonathan would visit Chibok yesterday as “misinformation” being peddled both locally and internationally to create tension and

RISE OF THE FEMALE DISC JOCKEY ... DJ BELLA p.20

panic among the population.

“I am not sure of the report and its sources. As coordinator of the National information Centre, I don’t have informa-

tion; therefore I doubt its authenticity.

“Since this incident started, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

CIBN advocates 10-year term for CBN governor Godson Ikoro

F

or a more stable and enduring economic policy that will lead the nation out of the woods, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should have a minimum of two tenures of five years each in line with global practice.

This was the verdict of the outgoing President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Nigeria (CIBN) Dr. Segun Aina in his 2014 Presidential valedictory address to bankers in Lagos yesterday.

Besides, he said the selection of the person to occupy the office of the Governor should be through an open, transparent and competitive process, so that the best qualified individual for such sensitive and important positions like the CBN governor, deputies, and managing director of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

Speaking on Banking and Bankers: looking back, looking ahead, Aina insisted that regulatory leadership is essential for now and in future; citing examples of USA, United Kingdom and Malaysia CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

ENUGU VOTERS KICK AS INEC OMITS GOVERNOR CHIME AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER IN REGISTER

p.5

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NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

Content 17.05.14 INSTYLE

Casually Chic

The casual chic style is a great look for women who want to put together their comfiest pieces of wardrobe, looking simple bit smart. }15

SHOWBIZ

Women on the Turntable A new generation of women shatters the assumption that disc jockeying is essentially a man’s job. }19

THE ARTS Feminine Brushstrokes A solo exhibition of textile and yarn paintings by fashion artist and an interior craft teacher, Ajayi Wuraola, calls attention to the importance of women in the society. }23

SPORT

World Cup Wager

Ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Alloy Agu, is optimistic that the national team coach, Stephen Keshi, can surpass the World Cup record set by former technical adviser, Clemens Westerhof. }25

TRAVEL

Service is Everything

For Zimbabwean-born David Kanyandu, general manager of Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, there is no room in the hospitality industry for anyone averse to serving others. }41

CIBN advocates 10-year term for CBN governor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

whose tenure of office and selection should be emulated by Nigeria.

He said that in the future, the nation should consider drawing up a thorough job, person profile and advertising vacant regulatory leadership positions to allow internal, local and international candidates to apply for the job as is done in other jurisdictions like United Kingdom.

“We now have a situation in the UK where its Central bank is headed by a Canadian National, the first time in the 319 history that the Bank of England will be headed by a non-UK Citizen”, he said.

Noting that the last three governors of the Central bank served for only a term of five years each, Aina averred that it does not augur well with for stability and continuity, stressing that the Governor of Central Bank of Malaysia have spent 14 years, while Alan Greenspan served for 19 years as the head of American Reserve Bank,

(America’s Central Bank).

Furthermore, he urged the Federal Government to work closely with banks and emplace relevant policies that will assist in achieving a stable financial system, adding that provision of the enabling environment especially power and other infrastructure that support the viability of banks is urgently needed to reduce cost of doing business in Nigeria.

Aina argued that without banks, there would be no need for regulatory authorities, stressing that all their policies should be consistent, objective and helpful to the development of the banking industry and the entire financial system in general.

While urging banks to embrace the global best practices in all their operations especially in the area of the attainment of the acclaimed International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), Aina said it would make for greater disclosure and remove the current suspicion and mistrust about banks and their financials.

Why President Jonathan cancelled Chibok visit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 lots of misinformation has been going on locally and on the global stage. And Nigerians out there who are not part of what is happening at home are feeling agitated and worried,” said Omeri. “We have so many such stories even in some of our local newspapers that are not true.”

Omeri said such misinformation was the reason the federal government had to establish an information centre to enlighten Nigerians, both home and abroad, on what was really going on.

“What we have done is to ensure the streamlining of information to serve as the only credible source to the people, available and put in place by the government Nigeria. So, what happens here is that any other agency engaging in this activity channels reports and outcomes to this centre and it is further relayed to citizens,” Omeri said.

Omeri said the government had stepped up efforts in search of the abducted schoolgirls following what he says has been an intensified support from the international community.

Military sources told New Telegraph that the president’s intended visit had, in fact, been communicated to relevant authorities in Borno State, adding that it was on that basis the Nigerian Army sent a reconnaissance team since Thursday to comb the area to be visited by the president.

The source also confirmed that an advance team of the president’s convoy arrived in Maiduguri by 12 noon on Thursday to prepare for the president’s visit, but that the plan had to be shelved due to unconvincing security report.

At the time of filing this report, the source said there was no contrary report to the earlier communication, but that the Recce team had been asked to report to the 7 DIV of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.

The source lamented that apart from the service chiefs who visited Borno to assess the scene of the abduction of the Chibok girls, no federal government delegation has visited the state. “Not even the minister of women affairs who is from the zone,” he said.

The situation in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been tense in the past few days since soldiers at the Maimalari Barracks reportedly fired some shots during an address by the 7 Division’s General Officer Commanding, Major Gen. Ahmed Muhammed, on Wednesday.

The Defence Headquarters later announced that the GOC has been redeployed, adding that the army would set up a board of inquiry to probe the conduct of the soldiers who were said to have been enraged by the circumstances that led to the death of four of their colleagues in an ambush.

“On evacuation of the remains of the fallen troops, the General Officer Commanding addressed the troops who registered their anger about the incident by firing into the air,” Defence spokesman, MajorGeneral Chris Olukolade, said in a statement.

The Jonathan administration’s initial silence when news of the students abduction broke had been strongly denounced both within and outside the country. The disaffection it

caused would later inspire the #BringBackOurGirls campaign that went viral online, and became a global phenomenon, with British Prime Minister David Cameron and United States first lady, Michelle Obama, lending their support.

The campaign has also rallied support from countries such as the United States, Britain, China and Israel who have all pledged to assist the federal government in its bid to rescue the abducted students.

In a related development, President Jonathan has appealed to Nigerians to be calm and prayerful as government intensifies efforts to wipe out terrorism in parts of the country.

Jonathan made the appeal in Abuja on Friday at the opening of this year’s Synod of the Abuja Diocese (Anglican Communion).

Represented by the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, Jonathan urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of terror but to rise stronger against the insurgents and their sponsors.

“These threats to our society should not be taken lightly by citizens; we must all rise strongly against our enemies.

“I must also state categorically that Nigeria will get to the Promise Land in spite of the setbacks, we are already on the right path and we must surely move forward as a nation,’’ a NAN report quoted him as saying.

Jonathan thanked the church for the prayers and urged them not to relent and expressed hope that the present challenges would soon be addressed.

Earlier, the Primate of Nige-

ria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, urged Nigerians to support the federal government in tackling challenges confronting the nation.

Okoh stressed the need for Nigerians of different religious and political backgrounds to put sentiments aside and join the fight against ills in the society.

The primate, who spoke on a wide range of national issues, welcomed the proposal by President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

“For me, the country should consider the benefits of the emergency rule in the states where the insurgents have held sway. `”In a situation where it is ascertained that the emergency rule has helped, the legislature should not waste time to approve the President’s proposal.

As long as our problems have not been solved, emergency rule should continue’’, he said.

Also, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, welcomed the proposal for the extension of state of emergency in the states.

Oritsejafor, who spoke at CAN’s one day prayer for Nigeria in Abuja, said the conditions that warranted the emergency rule had not been addressed hence the extension.

He urged politicians to put their differences aside and join the federal government in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

The CAN president, however, advised government not to trade the abducted Chibok schoolgirls for Boko Haram members in detention.

‘I’m reluctant to speak on students’ abduction’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

global outrage.

Speaking with journalsists, Shettima said he was particularly sad over the negative impact of the abduction of the schoolgirls on the state and the country at large, given the fact that he is an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart.

“As a leader, I am not allowed to overheat the polity.

I will not be a party to rock the ship of the state. A lot of stories were flying that the abduction did not even take place and some of these theories came from the highest rebels of government.

“One thing is that this incident happened at night.

Secondly, as a governor I am not trying to make blames. I am a leader who is willing to accept responsibility for my actions and in actions and as I said earlier, I do not want to say so much in order not to scandalise the federal authority. I want you to appreciate my peculiar circumstances. I am of the APC and we do not want to politicise the issue at stake. But believe me, there is hardly any attack that happens without

Shettima

the knowledge of the local community,” he said.

Apparently suggesting the initial lukewarm response of the federal government arose from a sceptical attitude towards reports of the abduction, the governor said: “If you heard (former minister of aviation) Chief Kema Chikwe spoke, you will know that when you see a frog dancing on the road, the drummer is not far off from the main road. Believe me, she was echoing the voices of the people higher up.

“Now, it is left to the judgment of each and everyone of us to testify if the girls were actually abducted or not. Leadership calls for restrain, otherwise believe

me l know a lot. I have to restrain myself from speaking so much because discretion is a better part to fellow. Believe me if I am to speak, a lot of heads will roll.”

Shettima, who clarified reports which quoted him as saying he knew the whereabouts of the abducted schoolgirls, said: “We know the whereabouts of these girls in the context of the fact that we are the closest to the people. We have a very robust platform and a security alert system. Communities upon citing unusual movements of vehicles usually alert us because we have sensitised them on the need to alert us.

“Those girls were sighted by villagers and other people

of the country side which we adequately updated the military. I will not dwell further on where they were cited for security reasons. If I do so, I will be compromising the safety of those girls. But anytime we get information, and we do get information, we relay it to the relevant quarters for them to take it to another level to investigate further and see what we can do to rescue these girls.”

On allegations that the abduction could have been avoided, Shettima said it was unfair for the federal government to have insinuated such, given the fact that there was an understanding between the state government and the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

“The Federal Government College, Maiduguri, is presently open with students in it writing their final year exams. Is it not a federal institution? We are not a unitary state. We are a federation. If we are to permanently closed down our schools, what message are we sending to the world?

That Boko Haram has won?”

- SEE INTERVIEW ON PAGE 47

Why voter apathy is high in Nigeria –Jega Onyekachi Eze ABUJA/ with agency reports

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orried by the increased apathy in the electoral process and high number of invalid votes during elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday inaugurated a National Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP).

This is coming as a Federal High Court (FHC) in Kano State yesterday dismissed a case instituted by two parties against the state Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, accused the political class of not complying with the election rules and regulations.

He blamed low participation of the majority of Nigerians in elections on low level of awareness on electoral matters.

“Although democracy has come to stay in Nigeria with 15 uninterrupted years of practice, but the majority of Nigerians seem apathetic to elections, going by statistics available from

NEWS

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l

Court dismisses suit stopping Kano LG election

voters turnout at elections over this period,” Jega said.

According to him, the attitude of both the electorate and the political class one of the problems of conducting elections in the country and called for positive attitude and responses of the citizenry in the elimination of electoral violence and malpractices.

He said the commission realised that there was a correlation between an enlightened, well informed electorate and the success of any election, hence its focused on voter education.

Giving reasons why INEC decided to inaugurate an inter-agency committee on voter education, the chairman explained: “We in INEC however acknowledge that this task of enlightening and educating the citizens on the processes is not one that can be effectively undertaken singlehandedly by only one or two agencies.

“Our overlapping statutory responsibilities to inform, educate and enlighten the citizens necessitates our working together to achieve this common goal, in a coordinated and in the most efficient and effective manner possible.”

He expressed the readiness of the commission to work with its strategic partners and stakeholders, which he said had achieved considerable success in the past.

Jega noted that the Inter-Agency Consulative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has proven to be an indispensible tool in addressing challenges associated with electoral security and has become a model which several EMBs and donor partners have studied with a view to deploying in other countries.

He said the objectives of establishing the committee is to provide platform for proper coordination and synergy in mobilising and enlightening Nigerians on the electoral process.

Also, the acting Chairman of INEC’s Information and Publicity Committee, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, said voters' apathy and high number of invalid votes informed the reasons for the constitution of the committee.

Iyimoga, who also doubles as NICVEP chairman, said the inauguration came at a time INEC was about to commence the distribution of permanent Voters

cards (PVCs) in 10 states of the country as well as Ekiti and Osun states.

The committee, which comprises officials of INEC, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Federal ministries of Information, Women Affairs and Social Development, Communication, Youths Development and Education; National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), was given 10 terms of reference.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Better Nigeria Peoples Party (BNPP) had sued KANSIEC for omitting their names from its list for the May 17 council polls.

Delivering judgement, Justice Fatin Riman said the plaintiffs case lacked merit.

He said the omission of the two parties by KANSIEC was related to the action of INEC which de-registered them in the first instance.

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NEWS EDITOR, SATURDAY:

NDUBUISI UGAH

ndubuisi.ugah@newtelegraphonline.com; nduby001@yahoo.com; 08033617741

The Week Ahead

JAMB’s UTME begins today The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed May 17 to 31 for the conduct of the 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) through Computer Based Test (CBT). A statement issued by the Head of Public Relations of the board, Fabian Gabriel, said the CBT would take place in about 163 centres in Nigeria and abroad.

African Fashion Week holds May 18 African Fashion Week Nigeria will hold the first ever ‘African Fashion Week’ at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on May 18.

Abuja Tax Academy holds May 19 The Abuja Tax Academy (ATA) will hold a special tax academy session at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on May 19 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Sanusi: Court fixes May 20 for judgment A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment till May 20 in the case by the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, challenging his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan. The judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had fixed the date after hearing the respondent counsel’s preliminary objection and Sanusi’s counsel’s originating summons, as well as the adoption of same. Sanusi had on February 24, challenged his suspension from office by the president and urged the court to reverse the decision. The President, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IG) were joined as first, second and third defendants respectively, in the suit.

Senate c’ttee summons FERMA boss May 20 Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Lawan, has asked the Managing Director of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Gabriel Amuchi, to appear before the committee on May 20 to account for his stewardship. Lawan warned that should Amuch fail to honour the invitation, he should therefore, be ready to resign on account of his failure to account for his stewardship.

INEC issues voters cards May 23 The Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will commence the issuance of permanent voters cards (PVC) from May 23 in 10 states of the federation. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Benue State, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf, said the commission would also begin the issuance of continuous voters registration (CVR) from May 28.

AMAA holds May 24 The 10th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will hold at the newly refurbished Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

L-R: Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala ; former Permanent Secretary, State House Abuja, Mr. Steve Orosanye and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during meeting of financial action task force committee, at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENSAN

Ibori heads for Supreme Court over money laundering case Cajetan Mmuta Benin

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ormer governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, who is standing trial over alleged money laundering in the United Kingdom (UK) Court has said he will appeal against the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, the Edo State capital over the case.

The Appeal Court had nullified the Federal High Court ruling which ruled in his favour.

Ibori, who is currently serving jail term in London prison for corrupt practices, had asked his lawyers to head to the Supreme Court, to appeal the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Benin City.

In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony Ewelumunor, Ibori said despite his travails, he had remained an unfailing believer in the rule of law, especially the courts.

According to him, the decision of the Federal High Court in Asaba,

which the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City had just nullified, was perhaps the most politicised in Nigerian history, with crass politicians not hiding their interests and sundry commentators opinionating on otherwise purely matters of law-yet refusing to refer to the judgement while pouring out their sectarian creeds.

“Yet, Ibori, a believer in the rule of law and freedom of the courts, will not stoop as low as those who flagellate judges

whose decisions they not like, openly or through innuendos, impute any misdeeds on the part of the panel of Justices who decided the case.

“In pursuit of this undying belief, he has instructed his lawyers to, without delay, take the next legal step by referring the matter to the apex court in the land,” Ewelumor said.

Ibori has also called on his supporters everywhere to remain calm as they have always done since his political persecution began.

2014 Business Law Conference holds May 25 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, will on May 25 to 27 deliver a keynote address at the eighth Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s Section on Business Law (SBL), at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. The keynote address will be delivered at the first session of the conference on May 26.

W’Cup: Super Eagles get May 26 deadline Coach Stephen Keshi, who released his provisional 30-man list on Tuesday, has given the players May 26 as deadline to report to the team’s London camp to start preparations for the World Cup with the friendly game with Scotland coming up two days later.

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FCT

ILORIN

‘6m Nigerians reside in Cameroun’

N EWS I N BRIEF

Consulate-General of the Republic of Cameroun, Dr. Paul Ekorong a Dong, has said there are about six million Nigerians currently living in Cameroun.

Ekorong a Dong told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday in Lagos that many Nigerians were living, doing their businesses and engaging themselves in different jobs in Cameroun.

“Today, we have about six million Nigerians living happily in different parts of Cameroun,” he said.

Kwara okays N220m for grazing reserve Kwara State Government has approved the sum of N220 million for the creation of grazing reserves and stock routes for the use of herdsmen in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Kayode Towoju, who stated this, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state’s executive council meeting in Ilorin, said the development followed the understanding by government to create a reliable solution to the cases of incessant face-off between local farmers and herdsmen mostly Fulani from the north.

FCT NEXIM bank: CNPP demands probe of Stabilisation Fund The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday called for the immediate probe of N200 billion stabilisation funds advanced to the Nigeria Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), with a caveat to protest if the Managing Director, Mr. Robert Orya, was not removed.

The CNPP alleged dereliction of duty, gross abuse of office and misapplication of the stabilisation and loan guarantee fund against the managing director.

This was statement in a statement issued in Abuja, by the Secretary General of the CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu.

Benue/ Taraba states broker truce to end communal attacks Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

A

s renewed attacks between the Jukun people, Fulani insurgents and Tiv farmers in Benue and Taraba states rages on, the governors of the two states, Gabriel Suswam and the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, yesterday brokered a truce to end the intractable conflicts.

The two governors led their respective delegations to Kashimbilla, a border town linking the two states which is approximately 230 kilometres to Jalingo, the Tataba State capital, where the peace deal was initiated.

Pockets of violence had erupted within the two states following reported attacks and killing of Tiv farmers by armed insurgents believed to be of Fulani extraction in Taraba forcing Tiv farmers

there to flee the state.

Speaking at the event, the two governors condemned the killing of people and destruction of lives and property in the affected communities, and agreed to form a joint military and police patrol from the 72 Nigerian Army Military base to patrol the Takum-Wukari road to stem the escalation of the crisis.

They said the joint patrol team would be provided with vehicles to enhance their operations and implored the people in the affected communities to cooperate with them to ensure the restoration of permanent peace and subsequent return of farmers who have deserted their homes.

Umar, who particularly described the crisis as an illwind that does no one any good, appealed to the warring sides to sheathe their swords and embrace the most cherished peace.

Obanikoro lied over Ilubirin Housing scheme - Commissioner Muritala Ayinla

L-R: Honourable Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; Chairman Citilodge Hotel and Conference Centre, Olufemi Talabi; Director General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo and the Chief Executive Officer International Style Week Limited, Bassey Essien, during the Tourism Development Workshop in Lagos.

Chibok: Nigeria at war with evil forces – Clark Tunde Oyesina and Musa Pam Abuja/ Jos

� COCIN President: Boko Haram out to Islamise Nigeria

A

n Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday said Nigeria was at war with evil forces in the Boko Haram sect, as portrayed in the abduction of the students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

Also, President Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Dr. Dachollom Datiri, has said the Boko Haram sect is a jihad group, whose main objective is to Islamise Nigeria by attacking Christian communities as witnessed in the abduction and raping of Christians girls and women.

Clark, who stated this in Abuja, while playing host to Orashi Women Patriotic

147.5 The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Belgium in 2004.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Front (OWPF), who paid him a courtesy call, said he decided to celebrate his 87th birthday anniversary on a low key on May 25, due to the security situation in the country.

He added that his birthday would be marked with sober reflections and prayers for the abducted girls and Nigeria as a whole.

“I thought the declaration of state of emergency declared in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states will curb the insurgence but I have realised that it did not. We are at war with evil forces, our daughters are suffering in the bush, let us pray that the God will deliver them from these evil men,” Clark said.

He, however, appealed to his supporters, friends

and well wishers not to plan any celebration for his birthday but rather prayers should be made for Nigeria.

“Any money to be spent should be spent should be sent to the victims of the kidnap. I know the activities of Boko Haram will soon end. We have no other country, we should love Nigeria and work together as one. In our constitution, there is no religion that superior than the other. It is a devilish idea to say one religion must be embraced by everybody,” he said.

On happenings in Rivers State, Clark noted that the governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, had left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but that notwithstanding, the PDP will win the governor ship election in the state come 2015.

15% The percentage share of India’s arms purchase from United Kingdom between 2005 and 2009.

(Source:Blatantworld.com)

Meanwhile, Datiri, while speaking at a press briefing at the COCIN headquarters in Jos, said: “Boko Haram is a child of Islam, it is a brain-child of Islamic fundamentalism brooded over the years by radical Muslim youth groups trained and indoctrinated both locally and internationally by extremists to hate and kill Christians.”

He said: “Boko Haram by its modus operandi is perpetrating harm and justice and evil on the society with a particular target on Christians. Even though Boko Haram claim that the war is against western education, yet they thrive on using the very components and products of western education and civilisation-cars, communication and internet facilities, weapons.”

16.8%

The percentage of households with internet access at home in CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) region in 2007.

(Source: Itu.int)

T

he Lagos State Government yesterday criticised the Minister of State, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, for stopping its 1,254 units Iluburin Housing estate with soldiers, saying it was unfortunate that the minister ventured into housing matters when he should be concerned with insecurity challenges in the country.

The state Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, who disclosed this while briefing journalists, on the activities of his ministry in the last one year, accused the minister of lying over the allegation of lack of proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the area before the com-

mencement of construction work on the site.

Jeje said contrary to the claim allegedly made by the minister, the state government sand filled the construction site and left it for over 10 years in conformity with the global standard before commencing construction work on the site.

He urged the minister to focus more on the insecurity issues confronting the nation rather than embarking on needless controversies for political reasons.

He said: “I must say that it was an unfortunate incident that happened at Ilubirin. This is where we intend to develop 1,254 units and which we have started. The visit of the minister of state for defense to the Ilubirin housing estate calls for concerns for the entire country. “

Wike swore with his children not to betray me –Amaechi

Joe Ezuma Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, blamed the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who was his former Chief of Staff, for failing the integrity test where he (Wike) had swore with the names of his children never to betray him (Amaechi).

Amaechi, who is the chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, stated this when his kinsmen and prominent Ikwerre traditional rulers visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, under the auspices of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers.

The governor recalled that in order to convince him to forward his name as ministerial nominee to President Jonathan, Wike had swore with his own children that he would never betray him, but was to betray him after getting his ministerial appointment from President Jonathan.

“I told my friends who are governors, I said when you will be betrayed at the end of 2015, you will almost be in a state of coma because you have not experienced it.

“Your speech did mention the former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives (Austin Opara), your speech also mentioned the Minister of State for Education (Nyesom Wike),” he said.

Anxiety in Edo as lawmakers adjourn plenary over APC crisis Cajetan Mmuta Benin

A

nxiety has continued to mount among stakeholders and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State following the repeated adjournments of plenary by lawmakers in the state House of Assembly.

Members of the assembly had adjourned three times after they sat briefly in the last three weeks.

New Telegraph gathered that this may not be unconnected with the internal crisis rocking the party, which led to last two weeks’ resignation of a number of aggrieved members of the party controlled by former South-South National ViceChairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and key factor in the Adams Oshiomhole-led government, Pastor Osagie

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

Ize-Iyamu.

It was gathered that the members left the APC, following the alleged failure by Oshiomhole to yield to their demands for the cancellation of the party’s membership, ward and local government congresses held across the state, after the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum to the governor.

There were reports recently that some APC members had resolved to join the other four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the assembly, a move that was seen as a plot to sway the leadership of the assembly in favour of the PDP. It was also gathered that the assembly’s leadership and some lawmakers loyal to the governor were apparently scared to convene plenary, pending when the tension is doused among the aggrieved members of the ruling party in the state.

FCT

VATICAN

ICPC, COREN sign MoU on quackery

NEWS IN BRIE F

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to eliminate quackery in the profession.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, the ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, said the MoU became necessary following the increasing number of quacks in the engineering profession.

6.78m

The total population of Togo (representing 0.1% of world’s population) in 2010.

(Source: Blatantworld.com)

JOS

Pope cancels engagements Pope Francis has cancelled his engagements yesterday because of a cold and will not make a planned visit to a Rome parish this weekend.

Reports from the Vatican said it was to enable him rest ahead of a trip to the Middle East next week.

Vatican Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said there were no worries about the health of the 77-year-old pope and everything is tranquil”.

He said that the pope was likely to resume his engagements today but that he would skip a visit to a sanctuary outside Rome that had been planned for Sunday so he could rest.

51.4m The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Germany in 2011.

(Source:Itu.int)

5

MDGs to inaugurate 97 PHCs The Project Coordinator, Millennium Development Goals, MDGs in Plateau State, Mr Peter Gai, has said that 97 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) constructed by MDGs would be commissioned before the end of this month.

The coordinator disclosed this yesterday in Jos, during the distribution of medical equipment to some PHCs across the 17 local governments of Plateau state He said the gesture was aimed at boosting healthcare in the state, stating that the 97 primary and basic health centres were situated in very rural communities to bring healthcare closer to the rural people.

1.4%

The estimated percentage prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in girls and women (15-49 years) of Cameroon in 2004.

(Source: Blatantworld.com)

Funsho Williams: Prosecution closes case as court admits exhibits

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he prosecution in the trial of six men charged with the murder of Mr. Funsho Williams, yesterday closed its case as the court admitted exhibits recovered from the crime scene as evidence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the defendants were first arraigned on March 1, 2013 before Justice Adebajo on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, had at the last sitting issued a witness summons on one Mr. Agbo Beneth, from the forensic department, to tender the evidence in court.

But the state counsel, Mrs. E. I. Alakija, apologised

for his absence and applied that one CSP Shehu Wazo, also from forensic department, be permitted to tender the evidence.

Wazo, while being led in evidence by the state counsel, said a rope, knife, mattress and cushion were recovered from the crime scene, which he presented to the court.

Alakija then applied that the exhibits should be returned to the forensic lab, to prevent contamination, which the state counsel, Mr. Agbara Okezie objected.

According to him, the evidence should be left in the care of the court since it has already been tendered.

Bomb Scare: Lagos intensifies security in motor parks Muritala Ayinla

A

mid growing apprehension and reported incidences of bomb scare in some parts of the state, the Lagos State Government yesterday said it had beefed up security in major motor parks across the state for the safety of commuters.

The government also announced that it would soon unveil its insurance policy for commercial vehicle operators in the state to further enhance security of life and properties.

With the policy, vehicle owners would be responsible for the death or any injury sustained by passengers or commuters in an accident involving his or her vehicles.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who revealed this

at a press briefing in Lagos, said vehicle owners whose vehicle involved in such accident would also be mandated to bankroll the burial expenses of the victim, if the victim eventually dies as result of complications.

The commissioner said: “This government is very conscious of the safety of its residents. We have done what we thinks should be done to make our parks to be safe for motorists and commuters. Our parks are very safe. Lagosians should go about their normal duties without panic.”

He explained that under the policy, a passenger, driver and conductor that suffers permanent disability in an accident will receive the sum of N1 million as compensation, while those that suffer injuries will be entitled to N200,000 as medical expenses.

L-R: President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr. Segun Aina; Founder, First City Monument Bank Group, Otunba Michael Balogun and First Vice President, CIBN, Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, during the Presidential valedictory Lecture on” Banking and Bankers: Looking Back, looking ahead” in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

2015: Chime, Speaker, PDP chairman’s names omitted from voters’ register OMISSION INEC on the spot in Enugu State over alleged missing of names from voters’ register Leo Sobechi Enugu

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here was bedlam in Enugu yesterday, especially within the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, following the discovery that about 40 per cent of the names of some prominent registered voters, including Governor Sullivan Chime, were not contained in the voters register released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Already, the state

Chairman of PDP, Mr. Vita Abba, has expressed outrage that what transpired during last year ’s governorship election in neighbouring Anambra State was about to repeat itself in Enugu State.

From the voter’s register released by INEC it was discovered that out of the 2,940 polling booths in the state, more than 621 or 41.2 per cent were completely omitted from the register due to what INEC officials said could be blamed on human and mechanical errors.

It was shocking that apart from such humongous omission, that names of some eminent politicians in the state including the Speaker of the state assembly and frontline governorship aspirant, Mr. Eugene Odoh, chairman of the PDP in the state, Abba and mem-

bers of the House of Representatives mostly from Enugu North Senatorial zone could not be found in the register.

Consequently, the leadership of PDP in the state has threatened to drag INEC to court if the anomalies were not resolved before the elections even as it accused the electoral body of deliberately trying to collude with some “desperate” politicians to disenfranchise majority of the people of the state in the coming elections.

However, a breakdown of the missing polling booths in the register showed that the worst hit is Nsukka and Igboetiti councils where 230 and 190 booths were returned with nil number of registered voters while others include, Aninri (2), Awgu (6), Enugu East (20), Enugu North (2),

Enugu South (4), Ezeagu (2), Igboeze North (25), Igboeze South (4), Isi-Uzo (1), Nkanu West (148), Oji River (5), Udenu (3), Uzo Uwani (4).

Though two polling booths were completely omitted in Governor Chime’s Udi council area, INEC officials have dismissed insinuations that the action had political undertone stressing that it was traceable to human and mechanical errors saying that it had been rectified in readiness for the forthcoming registration exercise.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Lawrence Azubuike, told journalists that fresh voters’ registration exercise would commence in the state from May 28 through June 1, urging those whose polling booths were affected to avail themselves of the opportunity.

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ABAKILIKI Elechi swears-in 2 new commissioners N EWS I N BRIEF

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has sworn in two new commissioners, Chief David Egbu (Environment) and Mrs. Mary-Joy Umoke ( Women Affairs/Social Development), respectively.

Speaking at the swearingin ceremony yesterday in Abakaliki, Elechi charged the new commissioners to be fair to all manner of persons without discrimination.

“You should represent the interest of citizens of the whole state and not only those from your respective local government areas,” he said.

PORT HARCOURT

FCT Minister tasks African nations on devt

Minister of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, has called for regional cooperation among African nations to fast track economic integration and development on the continent.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday, by the NPC Head of Information Unit, Mr. Salisu Haiba, quoted Yuguda as making the call when the Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, Mrs Fidelia Njeze, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Yuguda said the recent re-basing of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had clearly positioned Nigeria’s economy as the largest in Africa.

20%

The percentage of the world’s population without access to electricity in 2009.

Source: Unesco.org

Okene LG chairman gets ultimatum

The legislative arm of Okene Local Government Area, has urged it council Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Ogembe, to within five working days present the council’s 2014 budget proposal to it or face full wraths of the constitution.

In its resolution paper signed by the council leader and Majority leader, Ahmed Tijjani Zubair and Abdulganiyu Mohammed, issued New Telegraph, the legislators viewed the delay in the budget presentation by the Chairman, Ahmed Salau Ogembe, as capable of retarding the developmental aim of the local government.

The council, who stressed that the delay will also course undue hardship to the people, described the action of the chairman as unfair and undemocratic for not presenting the budget proposal five months into the new year.

2.5bn

The global population growth projections over the next 40 years.

Source: Unesco.org

547,030

The total area (in sq. km) of France.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Agbo: Expand US security involvement in Nigeria Leo Sobechi Enugu

I

mmediate past ViceChairman of Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Anthony Agbo, has enjoined the Federal Government to ensure that the United States security assistance and involvement in Nigeria were not limited to the rescue of abducted girls from Chibok school alone.

In a chat with New Telegraph yesterday, Agbo said the profile of Nigeria security, especially in the area of training and equipment make it imperative that the Americans should help to reform, retrain and set up a standard and enduring internal security apparatus for the country.

His words: “American security assistance and involvement in Nigeria should not be restricted to the rescue of the Chibok girls alone. Their involvement should be extended to setting up a standard and enduring internal security apparatus in the country, because we do not have any at the moment.

“Life is too cheap in this country. Boko Haram, though a terrorist organization, is not the only killing machine in Nigeria. Violence is everywhere. North, South, East, West; people die like flies in uncontrolled killings and kidnappings.

Our police force is a mockery both in training, equipment and operation. Let the Americans reform, retrain and equip our police force and other security agencies in the country,” he said.

The Senator who represented Ebonyi North Senatorial district in the Senate declared that “those who attack or condemn American involvement in our security are not realistic”, stressing that: “No responsible and serious-minded government in today’s world can avoid America in a challenging security situation.”

He said: “It is the current and unavoidable course of history,” he went on, “and we must accept it. After all, virtually every nation of the world, Nigeria inclusive have benefited immensely from America through both direct and indirect assistance.”

Attempted mutiny: Army vows to deal with errant soldiers Emmanuel Onani Abuja

L-R: Acting Head, Consumer Banking, FirstBank, Mrs. Adebimpe Ihekuna; Past winners of the FirstBank Big Splash Promo, Rose Osatohwen, Omoruyi Rapheal and Business Development Manager, Benin 2, FirstBank, Mr. Francis Amuta, during the Bi-Monthly draw of the FirstBank Big Splash Promo, held in Benin, Edo State

Shippers can challenge Cabotage Act violation –Court JUDGEMENT With a Federal High Court ruling, ship owners may now re-dress violations of the law

T

Joseph Onyekwere

he Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday ruled that ship owners in Nigeria have the right to challenge any violations of the Cabotage Act. That was the decision of Justice Ibrahim Buba, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Polmaz Limited, represented by a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Temisan Omatseye.

The plaintiff had sought an order directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC)

to cancel all contracts with foreign flagged vessels operating in Nigeria's coastal waters without licence.

It also urged the court to direct the defendants, except NIMASA, to pay fines stipulated in the Cabotage Act for their alleged violation of the law.

Polmaz said NNPC and PPMC engaged the vessels in domestic coastal trade without requisite licenses being issued or any waivers granted to them as stipulated in the Act. Other defendants in the suit as third to ninth defendants are NIMASA and the

vessels' operators, namely Olimpex Nigeria Limited, Unibros Shipping Corporation, Africulti Limited, Marika Investments Limited, Nidas Marine Limited and Prometheus Maritime Limited.

The defendants had challenged the court's jurisdiction on the basis that the plaintiff had no locus standi.

He also urged the court to dismiss the suit because it raised criminal allegations.

But Justice Buba held that the plaintiff has locus to institute the action.

“The plaintiff, duly registered with NIMASA, has

sufficient interest which can be adversely affected," the judge said, adding that a citizen should not be denied access to court to ventilate his right. Our laws should not be interpreted to render citizens poor,” he said.

The judge, however, dismissed the suit because the plaintiff "shot himself in the foot" by raising allegations which could not be substantiated in the suit brought by Originating Summons.

Justice Buba said he was unable to find the defendants guilty of violating the law when there was no charge or writ before him.

I

ndications emerged yesterday, of the Nigerian Army's resolve to deal decisively with any soldier found culpable in the Wednesday's attempted mutiny at the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri, Borno state.

A highly-placed military source, who confided in New Telegraph yesterday, revealed that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, felt thoroughly embarrassed by the conduct of some soldiers, who were said to have shot at the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Maj. Gen. Abubakar Mohammed.

Mohammed was widely reported to have escaped death by the whiskers, after aggrieved soldiers, who were believed to have sighted the bodies of their colleagues, that were killed

by Boko Haram fighters, shot at his bullet-proof car.

A new acting GOC, in the person of Brig. Gen. MY Ibrahim, has since been appoint-

ed to replace Mohammed.

Consequent upon the ugly incident, considered in military circles as the height of indiscipline, the Army Headquarters Thursday, set up a panel of enquiry, to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the attempted insurrection.

According to the senior military chief, who pleaded anonymity, because he was not mandated to speak on the matter, said: “Members of the panel constituted to probe the case, were charged to do everything to fish out culprits and punish them appropriately.

“The Army high command believes that courtmarshaling soldiers, found to have compromised the long-standing tradition of discipline in the Army, will serve as deterrent to others.”

Meanwhile, New Telegraph gathered from another senior army officer, that some of the soldiers at the frontline of the war on terror in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where Boko Haram insurgency rages, had exhibited a similar “culture of indiscipline” in Mali.

2015: We have no business with militants -Rivers APC Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has dismissed allegation that it has perfected plans in concert with Governor Rotimi

Amaechi, to release and recruit militants to help it win the 2015 elections in the state.

The state Chairman of APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, in a statement issued yesterday lamented that such allegation ran contrary to common sense.

“To say the least, this allegation just does not make sense. This satanic rumour is being peddled by the idle minds in PDP in their desperation to lure Rivers State back to the evil days from which God, through Governor Amaechi, secured

them. It is bound to fail and should be dismissed for what it truly is–a baseless rumour,” he said.

While debunking the allegation, Ikanya said such rumour was the figment of the imagination of idle minds in the Peoples Dem-

ocratic Party (PDP), which according to him was “populated by militants”.

He said the APC in the state was aware of plot by PDP to sponsor a one-time kingpin of the militants in the person of Chief Ateke Tom as its candidate for the 2015.

IPMAN crisis: Court restrains Lawson

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court yesterday restrained Chief Obasi Lawson, from parading himself as president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN), pending the determination of the suit before it.

The Plaintiff, Chinedu Okoronkwo, a factional president of the association, in a suit number FCT/ HC/4141/2014, urged the court to restrain Lawson from the act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police were also named as

defendants in the suit.

The other plaintiffs include Alhaji Abubakar Shetima, Danladi Pasali, Bola Adeleke, Leo Nakmeme, Yakubu Ali-dimka and John Ubini.

Granting the plaintiffs’ application filed through their counsel, Mr. Moses Ebuche, Justice Valentineg Ashi, restrained Lawson and his agents from either conducting or organising any elections of the association pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The judge also restrained the defendants from gaining access to the association's national secretariat at No 41, Gnasimbe Eyadema Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

IREPODUN

Kwara council gets boundary c’ttee

NEWS IN BRIE F

Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Luqman Owolewa, has set up a boundary committee to address boundary differences between neighbouring communities in the council area.

Speaking at the inauguration of the nineman committee, Owolewa urged the members to live above board, pointing out that the move was adherence to the state government’s policy of ensuring continued peaceful coexistence among residents of the area.

He said: “The composition of this boundary committee is another policy thrust of the present administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed aimed at ensuring unity and peaceful co-existence in our communities.”

200,222

The total number of internet users in Malta in 2008.

Source: blatantworld.com

Group to Akiolu: You can’t endorse guber candidate for Lagos

I

rked by the reported endorsement of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as successor of Governor Babatunde Fashola, by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu (1), a group, the Visioners for New Lagos (VNL), yesterday said the monarch did not have the kind of powers he arrogated to himself to carry out such an assignment.

The group, which claimed it has been vindicated by the unguarded disposition of the “phantom Lagos elders” as represented

by Akiolu for which it raised the alarm some weeks ago, said the monarch had only veered off his brief by arrogating to himself, the right and power to determine who governs the state.

Akiolu had on Thursday at a book launch said Ambode had been anointed a successor to Fashola in 2015.

“I will not lie to you, the elders of Lagos have met and they have said that Ambode should be the governor. The elders have said Ambode should be the next governor of Lagos State. Other aspirants have the right to aspire too. But I will not open my eyes and allow the son of the Oba of Ewekoro to be the governor.

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

But all things are in the hand of God Almighty," he said.

Leader of the group, Mr. Bambo Akin-Johnson, said when the group drew the attention of the public to the fact that: “Tinubu and his business partner, Akiolu, had endorsed Ambode as Governor Fashola’s successor some weeks ago, Tinubu had denied in a press statement, forcing many undiscerning to think it was a typical political ranting.

“But today, that would no longer be an issue. That they have come out of their hiding is good for us. It has vindicated us and exposed them. It shows there is more to this satanic endorsement than meets the eye. Unfortunately for them, they have made their antics known early enough and the better for the challenge ahead,” he said.

The group, which insisted it had no problem with Ambode aspiring to be governor of the state, but must emerge through a credible process, added: “If Akiolu could stoop so low as to jettisoning every known decency and honour attributable to monarchical institutions, then he should be ready to live with the consequences of his actions."

IKEJA

KATSINA Katsina introduces allowances to Imams

Kwakpovwe prays for Chibok girls

Publisher of Our Daily Manna (ODM), Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe, has joined millions of people around the world to call for the immediate release of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

He urged Nigerians to rally support for President Goodluck Jonathan in these trying times, saying what we need as a nation is a united front against the scourge of terrorism and criminality.

“We must stand as one nation behind our leaders as they confront the greatest scourge of our day. We must not politicise this crisis. Terrorist do not know tribe, race or religion. When they strike, anyone could be a victim,” he added.

1%

The rate by which total freshwater are believed to have increased per year since the late 1980s.

Source: Unesco.org

7

The Katsina State Government has introduced the payment of monthly allowances of between N3,000 and N10,000 to some 1,820 imams in the state.

Governor Ibrahim Shema stated this yesterday in Katsina, while handing out the allowances to some of the beneficiaries.

He said the state had so far constructed 500 mosques and rehabilitated a number of others in the 34 local government areas of the state.

12.5%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Algeria in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

Boko Haram: Security challenge over celebrated –Duke Exaggeration As the country battles state of insecurity, the media cautioned on balanced reporting

M

Olushola Ricketts

inister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, has said the challenge of security has been over celebrated in the country.

Speaking to journalists at a workshop on tourism development in Lagos, Duke said the challenge of security was enormous, but stated that it had been over celebrated.

He said this was why it was important for the government to work hand-in-

hand with the media for the good of the country’s image.

“When we do not glorify or celebrate bombs and irresponsible activities by terrorists and so on, we help in positioning the perception about the country held within and outside. It is therefore important that while the security agencies are working, we are also providing them with support that is necessary,” the minister said.

He added that it was not every activity and action of the security agencies that should be communicated to the public.

“When the media says nobody is telling them anything, they write whatever they like. Information available to the security agencies is supposed to be treated confidentially.

It is not to be shared with everybody because we

cannot manage that information in a way that will protect the security agents themselves. So, it is important for the media to also do some education in this regard.

“But ultimately I want to say to you that Israel has been virtually in war since 1948 but the media there is not talking about those security challenges. They are promoting their destination. Go to Venezuela or Spain. Spain has been having terrorists for a better part of 20 to 25 years ago but it is where the world tourist organisation is located,” he said.

Also, he revealed that South Africa used to have huge security challenges but they have been able to managed it because of the collaboration between the media and government as well as media and the investors/ stakeholders.

He stressed that integrity management is a collaborative effort, saying: “It is the role we want the media to play in Nigeria.”

In addition, he said that if the country wants to be one of the top 20 to 25 economies by 20/20, she must be playing in the sectors where the big 20 economies are and one of those is tourism.

“If you look at the Southern African economy, South African has positioned itself at the biggest tourism player. In East African, it is Kenya. In North African, you will find out that even with the challenge the Egyptian economy is facing today, they are still recording on the average half a million tourist every month. On the Western coast (western regional Africa), there is still a big gap and it must be filled by Nigeria,” he said.

Power: Senate c’ttee tasks successor firms on vandalism Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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he Senate Committee on Privatisation has enjoined new owners of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Successor Companies (SCs) to take advantage of existing laws in the various states of the federation to prosecute vandals of electric installations and those who obstruct electricity personnel from performing their legitimate duties.

In a response to a request by the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution

Company (PHEDC), Mr. Jon Abbas, for the National Assembly to quickly enact a law to prosecute electricity installations’ vandals and allied offences, the Committee members led by its Chairman, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, who were on oversight visit to privatised enterprises in Rivers State last week, urged the PHCN SCs, in the interim, to take the measure.

Obadara said the power companies could do that by collaborating with the judiciary in the states to constitute mobile courts to handle all cases relating to electric power infractions.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport Mr. Seyi Coker; Chairman House Committee on Transport & Commerce, Hon. Bisi Yusuf and Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, during the 2014 Ministerial Press briefing, to commemorate the third year, second term of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja…yesterday

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GUSAU INEC partners security agencies N EWS I N BRIEF

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Zamfara State has said it will collaborate with security agencies to tackle security challenges ahead of the registration of permanent voters' cards in the state.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Jibrin Zarewa, said this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Gusau, that the partnership became necessary following recent attacks on innocent citizens in some parts of the state recently.

He said that the security of personnel that would carry out the exercise, scheduled for May 23 and 25 and June 1 was very important to the Commission.

FCT

JOS

Commission promises to tackle youth restiveness

PDP hails extension of emergency rule in North East

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has said it will use its mandate to tackle youth restiveness by ensuring fairness and equal representation in government recruitment in the country.

The Commissioner for Ekiti in the commission, Mr. Ojo Christopher, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja yesterday, that if the youths were gainfully employed, they would not engage in vices that could jeopardise national unity.

He said: “The federal character commission is also well positioned to address the problems of insecurity in the country because joblessness is the cause of insecurity.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for extending the emergency rule in the three North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The Federal Government had on May 14, 2013 imposed a state of emergency in the three states as result of the security challenges caused by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The state Chairman of PDP, Felix Amaechi Obuah, said this during an interactive session with journalists in Port Harcourt.

Ekiti guber: No deadline for collection of voter cards –INEC l APC members defect to PDP

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said there is no deadline for registered voters to collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs), in Ekiti State ahead of the June 21 governorship election.

This is in a reaction to the claims by some political parties that the collection of the PVCs would end on May 21 this year.

Also, the electoral body has said about 39,510 party agents are expected to represent their parties during the poll.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly aspirant in Are-Ekiti, Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mr. Bolorunduro Adebayo, the

party’s former Ward Chairman for Are Ward, Chief Abegunde Lawrence and about 120 members of the party have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Halilu Pai, who said this in Ado-Ekiti, during an interview with journalists, called on all the 18 political parties taking part in the election to forward the list of their polling agents to INEC before June 5.

Pai, who spoke through the commission’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Taiwo Gbadegesin, said each of the political parties taking part in the poll would produce a polling agent per unit.

The INEC boss stated that the agents would

work with the commission’s poll officials, who would be assigned to all the 2,195 polling units for the conduct of the election.

He said: “INEC is committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible election that will be devoid of rancour among participating parties in Ekiti. This has been our vow and we will keep this to the end.

“We have to also give party agents the required attention because they have critical roles to play in this election so that they will not mess up the whole process.

The commission will have to organise training for them, though the modality has not been determined.

But there will be a training to prepare them thoroughly for the poll,” he said.

Meanwhile, a state-

ment issued by the Director of Publicity, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, said apart from Adebayo, other members who defected to the PDP included; the Odogun of Are-Ekiti; Chief Adebayo Solomon, Elesha of Are-Ekiti and Chief Francis Omoyajowo.

The three high chiefs of Are-Ekiti, who left APC said they decided to team up with the PDP and its candidate, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, because of the position taken by the town's monarch, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi.

They said Adebiyi’s position was against the town’s general interest, adding that: “Are-Ekiti and Afao-Ekiti, Fayose’s hometown were the same and we in Are-Ekiti cannot but support Fayose, who is like our son.”

Early child bearing reduces maternal mortality rate -LASG Muritala Ayinla

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he Lagos State Government yesterday said early child bearing reduces chances of becoming victims of maternal mortality, saying pregnancy after age 35 for women, especially for the first timer, is considered high risk.

Special Adviser to the governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who disclosed this during a press briefing to signal the commencement of the first round of year 2014 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week in Lagos, said women, who for the first time, are pregnant after age 35, should

be closely monitored by medical experts.

She said: “Be young and vibrant as your tissue are newer and easy to regenerate so many processes in the body are still easy to adapt to change of pregnancy. Pregnancy to the body is like a traumatic event. It drains the blood system, it changes the hormone, the physical nature, the joints and everything in the body changes.

“If your body is ageing, it cannot quickly adapt to those changes and that woman must be closely monitored because the heart may not move fast enough to accommodate the baby and mother's heart beat.”

COAESU: Obiano directs college of education to resume work Onah O.Onah Onitsha

D

espite the three months old strike embarked by the College of Education Staff Union (COAESU), Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has directed the management and staff of Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, in Anambra East Local Government Area to resume lectures immediately, promising to improve the welfare of the workers.

Obiano, who gave directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to the college, said he was impressed with the visible infrastructural development in the school.

The governor, who was taken round the college during the visit by t he provost of the college, Dr. Ego Uzoezie, said the

school, which existed as a glorified secondary school, had been transformed into a citadel of learning.

He charged the provost of the college to do everything within her powers to ensure that high level of academic excellence and discipline, which the school was known for was not only sustained but maintained.

“I want to assure you that the state government is warn of the crisis between the federal government and the college of education Academic staff union (COEASU) and that is to be resolved at that level.

“But as the governor of the state, education is the most priority of this Administration and Anambra State has a special passion for education. I, therefore, ask you to go back to classes while the negotiation goes on," he said.

TAC to send 70 volunteers to Uganda Islamic varsity Philip Nyam Abuja

T L-R: Senator Femi Kila; Vice-President, Corporate Resources and Media, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Magaret Oguntala and NSE President, Mr. Ademola Olorunfemi, during the first quarterly news conference of the society, in Abuja…yesterday

12%

The percentage of people who could be lifted out of poverty if all students in poor countries had basic reading skills.

Source: Un.org

15.4m

The total number of refugees worldwide at the end of 2012.

Source: Unhcr.org.uk

23.87

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Argentina in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

he Directorate of Technical Aids Corps (TAC) has said it will send about 70 lecturers from Nigeria to teach various courses at the Islamic University of Uganda.

Director-General of the Technical Aids Corps (TAC), Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi, who said this in Abuja, at a send forth for the first batch of seven out of the 70 selected to serve at the university also advised the volunteers to act as good ambassadors of the country while in Uganda.

While advising the first batch of seven, Osunyikanmi said: “As you go out there, may I charge you to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, you are volunteers selected on

merit and you must be volunteers for and of merit. As you go about there, you must do Nigeria proud.

“You must carry the banner of Nigeria, must be able to sell Nigeria, project the image of Nigeria, and must be able if any to reverse the misconception that is held about Nigeria.

Anywhere you go in the Republic of Uganda, you will be carrying the image of Nigeria. We expect very good conduct from you, excellence from you and also expect that you will comply with all the terms of your engagement.”

He also said the volunteer job “was not the emolument that is of interest to you but the zeal to offer service to needy countries and the need to key into the federal government policy.”

Companies & Stock

SEGUN EDWARDS

17 MAY 2014

NB profit margin defence may slow down earnings growth

N

igeria Breweries succeeded in defending profit margin in the first quarter of the current financial year. But profit growth needs to step up at least moderately, if the first quarter is to be maintained to full year.

The brewing giant was able to raise profit to a new peak in 2013, after a flat growth in the preceding year. However, the current year looks like another year of flat profit growth for the company at current rate.

The company has managed to keep costs in check in the first quarter but likely rise in finance charges could hurt profit performance in the coming quarters.

It earned N10.06 billion in after tax profit at the end of the first quarter, which is an increase of 6.8 per cent over the corresponding quarter in the preceding year. Based on the current growth rate, its after tax profit is projected at N42.6 billion for the full year 2014. That still will be a marginal decline of 1.1 per cent from the peak profit figure of N43.08 billion posted in 2013.

The company had improved net profit by 13.2 per cent in 2013 against a slight decline of 0.8 per cent in the preceding year. Profit therefore needs to step up in subsequent quarters for the company to be able to record another profit improvement in the current year.

Whether the company will be able to step up profit growth against rising debts with anticipated rise in interest cost are the critical developments to watch on the giant breweries current financial year ’s strides.

Profit so far, is growing at par with sales revenue in the current year and profit margin is maintained year-on-year.

Compared with the full year position however, net profit margin has declined from 16 per cent in 2013 to 14.6 per cent in the first quarter of the current year.

It is also lower than the 15 per cent record in the 2012 full year. Sales revenue will need to accelerate or profit margin improve for the company to do better than a flat growth in profit in the current year.

Despite the decline in profit

Vervelde NB MD

margin, the company remains ahead of competitors on profit margin. Counterpart’s, Guinness Nigeria is significantly down on profit margin from 11.7 per cent in the 2013 full year in June to 7.6 per cent at

Can Ecobank sustain this spring?

E

cobank Transnational first quarter earnings report makes a promising opening for the bank this year.

With the first quarter performance, a big rise in profit may follow the bank’s profit plunge in 2013 and the strongest profit growth in many years is very likely to be posted in 2014.

The bank had seen a profit crash of nearly 50 per cent last year but looks very good to lift net profit by more than one and half times this financial year. First quarter earnings figures are showing new strength in stepping up revenue growth and in rebuilding profit margin – that sank to one of the lowest levels in the banking sector in 2013.

At the end of the first quarter, net profit amounted to about N15 billion, which is an increase of 15.3 per cent over the corresponding profit figure in the preceding year.

Based on the first quarter growth rate, the bank is expected to earn after tax profit of N60.8 billion at the end of the current financial year. This will be a growth of 158 per cent over the 2013 net profit figure of N23.57 billion.

The high profit growth anticipated for the bank is largely a recovery from a profit fall of 48.2 per cent in 2013. It’s stable earnings growth

9

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

olaedwards@yahoo.com 08111813095

Ecobank’s Q1st 2013

Jibril Aku

trend was interrupted last year, as an upsurge in credit losses gulped revenues and set profit tumbling from its 2012 peak of N42.61 billion.

Loan loss expenses had advanced by 143.8 per cent to over N60 billion in 2013, claiming a significantly increased share of net revenue of the bank. This accounted exclusively for the profit drop the bank suffered last year.

The adverse impact of loan loss expenses on the bottom line is still continuing even in the current financial year. Loan loss provisions again rose by 76.3 per cent in the first quarter and continues to claim an increasing proportion of the

2013

2012

Net revenue

N71.84 billion

N57.37 billion

Profit before tax

N15. 59 billion

N7.94 billion

Profit after tax

N12. 89 billion

N5.56 billion

Total assets

N3. 104 billion

N2.812 billion

bank’s revenue.

The strong recovery and growth in profit anticipated for the current year therefore depends on whether loan loss expenses will rise further or moderate relative to revenue in the course of the year.

The bank is maintaining a continuing growth in gross earnings though it is experiencing a decelerating growth. At N109.84 billion in the first quarter, gross income is up by 17 per cent from the corresponding first quarter figure last year. Based on the current growth rate, full year revenue is projected at N441.3 billion for Ecobank Transnational in 2014.

This will represent an increase of 7.3 per cent, which is a continuing slow down from the outstanding revenue growth of 51.7 per cent in 2012. Gross earnings had risen by about 15 per cent in 2013.

Interest income continues to lead revenue growth in the current year and interest expenses continue to moderate to the benefit of profit margin.

the end of the third quarter last March.

International Breweries is also below it on profit margin at 14.1 per cent at the end of its third quarter last December.

Sales revenue amounted to N68.98 billion for NB in the first quarter. This is an increase of 6.8 per cent over the corresponding revenue figure in 2013. So, if the current growth rate is maintained to full year, the company is expected to close the year with a turnover of N274 billion. This will be a marginal improvement of 2.0 per cent over the sales revenue figure of N268.61 billion the company posted in 2013.

Revenue growth has been slowing down for the company in recent years and this is expected to continue in the current year. Turnover also slowed down from 11.7 per cent in 2012 to 6.3 per cent in 2013 and the growth rate is expected to slow down further to a marginal improvement this year based on the first quarter growth rate.

The same pattern is applicable to Guinness Nigeria, which has continued to record decelerating sales revenue from 22.7 per cent in 2011 to 13.1 per cent in 2012 and further to 2.1 per cent in 2013. A drop in sales revenue is projected for Guinness Nigeria in the current financial year ending June.

Julius Berger seeks fresh $46m capital to boost operations

N

igeria’s leading construction company by market value, Julius Berger Nigeria plc (JBN) says it plans to raise N7.5 billion ($46 million) additional capital to strengthen its operations.

The funds will be raised through public offering, private placement, rights issue or any other methods deemed fit by its Directors, an official statement read.

JBN group finance director, Wolfgang Kollermann also told investors that the company is poised for growth as it has a pipeline of N462 billion ($3 billion) worth of projects.

“The N462 billion value of project at hand excludes the second Niger Bridge project,” Kollermann said.

Meanwhile, the company’s shareholders are expected to approve the capital raising exercise at JBN’s coming annual general meeting (AGM), in June.

The company’s management is also seeking the approval of shareholders to issue up to 150 million ordinary shares at 50 kobo each in the authorised share capital of the company to identified investor(s) by way of special placement.

For the 2013 financial year, Julius Berger declared a 31.43 percent increase in Profit Before Tax (PBT) from N12.34 billion recorded in 2012 to N16.22 billion.

Profit After tax however reduced by 2 percent year on year to N7.85 billion in 2013, from N8.0 billion in 2012 due to the increase in tax payment.

Nigeria’s PoS transactions hit N24b in two years – CBN

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said transactions via Point-of-Sale (PoS) rose to N24 billion ($148 million) in April 2014.

The bank had in January 2012, when the service was introduced, recorded N99.6 million ($614,000) in value of total transactions. It said the deployment of PoS also increased from 5,000 in 2010 to 153,167 in April 2014.

Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Deputy Governor in charge of Operations for the CBN said this in Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, while speaking on the cash-less policy in a seminar titled ‘Cashless Nigeria: progress, issues and prospects’, organized by Wilson & Weizmann Associates Limited.

Represented by Aaron Yaguma, CBN’s Shared Services Principal Manager, the deputy governor said that the bank’s cash-lite policy had since its outset in January 2012 recorded remarkable success, with the number of transactions via PoS ramping up the N24 billion recorded at 1.6 million by April 2014 from just 3,197 in 2012.

He noted that out of the li-

censed 20, 14 operators have gone fully commercial, accounting for 28,090 transactions worth N596,173,990 ($3.7 million) as at April this year, adding that “More payment terminal service providers have been licensed to facilitate the provision of PoS for merchants who have indicated interest to their banks.”

Enhanced awareness and education is key, following the success electronic transaction solutions have seen within relatively short period in terms of efficiency and security as well as the reduced cost of banking.

Maoghalu said he expects providers of financial products and services to develop innovative solutions, which will suit the country’s low income population.

The CBN deputy governor noted that the CBN’s target of 40,000 PoS terminals for 2012 was dwarfed and nothing was stopping it from achieving 440,000 PoS terminals in 2015.

With issues bordering on security and efficiency set to be focused on and addressed, more Nigerians are expected to adopt the service in the nearest future.

Can the wife carry out abortion without consent of the husband? p.12

Street DIARY NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

17 MAY 2014

www.newtelegraphonline.com/streetdiary

10

Man buys properties with stolen N244m, flees to London I

Juliana Francis

feanyi Francis appears to like life in the fast lane. But his likeness for such lifestyle may not be permissible in the eyes of the law.

The police said Francis had bitten more than he could chew, having allegedly connived with Chibuzor Onugbe, to steal $1.5m (N244m) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport’s baggage store, Lagos.

The money belongs to an import and export company.

Francis, 25, tried to extricate himself.

He said: “I didn’t know Chibuzor invited me to come and steal. He said he would explain everything to me later.

I only got to know that he used me to steal dollars from the baggage store after I had collected the bag.”

Francis was “invited” from the east to partake in the crime by Chibuzor.

This explains why the police beamed their searchlight in that part of the country, resulting in the arrest of some suspects after months of painstaking investigation.

Finding by the police showed that the crime was successfully executed because the prime suspect, Chibuzor, knew that the company sometimes keep foreign currencies at the baggage store of the international airport.

According to them, Chibuzor, 26, an apprentice, learning the rudiments of clearing and forwarding, had been planning the crime for long, only waiting for the right time to strike.

However, by the time the police arrested Francis, the suspects had shared the money.

Francis used his own share of the loot to buy some plots of land, began building a six-bedroom flat and bought a Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle.

Chibuzor on the other hand, bought several plots of land through his girlfriend, Chioma Obinnabo, 30, and brother, Kalu Onugbe, 34, in choice areas of Port Harcourt and Imo State.

When the company first reported the case of the missing dollars, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, led by the Officer in Charge of SARS, SP. Abba Kyarri, commenced investigation and narrowed the hunt down to Chibuzor, who had absconded.

When they could not locate Onugbe, they went after his elder brother, Kalu, who resides in Port Harcourt.

When quizzed, Kalu claimed he had neither seen his nor heard from Chibuzor for a while and promised to work with the police to arrest his brother and return the money to the owner.

But when Chibuzor finally went to Kalu, he reneged on his promise after allegedly accepting N10 million as gift from his younger brother.

Not only that, the police said he also

Francis with recovered dollars

Onugbe

After three days, Chibuzor collected the money from Kalu and handed it over to his girlfriend, Chioma.

Chibuzor thereafter travelled to London

Kalu

assisted his brother to buy plots of land and kept a substantial part of the stolen money for him.

After three days, Chibuzor collected the money from Kalu and handed it over to his girlfriend, Chioma. Chibuzor thereafter travelled to London.

A police source said: “The incident happened on closing hour of October 30, 2013, at 6.30pm. The money was discovered missing the following morning at 6am. According to the owner of the company, a woman, on that fateful day, there was $1.5 million (N242 million), to be used for transaction, but the company couldn’t carry out the transaction that day. The money was kept in the baggage store of the international airport, which is at the airport arrival hall. She had hoped to pick it the following morn-

ing. In the morning, it was nowhere to be found and they alerted police.

“Police started investigation and some suspects were arrested. We got to the point where we arrested one Ifeanyi Francis. He is one of the prime suspects who came in from east to do the operation. He confessed to the crime and the sum of $224,240 was recovered from him. He kept it with his elder sister in Owerri, Imo State. He had used part of the money to buy properties, including two plots land.

“He had built a six-bedroom flat and bought a Pathfinder SUV. He confessed further, that his cohort, Chibuzor, was the person who contacted him to come down to Lagos and carry out the operation. The said Chibuzor worked at the baggage unit of the airport and thus knew the terrain. He’s a clearing and forwarding apprentice and had unhindered access to the baggage unit of the airport.”

According to investigators, the greater part of the money stolen was with Chibuzor. After the arrest of Francis, he squealed that Chibuzor told him that he had kept the money with Kalu.

The SARS team immediately left Lagos and made a beeline for Port Harcourt, where they nabbed Kalu.

“Before we got to Kalu, he had already assisted his brother to acquire a three and half plots of land at Oyin-Igbo

in Port Harcourt. He had also bought another two plots of lands and two detachable bungalows at Aba with the stolen money Onugbe,” the source added.

Based on Kalu’s confession, the policemen journeyed to Onitsha, Anambra State, where Chioma was arrested.

“Chioma denied knowing Chibuzor, but later opened up, saying that he asked her to buy some landed properties for him,” said the police. “She acquired a hectare, which is about six plots, running to N9 million and then four plots of land at choice areas, for N10million in Onitsha. Kalu said that Onugbe travelled to London with the remaining money.”

Police investigators also discovered that Kalu bought a CRV SUV, rented an apartment of N500, 000 in Port Harcourt with part of his own share of the money.

Narrating how he got involved in the crime, Francis, who attended Government Technical College, Owerri, Imo State, where he studied engineering and later became a bricklayer, said, “I got a call from my friend Chibuzor Onugbe one fateful day last year. Chibuzor and I became friends after we met at Enugu.

When he called me that day, he said I should come to Lagos that he had something for me to do.

“When I got to Lagos, he said that there was a bag he wanted me to pick for him from the company he worked with at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

“I asked him the content of the bag; he said that I would know later. He brought a tag and a bag and said that he would take me to the company and that I should tell them that I wanted to tag my bag and that I should lie that I was travelling.

“He said that the tag-ticket he gave me was what would be tagged on the bag. He said that after I had tagged the bag, I should leave and he would give me a call to come and pick the bag again.

When the baggage officials opened the bag he gave me to bag, it contained laptop and some clothes. They asked me how many days I wanted to leave the bag there, I said just a day as Chibuzor had asked me to say so. I paid N300.”

Francis said at 6pm that same day, Chibuzor called and instructed him to come down again to the airport and pick the bag.

“I picked the bag, but I didn’t open it. Chibuzor told me that the plan didn’t work out. He said what he wanted to put inside the bag didn’t work out,” said Francis.

Francis claimed to have been surprised when Chibuzor asked him to go through the same process of taking the same bag to baggage store, for bagging the following day.

“At 7:30pm that day, he had called, saying that I should go down to the baggage store and collect the bag again.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

We have completed 470 open heart surgery –KHF

S

Camillus Nnaji

ince its inception in the year 2000, Kanu Heart Foundation has championed the cause in fighting heart diseases. The foundation established by the legendry footballer, Kanu Nwankwo, has recorded 98.5 per cent successes performing heart surgeries on 470 children and adults since it was founded 14 years ago.

The Coordinator/Trustee of the foundation, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia: “Kanu was inspired to establish his NGO after suffering heart ailment in the course of his career.

Glory be to God, he came out alive. In order to help underprivileged African children and young adults living with the ailment, KHF was founded.

“KHF’s first two beneficiaries, Oluwatofunmi Okude and Enitan Adesola, were operated on at Crown Hospital London in 2000, but later the exorbitant high fees charged by London hospitals, pushed us to search for new partners in Isreal where the save –a child heart organisation opened its doors to our relationship with Wolfson Medical Centre in Tel Aviv.

“The relationship with Isreali hospitals generated many standby patients who were daily increasing the numbers on the waiting list. As we moved over to Isreal, many open heart surgeries were performed, and when the number of patients with heart defects began to rise, we started searching for more options with cost effective prices and same high quality treatment. Then this took us to India where we have many hospitals working with us at present.”

Later on, challenges started creeping in with high foreign exchange rate between dollar and naira with its attendant travel cost and hospital bills.

Besides, the numbers of those seeking help through the foundation, it was learnt, kept increasing.

“The KHF decided on another option, by bringing Cardiac surgeons from International Children Heart Foundation Memphis, USA to the University Teaching Hospital Enugu (UNTH) in 2003. Thirteen open heart surgeries were performed by a team lead by Professor Novick and included leading Nigerian doctors in 10days,” Abia added.

On the successes recorded during the overall heart surgeries, Abia said, “The foundation writes its success story through the numerous lives saved. KHF is backed by the appendance of over 470 patients who could not afford the high cost of open heart surgeries, have to date benefitted from the charity.

STREET DIARY

11

Fake NANS’ President bags 12 Years jail term Emmanuel Onani

A

Kanu

“The journey has not been easy, we have to receive those that passed away abroad and see the anguish of their dear ones. Nevertheless, we have had more joy as many celebrate the new lease of life provided to these recipients to which we give God the glory. In all, there has been 98.5 per cent success rate; we have also provided medical and surgical assistance to some adults, given our set criteria and available resources.”

A woman, Mrs. Margret Akpan, whose son was a beneficiary, joined the staff of KHF as a form of appreciation six years ago.

Akpan said, “In appreciation for saving my son’s life who was half dead before traveling to India for surgery, I decided to work for this foundation six years now. It’s not because of I was looking for job, but to

help assist more children who are on the waiting list” However, the foundation still has plans to build a cardiac specialist hospital in Nigeria. Luckily, the Federal Government has it a piece of land in Abuja but it will cost N5billion to build the hospital.

Abia said, “I want to say the success at KHF will not only go to the founder and organisers but also to corporate bodies who have helped us sponsor some of these children. But like Kanu will always say, we are like Oliver Twist, we need some more.

“Kanu said ‘I can no longer do this alone.

Please help me to beg Nigerians to open their hearts and help make this dream of building a cardiac hospital a reality.’”

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced one Ebiloma Abdullahi, to a prison term of 12 years, for forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.

Specifically, Justice O. A. Adeniyi, found the convict guilty of masquerading as president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had charged Abdullahi to court, for parading himself as NANS’ president, and using same false identity to obtain N500, 000 from a former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alh. Sani Lulu.

He was said to have claimed that the huge sum would be used to “mobilise Nigerian students to support Super Eagles.”

A statement by the Head of Media and Public Affairs of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the convict, who claimed to be a student of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, also leveraged on the falsehood, to pay a courtesy call on the Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda.

The statement reads in part: “The convict was arraigned in November 2009 on a seven-count of impersonation, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence. The convict who paraded himself as a student of Federal University of Technology, Minna, was said to have assumed the position of the National President of the National Association of Nigeria Student, NANS, and in such capacity paid courtesy visits to Alhaji Isa Yuguda, governor of Bauchi State; Alhaji Sani Lulu, former Chairman of the Nigerian Football Association, NFA; from whom he obtained the sum of N500,000 under the pretence that the money will be used to mobilise Nigerian students to support the Super Eagles.

Justice Adeniyi found the accused guilty on counts one and seven for forgery and obtaining money by false pretence and consequently sentenced him to two years on count one and 10 years imprisonment on count seven without an option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently. The convict was, however, discharged and acquitted on counts two to six.

Man buys properties with stolen N244m, flees to London CONTINUED from PAGE 10

This time however, the bag was heavier. It was later I learnt he went to the baggage store, removed the money from the bag it was kept and transferred it into the bag I had kept at the baggage hall. The officials there believed I was taking out my bag which contained laptop and clothes. They didn’t know that wands of dollars had been stuffed into the bag.”

After they had agreed to meet at a particular place, a taxi took them to another point where both men alighted.

They agreed to meet the next day to share the money after Chibuzor had shown Francis the content of the bag.

After getting his own share, Francis converted his share to naira and “it came down to N60 million. I used part of it to buy two plots of lands for N4.5 million; I also started building a house.”

Asked what his parents said about his sudden acquisition of wealth, Francis said they didn’t know he was building any house.

On her part, Chioma said she did not know anything about the stolen money until police came to arrest her. But contrary to her claim, the police said Chibuzor actually met after the money was stolen and gave her part of it which she used in buying some properties for the fleeing suspect.

She later admitted that “I bought four plots of land at Onitsha. I took the documents to him. He signed them and I took the counterfoil to the owner of the property.

“He called me again, saying he wanted more plots of land. I also assisted him to buy more six plots for N9 million. He later travelled through Ghana to London. There was no time I lied to

the police that I didn’t know him. When the police came, they asked me if I knew one Chibuzor Onugbe, I said no because the person I knew was Michael Okafor.”

Kalu said he did not alert police when his younger brother contacted him and brought the dollars to him because he was told that it was morally wrong for him to assist the police to arrest his brother.

He said: “I didn’t count the money.

He said I should help him buy some lands. I bought a land for him for N5.250 million at Oyin-Igbo in PH. He said I should buy them in my name. I bought two detachable houses for him. He gave me N10million as a gift.”

While the police have concluded arrangement to charge the suspect to court, a police source said SARS would work with Interpol to catch Chibuzor.

Francis

Voices

12

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

Street Diary

Can the wife carry out abortion without consent of the husband It’s not right

Collective decision should be taken

The wife needs the consent of the husband to make any decision regardless the issue.

She has no right to have an abortion without her husband’s knowledge; the two have to agree if it is the best thing to do. Now I am speaking to all women, we are subjects to our husbands and we must submit to them so whatever decision we take must be discussed with our husbands. Therefore, it is not right for a woman to carry out an abortion without the consent of her husband.

No woman has any right to abort a pregnancy without the husband's consent. Since they both are responsible for the pregnancy then it ought to be an agreement between the two of them and not a personal decision of the woman.

(Akinniyi Abiola, entrepreneur)

The man has the right to know.

He does not have to approve but he certainly has to know.

(Mrs. Remi Abere, works with IBM)

Wife can if…

(Aina Omowunmi – student)

It is wrong to abort

Why would a woman that is married want to have an abortion? I am of the opinion that the act is very wrong, if you don’t want a child there are other ways to avoid this, there is something called protection.

Why can’t they protect themselves, must they result to abortion? If the wife is already pregnant she should carry on with it, why would they want to abort; they know the consequence of their action. The wife and husband have no right to make any decision in aborting.

(Dare Folakemi - computer technologist)

The man can sue the woman

It is not right. If they are not married, it is a different thing.

The marriage binds them together. The husband has the right to know and he can even sue the wife. The best thing is to go for family planning or always use condom.

(Richard Obiekwe, security operative)

(Doris Unamba, unemployed graduate) Talk it out with him

She didn't make herself pregnant, so she has no sole right to take it out. Besides, your husband should be your best friend, so you talk it out with him first.

(Jesutomi student)

It is not good at all, I will let my husband know my plans, I cannot do it alone because of the consequences that follow, besides he is the head of the family.

(Ad a Blessing, businesswoman)

It should be a joint decision

That shows lack of respect for the man

She calls herself my wife, that means she has no respect for me. If I am the husband she has to tell me her decision in that regards in case of the outcome. If we decide together, two of us will bear the risk, if she does it on her own that means she has killed my baby.

(Fidelis Ikwushime, engineer)

It is a sinful act

For me, it is sinful and cannot be attempted. I’d rather have the baby if it happens. But to prevent such, it is important to agree right from the beginning on what the size of the family should be. I don’t support the right of a woman to carry out abortion in the name of family planning without telling the husband.

(Folu Adeyeye, a brand strategist)

The wife doesn't have the right to abort without her husband's consent.

From the moment they said ‘I do,’ whatever decision meant to be taken must be a joint decision. If she does without his consent and he finds out, it could break the marriage. Then, the wife would be blamed for it. Taking decisions on your own without your partner's consent is one major issue that causes broken home these days.

(Ojo Olayinka, student)

Rotimi,

It is not right

(Ayo Idowu, entertainment consultant)

Wife should discuss with her husband

A woman in a marriage cannot and should not on her own carry out any abortion, no matter the situation. If it is meant to control the family size, let her tell the husband.

First of all, abortion is a mortal sin and God is against it. Secondly, she does not have the right because that is like betraying his love. She might indulge in it and die in the process. What would be her story? So she has no right to do so, especially if she has an understanding partner.

No, it is absolutely wrong. The wife should seek the consent of the husband before doing such a thing. Come to think of it, God is against abortion. Prevention is a better means. In the case where the father is not behaving responsibly, the woman should not allow sex without condom.

It is not right for a married woman

(Funmi Salome Johnson, journalist)

It is betrayal of the husband’s love

Prevention is better

In my own opinion a woman has no such right unless she has been cheating on her husband and she got pregnant for another man in the process and still wants to save her marriage. I don't see any good reason a married woman will want to try such risky escapade without the knowledge of her spouse.

The woman has no right

(Toyin Paul, pastor)

(Oluwatusin Ibitomilola, customer care officer)

First of all, from the time they got married both the husband and wife relinquishes their autonomous rights to anything.

Every major decision that needs to be made from that point should be a collective one. So, a wife cannot just ‘decide’ that she doesn't want more children, not to even talk of aborting a pregnancy without her husband's consent. The decision is not the right of one party but a consensus reached by both of them.

In the same vein, a husband cannot solely determine whether he wants or doesn't want more children. When both wife and husband understand this decision-making principle, then they can easily decide whether they want the pregnancy or not.

may

No, family planning ought to have been carried out before engaging in the sexual intercourse.

One, it is a murder case because a life is being washed away. Also, she endangers herself which can lead to her womb being damaged and could even lead to death if not properly carried out.

Husband should know

(Banjo Rasaq - web designer)

Well, having an abortion is an issue that is very critical and one must be very careful.

Both parties must be involved in the decision making that concerns the family but I will say that the man must agree to this otherwise the woman cannot go on to have the abortion.

This is because if anything happens to the woman, they both would be held responsible. However the wife can only make the decision to abort if her health is on the line this is because sometimes the man can be head strong and might not understand the woman.

The wo m a n endanger her life

(Patience Dimta, teacher)

compiled by

Mojeed Alabi, Olushola Ricketts, camillius nnaji, samuel eda elijah AND Victoria Ewoh

Instyle Hit the road in platform pumps shoes p.16 Travel Exploring the thrill and beauty of Brazil p.42

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17 MAY 2014

13

Style Texen

C o n v e r s at i o n

according to

“If we are able to lay hands on the kind of funding that I’m driving for today, I don’t mind being in the same hall as Hugo Boss, Dunhill, Zegna, name it.”

EGBEDI

As one of the oldest surviving indigenous top-tier labels, Texen has been through cycles of boom and bust. Its founder, Tex Egbedi, talks about that experience and how he’s bracing for the challenge posed by the entry of foreign luxury labels. He spoke with Laurence Ani

L

ike in previous encounters, Tex Egbedi spells out his dislike for journalists simply interested in the glitzy side of fashion and not the business side of it. He would rather not respond to questions by interviewers seeking to know the kind of wristwatch or suit he’s wearing or the number of string shoes he has. “These are not the kind of things I like discussing on the pages of newspapers,” he said, matter-of-factly.

“We’ve grown past that. Let us discuss issues that will make this business move from where it is now and even policy makers would understand our problems and the calibre of people in this industry.”

It’s unusual to hear a style connoisseur speak that way in an ego-driven industry nurtured by society’s prevailing vanity.

But Egbedi isn’t just a fashion connoisseur; he is as well a fashion entrepreneur with about three decades’ experience under his belt.

Surely, a man whose label has braved several exigencies - including surviving the slump created by Gen Ibrahim Baban-

gida’s structural adjustment programme - must have a compelling tale. “The style industry (he would rather not use the term fashion industry as it tends to create a belittling perception) has moved from the low level we were in some 25 years ago to an upbeat level today despite the challenges.

“We’re beginning to see a great deal of specialisation in the industry like I’ve always advocated; people are also beginning to realise that it’s not a run-of-themill thing for anyone who wakes up and decides to set up shop. The impetus for this too is the fact that Nigerians are very style conscious. That style consciousness has made it possible for us to have a huge market that fires innovation. As much as you find that many have fallen by the wayside, some are waxing stronger. But I’ve always seen us at Texen as brand or label owners.”

Although the influx of foreign luxury labels may be seen as one of the indices that highlight growth in the Nigerian fashion industry, yet it’s also a development that makes indigenous label owners

wary. Not for Egbedi.

“First, you can’t it take it off the big labels like Zegna that are coming into this country. Hugo Boss has a franchise in Nigeria. I don’t blame them; they are sensitive to the demand. These brands are highly patronised by Nigerians abroad; it’s good business thinking. It would be sad if anyone is having sleepless nights because in South Africa, these brands are all there. There are so many labels that are not here. Cartier has not come to Nigeria.

Ok, you have a brand like Rolex working through Polo, but they don’t have a physical presence here; Dunhill is not in Nigeria; Ralph Lauren is not in Nigeria; Dolce & Gabbana is not in Nigeria, Armani is not in Nigeria.

“But they would come. They know the challenges in Nigeria, and I assume they are still watching their compatriots who have taken the plunge to see how they would weather the storm so they could learn from that. There are secrets in this industry and I know them. The big brands don’t bother me, because those days people were saying my shoes were expensive,

but now they’ve seen how much my competitors sell similar shoes and are beginning to say, ‘hey, Tex, you’ve been nice to us’. I tend to get a lot of sympathy from a lot Nigerians who say, ‘wait a minute, Texen is an indigenous brand; let us support it’. How many labels are indigenous to Nigeria? You talk of Sofisticat, you talk of Texen.”

What bothers Egbedi is that his ability to give them a run for their money might be hampered by the inability to access funds. “If we are able to lay hands on the kind of funding that I’m driving for today, I don’t mind being in the same hall as Hugo Boss, Dunhill, Zegna, name it,” he said with the sort of chutzpah you would expect in a “Sapele boy” long accustomed to the reality that life itself is a struggle and those lacking the competitive spirit inevitably sinks. “I’m happy there’s an opportunity now for customers to make comparisons. Those days there were perhaps two labels or fashion houses in Nigeria that would stock shoes that sold for one hundred thousand naira and above.

And when the ordinary folk who hasn’t been out of the country before comes around, the prices are a bit repulsive and frightening.

“I have a Monk double strap crocodile shoes that I sold for a little above one hunCONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14

WEEKEND | CONVERSATION

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

‘I’m not bothered by the coming of big foreign labels’

Egbedi... wants indigenous label owners to brace up for the influx of foreign brands

CONTINUED FROM PAG E 1 3

dred thousand naira, but a friend bought a similar one from a foreign label which was twice my price. He called me to say, ‘hey, next time I want you to order these shoes for me’. So, I’m cool; what I’m looking for is to develop my own brand. We’re working on small margins, compared to the kind of margins the foreign labels are looking at.

We should all brace up for this challenge because I see more of the big labels coming in. There’s nothing anyone can do about it.

It’s good for our country because it shows some degree of confidence.”

Egbedi is confident that the resurgent middle class which the country’s liberalized economy helped create would be a major boon to leverage. “If you go to China today, all the big labels are there because of the huge population and emerging middle class. The middle class here too is growing. People are no longer looking for dated products; people are looking for timeless products. You can’t go wrong with a grey suit, you can’t go wrong with a blue suit, you can’t go wrong with variations of charcoal grey suit. In the lean times, people are a lot more careful about what they buy; the guy may not want so many wristwatches, he may not want so many pairs of socks. Such periods require some creativity.

“People tell me, ‘hey Tex, you were smart to set up a small factory’. I keep telling them that I didn’t set up a factory because I had a premonition; I just felt challenged because when I travel abroad and I see the size of factories that turn out shirts, handkerchiefs, briefs and things like chinos I am encouraged. I went to a factory sometime ago on the outskirts of Italy; they didn’t have more than 20 workers but you need to see their bottomline and the top brands they were producing for. I was in Abuja once and somebody worked up to me and said: ‘Are you Tex Egbedi?’ I said ‘yes’. And he told me ‘I would always remember you for popularising boxer shorts for Nigerian men. We like your boxers.’”

The other products that have been a huge hit are the home wear and chinos, which he said is sold in golf clubs

“People are no longer looking for dated products; people are looking for timeless products.” across the Nigeria. “You need the determination and some level of creativity. We may be handicapped because of resources; but once these ones are in place, I’m sure resources will come. I’m talking to investors. And we know where we want to take Texen to.”

Indeed, access to funds is the only subject that takes the glint out of Egbedi’s eyes.

“Two years ago at the London Fashion Week, the United Kingdom prime minister hosted the fashion industry. And I remember him saying that ‘the oil industry came, we hosted them; the auto industry came, we hosted them; that he’s happy to host the fashion industry because it is where a good number of British people are employed. I just hope that someday our leaders will see it from that perspective. This is not an industry you toy with. In France, I think the fashion industry is even bigger than the auto industry.

“Like every business in Nigeria, funding is becoming a big problem. I had a meeting recently with a friend who runs a savings company and fortunately he saw what I was talking about and he is willing to help.

We have a range of things to launch, we have our grooming products already made.

We plan to launch our perfume; but we also know that we need good outlets to fend off counterfeits. Funding has not been easy. We are a small and medium enterprise. The interest rate is killing. The Bank of Industry team came here and were very impressed with my set up. But they let me know they are interested more in asset funding, not things like working capital. But I’ve always believed in Nigeria; I’m a die-hard optimist.”

U p C lo s e VITAL STATISTICS Birthplace - Sapele, Delta State, in 1953 Vocation - Style entrepreneur Label - Texen Previous work place - Worked at AT&P, a subsidiary of UAC; was advertising manager at defunct Newbreed Magazine; Mobil Sun Gas; Nigerian Airports Commercial Ventures Education - Degree in business administration from South-West London College and a post-graduate diploma in advertising from Watford College, both in United Kingdom

But there are so many cheery tales. “I remember when we were coming up with the Texen label, the biggest encouragement I had was from Dr. Chris Ogbechie who was with Nestle then. He said ‘Tex, if you say you’re going to build a brand in Nigeria - because I said I was looking at a brand similar to Dunhill that would have a grooming range, a writing range, you know, a lifestyle brand - the only thing that can make you survive is if you choose and believe and remain constant with regard to quality. That has shaped everything that we do here. The brand name has come to stay. I was in my outlet at the airport and somebody works in and asks the attendant: ‘this name Texen, is it a Nigerian label?’ My staff said it is and he replied that he used to

think it was a foreign name. Meanwhile I was standing right there in the shop.

“Look at the style industry today. Sofisticat took fashion from the corner street to the high street; some of us are sharing premises with banks, some of us are even bluffing the malls. For God’s sake isn’t it time people began to reconsider their views about the industry. We need encouragement. I’m so proud of the movie industry; look at what the guys are doing.”

Egbedi has a unit that caters to young designers, convinced that some of them can set up design hot shops where they could design for label owners. “I’m not a designer; I’m a businessman who owns a label. But luckily, I have flair, I have the style, I understand this industry. My company is just like Hugo Boss, like Dunhill.

Designers don’t own the place, designers come to work for us. After some time one of the things I would like to do is to go to schools and teach style. With time and support, the style industry would be the biggest industry in the country.”

The desire to mentor aspiring designers is the reason he occasionally takes in interns who he said are too grateful for the opportunity.

There is an understated elegance in most designs created by Texen. Egbedi says it’s a deliberate tack. “I have always admired Dunhill. My designs have the classic and timeless look. I’ve always believed that we’re not in to satisfy the today’s style. I see some of the pictures Herbert Macaulay took years ago and I still appreciate them, I see pictures that my father took years ago in UAC and I still like them. I want this business to be taken over my children or others.

And we can only do that if we’re offering the market quality, timeless products.”

The fact Texen has endured over the years is an indication he has been doing that.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

The casual chic look

T

Angela Davies

he casual chic style is a great look for women who want to put together their comfiest pieces of wardrobe, have fun dressing them up with various accessories and then go out looking and feeling great.

This look is simple yet smart, chic and comfortable. To achieve this dazzling look, you should wear comfortable clothes like a jergens, jeans or slim-fitted coloured pants paired with a lovely tank top, trendy sleeveless, short or long sleeve top that complements your pants. If you like, you can throw in a trendy blazer on your tank or sleeveless top for a trendier look. Also, if you have well-toned straight and sexy legs to flaunt, then, you could opt for a trendy short and top depending on your personal style and the event you are attending.

To complete your casual chic look, you should not forget to accessorize your outfit.

When it comes to footwear, you should also wear comfortable stiletto heels or flat sandals but ensure it will bring out the splendour of your outfit. Adorn your elegant earrings, necklace, cocktail ring, bracelet and wristwatch.

Then carry your clutch or handbag. Then the topping on the ice, should be your perfectly done make up.

Remember, the casual chic look is all about pulling off different looks yet feeling comfortable and trendy.

INSTYLE

15

All things bling Imelda Ada Okwori whose stage name is Imelda J seldom fails to grab attention with her outfits and it's easy to see why: she's obsessed with bling and loves colourful attires, writes ANGELA DAVIES What are the words that define your style?

My style is simple, gorgeous and flawless.

What determines the kind of outfit you wear?

The occasion or event I am attending and the comfort that such outfit gives me.

What kind of outfits make up a larger part of your wardrobe?

Bling and anything that is colourful. I love bling and colourful wears.

Favourite piece of clothing I love fabulous gowns and jumpsuits. They can come in any fabrics. These clothes bring out my shape and make me look smart and adorable.

Most expensive fashion item ever bought Gold-plated vintage gown.

Where do you consider the sexiest part of your body?

My lips and hips. That is what men tend to notice first about me.

Clothing item you will never be caught wearing That will be a complete Bikini. I would love to cover some special part of my body.

Fashions accessories you can't do without?

Wristwatch What kind of jewelry appeals to you?

Gold and anything that blings.

Signature perfume Victoria's Secret.

How do you love your makeup?

It depends on my outfit. If the outfit is simple, I sometimes go on heavy makeup. If the outfit is complicated, I go on light makeup. Also, the time and purpose of the outing determines the type of makeup I wear.

Best designer Runs Culture is a Nigerian designer based in the United States. His designs have African touch and he uses African fabrics very well. He also understands my kind of colour combinations and what looks good on me.

How do you love your hair?

Recently I fell in love with gold hair. So for now, my signature look is gold.

Best colour White.

What kind of shoes do you love to wear?

I love heels and wedge.

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INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

Accessories to live for

Facts

Hit the road in platform pumps shoes Wearing a dazzling platform pumps shoes with an elegant outfit are a combination sure to give you a big hit, writes ANGELA DAVIES.

P

latform pumps shoes are a must have for every woman who truly love shoes. They are usually closed at the back and front, with the front having either rounded or pointed toes. They are flawless and very basic in design to fit almost any outfit.

It is easy to make a statement with the platform pumps shoes that you wear. This could be achieved by choosing platform pumps shoes in bold colours, florals, prints or added accessories to grab attention and have all eyes on your shoes. These shoes are chic and trendy thus giving your feet the desired sophisticated look.

However, select and buy your desired heel height whether you are looking for something to wear at work or for a special occasion.

So, let your feet do all the talking with a sexy pair of bright, printed, floral or embellished platform pumps shoes.

BEAUTY

The red pout

T

he red lipstick was Hollywood star, Marilyn Monroe's signature. She became synonymous with red lips during the height of her fame in the 1950s and 1960s.

Nonetheless, modern-day stars and women are hardly seen without a slick of red across their lips.

A sweep of red lipstick can brighten your look in seconds and also add some wow-factor to your outfit. Known as the sexiest of lipstick colours, the red lipstick comes in a variety of red lipstick colours for you to choose ranging from bright red to dark red and matte red lipstick.

It is the one important make-up every woman should have in her make-up bag. With so many shades available, you can always find the perfect red lipstick for you that will transform your look with the snap of the finger.

Taiwo and Kehinde Okunoren, the twins behind Okunoren Twins bespoke brand were born by a fashion designer mother. They launched their label in Lagos in 2002 and now have a museum for African fashion due to their authenticity on African heritage through fashion.

The most important quality of emerald, sapphire and ruby is their colour clarity.

Most pearls made today are cultured or man-made. This process is done by inserting a small shell into oyster, which then painstakingly covers it with pearl material over a minimum of three years.

In 1922, a Washington DC law required bathing suits to be no shorter than six inches above the knee.

You were arrested if it was shorter.

SHOWBIZ

Women on the 'wheels of steel' p.19 Where are the Idols? p.22

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DJ Jimmy Jatt: 25 years on the turntable

try and that pretty much speaks for what to expect from the album. We are still recording, but as at the last count, I’ve recorded with well over 80 artistes and 20 different producers in the country, so it’s easier to count the people that are yet to get on the album than count the people on the album, so the album is basically a reflection of the state of the industry. This album is quite different from my first album ‘The Definition’ , this new one is more of a reflection of the industry, the album would have a minimum of 20 tracks, we put out seven singles already, we might put out a couple of videos before then. The album pretty much covers the industry and when I say the industry, we can’t put every artiste in the industry on the album, but there is adequate representation from all sectors, you would find emerging artistes on the album and the established names, A-list artistes, rappers, singers and even old school and reggae artistes on the album. So, it’s a reflection of what I’ve seen in the last 25 years. I think I’m excited about the album already because it’s a brilliant album without a doubt.

Jimmy Adewale Amu otherwise known as DJ Jimmy Jatt is one of the highly successful DJs with many acolytes across the country. He took a plunge into the industry as a budding rapper before settling for disc jockeying in the 1980s. In 1989, he went professional completely and today his 25 years experience has certainly paid off. He’s currently planning his 25th anniversary.

He recounts the tentative early steps in his career, family and sundry issues, in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA. BEING A PROFESSIONAL DISC JOCKEY Well, to be honest with you, I haven’t been a DJ for 25 years. I have been a DJ for more than 25 years. The 25th anniversary that we are celebrating is just a celebration of my 25 years of being in the entertainment industry, the years before 1989 when I officially started counting that I decided to be a DJ are the years that I would take as my learning period, just like a lawyer, you can’t count your practicing years from when you got admission, you’ll start counting from when you start practicing. So for me, it was in 1989 precisely that I made up my mind that I won’t do anything else apart from being a DJ even though I’ve been practicing before then. Some people would remember me from those days at Obalende. So it’s 25 years of being a professional DJ and really I was reluctant to celebrate it. Most people around me know that I shy away from celebrations, I try not to be a loud person; but the only reason I was convinced to do this by the people around me was because it’s 25 years of relevance and of consistency.

There’s not been an off day for me in the last 25 years, there’s not been a time within the 25 years that ‘deejaying’ has been discussed in this country and I’m not a subject matter. And I hear a lot of people celebrate 10 years, 15 years; but within that period there are times when they were off season for a couple of years. I have been ever present, I have been constant and I felt for once in my life I should really celebrate it.

EMBRACING THE UNPOPULAR I’m so excited about this because this is something I got into at a time when people felt it wasn’t a profession. It’s something people warned their kids to stay away from, they told their kids steer clear from you just because you are a DJ, but I took up the challenge to change the mindset of people as much as possible. And right now DJs are being celebrated and the young generation today can see that there is life as a DJ. If I have done it for 25 years then what more should one do? And mind you

17

COURTING INTERNATIONAL ACTS In terms of international collaboration, for me it has always been about projecting our own acts and our own music. I do get offers and deals from artistes in America to feature on the album, but I don’t see the need, it gives me joy to put an unknown Nigerian artistes on the album and see his career develop from there rather than have an international act.

this doesn’t mean I’m retiring, it means I’m taking ‘dj-ing’ to whole new level.

MY LIFE BEFORE 1989 Like I said, I’ve been doing this before 1989 some people would know me from the mid 80s when I was just a school boy at Obalende, Lagos Island. I’ve never written an application for a job in my life.

Before 1989 it was just school and ‘deejaying’, so I’ve pretty much been a DJ since when I started working. I’ve never had time to consider any thing else.

PLANS FOR THE ANNIVERSARY We are kicking off at the end of the month with a tour of 6 cities across the nation to touch base with the fans across the nation and thereafter, we’ll move out of the country to Europe, all that would run from the end of this month till the end of July. August 3would be the main event, it’s going to be a strictly by invitation black tie event, then there would be the annual Jimmy’s jump off, but this year’s event would be tied to the 25th anniversary celebrations so we might switch the event a bit, it might not take the same direction people are used to. Then from

October till the end of the year, we’ll be getting into some CRS activities to give back to the society, organize a lot of mentorship programmes for young DJs to encourage them and try to bring them up, there’s also a TV reality show coming up and by the grace of God, I’m surrounded by the most effective group of people and we are working tirelessly to make the best of this.

TRYING TIMES Of course, like every other business in this country, after 6 months there are definitely times when frustration would set in even if you are into oil and gas, but for me right from the outset, there has always been that discouraging factor, so I’ve had to deal with it from the very start and even when I feel like I was going to give up, I always remembered those early times and I always forged ahead, because if I give up, those people who didn’t give me a chance in the beginning would mock me. So, that kept me going even in my lowest moments.

NEW ALBUM The album would be launched at the black tie event, the album is titled The Indus-

LENDING A HAND I think in life if you always see yourself as upcoming, you’ll always grow. The moment you see yourself as a king, you lose it. For me I work like a rookie; that’s my orientation. About seeing anybody as a threat, I do not think so, everything in life is a competition, but how you take the competition affects your career. If you take it negatively, it’ll affect you negatively and vice versa. And I’ve helped a lot of DJs to come up, because if there’s no one chasing you, you won’t run and if you don’t run you won’t get to your destination in time. So, I always assist DJs to grow because if they do, it means you’ll also have to take your game a notch higher, but if you don’t help people to come up and everybody remains down you won’t grow as well. So competition is very healthy because it helps people grow.

PARENTAL BLESSINGS Yes, I had the support of my immediate family, but from my extended family and outsiders I got hostility and no support.

But my parents weren’t worried because they knew me very well, they brought me up very well, and I always tell people that I’m a product of family’s love, my family is fun loving and loved music, interestingly, I just happened to be an introvert.

MEETING MY WIFE I met her at a party or where else would someone like me meet a woman (laughs)? Forget that Yoruba saying that the wife you meet at party would dance away. It’s a big lie, I’m a living testimony.

I know people that met at religious houses and their marriages didn’t last 2 years.

THE ATTRACTION Initially, it was her physical beauty.

Then we became friends and then I found out that she’s even more beautiful inside, and we’ve been together for 24 years, and I have two beautiful daughters.

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SHOWBIZ

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

SHOWBIZ TODAY

LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445 lanreodukoya@gmail.com

Celebrities hit the road for #BringBackOurGirls protest

T

here is a growing history of celebrities around the world lending their voices to humanitarian causes from Europe to the showbiz powerhouse, United States, and down to Africa. Often times in the past the outrage had accelerated solutions to lingering crises wherever they loomed or consequently ensued. This explains why more Nigerian celebrities keep storming the streets to protest the abduction of school girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in the volatile Borno State by members of Boko Haram.

Since the abduction came to public knowledge on April 14, there had been a wide range of protests across the country with the highest rates in relatively safe state, Lagos.

Seun Kuti was one of the earliest among the Nigerian celebrities to cry out for help with the BringBackOurGirls placard. No sooner celebs around the world like the US first lady, Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, David Cameron and others joined the card-carrying protesters than more groups keyed into the carnival-live campaign for the return of the 267 abducted girls.

Last Saturday, there was a violent-free march by some celebrities from the Falomo round about in Ikoyi to the State House, Onikan, where they met with Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola to register their angst and shared what may well be the panacea to terrorism in this part. The protesters comprised Tonto Dike, Tiwa Savage, Elohor Aisien, Toke Makinwa, Debola Williams among a host of others.

Another protest from a Nollywood group led by Monalisa Chinda preceded the aforesaid and it was one that brought the likes of Omoni Oboli, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpota and others to the streets on a common front.

Genevieve Nnaji who was interviewed by CNN recently is one of the sympathizers who slung her handwritten BringBackOurGirls. Same for Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde whose emotional epistle was reported on Linda Ikeji’s blog. In a similar development, Monday, May 12, Joe Okei Odumakin, Femi Kuti, Jide Kosoko, Foluke Daramola, Iyabo Ojo, Doris Simeon and others participated in a march to Gov. Fashola’s office in Ikeja, Lago,s with banners reading "Women Arise

Jide Kosoko, Femi Kuti, Joe Odumakin at the protest in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

Against Terror".

From all indication, this protest has drawn the largest participants on any issue in recent times. Its popularity trumps the famous "Fuel Subsidy" protest staged at the Gani Fawehinmi Park two years ago.

And apart from the printed or scribbled placards, some high quality T-shirts with the same tag have also been going round mostly from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Lagos. It’s even more instructive that there are more protesters in these cities than in Borno. The growing number of protesters with the t-shirts raises the question: who are the sponsors of these wears, billboards and placard-carrying groups? It won't be surprising if the ongoing protest may have gulped more millions than the "Fuel Subsidy" rally presumed to be the most elaborate in terms of cost in recent time.

Interestingly so, some of the protesters have claimed that the t-shirts with the quality monogram on them were paid for by the activists themselves. However, what remains uncertain is the organizations or individuals that underwrote the huge publicity the protest has attracted. Tiwa Savage leading a protest at Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos

E-BRIEFS

MI, Flavour, others cheer Eagles ahead of World Cup

Zaaki Azzay remarries

T

orch-bearing singer, Zaaki Azzay, whose marriage crashed two years ago has not only moved on, he has in fact taken a second shot at marriage.

His first marriage with Hadiza Yadoo which produced three kids packed up allegedly on the ground of domestic violence. We gathered that Zaaki married a 24-year-old lady last Saturday. The lowkey wedding was held in Makurdi. The wedding was said to have been planned for April but suffered some delays, causing some members of the bride’s family to threaten to boycott the wedding. But it was later resolved and Zaaki now has a woman he can finally call his.

A

galaxy of stars gathered during the week in Lagos when national telecoms carrier, Globacom unveiled a unique motivational campaign and theme song to mobilise nationwide support for Nigeria's participation at the World Cup in Brazil in June. The occasion which also saw the unveiling of a first-of-its-kind online reality show, hosted on Google+, was graced by Nigeria’s musical stars including Flavour, M.I., Naeto C, Omawunmi, Waje and Nollywood star, Chioma Akpotha.

The musicians who are Glo ambassadors also performed in the campaign which was aptly tagged Go Ahead Super Eagles. Also in attendance were Nigeria's football icons, Christian Chukwu, Jay Jay Okocha and two former African Players of the Year, Kanu Nwankwo and Victor Ikpeba. The campaign

combines a series of energetic television commercials including Unstoppable which inspires the Super Eagles to conquer the World in Brazil in June 2014, the Football Music Video featuring MI and Flavour, a video rendition of the Nigerian National Anthem and Football United. The Go Ahead Super Eagles campaign, aimed at galvanising Nigerians to cheer the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles to victory at the World Cup, also features special songs for the Super Eagles including Power to Win, rendered by MI and Flavour; Remember Me by P-square and a medley of popular football songs by various Globacom ambassadors including Burna Boy, MI, Omawunmi, Waje, Sammy Oposo, Bez and Sani Denja.

Contestants hit Goldberg’s Fuji to bam quarterfinals

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n a keenly contested audition, 12 out of hundreds of contestants have made it to the quarter final of the ongoing Goldberg Fuji To Bam music talent hunt. The auditions held in six locations Ilesha, Oshogbo, Ibadan, Ado Ekiti, Akure and Akungba/Ikare. The quarter final is scheduled for Ilesha Osun State while the semi-final will hold in Akure, Ondo State. The grand

finale has also been scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State. The quarter finalists are; Ejire Performer and Okikiola who qualified from Oshogbo while in Ilesha Segun Sender and Smally qualified. In the ancient city of Ibadan where the contest became intense, Twinszobia Twins and Muhideen Adisa emerged victorious while Sunday Olayiwola (a.k.a Temitope Ajani

Oluaye Fuji) and Akanni Banana Olajide qualified from Akure. According to the marketing director of Nigerian Breweries, Walter Drenth: “Goldberg is a quality lager beer that celebrates consumers and their traditional values. Fuji music enjoys huge followership across Nigeria which has also led the brand to provide the Fuji To Bam as one of the platforms to further engage

Flavour

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

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Women on the 'wheels of steel' This day and age, it’s amazing how we seldom find vocations that are largely dominated by a particular sex unlike years gone by. Some segments of music production, for instance, used to be predominantly the men’s enterprise until lately. Ladies no longer give areas that involve much technical details a wide berth, though one can number them by the count of fingers. Time was when finding a number of female disc jockeys (DJs) at events was insignificant, but riveting are the sights of these trail blazers on the wheel-of-steel churning out pulsating vibes today.

LANRE ODUKOYA examines this new trend.

DJ Trishia

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t best, you’d find a young woman as a supporting disc jockey (where a man is contracted for the job) at either open or private gigs, but jawdropping is their proficiency in the art. Just as effortless as being a singer is to women, mastery of disc jockeying no longer seems precipitous. Mostly known with adventurous young women under 30, another subsector of music is gradually springing, inadvertently thinning out the line of unemployment rate among women a little above adolescence. At a time when most of them are expected to be studying at the tertiary level or young in marriage, they brave the odds to make a livelihood in about the unlikeliest place. Nana Abedoh with the showbiz moniker, DJ Nana has a Diploma in Law from the Lagos State University and she dared what was to her a hidden passion from on campus; “it started when I attended a carnival somewhere around Ketu, Lagos in 2008.

Something just spoke from within me, ‘Nana, you love music, DJs deal in music, why don’t you be one so that you can be closer to music?’ and it started from that fateful day. I told everyone who cared to listen that I wanted to be a DJ. I was still studying law in LASU then.” Udeachu Tricia Chinelo otherwise known as DJ Trish is already building a towering career as a DJ, she gave a brief account of how she got into the art. “I started training as a DJ when I was on my one-year internship in 2008. But I started off on my own in 2010, my final year at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. And I was trained by late DJ Da Bomb and DJ Fingaz. DJ Da Bomb always allowed me to stay on the wheel of steel before the show kicked off.”

DJ Nana was trained by the trio of DJ Phurzy, DJ Faze and DJ Froggy before meeting DJ Jimmy Jatt from whose tutelage her career began to soar, “DJ Phurzy and DJ Froggywere club DJs, that was where I trained. I met a lot of people at the club. And I later started telling everyone who knew Jimmy Jatt to link me up with him because I’d really love him to mentor me. I finally spoke to someone who had a link to Basketmouth (the comedian) and Basketmouth’s personal assistant spoke to Jimmy Jatt on my behalf. And one thing led to the other, Jimmy Jatt brought me in.”

At the time DJ Nana who’s now 24 started, she was just leaving teenage years and had unrestricted access to pubs. She reminisced on how it happened: “I’ve never had a close relationship with my parents, so it didn’t matter if my choice of survival isn’t seeing their approval or dis-approval. But a lot of people saw me as a joker. They felt when I get tired of fooling myself, I would get a life.”

Different strokes for different folks. While DJ Trish got a paltry N2,500 for her first job in 2010, DJ Nana first earned her N33,000 in 2009. DJ Trish confessed that the

DJ Bella

gender issues comes up most times, but DJ Nana insisted that "it never matters".

But in truth, the sub-sector they find themselves is dominated by men. To DJ Trish, the career has been quite rewarding as she sometimes get up to three shows a day. So lucrative is it that she already owns her own state-of-the-art instruments. Her dream is tall and she’d like to perform at the Big Brother Amplified (BBA). DJ Nana is equally finding fulfillment and ‘cool bucks’ in a career she chose without anyone’s nod.

Ajayi Smith Opeoluwa, a.k.a. DJ Bella, 22 is a final year undergraduate of International Relations from Houdegbe North America University, Benin Republic. DJ Bella started practicing four years ago as a rookie but she believes she has honed her skills well enough to crush possible competitions. She was driven by her love for music. But more importantly is the financial need in DJ Bella’s life, she fends for herself from the money she makes from party jobs she gets here and there.

“There have been different challenges in this job but it depends on how you look at it. I see my challenges as motivation.

The first challenge is that I’m a student and a DJ. I work from Tuesday to Sunday and I go to school from Tuesday to Friday. The motivation is that if I don’t work, I won’t be able to pay school fees.

The second challenge is that I’m a girl in men’s field. Standing for five hours alone is not easy to do.”

DJ Bella’s story differs from the rest, she’s in the art to survive austere times and ‘go on to other things’ after her degree program at the university.

DJ Nana

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Where are the Idols?

As Nigerian Idol Season 4 gets to the final stage, OLUSHOLA RICKETTS looks into the transition of its past winners to the mainstream entertainment.

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igerian Idol, the local version of the Idol series franchise is presently in its fourth year. The show made its debut in 2010 during the 50th anniversary of the country. Auditions were opened for every Nigerian between 18 and 28. The first season went on air in October 2010.

For the first edition, 26-year-old Yeka Onka was announced the winner on March 27, 2011. The season two winner was Mercy Chinwo while the last edition was Moses Obi-Adigwe, the first male Idol. The fourth is still on and the winner will be known in a matter of weeks.

But critics in the industry have said that the past winners are yet to make a loud statement on the entertainment scene despite the enormous talents they posses. Since they left the Idol’s stage, they said they have found it hard to stand tall in the highly competitive Nigerian entertainment industry. With their qualities, flawless voices, trainings they received and stagecraft they displayed during the show, the question on the lips of many close followers of the Idol series is ‘what is happening to the Idols?’ In the words of an audience during one of the episodes of the show recently at the Dream Studio, “we hardly hear about the Idols. We only see them whenever we come to see the reality show.”

New Telegraph’s chronicle of the past winners of the Nigerian Idol also shows that although it has just lasted for four years, the transition of the Idols into the entertainment industry is not all rosy. Its counterpart, MTN Project Fame, can boast of the likes of Iyanya, Chidima and Mike who are making great strides in the industry.

Most disturbing however is the controversy trailing the record label deal promised to the Idols by the organisers of the reality show as part of their rewards for coming top. It has been reported severally that the Idols are yet to get any record deal, which is a very key factor to their growth in the music terrain. Although they are millionaires, got luxury cars, the credibility of the recording deal has been queried. It was reported that they never got a contract with any known label.

Timi Dakolo who was the winner of the first reality show, West Africa Idol in 2007 was the person to know that organisers of talent shows do not fulfill all their promises made to the winners. Although he got his car and some millions as his prize the major prize, a record contract with Sony/BMG, is still a mirage. His PR firm, Red Media Africa, confirmed this to our correspondent.

Red Media stated, “Dakolo had to start running around when it dawned on him that he wasn’t getting any record deal. This also explained why it took him sometime to pick up in the industry.”

A close source who does not want his identity to be disclosed said the problem with Nigerian Idol is that the winners are not getting enough push and publicity after the shows. It revealed that everything ends with the conclusion of the shows.

“The organisers are not interested in what they become after the show. I witnessed one particular show where Mercy Chinwo was fighting with some of the organisers to give her the fund she used to come down

for the show. If you are doing something, you should do it well,” the source explained.

Yeka Onka Yeka Onka was crowned Queen of Abia at a beauty pageant in 2006. Winning the beauty pageant opened up a lot of doors for her. But being the Queen of Abia didn’t really go well as she expected. And also, her real passion had always been music.

From a tender age, she had been singing with her family band. Her father was the leader of the band and he played the saxophone, guitar and the piano very well.

Her mum was the lead vocalist while her, her sisters and brothers did back-ups. The family band was later thrown off balance in 2001 following the death of her mother and extinct after the death of her father five years later. After her parents died, Gospel reggae artiste, Buchi, took her under his wings and became her mentor. But Yeka’s confidence was never in question despite all that befell her.

And the word ‘no’ simply does not exist in her dictionary. Instead of accepting a ‘no’ from the Idols’ judges at the audition stage, the beauty queen embarked on an ‘Idol mini tour’ that took her from Enugu to Calabar and finally Lagos where she eventually got a ‘Yes!’ When Yeka was crowned as the winner of the season one with the sum of N7.5 million, a recording contract with Sony, a car and an all expense paid trip to South Africa, the world was at her feet. She was full of promises. But things appear to be shaky for her. Just like Dakolo who won the West Africa version of the idol reality show, Yeka is not known to be with any record company

by OMG. Through her personal effort, she has been able to release some singles, including Ewa Ba Mi Jo and Sambele. But for a while now, nothing has been heard of the Abia State indegene.

A reliable source close to Yeka informed New Telegraph that she got a deal but some issues came up between her and the organisers of the Nigerian Idol at some points which affected her deal. The source said she’s embittered and annoyed with the organisers.

Mercy Chinwo In 2007, Mercy Chinwo lost her father and she was vested with the responsibility of taking care of her younger ones. She was singing, doing back-ups for musicians, studio work, recording songs for pay and performing in Church programmes.

After surviving through various auditions of Nigerian Idol in Port-Harcout where she lives with her parents, she moved to Lagos. Some people were evicted and 30 others were left. They were then divided into groups. She was in the third group, which was the last group. It was where she got picked for the Top 12.

The word of Chinwo is still very fresh in the mind of our correspondent during an interview immediately she was declared the winner of Nigerian Idol in 2012. She said: “I see myself going on tour across the world. I would not focus on music alone; I would be vibrant in all aspects of the entertainment.”

Although she has some singles out and presently working on her album, nothing has

Mercy, the winner of Nigerian Idol season 2

Moses (2nd left) during a performance. He was the winner of Nigerian Idol season 3

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Tiwa Savage, Mercy Chinwo and contestants at Nigerian Idol season 2

Moses

been heard from her too.

Also, there have been some media reports that she is yet to be signed to any record label. In an interview she granted on September 2013, she had said: “As I speak to you, I’m one-man standing. I am not in any record label, I am alone. I have to say the truth. I am not or was never tied to any record label.”

When our correspondent called her, she asked to be spoken to later. All other efforts to get to her afterwards were abortive.

Moses Obi-Adigwe Obi-Adigwe has been singing since when he was young and he kept improving. He started from the children choir to being one of the youngest members of the adult choir. When he gained admission into the University of Benin, he also joined the Christain Fellowship International (CFI) where he learnt a lot and the experience was good for him.

He featured at Glo Naija Sings in 2010 and got to the top nine before he got evicted. It was a very sad moment for him but the show made him to understand that anything can happen in reality shows.

When the opportunity came to be on the Idol, he decided to give it all regardless of what outcome will be. And he was rewarded.

Though it was just last year Obi-Adigwe came on board, he talent is in no doubt.

Entertainment followers believed time has changed. They said a good singer do not need all the years to make an impact if there is right structure, fund and the kind of leverage he got as the winner of Idol.

And at the show last year, he was tipped by many to be a shining light in entertainment industry in no time.

In a chat with New Telegraph, ObiAdigwe said he is doing the finishing touches to his debut album. He revealed

Yeka, the winner of Nigerian Idol season 1

It took Timi, Darey, Omawumi who featured at the 2007 West African Idol four years to be who they are today that he has three singles in the market already, including Love in the Air, Love Letter and Number One. “I released a video for Number One in December. Love in the Air was produced

by DJ Klem. It is a fresh dance tune with mash-up of lush drum patterns and electronic arrangements.

Number One was also produced by DJ Klem, while Love Letter was produced

by Olaitan Dada. I featured a female rapper Eva Alordiah in Love Letter,” he explained.

On why his fans and the public have not heard much about him since last year when he was crowned the winner of Nigerian Idol Season 3, he admitted that he has been focusing more on the promotion of Number One. He added that another single (Egwu) and video will be out in the next few weeks. But he quickly pointed out that the transition from Obi-Adigwe the “Teddy Bear” to an artiste has been not been easy.

“My biggest challenge has been finding a way to translate from a music talent hunt show to the reality of the industry. It’s a different ball game but it has been really interesting working on it. Trying to connect the Moses of Nigerian Idol to an artiste is not easy. Our fans should just be patience with us. I will continue to do what everyone can relate with and try to make sure my songs are heard,” he said.

Reacting to the controversy surrounding

the recording deal promised by the organisers of Idol, Obi-Adigwe pointed that he got a deal with OMG. The 22-year-old Obi-Adigwe is also writing for a new women lifestyle magazine. He writes about his personal music experience and day-to-day activities.

Optima Media Group However, the CEO, Optima Media Group (OMG), Franchise owners of Nigerian Idol, Rotimi Pedro, said people should remember that it took four years to be a Timi Dakolo or Omowunmi that they see today.

He insisted that it would take a while for the young superstars to develop their careers or resonate into the industry.

“Hopefully for us, in the next one year, we would be seeing the talents of Nigerian Idol in Season 1 and 2 because they now have albums. Yeka is in the G Factor, the girl factor band and they are doing well.

Mercy unleashes an album in the next two weeks. For Obi-Adigwe, it would take one year or two to come out. It takes a while to get into the mainstream entertainment.

It took Timi, Darey, Omawunmi who featured at the 2007 West African Idol four years to be who they are today. But we are convinced we are on the right track,” he maintained.

According to him, the show has exceeded his expectation and it has resonated very well among Nigerian youths. He said the numbers of the vote goes up every year, adding that there is more interaction and it means the show is well accepted in the country.

“At the academic, you are trained to sing with your voice alone, sing with others, sing in a group, and to sing on your own and carry the audience along.

It has exceeded my expectation and has been well received in all the states we’ve visited.”

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CONFLUENCE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

... a finger on the city’s pulse

Is Tonye Cole in love with US model, Kenya Moore?

Miss Global Nigeria 1st runner-up leaves for int'l pageant

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s the sales of form for this year's edition of Miss Global Nigeria pageant gathers steam, one of its Queens, Antai Victoria, who’s the first runner up to the reigning Michelle Ijeh Udoka has jetted out to represent the nation at an international beauty contest holding in Puglia, Italy. Antai, a graduate of International Relations from Lead City University is among the leggy beauties from across the world that strutted it out for the coveted crown of the Miss Progress International contest that held between May 9 and 18, in the ancient town of Puglia. According to the organizers, Associazione Culturale In Progress of San Giorgio Ionico “the ancient city of Puglia known for its story of most romantic legends and wonders of nature. Miss Progress International says Marzo - is, without a doubt, a very unique event that’s bringing together paragon of beauties from diverse cultures spanning five continents uniting by a common goal of making the world a better place to live." The most exciting feature about this pageant is that, Miss Progress International is not just about beauty, the contestants were grouped for intelligent quotient test via an essay writing in form of a project dwelling on issues like environment, health, human rights and cultural integration. The Jury, in fact, can’t wait to evaluate the essay with the best content which sees the winner taking home the sum of Ten Thousand Euros.

Meanwhile the form sales and campaign for the next edition of Miss Global Nigeria has kicked off and the show holds at the prestigious Havillah Events Centre beside City of David, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, July 20.

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he group managing director of Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole is back on the grind. And he’s in the news now owing to his alleged dalliance with US model and actress, Kenya Moore. The gorgeous lady had said this about Cole: “Nigerian men are very successful and confident, and those are the type of men I am attracted to”. A few weeks ago, it went viral that Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’Banj was Kenya Moore’s "African Prince" and would be appearing on her show where much more would be revealed about him. Once the news broke, D’Banj would later state his intention to press legal charges against a foreign media house which described him as a womanizer in a recent article on the alleged affair. The latest reports about Moore suggests that the man she described as “my African Prince” perhaps might be Cole, the billionaire oil mogul who runs Sahara Energy, along with his two other friends, Tope Sonubi and Ade Odunsi. Cole was recently caught walking alongside Moore on the campus of Harvard University. 'Krystle (with handle @LudaKrys1 on Twitter), a fan of Moore, last Monday took the picture that has gone viral since she tweeted: “Just seen Kenya Moore from RHOA in Harvard square w/ her mystery man.

He’s an old man!! She caught me taking pics lol” The tweet was accompanied with a photo of Cole and Moore. And from all indication, Cole perfectly fits the description of Moore’s reflection when she granted an interview sometime ago that her boyfriend was a Nigerian who was successful. Cole’s Sahara Energy Resource Nigeria Ltd is a hugely successful company which focuses on the trading of refined petroleum products, residue and crude oil. Cole, son of former ambassador Patrick Dele Cole, is married to a medical doctor who once worked at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445

Segun Runsewe plans big comeback to government circle

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ndications are rife that the former director-general of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, is on his way back to government circle. The celebrated tourism promoter was schemed out of office last year after a high level power play. Runsewe had a cold relationship with the minister tourism, Chief Edem Duke, and his removal is said to be linked to the many run-ins he had with the minister over matters relating to statutory control. Insiders revealed Runsewe was "advised" to lay low and not protest against his "removal", with the presidency. Another source claim, Otunba was told to let things be and let the world judge his tenure and the new regime based on their performances. It was said despite maintaining a low profile, the former DG and his sympathisers have not been idle. Since he left office, Runsewe has stayed totally off the radar and left his calls virtually unanswered. From the look of things all that seem set to change with the reported plan to tap him for a new appointment.

Chris Okotie speaks on Chibok girls and foreign aids

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ormer Presidential aspirant and Head Pastor of the Household of God Church, Pastor Chris Okotie on May 14 posted an article he wrote on the missing Chibok Girls, state of the nation and the international help Nigeria is receiving in the fight against Boko Haram on his Facebook page. In the riveting epistle, Okotie said Nigeria should not accept help from Israel to avoid Islamizing the terror war because of Israel's long drawn conflict with the Arab nations with whom our predominantly northern brothers share a common faith. His words partly read: "In modern times, apart from Adolf Hitler’s Holocaust which killed an estimated six million Jews; the more recent ethnic cleansing in the Balkans and the Rwandan versions, no other massacre of the innocent surpasses the Boko Haram killings in brutality. These guys have kidnapped a part of this nation. We need a new strategy to rescue it. Thank God, First World leaders with experience and proven competence in counter-insurgency have responded to President Goodluck Jonathan’s call for assistance. What makes Boko Haram’s case puzzling is that the group targets its own people, and especially weak demographic groups like women and children that are normally spared, along with civilian populations, in conventional warfare.

Although, terrorists hardly respect this convention, even groups like Al-Qaeda do not attack their own people, expect where they establish a case of betrayal by fifth columnists within their rank.”

SOLUTIONS TO CROSS WORD PUZZLE D A M A G U M

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ACROSS 1. DONGALA 5. PAN 7. TAI 8. MAG 9. ACT DOWN 1. DAMAGUM 2. NIGGLE 3. ARAB 4. ATTACK 5. PIKE 6. NOW

10. ASEA 11. GELE 12. PC 16. TO 17. TALC 18. PREY

22. LOT 23. MAD 24. AKU 25. TAR 26. SEMINAR

13. DECODER 14. STYLUS 15. BAGMAN 19. REAR 20. STEM 21. CAT

Review Cross-cultural conversation on photography and sexuality p.24

THE ARTS ON SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

17 MAY 2014

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

Celebrating womanhood A solo exhibition of textile and yarn paintings by fashion artist and an interior craft teacher, Ajayi Wuraola calls attention to the importance of women in the society. TONY OKUYEME writes

REFLECTION

Ode on an Asian Queen Timothy Akinleye 1.

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itled “Scent of a Woman”, the two-week exhibition opened last Saturday at Alliance Francaise, in Yaba, Lagos. In almost all the works on display, concern for woman and the need for the world to understand and celebrate her resonate. This Wuraola has done creatively using an unfamiliar medium, yarn on board, exploring the strength of women as depicted in almost all the works. As she notes, the idea is to celebrate the beauty of a woman, her quest for equality and empowerment.

The aim, she adds, is to call attention to the importance of women in the society as mothers, wives, daughters and sisters whose selfless efforts continue to shape our world.

A woman, Wuraola states, is “like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky Emotion of Love to have… Every woman has a unique and vibrant expression waiting to be uncovered in her, her beauty, strength and weaknesses, her quest for equality, empowerment and self-actualization, and so on. My exhibition is centred on the honour and celebration of women.

It is aimed as a societal pivot, calling attention to the importance of women in the society as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, whose selfless effort shapes our world. My art is expressed through the creative use of assorted yarns on a board surface and of colourful fabrics in design. I cherish the warmth and the fusion of threads and silks; it is a way of expressing my ideas.

“In Scent of a Woman, I am interested in exploring the beauty of a woman, her quest for equality, empowerment and self-actualisation, alongside her weaknesses as a woman. Therefore let's join hands to tap the reservoir of innovative, unique and vibrant expression waiting to be uncovered in every woman, because women are the most important race in the world and until men agrees, they will never perceive that ‘Scent of a Attitude of Will Woman’,” she says.

On display are about 20 works done largely on yarn on board and fabric on board such as Attitude of Will, Emotion of Love 1 and 2, The Conqueror and the Replica, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Ekuro, Common thread, Home town, and Mama Africa (yarn and velvet on board). There are also works done on ink and fabric on board such as The Seed Bearer, as well as ink and paper on board such as Chatter Box. Born in 1979, Wuraola graduated from the Yaba College of Technology in 2007 from the Industrial Design Dept.

Specializing in fashion design. A promising young fashion artist, she honed her skill working with renowned designer, Deola Sagoe. Her recent exhibitions include “Within our Grasp,” held at the National Museum, Onikan, in 2005; and “Life in My City," held in 2011.

Green Cultures The exhibition runs till May 30.

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Oh dear Asian Queen on the wall How fair your immobile features are How straight your gay figure stands And how penetrating your still searching eyes.

2. Thou fiery queen of beauty How close you hold that transient rose To the warm furrow of your comfy bosom The evergreen valley no man dare explore.

3. In you have I seen nature at best wasted Arms too tender and supple to embrace Fingers too manicured to break bread Skin too soft and stainless to touch 4. Lips too thin and fragile to kiss Those apples, purest fount of life Far too ensconced behind Rows of ancient jewelries costlier than motherhood 5. And, the finery too pure and delicate to tame.

Your velvety robe tells most generously About your wavering stormy mind 6. Upon where countless sons of Adam The slippery ladder to your cold heart As they diligently seek and grope have tumbled down Over unavailable treasure.

7. Though tempted to dare these comely odds, What path is there to tread To the temple of your bloodless heart?

8. And since you are for all markets, What patience is there to await your selling hour?

Oh most natty reverend Queen of the Sprite 9. What crazy ado doth spur me?

When countless men are languishing Under the subtle fury of your exotic beauty 10. I wonder if like me thou breathe For in your queenly regalia Every man adores you But none, man enough to man your femininity.

Deep in Thought

11. Nonetheless, thou unmovable goddess of Asia Let your beauty heal my infirmity For what heart could be better united in one What eyes could be so clear and bluish?

12. What smile could be so permanent?

What youthfulness could be so constant?

And what robe could forever flow Except the gaudy adornment Of the Asian Queen on walls and in verses.

Wuraola

Mama Africa

This poem was written at one sitting while waiting to see the doctor in a popular Rubee Hospital owned by an Indian Doctor Shirish in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, on February 1, 1992.

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War of perception: A cross-cultural conversation on photography, identity and sexuality Didi Cheeka, in conversation with Sarah Diehl

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recent fashion spread posted on Vice, "Groin Gazing" by Claire Milbrath - a photo series of tight shots of phalluses cloaked in khaki and denim - raises questions on how male and female sexuality are culturally represented. Below is an ongoing conversation with German filmmaker/ writer on feminism, reproductive rights and international abortion access activist, Sarah Diehl on ways of seeing. Ms Diehl's novel Eskimo Limon 9 explores Germany's personal take on Israel. Her documentary film Pregnant Journeys, portrays women who organise illegal abortions in Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Didi Cheeka (DC): The common presumption in society and the media is that erotic response to visual stimuli is not characteristic of female sexuality.

For instance, pornographic magazines and videos directed at men are a multibillion dollar industry while similar products directed towards women are difficult to find. I'm looking at Claire Milbraths's photo series of phalluses cloaked in khaki and denim, entitled "Groin Gazing," and how it speaks to female desire. I wonder about the female response to Milbrath's images.

Sarah Diehl (SD): Me and my boyfriend have a morning ritual, when we are in different places: he switches on skype when he goes under the shower, so I can watch him. I love to see his naked body splashed with water. It's also a beautiful moment of intimacy in our daily life, that we share. It was new to him, but he learned to really enjoy it, also it changed his self-perception as a desired man. Do heterosexual men enjoy being looked at and desired by women? Did they learn to enjoy it? Or is it forbidden, 'cos we falsely connect it to passivity which is not acceptable for our perception of masculinity. I guess the magic trick is to disconnect desire with passivity and objectification and connect it to mutual appreciation.

For me it was always very natural to resist seeing myself as a bait for men, as it is suggested by that presumption you mention. And I do believe that female and male sexuality are more complex than that, but also not very different from each other. It actually never occurred to me that it's more normal that men look at me than I look at them with desire. So, for me, Milbrath's images just mirror a very relaxed normality in the relation I have to my enjoyment of the beauty of men, which I miss in a way in everyday life, 'cos the images in our culture go only one way: men look at women, 'cos gazing is connected to power, a power of judging, that men don't want to give up.

Men give women value, so women need the evaluation of men to feel good about themselves. Its simply a tool of patriarchy to keep women's self-esteem dependent on men's judgment. That is the ugly part of it, which we need to break through and turn into something beautiful and powerful for everyone.

We have to distinguish objectification from enjoyment based on equality. When I see a table dance-bar, I feel excluded, 'cos I know there are just women with certain beauty standards on stage and all sorts of men watching. I find that very limiting. I would like to enjoy that too, I would like to see men up there, as well as people of all

‘Generally speaking, men do not encourage women to look at them, to desire them in ways that reimagines masculinity'

A poster announcing the exhibition in one of its Europen tours

REVIEW shapes and colours. I would like to enjoy their enjoyment of their pure physicality, dis-connected from money and oppression. This enjoyment is indeed very sexy to me, especially when its free of these standard ideas of beauty, dictated by an industry which only tries to make us feel ugly, so we buy their products and which feels indeed very dead and restricted for me. There is a performer called Diane Torr, who sometimes dresses up as an elderly man while doing a pole-dance. It's not satire, it's not a joke, she indeed shows how sexy and transgressive, freeing that can be. There is the term "sex-positive feminism“, which addresses the attempt to open up this enjoyment, but with regard to equality, and mutual respect, not with the purpose of objectification and submission as we see in male directed porn or commercials. Have you heard about that?

When feminism started to address porn as a problem in the 60s it focused on the porn that existed, which was produced for men and didn't take into account female desire or sexual practices that women enjoy. Because of that criticism feminism got this bad reputation to be against lust and

desire, while indeed it was only criticizing the limitations of sex portrait in the existing porn. From there women developed their own forms of sexual depictions which took into account the complex desire different people have and which women can enjoy as well. That is called sex-positive feminism. I see Milbrath's images in that context. I want to see all of us shaking booty, men, women, disabled, fat or skinny, black or white, not only women with certain measurements.

Do you perceive the one way male gaze is a dead end in your personal and professional life (you can take "dead end“ literally and symbolically)?

DC: I had this girlfriend, our intimacy involves her watching me make love to myself. I had to learn this, get used to being (aroused from being) looked at this way. In a way, something about this transgresses the construction of masculinity. (I will come back to this.) There is, to quote art critic John Berger, a "lived sexuality" in these looks - in the sense of, to go further with Berger, the state of being naked as opposed to being nude. In this regard, it's instructive to note that Adam and Eve's shame, after eating of the apple, was not from each other - they were not ashamed to look at each other, their shame was from a third party looking at them. When sharing a look

with someone you're intimate with, you're naked, you're yourself without disguise or artifice. There is, on the other hand, a cultural way of looking, viz., how men and women are culturally represented. I will deal with this presently.

To go back to the construction of masculinity: how do men encourage women to look, to desire them? How do women look at men - that is to say, who is the looking woman? Generally speaking, men do not encourage women to look at them, to desire them in ways that reimagines masculinity. So, all too often, when a woman looks at a man, it is a man, a type of man, looking through her.

This brings me back to Milbrath's photos and the cultural representation of men and women. What you say about the male gaze's relation to power, its need to dominate, to make women's evaluation of self male-dependent is absolutely true.

It remains to state that too many women have internalized these power relations and evaluation of self. Milbrath's photos testify to this: it reproduces masculinity as a phallic force. The photographed phalluses are in attack position, they are photographed in relation to what they can do, what they are about to do. When men, on the other hand photograph women, women are photographed in a submissive, expectant (in the sense of what can be done to them, what they expect to be done to them) position.

These images of domination and submission find their sharpest expression in mainstream pornography. In agreeing with you on this, I align myself with Shere Hite. I do think, however, one can offer a critic of male-oriented porn the same way one can criticize a female-oriented one: they both express the same thing - a running away from real sexuality into objectification and stereotypes.

(I am, of course, opposed to right-wing moralists and anti-pornography feminists.) I agree with you on the need to de-objectify the look of desire. If I say, in response to your question, that acceptance of the male gaze leads to a personal and professional dead-end, what I mean is the tendency of acceptance to stifle, to limit creativity, real sexual love, its tendency to lead to the physical and emotional impossibility of the satisfaction of real sexual desire. This takes me back to Milbrath's photos. It seems to me that in her more-or-less conscious attempt to look at men the same way men have always looked at women, she has produced images that testify to men's sense of self: male notion of potency, in relation to women's submission to this potency.

Didi Cheeka is a Marxist critic, writer and filmmaker

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My World Cup fears for Mikel, Moses – Onyemachara

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Leaguemania with Chimaobi Uchendu princehench@yahoo.com

08114495359, 08092747532

Nembe City’s revival excites Gabriel

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Sunshine stars goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa in aeriel battle with an FC Giwa player last Sunday in Akure

Coaching is clubs’ biggest problem – Imenger

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eneral Manager of Lobi Stars football Club of Makurdi, Barbabas Imenger, has sensationally told Leaguemania that the problem of the Nigeria Premier League can be traced to the backwardness of coaches.

He said League coaches have dragged Nigeria League to the dark ages, because they have refused to embrace current techniques in coaching, while always blaming referees for their failure.

“Honestly Nigeria League coaches have disappointed me.

Their ineptitude has impacted on the quality of our league,” Imenger said.

“If you look around the twenty premier league clubs, you cannot point at any coach that has

… says Lobi ‘ll win the league next season taken refresher course in the last ten years, rather they take pride in showing off the wealth they have acquired.

“When we had coaches that knew they were doing, you saw players playing at their best, but what we have now are players who depend on the rusted knowledge from their coaches.

Until our coaches begin to update themselves on current techniques, we are likely to remain where we are”.

On efforts by the League Management Company at reviving the League, Imenger said, their function was only administration and proper organisation, adding that they won’t improve

the quality of play.

He said: “LMC is doing well in creating the right atmosphere for football to thrive; they are not the ones to improve on the quality of football that we crave.

They have given referees the incentives to be impartial; but they are not the ones to officiate the matches”.

Imenger further said that Lobi Stars have built a solid foundation to win the League in the nearest future with their grassroots revolution.

“Lobi Stars have invested in youth development and soon they will start reaping from it.

I want to be part of that success story,” he said.

Nasarawa United ’ll be on the continent soon - Danladi

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Danladi

hairman of Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia, Danladi Isaac has said that his side will not struggle to retain their status as a Premier League side.

Speaking to Leaguemania in Makurdi recently, Danladi said the days of struggling had been forgotten and a new chapter opened for the team to excel.

“We were always struggled to retain our Premier League status in past seasons. In fact sometimes we survived on the last day of the league. But this scenario that had haunted us for some years has been taken care of,” he said.

“We have the antidote for failure now and our next line of action is how to win the league and qualify to play on

the continent.”

He also charged referees in the league to wake up to their responsibilities, praising however, those that had been exceptional.

“I don’t like criticising referees because their job on the field is somehow tasking.

They are humans that need split seconds to make decisions and I must praise their efforts,” he said.

“But there are others that are kill joy, they derive pleasure from causing confusion, whenever you see them, you need nobody to tell you about them. Our league is improving and I expect every department to join in building the league and referees must not be left out of this effort.”

t has been tough for Nembe City on many fronts. The season began with the team being thrown out of the Glo Premier League for failing to substantially meet the registration requirements set out

by League Management Company.

They later secured conditional approval from the LMC four weeks into the 2013/14 season, but by then they had lost most of their leading and experienced players to other clubs in the league. It is a development that has informed the team’s management to foray into the grassroots to discover young players that are now campaigning against better equipped and experienced opponents.

Little wonder they had struggled to win points even at home. Prior to last Sunday’s rescheduled Match Day 4 encounter between Nembe City and FC Taraba, the former had not only failed to secure a win in nine attempts, but has failed to score in half of their home games so far, gaining three points out of a possible 12. If their home form has been poor, their results away have been nothing short of horrendous. The 1-1 draw against Crown FC in Ibadan in a Match Day 9 fixture has been their best result in five away games in which they scored just one goal and conceding a whopping 13, with the 6-0 drubbing by Gombe United being the most recent and heaviest loss by any side in the league.

The match against Taraba was almost heading the direction as visitors literally bombarded their goal area from all angles, but they managed to hold on in the face of the onslaught.

John Eze’s spectacular free-kick midway through the second half however, secured the maximum points and fans of the Kala Ekulema Boys could dance again. For the first time this season, the players and technical crew would earn a winning bonus and it was huge relief for the hundreds of fans that made the short trip from Yenagoa and Nembe town to Omoku, where Nembe play their home games, to witness the game.

Day 13 fixtures Abia Warriors vs Akwa Utd Warri Wolves vs Bayelsa Utd Rangers vs Lobi Stars Sunshine Stars vs Heartland Giwa FC vs Crown Pillars vs Sharks Enyimba vs Gombe Utd Nembe City vs Nasarawa Utd El-Kanemi vs Kaduna utd Dolphins vs FC Taraba Match Day 12 Results Heartland FC 2 - 0 Rangers Sharks FC 2 – 1 Giwa FC Kaduna Utd 3 - 0 Nembe Bayelsa Utd 1 - 3 Abia Warriors Nasarawa Utd 3 - 1 Enyimba Lobi Stars 4 - 3 Warri Wolves Akwa Utd 0 - 0 Taraba FC Gombe Utd 2 - 3 Kano Pillars El-Kanemi 1 - 1 Dolphins FC Crown FC 2 - 1 Sunshine Stars

Head Coach of Nembe City, Gabriel Samuel, a relieved man, heaved a huge sigh before saying, “Luck and hard work paid off for us. We are lucky to have scored a goal because we have not scored in our last two matches. We are lucky and of course we also worked for it. Sometimes a goal is not a reflection of the effort put into a game like in our previous matches when we worked harder than this but couldn’t score. We are glad that today, we worked and got a goal.”

Giwa lament tight fixtures

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he captain of Giwa FC, Henlong Charles, is not happy with the number of matches his side plays every week. He reasoned that the League Management Company should come to their rescue before they burn out.

In an interview after his side lost by 2-0 in Akure against Sunshine Stars, Henlong said his side had played seven matches in two weeks, which has taken its toll on the players.

“I’m tired; I don’t think I can continue because my legs can no longer carry me. I have played a total of seven matches in two weeks alongside my teammates; it is so hard to continue when your legs can no longer carry you,” he said.

“We had no business losing against Sunshine Stars, but because of fatigue we had to play defensive and depended on counter attack to get something out of the match.

I want to use this opportunity to call on the LMC to come to our aid because the work load is becoming heavier by the day.

“Since the season is not going to end before the World Cup kicks off, they can spread the matches not to affect us too much.”

He however lamented the penalty that gave Sunshine the lead before Dele Olorundare’s powerful shot put the game beyond their reach.

“The penalty came too early, just about four minutes into second half and we thought it was not deserved. It’s like some other penalty calls that we have suffered on the road, and it was demoralising.

It is more so as the fixtures have been tough for us with rescheduled matches that leave us with barely a day in between games to rest,” lamented the outfield player who wears the unusual number 1 jersey generally reserved for goalkeepers.

Henlong

Wing play’ll help Eagles in Brazil – Okosieme Vincent Eboigbe

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dubuisi Okosieme has said that he would have preferred Nigeria reverted to their traditional wing play as a way of advancing to the latter stages at summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

The tear-away winger, who operated on the right channel for the Green Eagles in the mid to the late 1980s, however, said the problem was that most players these days are scared of wing play, making it difficult for coaches to even think of adopting it.

Similarly, the evolution of the game, according to Okosieme, also makes it difficult to play out and out wingers as the emphasis has shifted overtime to playing compact from the midfield.

“As coaches, we find it difficult to even seriously consider using the wings, because most of the young players we come across now simply say they are attacking midfielders instead of saying they are wingers. They seem to be afraid to play from the wings. Again it is also a bit tasking playing as a winger,” volunteered Okosieme to New Telegraph on the telephone.

Musa

“Again, we don’t also seem to produce those kinds of wingers anymore. In my days in the national team we had players like Tarila Okorowanta, Wole Odegbami, Clement Temile, Benji Nzeakor etc. playing from the right wing; these guys were gifted, but these days we don’t produce them like that anymore, so even on that score it is difficult to think of adopting wing play.

“Another issue is that fact that most teams in the world now have moved away from wing play. Most sides these days set up in a 4-4-2 formation. It is the vogue and everybody just seems to fall in line. It was only Phillippe Troussier who tried the 3-5-2 formation when he managed Nigeria, but most players complained as the approach was alien to them. Troussier got sacked eventually and he went to Japan where he did well.”

Okosieme who was nicknamed Garrincha, after the famous Brazilian winger of the late 1950s and early 1960s, also took a look at Stephen Keshi’s list for the World Cup, and argued that what the Eagles coach needed at this crucial time was support because there was no way he could have satisfied every Nigerian.

“Of course there were some players who were excluded from the list who most Nigerians would have wanted to be included in the team. That is the way it is elsewhere. There is nothing we can do about that. Keshi is the coach and he makes the decision, all we can do now is to give him support. This is not the time for criticisms, and I think that if we all pull in one direction the Eagles will do well in Brazil,” Okosieme added.

Commonwealth Games:

We’ll sweep power lifting medals again –NPPF President Mercy Jacob

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he president of Nigeria Paralympic Power lifting Federation, Sulola Johnson, is confident that Nigeria power lifters will do well at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland later in the year.

Johnson, in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, said that the power lifters ware ready to repeat the feat they achieved at the Delhi Games, but he appealed to the Federal Government to keep their promise of rewarding the victorious athletes at the last World Championship in Dubai.

“The athletes are ready to do Nigeria proud again, as they did at the last Commonwealth Games in New Dehi, India and the just concluded International Paralympics Powerlifting Championship, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; they set records and won several medals,” Johnson said.

“At the forth coming Commonwealth Games we’re going to be more aggressive for medals to surpass our record

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

in the last Games. Most countries that would compete against us are already jittery. We cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians. We need the support and prayers of Nigerians in other to sustain this record we have set.

“I want to appeal to the federal government to fulfill the promise of rewarding the victorious athletes of the World Championship in Dubai as a morale boost for the athletes before the Commonwealth Games.”

Yakubu Adesokan

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Keshi can surpass Westerhof’s feat – Alloy Agu

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Charles Ogundiya

Keshi

ormer Super Eagles goalkeeper, Alloy Agu has stated that the national team chief coach, Stephen Keshi can surpass Clemens Westerhof’s achievement at this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Westerhof led Nigeria to the Mundial in the United States of America in 1994, where the team got to the second round.

“I know he has what it takes to lead Nigeria to a better outing than what Westerhof did.

Westerhof already said it that if the players do their own part, Keshi can better his performance at the world cup,” Agu said.

“He is someone who has the experience, someone who has been in the game for a long period. He captained Nigeria for a long time too so he has the full knowledge of the game.

I have confidence in him to make Nigeria proud in Brazil.”

The assistant coach of Nasarawa United further noted that Keshi has proven over time that he is one of the best coaches to have come out of Africa, adding that the former national team captain has done not only Nigeria but Africa proud at the world stage.

“As a player, Keshi did Nigeria proud, and as a coach, he has done Africa proud too.

He has proven himself as

a good coach. He qualified tiny Togo for the World Cup for the first time in their history. He qualified Nigeria for the World Cup, won the Nations Cup for Nigeria after 19 years. We also did well at the Confederation Cup,” he said.

On the goalkeeping department Agu said; “That department to me is very solid. Nigerians will also agree with me putting into consideration the performance of Vincent Enyeama for his club in France, the performance of Austin Ejide in Israel. To me we are covered in that area.

“As for the final slot, I will say Agbim is doing well in the league currently. No matter how good you are as a player, if you are not playing every week, there will be problems.

But today, the young man is playing weekly and his game has improved significantly.

“I will say the goalkeeping department is in good hands with those three. I also have confidence in the goalkeeper coach, Ike Shorunmu, who is doing a wonderful job.”

Agu however implored the players to be determined and disciplined.

“If the players want badly enough they will get it. We have players that can do it; they just need determination and dedication. They also need discipline, not outside the pitch alone, but on the field of play. With all this they are going to get far,” Agu said.

My World Cup fears for Mikel, Moses – Onyemachara Mercy Jacob

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ormer Nigerian international, Mike Onyemechara, has expressed worries over the bench-warming roles of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses in Chelsea and Liverpool colours last term, saying their lack of regular action may affect them at the World Cup. Onyemechara advised Keshi to work on the psyche of the players as soon as they arrive in camp, as they form the heart of the Super Eagles team to the Mundial.

“The bench-warming role that some of the Super Eagles players in their various club, is a source of worry to football loving Nigerians like me. To be candid with you, no matter how we want to look at it, this would definitely affect these players. I became more troubled when I recalled that some of these players are prominent in the Super Eagles, and when a player is not playing regularly, his form will surely drop, and we will compete with the world’s best in Brazil,” Onyemachara said.

“Moses and Mikel played prominent roles as Nigeria won the last Nations Cup in South Africa, and now we are about to face the world, the form of these players has dipped terribly due to lack of actions at the clubs .

This will mean more work for for Keshi and his technical crew. What Keshi needs to do immediately they arrive in camp is to work on their psyche so that he can get the best out of them.”

Moses

S

uper Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, may end his successful season with a Champions League ticket when his Ligue I side, Lille confront Ajaccio this weekend.

Lille had been one win away from a place in the UEFA Champions League for two matches, but a draw at Bastia and a home defeat to PSG have allowed Saint-Etienne to close the gap to two points with one game to go.

The objective is simple for Lille in their seasoncloser at Lorient - equal or better Saint-Etienne’s result at home to rock bottom Ajaccio to hang on to third spot.

Enyeama who clinched Mark Vivien Foe Award as the best African player in France will be pivotal in Lille’s last push for the berth.

Meanwhile, Nigerian international, Sone Aluko, may make history if his Premier League side, Hull City beat Arsenal to the FA Cup title today at the Wembley Stadium.

Aluko is seeking to emulate his elder sister, Eniola, who won the Women FA cup with Birmingham City Ladies in 2012.

Aluko on the verge of history

Enyeama set to pick Champions League ticket

Enyeama

EAGLES FOCUS

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here is still much to be decided at both the top and bottom of La Liga as the season comes to a dramatic conclusion.

While the title tussle between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at Camp Nou will command the greatest attention, the battle to avoid the drop promises just as much ex-

them lift the trophy due to their superior head-to-head record, following a 0-0 draw in Madrid in January.

Victory for Barca would ease the pressure on under-fire boss Gerardo Martino, who has taken much of the blame after their Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League defeats left them with just the

three sides above the drop zone at least knowing that their fate is in their own hands.

With 18th-placed Osasuna on 36 points heading into Sunday’s games, Almeria and Getafe know a draw - against Athletic Bilbao and Rayo Vallecano respectively will see them secure their top-flight status.

Barca, Atletico in final showdown for title

Drama to the wire

Global Football Special

Hazard sets sights on

Balotelli

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orino face a tricky trip to Fiorentina on the final day of the Serie A season with a place in the UEFA Europa League at stake.

Giampiero Ventura’s men were on course to secure sixth spot when they led Parma at the Stadio Olimpico last Sunday but were held by their hosts.

Three points would have ensured the Turin outfit took the final spot up for grabs for Italian clubs in next season’s Europa League, so the pressure will be on when they face a Fiorentina side already assured of their place in the competition this Sunday.

The return of Davide Nicola failed to have the desire effect as Livorno were condemned to the drop and they have picked up just one point from their last nine matches in a dismal end to the campaign.

Milan are also in contention to finish a disappointing season on a high note by taking sixth spot, as they are just two points behind Torino ahead of their clash with inform Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday.

Verona are still in with a shout of taking the final European spot as they level with Milan on 54 points, but they have an inferior goal difference and face a difficult trip to thirdplaced Napoli on the final day.

Milan, Parma, Torino battle for European places

P 36 36

SERIE A No. Team 1 Juventus 2 Roma

Pts 96 85

No Team P Pts 1 Bayern 34 90 2 Dortmund 34 71 3 Schalke 34 64 4 Leverkusen 34 61 5 Wolfsburg 34 60 6 Gladbach 34 55 7 Mainz 34 53 8 Augsburg 34 52 9 Hoffenheim 34 44 10 Hannover 34 42 11 Hertha Berlin34 41 12 Bremen 34 39 13 Frankfurt 34 36 14 Freiburg 34 36 15 Stuttgart 34 32 16 Hamburger 34 27 17 Nurnberg 34 26 18 Braunschweig34 25

BUNDESLIGA

NO TEAM P Pts 1 Atletico 37 89 2 Barcelona 37 86 3 Real Madrid 37 84 4 Athletic Bilbao37 69 5 Sevilla 37 60 6 Sociedad 37 59 7 Villarreal 37 56 8 Celta Vigo 37 49 9 Levante 37 48 10 Valencia 37 46 11 Rayo 37 43 12 Espanyol 37 42 13 Malaga 37 42 14 Elche 37 40 15 Almeria 37 39 16 Getafe 37 39 17 Granada 37 38 18 Osasuna 37 36 19 Valladolid 37 36 20 Real Betis 37 25

LA LIGA

PREMIER LEAGUE

No Team P PTS 1 Man City 38 86 2 Liverpool 38 84 3 Chelsea 38 82 4 Arsenal 38 79 5 Everton 38 72 6 Tottenham 38 69 7 Man United 38 64 8 Sothon 38 56 9 Stoke City 38 50 10 Newcastle 38 49 11 Crystal Palace38 45 12 Swansea 38 42 13 West Ham 38 40 14 Sunderland 38 38 15 Aston Villa 38 38 16 Hull City 38 37 17 West Brom 38 36 18 Norwich 38 33 19 Fulham 38 32 20 Cardiff City 38 30

28 SPORT NEW TELEGRAP 17 MAY

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Reinard Wenger

deal with the consequences of any game,” he said.

“What is important is that we come out of the game and have the feeling that we gave absolutely our best, our total energy to play at our best and then you always accept the consequences.

“No matter how much we talk about it, you can win and lose but you want to come out of the game feeling you have done the maximum to win and that is what we want to achieve.”

The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt has not been included in a powerful Jamaican squad to the first ever IAAF World Relays scheduled for the Bahamas May 24-25.

Bolt’s exclusion was expected since he has not run all season and recently indicated in the Jamaican media that his participation was dependent on his coach, reports CMC. Yohan Blake and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce will lead the squad which is expected to be announced in full later.

Bolt

SPORT BRIEFLY

rsenal have the opportunity to end nine years of hurt when they face Hull City in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Arsene Wenger will need no reminding that his side has not lifted any silverware since winning the competition in 2005, having come in for severe criticism at times during the club’s barren spell.

Messrs Pires, Vieira and Bergkamp were among the Arsenal side that triumphed over Manchester United on penalties in Cardiff, but the onus now falls on Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud to take a first step on the path to emulating those club legends.

Victory on Saturday would make it five FA Cup titles for Wenger, and see Arsenal equal United’s record for most Cup wins with 11, but the Frenchman stopped short of labelling this weekend’s clash a mustwin encounter.

“No matter what the result will be, this club - and this is always most important - can

A

FA CUP FINAL

Guardiola

Granada, in 17th, have 38 points, but a draw at second-from-bottom Real Valladolid will also be enough for them, regardless of Osasuna’s result, as they hold the superior head-to-head record.

For Osasuna to survive, they would have to beat Betis at home and hope for one of Granada and Getafe to lose.

B

ayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer is predicting Saturday’s DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund to live up to its heavyweight billing.

The Bavarian giants failed to defend their UEFA Champions League crown but there has been no shortage of success for Pep Guardiola’s men this season, who have also won FIFA’s Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. They can complete the quadruple of trophies against Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund in a repeat of last year’s Champions League final and Neuer expects a close encounter.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he told Bayern’s official website. “It should be an exciting game between the top two teams in Germany.

B

Neuer excited by Dortmund final

Hazard

den Hazard has set his sights on winning the Ballon d’Or after being crowned Chelsea’s player of the season.

The Belgium winger has scored 17 goals in 49 matches for the Stamford Bridge outfit this season and his performances were recognised at the club’s awards ceremony on Monday.

But Hazard has his eye on a bigger prize and, despite reports linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, suggested Chelsea was the best place to achieve his aims.

“I want to be the best, I hope one day I can win the Ballon d’Or, maybe not now but if I work every day and take pleasure from my game then why not?” he told the club’s official website.

“The Champions League and the World Cup are the best competitions in the world,” he continued. “For a young player like me it’s good to play for a club who can reach the semi-final or the final because that’s why I play football, for the big games.

E

Ballon d´Or

Goal Team 31 Liverpool 21 Liverpool 20 Man City 17 Man City 17 Swansea 17 Man Utd 16 Man City 16 Arsenal

EPL

Bundesliga Pos.Player Goals Team Lewandowski 20 Dortmund Mario Mandžukić 18 Bayern Munchen Josip Drmic 17 Nürnberg Roberto Firmino 16 Hoffenheim Adrian Ramos 16 Berlin Marco Reus 16 Dortmund

Serie A Player Goals Team Ciro Immobile 22 Torino Luca Toni 20 Verona Carlos Tévez 19 Juventus Higuaín 17 Napoli Rodrigo Palacio 17 Inter Domenico Berardi 16 Sassuolo

La Liga Player Goal Team Cristiano Ronaldo 31 Real Madrid Lionel Messi 28 Barcelona Diego Costa 27 Atlético Alexis Sánchez 18 Barcelona Karim Benzema 17 Real Madrid Aduriz 16 Athletic Club Antoine Griezmann 16 Real Sociedad

Premier League Player Luis Suárez Daniel Sturridge Yaya Touré Sergio Agüero Wilfred Bony Wayne Rooney Edin Dzeko Olivier Giroud

TOP SCORERS

LA Liga SATURDAY Real Madrid - Espanyol Barcelona - Atl. Madrid Valencia - Celta Vigo SUNDAY Real Sociedad - Villarreal Almeria - Ath. Bilbao Osasuna - Betis Valladolid - Granada Vallecano - Getafe Sevilla - Elche

Serie A Saturday Udinese - Sampdoria Sunday Catania - Atalanta Genoa -Roma Juventus - Cagliari AC Milan - Sassuolo Chievo - Inter Fiorentina - Torino Lazio - Bologna Napoli -Verona Parma -Livorno

FIXTURES

3 Napoli 36 72 4 Fiorentina 36 61 5 Inter 36 57 6 Torino 36 55 7 Parma 36 54 8 Milan 36 54 9 Verona 36 53 10 Lazio 36 53 11 Atalanta 36 47 12 Sampdoria 36 44 13 Udinese 36 42 14 Genoa 36 41 15 Cagliari 36 39 16 Sassuolo 36 31 17 Chievo 36 30 18 Bologna 36 29 19 Catania 36 26 20 Livorno 36 25

Boxing’s pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather has been enjoying some well-earned downtime since preserving his perfect professional record against Marcos Maidana on May 3rd, but took his taste for the finer things in life to a new level last weekend by spending $500k on jewellery in one New York store.

Mayweather was in the market for some serious bling during a three-day trip to the Big Apple, but first visited highend store Rafaello & Co without making a single purchase, preferring to ponder before spending big on glitter and gold.

Mayweather

orussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp faces an unusual selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s DFB-Pokal final with Bayern Munich.

Striker Robert Lewandowski has enjoyed another superb season for Dortmund, with his haul of 20 Bundesliga goals enough to earn him the division’s

� Clash with Dortmund in German Cup final top scorer award as Klopp’s side again finished a distant second behind Bayern.

However, this weekend’s game in Berlin marks Lewandowski’s last in a Dortmund shirt, as the Poland international is joining champions Bayern on a free transfer ahead of the 2014-15 season.

And that means Klopp must make the difficult decision over whether or not to start his leading marksman against his future employers.

The 46-year-old opted to leave Lewandowski on the bench for Dortmund’s Bundesliga trip to the Allianz Arena last month.

That decision paid dividends as the searing pace and clever movement of his new-look front four - Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marco Reus, Jonas Hofmann and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - inspired a stunning 3-0 win.

However, Klopp is sure to remember Lewandowski’s impact on the 2012 Pokal final against the Bavarians, when he scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 rout that sealed Dortmund’s maiden league and cup double.

And the Poland international’s public declaration that he is focused entirely on Dortmund’s quest for a fourth Pokal crown may also sway Klopp’s judgment.

Bayern Munich target the double

league to fight for.

Scrapping equally hard, but for completely different reasons, will be the five teams who go into the final day in danger of dropping into Spain’s second tier.

While Real Betis cut adrift at the bottom, three points separate the five teams from 15th to 19th, with the

Arsenal seek to end nine-year drought

India will play three One Day Internationals against Bangladesh next month ahead of their tour of England, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Thursday but reports said the selectors may rest several key players, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and star batsman Virat Kohli, and send a new-look team to Bangladesh.

“We are delighted to announce that India will be coming here for three ODIs in June,” BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus told reporters.

Dhoni

ochaux could seal a remarkable escape and relegate opponents Evian with victory in their final Ligue 1 clash of the season on Saturday.

The Stade Auguste Bonal outfit has languished in the relegation zone since the third week of the top-flight season, making them its longestserving inhabitants.

However, an unbeaten run of seven matches, including a 1-1 draw with champions Paris SaintGermain, has seen Herve Renard’s men climb to within a point of safety.

And it is this weekend’s visitors Evian who currently occupy that

safe haven of 17th position, only keeping their heads above water with a 2-0 win over Nice last weekend.

Evian were held to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in August, so will need to up their game with Ligue 1 survival at stake.

Sochaux, Evian for relegation duel in France

igerian international, John Utaka, is chasing a ticket to play in Europe next season to Michael Eneramo’s Karabükspor.

The out-of-favour Super Eagles striker has been outstanding for Sivasspor since the start of the year, he has scored six goals in 2014 as the modest club, who sit on 4th position seek to feature in the Europa Cup next term.

They have 53 points from 33 matches and if they can avoid defeat in Karabükspor their place in Europa Cup will be a guarantee as they would finish one point ahead of Trabzonspor who travel to Antalyaspor.

Godfrey Oboabona will play his 20th league match for Rizespor when they confront Elazığspor and may even add to his two goals.

Rizespor has no relegation concerns and the Nigerian player has been one of the reasons why Yeni Rize Şehir Stadı landlords escaped the drop.

N

Utaka chases Euro spot to Eneramo’s club

Utaka

citement.

Diego Simeone takes his Atleti side to the home of the Catalan giants on Saturday knowing a draw or a win will see them clinch their first La Liga crown since 1996, when the Argentine was a player at Vicente Calderon.

However, a win for the hosts will bring them level on 89 points with Atleti, and see PH ON SATURDAY AY 2014

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

He’s still scoring!

Neymar introduces girlfriend to teammates

Sturridge thrills mystery beauty at the beach

H

e’s set for a big summer with the World Cup in Brazil on the horizon.

So it was no surprise to see that Daniel Sturridge has opted to take a wellearned break beforehand by soaking up the sun in Miami with a mystery woman.

The Liverpool footballer certainly looked the part as he stripped down to a pair of swimming shorts and an array of bling to catch some rays in the US city.

The 24-year-old star – who has been named in England’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament – showed off his toned torso as he strolled along the beach with the raven-haired beauty.

Daniel wore several

gold chains around his neck for the relaxing session on the beach and kept the bling on as he enjoyed a dip in the sea.

The star, who was recently romantically linked to supermodel Jourdan Dunn, appeared to be having a great time as he frolicked in the sea with the bikini babe.

She looked every inch a beach beauty as she was seen running along the sand at one point while wearing a two-piece bikini.

Daniel will be heading back to Miami next month as England are set to play two friendlies in the city, against Ecuador and Honduras on June 4 and 7 respectively, before jetting off to Brazil for the World Cup.

N

Lenzi, Neymar’s girlfriend

ot only did he welcome girlfriend Gabriella Lenzi, to Barcelona this week, Brazilian wonderboy, Neymar also introduced her to his coach in Barca and Brazil.

He hit the town with the WAGs but he might just feature in this weekend’s title decider against Atletico Madrid.

Expected not to play a competitive game again until the World Cup after picking up a foot injury last month, Brazil’s talisman is ahead of schedule.

‘I am in the home straight in terms of recovery and I’ll see if I am able to play (against Atletico),’ he confirmed on Monday. And the nation breathes a sigh of relief.

Giggs spotted in Holland after D-day talks with van Gaal

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Sturridge and girlfriend

Lifestyle

yan Giggs was in Holland for showdown talks with new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.

United’s caretaker boss was to meet the Dutchman in Noordwijk, close to where the Holland team are currently training, as the pair looked to thrash out the legend’s future at the club.

Giggs was spotted leaving the town’s Hotel van Oranje mid-afternoon. Executive vicechairman Ed Woodward

was also supposed to have been in attendance.

Van Gaal could be announced as David Moyes’ successor as early as next week, when the club will then reveal who will join the 62-year-old on the coaching staff.

With Phil Neville and goalkeeping coach Chris Woods on the way out and Nicky Butt, and perhaps Paul Scholes, expected to head back to coach the club’s Under 18s, it is Giggs’ future that remains shrouded Giggs in doubt.

I stand by my man Samir Nasri with girlfriend

… Nasri’s girlfriend shows solidarity after World Cup snub

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he girlfriend of Manchester City’s Samir Nasri launched an extraordinary Twitter rant after learning her boyfriend was left out of France’s World Cup squad.

Nasri, who won the Premier League title with City on Sunday, was omitted by the French manager Didier Deschamps when he announced the 23-man squad yesterday.

And after finding out he wouldn’t be on the plane to Brazil for this summer’s tournament Anara Atanes, who has been dating Nasri since last year, tweeted: ‘F*** France and f*** Deschamps! What a s*** manager.’

The model, who has also been linked to fellow footballers Freddie Ljungberg, Darren Bent, Kieran Richardson and Jermaine Pennant in the past, also posted: ‘Lets just get this straight! Im not mad I get my bf for 2 months....

I just think theres a level of respect to be had!’

Nasri then replied to his girlfriend on the social network posting: ‘Love you, don’t get upset, life sometimes is unfair, but you have to accept it and deal with it.’

Charity Shield 2014: Susplan, Sao Polo, eye 5th Chukker Cup

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wenty four polo teams from across the globe are gearing up for the continent’s premium polo extravaganza as the annual Access Bank, UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament gallops off at the Fifth Chukker Lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna from May 20 to June 7, 2014.

The month long tournament sponsored by Access Bank Plc is in its seventh year running. The Access Bank Charity Shield was inaugurated by Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club in 2003 as a fund raising platform to support local charity organisations. Since 2006, however, this effort has been exclusively geared towards UNICEF’s intervention projects for orphans and vulnerable children.

Eleven years on, the Emir of Katsina Charity Shield has clearly become one of the biggest and most attractive international sporting events in the country, regularly drawing some of the most accomplished players in world, royalty and heavy hitters in politics and industry.

The polo fiesta which has been the biggest sporting attraction in

WITH

Chimaobi Uchendu

princehench@yahoo.com

08092747532

Nigeria and indeed Africa for over a decade now, promises to be the most competitive and exciting in years, with the introduction of the brand new Fifth Chukker Cup. The low-goal Fifth Chukker Cup gallops off May 20th, with ten equally matched teams jostling to make history as it first winner, is billed to climax on Sunday, May 25, at the lush lawn of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna.

Teams vying the low goal title are Sheyi Oyinola’s SAO Polo who are set to rekindle their rivals against Hakeem Shagaya’s Unity Polo after their much talked about Dansa Cup clash in Lagos last February.

Others include Engineer Sani Umar’s Kano Susplan who are seeking to improve from their Lagos Low Cup runners’ up finish recently, and Louis Enriguez powered Goly Polo team who are arriving from Spain.

The list also include Yusuf Garba’s Kaduna Yula Farms, Opaque Liberty, Ibah Oil & Gas, Niyya-

Farms, Optimum Riders and Babaduna Kaloma led Terra E&P that has been part of the Charity Shield in the past three years in the Access Bank Cup category.

Fifth Chukker Polo Captain, Babangida Hassan Katsina who disclosed this, expressed delight that the charity event has grown to becoming one of the biggest humanitarian events in the continent, insisting that they are proud to continue in its development of this established partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF. “Fifth Chukker is proud to continue in its development of this established partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF. The level of play continues to raise the bar in Nigerian polo and captures a truly international following; the charity work follows in a similar fashion,” Babangida added.

He also added that Fifth Chukker is proud to welcome Mr. Kanu Nwankwo, Nigerian ex-international footballer as the 2013/2014 Charity Ambassador who will represent Fifth Chukker on charity initiatives concerning the welfare of the vulnerable and underprivileged children of Nigeria.

Polo action

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

Congratulations on your side’s promotion to the Bundesliga, what does this mean for you and fans of Cologne?

This means a lot to me because I came here for that reason. I have always believed that Cologne, with our rich history and all the top players that have worn its famous colours, are not a second division team, so I thank God my vision went perfectly well. It means much to the fans because going by the average number of fans

we have during home games I am certain they can’t wait to have such a great atmosphere in the Bundesliga.

Was there ever a time over the course of the season when you doubted your side’s chances of returning to the Bundesliga?

Actually the only period during the course of the season we had difficulties were the first four games of the campaign, which we drew. But after those games we found our rhythm and became more consistent.

Do you think Cologne’s promotion has silenced those who criticised your decision to play in the German second division?

I think our success has proven that it’s right that sometimes you have to take a step back to take two forward. This was my plan and I thank God for making it come to pass.

For those who don’t know much about German football, just how tough is the second division?

The second division in Germany is one of the best and strongest in Europe, even stronger than most first division leagues in Europe, going by the attendance rate and the involvement of the teams in the cup games. We reached the last 16 and Kaiserslautern also reached the semi-finals before going out, so the German second division is a very tough competition.

With your team’s promotion to the Bundesliga what are your expectations for next season? Do you think Cologne can avoid the drop and consolidate next season?

First of all we want to stabilise our place in the league by avoiding the drop zone. This will be difficult but squad we have a good which

Cologne fans grateful for my goals – Ujah

Anthony Ujah is a proven goal scorer and one of the key reasons behind FC Cologne’s recent promotion to the German Bundesliga, but his form deserted him when it mattered most at last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup with the Super Eagles. The striker reveals what it’s like playing in the German second division and his desire to get another chance with the Eagles. He spoke with IFEANYI IBEH. Excerpts…

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Germany from Norway but my German is very good now as I get two lessons every week. So communication is not an issue for me.

How many languages do you speak?

I speak just English and German and of course my native language, Idoma.

How do you plan to spend your summer break before returning for pre-season? Are there plans to return home sometime during the break to see your family?

I haven’t seen my brother in a long while so I will spend my time with him in London. He studies there. But my entire family has been with me in Germany these past weeks, so I don’t miss them anymore and don’t have much to do in Nigeria.

Are there plans to settle down and start a family in the foreseeable future?

Of course, I wish to have a family of my own in the near future but I still have things to achieve in my career first before taking this step as I am still young and have time.

You haven’t featured for the Super Eagles in quite a while. Do you feel disappointed about this development?

No I don’t feel disappointed because during my first invitation I didn’t give the coaches a reason to call me back but I have kept on working hard because I believe in myself and I just have to stay positive and remain patient and hopeful of getting a second chance to prove my worth.

How would you describe the experience of playing for the Super Eagles?

I had a good time when I was there and seeing experienced players now in charge of the team meant a lot to me as I picked up a lot of lessons from them. The coaches (Stephen Keshi, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu) are legends of the national team.

I might not have made a lot of impact but I took a lot of positives from my first experience with the national team.

Do you think playing in the second division and being away from the spotlight, especially as Nigerians can’t get to watch German second division games on TV, contributed to your absence from the Super Eagles?

Not all the players invited are being watched. I believe the National team handlers have a good scouting system and get the reports they need.

doesn’t need a lot of changes as we have tested ourselves against two first division teams during the season in the German Cup. At the last count (at the end of April), you have scored 10 league goals for Cologne this season. Which would you say was your most memorable?

My most memorable were the two goals I scored against our biggest rivals Fortuna Dusseldorf. Those goals meant a lot to me and the fans because it gave us our first win over them in many years. And the fans continue to thank me for those goals which I scored as far back as December making me realise just how big the win was for them.

Cologne fans have taken a liking to you judging from comments on fan boards and social networking sites. How would you describe your relationship with them?

The love Cologne fans have for me continues to marvel me on a daily basis. I keep asking myself why it’s so massive. I know it’s definitely not just about my goals because during the periods I didn’t score I kept getting the same reactions from them, so I believe it’s just the favour of God. How good is your German at the moment, and did you have any problems communicating at the outset when you got to Germany?

I had a little problem when I first got to

Since your last appearance for the Super Eagles have you kept in touch with the National team coach and your Super Eagles buddies?

Yes I’ve met and spoken to the coach and I was impressed with our conversation, likewise to the players as well.

We spent five weeks together before and during the Confederations Cup and this time brought us together not just as team mates but as friends.

How do you rate Nigeria’s chances at the upcoming FIFA World Cup? I am sure Nigeria will do very well at the World Cup as we are not just any nation, we are African champions, and we have a coach who knows the team and how to get the best out of his team.

How far do you think the African sides can go in Brazil?

I think an African side, most likely Nigeria, can pull a surprise in Brazil. We have seen that in Ghana at the last World Cup in South Africa and other African teams going to Brazil can get self-belief from their achievement in South Africa.

So, who are your favourites for the World Cup? My favourites, in no particular order, are Nigeria, Brazil, Germany and Spain.

Any of these teams can win the World Cup.

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Countdown to Fifa World Cup

F

Adekunle Salami

ootball is big business in the modern era. The buying and selling of players is a big issue in global football. Players receive as high as $250,000 per week in the EPL, some get $180,000 and the average ones still take home between $70,000 and $120,00 every week. Barcelona is proposing $300,000 per week pay for Messi in a new contract to be agreed soon.

On the English Premier League broadcast revenue alone, Liverpool made $97.5m in the outgoing season. Man City made $96.6m, Chelsea $94.1m, Arsenal $92.9m, Spurs $89.7m and Man United $89.2m But the round leather game also involves entertainment. Those who provide the entertaining aspect are the attacking midfielders.

They play to entertain the crowd, dribble their way to create goal scoring opportunities for the team. They are the engine room of any team. Before now, football is just a sport meant to entertain and an avenue for those talented to showcase their skill. It also provided succour for school drop outs. But now it is a big money-spinning business.

In the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil, the midfielders are the main men that will dictate the way the competition will go. These people will go a long way in the overall assessment of the event. Attacking midfielders add flair the game; they create the excitement for fans of the game.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina is a key player in this department. He is a bundle of talent. Messi can dribble past four to six players on his way to the eighteen yard box. He has scored 27 league goals for Barca this season. He is always comfortable with the ball. With his exploits he has won the FIFA World Footballer of the Year award four times. Because he scores goals often for his club and country, people might think he is a striker but he will play in the middle for Argentina in Brazil. Sergio Aguero is the striker for the Argentines. Messi is a big threat for the Super Eagles in group F of the preliminaries as Argentina will play against Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the last Mundial in South Africa, Messi had a poor run without any goal and he is expected to double his efforts in Brazil.

Another prolific scorer who is a natural attacking midfielder is Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Portugal. With 31 league goals, Ronaldo is the leading scorer in the scorer in Spanish La Liga and he is a middle man operating from the wings. The striker of Real is Kareem Benzema. In Brazil, fans will be looking out for Ronaldo to make his fast breaks and score with free kicks to boost the chances of Portugal in the competition. He is the current FIFA best player and all eyes will be on him to excel at the Mundial. Ronaldo will have to bring out all his tricks in the preliminaries where Portugal is up against Germany, USA and Ghana. He scored three goals at the last World Cup in South Africa.

The opening match of the World Cup is between Brazil and Croatia. The biggest name in the Croatian line-up today is Luca Modric.

He is very efficient in the central midfield with his intelligent passes and dribbling runs. He moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid only two seasons ago and he is already a key player in the Real squad.

Creativity and entertainment are not the strongest point of the Italian team because they are more noted for ruggedness and defensive play. However, Andrea Pirlo, the 34-year-old Juventus player, has changed that over the years. He is very good with the ball.

He can spray long or short passes to break the defensive network of the opposition. He is a player with vision and that is why he often looks up to deliver a long range pass as an assist for a goal. Pirlo has added panache to the Azzurris and he is also good with free kicks.

Chile has Spain, Holland and Australia to contend with in Group B of Brazil 2014. One key figure expected to champion the quest of Chile for a second round berth is Arturo Vidal.

He is a complete midfielder who is comfort-

Creative midfielders:

More than Messi, Ronaldo show

Messi

able to operate from any part of the middle area. He has scored 57 goals for Juventus in the past three seasons. Chile is not one of the favourtite teams to play in the latter stage of the competition but it is certain that the world is waiting to see the magic of Vidal in the first two weeks of the event depending on how far Chile could go.

Spain perhaps has the best midfield in world football. This is courtesy Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. Individually and collectively the two players are very good.

They are both in Barcelona of Spain and they have great understanding that could wreck any team. Iniesta scored the only goal that earned Spain the World Cup trophy in South Africa against Holland in a crunch game.

Xavi is over 30 and he has been consistent in the past eight years or more to be one of the best central midfielders in the world.

Iniesta apart from his dribbling skills links the attack with accurate passes. The two have great understanding which is a plus for Spain. Holland, Chile and Australia are the countries expected to test the midfield prowess of the Spaniards in the preliminaries. Interestingly, David Silva of Manchester City is also in the Spanish team not in the first team. For a player of that class to be on the bench speaks volume of the strength in the midfield of Spain.

Germany also has two brilliant players in the middle. They are Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The two players are regular stars for Bayern Munich and they are very solid in the middle. Muller can play in the middle and can also play as top striker.

Schweinsteiger can spray passes, shot from distance and can generally dictate the pace of the game with touch of class.

Africa is not left out of the best players in the middle the world will be waiting for.

Yaya Toure of Manchester City had a brilliant season in the EPL. He won the Capital One trophy and league shield in the just concluded season. He scored 20 league goals to emerge highest scorer for his team.

Fans of the game have high expectations on what Toure will do in the colours of Cote d’ Ivoire at the World Cup. He is very strong and deadly around the goal area because he can take shot from anywhere around the 18-metre box.

Nigeria also has a Mikel Obi as the playmaker of the Super Eagles. He is playing a different role for Chelsea in the EPL but in Brazil, Mikel will lead the team creatively to get goals upfront against Iran, Bosnia and Argentina. He started his career as attacking midfielder until Jose Mourinho changed him to a defensive middle man in his first stint with the Blues.

Midfielders are generally the entertainers that add colour to the game especially at the World Cup level. Leg-

Ronaldo

ends like Diego Maradona, Rudd Gullit, Paul Gascoigne, Micheal Platini, Socrates, Zinadine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Micheal Landrup, Zico, Roberto Baggio, Carlos Valdarama, Enzo Francescoli and Georghi Hagi, etc. have thrilled the world in the past.

In the home of samba, we wait for plenty of Pirlo entertainment from the in-form midfielders from the 32 countries expected on parade in Brazil.

Toure

Iniesta

Mikel

THE ARTS

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Culture on parade at Awujale’s 80th birthday Tony Okuyeme

L

ast Saturday, the Nigeria's longest serving monarch, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, joined the class of octogenarians. The birthday was marked with a week-long programme that started with a thanksgiving service on May 4 and ended with a luncheon party at the expansive Dipo Dina Stadium on May 10. All through the events of the eightieth birthday, telecoms company, Globacom, was ubiquitous in words and deeds.

Globacom’s support was especially evident during the mini Ojude Oba Festival held to serenade Oba Adetona fondly called “Orisa Ijebu” at the Oba Sikiru Adetona Golden Jubilee Pavilion. Thousands of proud sons and daughters of Ijebuland including over fifty monarchs from the six local governments that make up the Ogun-East Senatorial District thronged the pavilion to pay homage to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland on his eightieth birthday and Globacom banners and logo were very conspicuous.

Excited Ijebu indigenes and guests gaily dressed in the light blue ankara with Awujale’s picture emblazoned on it thronged the pavillion to pay homage to the monarch widely regarded as the rallying figure in Ijebu. Attendees who included two former governors of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel as well as top government functionaries watched for over five hours as the delegation, market women, horse and motorcycle riders danced, sang and gave speeches eulogising the Oba Adetona who had been ruling Ijebuland for the past fifty four years.

“I thank you all warmly. I feel fulfilled. I dedicate myself to service to humanity for the rest of my life. I thank you for your love and affection. I pray God to reward you abundantly,” Oba Adetona said. The elated monarch added further: “You have made history today as what we are seeing had never happened before. My prayer is that we will all come together to foster unity.

Let us eschew violence, tell the truth at all times so that peace would reign supreme.”

Earlier, the Ijebu National Museum showcasing the rich cultural and religious history of Ijebuland and its people was commissioned by the monarch. The commissioning of the museum, an initiative of the Awujale was a dream come true for the monarch. To actualise the dream, an international curator, Craig Diji Fashoro, was brought in from the United States.

The museum showcases the rich tapestry of past and present history of the Ijebus for posterity. “…in the museum, historical legends take their places alongside classical mythology…”, Fashoro said.

Otunba Deji Osibogun, the project director was visibly excited that the museum project was commissioned as a birthday present to Oba Adetona and enthused that the museum would “preserve our past, celebrate our today and shape our future”.

Globacom chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, in his congratulatory message described Oba Adetona as an exemplary monarch and epitome of goodness whose kindness knows no boundary. He noted that the paramount ruler had transformed his environment positively in the last 54 years of his reign as Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

“In the last 54 years of Alayeluwa’s reign, Ijebuland has transmuted into international reckoning due to Oba Adetona’s untiring efforts to develop our land. It is on record that the monarch leveraged on his personal contacts and those of his sub-

Traditional rulers in Yorubaland: L-R: Alaafin of Oyo; Oba of Lagos; Obi of Onitsha; and Alake of Egbaland assisting the Awujale to cut his birthday cake.

jects to reposition Ijebuland and Ijebu who are considered as legendary masters in leadership, commerce and industry “Oba Adetona is the pride of Ijebuland and has defined the never-say-die entrepreneurial spirit unique to the race. As a nationalist and detribalized patriot, he has built bridges of friendship across various ethnic divides. It is remarkable that Alayeluwa has re-invented the Ojude Oba Festival into a global event enthusiastically supported by devotees of all religions thus promoting religious harmony.”

The grand finale was a classy affair with sumptuous meals and choice drinks generously on offer. President Goodluck Jonathan was represented by his Chief of Staff, General Jones Arogbofa, Governor Seriake Dickson joined his Ogun State counterpart to celebrate the monarch while captains of industry like Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, Otunba Subomi Balogun were in attendance. On the band stand was Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi.

Awujale advised government at all levels to always take constructive criticisms in good faith and cautioned government appointees against making inflammatory statements capable of "heating up the polity".

He thanked the people of Ijebuland especially the Renaissance Group for a job well done and pledged to continue to serve humanity to the best of his abilities. On sighting the Globacom chairman who sauntered in whilst he was speaking,

L-R: Governor Ibikunle Amosun, his wife Olufunso, Globacom chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jnr. and former Head of State, Major General Mohammadu Buhari at the grand finale of activities marking the 80th birthday ceremony of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode.

Oba Adetona saluted him and enthused: “Adenuga is the most generous man in Nigeria today. This is my brother in whom I am well pleased. We need more of your activities in Ogun State. God will continue to give you the stamina, good health and grace. I thank you.”

Speaking earlier, Governor Ibikunle Amosun who named the recently constructed flyovers in Ijebu Ode after Oba Adetona described the monarch as a colossus who typifies the finest and best in our traditional institution. "As a lover of peace Oba Adetona always ensures that peace reigned supreme whenever there

were challenges.

“Past governors of Ogun State can attest to the fact that Kabiyesi uses his rich wealth of experience to offer guidance.

I cannot achieve anything without the support of the Awujale. Please continue to guide and correct us when we are not doing it right,” Amosun said.

President Goodluck Jonathan who spoke through his Chief of Staff, General Jones Arogbofa (rtd), appreciated Oba Adetona for his effort to enthrone peace in the country and urged him to continue in his "detribalized, and fatherly roles to all irrespective of race, creed or religion".

Soyinka at 80: International Conference holds in July

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Soyinka

o further the perpetuation of the cultural and artistic legacy of Nigerian Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, the Wole Soyinka Society in collaboration with the University of Lagos will hold a four- day international conference to celebrate Professor Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday.

Titled, the "Soyinka Impulse," the international conference which is on the theme, "Art, Humanity, Transitions and Permanence: Calibrating Soyinka at 80," will run from July 10 to July 14, at the University of Lagos.

A release jointly signed by

co-conveners of the conference, deputy vice chancellor (management services) at the University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni, and a lecturer of visual and performing arts at the Kwara State University, Dr. Bisi Adigun, noted that the programme of events include conference keynote lecture, entitled, “WS and the Nigerian/African Left: Clarifications and Reflections on That 'Jacobin' Moment”, by Prof.

Biodun Jeyifo of Harvard University; five plenary sessions of conference paper presentations, each of which will be keynoted by four distinguished scholars:

Prof. Niyi Osundare, Prof. Anjali Gera Roy, an Indian, Dr James Gibbs, a British national, Prof.

Isidore Diala, and Prof. Motsa Zodwa, a South African.

The programme of events also include the staging of Death and the King’s Horseman at the main auditorium at the University of Lagos; presentations of a few sketches from the Soyinka’s Blackout, Blowout and Beyond – Satirical Sketches; and a visit to Abeokuta, where a site-specific performance of excerpts from Soyinka’s very first Yoruba tragedy, A Dance of the Forests, will be presented.

StartUps

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17 MAY 2014

I lobby to get funerals –Ajayi

For Francis Ajayi, the funeral director of St. Francis Undertakers, the business of giving befitting rest to the departed gives him ample opportunity to achieve his aims in life. He tells SEGUN EDWARDS in this interview that he couldn’t have chosen another endeavour.

How did you start this business?

I started this business with Ebony Funeral Home as a sales manager about 20 years ago on the popular Odunlami Street, Lagos Island.

When specifically did you start on your own?

I started on my own about 15 years ago, I thank God that it was not too easy but was not too tough when I started and today I can say I am expanding.

How much did you start the business with?

I cannot say specifically how much I started with because I started from the scratch, from a humble beginning making one or two-locally made caskets with every input also sourced from our market. Of course the most important is wood, but I got off with hired carpenters who built some caskets at the beginning. I cannot project into exactly what the fund I started with was. But nevertheless, I commenced with some reasonable funds as a determined person not wishing to work for anybody in the industry where I had acquired basic knowledge.

Were you making the caskets on your own?

Yes, I was doing that on my own with a team of carpenters, then I had some assistants that I started with in a [lace I could call my own workshop.

What does funeral undertaking business entails?

The business as the name sounds entails such things like provision of casket, the funeral hearse, printing of obituaries/order of service and thank you cards, arrangement of vault, transportation, government certification documentations, pall bearing, lying-in state venue decorations, provision of wreaths among others.

You have been around for 15 years in the industry, how has business being?

I’m one the top service providers. I’m one of the best in the funeral undertaking industry today by the grace of God. I should rate among the top five outfits in the business and this is due to my exposure from my tutelage at Ebony Funeral Home, where I learnt a lot of things about the business.

Taking a look at the industry, how active would you say you are abreast with competition among your competitors?

In any business there is always competition but if you are exposed you should be able to handle competition. Also, with the connections one have made or the experience acquired over the years, one should be able to compete favourably. It’s been so far so good.

Do you lobby to get business especially if it is the burial of influential members of the society?

Yes, lobbying is part of every businesses but somebody has to be in there to be able to lobby. I will also say that it depends on one’s clout and connection in the industry for one to be appointed as undertaker of influential persons. But most importantly I will say it also depend on the will of the Almighty God. When you say you rate yourself among the first five funeral undertaking outfits, is it across the entire country or limited to certain areas, say South-West or even Lagos?

I will say the entire country because the funeral undertaking business has been con-

centrated or should I say took its root from Odunlami Street here where we ply our trade for several decades say, from the 60s. So, I will say my rating is for the entire country. This is also where the modern day funeral undertaking business has been consolidated and is still there, there is no doubt about that.

If you say you are highly rated along others in the business, how often do you get engaged as appointed undertaker across the country?

I often go across the country as appointed undertaker for funerals, at least I can say I go out of Lagos three to four times on the average in a month. For instance, I have undertaken funerals in the last one month in Benin, Edo State, Delta State, and Kwara State, and that is how it has been because as babies are being born, others are passing on and people have to honour their beloved when they passed on.

What is your advice for any would be entrepreneur wishing to come into the business?

Every business has its challenges and of course funeral undertaking is not an exception. My advice for prospective undertakers is that they have to be guided by their conviction. They should have mind and faith while fixing their gaze on success. With your conviction and the right background, I can say that a determined and focused person would most likely succeed.

What are the basic requirements for take-off for a new entrepreneur?

One of the basic infrastructures for a successful take-off of the funeral undertaking business is to have a workshop, as well as a standard showroom. These are the two basic infrastructures for take-off.

What about the capacity for the building of caskets, what is the requirement for that?

That can be taken care of by part-time professional casket makers who you are required to for the building of local caskets.

We also have people who work either full or part-time. For instance, the undertakers are best suited for part time engagement. It is not advisable to employ this category of workers on permanent basis. So, you have to make use of a large number of casual workers, who are paid per job done and are disengaged after each engagement. For instance, if your company gets five funeral engagements in a week, you are required to have five sets of Pall bearers (those that have the responsibility to carry the casket containing the deceased), which leaves you only with the option to engage casuals, those that come in work and get disengaged at the end of the funeral. That is how best it works.

wooden range from N500,000 to about N1.5 million, while the steel range from N800,000 to N2.5 million depending on the quality. For clients who cannot afford the costly caskets, they have to be accommodated because they have to give a befitting burial to their beloved too. We give them something affordable and also of quality.

Apart from sales of casket, what other service do you render?

My company is involved in the entire process of funeral from the point where the deceased is certified dead. As soon as I’m approached as the undertaker, I immediately ferry the remains to the mortuary and my business starts from there. As soon as the body is deposited at the mortuary, I continue to monitor the situation in the case of an aged person, whose death the family wishes to celebrates. I wait for their comprehensive arrangement for the burial and we undertake every stage of the funeral till interment.

Is there any form of regulation in the business?

Yes, activities of undertakers are regulated by an established authority of executives elected periodically to ensure that new entrants into the business are properly oriented and guided against arbitrary entry. Any new entrant will have to properly apply and be screened before being admitted into association of funeral undertakers.

What are the category of casket and their cost?

We have locally-made wooden caskets as well as imported ones. We sell imported wooden and steel caskets, the cost of locallymade range from N50,000. The imported

In any business there is always competition but if you are exposed you should be able to handle competition

St. Francis pallbearers in traditional attire.

Ajayi

L ve&Lv ng

Life Experience:

‘I disowned my abusive family' p.36

Wedding Traditions: Beating of the Groom’s Feet: South Korea p.38

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/loveliving

'My love for him prevented him from becoming a priest' Love Confession In life, some people fall in love with the wrong people and such relationships seem destined to fail. However, for this writer, she fell in love with a man who wanted to be a priest and destiny eventually made her become his wife.

M

y name is Cynthia and I’m 30 years old. I hail from Enugu state. I was raised in a humble and hardworking Catholic family where I was thought Christian principles and values.

I grew up in the village where my dad was the Catechist of our local Church. And as I gradually grew into womanhood, my dad told me that women were responsible for the downfall of many great men and that I must learn to lead my life in such a way that I don't become a stumbling block to men.

My father always said that women were necessary evils and that if a man wanted to fulfill his destiny in life, he had to be strong enough to overcome the temptation that would come from women.

However, events that took place later on in my life made me become a stumbling block between man and God. But the truth is that I did it for love.

I’m now married to a man who would have become a Catholic priest. I don’t want to mention my husband’s name because many people will know that he is the one I’m talking about. I'm the reason my husband never became a Catholic priest and would never become one, because we fell in love at first sight.

My husband’s family have always been devout Catholics. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise when my husband made up his mind to become a priest in future even at the age of 10. His parents encouraged him by enrolling him in the Minor Seminary and from there he proceeded to the Major Seminary.

As a seminarian, he was assigned to work in the church in my village and that was how we met. When I first saw him I was breathless; my heart skipped a beat and I felt butterflies in my stomach. It was as though the world stopped moving when he said "hello" and I was so carried away that I just stared directly into his eyes for what seemed like eternity.

After I told him my name, we became friends, and that was the beginning of a platonic relationship which we both knew would soon blossom into a hot romance.

I was fascinated by his beautiful white seminarian dress and I always told him how handsome he looked whenever he wore it. I fell in love naturally with him and we couldn’t control ourselves whenever we were together alone.

At first we tried our best to be discreet because I didn’t want to appear like the devil trying to prevent him from becoming a priest. And he too didn't want peo-

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17 MAY 2014

MODEL OF THE WEEK

35

Name: Titilayo Email: titilayoolurin@mail.com

‘I could not lie to my mother and I confessed that I really loved the seminarian' ple to think he was a bad seminarian.

But my love for him was so deep that I always dreamed of having him all alone to myself. Sometimes, we would meet at the river or at the farm where people would not see us. But along the line, I wanted more and more of him.

Besides, I was tired of meeting him all the time in far away places. So I invited him to my house. And he would visit me at home under the guise of coming to deliver a message from the Parish Priest, or for prayer or to explain a difficult topic in catechism.

My mother naturally got suspicious and she told me pointblank that as my mother, she knows that I and the seminarian are having an affair because of the way we look at each other and generally behave towards each other.

I could not lie to my mother and I confessed that I really loved the seminarian.

After that, my mother kept silent and went into her room to pray her rosary. When she came out, she said that if it is the will of God for both of us to marry, God will give us a sign, but that if it wasn’t the will of God, our relationship would end disgracefully and both of us would separate in shame.

At that time, I was so confused and I prayed to God to forgive my sin.

Soon, gossip started going round that one of the seminarians was my boyfriend and my man was summoned by the bishop of the diocese. The bishop said he would expel my man from the seminary, but my man begged him to give us his blessing to marry.

The bishop was surprised at my man's reaction, and he said that if it was the will of God, we would eventually become man and wife. The bishop said that everything works together for good for those that love God and that if my man wished to leave the seminary voluntarily, he was free to do so.

One year later, we got married with the bishop’s blessing. The bishop even attended our wedding.

Now, I don’t regret my husband's exit from the seminary, because we have been properly joined together in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and God has blessed us with wonderful children.

The bishop made us understand that the priesthood is a vocation and that marriage is also a vocation. He said that marriage is also holy as long as both parties remain faithful to their vows. The bishop assured us that if we modeled our family after the Holy Family of Nazareth (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) we would eventually go to Heaven because Catholic Marriage is intended to lead a couple to Heaven.

However, sometimes I still feel guilty for aborting my man's goal in life, and I pray that God would forgive me and have mercy on my husband and children.

Your say: Have your say about this love confession.

If you want to be our next model, please send your photos to: ireto007@yahoo.com Call: 0703 102 8714, 0813 116 1840

Odd News

T

Rapper who sliced off his own genitalia speaks out

he Los Angeles rapper who sliced off his own genitalia before jumping out of a window has broken his silence about the ugly incident last month, saying depression drove him to do it.

Andre Johnson - who performs under the stage name Christ Bearer with the Wu-Tang affiliated group Northstar - was reported to have been high on dangerous psychedelic PCP when he cut off his penis and leaped from a two-storey baclony in North Hollywood.

But the 40-year-old, also known as C.B., has now told TMZ that he was smoking weed and reading a book about monks and vasectomies right before the self-castration.

He said he felt his 'world was collapsing' after being prevented from seeing his two daughters due to a restraining order, and that he had a third child on the way.

TMZ also reported that Johnson's member was able to be reattached by doctors.

While he claims he will be able to regain full functionality, having more children will likely not be possible.

The incident occurred at an apartment complex about 1.00am on Wednesday April 16. Police classified the case as an attempted suicide.

However E! Online reported that the rapper cut off the tip of his penis first, then removed his testicles and the remainder of his genitalia.

When people from the building ran downstairs to see if Johnson had survived the fall, they said he was already on his feet screaming.

He was found in critical condition before he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The organs were recovered upstairs.

Courtesy: daily mail.

36 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

Love Song

Love News

Eminado

Married UK Vice-Consul caught having secret ‘affair’ with British drugs baron in jail

A

married British diplomat is being investigated by the Foreign Office over complaints she conducted a romance behind bars with a convicted drugs baron on the tropical island of Bali.

Vice-consul Alys Harahap, 30 Britain’s top representative in the popular Indonesian holiday destination - was allegedly caught kissing and cuddling Briton Julian Ponder during a duty visit in the prison governor’s office at Kerobokan Prison.

The Mail on Sunday has learnt that prison officers walked in as the vice-consul, a mother-of-two who is married to an Indonesian, was locked in what appeared to be ‘intimate embrace’ with 44-year-old

Life Experience

Ponder, the alleged ringleader of a syndicate that smuggled cocaine into Bali.

Ponder, known as Mr Big in Bali, is the alleged mastermind behind the plot which led to British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford being sentenced to death for operating as a drugs mule.

The extraordinary alleged liaison between the Cambridge and University College London-educated diplomat and the thuggish drugs convict Ponder is said by prison insiders to stretch back more than two months and to have blossomed as she visited him after he was put into solitary confinement over a prison brawl.

They spent time alone together in the prison clinic where he was

A

card came in the mail from my mother the other day. I pulled it out of the mailbox while sitting in my car, and then sat in the driveway looking at her handwriting on the front of the envelope. It felt thick, like there might be money or a gift card in it. I held it for a long time, so filled with different emotions, totally and completely unsure of what to do with it.

You see, it’s been 11 months since I have spoken to my mother. It has been 11 months since I have spoken to anyone in my family actually. It’s been 11 months since I was finally freed.

One of my earliest childhood memories was listening to my father put a lock on the outside of my bedroom door to lock me in. My mother didn’t want me anymore, so the next logical step would be to lock me away. I was three. The rest of my childhood was a culmination of outright physical abuse, and the just plain abusively strange.

Like the punishment I got when I was six, where I had to sit on the edge of my bed for two weeks straight, 8am to 8pm, and read the encyclopedia. If I was caught lying down, a full day would be added to my time.

Or the time I was made to cut my parents entire half acre backyard, with a pair of scissors. I ended up with third degree burns on my back, and it probably would have been much worse had a roofer a few houses down not noticed what was going on, and called the police.

Or there was my favorite time, when our family traveled for a vacation. There was one day we were going out and I was SO excited. It was 6:45 am and we were all walking through the parking lot toward our

Eminado Eminado Hmm hmm…yeah Eminado Eminado Tiwa savage

treated for his injuries and in the prison governor’s office, loaned as a courtesy to allow the diplomat to discuss his case in private, before allegedly being caught in a clinch on April 28.

Prison officials accused multilingual Ms Harahap – described by friends and colleagues as an extremely bright and capable young vice-consul who only joined the diplomatic service in January - of inappropriate behaviour for a representative of a foreign government and of breaching prison rules and regulations.

Courtesy: Dailymail

'I disowned my abusive family' ‘My mother never wanted a daughter. I was damned from the minute I was born' car, when my father asked me to run back and make sure the hotel room door had locked. I remember telling him that “Yeah, it locks when it shuts itself,” but he insisted that I run back and look anyways.

I ran back, verified that yes, the door was in fact (still) locked, and then ran back to the parking lot. The car was gone.

Thinking that they must have pulled around to meet me somewhere, I walked the lot for two hours until I finally accepted the reality that they had left without me. I sat outside the door of the hotel room until they came back, at 1am. I was 13.

Apparently my mother had decided that she wanted “a nice day with the children she loved.” We spent the next two days driving home, where my parents ordered that no one in the car to talk to me. When they would stop for meals or ice cream, I was instructed to stay in the car.

You see, my mother never wanted a daughter. I was damned from the minute I was born and she realized I had a vagina. Traumas from her past were passed down as my problem. In the chaos and unknowns that were my childhood, the only thing I never doubted, the only constant that I had, was the knowledge that I was not wanted. “Just go kill yourself,” was thrown around at me a lot.

“If you are not perfectly behaved tomorrow, I will send you away to a place where people will cut you up and kill you” was whispered into my ear at bedtime. Day after day when I would get beat, the only defense that I would have would be to yell back at her “One day I’ll be big, and you won’t be able to hit my anymore!” She would laugh in her maniacal way, look me dead in the eyes, and say “Well you aren’t big today.”

I was removed from the home several times, and at one point we were ordered to attend family counseling.

TIWA SAVAGE

After talking to us for a while, the counselor asked everyone to leave the room except for me. She didn’t waste any time before she got to the point.

“It’s my job,” she said, “to get teenagers to understand how their behaviour is negatively affecting the family.”

“Oh great,” I thought, “here we go again.” But then she said something that would change the course of my life forever. “Do you ever feel like your entire family is crazy and you are the only sane one?”

“Every damn day of my life” I spouted back at her, in my sassy teenager tone.

“Well, I am really not supposed to do this, but I just can’t keep my mouth shut. You aren’t wrong. Your entire family is crazy. I have never seen so much dysfunction in my life. Your entire family is insane, continues on page 37

Verse 1 – Don jazzy So I ask her What do you want from the bank I just dey come from the bank And I get money to throw ‘way So everybody oya oh eh Rocking her body

Love Poem

Rocking her body Rocking her body for me Keep rocking her body Rocking her body for me Chorus Here I go…oh here I go Its time to show me your love Open the….open the door I’ll leave you….begging for more Oh oh oh…oh my baby Carry me….like your baby I don’t know What you did to me But I will never, I’ll be your Eminado

Timothy Akinleye

Beauty beyond my reach A thousand words melt at my nib In attempting to paint thy beauty.

But I know just enough to know that: Venus de Milo, though an epitome of elegance, Has no tender arms to hold.

Mona Liza may be nice to behold, But no life stirs her fairness And her cold mind, Never as quiet as thine.

Goddesses are truly fine But their finery are no man’s treasure And whereas, precious stones may shine, Their spectre, Are matchless to the luster in thy large blue eyes.

And so: if ever beauty be food A large portion of you I will ever ask for And were elegance drinks be, Wine and gin will I shun.

But then, be that as it may, That, thou hardly advertise, Is all I strive to put in verses.

Send your poems with your name to ireto007@yahoo.com, call 08131161840

Romantic Jokes

The Young Guy

A young guy was complaining to his Boss about the problems he was having with his stubborn girlfriend.

"She gets me so angry sometimes I could hit her, the young man exclaimed."

"Well, I'll tell you what I used to do with my wife" replied the Boss. "Whenever she got out of hand I'd take her pants down and spank her".

Shaking his head the young guy replied "I've tried that, it doesn't work for me. Once I get her pants down I'm not mad anymore."

Words of Wisdom: Love never fails

Wedding Traditions

Beating of the Groom’s Feet: South Korea

B

efore a South Korean groom can look forward to his wedding night, it is traditional that he receives a beating from his groomsmen.

Foot whipping – also known as ‘bastinado’ or ‘falaka’ – involves the beating of a groom’s bare feet with a

cane or fish and is said to be a test of the groom’s strength and character.

It can be painful, but it's over quickly and is intended to be more funny than harsh.

The groom has his shoes and socks removed and his ankles bound by his groomsmen or family members.

They then take turns beating the soles of his feet with a stick, cane or dried fish (yes, a fish). The reason for beating a groom on his wedding day is to test his knowledge, since he is usually quizzed during the beating.

Courtesy: eharmony.

LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

Relationships & Love Advice

‘A family friend is dating my 21-year-old daughter' Dear Love Doctor, An old friend of mine has started going out with our 21 year old daughter and we are so upset. My wife is distraught and I can hardly sleep thinking about this horrible man with my lovely daughter and that he seems to have no shame over taking advantage of her and our friendship.

He was at her 18th birthday party with his then wife and has known our daughter since she was born – how could he possibly be thinking of her in this way when he knew her as a little girl? We've tried talking to her but she says she loves him, it’s none of our business and she is old enough to see whoever she chooses. What do we do now?

From Paul.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Paul, Sometimes a relationship with a big age difference can work and you don’t want to lose your daughter by refusing to accept this possibility, though it could take you and your wife a long time to come to terms with it.

Another worry is your daughter’s reaction if you turn this into Romeo and Juliet and drive them

together, because the one thing she wants to do at the moment is prove that she’s right, even if it means clinging onto a relationship which isn’t going to last the distance.

The age difference would probably have been difficult for you anyway but the added issue of him already being your friend is making it worse.

Discuss with your wife how you can solve this problem together. However, I think that if you ignore that old man and your daughter, it would only be a matter of time before the contrast between their ages will kick

in and kill the affair. Then she would have learned her lesson and you’re going to say "I told you so."

If you want daily love tips or advice, download The Color of Love Guide on your iPad and iPhone. Search for ‘Color of Love’ on your Apple App store now and download the App. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@ yahoo.com If you’re in a crisis, call for help: 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/ relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641. Visit lovedrmike. blogspot.com

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37

'I disowned my abusive family' c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 3 6

and you are the only sane one. I would report this to the state, but I know that you have already been in and out of the system and that they just keep returning you to the home. My best advice to you is to remember this conversation.

Remember that you are not crazy.

Stay strong, and when you turn 18, get the hell out.”

I left that day, for the first time in my entire life, feeling validated.

I packed a bag and the next day I hit the streets. I lived on couches, and in cars, on benches. I flirted for food and I worked odd jobs where I could them. When I turned 17, I met the 25-year-old man who would become my abusive husband.

I ran too fast. I ran without thinking, I made choices without planning, and I ran straight into an awful situation. It didn’t take me long to realize that the man I had married was even more of a monster then I could have ever imagined.

He was so awful that I went crawling back to my parents, begging for their help. But they refused.

“You will not shame our family by getting a divorce. Maybe if you had more sex with him, he wouldn’t have to rape you.

Maybe if you were a better wife, he wouldn’t have to beat you.”

I was so stupid. I believed them. I did whatever I could to please them. If they said jump, I said “Yes sir, how high, and what else can I do for you.”

Eight years later, my husband disappeared. Lost in a world of sex, he was gone.

I was left with a seven-monthold and a 3-year-old. I had no money, no job, no help, and no hope.

Again, I begged my parents for help. My husband was gone, I had been abandoned, and the only help that I got from my mother was a bag of frozen uncooked chicken, with the reminder that “Don’t you ever say I didn’t do anything for you.”

Over the course of the next year, I struggled to put my life back together. I was destroyed, and yet, every time I would make a little headway, they would remind me of just how little I had really accomplished. When I started a home cleaning service, I got a text message telling me “Congrats, you sure did make something of yourself, cleaning the homes of people that feel sorry for you.”

Eventually I met a new man.

He wasn’t right for me, and I knew it. But both my mother and father told me to not let him go, that I was unlikely to find anyone who could handle the mess that was me, and that this would bring redemption to the family.

So, I stayed with him. Ignored the nagging voice in my head telling me that this wasn’t right. The yearnings of my childhood convincing me that maybe this was it, this was my chance for redemption. This was my chance to prove that someone did, in fact, want me.

So again, I jumped in with both feet. And when he moved on to greener pastures, the hellish torment that unleashed itself on me came from my family. I had once again failed my family, and they weren’t going to allow me to forget it.

The turning point finally came when I agreed to let my daughter spend a little time with my mother, and she came home telling me “Grandma said you were going to hell since you got

divorced, so my brother and I need to go live with her.”

I immediately called my mother, and with the spiteful cold tone that is her, she confirmed what my daughter had said. “Your father and I have decided that you are in no position to parent your children. You are not raising them in the Christian way, and we can give them a better chance. We are going to go to court and try to get custody of them.”

That was it. I had absolutely had it. I might not be a lot of things, but the one thing I am, the one thing I am certain of, is that I am a damn good mother. And here are two people who locked me in a closet, have been in and out of mental hospitals, have beat me until I bled, locked me outside in the cold with no shoes, claiming that they are better parents than me? Oh hell no.

I made a choice.

I disowned my family. I stopped talking to them completely. There was no big parting of ways, no big discussion, I just deleted their numbers from my phone, and I had the phone company block their incoming calls. When my mother finally got a hold of me, wanting to make sure her grandchildren were alive, I told her that I was through with them. That I had had enough. That I was responsible for my own bad decisions, but that they had led me to them. That they never equipped me with the skills, or self esteem to be anything but a total mess, and that I needed to figure things out on my own, without their twisted advice.

That I was ready to be the person that I was meant to be, and that I couldn’t do that with them in my life.

My mom cried. Begged me to let her see the children. She told me that I was right, she had never loved me, and she didn’t want a relationship with me, but that she wanted my kids. I told her if she really loved them, if she really wanted what was best for them, that I needed her to let me go. That I needed her to let me be the mother that they needed. And then I hung up the phone.

These days I get letters. I don’t open them. I know her enough to know that she plays twisted mind games with me. Whatever she is sending me is just part of a greater plan to draw me back into her life.

Like an abuser throwing crumbs at a puppy she just kicked, watching the puppy be oh so grateful for the little snack and show of affection.

The loss is apparent. I spend holidays alone. I have no family to call when I need help. I know that if something bad happens to me, I have no back-up plan. But I have to keep reminding myself that there never was. The only thing that was ever there was the idea of a family, but that was always just a mirage. It is strange when people ask about my family, and I reply that I have no family. Their look is always one of surprise and confusion. How can someone have NO family?

I have no family, and I am happier than I have ever been in my life. I have found my happiness. I have found my confidence. I have found the person that I was meant to be. And I have done it alone.

As I sat there in the car, turning the letter over and over in my hands, I took a deep breath and reaffirmed my choice. I got out of the car, and threw the letter away, unopened. I’m not willing to reopen my past.

I’m big now. You can’t hit me anymore.

38 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

True Confession from Overseas

'I got my cheating boyfriend's girlfriend deported'

I

met Tom at the pub when I was 19. I'd had one other relationship, with a lovely guy called Brent, but he was a little 'safe' and I was getting bored, so when I walked into my local pub one night and set my eyes on Tom- I was gone.

He was tall and blonde with a hint of danger. I watched him all night and every time he went to the bar, I made sure it was time for me to top up as well. Before the end of the night Tom and I were flirting and laughing, and at the end of the evening we left together. That was it for my relationship with Brent.

Tom and I spent the next week in bed, and by the end of that week we were firmly entrenched in a relationship. I moved all my things into his place the very next week and we embarked on life together.

He was funny, adored books, music and movies and loved searching out the next adventure. He always had some new bit of information for me, be it an obscure artist, architect, chef... the boy was perfect.

Not only was he interested in culture, he was a real man and totally adored me- even when I was ensconced in flannel PJ's with a bad dose of PMT. He was the relationship you read about in books. After a hard day's work Tom would pour me a glass of wine, make me laugh and cook me a gourmet dinner. All my friends were jealous, we were the perfect couple.

Then I got a promotion at work.

Tom celebrated this with champagne and lobster, but soon this excitement turned to dissolution.

He got home every day at five his work wasn't challenging; it was life that was the challenge for him, while my work started to consume me more and more.

I missed dinner regularly - in fact, when I was home, I was checking my emails and Black-

Lovers in Court Abimbola Sodeke

M

r Albert Egbuhulem has urged an Agege Customary Court, in Lagos, to dissolve his marriage with his wife, Stella.

The couple had been married for 20 years with four children. The man told the court he wants to end the union because there was no more love, adding that there is threat to his life, "she is fetish and other irreconcilable differences".

Egbuhulem told the court that his wife is fetish she visits different native doctor for reasons best known to her.

"I don't want her in my life again because I don't want her to kill me, she is too fetish to the extent of visiting different herbalists for reasons I don't know. She is just troublesome, fights with everyone," he said.

But Stella has denied the allegations, describing them as false. She is not ready to divorce her husband because of the children, she told the court.

"He is still my lover, because we were happily married for

berry, always on call. Many weekends were spent at the office, and though I was heading where I thought I wanted to go, I noticed Tom being more and more distant.

I'd often get home from work to find a note 'at the pub' but thought, “well - I'm working, he may as well enjoy himself.” I didn't want him sitting at home like a dutiful 'wife'.

One night he didn't get in until 4.00 in the morning. The next night same thing, then again and again. I asked some of my friends from the pub if he was playing around- their uncomfortable shifting, followed by weak denial confirmed my suspicions.

One night, I told Tom I was working, but I wasn't. I went to the pub, hiding amongst the crowd in the corner. There was Tom - all over a very pretty girl.

They looked very comfortable together and I noticed the other people in the pub treating them like an old familiar couple.

I was devastated. I ran from the hotel in tears and went home and waited for him.

It was nearly 5.30am when Tom got in and I was dying to confront him - but I didn't.

The next night Tom had to go to his brother’s place for a family do, so I claimed to be working, but I wasn't. I went to the pub.

There she was, the girl. She was drinking with friends so I sat at the next table and listened to them. The girl's name was Nadine and she had a thick Irish accent.

My eavesdropping revealed a lot.

She had been backpacking, and had planned to go home when her visa finished, but was now over staying her visa, and working illegally at a cafe, all because she'd met Tom. My Tom. When she went to the ladies I followed her, and on the pretense of needing a tampon struck up a con-

‘I made one last trip to the pub and found out Nadine had been raided by immigration at her place of employment' versation. She raved about the lovely guy she'd met- the perfect guy, her job, new flat and her love for Australia. She even went as far to say that Tom was with some career driven cow - but was ending it to marry her so she could stay in the country.

I went home seething, but held my tongue. For once, Tom was already home, but he didn't ask where I'd been- he assumed I’d been working. He hardly asked me anything lately, but I still loved him and knew I’d never find a man as sexy and eternally interesting as him.

The next morning I made two phone calls. I rang immigration and told them all about Nadine- where she was working, where she lived

Husband wants 20-year-old marriage with wife dissolved 20 years until he asked me to leave his house because I don't have a male child after four children.

"He kept my children away from me and told their school authorities not to let me see them.

Albert told my own children that I wanted to poison them, they became scared of me to the extent they would lock the kitchen door when they see me. He threatened

to disown any of them that came near me. What have I done to deserve this treatment.

"Now my first daughter's wedding is near and I have not seen her. They did the traditional wedding without me when I'm not dead," she lamented.

It was reported that the last time they were in court, the court president, P. A. Williams, advised

and the fact she was in the country illegally. I then rang my job and quit.

I'd saved quite a bit of money and I realised, I loved Tom more than I loved the job. I gave a week’s notice.

At the end of the week, after my last day at work I had champagne, dinner, candles- the whole thing waiting as Tom came in from his job. He seemed rattled- hell, he was rattled, and very surprised to see me home with such treats for him. As he sat down I told him I had quit my job and was thinkingwhy not us drive around Australia, we'd talked about travel and it was time we got around to it.

He looked at me with surprise, his mouth open... then he agreed.

I made one last trip to the pub before we went, alone, and found out Nadine had been raided by immigration at her place of employment and kicked out of the country- with no time to say goodbye to anyone- nothing. She was gone.

Tom and I repaired our relationship as we drove around Australia.

Every day was an adventure- we planned nothing and just ended up where we ended up. The romance and connection came back and he fell back in love with me. the couple to call the attention of their families to look into the matter. However, Egbuhulem told the court he didn't want his wife in his house but the president told him to get an apartment for her to ensure there was peace.

"She is still your wife. If you say you don't want her in the house, for the sake of peace get an apartment for her till everything will be settled," he stated.

The couple were given some weeks to settle out of court through family intervention before May 28, the next adjourned date.

He is a bad influence on my children, wife laments

A

36-year-old accountant, Mrs Olukokun, has dragged her husband to a Lagos Customary Court seeking a dissolution of their seven-year-old marriage.

She also wants the court to grant her custody of the children. The petitioner told the court that she was tired of the union with her husband, Adebola Olukokun.

“My husband does not care for me and the children. He drinks to stupor and misbehaves in the presence of the children. There

was a day I attended a wedding with the permission of my husband, only to return home to find that my husband had burnt my clothes and other belongings.

I was dumbfounded, and I left Ibadan for Lagos with a polythene bag,” she lamented.

Mrs Olukokun also cited an occasion when her husband almost stabbed the landlord’s son.

She narrated further how she had gone to different places of worship and was told that her marriage wouldn’t work out. “The

wife of my husband’s younger brother is a member of the Celestial Church. She took me there and they told me that the marriage can’t work and that I should dissolve the marriage and take care of the children,” she said.

She accused her husband of beating the children at random and trying to strangle and stab her on several occasions. “I can’t take this anymore,” she cried. Due to the fact that Mr. Olukokun was not in court to defend himself, the case was adjourned till June 2, for judgment.

It's now six years later and we have a little cafe together, and life is beautiful. Sometimes I wonder what happened to Nadine - but really, I don't care. I have my man, he has me, and we're thrilled to be planning a family... first one due in four months.

Your say: Have your say about this true confession.

Love Education

What is Rape?

R

ape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more people against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent.

The term rape is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sexual assault.

When part of a widespread and systematic practice during international conflict, rape and sexual slavery are recognized as crimes against humanity and war crimes. Rape is also recognized as an element of the crime of genocide when committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a targeted ethnic group.

People who have been raped can be severely traumatized and may suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder; in addition to psychological harm resulting from the act, rape may cause physical injury, or have additional effects on the victim, such as acquiring of a sexually transmitted infection or becoming pregnant. Furthermore, following a rape, a victim may face violence or threats thereof from the rapist, and, in some cultures, from the victim's own family and relatives.

Source: Wikipedia

Travel&Tourism ON SATURDAY NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/travel

Destination Brazil 2014: See, feel and explore the beauty p.42

Travel Personality David Kanyandu: Service is everything

p.41

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, EDITOR, TRAVEL AND TOURISM iroandy@ymail.com

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

17 MAY 2014

HOSPITALITY BITS

HOSPITALITY

A feeling of distinction at Rockview Festac Town, Lagos, enjoys a level of heightened activities in the hospitality sector and one of the outfits making the difference in the neighbourhood is Rockview Hotel, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

T

HE presence of Rockview Hotel in Festac Town, Lagos, is a boon to the town as it has bolstered both the rating of the town and given it a competitive edge.

There is however a swelling rank of hotels in the town and its environs, but Rockview stands out among the lot, helped by its appealing design and the culture of service built over the years.

Recently, the hotel completed a phased renovation of its entire facilities, which according to the general manager, Godfrey Ukaegbu, is part of the vision of the hotel’s management to offer the market the best option in terms of quality product and service.

Apart from renewing the product, Ukaegbu added that retraining of staff is a regular and constant practice in order to keep the workforce abreast of development and trends within the hospitality sector and equip them with the right skills and tools needed to deliver on the mandate of the hotel.

Speaking in similar vein, the sales and marketing manager of the hotel, Chinonye Amannakwe, said the business hotel is well–apportioned to provide the necessary and basic services for its numerous clients, adding that the hotel has, within its short existence, added value to service delivery in the town and Lagos.

It has become a reference point for many residents and visitors to its facility, Amannakwe said, adding that with a quality product, friendly and courteous staff who are always eager to serve, Rockview Hotel would remain competitive and continue to strive to be one of the best managed indigenous hotels.

Hotel and Catering Institute elects Gabriel Adebayo Ayodele as president

Exterior view of the hotel

conferences, business meetings and social events with its wedding package one of the most sought after features of the hotel.

Security, said Amannakwe, is a priority with a 24-hour internal and external security services, beauty salon, laundry services for both in-house and non–resident guests, car hire service and travel advisory services as well as internet facility (Wi–fi) completes its range of facilities and services, which in the words of Amannakwe are of the highest quality.

Banquet hall

A typical bedroom setting

Facilities/services The hotel has 74 rooms made of Deluxe, Royal and VIP Suites.

Although each of the categories feature different amenities, the VIP Suites, which are located on the VIP floor, is top notch with a bedroom and living room featuring a mini bar, complimentary beverage, flat screen TV, bathroom and many more.

A restaurant, which he said offers the best of culinary experiences serving both African and continental dishes in buffet and a la carte style. Also, Sunday brunch, Chinese and Nigerian nights as well as chef’s special on a daily basis are some of the treats to feast on at the hotel. The meals, he revealed, are well prepared with the

39

highest consideration for hygiene.

Another major feature of the hotel is its non-smoking sport bar where guests can relax and watch their favourite sporting events while munching and drinking. There is also the outdoor swimming pool where you can enjoy a good swim, sunbathe and dine by the poolside with live entertainment.

There is a snack bar attached to the section and sit-out area where guests can relax and feel the breeze on their faces while for those looking to maintain a trendy and healthy regime, there is a gymnasium and spa with a sauna attached.

A business centre offering all forms of secretariat services round the clock and a banquet hall sitting over 350 people for

Competitive edge Besides its quality product and professional service delivery culture, the sales and marketing revealed that some of the unique selling points of the hotel include its security network, insisting that ‘‘we have all it takes to secure our guests and property as we have never recorded any ugly cases since inception".

The other is its culinary treat, which he said is a delightsome offering. Other strong points according to him are the location - which he said is easily accessible from any part of the state - friendly rate, leisure and entertainment packages, especially on weekends and festive periods and personalised service. He said the hotel staff have been trained to treat each guest as an individual with peculiar needs, paying attention to detail.

The hotel also appears to take seriously its social corporate responsibility as it is involved in the development of the community, constantly contributing to the various initiatives in the community, making occasional cash and material donations and also offering its facilities for use by the community free of charge.

The fitness centre

THE Nigerian Institute of Hotel and Catering has elected Mr. Gabriel Adebayo Ayodele as its president at its 13th annual general meeting held in Lagos. Ayodele who is to run the affairs of the institute for the next one year is a fellow of the NIHC and controller, marketing and sales of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Other officers elected alongside Ayodele are mallam Aminu Kabo as first vice president, Mrs. Bola Dada as second vice president and Alhaji Gbenga Dau’ud Sunmonu as the third vice president while the immediate president of the institute, Mr. Bola Jaiyeola who is also the general manager of business development, O’dua Investment Limited is to serve on the national council of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) as the representative of NIHC. As part of plans to strengthen the institute and make it live to its billing, six other professionals were appointed into the institute. They are: Mr. Kazeem Durosomo, a fellow of NIHC and the Institute of Hospitality, United Kingdom, representing the hotel sector; Mrs. Angella Kachukwu, representing hospitality and welfare sector; Col Beatrice Echenzu (rtd) representing institutional sector; Mrs Ebere Onu of Imo State University, representing the education sector; Mrs. Olabisi Onala, from the office of Chief of Staff, Lagos State Governor’s office, representing the corporate and industrial sector and Mr. Clement Izuogu, representing the oil and gas sector.

Also, about 43 new professional members were inducted into the institute with the executive secretary of NIHC, Mr. Victor Kayode, assuring them of the support of the council while enjoining them to offer professional and dedicated services towards improving the institute and ensuring that it remains relevant in the country.

Institute of Hospitality UK-Nigeria

THE Nigerian arm of the Institute of Hospitality, UK, has announced plans for its fourth international conference, scheduled to hold on June 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The theme of the conference is Tourism Hospitality and National Security – A synergy for economic growth and stability. Some of the speakers at the event include the assistant inspector general of police, Mamman Ibrahim of Zone Two, Lagos, and Mr. Ademola Iyiade, former head of department and senior lecturer at the department of Hospitality Management, Lagos State Polytechnic.

According to the honorary secretary of the institute, Dr. Wasiu Oba, the conference is part of the commitment of IH to provide a networking platform, information and education on the prevailing trends in the sector and development within the country as it affects the sector and its operators. The conference, he said, would focus on topics that inform and educate.

40 TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

CHEF’S CORNER

At Sunfit, Chef Edet calls the shots The impressive way he has carried out the fastidious demands that come with being a chef belies his age. For Chef Charles Edet, he's simply doing his job. His employer, Sunfit, is the better for it, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

L

ocated in Amuwo Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos, Sunfit is not your regular hotel; it is rather more of a health and wellness outfit, as it is totally devoted to the promotion of wellness in the land. To a great extent, its facilities and services clearly indicate this and even its stated mission amplifies this as well.

Speaking with the head chef of the outfit, Charles Edet, you get the feeling that even the wellness treat of Sunfit begins with the culinary offerings as he tells you that the residential dietician of the hospitality home in conjunction with the kitchen have taken time to design the menu set, which is strictly health-based.

According to him, the wellness philosophy of Sunfit is not complete without taking into consideration the menu aspect. That is the reason the restaurant is committed to offering healthy and hygienic gastronomic packages to the people. The spanking kitchen and the restaurant are indicative of the commitment of Sunfit to this avowed mission.

Just like in other hotels the menu set here comprises local and international dishes as either buffet or ala carte. With regard to local dishes, Edet says everyone, no matter the tribe gets their mouth fill when it gets to dining at Sunfit.

For instance, menu from the eastern region consists of bitter leaf - which he says is very popular and in high demand from people of the Igbo extraction - ogbono, egusi, white soup and nkwobi while for the South-West, efo riro, gbegiri, ewedu, ila, soko and egusi soups hold sway.

And for the South-South, taking a cue from Akwa Ibom, where Edet is from, edikang ekong, afang, editan, afia–efere and atama, all vegetable-based, but cooked with different condiments make the list.

According to him, no desire of any guest is left out as Sunfit is committed to the customer’s satisfaction.

On the continental level, Edet said that English, Chinese, Italian and Indian menu among others, are offered on a daily basis by the restaurant. Perhaps the most popular Chinese dish here is wonto soup. ‘‘They love wonto soup,’’ he said.

According to him, the wonto soup is accompanied with dumplings, which is made of chop pork, shrimps, mushroom mixed with

Edet

garlic and ginger and then sprinkled with little soy and sesame then wrapped in wonto wrapper, boil with wonto sauce and garnished with spring onions. ‘‘We try treat them fine and they are always very happy and satisfied,’’ he says, adding that ‘‘though we also treat them to other traditional soups.’’ That includes egg roll (made in the Chinese style) for breakfast, sauted shrimps with garlic sauce, ‘‘because Chinese loves shrimps a lot,’’ he adds. There is also shredded chicken, Chinese fried rice, chicken lomein, Chinese noodle, sweet and sour prok, spring roll. Coming to the Indian guests, he says there is always an extra care because they are mostly vegetarians. On this score, the menu list include vegetable stir fried, traditional "flat bread," which Edet says is called "chappati," is also loved and in high demand by the Indians.

There is also blindi imasala, which is like okro dish but made with native spice such as garam – masala, cumin seed and coriander leaf, chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, spring rolls (vegetable) with dumplings while for the Italian, their traditional pasta tops the list.

Besides, there is what he called the freanacious dishes and the list include the risotto and a wide range of the spaghetti offerings such as spaghetti a – la cabonara, spaghetti a – la Napolitano, spaghetti Italiano, spaghetti Milanese and spaghetti Bolognese.

All of the menus on offer are three course meals – appetizer, main course and dessert while the in–house guest enjoys complimentary breakfast. Breakfast is served between 6am and 10.30am, just like this morning when breakfast had just ended, and the restaurant staff were clearing the tables and getting set for lunch while Edet made out time for a chat even though his attention was mostly divided.

One of the days to savour a

sumptuous meal with the family at Sunfit is during the Sunday brunch, which opens from 11am and ends at about 2pm. Edet says this is always treated as a special occasion because the guests are lavishly hosted and offered the best. ‘‘We take time to prepare the brunch because of the nature of our visitors who are mostly walk–in guests and corporate members of the fitness club who have come to use the facilities."

It's usually a four-course meal, while the Indian night every Saturday and Chinese night every Friday are other interesting days to experience the best of Edet's culinary skill. Presently, he is working on what he calls the chef's signature dishes - some special creations by him to delight the guests.

BACKGROUND The Akwa Ibom–born chef reveals that he has always had passion for cooking since his teenage years. The other inclination for him growing up was singing. If he was not a cook today then he probably would had ended up as a musician.

But for the parents, especially the father, the dream was for their son to become a lecturer. But young Edet chose his path from early teens and after many years of opposition he was given the free hand to pursue his dream.

Today, Edet is living his dream and he seems quite happy and fulfilled, especially given the outfit he now heads. ‘‘It has been a fantasy and a dream come true. I am very happy anytime I see myself cooking,’’ said the elated young chef who adds that he does all the cooking at home and even cooks for his girlfriend.

Edet holds a degree in biology education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, affiliated to the Ondo State College of Education and also a certificate in hotel and catering. Edet kicked off his career while still at school, working in restaurants, hotels and fast food eateries such as Mr. Biggs, Tantalizers and Chicken Republic, Golden Heritage Hotel and Sunview Hotel, all in Akure, Ondo State, where he honed his culinary skill.

Edet who joined Sunfit in October last year, says he has no regrets and considers himself lucky to have worked under some great professional chefs, undergoing private studies and researches. These, he says, have boosted his experience and exposed him to various aspects of the trade.

He is at present undergoing training with one of the leading hotels in Lagos State.

Looking ahead, Edet desire not only to be the best he possibly can in his chosen career; more importantly, he wants to cap it as a lecturer and fulfil the wish and desire of his father who had always wanted his son to be nothing else but a teacher.

TRAVEL BEATS its target.

Dubai dreams world most visited city overreach Vicente Neto named as president of Brazilian tourism board ‘‘It is this collective industry comON course with its tourism vision for 2020 targeting over 20 million annual visitors, authorities of Dubai Tourism have once again upped the ante, setting its sight on the ambitious dream of becoming the world's most visited city ever. A coveted record presently held by London with 16 million tourists in 2013.

But for Dubai, which has achieved a growth rate of 10.6 percent year–on–year increasing, equating 11 million hotel guests in 2013, the expectation is that if this is maintained then the country would in 2020 beat London and other

aspiring cities to the record.

Much of this ambitious dream were outlined by the authorities during the recent Arabian Travel Market (ATM) hosted by the city of Dubai.

Addressing a meeting during ATM, the director-general of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Helal Saheed Almarri, highlighted the fact that the first phase of the second international airport opened at Dubai World Central and a number of new hotels, attractions and of a host events and the government policies and legislation put Dubai on course to

mitment that makes us confident that we will be able to achieve our targets of attracting 20 million annual visitors by 2020, and inspires the ambition to eventually become the world’s most visited city. The pursuit of this ambition means that for the tourist the destination is constantly being enhanced with more attractions, more events, more hotels, world-leading infrastructure and services and a holiday experience which delivers beyond expectations – whether the tourist is visiting for the first time or is a repeat guest,” said Almarri.

WITH less than 30 days to the World Cup being hosted by Brazil, the country’s tourism board has named a new president for the board. He is 48-year-old Vicente Neto. The new head who has since assumed office holds a degree in law and a post-graduate degree in management. He worked for the Federal University of Bahia in 1985 and served as special advisor to the President of EMBRATUR in 2013.

Born in Bahia, Neto has been National Secretary of Sports, Education, Leisure and Social Inclusion in the Ministry of Sport, after occupying the post of chief of staff of the same ministry. In his state, he was secretary of Culture, Sport and Recreation in the City of

Lauro de Freitas and Secretary of Urban Planning and Budget and São Sebastião do Passé Development.

Between 1989 and 2004 he was head of the Central Workers Group in Bahia, Coordinator of the State Union of Workers in Higher Education of Bahia, General Coordinator of the Union of Civil Servants of the Federal University of Bahia, and General Coordinator of the National Federation of Servers of Brazilian Universities.

Neto is expected to head the initiative by the country and the various hosting cities of the global football fiesta in actualising the dream of boosting its tourism earning through the one month feast.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

TRAVEL&TOURISM

41

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

David Kanyandu: Service is everything

For Zimbabwean–born David Kanyandu, general manager of Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, the hospitality trade barely has any room for anyone averse to serving others. He tells ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, the roots of his motivation.

H

aving what he describes as a natural inclination for service, Kanyandu didn't have to think too hard when an opportunity to work in the hospitality industry beckoned in his native Harare. ‘‘I was attracted by the love of people; the love to serve,’’ he said, explaining that in the last 14 years of his career he has fully imbibed the importance of service, affirming his dream that he was in the right track in his chosen career path. ‘‘You can never succeed in this industry if you do not appreciate the concept of service,” reveals Kanyandu of his experience in the hospitality world.

"Hoteliers are actors on stage who project a certain image of themselves and institution they work in. you need to be humble.’’ The key virtue for him is humility without which he says you can never make the right impression and be appreciated as a "servant leader," which he professes to be.

For him, doing what he is doing now is like a walk in the park because he totally cherishes and enjoys engaging with people and bringing smiles and laughter to people, especially the desolate and helpless traveller who crosses his path. ‘‘I feel like I am living my dream. I do not regard it as work. I am the happiest person everyday when the sun rises and I realize that it is another opportunity to live my dream,’’ he enthused. It's no surprise then that he has easily endeared himself to his staff and the hotel’s guests.

Of course, growing up in a country with a strong tourism culture was a sufficient incentive. ‘‘Tourism in Zimbabwe is key to the economy and several institutions up to University level offer academic programme to complement the vibrant industry, so I grabbed this opportunity when it came knocking."

Kanyandu's first stop in Nigeria was Best Western Plus Hotel, Ikeja, managed by his hotel group, African Sun, which is a Harare–based international hotel management brand. Since making its debut in Nigeria some years ago, the brand is gradually spreading its tentacles and influences in the hospitality sector with a number of hotels under its signature.

Nike Lake Resort where he holds sway is one of them. It was from the Ikeja– based Best Western Plus Hotel that Kanyandu was moved to Nike Lake Resort in

2006. He sees Nigeria as a land of great opportunities, but he laments the challenge of inadequate infrastructure. ‘‘Nigeria is a wonderful and endowed country with accommodating, friendly and resilient people. ‘‘Nigeria is a country with lots of opportunities if only resources could be allocated correctly to address infrastructure challenge and reduce dependence on oil by focusing on other sectors of the economy,’’ he informs even as he fingers insecurity as one of the odds to take care of. ‘‘Insecurity especially in the North East region and the general lack of power and clean water. I however appreciate the effort that the government is putting in addressing these challenges.’’

In terms of comparison, Kanyandu who have worked in both his native Zimbabwe and Mozambique before moving over to Nigeria, said the hospitality sector is basically the same everywhere barring the level of infrastructure and service delivery. ‘‘I have worked in Zimbabwe and Mozambique before coming to Nigeria. Hospitality Industry is the same everywhere however a few differences emerge on the structure and importance of the Industry,’’ he recounts.

However, in the case of Nigeria, he laments the absence of skilled manpower, especially at the managerial level, which makes it imperative for Nigerian hotels to rely on expatriates to manage its hotels. ‘‘Nigeria relies more on expatriates to manage their hotels. There is not enough local expertise,’’ he said, adding that the situation is not helped by the poor attention from the government. ‘‘Tourism industry is not given enough attention despite its potential to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).’’

Recounting his experience of the country in the less than a decade he has worked, he said there is ‘‘quite a lot to talk about. I have found the marriage and burial rites quite different and depicting a rich cultural background.

I find the Igbos aggressive and focused".

Kanyandu holds a first de-

gree in tourism and hospitality management and a masters in business administration while he enjoys travelling to different destinations. ‘‘Apart from visits abroad, travelling around Africa has been most fulfilling. I love wildlife and Southern Africa boasts large herds of the big five (Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffaloes and Leopard).’’

Enugu, his present base, may not be as vibrant and competitive as Lagos, he however reveals that the climate in Enugu is favourable for investment and that quite a number of hotels are springing up in the city. ‘‘There has been an increase in the number

of hotels in the last few years, which indicates a favourable investment climate.

The prevailing security makes Enugu an attractive destination. The hospitality market is highly competitive.’’

Despite the competitive atmosphere, he says Nike Lake Resort is top-notch and has the cutting edge to outstrip competitors. ‘‘Competition is stiff but Nike Lake Resort has the cutting edge. The hotel prides itself as the market leader both in terms of service provision, product quality and capacity.’’ On room pricing in Enugu, he said: ‘‘Accommodation is much cheaper in Enugu compared to Lagos and Abuja, but Nike Lake Resort rates are very competitive and affordable."

Atlanta to host 2015 World Culture and Travel Expo ATLANTA has been announced as the host city for the 2015 World Culture and Travel Expo by the organisers of the event, Semco Productions.

It is expected to be the largest ever annual cultural and travel event to be held in North America.

With the vast array of cultural and travel products, services, personnel and others expected at the event, the WCT Expo is going to a great chance for the individuals and corporate

organizations as well as destinations across the globe to take advantage of the huge and unique marketplace to promote and market themselves.

It is a three day gathering with more than 425,000 square feet and 50,000-70,000 attendees who are looking for travel opportunities all over the world, this is a must attend event. Venue of the event is the Georgia World Congress Centre in Downtown Atlanta.

TRAVEL BEATS

Lagos, Luanda set to host ABTA Business travel forum LAGOS and Luanda, the Angolan capital, are gearing up to host a twin business travel forum being organized by the African Business Travel Association (ABTA).

The two events are expected to bring together corporate travel buying clients as well as the leading travel agents, travel management companies, airlines, hotels and travel suppliers to discuss business travel trends and challenges in the regions, as well as to share local and global best practice in corporate travel management.

The sessions would include advice and

practical guidance on how companies can better manage and reduce business travel costs, the importance of developing good relationships with preferred TMC’s, travel agents and suppliers, the role of intelligent travel data to reduce travel spend and guidance from a global travel expert on what companies need to do to improve their image and professionalism in order to be more attractive to international clients.

“We are very excited to be visiting Luanda and Lagos again, and to host events that will give travel buyers,

TMC’s, travel agents and travel suppliers key insights into how to tackle industry challenges,” says Monique Swart, ABTA Founder. “Luanda and Lagos have a lot of challenges to overcome within the business travel environment, but there are also incredible opportunities for companies willing to better understand what it is that they can be doing to deliver regional and global best practice,” she emphasized.

The Lagos event is billed for May 20 at the Four Points By Sheraton hotel, Lekki, while that of Luanda holds on May 22.

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TRAVEL&TOURISM

DESTINATION

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former colonial territory, official record credits a Portuguese explorer, Pedro Alvares Cabral, as the man who discovered Brazil even though there is a mention of one Vicente Yanez Pinon, a Spaniard who was believed to have landed on a site closer to the present day Recife (one of the host cities of the World Cup) around January 26, 1500.

Cabral’s fleet was believed to have sailed into present day Bahia on April 22, 1500. Since 1530, the Portuguese Crown ruled the country for centuries until September 7, 1822 when Dom Pedro I declared the country's independence.

From that point on the country was governed by an imperial dynasty which was later terminated by a military coup led by Marshal Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca, forcing Emperor Dom Pedro II to abdicate in November 1889.

The country became a republic however under military regime and it was not until 1985 that it enjoyed democratic rule.

The country's president, Dilma Rousseff, got into power in 2011 and since had faced the task of steering the economy and barrages of public uprising over the hosting of the World Cup topping the list.

Though an agrarian society, Brazil has also witnessed industrial and economic growth of some sort. Amongst its natural resources are coal and iron ore, a notable coffee production country with nearly half of the world’s coffee produced by it with such cities as Sao Paulo, Parana, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais predominantly coffee production enclaves The country’s other agrarian produce include sugar cane, which is also used as fuels for specially designed vehicles, ricin, cocoa, corn and oranges as well soy, tobacco, potato, cotton, rice, wheat, manioc and bananas.

It also boasts vast and rich rainforest and rates as oil producing country and one of the members of the BRICS countries.

Geographically, Brazil is regarded as the largest country in South America, spanning over half of the region with the Atlantic Ocean flanking its eastern coastline while it shares borders with Venezuela, Guyana, French Guyana and Surinam to the north.

To its west are Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, while Colombia is to the northwest and Uruguay to the south.

Of all the countries in South America, only Chile and Ecuador do not border Brazil.

The country’s landmass covers 8,547,404 square kilometers with about 190 million people, making it the fifth largest country on the planet with Russia, China, Canada and the United States in the lead. Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have about the largest population while its capital city, Brasilia has a population of 2,094,000 (2003 estimates).

The country is divided into five regions (Centre-West, North, Northeast, South and Southeast); these regions are further divided into 26 states plus the Federal District that houses the Brazilian capital, Brasília. The official language is Portuguese but other languages such as German, Italy, Spanish and some indigenous

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

BRAZIL 2014: See, feel and explore the beauty and thrills of a football fiesta (1)

Estadio Nacional - Brasilia

With less than 30 days to the World Cup, ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, highlights attractions of the 12 host cities in this two series piece.

Brasilia-Cathedral

languages are spoken as well.

About 75 per cent of the country’s inhabitants are Catholics whilst another 26 million are Protestants.

Football is like an industry and the most popular sports and pastime of the people, from the street corners, beaches, parks and fields, the game is played and cherished by both the young and aged. Over the years the country has won different accolades in the game of football ranging from regional to the global level.

Honour roll for the country include five FIFA World Cups, eight Copa Americas, four FIFA Under-20 World Cups, three FIFA Under-17 World Cups, two FIFA Confederations Cups, four FIFA Futsal World Cups, three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups and dozens of continental trophies.

Porto Alegre It is one of southern Brazil’s famed and rich port city, located on the banks of the huge freshwater Lagoa dos Patos and a key player in Mercosul (the South American free-trade agreement).

Just like many Brazilian states and cities, it is an immigrants city founded in 1742 by immigrants from the Portuguese archipelago of Azores, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul was the destina-

tion of thousands of immigrants from Portugal, Italy, Germany and Poland.

Its 497 square kilometres are covered with more than one million trees, making it one of the greenest cities in Brazil, despite being the nucleus of the fourthmost populous metropolitan area in the country, with roughly four million inhabitants.

Attractions There is plenty to see, feel and explore in this port city, especially for those seeking sand, sun, sea and sex for which Brazil is known and one of the places you are sure to catch fun unhindered is the downtown area of the city, which boast a transport hub, a lasting neoclassical architecture and vibrant arts tradition.

Also, expect an active and colourful musical entertainment scene: Cathedral Metropolitana – a 20th century neoclassical cathedral is one of the most visible landmarks of Port Alegre, and an impressive building with domes, stained glass and exquisite architectural details galore.

Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul – another impressive neoclassical architectural masterpiece, and a melting pot for artistes with the Bistrot de marges

Arena Da Baixada - Curitiba

on the ground floor, providing an inviting setting for lunch.

Museu Histórico Júlo de Castilhos – located near praca da Matriz, the museum is home to a typical 19th century artifacts, Casa da Cultura Mario Quintana – a cultural facility boasting a cinema and two bursting cafés.

You can also enjoy live musical performances at the café concerto on the seventh floor and catch a view of the sunset over Lagoa dos Patos; Chale da Praça XV – is located in a pleasant Victorian – style garden house with a sprawling terrace and plays host to a number of colourful events, especially on Sundays. Centro Cultural do Usino Gasômetro – situated on the banks of the Lagoa dos Patos, this former factory host art cinemas, art exhibitions and a café.

Vitraux - Is Porto Alegre’s most active gay and lesbian social scene with hot spots such as the dance club Vitraux; Apolinário – a high brow spot for beers, Casa do Lado; Some of the restuarants to savour different choices of food include Atelier das massas for Italian delicacies – a pasta bar; Boteco Natalicio, an open air bar, offers regional delicacies and beers; Banco 40, Gambrinus and Café Do Mercado offers varieties and interesting items while

Churrascaria Roda de Carreta, a meat restaurant is a must visit spot to celebrate with the locals as they enjoy their gaucho customs with food, drink, song and dance on offer. The buffet on display offers 17 different kinds of grilled meats and a number of hot and cold dishes.

Tudo Pelo Social offers Brazillian dining.

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro otherwise popularly called Rio was the capital of Brazil when it achieved its independence in 1889. Years later, it was developed into the economic and financial hub of the country with businesses and infrastructure of different sorts springing up and is home to several multinational companies and a force to be reckoned with when it comes to industry, service and tourism.

Attractions One of the foremost attractions to look out for is it vast and rich colonial and historical outlook and relics doting the city. It tantilising beaches, greens, biosterous celebrations, warming and welcoming locals are treasures of the city: Christ the Redeemer – It's one of the structures that annouce Rio to the world and it’s a pride of the people, sitting majestically atop

TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 2014

Curitibia

Rio de Janeiro

Teatro-Guaíra curitibia

One of the masterpieces of brasilia

the Corcovado mountain with an open arm, Cristo Redentor, as it is popularly known, and with its imposing structure of soapstone and cement, offers a panoramic view of the scenic beauty of Rio. Sugarloaf mountain, rises to 395 metre peak at the Guanabar Bay in Atlantic Ocean with the top base offering a vantage point for photo shoot of the scenic beauty of the city.There is a cable car ride for many of the adventurers. Rio de Janeiro botanical garden is an eco tourism enclave for conservationsts to feed on some of the best collections of Victorian water lilies, Japanese plant and a variety of Brazilian rich botany.

Just sitting preciously on the edge of Tijuca forest, it was created by Dom Joao VI in 1808; while Sambadrome otherwise known as Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai, is the spot for Samba school girls dancers and for the mundial crowd this is one spot to catch a glimpse of the Samba girls and gyrate with them as they spurn scintilating dances; Copacabana beach, is one of the most famed and sought after leisure spots in the city with its avalanche of bars, resturants, cafes and 24 hours live entertainment.

Ipanema beach may not be

Estadio Beira -Rio - Porto Alegre

so close to Copacabana but it is also well known and provides its own excitement and colours for people to savour. Away from the water related leisure offerings of Rio, Centro district, which is like the centre of the city, is one hot spot to catch fun of various make from music to good food, as the city’s hub some of the landmarks relics to behold include the National History Museum, Mosteiro de Sao Bento Church built in the 17th century, Theatro Municipal built in 1905, the Paco Imperial, which is the powerhouse of the former Portuguese rulers of the country and the 18th century Passeio Publico garden.

There is also the Tijuca National Park for the best of nature’s adventure trail while Petropolis (The Imperial City), which is but one hour drive from Rio, is the idea place with its inviting setting – the foothills of Serra dos Orgaos Naional Park, entices with the Summer Palace of the former Brazilian Emperors while the Palacio Cristal glasshouse and the Cathederal also hav e their own appeal.

For delightsome dining at some of the top rated bars Bar do Gomez located in Santa Teresa with a mix of its traditional flavour, it is a great spot to dine;

Aconchego Carioca situated lcose to the famous Maracana Stadium offers diners some local delicacies, Bip Bip also beckons, offers good music, drink and atmosphere to frolic while Bar Urca, is regarded as a charming and cosy spot to grab some to bite and drink in a calm and peaceful setting.

Brasilia Brazil’s bursting capital city was created on April 21, 1960 officially as the new capital of Brazil, taking over from Rio. Its construction started in 1956 and spanning a landmass of 5, 802 square kilometers, along the country’s highlands in the Central – Western part and as at 2010 the population was put at 2. 481million.

With its natural beauty and physical elements, the city is an enchanting and amazing view with a masterpiece architectural layout while it has the distinction as the only capital city in the world that has made the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site (WHS) list making it a real tourist haven to explore.

Credit is given to architect Lucio Costa who designed the city's layout using the architectural

ideas initially espoused by SwissFrench architect Le Corbusier. The shape of the city is often likened to a bird in flight. The wings come packed with various attractive and inviting designs, structures and monuments of tourism value that tourists should delight in.

Attractions The list of these savoury attractions include the Square of the Three Powers, a location, which harbours Brazil’s power base – the congress, presidential the seat of Brazil's government, which includes the Congress, Presidential Palace and Supreme Court.

The Television Tower is the highest structure of its nature in the world, and offers a good view of the city entrails while the City park, a large green space provides exciting area to relax, have a picnic, skate, jog and engage in other sporting and leisure activities of your fancy.

Some of the interesting locations to wine and dine in the city include Trio Gastronomia Cozinha de Autor; Coco Bambu Lago Sul; Coco Bambu Pizzaria and Cozinha; Mangai; Taypa; Fogo de Chao; La Boulangerie; Outback Steakhouse; Fratello Uno; Manzoku Sushi; Villa Tevere; Corrientes 348; Porcao; Dudu Camargo; Gero; Nippon and Valentina Piz-

43

zaria – the all offer a mixed of world class culinary treats.

Other iconic structures to feast on whilst in the city include Terra Pura Buddhist temple – a Budda temple of awesome appeal; Congresso Nacional; Museu de Valores; Chapada Imperial natural reserve; JK Bridge; Parque Ecologico Capela Dom Bosco; Palacio do Planalto; Praca dos Tres Poderes; Parque Olhos D'agua; Cultural Caixa Brasilia; Brasilia National Park (Agua Mineral) and Jardim Zoologico De Brasilia.

Curitiba One of this city’s outstanding elements is its economic and industrial revolution, which over the years has witnessed huge success and set the city apart as a haven of wealth. It has since 1953 served as the capital city of the State of Parana undergoing major restructuring in terms of it physical and developmental outlook, covering a landmass of 430.9 square kilometers.

With about 1.8 million residents, Curitiba is rated as one of the most populous cities in Southern Brazil while it buoyant economy rates fourth in terms of its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It cultural element is also one of the richness in the country all thanks to its history and tradition, which witnessed a mixed of immigrants from German, Italy, Polish and Ukraine. This fact among others accounted for the city’s refreshing and rich tourism offerings.

Attractions Topping the list is the Bosque Alemão (German Wood; the Ukrainian church replica at fabulous Tingui Park; Tangua, the Barigui; Opera de Arame (a theatre all built with glass and iron wires) at the Quarry Park; Espaco Cultural Paulo Leminski, is an open air, 5157 square foot stage; the Red House (1891); the Church of St. Francis; Casa Romário Martins, is one of the oldest structures in Curitiba; Memorial de Curitiba, a cultural centre of note; Curitiba Botanical Garden, holds large treasure of rich plants and it is also known for its greenhouse, made of iron and glass and inspired in London's Crystal Palace.

For delightsome wining and dining, the place to sample is the neighbourhood of Santa Felicidade, which is said to be the city’s restaurant district with a strong Italian heritage and so, expect rich Italian culinary on showcase while for art lovers see Nani Góes/Museu Oscar Niemeyer and the Contemporary Art Museum in Niterói.

For a good view of how impressionistic the city could be then go to the Panoramic Tower; Catedral Basilica Menor de Nossa Senhora da Luz de Curitiba, which is situated at the Praca Tiradentes, is some sight to behold.

The city with its array of over 30 shopping malls offers diverse options for the people, shopping Estacao, which is known as ‘Station’ named after the train station harbouring its and boast over 180 stores, eateries and a bowling alley, a train museum, a pharmacy museum, a puppet museum, an interactive nature exhibit and an interactive fragrance centre.

Palácio Avenida (Avenue Palace) building is one of Curitiba’s must see building and it houses the headquarters of HSBC Bank while the Christmas period is believed one of the best periods to visit the building to enjoy good musical renditions sponsored by the bank.

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Maltina leverages Lagos carnival to unveil budding talents

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Nigerian girl, 10-yearold Zuriel Oduwole, has made history as the youngest person ever to be interviewed on popular magazine Forbes.

Touted by some as the next Larry King, and ARISE News as the next Oprah Winfrey, Oduwole, is reportedly committed to rebrand Africa by showing the positive things in about the continent, and making the case for education the Girl Child in Africa and Emerging Markets.

No doubt, more prodigious children exit even among the dregs of the Nigerian society and early discovery and development of their talents will make the world a better place.

Such was the fate of 12-yearold Fuji impresario, Toyeb Jenyo, who had followed some of his friends to enjoy the breath-taking spectacle of the Lagos Carnival.

Despite his lowly background, he still went to school and enjoys a considerable good academic performance in class. While he was at the Maltina "Sharing Happiness" activation stand, he danced and participated in the activities. However, the Master of Ceremony, Laugh Up, requested for a fuji live performance from the audience. Toyeb struggled in the crowd just to be noticed as he shouted aloud that he could wow the audience. Fortunately, he along with other five volunteers were ushered to the Maltina Sharing Happiness stage.

The carnival was full of fun and excitement; however no one had expected that the Maltina activation stand would also lead to the discovery of prodigious Fuji talents. Toyeb Jenyo who is only 12 years old did not only showcase masterful African Fuji renditions but also won a brand new refrigerator.

His joy knew no bound as he thanked Maltina for giving him the opportunity to perform and winning a fridge. ‘‘I am so glad that I came here today. Maltina has made me the happiest person on earth because I come from a poor family.

We do not have a fridge and my mother depends on the meagre profit she makes from her trade to feed us. I have not only made my mother proud by winning the fridge but my performance on stage and the reception that I got from the crowd her has giving me the faith that music is my path to greatness. I thank Maltina for putting smiles on my face and I will always be grateful to them," Jenyo said.

In the same vein, a much younger Fuji singer by the name, Muiz Dauda, graced the Maltina activation stand with unbelievable music performance. The audience went ballistic as rapturous applauds

followed each performance in quick succession. Strangely, the Maltina Sharing Happiness Lagos Carnival activation has also demonstrated that early talent discovery and nurturing them to full maturity would engender social harmony It was indeed a momentous and glamorous occasion as Nigerians and tourists thronged the historic Tafewa Balewa Square in Lagos to witness the glitz and glamour of the Lagos Carnival which was sponsored

by Nigeria’s premium non-alcoholic drink, Maltina.

The rich blend of colourful display and cultural aesthetics was thrilling as Maltina also brought smiles to the faces of consumers who won gifts such as refrigerators, generators and others.

Dignitaries such as the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the minister for tourism, Chief Edem Duke, commissioner for tourism and governmental relations, Oladisu Holloway attended Lagos Carnival event which was a culmination of a weeklong Black Heritage Festival to celebrate the rich African cultural legacy.

Speaking at the carnival, senior brand manager, Maltina, WoleAdedeji, expressed satisfaction towards the carnival and the happiness which the Maltina brand has shared to consumers at the event. ‘‘Maltina is all about sharing happiness we have ceased the opportunity to connect with our consumers to share happiness.

The carnival gives an ample opportunity for families, friends to connect and share happy moments which sums up the objective of the Maltina brand. Maltina will continue to look out for those events that bring the opportunity for us to engage our consumers, reward and connect with them.

It is all in the process of building brand love and Maltina will continue to plug into such big event as the Lagos Carnival and the AY comedy show. It’s all about sustaining our brand culture of sharing happiness. Consumers are over the moon now because Maltina has doled out great prizes like fridges, generators, bags of rice and other amazing prizes.

Our brand DNA is all wrapped up in the spirit of sharing happiness to people and the Lagos carnival event has help in projecting our ‘Sharing Happiness’ pay off line,” he said.

Also, in its sheer display of support for African content and aesthetics, Maltina has given the Badmus Ajoke, winner of the pageant competition tagged "Agbeke Eko", an all-expense paid trip to the magnificent Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort in Cross River State.

17 MAY 2014

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Coke, Pepsi renew brand battle ahead of World Cup

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Dele Alao

epsi and Coke may be long time brand rivals, but that doesn't mean either party is letting an opportunity to poke at the other slip by.

The latest battleground is the FIFA World Cup, which will kick off in Brazil in less than a month. And while Coca-Cola may be the official sponsor, Pepsi isn't letting its lack-ofbadge prevent it from getting

in on the action.

The brand has launched a vending machine in the UK that serves up free drinks if a consumer can perform a few soccer tricks in front of it.

According to Pepsi, players must keep a virtual ball in the air for 30-seconds as they progress through a series of skill challenges while bonus time can be earned and advanced players can push for Hall of Fame status in each location, Meanwhile, Coke has its

own vending innovation up its sleeve, though it doesn't have quite the height that Pepsi's does. The new miniature kiosks found in various German cities dispense the brand's new 0.15L Coke cans with help from a real-life salesperson, who, mind you, is half-submerged underground to fit inside the tiny sales tents. Continuing the tiny trend, Coke debuted miniature, commemorative Coke bottles for the World Cup teams back in January.

L-R: Ex-Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission and founder, Open Media Group, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe; Airtel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Maurice Newa (middle) who represented Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO of Airtel Nigeria with founder & CEO, Iroko Partners, Mr. Jason Njoku at this year's Mobile West Africa Conference

AIICO Pension unveils Live Smart's season two Olushola Ricketts

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IICO pension has unveiled the season 2 of its Live Smart Radio Programme, a communication campaign aimed at creating a platform for Nigerians to start making smart choices and smart moves ahead of retirement.

Addressing journalists at its Ikeja office, Lagos, AIICO Pension's chief coordinating officer, Mr. Adebanjo Adedokun, said the idea has become the centrepiece of the company’s business ideology.

“We have redefined our proposition to inspiring people to make those smart choices and smart moves to secure their fu-

ture. Hence making smart choices mean one is living smart,” he noted.

He said the Live Smart Radio Programme has afforded AIICO an opportunity to address a wide range of people, while providing them with tips on the acts that can help them live life better and smarter.

“Sequel to a successful first season on the Breakfast Jam Show with Dan Foster on Inspiration FM, we are launching the second season of our Live Smart Radio Programme on the Morning Drive Time show with Sly and Bukola on Classic FM,” he added.

Speaking about the season one of the Live Smart, Adedokun also noted that it was a sea-

son of a series of inspirational and educative talks on important issues that affect people's lives. By providing useful tips, the COO said followers get to reflect on those simple acts that help them live life better.

He said: “The second season is taking our audience from the point where they are reflecting to the point they are making achievements. This season is a series of educative and inspirational talks that will empower our audience to act and enable them accomplish their goals and objectives.”

The programme is aired every Monday and features topics such as health, finance, health, fashion, relationships, among others.

Talking Point Nnamdi Udoh and the TRACON legacy p.53 There is hardly any attack that we have not been privy to –Shettima p.47

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Ex-govs want to join Senate to get titles –Senator Anosike

Senator Emmanuel Anosike is the Chairman of Chairmen, Governing Boards of the Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria. He represented Anambra North Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007. In this interview with CHUKWU DAVID in Abuja, he condemned the Boko Haram insurgency, problems in the Federal Colleges of Education and other sociopolitical issues in the country.

The Boko Haram insurgency can be described as the greatest challenge facing this administration because it threatens the socio-economic well-being and corporate existence of the country.

What is your take on the situation?

Without mincing words, the insurgency, though has some colouration of religious extremism based on what the insurgents were reported to have said or are even saying, like the last outburst of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, over the schoolgirls his cohorts abducted in Chibok, Borno State. But realities on ground point more to 2015 politics than religious extremism as the driving force of Boko Haram insurgency or terrorism or whatever it is called.

For example, it started with persistent attacks on a particular religious group in 2010 to early 2012 throughout their areas of operations, with the intention that they would react. But those who were the target of the attacks, I can say out of their patriotism and consideration of national interest, didn’t react.

This made the attackers to relax a bit before coming up with indiscriminate form of attacks on anybody at sight.

If you notice, the attacks by the terrorists, particularly from the beginning of this year (2014), which is the preceding year to 2015 general elections, appear to be orchestrated and determined to achieve a set target. Within two weeks, two bomb explosions have been inflicted on Abuja, the nation’s capital, with attendant loss of about 100 lives and several others left with various degrees of injuries. If you go to the hospitals where these victims are receiving treatment, you will shed tears. As if the bombing was not enough, the insurgents invaded and abducted over 200 school children in Chibok, Borno State. So, anybody that says it is not political, will have to convince me about where the insurgents are getting money to do their business.

They definitely have sponsors. Otherwise, who are they and what is their purpose?

There is no President of Nigeria that has gone through the kind of torture that President Goodlcuk Jonathan is going through. What else can we call it; is it not religious? It is political and in fact, purely political because why now that 2015 elections are around the corner that the so called Boko Haram is intensifying its insurgency against the Nigerian State and in the process, making the country somewhat ungovernable for Mr. President as openly declared by some leaders in that part of the country in 2011 in the build up to the election that brought him in as a duly elected President of Nigeria.

In the past eight years of this democracy, virtually all the governors who are completing their tenures want to go to the Senate. What is your view on the emerging political development?

How many of those former governors are doing well in the parliament today? They should ask themselves CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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17 MAY 2014

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THE SATURDAY INTERVIEW

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

‘Rectors, provosts can’t operate laptops’ C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 4 5

what they are coming to do. They have completed the reason they came into the system.

They are just using the National Assembly as protection and title-seeking.

To them, going there is just ‘Let us just go there and answer Senators’, since after being governors there is no title; the only title is when they go to the parliament.

What else are they looking for? How many of the grassroots people can assess them as Senators after serving as governors for eight years? You know that they have money and machinery; so they buy their ways to the Senate that is all.

But how will the Senate look like with the possibility of many of them joining their former colleagues already there since 2011?

There is going to be confusion. At a point, everybody will start looking at his purse.

They will have Senators-governors forum as one group, political parties senators forum as another group. As I earlier said, they are not coming to work for their people. They have been in power for years without doing anything, then, when they come to the parliament, they will start agitating for projects in their states and besides, large number of them there would amount to creating a state of confusion.

Parliament is where you go to fight for a cake that will come to your state or constituency. Meanwhile, if you have had that cake, carried it on your head for eight years without giving it to your brothers or sisters but tomorrow, you are fighting for one project or the other. Why didn’t you do it when you were there? The bottom line of reasons most of them want to go to the senate as earlier submitted, is just to protect themselves from fading away from political firmament and get permanent political title to their names.

But the system is changing. I don’t know for how long the system will protect them because things are changing.

In 2015, you will see nameless parties coming to parliament. The manipulation now is not up to 25 per cent. Once you are smart, you will win elections. Election is polling booth business now. It is the masses that vote while big men sit at home and make phone calls. Don’t be surprised some of those governors will lose elections in 2015.

As the Chairman of the Chairmen, Governing Boards of Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria, why did the board embark on tours of the 21 federal colleges of education in the country even though lecturers of the colleges are still on strike?

We decided to tour the federal colleges of education to see things for ourselves; to know how to advise the system. We have toured the whole South-West, South-South and the South-East. Meanwhile, I congratulate Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET Fund) for facilitating infrastructural development in the colleges because most of the structures found in the colleges were done

by TET Fund and the ones the colleges of education are doing through capital project, some have lasted three to four years due to inadequacy of fund. Releases from Federal Government are very minimal. Surprisingly, when you get into some of the colleges, you will see the issue of misplaced priorities, where managers leave what is important and face another. For example, there is a college with a total student population of about 13,000. But the accommodation spaces available are just for is 1,000 students; and yet the college embarked on mini stadium and an edifice for the council chairman and guest house for council members; all falling under the concept of white elephant projects, which are of little or no benefits to the staff and students of that particular college. But one can still conclude that the Federal Government is trying in its effort to transform the education sector based on what we saw in the colleges we have visited so far.

In fact, most of the colleges of education

are very advanced in standard. Using Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri as an example, the college is more organised than some of the universities. Ditto for College of Education, Abeokuta, which is also more, organised than most universities and when you look at the calibre of teachers they have, you will be surprised. Specifically, I was surprised to hear that Alvan Ikoku has over 120 PhDs holders as academic staff. Most universities don’t have that number and because of the internal problems we have in our education system, I was forced to ask if there is a difference between PhD certificate holders in universities and those in Colleges of Education; a question they said yes to, but unfortunately, most of the lecturers in the colleges have done more researches than their counterparts in the universities.

In a nutshell, from the totality of what we saw, it was a problem of technocrats taking decision and allowing it to affect everybody. Both the polytechnic and colleges of education have been on strike. If that time ASUU was on strike, they have dealt with the whole issue, they would have all returned to classrooms. It is getting to six months these students are off school and we are talking of insecurity in the country.

It is a matter of idle mind being the devil’s workshop.

We need to capture the education sector and hold it close to our hearts. We should think of introducing vocational education to our system. Most of these colleges, technical, a lot is happening. The Automobile section of Yaba College of Education is so massive that patronage extends to outsiders. By the time one graduates from that school, one can compete anywhere in the world as a motor mechanic. In the course of our tour, we saw the need for certificate programmes in vocational studies so that interested individuals can go there to acquire training in different trades.

There is also a college in Oyo, Federal college of Education (Special). It deals with students with special needs only and it is the only one in Africa. We saw a student without arms drawing with toes. Unfortu-

Anosike

There is no President of Nigeria that has gone through the kind of torture that President Jonathan is going through nately, most governors do not know about the college. The only state that benefit from the school is Kano State, which sends indigenes to the school.

Generally, we are excited; about 21 of us.

We have finished with the southern part of the country and we are planning a tour of the north. Our tour has given us a picture of what our colleges are like. The system has tried. I never knew the system provides grants for PhD. The small problem we have comes from managers of those schools. As far as infrastructures are concerned, we are satisfied because there are issues that the schools ought to handle themselves. You can imagine a school with dire need of hostel accommodation, yet, the provost was building stadium and guest houses. That has nothing to do with the Federal Government. Most of the problems attributed to the Federal Government are caused by managers of those institutions. We also found out that some managers of colleges do not know how to operate laptops, yet they are canvassing for the use of ICT. That is where regulators have to work. We are making out all these reports, at the end of the day, we send to the system to deal with the issues. What we are doing is that we have completed one step and we are telling the people what we have done. At the same time, whenever we get to a school, we try to meet with the unions, appealing to them to go back to school to help us as chairmen of council for negotiation. For them, they want guarantee because everybody is talking about confidence.

How would you describe the quality of graduates and teachers of these colleges; and what is the degree of rots observed in the schools you have visited?

I told you that parts of the problems we have are from the managers of the school.

They call them Provosts, Rectors, or VCs, and once they get to this level, they change from what they used to be. The critical problems we have are within their environments. Some colleges are very strong with quality products. There are some schools where students will not get to class, yet they will have results. But we have resolved that every class will have a register and attendance mandatory. Every lecturer should be able to tell students that if they miss classes for three times, they may not write their exams. We are trying to market this to the school provosts and some of them are buying in. You know some students’ bodies will oppose it but we will push it.

What role is the education minister playing in resolving the problem between the colleges of education lecturers and their polytechnics counterparts?

If you want to solve a problem, you start from the root. That is the reason we are meeting unions. I am in touch with the leadership of COEASSU. We are pleading with them but they have their impressions about the ministers of labour and education. But they are all working for the President. No matter the style you adopt, what the President wants is result. Maybe the Minister of Education is working hard but because people don’t understand him, they feel he is taking it the wrong way. Even the Minister of Labour is also over stressed. Each time he opens the paper, one group or the other is threatening to embark on strike. But I know we are getting to the end of the strike very soon.

How do you think the issue of Salary harmonisation of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education lecturers should be tackled?

We have to do the first thing first. We have two things that are very sensitive to us, the salary harmonisation and upgrading of some colleges of education to degree awarding institutions. We intend to take these two at the same time. I told you earlier that part of the problem of education is within the managers. All the directors in the Ministry of Education are graduates of either university or polytechnic and it is what they give to the minister who is a politician that he will work with. You will expect that they will harmonise this and give to the minister but it is not working.

What is the mode of sourcing for security officers in the colleges of education your board governs or oversights to some extent?

The Governing Council met a system.

Without council, they have expanded management and they take most of the decisions there. There is no way the system will not reverse the issue of out sourcing its security. The way they manage security is not the same way you manage your private business, and I think the system must reverse this trend; otherwise, who do you hold responsible in times of crises.

However, the very major issue is that of release of money for capital projects.

If the executive thinks that it can only provide such an amount of money to a particular school, let it be the amount captured in the budget. If the money is not there, there is no point creating an idea in the heads of the managers of these colleges that they have such an amount and at the end of the day, only 30 per cent of the amount would be released to them. We saw a lot because we toured everywhere by road. I must commend other members of the team for their will power and team spirit.

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Can you confirm that parents of the children have identified some of the girls in the video?

It is an ongoing exercise. They have so far identified 54 girls in the video. But it is an ongoing thing and they might identify more students. It is an exercise that is currently in the government house in Maiduguri.

In previous remarks you have said that the terrorists are better armed than the military in Borno State. Is that the case?

Well, if I said they are outnumbered, I’m not being fair to the Nigerian military. If you could remember, eight terrorists held the city of Mumbai, a city of 20 million people to ransom for three days. So in the same vein, in an insurgency operation like we are currently undergoing, it is the terrorists that are setting the pace of the war. They are the people who know the terrain very well, they are the ones setting the agenda, so naturally they tend to have the upper hand in most encounters. My major argument is that leadership requires a lot of restraint and as a young democracy, we have moral obligation to nurture this democracy and not to overheat the polity.

The last time I made some innocent remarks and it was completely distorted and taken out of context, but I still stand by my earlier statement that the Nigerian military needs to be sufficiently and robustly armed and motivated and positioned to meet the challenges of today. We have to invest heavily in recent technology - communication and arms. I am talking to you because l am the man on ground. I can talk authoritatively on any issue more than anybody sitting in the cozy comfort of an air-conditioned office in Abuja. So we need to make investment in our armed forces. I do not play to the gallery, they are doing their best given the circumstances.

You said 54 families have identified their children, can you comment on that?

What we did was that when that video became public, this man made copies of them and sent them to us in Maiduguri and we told the chairman of the local government to summon parents of the girls and teachers to come and identify their wards. So they were brought to Maiduguri. So far it is ongoing exercise. They were able to identify 54 students by name. Even the rest, they were very sure that they are students of the college. All the girls in the video are confirmed as students of chibok secondary school.

The federal government has insisted that this whole episode could have been avoided if the Borno State government had refused to open the schools as advised. What is your position on this?

It is pure balderdash, absolute nonsense.

Federal Government College, Maiduguri, is presently open with students in it undergoing their final year exams. Is it not a federal institution? We are not a unitary state; we are a federation. If we permanently close down our school, what message are we sending to the world? We met and discussed at length with the WAEC who are subsequently intimidated and withdrew their word, but I have documentary evidence. The issue now is how to get our daughters back. It is not to trade blames, but we have documentary evidence where WAEC agreed on holding examination at Chibok, Askira, Biu, Lasa.

All the students from Bile, Ashigashia, Gwoza, congregated in Lasa and until recently, Chibok was not considered a risky zone. And this issue of insecurity since the unfortunate episode in Mamudo, since the unfortunate killings in Buni Yadi, it has become a recurrent decimal in our Security Council meetings. There are military men in Chibok and the mobile police too. But as I said earlier, as a leader, I am not allowed to overheat the polity. I will not be a party to wrecking the ship of the state. A lot of stories were flying that the abduction did not even take place and some of these theories came from the highest levels of government. If you heard Kema Chikwe spoke, you will know that when you see a frog dancing on the road, the drummer is not far off from the main road. Believe me she was echoing the voic-

47

There is hardly any attack that we have not been privy to –Shettima Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, was at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja to receive a protest letter from the #BringBackOurGirls group and spoke to journalists, including New Telegraph’s JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM AND UMMAL-FADAL BABAGIREI, afterwards. Excepts. es of the people higher up. Now, it is left to the judgement of each and everyone of us to ascertain if the girls were abducted on not.

Leadership calls for restraint, otherwise believe me l know a lot. l have to restrain myself from speaking so much because discretion is the better part to fellow. Believe me, if I am to speak, a lot of heads will roll.

You were reported to have said you know the whereabouts of this girls. Can you confirm this?

We know the whereabouts of these girls in the context of the fact we are the closest to the people. We have a very robust platform and a security alert system, where communities upon sighting unusual movements of vehicles, people, alert us because we have sensitized them. Those girls were sighted by villagers and other people of the countryside which we adequately passed on to the military. I will not dwell further on where they were sighted and so on for security reasons.

If I do so, I will be compromising the safety of those girls. But anytime we get information, and we do get information, we relay it to the relevant quarters for them to take it to another level to investigate further and see what we can do to rescue these girls.

Did you get any report on the impending attack on Chibok before the abduction?

Well, there is hardly any attack that we have not been privy to. What I am saying is that before they attacked Konduga, we heard of the impending attack from villagers from the countryside, we evacuated girls of the Government Secondary School, Konduga, I think

about five to six hours before the attack on Konduga. They burnt down the school but they could not get a single soul to kidnap. Two days prior to the attack on Mapa, we got hint of that impending attack and we evacuated the girls of that secondary school down to Maiduguri. So, this issue of kidnapping gained momentum only in recent times. It was not very common.

When they attacked FGC, Bunin Yadi, they killed the boys and asked the girls to go and get married. So for reasons best known to them, they started kidnapping innocent women across the state but, most importantly, any time we get information, we move very fast.

On the amnesty report, I crave for indulgence to excuse me from answering that question. Honestly I know a lot but as a leader, discretion is the better part of value.

There are certains things I cannot say publicly and there are certain things I ought not to say so that I don’t wreck the boat.

Do you think Shekau is enjoying the publicity?

Well terrorist all over the world leave on the oxygen of publicity. So, that is what they are craving for. They are now in the limelight. All the international and national media are reporting them. This is what t h e y

have been craving for and they are getting it freely. He is really enjoying it. Look at him rambling in a very disjointed way.

To me, he is a lunatic. I question if he is mentally sound. Honestly, that is my perception. You see him rambling. I really question his sanity even though I am not a psychiatrist.

Do you think prisoner-exchange is part of the consideration in rescuing the girls?

I am not the chief security officer of this country. The president is the commanderin-chief. I am not privy to any negotiation or whatever concession they are going to make. Nobody has sought my input. I cannot force myself into a club to which I am not welcomed. I have not been invited for any discussion and we are at a state of emergency. Even at the best of times the Nigerian journalists can attest to the fact that governors are chief security officers only by name. That is the truth. I wanted to go to Chibok after the incident but I was advised not to because there are ongoing operations in that axis. I had to step down my mission. I wanted to go on Easter Friday but I still could not go. I fixed consequent days but still could not go until Monday. What it means is that even as a state chief executive, before you move around you have to seek the consent of the military. I know the sacrifices the military are making. One cannot sit at the comfort of their office and rant. I am the one on ground; I am the one feeling the pain and nobody else.

What are you doing to reassure parents that children kids will be safe in schools?

Once we get back our girls - which we believe we will - we are going to embark on counseling those girls. It is after counseling that probably we will make efforts to enrol them back in school. They are going through a traumatic state, so also are their parents. We believe that with education we can make our society a decent one. I am very passionate about education - especially women education. For the 53 that have escaped, we will bring them to Maiduguri after proper counseling to sit for NECO examination and they will be kept in the government house. We will do whatever it takes to make this young girls productive citizens of the country.

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Oshiomhole has deviated from true democracy –Erewele

Chief Frank Okafi Erewele, a chieftain of the APC, in this interview with CAJETAN MMUTA, explains why some of the party members and political appointees resigned from the party in Edo State.

Recently there was a dramatic turn of events in your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), shortly after the party’s congresses. Why is your party divided now?

We are founding members of the Action Congress of Nigeria. It will interest you to know that we were a very big chunk of the PDP. I was from the PDP. When we found out that the centre could no more hold, we formed a very strong pressure group called Grace Group, and I was the chairman of Grace Group. It was Grace Group that metamorphosed into ACD. It was to become the AC, and later ACN. And when we were looking for a candidate for governorship in the state, we had many candidates but we decided to go with who the people would generally accept. There were many candidates in the ACN, persons like Ken Imansuagbon were at the forefront, Matthew Attamah was there, Henry Seghoghe was there, quite a lot of them were there. But we said we needed a person who could be easily acceptable to the electorate. We decided to ask people to go for Adams Oshiomhole who was retiring as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Oshiomhole came with lots of brilliant ideas: like let the people lead, let’s fight Godfatherism, let’s go for true democracy, and the policy of one man, one vote; we embraced him very well. We told our contestants to step down for him and they stepped down and embraced him.

He did very well in his first four years, that’s Adams Oshiomhole. He is my very good friend. After he won the second term, we saw a departure from the democracy that the people understand, a departure from ‘let the people lead,’ from one man, one vote. So we started talking with the governor, we told him to bend backwards and to remember why we brought him in and how we shouldn’t disappoint the people especially now.

What were those things the governor was doing that you did not like?

When a person says let the people lead, that means you are fighting godfatherism. In the first four years, we saw the people leading in the actual sense but when we entered the second stanza, people no longer had a say; that was a departure from what we said.

And he was coming in with very unpopular policies, non-worker-oriented policies. You will remember that workers were the first to endorse Oshiomhole for a second term in the state. Remember the day workers gathered at the stadium, and police thought they could stop them. But they overwhelmed the police.

They made labour uniforms, and they took the centre stage. Then you won convincingly in 18 local governments out of 18, and after winning, his first fight was against workers.

And you are now telling teachers they must do competency test. I am an educationist; before I read law I was a lecturer in the Faculty of Education, UNIBEN. I have a Master’s degree in Education Technology. I was Commissioner for Education in this state. I handled the Ministry of Education that is now shared between two persons for four years. I can gladly tell you that the variables in the Ministry of Education are not going to the teachers. If teachers say you will win elections in this state, you will win. Civil servants are the most stable politicians, civil servants and teachers. Is it because you are coming for third term? These are the people that endorsed you.

You people asked that the registration be cancelled, and before now there were series of meetings between your people and the governor. Why were you not able to reach a compromise?

That is what I am saying. The governor had held meeting where he told us that the national secretariat had directed that every unit should not register more than 100 per unit, by the calculation of the national body members, we are not saying voters, should not be more than 100 per unit, so they are going to send registration materials not more than 100 per unit. We all agreed.

In my unit they brought 100 registration forms. We exhausted it, but they didn’t give us more. In many units, they brought one hundred. Some registered 80, and even returned some forms. Then what followed were ward congresses. What we saw was a unit where 3, 000 people registered. People came out with 3, 500 members in their forms. When did this one happen? Now we know what we were expecting. I belong to Awolowo’s school of thought.

While we were registering, we told all our agents that if you register 15, record the number where you started and where you stopped. So that if you ended at 0015 today, tomorrow you are going to continue with 0016. That was how we did it till we finished the 100. Now we finished the congresses, he is saying we have 3,500, where did the extra 3, 400 forms come from? So we told the governor it is unacceptable to us because the rigging starts from there. So, he must cancel the registration and cancel the congresses.

Those who claimed they have the powers and who probably have an agenda told the governor to go ahead and the governor said he was not cancelling. He knows the problem he has in Edo North; because that is really where the problem is. I am from central and we did it as the rules specified. It was so hopeless in the north and in the south. So if you rig it from the congresses, the winner of the congresses would have been determined. So we said cancel, he said he was not cancelling. We also told the governor to face government business and leave party matters to the party. We told him he cannot control the government, control party and the House of Assembly; you want to control everything. That amounts to anarchy. This is going into dictatorial tendencies; so we said leave the party to the party. When we saw he was not even ready to discuss we said let each leader of this party from each local government get ready, let’s visit Abuja and visit the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and let’s pledge our loyalty to the President and let the President know that we are here in Edo state and come 2015 election as a man from the South-South we should be ready to cooperate with him and vote for him.

Okay, before you went to Abuja, you

‘After he (Oshiomhole) won the second term, we saw a departure from the democracy that the people understand'

people were all APC members. Now, what role did the party national leadership play to resolve the impasse?

I deliberated avoided talking about the national leadership. You read papers every day. You know the problems with the national. Everybody there is scrambling to either to be President of Nigeria or national chairman or who will be this and that. They have their own problems facing them. You see we have been in party organisation and in government. We went to see the national leaders and they were not too keen on the issue. It’s when you don’t have crisis that they will be comfortable. After all, in the South-South where we have six states, Edo State is the only one where the APC is controlling. Like I was saying our journey to Abuja is to tell the APC in Edo State that we will have an alternative platform and if they refuse to do what we asked them to do then we also have the right to take our destiny in our hands. I am not tied to any particular political party.

Having proved to the APC in the state that you have an alternative platform, is that why you are shifting to the PDP? No, we haven’t said that we are shifting ground to the PDP. We gave seven days ultimatum to the governor; he has not reacted to any of our five points, we said okay since this man says he will not answer us, we will resign from the party. We have not declared for any party. You heard recently that Unity Party of Nigeria has been registered. So you may think that the people are going to the PDP but they will go to XZY. We have a very strong party that has been registered, UPN. That is Awolowo’s party. You know Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo State governor) went to the Labour Party when they refused him to contest under the ACN and he won. Everybody is just saying because we resigned from the party we are going to the PDP but there is a very high powered committee that we put in place that is working, a committee of serious minded people who are detribalised; who are selfless, they will give us a paper that will tell us what step to take. The people gave us the mandate, we cannot act behind them. We will call another meeting and give them our report. If they say ‘move to this party or build a new party,’ we will.

People did not just resign from the party but many people resigned their appointments.

But for certain things that played out that many commissioners would have resigned.

From the very first day, about 38 people such as advisers, executive directors, and members of boards resigned their appointments.

The number has increased.

Was there any disagreement between the governor and Ize-Iyamu regarding 2015 and 2016 elections in the state?

Ize- Iyamu has not told anybody that he wants to be governor. They are making IzeIyamu an issue; they are trivialising a very serious matter. People should sit down to ask why people should resign from a party and people holding political appointments also resigned their appointments. After all, we have a chairman of an interim executive of APC in the state, in the person of Chief Osaro Idah. Since we gave the governor seven days ultimatum, one would have expected that Chief Osaro Idah should have called a meeting of some members of the party to ask what the problem was. He should have been a link between the governor and members of the party. Why must he leave the party for the governor?

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Governor wants to harmonise APC –Erhahon The Interim Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, in this interview with CAJETAN MMUTA, says those who left the party will return.

Some members of your party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, resigned en masse from the party because of their rejection of the outcome of the recently conducted ward and local government congresses held in parts of Edo State.

What actually happened?

Family quarrels are supposed to be settled within the family, but if you have bastards among the so- called family, you will find that strange blood in them will not allow for peace. Or if you are polygamist and there is quarrel within the family, neither any of them who is already flirting, committing adultery will be interested in the peace of that home nor will she be interested in the survival of the husband if the husband is sick. So, that is the kind of thing we experienced in the APC. Yes, like I have always said, it has to do with somebody who feels he has been anointed as the next governor of this state; so because of that, he has become so desperate, too desperate to listen to anybody and therefore, he disregards anybody within the party. He has cabal that they set up where they started sharing positions ahead of his nomination; he already has his secretary to the state government, his commissioners, he has chairmen of boards. He has already shared key positions even proposed contracts. So because of that those who have been coming in became so desperate that they were not prepared to listen to reason that unfortunately they were so tactless that they did not realize that he needed the support of others, that those cabal could make him the governor. And so because of the way he snubbed all other members of the party then, they voted against him, the result was what he saw at the congresses, total rejection. And they made series of allegations and all that and I have also explained severally that what they try to accuse the governor of is what they are guilty of.

But some of the defectors accused the governor of not encouraging peace in the party.

It was the governor who wanted harmonisation; he wanted to ensure that everybody is represented; that every interest group is represented in the executive but they were boasting that they were fully prepared for the congress, that were ready to take all at the congress and they now went and lost and started blaming the same governor because the governor refused to cancel the result the third time in their favour. And so we are happy but the good news is that very many of those who left with him up till this morning have met with us and they are willing to come back. They have realised that their leader misled them. They have also realised that their leader deceived them because he didn’t tell them the truth.

They didn’t even know the extent to which the governor bent back-

wards to favour them and they are also aware that so far APC remains a party to beat. They will come back.

They also accused the governor of not yielding to their demands such as the cancellation of the membership registration and outcome of the congresses, among others. What is your take on this?

First, let me use this parable of a pregnant woman who insisted on abortion because she didn’t like the man that impregnated her. She tried the abortion it didn’t work. After she had delivered the baby, she still insisted on abortion. What she is demanding is murder because the baby had been delivered. That was what happened in their case. First, the governor called all stakeholders including the other legacy parties, of which I am part, and said ‘gentlemen let us ensure that this thing is done peacefully; I don’t want to lose one person as a result of this congress. The party shouldn’t lose one person.’ So even when you believe you are strong, be magnanimous enough to concede some positions to those that are weak. Otherwise, it will not be fair.

The three hundred people, minority though they are, they are still very useful and so there will be need for us to say okay, you take the chairman, the other group should take this. So the governor proposed that and the rest of us agreed. But Ize-Iyamu said no, that he was ready for the congress, we should go and test our popularity. He didn’t know that he was being deceived by people who were not on the ground or who have been so arrogant because they believe that they were working for a governor who has been so anointed, that is Ize-Iyamu.

Even before w e

went for the congresses the governor now narrowed it down to Orhionmwon where most of the voters are from; the deputy governor, Ize-Iyamu, myself and Dr. Amadasun who came in from the PDP with large followers and the governor said since Orhionmwon has 12 wards; Ize-Iyamu should take five, deputy governor, five, Erhahon and Amadasun should go and work on two wards. He did not say that one person should go and take all the wards. That was the arrangement. And eventually Ize-Iyamu said no. the governor now asked Chief John Oyegun to resolve the difference and reconcile the parties. He even called us to his house, Ize- Iyamu said he should be given six out of the 12; that the CPC legacy should not be given anything and whatever they like they should do with the other six. And so he was so confident about that. He said after that he should be given the local government chairman of the party and the deputy governor protested and complained that he was not being treated well. At the end of the day because of the stalemate that arose from all these things he now said we should go to the field and test our popularity and we went to the field. He won one, six were won by the other and it was clear to him that he could not win the remaining four wards; he came back begging that the thing should be shared and that the congresses should be reviewed.

That was even the third time. In the first one he came back and said there was no accreditation, we should cancel the congresses that had been concluded and the results should be c a n -

celled. And the governor agreed said okay and they went back, the first one was on the 8th and that was why we went for another one on the 12th and he had one, the other group had seven.

What happened after that?

He now said we should forget about all the congresses, we should now share the positions and the governor refused. The governor later said he should be given two while we share the rest but he said the governor should share it equally and the governor said ‘no.’

What is the next line of action now because there is stalemate in the state since the congresses have not been concluded and other states where the APC is in power have done theirs?

Well, the decision rests with the party, it’s just that the state government is in power and the governor is the coordinator and the leading stakeholder in the party. Many of those who left before are returning. They have realised that they are being misled. They have also realised that they are going to suffer in PDP; that they are going to be subjected to humiliation. Some also realised that PDP can never win election in Edo State.

We have something to show the people of Edo State. The APC has a lot to say.

The PDP has virtually nothing to say at the state level.

But it appears the state leadership of the APC didn’t do much in the face of the crisis because the allegation is that the governor is the one who determines what happens to the party, the state and the House of Assembly. What is the true position?

If there is anybody who has overbearing influence on the governor, it was Osagie Ize-Iyamu who they are now following. And so to say the governor hijacked the party, if he ever did and which he didn’t, it is the Ize-Iyamu’S group that is the beneficiary of such hijack, if it ever happened. I have told you how the governor tried to ensure that each of the groups was satisfactorily represented and how Ize-Iyamu frustrated that.

‘I have also explained severally that what they try to accuse the governor of is what they are guilty of '

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Chibok: The Despite delayed response, international community’s intervention may lead to early release of Chibok girls, writes ELIJAH SAMUEL

O US president Obama

Christiane Amanpour and David Cameron on BBC’s Andrew Marr show

France president, Hollande

n the verge of getting through with a phase in their bid to realise their diverse life goals, they were bundled into uncertainty.

While being ferried away from Chibok, a community in Borno State, where they were siting for their school certificate examination, their abductors had promised that ‘nothing will happen to you’. But the turn of events since the abduction of over 200 girls has left more to curiosity.

In one fell swoop, the dreaded Boko Haram, a group which has taken up arms against the Nigerian state, invaded Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, and led away the girls, most of who had been selected from other neighbouring schools to sit for their senior certificate examinations.

Without any of jot of doubt, spontaneous rescue mission was expected.

But the Federal Government, for almost a month, was clueless about how to handle the quagmire, or so it seemed, until the torrents of outcry from various groups spurred it into action.

However, the tardy response of the government on the one hand, and a whole lot of intricately and intriguing factors playing out recently have hung the fate of these hapless hostages in the balance.

From diverse perspectives, many have tried to look at the raging discourse on Chibok abduction, which so far had become a global interest.

Rescue efforts Efforts to rescue the abducted girls, initiated on the home front by various groups, got a boost as it dominated debates in the two chambers of the National Assembly when the lawmakers reconvened from Easter break.

The lawmakers had summoned the service chiefs to brief them on the steps taken so far to secure the release of the abducted girls. Apparently dissatisfied with the tardiness and seeming helplessness of the executive, the lawmakers had urged the Federal Government to seek the immediate cooperation of the international community which includes United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a bid both to rescue the girls and fight against the budding terrorism in the country.

It is worthy to mention the role which eminent world leaders played in the rescue effort. Their concerted effort to put pressure on both Nigerian and American govern-

Chibok school

ments in this rescue mission, delightfully hit a crescendo as not only the United States but also United Kingdom, China and France gave their commitment to help Nigeria in this rescue mission and combat terrorism.

Perspectives on the abduction For the benefit of hindsight, many experts attempt to set in perspective the factors that played out to make the Chibok abduction the more intriguing.

There’s a whole lot that has come to light regarding this abduction; there’s still a whole lot that is left to be known.

Dr David Aworawo, a teacher of history and strategic studies, posited a scrutiny of the circumstance before, during and after the abduction.

He said: “It is surprising to see how it occurred that exam was written in a place where it was obvious the children will be vulnerable. This raises fundamental questions.

“We are now aware that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) expressed apprehension regarding the safety of officials and the students to write exam in Chibok.

But the response of the state government was that adequate security will be provided to guarantee safety of students and staff. But as it turned out, the opposite was the case.

“Again, when the capture took place, the military didn’t respond as quickly as would be expected. Untidy coordination and ineffectiveness at different levels characterised attempt to finding solution to this problem.

“You hear different groups (the military, the State Security Service (SSS), the police) coming up with different comments on how they intervened or attempted to intervene.”

Responding to the perceived lethargy on the part of the Nigerian government, the American Republican Senator, John McCain, said on CNN that world ought to have been more proactive.

He said: “We shouldn’t have waited for a practically non-existent government to give us the go-ahead before mounting a humanitarian effort to rescue those girls.”

But in all of these, Aworawo finds it hard to accept that everybody has continued to lampoon the Federal Government over the unfortunate incident. He sought to know why other tiers of government that were equally saddled with the responsibility of providing security have also not been queried.

“Everybody has been rebuking the Federal Government and nobody is talking about the state government. Where is the governor? Why has he not said anything? He promised to guarantee security in that place, but he did not. And nobody is holding him culpable. If WAEC was smart enough to notice that they might be insecure in that place and suggested a relocation of the candidates to other safer place, and the state government promised security which it failed to carry

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51

waiting game continues out, you can see it is more culpable than the Federal Government,” he said.

It is however a matter of utmost urgency to end this stalemate that has captivated global interest. It apparently cannot be allowed to fester. As much as the coalition of international assistance is welcome and appreciated in ending this insurgency, a lot of issues need to be factored in the rescue operation. This is even more so when you consider the desirability for the safe return of the abducted girls.

Comparison Tragedies are not prayed for, but when they occur, the next thing is to salvage what is left; and by extension, try to analyse the situation so that further catastrophe can be averted or minimised. Thus, response to calamitous circumstance like this raging one, can be concerted internally.

But when it becomes clear that occasion cannot be contained locally, external assistance is sought or deployed as the case may be. It will serve great lesson to juxtapose global responses to the Missing Malaysian plane and the recent abduction of Nigerian girls.

Flight MH370, which left Kualar Lumpur, Malaysia, for Beijing disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board. Since then, search and rescue teams from countries across the continents of the world have not relented in efforts to locate the plane. Countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have all contributed huge resources to the search which is on-going.

Incidentally, about $60m is still required to take care of the next phase of search.

Aworawo gave a comparative insight into the missing Malaysian plane and the Chibok abduction which he declared are in different contexts.

He said: “International effort to locate the Malaysian plane was a lot swifter than the Chibok abduction. Although people have blamed the international community for slow response, they are in different contexts.

“The missing Malaysian plane was one that could have been in one of 10 countries.

It was also a plane that was carrying nationals of many countries. So, there was interest from many countries to contribute to the search effort.

“There was almost spontaneous effort in trying to locate it as no one could tell whether it was a terrorist attack. Unfortunately, up till now, the search has been unsuccessful.

“In the case of the missing girls, help came late. It would have been a lot more fruitful if response had been deployed a day or two after the incident was reported. It was when the thing was dragging and the government was seen as incapable of doing what was expected to be done that international effort began to be considered. The scenario is different, so one can pardon the international community.”

In terms of commitment, the Malaysian authority, according to him, responded promptly with as much resources they have.

He added: “Later, international responses were coming with those facilities that Malaysia lack. That again is understandable.

“In Nigeria’s case, one expected it to be more effective, prompt and more coordinated. All of these things are what must change to be able to successfully move forward.”

In the last two years or thereabout, for the sole aim of fighting Boko Haram insurgency, the Federal Government had received financial assistance from the US government to the tune of $20 million. But considering the way the fight against the dreaded Boko Haram had dragged on, and the seeming victory of the group, one wonders for what course that lump sum had been deployed.

To the above, Dr. Tony Okeregbe, a social critic and teacher of philosophy, said, this type of money did not come in terms of cash only.

Missing girls

Michelle Obama

Okeregbe

Aworawo

In the case of the missing girls, help came late. It would have been a lot more fruitful if response had been deployed a day or two after the incident was reported Malala Yousafzai

He said: “It comes in terms of logistic support, technical assistance. This also involves the cost of courses attended and training received. It is an indirect kind of support to the course of fighting insurgency and terrorism.

Solution With the assistance from foreign countries, President Goodluck Jonathan proudly said at the close of the just concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) in Abuja that the

end had come for the terror group.

But experts believe it is not that simple.

Pastor Seyi Macaulay suggested both spiritual and military angles to end the menace.

He said; “With the help of God and the military intervention from the US, securing the abducted girls becomes possible.

“However, giving the circumstance in which a threat was issued that the country will be made ungovernable for Jonathan’s administration, the Federal Government by now should have unmasked those behind that threat and dealt with whoever that is

found culpable for all the carnage that had been carried out by Boko Haram.

“In view of the above, external expertise becomes inevitable. So, the government should collaborate effectively with the US government because they have the required military technology and expertise that can be deployed to end Boko Haram insurgency.”

Aworawo, however approached the issue of ending the Boko Haram menace from diplomatic pedestal.

He said: “In conflict resolution, there is insurgency and counter-insurgency. We can define the Boko Haram situation as insurgency against established government.

And theoretical application in this kind of scenario is such that if Boko Haram has genuine grievance from the point of theory, it will make sense to negotiate to be able to find solution.

“But Boko Haram’s demands have not always been reasonable. You cannot say people should not go to school; you cannot say people should be brought under some kind of Islamic state and the likes. If those are their demands and they stick to them, the only option is for the government to adopt targeted military intervention.

“But if Boko Haram changes its focus and decides to make demands that are reasonable, the demands will be met and the insurgency will die naturally.

“That is very unlikely, considering the fact that they are linked to Al-Qaeda and other insurgent and terrorist groups.

“In all of these, one thing is paramount: the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls.

But in face of threat from Shekau to sell the girls and the imminent invasion of the Boko Haram hideout in the course of rescue effort, what is the fate of the girls?

“Certain people will want to give Boko Haram the benefit of the doubt that they might not want to hurt women or kill them, but these guys are evil so to speak. They are very deadly; we should be expecting certain collateral damage. We might not get back all the girls; we might not get them in the state they were.

“By now, the parents should be counselled and given all the support as necessary in case the worst happens.

“And again, even if we don’t get them back in the state they were, we should be able to have details of what happened to them while over there. But there is nothing as anguishing as not having your child forever.”

But a recent video showing some of the schoolgirls restores hope of securing the abductees.

In the 17-minute video, the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, called on the Federal Government to release detained terrorists in exchange for the girls.

This contradicted his earlier threat to sell the girls.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

Nobody is funding ‘Bring-back-our-girls’ protests –St. Matthew-Daniel Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, life and transformation strategist/emotions coach and founder, ACTS Generation, women/youths -gender based advocacy and awareness organisation, tells MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU, that the ‘Bring-back-our-girls protests are spontaneous.

What is your organisation all about?

My organisation is called ACTS Generation - a gender-based NGO that focuses on advocacy, awareness and intervention for the woman and girl-child and a member of a wider group called Coalition of Women Voices and Advocacy Forum.

What informed your decision to spearhead the ‘Bring-back-our-Girls’ protests?

The horrifying abduction of 200+ girls from the Government Girls College in Chibok, Borno State, galvanised a few women, of which I am one, to discuss having some form of protest to demonstrate our deep pain and concern about the heinous abduction. The group was the offshoot of the Nigerian Women Walk of March 6, 2014, which protested the slaughter of 45+ boys and abduction of 25+ girls on the night of February 25, 2014.The walk of March 6, initiated by me, brought women from all walk of life together onto the roads of Nigeria and the Diaspora simultaneously, and assisted in breaking the reticence to come out and confront the continued atrocity committed on our women, our girls and people in the areas of conflict. Do bear in mind that abductions and kidnappings had been ongoing in these areas but because of numbers of the girls, it got everyone’s attention.

The plan for action gathered momentum with concerned women from all strata of life and country showing deep concern. It could have happened anywhere and to anyone.

The plan developed a life of its own and it was decided to use it as the theme, the hashtag Bring-Back-Our-Girls, which had gone viral since the morning of April 15, 2014, and use the collective name Women For Peace and Justice as a loose platform. It was also decided that every interested state or place will have a coordinator to assist in making sure all goes well. The rally started off on April 30 in Abuja and Ibadan and Lagos came on the May 5.

Meanwhile, various other independent concerned groups were demonstrating all within Nigeria and all over the world due to the awareness created by people from all walks of life through the social media from the morning of April 15, 2014.

A lot of influential women and men, celebrities, concerned citizens both women, men and youths have shown great unity in protesting this abduction which could have great ramifications, not only for Nigeria but for the West African Sub-regions.

In which cities, states or countries did you organise or participate in the protest to Bring-Back-Our-Girls?

The first rally from this group, (as I said, there are other independent groups) commenced in Abuja and it was well-attended, and continues to hold its own. It was led by dynamic women.

Lagos came next, where I participated, and various states within Nigeria and in the Diaspora have been organising events in their own location.

The essence is a global call to the insurgents and to our government to do all they can within their capacity to search, locate

Mattew-Daniel

and bring back the girls and others who have been abducted or kidnapped before.

What has been the cost in financial terms for you or for your organisation in leading or participating in the protests? How huge has the sacrifice been?

The cost has been a self-sacrificing one by all who are participating and are still participating in this cause that has united us all in one cry: Bring-Back-Our-Girls.

Did you or your organisation initially have the resources to organise or participate in the Bring-Back-Our-Girls protests?

As I said, this was and is a spontaneous protest that derives its thrust from individual and collective passion of ‘being your brother’s keeper.’

Members of Boko Haram had done the unimaginable of abducting schoolgirls. We are all mothers, fathers and can only imagine what horrendous grief of uncertainty the parents of these girls and those who have already had girls abducted and even the boys slaughtered.

One can’t put any cost to whatever we have to do individually or collectively. All rallies just took a few days to organise using whatever and all hands were on deck.

Kudos to all the ladies in the forefront!

How did you source for funds to effectively organise/manage the protests, or did you receive support from foreign organisations in sponsoring or managing the protests?

You are repeating your question in various ways. Do you find it impossible to believe that people can be so moved with passion that they can rally within themselves to make a cause happen?

I repeat there is no funding from anyone, be it local or international. Individuals are taxing themselves to get these ral-

We need to find a way of addressing the issue of education of children lies going in their different locals. This is a non-political, non-tribal, non-religious humanitarian campaign in Nigeria and all over the world. We are neither politicians neither nor calling anyone to book. All we are saying is ‘don’t get women and girls involved in any conflict issues and let us have them back, whole.’

Do you have the resources to sustain the protests for a long time, supposing the girls are not released as quickly as expected by Boko Haram?

We hope that this cry to Bring-BackOur-Girls that has attracted global support and intervention will yield the fruits of having the girls brought back to their base and parents. Perchance there is a delay in the release of the girls, the resources we have is the determination and internal drive not to let this go the way most protests go -of fatigue!

We will keep up the pressure with all our resources: our voices and our ability to work the social media which forms a great part of this world wide campaign. We are talking about schoolgirls, 250+ mothers of tomorrow, 250+ generation builders, 250+ human beings!

We can’t stop talking and walking. There will be a solution because it does not concern only Nigerians, but the world.

Women and girls cannot continue to be used as weapons of war or chattels of conflict. They are not lesser humans but very important in the schedule of

creation and growth of a nation.

Joseph Kony, leader of a guerrilla group which used to operate in Uganda abducted hundreds of girls and boys as sex slaves and soldiers. To date the story of their experiences is still being discussed. It happened in Uganda, in other war torn areas and now Nigeria.

Which is next? That is our concern and the world’s concern.

After the girls have been released by Boko Haram, what is the next line of action?

The most important ‘what next’ is the issue of security that should be addressed which is the right of every Nigerian, especially the woman and the girl-child. Also, we need to find a way of addressing the issue of education for children. We need to build confidence of parents and the kids.

We need to educate the parents and community of the advantage of education to alleviate poverty and enhance the living conditions of everyone concerned. At the recently concluded World Economic Forum (WEF), a drive for a Safe School Initiative was endorsed. It must be impressed that women are part of the solution and must be brought into discussions in addressing conflict situations.

It is also very imperative to put in place a central Trauma Counselling Centre with stations in all the areas of conflict to address PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) - a holistic approach to dealing with trauma from sexual violations, from being abducted and separated from their families.

The parents need to be counselled even before the arrival of their children so as to be able to handle any diverse emotions.

These are just a few of the futuristic solutions that should be put in place to enhance the lives of all concerned.

Talking Point

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

17 MAY 2014

Nnamdi Udoh and the TRACON legacy

N

Ernie Onwumere

namdi Udoh, the former managing director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA turned 54 May 8. The TRACON project he executed stands as a legacy and a demonstration that something good can come out of “ Nazareth”.

His indigenous “Inya- Akpa Management Strategy” of identifying ,mentoring, managing , and deploying a pool of creative resourceful Nigerians to deliver a pioneer project like TRACON, has remained a case study at The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University , a public policy and public administration school.

TRACON, acronym for Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, is one project that has been so vilified by faceless individuals who have refused to see anything good in completing a project that has been adjudged as the best thing to have happened to in the country in the past decade. The desperation and propaganda machineries deployed to bind half-truths will make one ask the famous Pa Awo question, in whose interest?

For the records, the TRACON project was, after due process, awarded to Messrs.’ Thales SA of France on April 7, 2003. The Scope of Work includes the provision of modern Air Traffic Management Systems. The initial project duration was 36 months and the coverage areas include nine sites in Nigeria out of which four sites in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt would provide Approach and Area Radar services while the remaining five sites in Maiduguri, Ilorin, Numan, Talata-Mafara and Obubra are en-route MSSR stations.

The TRACON Project was multi-tasking, in view of the several deliverables of the project, which includes but not limited to, the provision of co-located Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) and Monopoles Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR), EUROCAT C Air Traffic Management System, Voice Communication and Control Switch (VCCS), Emergency VHF, Voice Recording System, Fiber Optics, VSAT network and other ancillaries like UPS, Power systems, AMF etc.

Thales as the lead contractor was responsible for the system design and project coordination, with the support of a consortium of global and market leaders in Air Traffic Management (ATM) technology. The Radar and Euro cat Air Traffic Management systems came from Thales Air Systems of France, Voice Switches from Thales and Frequentis AG of Austria, VHF Radios from Park Air Systems of UK, Fiber Optics from SAGEM of France, VSAT equipment from ND SatCom of Germany, Power systems, back-ups and other ancillaries from Chloride and 2H Energy of France.

Other components and deliverables of the project as applicable came from the local content.

Perhaps it is important that Nigerians be informed that Thales, the firm that was the lead contractor of the total radar coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), is a leading firm based in France and a key player in assuring the security of citizens, infrastructure and nations On the world stage, whenever critical decisions need to be made on aerospace safety, defence and security, Thales often has a role to play because of their understanding of the Critical Decision Chain that helps customers to decide and act in a timely fashion to obtain the best outcomes.

Onwumere

A technical review of the project component reveals that the simulator software,the operational software are working at optimum level Thales’s rich history goes back well over a century 1893, and with longstanding partner Alcatel-Lucent it is a major world player with exceptional technological capabilities and leader in mission-critical information systems serving three markets: Defence, Aerospace, and Security.

It is the supplier of French Air force radar for its Air base in Lyon Mont-Verdun which is one of the cornerstones of France’s airspace surveillance capability, with guaranteed operational availability of 98%, and information system security for the radar base. “This order for a new-generation radar confirms the trust that the French armed forces continue to place in the radar systems developed

by Thales.

As part of the firm’s resolution to promote transparency with business concerns globally, Thales established a formal corporate responsibility policy with a strong focus on prevention of corruption. The policy enjoys the support of the Group’s most senior management and is continuously adjusted and updated to remain relevant in an evolving and increasingly complex environment.

However, contrary to the alleged fraud, a combined team of the anti-graft agencies

and the security agencies has conducted due diligence and cleared the Management of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency of any under-hand dealings as all that were expected to be supplied as components for the continued maintenance of the equipment supplied and installed were duly supplied to the letter according to what were contained in the contact agreement signed by all parties involved.

A recent classified report states that “Services rendered in the contract were executed according to the contract terms, even when payments were not made as specified. All payments made were made against a certificate of satisfactory completion of the job issued by the Federal Ministry of Aviation“.

To ensure that Nigerian Airspace management Agency meets the operational needs of the new technology infrastructure, Thales supported with additional trainings for Nigerian Engineers and given the unfortunately increasing threat levels and security considerations facing the world, provision of additional redundancy and disaster recovery capabilities to further secure the system in Nigeria was made.

Since The Technical Support Service Agreement (TSSA) was executed and in place NAMA has not paid any additional fee and the technical agreement is beyond warranties as substantial discounts were secured for the support services agreement.

The Technical support services agreement provision for the training of engineers has been followed to the latter and spare parts have been equally supplied to maintain the project.

Regrettably the entire trump up charge against the project has since been proved to be politically motivated and entirely

false and misleading to the public. The claim that “Only one generator was supplied to each of the Secondary Radar Stations instead of two as provided for in the schedule of supply of the main TRACON Contract Agreement” was totally false as all appropriate generators have been delivered as per the contract. In the case where PHCN power is insufficient, NAMA has deployed correct mains power or alternative power to the sites.

More curious is the allegation that there is no evidence of supply of two numbers of backup VHF RADIOS for Lagos and Kano as stipulated under the scope of schedule of the main TRACON Contract Agreement. Whereas Thales delivered the integrated radio positions which can be seen and inspected on site.

The Chloride UPS and Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs) provided are suitable for the application contrary to speculations .infact only one of the UPSs has been replaced by NAMA and that was before the SSA was in place. All UPSs and AVRs supplied under the contract are covered under the TSSA.It should be noted that the often cited figure of 700,000 Euros covers the support of all of the ancillary systems provided by Thales, including the UPSs, over the full 5 years period of the SSA. A technical review of the project component reveals that the simulator software,the operational software are working at optimum level and The SIM hardware and software are fully covered by the TSSA. The booster radar and secondary radar stations at Talata Mafara, Maiduguri, Numan, Ilorin and Obubra is operational and the suppliers have further offered full support to assist in containing the power failures with solutions as a result of learning’s from the project and the environment.

The strip printers and Billing Management System (BMS) in the centers are working and functioning as required in Lagos under phase 1 of the main contract.. It is instructive to emphsise that all services required under the SSA have been provided in full. The payments received by Thales are entirely in accordance with the Contract and have been made against a “Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of the Job One key aspect that Nigeria has benefited which cannot be quantified is the area of world class training, NAMA has trained over 250 Engineers and Air Traffic Controllers in the course of the project as part of the Support Services Agreement and there are provision for training of additional 66 engineers before the end of the agreement.

The members of Aviation Round Table (ART) led by Mr. Sam Akerele, the group’s secretary-general, who visited the Lagos site of TRACON described the new radar as a state of the art equipment that could compete favourably with those in developed countries of Europe and America, adding that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) should be commended for the efficient and optimal performance of its radar and communication system.

The greatest success of the project was Nnamdi Udoh’s ability to work under six Ministers of Aviation, who were not part of the dream across a seven-years-period and weathered the turbulence of both chambers of the national assembly and cultivated them to buy into the project, is a rare feat yet to be equaled. Indeed the project should be commended and adapted as role model for other Government project in the transformation agenda.

- Ernie Onwumere, writes from Lagos

54 PERSPECTIVES

W

e would be terribly unhinged to think that three days of economic talks in Abuja, Nigeria would totally transform the economic fortunes of the continent of Africa. Not even much change can come to Nigeria as a result of the talk shop. More than anything, the World Economic Forum 2014 has exposed the “real Nigeria” to the outside world and big investors would really have to do thorough assessments before they bring money here. The doubts spring from the #BringBackOurGirls campaign which has sparked off a flurry of responses from many people around the world.

To really appreciate these responses you have to be on Twitter and Facebook. The campaigns and torrents of support is overwhelming on the social media. Nigerians and citizens from all around the world are posting thought provoking analysis about what should be done and why Boko Haram has over stepped its bounds on this one.

Japhet .J Omojuwa, blogger, writer, businessman has gone beyond blogging to taking to the streets in rallies and protests. His campaign to reshape Africa has logically started from Nigeria. Jumoke Giwa ace journalist, who assembled a group of protesters in far away New Zealand had a Mayor from Wellington address the gathering.

Many Nigerians thumped their chests with pride when Michelle Obama, First Lady United States of America held a #BringBackOurGirls placard on cable television. The let’sshow- them -we -care demonstrations have taken several dimensions with the President Goodluck Jonathan talking tough at World Economic Forum 2014, saying the Chibok kidnapping is the beginning of the end of Boko Haram Insurgency. President Jonathan never spoke so tough about terrorism in Nigeria. Critics say it’s because he has China, Israel, USA and the UK behind him. Such a ground swell of support can make you say brave things.

The president’s campaign for re-election has since changed. We no longer

F

inally, the Americans are here.

The Chibok girls will be found and we will no longer need visas to go to America, thanks to Boko Haram. Ever since the girls were kidnapped, we had set up meetings, committees and the like, trying to understand why only girls were kidnapped. This we felt would put us in a stronger position to not only neutralize the marauders, but checkmate further onslaughts.

Unfortunately, while the committees and various negotiation platforms were going, on the terrorists continued to maim and kidnap our young daughters. They defied all appeals and attempts by the Nigerian state to them asking for reprieve until now that they have caught international attention.

Everybody from Kim Kardashian up to Michelle Obama have joined the campaign. I am the only one left out, not because I do not want to join but my cardboard was drenched so it did not come out well on Instagram.

However, I have joined the campaign through other means.

You see, the fear of the Americans is real. They are the baba of world politics. The mere mention of their names and suddenly the picture and faces of the poor innocent girls have emerged. The Boko people know that with the American drones and technology, they will be caught napping hence their little shift.

Going forward, I have put my security and that of my family in the hands of the Americans. I have sacked my

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

#Bring Back Our Girls!

President Jonathan

have that strange American accented voice telling us how difficult change is and how difficult it was for people like Martin Luther King Please! Proper communication should take into cognizance the setting and events occurring in the area. Those who are producing these advertisements should be more careful so that it does not

seem as if they are playing on the intelligence of Nigerians. We don’t want our dear president’s campaign marred before 2015!

The president’s brave declaration about Boko Haram’s end surely beats what appeared to be a tearful request for the return of the girls posted on Twitter by one of his aids. All of a sudden, the #BringBack OurGirls campaign had turned to a political tool on our highly volatile soap box of a political terrain. Governor Godswill Akpabio must have meant well when he offered to buy the girls back. Everyone knows Akwa Ibom is rich, but such an odious offer tenders towards human trafficking and slavery and people are bound to ask: With which money will you buy them; and for how much?

The Governor of Oyo State had his wife Mrs Florence Ajimobi organized a rally with a prayer group of women all kitted in red scarves marching through the streets of Ibadan in prayer for Chibok Girls and protest against their abduction of the Chibok Girls and later retuned to state house bearing a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that was submitted to the Governor Ajimobi for onward transfer to the Aso Rock. The letter and rally according to the Oyo governor ’s wife requested that Mr. President does something urgent about the girls. Madam could have handed the letter to hubby in

The Americans are here

EDGAR’s WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR

josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com

maiguard and drivers and I’m looking for American robots to come and protect me. I have also put an American flag in front of my building and designated my house an “American no fly zone”. So any Boko people who attempt to come near me will have Obama to answer to.

However, one report that amused me was how a village repelled Boko insurgents’ attack killing over 200 of them with just sticks and cutlasses given the picture I saw in the papers.

This is shocking, a whole Nigerian Army with all its generals, both retired and serving, have been constantly humiliated by these sect and now some tiny civilians could repel them.

Maybe I should forget the American guards in my house at Shomolu and go recruit these people to come guard me. They will be cost effective since I will only have to buy some cutlasses.

But before I could go further I now saw the reason why our army has not been doing well against this rag tag army. I read that some soldiers chased their commandant for “chopping all the money” and giving them “useless” ammunitions to fight. If this is not the height of wickedness what else could be. How can you steal soldiers allowances, give them useless weapons to fight an enemy that is so committed to their cause and are ready to lay down their lives.

You see why I am now an American.

Why would I continue to be patriotic with these kinds of stories. In fact, I’m from New York joo. It is better to lay my security at the footsteps of drones instead of this stick-carrying army. Where is that general now? I owe him a good wording. This same army that quelled the Liberian war, that entered Sierra Leone and without

state house in Ibadan, but its all in the spirit of showing that Ibadan people care.

Oby Ezekwesili planned a women’s peaceful protest march to Bornu House in Abuja. The former minister has seized every opportunity to speak up in public against child and mother mortality, comparing our figures to those of Afghanistan and central Asia where people are dying rapidly because of lack of proper medical care.

Don’t be surprised if Oby finds her way back into power soon. Question is what did she do the first time around?

We can’t forget our First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan. Her tearful testimony of a mother ’s grief was beamed live on National Television and many analysts saw the whole publicity stunt as a fiasco. I think I defer on that one. By weeping on National Television with the wives of several governors in tow, the mother of the nation (that’s what her media experts call her) has shown how much she cares.

Of course critics have continued to ask the relevance of the office of the First Lady to governance in Nigeria since there is no provision for her office in the constitution and they ask where is the money for her pet projects coming from?

Speaking of first ladies former First Lady of the United States and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton was also on the podium to tacitly condemn the slow action of the Nigerian Government and also condemn in stronger terms the abduction of the Chibok Girls. Don’t give up on Hillary though something tells me she will still give the Presidency in America another shot before she agrees that she is too old.

Nigeria is receiving a lot of attention in the world media. Three weeks after the kidnapping it appeared unfortunate to note that no Nigerian television company could take live shots of Chibok. CNN braved it and put Chibok on the world map and so we had to watch cable TV to see pictures of the place the kidnapping took place.

Shame.

a single shot all the rebels ran into the forest; this army that made the people of Chad beg and cry for mercy is the army that is now crying for help from the world to help it defeat an enemy that mere village people are destroying with sticks.

Nigeria never ceases to amuse me.

It is a country riddled with contradictions. A country that produced Charly Boy and Wole Soyinka, a country that produced me and Dame Patience Jonathan, D’banj and Pure Water. Now we have Boko Haram and the fastest growing church on the planet, the biggest economy and the poorest people in the world. We will continue to be a source of amusement to the rest of the world.

I was in New York recently and I discovered that there is a new found respect for us out there. Once they heard I was a Nigerian, they screamed “Fela’s country”. They talked about Nollywood and one person at the airport even lamented that our kids were better educated here than his kids who are in Harlem and cannot even afford latest edition books for his kids to study.

We have to begin to respect ourselves. This Boko rubbish is making us as a people dance naked in the public square. We need to end this thing once and for all and did I hear somebody say something about negotiation? What is that? There is no need for that; otherwise, we have to start negotiating with every criminal that ever lived in this country. And, lastly, they must also come and negotiate me out of poverty.

SPORT EXTRA

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 17 May 2014

M

ercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has another gear to hit this season and will be “almost impossible to beat”, says former world champion Damon Hill.

“Up until this season, it always looked like Lewis’s focus could go at any time,” said Hill, 53.

“He now seems to have the demeanour of someone who is totally content.”

London-born Hill, who won the world title in 1996, added: “I do wonder if he is just cruising. I think he has another gear. He is so focused on the job, I think he will be almost impossible to beat.”

F

ormer Super Eagles captain, and Olympic gold medalist, Nwankwo Kanu, has predicted good outing for Mikel Obi and Emmanuel Emenike at the 2014 World Cup, which kicks off next month in Brazil.

Kanu was more specific on Emenike’s impact because of his hunger for success.

“I have the conviction that Mikel and Emenike will be Eagles talismen in Brazil.

Mikel is a man who controls the team as a leader, so I expect him to display that also in the pitch, especially when he is going to play against most of the players he is familiar with in Europe. Coming from a big club like Chelsea, all eyes will be on him, I don’t expect him to let himself and Nigeria down.”

“I have followed the development of Emmanuel Emenike closely since putting up a good show in South Africa during the Nations Cup and I believe he can replicate his performance against stronger opposition. I know he wants to make his mark in the World Cup. He did that in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and I have no doubt he can do it on a world stage as well. We also have a very good goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who is one of the best goalkeepers in France.

He also said Nigeria should have no problem qualifying from group F because it is the easiest group in the World Cup pairings.

Kanu said, “Nigeria is Lucky to be in a good group and if you ask me, I think it is the easiest group. I think our chances are 80% and if we can pass that group, and I know we are going to do that, then we will have more confidence. I know immediately we pass that group, the Nigerian people

get behind the team, from the president to ordinary people. Maybe we can go to the semi-finals, who knows? I think Africa has a good chance because we also have Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana and Algeria. As for the Eagles, we have experienced players who are playing in some top Leagues so we can reach that level.”

He further said that Nigeria is Africa’s brightest hope in Brazil and asked the players not to let the continent down “Nigeria is Africa’s biggest hope because we don’t put our hopes on individual players. The strength of the team is unity and the spirit in the camp is very strong. Having the ‘Big Boss’ (Stephen Keshi) is good for us, because he pushes them to the limit and if you put those together, we are strong. We don’t rely on one man,” he added.

L

ionel Messi has signed a contract extension with Barcelona that will see him become the highest paid footballer in the world – ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine forward has been in negotiations over a new deal with club officials for the last nine months – with reports claiming that he may m o v e away from t h e N o u Camp a m i d Messi Man-

Moyes reign cost Man Utd over £50m

Emenike Chimaobi Uchendu

Messi agrees new Barcelona deal

Hamilton difficult to beat -Hill

Mikel, Emenike ’ll shock the world in Brazil – Kanu

D

avid Moyes’ disastrous reign as Manchester United manager cost the club over £50m, according to The Daily Telegraph. For a club forced to pay a large percentage of their revenue in interest on loans taken out by their owners, and one desperate to regain their status as title challengers next season.United’s quarterly accounts have revealed that the club will lose £35m in broadcasting revenues, performance-related payments and gate receipts next season because of Moyes’ failure to achieve a top four finish, thus missing out on qualification for the Champions League.

B

chester City’s interest in his services.

But Barcelona have put an end to such speculation by announcing that Messi has already agreed terms to commit his future to the club having signed his seventh contract renewal in just nine years.

According to the reports, his net salary will go up from €13m t o approximately € 2 0 m (£16m) and will also receive bonuses worth three million per season. Ronaldo is thought to be earning a figure in the region of £15m a year.

Blatter seeks fifth term as FIFA president

S

epp Blatter has given his clearest indication yet that he will stand for a fifth term as FIFA President in 2015.

After retaining his post unopposed in June 2011, the 78-year-old Swiss, who has held the role since 1998, had said he would not contest the next election.

But he told Swiss television station RTS: “Of course I want to continue.

I have the drive to continue.”

Last week, Blatter reportedly confirmed that he would certainly run again, but Fifa denied that was the case.

Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb and former deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne have been tipped as successors to Blatter, but both have

Brazilians protest World Cup hosting

razilian protesters have once again flocked the streets to oppose the country’s upcoming World Cup, just one month before the competition is due to begin.

The latest demonstration aimed to highlight the poor financial decisions of the Brazilian government, which has placed the hosting of a major football tournament over essential requirements.

In Sao Paulo demonstrators blocked two key roads into the city and hundreds protested near the Itaquerao Stadium, The newly built stadium, which is due to become the home of Corinthians once the tournament ends, is set to host Brazil’s curtain-raiser against Croatia. Six matches will take place at

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the Itaquerao, including single roundof-16 and semi-final ties.

The latest protest adds to a string of mishaps during the lead-up to this summer’s competition, and Sao Paulo has been a hotbed of activity. In January, 128 people were arrested in the city after similar scenes, as reported by BBC News.

said they would not stand in opposition to the current incumbent if he stood for election in Zurich in June 2015.

“The path to the throne is not yet open,” Blatter added.

“There are a lot of people who would like to take this position but they realise it is not a bed of roses.”

Blatter

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Some of the fruits good as source of vitamin C.

KEY WORDS

MANGO MELON PRONE RAISIN PLUM NUT

M O N K E R E A D E R

M E A C H S P R O N E

M M T K M U L P E A R

M E P A S S I O N C N

ORANGE PECAN PASSION PINEAPPLE PAW PAW POMEGRANATE PEACH MONKEY NUT PEANUT MULBERRY PEAR NECTARINE

M L M A N G O G H E I

M O P O W A P W A P S

M N E C T A R I N E I

M J A H K L E G U R A

M K N F M U L B E R R

M T U N Y E K N O M K

M U T A F E G N A R O

T N K E L P P A E N I

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16 Town in Taraba state 17 Cooking pot 18 S.E. Asian language 22 Magazine 23 Something done 24 On the sea 25 Woman’s head gear 26 Personal computer

Indicates direction Talcum powder Animal hunted by others Items in auction Mentally deranged Former Benue state governor Thick black liquid Specialized educational class

15 17

DOWN

13 Something that decode signals

14 Record player needle Town in Yobe state 15 Political fundraiser in Canada 2 Criticize in petty way 19 Raise young animals 3 Members of Semitic people 1

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ACROSS

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20 Main axis of plant 4 Harm 21 Domesticated furry mammal 5 Large freshwater fish

6 At present time S e e s o l u t i o n o n pa g e 2 2

SHOWBIZ

SPORT Sanctity of Truth w ww. n ew te l e g r ap h on l i n e . c om

WHERE ARE THE IDOLS?

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

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2014

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Keshi can surpass Westerhof’s feat – Agu

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To the Chibok girls, the inconvertible daughters of zion “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” [Psalm 137:1-4].

O

ur Chibok girls, princesses of Africa, daughters of Zion, we hear your cries, your whispers, the melody of your tormented hearts. Your serene voices carry above the echo of Shekarau’s drunken boasts, over the din of his bombs and bullets, and float to the throne of Heaven. We hear your truth and the God of your fathers sustain your true faiths.

The sons of Satan may compel you to recite alien words, but they will never sink creed or faith into your hearts. The love and fear of God are not by compulsion but by volition. They may clothe you in strange garbs of rags, but they will never enshroud your precious beauty. They may weaken your flesh through deprivation - of food and water and sleep - but they will never break your vibrant and inspirational spirit.

The cowards, the bestial sons of Lucifer, may brandish guns and grenades and bring fear upon you, but they will never ignite your love for other than the one True Christ.

To you Chibok Moms: in your solitude of defiliation, you inspire a nation, a continent and a universe. Your irrepressible humanity, inner strengths show us the very essence of dignity and hope. Though down in the bleak valley of darkness, fear not, for no harm shall come upon your little angels because the great Lord of Hosts is their shield.

We can’t imagine your pain - a pain so consuming, so complete it tears your nerves to shreds and explodes your mind into a thousand pieces of anguished thoughts.

Grief that brings paralysis, locks up the guts, dries up the eyes, so that you can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t focus. We hear the gnashing of your teeth on this cross of iron.

But the Lord shall restore you in comfort and bring vengeance and furious rebuke upon your filthy tormentors.

Our solidarity in prayers will replant your maimed hearts with the enduirng seeds of hope; the seeds that are the girls who will surely be returned to Mom and Dad. Rest assured that your compatriots rage against this darkness, and the dead embers of a peaceful nation shall rekindle because of you and for you. Truly, this is the very valley of the shadow of sorrow, but fear not, for His staff and His rod shall lift you to light and life and restoration.

Our sympathetic teardrops may seem like nothing in the vast, oceanic expanse of your anguish. A mere drop in the ocean.

Until you remember that the ocean is nothing more than a multitude of drops. The mighty tide of global outrage is the wave that will sweep away the demonic forces of fundamental darkness.

The words from the one united voice of

BROADSIDE EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

a nation, and the meditations of the swollen heart of a continent, echoing to the farthest reaches of the world, shall find fulsome favour in the eyes of the Lord.

Our precious daughters, you are not victims. You are our heroines. The future doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and pilots that will secure the future of our nation.

The Chibok girls, the daughters of history, like the Aba girls of 1929. The brave Chibok girls. You are not just numbers – 180 or 234 or 276 or 53 or 1. One of you stolen is one too many. You are more than figures or numbers or statistics.

You are: Deborah Abge, the honey bee.

The radiant Awa Abge. The incomparable Hauwa Yirma. The delightful Mwa Mallam Pogu. The vivacious Patiant Dzakwa.

The luminous Saraya Stover. The precious Mary Dauda. The meekly Gloria Mainta.

The regal Hanatu Ishaku. The glorious Gloria Dama. The brilliant Tabitha Pogu. The incomparable Maifa Dama. The equable Ruth Kkollo. The poised Esther Usman.

The mild Awa James. The mannered Anthonia Yahonna. The fabulous Kume Mutah. The sweet Aisha Ezekial. The feisty Nguba Buba. The ambitious Kwanta Simon. The resolute Kummai Aboku. The outstanding Esther Markus. The talented Hana Stephen. The dazzling Rifkatu Amos.

The sparkling Rebecca Mallum. The splendid Blessing Abana. The gifted Ladi Wadai. The regal Tabitha Hyelampa. The marvellous Ruth Ngladar. The magnificent Safiya Abdu. The sensational Na’omi Ya-

honna. The brave Solomi Titus. The angelic Rhoda John. The elegant Rebecca Kabu.

The admirable Christy Yahi. The adorable Rebecca Luka. The affable Laraba John.

The courteous Saratu Markus. The pleasant Mary Usman. The virtuous Debora Yahonna. The peerless Naomi Zakaria. The serene Hanatu Musa. The joyful Hauwa Tella. The gutsy Juliana Yakubu.

The sublime Suzana Yakubu. The tranquil Saraya Paul. The bubbly Jummai Paul.

The selfless Mary Sule. The sparkly Jummai John. The generous Yanke Shittima.

The scintillating Muli Waligam. The angelic Fatima Tabji. The vibrant Eli Joseph. The lively Saratu Emmanuel. The illustrious Deborah Peter. The spectacularly calm Rahila Bitrus. The impressive Luggwa Sanda. The awesome Kauna Lalai. The breathtakingly Lydia Emmar. The perfect Laraba Maman. The charming Hauwa Isuwa. The engaging Confort Habila. The winsome Hauwa Abdu. The captivating Hauwa Balti. The cheerful Yana Joshua.

The admirable Laraba Paul. Wonderful Saraya Amos. The excellent Glory Yaga.

The stellar Na’omi Bitrus. The superb Godiya Bitrus. The million-dollar Awa Bitrus.

The terrific Na’omi Luka. The beautiful Maryamu Lawan. The smashing Tabitha Silas. The outstanding Mary Yahona. The unforgettable Ladi Joel. The delightful Rejoice Sanki. The divine Luggwa Samuel.

The heavenly Comfort Amos. The gorgeous Saraya Samuel. The magical Sicker Abdul. The comely Talata Daniel. The

prepossessing Rejoice Musa. The stunning Deborah Abari. The adorable Salomi Pogu.

The loveable Mary Amor. The enchanting Asabe Manu. The cute Ruth Joshua. The lively Esther John. The determined Esther Ayuba. The courageous Maryamu Yakubu. The plucky Zara Ishaku. The sensational Maryamu Wavi. The gracious Lydia Habila. The amiable Laraba Yahonna. The likeable Na’omi Bitrus. The accommodating Rahila Yahanna. The harmless Ruth Lawan. The protective Ladi Paul.

The dutiful Mary Paul. The capable Esther Joshua. The compassionate Helen Musa. The approachable Margret Watsai.

The polite Deborah Jafaru. The friendly Filo Dauda. The tender Febi Haruna. The gentle Ruth Ishaku. The dignified Rachael Nkeki.

The noble Rifkatu Soloman. The humorous Mairama Yahaya. The understanding Saratu Dauda. The sympathetic Jinkai Yama. The seemly Margret Shettima. The esteemed Yana Yidau. The benevolent Grace Paul.

The tender Amina Ali. The gentle Palmata Musa. The mild Awagana Musa.

The easy-going Pindar Nuhu. The elegant Yana Pogu. The wonderful Saraya Musa. The incredible Hauwa Joseph. The fantastic Hauwa kwakwi. The cool Hauwa Musa. The neat Maryamu Musa. The swell Maimuna Usman. The great Rebeca Joseph. The phenomenal Liyatu Habitu.

The formidable Rifkatu Yakubu. The exceptional Naomi Philimon. The memorable Deborah Abbas. The striking Ladi Ibrahim.

The simple Asabe Ali. The famous Maryamu Bulama. The cordial Ruth Amos. The hearty Mary Ali. The sincere Abigail Bukar.

The genial Deborah Amos. The affectionate Saraya Yanga. The cheerful Kauna Luka.

The spellbinding Christiana Bitrus. The beguiling Yana Bukar.

Hauwa Peter, the evening primrose.

The smooth Hadiza Yakubu. The upright Lydia Simon. The happy Ruth Bitrus. The jolly Mary Yakubu. The merry Lugwa Mutah. The bright Muwa Daniel. The sunny Hanatu Nuhu. The light-hearted Monica Enoch. The exuberant Margret Yama. The breezy Docas Yakubu. The airy Rhoda Ppeter. The sprightly Rifkatu Galang. The stylish Saratu Ayuba. The jovial Naomi Adamu. The carefree Hauwa Ishaya. The happy-go-lucky Rahap Ibrahim. The buoyant Deborah Soloman. The imaginative Hauwa Mutah.

The optimistic Hauwa Takai. The hopeful Serah Samuel. The positive Aishatu Musa. The contented Aishatu Grema. The sparky Hauwa Nkeki. The zippy Hamsatu Abubakar. The chirpy Mairama Abubakar.

The vigorous Hauwa Wule. The gladsome Ihyi Abdu. The upbeat Hasana Adamu.

The jocular Rakiya Kwamtah. The solemn Halima Gamba. The smart Aisha Lawan.

The uplifting Kabu Malla. The unflappable Yayi Abana. The earnest Falta Lawan. The exultant Kwadugu Manu.

We celebrate and eulogise you because you are formidable agents of history; the lambs of a floundering nation; the luminous beacons that have guided an indifferent world to the open sore festering in our republic. It’s all about you.

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